June 2-6
[M] Proverbs 3-5; Romans 10
[T] Proverbs 6-7; Psalm 7; Rom 11
[W] Proverbs 8-10; Psalm 144; Rom 12
[T] Proverbs 11-13; Psalm 8; Rom 13
[F] Proverbs 14-15; Rom 14
Dwell Plan Day 111-115 | CSB | Digital PDF | Printable PDF
Notes from Jon & Chris
Monday
Proverbs 3:1 | This text reminds us that true wisdom isn’t just about knowing facts but about letting those truths sink deep into our hearts. Head theology can make us smarter, but heart theology changes how we live and love. God calls us to live out his Word with both mind and soul, embracing a faith that transforms from the inside out.
Proverbs 3:5 | The word for “trust” here is also the Hebrew word for gullibility. There’s something about that which invites us into radical dependence. We must be “gullible” when it comes to God’s promises. This describes the wisdom that looks so foolish to the world, rejecting your own “understanding” itself. This becomes the ongoing crisis. Will we look to our own judgments or will we submit to wisdom? Will we try to create our own way or try to discover God’s ways? It’s a binary response, even when the world looks like shades of gray. Wisdom brings more and more light to the grayest parts of our moral thinking, inviting us to look for more than more information, more than a moral to-do punch list. This invites us in to think about our thinking, our living, and our faith.
Proverbs 4:1-10 | There are three references to a son in this passage. We know that Solomon is writing this, and we know who Solomon’s dad is: it’s David. There’s a lot of dysfunction in David’s family, and three of David’s sons wind up murdered because of their folly. It’s disastrous. The writer of 1 Kings 1:6 mentions that David didn’t rebuke Adonijah by challenging his behavior. But here in this chapter Solomon tells us about David’s parenting. It’s very intentional, spiritual, and explicit. David’s parenting was not completely at fault for his children, not from what we learn in Proverbs. Perhaps he interacted differently with his kids when they were adults—we see the same passivity we saw with Absalom. But in this text, we see David’s heart for his children, what they would have heard from when they were young. This is a comfort to parents, who can sometimes feel as if their children’s bad choices are the fault of their parenting, and here we can see that it isn’t. We can do our best and we have no control over what our children ultimately do. What we must do, as much as we are able, is give them the tools to be wise.
Romans 10:2 | In our culture, we often hear that sincerity is all that matters, that if you’re authentic and earnest in your pursuit of truth, then you’re on the right path. But Paul is clear that you can be sincerely wrong—zeal without knowledge won’t lead to life. The Bible insists that the object of your faith is everything; it’s not enough just to feel passionately about spiritual things. Only faith in Jesus Christ saves because only he is the one who secured salvation by his life, death, and resurrection. Authentic faith is not just about how you feel—it’s about who you trust.
Tuesday
Psalm 7:12–16 | This is a powerful reminder that God is not indifferent to sin; He is a righteous judge who will deal with it. In today’s reading, we also see Proverbs 6:16–19, which lists seven things the Lord hates. It’s baffling how some try to set aside the Bible’s teaching about the wrath and judgment of God, when it’s woven through every page of Scripture. This passage shows us that God prepares His weapons against those who stubbornly refuse to turn from their sin. These reminders show us that sin is not something God winks at—it’s something He opposes completely. And yet, in the middle of this warning, we find the good news: in verse 12, God has made a way out through repentance. He hates sin enough to really deal with it on the cross. If we turn in faith to Christ, we find a Savior who bore the wrath of God in our place, so we can be reconciled to Him forever.
Proverbs 6:27 | It’s talking specifically about adultery, but the principle applies to all sin. Playing with sin is like holding fire close to your chest; it’s a terrible idea, and you’re bound to get burned. God warns us that there’s no safe way to handle sin—it will always leave its mark.
Proverbs 7:4 | Intimacy is where wisdom comes from, and what intimate friend could this be other than our God Himself? Wisdom is personified by a woman in this book in contrast with the woman of folly—the adultress. But this poetic metaphor veils who this really is to the Old Testament reader. It’s only when we discover how Christ is the wisdom of God that we can unlock some of the riddle of Proverbs. That’s what makes sense of this verse, where we’re told to “call insight your intimate friend.” Only Jesus unlocks the deepest insight you can hope in. Praise Him.
Romans 11:33–36 | This passage celebrates the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, knowledge, and ways. These verses remind us that we will spend eternity learning about God’s character and love, yet we’ll never exhaust their riches. God’s glory will always be fresh and new. Eternity isn’t about repeating what we already know—it’s about ever-deepening wonder and awe. We will never hit the bottom of the well of God’s beauty and grace.
