God Has Priorities

Proverbs 21:3 (KJV) To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

In my personal worship and study one of the things that I am pursuing is to understand the law.  I’m not out to become an expert on the law.  What I’m looking at is the conflict between David’s praise of the law and Paul’s rejection of the law.  They seem to be total opposites.

So as I read this morning, I found myself seeing that even God has priorities in what He wants to see in our lives.  The idea of sacrifice is certainly part of the law.  We know that Jesus died on the cross as the perfect Lamb of God, and shed His blood so that we could know forgiveness of sins.  That is the end of the process of sacrifice.  Jesus did it for us.

With that in mind, we are to live righteous lives.  We are to live the way Jesus would want us to.  That I would think is obvious, but here we are seeing that kind of concept unfolding in the days of Solomon.  Here it says God wants us to “do”.  This reflects other places in the prophets.  The idea is that we are to live the life not just follow the ritual.

So?  Jesus paid the price that I could not afford.  It just wasn’t in my budget, so to speak.  In response to that, I am going to take the grace that is given to me and apply it to doing justice and showing good judgment.

Listen to the Gambler

Proverbs 20:3 (KJV) It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

I hope you are familiar with that song, which I think is called, “The Gambler”.  It goes to the effect that you got to know when to hold, know when to fold.  In my mind, it’s Kenny Rogers doing the singing, but since I’m not a big consumer of country or western music, that is just a guess.  It brings a great deal of wisdom to life and it’s almost as if the writer of the song had been reading Proverbs 20.

I find that the CSB brings a bit of a different slant and it’s language.

Proverbs 20:3 (CSB) Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

How often have you found yourself in a disagreement, realizing that the other person is getting more and more angry, knowing that the angrier they get the less they listen, and knowing that they didn’t have a great amount of reasoning ability to start with, and you’re going to lose.  Maybe you won’t lose, but you know you won’t win.  It’s at that point that wisdom kicks in and you need to take the high road.

Taking the highroad can be dangerous because too many times it makes you abandon things which are important, to compromise truth, and walk away from what is right.  The honor here is to find a way to back up and restate things in an acceptable way that in important areas is a valid compromise, but does not desert the truth.

So?  I guess real wisdom will keep you from getting in the dispute in the first place.  Know when to back off.  Know what the real issues are.  Know whom you’re arguing with. 

Break the Eggs

Psalms 88:14 (KJV) LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

(Proverbs 19 also read)

This might qualify as the most depressing passage of scripture in the entire Bible. The author is going through great difficulty.  He is suffering.  He feels totally abandoned.  He calls upon God again and again.

Is God listening?  I think he asked that question earlier.  Is God going to answer?  To be honest, I don’t think so.  I see in this entire Psalm there is one thing that is missing.  There is one ingredient that does not show up.  He mentions God’s love and kindness.  He mentions great things about God, but he leaves out the key ingredient.

Have you heard the proverb that you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.  I think we could apply that here and say that you can’t expect answers to prayer without repentance.  Maybe I’m being too harsh.  I see this in the number of the Psalms.  The writers cry out to God, as if it’s a problem with God.  At the same time, they never admit sin in their own lives.

So?  There are several places where the Bible points out God does not answer the prayer of sinners, the unrepentant.  We’re not saying that you have to get all your act gather.  I’m not claiming that you have to be perfect.  What I am saying is that God is expecting you with confession of sin, and an attitude of repentance.

Caution, Ego Ahead.

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

This verse speaks to me even in the KJV.  When I looked at the CSB, it gave me an even better insight.

Proverbs 18:2 (CSB) A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.

As someone who occasionally gets a chance to preach or teach Sunday school, this advice struck home.  When I was preaching regularly, one of the temptations I always had was to allow my pet peeves to become the center of the sermon.  I don’t know how many times I had to stop, look at what I have written so far, get honest about the scripture, and go back and start over again.

