Onion Arrogance

(Pro 30:12 KJV)  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

One of the qualities that seems universal is the inability to see ourselves as we are.  Some people don’t try.  They assume they are the measuring stick for mankind.  They don’t seem to be aware that others feel differently.  And then we tend to gather with people of like mind.  It is like adding green onions to my salad.  They are really good.  I like the taste.  If everyone else eats the salad, all is good, but when you get around someone who hasn’t indulged they ask, “What is that smell?” 

It must get really bad for me to smell it.  When I do I start looking around trying to find what is stinking.  Eventually I realize it is me. 

So?  Identify the onions of life and avoid them.  Be alert for new sources such as Mongolian barbecue or certain types of chili peppers.  Listen to what others tell you.  Life does not need to be full of the stink of arrogance. 

Delayed Gratification

(Pro 29:17 KJV) Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

As I parent I would like to add a footnote here.  The “delight” (5474) might not be obvious at the time of correction.  In fact I would say that it will be well hidden.  Disciplining children is not fun.  It is not affirming.  It does build character both in the child and the parent.  It is necessary.

Currently I am reliving experiences of 38 years ago when our firstborn was a toddler.  I am not getting a refresher course in toddlerhood with my granddaughter.  The good part of it is that the real responsibility belongs to my daughter.  Since we did a good job on her years ago we can now delight in her doing a good job with the next generation.

So?  Sometimes the gratification is delayed no matter what you do.  If you are still in the early years of training you have my sympathy but hang in there, pay the price, go the extra mile and delight in the results.  Sometime.  Better than my promise is God’s promise. 

Lack Not, Want Not

(Pro 28:27 KJV) He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

As I compare translations, before looking at the Hebrew, I find that I like the implication of the KJV better than the NASB.  It isn’t that the more contemporary translation is wrong, it is just more in the tradition of the KJV and using somewhat archaic language.  In modern times “want” (4270) has become the mantra of the selfish generation.  How many times have you seen cartoons with the theme of “I want, I want”?  If you remember the saying, “Waste not, want not” you come closer to the “lack” of the KJV.

I have come close to being in want.  Once in seminary I was down to my last can of tomato soup before the Lord made a grocery run.  During our first pregnancy we traveled across country and arrived in California with no job and ten dollars in our pockets.  But in spite of the fact that I might have wanted more, I have never lacked what I needed.

So?  Need something to be thankful for?  You should not have to look very far. 

Hide

(Pro 27:12 KJV) A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

The Bible has a lot of different things to say about how we respond to danger.  Jesus talked about turning the other cheek.  This would seem to go with that.  Israel fought a lot of wars.  The government is to use the sword against evil.  It would seem that we need to look to the principles and keep our minds in gear.

Our general mind-set as Christians is non-violent.  That is what is being presented here.  Use you head.  Don’t think you are Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris.  Life is not a Louis L’Amour Western where the good guys eventually win.  We are not to view evil as a challenge to our manhood.  We are to look at it as a chance to trust God.  Will there be times to stand up?  Yes, but not over the issues that usually get our blood boiling. 

So?  God claims vengeance as His.  We are to be witnesses.  That should bring enough adventure for the day. 

Handicap Compensation

(Pro 26:7 KJV) The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

What kind of handicap do you labor under?  It doesn’t take much looking to find some area in which we are weak or totally helpless.  When I think about what we call “heaven” I often think about the physical limitations I have that I expect to disappear.  Just in my eyes I will gain stereoscopic vision, real colors, no glasses and who knows what else that I am not even aware of.  We all have limitations.

We should expect to be able to function in spite of those things.  I went to get a haircut.  That in itself is not big deal.  What is shocking is I did it before my wife started nagging.  There is a guy who hangs around the barber shop who is missing a leg.  He has a prosthetic that seems to work just fine for him.  I have never heard him complain or hesitate to get into action. 

