The book of Proverbs is a guide for pursuing godly wisdom in our daily lives. In this four-week study, we will read a selection of topical proverbs covering different aspects of wisdom, from how to interact with our friends, families, and neighbors, to fearing God and keeping His commands. No matter the subject, these proverbs urge us to wrestle with and reflect on our own response to them. To help you better engage with the proverbs in this reading plan, we have provided you with a short introduction and reflection questions for each day.
We are called to live without fear because the God who made us knows our needs and takes care of us. This doesn’t mean we’ll always have physical security, but it means our identity and future are secure in Christ. As our King, God also rules the affairs of this world with a just hand. He is the only one who can rule with perfect justice because only God can see all things and understand them rightly. He always defends and advocates for the hearts of His people. These proverbs help us understand security and justice from a biblical perspective.
Reflection Questions:
Look at Proverbs 1:33. What benefit is there in listening to God? What is your security?
What does Proverbs 28:5 teach you about justice?
What does the plight of the poor have to do with you? Why is it a matter of godly wisdom to care about the poor and the oppressed?
I have made several mission trips to the Dominican Republic serving on a medical team in the Haitian batteys. On one trip, as we arrived on a Sunday morning at one of the batteys to attend their worship service, I heard a woman singing. She was sitting in the dirt washing her clothes in a pan, her face lifted as she sang – “What a friend I have in Jesus”. I do not speak Creole but the tune hit me all of a sudden and all I could do was weep! That woman, at that time, taught me a lot about faith.
Lindsey – what’s the connection between security and justice? Hmm this really got me to thinking…. Biblical justice is God’s right punishment for sin. If we are IN Christ we are secure from the wrath of God for our sins. I think that helps me connect them on an eternal scale. I also looked up Biblical Justice on the bible project website. This is from their page: “…most of the time the Bible uses the word justice to refer to restorative justice, in which those who are unrightfully hurt or wronged are restored and given back what was taken from them. Taken this way, the combination of righteousness and justice that God dictates means a selfless way of life in which people do everything they can to ensure that others are treated well and injustices are fixed.”
Out of our security in Jesus we can serve those around us in love.
Hope this helps or brings another perspective. I’ll be digging more into this today!
Serving others helps us get our eyes off ourselves and that is when we find true joy because if we are serving with the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit then we get a glimpse of Gods love for people from the reaction to the kindness and love. Not for our glory but for what Christ has done. I get so blown away when the Holy Spirit prompts me to do a small act of kindness and to see the persons reaction over something so small. A cup of coffee a card a phone call. We serve an awesome God and he is seeking g those that will serve him . When we loose ourselves that is when we find Him and real joy.
Praying for you and your husband, Kathy. May God give you peace.
Hi Lindsey, my take on your questions are that Jesus came to serve others and I think we should strive to be more like Jesus and serve others. when I was more involved in ministry at church I grew spiritually when I prayed with people and witnessed to others. And it is very humbling to see how other people live and what they struggle with. Made me realize I do not have anything to complain about.
Kathy -done. :)
Hi Lindsey,
I thought it an odd pairing as well until I thought about the readings from today again. The first came from Prov 1:33, which spoke about listening to the words of the writer (Solomon- as he shares the wisdom he received from God), doing so will result in security and “safe” dwelling. I don’t know if this is accurate but to me that speaks of rest or peace.
Then thinking about Prov 28:5 “ Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.” Justice from the Lord is understandable as long as we seek Him. That makes sense to me because if we don’t know the Lord, we don’t know His heart, what motivates Him, His desires for those who are lost to be found and how He knows all things, etc. There is security (the ability to rest and have peace) when we know the Lord and His justice unfolds because we can trust in His actions are ultimately to bring the lost, broken, abandoned, poor to Himself. He knows each and every heart and longing. He know what needs to happen so that He will be revealed to one soul and that soul can be free and redeemed when that person believes and accepts salvation.
I’m not sure if that helps you at all but appreciate you posing the question as it’s made me think and dig a bit deeper into today’s readings. I hope you have a great day Lindsey and thank you again.
Praying for your husband – and you – today.