To be honest I wish that more pastors and teachers took this to heart.  When you get up to preach on a text you’re supposed to preach on the text.  You’re not supposed to, at worst, just give your personal opinions.  You’re not supposed to, at second worst, talk about things that are in the Bible somewhere, but not in the text you are preaching on.

So?  OK, you are not the preacher.  Spend some time praying for the preacher.  Pray that your pastor would actually focus on the lessons that the Bible has to offer to make it possible for you to live a more holy life. 

An Angel of Another Color

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

It is interesting the use of the word “messenger” here. The actual Hebrew word is usually translated as “angel.”  I know an angel is a messenger, one sent on assignment for a superior.  The quality of the angel is in the adjective and in the assignment.  Here the adjective is “cruel”.  I would assume that God has many angels to pick from.  I don’t know if they have personalities or whether they are assigned an attitude de jour.

Who is this angel?  Someone with an attitude that enjoys inflicting punishment?  Was he assigned the task and told this is the way you will behave?  We don’t know.  What we do know is that he had an assignment to go against the rebel.

At Christmas time we see angels in other roles.  They appear to Mary and to Joseph.  They made the announcement to the shepherds in the field.  I don’t know about you, but if I were an angel, I would prefer those tasks.

So?  Try to pick what kind of messenger you’re going to be.  God may choose you to be one who is tasked to deliver a stern warning to someone or a rebuke.  We know we would rather be the one bringing the Christmas presents but our job is to be obedient to our calling.

OT Grace

Psalms 85:7 (KJV) Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.

(Proverbs 16 also read)

These words are so full of the character of God that they could have come from the mouth of Jesus.  We see my favorite word in the Old Testament chesed, translated as either “loving kindness”, or “mercy”.  This is God extending towards us His undeserved love and yes, grace.  This is God giving us what some call undeserved mercy but really it’s just an example of God‘s love in action.

Thus the result of this is the desired goal:  salvation.  Noticed that it is going to be granted and not earned.  Notice there is no mention of the sacrificial system or offerings.  There is no mention of anything other than God’s mercy extended toward us.

So?  Everywhere you look the Bible exudes the love of God towards His people. Yes, that includes us.  Rejoice.

Backwards

Psalms 80:18 (KJV) So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

Asaph has a definite view of God and Israel.  I would say that his perspective is at the heart of why God allowed Israel to be deported and debased.  If my memory serves me correctly, you never have Asaph speaking of repentance.  He seems totally unaware of why God was allowing His people to suffer.  It’s very clear to the prophets.  It’s clear in the history’s.  It makes me wonder why he couldn’t see, but he misses it.

Even here we see a reversal of the order of how things should be.  He reminds me of Wimpy saying that he would be glad to pay you on Tuesday if you would buy him a hamburger today.  Here we see a typical way to try and get around repentance.  Asaph says if you revive us, if you touch us, if you pull us out of our difficult situation, then we will call upon Your name.

So?  It doesn’t work that way when we call upon God.  We approach Him with repentance.  We confess our sin.  We believe in Jesus.  In a word, we call upon His name.  And then He will “quicken us”.

I Don’t Understand

Proverbs 14:6 (KJV) A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

I’m sure we have all run into a situation where we carefully explain some thing and make it perfectly obvious and the person we’re talking to will get a puzzled look on their face and say, “I don’t understand.”  Sometimes you can take a look at what you were saying and find a little bit better way to clarify it, but often all you can do is kind of shake your head and wonder what part of clear facts don’t you understand?

I think that the CSB gives us an insight here,

Proverbs 14:6 (CSB) A mocker seeks wisdom and doesn’t find it, but knowledge comes easily to the perceptive.

The use of the word “perceptive” is a good choice.  When I look up the word in my software, part of the definition of being perceptive, having understanding, involves paying attention.  One of the great ways to understand some thing is to actually pay attention.

So?  Read.  Listen.  Contemplate.  And of course, that leads to a better chance of understanding.  Also include the assumption that you really want to understand.  Keep in mind that claiming you don’t understand on judgment day won’t carry a lot of weight. 

