Jesus is in every book of the Bible, including Proverbs. This week is such a beautiful passage. I love how Keller brings out from the Hebrew that our Lord “frolicked” during creation as the Father, Son, and Spirit designed the world to be a place of beauty, power, order, joy and peace. For us! The word frolic reminds me of the place in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan frolicked, taking Lucy and Susan on such a ride after His resurrection.
AND NOTICE HOW “HE DELIGHTS IN THE CHILDREN OF MAN.”
Personally, I found this part of Keller’s sermon so helpful in so many ways. Last week I was at the Indian wedding of my first granddaughter, Emily. Her husband is the son of an Indian couple who practice the Sikh religion and wanted their son to have an Indian wedding. I have never been to such an elaborate wedding, where they certainly poured out love on their only son and honored the bride — the mother of the groom spent three months in India choosing all the clothing, fabric for the backdrops, menus, and more.e Emily and Amrinder each had three different outfits, and guests were encouraged to wear Indian clothing as well. I learned a lot. The Sikh religion began in the 1500s with one Guru, but grew to 10 Gurus, and they include Jesus as one, but not as God. The “Wake-Up” village ceremony, the first night, reminded me of the biblical tradition of the groom coming with his friends to surprise the bride. Below was our clothing for the “Wake-Up” Ceremony.
Then the next morning the groom arrived through the woods in a horse and carriage. They said it should have been a white horse, but sometimes the horses had been too wild so they chose a carriage instead! : ) The ceremony in the morning was in a very small temple, and in the Indian language, so I didn’t understand much, but I was told that when Emily and Amrinder circled the bed with the book at the front four times, it was symbolic of their vows to God, to each other, to their family and to truth. I felt conflicted when told I was to bow to their god when I entered the temple and I did pray for wisdom. How to honor my Lord yet not disrespect the family? The Lord brought to mind a passage when Naaman was confronted with a similar dilemma and asked God for grace, and He gave it. It’s a short passage in 2 Kings 5:15-19. (Look at it if you are interested and comment on Sunday.) I didn’t bow down to the floor at the altar, but I bowed my head during prayers and prayed to Jesus. And I sensed God giving me peace. It’s a gray area, and some of you may disagree about the choices I made. Romans 13 provides us with wisdom for gray areas, cautioning every man to do as he feels convicted, for he will stand before God, and he must not judge his brother who may choose a different path.
They will have another wedding, a Christian one, in May. Amrinder is such a lovely man, and he loves Emily well. They met during their pediactric residencies and practice pediatrics together in Washington. I also needed wisdom for this wedding and truly felt the Lord’s hand guiding me. First, although Amrinder is not yet a believer, he is studying with Emily and attending church with her. I sense he is truly seeking the truth. I care about him and wanted to honor his family. I am so glad I went, met his lovely mother, and saw how deeply their culture and religion honor marriage. Their divorce rate is very low compared to the West. I saw how much they love their son and blessed Emily. Amrinder’s was the only speech, and it was to honor his father. The reception that night was so full of joy and dancing that it foreshadowed, for me, the joy of the great Wedding to come.
https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/true-wisdom/
SUNDAY:
- How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week? If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings.
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. What do you learn from the pronoun in Genesis 1:26?
3. What do you learn from Colossians 2:3-4?
Now, meditate on the passage below, but keep this in mind. Keller stresses this is poetry, not prose, designed to give you a sense of the joy of the Trinity in harmony, so don’t press it too hard. Jesus was not created, but has always existed. So keep that in mind as you meditate. Jesus is the voice of wisdom, wisdom personified.
22 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
- MEDITATE ON PROVERBS 8:22-31 ABOVE OR IN YOUR TRANSLATION
A. What jumps out at you at first and why?
B. How can you see the Father and the Son designing creation together from this passage? Give examples.
C. There is a certain joy in working in harmony with someone for the glory of God. Can you give an example of that from your life?
D. How do you see God delighting in His Son in this passage — and how do you see them together delighting in us?
E Keller points out that other philosophies say the world was created through an explosion or through warring gods. How is Christianity different?
Tuesday: The Pattern of Wisdom
Before we consider the problem, we need to identify the pattern. Listen/read the following:
The problem of wisdom There is a huge problem we all have when it comes to getting wisdom. It’s one of the reasons we don’t have it like we should. What is that problem? Let’s keep moving down the passage. In verse 22 and following, this poem … Don’t forget. All of Proverbs is poetry. Some of us English literary dunces … If it’s not rhyme it doesn’t seem like poetry, but this is poetry. Okay? In the poem, suddenly (it’s very, very vivid and very famous) wisdom speaks and says, “I was with the Lord when the Lord made absolutely everything that was made. Before the mountains, I was with him. Before the seas, I was with him. When he made the sea, when he made human beings as well …” Not just the physical, but also the spiritual. “When he made everything, I was there.” He made everything with wisdom. Now this summer I spent a great deal of time reading scholarly books on wisdom and Proverbs across the spectrum. I try really hard if I’m going to read scholarship to read it across the spectrum of opinion and ideology too. One thing they absolutely agreed on was that this creation account is unique. They said in Eastern societies, the material world was seen as basically an illusion. You know that. Therefore, the material world is kind of like an accident, or at least not the reality. Interestingly enough, all Western cultures, in all of their creation accounts, saw creation, the world, as a result of a power struggle. Whether you go to the Old Norse or to the German or to the Sumerian or the Babylonian or the Egyptian or the Greek or the Roman, it doesn’t matter. Always you have these accounts of some kind of battle between the gods, or the gods and the giants, or this god and that god. One kills the other god, and then they create a land out of his body, and that sort of thing. It’s always the result of a power struggle. Only here do we have an account of the world not being based on a random accident, nor being based on a power struggle, but on wisdom. Here you have God in delight, the delight of an artist. In fact, the place where wisdom says, “I frolicked …” You know down here where it says, “I rejoiced always before him”? It’s a Hebrew word sachaq, which means to frolic. In overwhelming joy, God designed the world to be a place of beauty and power and order and joy and peace. That’s the reason the sages of Israel, the wise of Israel, said wisdom worked. Because if God created the world according to wisdom, then there is a fabric, or there’s a pattern, to all of reality. It’s not random. It’s not just hither and thither and yon. There’s a fabric and there’s a pattern to all of reality. If wisdom made the world, then wisdom can perceive that pattern, to a great degree, and live in accordance with it and live, therefore, wisely. See? For example, we all know there’s a pattern to the physical reality. For example, aerodynamics. An object that obeys the fabric reality of aerodynamics will fly, but if it disregards the rules of aerodynamics that are in the physical reality, it’ll crash. “Ah,” say the sages, “but that would mean there’s also a fabric pattern to relational reality, and if you don’t live in accordance with it your relationships will crash. And that means there’s a fabric pattern to God’s spiritual reality, and if you operate your heart or your conscience or your emotions or your hopes or your meaning in a way that’s not in accord with that fabric pattern, your spiritual life will crash.” Foolishness is going against the grain or the weave or the structure, the pattern God put into creation, which always leads to breakdown. There are two things you must know equally about the pattern in order to be wise. This is the reason we have such a problem today. The first thing you have to admit and see is that there is a pattern, that God has made the world and, therefore, there is a pattern.
4. Concerning the material world:
A. How do Eastern societies see the material world?
B. How do Western societies see the material world?
C. How is this account in Proverbs different?
5. How does Keller define foolishness?
6. Give examples of “going against the grain of God’s pattern” in:
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- Sex
- Eating
- Conversation
- Leisure time
Wednesday: The Problem of Wisdom
Probabilities not Promises
Here Keller is helpful in showing us how to read Proverbs, not as promises, but probabilities.
