Listen Up

Proverbs 21:13 (KJV) Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

This spoke to me today as I am playing nursemaid to my wife.  She just had surgery, and although she claims to have a high pain threshold, and to not be a whiner, that does not always work out in real life.  She is a high need person right now and legitimately so.  I, on the other hand, I’m still a person who does not understand the gift of mercy.

In my case the cry of the poor applies to her.  She has many needs that she cannot meet.  It is my place to step in and take care of that.  I somehow have to reach down inside of me and find the mercy and service that are called on in the spot.

My concern cannot be selfish.  I can’t focus on the second part of this verse and try to be a servant just because I want to avoid suffering myself.  I guess might get the job done but that’s not how love is defined.

So?  I seek the right attitude and the right actions.  Keep in mind that the poor who are crying out to you may not be those who have no money but who are lacking and some other area.  Pray that you would be heard.

Rock Wisdom

Proverbs 20:10 (KJV) Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

You find in the margin of some translations the explanation that when Proverbs here talks about different weights, it is talking about stones, or rocks.  Picture a balance beam scale where you put the bananas on one side, and a rock weighing 12 ounces on the other.  Then the person would pay for 12 ounces of bananas.

A literal translation of this is a rock and a rock. The application is that the dishonest merchant will have two sets of rocks under the table, and he will switch them for different customers or different transactions. Thus he will charge over for one and under for another. The rocks look the same to the casual observer, but the results are different.

Where I’m going with this is to give Christians some insight into our social mores.  We have things like affirmative action, as it used to be called.  We do have different ways of saying it, such as multiculturalism and DEI and so forth.  What we end up doing is using different measurements for different people based on whether we are buying or selling so to speak.  The point here is that this is not acceptable for Christians.

So?  If you are in the habit of evaluating people based on the measurements that your woke friends like then you are acting in a way that God calls an abomination.  Reverse discrimination is still discrimination.  Different measures for the same product is still an abomination.  Think about it because you live your life today. 

Group Effort

(Psa 54:4 KJV)  Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

(Proverbs 19 also read)

Several of the translations I looked at phrase the second half of this as “the Lord upholds my soul”.  Both the KJV and the NASB have this idea.  The KJV and a few others translate it as a group effort.

I know we look to God as the source of our salvation.  He is the ultimate source.  He is what we might call the Prime Mover.  And yet this points out that He uses other people in lifting us up and making us strong.

It is a group effort to “uphold” us.  This is partly why we are involved in the church.  This is why we have family and friends.  This is why we reach out to others.  They reach out to us.  We support them.  They support us.

So?  If you are not involved, at least on weekly worship in the church, then you need to look to your priorities, and seriously ask yourself how you’re doing.  Remember it’s not a crutch if you really need it.  It is a source of strength and mobility. 

Second Thoughts

Proverbs 18:2 (KJV) A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

When I first read this in the KJV, I thought, “I like that idea”.  I responded very well to the idea of my heart discovering itself.  I thought this was a great insight, that we can look inside ourselves and discuss our motives and our attitudes and all kinds of wonderful things.  Then I read the NASB and came back to the King James.  At that point, I noticed that this is the action of a “fool”.

Not wanting to be a fool, I looked a little deeper and realized that what was being talked about here was what we would now call “self actualization”.  This is contemplating our bellybutton.  This is looking inside of us for great insights and wisdom.  That is defined as a fool.

So?  Don’t look to yourself for wisdom.  If you really want understanding, knowledge, insights and such things, then look to the word and to the holy God, who will reveal the meanings of the word to you. 

Of Little Concern

Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

As I worship God in the dark of the morning on my front porch I have visions of what some people think of as worship.  I think of people crawling on their bellies.  I think of people taking whips and flagellating themselves.  I think of people crying out in terror.  I wonder what God they are worshiping.

I think all of those things that people are trying to achieve by that type of worship were taken care of by Jesus on the cross.  Not only did He pay for my sins, but He suffered all of the things that I should have suffered.  He became the curse.  He became sin on my behalf.  Because of Him I can approach the throne boldly.  Because I know Him and see Him revealed in scripture I know God the Father.  What would be a terrifying experience becomes a great joy.

And so I seek first His kingdom.  I seek His righteousness.  And I’m not sure about all the things that are going to be added onto me.  What else could I ask?  As far as salvation goes, Jesus supplies the answers.  As far as the temporal world goes, what more could I ask?

So?  It’s a great promise.  I’m glad that we can expect all these things to be added, but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and don’t worry about what comes next. 

When Does Forever Start?

Psalm 48:8 (KJV) As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

(Proverbs 16 also read)

I don’t generally expect to find prophecy in the book of Psalms.  Yet here it is.  Prophecy is about the only way you can understand this verse.  Notice what it says.  Jerusalem will be established “forever”.  Make note that this was written before the destruction of the temple and the deportation to Babylon.  It was written before the Romans leveled the city.  And yet it’s stated that the city will last forever.

This has to be eschatology.  This must be a prophecy of the end times.  We say that because it has not been fulfilled yet, at least to our knowledge.  It’s possible that the current city of Jerusalem will last forever.  With the tension going on in the Middle East and the existence of nuclear weapons. I am not so sure that this incarnation will last.  But the Bible says some incarnation will last, and it will last forever.

So?  Interpret the Bible based on what you know and what it says.  If something seems inconsistent with your understanding, then it’s possible that the answer is to dig a little bit deeper and other times see what others say.  But keep in mind that the Bible speaks truth.  All of that truth is not useful all of the time, but it is still truth. 

Simple Juxtaposition

(Pro 15:8 KJV)  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

Every time I read this verse, the first part jumps out at me.  It tells me that things which would normally be excepted and, shall we say, honored by God, become an abomination when they come from the person who has the wrong heart.  He talks about sacrifice.  That is part of the law.  Actually it goes before the law because we have Cain and Abel bringing their offerings to the Lord.  But the idea is that the law has a whole series of sacrifices of different levels that can be brought.  It’s a very involved ritual.  It is at the heart of Judaism.

God says, “Not so fast stranger.”  He says it’s not enough to go through the routine, the ritual.  He says there has to be a personal commitment and involvement that starts in your heart.  That’s where the second part comes in.  Notice that there are these groups of people who are called “upright” (3477).  That means that they are standing tall and walking in the way that God wants them to walk as far as they are able.  They know they depend on God for everything.  They know that God‘s grace and God‘s loving kindness is would makes the difference.  They know that.  And because of that, they’re considered upright.  For them, the key is prayer, communicating with God, which involves listening as well as speaking.

So?  God is so focused on the intent of our heart.  The outward motions are great as long as they reflect an inward reality.  If it’s time for sacrifice, sacrifice.  But at all times it is a time of prayer as Paul said, “Pray without ceasing.” 

Irony

(Psa 74:22 KJV)  Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

I found it interesting to read this verse toward the end of the Psalm 74.  He talks about this “fool” who is criticizing God all day long.  Now this is ironic because if you bother to read the Psalm itself, you find that the author, Asaph, has been reproaching God all through.  He keeps calling upon God to get His act together.  He keeps telling God that He needs to deal with these people who are disrespectful and defiant.  He talks about how the temple is being destroyed.  I assume it’s the temple.

And then at the end he talks about the fool.  It looks to me like he is the fool.

So?  Do you listen to yourself?  Do you evaluate the things that you yourself say?  Now might be a good time to start and when you read, make sure that you’re reading to see what God has to say to you, not what God wants you to say to other people. 

Leave Comments Below

(Pro 13:18 KJV)  Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

When I watch different videos on YouTube, I often have people who will tell me to leave comments below.  In a perfect world that would be because they would actually want to know what I have to say.  In reality, I think it’s more a way of measuring how many people are watching.  And the number of people watching is reflected in their advertising revenues.  Call me a skeptic, I will answer.

This verse is telling us that we should actually be desiring those kind of comments.  I don’t know about you, but I tend to want to avoid criticism.  I don’t want people telling me what’s wrong with my life and what I need to change.  At the same time, I need to be open to listening when someone is bold enough to actually try to correct me.  I need to be humble enough to be asking myself, “Do they have a point?”

