The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 31:10-31 (day four)

Solomon ends this book of wisdom with a poem. In Hebrew, it would read as an acrostic poem, each line beginning with a successive letter of the alphabet. He uses this poetry to perfectly sum up the godly wisdom he has given throughout the book, and offers us a picture of this wisdom put into action. The short and sweet, pithy sayings we’ve studied now become embodied.

We met Lady Wisdom in chapter 1 and have followed her closely, but in this summary it’s difficult to discern where Lady Wisdom ends and where the real life “excellent wife” begins. But I think that’s the point. This chapter isn’t meant to be an impossible to-do list for women, or a how-to for domestic life, it’s meant to show us a picture of wisdom in action.

When someone reads Proverbs 1:7 and takes it seriously, this is the kind of life that becomes possible for them. Godly wisdom allows us to live like the “woman of valor” – working hard, moving in holy confidence, helping those around us to flourish, teaching truth in love. Through the power of the Spirit, wisdom takes hold in our lives and changes the way we live. As we end this study, may we consider how wisdom can grow from the seeds of thought into the fruit of action.

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 31:10-31 (day three)

“Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.”

When chapter 31 begins, the Bible explains that this closing section on noble character in a woman was taught to King Lemuel by his mother. It pleased God to ordain that this wisdom from this wise woman he created occupy this place in scripture. And what do these words reveal? That God has made sure that a woman’s worth does not come from whom she attaches herself to. Her worth does not come from the standards the world system devises – and certainly not from standards that society declares her body must meet. Her works will praise her. What comes from within her will say enough. Jesus affirmed it: what is external to a person doesn’t generate uncleanness, but rather what comes from within a person.

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 31:10-31 (day two)

The metaphor of the church being the bride of Christ is one that is often discussed when studying the Song of Solomon. Let’s take a moment to consider the same metaphor when looking at this passage in Proverbs. We, as the church, should strive for this standard of life. Our reputation should be one of industriousness, compassion, purity, and love. These qualities are often held up as a barometer for a good spouse, but how often have we considered these as benchmarks for the church. If we diligently strive to serve the Lord in all the ways in which he has created us, consider the impact in the world. Consider how this will please the Lord.

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 27:17 (day seven) 

The sharpening of iron insinuates a sword or knife. Though there are multiple uses for these objects, the one that jumps into our minds is weaponry. Could it be that Solomon wanted to point out to us that we are being shaped for warfare? However you may take this text, accountability, discipleship, or correction, it is evident that our purpose is to be ready for an attack.

Today is Pentecost Sunday, a day where we will celebrate the immanence of the Holy Spirit. With that, we recognize that there is a Spirit at work within us. However, there is a spirit at work in the world that is working against the Holy Spirit and desires nothing more than to go into battle against dull blades. Here are the questions we should be asking ourselves this morning: How is your blade being sharpened? Will it be able to defend against an attack of the enemy?

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 27:17 (day six)

“God has willed that we should seek and find His living Word in the witness of a brother, in the mouth of man.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together.

This has been true from the beginning, as we were made in God’s image. We were made to speak God’s Word, and therefore, we were made to receive his Word from one another. This also means that one of our greatest needs is to hear God’s Word from a brother or sister and for them to hear from us.

Let me ask you, of all the words you will speak today to your family, friend, or neighbor, how many will be God’s words?

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 27:17 (day five)  This week’s Re:Verse scripture is what I call a “coffee cup verse”.  Well known. Good advice. Truthful. Helpful. Short. Sweet. But there is so much we can unpack from this one verse. Necessity of relationships and community. Friction and tension needed to “sharpen” one another. I was struck this week that the two people or friends sharpening each other are both the same. Iron and Iron. When I think about process of sharpening knives, one is a steel blade and the other a natural stone. However, only the blade is sharpened. But the goal according to this scripture is for both to be “sharpeners and sharpenees”. Iron sharpening iron. We are born of the flesh. That certainly complicates things. But we also have the Holy Spirit. Interpersonal sharpening requires honesty, humility, listening, learning, loving. I think about Paul publicly confronting (sharpening) Peter in Galatians 2. We never see or hear about Peter rebelling against or rebuffing Paul’s correction. Instead, we see Peter writing about humility in his epistles. Only the Spirit living and working in each of us can help and cause iron to sharpen iron.

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 27:17 (day four)

Never in my life have I seen friendship done better than in the FBCSA Single Adults Ministry. It became clear to me in my first week on staff – these folks take friendship as seriously as Scripture asks us to. They know that God designed for us to live in community and they make it a priority in their lives, even when it’s hard.

I was struck by this when I met them because so few people – both inside and outside of the church – place a high value on friendship. Throughout Scripture, it is clear that all people are called to live in relationship with others. For some of us that includes marriage or parenthood, but for all of us that includes friendship. Many of us, as C.S. Lewis says in The Four Loves, consider friendship to be “marginal; not a main course in life’s banquet; a diversion; something that fills up the chinks of one’s time.”

To view friendship this way is to completely ignore the irreplaceable role it has in our sanctification, our calling, and our understanding of God. Real, Biblical friendship keeps you walking through the narrow gate, it buoys your faith when doubt clouds your mind, it helps transform you into the likeness of Jesus. Regardless of what stage or station of life you’re in, you are in need of friendship in order to walk in the way of Jesus. How is the Spirit prompting you to grow in this way?

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 27:17 (day three)

“Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.”

Nothing will replace one human life living together with another human life – longing, discovering, struggling, reaching, finding, revealing, hurting, repairing, nurturing, loving. Without this connection, a person will be injured, and might well die. Life with another is no luxury. It is as necessary as food and air. It is the way a human being develops. There could have been no substitute for a human Savior. God became flesh because we cannot find our way without the company of another human. God created you and me to exist as fully human only as we are in fellowship with other humans. It’s a mark of God’s image. You are not merely living better when you share life deeply with other people. It’s more profound than that. You cannot be fully yourself without such communion.

Re:Verse passage – Proverbs 27:17 (day two) Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.

I came to the food preparation scene fairly late in the game. The nuances of how ingredients work together is still something I’m figuring out. If it is not in the recipe, it is not in the dish. To that end, it has taken me some time to appreciate the value of a good, sharp knife. Who knew that you shouldn’t have to saw a tomato when slicing? (Please don’t judge) I was recently given a sharpening set, and I’m slowly understanding the effort it takes to keep knives sharp. If the blade has gone dull, it takes a lot to bring it back to its useful state again.

There are times relationships can be like this. If we are not sharp, i.e. where God wants us to be, there can be a season of tough refinement to back in shape. We should long to remain in that state of usefulness to the Lord. If yo are being refined or sharpened by someone right now. Take a moment to be grateful. My knives aren’t bitter when I sharpen them. They don’t resent the tool that is being used. They are, however, much more useful when sharp, and so are you.