Agur, the author of this collection of proverbs, uses several interesting literary devices in this chapter; but the one that appeals to me most is his use of the rhetorical question.
In verse four he asks,
"Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of His hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in His cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name and the name of His Son?"
Well, obviously not us.
After Job has gone through his difficult life, and has been challenged by his friends to curse God and die, God comes to him "out of the storm," tells him to brace himself for some questions, and begins with a crushing, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?"
Humbling.
God continues for four chapters where He makes point after point, reminding Job that He is Almighty God. Job answers in 42:2, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." Similarly, Agur answers in Proverbs 30:5, "Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him."
I find it exciting to read these chapters in Job and this section in Proverbs 30. Being reminded of God's power, His sovereignty, His perfection, contrasted with my incompleteness, my sinfulness, is heavy, humbling. The lightening, the uplifting of my spirit comes when I realize that this incredible God loves me, chose me to be His, and promises to be my Protector forever. His plans are made, He can be trusted, His word is perfect. Amen.
Proverbs 28 ~ The Wicked vs. the Righteous
"The wicked man flees though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion."
Proverbs 28:1
Throughout this Proverb, the wicked are contrasted with the righteous. Examples of wicked men are brought forth in verses 13 through 27. The hypocrite (v.13), the hard-hearted (v.14), the tyrant (v.15-16), the murderer (v.17), the perverse (v.18), the chaser of fantasies (v.19), the greedy (v.20 & 25), the biased (v.21), the stingy (v.22), the flatterer (v.23), the robber (v. 24), the self-confident (v.26), and the callous (v.27).
Now that we have seen examples of the wicked, who are the righteous that are bold as lions? In Psalm 32:1–2 David says, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him." Then at the end of the psalm David tells us what sort of person this is whose sins are forgiven and whose transgressions are not counted. Verses 10–11: "Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD'S unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"
John Piper says, "The righteous ones are the ones who trust in the Lord—the ones who have faith and bank their hope on the mercy and power and wisdom of God. These are the ones against whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and whose sins are forgiven. They are righteous not with a righteousness of their own, but with the imputed righteousness of God. These are the ones who are free from fear. Their consciences are "sprinkled clean from an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22). Their hearts no longer condemn them (1 John 3:21). They are right with God, because of his grace, not because of their merit. And their boldness with God and with men shows the worth and the value of the gospel (Hebrews 4:2, 6) of God's grace."
Psalm 45:7 says that the Lord, "loves righteousness and hates wickedness."
Father, forgive me of my wicked ways. Thank you for your grace that has the power to make me right with You.
but the righteous are as bold as a lion."
Proverbs 28:1
Throughout this Proverb, the wicked are contrasted with the righteous. Examples of wicked men are brought forth in verses 13 through 27. The hypocrite (v.13), the hard-hearted (v.14), the tyrant (v.15-16), the murderer (v.17), the perverse (v.18), the chaser of fantasies (v.19), the greedy (v.20 & 25), the biased (v.21), the stingy (v.22), the flatterer (v.23), the robber (v. 24), the self-confident (v.26), and the callous (v.27).
Now that we have seen examples of the wicked, who are the righteous that are bold as lions? In Psalm 32:1–2 David says, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him." Then at the end of the psalm David tells us what sort of person this is whose sins are forgiven and whose transgressions are not counted. Verses 10–11: "Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD'S unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"
John Piper says, "The righteous ones are the ones who trust in the Lord—the ones who have faith and bank their hope on the mercy and power and wisdom of God. These are the ones against whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and whose sins are forgiven. They are righteous not with a righteousness of their own, but with the imputed righteousness of God. These are the ones who are free from fear. Their consciences are "sprinkled clean from an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22). Their hearts no longer condemn them (1 John 3:21). They are right with God, because of his grace, not because of their merit. And their boldness with God and with men shows the worth and the value of the gospel (Hebrews 4:2, 6) of God's grace."
Psalm 45:7 says that the Lord, "loves righteousness and hates wickedness."
Father, forgive me of my wicked ways. Thank you for your grace that has the power to make me right with You.
Proverbs 28 Enough for Us; Abundance for Others
Much is said in this proverb concerning money, specifically, wealth verses poverty. It addresses the treatment of the poor (verses 3, 8, 27), the methods of acquiring wealth (verse 8) as well as poverty (verse 19), the attitudes of the unrighteous rich (verses 11, 22, 25, 27) and the faithful poor (verses 6 &11), and the results of amassing wealth – you might say, storing up treasures on earth (verses 3, 8, 11, 20, 22, 25) verses one who doesn’t – you might say, stores up treasures in heaven (verses 6, 11, 25), to mention a few.
I dare say none of us reading this has any idea of what poverty is. I was greatly convicted over much of what I read in preparation for this devotion, especially about my attitude towards the poor. One commentary addressing verse 27, “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses”, pointed out that often we not only fail to look for others needing our help, but we actually turn away from them. He went on to say that we even justify it on the grounds that there are too many demands for our giving. Though I have no doubt that God would have us be discerning with the money that He has entrusted to us, I think that God would rather I ere on the “generous to the poor” side.
John Piper put it this way, “The great danger of riches is that our affections will be carried away from God to the gifts……God is not glorified when we keep for ourselves what we ought to be using to alleviate the misery of unevangelized, uneducated, unmedicated and unfed millions……God increases our yield so that by giving we can prove our yield is not our god…….’God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work’ (2 Corinthians 9:8) Why does God bless us with abundance? So we can have enough to live on and then use the rest for all manner of good works that alleviate spiritual and physical misery. Enough for us; abundance for others.” (Excerpts from Chapter 7 Money - John Piper)
Lord, by your grace, give me Your attitude toward money. Enough for me; abundance for others.
I dare say none of us reading this has any idea of what poverty is. I was greatly convicted over much of what I read in preparation for this devotion, especially about my attitude towards the poor. One commentary addressing verse 27, “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses”, pointed out that often we not only fail to look for others needing our help, but we actually turn away from them. He went on to say that we even justify it on the grounds that there are too many demands for our giving. Though I have no doubt that God would have us be discerning with the money that He has entrusted to us, I think that God would rather I ere on the “generous to the poor” side.
