By Wisdom a House is Built

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

By Wisdom a House is Built

Date: Feb. 13, 2024

Passage

Proverbs 24:1-12 (ESV)

1   Be not envious of evil men,
    nor desire to be with them,
2   for their hearts devise violence,
    and their lips talk of trouble.
3   By wisdom a house is built,
    and by understanding it is established;
4   by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all precious and pleasant riches.
5   A wise man is full of strength,
    and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6   for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
    and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7   Wisdom is too high for a fool;
    in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8   Whoever plans to do evil
    will be called a schemer.
9   The devising of folly is sin,
    and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10   If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
11   Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12   If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
  Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man according to his work?

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 24:3

By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;

Saying 20 warns against envying the wicked or keeping company with them. Without realizing it, their bad influence corrupts us with their unbelieving words and dark desires. Who are we walking and talking with?

Saying 21 teaches us a valuable truth: by wisdom a house is built. There are so many things that we need. But truly we need wisdom to build the foundation of our lives, homes, families, churches, and communities. When we earnestly seek wisdom, God gives us knowledge to obtain very rare and beautiful things, such as: the Bible, prayer, worship, godly fellowship, faith, hope, love, unity, order, security, humility, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. These things can’t be bought with money or borrowed from someone else. They only come through having a personal relationship with Christ and being filled with the Spirit.

Sayings 22-25 emphasize how wisdom impacts our lives with power, strength, victory (22), greatness (23), and the courage to act (25). Those who lack wisdom are noted by their lack of stature in the community (23), by their wicked schemes that lead to folly (24), and by their cowardice (25).

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for helping me and making my house secure when I seek your wisdom. Please help me to fill my life with spiritual treasures.

One Word: One Word: Establish my house with wisdom

A Plague of Hungry Locusts

Joel 1:1-20

Key Verse: 1:4

  What the cutting locust left,
    the swarming locust has eaten.
  What the swarming locust left,
    the hopping locust has eaten,
  and what the hopping locust left,
    the destroying locust has eaten.

Today's Question

What are we specifically taught in the first commandment by the words before me?

See answer and references