S – To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech. 

Proverbs 8:13 CSB 

O –  Commentary:  

The fear of Yahweh Wisdom does not stand alone. It is closely connected with fearing Yahweh, which means having a proper attitude of respect for Him and obedience to Him. See note on 1:7.

pride, and arrogance Pride is a characteristic of the fool (12:15) and scoffer (21:24).

an evil way Refers to a disposition; wisdom rejects evil dispositions or behaviors. The wise do not exhibit an evil disposition. See v. 20.

perversity The Hebrew phrase used here describes speech that is dishonest or wicked.

Faithlife Study Bible 

A – The more awe and respect we have for God, the more we want to become like Him.  This transformation allows us to see pride, evil conduct and perverse speech in our own life.  We desire to move away from these behaviors and move closer to godly character.

R – Lord, I confess that I am a sinner and I struggle with my own behavior.  I desire to become more like you.  Help me to recognize the areas where I need to surrender and change to be more like you.  Thank you for your grace and mercy.  Give me the courage to walk with you today.

S – Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth. 

Psalms  31:5 CSB

O – Commentary: 

I entrust my spirit into your hand: Whether he lives or dies, the psalmist will trust his Lord. Jesus uttered these words on the cross just before he died (Luke 23:46).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – The are many instances where the OT points to the NT.  The fact that Jesus actually quotes this verse while He is on the cross is amazing.  Everything Jesus did was intentional and in line with God.  We will not be perfect but we want to be that aligned with God.

R – Heavenly Father, I ask for your Holy Spirit to be in every aspect of our day.  We want to align with You and Your will.  We surrender our own words, thoughts and actions and step into what Your purposes today.  We trust and put our faith in You

S – Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

Matthew 24:46 CSB

O – We should be actively doing what God has called us to do daily while anticipating His coming.  We can know that day is prophesied.  Yet, we cannot be in waiting mode.  We need to grow in our faith and trust in God and help others do the same.

A – Every generation has events that make them think “This is the end times.”  That should not be our focus.  If we are growing in our faith and helping others do the same, we will be doing God’s will if / when he returns.  

R – Lord, I thank you for the gift of today.  I submit to your sovereignty that your will is accomplished today and I want to be a part of what you are doing today.  Start with me and I invite your Holy Spirit to lead me and grow me.  Help me to have the courage and strength to help others draw closer to You.

S – You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. ²³ If you do mistreat them, they will no doubt cry to me, and I will certainly hear their cry

Exodus 22:22–23 CSB

O –  Commentary: 

The widow, the orphan, and the foreigner were in a helpless and economically disadvantaged position. God, by his protective stance toward these persons, demonstrated that he does not value people on the basis of their power or wealth, the standards accepted by most humans. Instead, God values people because they share his image

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – In all these verses, this is the only instance where God responds to the issue.  All the other ones, He tells us what to do.  God interacts with everyone but takes a stronger step with these.  We should treat all people the same, no matter where they stand in life. But, orphans and widows deserve an extra measure of care since their resources can be challenging.

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for caring and providing for us.  You know what we face and you meet us right where we are. Holy Spirit, we invite you into today.  Guide us and lead us to Your thoughts, words and actions that will keep us aligned with God.  Help us to demonstrate the heart of God that looks out for those who need help in their walk with you today.

S – Do not have other gods besides me. ⁴ Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth

Exodus 20:3–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

Not recognizing any other god is the first step toward learning the truth that there are no other gods besides the Lord (see Deut 4:35; 6:4; Isa 43:10–11; 45:21–22).

20:4 Not making an image of God is the first step toward recognizing that he is transcendent—that he is the Creator of the universe and distinct from it. To represent God as something in creation was inevitably to end up worshiping the creation rather than the Creator, and this had deadly moral consequences (Rom 1:18–25).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – God does not want to be limited or defined.  We will “worship” that definition or form instead of the heart and character of who He is.  This is difficult as humans because when we can put form to something (see, hear, feel, taste and smell), it gives us comfort.  God takes us beyond our comfort to a place of faith and trust in a God who has no limits.

R – Heavenly Father, please help us not to put you in a box.  We invite you Holy Spirit to continue to take down the walls we put up around you and allow us to see You as You truly are.  Allow your presence to far exceed any challenge we put in following You.