So?  Often they do.  We can really benefit from what other people have to say to us.  Even someone who sets out to insult us can make us a better person if we take what they say with the right attitude. 

Bipolar Asaph

(Psa 73:1 KJV)  A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

As I read this Psalm, I swear it seems like Asaph, the author, is schizophrenic.  We start off with this glorious statement.  It assures us of the character of God, and how He responds to those who are seeking Him, and to live righteous lives.

Then you go into this long, long complaint session.  It’s almost as if a different person is writing, and he just starts in the next verse.  Then towards the end, the attitude changes again.

(Psa 73:25 KJV)  Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

And from there he is off, filled with the glory of God, and how God sustains him, and so forth.

So?  If you have different moods during the day, you need to be reminded that you’re not the only one.  The Bible again shows us that it is aware of the human condition.  If someone who is writing in the book of Psalms under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is going to have such wide swings, who are you to be different? 

Mercy Checks In

(Pro 11:17 KJV)  The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Earlier this morning before I got to Proverbs, I was reading one of the verses that keeps coming to mind in the book of Micah,

Micah 6:8 (KJV) He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

As I read in Proverbs I noticed the quality of mercy and I saw that it was contrasted with cruelty.  This made me sit up because I was wondering about the three divisions in Micah and this helped me to see that perhaps justice had to do with my civil responsibilities and larger social involvement whereas mercy has to do with my one-on-one relationships.

So?  God is concerned about every aspect of my life. 

California in Prophecy

Psalm 46:2 (KJV) Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

(Proverbs 10 also read)

You may not see it here, but you possibly have not lived much of your life in California, where people worry about earthquakes and the ignorant have no knowledge of what geology tells us fear that California will fall into the ocean.  That’s what you see here.  It’s possible that this Psalm is talking about the day in which California leans too far left and it is gone.

In regard to California and earthquakes, that of course is nonsense.  In regard to the end times, and what God is going to do with the earthquakes and other forces, it could be very valid.

So?  Keep in mind the context.  This is the mighty power of God, and much of it is figurative.  Also, part of the Psalm is the fact that we are in God‘s hand.  It has the picture of being under his wings.  There is also a sense of security in the midst of the earthquake. Relax, and rejoice.

Songs of Moaning

(Psa 69:12 KJV)  They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

I have you ever wondered what people are thinking about you?  Have you ever worried that they are talking about you?  The other day I leaned forward and told the lady sitting in front of me in church that her husband needed a loving wife to straighten out his collar.  I could have done it, but I felt like he might take it a little better from her.  After all, that’s her job not mine.  One of my concerns was that people might notice.  A greater concern is that he might realize it leaving the service and feel embarrassed.  Such a feeling would be unnecessary, because people would understand how that happens.

On the other hand, when we take a stand in public for God, we tend to get harassed and lambasted.  Hopefully it’s just a verbal not physical.  I liked what the LSB had to say in translating this verse.

    Psalms 69:12 (LSB) Those who dwell at the gate moan about me, And I am the drunkards’ songs.

Picture people moaning in the gates.  I like that.  I would love to be the target of the songs of drunks as they went down the street trying to hurt my feelings.  As long as my motives are right, and my behavior reflects the righteousness of my God, I say, let them moan.

So?  Rejoice when you are persecuted for his sake.  It means that you are living as Jesus wants you to live.  And I think that verse also says, “and great will be your reward in heaven”. 

Divine Doxxing

Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

(Proverbs 8 also read)

I’m not sure what “doxxing” means.  I keep hearing it used and maybe I’ll look it up later, but I thought it went well with this doxology that is given to us, not at the end of Ephesians, but in the middle.

What struck me about this as I was thinking of creation, and our interpretations and understandings is that God is so far beyond us.  He is more than one step ahead.  You’ve heard of baby steps and giant steps in one of the games we played his children.  God steps are bigger than giant steps.  He is beyond what we could even ask, let alone think.

So?  Although we are told reason, we are created in the image of God, we are a little above, or below the angels, keep in mind that we are limited.  We are finite.  We are creatures.  And we are designed to trust the creator.

Attributes: Eternal

(Psa 41:13 KJV)  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

(Proverbs 7 also read)

What is God like?  That is one of the trains of thought that guides my thinking each morning.  There are many statements, flat out.  There are many insinuations.  There are many indications.  Here we have a clear presentation of the fact that God is eternal.  Notice that phrase “everlasting to everlasting” (5769).

That means both ways.  It means eternally in the past.  He has no beginning.  It means eternally into the future.  He has no end.  We find ourselves right in the middle.  If you’ve ever done any thinking about the concept of infinity, you know that infinity multiplied by two is still infinity.  Infinity divided by two is still infinity.  It doesn’t make sense to my finite human mind.  It does make sense in regard to God.

So?  How does it feel being halfway through infinity your entire life?  These concepts are beyond us, but so is God.  The difference is that infinity is a concept in physics or math, or both, and God is a real living person who has reached out to us in the mist of His everlasting and drawn us into His eternity.  He will be there to escort us. 

Shortcomings

(Psa 39:4 KJV)  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

(Proverbs 6 also read)

Again, the Septuagint has an interesting spin on this verse.  I’m not reading in the Septuagint per se, but I do have it on my screen next to the Legacy Standard Bible, that I am reading Psalms in.  At times, I noticed differences and this is one of them.  Notice what the Septuagint has to say,

Psalms 39:4 (BES) (38:5) O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

The difference from the KJV is not startling, but it gives us a good insight into what the author may be saying.  According to this understanding, we want to know the time we have left not to remind us of our frailty, but to stimulate us to spiritual growth.

What do we “lack?  Of course that brings along the question of what can we do about it and what should we do about it.

So?  The ball is in your court,.  God is speaking.  The Holy Spirit is leading.  Do you see any area where you can improve.  That is a rhetorical question. 

On Guard

Proverbs 5:2 (KJV) That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

I think this is an unfortunate translation.  I refer to the KJV “regard” (8104).  Both translations that I use tend to look at this is something that is somewhat casual.  At the root of its meaning is the idea of guarding, keeping, watch over, focusing on.  It has the idea of intentionally concentrating on discretion so that we don’t lose it.

Wisdom doesn’t just happen.  Wise decisions are not accidents.  Being able to behave in the ways that God wants us to behave, to bring about brief glimmers of His kingdom on earth, require that we focus.  It requires that we apply ourselves.  Yes, it’s ultimately up to God‘s grace, and the work of His Holy Spirit.  At the same time He expects us to be consciously involved.

So?  Turn your brain on.  Take the knowledge that you know, arrange it, consider it and move forward, actively pursuing the attitudes and actions as God wants.  Make wisdom a part of your life.

Forgotten Priorities

(Pro 4:7 KJV)  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

What kind of things are we told are important today?  Probably the most common advice for young people is to get an education.  Then they want to get a good job.  Rarely do I hear anybody advising young people to get wisdom.  Yet wisdom is the number one priority given to us in the book of Proverbs and the wisdom literature.

One reason why wisdom is not popular is because it is rooted in a fear of Almighty God.  Remember, the serpent in the Garden of Eden, tempting in Eve to disobedience because she could be like the gods.  Man’s ultimate sin is his arrogance and self-centeredness.  Wisdom is rooted in the right priorities.  As a general rule, we don’t like the right priorities.

So?  It’s up to you whether you follow the standards and dictates of the world around you.  When you’re planning for the future, don’t forget eternity.  Get wisdom.

Variety of Correction

Proverbs 3:12 (KJV) For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

I think we can say safely that we don’t like correction.  We don’t like it when our spouse does it.  We don’t like it when our friends do it.  We definitely don’t like it from strangers.  But here it’s promising that God will direct us when we need it.

The thing here is that God corrects us because He loves us.  We still don’t like it.  We need to accept it.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could live in anticipation of the glory of God, reaching out and taking the kinks out of our life?

