TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006
| Date | Hymns | Reading | Comments |
| 2023-02-01 | TLH 427 | Proverbs 1:1-19 | The fear of the Lord is the starting point and foundation of all true knowledge. However, as we go through life, we do not leave behind the starting point. Rather, we take it with us all through life. For “a wise man will hear and increase learning.” (1:5). |
| 2023-02-02 | TLH 366 | Proverbs 1:20-33 | We are to “search for [wisdom] as for hidden treasures.” ( 2:4) We are to “apply our hearts to understanding”. (2:2.) Wisdom is a gift from God which leads us down every good path, and which is pleasant to the soul. The wisdom of God’s Word delivers from the way of evil, but those who turn from it will experience a miserable end. |
| 2023-02-03 | WS 772 | Proverbs 2:1-22 | Wisdom calls out to all. We are called to go into all the world with the message of Christ and the Cross, the very wisdom of God. This wisdom is not attained by one’s intellect. It is the Spirit which makes God’s wisdom known to us so that we trust in it. |
| 2023-02-04 | TLH 428 | Proverbs 3:1-20 | Man has a sinful propensity to trust in himself, to be wise in his own heart. But wisdom calls us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (3:5) |
| 2023-02-06 | TLH 285 | Proverbs 4:10-27 | The longer one walks the path of wisdom in Christ, the brighter that path becomes. One day believers will walk in the brightness of that perfect day, in the very presence of He Who is Light itself. So always “let your eyes look straight ahead” (4:25) to Christ and life to come. |
| 2023-02-07 | TLH 400 | Proverbs 6:1-19 | Laziness is something to guard against, especially in doing the Lord’s work. Solomon points to the ant as an example of industriousness. Ants have initiative, not needing someone to prod them to keep working. Let’s learn the lesson of the ant, and thank Jesus for not being a slacker when it came to saving us. |
| 2023-02-08 | TLH 398 | Proverbs 6:20-35 | The consequences of sexual immorality are devastating. Godly parents will faithfully teach their children the blessings of chastity. Our bodies were bought at a high price, and are also the temples of the Holy Spirit. Let us, therefore, honor God with our bodies. |
| 2023-02-09 | TLH 416 | Proverbs 8:1-21 | Unlike evil lurking in the shadows, wisdom shouts its message in public for all to hear. Where the paths meet (at the crossroads of life), we are often faced with difficult decisions, wisdom is there to guide us. This is not any kind of wisdom, but the wisdom of Christ and His perfect Word. |
| 2023-02-10 | TLH 294 | Proverbs 8:22-36 | Wisdom speaks of herself as “from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.” (8:23) This is referring to Jesus Christ, Who, at creation, stood by God the Father as a master craftsman. Jesus is the everlasting God, and our Savior. In Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3) |
| 2023-02-11 | TLH 284 | Proverbs 9:1-18 | We come back to the core message of Proverbs. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (9:10) True wisdom is found only in the Lord. (Again, the pinnacle of all wisdom is Christ crucified.) Sadly, most choose folly over wisdom. Only by God’s grace can we cling in faith to wisdom. |
| 2023-02-13 | TLH 287 | Proverbs 11:1-20 | Many blessings flow from a godly life. Some examples: “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.” (11:2)) A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches. (11:16) Yes, blessing flow from a godly life. Yet we remember sinners are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus alone. |
| 2023-02-14 | TLH 491 | Proverbs 12:1-28 | There is a sharp contrast between how the godly ( the believer in Christ) and the wicked (the unbeliever) communicate. “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword. But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” (12:18) The Gospel of Christ ,above all else, gives health to our sin stricken souls. |
| 2023-02-15 | TLH 282 | Proverbs 13:1-25 | Proverbs offers more than guidance for daily life. In several places it teaches that the Word of God gives eternal life. “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” (13:14 ESV) As Peter once said of Jesus: “You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) |
| 2023-02-16 | TLH 408 | Proverbs 16:1-20 | “Pride goes before destruction.” (16:18) Unchecked sinful pride leads to eternal destruction. Pray for humble hearts so that we place God’s wisdom above our proud, sin-tainted reason. “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus.” (Galatians 6:14) |
| 2023-02-17 | WS 774 | Proverbs 18:1-24 | Proverbs speaks of two different types of safety. One leads to true and lasting security, while the other only offers a false security. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.” (18:11-12) |
| 2023-02-18 | TLH 416 | Proverbs 22:1-29 | “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” (22:13) Lazy people will dream up the most outrageous reasons to get out of work. Redeemed by the blood of Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, we have every reason to work hard and to do our best to the glory of God. |
| 2023-02-20 | TLH 626 | Proverbs 24:1-16 | “Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.” (24:3-4) When wisdom from above builds the house, that house is filled with the “pleasant riches” of the love, forgiveness, and patience of Jesus. |
| 2023-02-21 | TLH 439 | Proverbs 24:17-34 | “Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me.'” (24:29) In clear contrast to the prevailing attitude of the world, God’s people are called to do good to their enemies. Our aim is to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us.” (Ephesians 5:2) |
| 2023-02-22 | TLH 226 | Proverbs 26:1-28 | “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” (26:20 NIV ’84) If no wood is put on the fire, it dies out. If one refrains from gossip, it’s hard to keep a quarrel burning hot. The Spirit and Word will help us speak words of kindness and love. |
| 2023-02-23 | WS 767 | Proverbs 27:1-28 | “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (27:17 ESV) This verse can remind us of the value of attending Bible class. When we study together we sharpen one another’s understanding of God’s Word. God puts us into a family of believers. How blessed we are when we take advantage of our fellow Christians’ Scriptural insights |
| 2023-02-24 | TLH 279 | Proverbs 28:1-18 | “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (28:13) Here we have an expression of the sweet, forgiving grace of God. We are all sinners. Let’s admit it, and then turn to our Savior, Who will never drive us away. |
| 2023-02-25 | TLH 625 | Proverbs 29:1-27 | “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.” (27:17 ESV) Loving discipline is absolutely necessary in raising godly children. Children who are corrected, while continually assured of both the parents’ and Jesus’ love, will bring delight to their parents. “Oh, blest the house, whate’er befall, Where Jesus Christ is all in all!” |
| 2023-02-27 | TLH 283 | Proverbs 30:1-33 | “Every word of God is pure . . . Do not add to His words.” (30:5-6) Blessed are those who attend a church where every word of the Bible is regarded as pure truth. Treasure the Bible. It points to Jesus, and has everything we need for this life and the life to come. |
| 2023-02-28 | TLH 624 | Proverbs 31:10-31 | “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” (31:10 NIV ’84) Having a wife who fears the Lord and is of a noble character is better than the most priceless jewelry. Such a woman is industrious, wise, and caring. Her children call her blessed, and her husband praises her. |