John Piper put it this way, “The great danger of riches is that our affections will be carried away from God to the gifts……God is not glorified when we keep for ourselves what we ought to be using to alleviate the misery of unevangelized, uneducated, unmedicated and unfed millions……God increases our yield so that by giving we can prove our yield is not our god…….’God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work’ (2 Corinthians 9:8) Why does God bless us with abundance? So we can have enough to live on and then use the rest for all manner of good works that alleviate spiritual and physical misery. Enough for us; abundance for others.” (Excerpts from Chapter 7 Money - John Piper)
Lord, by your grace, give me Your attitude toward money. Enough for me; abundance for others.
Proverbs 27~God Only Knows
Have you ever heard someone quip "God only knows..."? This expression is usually said in a less than reverent tone when the speaker is emphasizing that he or she has no idea how something is going to turn out. A more precise and accurate statement might be "Only God knows...".
Proverbs 27:1 says "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."
James 4:13-15 echoes this sentiment in this way:
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'"
Years ago, I was busily and confidently climbing the corporate ladder. I vividly recall a conversation I had with a missionary woman during this period. We were chit-chatting and she casually asked me if we were considering having children. I explained to her in a very forthright manner exactly when I planned to fit children into my career aspirations. Her eyes got very wide at my response, and, stifling a laugh, she inquired whether or not I had let God know about my timetable. Several years and numerous infertility issues later, I conceded to the Lord that I would relinquish my attempts to control every aspect of my life and, instead, try it His way.
What freedom there is in relinquishing control to our heavenly Father. He knows us best, loves us best and, therefore, is the best one to guide us. When we grasp this concept and desire to glorify God in all we do, it is much easier to say "If the Lord wills, I will do this or that."
Proverbs 27:1 says "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."
James 4:13-15 echoes this sentiment in this way:
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'"
Years ago, I was busily and confidently climbing the corporate ladder. I vividly recall a conversation I had with a missionary woman during this period. We were chit-chatting and she casually asked me if we were considering having children. I explained to her in a very forthright manner exactly when I planned to fit children into my career aspirations. Her eyes got very wide at my response, and, stifling a laugh, she inquired whether or not I had let God know about my timetable. Several years and numerous infertility issues later, I conceded to the Lord that I would relinquish my attempts to control every aspect of my life and, instead, try it His way.
What freedom there is in relinquishing control to our heavenly Father. He knows us best, loves us best and, therefore, is the best one to guide us. When we grasp this concept and desire to glorify God in all we do, it is much easier to say "If the Lord wills, I will do this or that."
Proverbs 24 Blueprint for Living
How should we build our homes? How should we run our lives?
Seek God's wisdom. Prioritize--first things first. Be diligent.
- By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. v3
- Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. v.27
- A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. v. 33-34
The author instructs us to keep our attitude towards others in check. We should not envy the wicked, desire to be with them (v. 1&2)--we need to be in a posture of rescue/restoration in their lives (v. 11 & 12). God will see and disapprove of us if we gloat when our enemy stumbles and falls (17 & 18). In fact, we are told that the wicked have no future hope and "the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out." (v. 19 & 20) If they have no future hope, they are to be pitied.
We are cautioned just as strongly to not "lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house, do not raid his dwelling place:" v. 15 I wondered if "lying in wait" is what happens when we deliberately look for inconsistencies in our fellow believers' walk...
To judge with impartiality-- to convict the truly guilty, God promises a blessing. v. 23-25 We are not to repay evil for evil. v. 28 & 29.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. v.26 Notice that the text does not say a brutally honest answer...or say that kissing constantly is a good thing... :) "An" honest answer..."a" kiss... restraint in our words...
My visual picture of Solomon as he is writing these down, is a man who is writing as fast as he can, as the thoughts are being given to him. The writing seems urgent to me...like these thoughts are of utmost importance and he desires greatly for them to be heeded.
Father, help us to heed Your instructions of how to live. We want to live lives that serve You and are honoring to You. Help us to daily follow You more closely.
Proverbs 23 Hearts of gladness and peace
Proverbs 23:15
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad.
I wonder if we have said this to our children. I mean, actually told them that above all of the things we try to teach them, the one thing that will truly put a smile on our faces is to hear them speak words of wisdom and to see their wise actions speak even louder than those words. I wonder if they realize that above keeping their rooms clean, paying attention in class, being nice to others, that the one thing that we value above all is to see wisdom ooze out of them? Telling them this might open up some great opportunities to talk with them about specifics of what wisdom is and from Whom we receive this valuable gift.
Proverbs 23:10, 11
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.
These verses give so much comfort. They address the specific issue of someone taking advantage of a child who has no father or who has no one to defend his financial interest, but we can also see the greater promise of God in them. No matter what our earthly father is like, no matter if we have no father, no matter if someone tries to take advantage of us when we have no one to watch over our interests, our Heavenly Father is our Strong Defender. He will take up our case against our offender. I love that. I love knowing, Knowing, that no matter what, He will take care of me. Solomon's father, David, said, "The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?" My heart is overwhelmed with peace.
Dear Father, Thank You for loving me. I love You, too.
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad.
I wonder if we have said this to our children. I mean, actually told them that above all of the things we try to teach them, the one thing that will truly put a smile on our faces is to hear them speak words of wisdom and to see their wise actions speak even louder than those words. I wonder if they realize that above keeping their rooms clean, paying attention in class, being nice to others, that the one thing that we value above all is to see wisdom ooze out of them? Telling them this might open up some great opportunities to talk with them about specifics of what wisdom is and from Whom we receive this valuable gift.
Proverbs 23:10, 11
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you.