Correction can be gentle.  Correction can be harsh.  Often the degree of pain involved is a reflection of how long we wait to respond.  When you see the stop sign coming, you can gently put your foot on the break and bring the car to a stop.  If you weren’t paying attention and see the sign at the last minute, you have to stand on the break, which can have all kinds of unusual results from spilled coffee to the car being sideways in the intersection.

So?  Assume the correction will happen.  You’re no better than anybody else.  You will make mistakes.  I guess I should say I also make mistakes.  The point is listen early and don’t spoil your coffee. 

Dominion

Psalm 8:6 (KJV) Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

(Proverbs 2 also read)

This verse brings to mind the creation account where God says that we are to multiply and have dominion over all the Earth.  This is something that we as believers need to remember.  We are not just evolved monkeys.  We are not just an accident of chemical combinations, or any other nonsense, put out by the God haters.

Humanity was created in the image of God.  The totality of what that means is still a mystery.  It will probably be a mystery until we get to eternity and if at that point we are still curious we can probably ask and get an answer.  Or maybe we’ll just know.

One thing we do know, we are put in charge of this world that He gave us.  Notice that it says “over the works of his hands”.  We have a lot of responsibility.

So?  Are you living up to your responsibility?  That could be something as simple as not throwing your trash on the ground.  It could be something as complex as working to end abortion.  We could be many things in between.  God calls it dominion. 

Fearless

Psalm 36:1 (KJV) [[To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD.]] The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

The Septuagint personalizes this in an interesting way.

Psalms 36:1 (BES) (35:1) For the end, by David the servant of the Lord.(35:2) The transgressor, that he may sin, says within himself, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

Recently at church, we had a discussion of why there is so much evil in the world.  We talked about the irrational ideas that are accepted as normal.  One of the reasons given was a lack of fear of God.  This verse reinforces that.

People deliberately reject God, and refuse to fear him.  That is one of the great sources of ignorance, confusion, and nonsense.

So?  Fear.  Be filled with awe.  Set your priorities based on what the universe is really like.

Semi-Prophecy

Psalm 31:5 (KJV) Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

(Proverbs 31 also read)

I don’t think that David was imagining this verse being applied to the Messiah.  I think he was simply expressing his trust in his God.  Yet we have Jesus himself repeating these words on the cross.

Luke 23:46 (KJV) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

This is a good reminder to us that prophecy is not always a matter of clarity, in fact, I would say that prophecy is generally more confusing than it is clarifying.

So of what value is prophecy?  That’s a good question.  It’s one that I often ask.  To those who have it all figured out, it’s a great source of doctrine.  To the rest of us who, shall we say, see more clearly, not so much.  Was Jesus quoting David?  I would say there’s a good chance of that, however, I don’t know that He was in a position to be thinking up pithy quotations.

So?  Read with discernment.  Listen with compassion.  Interpret with humility.  Every verse is not meant to be understood in every aspect.  Learn to deal with that. 

The End of the 70

Proverbs 30:4 (KJV) Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

I would say that this verse is a great way to finish out the month of reading the Septuagint.  It points out to us specifically the dangers of translations that are made by people with an agenda.  Notice what the Septuagint says in verse four,

Proverbs 30:4 (BES) Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children?

You may not notice it right away because you haven’t been looking at it month by month, but noticed that instead of “sons”, the Septuagint has “children”.  I went and checked all of my translations, and every one of them, except for the Septuagint, has sons.

So you may ask, “What is the big deal?”  The big deal is that here in the Old Testament, in the Hebrew, you find a reference to not only the Creator, but to His Son.  And it seems that there is a name for this Son.  It’s one of the many places in the Bible, but we find reference to such things as the Trinity, for salvation by faith through grace and other New Testament theological points, or what we consider New Testament points.  In reality, we find them anchored in the old covenant.

So if you are a Jew, who would not be open to the idea of the trinity, you were going to find a way around it and you do it by translating things to fit your theological presuppositions.  We find this blatantly in such things as the New World translation.  My fear in translations that use dynamic equivalence is that the opinions of the translators also creep in.

So?  Again I say, always read with your mine turned on.  Remember things that you have read other places and other times, and if you find there is an incongruity, check it out.  This is the way the Holy Spirit works in teaching us truth. 

The Point of Vision

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

I think most people are familiar with this verse from the King James Bible.  The Septuagint gives an interesting paraphrase of this,

Proverbs 29:18 (BES) There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed.

The man of vision is portrayed as someone who interprets what the word of God is for us.  This could be a preacher.  It could be a family member.  The message is there.  The information is there.  But sometimes you need someone to lay it out for you where you can’t ignore it anymore.

What is also key here is the idea that we as a people need to be living righteously or God will not speak to us in the way of giving us guidance.  He may reprove.  He may correct.  There are many things that He might want to say to us, but if we’re not listening, He may choose not to waste His breath.

So?  If you want to know what God would like to say to you, then listen.  The art of listening is seeking to obey within the range that you were able to obey. 

A Man’s Castle

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

I continue to wonder what the translators of the Septuagint were using as their text.  If you look at how they translate this and the differences from the King James, it gives different ideas.

Proverbs 28:4 (BES) so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall.

I think I said it before, but it’s almost as if they have the philosophy of modern translators of dynamic equivalence, and they’ve been drinking heavily before they came up with their dynamic equivalence.

Don’t give me wrong here.  I like their insight or their opinion, depending on which way you look at it.  I look at the idea of the law being a wall and I like it.  I like the idea that if we build a certain moral structure, it will be like a guard rail that keeps us from falling off the top floor of the building.  It’ll be like those rumble strips along the edge of the road when you aren’t paying attention.  It will wake you up.  It will protect you.

So?  Always look to the actual literal meaning of passage, but don’t be afraid to apply it in ways that make it possible for you to live a more righteous life.  Of course, our ultimate confidence is in God’s gracious love, and His willingness to forgive.  That is multiplied by the gift of the Holy Spirit and the guidance and strength that He provides.  Meanwhile, build a wall. 

Antidote to Temptation

Proverbs 27:7 (KJV) The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

The basic point of this verse resonates.  At the end of a meal, we are less tempted by desert than we would be at the beginning.  We are less inclined to overindulge in sweets when we have overindulged in meat and potatoes.  When we’re hungry, anything tastes good.

This is where the other translations make this a richer understanding.  My first indication of this was looking at the Septuagint, which uses the word “scorn” instead of the KJV’s “loatheth”.  My iPad software is set up right now to run the Septuagint in parallel with the Legacy Standard Bible. In the LSB it has “trample” (947).  When I looked across different translations, I saw that idea of trampling as being echoed, so I looked to the Hebrew a little bit.  There I saw that the basic idea was to step on, or to tread upon, so trampled is probably the best of the translations.

What this told me was that one of the best ways to resist the temptations of life, the sweets or the honeycomb, is to be satiated with the things that God considers righteous and holy.  If I am in a Sunday morning service where we are passionately singing to him “Holy!  Holy!  Holy!”, I find that I have very little inclination to rush off and open a bag of Doritos.  The comparison is foolish, but you get the idea.

So?  Spend some time focusing on the things of God.  I find that meeting with Him in the morning and just thinking about His attributes and the ways in which he has interacted with His chosen people through the ages, gives me a different perspective on my day. Of course, as usual, results may vary. 

Don’t Be Gullible

Proverbs 26:24 (KJV) He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

The church in America today is very weak.  It is becoming infiltrated with heretics.  In addition to that it’s being diluted with people who want happy feelings and warm fuzzies.  They hate the idea of being holy and not conforming to the world.  It makes people shudder.

In addition to that we run into people who are really know how to get us, and they are so good at manipulating that.  We do not respond correctly.  That’s why I like this Septuagint translation of this verse.

Proverbs 26:24 (BES) A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.

I think we are so anxious to be accepted by the world that we refuse to use any discernment when it comes to people who made a clear purpose of destroying us.  We tend to always think that they mean it when they apologize and say it will never happen again.  Generally speaking, it will happen again

So?  We are not living in a day when the gift of mercy is at a lack.  It is discernment that we don’t have.  Pray that God would make you wise in the decisions you have to make.

