June 1-7, 2025

Heart Preparation: 
Some people listen in order to react and others listen to understand.  Prepare to read the Psalms, Song of Songs, and the Proverbs in the same manner.  In Andy’s sermon last Sunday, he stated that when Christ died the veil to the Holy of Holys was rent from top to bottom which symbolizes our ability to communicate with God directly.  Some times we read scripture over and over and finally it sinks in and takes hold. Read these scriptures with that in mind.


Weeks Reading Plan: 

• Sunday, June 1 — Psalm 119: 89-176
• Monday, June 2 — Song of Songs 1-8
• Tuesday, June 3 — Proverbs 1-3
• Wednesday, June 4 — Proverbs 4-6
• Thursday, June 5 — Proverbs 7-9
• Friday, June 6 — Proverbs 10-12
• Saturday, June 7— Proverbs 13-15

What to expect and what to look for:
In the Psalms reading you’re going to see the extolling of wisdom and the love of the law. It sometimes turns into a lament or it may be expressing praise for God and/or the law.  It strikes me as being very much wisdom liturgy.  


As for the Song of Songs there is a lot of poetry and I would suggest studying it with a study bible.  There is an expression that is repeated several times that you should look for that indicates when intimacy should occur.  It is very sensuous poetry that describes the relation of two individuals that love each very much.  Even the scholars’ debate whether it is Solomon and a wife, or is it God and the nation Israel, or is God and the church. The description of love in 8:6-7 compares with the wisdom expressed in Proverbs 1-9 and Job 28.  It too belongs in the category of Wisdom literature.  


The first three chapters of Proverbs tells us of the why we should embrace wisdom and the benefits of accepting that wisdom. The next 3 are warning against folly and adultery.  Chapters 7 thru 15 are two-line contrasts of wisdom (positive/negative).  It’s not prophecy or visions, it’s the “dos” and “don’ts” of how to live a Godly life.


Personal Insight: 
Reading the bible chronologically has given me a different perspective on the Psalms.  In the past when I’ve read them, I’ve sometimes been at a loss as to how they apply to me personally. But most of them were written as a result of Davids experiences with life and God.    Sometimes he is complaining or praising about the situations he is experiencing.  


As for the Song of Songs, it is a very sensuous exchange between two lovers.  You must remember this is wisdom literature/poetry.  Again, I read several different bible versions (ESV,NIV,etc).  You need to remember it is Wisdom’s description of an amorous relationship.  An exchange of notes between 2 individuals who love each other very much.  


I enjoy reading the Proverbs, especially the two-line verses showing the contrasts of behavior and the results you would expect from those contrasting behaviors.  


There is debate among the scholars as to the author of all the book of Proverbs.  I think Solomon probably didn’t write all of them.  But when he became king all he asks God to give him was wisdom.   And God granted that to him, and since he didn’t ask for anything else, God gave him all the rest: power, wealth, and a happy life.  And so, if he was granted the Wisdom, he probably surrounded himself with very wise people who might have written a lot of the Proverbs in this book.


Prayer: 
Heavenly Father, grant us at least some of the Wisdom that you granted Solomon.  And help us to take to heart the wisdom he expressed in this week’s Scriptures.  Help us as we continue to read the bible chronologically to read it to understand the wisdom in all the bible.


This  weeks devotion was prepared by Tom and Ann Thiele