These verses give so much comfort. They address the specific issue of someone taking advantage of a child who has no father or who has no one to defend his financial interest, but we can also see the greater promise of God in them. No matter what our earthly father is like, no matter if we have no father, no matter if someone tries to take advantage of us when we have no one to watch over our interests, our Heavenly Father is our Strong Defender. He will take up our case against our offender. I love that. I love knowing, Knowing, that no matter what, He will take care of me. Solomon's father, David, said, "The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?" My heart is overwhelmed with peace.
Dear Father, Thank You for loving me. I love You, too.
Proverbs 22 - O Dear Children!
Of course, while reading the 22nd Proverb, the two verses that I have memorized (vs. 6 & 15) stand out to me. There are so many beautiful verses that I needed to hear when I read this chapter. However, these two, the two that focus on child-rearing really catch my attention. I suspect it is because this is right where I am in life!
God gave me a desire to more fully understand these verses so I began to pray and search and study more. While the internet at times can be a sad excuse for a research tool, it can also be an unbelievable and amazing source of information. I came across a sight that contains Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible! This sight is now a top bookmark of mine and I know I will visit often. Praise God for tools like this that help me know and have a deeper meaning of Scripture. To link to Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible click here. To read a short bio of Matthew Henry click here.
Proverbs 22, verses 6 and 15 are well explained by Henry. So well done that I decided that I would post what he says in his commentary.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
"Here is, 1. A great duty enjoined, particularly to those that are the parents and instructors of children, in order to the propagating of wisdom, that it may not die with them: Train up children in that age of vanity, to keep them from the sins and snares of it, in that learning age, to prepare them for what they are designed for. Catechise them; initiate them; keep them under discipline. Train them as soldiers, who are taught to handle their arms, keep rank, and observe the word of command. Train them up, not in the way they would go (the bias of their corrupt hearts would draw them aside), but in the way they should go, the way in which, if you love them, you would have them go. Train up a child according as he is capable (as some take it), with a gentle hand, as nurses feed children, little and often, Deuteronomy 6:7. 2. A good reason for it, taken from the great advantage of this care and pains with children: When they grow up, when they grow old, it is to be hoped, they will not depart from it. Good impressions made upon them then will abide upon them all their days. Ordinarily the vessel retains the savour with which it was first seasoned. Many indeed have departed from the good way in which they were trained up; Solomon himself did so. But early training may be a means of their recovering themselves, as it is supposed Solomon did. At least the parents will have the comfort of having done their duty and used the means."
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
"We have here two very sad considerations:-- 1. That corruption is woven into our nature. Sin is foolishness; it is contrary both to our right reason and to our true interest. It is in the heart; there is an inward inclination to sin, to speak and act foolishly. It is in the heart of children; they bring it into the world with them; it is what they were shapen and conceived in. It is not only found there, but it is bound there; it is annexed to the heart (so some); vicious dispositions cleave closely to the soul, are bound to it as the cion to the stock into which it is grafted, which quite alters the property. There is a knot tied between the soul and sin, a true lover's knot; they two became one flesh. It is true of ourselves, it is true of our children, whom we have begotten in our own likeness. O God! thou knowest this foolishness. 2. That correction is necessary to the cure of it. It will not be got out by fair means and gentle methods; there must be strictness and severity, and that which will cause grief. Children need to be corrected, and kept under discipline, by their parents; and we all need to be corrected by our heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:6,7), and under the correction we must stroke down folly and kiss the rod."
I have always known that we are born with a sinful nature, but I am at the point where I am really seeing it! It is becoming more and more apparent in my child as he throws fits and pushes my buttons. I realize that my calling as a parent is so huge! It is overwhelming really. This journey of parenting HAS to depend on the Lord. He is the only one that is going to help John and I with consistency in training and disciplining him (and our other children). Praise Him for this wonderful yet difficult role!
Lord, I pray that you would become great in our lives and we would become less. Lord, impart your wisdom on us so that we may be the leaders and the parents that you have called us to be. And most of all, that we would give You the glory for the great things You have done!
God gave me a desire to more fully understand these verses so I began to pray and search and study more. While the internet at times can be a sad excuse for a research tool, it can also be an unbelievable and amazing source of information. I came across a sight that contains Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible! This sight is now a top bookmark of mine and I know I will visit often. Praise God for tools like this that help me know and have a deeper meaning of Scripture. To link to Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible click here. To read a short bio of Matthew Henry click here.
Proverbs 22, verses 6 and 15 are well explained by Henry. So well done that I decided that I would post what he says in his commentary.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
"Here is, 1. A great duty enjoined, particularly to those that are the parents and instructors of children, in order to the propagating of wisdom, that it may not die with them: Train up children in that age of vanity, to keep them from the sins and snares of it, in that learning age, to prepare them for what they are designed for. Catechise them; initiate them; keep them under discipline. Train them as soldiers, who are taught to handle their arms, keep rank, and observe the word of command. Train them up, not in the way they would go (the bias of their corrupt hearts would draw them aside), but in the way they should go, the way in which, if you love them, you would have them go. Train up a child according as he is capable (as some take it), with a gentle hand, as nurses feed children, little and often, Deuteronomy 6:7. 2. A good reason for it, taken from the great advantage of this care and pains with children: When they grow up, when they grow old, it is to be hoped, they will not depart from it. Good impressions made upon them then will abide upon them all their days. Ordinarily the vessel retains the savour with which it was first seasoned. Many indeed have departed from the good way in which they were trained up; Solomon himself did so. But early training may be a means of their recovering themselves, as it is supposed Solomon did. At least the parents will have the comfort of having done their duty and used the means."
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
"We have here two very sad considerations:-- 1. That corruption is woven into our nature. Sin is foolishness; it is contrary both to our right reason and to our true interest. It is in the heart; there is an inward inclination to sin, to speak and act foolishly. It is in the heart of children; they bring it into the world with them; it is what they were shapen and conceived in. It is not only found there, but it is bound there; it is annexed to the heart (so some); vicious dispositions cleave closely to the soul, are bound to it as the cion to the stock into which it is grafted, which quite alters the property. There is a knot tied between the soul and sin, a true lover's knot; they two became one flesh. It is true of ourselves, it is true of our children, whom we have begotten in our own likeness. O God! thou knowest this foolishness. 2. That correction is necessary to the cure of it. It will not be got out by fair means and gentle methods; there must be strictness and severity, and that which will cause grief. Children need to be corrected, and kept under discipline, by their parents; and we all need to be corrected by our heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:6,7), and under the correction we must stroke down folly and kiss the rod."