I John in Psalms

Psalm 32:5 (KJV) I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

As I read this, it seemed familiar.  After a moment of thinking, I realized it was very close to I John 1:9.

(1Jn 1:9 KJV)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This is consistent with all of this chapter in the book of Psalms.  It talks about forgiveness.  It talks about loving kindness.  It talks about our living relationship with the living God.  Not once is the law mentioned.  It doesn’t say that you offer up a sacrifice on the altar in the temple.  It says you confess to God.

So?  Although there are different approaches, and more mature understandings, the New Testament and the Old Testament tend to agree on the basics.  Read the whole word.  Contemplate the whole word.  Rejoice in the revelation of God. 

The Mystery Man

(Pro 24:12 KJV)  If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

The Septuagint translation of this verse brings to mind a parent-teacher meeting in which I said to the parent, “I don’t know this child.  I have never met him before.”  Now this may seem strange since I was his teacher, and saw him every day, but if you consider the way he behaved in my classroom and compared it to the way he was behaving in the presence of his parents and the principal you would understand.  This well behaved, polite, quiet child had never appeared in my classroom.  That’s why I like the phrasing in the Septuagint.

Proverbs 24:12 (BES) But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works.

The point is that we as human beings can never truly know each other.  They are always limitations when it comes to two people getting together.  The person one knows could be totally different than the person someone else experiences.  The point here is that God knows who we are, He knows our heart.  It doesn’t do any good to try and hide it from Him.

So?  Since it doesn’t do any good, don’t try.  Be open with God at all times especially when you were worshiping or in prayer.  Remember, He’s not your mother, you can’t fool Him. Of course, you probably couldn’t fool your mother either so you know what I’m talking about. 

Fake It

(Pro 23:3 KJV)  Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
(Pro 23:3 NAS77) Do not desire his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.
(Pro 23:3 Brenton)  desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.

Various translations add a lot of interesting nuances.  It’s hard to know how many are accurate so you need to be careful, but they are worth considering.  The King James talks about “deceptive meat”.  The NASB as “deceptive food”.  That’s not really much different from KJV, just a little more modern with the idea of food than meat.

The Septuagint really gets into the paraphrasing.  Based on other verses I’ve seen I’m not sure if it’s really paraphrasing or just a totally different manuscript.  What’s interesting is the way in which it says that fancy food is part of a “false life”.

How many things in our life are part of a fantasy world that we want to be a part of but we never really will be.  I think of people who wear jerseys with the number of a famous athlete on it.  I think of people who wear monograms of different brands.  I think of people who consider themselves better because they have expensive taste and a deep wallet.  Even worse or those who have expensive taste with a shallow wallet.

So?  I guess it’s OK to want the filet mignon rather than the ground beef.  The question you need to ask yourself is, “Can I afford it?”  In some areas of life it won’t matter much but other areas I think God is really concerned about how we make our choices. 

The Pest

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

I’m sure you are familiar with this idea of the “scorner” (3917b).  I believe the NASB has “scoffer”.  The Septuagint has an interesting way of expressing this, which I will have to admit, fits into the category of paraphrase or personal opinion.  They call this a “pestilent person”.

    Proverbs 22:10 (BES) Cast out a pestilent person from the council, and strife shall go out with him; for when he sits in the council he dishonours all.

That is an interesting insight.  People who do nothing but scorn or scoff definitely tend to be pests.  Think in terms of being a polluting influence.  The recommendation that is made here is that this person be kicked out.  That goes so against our concepts of warm fuzzies and being non-judgemental.  Yet there it is.  Notice that it says that “strife”  will leave when he does.

So?  There are many hard choices we have to make in life.  Too often we hide behind the idea of being kind and courteous and reject the advice.  We might apply it more often.  It will make life better for everyone.

Rest Easy

(Pro 21:1 KJV)  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

We are in a time of great political tension.  Some of that tension is just a normal human condition.  We have an election coming up and we disagree on many issues.  Part of the disagreement is the sign of a healthy republic.  It says we have the right to speak our minds, and to express what we believe to be true.  It’s called freedom of speech, sometimes referred to as the First Amendment.  So this is a good time, even if it is a time of tension.

On the other hand, there are some of the issues that are really key.  We have a lot of people running for office who live in a world that is totally antithetical to our beliefs and what our God demands.  They have many followers.  What happens when we lose, or if we lose?

That is where this verse comes in and we need to be reminded of it.  God has the ability to force individuals in certain paths.  We believe in free will and we believe that God gives us the opportunity to make choices.  That’s part of the philosophy behind a republic or voting in a democratic system.  The people get what they want, or when I’m cynical, what they deserve.  At the same time God has the power to do what is necessary to bring about His well.

Remember how He eventually forced Pharaoh to let Israel go?  Remember how He broke Nebuchadnezzar?  Remember how He brought Paul to the point of repentance.  You may even have memories of things He did in your life to make you obedient.

So?  Get out there and do all the things that God wants you to do as a free citizen in a still somewhat free republic who has some remaining rights.  Speak up on what needs to be spoken up about.  You might include some testimonies about your God, and why He wants you to speak up.  Ultimately trust God because He is the one who is really in charge. 

Loving Law

Psalm 119:159 (KJV) Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

(Proverbs 20 also read)

Here we have the balance.  On the one side, we have the “precepts" (6490).  That would be the written law.  That’s one of the words used for commandment, law, statute, and so forth.  Notice how the author of this Psalm does not fear the law, feel imprisoned by the law, or in any way condemned by the law.  He “loves the law”.  It is a glorious thing for him.

And then notice how that law is expressed to us.  It is through the “lovingkindness” of Almighty God.  This is grace, God‘s love in action.  This is God, taking the directions He has given us for righteous living and interpreting them with mercy and kindness.

This is the law of God as opposed to the law of the rabbis.

So?  Meditate on the law.  I might suggest that you actually take the laws that are worth meditating on such as the fact that we are to have no other God but Yahweh.  And then apply it in a view of the character of God and how He sent His son to die for us.  That is a glorious application of the law. 

Key Element

(1Ch 16:29 KJV)  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

(Proverbs 19 also read)

The phrase, “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” came to my mind.  I wondered if it was “His Holiness,” so I looked it up.

We need to remember that the key element in our worship experience is always available.  That is the Lord God himself.  The key element is not our mood.  It’s not how we feel about things.  In a sense it’s not even our attitude, although that certainly can block us from coming into His presence.

The glory of worship is that we are coming into the presence of the living God.  Actually, we were not even coming into His presence, because we are always there.  He is with us, He is watching, He is upholding.  What we need to do is to reach out and touch Him and worship Him in the beauty of His Holiness.

So?  I guess you could wait for Sunday but God offers so much on a “now” basis.  Worship.  You might want to pull over to the side of the road if you don’t multi-task well. 

He Abides

(Joh 14:16 KJV)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

(Proverbs 18 also read)

There is a portion of a song going through my mind.  The title is “He Abides”.  The words that keep vibrating through my brain are, “...for the hand of God in all my life I see.”

That pretty much sums things up.  I see my fingerprints on things and the chances of success are low.  And yet I see things in my life that I would chalk up as success if I saw them in anybody else’s life.  Many times they go contrary to what I thought I wanted.  Most times they work out for the best.

Most of this is because of Providence, the hand of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, grace in action.  I praise God for his hand in my life.

So?  Ultimately, it always comes bound down to trust and obey.  Rejoice. 

One of a Kind

(Psa 47:7 KJV)  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

This is a chapter filled with little, except for praise towards God.  We need to be more conscious of praise in our lives.

One of the things that stood out to me was this verse.  It shows us one of the key differences between the God of the Bible, and the gods of the pagans.  Yahweh is not a local god.  He is the God of the entire earth, whether you acknowledge Him or not.  Most gods were confined to a geographical location.  Thus in the pagan world when you went to a new area you might actually pray to the local god or offer a sacrifice, or an offering to the local god.

