Proverbs 8:1-3: Wisdom is SHOUTING! Are you listening?

Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors:

Proverbs 8:1-3

Wisdom: ethical and religious

Understanding: intelligence; by implication, discretion, reason, skillfulness

Takes her stand: station oneself for definite purpose

At the highest peak, where the travelers can see her

Cries out: verb give a ringing cry

She is at the entrance to the city, where everyone must pass by. She is making herself known. She is available. 

Wisdom is out in the open where everyone can see and have access and she is SHOUTING—HEY, LISTEN UP! 

Wisdom is SHOUTING—trying to get our attention! Perhaps today, wisdom would be using Twitter, Facebook, TV, Aps to SHOUT her message. 

No matter how loud Wisdom shouts, too often we drown out the advice with our sounds of ignorance and foolishness. Too often we turn to the "doctors" on TV, or advice from strangers with their 140 character limit on Twitter. We'd rather hear what sounds good, rather than the truth that wisdom has to offer. 

Wisdom is SHOUTING, trying to get our attention! She is easily accessible. Yet, we continue to ignore her. 

To have ears ready to hear and give my attention to wisdom, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). And having a reverence for God, will not only give me a desire to hear wisdom, listen to the advice wisdom gives. 

Wisdom is SHOUTING! Are you listening?

Proverbs 3: 19, 20: Wisdom, Understanding, and the Power of God!

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. Proverbs 3: 19, 20

The Lord: deity Yahweh, the proper name of the God

Wisdom: ethical and religious: of God, as a divine attribute or energy

Founded: establish

Earth: land, water

Understanding: the act of discernment

Established: set up, fashion, fixed

Heavens: sky

Knowledge: perception, skill

Depths: deep, of subterranean waters

Broken up: rent open

Clouds: sky

Drop down: trickle, drip

Dew: night-mist

The things that can be done with wisdom and understanding..... and the power of God! A few days ago the world stopped to view the Super Moon. I continue to be awe as God displays His power and wonderful aspects of creation. Near the Castle,  is a road that has a beautiful display of flowers. Each time I approach that specific intersection, I thank God that He chose to create in living color. 

The Lord BY wisdom founded the earth. He knew exactly what was needed in order for His creation, including man, to survive and enjoy life on Earth. He provides rivers and lakes and vast oceans, and also the nightly dew to nurrish the Earth. 

The sky this morning was just a magnificent mix of cloud types and shades of pinks and blues. Beautiful craftsmanship on display as the sun rose creating a spectacular sunrise. And each morning the sunrise is a bit different but still each is beautiful. Wisdom, Understanding, and the power of God = spectacular results! 

Wisdom and understanding and the power of God—that same that was used to Create the World,  is available to each of us! Now that is awe-inspiring! Think about it. 

In order to fully take advantage of the wisdom, understanding the power of God, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). And when I have a fear and respect of God, then my heart and mind is open to the wisdom, understanding and power God wants to provide. 

Wisdom, Understanding, and the power of God = spectacular results!

Proverbs 3:14, 15: Incomparable

For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Proverbs 3:14, 15

Better: good, rich, valuable in estimation, compare to something (better than)

Proceeds, Profits: commerce, gain, merchandise

Silver: sliver as merchandise, 

Gain: profits 

Gold: decision, diligent, fine gold

Precious: precious, highly valued

Rubies: value

All: entirety, whole 

Desire: delight, pleasure, all things to be desired, longing 

Cannot compare: incomparable, no match

"Her, she" refers to the Wisdom that was sought after and found in verse 13. 

Think of the most valuable thing you can think of..... wisdom supersedes that! Compare anything to wisdom and that thing will fall short. Wisdom is the greatest treasure one can attain. 

Think about this for a moment. When something breaks, or when we have an emergency, we want those helping us to have the GREATEST wisdom possible. For example, when our car breaks down we don't call for a surgeon to come fix it. Rather we call an auto mechanic, one who has knowledge about cars and the experience in fixing cars—in other words, WISDOM. 

As we live life, God offers us Wisdom so that we can enjoy peaceful refreshment (Proverbs 3:8) and make the best decisions in life as we live our lives in accordance with God's Wisdom. Proverbs 2:7 tells that God is storing up Wisdom for us (#TreasureUp), it's available. And then Proverbs 2:7 and 8 explain that because Wisdom is so valuable, God provides a Supreme Body Guard to protect us as we live in obedience to wisdom! 

Wisdom is incomparable to the most valuable things we can imagine. And it's readily available. But without a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God, sadly, we ignore the incomparable resource and try to live on our own lacking knowledge. 

Incomparable—to the more valuable thing—it's available. The question is will I seek after it and take hold of it? 

Proverbs 2:7: #TreasureUp

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; Proverbs 2:7

Stores up: reserve blessings, treasure up

Sound Wisdom: of the effect of sound wisdom, abiding success, efficient wisdom

Upright: straightforward, just upright; the upright among the people of God as distinguished from the wicked

Shield: a protector, a defense

Walk: walk in one's integrity; of moral and religious life

Uprightly: integrity of mind

He—the Lord, Yahweh— is storing up blessings! Treasure up! That would make an awesome hashtag: #TreasureUp. God is setting aside blessings of sound wisdom—abiding success for those who choose God's wisdom.

Not only that, God knows as we try to walk in obedience to His wisdom, we will encounter enticements from the wicked. Therefore, God not only supplies the treasure of wisdom, He provides a defense against the wicked. So, we can enjoy all that God has reserved—#TreasureUp—knowing that we have the Supreme Body Guard! 

#TreasureUp blessings of sound wisdom, abiding success. It's available. It's waiting. Along with a Body Guard to protect us as we grow in wisdom and apply wisdom each day. 

#TreasureUp. God in His grace is offering wisdom. And will I be so stubborn not to accept it? Will I ignore His wisdom and accept the path of sin and destruction? 

#TreasureUp. If I want to be upright, it all begins with a heart permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For one who fears God, is ready to accept all that God has in store for him/her. #TreasureUp — it's available. 

Abundant Strength

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 28. Here is what I learned.

The Lord is powerful; he ·gives victory [is a saving refuge] to his ·chosen one [anointed]. Psalm 28:8 (EXB)

The Lord is the strength of his people and a fortress for the victory of his Messiah. Psalm 28:8 (GW)

The Lord is their [unyielding] Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to [me] His anointed. Psalm 28:8 (AMP)

Strength: boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong.

The Lord is their strength - Margin, "his strength." The Hebrew is, "their strength," or "strength to them." The allusion is to the people of God. The course of thought seems to be, that the psalmist, having derived in his own case assistance from God, or having found God a strength to him, his mind turns from this fact to the general idea that God was the strength of "all" who were in similar circumstances; or that all His people might confide in Him as he had done. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

God not only give strength... He Himself is the strength. The very power of God is available and graciously given to each of us. 

So, if the strength of God... God Himself is available to me, why do I try to “go it alone” and “do it on my own power”? 

The Lord is the strength, and He knows exactly how much power I’ll need to get through the day. He knows if I need physical strength, emotional strength, spiritual strength... doesn’t matter God is the very strength I need. 

To create a positive day, I only need to rely on God’s abundant strength.