I have always known that we are born with a sinful nature, but I am at the point where I am really seeing it! It is becoming more and more apparent in my child as he throws fits and pushes my buttons. I realize that my calling as a parent is so huge! It is overwhelming really. This journey of parenting HAS to depend on the Lord. He is the only one that is going to help John and I with consistency in training and disciplining him (and our other children). Praise Him for this wonderful yet difficult role!
Lord, I pray that you would become great in our lives and we would become less. Lord, impart your wisdom on us so that we may be the leaders and the parents that you have called us to be. And most of all, that we would give You the glory for the great things You have done!
Proverbs 21 ~ Victory is the Lord's!
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. Proverbs 21:31
I love the Old Testament and its stories of God’s dealings with Israel. One of my favorite books is Deuteronomy, especially the parts where Moses reminds Israel of God’s faithfulness to them and their forefathers. Moses explains to the people of Israel that God is making a name for Himself by setting His favor upon them, His chosen nation. He tells them in chapter 7 that they were not chosen as His treasured possession because of who they were but because of who He is. In chapter 9, Moses tells them that they are about to conquer the land that God promised to their forefathers, not because of their righteousness, but because of His purposes. Israel didn’t get it, but Moses was trying to impress upon the nation that they could trust God to do what He said He would do. That, especially when things looked most impossible, He would be big enough to deliver them from anything they would face. They need only trust God for the victory. God wanted Israel to see that He would “save them – not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the Lord their God.” (Hosea 1:7)
What about us? God is still about making a name for Himself by setting apart a people who will make much of Him by trusting Him to do what He says He will do. Spurgeon said, “If I have much faith, so that I can take God at His Word…I shall greatly honor my Lord and King.” This is what honors God. Yes, as today's verse says, we make ready our horses.....we plan, we prepare, we ready ourselves, but, our trust is not in these things but, in God. What seemingly impossible situation in your life or mine do we need to trust God and take Him at His Word for? Is it submission to our husband? An unsaved or rebellious child? A broken relationship? An ailing parent? We greatly honor our Lord and King when we trust Him for the victory.
Lord, thank you that you are trustworthy and in every situation you bring into our lives, help us to remember what you said to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zech. 4:6)
I love the Old Testament and its stories of God’s dealings with Israel. One of my favorite books is Deuteronomy, especially the parts where Moses reminds Israel of God’s faithfulness to them and their forefathers. Moses explains to the people of Israel that God is making a name for Himself by setting His favor upon them, His chosen nation. He tells them in chapter 7 that they were not chosen as His treasured possession because of who they were but because of who He is. In chapter 9, Moses tells them that they are about to conquer the land that God promised to their forefathers, not because of their righteousness, but because of His purposes. Israel didn’t get it, but Moses was trying to impress upon the nation that they could trust God to do what He said He would do. That, especially when things looked most impossible, He would be big enough to deliver them from anything they would face. They need only trust God for the victory. God wanted Israel to see that He would “save them – not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the Lord their God.” (Hosea 1:7)
What about us? God is still about making a name for Himself by setting apart a people who will make much of Him by trusting Him to do what He says He will do. Spurgeon said, “If I have much faith, so that I can take God at His Word…I shall greatly honor my Lord and King.” This is what honors God. Yes, as today's verse says, we make ready our horses.....we plan, we prepare, we ready ourselves, but, our trust is not in these things but, in God. What seemingly impossible situation in your life or mine do we need to trust God and take Him at His Word for? Is it submission to our husband? An unsaved or rebellious child? A broken relationship? An ailing parent? We greatly honor our Lord and King when we trust Him for the victory.
Lord, thank you that you are trustworthy and in every situation you bring into our lives, help us to remember what you said to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zech. 4:6)
Proverbs 20 ~God's Spotlight
There are many important verses in today's reading. I could not conceive of trying to do justice to all of them, so I selected one verse that really jumped out at me. Proverbs 20, verse 27 says "The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the innermost parts of his being." (NAS) The Matthew Henry commentary on this verse equates the spirit of man with a person's conscience and says: "Conscience, that noble faculty, is God's deputy in the soul; it is a candle not only lighted by Him, but lighted for Him."
The Contemporary English Version phrases the verse this way: "Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts." When I think of a lamp, I think of a tool that is helpful, useful and productive. I've never really ascribed those attributes to my "inner thoughts". Yet, this verse tells us that our inner (i.e., most personal, private) thoughts are useful. How so? They illuminate, or shine light on, what is in our hearts. And, as we all know, what is in our hearts comes out in the form of words and actions.
On a practical level, we need to be intentional about slowing down the pace of life in order for God to reveal to us what is in our own heart. The Psalmist prays "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." This is not a 30 second process! When it comes to having God shine His light on our conscience, there is no substitute for spending time in God's Word and in prayer every day. These efforts can also be enhanced by scripture memory, journaling and the practice of other spiritual disciplines.
Lord, remind me that my time with you as the most important time I spend all day. Help me to be sensitive to the prompting of your Spirit as you shine your light on my heart.
The Contemporary English Version phrases the verse this way: "Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts." When I think of a lamp, I think of a tool that is helpful, useful and productive. I've never really ascribed those attributes to my "inner thoughts". Yet, this verse tells us that our inner (i.e., most personal, private) thoughts are useful. How so? They illuminate, or shine light on, what is in our hearts. And, as we all know, what is in our hearts comes out in the form of words and actions.
On a practical level, we need to be intentional about slowing down the pace of life in order for God to reveal to us what is in our own heart. The Psalmist prays "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." This is not a 30 second process! When it comes to having God shine His light on our conscience, there is no substitute for spending time in God's Word and in prayer every day. These efforts can also be enhanced by scripture memory, journaling and the practice of other spiritual disciplines.
