Friday, May 1, 2020

Proverb-a-Day: Wisdom for a Covid-19 World












May 1, 2020 – Proverbs Chapter 1

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. 
(Prov. 1:32-33)

Welcome to Proverb-a-Day, the “Wisdom for a COVID-19 World” edition. It’s been my habit for many years to take advantage of a month with 31 days to read through the book of Proverbs. This year it seems to be a worthwhile exercise as we live in a world of self-isolation and government-enforced quarantine, as the world faces a global pandemic that has resulted in the death of over 250,000 people. What does the Word of God have to say to us in this situation?

I encourage participants to read through one chapter each day and write a brief note in the comments section of this posting. Add your thoughts about with the ways you have seen biblical principles work themselves out in your life, or how they speak to your current situation. Use this exercise to reflect on what God is teaching you during this time.

I usually start my reflections on Proverbs by noting two things: First, that the Hebrew word for wisdom is has the idea of power for living embedded in it. Second, that the purpose statement for the book is found in verse seven – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The verses that jump out at me today, living in a COVID-19 world, have a timely warning. We are told the results of the person that despises wisdom; in this situation that there is a reason to listen to our healthcare professionals and take measures like physical distancing and self-isolation. God’s wisdom for our current situation, given through the people he has placed in positions of authority, is so we might live in safety. Disregard the warnings and you will learn the wisdom of a Texas saying; If you want to dance, you’re going to have to pay the fiddler.

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