Hebrews 5:13 NASB For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

1 Peter 2:2 NASB like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Hebrews 5:14 NASB But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Philippians 3:13-14 NASB 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away

to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after

1. to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal
2. to pursue (in a hostile manner)

to run after, follow after: someone

metaph., to pursue

to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire

Philippians 3:1-21 NASB 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Definition: 1) any refuse, as the excrement of animals, offscourings, rubbish, dregs 1a) of things worthless and detestable

1 Peter 1:13-19 NASB

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

• Prepare our minds for action by,
• Keep[ing] sober in spirit by staying focused and
• Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
• As obedient children, and not be
• Conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance
• be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Psalm 86:11 NASB Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth; Unite my heart to fear Thy name. Philippians 2:12-13 NASB Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 2Timothy 2:21 NASB Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Romans 6:13 NASB And do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Ezekiel 1:5-14 5 Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form.6 Each of them had four faces and four wings.7 Their legs were straight and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they gleamed like burnished bronze.8 Under their wings on their four sides were human hands. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,9 their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn when they moved, each went straight forward.10 As for the form of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies.12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went.13 In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire. 14 And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning.

Ezekiel 2:1-3:14 1 Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!”2 As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.4 “I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God .’5 “As for them, whether they listen or not--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them.6 “And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 2:7-10 7 “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.8 “Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”9 Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it.10 When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe. Ezekiel Chapter 3 1 Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”2 So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll.

Ezekiel 3:3 3 He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

Ezekiel 3:4-11 4 Then He said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.5 “For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel,6 nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you;7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.8 “Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.9 “Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.”10 Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely. 11 “Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, ‘Thus says the Lord God .’”

Ezekiel 18:4 4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

Ezekiel 18:19-23 19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 20 “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. 21 “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.22 “All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23 “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God , “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

Ezekiel 18:29-31 29 “But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right? 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God . “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.31 “Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God . “Therefore, repent and live.”

Ezekiel 36:16-32 16 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel was living in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds; their way before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.18 “Therefore I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land, because they had defiled it with their idols.19 “Also I scattered them among the nations and they were dispersed throughout the lands. According to their ways and their deeds I judged them.20 “When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord ; yet they have come out of His land.’ 21 “But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God , “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.23 “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord ,” declares the Lord God , “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.24 “For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.28 “You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.29 “Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.30 “I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations.31 “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 “I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord God , “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!”

Ezekiel 37:3-14 3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God , You know.”4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord .’5 “Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6 ‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord .’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.8 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God , “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God , “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.13 “Then you will know that I am the Lord , when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 “I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord , have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord .’”

Romans 10:8-20 ”8 But what does it say? “The word is near you , in your mouth and in your heart ”--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed .”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved .” 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things ! 16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord , who has believed our report ?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “Their voice has gone out into all the earth , And their words to the ends of the world .” 19 But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by that which is not a nation , By a nation without understanding will I anger you .” 20 And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me , I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me .” 21 But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people .”

Amos 5:21-24 “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. “But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Amos 5:14-15 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Isaiah 66:2b "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

• Number of marriages: 2,162,000
• Marriage rate: 7.1 per 1,000 total population
• Divorce rate: 3.5 per 1,000 population (44 reporting States and D.C.)

FAITHLESSNESS IN PROVERBS

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,

Proverbs 23:27-28 For a harlot is a deep pit And an adulterous woman is a narrow well. Surely she lurks as a robber, And increases the faithless among men.

Proverbs 25:19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.

2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Proverbs 12:1 … But he who hates reproof is stupid.

FAITHFULNESS IN PROVERBS

Proverbs 25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

Proverbs 13:17 A wicked messenger falls into adversity, But a faithful envoy brings healing.

[Ruth 2:14-3:13- NASB]

V14-16 Continuing from Last Week...

