WISDOM IN THE SQUARE
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 1
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
An Egyptian obelisk from ancient Heliopolis, Egypt, stands in the centre of the Piazza in Rome. Three sides of the obelisk were carved during the reign of Sety I and the fourth side under Rameses II. The obelisk, known as the Obelisk Flaminio, or the Popolo Obelisk, is the second oldest and one of the tallest obelisks in Rome (some 24 metres high, or 36 metres including its base platform). The obelisk was brought to Rome in 10 BC by order of Caesar Augustus. The book of Proverbs predates the erection of this obelisk by 1,000 years.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Proverbs 1:10, 33
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent…But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.
PROVERBS — A guide book for Living! A proverb is a short sentence that conveys a moral truth. The motto and theme of this book is “THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM!” Historical records credit King Solomon with composing 3,000 proverbs. Here in the Book of Proverbs we have about 800 of them.
The fool does not fear God and disobeys Him! The wise person has the greatest respect for God and obeys Him! The fool will listen to sinners! The wise person will listen to God! In our daily blogs we are paying close attention to what God is saying to us through His Word! In today’s reading Wisdom is portrayed as a person who appears as a woman. Wisdom calls out to three types of people: (1) The naive who can easily be swayed to sin, (2) The scorners who mock the righteous, and (3) Fools who hate the truth and anything that has to do with God. These people can be saved from destruction by turning to God. However, there is a point which one can pass where there is no more “fear of the Lord” or reverence of God, and thus there is no hope of a turnaround!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I ask for wisdom to be constantly with me and in me. Through the man known as the brother of our Lord, James, I am assured that if I ask for wisdom, You will give it liberally and without reproach (James 1:5-7). I’m praying for this gift in the Name of the One “Who became for us Wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Norma-Jean and I did not know each other until she was 18 and I was 21, and we were raised in different Christian denominations, 300 miles apart. Nevertheless, we found that we had many things in common. We played tag, softball, attended a one-room public school, etc. We also had mothers who reminded us over and over of the serious negative consequences of being enticed by sinners to do the wrong thing. Both of our mothers died before we met. Mine of cancer when I was 12, and hers at the hand of a drunk driver when she was 17. We have vivid memories of our mothers quoting our key verse from the old King James version, “If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
The wisdom of Proverbs was the DNA of our culture a lifetime ago. Timothy Eaton, founder of the Canadian Eaton’s stores, would give a copy of the Book of Proverbs to each and every employee. Eaton would say, “This is our employee’s handbook. We live by these words.” No wonder one of the great Toronto Churches is called Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. The congregation always maintains a Bible-believing evangelical Pastor in the pulpit (click here for information on this great church).
Yours for WISDOM!!!
David
P.S. Here are some of our friends standing on Mt. Carmel, Israel. A sculptor has depicted the Prophet Elijah who confronted false prophets here.
Be Strong
Maltbie D. Babcock
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift.
Be strong!
Say not the days are evil— who’s to blame?
And fold the hands and acquiesce— O shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s Name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day, how long;
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.
Amen.
Be Strong! Music by James D. Gilmour, Words by Maltbie D. Babcock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPHKgIHe9RQ
Maltbie D. Babcock (b. Syracuse, NY, 1858; d. Naples, Italy, 1901) graduated from Syracuse University, New York, and Auburn Theological Seminary (now associated with Union Theological Seminary in New York) and became a Presbyterian minister. He served the Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. In Baltimore he was especially popular with students from Johns Hopkins University, but he ministered to people from all walks of life. Babcock wrote hymn texts and devotional, poems, some of which were published in The School Hymnal (1899).
Amen Beverlee!!
“When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you.” Prov 2:9-10
Father God, thank You for the grace You have toward us. It is not by our merits that we are saved, it is purely by Your grace. We receive wisdom not by anything we do, but again by Your grace. Thank You with all my heart for the grace You give. Please give all Your people the grace to live as grateful children of the King.
And, as Beverlee pointed out, and as Elijah did, give us the grace to stand against evil in all its insidious forms, in Jesus’s great name, amen
AMEN
Amen Rob!!
Thankful for the availability of Wisdom and we can receive it through asking. We are blessed. My great grandson 5 yrs old has appendicitis. Surgery is probable. A niece (21), a university student (who lost her mom to cancer), has her first chemo yesterday. Please pray for Logan and Gabriel. Thank you. Blessings all.
So sorry to hear this news Doreen. Praying for the healing of your great grandson Gabriel’s appendicitis and for your dear niece Logan dealing with chemotherapy. Such a challenge for both, so young. It is amazing realizing what loved ones go through. Lord God, be with them both. Have Your Hand upon them and give them strength comfort and healing. In Your mighty Name we pray. Amen, amen and amen.
Amen.
Sorry Doreen; it appears I mixed their names up. Logan your nephew and Gabriel your niece. Please forgive me.
Doreen: I have just prayed for little Logan, that he won’t need surgery and that the Lord would be with him if he does. Also prayed for your dear niece Gabriel, that the Lord would give her strength and encouragement as she goes through these treatments. He is able to heal both of them and I pray that he would in Hiis Precious Name..
Eleanor M.
Amen!