There are principles by which life customarily works. On the other hand, you have to see you cannot know it all, that it’s largely hidden from you. What’s so significant about those two things? Let me show you. When you read through the book of Proverbs 1–9 are like the introduction, but in chapter 10 and following, that’s when you actually get the proverbs proper, that is, those little pithy proverbs, one every verse. If you’re a pastor preparing to preach on it in the summer, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of them. In 10–15, what’s interesting is you see the principles by which life normally works. They lay them out, and here’s what they say. “If you work hard, you’ll prosper. If you’re lazy, you’ll be poor. If you live according to moral absolutes, your life will go well. If you live a wicked life, your life won’t go well. If you raise a child according to this pattern, if you raise a child rightly, when she is old she’ll love you and be a responsible adult.” If you have a conservative bent of mind, you read chapters 10–15 and say, “Yeah. That’s what I’m talking about. If you work hard, you’ll be okay. If you’re lazy, you’ll be poor. Yeah.” Then … I never did this in my life before. You always dip in and get this little gem out and that little gem out, but if you’re actually reading through it the way it was written, then you get to chapter 16, and suddenly you begin to see exceptions to those principles of how life customarily works. For example, there are a number of proverbs that say some people who live according to God’s moral absolutes have a lousy life. Then it says some people who, though they work hard, stay poor because of oppression. Then it says some people raise their child just right and when she grows old she goes off the rails.
7. What examples does Keller give that show Proverbs are probabilities rather than promises in regard to:
- Hard work leading to wealth
- Training up children leading to godly adults
- Living morally leading to an easier life
Conservative Fools and Liberal Fools
If you have a liberal temperament, you read that and say, “Yeah. Life is messy. I always said that. You can’t be predicting everything like this.” Ah, but get this. What is wisdom? If you will not admit there is a pattern you have to submit to, if you want to make up all of your rules, if you say, “I want to determine what’s right or wrong for me,” you’re being a fool. But if you think you can see the whole pattern, if you think you can understand the whole pattern, you’re a fool. You can be a liberal fool or a conservative fool. You can be a relativistic fool or you can be a moralistic fool, and we all are one or the other by ideology and temperament. If you want a perfect example of the conservative fools, look at the book of Job. Remember his friends? Job is suffering. Everything has gone wrong. His life has fallen apart. His children have died. He has lost all his money. Job’s friends come tromping in, and being who they are, they know the first part. They know chapters 10–15. They’ve read all of those things that say, “If you live morally, your life will go well.” They look at Job and say, “Hmm, your life is not going well. Job, you must be sinning. You must be doing something wrong.” They’re harsh. They’re miserable comforters. They’re rigid. They’re moralistic. They have hold of one end of the pattern stick. They know there’s a pattern, but they think they can see it all. They think they can understand it all. They know how life customarily works, but they don’t think there are any exceptions to the way life customarily works. By the way, I’m not saying there are exceptions to the moral absolutes. Adulteries are always wrong. But you see, the principle is “If you are faithful and you don’t commit adultery and you don’t lie, life will go well for you,” but there are exceptions to that. That’s what the book of Proverbs is saying. In a nutshell, if you’re the kind of person who says, “If I live a good life, my life will go well,” you’re a conservative fool. If you’re the kind of person who says, “I can decide my own reality, I can decide what is right or wrong, I don’t believe there’s some divine order I have to submit to,” you’re a liberal fool. You’re a conservative fool, you’re a moralistic fool, you’re a relativistic fool, but we’re all fools somewhere, because we live in a society where we’re split on this. We’re pushing each other more into the foolishness. We also have temperaments, habits of mind. We can’t hold it together. This is a problem.
8. How do conservative fools read Proverbs?
9. How were Job’s friends conservative fools?
10. How do liberal fools read Proverbs?
11. How were the people in the book of Judges liberal fools?
Thursday: The Solution
How To Read Proverbs (Read/Listen Below)
I found this fascinating, for most guides approach proverbs topically. But Keller shows how the first 9 chapters are directed to parents with children, and rest more to mentors of adults. Often I think you do need to be more black and white with children, for they have trouble with shades of gray. We sent our daughter Sally to a Lutheran school during her early years. One week they asked the children to bring their infant baptismal dresses to school, and Sally didn’t have one because we believed in believer’s baptism. She was so upset and said, “Are you saying my teacher is wrong?” But as an adult she is able to discern the good in teaching and sift out the questionable.
Read the following:
What is the solution? 4. The clue to the solution When I was going through it this summer, one of the things I realized as I was reading through the book of Proverbs in a way I never had done before (which is right through instead of dipping in here and there), I suddenly realized, kind of to my horror, that almost nobody uses this book the way it was written. It was written to be a manual to be gone through in a community under wise parents and then later on wise mentors. In other words, you’re supposed to be a group of people who go through it, and you get to chapters 10–15, and you see where it says, “The wicked have bad lives and the good have good lives,” and you say, “Really? Always?” Then you get to chapter 16, and you start to see, “Well there are other aspects to it.” Don’t you realize? I didn’t realize this. No one proverb gives you the whole picture about a subject. There are dozens of proverbs. They all have a little different perspective on each subject. You have to look at them all together. You have to connect them and discuss them and reflect on them, and when you do that in a community for years and years under wise parents and eventually under wise teachers and mentors, you become wise. I suddenly realized nobody does that. We don’t believe in that. We believe in especially knowledge because of the scientific side. We believe in moral training because of the traditional side. Nobody is doing that. We’re in trouble. Especially when a lot of us have parents who were fools, right? A lot of us had no mentors at all. A lot of people are in positions like that. Maybe we could say, “Oh my word. The more you talk, I suddenly realize the wisdom train has left the station and I wasn’t on it.”
12. Comments on what you learn about reading Proverbs?
13. Why does Keller say you need to look at Proverbs altogether?
The Solution: Our Wonderful Counselor
But maybe there’s a solution. This is a piece of poetry. What is the most basic point of this poem about wisdom? Wisdom is personified. Wisdom is I, me, my. An abstract quality is turned into a person. “Well,” you say, “that’s just a wonderful, didactic device.” And it is, especially when you consider probably the book of Proverbs was a manual that was used in schools for young men. That’s one of the reasons why, first of all, when you read Proverbs you constantly hear the speaker in Proverbs saying, “My son,” and it’s the reason why, over and over and over again in the book of Proverbs, wisdom is depicted as a woman who calls. One of the reasons would be this. Here’s the point. Wisdom is not so much a matter of mastering a bunch of rules; it’s a love affair with wisdom you need. You need to long for wisdom. It worked very well, you know. A wonderful rhetorical device, personification of wisdom, very, very gripping, but is that all it is? What if it’s not just poetry? What if the wisdom of God really was a person you could know and love, and if you got into a relationship with this person it made you wise? Then those of us who never had the parents, never had the mentors, never had the guides, never had the counselors we should have … This would be the ultimate guide, the ultimate mentor, the ultimate counselor, the Wonderful Counselor.
14. What does Keller say is the solution rather than looking at Proverbs as rules?
15. What difference does it make in your obedience to realize that sin is not so much breaking a rule but breaking a heart? Or that sin causes a quenching of His powerful Spirit? How does this help you? Give a specific example.
