Thursday, April 7, 2022

today's meditation (Pr.8) Seeking Wisdom

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Proverbs 8:1-36) 
1   Does not wisdom call,
     And understanding raise her voice?
2   On top of the heights beside the way,
     Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3   Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
     At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4   “To you, people, I call,
     And my voice is to mankind.
5   You naive ones, understand prudence;
     And, you fools, understand wisdom!
6   Listen, for I will speak noble things;
     And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7   For my mouth will proclaim truth;
     And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8   All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
     There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9   They are all straightforward to him who understands,
     And right to those who find knowledge.
10 Accept my instruction and not silver,
     And knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than jewels;
     And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
     And I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
     Pride, arrogance, the evil way,
     And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14 Advice is mine and sound wisdom;
     I am understanding, power is mine.
15 By me kings reign,
     And rulers decree justice.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
     All who judge rightly.
17 I love those who love me;
     And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
     Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold;
     And my yield better than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
     In the midst of the paths of justice,
21 To endow those who love me with wealth,
     That I may fill their treasuries.

22 “The Lord created me at the beginning of His way,
     Before His works of old.
23 From eternity I was established,
     From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no ocean depths, I was born,
     When there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
     Before the hills, I was born;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
     Nor the first dust of the world.
27 When He established the heavens, I was there;
     When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
     When the springs of the deep became fixed,
29 When He set a boundary for the sea 
     So that the water would not violate His command,
     When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
30 Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
     And I was His delight daily,
     Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
     And having my delight in the sons of mankind.

32 “Now then, sons, listen to me,
     For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and be wise,
     And do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the person who listens to me,
     Watching daily at my gates,
     Waiting at my doorposts.
35 For one who finds me finds life,
     And obtains favor from the Lord.
36 But one who sins against me injures himself;
     All those who hate me love death.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Wisdom is from God.  Desiring to have wisdom leads to the Lord and His salvation, which is eternal life.  And while here on earth, His wisdom can be our close friend!  How often do we go to a family member or friend in order to get advice?  How much better would the advice be if all involved had a close relationship with God and His wisdom?!  
Everything we need to know is found within God's words!  And there we can see and know how valuable our personal relationship is with the Lord, because we can go directly to Him and ask for help, as well as wisdom!
(James 1:5)  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

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