Right of Way

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

The concept of “righteousness” (6666) is something that, for some reason, is controversial.  There are those who love to quote Paul’s statement that “there is none righteous…”  The sad part is that they usually quote this out of context, and use it incorrectly.

As I read this today in the CSB I got a little bit of a different spin on it.

Proverbs 13:6 (CSB) Righteousness guards people of integrity, but wickedness undermines the sinner.

This verse to me points out that righteousness is not just a condition, but it is a set of actions.  Although I accept the fact that God can make us righteous, and does, in the context of the wickedness mentioned here I think Solomon is saying that righteous actions reinforce and guard our integrity.  Integrity is based on reputation in many cases.  Moral and ethical behavior, reinforce our reputation as being righteous

So?  Don’t desert the understanding that God actually changes our hearts, but also don’t refuse to move on to applying that change to your daily behavior.  We are to be salt and light.  That means not just having a big smile and a positive attitude, but living a righteous life. 

Eye Opener

Psalms 79:1 (KJV) [[A Psalm of Asaph.]] O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

When I come to scripture, I come with certain assumptions.  One of the assumptions I have would be that David wrote Psalms and Solomon wrote Proverbs.  That is not a valid assumption, and the Bible itself tells me so.  I don’t know if Sunday school teachers told me this or preachers or I just assumed it.  It is wrong.

As I read this recently, with my eyes open and my brain turned on I noticed what this is describing.  It is describing Jerusalem being destroyed and the Temple being defiled.  That did not happen before Solomon, because Solomon build the temple.  It didn’t happen during Solomon’s life.  In fact, we have to move forward in time past the fall of the northern kingdom, and into the deportation of the southern kingdom.  For this Psalm to have been written with these details it is either prophecy or looking back after the deportation.

I don’t see any evidence of prophecy here, or anything to be prophetic about.  There is no admission of repentance.  There’s simply calling on God to bail them out.

So?  Never turn off your brain.  Never assume that what they told you in Sunday school was totally accurate.  There is no mention of Mary riding a donkey.  There is no statement of how many wise men there were.  Don’t be afraid to learn new things and expand your understanding.  What an adventure. 

First Person Possessive

Matthew 6:9 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

I have a lot of questions about prayer.  This came up recently when we were touching on the subject in Sunday school and people were talking about making a prayer list.  Most of the items on the prayer list had to do with physical issues.  The problems are very real.  Bringing them before God in prayer is appropriate.  And yet when I read the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus seems to be saying something else to us.

What struck me this morning was not about that.  That is just how I got to where I am thinking now.  I started looking at the words that we use “our” and “which”.  At first, I started wondering why the king James version says, “which” when the NASB says “who”.  As I looked at the Greek, with my limited knowledge, I saw that these were basic words that had to do with mine and me, and not necessarily with God.  At least not with His character.

I saw other translations, which I think put this better, where they said our God in heaven.  But even beyond that, my eyes, and turn to the word “Father”.  I noticed that the reference to father came before the reference to His holy name and His holiness.  So I looked up this phrase.  “Our father in heaven” is a common expression of Jesus.  What is unusual about it is the reference to God as father.  This is not an Old Testament expression.  This is something that Jesus introduced and emphasized.  And we are to call God Father.  This is not the “ABBA” Father, this is just the Greek word where we get the term paternal.

So?  We are to think of God as father.  If you did not have a loving father in your life, then I would encourage you to look into what it means biblically to be a father and embrace God in that way. 

True Wealth

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV) The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Verses like this are easy to misinterpret.  We take them literally when it’s more of a principle or figurative language.  We know this because God has a special place in His heart for the poor, and we know that being rich can drag people into decisions that destroy them.  We know people who live righteous lives who are not rich.  At least that’s true in terms of money.  Here’s where the CSB seems to give us a valuable insight.

Proverbs 10:22 (CSB) The LORD's blessing enriches, and he adds no painful effort to it.