FRIDAY: NOT AN AIRTIGHT ARGUMENT BUT AN AIRTIGHT PERSON
LISTEN/READ:
Do you know what that reality is? In John 1 … The gospel of Jesus Christ is opened with a chapter based almost completely on Proverbs 8. In John 1, we read, “In the beginning was the Word,” but it’s the Greek word logos, which is a Greek word that had wisdom connotations in Greek philosophy. So here’s how we could translate it without too much paraphrase: “In the beginning was the wisdom, and the wisdom was with God and the wisdom was God. For nothing was made without him. The wisdom of God became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, filled with grace and truth.” Do you know what the Bible is telling us? Do you know what John is telling us? Here is the secret of wisdom. In the beginning, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit had perfect love relationships. They rejoiced in each other. They deferred to each other. They glorified each other. They honored each other. They had perfect love relationships. It was out of that, out of an explosion of that love and joy, that they made the human race and the world so we could share in it. So the meaning of life is not power, it’s not struggle, and it’s certainly not an accident. It’s having those loving relationships. The deepest wisdom, the deepest secret of all psychological and social reality is to know, resemble, and embody the inner life of the Trinity. Let’s just close with a little application. When Jesus Christ says, “I am the wisdom in ‘personic’ form,” he’s saying, “I am the wisdom to you, I’m the wisdom of God for you, and I’m the wisdom of God with you.” First of all, “I’m the wisdom of God to you.” When Jesus says, “I am the wisdom of God,” those of you who are out there waiting for an airtight argument before you’ll believe need to think twice. When he says, “I am the wisdom of God to you,” he’s saying, “I am the ultimate argument for the existence of God.” I’ve had a lot of friends who use their wisdom, they use their noggin, and they’re always saying, “If you just give me an airtight argument I could believe.” What if God didn’t send an airtight argument? What if God sent an airtight person? What if he’s the wisdom? Do you know what that means? I don’t care who you are or where you are in your faith journey or what you believe, how much or how little or nothing at all. Sit down with a group of people, a community, and go through the life of Jesus. Read about him. Work through him. Look at his words. Look at his deeds. You will be shocked constantly, but you’ll realize it’s a shock of meeting somebody for the first time who’s perfect. You’ll say, “Nobody could have made this guy up.” See, first of all, Jesus is the wisdom of God to you. He is the ultimate argument for the existence of God, but he’s in the form of a person. Secondly, Jesus is the wisdom of God for us. There was a man named William Holland. He was one of the Wesleys’ friends who was struggling spiritually. He read a place in one of Martin Luther’s works where Martin Luther said, “Have you nothing to do? No, nothing, but look to Jesus who has become for you wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” At that minute, William Holland’s life was utterly changed. He says suddenly the penny dropped. What happened? Jesus in some ways is like every other sage who has ever lived. Right? He says, “Here is the wise way to live.” Sure, he’s a great teacher, but no other sage ever said, “And I have come to live that life for you.” See, when he says, “My yoke is the only one that’s easy, my yoke is the only one that’s light,” here’s what he’s saying. Every other sage in the world has always said, “This is how you should live. Do it and you will live,” but Jesus is the only one who said, “This is how you should live, and I have lived the life you should have lived and died the death you should have died because of your failure to live that way, so that when you ask God, ‘Accept me because of what Jesus has done not because of what I have done,’ he will bring you into his love.” When you do that, if you do that, it heals that lack of ability to see who you are. It heals both inferiority and superiority. Because Jesus was wisdom for you, he had to die for you, which humbles you out of your vanity, but because he was glad to die for you, it affirms you out of your inferiority. Finally you see who you really are, and all the rest of wisdom proceeds from that. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ being wisdom for you (not just to you but for you) will get rid of both moralism and relativism and we’ll finally find wisdom. One last thing. Jesus is wisdom with us. When you see Jesus suffering on the cross and it looks like, “What in the world is God doing?” but then the resurrection, that is the ultimate example of how even though you can’t see there’s wisdom behind what God is doing, it’s there. Jesus Christ says, “Do you want rest?” The cross, the gospel, Jesus Christ, is the only wisdom that will give you rest. Lay your deadly doing down, Down at Jesus’ feet; Stand in him, in him alone, Gloriously complete. Let’s pray. Thank you, Father, for making us wise to where wisdom is: Jesus. Now make us wise in knowing him. Show us as a community how to use him, see him, know him, love him to make us wise, because I know that’s what you want us to be and do. So we pray, Lord, you would help us as the year goes by to grow more and more into wisdom and into the likeness of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, amen.
16. Keller refers to John 1, where Christ is called LOGOS. In other sermons, Keller has said if you ignore the maker’s instructions for a car, and put water instead of gasoline in it, it isn’t going to work. Now, give a personal example of going against the Maker’s instructions for your life and what happened.
17. What did both William Holland and Luther discover about the Maker’s instructions that made all the difference in their lives?
Saturday:
18. What will you remember and apply from this week?
106 comments
SUNDAY:
How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week? If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings.
I had my yearly wellness check-up with my primary physician. My lab results were all normal except one. I was glad to have the freedom to look at natural options to correct it and had a very informative conversation with my doctor. Her nursing staff were most helpful and very caring to me. I also discovered genetic information that explained my abnormal lab results. Throughout the 45 minutes of the visit, I felt God’s love and peace surrounding me.
I have a friend whose son married a lady doctor who is from India. I remember seeing similar pictures of your granddaughter and her now husband. I believe they actually had a white horse that the groom rode on! Both the groom and the bride look very happy.
Dee, in so many ways, I am with you in your decision to attend the wedding. I think I would be conflicted too with the temple scenario. I feel like all of us are responsible to God with how we respond to sensitive matters such as this. I am reminded of our study with Keller on refraining from judging others. “I may have a clear conscience, but that does not make me innocent. I do not care what others think of me. I don’t care about what I think of myself, either!” something like that.
What a neat thing that there will be another wedding later.
What we have been studying these last few months has helped prepare me for the differences and conflicts that have arisen in our church. “Love one another.” “Do not judge-leave these things to God.” “Pray for my brother and sister in Christ.” So much to learn about God’s mercy and grace and love for me.
I prayed for you, Bing, yesterday at 11:22 am. The alarm went off while I was mopping the floors and my daughter asked me what the alarm was for. I told her it was a reminder to pray for you and she said, “then we should stop and pray.” So I found myself praying out loud for you so my daughter could hear. Just thought you might enjoy that little story. 😊 Love to you!
Oh, Missy! Thank you so much! I re-read my comment above and thought, “Oh, I hope I did not cause any alarm among my sisters here.” The abnormal lab was just my lipid panel. She is giving me 6 months to work on it before she puts me on a statin. I love your little story with Xoi. I do have other concerns, so your prayers were very timely, as I know the Holy Spirit prompted you. Tell Xoi thank you.
Thank God for His peace you felt at that moment. I’m glad you’re okay Mama Bing
Thank you, Eunice. I need to work on age-related changes and am not very disciplined about follow-through. Yes, God’s peace is most important.
Wonderful about your medical visit and love your summary closing paragraph.
Bing, I have had a sense from your sharing over recent months of the church struggles you have faced. After many years of personally living with church struggles I have felt the hurt in you that comes from the battles and decisions we are faced with. And as you will see in my Sunday post my husband and I have been faced with yet another divisive conflict. The spiritual battles in this life continue and we will lean more into Jesus and pray more. So delightful to see Missy’s input here. 💕
Bing, Thankful that your appointment went well and that you had such great care. I pray that you are able to take care of the abnormalities in a natural way, yet so thankful for the wisdom of those on your care team.
1. How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week? If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings.
Cooper’s birthday was last Monday. He turned 10!! Sarah and Mike came on Friday night to take the kids trick or treating and Saturday we had a family birthday party for him. I cooked all day and we had a lovely meal together. All went very well considering the potential dynamics in the room. I was happy for Cooper and I think God orchestrated it all. Even my husband said, “That was actually a very nice time.” Thank You Lord!
Amazed that you remembered the 2 Kings scripture! I wish I could be so knowledgeable. It has such good insight (as Keller would say 😉 )
About the wedding; you are a better person than I…I see this as the same as my son asking if I would come to his gay marriage if he had one. I told him no, and I don’t think I would ever attend, as it makes an impression that I agree with the union. I would definitely been respectful had I gone (as you certainly were), and I love to learn, so I would appreciate that as well. Maybe if it was a friend or an acquaintance, but not someone close to me. I’m glad they feel the need to honor her family as well, with the Christian wedding in May.
Where was the wedding? Did you travel to India?? Which of your children is Emily’s mom/dad? So many questions! Dee, you amaze me.
So happy to learn of your nice time for Cooper’s birthday, Laura.
Wonderful about the time with Sarah andher husband.
I understand your feelings about the wedding and so appreciate you honor my difference.
Emily is my son John’s firstborn daughter and we have always been very close. I have quotes from her as a toddler such as, “I’m going to the potty now, but I don’t want anyone to clap or cheer, please.”
Oh, Laura, I am so happy to hear that you had a wonderful celebration with Sarah and Mike and the kids. God is so good.
The wedding pictures are stunningly beautiful! The temple part must’ve been so very hard. Reminds me of the conundrum with Alistair Begg which involved a grandchild as well. I’m thankful God gave you wisdom, not to get on your knees and bow down but to pray instead silently to Jesus. Your granddaughter certainly knows well where you stand, and I’m thinking she will always remember and be touched that you went against your comfort zone to build bridges and not boundaries. I’m thinking of how Daniel and his friends did not defile themselves with the king’s meat but still served him well, though later they would almost lose their lives by not bowing down to him. Thank you for sharing this real-life dilemma with us as we all face dilemmas and need wisdom and courage.