So?  If you are a fool don’t expect God to use you as a spokesman but you might clean a mean toilet.  Come to think of it there is even hope for fools to abandon their state and move forward. 

Slippery Humility

(Pro 25:7 KJV) For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

Humility is a very slippery virtue.  How do you seek something like this?  How do you develop it.  Success tends to breed pride.  Recognition tends to inflate egos.  I guess one thing you can do is develop habits that do not put you first.  That is part of what this verse is about.

The other part of the verse is to avoid embarrassment.  When we seek the limelight we might get more than we bargain for. 

So?  If God wants you to stand out He will make the arrangements.  We need to be ready to step into the gap but also willing to step aside. 

Not Puppy Feet

(Pro 24:2 KJV) For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

This is one of those places in Proverbs where context is needed.  The people being talked about here are a group called “evil men”.  We often do not like to admit that they exist.  If we do accept that some people are evil we usually don’t want to include anyone we like or support.  We need to get over it and begin looking at society through God crafted eyes.

In truth the majority of people fall into this category.  Their “violence” (7701) may be mild or of the type that does not effect you, but it is still evil.  Think of all the mob actions you see on the news.  It hasn’t come to your neighborhood so it goes in one ear and out the other.  It is still the results of evil people.  The KJV talks about “mischief” instead of “trouble” (5999).  An insight into the meaning of this word in Proverbs might be,

(Pro 31:7 KJV) Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery (5999) no more.

So?  We need to recognize the actions of evil men and speak up for righteousness.  That means speaking clearly.  When playing cards my wife calls spades “puppy feet”.  That is cute but it does not speak clearly to the card playing world. 

High Water Mark

(Pro 23:10 KJV) Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

God’s people are called to a level of morality that the world might pay lip service to but in its heart sneers at.  Here we see two focal points.  The first deals with integrity in dealing with property.  Too often we hear about banks foreclosing on a mortgage in an unethical way.  I don’t know how often it really happens but the stories are scary.  Land is a basic bit of wealth and security that should be carefully protected.

The other is taking advantage of those who are weak.  Here it is the fatherless.  These are the orphans of our day.  These are those who have no one to protect them from aggression.  This should be a mark of Christian culture.

So?  If we want to live in a safe and secure environment we must do our part to live in righteousness.  We must take the high road.  We must set the example.

A Boarding Pass in the Hand

(Pro 22:18 KJV) For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

When I travel by airplane I like to print my boarding pass before I leave home.  I find it a great comfort to know that I have a seat and that I have TSA Pre.  No one else needs to know until the moment I start through the screening.  Then I bring it out. 

If you don’t fly much you may not know about TSA Pre.  It means that the United States government recognizes that you are not a terrorist.  Instead of waiting in the line that requires you to take off your shoes, coat, hat and belt you walk right through.  You don’t need to pull out your electronic devices.  It makes the process much faster.  And no one knows until you get to the gate. 

So?  Internalizing God’s teachings can prepare us that way.  Sometimes the gate will be in our daily walk.  For sure it will prepare us for when we stand before the throne. 

More than Contentious

(Pro 21:19 KJV)  It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Four times in Proverbs we have Solomon giving this warning using “contentious” (4066).  Now the author adds the description of “angry” (vexing NASB) (3708a).  What is the difference?  Contentious seems to have the idea of being contrary.  If you say, “Right,” she will say, “Left”.  Vexing has to do with anger, as the KJV translates it.  I am not sure if this is her getting angry or making you angry.  And again I think this is a lesson that goes both ways.

Are you married?  Do you find it difficult?  Solomon seems to understand.  If you are not married then look at this as a warning.

So?  I don’t see any solution that will work for most of us.  One of the other verses suggests moving to the roof.  Your choice. 

Seriously

(Pro 20:25 KJV)  It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

This is a common practice.  Most people tend to speak before they think, buy without a test drive, vote without reading up on the issues.  We marry on an emotional high.  We join without reading the fine print.  Sometimes it only involves a few extra payments.  Sometimes it ruins our lives.

