Better Mercy

Psalms 86:15 (KJV) But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

Notice the word in the KJV, “mercy”.  In the NASB this is translated “loving kindness”.  To me that is much more meaningful and richer than just mercy.  It stands out to me when I see it in the longer word.  The reason I look at it today is because this is the third time it is mentioned in this one Psalm.  David is rejoicing in God, but the thing that he keeps coming back to and mentioning over and over is this, loving kindness.

There are many words to describe God.  We know about His wrath.  We know about His holiness.  We know about His patience, or we should if we’re paying attention.  We need to rejoice in His loving kindness.

So?  It’s always good to just take a moment, and reflect on all of the ways in which God extends his love, and his kindness towards us.  Rejoice. 

Portable Refuge

Psalms 91:9 (KJV) Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

(Proverbs 22 also read)

Twice in this Psalm we find reference to “refuge” (4268) as a noun.  Once in verse four we find the verb.  There is a lot of comfort found in this, that God is our refuge, our fortress, our hiding place.  I like the idea.  I find it giving me a sense of security.  I cling to it on a daily basis, when I am getting frustrated or moving towards fear.

However, it occurred to me based on the context, and all the other things being said, in this chapter that it is not just a passive fortress, but it is a portable refuge.  It’s not just a place that we can run into, and hide.  It is that, but it is also a matter of God going with us and being with us in these moments of trial.  Of course, the ideal way of looking at it is that we are going with God rather than He is traveling along behind us.

So?  Either way whether we run into it, or it travels with us the presence of God offers a refuge, a fortress, a sanctuary.  He Offers us a security that allows us to face the unknown future in the hands of the One who knows the future. 

Loving Fish Eyes

Proverbs 21:15 (KJV) It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Have you ever noticed how some people rejoice in certain situations, specific foods, different types of company?  Have you ever talked to someone who has a negative reaction to a common, over-the-counter, medication?  Have you ever met someone who likes fire and brimstone preaching?  We all tend to be very different.

I was talking with a lady whom I believe was born in China and is now an American citizen.  I asked her about the kind of Chinese food we have here in America and how it compared to the real thing.  In the course of the discussion, she commented on how when she was a child, they would fight over who got to eat the fish eyes.  Needless to say, I was not real enthused about the prospect.  The eyes of a fish are not exactly something that I would consider a delicacy, but for her, it was the best part of the whole feast.

Sadly, doing the right thing is the same.  There are some people who just rejoice in a being able to do that which is right.  Others can’t wait until they can get away with something.  We see this in young children.  It’s not just a matter of being compliant or easy to get along with, it’s a matter of where the heart is directed.

As children both the compliant and the difficult are lost in sin.  Both need the grace of God.  Both need to learn repentance and faith in Jesus.  I’m not sure which one has it easier.  The compliant child probably feels like they’re OK already.  The difficult child is hard to convince.

So?  Either way each of us has to come to that position of standing before the justice seat of God and repenting of our sins. 

Anger Issues

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

This verse brings to mind other sections of scripture.  It makes me think of the Proverb that says a soft answer turns away wrath.  It reminds me of Jesus instructing us to turn the other cheek, and to go the extra mile.  None of these, though, indicate that we are going to be perfect, and totally resistant to strife.

Our goal, and our honor if we achieve it, is to avoid strife, or as this verse says to “cease” from strife.  This can have different meanings.  It can mean stopping after the first few punches or insults.  It can mean walking away from someone you know will be aggressive.  It can mean ignoring verbal attacks upon you.

The main point though is that it is not a sign of weakness, or lack of character to avoid conflict.

So?  Don’t let other people drag you into verbal or physical altercations.  Avoid them, both the situations and the people.  Refuse to be drawn in.  Keep in mind it is the highroad.

Wait for It

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

One of the things I feel is true about the Bible is ultimately you see both sides to an issue.  You find balance if you keep reading.  It’s also very easy to miss the point.

Here we have a good example of two sides of the coin in successive verses.  You notice in verse 13 it talks about the nagging wife.  That sounds pretty negative.  Then in the next verse talks about how the prudent life comes from the Lord.  That is the other side of the coin.  The Bible does not simplify things to the point of being absurd.  It lets you know that life is complicated.