I heard a message this morning in church regarding forgiveness. I so much need that preached to my heart over and over and over. I sense His love to me when He personally deals with issues in my life that need spiritual surgery and healing. Thank you for highlighting these messages from Tim Keller even if I’m following silently much of the time these days.
Miriam — always rejoice to see you here. Thanks for your encouraging words.
Thank God for His timely words for you. He’s definitely intentional about youuuu!
Missy, love this: “building bridges and not boundaries”. We sure do need wisdom every day.
Missy, it is so good to see you here. I love what you wrote so eloquently and I so agree that Dee showed great grace “building bridges not boundaries” .
You are such a blessing in so many ways, as you live fully for the Lord every day .
“ Miriam you always bless us when you have some time to share with us here. Yes “building bridges not boundaries” is so good.
SUNDAY:
1. How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week? If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings.
This week I’ve been aware of God’s love through the friends He has given to me. I’m sooo blessed. Yes, none of us is perfect, and none of us know each too well, I’ve only started my second year, but we’re doing well. I can tell my female friends I love them and be there for them and even my male friendships are platonic. I have just two very close male friends by the way.
So, my friendships. That’s how God reminded me of His love for me.
About the wedding, it’s really beautiful honestly. And I pray they have a blessed home and that the groom comes to the knowledge of Christ. And I love how God led you. It’s really beautiful. The people you’re celebrating with might think you were bowing to their gods, but both you and God know that is not so. And when it is time to give account on how you used God’s wisdom at that moment I think God is going to be proud of you.
Sweet responses, Eunice. I love your encouragement to Dee! And oh, friends-yes, God’s love can surely be shown through our friendships here on earth.
Awww, thanks Eunice. And hurrah and praise for the friends!
Dearest Eunice, What a blessing of friendship God has brought into your life. Your sweet words of encouragement to Dee are beautiful. You will touch others for Jesus by your love for them.
I love your thought that God is going to be proud of Dee. 💕 I agree. That is the kind of God we have.
It is so good to hear your school is going well and your are blessed with sweet friendships. 😊
SUNDAY:
How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week?
—I have been reminded of God’s love during what has been a hard week because of differences we have with the leadership of our church. It involved how they have handled choosing and bringing in a pastoral candidate to be voted on by the membership of our church. My husband called and talked with our church Chairman to point out where they were setting aside what is required by the church constitution and bylaws. The conversation with him was amicable but after meeting the whole board decided to disregard everything Terry had proposed in how it would be appropriate to proceed according to what is required by the bylaws. We watched man’s agenda take over and self interest be served.
Even though we feel their actions are wrong to ignore the protocol set out in the church’s constitution and bylaws and not abide by them we have chosen to keep from being divisive and will go away quietly. Because of our deep roots in our church we could easily find a “following” but that would not serve God and would be giving into temptation by the enemy to promote our own agenda.
The meeting yesterday morning was not easy and there really are many layers to what has taken place. We believe the vote was administered in an unethical way which undermines our trust of the men on our board. So wisdom for us has been to seek God and try to be quiet before the Lord for his leading.
Through it all I have been personally reminded by the Lord of his love for me from the scriptures. Man fails us but Jesus never will. My hope is in Jesus alone. I wish no one any ill. I have prayed much for his grace to be demonstrated in my own life and for His protection from the lies of the enemy.
It is always a challenge to respond rightly. I cling to His Word. I read from Paul David Tripp. “God makes his invisible grace visible by sending people of grace to give grace to people who need grace.”
Dee Thankyou you for your prayer last week regarding this situation.
If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings.
—What a beautiful wedding and unusual opportunity for you to demonstrate the love of Christ. I think the focus of your situation in being part of your Granddaughter’s wedding was to practice of God’s grace and that over time will afford you an opportunity to be a credible witness for Jesus. I would agree with your choices and feel the passage from 2 Kings speaks to knowing your place in interacting with unbelievers. The goal is to be winsome for Christ. Jesus is ready to accept each of the unbelievers involved right where they are. You were entering their territory so to speak so being respectful is important and honestly we in the USA could learn some things from other cultures that have been desperately lost in our own. Such as the respect for elders, parents and marriage.
Oh Bev — how hard — yet you have chosen the way of peace. And I know this isn’t the first time for you of this kind of heartbreak.
Thanks too for your encouraging words.
Bev, This must be heart wrenching for you and Terry. I pray that the Lord will direct your path and give you His peace.
I also love your comments about the wedding, Bev. Yes, our culture could learn a lot from other cultures.
Bev, I am sad to hear of the church business. It sounds awful and I will pray for you and your husband. 🙏🙏🙏
SUNDAY:
1. How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week? If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings. – This past week has been a bit strange. I was asked by out outgoing Ladies Ministry Team Leader to pray about taking over the lead. I started praying right away and asked a couple of my close prayer warriors to also pray for wisdom and confirmation. I felt the Lord leading me, to do it, but still had some reservations about it. At our last meeting, Barb mentioned she was stepping down and I was taking over. There was a bit of silence from a couple, but one lady ended up speaking up and said she really felt the Lord was leading her to step in to this role since August when she started praying. The look on her face as she was speaking was like it was glowing. I waited until she was finished speaking. I then said, she could take over position. Others asked me if I was sure and I said yes, the look on her face was all I needed to see and that she had my blessing to take it over. I really felt God was saying let her take it since I was a little unsure if I was doing the right thing by taking it. I am involved in other things at the church, and I know God will guide me where I’m really supposed to be helping and leading. The lesson I learned from all of this was to just ask people to pray and not tell them why, but to really wait for God to guide me and for my prayer warriors to come up with what they have heard from God on their own.
As far as the wedding and what all went on, I’m always so confused at what to do in these situations. Do we honor God and those who don’t believe as we do will understand. If they don’t want our beliefs pushed on them, isn’t it ok for us too? Shouldn’t both sides be ok and agree to disagree? I would love to see an Indian wedding like this. I love the different cultures and what they do.
Oh, Julie! You are so filled with God’s grace. I know God has great things in store for you. Your response to this lady speaks volumes of your wisdom and grace, and listening to God’s voice.
Love your story about the lead position and your decision to offer it to her.
Julie, wow! The Holy Spirit was at work, and you are so gracious in giving the position to the other lady. I could tell that you sought out the Lord in earnest, and He worked it out for you.
Julie — how I love this story and your sensitivity to His Spirit! Was the woman who asked you to step in glad about this too?
These situations, like the wedding, are so tricky — which is why we need a Person and not just rules, and why we need to give one another grace.
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. What do you learn from the pronoun in Genesis 1:26? – Man was to be made in God’s image and rule over all creatures on the earth and over all the creatures in the sea and the birds in the air
3. What do you learn from Colossians 2:3-4? – We will have wisdom and knowledge in the mystery of knowing Christ.
Now, meditate on the passage below, but keep this in mind. Keller stresses this is poetry, not prose, designed to give you a sense of the joy of the Trinity in harmony, so don’t press it too hard. Jesus was not created, but has always existed. So keep that in mind as you meditate. Jesus is the voice of wisdom, wisdom personified.
22 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
MEDITATE ON PROVERBS 8:22-31 ABOVE OR IN YOUR TRANSLATION
A. What jumps out at you at first and why? – “The Lord possessed me” My NIV shows the “Lord brought me forth”. When I see ‘possessed’ I immediately thought of God being in Jesus. So, when we see “I and the Father are one” this all makes more sense to me. I can see a clearer picture of this verse.
B. How can you see the Father and the Son designing creation together from this passage? Give examples. – Jesus was there with the Father from before the creation of the earth, so because they were one, Jesus was also creating everything when God did. These verses say “I was there”; “then I was beside him”; with Jesus being the one speaking.
