Today’s Blog: Chained to Bad Choices?
TODAY’S PROVERB: But he does not know that the dead are there—her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Proverbs 9:18, TLV
Has there been a moment that changed your life? Other than our salvation experience, was there an event that shifted the course of our life irrevocably? Did we have a choice?
Sometimes, we’re taken down an unexpected path in our life, like with this pandemic. But many times, seemingly unplanned diversions are a result of choices we’ve made. Small choices that add up to major changes in our life.
Today’s proverb is the culmination of a naïve person’s choice to follow the “foolish woman” to his destruction. It may appear that this victim made one bad choice — and that can happen — but in all likelihood, this person had made numerous life choices that culminated in his last fatal one.
“Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is delicious!”
THE “FOOLISH WOMAN”, PROVERBS 9:17, TLV
Really? How obvious can you get? Yet, the gullible soul fell for it. Think that can’t happen today? Who in their right mind would riot and vandalize and steal and harm another? Who would stand by while a man brutalized a defenseless man begging for mercy?
Wisdom tells us that our foolish decisions will one day lead us down a dark path. They will chain us to a future we don’t want.
We don’t have to be chained to an unwanted future
But, we don’t have to venture toward a sad fate.
The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you scoff, you bear it alone.
WISDOM SPEAKS TO US, PROVERBS 9:10-12, TLV
We discussed the fear of the LORD (June 2, 2020). This is a great place to begin because it grounds us in humility and love and a sense of who we are — and are not. From there, deciding to study and live His wisdom will increase our knowledge and develop discernment.
Now, when the “foolish woman” tries to tempt us with her persuasive speech, we’ll see it for what it is: a trap. Seeing the trap, we’ll walk away. Or, like Joseph (Genesis 30:10-12), run!
I’ll leave us with Wisdom’s encouragement to pursue wisdom so that our days may be many, and we live with the spiritual advantages that come from the heart of our Father.
May we fear the LORD, and continue our wisdom journey, my friends.
Proverbs 9:18 Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
