The Proverbs of Solomon

The river by our place - photo by Mara

I have been reading through the book of Proverbs lately and have really been enjoying them. Proverbs has long been a favorite book of mine and that does not seem to have changed since the last reading. :-)

  Here are some that stood out to me right now as we have been working hard on our new land and are dreaming about the homestead that we will have there. I feel inspired when I read verses like these and I hope they will be inspiring to you too.

 "She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong." Proverbs 31:17

"The ants are not a strong people, but they prepare their food in the summer;" Proverbs 30:25

"He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished." Proverbs 28:19 & 20

"Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds;
for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.
When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
and the herbs of the mountains are gather in,
the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will bring the price of a field,
and their will be goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household,
and the sustenance for your maidens."  Proverbs 27:23-27

"My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off." Proverbs 24:13-14

These verses make me think about homesteading and the need to work hard and find that God will bless that labor. There is something really fun about working and then enjoying the results of your labor.

On the topic of the Proverbs of Solomon - I have been reading aloud to the kids lately in 1 Kings and we have been reading of Solomon's life. Recently we read the 4th chapter and at the end of it, it says:

 "Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. So Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. ..... He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,006. He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish. Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom." 1 Kings 4:29-30 &32-34

How neat would it have been to be able to go and listen to the teaching of Solomon!?!? You don't think of Kings spending time teaching about the natural world but evidently he did. That would have been so interesting. Solomon's wisdom of course came from God who knows all things.