Objective Rights

(Pro 31:8 KJV) Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Again we see “rights” (1779) in the NASB.  The KJV translates it “cause”.  What rights do these people have.  We think of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  What did Proverbs include?  Actually this is a cultural translation.  The concept of rights as we think of them today were totally alien to the ancient world.  We tend to think of them as special protected activities or attitudes.  We think of speech, religion and assembly.  The word actually means “justice”. 

Justice is something that we are always supposed to stand up for but keep in mind that this is not the special privilege justice of modern politics.  This is a justice that is the same for rich or poor.  It is a justice based in the unchanging character of God and His concept of right and wrong.  It is a standard that is rejected by our modern culture.

So?  Again we see that we are to be different.  We are to follow the straight and narrow path and expect it of others too. 

Poor Is Not Financial

(Pro 30:14 KJV)  There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

It bears repeating, there are bullies in the world and bullies tend to focus on the weak.  It is a mantra of gangsta types to depart with a courageous, “You better watch your back.”  The implication that they seem to miss is that they are too cowardly to face you in a fair confrontation.  This verse comes at the end of a description of this kind of person.  Notice that they go after the “afflicted” (6041).  The KJV has “poor” but you need to understand this is not the poor person who has his act together.  They are even more selective than that.  They go after the poor who are weak. 

It might help us to remember when we are concerned about the poor that their biggest problem is not lack of money but a lack of a strong core.  A person without money but with strong character will make it and eventually thrive.  Give a person who feels they are a victim a big check and they will still be afflicted.

So?  First, recognize the bully when you see him.  Second, help people by working toward what they need to stand tall not what will make them dependent. 

Useful Sight

(Pro 29:20 KJV) Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

It is much easier for us to “see” (2372) someone else making a fool of themselves than it is for us to realize that we are even more guilty.  Maybe you have never had this moment of epiphany.  I know I have.  I am mentally judging someone else for something they are doing.  I may have verbalized it or not, but the mental attitude is formed and ready.  Suddenly the Holy Spirit will bring to mind something that I have done just as wrong.  It is humbling to say the least.

We can learn from others.  Sometimes the lesson is formal.  More often we can learn just from observation.

So?  Keep your mind in gear.  I find it useful to check my own behavior when someone irritates me.  It doesn’t do away with the irritation but sometimes my need to improve gets my mind off their foolishness. 

Automatic Resistance

(Pro 28:4 KJV) They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

In this verse we are told to “contend” (strive NASB) (1624) with evil.  Jesus seems to be saying something different,

(Mat 5:39 KJV) But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

A couple of observations.  First, Jesus is talking about our personal response when someone takes advantage of us.  Solomon is talking about society as a whole.  I am not allowed the pleasure of lashing out at someone who has insulted me, I am to turn the other cheek.  At the same time I am to support people who believe in law and order and are willing to punish evil.

Second, The conflict with evil comes as an automatic result of following the law of God.  Thus when we say that homosexual acts are sinful we are attacked by our current culture.  We do not back down.  That puts us in conflict.  We have no other choice.  We don’t struggle because we are aggressive against them but because we are obedient to the will of God. 

How do we apply this in a nation that is trying to keep government and churches separate?  Here is where the use of the word “law” gives us a pointer.  The moral laws of God are usually agreed on by people of other religions.  The ceremonial laws apply only to Israel.  There is a lot of space for agreement here.

So?  We have our path laid out for us.  We are to follow it.  In some ways we will have great peace and security.  In other ways we will run counter to the culture we live in.  Resist and obey. 

Be Neighborly

(Pro 27:10 KJV) Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

What does it take to qualify as a “calamity” (343)?  The term can be somewhat relative.  What is the end of the world for one person might be a minor inconvenience to someone else.  I remember on our wedding day my wife was horrified at the color of the trim on my shirt.  Since I am mildly color blind I never did understand what the issue was.  Raising property taxes is off the radar for someone who owns no property even though it will eventually raise their rent.

One of the concepts here is national calamity.  The call here is to work together with those nearby.

So?  Build bridges with those around you and be ready to offer help when you are called on. 

Fools Watch

(Pro 26:8 KJV) As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.

How do we “honor” (3519b) “fools” (3684)?  The concept has many variations and among them are to enrich and to enhance a reputation.  We do both in many ways that we don’t think about.  On the internet when you click on links and go to web sites you become a cipher in the algorithms that determine popularity.  If there is advertising on the site then that increases the revenues.  It moves them up in the results of searches.  Even when you visit just to see what kind of nonsense they are espousing, you benefit them.