Lord, remind me that my time with you as the most important time I spend all day. Help me to be sensitive to the prompting of your Spirit as you shine your light on my heart.
Proverbs 17 Righteous vs. Wicked Part II (or "This Again?")
Ok. Here we are again: It is Friday and we are looking at the upright and the wicked...does this seem familiar?
Some of the verses in this chapter are very familiar...
- 17:1--Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.
- 17:6--Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons is their fathers.
- 17:22-- A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
- 17:25--A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
Some have become popular:
- 17:28--Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise: When he closes his lips, he is counted prudent. In popular language you hear: "Better to be quiet and thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt."
Some have rather interesting second parts:
- 17:17--A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. When I first read this one as a kid, I thought my brothers were my adversaries! This could refer to how friends facing adversity together, become as close as family. It could also be referring to the forever bonds we have as family.
Haven't we all experienced these truths?
- He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends--v.9.
- A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool--v. 10.
- He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding--v.27.
I am also challenged by these verses:
- The beginning of strife is like letting out water (think whooosh! and a great release of pressure), so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out--v. 14. You know how it is when you get mad?--how hard it is to stop if you voice those first hot words? That is when v. 27 is the hardest one for me to apply.
- Can my house be characterized by being full of peace or strife? Matthew Henry puts it this way: "Those that live in unity and quietness, and that study to make themselves obliging to one another (!) live very comfortably, though they work hard and fare hard, though they have but each of them a morsel, and that a dry morsel. There may be peace and quietness where there are not three meals a day, provided there be a joint satisfaction in God's providence and a mutual satisfaction in each others' prudence. Holy love may be found in a cottage (shack). Those that live in contention, that have plenty of dainties, live uncomfortably; they cannot expect the blessing of God upon them. Love will sweeten a dry morsel, but strife will sour and embitter a house full of sacrifices."
Father help us today to seek to be wise in your eyes. Help us to be good stewards of the relationships you have given us here--help us to be kind to each other and to be a strength to each other. Help us to see and put into action ways to make our homes an oasis--places of re-creation and harmony. Thank You for Your love for us. Amen.
Proverbs 16 ~ Sovereignty = Peace
As I read this chapter, I see 5 different themes interspersed throughout.
1) God plans every one of our steps.
2) Showing love, faithfulness, humility and patience in our relationships pays off.
3) Being wise, honest and pleasant toward the king (any authority) brings favor.
4) Wisdom should guide and guard our mouths; what we say can bring anger or healing.
5) Conniving doesn't actually put is in better stead in our relationships or in position; it is deceptive, separating us from what is actually beneficial.
I am particularly attracted to statements such as are found in verse 4, "The Lord works out everything for His Own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster," and verse 33, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."
Learning about God's Sovereignty changed my life about 15 years ago. When I came to accept that every part of my life was already determined by God, it lightened my heart. It took away so much self-imposed stress when I realized that the weight of every decision, big and small, is not on my shoulders, but His. I am so thankful that I am taken care of by a God Who has planned every aspect of my life. He has taken away my need to worry.
Dear Lord, Thank You for making us a part of Your family. Being outside of You would be so lonely, so stressful, so hopeless. Thank You that You can be trusted completely. Please give us wisdom so we can exhibit the characteristics that bring good to our relationships and discernment to our decisions. Thank You for guiding our steps. Amen.
Proverbs 14 ~ The Fear of the Lord
Proverbs 14:26-27
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.
"Fear of the Lord. The word "fear" in the phrase "fear of the Lord" comes from the Hebrew word YIRAH (transliterated), and it means "to be terrified" (Jonah 1:10), "to be awe" (1 Kings 3:28), and "to have respect" (Lev. 19:3). The "fear of the Lord" is the reverence one would pay to a king because he is the majesty. But if one has offended the king and punishment is coming, that fear in the Hebrew is YARE. YARE is used in the phrase "fear the Lord" 31 times in the Old Testament. Therefore, when one sins, that person might fear God's discipline (Deut. 10:20). (www.neverthirsty.org).
The fear of the Lord should be a trait that we desire to develop in our lives, one that is highly sought after. We can develop a fear of the Lord through studying the Word, asking the Lord for help, and putting ourselves aside so that He may develop this trait in us!
The benefits of possessing the fear of the Lord are laid out all through Scripture. With the fear of the Lord...
* We have the beginning of wisdom and have good understanding. (Ps 111:10; Prov 9:10)
* We hate evil. (Proverbs 8:13)
* We add length to our lives. (Proverbs 10:27)
* We have a secure fortress and a fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:26-27)
* We have wisdom. (Proverbs 15:33)
* We avoid evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
* We will have a satisfying life, spared from much evil. (Proverbs 19:23)
* We will have wealth and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)
* We will be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)
On the other hand, all of this means that WITHOUT the fear of the Lord...
* We have no wisdom or understanding.
* We love evil.
* Our lives are shortened.
* We are driven towards evil.
* We do not know the love of God that gives us confidence of salvation.
* Our life is dissatisfying.
* We have no life in Him.
Lord, reveal yourself to me through your Word. Help me to decrease, so that you may increase in my life.
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.
"Fear of the Lord. The word "fear" in the phrase "fear of the Lord" comes from the Hebrew word YIRAH (transliterated), and it means "to be terrified" (Jonah 1:10), "to be awe" (1 Kings 3:28), and "to have respect" (Lev. 19:3). The "fear of the Lord" is the reverence one would pay to a king because he is the majesty. But if one has offended the king and punishment is coming, that fear in the Hebrew is YARE. YARE is used in the phrase "fear the Lord" 31 times in the Old Testament. Therefore, when one sins, that person might fear God's discipline (Deut. 10:20). (www.neverthirsty.org).
The fear of the Lord should be a trait that we desire to develop in our lives, one that is highly sought after. We can develop a fear of the Lord through studying the Word, asking the Lord for help, and putting ourselves aside so that He may develop this trait in us!
