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2nd May 2025
FridayReflection
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'Kathryn M. Schifferdecker'
Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair
of Old Testament
Those who are generous are
blessed ...
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Commentary on Proverbs 22 v 8-9
The book of Proverbs is the pre-eminent book of "Wisdom" in the Old Testament, and so is understandably associated with Solomon.
Wisdom literature seeks to teach its readers/hearers "wisdom;" that is, how to live well.
This wisdom is handed down from parents to children and is based, not on revelation, but on experience and observation.
Nevertheless, it is grounded in a right relationship with God: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom".
The task of Wisdom literature, including Proverbs, is character formation.
It seeks to train up young people in the way they should go.
It upholds the virtues of honesty, hard work, self-control, and respect for those in authority, among other things.
In the words of Ellen Davis,
"The proverbs are spiritual guides for ordinary people, on an ordinary day, when water does not pour forth from rocks and angels do not come to lunch."
These short sayings are meant to be understood individually.
The proverb 22 v 8 uses an agricultural image familiar to its original hearers.
You reap what you sow.
The one who sows injustice or iniquity will (eventually) receive a harvest of trouble.
There are ample public examples, from Wall Street to Washington to Hollywood, to show that this proverb is as true now as it was in ancient Israel.
Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will be blessed for it. ( v9 GNT)
In contrast to the subject of proverb 22 v 8, the person described in verse 9 is generous, giving of what he or she has to the poor, and being blessed in return.
Though no agricultural imagery is used here, one might talk about these two proverbs together; for in this proverb, too, you reap what you sow.
In this case, (v9) however, the planting and the reaping involve things like generosity, blessing, and bread; things that make for life, for both giver and recipient.
The poor are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, both in ancient times and today.
Think of the prevalence of predatory "payday lenders" in certain urban neighbourhoods, charging exorbitant interest rates because their customers have nowhere else to turn.
Robbing the poor "because they are poor" may seem to be an easy thing to do, but the proverb warns of the consequences:
the LORD will take the life of those who prey on the life of the vulnerable.
These are just a few thoughts on the proverbs.
Whatever the preacher chooses to reflect on, he or she will be drawing on the accumulated wisdom of generations of faithful women and men who have sought to live lives of integrity, lives of "wisdom."
Their voices can continue to teach us today
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This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
'Kathryn M. Schifferdecker'
Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament Luther Seminary
Saint Paul, Minn.
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