I like this word enriches, because it opens up the vast range of ways in which God makes life better for His people.  This leaves the gate open for people living very close to poverty level.  It points out that the joy of life is not in how shiny your car is but is the people that you carry in it.

So?  Be careful when you listen to the prosperity folks.  They have such a limited understanding of what the riches of God are.  God is not always in your bank balance.  One reason is that when our bank balance gets padded, our sensitivity to God becomes calloused. 

Pick a Card

Proverbs 9:6 (KJV) Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

In the sense, we are all born “foolish” (6612a). They are different words used for this.  You can say “simple”, you can say “naive”, here it is “foolish”.  The CSB uses it’s own word,

    Proverbs 9:6 (CSB) “Leave inexperience behind, and you will live; pursue the way of understanding.

This translation prefers the word “inexperienced”.  Regardless of the words you choose.  There’s a thought here that needs to be reinforced.  This kind of handicapped mentality is a choice.  You may not have chosen to be there in the first place, after all, we are all born at a very young age.  You have the choice of staying there.  You have the choice of leaving.

This is one of the reasons we encourage people to read their Bibles on a regular basis.  It’s one of the expectations we have from attending worship service and hearing the preaching that comes from the pulpit.  That’s why we attend Sunday school and hear the insights shared by other believers.  We were given constant opportunities to grow.

So?  The choice is up to you.  Pick a card.  Any card.  If you’re looking to get the right one, keep in mind that the dealer has a way of getting you to pick the one he wants.

Why Not?

(Mat 3:9 KJV)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

(Proverbs 8 also read)

Jesus himself says God the Father can do things which makes no sense to us.  I mean you could make creatures and call them children of Abraham, but you would also need to have a family tree.  They would need to be traced all the way back to Abraham to look genuine.

God could do this.  Jesus says so.  A question that occurred to me as I was thinking about the power of God, and how He worked in history was, “Why didn’t He?”

Think of all the things that God could have done just by proclamation.  Did Jesus really have to put up with the thick skulls of the disciples as He tried to pound His truth into their heads and hearts?  Did Israel really need to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years?  For that matter, did He really need to create the world in seven days?  Why not one day?  Why not instantaneously?

It seems to me that God works through processes.  He called Abraham.  Eventually He established the covenant.  He could have done that from the beginning.  He didn’t.  And the whole purpose of calling Abraham was to create the people that would give the historical background needed with the coming of the perfect Lamb of God.

So?  We tend to think that God is going to work overnight miracles.  He has.  People will testify to it, and we have a record of it.  But He tends to work more in a long process of development.  Note that the higher animals such as human beings take years and years to develop.  A turtle can break out of its shell and head for the sea immediately.  It takes a baby weeks to realize that that thing waving front of his face is his hand.  Be patient.  Let God do it his way. 

Matching Verses

(Psa 71:15 KJV)  My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

(Proverbs 7 also read)

I don’t know why it still surprises me, but there are those days when you have some thoughts running through your head and you read a few verses of scripture and it’s like someone had an arrow right at your target.  This morning as I was contemplating the attributes of God, and how difficult it is for us to even grasp His reality, I was humbled by the limitations of my vocabulary, let alone my understanding.

And then I come across this verse, which points out to me that even David, or whoever was the author of this Psalm, couldn’t begin to approach, understanding God’s righteousness, or our salvation.  It is good to be in such company.  It is good to be reminded that in one small part of His awareness God is paying attention to what’s going through my mind.

So?  I certainly can’t guarantee it every day, but the Bible speaks to us where we are and where we’re going. 

David Insight

Psalms 69:5 (KJV) O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

(Proverbs 6 also read)

Reading the Psalms opens up the heart of David as he worships God.  Some of his writing is very political and figurative.  If you look at the beginning of this chapter, you see him talking about being stuck in the mud and different things like that.  I don’t think those are literal.  I think he’s sharing where his heart is and what he’s feeling.

One of the things that we hear frequently about David is that he was a man after God’s own heart.  I think this verse points out why that is true.  God is listening as David confesses his “foolishness” (200) (folly NASB). Then he confesses an awareness that he doesn’t try to hide his sins from God.  He openly confesses them.  He is deeply repentant.

