Change of Pace

I have been posting on this blog now for over 12 years.  I know I have posted late in the day a few times but I don’t think I have actually missed a day.  That means I have written about 144 times for each chapter of Proverbs.  It numbs my mind to think about it.  

I plan to continue writing because this is a personal discipline for me.  My thoughts have certainly not gone viral but the discipline goes on.  

I am going to change my approach a bit.  I will still be reading a chapter of Proverbs each day in my personal worship but in the future I will also be considering the other reading I do for the day or something that might come to my mind as I prepare for the day.  

The Perpetual will continue but the Proverbs will at times be bypassed.

Blessings.

Bucket List

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

I have never been drunk.  I have never been even close.  It has been 40 years since I have even tasted alcoholic beverages.  I was curious enough about the taste to hold my nose and take a sip but as far as I was concerned it tasted as bad as it smelled.  So I have a hard time understanding what is going on here.  I read about it in novels and hear horror stories but I don’t have a clue.

There are times when I wonder if I am missing something.  Should I tie one on at least once?  The answer has always been “no” and I imagine it will continue to be that way.  There are some things that we don’t need to experience.  For most of us this is a call to wisdom and counting the cost.

So?  If you identify with one of these people then I guess this could be justification for getting drunk.  Somehow I think the advice of the rest of Proverbs might be a better solution.

The Price Is Right

(Pro 30:22 KJV)  For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

How easily are you bought?  Our cat is accused of being easy at times.  You scratch her ears and she is your friend for life.  At times it seems my grandchildren are easy.  If you want to get them on your side take them to a restaurant, put a bottle of ketchup by their plate, hand them a spoon and look the other way.  Are we any better?

We are constantly promised all kinds of wonderful things.  Senators are notorious for being paragons of virtue the last year of their six year term.  Then, knowing you will forget, they come out of their closet after the election and wreak havoc for five years.  Then they suddenly promise to be different, and get reelected.  Churches will take people in who are clean, smell nice and drive nice cars because they think they are their kind of people.  I still laugh about some friends of ours who had a great appearance but were hand to mouth being invited to a fancy fund raising dinner and we were ignored.  We drove old cars.

So?  There are times when doing the popular thing is the right way to go but we need to follow that path because it is right, not because it is popular.  Don’t be bought.

Killjoy

(Pro 29:18 KJV)  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

I am currently engaged in a sporadic discussion about the law.  Every time I talk about how God expects us to live upright and righteous lives I am accused of being a legalist and rejecting grace.  I obviously don’t see it that way or I would not say the things I do.  I think the law gets a bad rap because our understanding is stilted by a modern version of the traditions of man.  

One question that I find helpful is, “What is the purpose of the law?”  I am sure there are many answers but notice the one that is brought out here.  The law can make us “happy” (835).  I know that some people look at rules as confining and joy quenchers.  The law is designed to enable long term joy, often at the expense of short term thrills.  I did not see the story myself but I understand there was a recent collapse of an amusement park ride.  I would be willing to guess that the cause was ignoring the laws that regulated inspections and weight limits.  I am sure that the first couple of hills were exciting but the crash didn’t sound like fun.

So?  Use tools the way they were designed with the safety devices in place.  Life is more fun with all your fingers and both eyes. 

A Moment with Marx

(Pro 28:3 KJV)  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

As you read the Bible you constantly come across ideas that are at conflict with contemporary accepted mantras.  The way in which the Marxist doctrine of class struggle has been accepted should scare us.  It would if we were paying attention.

Here you have a statement that should alert you to the lie in that teaching.  Here is is clear that oppression is not just something that the rich do.  It is an attitude that does not come from the pocketbook but from the evil in men’s hearts.  It can apply to the poor as well as the rich.

So?  Be aware of the lies being taught.  Know the truth.  Examine your own values and priorities.

Wanderful

(Pro 27:8 KJV)  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

This is a word picture that does not automatically resonate with me.  Of course birds “wander” (5074).  How else do you expect them to find the food they need?  If you were applying the term to people this could involve going off to work, shopping or visiting friends but that is not the sense of the Hebrew.  One of the translations it to flee, to run away or be chased away.  