C. There is a certain joy in working in harmony with someone for the glory of God. Can you give an example of that from your life? – Our church in Tennessee is a drop off location for other churches and people to bring their filled OCC (Operation Christmas Child) boxes for us to pack up and send to the distribution centers. What an honor it is to see the many boxes come through our doors and then in December we head to Samaritans Purse in Boone NC to load the huge boxes to be shipped all over the world. To see so many people helping, looking through the boxes for any items that shouldn’t be shipped and filling them with extras, so each child has a full box, just brings a whole new meaning to filling a shoe box. All of us working for God’s glory to lift up a child in a country that doesn’t have what we have readily available, what an awesome feeling it is.
D. How do you see God delighting in His Son in this passage — and how do you see them together delighting in us? – Any parent is honored to have their child walking beside them daily. Jesus was God’s delight; Jesus rejoiced in God daily.
E. Keller points out that other philosophies say the world was created through an explosion or through warring gods. How is Christianity different? – Christianity wasn’t created, it was just there. Most people, though they may not agree, know of Christianity and its existence, I think.
Julie, I did not read your post, before I wrote mine! Operation Christmas Child is such a wonderful way to spread God’s love! I so agree: All of us working for God’s glory to lift up a child in a country that doesn’t have what we have readily available, what an awesome feeling it is. I love that we always include a prayer card. I did not know until I started this that they offer classses and follow up for children and parents who want to know Jesus! It is a huge blessing!
Julie, I love OCC! One of my friends is in charge of the drop-off site in our county. We enjoy putting together these boxes.
1. If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings.
This was such a beautiful and amazing wedding, Dee. I love that you prayed and the Lord directed you. You honored God, in the wisdom He gave to you, you honored and showed great respect to Amrinder and Emily, and Amrinder’s family, I feel that this family has wonderful values and takes marriage very seriously. Amrinder is seeking truth and attending church with Emily. We cannot know the ways of Jesus, but you showed grace, love and respect, yet you stood and prayed, rather than knelt and that seems like a loving response.. I love this: The ceremony in the morning was in a very small temple, and in the Indian language, so I didn’t understand much, but I was told that when Emily and Amrinder circled the bed with the book at the front four times, it was symbolic of their vows to God, to each other, to their family and to truth. This is so important in all marriages!
There is great importance in family relationships, especially with those who are seeking Christ. To partake in this wedding, though it is a different culture is a way to show respect to the culture. I think you showed Amrinder and his family the love of Jesus in a very real way..
Patti, I so agree with what you said about Dee attending the wedding. She showed such love and care to Amrinder and his family.
Thanks, Patti.
2. What do you learn from the pronoun in Genesis 1:26?
God speaking for the Trinity-Father, Son and Holy Spirit
3. What do you learn from Colossians 2:3-4?
True wisdom and knowledge are hidden treasures of Christ Himself.
A. What jumps out at you at first and why?
Wisdom/God and Christ were there at the beginning of Creation. Wisdom is personified – Wisdom/God and Christ are One.
B. How can you see the Father and the Son designing creation together from this passage? Give examples.
Christ was here before the earth and fields and dust of the world. God and Christ were establishing the heavens, the skies and the seas.
C. There is a certain joy in working in harmony with someone for the glory of God. Can you give an example of that from your life?
I felt this for the years that my husband and I worked together at school, creating sets and mentoring students for the plays he presented, for the Glory of God. I also have felt this working with other Christian women recently, shopping, packaging and filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! Although, I had never done this in the past, it gives us all great Joy to work to send these boxes filled with necessities, prayers and notes of love to children all over the world, who are invited to learn more about Jesus.
D. How do you see God delighting in His Son in this passage — and how do you see them together delighting in us?
Proverbs 8:30-31 “I was beside Him, as a master workman; and I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in His world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.”
E Keller points out that other philosophies say the world was created through an explosion or through warring gods. How is Christianity different?
Christianity is a Creator with an amazing mind, (beyond our comprehension), who delights in fellowship with the other members of the Trinity, as well as with His creation, mankind and the animals. He is interactive and relational. We are created to have community with Him and to care for, love and have community with His creation. God planned creation, it did not just show up from nowhere. God wanted a loving relationship with His creation.
Patti and her husband put on amazing productions at their Christian School!
We were humbled and blessed that God placed us there at that specific time. We were the ones, who were blessed the most by this time. It so increased my faith that God takes little and takes times that had darkness and turned it to all light and used it all to Glorify Him and for His purposes.
2. What do you learn from the pronoun in Genesis 1:26?
It says “our….” This means more than one; Father and Son.
3. What do you learn from Colossians 2:3-4?
Christ has all the knowledge and wisdom.
MONDAY: THE TEXT
1. What do you learn from the pronoun in Genesis 1:26?
Wisdom is personified?
2. What do you learn from Colossians 2:3-4?
Jesus Christ is, and is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.
Now, meditate on the passage below, but keep this in mind. Keller stresses this is poetry, not prose, designed to give you a sense of the joy of the Trinity in harmony, so don’t press it too hard. Jesus was not created, but has always existed. So keep that in mind as you meditate. Jesus is the voice of wisdom, wisdom personified.
22 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
MEDITATE ON PROVERBS 8:22-31 ABOVE OR IN YOUR TRANSLATION
A. What jumps out at you at first and why?
Before the beginning, Jesus was already there.
B. How can you see the Father and the Son designing creation together from this passage? Give examples.
I love this: “I was beside Him, like a master workman, rejoicing in each other’s company.
Today, I went out to lunch with a few friends and several of us stopped by a Dollar Tree store to get for ideas for our church. I am trying to picture now how two of us were huddled over good finds, conversing with each other about what we can do with a cookie tray to pursue an idea for Thanksgiving! There we were laughing and finishing each other’s sentences, and later realized we had put together what we think is a novel idea, but we had to put our heads together for both of us to be satisfied! And we hope to involve everybody, young and older!
What a dim reflection of the joy that the Father and Son shared in designing creation!
C. There is a certain joy in working in harmony with someone for the glory of God. Can you give an example of that from your life?
Leading worship with Richard has often been a source of joy for me. We know we both sing to and for God. We may not be the best singers or instrumentalists, but we know we love doing it for God and His people.
C. How do you see God delighting in His Son in this passage — and how do you see them together delighting in us?
See part of my answer to B for the first question. And this is my answer to the next question: rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
Love your dollar tree story.
SUNDAY:
1.How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week? If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings. Oh, my, this has been a tough week. The Lord is my only consolation when facing difficult circumstances. I am enjoying Keller’s message immensely. The blog always helps ground me back into scripture when I’m feeling like my world is falling apart.
Dee, the wedding looks amazing. My adopted son had a OT therapist who was adopted from India and grew up here as a Christian. She did have some Indian traditions in her wedding. I never asked about the details, but now I would love to hear how she handled things. She married a Dutch boy from Holland, Michigan, and I think just wanted to include her heritage in her ceremony as far as dress goes. The pictures are beautiful from her wedding, as are your granddaughters. I really appreciate the thoughtful approach you took to attending the wedding. I do believe the Lord looks at the heart. We on earth are worried about many things, but the Lord is concerned with the heart and relationships. What you did for your granddaughter could be construed as something bad in regards to your faith and loyalty to God, but I see your love for God and your granddaughter intermingled. It is concerning that her husband is not a believer, yet; but it is not my place to make that call. I find it interesting that they are each willing to partake in a ceremony which they don’t fully believe in. I know that you will take opportunity for witnessing to them when the Lord provides that opportunity for conversation. As far as the text from Kings, I’m a bit conflicted. Naaman has this position and will need to go against his faith in order to perform his duties as a new Christian. I’m thinking of Christian’s who have been persecuted for their faith or even martyred. The cake decorator in Colorado who had to go to the Supreme Court to defend his beliefs and experience death threats, for instance. Naaman chooses to live in a way that goes against his faith and seek forgiveness. We can’t know how that turned out or what the Lord used his life for later. He may have brought many to Christ in his position. As you say, we each have to work out these decisions between ourselves and the Lord. I don’t know what Joseph did in Egypt, but he was forced to live among unbelievers and surely had to participate in ungodly ceremonies. How he clung to his faith.
Your encouragement means so much Chris — and I’m so sorry for your very tough week.