It would be easy to get consumed with trying to avoid this kind of thing but there are limits to what is healthy for us.  We do need to be aware.  We need to avoid as much as possible the actions and words that would give any kind of glory to the fools of the world.

So?  Be thoughtful and watch your priorities. 

Truth Will Endure

(Pro 25:8 KJV) Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

This seems to be another theme that repeats itself in Proverbs.  We are not to be quick to argue a point.  This seems to refer to some kind of public forum.  It might be a court.  It could be in a class or club meeting.  I think the same advice would be good with some of the one-on-one discussions we have.

It goes along well with the advice to spend more time listening.  We may not know what we know.  There may be family get togethers you are at that need a little more patience and less aggression.

So?  Don’t be in such a hurry to win points.  The truth will still be there at the end of the day and might even look better tomorrow. 

Prime the Pump

(Pro 24:3 KJV) Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

America is in love with knowledge.  We think that having a college degree is important.  We look at advanced degrees as if they made a difference.  In the process we have thrown the baby out.  We have people with college degrees that are useless in the job market and in the home.  What they have done is passed up the process that requires a bit of “wisdom” (2451) to make it work.

Wisdom is not the same as knowledge.  It can be attained without any book learning but it is necessary to put the pieces together.  In the days before indoor plumbing many people got their water from a pump.  You had to pump and pump until the water was raised to your level.  In addition to that the pump needed to be primed.  It needed a little bit of water on the valves so that they would seal and work properly.  That is where wisdom comes in.

So?  Start gathering wisdom even if you don’t understand how to put it all together.  Knowing a few things about right and wrong can go a long way toward helping make decisions. 

At the Trial

(Pro 23:11 KJV) For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

I don’t know if the name Perry Mason rings any bells in your memory.  He was a TV lawyer who never lost a case.  Watching Perry Mason was part of our weekly ritual.  The criminals were so clever.  It seemed they would get away scot free, yet week after week they would break down and confess at the last minute. 

None of his convictions would have stood up in a modern court.  This was pre-Miranda rights and all the other conventions that have developed to “protect” the defendant.  A clearly guilty and convicted murderer can walk free today because of a technicality. 

So?  It should be encouraging to know that our defender will not make those kind of mistakes. 

Habits of Habits

(Pro 22:19 KJV) That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

If my hope for the future was in the visible sources of power and influence I would be in a sad state.  We need to pay attention to what is happening.  We need to think about it and develop opinions on the issues of our day.  The danger comes when we think we will find any answers there.  Our “trust” (4009) must be in the Lord. 

That seems so obvious but I need to be reminded on a daily basis.  When I wake up frustrated or feeling like yesterday was a loser, I need to be reminded that my confidence and purpose is based on the God of the universe not on my success.

So?  It needs to be a daily habit.  Even being reminded of this can become a daily habit.

Savers and Spenders

(Pro 21:20 KJV)  There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

Some people are spenders; some savers.  That would seem clear but it is not always that simple.  I am a saver.  If I was living hand to mouth I would still have a stash that was put together one penny at a time.  My wife is a spender, sort of.  She has an emotional reaction to money sitting in a bank.  It permeates her whole life.  When she was working she never accumulated any sick leave.  When she had earned a day she was struck by a mysterious illness.  At the same time she is awesome at getting bargains.  She has the ability to find the lowest price on anything.

I, of course, like the inference that I am wise because I save.  I think it involves more than that but I will take what I can get. 

So?  Don’t be a spender.  Eventually you end up using up what others have saved and you learn nothing in the process.  It is probably too late to remind you about that this Christmas. 

Lazy or Not

(Pro 20:4 KJV) The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

I think there are times when we think of people as being “sluggards” (6102) when it is really just a matter of ignorance.  I am not a farmer, nor am I the son of farmers.  I don’t even know any farmers.  It would never occur to me to “plow” (2790a) after the harvest.  Before I plant maybe, but why after I bring in the grain?

With a little research it turns out that there are many potential benefits to plowing in the fall as well as controversy about the matter.  It would seem in Israel it was consider a “must do”.  Would you know that if you were a city boy? 

So?  We sometimes jump to conclusions about people who don’t do things the way we do.  It could be that they don’t know.  It could be that we are wrong.  I need to make sure of my motivation.  It better not be “Why take down the Christmas lights?  I will only need to put them up again next year.” 

