Parts of Speech

(Pro 30:5 KJV)  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

The NASB does a better job on the first part of this verse.  The “pure” (6884) of the KJV is the “tested” of the NASB.  The Hebrew word is a verb.  Which do you think works better?  They should have said “purified”.  I found it interesting as I was doing some research that this verse is not an original thought of Agur.  Check this out.

(2Sa 22:31 KJV)  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

Although the words are different in English they are the same in Hebrew.  Same Hebrew, different English.  There is value in different translations.  One of the things we need to keep in mind is that we honor the original autographs, not the personalities of the translators.  We also need to keep in mind that we can find the truth we need because the Holy Spirit is our teacher.

So?  Keep reading, thinking, praying.  God will give us the shield we need. 

Motive Meters

(Pro 29:8 KJV)  Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

It struck me that both of these people might be saying similar things, possibly even identical.  If that is the case and they are getting totally different results, what is it that is different?  It would have to be the goals, attitudes and values of the person speaking.

What are they seeking by what they say?  What are we seeking by what we say?  Closer to home, what am I seeking by what I say?  That is the real point of reading Proverbs.  We are looking for God speaking to us, not something to stir up others with.

So?  It isn’t enough to watch what we say.  We also need to examine our motives because it often seems that people have motive meters that govern their response. 

A Judge Not Moment

(Pro 28:21 KJV)  To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

The KJV “respect” (5234) of “persons” (6440) is better than the NASB “partiality”.  Solomon was probably reflecting on the tendency to favor the rich but the principle applies to many other areas of life.  It does not mean your grandchildren are not the cutest or smartest.  It means that you don’t judge people based on superficial details.  Obviously the superiority of my grandchildren is deeper than their skin.  It is rooted in their genes.

This is also a Biblical principle that flies in the face of much of the contemporary teaching that is being called CRT or White Privilege.  Those ideologies are based on exactly what this is condemning:  Skin color.  To claim to be Christian and go along with this perversity is to claim that iron pyrite is really gold.

So?  It isn’t politics.  It is Biblical morality.  Know the difference. 

How Much Does a Fool Weigh?

(Pro 27:3 KJV)  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

The Bible says a lot about blessings.  People like that.  I like that.  It also says a lot about persecution and gives many examples.  Just one verse I read this morning,

(Psa 27:5 KJV)  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

What this verse is pointing out is that much of the pressure we feel in life will be personal.  It will not just be economic, political or health issues.  It will often be people, “fools” (191) if you will.  Just because we are cautioned against calling people fools does not mean they do not exist or are even rare.  

So?  Keep your eyes fixed on the hope that is in us.  We may get loaded down but that just makes the Holy Spirit pump up the support. 

Where?

(Pro 26:9 KJV)  As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

It seems to me that I hear “the Bible says” a lot recently.  I have heard it at church.  I have heard it on podcasts and videos from people I respect.  I have heard it at home.  In each of these sources of enlightenment I have had to ask, “Where?”  

Like Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln, the Bible often has words put in its mouth.  Sometimes what we hear may be a true statement but does not come from the scripture referred to.  That is the error I hear in preaching.  Sometimes it is something we want to be true.  Sometimes it is total nonsense.  

We can’t know which it is unless we keep our eyes open and our mental radar engaged.  I don’t care how much the speaker loves the Bible and revers it.  Read the passage for yourself.  Have your Bible open.  If it is a casual contact, check it out when you get home.  It is important.

So?  We can’t change fools but we can avoid being fools ourselves. 

Legalistic Toes

(Pro 25:17 KJV)  Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

When my granddaughter was even younger than now I would tell her not to go into my closet.  Since the dividing line was marked by transition from tile to carpet it devolved into “don’t let your toes cross the line.”  I am not sure if you would call her a legalist, literalist or smarty pants but she would inch her toes right up to the line and stick her nose beyond it.  At my closet it was cute.  In my living room it could be a problem.

The issue is not your “foot” (7272).  In those days I could see a reluctance to go out in the yard because your neighbor would insist on long gossip sessions over the fence.  Today we can “step” into people homes by all kinds of electric devices.  I marvel at how long my wife can talk on the phone.  I often wonder if the person on the other end wants to hang up.  Of course, I am a bit of a loner and an isolationist but still....  

So?  If you want people to be ready to listen to your love of Jesus you might want to not make your appearance a dreaded event.  If it is to gregarious individuals, that is one thing, but keep in mind that everyone is not that way.

