“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  –Jesus  (John 16:33)

As we continue probing the Proverbs of wisdom coupled with Psalms of honest worship, I would be remiss not to mention that Proverbs 2 was one of my mom’s favorite passages.  She quoted this verse often when she was perplexed but knew God knew the answer.  She quoted this to me when I was confused or needed help with life.  I heard her lead others to this verse when they struggled with life stuff. 

However, her all-time favorite verse came right after the Proverbs 2 passage.  Mom would follow up with this seeking of God’s help for true wisdom in today’s troubles with Proverb 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

It’s a matter of trust.  We must trust God with all of life.  Jesus told us there would be troubles, but he also reminds us that He is in all, nothing gets unnoticed by Him, and He overcomes all the world can throw at us.  HE is peace in troubled times.  Trust Him.

Why then, would we go anywhere else but to God for help?  Beats me.  Let’s continue our journey to wisdom and worship.

Psalms and Proverbs

Worship and Wisdom

Psalm 3

^1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting!
Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
“Hah! No help for him from God!”

^3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

^5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep.
Then I’m up again—rested, tall and steady,
Fearless before the enemy mobs
Coming at me from all sides.

⁷ Up, God! My God, help me!
Slap their faces,
First this cheek, then the other,
Your fist hard in their teeth!

⁸ Real help comes from God.
Your blessing clothes your people!

TRUTH:  Real help comes from God.

Proverbs 2

Make Insight Your Priority

^1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
    collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
    set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
    and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
    like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
    you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

^6-8 And here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free,
    is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
    a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
    and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

^9-15 So now you can pick out what’s true and fair,
    find all the good trails!
Lady Wisdom will be your close friend,
    and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion.
Good Sense will scout ahead for danger,
    Insight will keep an eye out for you.
They’ll keep you from making wrong turns,
    or following the bad directions
Of those who are lost themselves
    and can’t tell a trail from a tumbleweed,
These losers who make a game of evil
    and throw parties to celebrate perversity,
Traveling paths that go nowhere,
    wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.

^16-19 Wise friends will rescue you from the Temptress—
    that smooth-talking Seductress
Who’s faithless to the husband she married years ago,
    never gave a second thought to her promises before God.
Her whole way of life is doomed;
    every step she takes brings her closer to hell.
No one who joins her company ever comes back,
    ever sets foot on the path to real living.

^20-22 So—join the company of good men and women,
    keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths.
It’s the men who walk straight who will settle this land,
    the women with integrity who will last here.
The corrupt will lose their lives;
    the dishonest will be gone for good.

WISDOM:  Seek God’s wisdom, His skills for living.  “Here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free, is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.  He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.  He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

Abba Father,

I am committed to you.  I know that you know.  I know you know all there is to know.  You are God and I am not.  I will follow you because I love you heart, mind and soul.  Continue to teach me.  I’m listening.

In Jesus Name, Amen