The Tree of Sloth

(Pro 19:24 KJV) A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

“Sluggard” (6102) (NASB) or “slothful” (KJV)?  Which is a better word?  I like them both.  The NASB approach is more accurate since the word “man” is not in the Hebrew.  This is truly a gender blind character flaw.  Being a man I know that it is thrown at me because I don’t do the household chores as consistently as the wife but that is more a matter of timing than refusal.  This is more along the lines of a family game we have of waiting until someone gets up to get a refill on their drink and everyone else says, “Since your getting up...”

So?  For some this may be a call to get a schedule and stick to it.  For others it might be simply a matter of trying to guess when others want things done.  An example would be taking out the trash even though you know you could get more in.  It would not include getting the Christmas tree out the door on December 26.

A Time Not to Be First

(Pro 18:17 KJV)  He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

Calm down.  One of the admonitions that comes repeatedly in Proverbs is to take time to consider things before we speak.  This can be about anger or just touchy feelings.  I don’t know how many times I have heard someone say something that set me off but after a little more listening I see that I wasn’t really listening.

There are so many places to apply this but it seems that it is a hard lesson to learn.

So?  You might need to count to ten.  Maybe 100.  Give people the benefit of the doubt even if there is none. 

Cause and Effect

(Pro 17:4 KJV) A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

As I read this today I asked myself, “Which came first?”  Notice that in each example you have the focus and the action.  Did they first listen to evil or did they listen to evil because they were inclined that way?  This works out in daily living today because we have a contemporary culture that is into victimhood.  It seems to say that no one is responsible for their actions, they are victims of something.

It is true we have influences.  Some are stronger than others.  Some can warp or mold, depending on your point of view.  What is also true is that we make choices.  We may not have the choices we want but we do have choices.  I used to joke about the choices I was given as a teacher, “You mean I can choose to be shot or hung?”  The point we overlook is that future choices are dependent on current decisions.

So?  I guess I would start with the small things.  I can’t even define those because what might be small to me is a giant in your life.  Start building a future and a character with what you can influence today.  God is patient but even He has a limit. 

Nailed It

(Pro 16:19 KJV) Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

I have always had big dreams or, at least, extravagant fantasies.  I wanted a life of purpose and after I became a Christian understood that as doing great things for God.  From my point of view it did not work out that way.  I have been a nail rather than a master cabinet maker.  It has frustrated me and one of the lessons I have had to learn is expressed in this verse.

God does not need me to bring order to the chaos of our world.  He has things well in hand even if it does not look like it to my limited mind.  What He wants is for me to understand that. 

So?  If I am to be nothing but a brad on the furniture of life then I want to be the most reliable brad in existence.  Nothing wrong with that.

Not the Crazy Uncle

(Pro 15:13 KJV) A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Our demeanor is determined by what is inside more than what is outside.  We have seen people with everything measurable who are living in despair.  Think of the successful people who have committed suicide or simply ruined their lives with drugs and alcohol.  We have also come across people who seemed to have nothing going right for them that are cheerful and face life with a smile.

The difference is what is inside. 

This even applies to believers.  I should say it specifically applies to believers.  So often we get caught up in the current events and forget the eternal.  We forget that Jesus walked the earth when the pagan Roman Empire was at its height and Paul wrote Philippians from jail. 

So?  It is really important that we spend time each day in contact with Jesus.  We talk about him living within us.  Make sure that He is part of the family not just a crazy uncle isolated in a back room. 

Gomer’s Lament

(Pro 14:35 KJV) The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

There are at least three different Hebrew words translated “shame” (954) in Proverbs.  One source tells me there are twelve different words used in the Old Testament for this concept.  I can’t figure out the difference with the tools I have. 

What we have here seems to be a warning about causing others to look bad.  The verse talks about the king and how shaming him can be a bad idea.  I would think that it extends to others.  In Proverbs the targets include husbands, fathers and mothers.  It might be a good idea for us to ask ourselves how our behavior reflects on others.  I know that when we see people acting like little, or big, barbarians we often note that it shows a lack of “home training.”

So?  We do not walk alone.  Who we are says something about those who raised us and influence us now.  Remember it also says something about the God you serve. 

