BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusનમૂનો

How does one experience the satisfaction and fullness of a good life? Fall in love with Lady Wisdom and remain faithful to her. Wisdom is of God, who creates all humanity. Who knows how people operate better than humanity’s creator?

In today’s reading, the father described in Proverbs urges his son to give his whole heart to wisdom. Chase her down, pull her close, and never let her go. If you stay faithful to Lady Wisdom, she’ll crown you with life and honor.

Be warned, though, because another seeks after you. Proverbs picks up on the connection between marital infidelity and spiritual unfaithfulness we’ve seen elsewhere in the biblical story.

Like Ezekiel and Hosea, who described the Israelites as adulterers, the father in Proverbs warns his son against having an affair with another man’s wife and against having an affair with foolishness. Faithfulness, after all, is a matter of life and death. As today’s video explains, no amount of money can buy someone out of adultery’s consequences.

Faithfulness to wisdom starts in the heart. Sometimes we assume that the “faithful” person is the one who thinks or believes correctly. However, we’ve seen a pattern in Scripture that suggests the opposite. Israel knows and believes more truthful information than most of its neighbors, but the people desire the wrong thing. Their hearts want social status and self-satisfaction more than blessing and well-being for all, which leads only to foolishness.

The author describes wisdom as an all-encompassing, whole-body way of life. Tune your ears to sensible instruction. Make sure only truth rolls off your tongue. Turn your feet away from crooked paths. Use your hands to heal, not to harm. Fear Yahweh with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—and flee from infidelity in all its forms.

Reflection Questions

• What hyperlinks to Psalm 1 do you notice in today’s reading? What have you learned from these two passages about the way of wisdom?
• Can you think of any other biblical passages where adultery leads to death? (Look back at 2 Samuel 11 or Jeremiah 2 if you need a hint.) How do these stories help you understand the stern warnings against adultery in today’s reading?