January 27 ▪ Day 27

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 9:10
Isaiah 3–4
Matthew 27
Psalms 27

Verse Focus (Proverbs 9:10)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
     and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Meditation

Today’s proverb, Proverbs 9:10, is very similar to the proverb we studied at the beginning of the month. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Our proverb today says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Okay. So let’s unpack this a bit. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom. So what’s the difference between knowledge and wisdom? And what’s the difference between knowledge and understanding? In short, knowledge is about learning truth and facts. Understanding is comprehending those truths and facts. And wisdom is about judgment and discernment — knowing how to apply those truths and facts to your life.

I like how the NRSV translates the second half of today’s proverb. It says that the knowledge of the Holy One is “insight.” I think of insight as perspective and understanding of information that is often hidden or not readily understood — such as insight into a person’s character.

So knowing God and seeking God — reading Scripture — is crucial for developing wisdom and for revealing hidden truths. The closer we draw to God, the wiser we will become. Amen to that!

In Isaiah 3, the prophet tells us that the LORD will be taking away “supply and support” from Judah and Jerusalem. All the people that one might have relied upon will be gone, and instead the people will be ruled by the immature. The plight of the country sounds eerily familiar to the world we live in today. The people are oppressed; “the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the base to the honorable” (v. 5). Sin is glorified and not hidden (v. 9). Leaders mislead the people and confuse their paths (v. 12).

As the chapter concludes, the LORD talks about how proud the daughters of Zion are, giving a detailed list of their finery. This finery will all be taken away and replaced by the garb of slavery and shame. “Instead of perfume there will be a stench,” says verse 24.

Chapter 4 is surprisingly brief but gives us a completely different picture of the future of Zion. Verse 2 proclaims, “On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel.” I don’t know if these prophecies of Isaiah are gathered in chronological order, but we are given images of doom followed by images of glory. Perhaps this encapsulates the essential choice before us: life and obedience, or death and destruction. Or perhaps it is to encourage the people that there will indeed be survivors after the Day of Judgment.

Matthew 27 continues yesterday’s pivotal history. Because the Jews do not have the legal authority to exercise the death penalty, Jesus is brought before the civil authority, Pontius Pilate. Meanwhile, Judas, seeing the reality of what is happening to Jesus, is guilt-stricken over betraying him. Scripture says he “repented,” and Judas tries to give back the money he got for betraying Jesus to the chief priests and elders. He tells them that he has betrayed innocent blood, but they basically reply that it’s not their problem. Judas throws the money down and then goes to commit suicide. The chief priests and elders discuss what to do with the 30 pieces of silver. With supreme irony they say that they cannot put this money into the temple treasury since it’s “blood money.” Instead, they decide to purchase a field to use for burying foreigners — and in so doing, Matthew points out, they fulfill yet another Scriptural prophecy.

Pilate questions Jesus, but Jesus is silent. Pilate knows that Jesus was handed over to him because of the “jealousy” (v. 13) of the chief priests and elders, and so he tries to get Jesus released. But the crowd is stirred up to ask for the release of Barabbas, a notorious prisoner. The crowd cries for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate washes his hands and says he is innocent of Jesus’ blood, and the Jews reply, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Doesn’t that statement give you the shivers? “His blood be on us and on our children!” I’ve always interpreted this passage in terms of the guilt that the Jews accepted. However, when you consider the crucifixion in light of Christ the Passover sacrifice, that gives the blood a whole new level of meaning. Jesus came to save first the Jews, and then the Gentiles.

The soldiers mock Jesus, also striking him and spitting on him. And then he is taken away to be crucified. Jesus is offered a drink of vinegar and gall — most believe that this mixture was intended to dull the pain — but Jesus refuses to drink it. While on the cross, the chief priests and other bystanders continue to taunt Jesus, saying that if he were really the Son of God, he could save himself from this. After quoting from the beginning of Psalm 22, Jesus dies. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two — from top to bottom. This is symbolic, not only in that it came “from the top” (from heaven), but in that that there is no longer a separation needed between the people and the Holy of Holies. There was also an earthquake, with rocks being split wide — terrifying enough that the soldiers are convinced that Jesus was truly God’s son. And Scripture also tells us that many righteous people who had previously died were raised to life the moment when Jesus died.

Jesus is buried in a new tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. “The next day,” says Scripture, the chief priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to set a guard upon the tomb for fear that Jesus’ disciples might steal away his body to pretend that he had been risen from the dead. Okay, did that strike you as weird? Did part of you wonder if maybe his body had already been stolen away before the guards were set? Well, I didn’t wonder about the disciples committing fraud, but I did wonder why they didn’t set the guard on the same day he died rather than wait for “the next day.” The mystery is easily solved: for the Jews, days started and ended at sunset. So as we would reckon it, it was the same day. As they reckoned it, it was after sunset on the “next” day. If you recall, Jesus died soon after 3 o’clock in the afternoon. By the time the earthquake was over, and Joseph got permission to take the body, and the body was taken down from the cross, wrapped in linen, and laid in the tomb — it could easily have been around sunset or just after sunset by the time Jesus was laid to rest in the tomb.

Okay, I’m repeating myself, but Psalm 27 is yet another beautiful psalm. This one is not only a favorite of mine, but it has been a favorite for many, many believers throughout the ages. The psalm is particularly beloved for anyone who is in danger of any type. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” asks the first verse. Whatever the trouble, whatever the danger, God will shelter you and protect you. I especially love the last two verses of the psalm. “I remain confident of this,” says the psalmist in verse 13, “I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” This is not just help for the future, but help for now. In this lifetime, in the land of the living, God will show his goodness to me. The final verse counsels patience, strength, and encouragement as we wait for the deliverance of God.

Father God, thank you that we can always run to you for shelter. Thank you that you are our Rock and Deliverer. Thank you that we will see your goodness, not only in this life, but also in the life to come. Thank you that Jesus is my Passover sacrifice and that he purchased my salvation with his blood.

I pray for your grace to be upon me this day. Continue to give me understanding about your word; help me to draw ever closer to you and to do what pleases you. In Christ’s name, Amen.