Wisdom & Folly

 Proverbs 9

In verses 1-6, Wisdom invites:

1Wisdom has built her house.

She has carved out her seven pillars.

2She has prepared her meat.

She has mixed her wine.

She has also set her table.

3She has sent out her maidens.

She cries from the highest places of the city:

4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

5“Come, eat some of my bread,

Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

6Leave your simple ways, and live.

Walk in the way of understanding.”

Then, in verses 13-18, Folly also similarly invites:

13The foolish woman is loud,

undisciplined, and knows nothing.

14She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat in the high places of the city,

15To call to those who pass by,

who go straight on their ways,

16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”

as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

17“Stolen water is sweet.

Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

18But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

So both Wisdom and Folly are inviting you... which invitation will you accept?

Then in the middle, verses 7-9, suggests how you can tell which type of person you are:

7He who corrects a mocker invites insult.

He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

8Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.

Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

9Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser.

Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

So.... if we are open to correction, that suggests that we're with the wise. Ultimately,

10The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.

The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Father, help me to be wise and listen to correction. In Jesus' name, amen.

Be Strong In the Lord

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Ephesians 6:10‭-‬13 ESV

A New Hope

The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord  and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. But the sons of Korah did not die.

Numbers 26:9‭-‬11

In the middle of a census, we suddenly have this note.

Such a sad chapter in the history of this family, but then we hit the last line “But the sons of Korah did not die.”

In spite of Korah himself going down in history in such a negative  manner, the “sons of Korah” are listed as composers of 11 of the Psalms.

They didn't allow the sin of their father to stop them from serving YHWH. 

In a similar way, I must not let the sinful patterns of the past keep me from God. In repent of my sins and get up again to follow Him.

Thank you, YHWH, for You are the God of second chances and new beginnings!

In Jesus' name, amen.

You can't serve both God and money

Numbers 22

YHWH had told Balaam not to go with Balak's people. Balaam obeyed YHWH at first, but when they came the second time, with even greater offers of wealth, Balaam again asked YHWH for permission to go, in spite of knowing YHWH's clear command from before.

As a result, YHWH allowed him to go, but His anger burned against Balaam and only by His grace in allowing the donkey to see, Balaam wasn't killed by the angel.

A lesson for me here is that if we persistently pigheadedly go ahead with something YHWH doesn't want us to do, He may permit us to, but there'll be consequences.

As it turned out, Balaam only partially learned the lesson, for later he indeed blessed Israel instead of cursing Israel, but in the end, he told them how to compromise Israel - by tempting them to abandon YHWH.

Balaam knew that YHWH was the real God, yet he let his love of money to get in the way of that, and in the end Balaam lost his life when Israel attacked their enemies.

Balaam was a real prophet, and he really knew YHWH, yet he did this. This is a warning to all of us.