• V10 tells us that the Excellent Wife is of high VALUE; meaning, higher moral worth, loyal and to be honored.
  • What this means, a woman who stands up for what is right. Who doesn’t give in to peer pressure, but who stands firm in Jesus even when she doesn’t want to. There have been times where I have had loving lead my wife to do the right thing; just as she has done the same for me. At times are times tough? Yes, but it is easier when we know we both love one another
• V11a tells us an Excellent Wife is to be TRUSTED.
  • Meaning, not only the husband, but others have FULL confidence in her. This takes time and is earned but can be augmented by a loving husband who is seeking to build you into this example.
    • For instance, I am confident my wife (Rachel) doesn’t push me to do things for her own selfishness. I know and trust and am confident in her choices and for THAT I love her. So when God said He will “ make him a helper suitable for" man (Genesis 2:18) I know Rachel is that helper for me and I accept her as an equal.
• V11b tells us an Excellent Wife is not incapable or helpless but CAPABLE :
  • Meaning The wife’s capabilities in business and domestic matters guarantee a rich profit and inspire the confidence of her husband. It amazes me, when I look at Rachel’s life, how she is good at everything. Because I see that, I am CONFIDENT in her skills and abilities
• V12 tells us that the Excellent Wife will do her husband good all the days of his life.
  • I know that Rachel always has my best interest in mind.

V17-23 :: Girl Talk about the guy

[Ruth 1:6-22 NASB]

V6 –7 God’s Grace & Setting Out to Receive It

At some point, Naomi and her daughters heard of God's visiting Bethlehem and blessing and giving them food. This act of grace, one could say it was a miracle, was provided to the Jews who remained in Bethlehem but not with Naomi who resided in Moab. Her first response was to immediately return home where God made his presence known. However, I do not believe the text tells us Naomi's motivation was due to God but to receive the fruits of God's visit. Based on what I will get into later in this post, I am leaning more toward Naomi returning to Bethlehem for the same motive she left Bethlehem, that being to find food. 1.) She returned home where God visited and food was now present and 2.) God sovereignly chose to remove the famine after Naomi had lost her husband and two sons...

This brings me my first point, it is so sad when someone has to hear about God's grace in other people's lives rather than personally experience it themselves. It reminds me of the many people wanting to be healed, see a sign or receive some benefit from Jesus - but truly didn't want Jesus. This consumer mindset is something that is overtaking the evangelical world with it's consumer, stadium watching Christianity. People are drawn for the wrong motives. But that is another message for another time.

One reason why I don’t believe she was drawn by God’s Grace and she was drawn by her own selfish reasons to have a place to consume food; her decision making was similar to that of Elimelech (Her deceased husband). As Warren Weirsbe asked in commentary on Ruth "Why would a believing Jewess, a daughter of Abraham, encourage two pagan women to worship false gods?" (p23) Perhaps she thought God was only blessing the Jews and the Moabites were already blessed with food so "why fix something if it is not broken" or because God didn't punish the Moabites with a famine or perhaps she didn't want to bring home two Moabite women who married her daughters after her husbands death? Perhaps that would reflect negatively on her? It seems to me, that Naomi was attempting to not bring these women home with her. Although, this can't be answered by this text itself; it seems to me, Naomi was seeking practical reasons to survive - moving to Moab for food, all men close to her die in Moab so she lives with her two younger daughters-in-law and when she can go home she "doesn't need" Ruth and Orpah anymore. Or she could sincerely believe they would be better off in Moab. Either way, it still tells me, Naomi didn't get the worshiping God means living for God; as if she was someone who went to Church when comfortable but when "times got tough" she chose her own means over God's.

V8 – 10: Naomi Urges Ruth and Orpah to Return to Their Moabite Homes and Find New Husbands

Namoi immediately informs Ruth and Orpah to stay in the land of Moab, get married and forget her. She evens goes as far to pray that The LORD (YHWY) would deal kindly with them. The word "Kindly" (NASB) here is the hebrew word "checed"; which cannot be defined by one English word; rather multiple words like: loving-kindness, faithful/strong devotion - combined. For sake of this post, I am using the word faithfully devoted.