I think one of the reasons that families fall apart is because the “man” (376) does not want to be responsible or has come to a place where he can’t take any more.  One could be caused by the other.  When Proverbs uses the word “man” you need to look a little deeper.  Sometimes you notice the word is in italics.  That means it is not in the Hebrew, thus when the Hebrew says “evil” the translators add “man” in what they think will clarify.  Or they might put “man” instead of “soul”.

So?  Christians are expected to be responsible.  God expects it and friends and family should be able to depend on it. 

The Buck Starts Here

(Pro 25:5 KJV)  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

The Bible does not give advice on politics in regard to political parties or partisan issues.  It does give us standards for our lives and our decisions that apply to politics and since we live in an age and place where a republican form of government is still on the books, we should take the standards of God and apply them to our political decisions as well as whom we will marry.  

As I write this the “early voting” time period has begun.  I am not sure if I will post it before or after the polls close so let me address it to both possibilities.  If you have not voted yet then you need to be aware that God expects you to do what you can to “take away” (1898) the “wicked” (7563) that have any access to our “king” (4428), which in our polity refers to the president.  In Proverbs you have a monarchy so you would think the king should be doing the removing but notice the wording.  It does not say, “King, take away....”  Even in a monarchy you have people who can influence what is going on.  If you have not voted then that rests on you.  As far as you are able you need to exercise your privilege and vote for the least wicked power broker you can.

If the election is over then most of this will be directed toward those with influence.  Then it will be time for those who were elected or reelected to step up to the plate and work to remove evil from the palace.  

So?  Be prayerful.  Be obedient.  Be aware that evil exists and we might have a voice in doing something about that. 

Good Job

(Pro 25:27 KJV)  It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Did you notice that  “glory” (3519b) is used twice in one phrase?  That tells us two things.  First, something that some don’t like to admit, there is such a thing as being worthy of approval.  Maybe not praise but certainly approval.  Second, we should not be pursuing such praise.  

This is a hard balance to keep.  There are numerous places where we are reminded not to toot our own horn or place ourselves in the driver’s seat.  We often are in too much of a hurry when it comes to such things.  

So?  Don’t develop a false modesty.  It isn’t really necessary.  Accept the good things people say but don’t let it go to your head.  I think we all want to hear “Well done, though good and faithful servant” more than deceitful praise of man. 

Pay Attention

(Pro 24:32 KJV)  Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

It is amazing how many things we can learn just by paying attention.  A bit of research might be necessary.  A bit of experimentation might be in order, but we can learn and grow.  

Years ago I was out in the woods at a campsite that had running water and a propane tank.  When we arrived and turned on the water we found that the pipes had not been drained properly.  I had never worked with copper pipe before but I had watched others.  It took me three trips down the hill but the knowledge I had gained by paying attention eventually paid off.

So?  There is a reason to pay attention even when we don’t think what is happening applies to us.  You never know.  God prepares us in unusual ways. 

Beware the Second Step

(Pro 23:1 KJV)  When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

As I began reading this chapter my first thought was that I will never “dine” (3898b) with any “ruler” (4910).  As I kept reading another thought jumped out at me,

(Pro 23:6 NAS77) Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies;

I am sure that I know some selfish men and there is a chance I will eat with them.  Then I had a third that tried to wake me up,

(Pro 23:9 NAS77) Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

I know I come in constant contact with fools.  By definition they are people who have no fear of the Lord and those people run just about everything.

Yet we survive.  We are so used to going through our day without thinking.  Did you seriously plan out every move when you took your shower this morning or were you on autopilot?  Or we get to thinking about something and miss the obvious.  Have you every driven past your turn-off because you were in the middle of a great story.  As kids we used to get hilarious when my dad did it.

We can get so carried away with these warnings that we become total bores, but it might do us a bit of good to consider the ideas.  We have all been in situations where we are offered some treat and feel compelled by courtesy to partake.  That is understandable in most situations but then we go on and have a second helping, so to speak.

So?  Everyone around you does not have your best interest at heart.  They may even think they are doing it for you but often they do it in such a way as to build their ego more than your character.  Take the desert but don’t fall for the idea that this one time won’t go straight to your waist.