The Jews were to be different.  We are to be different.  There is only one God in reality.  We need to make sure that even in our imaginations there’s only one God.  And it is not us.

So?  When you praise God it’s not like telling your wife she’s got a nice dress on.  You are praising Him for His entire being:  For His loftiness, for His Holiness.  He is the real king of all the Earth. 

Missing

(Pro 16:6 KJV)  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

In the beginning of this chapter in the Septuagint, there are a number of verses that are just missing and some that are translated totally different.  I ask myself why might this verse in particular be left out?

Not being a genuine scholar who can read all the foreign languages I probably don’t have a clue, but I have suspicions.  This at the first the talks about salvation coming from the mercy of God rather than following the law.  The Septuagint was translated into Greek at a time after the rabbis had taken over the scholarship regarding the Bible.  I’m thinking that they would want to push their theological opinions as they were translating for a new group of Jews who did not, perhaps, understand Hebrew.

This is the problem of scholars.  They tend to fall into this trap of thinking they’re smarter than God.  It’s not just the Jewish scholars.  I think we see the same thing amongst Christians and definitely today among the Progressive Christians who are denying most of the truth of the Bible.

So?  Accept the truth, even when you don’t agree with it, or it doesn’t say what you wanted to say.  That is the nature of truth, especially in the world where fallen man seems to think that he wants to be as a God. 

Better

(Pro 15:17 KJV)  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

I was thinking about our pastor and his gifts.  He is a good man.  He is a godly man.  I think if he had a gift or wanted a gift it would be the gift of evangelism.  That is the thrust of every sermon and just about every Sunday school lesson.  He’s concerned about your soul.  I was asking myself if he ever had an original thought and it was as if the Holy Spirit brought this verse to mind.

Original thoughts are fine.  Being willing to be faithful to the word is even more important.  So in the figurative language of Proverbs, it’s better to have plain vegetables and truth, than to have great thoughts that are corrupted.

So?  In an ideal world, you would have both, but we all know we don’t live in an ideal world.  Usually we have to settle for the better rather than the best.  Of course, the thing that makes it better is that it is anchored in truth. 

It Is Said

(Psa 44:1 KJV)  To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

The first way that we learn about things is often with our ears.  Granted, a newborn is exploring his entire sensory package:  Taste, smell, sight, pressure, pain and of course don’t forget wetness.  But one he probably can’t get away from is the sense of sound.  Babies, like all of us, learn by hearing.

Here the children of Israel are pointing out that they first learned about the things of God because their fathers told them.

That is a good place to start.  The important thing about it is that we start.  We listen to our parents, our Sunday school teachers, our relatives, and some people I guess even think their cats talk to them.  But we listen.  As I said, it’s a good place to start.

We have to go on from there.  I guess in a sense when we read we are listening.  And I would say that the directions of the Holy Spirit require listening.  But there comes a part where we have to do some active investigating on own.  I just started reading this chapter.  I don’t know if this will be continued later on.  I feel right now I am told in my inner soul that I need to listen and then investigate.

So?  Be receptive to the input.  Make sure your brain is turned on and you’re thinking is flexible.  And then meditate on what you hear.  Think about it.  Organize it.  And let it bring you to a place of faith in the Almighty God.

Even Worse

(Pro 13:6 KJV)  Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

If I were translating this into Greek, I think that I would use the present tense for the word “overthroweth”.  The reason for that is in the Greek, the present tense has this idea that it is a continuing action.  If you look at the verse in Proverbs, the person is already labeled as wicked or evil.  They are already on the bottom of the totem pole.  What more can you do?  I guess you can just keep driving them down lower and lower, which is the idea here.

So?  Evil does not take a vacation.  It is not getting milder.  It does not go away.  It must be purged, and that requires the shedding of blood, the blood of Jesus. 

A Chapter of Powerful Words

(Psa 25:6 KJV)  Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

If you were looking for a chapter in the Bible to read to lift up your spirits and encourage your heart this would be a good place to start. The verse above is just one of many.  Notice some of the key words of mercy and loveingkindness.  As you read through the Psalm you find forgiveness, hope, trust, truth, and compassion.  I probably missed at least one.

David is exulting in his God.  He is rejoicing in knowing the creator.  And he is offering that praise to us in the form of scripture.

So?  Be a reader.  As you read be a thinker.  As you think be a believer. Make it all come together as you worship the living God. 

The Business of Good

(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.

The Septuagint at this place says that the person “gives” the grain.  A quick rundown of the other translations has the word "selling" used consistently.  I think this is an important distinction.  I have no idea why the Septuagint does their own thing, but they do.

According to my tools of research, the word in Hebrew clearly means to buy and sell.  As I look down the way in which the word was used, I noticed that it seemed every time to also include the buying and selling of food.  I would say in our modern society of trying to weaken people and make them dependent on the government, the idea of giving things away has a certain appeal.  We ignore the fact that often by giving something to someone that they should have earned or paid for we just just weaken them and make them a ward of the court, so to speak.  It would seem that this is not a new idea.  It would seem that the translators of the Septuagint had the same problem.

So?  Be careful in your charity.  I know it feels good to do good by our definition, but we are called to do what is best for the other person not what makes us feel good.  They are not usually the same thing. 

Bi-Attitude

Luke 15:31 (KJV) And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

(Proverbs 10 also read)

In worship this morning, my mind went to the prodigal son.  One of the parts of that parable that always stands out to me is how the older son gets a bad rap.  Everyone labels him as the legalistic, works-salvation heretic.  I tend to get a little different view on that but what does stand out to me is that he did have a problem.

The older son did have an attitude problem, but we need to understand.  It was an attitude problem that went two ways.  First he had the problem of not wanting the best for his brother.  He did not love.  Love involves forgiveness.  It involves wanting the best for other people, and being willing to put them ahead of yourself.  He needed an attitude check.

The second failure was was his refusing to celebrate in his own life the fact that he was a child of the father.  He worked hard.  That is good.  He was faithful.  That was good.  At the same time he did not grasp the inheritance that he had.

I think that I am guilty of both of these.  I have long been aware of the need to work on the first.  It is the second that needs more focus at this point in my life.

So?  Celebrate the gifts of God in your life.  You can start with salvation.  That should keep you going for a while, but when that winds down, you can go to family, living in America, food on the table, and you can take it as far as you want.  Rejoice. 

Interpretations

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

How much flexibility do you allow a translator in conveying the truth of God?  Do you notice in this verse the word in the KJV, “simple” (6612a).  I believe the NASB has “naïve”.  The same word in Hebrew is used earlier in the chapter when wisdom is calling people.  Here it is the opposite of wisdom that is doing the calling with almost an identical spiel.  In the other translations, the same English word is used in both places but here in the Septuagint they substitute a different word.

Proverbs 9:16 (BES) saying, Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that want prudence, saying,

To be honest, I like the difference.  It gives me an insight into people who respond to the nonsense of the world.  The problem I have is that the Hebrew word is the identical in both places.  I think this is a liberty that should be allowed in the commentary but not in the actual text.

So?  Choose your translation wisely.  Read carefully.  Think deeply.  Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to the understanding you need.

Surprise

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

I am finding that reading this translation of the Septuagint is enjoyable.  I don’t know if it is the translator or the text, but it is a refreshing way of expressing things I’ve read many times.  Take this verse for instance.  Here is how the Septuagint expresses it,

Proverbs 8:1 (BES) Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee.

The other translations, which I assume are based on the Masoretic text, are similar and have wisdom crying out.  That’s good.  I can get inspiration from that.  But this translation of the Septuagint has understanding being obedient to wisdom.  It is a dependent status.

So?  Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you as long as you understand that the Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion, and will not conflict with what scripture as a whole says.  Enjoy. 

Prophecy Is Where You Find It

Psalm 16:10 (KJV) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(Proverbs 7 also read)

When prophecy comes up in a discussion, my eyes start to glaze over and my mind starts looking for neutral, if not reverse.  Prophecy is one of those things that I classify as a dessert, or a sweet, or empty calories.  I know some people get really excited and feel it is a vital topic, but when you don’t know what something means until after it is fulfilled, it gets kind of pointless.

