September 5, 2024
Wisdom -- Part 4
Proverbs 4:16-17
09/05/2024
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made
someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the
wine of violence. (ESV)
Both King David and King Solomon wrote: ``The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom.''[4] Each one taught his
children, each one taught you and I, the importance of seeking
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Both taught of
the blessing of hope which comes from trusting in the one true
God above all things.
Solomon gives a warning to stay on the path of
righteousness, not to walk in the way of the wicked. He is
telling us the truth about those who do not respect the Word of
God.
For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they
are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone
stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and
drink the wine of violence.
Solomon, writing 3,000 years ago, is telling us about the
things we see in the news today. Look at the violence and crime
in our cities, the problems caused by our greed and selfishness
even in rural towns and villages. We don't need to hear of the
escalating wars in the Ukraine or Israel. We can see death and
destruction as we drive in the neighborhoods of Minneapolis and
Chicago and New York.
God, through His Word, calls us to fear, love, and trust in
Him above all things. The summation of the commandments is love,
both for God and for our neighbor. As we seek first His kingdom
and righteousness, we also reflect his love in our dealings with
others.
May our Lord grant us wisdom to remain firmly in His Word,
to trust in His mercy, and to walk in the way of righteousness.
Amen.
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4. Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10