Wouldn’t it be nice if God would give us something to help us or our children in how to live life? Our world is broken and filled with sin; lies, hurt, disease, and (considering our current world status) fear. God Almighty appeals to us through the book of Proverbs; that HE is calling to us on how to live with wisdom, knowledge, and courage. We created this devotional to help students and parents read through God’s truth in the book of Proverbs and discover God’s wisdom for life is in Jesus.
Week 8
Pray
Share your heart with God; how you are doing, what is stressing you out, what is good in life, etc.
Read
Matthew 22:1-12 // The Wedding Feast
Plan
Pick a time (20’ to 1 hour) today to turn OFF all screens and spend time with God
Move
Run 1 mile for time -OR- Walk 2-3 miles for time
TOPIC
A mighty King a of a powerful nation is throwing a massive wedding party for His beloved son. This will be the party of parties. He wants to blow every party ever thrown out of the water, to celebrate His son’s marriage. He invites everyone in His kingdom to celebrate. He posts it all over social media and He sends out messengers to call all people to come celebrate. Everyone turns it down…the King’s people respond they are just too busy to attend.
So, again this mighty and wonderful King sends out His messengers and tells them to let the people know all about the party; give my people some details – the quality of the grass-fed beef, fresh sushi, the greenest and freshest salads, the best in-season fruit, the best baked bread, and the best and most expensive wine. This is the PARTY you don’t want to miss! Again, the people reject the invitation; they also get irritated and angry – they bind-up and kill some of the messengers.
This news reaches the King and He is furious (rightfully so) and sends out His troops and destroys these murders and burns their cities to the ground. He then turns to His messengers again and tells them to go out to all nations and gather good and bad people and tell them – my wedding feast is ready. So, they go out this third time and they gather all whom they found.
Jesus told a story to the Jews in Matthew 22 that mirrors so much of Proverbs 9:1-6. God’s wisdom and life is free (through grace) to those who will receive it, turn from their “simple” way and foolish life, and follow and obey His way. Why would God do such a thing? Jesus is the messenger and He is revealing to all men and women that this is God’s character and He wants to rescue us and bring us in to His family.
Proverbs 9:6 – “Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
Questions
WHAT stands out to you in the story that Jesus tells? WHY?
DO you feel like God wants you – that God wants you to come and be apart of His Kingdom?
WHAT does this Matthew 22 or Proverbs 9:1-6 reveal about God’s character?
WHAT do these scriptures reveal about your heart?
by Mallory Krieger
Pray
Pray for your heart; to listen to God’s word. Pray for your family and their needs.
Read
Proverbs 9:1-6 & 9:13-18
Plan
Turn OFF all tech and devices for at least an hour today. Slow down and enjoy time with your family.
Move
Do 100 burpees. Break it up however you need to.
PROVERBS 9 The Way of Wisdom vs. The Way of Folly
Wisdom
- She has built her house
- Has hewn her pillars
- Has slaughtered her beasts
- Mixed her wine
- Set her table
- Sent out her servants
- Has made her bread
It’s obvious from the above that Wisdom is prepared. She has taken action, she uses her time wisely; she is not lazy; she is not arrogant or proud.
Wisdom lives and calls in the light. Nothing is hidden in the light. Wisdom points to “the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Vs 10
Folly
- Loud
- Seductive
- KNOWS NOTHING
- Sits
- Her water is stolen
- Her bread is eaten in secret
What a contrast Folly is from Wisdom! Folly knows NOTHING, however she is still arrogant and loud, calling from the high places in town as she SITS at the door of her house. She is lazy, seductive, a liar and a thief. She resides in darkness and finds satisfaction in deceiving those on the straight path. She calls the sinful deeds of darkness “sweet and pleasant”.
Note that the call of both Wisdom and Folly start out the same ‘“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says…” However; Wisdom promises pure bread and wine that has been made in truth, life, and insight. Folly promises stolen water, bread eaten in secret, death and darkness. Folly calls to us loudly, every day. We are tempted from all directions to cheat, gossip, lie, slander, disobey parents, put our own needs in front of others, look at things on devices that we know we shouldn’t… she calls us to stay in darkness.
Wisdom calls us to the light. She calls us to fear the Lord and know the Holy One. We are called to take action against sin and to not desire the deeds of darkness. She calls us to LIFE.