He is a man after God’s own heart.

So?  We also can be men and women after God’s own heart.  We can confess our foolishness.  We can confess our sins.  We can be open with God about our failures.  We can live with an attitude of repentance and a desire for obedience.  And then, if your heart isn’t right, God will make it so. 

What Was That?

Psalm 65:8 (KJV) They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

It was still dark as I read this, sitting on the front porch.  I’m enjoying the fellowship with the Lord in the morning.  There’s not even a glimmer that the sun is coming up.  And yet here, God reminds me of what I experience emotionally and spiritually in those times when it begins to get light, and the colors begin to emerge from the darkness.  I was reading the Legacy Standard Bible when this jumped out at me.  Here’s what it says,

Psalm 65:8 (LSB) They who inhabit the ends of the earth are in fear on account of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.

So?  That means that not only do the morning and the evening shout for joy, but I, a believer, and one who knows the Maker of the sunrise, can also shout for joy. 

Top Dog

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

Let me misread this a little bit.  Let me use a different word for “principal” (7225).  Let me substitute the other word that we often misspell, principle.  One, which is used here means primary or top dog.  This is the principal of your school.  The other has to do with the rules you run by.  And this is saying not only is wisdom top dog, but it is also a set of principles that we run by.  That is my interpretation.

Take a look at how this other translation puts it,

Proverbs 4:7 (CSB) “Wisdom is supreme -- so get wisdom. And whatever else you get, get understanding.

Actually, this is not the place to start.  Keep in mind that wisdom starts with the fear of God.  Then you can go on to collect the principles and apply them.

So?  Follow the pattern that God has given you follow the principal principles. 

A House Is Not a Home

(Pro 3:33 KJV)  The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

As I said, I am reading the Christian Standard Bible this month in Proverbs.  As I read it, I noticed that in the second part of this verse, instead of “habitation” (5116), it has “home”.  I think that is a valuable insight.

When I was a kid I remember a lady who would read a poem every year, I think on Mother’s Day, and the only thing I remember is “It takes I heap-a lot of livin’, to make a house a home”.  Our house, or habitation, is simply a building.  It can be finished, painted, the doors mounted, the roof covered and still not be a home.  It takes that added application of people.  Even then you can have a habitation full of people who don’t really live there because their lives are centered other places.

So?  Is your house a home?  Is it just a place to hang your hat and lay your body down to sleep?  I would suggest if that’s the case that you start by making a place where you worship.  And make it a place where family becomes important.  The place where you study.  The place that becomes your home, or as the gospel of John would talk about, your abode. 

The Primacy of Fear

Proverbs 2:5 (KJV) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Fear really gets a bad rap in our culture.  We overlook the fact that a reasonable fear is what keeps us out of a lot of tragic situations.  And on a more superficial level, I wonder how many traffic tickets I have not gotten simply because I’m afraid of getting a traffic ticket.  But this fear is on a higher level.

This fear involves a relatively accurate assessment of who God is and what He expects.  It involves the love which is in his character.  It is a key factor and that is why time and time again in Proverbs we find the fact that so much is dependent upon the fear of God.  Substitute what you want.  Call it awe.  Call reverence.  Call respect.  Most Bible translators like the word fear

So?  Fear God.  Define it anyway you want.  But in the mist of your fear, don’t forget that God is love, God is light, God is a spirit, and Jesus died for you.

More Than a Quote

Proverbs 1:2 (KJV) To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

I have recently been looking at some of the old Charlie Chan movies.  It makes me want to say occasionally “Confucius say….”  Sometimes when Charlie shared some great bit of wisdom from the past, it’s very cloudy as to what it really means.  It isn’t enough to just be able to quote the elders.  Scripture, well known for cliches, does points out is that wisdom doesn’t come from knowing the quotations word for word, it comes from knowing what the words mean.

This book is going to try and teach us wisdom.  This month I’ll be reading the Christian Standard Bible, CSB.

