Read Proverbs 8:22–31. How is wisdom related to Creation? In these texts wisdom is mysteriously related to the Lord as the Creator. This poem shares many common words with the Creation account in Genesis 1 and 2, and even reflects its literary structure, organized around the three basic elements of heaven, water, and earth. The … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 8:1–21 (NKJV). According to these verses, what is the value of wisdom? Wisdom is so important that it must reach everyone. God created all human life, and Christ died for each one of us. So wisdom, the knowledge of God and the salvation He offers, is for every human being. Look at the … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Prov. 8:1–21, Matt. 16:26, Prov. 8:22–31, Gen. 1:31, Prov. 8:32–36, Prov. 9:1–18. Memory Text: The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old(Proverbs 8:22, NKJV). At this stage in Proverbs, wisdom reappears (see Prov. 1:20-21), and it’s clear from the texts for this week … Continue reading –>
Being from the tropical country of Puerto Rico, Paola never dreamed that she would end up in the wilds of Alaska. It’s just so out there, Paola says. It’s one of those places that you’re never going to go to because it’s so far away. But when the recruiting team from the Alaska conference came … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Satan offers to men the kingdoms of the world if they will yield to him the supremacy. Many do this and sacrifice heaven. It is better to die than to sin; better to want than to defraud; better to hunger than to lie. — Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, … Continue reading –>
Most people don’t think of death when they sin; they have other things on their minds, usually the immediate gratification and pleasure that they derive from their sin. It doesn’t help, either, that popular culture often extols adultery and other iniquities. In contrast, the book of Proverbs places sin in the right perspective, a view … Continue reading –>
Right after his warning about adultery (Prov. 6:24–29), the author starts talking about another sin: stealing (Prov. 6:30-31). The relationship between the two commandments (stealing and adultery) shows how disobedience to one commandment can affect our obedience to the others. The attitude of compromise, to pick and choose in regard to God’s law, could be … Continue reading –>
As we have just seen, the author of Proverbs 6:23, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, directly links light and life to God’s law. In the next verse he gives a solid example of how the law, as light and life, can offer us powerful spiritual protection. What are we being warned about in … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 6:23. How is the law related to light? In the Bible, the word of God or His law has been compared to light: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps. 119:105, NKJV). In the Hebrew mind there is a connection between the idea of law … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 6:21 and Prov. 7:3. How are we to understand the bodily images used in these texts regarding how we should relate to God’s law? As we saw in an earlier lesson, in Proverbs the heart represents the seat of emotions and thoughts. By telling us to bind the law upon our hearts (Prov. … Continue reading –>