Additional Reading: Ephesians 5:8-11 and 1 John 1:5-7
Pray
Pray for your heart to desire to walk in the light and to despise the darkness and the deeds that are hidden in darkness. Pray that you would let go of any sin that is hiding in the dark places of your heart and expose it to the light by confessing and asking the Lord to heal and give you strength to withstand the temptations of sin.
Pray
Pray for others. Pray for your friends – ask them how you can pray for them. Pray for our Nation -God’s Kingdom will come & God’s will be done
Read
Matthew 22:1-14
Plan
Set a time in the day to turn OFF all screens and sit in silence and solitude
Do–Ruck
Stuff your backpack with heavy objects – get it to weigh 20-40# and walk 1-2 miles
Matthew 22:1-14
On day 1 this week I had you read Matthew 22:1-14, but I didn’t address the end of that story. At first glance it seems odd and it reads as if God is gracious at first and then angry and bitter at the end. The mighty and gracious King has called-out to His subjects, they respond to His invitation with contempt – they scoff, and still messengers are sent-out all over inviting people who are apart of His kingdom and who are not. Both bad and good people are gathered to come, and the wedding hall is filled (v.10). So, why suddenly does the King get ticked when He sees a man not in the proper wedding attire (v.11-14)?
READ Proverbs 9:7-12
“Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
v.10 -the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
For by me your days will be multiplied, and yeas will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself: if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”
All through-out Proverbs we constantly see three types of people: the simple, the wise, and the scoffer. Scoffers are everywhere (digitally especially) these days; they mock almost everything they don’t believe. Scoffers belittle, attack, and hold contempt for those who do not believe as they do or hold to the new way of thinking- you can choose your own truth, and nobody can question it. You disagree? Think about it. Pick a topic: homosexuality, liberalism, patriotism, abortion, conservatism, atheism, public-school vs private school vs homeschool, sex outside of marriage, masculinity, feminism, you can choose what sex you are, etc. Digital and social media platforms have given more people the false freedom to cling-to their point-of-view – it has made so many of us part-time scoffers.
Listen to verse 10 – this is the last time Wisdom will call out to us in Proverbs. You and I NEED a covenant relationship with the GOD and KING of the universe. A relationship with Him leads to life! We need to stop our scoffing and turn to Him, repent of our sinful hearts, and become wise.
“Whether you act wickedly or wisely reveals which party you chose. Belief always determines behavior, but behavior reveals what you believe. This is a worship issue.” (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary pg. 94)
CONNECTION TO MATTHEW 22
*These are my thoughts – from my personal study.
HISTORY: In ancient times Kings would provide wedding garments for their guests. These guests would put-on the provided garments for the royal ceremony. We need to keep that in mind with Matt 22 – this is a ROYAL & HOLY ceremony in the HEAVENLY KINGDOM of GOD ALMIGHTY! You don’t just walk into a party like this!
Gal 3:26-27 – “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Col 3:12 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones; holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…”
The King has provided a royal garment for all His guests, but some are not willing to put it on. They think their garment if totally fine – maybe they even believe their garment is better (they scoff at the idea of being given something). The point is their heart doesn’t want the King’s provision to cover them – to cover their sin and contempt. Sinful people would rather believe that they can earn righteousness or do whatever they want and think God is cool with that -*since God is all-loving (that is me mocking that answer). LOOK at how gracious God Almighty, the KING is in Matt 22 and Proverbs 9! He is all-loving, but He rightfully demands honor and obedience to Him!
So…listen to God Almighty and put-on Jesus’s righteousness – paid for by His perfect sinless life, holy blood, and amazing grace given freely to all who will turn and come to the wedding party.
Walking Through the Rest of Proverbs
The journey begins
Proverbs 9:7-12 is also a look at how you will listen (or not listen) to the rest of this Wisdom book. Proverbs 10-31 is filled with wise sayings, rebukes, and instructions for a covenant relationship with The God (LORD) Almighty – will you listen, or will you scoff?
Questions
HOW do you handle criticism about your character?
WHAT does your response reveal about your heart?
WHY do you think the King was angry with the man not wearing the wedding garment?
WHAT does today’s devotional reveal about God’s character?