So? If I don’t have anything to say that you find of value, then I encourage you to go beyond me and read the scripture yourself and see what God tells you.  He’s waiting in the wings.  He is speaking to you.  Your job is to listen. 

In Praise of Mediocre

(Pro 30:8-9 KJV)  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

It’s hard for us to accept the fact that mediocre represents excellence.  Here the emphasis is on our physical condition.  On one side, we don’t have enough.  On the other side we have too much.  What is ironic about this is that we would still feel like we did not have enough when we were on the side of excess.

One of the conditions of the human being is that we always want more.  Those of us who are gluttons know what it is to be full and yet still continue to eat . If you asked us for a rational explanation, I don’t think we could give one.  For some people it’s the size of their house.  For some it is that shiny new car that is just a little bit better than the one they had before.  For some it’s romantic entanglements.  The point is there comes a place where enough is, or should be, enough.

So?  I can’t tell you where that place is for you, but I know it exists.  I would suggest that it’s just a little bit before what you have now.  The truth is God is probably already supplied you with an abundance of everything you need.  Sure I go to work but don’t necessarily demand overtime.

Only Psalms

(Psa 19:8 KJV)  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

(Proverbs 29 also read)

As I was thinking about how Psalm 19 praises the law, I started reading through it, and I came to this verse, and I did a little research into the word “statutes.  As I was glancing down the different places it was used, I noticed that this particular Hebrew word is used only in the book of Psalms. I wonder if that’s significant.

In the book of Psalms, the law is praised universally.  One of the words used to talk about the law is this one.  And looking over the reference material it said that it’s always plural.  And this would probably imply that the body of the law is a glorious thing.  The effect of the collective law is transforming.  By adhering to God’s way of doing things we open up avenues of glory that we would’ve never considered before.

So?  Collectively, the law is not something to dread.  It is not something to avoid.  We are not supposed to be working around it to find ways to get done what we want done.  It is a collection of wisdom that we are going to embrace to internalize, and to make vital to our daily walk.

Wings

Psalms 63:7 (KJV) Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

Awhile back I made a comment that God is not a big chicken in reference to hiding under His wings.  I went on with life, but I’ve been noticing repeated references to basically hiding under His wings.  That made me rethink my flippant comment.

The wings are there.  The promise of shelters there.  But we are not little chicks hiding under the wings of a hen.  I did a quick search on my software, and found no use of the word chicken.  What I do know is it refers to eagles.  So when we go and hide under the shelter of wings, it’s not a Rhode Island Red; it’s the American Bald Eagle.  It is an animal with a curved beak and sharp claws, ready to defend that which is sheltering.

So? God is not only ready and willing to shelter us, He is able. 

Overflowing

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

There are times when you read a bit of scripture and send your mind down the trail that might not be specifically the point of the verse, but the idea is real.  Here I got to thinking about how unattractive certain foods are, since we’re talking about honey, when you have just finished a big meal.

When you have all that you need to the point of being satiated, an extra helping doesn’t sound very good.  Where this took me this morning was the experience that a morning filled with worship of Almighty God fortifies me to resist a lot of the nonsense of the day.

I think there may also be an element of discernment here.  When you’re really hungry, you might eat things that you would not normally eat.  When you were really hungry, spiritually, you might fall for appealing ideas that would not even make it to first base if you were healthy.

So?  Prepare your mind as you prepare your heart.  Spending time with the Lord in the morning, or whatever time works best for you, and fill all the empty spaces in your life.  OK, you still need to eat breakfast, but it helps you to control what you have for breakfast. 

Equal Access

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

This verse seems very unkind, but it is not a mocking of the handicapped.  At least it is not mocking the physically handicapped.  It is in a sense, it is mocking of the morally and mentally handicapped.  Some people reject the truth.  That means that they are “lame”.  It means that they’re not capable of walking in an upright manner with a regular rhythm and good balance.