Happy Light

(Pro 13:9 KJV) The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

I am struggling for a picture of a “light” (216) rejoicing.  It is a common word and the first place we find it being used in the Bible is,

(Gen 1:3 KJV) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Light was the first act of creation, produced by the fiat of God.  I would guess that it is necessary for any kind of celebration.  I have not heard to too much joy being expressed in total darkness.  Darkness is usually associated with fear and weariness. 

Light allows us to see and that gives us access to so much we can enjoy.  In the context here it would seem like that light is what we would call back-lighting.  My current Kindle has this feature.  The light for the page comes from inside the devise.  It makes it possible for me to read in a dark room or airplane. 

So?  God puts the source of joy in our hearts.  He does not hang it around us but generates it from inside.  It changes the way we perceive our environment.  Rejoice.

I Will Think About It

((Pro 12:5 KJV) The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

Have you ever heard someone responding to a tragedy with the call to think some good “thoughts” (4284).  The pagans and atheists among us don’t really have anything to turn to when hard times come.  Some will still ask people to pray for victims but that is not so politically correct these days.

But these thoughts are more than just electro-chemical impulses in our brain.  The word is also translated “plans”.  It is not a passive device but an active one.  It means that as the “righteous” (6662) think, they are looking to the future to decide what to do.  Just as the hope we have is not an empty wishing but an assurance that gives a foundation, so our thoughts are to follow the paths of righteousness that bring about the will of God.

So?  Use you time of contemplation to build your trust in God. 

The Advent of Righteousness

(Pro 11:4 KJV) Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

This is the first mention of “righteousness” (6666) in this chapter but the theme is repeated time and again.  When I see this word used I get a little puzzled at people who like to quote,

(Isa 64:6 KJV) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

and

(Rom 3:10 KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

They then build an entire theology based on the fact that we must continue to live in sin even though we claimed to be redeemed.  It does not make sense to me.

It is much more consistent to say that it is possible to live an upright and righteous life in the power of the Holy Spirit and through the grace of God but if we build our own little frameworks of legalistic “righteousnesses” we are doomed to failure.

The defeat of sin is part of the message of Christmas.  Consider these words from Joy to the World,

No more let sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground.

This is the season where we are reminded that God sent His Son so we could know redemption.

So?  Live in hope and expectation.  God’s power is big enough to keep you on the straight and narrow.

Expectations

(Pro 10:17 KJV) He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

My granddaughter is visiting us.  She brought her mother with her.  I have noticed a big difference between them.  My daughter will listen and benefit from what she is told.  My granddaughter just keep charging ahead full tilt.  It isn’t a matter of not letting her play in the street.  It is a matter of not letting her play near the street. 

I have hope for the little girl.  I expect that she will learn.  At this point she doesn’t understand most of the words we use.  Much is the tone of voice.  That will change.  If it doesn’t then we will know that something is wrong.  The same goes for us as we walk with Jesus.  We are expected to benefit from the input of those around us.  We are expected to understand more next year than we did last year.

So?  Expect to grow.  Expect to know better next time.  It is the way we are made. 

The Long Blessing

(Pro 9:11 KJV) For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Every once in awhile you see the headlines that say people of faith live longer and have happier lives.  I am not sure who did the research or how well it was done but the results certainly support what this verse is saying.  In fact it supports much of what Proverbs is saying.

Why would living a righteous life make it a better life?  It would not just be because it is longer.  Preserve me from living to 100 with dementia.  I think that it also contains the idea that the years will be filled with more that makes life worth living.

So?  Be blessed.  Be blessed for a long time. 

Too Old to Change

(Pro 8:22 KJV) The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Who or what is Wisdom?  There is a lot of personification going on.  There are places where the description would fit Jesus and others that would fit the Spirit.  We need to be careful in getting dogmatic on the issue.  What we can be sure of is that Wisdom is very old. 

That tells us that there are certain laws and principles that transcend time and history.  There are truths that are bigger than culture or education.  They have not changed and will not change.  This understanding is part of our understanding of God and His creation.  It is why we can look at the scientific method and feel like it will help us understand how God did things.  It is why we don’t need to feel threatened by the latest fad in morality.

So?  Some things never change.  Wrong will always be wrong.  Sin will always be wrong.  We have choices and we have a foundation.  Sounds like a reason for security to me.

Pre Promise

(Pro 7:5 KJV) That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

Protection is a wonderful thing.  What we don’t like about the promise of this verse is the work up that comes from the previous four verses.  We see a list of things that are expected of us before we are delivered.  Look back over them.  We see a collection of actions on our part:  Keep, lay up, bind, write, say, call.  We are to be involved.