I loved that you pointed this out:
I find it interesting that they are each willing to partake in a ceremony which they don’t fully believe in.
Chris, I, too, believe this: we each have to work out these decisions between ourselves and the Lord.
And I believe for those of us who are watching others make decisions that we don’t agree with should withhold judgment, show love, and pray with gratitude for the grace and mercy we all receive daily. For God is God and He will make all things new, right, and according to His good and perfect will.
Chris, I am sorry for your difficult week. I pray that God will give you His peace.
I appreciate all the thoughtful views from you, Dee and Bing. I love this: I do believe the Lord looks at the heart.
I am looking forward to hearing about the Christian ceremony in May. Praying for many blessings to come from that ceremony.
Yes, Patti, we need to be praying for the ceremony in May. The Lord may reveal himself to unbelievers that day. And Bing, I do love pray with gratitude for the grace and mercy we all receive daily
Thanks Patti and Chris!
Tuesday: The Pattern of Wisdom
Before we consider the problem, we need to identify the pattern. Listen/read the following:
4. Concerning the material world:
A. How do Eastern societies see the material world?
It is basically an illusion and an accident
B. How do Western societies see the material world?
It is a power struggle.
A. How is this account in Proverbs different?
“In overwhelming joy, God designed the world to be a place of beauty and power and order and joy and peace. That’s the reason the sages of Israel, the wise of Israel, said wisdom worked.”
God created the world in wisdom.
1. How does Keller define foolishness?
I really liked this definition referring to the grain or the weave. God’s pattern or design!
Foolishness is going against the grain or the weave or the structure, the pattern God put into creation, which always leads to breakdown.
5. Give examples of “going against the grain of God’s pattern” in:
o Sex: ( It should be within marriage and between a man and woman;) pre-marital sex; homosexuality
o Eating: gluttony; eating disorders like anorexia
o Conversation: gossip
o Leisure time over indulgence
This is such a good question, Dee. It makes us identify and be face-to-face with such issues with clarity of God’s design without confrontation or condemnation. I am reminded of Becky Pippert’s advice on evangelism: “Learn how to ask good questions.” I can see how this principle can be incorporated into the nursing classroom. (cells and tissues). (Wink, wink, especially to Missy and Susan, and Laura, etc.)
And you gave such good examples of going against God’s grain:
o Sex: ( It should be within marriage and between a man and woman;) pre-marital sex; homosexuality
o Eating: gluttony; eating disorders like anorexia
o Conversation: gossip
o Leisure time over indulgence
1. How have you been aware of the Lord’s love for you this week? As happens so frequently in my life, it seems that every sermon that I hear, either live or through podcasts and radio are all touching on the same subject. This time it has been wisdom. Even if the topic wasn’t focused on wisdom there is a nugget of gold that addresses it and I know that the Lord is speaking to my heart.
If you have any thoughts on the wedding, feel free to share. Or, the passage mentioned in 2 Kings. I agree wholeheartedly with your responses to the different aspects of the wedding that may have been cause for concern. You asked for wisdom and searched the scriptures to see what it had to say regarding the situation. There is a difference between picking and choosing what you want to believe from the bible and being given wisdom as to how to biblically address each particular situation.
“There is a difference between picking and choosing what you want to believe from the bible and being given wisdom as to how to biblically address each particular situation.“
Dawn this is a very insightful comment.
I agree about the picking and choosing from Scripture. We have many very liberal churches were I live who like to “Jesus wouldn’t look down on other religions, or on gay marriage, for he is love.” But when challenged to find where He actually endorses those things, they are silent.
Love all of these insights! Such truth about finding endorsements from Jesus in the Bible!
MEDITATE ON PROVERBS 8:22-31 ABOVE OR IN YOUR TRANSLATION
A. What jumps out at you at first and why?
“30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.”
I’m not sure. Probably because I loved the dance moves for this part of a dance we choreographed. I know I should look at the scripture and give my answer because of it. But, in all fairness to us, we choreographed based on the words 🤷🏻♀️. It’s happy, carefree, and sweet.
B. How can you see the Father and the Son designing creation together from this passage? Give examples.
They worked together.
“The Lord possessed me…”
”When He established the heavens, I was there.”
”…then I was beside Him, like a master workman…”
C. There is a certain joy in working in harmony with someone for the glory of God. Can you give an example of that from your life?
Today, a former dancer friend and I helped each other choreographing a dance for our church Christmas program.
D. How do you see God delighting in His Son in this passage — and how do you see them together delighting in us?
“I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.”
E Keller points out that other philosophies say the world was created through an explosion or through warring gods. How is Christianity different?
Christianity is a delight, it is beautiful. It is love. It is art and song and a CREATION, not a mistake or something that is made from a violent act.
I think a happy carefree dance is perfect for this passage!
I so enjoy reading your answers, Laura. Love that they all show God’s joy and delight! And I love that you area working with a former dance friend to choreograph your Christmas dance. I jope it is livestream.
Happy, carefree, and sweet! Thanks, Laura!
2. What do you learn from the pronoun in Genesis 1:26? That God is speaking in the plural.
3. What do you learn from Colossians 2:3-4? In Christ is all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4. Concerning the material world:
A. How do Eastern societies see the material world? As an illusion, not real, an accident.
B. How do Western societies see the material world? A result of a power struggle.
C. How is this account in Proverbs different? It shows creation as a delightful collaboration. A deliberate, artistic, joyful creation.
5. How does Keller define foolishness? Foolishness is going against the grain or the weave or the structure, the pattern God put into creation, which always leads to breakdown.
6. Give examples of “going against the grain of God’s pattern” in:
Sex: Having sex outside of marriage or engaging in behavior that is outside of the marriage bed.
Eating: Eating in excess, just for pleasure or to satisfy an emotional need.
Conversation: Talking negatively, gossiping, crude jokes, anything that isn’t positive or uplifting.
Leisure time: (my downfall) spending excessive time in entertainment or things that take the place of prayer and mindful study of God’s word.
Great illustrations, Dawn!
4. Concerning the material world:
A. How do Eastern societies see the material world?
An illusion or accident.
B. How do Western societies see the material world?
A power struggle. Some sort of battle.
C. How is this account in Proverbs different?
It is based on wisdom. Creation made poor of delight and joy.
Not “poor!” Ugh! “Out of”
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. What do you learn from the pronoun in Genesis 1:26? God created the earth with the trinity.
3. What do you learn from Colossians 2:3-4? Christ holds all the knowledge of God’s mystery-all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in him. We are not to listen to plausible arguments. There are mysteries which the Lord may withhold from us. We are not to know everything and become like God. We are to be content with who he created us to be.
MEDITATE ON PROVERBS 8:22-31 ABOVE OR IN YOUR TRANSLATION
A. What jumps out at you at first and why? In my Bible, the word possessed has a foot note with, or fathered; Septuagint, created. We know God as Father and Christ as the son. I guess the word possessed doesn’t make as much sense to me and the meaning of fathered or created makes more sense except we know from church teaching that Jesus is a part of the trinity and not created, so that is a bit confusing.
B. How can you see the Father and the Son designing creation together from this passage? Give examples. V. 30 I was beside him, like a master workman v. 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
C. There is a certain joy in working in harmony with someone for the glory of God. Can you give an example of that from your life? I love a good church service when it just feels like everything is perfect. The people greeting are full of joy and glad to see you, the worship team is somehow extra good that day, the music just speaks in such a strong way and the pastor’s message really hits home. This is the body of Christ coming together to the glory of God. Also, in a small way sometimes, like a conversation I had with a lady yesterday over text. I have not met her, yet, but she is the wife of someone my husband works with and I sent her a sympathy card. She responded with thanks in text and we had a little conversation praising God for the hard things in life and acknowledging how he draws us close to him. We talked about how the loss of a child is somehow holy in the way it draws us closer to the Father than we ever imagined.
D. How do you see God delighting in His Son in this passage — and how do you see them together delighting in us? V. 30 I was daily his delight, v. 31 daily delighting in the children of man.
E Keller points out that other philosophies say the world was created through an explosion or through warring gods. How is Christianity different? Christianity is not about some random explosion or a man’s will. Instead creation is purposeful and detailed by a master workman with a great design.
