Breaking Bread Today

01/24/2026

How “folly” is described as the woman more bitter than death

(Ecclesiastes 7:26, wisdom-literature framework)

This is not about women. It’s about foolishness personified as a woman, the same way wisdom is also personified as a woman elsewhere (Proverbs 8–9). Hebrew wisdom teaching uses female imagery because folly and wisdom both attract.

1. Why folly is portrayed as a woman

In biblical wisdom literature:
• Wisdom calls → invites you into life
• Folly calls → invites you into pleasure, shortcuts, ego, control

Both are persuasive.
Both appeal to desire, emotion, ego, and appetite.

So folly is pictured as a woman because:
• She entices, not attacks
• She captures, not confronts
• She seduces the will, not the body first

This is teaching psychology, not gender.

2. “More bitter than death” — what that actually means

In Hebrew thought:
• Death = an end
• Bitterness = ongoing inner torment

So something “more bitter than death” is:

A living captivity that drains life while you’re still alive

Folly doesn’t kill you quickly.
It keeps you alive but trapped.

That’s worse than death in wisdom terms.

3. “Her heart is snares and nets”

This is hunting language.

Folly:
• Traps you slowly
• Entangles your thinking
• Makes escape harder the longer you stay

Foolishness works by:
• Rationalization
• Self-deception
• Emotional hooks
• Ego (“I know better”)

You don’t notice the net until you’re already caught.

4. “Her hands are bands”

Once folly has you:
• You lose freedom
• You lose clarity
• You lose self-control

Foolishness binds:
• Habits
• Relationships
• Thought patterns
• Addictions
• Pride

You are not free—but you think you are.

That’s the danger.

5. Why the fool is “taken by her”

Scripture says:

“The sinner shall be taken by her.”

Because folly feeds on:
• Pride
• Impulsiveness
• Desire without restraint
• Refusal to listen
• Hatred of correction

A fool doesn’t fall into folly by accident.
He chooses it because it flatters him.

6. Core insight (this is the key)

Folly is “more bitter than death” because:
• Death ends pain
• Folly prolongs pain
• Death closes the chapter
• Folly keeps rewriting the same failure

Folly doesn’t destroy you fast.
It decays you slowly.

That connects directly to:

“Envy is the rottenness of the bones” (Prov. 14:30)

Same principle:
• Inner corruption
• Long-term decay
• Life draining from within

One-sentence summary

Folly is called “the woman more bitter than death” because foolishness seduces, entraps, and binds the soul, keeping a person alive but slowly stripping away freedom, clarity, and life itself

03/27/2024

"I have been called and also known as The Apostle of Food, a title that reflects my unwavering devotion to the culinary arts and the sharing of its gospel." —Lloyd Caulker

03/24/2024

Prayer to support and uplift the various departments within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with gratitude for Your sovereign grace and the assurance that You care for all aspects of our lives, including our health, well-being, and societal structures. We lift up the United States Department of Health and Human Services and its subdivisions, seeking Your wisdom, strength, and guidance for each area of service.

For the **Medicare and Medicaid Services**, we are reminded of Your provision in Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." May You provide for both the elderly and the financially challenged, ensuring they receive the care and support they need.

We pray for the **Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)**, holding onto Jeremiah 33:6, "Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth." Guide the CDC in their efforts to protect public health, grant them wisdom and insight to prevent disease and promote well-being.

For the **Food and Drug Administration (FDA)**, we recall Psalm 145:15-16, "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Help the FDA ensure the safety and efficacy of food and medicine, so every person can live without fear of harm.

We lift up the **National Institutes of Health (NIH)**, inspired by James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." May their research and efforts to improve health be guided by Your boundless wisdom and result in healing and advancement for the betterment of humanity.

For the **Administration for Children and Families (ACF)**, we remember Psalm 82:3, "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." Strengthen their programs to support families, enforce child support, and protect the vulnerable.

Guiding the **Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)**, we hold onto Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." May Your presence bring recovery and hope to those struggling with substance abuse and mental health challenges.

For the **Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)**, we are guided by Proverbs 2:6, "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." May their work in improving healthcare quality be fruitful, leading to better health outcomes for all.

Lastly, we pray for the **Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)**, reflecting on Matthew 25:40, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Encourage their efforts to provide healthcare for the uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable, reflecting Your love and compassion.

Lord, we ask for Your continued blessings on the DHHS and its dedicated workers. May their actions bring glory to Your name and reflect Your kingdom here on earth. Protect, guide, and inspire them with Your unfailing love and wisdom.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

03/19/2024

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The University of North Florida, or UNF, used to be referred to as "You Never Finish," but I graduated. 😎

Photo by Owner 

03/19/2024

The Thomas G. Carpenter Library at the University of North Florida recently installed a reflexology garden named the River of Knowledge. This addition was authorized by the library administration. An information panel accompanying the garden suggests that regular use can enhance users' health quality, as well as alleviate stress and anxiety. This is why God called me to be a carpenter, to wash feet, and to heal nations with knowledge and art.

Various photos of the “River of Knowledge” reflexology garden at the University of North Florida Thomas G. Carpenter Library A reflexology garden, called the River of Knowledge, was ins…

03/17/2024

O Lord and Divine Guide of Illumination, I humbly seek your blessing as I embark on a quest to unlock the hidden treasures and mysteries of the Knights Templar. Grant me the wisdom to decipher ancient secrets, the courage to navigate the unknown, and the discernment to understand the true significance of these revelations. May my journey be guided by truth, integrity, and righteousness, as we unravel the mysteries that have been veiled for centuries. Illuminate my path with your divine light, leading me towards enlightenment and understanding. In your name, I invoke your guidance and protection on this sacred endeavor. Amen."

—Lloyd Baruba Caulker

03/08/2024

I AM an Artist.

02/15/2024

“I love Covenant so much. Five of my children attend or have attended the school. I love the teachers and the faculty and that our children memorize scriptures as part of their course work. It’s a blessing to have a school like this.” — Mr. Caulker, Covenant Father

There’s so much to love about Covenant. 🫶🏾 We invite you to come and experience the Covenant difference for yourself. Learn more about our next open house, tours, or how to start an application at wearecovenant.org/now-enrolling

02/15/2024

Every day I enjoy meeting my clients, every one of them, and then also I get to meet awesome people while I’m working, like Reverend Mark and his friend, a dedicated priest known for his transformative leadership and unwavering faith.

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02/13/2024

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01/07/2024

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Is 60:1-3)