Old Testament reading: Proverbs 30-31
There shall be no comment on the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31 except to say that no one woman does ALL of these things. This is a list of characteristics that can be found in a woman of virtue, as opposed to many of the negative things we have read concerning some women (11:22; 21:9; 27:15). There are two other texts in today’s reading that are quite worthy of thought. The first is found in 30:7-9, wherein the author (Agur, 30:1) desires two things: 1) purity from falsehood and lies; 2) no more or less than life’s necessities – “give me neither poverty nor riches.” Agur knew that the wealthy tended to trust in themselves and deny God (cf Deut 8:10-17), while the poor are prone to steal and profane the name of God. Also of interest in this text is Proverbs 30:15-16 and the leech’s daughters, Give and Give. Of the four things that are never satisfied, the most tragic is the barren womb. Most parents cannot understand or sympathize with those couples who cannot conceive. I readily admit my own miserable failure in this respect. I have wept and prayed for those who earnestly desire the blessing of children, but I have no idea the pain they feel. These alone can understand Hannah’s pain and the continual emptiness that was in her heart (cf 1 Sam 1). Statements like, “It’s just not in God’s will” may be well intended but should be kept to oneself.
New Testament reading: Galatians 1-3
A basic rule of Bible interpretation is on display in today’s reading. Whenever a verse begins with the word “for,” it indicates that what one is about to read is an explanation of what was just read. Galatians 3:26 says we are “sons of God through the faith in Christ Jesus.” “The faith” is the more accurate rendering, though most translations fail to include the definite article. Tragically, many stop there to justify their belief in salvation by faith only. Verse 27 begins with “For,” meaning an explanation of verse 26 is forthcoming. What we find there is the shows that it is through obedience to the faith v 26, including baptism into Christ for remission of sins, that one can be a child of God and an heir of the promise made to Abraham (3:26-29).
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