Here is the verse that has messianic prophecy in it.  One thing that makes it clear it is a messianic prophecy is that it is totally out of context and impossible in the place you find it.  The first part of the verse deals with David and his relationship with God.  The second part of the verse obviously doesn’t refer to David because David did see corruption.  That’s an indication that we’re talking about genuine prophecy.

So?  God speaks in interesting ways, and sometimes it is the awkwardness that reveals what his intent is, and gets our attention. 

A Response to Debt

Proverbs 6:3 (KJV) Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

Again, I find that the Septuagint has an interesting spin on the text of the Old Testament.  I really don’t know how accurate it is, but I like the applications that it gives me.

Proverbs 6:3 (BES) My son, do what I command thee, and deliver thyself; for on thy friend's account thou art come into the power of evil men: faint not, but stir up even thy friend for whom thou art become surety.

If the clear direction of God is not enough to convince you that debt is bad, if your own struggles to pay the interest payments don’t make you regret your decision to buy something you really didn’t need, the 70 give you another reason to get out of debt:  Do it for your friend.

We are told to get serious and to work on getting out of debt.  We are told to make it almost a public issue.  And part of the reason given here is so that we can “stir up our friends” and get them perhaps to follow her example.

So?  People watch us.  We are an example.  Be aware that what you do and why you do it affects other people both positively and negatively. 

Footwork

Proverbs 5:5 (KJV) Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

When I read from different translations, I often wonder how accurate they are as opposed to how creative.  The Septuagint gives me another place to ask that question.  Here is how the Seventy put this verse,

Proverbs 5:5 (BES) For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.

I like that phrase “feet of folly”.  What a great way of expressing how we tend to wander off by not paying attention or by deliberate choices.

Do we recognize folly when we approach it?  Does it blind side us?  Are we without excuse?  I’m afraid that the answer to that is not something we want to know.  We are very good at rationalizing our behaviors in our choices.  The last thing we want to admit is that we were the reason things went wrong.  We always want to blame other people.

The only way to avoid that difficulty, or tragedy, is to know what is right and wrong based on an unimpeachable source.  For us that source would be God’s word. It won’t be the words of the Pastor or the advice of a friend.  It will be God‘s word.

So?  Are you reading?  Are you paying attention?  God has provided the resources we need, from the written word to the active filling of the Holy Spirit.

Just a Taste

(Psa 34:8 KJV)  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

I worship in the morning to start my day by coming into contact with Almighty God.  He meets me.  He is faithful.  I, of course, go through different emotional states and mental conditions.  My attitude is not always perfect.  That should be obvious to all of us.

I also am aware, or made aware, that God is infinitely beyond me.  My hope is based on the revelation of Jesus, and that through Him we can know God.  Still, as wonderful as that is, as a mortal human it is impossible for me to even begin to approach the infinite nature of God.

Then David suggests that we don’t run off into the sunset crying and weeping over this reality.  What we are to do is “taste” (2398) and “see” (7200) the nature of God.

So?  When they tell you that you can only have one piece of cake, do you turn in disgust and walk away?  No.  You enjoy that piece of cake.  You understand without it being said that if there is any left tomorrow, you may get another piece.  And of course, in eternity, you may get the whole thing. 

Pronouns Strike Again

Proverbs 3:6 (KJV) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

In reading the Septuagint I almost skipped over this part, but when I looked closely there was a difference.  Notice how this verse is translated,

Proverbs 3:6 (BES) In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.

Do you notice immediately the pronouns of “her” and “she”?  It is a definite difference in the translation.  I don’t know that it is part of the actual text in Hebrew.  I know that when I looked at the Hebrew, I couldn’t find any gender markings, but if you look back at the verses before it is definitely talking about God.  My first thought was that the translator may assume it was talking about wisdom, which is feminine.  But no, it is talking about God.  The issue is that in Greek the word for “ways” is a feminine noun and grammatically the pronoun agrees with the noun.  So legalistically “her” is correct in Greek but in translation it gives a devious understanding.

So keep in mind that when people talk about how the Bible sometimes refer to God as “she”, they may have been reading the Septuagint, or letting their imagination go with them like this translator.

So?  You can never stop thinking.  It just doesn’t work. 

An Extra Word

Proverbs 2:11 (KJV) Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

As I read through Proverbs in the Septuagint, I see numerous differences.  I don’t know enough about Greek to tell if it’s actual differences in the text or just the opinion of the translator, so I’m not going to make any great theological conclusions.  I did notice in this verse though that the Septuagint seems to add an extra word which I feel gives insight.

Proverbs 2:11 (BES) good counsel shall guard thee, and holy understanding shall keep thee;

Notice the adjective added to make it “holy understanding”, instead of just “understanding”. Again my tools are limited, but I don’t see that in the Hebrew text itself.

However, I find it useful to include this word.  Our understanding should be based on God’s understanding, and not just man’s.  I noticed that the Legacy Standard Bible uses discernment instead of understanding.  That makes me wonder if they were consulting with the Septuagint.

So?  Although it is not a specific scriptural understanding here, it is a good insight.  Our understanding, our grasp of things, our interpretations, should be based on God’s view of things, on holy understand. 

New Translation

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

Today I begin reading a new translation for the month.  It is called Brenton’s English Septuagint.  One of the things I noticed, as I was studying in another spot, was that Jesus seem to read from the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew text.  It will be interesting to see if that is consistent here.

In this first verse, you see a definite difference between the two.  Here is the one from the Septuagint,

Proverbs 1:7 (BES) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and there is good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

Noticed that the first part is close, but the second part seems to be either an editorial comment or work a scribe trying to write an interpretation.  This is one of the reasons why we don’t tend to lean heavily on this Greek text.

So?  Read, but read with discernment.  Go ahead and compare other translations, but always do so with the idea of what you know about the entire scripture not just one isolated verse. 

Character of Hope

(Psa 30:5 KJV)  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

If you compare translations here, you see a different thought.  The NASB, and most modern translations, use the word “lifetime” (2425b) .  The KJV uses “life”.  The Hebrew is the same as far as I can tell, but the interpretation seems to be different.

The more modern translations seem to be looking at a period of time in which God is going to be faithful.  That comes out as a lifetime.  The King James seems to be focusing more on the idea of salvation, or redemption of some kind.

This may be another one of those cases where you want to look at both is being possible, and not being forced to pick one or the other.  God’s favor indeed, is greater than His anger.  In theological terms, you might say His grace is greater than His wrath, or His loving kindness is greater than His anger.

So?  God does get angry.  His wrath does get expressed.  There’s no denying that.  But remember Jesus did not come to the manger and go through the agony of crucifixion just so He could figure out how to send more people to hell.  God wants us to endure, and He will endure us and with us.

Two Faces of Worship

Psalm 29:2 (KJV) Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

(Proverbs 29 also read)

The sense of worship given in this verse is based in awe and the separation of God’s holiness from our sinfulness.  It emphasizes the glory of God and how we are to have an attitude of reverence.  It is about separation and reaching across that gap and coming into the presence of Almighty God.

Then we move to the New Testament and the witness of Jesus becomes more intimate, One on one, and the sense of fellowship.  We can’t get away from the holiness of God, and the fact that Jesus is God, but there is a whole different view of the relationship.

So?  Both of these are worship.  Both of them reflect God.  Both of them are to be approached with awe and gratitude.  Worship the Lord in the fellowship of holiness. 

Angels? What Angels?

Psalm 91:11 (KJV) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

As I was watching the clouds morph across the sky, I was impressed by the variety and the complexity of what God had made.  And then you take the scriptures which tell us Jesus is the one who holds it all together.  I was being grateful.  I was being thankful.  I was worshiping.

And the Holy Spirit brought to mind as I was thinking that the angels were also active.  So I spent a few moments, rejoicing and thanking the angels for what they do.  I became aware of the fact that, just as I cannot really see all the little intricate things that Jesus does to maintain the world, I don’t see most of what the angels do either.  Again I’ve written this before, but how many viruses have they intercepted?  How many drunk drivers have they steered into a tree before they got to me?  How many times I’ve been totally unaware of the terminating forces that are descending upon me?