S – When Moses’s hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down

 Exodus 17:12 CSB

O – In this instance, Moses’ uplifted hands were the key to the Israelites’ victory.  When he humanly weakened, others were able to come alongside and help him keep his hands up.

A – We were not meant to do life alone.  We all have issues or challenges that cause us to weaken.  In community, others can come alongside us and help us remain strong through the battle. 

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for those you have put in our lives that help us “lift our hands.”  As we face daily challenges, help us to build into others so all us can walk victoriously.

S – My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. 

²¹ Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck

Proverbs 6:20–21 CSB

O – Commentary:  

Parental instruction provides guidance, protection (cf. 2:11), and counsel (6:22). That teaching should be given from God’s Law, for the parents’ commands, like the Word of God, should be like a lamp and a light, giving guidance to one’s conduct (Ps. 119:105). Discipline (cf. Prov. 1:2, 7), though painful (cf. Heb. 12:11a), helps keep a person on the right path, leading him in the way of life.

“Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We are in a constant state of growth.  We are in a place today that we have never been before.  The past of even yesterday changes what we face today.  We need the principles that we have learned along the way to keep us grounded and centered in God’s will.  As parents, one of our responsibilities is to teach solid, healthy wisdom to our kids.

R – Heavenly Father, we need your Holy Spirit to remind us of the principles that will empower and protect us today.  Help us to walk in humility and in a teachable mindset.  Give us the discipline to stay true to the lessons that bring life to us and those around us.

S – But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”

Exodus 14:13–14 CSB

O – “You must be silent” – chârash,  to scratch, to engrave, plow; hence, (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); fig. to devise (in a bad sense); hence, (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence, (by impl.) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness):

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

Why would God ask them to be silent?  To prevent them from creating words lacking faith in God.  They could talk themselves out of allowing God to be their salvation.

A – We do this too.  We face a situation and instead of inviting God to work on our behalf, we create a “story” in our head.  It can be of God’s lack, his delay in helping or even how we can do it better than Him. Being “silent” is to quiet the noise so our faith can raise up in Him.

R – Lord, there are many challenges we face.  We invite you to move powerfully and for our behalf.  Help us to “quiet the noise” we can create in our own minds.  Help us to allow you to do what only you as our Heavenly Father can do.

S – The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he reveals his covenant to them.

Psalms 25:14 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Intimate fellowship with The Hebrew noun used here, sod, can mean “council” (Jer 23:18); it refers to a close relationship of confidence (Job 29:4; Prov 3:32). Those who fear Yahweh will enjoy His friendship.

Faithlife Study Bible 

“Fear” – yârê˒, yaw-ray’; from 3372; fearing; mor. reverent:— afraid, fear (-ful).

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Word

A – We can have a “close relationship of confidence” when we approach God in awe and honor.  Intimacy with the Creator of everything is an amazing concept.  We must be reverent of Who God is but intimacy eliminates distance and inauthenticity.  Just as we should honor our parents at any age, relationships eliminate formality.

R – Heavenly Father, you are big.  Yet, you draw as your child close to you to walk together today.  Let us walk in the confidence of our relationship while recognizing that You have no limits.  

S – They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them

Exodus 12:7 CSB

O – Commentary:

God could not simply exempt his people from this plague as he had preserved them from the other plagues. Death reigns in the world because of sin, and in light of God’s justice, sin cannot be ignored; it must be either punished or atoned for. Since the blood represents life (Lev 17:11), it alone is acceptable for the forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:22). As Deut 6:9 suggests, doorframes represent the totality of life as the place of going in and coming out.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – The blood is the difference maker in this situation and in our lives.  The blood of Jesus was our sacrifice.  It was given for our sins.  When we accept Christ as God’s son, who came as a man, was crucified on a cross, resurrected back to life and ascended into heaven – His blood supernaturally does the work we cannot do.  It is the sacrifice for our sins.

R – Lord, thank you for the work of the cross and the blood that Jesus shed on our behalf.  We accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  In doing so, we can access your forgiveness of sins through Him.   Help us to walk in that confidence in humility and gratitude for what Christ has done for us.