proverbs 8

if you love wisdom, it will love you in return. that sounds kinda weird.. but throughout the passage, what i think the author was getting at was that... if you cherish and value wisdom as you should, your life will be blessed in return bc wisdom "yields fruit" in your life - more than any other valuable thing (gold, silver, any amt of money). wisdom will bring enduring prosperity. blessed is the one who listens to wisdom and "watches" for it daily... do i seek wisdom from God every day. my job requires so much wisdom in every choice, decision, word, interaction with my students.. they're so impressionable and what we do as teachers can leave a lasting mark on them... so it's very improtant for me to pray for wisdom every morning on my drive to work. ive been trying to do that especially since i started reading proverbs.. im learning that wisdom is something to PURSUE after, not just something you gain naturally by just "living life" and gaining "life experiences" like so many others think. "whoever FINDS ME finds life and receives favor from the Lord." you must SEEK AND FIND wisdom.

isaiah 52

again, how faithful God is to Israelites. im learning how deep God's commitment is to His own ppl... if He chose you as His own, then He promises to provide everything you need and deliver/rescue you from a life of sin... even when you make mistakes and find yourself in an ugly mess bc of YOUR OWN SIN... God STILL redeems you no matter what and will restore you no matter what. how crazy is that. Israelites were grave sinners and idol worshippers time after time.. yet GOd still shows them mercy and will not let them be put to shame and get devoured by their sin. He will save them from their own sin and stubborness. and He doesnt even stop there! he says he will give them "splendor" and "enthrone" them. WHAT?! they dont deserve to be enthroned?! but yet, GOd loves them THAT much and honors them THAT much bc they are His own. that is undeserved grace and an amazing, committed love.