Cast the Stone

(Pro 22:10 KJV)  Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

“Contention” (4066) is a major evil in our homes, churches and communities.  The people who spread it do not have a happy future.  The people who have to live with it need a constant influx of grace to deal with it.  Sometimes you can do something about it.  You can vote members off the church board.  You can leave a church or get a new job.  Sometimes you cannot do much.  Marriage is one of the ways in which the word is used.  The solution there seems to be staying as far away from the trouble maker as possible.

So?  My first concern is to examine my own life and make sure I am not one who brings strife.  It is always hard to see things in yourself but it won’t happen at all unless we are aware of the potential.  If it is any consolation there is one verse that says the disaster that awaits the contentious will come suddenly. 

Mouth Guard

(Pro 21:23 KJV)  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
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This is an often repeated warning in Proverbs.  As I read it I thought of the taste of dirty socks that often fills my day from saying things out of line.  As I was looking at the verb, “keepeth” (guards NASB) (8104), I noticed that one of the translations was “observe”.  It is used 38 times in the NASB and 41 in the KJV.  I looked at a few times it was used and noticed that it meant to observe the Passover.  Interesting.

This is the kind of care that looks ahead to what is going to be needed.  If we consider our words and their effect over the long haul then we might say things differently.  We might say things not at all.  I recently had a conversation where the subject came up of someone using what had been written in a letter in a harmful way.  Literally.  That was the concern.  If you are speaking to the wrong person even statements meant as support or encouragement can be used against us.

There is a point where it gets foolish to worry.  Our lives are in God’s hands and He knows our hearts.  We can’t do much about the twisted souls we rub elbows with.  At the same time it is good to have a word of caution.

So?  Speak with love and kindness.  When it comes back to you it will be either a blessing or a twisted mess that will not wilt your soul. 

Save It for the Used Car Lot

(Pro 20:14 KJV)  It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

I am not sure if this is a criticism or a complement.  We have all been to yard sales and flea markets where there is bargaining and haggling going on.  Perhaps you have bought a used car.  The buyer points out every dent.  The seller praises its dependability.   All of those are just a part of a barter economy.  

One place it can be a problem is when it bleeds over into our personal contacts. It seems necessary for some people to point out every flaw I have or they think I have.  Since I already know my weak points pretty well it gets a bit boring.  It hurts anyway.

So?  I try to think that everyone around me has thin skin.  It may not make their day but it moves me toward being a better person.

Mixed Messages

(Pro 19:13-14 KJV)  A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.  House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

I find Solomon to be a moody writer.  If you consider this verse and the next one you get two different pictures of marriage.  If you look at the previous chapter you find out that a wife is a gift from the Lord.  If you do a study of “contentious” (4066) you will find that wives are a favorite noun for this adjective.  

So which is it?  As is to often in the Bible, it remains true to life and addresses more than just a party line.  It requires study, thought, prayer and action.  Kind of like marriage.

Spiritualizing

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

It always amazes me what some people can go through and still be pleasant to be around.  Recently on my other blog I had someone comment on the struggles she had gone through.  She did not get bitter and she came out in victory.  I think of friends who lost children, of parents who died young, of illness and infirmity.  

Some people remain positive because that spirit within them has an attitude that is not defeated by circumstances.  Others go down in bitter defeat.  I think much of it depends on the choices we make in our inner self.  I know that at times when I am starting to sink I have to make a choice.  So far I have not sunk so low that I cannot turn around.  Much of it for me comes down to whether I am going to revel in my suffering or trust in my Savior.  That is simplistic but still true.

So?  There is a good chance today will bring something that could be a tragedy.  The same thing could also be a blessing.  It depends on what spirit we have in charge of our lives.

Hope and Less

(Pro 17:11 KJV)  An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Are you into the promises of God?  Here is one that you may have overlooked.  It may come too late to improve your life.  In addition to that we are warned not to celebrate when our enemies suffer.  The promise could be summarized, “They will get theirs.”  It takes different forms.

Part of the message they will receive they may not even recognize.  At a recent service the pastor commented on not understanding how people could get through life without the Lord.  The answer is, “Not very well.”  People are good at covering up but the inner misery that comes from not having the assurance of God’s care are frustrating at best and crippling at worst.  And that is just in this life.  Keep in mind that the suffering will go on into eternity.