What is at issue here is mocking God.  He is serious about His holiness.  He is serious about His law.  He wants us to be serious too.

So?  Following Jesus is not a game nor a part time activity. 

Orderly Sleep

(Pro 19:23 KJV) The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

A healthy “fear” (3374) lets us “abide” (sleep NASB) (3885a) “satisfied” (7649).  It makes sense.  Not only are we safe, but we are sound.  A greater fear minimizes our minor fears.  When I am worried about cancer I don’t spend a lot of time focused on a late library book.

I wonder if this is the “sleep” (3885a) of death.  One reason that might be the reference is that “satisfied” (7649) is predominately used of someone who dies at an old age and with a satisfying life behind them.  It would be saying that the fear of the Lord is necessary for eternal life.  If we fear God we do not need to fear death.

I still prefer it as a reference to our daily routine though. 

So?  Fear of God puts things in perspective and in order.  That can give a foundation of peace in any situation. 

Target Choice

(Pro 18:16 KJV) A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

There are many things I could do if I had unlimited time, the right tools and a little patience.  It often takes me several trips to the hardware store to do even simple things.  Other tasks I can do with my eyes closed.  Which will I be known for?  If I insist on trying to make it on my weaknesses, I will be known for my failures.  Sometimes we are stubborn that way.  If I concentrate on my strengths then I may get known for that.  If I don’t then at least I will know that I have done my best.

So?  It seems obvious but often does not occur to us but we should be doing the things we are best at. 

Sons and Servants

(Pro 17:2 KJV) A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

One of the discussions I get into involves the place of Israel today.  If you have read the Bible you know that those we call the Jews were a people that were picked out by God to be His special people.  He established a covenant with Abraham making promises involving numbers and land.  Most people who believe in the Bible would accept that much.  The question becomes, “What about today?”  This is an issue in politics because Israel is a nation again.  It is a question in culture because of anti-Semitism, or hatred of Jews.  It is a question in theology because it reflects on the place of the church and how to interpret some parts of the Bible.

I offer this verse as a part of the discussion.  It is possible that the “son” (1121) [ben] represents Israel and the “servant” (5650) stands for the church.  This speaks of a shared inheritance.  I don’t know that this is a fair interpretation but it is consistent with how I see the issue.

So?  I think God still loves the Jews but keep in mind that He loved the whole world enough to send His son to die for them.  Salvation still depends on how we respond to the Son.

The Fall Spirit

(Pro 16:18 KJV) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

“Spirit” (7307) [ruach]is one of the building blocks of the Old Testament.  It is full of figurative and literal meaning.  It literally means breath or wind and figuratively means mind and spirit.  We see it early,

(Gen 1:2 KJV) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit (7307) of God moved upon the face of the waters.

So it can refer to the Holy Spirit.  It can also refer to the inner motivation of our lives, our attitudes, our inclinations.

So this verse reminds us that our inner spirit is important as we go through life.  The wrong inner orientation can cause all kinds of problems.

So?  It is always a right time to move beyond our salvation and toward maturity.  One theme of Proverbs is that our attitude influences the kind of day we are having.  It can also influence the kind of eternity. 

Better than a Nanny

(Pro 15:16 KJV) Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

We live in a Nanny State that wants everyone to be taken care of.  We tend to think that the government is going to bail us out.  When we have a hurricane people think that there are going to be cheap loans and grants to pay for the damage.  In this environment we tend to avoid things like “fear” (3374) but Biblically it is a very powerful concept if understood correctly.

We get a bit of insight when we see that fear is contrasted with “trouble” (turmoil NASB) (4103).  We tend to think of fear creating turmoil but that is better stated as terror.  A healthy fear helps us to focus on what is important and gives a real drive to behavior.  The “turmoil” spoken of here includes the idea of confusion and panic.  It is a lot like being a child in the hands of a strong father.  I keep hearing about how my granddaughter goes to the beach and faces the waves with no fear.  The reason is that her father is there to bail her out.  Who can fear a little wave when you dad is there?