Naomi prays that God would personally (Note the use of LORD or YHWH; using God's personal name - indicating His personal attention) be faithfully devoted to them as they were faithfully devoted to Naomi's sons and herself. The use of the Name YHWH is very important because it provides us a "look into" the author's mindset; meaning, the author believes that God/YHWH, deals personally with people. For example, I will us an iPod. The new iTunes has a new tracking feature entitled: "iTuneds Genius. If a user is faithfully devoted to purchasing, placing and updating their iTunes library with all the music they purchase iTunes Genius will as, Apple states, "...finds songs that go great together, and creates multiple mixes you’ll love. "

Therefore, Naomi wants The LORD to deal personally with Ruth and Orpah. However, they do not want to go back to the life they once knew; rather stay with Naomi.

V11-13: Ruth Persuasion & Implications

Naomi begins to provide practical examples why they should not stay with her. Naomi stats she is too old to get married, have children to raise for Ruth and Orpah to marry and therefore, she is without hope. Then Naomi tries to persuade Ruth and Orpah by indicating their lives will be harder if they followed Naomi because Naomi will have a harder path than them.

Again notice how this thought process resembles Elimelech's – circumventing God’s will for practical reasons. Furthermore, it is Interesting Naomi indicates God is against her. As if all this horrible "stuff" is because of Naomi - as if she was cursed.

V14-Orpah Listens

Both Ruth and Orpah cried together, indicating this was a very hard decision. However, Orpah ends up choosing Naomi’s way of understanding and takes off to follow Naomi’s advice heading back to her false gods; all the while Ruth remains with Naomi.

V15-18 Ruth Remains/Disobeys and Declares Her Allegiance to “All Things” Naomi

Naomi commands Ruth to go and follow her sister and Ruth decides to disobey Naomi and pledges her allegiance to Namoi. Ruth responds with 4 responses every Christian should live out: Discipleship, Community, Theology, Faithfulness

1. 1. Discipleship: Ruth indicates she will not leave, but follow and live where Naomi lives. Ruth is disciplining her life to that of Naomi's.
   2. Community: Ruth, pledges her allegiance to Naomi's people (Jews) and considers them part of the same family.
   3. Theology: Conversion
      • Although Ruth uses the generic term for“God” (Elohim) ; however, uses the term YHWH when speaking of The LORD dealing personally with Ruth when she is to be judged by The LORD.
        • Ruth Knows 2 things about The LORD
          1. YHWH is faithfully devoted to His people (notice the use of the word YHWH - indicating personally devoted)
          2. YHWH will personally judge His people (notice the use of the word YHWH - indicating personally administering justice)
   4. Faithfulness: Ruth will be faithful to Naomi even through death and burial

V19: The Homecoming

Bethlehem is "stirred", which means to be wined up, begin commotion or excite. The idea in this tense/context is not in the negative/gossip sense; rather in the excited/positive sense. As if the people of Bethlehem are saying “Is this really you!!!”. If it were gossip, then why would Naomi answer that her name is bitter (i.e. Mara means Bitter) ? It doesn't seem consistent with the definition of gossip.

V20--22: Naomi’s Recognizes God Sovereignty

Naomi calls God “Almighty” (sovereign/most powerful/the one in control) has dealt bitterly; was upset with me. Naomi indicates, "the one in control" has punished her for her sins. Naomi believes she has done wrong and she is being punished for it and she believes that The LORD (YHWH) personally brought her back empty, broken and without hope.

Review: What do you remember about Chapter 1?

Ruth lived in a HARD time; where she was literally broken by God and hit rock bottom in her life. In a time of her life without any hope. The reason why, she followed her Husband’s leadership, whose decisions making was not based on glorifying God’s Glory; his chivalrous attempt to take care of his family ended up resulting in unintended consequences; that being his death, his son’s death – leaving his wife and daughters-in-law without hope. Naomi’s believed this all happened because The Soverign God was bitter/upset/angry against Naomi for her sins & personally brought Naomi home empty, breaking her and making her hit rock bottom.

namoi & proverbs

Don’t trust yourself [Proverbs 28:26]

Naomi was a fool who trusted in her own mind. She chose to follow her husband’s faithless walk to move to Moab. Her and Elimelech didn’t seek any guidance. But found it wise to circumvent God’s judgment. Then Naomi attempted to rationalize why she should not bring her daughters to Bethlehem with her by saying they would be better off in a pagan land of false gods. At times, we too, trust ourselves rather than walk in wisdom.

