Thursday, May 12, 2022
The Very Tree of Life
13-18 You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom,
when you make friends with Madame Insight.
She’s worth far more than money in the bank;
her friendship is better than a big salary.
Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth;
nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
With one hand, she gives long life; with the other, she confers recognition.
Her manner is beautiful,
her life wonderfully complete.
She’s the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her.
Hold her tight—and be blessed!
19-20 With Lady Wisdom, God formed Earth;
with Madame Insight, he raised Heaven.
They knew when to signal rivers and springs to the surface,
and dew to descend from the night skies.
-Proverbs 3:13-20 The Message
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge, the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
Verses 16-17 studies: You will read in Proverbs many strong statements about the benefits of wisdom; long life, wealth, honor, and peace. What if you are not experiencing the benefits? Does this mean you are short on wisdom? Not really. These statements are made for basic living, not guarantees. In a perfect world, wise behavior would lead to these benefits. Living wisely usually results in apparent blessings in our troubled world, but not always. Sin would intervene, and blessings would be delayed until Jesus returns to establish His eternal kingdom. This is why we should “walk by faith,” “not by sight.” We can be sure that wisdom will lead to blessings.
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. -2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
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