So?  We need to live aware that our God is bigger than the waves.  Our resources are not summed up in money in the bank or bars on the windows.  The proper perspective on God gives us a genuine sense of assurance. 

Peace Applied

(Pro 14:30 KJV) A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Before I spend any time looking into the Hebrew, I find that I like the NASB better than the KJV on this verse.  As usual, when I look a little deeper it is a mixed bag.  Although you might stretch the Hebrew to mean “tranquil” (4832) the KJV’s “sound” is much better.  The word means healthy and being made well.  A good example is,

(Mal 4:2 KJV) But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing (4832) in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

This would have obvious applications about the spiritual healing that comes through regeneration and is thus applied to our physical well-being. 

The second part I give to the NASB.  “Passion” (7068) is better than “envy”.  The picture given by the NASB does a better job of putting the picture together.  God wants us to be calm and secure in our minds because we trust Him.  We are not to go off in wild flights of temper. 

So?  For some the change is instant.  For some it is a life long discipline.  Some people are just born easy going.  It is part of living a righteous life.

Economics and Vanity

(Pro 13:11 KJV) Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

I wonder if this could be interpreted as a statement about capitalism?  Much of what we see going on in the world of investments and securities is based on duping the public, fraud.  Many millionaires have generated wealth only on paper, producing nothing.  Real wealth comes from the work of people, not manipulating stock markets.  This would tend to sound like a statement made by a Communist. 

But the contrast is not between working with your hands as opposed to an office job.  The contrast is between “fraud” (1892) and actual gathering.  It is a contrast between actually producing and simply looking like you are producing.  This is the word repeatedly used in Ecclesiastes. 

(Ecc 1:2 KJV) Vanity (1891) of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

When political voices call for the redistribution of wealth they are speaking in terms of vanity.  They want people to have the fruits of gathering without the effort.  Of course you could also condemn those who generate billions by pressing buttons and manipulating stocks.  They also produce nothing.

So?  God expects us to work for our support.  That will generate different results but, as long as the work in honorable and without fraud it can be blessed. 

Build up or Tear Down

(Pro 12:4 KJV) A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

“Rottenness” (7538) of “bones” (6106) is a graphic picture.  I think of cancer or of putrid meat.  The phrase is used twice, both in Proverbs.  Here it is a bad-news wife.  The other,

    (Pro 14:30 KJV) A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

speaks of our emotions being out of control. 

Most men would not knowingly marry someone who would always be shaming them.  For that matter, neither would women choose such a spouse.  It can obviously work both ways.  It is obviously something we should avoid causing.

So?  We can cause rotten bones by our actions or our words.  It might be something for each of us to apply a self examination time to.

Hang On to What You’ve Got

(Pro 11:16 KJV) A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

This is another place where the translators make choices and it comes out different.  I find that the NASB clashes with the principles God wants us to live by.  I find that the KJV makes sense.  One difference is the word that KJV translates “retain” (8551) and the NASB gives as “attains”.  The word itself is neutral in moral value.  It can be negative as,

(Pro 5:22 KJV) His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden (8551) with the cords of his sins.

It can also be positive,

(Pro 31:19 KJV) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold (8551) the distaff.

So?  I would say that one of the jobs of a man is to maintain the family wealth instead of squandering it.  Other places may include the women in this task but here it is a recommendation to the husband. 

Having a Bad Day

(Pro 10:12 KJV) Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Proof-texting, bad.  Eisegesis, bad.  Both call to me in this verse.  I recently reflected on a previous verse,

(Proverbs 8:13 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

I pointed out that we are required to hate evil.  Now as I read the first part of this verse I am reminded of the probable consequences of hating evil, “strife” (4090). 

