Verse: Proverbs 8:32-36 (NIV)
32 Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. 34 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. 36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.
Devotion
The “speaker” here (and in fact, for almost the entirety of chapter 8) is Wisdom. Solomon continues his practice of depicting Wisdom as a woman calling out to grab the attention of mankind, pleading with us to follow her. She tells us earlier in the chapter that she was created before the heavens and the earth and she was then a witness to Creation. Sounds like God was preparing a gift for us, doesn’t it? And he wanted it to be ready before we even existed.
If you’re a parent, verses 32 and 33 should feel all too familiar. Haven’t we all had this conversation with our kids? “Listen to me; trust me; I know what I’m talking about; I know what’s best for you; I’ve been there before; I have experience you don’t have.” But God doesn’t just HAVE experience, does he? He is the author of ALL experience. And wisdom is his creation. How much more important then that we seek after her? That we listen to her instruction and don’t disregard it.
But just like our kids don’t always listen to our advice, we sometimes find it hard to follow the ways of wisdom, don’t we? Even though we know that doing so would lead to: blessings, life, favor from the Lord. And failing to do so leads to harm. And why is it so hard? Because we’re human. Spiritual children. Which is why God never stops reminding us to seek after him, to seek after wisdom. Like an earthly parent, he desires that his children make wise choices that keep them safe and blessed. But he understands that we need to make those choices for ourselves.
Prayer
God, help me to seek after your wisdom. Give me the strength to make wise choices for myself and my family, even if a different choice might seem appealing at the time. Thank you for loving me enough to both offer me wisdom and to allow me the freedom to choose it. Amen.
Author: Dave MacDonald
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