Wisdom (Part 1): Week 5, Day 2

Welcome back to our second day of studying this week.  We are in Proverbs 9 this week.  Before you answer any questions, take the time to read the chapter in its entirety.  Today we are going to INTERPRET the Scriptures.

Now, re-read the passage and answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. In verses 1-3, wisdom has prepared for something (we'll call it a "party"). She has gotten everything ready.  Notice that all the preparation is in the past tense.  Look at the word "calls" in verse 3.  It is in the present tense.  What does this tell you about the preparation for wisdom's party and the invitation to wisdom's party?
2. Which two people are invited to wisdom's party?
3. In verse 6, forsake means: to leave behind, give up, abandon.  Folly means: young, naive person.  What must we do to gain wisdom and "proceed in the way of understanding"?
4. The definition of scoffer is: someone who jeers or mocks, a disagreeable person, an unpleasant person.  Is it worth the time of a wise person to correct a scoffer?
5. What two things will happen to the wise man who tries to correct a scoffer?
6. Compare the scoffer to the wise man.  What three things happen to a wise man who gets reproof, instruction and teaching?
7. If we are to be wise, what must we be willing to accept?
8. According to verse 10, what must you have to have wisdom? understanding?
9. Verse 12 compares the wise man to the scoffer again.  What is the comparison?
10. Verses 13-18 tell us all about a foolish woman - the opposite of a wise woman.  Go through each of these verses and lit everything the Bible tells us about the foolish woman and the people who choose to follow her.

You made it through!  This is a great passage, and I hope your understanding of it has become more than yesterday.  Wisdom is something that we would be good to have in our lives.  Pray for wisdom, sisters.  Pray for knowledge of the Holy One.  Pray that the Lord guides you in your walk with wisdom.

To read the previous posts on Wisdom, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 3: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 4: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 5: Day 1

Wisdom (Part 1): Week 4, Day 2

Welcome back!  Today we are going to INTERPRET the things that we read yesterday in Proverbs 8:22-36.  Before we begin, read through this section of verses again.

In your notebooks, answer the following:

1. Read Job 28:26-28 and Proverbs 3:19.  These verses help confirm the pronoun "me" in verse 22.  Who is "me"?
2. Verses 22-31 go into an account of creation that takes my breath away.  How did wisdom play a roll in creation?
3. Whenever you see the word "therefore", you need to look back and see what it is there for.  In light of everything that we just read concerning creation and wisdom's roll in creation, what should we do to wisdom?
4. Relate "listening to wisdom" back to Proverbs 9:10.
5. Verse 33 gives us a specific command and a specific not-to-do.  Write these down.
6. Verses 34-36 contrast the person who listens to wisdom to the person who doesn't.  What three things will happen to the person who listens to wisdom?
7. The phrase "sins against me" in verse 36 can be translated "misses me".  What happens to the person who does not listen to, or who misses, wisdom?
8. People who hate wisdom love what?

Congratulations!  You have made it to the end of Proverbs 8.  In our last session, we wrote down questions that we had in our notebooks.  Have you received any answers to your questions? What questions do you still have?  Write these down and pray for wisdom!

To read the previous posts on Wisdom, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 3: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 4: Day 1

Wisdom (Part 1): Week 3, Day 2

Welcome to our day of INTERPRETING the Scriptures! We are looking at Proverbs 8:1-21 this week, and over the next couple of weeks we will look at the second part of Proverbs 8 and Proverbs 9. Read through this week's text slowly, absorbing what the text says.

Now, re-read the passage, and answer these questions in your notebook:

Side note: In verse 1, I told you to mark wisdom and understanding the same way.  The Hebrew meaning of wisdom in this verse is: technical skill, experience, shrewdness.  The Hebrew meaning of understanding is: cleverness, skill.  In verse 5, the Hebrew meaning of understanding is: see, pay attention, consider, teach, examine.  In verse 1, understanding means close to the same thing as wisdom, so we are going to mark them the same way. In verse 5, understanding takes on a different meaning, so we are going to mark it green throughout the rest of the passage.

1.  In verses 1-3, is wisdom a seemingly difficult thing to come by? How prevalent is wisdom?
2. In verses 4-5, wisdom is speaking to four different groups of people.  List these out.
3. In verse 6-9, the author talks about wisdom "speaking".  List the six things that wisdom speaks about. List the three things that wisdom will not speak about.
4. In verses 10-11, wisdom is compared to riches.  Write out these comparisons.
5. In verse 12, what three things does wisdom do?
6. In verse 13, look at the phrase, "the fear of the Lord."  Read Proverbs 9:10 and write down the relationship between the fear of the Lord and wisdom.  How does that relationship help you interpret verse 13?
7. Look at verses 14-16 and list nine things that you learn about wisdom.
8. According to verse 17, how can you gain wisdom? Use Proverbs 2:4-5 and James 1:5 to help you.
9. Do verses 18-21 imply that if we have wisdom we will be rich? What is the implication in these verses? For more clarity, read Matthew 6:25-33.  What things do we need to concern ourselves with, instead of material things.

