Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 9-13.

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The first part of today’s passage contrasts Wisdom with Folly.  It shows how both invite people to themselves.  Both present an appealing front, but Wisdom calls for effort, while Folly offers ease.  However, Wisdom’s call leads to life while Folly’s call leads to death.  In between describing Wisdom’s call and describing Folly’s call the writer speaks of how different people respond to being told they have made a mistake.  He tells us that if you tell a wicked man that he has made a mistake, he will lash out at you, but that a wise man will love you for showing him his error.  The language the writer uses makes it seem as if he is warning us about to whom we should point out their mistakes…do not ever mention a mistake they have made to a wicked man, but always tell a wise man when you think he is making a mistake.  While that is indeed a good idea, it is not the writer’s main point.  He actually wants us to examine our own reaction to those who point out that we have made a mistake.  If we get angry at those who correct us, we are behaving like the wicked.  If we wish to be wise we will embrace those who point out our mistakes.  I want to point out that throughout this Book, the writer repeatedly points out that anyone who does wicked things is acting foolishly.

I find the next part a challenge to put my thoughts together because it consists of a lot of short pithy statements which all contain wisdom.  However, I realized there are some themes which run through these sayings.  One of those themes says that one cannot gain security and wealth with shortcuts.  Attempting to gain wealth through deceit or by a get-rich-quick scheme will lead to losing any such wealth just as quickly.  The only sure way to gain wealth is hard work and patient diligence.  Other themes speak to how we use words.  The writer tells us that wicked and foolish people use words to deceive and mislead, while the wise are always truthful.  He also tells us to carefully choose our words and only say what is beneficial and needful.  Using many words when a few will suffice leads to bad ends.  I could write so much more, but instead I encourage you to read the passage and meditate on those things which it says.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.