I don’t know.  But I do know that I have Providence to thank.  That can be phrased in terms of grace, the Holy Spirit, and even angels.  God works in mysterious ways.

So?  That means He does work, is active, gets involved.  Let’s hear it for unseen blessings, and by that I don’t mean that they aren’t happening.  It’s just that we are not aware of them. 

Be a Refiner

(Psa 12:6 KJV)  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

(Proverbs 27 also read)

I couldn’t help but think as I read this verse of how many times we can read a verse of scripture, and sometimes we just pass by but other times it jumps out and bites us in the heart.  There are times when we take the words of God, and find they have a very special and precious meaning to us at that moment.  This is an example of “purified” (NASB) or “refining” as the KJV says.

I would imagine, or at least hope, each time we meditate or contemplate scripture we get a little closer to what it is the word originally wanted to say.  We certainly improve our understanding by the exercise.

So?  Keep at it.  Read.  Study.  Contemplate.  Grow in grace. 

God’s House

Psalm 26:8 (KJV) LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

I think we can assume that David is talking about the tabernacle here when he mentions God‘s house.  I wonder if there is a relation between the word “habitation” (4583), and the word having to do with abide.  This tells us that being in God’s house on a regular basis should be a joy.

Obviously, this is not written to us today specifically.  It was written in the days of ancient Israel. And yet the principal is the same.  For us today we would think of our church as God’s house.  It’s not the same as the tabernacle or temple.  We do not have an altar with sacrifices made or different courts in which different people can come into.  We do not have eternal flames, and all the other accoutrements of the Jewish worship . But it is still considered and thought of as God’s house.

So?  Make it a habit to be there.  Make it a special place.  Use the atmosphere as a help for focusing on God and worshiping Him.  I love abiding in a building set apart specifically for his worship. 

Visitation Rights

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

A month or so ago I got back from a road trip to visit friends.  It was a blessed time.  The journey itself was worth the effort.  Taking back roads and driving across country you realize what a glorious land you live in and how much space and freedom there is.  Then when you get to their home and are greeted with warmth and acceptance, life is good.

Don’t forget to be a good steward in the time you spend with them.  This first reminds you that you really should not overstay your welcome.  I don’t know where I got the idea but for me three full days is all a visit like this should be.  I guess I could go longer, but I just have a feeling it would be counterproductive.  I could leave earlier, and that might work, but it would be good conversation that would be missed.

In different situation’s, you may be at someone’s house for dinner or talking to them on the street, be aware of overstaying the time of fellowship.  Watch for the glassy-eyed look.  Pay attention to how they might talk less and less.  Are they looking around?  Has it gone so far that they’re actually looking at their watch?

So?  Part of living the life of faith is being sensitive to others.  Let your love be expressed sometimes by saying goodbye. 

The Source of Righteousness

Psalm 24:5 (KJV) He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

(Proverbs 24 also read)

What a glorious statement this is about the grace of God, reaching out through His power, and establishing us as righteous beings.  However, we need to look at the lead up to this.  First, consider this,

Psalm 24:3 (KJV) Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

Take it literally.  Taken figuratively.  Either way it’s speaks in a glorious way about coming into the presence of God and being blessed by Him.

And then the next verse,

Psalm 24:4 (KJV) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

This reminds us that God does not bestow His gifts blindly.  While we are not to assume that we are earning His blessing, there are repeated witnesses that say that God continues to bless those who are being obedient and walking in His statutes.

So? Taking that old phrase that is so common and adapting it, “Got blessings?”  God is anxious to make your life a pool of righteousness.  He wants to see you walking the right way.  He is willing to bestow His grace, defined as God’s love in action, upon all those willing to accept it.  Rejoice. 

Overflow

(Psa 23:5 KJV)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I finally broke down and went to get a haircut.  I hate haircuts.  It goes back to my childhood, but we won’t go into that now.  As the barber and I talked, we got off onto the state of the union.  My barber was really not too optimistic about where things were going in the country.  She felt like everything was going to come apart and us common folk are going to pretty much get ground up in the results.

I was a bit more optimistic.  I’m not a dreamer when it comes to political issues, but at the same time I have a certain confidence in the American people and even more in Almighty God.  The question always is,  “Are there enough loyal Americans to make a difference and will they stand up when the time comes?”  Of course, we don’t know what standing up means yet.  She accused me of being “positive” and “optimistic.”  I don’t get accused of that very often.  But this led me to a chance to share why I felt optimistic.  The optimism was not based on our political leaders or our political choices.  My optimism is based on the fact that God is on the throne, and that He will take care of His own.

I believe I live at a time when my cup definitely runs over with blessings.  I attribute that to God preparing the table for me.  And I extend that to His table preparation when I’m sitting surrounded by my enemies.

So?  That translates into optimism.  Not optimism for the country, necessarily, but optimism for believers.  We have this win-win situation.  If things go into the handbasket, then we know that God is carrying the basket.  If things work out with more blessings, we know God is in charge of that to make your cup run over.  Not only in blessings but in trust. 

Narrow Focus

Psalm 21:8 (KJV) Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

Usually when I read through this verse, I think of God’s enemies as being the nations outside of Israel.  To us today this would be all those servants of Satan, who are outside the church and who are working to destroy the church.  But then I began thinking about some of the other reading I’ve been doing this past month in the book of Leviticus, and a parallel passage in Deuteronomy.

I believe it’s Leviticus chapter 26 that talks about how God will bless those who are obedient, and then, in a much longer passage tells about how He will punish those who are disobedient.  He goes through verse after verse, scenario after scenario, time after time, where the disobedience of Israel brings them to destruction.  By the time you get to the end of the chapter, you wonder if they were going to be any Jews left alive to make up the nation of Israel.

The point I’m making is that often God finds His enemies within.  He doesn’t need to look outside.  There are enough people who attend church on a regular basis, who refused to bend their knee, who insist on going their own way, and to put God into a subservient servant mode, deserve them, and to produce what they want.

These are the enemies of God.

So?  Evangelism is important.  We are called to go into the world.  Revival is probably more important because if we bring in new believers and they are polluted by the refuse sitting in the pews, then what have we gained? 

Parallel Thoughts

Proverbs 21:21 (KJV) He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

There are many people in the Christian community who deny the possibility of righteousness.  They focus on Paul, talking about how “there are none righteous”, and ignore the whole context of what he’s saying.  One of the problems with that interpretation is that the Bible is full of references to people who are righteous.  Here it talks about those who seek righteousness.  The problem might be not so much that it’s impossible to seek righteousness, but the fact that people define righteousness in the wrong way.

It came to me as I was reading this morning, that there is a parallel thought in the New Testament, which supports the idea of following after righteousness.

(Mat 6:33 NAS77) "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Yes, those are the words of Jesus.  He’s telling us that we are to seek the kingdom of God first and notice that part of that is seeking His righteousness.

So?  Seek away.  God is waiting with the rewards and the results of that search.

Assumptions

Psalm 9:10 (KJV) And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

(Proverbs 20 also Read)

There’s a glorious promise here, but it is a promise that is based on an assumption.

The promise is that God will not “forsake us”.  He will not abandon us.  He will not leave us to the wolves.  What a glorious promise that is.  It should give us a sense of confidence and security as we face the future.

Don’t forget the assumption that goes along with this.  It is that you are sincere as you “seek Him”.  It’s not just a matter of offering up a quick last minute prayer.  It’s not a matter of keeping God on the back burner until you really need him.  It’s a matter of targeting Him, seeking.  It is sincere and it is a matter of genuine devotion.

So?  Seek him.  He is waiting.  He is listening.  He is watching.  He knows your heart and is willing to respond to genuine concerns. 

A Word to the Wife

(Pro 19:2 KJV)  Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

As I began reading Proverbs 19, I came across this verse early this morning.  What it reminded me of is how my wife is often telling me to hurry up.  She thinks I move too slow.  What has been my pattern of life is getting more so as I get older.  She on the other hand, tends to get quicker and faster.