Yes, we are saved by grace.  Grace is active in our lives.  God is sovereign.  Keep in mind that in His sovereignty He has chosen to demand our buy in as a condition of that power.  It is called free will.

So?  We are not robots.  God is not a vending machine.  Jesus freely died on the cross so we could freely come to Him.  Glorious but also demanding. 

Checking Your List

(Pro 6:27 KJV) Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

Temptation and pride can be a deadly mix.  We need to be aware of our weaknesses.  When we are aware we can avoid the easy fail.  I have learned never to buy a box of Cheese-Its that is over 100 calories.  It doesn’t matter how big it is I will eat it all.  If the box contains Brussel sprouts then I have nothing to worry about.

We also need to be aware of our strengths.  That is where the pride comes in.  Often we think we are stronger than experience demonstrates.  The devil works through our pride to bring us down.

So?  The best advice is to avoid anything that waters down our chances of living a righteous life.  Santa Clause isn’t the only one dealing in lists.  Your list may differ from mine but we both have one. 

Smooth

(Pro 5:3 KJV) For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

Have you ever felt like you had a speech impediment when you tried to speak?  You stumble and stutter.  You can’t remember the right word.  You struggle to find the end of a sentence.  You realize that your verb is not matching your noun.  I have been there.  I get that way when I need to leave a message on a voice mail abomination.  This reminds us that “smoother” (2509) speech is not necessary to be godly.

On the surface this warns us against people who are too glib.  It also should remind us that being genuine is more important than great rhetoric. 

So?  One of the turmoils of life that we are not to get all tensed up about is speaking like a professional.  Unless you are going to make radio commercials it won’t help you a lot. 

Two Is Better than One

(Pro 4:3 KJV) For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

This is not a doctrinal proof text but is does go along with something that is consistent throughout scripture and through observation of life.  Children need both a father and a mother.  The reason we need to reinforce this is because our current cultural elites are trying to drive the father out of the home.  How many TV programs do you watch where there is a healthy family?  I can’t answer that because I don’t watch TV but I saw a pattern when I did.

The pattern is to have no man around or to make the man a fool.  This goes across the board.  My main memory of reading Berenstain Bears was that the father was a nice guy but pretty incompetent. 

So?  We need to keep reminding ourselves that our culture and out faith do not run on the same rails.  Keep checking. 

True Choice

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

“Truth” (571) is a choice.  That seems strange to people who believe that God exists and that He is the source of all truth.  It makes us oddballs.  I, for one, have a hard time with people of the left who reject objective truth, but they exist.  In fact they are the large majority in all of the areas of public forums such as education, media and politics.  You have a major school of philosophy called deconstruction that teaches meaning is different for everyone, totally subjective.

There will be areas that are vague.  That does not mean that there is no real truth.  We need to start with the clear truths that God gives us in the Bible and build our cloudy decisions based on those principles.

So?  Don’t let go of the anchor God has given us for making choices. 

Flattery May be True

(Pro 2:16 KJV) To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

There are so many areas of our pride that the world “flatters” (2505b).  There are two words in the Hebrew that look the same to me but have slightly different meanings.  I am not sure how the translators decide on things like this.  One means to divide and the other means slippery.  I guess that is not a bad way to understand flattery.

The seduction of flattery is that we want to believe what people are saying.  The subtle part of flattery is that the statements might even be true.  Often we are disarmed in the battle of wits when someone points out that we are honest and reliable.  Somehow that can weaken our resistance to compromise.

So?  Beware of people saying nice things about you.  They might be true.  You might think it puts you in a special category. 

Who’s Your Daddy

(Pro 1:1 KJV) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

Why does Solomon point out that David was his father?  It would have meant something to the people in his court.  Many of them had served David when he was king.  The further you went from Jerusalem the less notoriety would be attached to the name.  Today if you asked who David was and who Solomon was you might get a few bites on Solomon associated with wisdom but they would ask, “David who?”  Don’t even ask a modern high school graduate to locate Israel on a map.

Even a king who is remembered for his wisdom identifies with someone else.  He felt like having David for a father gave him more credibility.  You can see where I am going with this.  It is great if you can identify with a parent or sponsor.  It is even better if people recognize that you are a disciple of Jesus.  It gives you credibility even if they don’t recognize it.  It was impressive to be the son of David even if nobody knows who David is.

So?  Make Jesus proud today.