The benefits of possessing the fear of the Lord are laid out all through Scripture. With the fear of the Lord...
* We have the beginning of wisdom and have good understanding. (Ps 111:10; Prov 9:10)
* We hate evil. (Proverbs 8:13)
* We add length to our lives. (Proverbs 10:27)
* We have a secure fortress and a fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:26-27)
* We have wisdom. (Proverbs 15:33)
* We avoid evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
* We will have a satisfying life, spared from much evil. (Proverbs 19:23)
* We will have wealth and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)
* We will be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)
On the other hand, all of this means that WITHOUT the fear of the Lord...
* We have no wisdom or understanding.
* We love evil.
* Our lives are shortened.
* We are driven towards evil.
* We do not know the love of God that gives us confidence of salvation.
* Our life is dissatisfying.
* We have no life in Him.
Lord, reveal yourself to me through your Word. Help me to decrease, so that you may increase in my life.
Proverbs 14 ~ Deadly Path
In Proverbs 14, Solomon “continues to roam through the fields of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and experience and through the realms of reason and revelation. As he roams he picks up pearls of instruction and holds them up for us to examine and treasure….The best we can do is pick up his pearls one by one and try to see their beauty for ourselves.” (John Phillips’ commentary on the book of Proverbs)
It is in that vain that I pick up the pearl of verse 12 to try to see its beauty. It says, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” (New Living)
What a word for our post-modern day! The post-modern generation says, “all religions lead to heaven”, or, “if you want to solve your problems, get in touch with yourself”, or, “there is no such thing as truth, it’s only a matter of preference, whatever makes you feel better is fine for you to believe”. I spoke with a non-Christian friend today who belongs to an organization that promotes transcendental meditation in public elementary schools. Our world has never been more “spiritual”, yet so far from truth.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” God wants to demolish all of the ideas of philosophy, religion, theology, psychology that are contrary to the knowledge of Himself. He wants to smash those ideologies and bring people’s thinking captive to Christ. He wants those that follow these ideas to think the way that He thinks, to have the mind of Christ and to see the truth, to know the truth and to love the truth.
As Christians, we must know the truth, stand in that truth, and tell others the truth. It is the truth that sets those who are in error free and takes them off of the path that leads to death and puts them onto the path that leads to life.
It is in that vain that I pick up the pearl of verse 12 to try to see its beauty. It says, “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” (New Living)
What a word for our post-modern day! The post-modern generation says, “all religions lead to heaven”, or, “if you want to solve your problems, get in touch with yourself”, or, “there is no such thing as truth, it’s only a matter of preference, whatever makes you feel better is fine for you to believe”. I spoke with a non-Christian friend today who belongs to an organization that promotes transcendental meditation in public elementary schools. Our world has never been more “spiritual”, yet so far from truth.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” God wants to demolish all of the ideas of philosophy, religion, theology, psychology that are contrary to the knowledge of Himself. He wants to smash those ideologies and bring people’s thinking captive to Christ. He wants those that follow these ideas to think the way that He thinks, to have the mind of Christ and to see the truth, to know the truth and to love the truth.
As Christians, we must know the truth, stand in that truth, and tell others the truth. It is the truth that sets those who are in error free and takes them off of the path that leads to death and puts them onto the path that leads to life.
Proverbs 13 ~ Yackity Yack!
"The one who guard his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." (Proverbs 13:3)
Why is the tongue so difficult to control? It is because what we say is evidence of what is in our hearts. Our hearts are not pure, so our speech is often hurtful to others and detrimental to ourselves. Luke 6:45 says: "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
In our desire to use our mouths to glorify God and edify others, three strategies are paramount. First, we must daily come before the Lord, asking Him to search and cleanse our hearts. Second, we must meditate on His word so that His truth, instead of our own thoughts, remains on the "tips of our tongue". Third, we must take the advice provided in this Proverb and practice the discipline of diligently guarding all that we say.
Proverbs 10 - Righteous vs. Wicked
This Proverb contrasts the righteous/wise man with the wicked/foolish man. I wondered what it would look like to split the chapter and take the characteristics of each separately...this is what it looked like to me...
The Wicked/foolish man:
is a grief to his mother, will not profit from ill-gotten gains, the Lord will thrust aside the craving of the wicked, works with a negligent hand, shamefully sleeps in harvest, mouth conceals violence, name of the wicked will rot, is babbling fool that will be thrown down, perverted ways will be found out, his hatred stirs up strife, a rod is for his back, ruin is at hand, punishment is the income of the wicked, led astray by not listening to reproof, a fool that spreads slander, conceals hatred, talks a lot, a worthless heart, dies because of not understanding, doing wicked things is fun, their fear will happen, afterwards the wicked is no more, lazy one is like (thought this was unusual) "vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes", years of life shortened, no hope, the way of the Lord is ruin to the workers of iniquity, will not dwell in the land, their perverted tongue will be cut out, mouth brings forth perversion.
It does not look good for the wicked/foolish man. Let's contrast that with the righteous/wise man:
makes a father glad, delivers from death, the Lord doesn't let the righteous go hungry, hand of the diligent makes rich, wise son gathers in summer, blessings are on the head of the righteous, memory of the righteous is blessed, wise of heart will receive commands, he who walks in integrity walks securely, mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, love covers all transgressions, wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, wise men store up knowledge, the righteous' wage is life, heeds instruction, restrains his lips, his tongue is choice silver, his lips feed many, the blessing of the Lord makes him rich without sorrow, a man of understanding's sport is wisdom, the desire of the righteous will be granted, righteous has an everlasting foundation, the fear of the Lord prolongs life, gladness is the hope of the righteous, righteous will never be shaken, mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, lips of righteous bring forth what is acceptable.
Wow. It makes me think.
Do I grieve my mother?
Is my father glad when he thinks of me? Is my Father glad when he thinks of me?
Am I diligent in gathering what God has brought to me?--Do I tend my family well? Do I try and apply everything I am being taught? Am I negligent with what He has entrusted me?
Will I be remembered as a blessing?