Well, sisters, you have made it through today's study.  Take a deep breath!  There is so much to learn and gain from what we have read.  Our next study will be the APPLICATION time, and you better hang on to your hats!  I'm so excited to share this with you!

To read the previous posts on Wisdom, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 3: Day 1

Wisdom (Part 1): Week 2, Day 2

Wasn't yesterday's reading pretty remarkable?  I'm so excited to dig into this even deeper with you today and INTERPRET the text.  As a reminder, read through 1 Kings 3:16-28 again.

Now, read through it again, and answer these questions in your notebook:

1. Verses 16-22 present a problem.  Summarize this problem.
2. What is verse 23?.  Can you already see Solomon's wisdom shining through?
3. Verses 25-27 show Solomon solving the problem. Summarize these verses.
4. Verse 28 shows the kingdom's response to Solomon's wisdom. How did they react?
5. How is Solomon's wisdom identified in verse 28?

This is a short, yet extremely sweet, passage of Scripture.  Passages that read as stories are generally easier for me to understand, but it does not take away from the importance of the Scripture. As we move into our time of APPLICATION, what are you already gathering from this week's study? Be in prayer about how this section of Scripture can be applicable to your daily life.

To read the previous posts on Wisdom, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1

Wisdom (Part 1): Week 1, Day 2

Welcome to day two!  Today we are going to INTERPRET the Word of God in its own context, using the Scripture alone.  This is such a vital part of Bible study, because we are letting the Word of God speak for itself.

Read through 1 Kings 3:3-15 slowly, absorbing the words.

Now, read through the passage again, and write the answers to the following questions in your notebook:

1. What two significant pieces of information about Solomon were given to us in verse 3?
2. Where did Solomon go in verse 4? Who was he sacrificing to?
3. What did God ask Solomon in verse 5?
4. Solomon praised God in verse 6.  What was his specific praise?
5. The word "yet" in verse 7 shows a contrast.  What is the contrast?
6. What does Solomon ask God for in verse 9?
7. In verse 11, God lists three things that Solomon could have asked for instead of discernment and understanding.  List these three things.  Why do you think God chose those three things to list specifically?
8. In verse 12, did God grant Solomon his request?
9. Look at the words "so that" in verse 12.  What do they signify?
10. What else did God grant Solomon, according to verse 13? verse 14?
11. Where did Solomon go in verse 15? Who was he sacrificing to?
12. What do you think Solomon was thinking, to make such a contrast in his location and worship?

Tomorrow we will come back for the best part of Bible study - the APPLICATION.  I hope you will think on what we have studied so far, and be prepared to apply it to your life.

To read the previous posts on Wisdom, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1

Encouragement (Part 1): Week 6, Day 2

Today we are going to INTERPRET Jeremiah 29:1-14.  As with any passage of Scripture, it is important to interpret the text based on the text itself.  When you are dealing with Scripture that is familiar, it is even more so important to interpret the text based off the text, not based off what we think, what someone has told us, what we have heard previously, etc.  There is an extremely familiar verse in this passage, and we need to be careful to listen to the message that the text has to tell us.

Read through Jeremiah 29:1-14 slowly, absorbing the words for what they actually say.

Read the passage again, and answer the following in your notebooks:

1. Summarize what the Lord is telling the people in verses 5-7.
2. What mistake had the people made in verses 8 and 9?
3. What promise does God make to His people in verse 10?  In verse 11?
4. What final promise does God make to His people in verse 14?

What do you think the people are feeling in verses 1-9?  How do you think they feel after listening to what God said in verses 10-14?

Be encouraged, sisters.  God always has a plan!  Tomorrow we are going to APPLY this Scripture to our lives.

To read all of the posts on Encouragement, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 3: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 4: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 5: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 6: Day 1

Encouragement (Part 1): Week 5, Day 2

Today we are going to INTERPRET Isaiah 35:1-10.  Before we begin, read through the passage slowly.

Now, read through the text again, and answer the following questions:

1. What is going to happen to the desert land?  What will be seen in the desert?
2. What is the promise in verses 3 & 4?
3. Four miraculous things will happen to the people when the Lord comes.  List them.
4. Three miraculous things will happen to the land when the Lord comes.  List them.
5. What is the name of the highway mentioned in verse 8?  Who can walk on this highway?  Who will not be allowed on the highway?
6. In verses 9 and 10, what two terms are used to describe Christians?

This is a joyful, encouraging passage of Scripture.  As a reminder, this passage is talking about the future - a time that is promised to come, but has not come yet.  Be encouraged, sisters.  If the Lord says it is going to happen, it is going to happen!

