Today’s scripture: Proverbs 2:16-22 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Melody Merida):
The only way I know to read this chapter, Proverbs 2, is in its entirety. To discern the intentions of the author of the text we should seek to understand the conflict presented within the whole chapter. The first fifteen verses are written to extol the virtues of Lady Wisdom (Sophia in the ancient Greek language). She is presented here as the Wisdom of God, the feminine divine! In fact, in Proverbs 8 Lady Wisdom speaks so as to stake her claim as one with God, present before the creation of the earth.
The writer is teaching us the value Lady Wisdom holds, the positive impact that she has on the faithful who choose her ways.
But as is so often true — in scripture and in life — the second half of the text reveals an alternative which leads to destruction, Sophia’s nemesis, if you will. This nemesis is referred to as the “loose woman”; the reality is that she is a figure who stands in opposition to the virtue of Lady Wisdom. We are reminded that if we do not choose Sophia as the guardian of our path, we have then by default chosen the anti-Sophia, the loose woman, whose ways are surely bent toward destruction. In the end we find an admonition to choose Sophia, the Wisdom of God, over what might appear to us as an attractive but temporal and destructive earthly wisdom.
I recently read that the average adult American makes about 35,000 decisions in one day, mostly about mundane things that don’t require much thought, but some with significant impact on our lives. So, when you are making your 35,000 decisions today are you going to use Sophia as a guardian of your path or are you going to turn to the loose woman, who will surely lead you astray?
Fortunately the writer of Proverbs 2 gives us some insights to help us know which one to follow. The way of Sophia is one of justice, equity, and prudence; on the contrary, the ways of the loose woman are selfish, ego-centered, impractical, and senseless. Follow the feminine divine, Lady Wisdom, to the Light; follow the loose woman and she will surely lead you to utter darkness.
Thought for the day: Where am I sensing the feminine divine leading me? Follow her lead and she will take you to the perfect light of Christ. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.