So?  Yes, persecution might be coming.  It can go from a simple thing like a flat tire to being locked up in a concentration camp.  In the midst of that is what both the Old and New Testaments call hope.  I wish all could be saved but it isn’t going to happen.  All I can do is be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in me. 

Don’t Raise Your Voice to Me, Young Man

(Pro 16:21 KJV)  The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

If you compare this verse with the NASB you find a different emphasis.  One seems to imply that moderate speech will make you a better teacher.  The other goes with the idea that it will make it easier for the listener.  As with so many places in scripture it is a matter of both.  

Harsh speech will often overshadow what you want to say.  The attitude will limit you as a teacher in trying to communicate.  It is also almost impossible for some to listen to words when all they hear is an angry attitude.

So?  It is a consistent point throughout the Bible.  Think of the beginning of the definition of love with patience and kindness.  Think of the Beatitudes with the meek inheriting the earth.  It is a sound principle for almost all of our relationships and interactions.  Moderation in everything except your love for the Lord. 

Your Move

(Pro 15:3 KJV)  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

This verse should be either a reason for hope or a reason to panic.  God is “watching” (6822) all that we do.  Think about that for a moment.  I know we believe it but do we live it.  For people who are aware that they are saints only because they have trusted in the blood of Jesus to wash away their sin, this is a reminder that God is keeping an eye on them.  It might give them reason to relax or an encouragement to get more serious about how they live.

For those who are either rejecting God or thinking they can play games, it is a very real warning.  Yes, He is patient.  Yes, He wants us to come to Him, but, and it is a big but, there is a limit to how long He will withhold the thunderbolts or whatever has been designed just for you.  

So?  One of the blessings of grace is we won’t get what we deserve.  One of the curses of God’s holiness is that many will.  Now the daily decisions are up to us.

Don’t Confuse Me with Sin

(Pro 14:9 KJV)  Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

I hate to admit it but I am starting to listen to discussions on You Tube.  Some I only let go a few minutes before I tune out.  Others I listen to in segments.  I have a rather short attention span for talking heads.  One genre I get something from are apologists like Alicia Childers.  One of the current heresies they often refer to is called Progressive Christianity.  It is progressive in the sense that Margaret Sanger and Benito Mussolini were progressives.  They all have a goal of destroying from within.  

One of the questions that comes up is how so many mega-churches attract so many people with their false gospel.  It is because the “mock at sin” as this verse says it.  They deny the historical Jesus.  They say the physical resurrection did not happen.  They have a lot of explanations for why Jesus came but all of them avoid the issue of sin and the need for forgiveness.

They are fools.

So?  Don’t get sucked into the successful model of making people feel good about themselves.  We can do so but it must be based on the fact that Jesus has redeemed us.  That means we needed to be redeemed.  That requires humility.  It is an unpleasant truth. 

The Joy of Poverty

(Pro 13:8 KJV)  The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Both the translations I work from agree on the translation of “rebuke” (1606).  That seems to be the meaning of the Hebrew word.  It seemed a bit strange but when I looked through the translations I have I noticed that many of them took a different spin.  The International Standard Version gives a good sample of this.

(Pro 13:8 ISV) The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom, but whoever is poor receives no threats.

Think of it as an advantage of being poor.  If you are a thief are you going to break into the house of a poor man or a rich one?  To many this seems obvious.  I am not sure that people who live in poor neighborhoods would agree that it is that simple but you understand the concept.

So?  Should we rejoice that we are not worth robbing?  I think the idea is more that our focus is different and we benefit from it.  Remember what Jesus said about a rich man and the eye of a needle. 

Getting Physical

(Pro 12:14 KJV)  A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Other places the Bible deals with our though life and attitudes.  Here the emphasis has to do with the actions we take that are visible and audible to others.  The old chant about “sticks and stones” is not a well established Bible doctrine.  Salvation involves the words of our mouth.  We confess Jesus as Lord.  We speak truth and reject lies.  It also demands that we use our bodies in his service.  Remember the words of Paul,

(Rom 12:1 KJV)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

So?  Guard your mouth and your hands.  Both can be a source of blessing or evil.  Both are easy to misuse. 