The Rubber Man

(Pro 24:16 KJV)  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

At a recent zoom meeting the general consensus was that all the news was bad.  We are in a “wars and rumors of wars” time.  In addition to that we have a ruling government class that thinks the cure for inflation is to print more money.  It boggles the mind.  It is very easy to be overcome by the bad news and forget the promises of God.  It is also a tendency to interpret things as if we were the center of the universe and if we “fall” (5307) it is the end of the world.

Take a deep breath and a step back.  Notice the comparison in this verse.  The “just” (righteous NASB) (6662) get to fall seven times.  The “wicked” (7563) only gets to “fall into” (stumble NASB) (3782) once.  The point is that those who are under God’s care will bounce back.  It isn’t that they don’t run into a wall but that they keep going.  God makes us the long lasting batteries, not the cheap ones that often come with the toy.

So?  Have courage.  Be optimistic.  Take the long view.  We are not one time paper napkins but the finest linen which can be wash, folded, ironed and put back on the table.  The difference is in what we are made of and who made us. 

Litany of Excess

(Pro 23:29 KJV)  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

This chapter has a lot of concern for excess.  At the beginning there are too different warnings about eating with abandon.  Then it follows up with several different approaches to alcohol abuse.  It also mentions adultery.  

Have you ever noticed that there are no cautions against being to holy or upright.  The idea that prudence has a downside is not found in the Bible.  We don’t seem to err in that direction.  What a pity.

So?  Practice the deeds of righteousness.  Don’t do it so you can look down on others but so that you can develop a resistance to the constant temptations to excess and thus sin.  That reminds me of the el pastor burrito I had yesterday.  Surely there was a choice that was more moderate. 

Heads Up or Heads Down

(Pro 22:3 KJV)  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

I know how to apply this if I am driving in the “wrong” part of town and see a mob in the street.  There is no chance I am going to go Rambo.  It is the more subtle things that I am blind to.  How many family disputes have erupted simply because people don’t know when to stay in their room?  How many churches have split because people don’t know when to shut up and sit down?  We will probably never know.

There are times to stand up and face the music.  There are times for courage and boldness.  The problem is knowing when those times are.  My guess is we knock heads a lot more than we need to.  Recently we went through a time when the weather services had a gay old time of instilling panic in people.  My wife had me carrying chairs off the front porch because of coming high winds.  She suggested, not that she was worried, that I might want to hide in my closet because there were tornados thirty miles away.  

So?  Common sense is a rare commodity.  I know people die in tornados.  I also know that 320,000,000 survived the last round.  I will keep my head down but I am not going to panic.

Programming

(Pro 21:16 KJV)  The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

One of the debates going on in the Christian community is whether we have free will or not.  Actually the same debate goes on in secular disciplines.  Are we programmed at birth or can we make choices that influence our destiny?  I believe the concept of the tabula rasa is not in fashion now.  Knowledge of the DNA in each cell tells us that there are certain things built in.  Parents with more than one child quickly see that they are usually different at birth.

What this verse is pointing out is we have something to say about whether we stay on the narrow way and enter the narrow gate that Jesus spoke of or “wander” (8582) off on our own.  It also reminds us that our path determines our eternal destiny.

So?  Wake up and after you smell the roses make sure that you are on the right road. 

Wise Timing

(Pro 20:5 KJV)  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Which of these two is the target of this verse?  Is it the one who has the knowledge or the one who is seeking to access it?  It could be that this is recommending that we keep our advice to ourselves until it is sought.  That would certainly make sense because we have too many gurus on You Tube offering advice that no one wants, or at least no one who has any sense.  There will be a time to speak up.  Wait for it.

On the other side we are told that we will need to seek worthwhile input.  I would say that the person who is too willing to tell you what to do it possibly not the best source.

So?  Whether giving or seeking advice, make sure it is done prayerfully.  Consider the source.  It may not be your day.

Flagellants Need Not Apply

(Pro 19:8 KJV)  He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

This is a type of self-love that is not wrong.  It must mean a balanced appreciation.  He “loves” (157) in the right context and the right spirit.

This idea of loving is not narcissistic or self centered.  Consider this in terms of loving your neighbor as yourself.  There is a healthy sense of self worth that we need to maintain.  The idea of loving your neighbor as yourself assumes that you are not going around having a pity party or becoming a flagellant.  This is the idea that you provide clean water and nutritious food for yourself.  

It is hard to have healthy attitudes toward your neighbor if you don’t have it toward yourself.  It seems to be a condition for gaining wisdom.

So?  You do not deserve to look down on others but you do deserve to look them in the eye.

