People in Proverbs

I have taken up the challenge from Pete Wilson and others - to read a chapter of Proverbs each day in January. Well, almost to the halfway point and there are a few things that jump out at me. Or rather, people jump out at me. No, it's not the dreams I had from the late night pizza. I will say that last night, my wife and I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get back to sleep. I offered to read Proverbs 12 for today from my Blackberry, and then we drifted off. Back to people and my post for today.

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Here are a few people that I notice already in Proverbs:

1. Parents - OK, since I am a father, I find myself quoting the fifth commandment sometimes. But throughout proverbs, the relationship between parent and child involves passing Bible knowledge and wisdom. This is a bit convicting for me, since I could do so much more with our daughters, but bring it on . . .
2. Wisdom - There are a few times so far (Proverbs 1:20-21, 8:1-2 and 9:3) where Wisdom is personified as a woman calling in the streets and from the highest point of the city.  From the reactions described in these passages, it seems like not everyone hears.  How many times have I missed wisdom's call, and how can I fix that, I wonder?
3. Folly - Yes, another woman calling in the streets.  Perhaps Wisdom's evil twin?  Calling out in the same way and in the same places - maybe that's why I have missed Wisdom those times?
   
4. Peers - Here I noticed a little negative peer pressure (Proverbs 1:10-19).  "Let's do this!" or "Let's do that!" How easy it is to see trouble coming when it's happening to someone else!?
5. Solomon - This wise king's name is mentioned in the first verse and in titles elsewhere in this book.  Yes, many of us know the story of him as a boy asking for wisdom and getting everything else.  But Solomon had self-control issues, and compromised in foolish ways later in life, didn't he?  What right did he have to write this book?  I guess the authority he was using came from the same source as his wisdom - God Himself.  I need to remind myself of that everytime I write, preach or teach - I'm not perfect, but God can use me, imperfect as I am, do communicate His love and challenge.

I guess it's not too late to jump on board the Proverbs bandwagon, but you have to hurry.  Maybe we should do this again in March!?  Returning to Proverbs regularly isn't a bad idea, is it?

Let me know what you think - maybe you saw someone else?