Ignoring the Obvious

(Pro 11:5 KJV)  The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

For today I want you to ignore the different words used to describe how well this believer was doing the job of obedience.  What struck me today, starting in this verse, was the constant emphasis that we make choices in the direction our life will go.  The decisions are described in different ways but they all have the understanding that we have choices and we decide whether we are going to go God’s way or Satan’s way.  There is also the implication that the direction you chose has results in your life and the after life.

So?  If you are coasting and keep finding yourself saying, “Of well, I am saved by grace” then might I suggest that you do a little deeper reading about what the Christian life is all about.  I will not judge you.  Do it yourself.  Don’t get hung up on the letter of the law but ask yourself are you using Ephesian 2:8 as an excuse to ignore Ephesians 2:10. 

Cheap Lessons

(Pro 10:13 KJV)  In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

As I get older I find that I am getting more frequent in stupid moves.  About a year a go I fell twice in a week, or maybe I should say tripped.  There was nothing beyond my ability to deal with except I wasn’t paying attention.  I find that when I set a cup down I sometimes miss the coaster and knock things over with my gestures.  None of these things are different than when I was younger except for the frequency.  I think that the pain from hitting my head on a cupboard I left over or the embarrassment of spilling my soup down my shirt are probably ways in which God tries to apply the “rod” (7626) to us older folks.

Each event reminds me that I need to pay more attention.  I can’t do things on auto-pilot any more.  The parallel to our spiritual lives should be obvious.

So?  Be grateful for the kind of reminders that don’t do any real damage except to our ego and sense of being in control.  The learning never stops. 

Value of Repetition

(Pro 9:10 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

One of the benefits of reading through Proverbs every month is the repetition.  This verse is one that is often quoted and almost as often ignored.  It is one that would bear meditating on every day.  It reminds us of the fearsome, awesome, nature of the Lord.  

So?  Join me in enjoying a bit of reminder.

Me First Project

(Pro 8:16 KJV)  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

One of the most pointless topics of discussion is what is wrong with our country and what do we do about it.  This has been a focus of debate since at least the Tower of Babel.  There are many things that could be done.  There are exactly as many that will not be.  What is missing is wisdom.  Here we have mention of princes, nobles and judges.  None of them has a clue.  All think they have the answer.  Does it remind you of today?

So?  Do what you can to reform the world.  I would not want to dissuade you.  More important, while you are at it is to join me in the Me First Project.  That isn’t to get our goodies first but to start working on our own grasp of wisdom and ability to hear the direction of the Lord. 

Set the Alarm

(Pro 7:3 KJV)  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

This morning I was thinking about the benefit of rules and schedules.  It has to do with a dressing over a suture I received to deal with some skin cancer.  It is all very routine and I have been through the ritual before.  One of the directions was to not remove the bandages or get them wet for 48 hours.  Am I being legalistic if I actually wait 48 hours instead of taking them off at 47?  Am I in bondage to arbitrary deadlines?  Am I giving up my freedom of choice?  In my heart I know it would not make any difference but in my mind I understand that once you start moving the goal post the game becomes impossible.  Victory becomes meaningless.  If there was a compelling need I would ignore the 48 hour line.  In the absence it is a matter of discipline.  

I think that is one of the benefits of the instructions of this verse.  It makes it easier to remember things that we might forget and harder to forget what we don’t want to remember.  There is no merit of grace in having a verse of scripture tied to your wrist.  The point is to read it and apply it.  It is a merit of the alarm on your bedside clock.

So?  Look for all the helps you can get.  Don’t forget the goal.

Feigned Submission

(Pro 6:12-15 KJV)  A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.  He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.  Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

In my reading I noticed a parallel between Psalms 66 and this verse through at least verse 14.  The verse in Psalms that got my attention misses the point if you are reading the KJV.

(Psa 66:3 KJV)  Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

That sounds good but read the NASB,

(Psa 66:3 NAS77) Say to God, "How awesome are Thy works! Because of the greatness of Thy power Thine enemies will give feigned obedience to Thee.