Bubble Wrap

(Pro 18:14 KJV)  The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

What can break our “spirit” (7307) [ruach]?  The KJV uses “wound” (5218b) and the definition has to do with being stricken.  It makes me think of a package my wife got recently.  It was full of very breakable ceramics.  It was transported across the country and I am willing to bet that it had numerous experiences of being air-borne or dropped.  Yet everything arrived in good condition.  The box was definitely stricken but the contents emerged whole.  The reason was the bubble-wrap that surrounded each piece and filled up all the vacant space.  

Our spirit can survive the UPS of life by being cushioned by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  He is kept in place by a constant diet of Bible and prayer.  

So?  Life will have its knocks.  Count on it.  Make sure that your core is wrapped up with the strength and power of God. 

Pop Quiz

(Pro 17:3 KJV)  The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

What is it that God is testing when He looks at the heart?  One thought that came to me was the process of keeping my kitchen knife sharp.  I hone it almost every time I use it.  I can tell the difference when I don’t.  For me the test is when I cut the tomatoes.  There is a definite difference between a honed blade and one that needs some work.

I would think that honing would be a kind of testing in the sense it is used here.  One knife guru explained that you don’t need to sharpen a knife very often if you keep it honed.  Sharpening grinds off metal.  I guess you could say it is a major trial for the knife.  Honing simply straightens out the little irregularities.  

So?  Pray that God would keep straightening out the little irregularities.  Getting ground down is a lot more difficult.  Maybe you could think of it as a quiz instead of a test. 

Good

(Pro 16:20 KJV)  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

What kind of “good” (2896b) can we expect?  This is a very common word and covers a wide range of blessings.  It is so common that I think we can let our imagination go on how to apply it.  
We can apply it to our perception of the world around us.  While paying attention to the teachings of God makes us very aware of the evil around us it also makes us alert to the many good things that are going on.  It makes us realistic optimists, if you can have such a thing.  Realism looks at what is going on in the world and the phrase “to hell in a handbasket” comes to mind.  Optimism remembers that God is in charge and that He will insist on working His will.  Think of the disciples sitting in the upper room in the days between the crucifixion and the resurrection.  Realism told them it was all over.  If they had been paying attention they would have been a bit more focused on anticipation than doom.

So?  That is where we need to be today.  Good Friday was yesterday.  We need to realize that, as the preacher said, “But Sunday acomin’”.  Good principles based on a good God who has given us good news. 

A Blessed Day

(Pro 15:30 KJV)  The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

My first thought was that I could use some of those “fat” (1878) “bones” (6106) about now.  My second thought was that I am already blessed with them.  I don’t know how figurative the people of Solomon’s day would have taken this.  It is possible that it is like “strong as a horse” which ignores that horses get old and tired.  Any way you look at it the fat is a blessing.

My life is full of blessings.  When I have those moan and groan moments I usually end up thinking about how bad some others have it.  That stimulates me to start counting all the blessings I have.  Once I get started it is hard to stop.  There are so many things that we take for granted.  People in history or the third world today would consider us living like kings.  That doesn’t even allow for our family and spiritual blessings.

So?  It is another one of those trite but true reminders.  Count your blessings.  That makes me wonder if April 15 is still tax day. 

Dirt Happens

(Pro 14:4 KJV)  Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

This could be a verse for neatnics.  It could be a reminder that every crack in the linoleum will not be dust free when you are cutting boards or using flour.  Dirt happens.  There, I got that off my chest.  I am anything but neat.  At the same time I could do better.

But this is not about whether you made your bed or washed the dishes.  This is about the trade offs that are a part of life.  It is a reminder to give other people the space they need to do the work they do.  

So?  Stop nagging.  If you don’t want to clean up after the ox then get out and pull the plow yourself.  A few passes across a field and your attitude might change. 

Pick Your Cloud

(Pro 13:2 KJV)  A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

Different lives produce different results.  Here we see a contrast in results between “fruit” (6529) and “violence” (2555).  I think that we see this in our daily experiences.  I think it also sets up a cycle in people’s lives.  That cycle is a result of what is in their “soul” (5315) [nephesh].  Why the NASB has “desire” is anyone’s guess.  It is deeper than just what you want.  It is a reflection of the inner you.

We are like the Peanuts character Pig Pen.  He carries a cloud of dust wherever he goes.  People notice even if they try to act like they don’t.

So?  What kind of cloud do we carry?  It is a matter of choice.  If you are washed in the blood and filled with the Spirit then you exude one cloud.  If your heart is not right things are different.  God is not willing that any should perish.  The choice is up to us. 

The Best Defense

(Pro 12:7 KJV)  The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

I don’t know about you but I am anxious for this prophetic promise to unfold.  It used to be that I was surprised to see someone abuse their position and authority.  It was assumed that the courts administered justice, the police enforced the law, the food you ate was wholesome, the medicine you took was helpful and your teacher was giving you an education.  Now we live in a day that the opposite is true.