Truth still exists.  In this case, the truth is wrapped up in a “parable.  There is no lacking in knowing what is right and wrong, and knowing what is moral and immoral.  People who complain they can’t know what is right are like people who go to a church potluck and say there’s nothing good to eat or someone who opens the refrigerator and claims there’s nothing at all to eat.  Or it’s like a woman who might have a closet full of clothes, but says she has nothing to wear.

It’s not that there is no truth it’s just that it is truth they don’t want.

So?  These people are called fools.  One of the reasons that we are looking at Proverbs is so that you, and I, can avoid being fools.  Consider the truth it is offered to you. 

Stand Tall

(Pro 25:26 KJV)  A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

Different translations handle this in different ways but the idea is that there is a real danger of “righteous people” yielding and giving way to the “wicked” in our society.  As I write this, the election is still to come.  We don’t know how it will turn out.  As it is posted, it is after the election.  In either case, we need to be alert as salt and light in our communities.

It doesn’t matter who is president.  We will be confronted by evil and corruption and by all manner of powers that want to drag us down into the dirt and muddy our lives.  It may be that we can’t do anything to keep the mud off of our shoes, but we can keep it out of our soul.  We can keep it away from our witness.  We can be a radiant light of righteousness.

So?  Not only can we be light and salt, but we must be light and salt.  Stand tall. 

The Oasis

(Psa 63:1 KJV)  A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

(Proverbs 24 also read)

This is a great reminder about the need for worship and starting our day with worship.  You could take this “early” as referring to when you’re young.  I personally like the idea of reminding us it’s not a bad discipline to get up out of bed to spend time with the Lord.

And look at the world that is being described here.  I don’t think the literal picture of no water is the point.  I think that is a literary device to remind us that we live in a world that is dry of spiritual sustenance.  It could be food, air, shelter, or anything else is necessary for life.  Here though the illustration is water.

It reminds me of the comment by Pascal that there is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man.  That vacuum can only be filled by God.  So we live in a world where there is great thirst.  We live in an environment that is missing a necessary ingredient for survival.  That ingredient is the refreshing touch of Almighty God.

So?  Maybe you are someone who comes with your own canteen.  Maybe you have a whale in your backyard.  The point is that you need constant refreshment from the living God.  Don’t get cocky.

It Came to Mind

(1Ch 16:35 KJV)  And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

As I was sitting, enjoying the presence of the Lord in the morning darkness, a phrase came to mind, “God of our salvation”.  I did a search and came up with nine different places in the NASB.  This is the first of them.  I noticed a difference in terminologies between the KJV and the NASB.  One says “nations” (1471) and the other says “heathen”.

I think the concept of living among the heathen is probably more appropriate for speaking to us today.  We live in a culture that rejects the Christian faith.  Notice it is not pagans.  Pagans are simply people who believe in many gods.  When you talk pagans, you can think of people like Plato and Socrates.  When you think of heathen, it’s more in terms of Mao.  We are promised that God will “deliver” (5337) us from the godless in our surroundings.

So?  The day awaits you.  It’s full of all kinds of traps and confusion.  There are dangers waiting around every corner.  Many of those dangers are masqueraded as civilized friends.  In reality they are the heathen.  We are blessed by the promise of our God to deliver us. 

OT God at Work

(Psa 57:1 KJV)  To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

I will concede that Yahweh has moments where He applies His wrath and seeks to correct the sin and debauchery in the world.  He is capable of tremendous violence, and He is one who should be feared in the phobic sense.

Yet that is only the side of God that God haters want to emphasize.  To those who do not spit in His face openly or quietly live in rebellion and rejection, He is the picture of mercy and refuge.  Notice those two words here in the verse.  This is not my favorite word for mercy, but it is very common in the Old Testament.  To those who are faithful, to those who are doing their best, to those who are trusting Him, and living as He would have them live, He extends an awesome amount of wing coverage.

So?  Make sure that your fear is the type based in awe.  Make it a factor of reference, respect, and love.  God’s grace waits to be applied to your life.  Rejoice.

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.