Daily Devotions
You Alone Will Bear It
Reading for July 2nd: Proverbs 8-11
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:12
Chapters 7-9 in Proverbs portray two women crying out to a young man. In chapter 7 it is the immoral woman, who calls this man into her home so that she might destroy him. In chapters 8-9 it is wisdom, who is personified as a woman, who calls the same young man into her home so that he might be blessed.
Chapter 9 concludes in the same way the book began. In chapter 1:7 the thesis statement is set forth which says that the "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" and then adding that "fools despise wisdom and instruction." These words are repeated in chapter 9:10 ("The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom") and then it is aded that if you reprove a scoffer that he will hate you and that if you reprove a wise man he will love you and become wiser still (9:7-9).
We have a choice. We can be humble and realize that we don't have all the answers. This is not only the beginning of wisdom, it is the secret to receiving many of the blessings God desires to give us in this life (9:11).
On the other hand we can stiffen our neck and harden our heart to the truth become of our pride and refuse to listen to God. But the end of this attitude will be painful. It is the way of destruction and death, not only in this life but in the one to come.
Father, give us a heart of wisdom that will freely hear and follow all that you have spoken!
