(Pro 19:13 KJV) A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
This verse makes me wonder how often we say, “Why me, Lord?” Do you know anyone who has children that have lost their anchor and a spouse that was a mistake? One of the questions people ask has to do with fault. Was it my fault? On both cases you might say, “Yes,” you might say, “No”. It is one of those things that could go both ways and you may never know the answer to the problem.
I would say that the son has more of a chance to be the father’s fault. While he was born a free agent and will make his own decisions, as a father you have a lot of molding to do. You also have an example. Still, at the end of the day he has free will and will exercise it.
The spouse, wife in this example, is a little more complex. When courting people put forth their best foot. Think of it as social make up. If you have ever seen a celebrity without their make-up it can be quite a shock. People are good at putting their best foot forward. God promises us the grace to deal with the people in our lives.
So? I don’t see any blame in this verse. I do see an awareness of the problems of life. Follow the standard advice. Let the past go after you learn from it and begin to build a life of faith and joy. God will join you on the journey.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Now That’s a Problem
Monday, March 18, 2024
Avoiding “Gotcha”
(Psa 142:3 KJV) When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
(Proverbs 18 also read)
I guess this is saying, “Yes, they are out to get you.” Maybe you have never felt that way but this indicates that there are people who are preparing a “hidden” (2934) “trap” (6431a) and they want you to fall into it. The context is David feeling like he is boxed in. The title, which I think is in the text, says it was written while he was hiding in a cave.
I don’t know about you but I have never hidden in a cave. If I had a cave when my grandchildren were visiting I might find a reason to hide in it, but no such luck. There is a lesson for us in this though. Our lives are full of quiet little traps that are designed to drag us down. Some are the active work of Satan. Others are just the way life is.
How do we avoid them? Two thoughts came to mind. First, stick to the well traveled paths. If you are on the sidewalk you will probably not find too many pits to fall into. If you are forced to go your own way then look for the footprints of those who have gone before you. They will give you a safe route.
So? Be aware. If you are driving the speed limit then the cop behind the tree will have no interest in chasing you. That may not be true if you have doughnuts.
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Self-Confident Fools
(Pro 17:7 KJV) Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Proverbs has a lot to say about fools. In this chapter it comes up seven times. The actual Hebrew has the idea of open, as in vacant. The Amplified Bible throws in some helpful adjectives: Empty headed and self-confident. The first is usually obvious but we sometimes confuse the second for actual ability.
Don’t be convinced just because someone is sure of themselves. What I find is a time to be wary is when someone tells me something they read on the internet or heard on You Tube. That should wave the “fool” (5036) flag rigorously.
So? Wisdom and truth have always been found in the Bible. In our day and age that should be a double-down because our culture has turned its back on both. Read and contemplate. Compare what God says to what you neighborhood guru is proclaiming.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Worship from the Heart
(Psa 141:2 KJV) Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
(Proverbs 16 also read)
This gives us an insight into the place of the law and the necessity of applying it. Notice that there is substitution going on. The one you might notice the most is the substitution of lifted hands for an “offering” (4503). The NASB is a better reading of this because the offering being offered is not a blood sacrifice but a grain offering. Don’t get sidetracked by that because according to the law it is still supposed to be offered and done in the temple.
While God has rigorous standards and unbending moral demands, He is more concerned about attitude than ritual.
So? It is a common theme in the Old Testament that God wants our love and obedience more that rituals offered as dull routine. He is a living God and wants worship from the heart.
Friday, March 15, 2024
Adjectives Imagined
(Pro 15:6 KJV) In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
The Amplified Bible likes to throw in the translators’ interpretations. In this chapter I began to notice their comments on “righteous” (6662). The adjectives they throw in are “uncompromisingly” and “consistently”. There is no basis in the text but I like the idea from a theological perspective.
We need to learn the difference. There are some things we can incorporate into our doctrine because they are in the scripture. There are other ideas we need to handle with care and make it clear that it is our opinion.
So? Read. Study. Share. Be clear in what you have to say.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Good Times
(Pro 14:9 KJV) Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
The Amplified Bible likes to add things. Sometimes they are deeper definitions and other times they are cool take-offs. This verse has one of the latter. In the first phrase it adds, “but sin mocks the fools.” Not in the text but an interesting comment. People with evil intent tend to look down on believers. They think living morally is silly. What this insert is pointing out is that God has the last laugh. The result of their depravity will come back to bite them. You may not see it. They may not admit it. It is still true.
I remember being in Vietnam and when making my way back to my bunk I saw a guy laying in the gutter. He was passed out from all the alcohol he had “enjoyed”. The next day he was talking about what a great time he had. I asked him what he had done. He said, “I can’t remember but I had a great time.”
So? No thanks. Don’t get excited about their reports of the good times.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Leavings of Gold
(Pro 13:22 KJV) A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Again the Amplified Bible throws in some interesting interpretation. It gives an opinion about the “inheritance” (5157) by adding “of moral stability and goodness”. I like that. I would not make it a doctrinal position because that is not what the Bible says here but the general principle is good. Our example in how we live our lives is a vital part of what we leave to our decedents. It may even be the most important thing we can leave.
My father did not leave much in the way of wealth. He left a fortune in example. He passed it on to his boys. His boys passed it on to their children. I can still see that working in lives today when whatever money was left is long gone.
So? Get your priorities straight. It isn’t how many dollars you leave it is how much “moral stability and goodness” you demonstrated.