Reflections on Proverbs 5-9

Which proverb especially speaks to your life situation today? How should you respond?

Adultery – Three chapters are given to warning us against the folly of adultery. How might you use these chapters to help you combat the allure of forbidden sex in our society?
The Calls of Wisdom and Folly – Both wisdom and folly call out to the simple. Wisdom offers life, while folly leads to death. Which call are you following? In what ways?

Reflections on Proverbs 1-4

Which proverb especially speaks to your life situation today? How should you respond?

Fear of the Lord – As Proverbs introduces its purpose of teaching wisdom, it proclaims the foundation of wisdom – the fear of the Lord. Four times it is mentioned in our passage today. True wisdom is more than common sense, it includes a sense of God and his commands. Does your life show a proper reverence for God?
Seeking wisdom – Our passage today calls us to pursue wisdom, and outlines many benefits for doing so. Are you seeking wisdom? What wisdom are you hoping to gain from your study of this book?

Solomon dedicates the temple for the Lord. Note:

The Glory of the Lord – After Solomon moves the ark into the temple, the glory of the Lord fills the temple – just as it filled the tabernacle earlier. Yet the temple can’t contain God, for God is greater. Ponder the glory of the Lord and praise him!
Prayer – Solomon prays that God would hear the peoples’ prayers and forgive their sins that the people of the earth would know that the Lord is the one true God. What do you need to pray about? What sins do you need to confess? Are you seeking to spread the name of the Lord?

Solomon builds the temple for the Lord. Note:

God’s Presence – God chooses to dwell in the temple Solomon built (6:13). He chooses to dwell among the people of Israel. Today the church is God’s temple, and he dwells among us. What a privilege we have! What a responsibility!
Obedience – Part of that responsibility is to walk in the ways of the Lord and obey his commands (6:12). Are you taking that responsibility seriously?

Solomon asks for wisdom and prepares to build the temple.

Love the Lord – Solomon loves the Lord and walks in the ways of the Lord like David did (3:3). How is your love for the Lord? How does your love motivate your obedience?
Wisdom – God offers to give Solomon whatever he wants. Solomon chooses wisdom. What would you choose? What does that say about your heart?

David makes Solomon the next king and charges him to be faithful to God.

Exalting Oneself – Adonijah exalted himself as the next king only to be humbled when David made Solomon king. Later Adonijah tried a new scheme to exalt himself as king, and it cost him his life. Are you seeking to exalt yourself? Will you humble yourself before the Lord and let him exalt you in his own way and time (James 4:10)?
Faithful to God – David charges Solomon to faithfully follow the ways of the Lord with all of his heart and soul (2:1-4). Are you faithfully following the ways of the Lord? Does your heart desire to be faithful? In what ways are you tempted to be unfaithful?

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Heart – The psalmist seeks the Lord with his whole heart (v2, 10). His heart is in awe of God’s Word (161). He wants God to incline his heart to God’s Word (v36). He keeps God’s Word with his whole heart (v34, 69). Why is the heart so important? How is your heart?
Value – God’s Word is valuable! His Word guards our way (v9), keeps us from sin (v11), counsels and guides us with wisdom for our lives (v24, 98-100, 105), strengthens us (v28), and comforts us (v50). In what ways have you experienced the value of God’s Word? How might remembering its value spur you on to learn and live it?

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Delight in Word – Again and again the Psalmist speaks of his delight in the Word. Because of his delight, he meditates on the Word. Do you delight in God’s Word? Do you meditate on it, ponder it, think about it? How might you grow in this area?
Obey the Word – The Psalmist not only delights to meditate on Word, but he wants to know it so that he might obey it. How much do you desire to obey God’s Word? How do you need to grow in your obedience?

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Trust – Psalm 146 bids us to not trust in people, who are here for only a short time. Rather we should seek our help in the Lord, who made this world. Where are you seeking help? Who are you placing your trust in?
Praise – All five of today’s psalms call us to praise God. Use these psalms to offer up your own praise to him!

Which psalm or verse especially reflects your heart today? Use those words to talk to the Lord.

Refuge – Psalms 141, 142, and 144 all remind us that God is our refuge. In what situation(s) do you need God to be a refuge for you today?
Great is the Lord – Psalm 145 proclaims the greatness of our God and calls us to ponder it. Use Psalm 145 to meditate on his greatness, and then praise the Lord.