Proverbs 9:1-8 (NRSV)
Read Proverbs 9:1-8 on biblegateway.com
Verse 2She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
Verse 3She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
Verse 4"You that are simple, turn in here!"
Verse 5"Come, eat of my bread
Verse 6Lay aside immaturity,
Verse 8A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;
Devotion
Growing up in a country parish, our three sons soon learned words of wisdom they couldn’t ignore. For instance, a farmer would say “It’s time to get to work; there are bales to buck.” But, they knew that the wiser word was from the farmer’s wife when she said, “Dinner is ready.”
A first lesson of faith is listening. The story is told and listening ears ask the mind and heart - is it true or untrue?
Solomon listens to God’s wisdom. And, it is not only true, it is always true and it is great news! Best of all, the more he listens the better life is.
Listening is hard work, especially when wisdom offers something we do not want to hear, or when our desires stand between us and the truth. Yet when we listen to wisdom there is always the waiting gift of, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.”
Prayer
Father, open our hearts to feed on your word.