This week we begin our trek through Proverbs, covering the first 11 chapters.  The overall focus of Proverbs is around the theme of wisdom.  Where is wisdom found?  What happens if you ignore wisdom?  What does wise living look like?  How does God fit into all this?  The opening chapters of Proverbs ask and address those questions through a long discussion of wisdom where wisdom is personified as a woman.  Beginning in chapter 10, we encounter a completely different writing style as the "proverbs of Solomon" begin.  These are short sayings, where the second line essentially restates the first line.  Those can be a little harder to read because they don't always flow together.  Take your time. Listen and read.  The message of Proverbs is timely even today.  Enjoy this week's journey through Proverbs; praying that they provide a blessing to you as you read. We enter our rhythm of LEARN-READ-INTERACT.

From How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens, Michael Williams makes these points about Proverbs:

Phrase: Wise Order
Theme: God has placed an order in creation to which we should pay attention in order to live wisely.
Christ-Focus: Christ shows us what it means to live wisely (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Implications: We become wise when we let our lives be transformed by Christ's Spirit (Romans 12:2).
Questions: How do we go about developing the wisdom that finds its fulfillment in Christ?  Is it foolish to live according to biblical guidelines in today's world?

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