During our next study, we will APPLY this passage of Scripture to our lives.  I can't wait for you to join me in that time!

To read the previous posts on Encouragement, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 3: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 4: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 5: Day 1

Encouragement (Part 1): Week 4, Day 2

Today we are going to INTERPRET the Psalm of David that is recorded in Psalm 27.  Take the time to read through the entire Psalm slowly.

Read through the Psalm again, and write these things down in your notebook:

1. In verses 1-3, David describes the Lord in 3 ways.  What are they?
2. What is David facing in his life when he is writing this Psalm?
3. In verse 3, what is David's confidence in?
4. In verse 4, what does David ask from the Lord?
5. In verse 5, the word temple means refuge. What does David consider the temple of God to be?
6. Do you think David is talking about a literal tent or temple? Look closely at verse 5.  Does that change your answer?
7. What emotion does David experience in the tent? What does David offer to God?
8. In verse 8, what did the Lord command David to do? What did David commit to do?
9. In verses 11 and 12, David asks God for three specific things.  What are they?
10. What does "level path" mean? Use Psalm 5:8 to help you answer.
11. David's conclusion is in verses 13 and 14.  Summarize these verses.  Read Psalm 31:19 to see more about the goodness of the Lord.

What does David encourage us to do do in verse 14? Wait for the Lord, and be strong and courageous.  The theme that we started at the beginning of this study on encouragement has carried through this far.  If God says the same thing so many times in the Bible, I think we ought to listen and do what He says!

Our next study will be the APPLICATION piece of this week - my favorite!  See you then!

To read the previous posts on Encouragement, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 3: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 4: Day 1

Encouragement (Part 1): Week 3, Day 2

Welcome back! In our last study, we read 2 Kings 6:8-23.  This is not necessarily the easiest passage to read and understand,but I'm glad you are sticking with me.  Today we are going to INTERPRET the meaning of the text.

Read through 2 Kings 6:8-23 slowly, absorbing what the words say.

Read through it again, and answer the following questions:

1. In verse 11, what was the King of Aram enraged about?  What did the King think had happened?
2. In verse 14, what did the King of Aram decide to do about the prophet Elisha?
3. In verse 15, how did Elisha's servant react to the army?  How do you think you would have reacted in the same situation?
4. Verse 16 is a key verse to this passage.  What do you think Elisha was saying here?
5. What did Elisha pray for in verse 17? In verse 18?
6. What is the last sentence of verse 23?

Our next study will be the APPLICATION - my favorite part of studying the Scriptures.  I hope you will come back and study with us!

To read the previous posts on Encouragement, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 3: Day 1

Encouragement (Part 1): Week 2, Day 2

Welcome back for another day of studying Joshua 1:1-9.  Before we start INTERPRETING the text, read through it slowly.  Take time to absorb with the text says.

Read through the text a second time and answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. In verses 1-5, who is talking?
2. Who is He talking to?
3. What event is about to happen?
4. What does God say about Himself in verses 2, 3, and 5? (seven things)
5. What does God command Joshua in verses 6 and 9?
6. What command does God give to Joshua in verses 7 and 8?
7. In verse 7, the words "so that" answer the question Why.  Why is Joshua to follow the law carefully?
8. In verse 8, what is Joshua to do with the law?  Why?
9. In verse 9, why can Joshua not tremble or be dismayed?

Doesn't this make you want to jump through the roof with excitement?  Look at how God is leading Joshua on his journey into the Promised Land.  God is in control, and He is going to lead Joshua into success, if Joshua continues to remain faithful to God.

In our next study together, we will look at how we can APPLY this passage of Scripture to our lives.  See you then!

To read the previous posts on Encouragement, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Week 2: Day 1

Encouragement (Part 1): Week 1, Day 2

I am so glad you came back for a second day of encouragement! Last time we OBSERVED Deuteronomy 31:7-8 & 23.  Today we are going to INTERPRET that same text.

Read through the verses again, and answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. In verses 7-8, Moses starts and ends with two commands.  Write these commands in your notebook.
2. The word "for" answers the question Why.  Why did Moses tell Joshua to be strong and courageous.
3. Verse 8 tells four things about the Lord.  Write these in your notebook.
4. Look at verse 23.  Who is talking in this verse?
5. Coloring the pronouns yellow help to distinguish who is talking.  What did God say about Himself to Joshua?

Aren't you already more encouraged than you were when we got started!  What have you learned about the Lord today?  Perhaps you already knew these things, but what an amazing reminder about the God that we serve.

I am excited to get to the APPLICATION part when we meet again.  That is when we really get to grow in God - we use His Word to live our lives.  I look forward to learning more with you!

To read the previous posts on Encouragement, click these links:

Week 1: Day 1