We live in a day where the “wicked” (7563) seem to be running rampant and the “righteous” (6662) are hunkered down in their basements hoping the riot will pass them by.  For the short term that seems to be the case but this is a promise that it will not endure.  In fact, when I read the promises, it seem that righteousness is a better protection than a locked door and a hiding place.

So?  Live for Jesus.  He can shield you and make sure that you are in the right place at the right time.  He can take our hard times and turn them into gold.  Trust and obey.

Fear Mongering or Prophecy?

(Pro 11:26 KJV)  He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

As I write I could find all kinds of headlines about the coming shortages because of lack of truck drivers and backed up ships on west coast ports.  There are others that are talking about a coming food shortage for various reasons.  Famine and hunger are not new phenomenon.  They have always been with the human race even if most Americans have never been touched by it.

If food actually becomes scare or so expensive people can’t afford it, what are Christians to do?  This verse talks about sharing but notice that the context is selling not giving away.  There is a good chance that neighbors or family members may show up at our door and want something.  It may because they didn’t bother to prepare.  It could be because the shortages have gone on so long that even preparing wasn’t enough.  

So?  First, I would submit that we be willing to sell some of what we have with the understanding that we don’t get into gouging.  As a second step we may need to consider giving to those in need but in either case remember that you are primarily responsible for your own family  Let us pray that it never gets to that point.

Life Words

(Pro 10:11 KJV)  The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

In what ways can our words pour forth “life” (2425b)?  An obvious benefit would be the lessons in truth and righteousness.  It could also be in offering encouragement or comfort to the person who is in a struggle.  It could be the answer that turns away wrath.  

We often talk and don’t live.  That is dangerous but consider the combination.  

So?  Speak as a representative of Almighty God and a servant of Jesus.  Just because we don’t see the results doesn’t mean it does not make a difference.

Wait for the Opportunity

(Pro 9:9 KJV)  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

As I read this today I again had the parable of the talents come to mind.  The two talk about rewarding those who already have but the emphasis is a bit different.  Jesus was telling people to use their gifts.  Proverbs seems to be warning us about how we use them.  

We are constantly being told to witness.  How is that working out for you?  I am not sure that most people are interested.  I remember talking to my fellow teachers and the conversation was going well until I tried to make a spiritual application.  I watched eyes glaze over and attention wander.  They seemed to sense that this was not what they wanted to hear.  On a zoom call this week one of the men shared that he had neighbors who would not talk to him because he tried to witness to them.

So?  Be alert for opportunities but remember that people are not saved because of your clever approach or brilliant repartee.  They are drawn and convicted by the Holy Spirit.  Our place is to look for that receptive soul.  Skip the guilt and live the joy.

Available

(Pro 8:1 KJV)  Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

I hope you experience the reality of this verse.  It goes along with the salvation offered to us.  Just as the Bible is clear that God seeks us when we are resisting and avoiding, so His wisdom is also on its way to us.  It is available.  It is abundant.  It is ignored.

We are surrounded by sources of wisdom.  Often it comes from people who don’t know the source.  Part of what we need to do is cut through the chaff and get to the wheat.  That is done by reading, listening, thinking and praying.  Make sure that you read the right stuff.  It might be more important to read the Bible than one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.  It might also be helpful to listen to people who actually know the Lord and demonstrate it in their lives.

So?  This can be a great day.  All we need to do is pay attention and apply what we gain.

Blindsided

(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;

How often do people claim “I didn’t know”?  We hear it all the time when suddenly a news story can’t be denied any more and it appears on the MSM.  It has been around for weeks if you were paying attention but if you didn’t want to know then you didn’t.  That is what the “straightway” (suddenly NASB) (6597) is all about here.  This young man knew what was going on.  He had come looking for it.  At the same time he would probably say, “How did I get here?”

If I want to learn about car maintenance I don’t read Nature magazine.  If I want to know how to plant strawberries I don’t look in Car and Driver.  If I want to live I don’t cross a street without looking both ways.  Usually we have plenty of warning.  I will grant that there are some days when a cold front seems to come out of nowhere but generally it is not unexpected in January.  By the same token you should not be surprised if you see wild flowers in April.

So?  Pay attention.  God is giving you signals.  The Holy Spirit is speaking. 

Ongoing

(Pro 6:21 KJV)  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

We have a preference for certain things only needing to be done once.  Often we look at salvation through that prism.  We have people who prayed a prayer or were baptized as infants and they feel like that moment sealed them for eternity.  That is a theological argument for another day.  What we see here is that God wants us to take certain spiritual action “continually” (8548).  This is for our benefit, not God’s.