We discussed the confusion of the translations that use “created” on Sunday, for this where some of the cult get their ammunition for saying Jesus is not God.I think it is a poor translation, but we must also remember this is poetry and should not be pressed so hard. Another important principle of hermenutics is to compare Scripture with Scripture, which definitely and repeatedly shows the Deity of Christ.
I agree with this whole heartedly. The Trinity and the Deity of Christ remain somewhat of a mystery to believers. As much as we would love to explain all of it, especially to our unbelieving friends, it will remain shrouded in mystery as God is God and we are not.
4. Concerning the material world:
A. How do Eastern societies see the material world? The material world is seen as an illusion or an accident.
B. How do Western societies see the material world? The material world is seen as a power struggle.
C. How is this account in Proverbs different? Creation is something beautiful by intelligent design, with purpose and joy behind it.
5. How does Keller define foolishness? Foolishness is going against the pattern God put into creation.
6. Give examples of “going against the grain of God’s pattern” in:
Sex: God designed sex for procreation within a marriage. This is corrupted like anything in our society and used by many for their own gain/pleasures. It is meant to bring God glory, not man. When God is no longer glorified in it, we know it is corrupt. Sexual abuse is specially noted in scripture to be the only sin brought into oneself. 1 Cor. 6:16-20 speaks about sexual sin as sinning against our own body-a temple of the Holy Spirit. We were bought with a price and called to glorify God in our body.
Eating: similarly, God designed food to meet the needs of our bodies, but also for enjoyment. There are so many flavors and smells and textures to our food! This is abused when we eat too much, or too little. We must put our trust in God and not his gifts. Abstaining from eating for a fast can help put food in proper perspective.
Conversation: ahh, the tongue. Taming the tongue is said to be impossible in the book of James chapter 3:8. Verse 9 says, “With it we bless our Lord and Father, with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.” James uses the horse as an example of how to guide the whole body of a horse with a bit in his mouth. If only we could not stumble in the things we say.
Leisure time: SCREENS they are addictive.
Great examples and loved your elaboration.
Amen to Dee. Love your details of each of these, Chris. Great truths!
4. Concerning the material world:
A. How do Eastern societies see the material world?
As an illusion or an accident
B. How do Western societies see the material world?
A a power struggle of gods
C. How is this account in Proverbs different?
Proverbs sees the creation as that – with an Intelligent Designer who had a purpose and a plan.
5. How does Keller define foolishness?
Foolishness is going against the grain of this structure.
6. Give examples of “going against the grain of God’s pattern” in:
Sex – Sex is designed for joy for those in a marriage, not outside of marriage
Eating- Gluttony
Conversation- as gossip or slander or to demean another
Leisure time – Obsessing on social media or internet
8. How do conservative fools read Proverbs?
If you live life the way you should nothing will go wrong.
9. How were Job’s friends conservative fools?
Job’s friends were rigid and without compassion, thinking that if his l ice was going so wrong, he must be sinning.
10. How do liberal fools read Proverbs?
They believe that they can decide what is right and what is wrong. They do not need divine order.
11. How were the people in the book of Judges liberal fools?
They rejected God’s wisdom and laws and repeatedly made poor choices. Everyone did what was right on their own eyes.
5. How does Keller define foolishness?
“Foolishness is going against the grain or the weave or the structure, the pattern God put into creation, which always leads to breakdown.”
6. Give examples of “going against the grain of God’s pattern” in:
Sex – pornography or an abuse of what sex is meant to be for a married couple.
“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
Eating – Eating more than what is necessary for your body to survive.
““Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.””
Daniel 1:12-13 NLT
Conversation – Being negative and dark instead of being the light.
“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Colossians 4:6 NLT
Leisure time – Playing without working as well hurts us in several ways. There isn’t enough money and it’s good for your brain and body to work.
“Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.”
Proverbs 12:24 NLT
Great passages to substantiate your points, Laura!
12. Comments on what you learn about reading Proverbs?
I never realized that Proverbs was meant as an instructional manual to be discussed in a community of parents and then in a group of wise mentors.
The proverbs are to be read, discussed and reflected upon. No one proverb gives you the whole picture. The first 9 are directed more to parents of children, and the rest more to mentors
13. Why does Keller say you need to look at Proverbs altogether?
We have to connect them and discuss them, and then reflect upon them as a whole. There are many perspectives and aspects to each one.
Thank you for this study, Dee! I am learning so much about Proverbs. It has opened my eyes to a more meaningful understanding of the whole book and the importance of studying it as a whole.
I’m so glad!
I agree, Patti! I never knew this and found some proverbs confusing. This makes so much more sense.
14. What does Keller say is the solution rather than looking at Proverbs as rules?
I love that Keller points out that Wisdom is personified and it is not about mastering a bunch of rules. It is about a love affair with Wisdom.
15. What difference does it make in your obedience to realize that sin is not so much breaking a rule but breaking a heart? Or that sin causes a quenching of His powerful Spirit? How does this help you? Give a specific example.
This is so powerful. When we sin, we are hurting ourselves, our conscience, our relationships, and much more. Yet the thing we are hurting most is the heart of our Savior, the heart of God. He is wisdom personified. The One who took on all of our sin and gave us the great gift of eternal life, is the one whose heart we are breaking when we sin.
This is a perspective I constantly need, because my sin is not just about me, it is about the One who loves me more than any other.
I love this: This would be the ultimate guide, the ultimate mentor, the ultimate counselor, the Wonderful Counselor.
Patti, I loved this, too: This would be the ultimate guide, the ultimate mentor, the ultimate counselor, the Wonderful Counselor. I picture walking with Wisdom (Jesus) each day. And to have Him accessible 24/7, and generously giving of Himself to me, to us. (James 1:5)
Love this too!
Yes to all of this! I have never heard of Jesus being wisdom. It makes so much sense to think of him this way. Wisdom for us is a relationship with him.
Wednesday: The Problem of Wisdom
Probabilities not Promises
Here Keller is helpful in showing us how to read Proverbs, not as promises, but probabilities.
7. What examples does Keller give that show Proverbs are probabilities rather than promises in regard to:
Hard work leading to wealth: Some people who work hard stay poor because of oppression (I see this in my own country)
Training up children leading to godly adults: some children go off the rails ( I have seen this, too)
Living morally leading to an easier life: they could still have a lousy life (I know of a family who live morally and love the Lord but they continue to have so many health issues between them and their children, though they do not think they have a lousy life)
Conservative Fools and Liberal Fools
8. How do conservative fools read Proverbs?
If you live morally, then your life will go well; but if your life does not go well, you must be doing something wrong.
9. How were Job’s friends conservative fools?
Thy thought Job had hidden sin or done something wrong because he lost everything.
10. How do liberal fools read Proverbs?
You can’t be predicting anything like this; you just have to determine your own right and wrong.
11. How were the people in the book of Judges liberal fools?
They do whatever is right in their own eyes.
Thursday: The Solution
How To Read Proverbs (Read/Listen Below)
12. Comments on what you learn about reading Proverbs?
You have to look at proverbs all together-connect them, discuss them, reflect on them, and do these things year after year.
I have a friend who reads 1 chapter of Proverbs every day of the month and starts all over again each month. And I know she is a wise woman.
13. Why does Keller say you need to look at Proverbs altogether?
No one proverb gives you the whole picture about a subject.
The Solution: Our Wonderful Counselor
14. What does Keller say is the solution rather than looking at Proverbs as rules?
Look at iPrverbs more as a relationship with Jesus (Wisdom personified, not just rule checking), the ultimate guide, mentor, and counselor.
15. What difference does it make in your obedience to realize that sin is not so much breaking a rule but breaking a heart? Or that sin causes a quenching of His powerful Spirit? How does this help you? Give a specific example.
I think I know what it means to have a broken heart. It is very painful, especially when the cause of the pain is close to you. If Jesus is close to me, which He is, then, when I sin, I break His heart.
When I withhold love from someone because of unforgiveness, then I break Jesus’ heart. I need to remind myself how much He was broken for me and His blood spilled out. How can I break His heart by not forgiving and loving another person?
