Reading Through Proverbs: Proverbs 4

The focused reading from Proverbs today is Proverbs 4:18-19 and 4:26-27. In 4:18-19, Solomon wrote, "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble." Our walk as children of God is to be in the light and our path should be directed by God Himself (reference Jeremiah 10:23, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 14:12, and 2 Timothy 3:14-17). No matter what circumstance we find ourselves in, we can trust what God has revealed to us (see again 2 Timothy 3:14-17) and we must adhere to what we have learned from the Scriptures. As John wrote, "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5), and so our path should be "like the shining sun" (Proverbs 4:18).

In Proverbs 4:26-27, Solomon wrote, "Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil." We do not just happen upon the correct path; rather, it is something we must consciously pursue. We cannot, as Solomon wrote, "turn to the right or the left." Instead, we must continue in the Scriptures as they have been revealed by God (see again 2 Timothy 3:14-17). We cannot neglect the Scriptures and turn aside from them if we hope to obtain the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Reading Through Proverbs: Proverbs 3

The focused passage for today is Proverbs 3:5-8 (and 3:19-20, quoted later) where Solomon wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones."

This speaks to our need to humble ourselves and realize we are nothing without God. We cannot control everything, but He can. We are not wise apart from Him, as history has proven time and time again. Proverbs 3 offers a lot to the individual seeking wisdom, and warns us strongly against believing we are wise in this world without Him. This is accentuated in verses 19 and 20: "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew." He created, He controls, we learn from Him, we obey.

Reading Through the Proverbs: Proverbs 1 & 2

Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Side Note: This photo was taken in Yellowstone back in 2011, but I do not know the person.

The next reading is from Proverbs 2. The specific passage accentuated is Proverbs 2:20, in which Solomon wrote, "So you may walk in the way of goodness, and keep to the paths of righteousness." If we abandon wisdom (word of God), then we have abandoned the paths of righteousness. We certainly do not want to be the "unfaithful" who "will be uprooted from" the earth (Proverbs 2:22).