Wisdom, personified as a woman throughout Proverbs, begins her public proclamation after the book's introduction establishes its purpose as teaching knowledge, understanding, and wise living to both the simple and the wise. King Solomon, identified as the primary author, has just warned his son about the dangers of yielding to sinful enticements from wicked companions who plot violence and robbery. The opening verses emphasize the fear of the Lord as the beginning of knowledge while contrasting the wise who accept instruction with fools who despise wisdom. Now Wisdom herself takes center stage, crying out in the streets and public squares to address those who have rejected her counsel. Wisdom is addressing the simple, scoffers, and fools who refuse instruction.
[20] Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
[21] She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
[22] “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
The prophet Baruch has been delivering a message of hope to the exiled Jewish people in Babylon. Jerusalem, personified as a mother throughout the preceding verses, has been mourning her children who were taken into captivity. Baruch shifts from Jerusalem's lament to words of encouragement, urging the city to look toward the east and witness the coming restoration. He promises that God will bring back Jerusalem's scattered children from exile with joy and glory. The passage emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant people and assures Jerusalem that her period of mourning will end as her children return in triumph, carried back not by their own strength but by divine intervention, honored as a royal people beloved by God.
[36] O Jerusalem, look about thee toward the east, and behold the joy that cometh unto thee from God. [37] Lo, thy sons come, whom thou sentest away, they come gathered together from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.
[1] Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory that cometh from God for ever. [2] Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which cometh from God; and set a diadem on thine head of the glory of the Everlasting. [3] For God will show thy brightness unto every country under heaven. [4] For thy name shall be called of God for ever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of God's worship.
St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians 6:16-7:1
The Apostle Paul has been defending his ministry and urging the Corinthians to open their hearts to him and his fellow workers. He emphasizes the authenticity of his apostolic service and appeals for reconciliation between himself and the Corinthian church. Paul has just warned them against being unequally yoked with unbelievers, establishing a foundation for separation from pagan influences. He transitions from discussing partnerships with non-believers to addressing the believers' identity as God's temple and the need for holiness. The broader context involves Paul's ongoing effort to restore his relationship with the Corinthian congregation while addressing their spiritual compromises and calling them to live distinctively as God's people in a pagan society.
[16] And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
[17] Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
[18] “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
[1] Therefore,having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His departure during their final evening together in Jerusalem. He has just warned them that the world will hate them because it hated Him first, explaining that this hatred stems from the world's rejection of God. He told them that persecution would come because those who oppose them do not know the Father who sent Him. Jesus emphasized that the Holy Spirit, whom He called the Advocate or Helper, would come to testify about Him and empower the disciples to bear witness despite opposition. Now He continues addressing the reality of future persecution they will face. Jesus is addressing His twelve apostles.
[1] “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. [2] They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. [3] And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. [4] But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.
And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.