Well, we are into a new year, and I must admit that I am already behind! It’s not that I haven’t been busy, though. I’m working on some new things for the coming year, and how to spread the load of writing devotions is one area I’ve been giving a lot of thought to. In latter part of the year, Mako Kato pretty much wrote the last two weeks of devotions while I was on vacation. Mako just keeps getting better and better at writing! My hope is that he and others will begin writing some of the devotions to provide a little (or a lot) more variety and applicational insight.
Beginning this Sunday, we will begin a new series through the book of Proverbs. It is book filled with practical wisdom for living our everyday lives. I’m looking forward to this after having endured a long series through the book of Revelation. Not that I didn’t like Revelation (I actually loved it), but it’s time to come back down to earth. Our heads were in the clouds in the book of Revelation, and now our feet will be on the ground in the book of Proverbs. This is a good balance.
What I would like to do at least for the first month is to read through a Proverb a day. There are 31 proverbs which will cover an entire month. On those months with fewer than 31 days, we will try to spread those out on other days where there may be shorter proverbs. What I would really like to see happen is for you all to comment on some insights from your reading. You can do that right here for all to read. It would be great to get a discussion or two going, but it all depends on you. Will give it a go?
So today is Jan. 7. I know, I know, you’d like to start on Proverbs 1, and you still can, but I want you to read Proverbs 7 today. And just to make things easier, I’ll provide it for you here:
Proverbs 7
Warning Against the Adulteress
1 My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call understanding your kinsman;
5 they will keep you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife with her seductive words.
6 At the window of my house
I looked out through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who lacked judgment.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is loud and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
14 “I have fellowship offerings at home;
today I fulfilled my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
23 till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
Share with us: What did the Lord impress upon you in this chapter?