Week 32 Reading Guide
Wisdom, Meaning, and Love in God
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs
Big Idea: This week explores three distinct yet interconnected books of wisdom. Proverbs offers practical advice rooted in the fear of the Lord, Ecclesiastes wrestles with the meaning of life under the sun, and Song of Songs celebrates the beauty of love and intimacy. Together, they guide us to pursue God’s wisdom, find meaning in Him, and embrace love as a gift from Him, all pointing to the ultimate wisdom and love found in Jesus Christ.
Reading Plan
Monday: Proverbs 1-9 (The Call to Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord)
Tuesday: Proverbs 10-24 (Living Wisely in a Broken World)
Wednesday: Proverbs 25-31 (Wisdom for Leadership and Daily Life)
Thursday: Ecclesiastes 1-6 (The Search for Meaning)
Friday: Ecclesiastes 7-12 (Finding Purpose in God)
Saturday: Song of Songs 1-8 (The Beauty of Love)
Weekly DNA Questions
Discover
How does Proverbs teach us to live wisely in a way that reflects God’s character?
What lessons can we learn from Ecclesiastes about nature of life and meaning?
Nurture
In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God over your own understanding?
Reflecting on God’s love for His people as seen in Song of Songs, how does this shape your relationship with Him?
Act
Identify one proverb to apply this week, allowing God’s wisdom to shape your decisions.
Reflect on Ecclesiastes’ message and write down ways to prioritize eternal purposes in your daily life.
Celebrate God’s love by encouraging someone with words of affirmation, kindness, or acts of love this week.
Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 12:13
The conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commands, for this is the whole duty of humanity.
Reflection for the Week
Proverbs teaches us that true wisdom begins with reverence for God and extends to every aspect of life. Ecclesiastes challenges us to confront life’s fleeting nature and find our ultimate purpose in God, not in worldly pursuits. Song of Songs celebrates love and intimacy, reminding us that these are gifts from God and reflections of His covenant love. Together, these books offer a picture of life lived in the wisdom, purpose, and love of God, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, the Wisdom of God and Lover of our souls.
Bible Project Resources
Guide to Proverbs: Wisdom depends on trusting God and leads to life, but folly starts with distrusting God and leads to death.
Guide to Ecclesiastes: Ecclesiastes reveals our lack of control over our lives. The true meaning of a good life is found in the hope for God’s judgment that will destroy evil and bring justice. This hope fuels a life of honesty and integrity, despite life’s mysteries.
Guide to Song of Songs: Even though our relationships are often distorted by selfishness, love is a transcendent gift meant to show us something greater—the gift of God’s love that will one day permeate and transform his beloved world.