Am I available for commands, teaching, reproof?
Do I cultivate integrity? Is my private the same as my public?
Am I a babbling fool? Do I go on and on with no purpose but just to hear my voice?
Could my mouth be viewed as a 'fountain of life'?
Is wisdom found on my lips?
Do I store up knowledge? Is scripture memory a part of my day?
Does my work lead to life?
Do I listen to instruction? Do I try to apply it?
Do I talk less? Do I control my tongue or does it control me?
Do my words feed the souls of those who hear them?
Do I really believe that it is God's blessing that gives riches?
Is wisdom my sport?
What would it be like for my number one desire to be given?
When I am in the whirlwind, do I remember my everlasting foundation?
If my life is lengthened by fearing the Lord, how many more days will I have added?
Am I glad?
How is the way of the Lord evidenced in my life?
Do I get shaken and worried by current world events?
Does my mouth flow with wisdom--do things acceptable to God come out?
Father God, help us to seek you, be open to your teaching, reproof, and guidance. Stir in us a desire to store up your wisdom, so that increasingly more of what we speak is of You. Remind us of your promises to equip, your presence with us, your forgiveness of our sin, and your undeserving love for us.
Proverbs 9 ~ Fear? Really?
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
Some see God as a generous grandfatherly sort. Others see Him as One Who was powerful throughout Bible history, but Who now is hoping, begging, that we will follow Him; a "gentleman" weakened by His wishing that we will do everything correctly so that we can discover His elusive Will and try to stay in it.
The Reformers understood the Bible to teach that God is the Master of the Universe, both then and now. He is not only gentle and generous, but also the strong Creator Who, at His Own will, determines all that was, is and will be. When we allow for His sovereignty as well as His gentleness, we see that He is the great and terrible loving Father.
C. S. Lewis depicts Aslan, a symbol of Jesus, as being both terrible and good. In Matthew 10 Jesus gives instructions to the Twelve before sending them out. Beginning in verse 28 He reveals Himself saying, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One Who can destroy both soul and body in hell." He immediately follows with words of grace and comfort--words that don't seem to follow, but are designed to show the totality of God's character. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Fearing God, knowing the Holy One in the fullness of His character—both good and terrible—brings understanding, the knowledge upon which wisdom is built.
"Amazing Grace: 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed."
Some see God as a generous grandfatherly sort. Others see Him as One Who was powerful throughout Bible history, but Who now is hoping, begging, that we will follow Him; a "gentleman" weakened by His wishing that we will do everything correctly so that we can discover His elusive Will and try to stay in it.
The Reformers understood the Bible to teach that God is the Master of the Universe, both then and now. He is not only gentle and generous, but also the strong Creator Who, at His Own will, determines all that was, is and will be. When we allow for His sovereignty as well as His gentleness, we see that He is the great and terrible loving Father.
C. S. Lewis depicts Aslan, a symbol of Jesus, as being both terrible and good. In Matthew 10 Jesus gives instructions to the Twelve before sending them out. Beginning in verse 28 He reveals Himself saying, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One Who can destroy both soul and body in hell." He immediately follows with words of grace and comfort--words that don't seem to follow, but are designed to show the totality of God's character. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Fearing God, knowing the Holy One in the fullness of His character—both good and terrible—brings understanding, the knowledge upon which wisdom is built.
"Amazing Grace: 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed."
Proverbs 8 - Exhortation, Explanation, and an Invitation
Proverbs 8, Wisdom's Call, is quite the opposite of the previous chapter which describes the adulteress. My Reformation Study Bible does well in explaining some of the differences between the adulteress and Wisdom. It says, "The adulteress moves covertly at dusk and speaks falsely; Wisdom moves publicly and speaks direct and authoritative truth. Unlike the deceptive, twisted speech of the woman, Wisdom says only what is straight, right and true. The foreign wife leads her victims into slavery, impoverishment and death; Wisdom leads her followers into kingship, wealth and life. The foreign wife inhabits the earthly and mundane; Wisdom soars in heaven, above space and time. Both rub shoulders in the city and appeal for the love of the uncommitted, gullible youth - the adulteress does so erotically, Wisdom spiritually. The house of the unfaithful wife is a deathtrap; the mansion of Wisdom is the abundant life."
Proverbs 8:1-21 is an exhortation. It is as if Solomon is saying, "Here, this is why you should listen to Wisdom." Proverbs 8:21-31 seems to be explaining the history and reliability of Wisdom. It has been, it is, and it always will be. And then verses 32-36 invites us to listen! It is saying, because of all these things, Wisdom is worthy of listening to! Listen, "Do not ignore it...blessed is the man who listens...whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD." (Proverbs 8:32-35.
Another thing that the Lord impressed upon me while I was focusing on this Proverb is the numerous times that Wisdom is compared to precious metals and gems. The finest of material things do not even come close to the value of Wisdom! What a message! Wisdom says, "Choose my instruction instead of silver...gold...rubies..." (vs. 10-11) "My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver." (vs. 19) Boy, the Lord knows what is important to us! He knew that it was important to people back then, even as it is now! We all struggle with valuing material things (me especially). This is another lesson for me that these things fail us, but wisdom is everlasting!
LORD, you are more precious than silver
LORD, you are more costly than gold,
LORD, you are more beautiful than diamonds
and nothing I desire compares with you.
Proverbs 8:1-21 is an exhortation. It is as if Solomon is saying, "Here, this is why you should listen to Wisdom." Proverbs 8:21-31 seems to be explaining the history and reliability of Wisdom. It has been, it is, and it always will be. And then verses 32-36 invites us to listen! It is saying, because of all these things, Wisdom is worthy of listening to! Listen, "Do not ignore it...blessed is the man who listens...whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD." (Proverbs 8:32-35.
