Following wisdom’s appeal, the inspired author of Proverbs 9 urges his audience to make a choice now between two lifestyles: wisdom or folly. The first and last six verses (Prov. 9:1–6, Prov. 9:13–18) are symmetrical and bring out the contrast between the opposite camps. Compare Proverbs 9:1–6 and Proverbs 9:13–18. What is the difference between … Continue reading –>
The last few verses of this proverb return to the personal — to the practical application of what it means to have wisdom. By contrast, the intellectual knowledge about wisdom’s preexistence, about wisdom’s presence at Creation, is certainly deep. But in the Bible, truth must always at some point come down to the human level … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Wisdom refers to a diving being – the pre-incarnate Christ, who was Cocreator with the Father and served as mediator even before sin. [Lesson Plan for Divine Wisdom January 19, 2015] 1. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 8:13-17. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in … Continue reading –>
In Genesis 1 we see that each step of the Creation concludes with the same refrain: God saw that it was good (see Gen. 1:4, Gen. 1:10, Gen. 1:12, Gen. 1:18, Gen. 1:21, Gen. 1:25, Gen. 1:31). The last step (Genesis 1:31) goes even further: It was very good. The Hebrew word for good contains … Continue reading –>
Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Proverbs 2:2 NLT In grade school, my teacher was talking about the possibility of solar powered cars. A sincere question came to my mind. I raised my hand and asked, “How would these cars run in the dark?” My teacher was angered by my question. I … Continue reading –>
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 –>
I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:12-13 NLT It is impossible for a truly wise person to be proud and arrogant. Wisdom is talking in the quoted … Continue reading –>
When I was a little kid I had a strange and wild imagination. I would lie awake at night wondering how I got to be me. Why was I not a dinner table chair instead? (That only freaked me out even more – thinking about the possibility of being something that doesn’t even know it exists. How … 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 –>
Proverbs is familiar territory for most of us, particularly if we grew up in the days of learning doctrinal texts and Sabbath School memory verses. I can still remember many of them: Prov 1: 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 3: 5, 6 Trust … 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 –>
Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 NLT Yesterday, when I showed up at Tampa Adventist Academy to teach my baptism class, a teacher, beaming with pride, showed me an e-mail one of her former students had just sent her the night before. In the e-mail, the … Continue reading –>
