Links for today’s readings:
Oct 22 Read: Ezekiel 22 Listen: (4:58) Read: Philemon Listen: (2:52)
Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:
This week of Readers’ Choice looks back at reflections about the Bible.
Russell, Japan — This is a very good reminder. Thanks.
Barbara, TN — We are thankful for the Word! And for your ministry through the Word!
This post was originally published on March 6, 2026, based on readings from Proverbs 25.1.
Scripture Focus: Proverbs 25.1
1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
Reflection: Unsung Holy Spirit-Inspired Heroes — Readers’ Choice
By John Tillman
The Greeks thought all great works were inspired by “the muses,” who were daughters of Zeus.
Our culture’s inaccurate pictures of “inspiration” are watered down versions of this belief in “muses.” We picture artists languishing, unable to work until inspiration strikes like lightning, spurring frenetic activity and productivity. In reality, that sounds more like mental illness than inspiration. Maybe Plato was partially right when he called inspiration from the muses, “divine madness.”
Our belief that inspiration always comes suddenly is based on stories that are memorable because they are unusual. One day in 1972, Dolly Parton wrote two of her biggest hits, “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” but like most artists, she’d agree that’s the exception, not the rule.
Sudden bursts of inspiration aren’t actually sudden. Creative breakthroughs come from sustained efforts over a long period of time. The sudden flower of inspiration comes from diligently planting, watering, fertilizing, and pruning.
When we describe the Bible as “inspired” by God, take care not to let false, cultural ideas about inspiration creep into our theology. The Holy Spirit is not a muse and might not be amused at being thought of as one.
Biblical authors did not go into trances, losing control of their faculties. When the Holy Spirit caused reactions of this kind with King Saul, it was to humble him and produced nothing worth remembering. (1 Samuel 10.10-13; 1 Samuel 18.10-11; 1 Samuel 19.19-24) Authors like David, Asaph, and Solomon made sustained efforts to pursue God’s wisdom. This led to prodigious output of texts considered as God’s own words.
The inspiration of the Spirit didn’t stop with writing. It included editing, curating, and arranging of texts. Today’s passage notes the “men of Hezekiah” who researched, compiled, and arranged additional proverbs of Solomon, but there are many editors, researchers, and curators to thank for our scriptures. For example, the gospel authors worked hard to investigate and make orderly accounts of events so we can be certain of what we have been taught. (Luke 1.1-4; John 20.30-31; 21.24-25)
Be thankful today for the editors and compilers of scripture as the unsung, Holy Spirit-inspired heroes that they are.
The canon of scripture is closed, but the Holy Spirit is still active and wants to speak through your words and actions. Be a diligent worker (2 Timothy 2.15), making sustained efforts in prayer and the scriptures, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit will break out into your life in surprising and sudden ways.
Prayer for the week:
We are taking a break from the Divine Hours Prayers this month. Each week, we will pray a prayer from Scripture or Christian history related to the week’s theme. This week’s prayer is related to our theme of the Bible:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. — Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556)
Read more: Untwisting Scripture
Some Christians spend a lot of time finger-pointing…Some are accused of accommodating today’s culture and others of accommodating past cultures.
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