The actual context is to emphasize “love” (160) over hate but when we exercise “hatred” (8135) in a Biblical manner we need to understand it will cause tension.  It will cause tension among church attenders because they have been conditioned to avoid conflict even in the pursuit and defense of truth.  Their answer always seems to be, “A little more water, please.  It is still too strong”.  The other group that will think bad thoughts toward you are the evil that you are exposing.

So?  Jesus promised we would be persecuted if we followed Him.  It is a promise that we don’t like to remember but it is still true.  Happy truth day. 

The Ad in Advice

(Pro 9:16 KJV) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

It always amazes me how easily we are conned.  I have been amused by the recent spate of work desks that are designed and sold for standing up while you work.  I think the idea is that it is more healthy to stand up than to sit all day.  Usually the desk is accompanied by an attractive model who looks like they have just had a happy pill.  I understand the aspect of standing up and taking a walk or stretching but somehow I think of the work desks Cratchit used.  They look similar and are the symbol of Victorian oppression.  Now they are cutting edge.

It is not so amusing when people find numerous ways to say, “That is not what God meant.”  Or “That is the God of the Old Testament.”  Or “That does not belong in the Bible.”  It sounds good.  It may even start off the same as the correct advice but if you look down a few verses it leads to death and hell.

So?  Advisors, counselors, teachers, they can all be wonderful but they can also be the door to hell.  Make sure that you compare what they advise to the actual written word of God. 

Be a Hater

(Pro 8:13 KJV) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

As Christians we often tend to be very selective in our memory of scripture.  That is sometimes because we see what we think is a conflict and can’t deal with it so we suppress certain verses.  I think that is what is going on here.  We have gotten so used to interpreting the Bible so that it can be approved by your friendly neighborhood pagan or heretic that we water it down.

We remember the verses about the “fear” (3374) of the Lord being the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.  Somehow we forget that it also requires us to “hate” (8130).  That is not nice so it must be a misprint, right?  Wrong.  We need to develop a passion of hatred for the “evil” (7451b) of the world as much as we are to love.  The hate is to be focused.  It is not aimed at people or to be on our latest prejudice.  Of course if the people are perverted it will be hard to separate the two. 

So?  We need to get more active in campaigning against the evil in our society.  Love is not always nice.  God is love and yet He will allow people to go to Hell. 

Moment of Truth

(Pro 7:22 KJV) He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

I think this is a key verse in understanding the fulcrum of sin.  If you read over the chapter you can see that this plunge into adultery was not a sudden inspiration.  It seems to have been planned and the plan was followed step by step.  In a very real sense the sin was in the intent.  Jesus makes that clear when He talks about what is going on in our hearts.

(Mat 5:28 KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

So intent is important but there is something about the moment you commit yourself by action.

Until you act the sin is between you and God.  Once you put it in motion you bring others into the equation.  In this verse the other party was just as guilty but what about the husband who is away on business.  When you act there will be consequences.  The conclusion here is that the man is now dead.  His actions brought fruition to his attitudes.

So?  Be alert for the downhill journey.  It may start very mild but will eventually begin to speed up.  It is much easier to grab the rail in the stairway when you first feel insecure than to wait until you are flying through the air.  God forgives but we might get to the point where we can’t repent.

Waste Abounds

(Pro 6:26 KJV) For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

Wasted money.  Wasted resources.  Wasted lives.  This is a reminder that God expects us to be stewards of what we have.  The context is sexual sin but I don’t think the words necessarily mean prostitutes.  I think the context works just as well with the casual fling.  It is so easy to throw away everything we have built up in life and do it in a moment.

Here the danger is sex outside of marriage.  It could just as well be going for that one time shady business deal that is going to set you up and you promise not to do it again.  It could be the lie that gets you out of a tight spot but comes back to bite you. 

So?  Forgiveness is available.  Grace is a gift.  God is patient.  He also is not big on playing games and you can’t fool Him. 