If you want to know the fullness of God in your life it means that you recognize you are on a journey.  It is a walk.  The arrival will come at the resurrection.  Then things will be different but now we are supposed to keep working at it.

So?  This means daily.  It means moment by moment.  It means to develop habits that teach you to look at the spiritual implications of actions and decisions.  It is never too soon to develop this kind of habit. 

Hard Questions

(Pro 5:11 KJV)  And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

There are some questions we will not have answered in this life, sometimes because we are afraid to ask them.  This verse brings one of them to mind, “How much of our physical health is a product of our moral choices?”  See what I mean?  No one wants to be considered judgmental or harsh.  

So let me ask it another way, “I wonder how much suffering there is in this world because people don’t live obedient, moral lives?”  I have sometimes paraphrased Tennyson by saying, “I have the strength of ten because my heart is pure.”  I say it tongue in cheek but in my heart I wonder.  I am in good health for my age.  Is it because I have not participated in serial sex, habitual drinking or recreational drugs?  I have to believe that such behavior has not hurt me.  At the same time I see people that have lived spiritual lives who are suffering.  

So?  The promise is still valid.  Just as living in debauchery will have an effect, so does being a prude.  It may be too late to change your present condition but we can all start working on how we are doing tomorrow.

A Reminder

(Pro 4:17 KJV)  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Notice that this is the antithesis to communion.  The physical elements are the same:  Bread and wine.  The focus and worship is totally different.  What you are looking at is the mantra of our secular culture.  “Wickedness” (7562) is evil.  It is moral degeneration.  It is the everyday sustenance of our pagan culture.  “Violence” (2555) is becoming more common from “mostly peaceful” demonstrations to road rage.  

When Christians take the bread and wine they are partaking in a different reality.  The bread represents the body of Christ.  His death and resurrection give us hope for eternity.  The wine, or cup for us from the really spiritual denominations, represents the shed blood of Jesus which washes away our sin and makes us eligible for that eternity.

So?  Rejoice.  Soon we will celebrate the resurrection.  During the next few weeks you will probably have the opportunity to take communion.  When you do, realize that it is not just a ritual but a reminder of God’s intervention into our wicked and violent world.

Shaky Feet

(Pro 3:26 KJV)  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

I sit looking out my window basking in the results of 200 years of an experiment called America.  The dream has been if you worked hard and had a little luck you could have a life of security and prosperity.  As we have relaxed in that belief we have forgotten what makes that possibility possible.  The “confidence” (3689) of the Founding Fathers was not in reason or hard work, although both were important.  Their confidence was in Providence.  That is the word thy liked to use.  It was a confidence in the Lord as this verse reminds us.  That has not changed.  Our focus may have changed but that is not where it should be.  

We are living in a time of much anxiety.  The international situation is volatile.  Our streets are becoming less safe and the rule of law seems to be ignored in the hallowed halls of government.  Keep in mind that Solomon was king of a small country surrounded by empires ready to gobble Israel up.  You think you got problems.

So?  Focus your confidence.  Get your feet down on solid ground.  Trust and obey. 

Page Un-Turners

(Pro 2:20 KJV)  That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

I enjoy all kinds of fiction.  A good, space opera, non-political science fiction novel will keep me up late.  I also enjoy westerns, historical fiction, action, and spy novels.  I used to say I loved them but the romance is gone.  Why?  Because as I get older and hopefully a bit wiser I find that the characters are more and more unpalatable.  This leads me to put the books down.

On occasion I will try a new author.  Usually I don’t get past a couple of chapters.  I remember one recently I asked myself, “Is there anyone in here that I can find any virtue or worthiness in?”  The answer was, “No.  Not even close.”  The book went back to the library unread.  I find myself going more to non-fiction but even there the attitudes of the authors bleed through.

So?  Even at my advanced age it is important to seek people who will model and advocate the way of righteousness.  It takes effort but it is important. 

Live Wisdom

(Pro 1:3 KJV)  To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

As I was reading this morning the phrase “wise behavior” (7919a) caught my attention.  In the KJV it is simply “wisdom” which seems a bit too simple.  The actual meaning of the Hebrew is “prudent” but in both translations it has a multitude of different ways it is expressed.  In glancing through the translations on my software I thought it interesting the variety of ways it was given here.  The idea of “wise dealing” came up.  

What hit me was the practical nature of wisdom.  It is to be lived.  It is not just a series of axioms to memorize and quote.  It is a behavior.  It is to be demonstrated in every day activities.

So?  As we go through the book again, listen and apply.  Live wisdom.