Wednesday
Proverbs 10–29 | These chapters are probably what you think of when you hear the word “Proverbs”—a collection of wise, punchy one-liners. They are filled with practical wisdom about work, money, relationships, and speech. As you read through these chapters, remember that they’re not ironclad promises that always come true in a mathematical way. Rather, they’re wisdom sayings that show us how life generally works in God’s world. They’re about living in step with the grain of the universe that God has designed. And as you soak in these proverbs, you’re learning how to navigate life in a way that honors the Creator and brings peace to your own soul.
Proverbs 10:27 | This is a classic example of how the proverbs are not absolute guarantees. Sometimes, people who live godly, wise lives still die young. Think of the Apostle James or Stephen, both killed in the book of Acts. Think of David Brainerd, who died of tuberculosis at 29, or Corrie Ten Boom’s sister, Betsie, who died in a concentration camp. But in general, this is wise advice for living. Living in a biblical way means avoiding many of the things that kill people early, like reckless decisions or destructive habits. It also means caring for yourself and those around you with compassion and integrity. And above all, it means trusting that your lifespan rests in the hands of the sovereign Lord, who numbers our days for His glory.
Romans 12:12 says to be “constant in prayer,” which means prayer isn’t just for Sunday mornings—it’s an ongoing conversation with God. It means turning to Him throughout the day, not just in crisis but in every moment. This is about living with an awareness that God is near and listening. Being constant in prayer is how we invite His presence and strength into every part of our lives.
Thursday
Psalm 8:3–4 | A few times a year, I (Jon) read a verse like this about how big God is and then I go watch a video about the size and scale of the observable universe. It blows my mind every time to see how huge and powerful God’s creation is, and how tiny we are in comparison. But then I think about how the same God who placed those stars in the sky also cares for me—little old me! It’s easy to feel small and forgotten in a big world, but verses like this remind us that God’s love is personal and specific. Even though He holds the universe in His hands, He also holds us close to His heart. That perspective is so important; it humbles us, but it also fills us with gratitude and wonder. It’s an invitation to worship and trust the God who cares so deeply for His people.
Proverbs 11:1 | The kingdom of God isn’t just about future salvation, it’s about that future reality breaking into our lives right now. It means that justice and mercy are part of God’s kingdom here on earth, and they shape how we treat others in our daily lives. Living in step with God’s kingdom means valuing honesty and fairness in everything we do. In the ancient world, merchants would sometimes use false weights and measures to cheat customers by tampering with scales to make it look like there was more or less than there really was. God sees this kind of injustice, and He hates it because it harms people made in His image. God’s kingdom is built on truth and fairness, and when we live that out, we’re showing the world what His kingdom is like.
Proverbs 12:15 | This truth is powerfully illustrated in the story of Rehoboam, found in 1 Kings 12 and 2 Chronicles 10 (the son of the guy who wrote this proverb). Rehoboam refused to listen to the wise counsel of the elders, choosing instead to follow the harsh advice of his idiot friends. That foolish choice cost him most of his kingdom, leading to a tragic division that allowed Jeroboam to take the ten northern tribes. When we’re wise enough to listen to godly advice, we honor God and avoid unnecessary ruin.
Romans 13:1-7 | This is an exalted view of God’s sovereignty over human government. What makes it so remarkable is that the Roman authorities, who this applies to here, were one of the most corrupt, sadistic, racist, slaving, and violent empires that has ever existed. And none of that matters or is brought up. It’s irrelevant when it comes to respect, obedience, and paying taxes. Obey as if you’re obeying God.
Friday
Proverbs 14:12 | In our culture, the popular advice is to “just follow your heart,” but that’s terrible advice. The Bible tells us that the heart of man is sinful and deceitful. We shouldn’t follow our hearts—we should follow the wisdom and words of God in Scripture. His Word shows us the path that leads to life, not death.
Proverbs 15:1 | The way we respond to conflict has the power to heal or to harm. James 3 reminds us of how powerful the tongue is—like a fire or a rudder, it steers the whole direction of our lives. Our words should build up others and spread the gospel, not tear down for personal gain. Choosing a gentle response isn’t weakness, it’s using our words in a way that honors God and serves His kingdom. When we choose soft answers, we reflect the heart of Christ who came to reconcile and heal.
Romans 14:14 | Paul has clarity about all sorts of stuff. He knows what’s unclean and what’s not. You could say that he was “In the right” in his teaching and practice. But to Paul, it doesn’t matter if he’s wrong or right, because the only thing that matters is how he’s loving his brother. That’s more important than being right! When it comes to stuff that isn’t central to what we believe, where Christians have different opinions and experiences, we must surrender things that get in other folks’ way. It isn’t whether the theological position is correct, it’s whether the posture of that position is humble and loving. Being “right” can be quite a dangerous place to be, because it can blind you to what’s important. As believers we can be obsessed with being “correct” and yet miss being compassionate and loving.