Another thing that the Lord impressed upon me while I was focusing on this Proverb is the numerous times that Wisdom is compared to precious metals and gems. The finest of material things do not even come close to the value of Wisdom! What a message! Wisdom says, "Choose my instruction instead of silver...gold...rubies..." (vs. 10-11) "My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver." (vs. 19) Boy, the Lord knows what is important to us! He knew that it was important to people back then, even as it is now! We all struggle with valuing material things (me especially). This is another lesson for me that these things fail us, but wisdom is everlasting!
LORD, you are more precious than silver
LORD, you are more costly than gold,
LORD, you are more beautiful than diamonds
and nothing I desire compares with you.
Proverbs 7 - An Ounce of Prevention
In this proverb, Solomon gives preventative measures against being seduced by an adulteress. The prevention can of course be applied to any sin, not just adultery. First, Solomon instructs his son to keep his words, to store up his commands, and to guard his teachings. These are all matters of the intellect. But the next set of instructions goes deeper, to the heart. He tells his son to keep them close to him, to bind them on his fingers, to write them on his heart, and to keep them so close, they are as close as a family member. Following these steps will provide his son with a clear warning of danger when the temptations come as well as weapons with which to fight them.
I've heard it said that when we are squeezed, it's a test to see what is in our hearts. Whatever comes out is an indication of what's really there. For instance, if you squeeze what looks like an orange and something other an orange juice comes out, then, it's really not an orange. The squeeze usually stands for trials in our life, but, I don't think that it's too far of a stretch to include temptations to sin. If we have God's Word stored up in our hearts, when we are squeezed - tempted - what will come out is God's Word - verses that will prevent us from speaking that lie, acting on that anger, or asking someone to pray about something when it's really gossiping - rather than thoughts that will justify or excuse the sin that we are about to commit.
Once a person gets God's Word into his heart - not just into his head - it will slay each temptation the moment it comes to mind. When we love God's Word, it monitors everything else. God's Word must be dear to our hearts and we must abide by its wisdom if we are to resist the temptations of Satan.
Lord, help me to hide your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)
Proverbs 3
When I was a child, my parents tried to do family devotions with us 4 kids... With each attempt, Dad would begin with Proverbs...so the beginning chapters of Proverbs were covered over and over again. As a result, I really think that is the key to understanding Proverbs--reading and rereading and letting the words go deep.
So, to begin today, stop reading this blog. Read chapter 3 now if you haven't already.
- How can I have a long life...v.1-2
- How can I be liked by people and God? v.3-4
- Considering all the barrage of advise and counsel, who should I listen to? v.5-8
- With all the bills I need to pay, what should I do with my money first? v.9&10
- Why is God allowing this to happen to me? Doesn't He Care? v.11&12
The second part of this chapter focuses on Wisdom (no surprise there). Verses 13-18 describe Wisdom and those who seek her: blessed are those who seek her (v.13), value of Wisdom (v.14-15), benefits of Wisdom (16-18).
I always was intrigued by the writer making wisdom be "Wisdom"--transforming wisdom into a Person (capitalized) and a woman at that. In that day, with the status of women being lower than men, this seems to be a RADICAL thing to do. How upsetting to the male leaders this must have been...(I wonder if there was a conversation about having Wisdom changed to the male gender...) What do you think?
Anyway, continuing on... Beginning in v.21 the writer talks about how to handle adversity and where to have your trust v. 25 & 26. The remaining verses talk about dealing with neighbors, violent men, devious men and scorners.
Read this chapter again. Post your thoughts. :)
I hope these verses resonate with you today.
Proverbs 2 ~ Obsession
If I've told you once…
Solomon's parenting style makes me smile. Being a mom who likes to state and restate my point, sometimes ad nauseum, it hits close to home.
Solomon knows his son wants to be successful. The point he drives home, repeatedly, is that the only way to be at peace and enjoy prosperity (vss 7,8), to be guided as he makes decisions (vs 8, 20), and to be protected from those who would deceive him along the way (vss 9-11,12-19), is to know God (vs 5). It is from Him that we receive the wisdom that leads to making good decisions, which in turn brings about the peace and prosperity, success and a good reputation (vs 6).
Solomon gives his son several "If…then" statements, compelling him to action. If he will:
" turn his ear to wisdom, apply understanding (vs 2);
call out for wisdom, cry aloud for understanding (vs 3);
look for [wisdom] as for silver, search for it as for hidden treasure," (vs 4),
in other words, be obsessed not with the success itself, but with the Source from which success comes; then--then he "will understand the fear of the Lord, and [then he] will find the knowledge of God" (vs 5).
For those of us who are less intense, James' style may have more appeal. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God Who gives generously to all…" (James 1:5). Overwhelming in its simplicity, this, too, makes me smile. It is peaceful. It is sure.
Dear Lord, Please make our hearts desire You and Your wisdom more than success, itself. Remind us that if we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, then all these things will be given to us as well (Matthew 6:33).
Solomon's parenting style makes me smile. Being a mom who likes to state and restate my point, sometimes ad nauseum, it hits close to home.
Solomon knows his son wants to be successful. The point he drives home, repeatedly, is that the only way to be at peace and enjoy prosperity (vss 7,8), to be guided as he makes decisions (vs 8, 20), and to be protected from those who would deceive him along the way (vss 9-11,12-19), is to know God (vs 5). It is from Him that we receive the wisdom that leads to making good decisions, which in turn brings about the peace and prosperity, success and a good reputation (vs 6).
Solomon gives his son several "If…then" statements, compelling him to action. If he will:
" turn his ear to wisdom, apply understanding (vs 2);
call out for wisdom, cry aloud for understanding (vs 3);
look for [wisdom] as for silver, search for it as for hidden treasure," (vs 4),
in other words, be obsessed not with the success itself, but with the Source from which success comes; then--then he "will understand the fear of the Lord, and [then he] will find the knowledge of God" (vs 5).
For those of us who are less intense, James' style may have more appeal. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God Who gives generously to all…" (James 1:5). Overwhelming in its simplicity, this, too, makes me smile. It is peaceful. It is sure.
Dear Lord, Please make our hearts desire You and Your wisdom more than success, itself. Remind us that if we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, then all these things will be given to us as well (Matthew 6:33).
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