Proverbs 1:20-33 tells us that wisdom is not some 'hidden' secret thing rather it is readily available. In fact it is screaming at you, wisdom is attempting to get to you. The text continues to tell us wisdom is screaming in a noisy street. This reminds me how many of our decisions today are clouded by noise (i.e. Other people, bad teaching, emotion filled bias ect). With all that said, the text provides us with 3 characteristics of those who not only hear but "do" wisdom.

3 Characteristics of Those Who Do Not Hear Wisdom

1. They are Simple-minded or Naïve (i.e. untrained/inexperienced)
   • Someone who makes decisions about things they shouldn't. For example, a Christian family that has never been a part of public schools or asked someone who has been in public schools; wants to put their child in public school because they believe their child will be a "light" and "testimony" to all non-believers in public school. I am sorry but that is naive. They didn't seek advice, they didn't seek to understand what they are putting their child into.
2. Scoffing (i.e. Arrogant speech, blow off others and/or mocks others)
   • Someone seeks to badmouth others and/or mocks. Specifically dealing with decision making. For example, one who has a heart for talking about how "stupid" one is because their decision making is not their decision making. For instance, one who belittles one's decision to choose get pregnant when they can't afford it. That couple doesn't need to be scoffed at; rather, prayed for.
3. Fools (i.e. Stupid, arrogant)
   • This is the overarching characteristic of the above, they are plain stupid. They are arrogant and seek only themselves. They fail to understand.

V23 But When We Follow Wisdom, Wisdom Will:

Pour out its spirit on you

You will be a wiser person. It isn’t just one decision but you will be a spiritually discerning person; one who makes good decisions all around. This doesn’t mean you can’t make bad decisions, it just means the majority of decision making will be spiritually discerned. Nor does it mean that one will only get wisdom for one decision; rather for many decisions. The reason being, we will know where to find wisdom; so we can come back to it.

Make its words known to you

The words of wisdom will now make sense; we will know what Wisdom has to say. This means a couple of things.

1. You know where to find wisdom
   • Kind of like a guidance counselor at school. When you want to know how to graduate one semester earlier, you seek the guidance/wisdom of the guidance counselor and you follow his/her direction because you desperately want that goal.
2. You actually listen to the wisdom provided.
   • When you want to be wiser, you will know where wisdom lies (i.e. pastor/teacher/elder, close Godly friend ect) and you will WORK to accomplish that goal because you understand what you have to do because you actually listend.

The text continues to say that ff we listen – we will be at ease when evil comes around. Because we will trust the word of God.

V24-32 If We Choose to Ignore Wisdom, We Will Receive:

Calamity(i.e. destruction), dread (i.e. Terror/anxiety), storms (i.e. Difficult situations), anguish (i.e. Anxiety/Distress/Stress). These are just part of what we will receive. We will also be ignored as made obvious in the days of Judges; where people cried out to God and God ignored them due to their sinfulness. This is the law of the harvest, indicating we will reap what we sow. Therefore, if we don't seek wisdom then our lives will be filled with unwise decisions leading to destruction, terror, difficulty and stress. Finally, w hen we move our lives without wisdom, we will end up becoming hard hearted to wisdom and become stubborn. This ultimately leads to being "self satisfied", doing right in our own eyes because we chose to glorify self and not glorify God.

Challenge this week:

"What in my life is currently eclipsing the glory of God?" Like Naomi, are you seeking your own sustaining power or are you like Elimelech seeking to save your family before obeying God? What idols are in the way of God's glory shining through your life?