The KJV word “submit” (3584) is “feigned” in the NASB.  The word does mean to submit but with a spirit of deception.  This is the submission of the traitor or spy.  This is the person who comes to church and testifies gloriously and then steals out of the offering plate.  As you look through the four verses you see a public persona and a private goal that are totally opposed.

First we need to examine ourselves and make sure we are not falling into this kind of thing.  It is easy to be critical of others in areas where we are weak.  In fact, I think that is fairly common.

Then we need to keep our radar on.  Paul warned the church in Ephesus to be alert for wolves in their midst.  We need to have the same awareness.

So?  Check to make sure your spiritual engines are not in neutral.  Part of having free will is a responsibility to be vigilant. 

That Crack in the Sidewalk

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

Today this brought to mind what some might consider a tangent but I think it applies.  Am I the only person who tends to blame others for my own failures?  It could be as general an excuse as blaming the government.  It could be as silly as blaming the dog, and I don’t have a dog.  I know that when I trip over something I glare at the offending spot even if I can’t see what made me stumble.  It obviously couldn’t be my clumsiness.  

I glory in the knowledge that God is patient.  The Bible says God is love.  The first quality listed in the definition of love is patience.  When I look at my life I am amazed at the patience God has for me as well as the rest of the world.

So?  Rejoice in God’s patience but don’t take it for granted.  We are expected to grow in grace.  If it was good enough for Jesus as a child it is good enough for us. 

Put It High

(Pro 4:23 KJV)  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

This morning was one of those in which I was bogged down.  I rose early without an alarm but there didn’t seem to be any fire in the boiler.  I stumbled through the rituals of getting the coffee going and checking the headlines for the day and then settled into my recliner to focus on praise and worship.  I would imagine you have had those days.  It would be easy to take that experience as the norm and surrender to ennui.  

These are the times when “diligence” (4929) is necessary.  The word has the idea of locking up in a cell or even a prison.  I think it may have been what Paul was talking about,

(2Co 10:5 KJV)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

So?  Think of it as putting all your medications on a high shelf or locked cupboard when the grandchildren come over for a romp.  Keep the important things safe.  Be vigilant. 

Leaks

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

Right now I am trying to re-memorize I Corinthians 13.  It is amazing how things that have been placed in secure storage “forsake” (leave NASB) (5800a) our memory.  I can sing commercials from my childhood but the things of value seem to leak out through the semipermeable membranes.  The reason this comes to mind is how this verse lifts out “mercy” (kindness NASB) (2617a) [chesed] which is the second trait listed about love.  To find “truth” (571) you need to look down a little further.

(1Co 13:6 KJV)  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

I would think that the definitions and references leak fast enough but the practices go even faster.

So?  Be reminded.  That is one reason we keep reading the same verses and why certain topics come up so often in the Bible.  Pray for the day that our behavior matches our knowledge. 

For Today

(Pro 2:7 KJV)  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

If you compare translations you see a lot of different choices describing the individual that God is promising to protect.  All of them have the expectation that the one being protected is living a moral life based on the expectations of a holy God.  This is not the prosperity gospel.  It is not the predetermined outcomes of extreme Calvinism.  It is a simple statement that God will have our backs if we walk with Him.

He will have our backs and our fronts.  He will deal with our past and help us navigate through the future.  He will walk beside us today.

So?  Live in anticipation, not of a carefree life but one that is in God’s hands. 

Hey, Stupid

(Pro 1:11 KJV)  If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

I read something like this and I wonder, “Are people really that stupid?”  Can’t you just see this as click-bait on the internet.  No sane person would respond.  In answer to the question, yes, people can be that stupid.  I say that as I am thinking about a recent event in our town.  I am not sure that I have it all straight but that doesn’t present a problem with the thought.  The story was that a high school boy realized he arrived at school with his gun in the car with him.  A normal person would have stuck it under the seat or in the trunk, locked the car and gone about his day.  Not this clown.  He took it with him and was showing it around during lunch.  It put the school in a lockdown and brought police cars screaming from all directions.  From what I hear his main sin was an attack of stupid.

So?  Yes.  People you know may fall for stuff that seems obvious.  Be kind.  Help if you can.  Make sure your mind is engaged.