Wow from Bing:
How can I break His heart by not forgiving and loving another person?
Dee, I love the imagery of Wisdom as a Person. This is radioactive for me! Walking with me daily and giving of Himself so generously. (I responded similarly to Patti on her comment). Thank you for leading us so well!
Thanks so much, Bing!
It was radioactive for me, too Bing!
16. Keller refers to John 1, where Christ is called LOGOS. In other sermons, Keller has said if you ignore the maker’s instructions for a car, and put water instead of gasoline in it, it isn’t going to work. Now, give a personal example of going against the Maker’s instructions for your life and what happen
When I make a decision about something, without praying, it leaves me in a state of anxiety, being unsure of decisions made, and it leaves out my relationship with Jesus. I love the relationship that Keller describes of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That relationship is one I desire to be part of and to have in my life. If I am communicating with our Heavenly Father constantly in my life, about everything, then I know I am in His will and I am more confident about my decision. It is about relying on the One who has paid the price for all I have done. It is God’s great gift to us. We need to always love in relationship with God, the Father, Son(wisdom) and the Holy Spirit.
I love this: When Jesus Christ says, “I am the wisdom in ‘personic’ form,” he’s saying, “I am the wisdom to you, I’m the wisdom of God for you, and I’m the wisdom of God with you.”
17. What did both William Holland and Luther discover about the Maker’s instructions that made all the difference in their lives?
We will never have the answers unless we look to Jesus, who became wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. We cannot not do it on our own.
Patti — this is so good!
I love the relationship that Keller describes of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. That relationship is one I desire to be part of and to have in my life. If I am communicating with our Heavenly Father constantly in my life, about everything, then I know I am in His will and I am more confident about my decision. It is about relying on the One who has paid the price for all I have done. It is God’s great gift to us. We need to always love in relationship with God, the Father, Son(wisdom) and the Holy Spirit.
I have always thought the Proverbs were hard to understand, like Jesus’ parables. I’m not sure exactly what you/Keller mean by “probabilities.” Something that’s likely to occur?
The Proverbs seem to contradict themselves. So how are they a guide then?
7. What examples does Keller give that show Proverbs are probabilities rather than promises in regard to:
Hard work leading to wealth
Working hard is important, but you might do that and stay poor due to oppression (how does that happen?). What kind of oppression does he speak of here? Oppression in that you spend all your money on frivolous things? You are oppressed by the world? Our daughter does this. She works hard and has no money. We have always worked hard and invested, saved, etc. we also have each other whereas her husband doesn’t work. We try not to have debt, but it is difficult for sure.
Our son lives in a socialist country (Netherlands) and can only have one job. He wants to earn more money but is not allowed to work another job for it. That, to me is oppression.
Training up children leading to godly adults
Keller says you can train a child well and they run off the rail as an adult. We definitely have this in our family! Our daughter is a true example of this. I don’t think we did that bad of a job raising her, but boy is she nasty now. Some things she says to us are hateful.
Living morally leading to an easier life
Keller says you might live morally and still have a lousy life.
I watched my mom live this way and her life was very hard.
8. How do conservative fools read Proverbs?
In agreement.
9. How were Job’s friends conservative fools?
They blamed/questioned him for not living right.
10. How do liberal fools read Proverbs?
They say, life is messy and you can’t predict everything. Therefore I can decide my own reality.
11. How were the people in the book of Judges liberal fools?
These people thought the judges could be the rulers. They would decide the fate of the people.
Yes, Laura — that’s exactly what.I mean by probability: “something that is likely to occur.” The genre of Proverbs is wisdom literature, which are probablities instead of promises. When Jesus says, “I will never leave you forsake you,” that is not a probabilty but a promise. When Solomon says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” that is going to be true in most cases, but it is not a promise. You may give a gentle answer to a fool and he’ll still rage at you, or a harsh word to a godly man and he’ll be kind in return. This is why we need our Wonderful Counselor. The fact that your daughter turned away does not mean you should not train up your grandchildren in the way they should go, but you must also realize it is not a promise, but a probability, and you must despair and beat yourself up because your daughter has turned away.
Please let me know if that helps.
Thank you for this great explanation, Dee! Promises and probabilities!
Yes! That makes sense 😉
I meant must not despair!
12. Comments on what you learn about reading Proverbs?
He says you can’t just read it by “dipping” in here and there. That makes sense to me because of the contradictory nature I see in the book.
He also says the first 9 chapters are for parents and the rest for mentors/adults. I would need to go back and read it all again to understand this I suppose.
13. Why does Keller say you need to look at Proverbs altogether?
He says it’s all connected and we need the whole thing to be a wise person. Not one proverb has all the answers. He also says you must read them as a community, together. You have to discuss them and reflect for years and years and then, perhaps, you will become wise.
14. What does Keller say is the solution rather than looking at Proverbs as rules?
The solution is to realize that maybe wisdom is really a person who we need to get to know to them know how vying be wise. I love how he says it would get us “off the hook” if we didn’t have wise parents who were supposed to be doing this with us! Love it! A way out. Although I believe my mom was very wise, she didn’t sit with me and read the Proverbs.
15. What difference does it make in your obedience to realize that sin is not so much breaking a rule but breaking a heart? Or that sin causes a quenching of His powerful Spirit? How does this help you? Give a specific example.
Breaking a heart hurts someone, where breaking a rule isn’t that way. It makes me think twice before I sin.
I have often wondered how a murderers mom felt about her “kid” doing what they did. I wonder if they thought about how they would affect those family members lives, if they would still carry out the crime?
Love these insightful answers and thoughts, Laura! You always think outside the box. ☺️
I agree. Laura is key to our group!
Yes! This blog is like a colorful bouquet!
This brings back such a fond memory for me. I was reading the Bible in one year. Dee asked us to memorize John 1:1-14. I was doing that and knew it pretty well. In my Bible reading (for the year) I was in Proverbs 8. All of the sudden, EARTH SHATTERING!! I realized, wait, I have read this before somewhere. It was in John 1! It happened when I got to verse 22…”The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of old…”
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was, in the beginning, with God.”
Oh my gosh! This was amazing to me. It was how my friend and I ended up choreographing a beautiful dance using both scriptures. I choreographed the John part as more classical ballet and she choreographed the Proverbs piece in a more contemporary style. We had 2 readers who read a few verses from one book and then the others. It was so amazing! To this day I get goosebumps thinking of the dance. We had at least 10 dancers. I wish I had a good copy of it 😔. I’m going to ask our pastor if he has one somewhere.
16. Keller refers to John 1, where Christ is called LOGOS. In other sermons, Keller has said if you ignore the maker’s instructions for a car, and put water instead of gasoline in it, it isn’t going to work. Now, give a personal example of going against the Maker’s instructions for your life and what happened.
I think getting married when I was 21 was probably a wrong decision. It was for all the wrong reasons. It ended in a divorce 3 years later.
17. What did both William Holland and Luther discover about the Maker’s instructions that made all the difference in their lives?
They discovered that wisdom was actually a person who demonstrated how to be wise. That was Jesus!
Oh I love this story, Laura.
I know how profoundly memorization impacts me yet I resist! Help me, Lord!
I’m reading all the comments late Saturday night and I just love this teaching and want to go back through it. It’s been a busy week, but I don’t want to miss this.
Amen to Dee. You are so gifted with dance And teaching!
Laura if you find a copy of your dance, I’d love to see it. That sounds amazing.
I am searching!
Friday:
16. Keller refers to John 1, where Christ is called LOGOS. In other sermons, Keller has said if you ignore the maker’s instructions for a car and put water instead of gasoline in it, it isn’t going to work. Now, give a personal example of going against the Maker’s instructions for your life and what happened.
Disobedience during various promptings that I know were from God resulted in missing his joy and peace and withholding what could have been a blessing to someone.
17. What did both William Holland and Luther discover about the Maker’s instructions that made all the difference in their lives?
Everything I need for life and godliness is in Jesus. He lives my life for me-wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. No performance on my part needed.
“…But look to Jesus who has become for you wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
Saturday:
18. What will you remember and apply from this week?
I want to live and be conscious, be fully aware, of Jesus’s presence in my life.