Solomon the Marriage Counselor

(Pro 5:18 KJV) Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

I am a bit amused at Solomon giving advice on marriage.  I am reminded that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.  Granted, many of these were political marriages but I somehow have a hard time believing there were 1,000 countries whom he needed to impress. 

One lesson for us is that good advice can come from questionable sources but you don’t know it is good advice unless you know God’s standards of righteous living.  The point being made here is that we are to focus our affection on our one and only wife.  We are not to go looking for a sympathetic ear or a young face.

So?  Truth is available if we want it. 

Righteous Clarity

(Pro 4:18-19 KJV) But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.  The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Good and evil are the contrasting themes of this chapter.  In our day of polite discourse and wishy-washy Christians we want to avoid both the demand for holiness and the reality of evil.  We have Christians claiming that we cannot live righteous lives and multiple web sites talking about the 613 laws of God that no one can live up to.  On the other hand we refuse to call the swelling evil in our society what it is because we don’t want to offend anyone.

This does not please God.  In this verse it is clear that the “righteous” (6662) road is one that shows what is ahead.  In the next verse Solomon points out that the road of wickedness is shrouded and vague.

So?  We need to consciously chose to follow the Highway of Holiness.  The markers are clear if you will look for them. 

Reload Your Page

(Pro 3:3 KJV) Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

As I read through this chapter today I was struck by the constant call for buy-in.  I guess in computers we might talk about refresh.  When you are on the internet you see a little circular arrow in the top corner.  I think of it as a refresh for the page.  When you hover your cursor over it the term is “reload page”.  In our spiritual lives we tend to want to get stuck in the mud, with the familiar.  We don’t want to get current.

Often that is not a problem but we do not serve a static God.  He may be immutable but He is vital in His personhood.  There are always fresh insights and truths that slipped under our radar.  I know when I approve comments on my blog they do not appear until I do something that renews the page.

So?  “Relationship” in the modern sense is not in the Bible but it does lift up the reality of a walk with the Living God.  While it is eternal and based on eternal truth it is constantly renewed.  I am guessing that is because we are not capable of eternal focus and need to be retargeted. 

Processing

(Pro 2:10 KJV) When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

Most of us want to jump to the results, the reward, the promise.  Then we wonder why it doesn’t seem to work out.  Because we have skipped over all the preparation required.  Have you ever read what it says on a can of paint about preparation?  I have and then I ignore most of it.  That might be why my paint jobs don’t come out so good.  In some cases if you don’t prep right then the paint will peel off in a short time.  The same is true of our spiritual walk.

If you look back at this chapter in regard to the preparation you will see that the promise of a wise heart and a pleasant soul are based on a lot of things like seeking and listening.  God is not a magic elixir that mysteriously makes things right.  Yes, He does what might seem like magic and He deals in mystery but our part is much more basic.

So?  Grace is a gift.  Growth is a process.  Start processing. 

Calm Waters

(Pro 1:33 KJV) But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

There is a lot of “fear” (dread NASB) (6343) floating around today.  My wife has gotten into watching some of the talking heads on You Tube who have nothing but doom and gloom to forecast.  I can’t say that I disagree with their general analysis that things are going down hill but I do have two issues.  One is that things have been going down hill since I can remember.  So I take that with a grain of salt.

The second thing that occurs to me is found in this verse.  Yes, I am supposed to have eyes that see and a mind that thinks but it is supposed to be attached to a heart that is rooted in God and a fear of God.  This verse that calms our waters is juxtaposed to the verse earlier that actually begins the advice of Proverbs.  In case you don’t have a Bible handy, let me give it to you again.

(Pro 1:7 KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Our lack of dread begins with a solid fear.  It is a healthy fear based on an awareness of God.  We know who He is.  We know He is holy.  We know He is mighty.  We know Him because we know Jesus.

So?  Am I concerned about the state of the economy?  Of course.  I will need to be as long as I need to pay for groceries.  Am I freaked out because the Deep State is trying to put me on the street?  No.  My God is bigger and if I end up on the street there will be a place to go.