I need to remember to quote this verse.  Of course I will do it in the finest traditions of proof texting.  I will leave out the first half of the verse and just tell her that I don’t want my feet to sin.

So?  You be the judge of how fast you should move.  I’m sure that some of us need to slow down and some need to speed up.  And then again, some of us need to do both depending on the circumstances.  I’m sure you can work that out if you think about it. 

Where to start?

(Pro 18:13 KJV)  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

This may not be a problem with you, but it certainly is with me.  I am currently in dialogue with a number of people, I attend a Sunday school class that invites comment, I have children and grandchildren, and I keep falling into this trap.  I don’t listen.  I start talking before I know what the question is.

I will concede that sometimes this is an issue where the person I’m talking to doesn’t want to hear what I have to say.  It’s not always just me.  Sometimes they go on and on and on and on, you get the idea.  You have been there.  You might even be that person.

That does not cancel the basic truth here.  We need to practice listening.  On one side, it gives the other person an awareness that you’re paying attention and that their comments are being taken seriously.  On the other, I can’t be accurate in my answers unless I know what the question is.  Many times it’s not a question.  It’s just a statement.

So?  Pretty simple.  Listen before you speak. 

Clarify with Cross References

Psalm 8:4 (KJV) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

(Proverbs 17 also read)

It is easy to take this verse and wonder just who this “son of man” is.  As you continue reading, it gets even more confusing,

Psalm 8:5 (KJV) For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

At this point, you could use your study tools, and you would find that the word “angels” is very interesting, but let’s assume you don’t know how to do that.  Look at the cross references that are probably listed in your side columns.  You’ll find a reference in the book of Hebrews,

(Heb 2:9 KJV)  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

This comes after a direct quote of Psalms, and it clarifies that David is talking about the coming Messiah.

So?  When you see things that don’t make sense or don’t seem to make sense then do a little digging.  Sometimes you have to dig deeper.  Sometimes you have to ask questions of others.  Sometimes you have to wait for the Holy Spirit to clarify.  But there are answers. 

Beware! Prooftext Ahead!

(Pro 16:4 KJV)  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

This is a good example of the dangers of proof texting.  If you take this verse in isolation and want to build a doctrine on it, you could come up with the idea that God is the source of evil.  That leads down the road to such things as Gnosticism and New Age thinking and who knows what else.

Of course, one of the things we hear is that God cannot be in the presence of evil or wickedness.  That also doesn’t wash very well because,

(Psa 139:8 KJV)  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

So? Keep reading.  Keep thinking.  God will help you put it together. 

Keep Reading

(Psa 15:1-2 KJV)  A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

In mid-week Bible study we were discussing the favorite topics of grace, faith, salvation and so forth.  What generally happens in these situations is that you get the eternal security people who believe that no matter what you do, you cannot lose your salvation, and they start talking about grace alone, faith alone, and so forth.

Part of this thinking is how none of us can ever live righteously.  We are doomed to be sinners.  And they talk about how we are all sinners.  OK.  There is some truth to that because the Bible tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but it doesn’t stop there.

If you have been reading Psalm 14 and are feeling down in the dumps about the potential in your life to live above sin then what you need to do is keep reading because chapter 15 tells a different story.  It talks about how we can walk uprightly and work righteousness.

So?  Keep reading.  Put it all together.  The message of the Bible is one of hope not of desperation.

Deception

(Pro 14:8 KJV)  The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

At first this seems like a contrast of two personalities, and it is, but that’s not the point.  You notice that one has “understanding” (995), and the other focuses on “deceit” (4820).  As I read this, I found myself wondering just who is being deceived?  I found the answer earlier in the same verse.

Another word I noticed that stood out when I began asking myself this question was that word in the first half of the verse “his”.  It says the prudent understands his way, but the fool deceives himself about what he’s doing.

The most insidious and prevalent form of deceit is in fooling yourself.  We have different words for it, such as “rationalization”.  We explain it away, because we feel that we are locked into our own perceptions and can’t see things from the other persons point of view.  We have a million excuses, but it ultimately comes down to deceiving ourselves.

So?  God has much to say to us.  If we listen, we learn.  If we ignore, then it is much easier to deceive ourselves.  Again I say, read, listen, contemplate, think, and grow in your understanding of God, and what He has for you. 

Source of Righteousness

(Luk 18:9 KJV)  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

(Proverbs 13 also read)

I believe that it is possible to live in an upright, righteous life.  Having said that, I think this verse brings the balance that we need an understanding that concept.  Notice the Jesus is not saying we can’t live a righteous life, He’s saying that trusting in ourselves for our righteousness is futile.

We can live morally.  In fact, it is required.  But what makes it possible is that we have trust in Jesus, we have been filled with the Holy Spirit, and we desire to walk in obedience.  It’s just a side effect of that which keeps us from looking down on others.

So?  Again I say, I didn’t make this up, I read it in the Bible.

Ouch

Proverbs 12:1 (KJV) Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

As I read this morning in the NASB it had “discipline” (4148) for “instruction”.  Since I have a hard time focusing at times on what I’m supposed to be studying, I need a constant reminder.  My mind is a hive of rabbit trails.

So?  Focus.  Keep reminding yourself that you have a reason that you sat down in that chair and opened your Bible.  It’s not just a paperweight.  Blessings. 

I Didn’t Say It

(Psa 7:8 KJV)  The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

We need to continue to examine what it means to be righteous.  This is one of those cases where we need to look to the word instead of the theologians.  

This verse is part of a discussion that goes on in this chapter, having to do with righteousness, and with God, recognizing the integrity that is in our hearts.  This chapter refutes much of the nonsense we hear, and the confusion that goes on with the idea of works versus faith.

If all you had was this verse, you might think that David is claiming to be righteous in his own strength.  If you’ve read the rest of the Psalms, remember read with gestalt, you know there are other places where David fills out the balance.  He calls on God to give him a clean heart.  He calls upon his trust in God’s love and righteousness.  There are many other places where David gives us the balance.

The point that is made repeatedly in this chapter is that we can live righteous lives, and that God expects us to live that way.

So?  Don’t be hiding behind your theological theories.  Don’t believe that you can live in righteousness because I say so.  Believe it because the Bible says so. 

Beware Statistics

Proverbs 10:27 (KJV) The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

I believe there is a tongue-in-cheek quote that goes like this, “There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.”  We live in an age where we almost have a religious awe of statistics and research results and so-called scientific knowledge.  We hear all kinds of marvelous things.  Sometimes they’re true.  Sometimes they’re fabrications.  One of the things that I’ve heard I believe is that religious people tend to be happier and live longer lives.  That has many trails to follow.  But that’s a brief summary.

This verse in a sense is making that statement and yet when we read it in the book of Proverbs, we kind of tilt our head, squint her eyes and say that doesn’t sound quite right.  When we read it in the media we say, “Oh. that sounds good.”  Maybe it’s just me.  The Bible makes a lot of statements that are clear and concise and we demand proof.  Scientist make statements that are clear and concise and society stands in awe.

So? Learn to trust the authentic Source.  With a little bit of thinking, some of the statements that you think are hard to swallow become very palatable.  Enjoy the feast of God’s word. 

Sound Bites

(Pro 9:13 KJV)  A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

As you read through this chapter in Proverbs, you will notice that you have the wise woman at the beginning, and the foolish woman, toward the end, starting off with exactly the same statements.  I would guess that the foolish woman was quoting the wise woman because she knew that the wise woman had the respect of the people in the community.  Although she was foolish, she knew enough to start off on the right foot.  She knew how to quote wise sayings.

But she didn’t know what she was talking about.

We are surrounded by people who know how to put out great sound bites.  We see it in politics. We see it in the church.  It’s pretty obvious in the news media and in the classroom.  The problem that we have is that often they have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about and what the words mean.

So?  Don’t be that foolish woman.  Look at the words and think about what they mean.  Spend some time contemplating and reading and, while you’re at it, listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying.  You can know.