So?  As I have said many times, keep reading.  You’ll find what you need and you will find it more quickly the more you put into it.  God loves to meet with his people.

The Long Run

Proverbs 18:10 (KJV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

I for one I’m so used to singing the song that goes with this verse that I have become a bit insensitive to its meaning.  My first thought this morning went to the name of Jesus.  Obviously this is talking about Yahweh and that is certainly a place that we can run for security, but as believers today, we tend to look more to the name of Jesus.  The name of Jesus is powerful, and we take refuge in the One who hears it.  It means Savior.

But I also noticed in looking at it today that the running is in the Hebrews imperfect tense.  That means it is an ongoing process.  We continue to run into the shelter of the name of the Lord.

So?  Make this your default setting.  You are running to Jesus on all things.  Do you have a decision to make?  Run to Jesus.  Are you feeling depressed?  Run to Jesus.  Do you want to shout for joy and dance in the streets?  Run to Jesus. 

Suspended Curse

Proverbs 17:13 (KJV) Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

As I read this verse this morning, it started my mind down the rabbit trail of divided homes.  I think we all know situations were either the husband or the wife is a believer, and the other isn’t.  Sometimes that works relatively harmoniously, but occasionally you get a situation where a husband will be openly antagonistic towards his believing wife.  I think of one couple that we knew years ago where he absolutely forbid her even to go to church.  She chose to submit his authority.

How does this work out when you have this kind of conflict going on in a home?  Will evil predominate?  My thought went to another scripture,

1 Corinthians 7:14 (KJV) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

So? Somehow, and ways that I don’t often see, God has promised to have His hand on the family that has a believer in it. 

Midnight Lemonade

Psalms 119:62 (KJV) At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

(Proverbs 16 also read)

Have you ever had those times when you wake up in the middle of the night and you just can’t seem to get back to sleep?  This is the problem, evidently, even in the book of Psalms.  The author has experienced this and made good use of it.

It actually could be more than one benefit. An obvious one is that you spent more time with the Lord.  You can focus on Him, whom He is and what He wants from you.  In the quiet, it’s easier to listen, and there’s a good chance that your wife will not decide she has something to say to you.

It also can have a calming influence on you so that you can get back to sleep.  I guess if you want to extend that a little bit, it may lull you back into sleep.  Either way it’s a great benefit.

So?  If the Lord wakes you up and keeps you awake, respond to His leadership in a positive way.  Make use of the lemons He gives you at midnight and make midnight lemonade. 

The Place of Pursuit

Proverbs 15:9 (KJV) The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

This is a place where the NASB has a better word.  The King James talks about following after righteousness.  Not bad, but it misses the point.  It’s not just a matter of the person who walks in the way of the righteous.  It’s a matter of who chases it.  The NASB uses the word “pursue” instead of “follow”.  It’s much more in line with the meaning of the Hebrew.

You can have the mind set of the wicked.  You can pursue righteousness.  These are two choices that we have in life in many of our decisions.  It is a choice that we have probably had in more decisions than we want to admit.  On a daily basis we are tasked with deciding which way we want to go, even before we come to faith.  I personally think they’re showing us in progress to point out that some people are more ready to come to faith because of these decisions that they make.

So? You will face decisions today. Make sure that you choose based on which path you really want your life to follow. 

Be Flexible

Psalms 57:11 (KJV) Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

This morning, all of my carefully laid plans, my daily routines, and all of the things that I try to do in order to prepare myself for the day were short circuited by the display that God gave me in the early morning light.  How glorious creation is.  How constantly full of unexpected blessings our God is.  I love these kind of surprises.

When will I get back to my routine?  I don’t know.  At the moment I am simply taking in all of the extravaganza that God is offering me.  I rejoice in His sharing.  I bask in His light.

S0?  Isn’t it great to worship a living God who is so full of surprises? 

A New Diet Plan?

Proverbs 13:25 (KJV) The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

It always mystifies me when I am reading my NASB and it has a marginal footnote which tells me what something means literally.  Here we have that case.  What’s interesting is that when it tells me what it means literally and it’s pretty much exactly what the KJV is saying.  You see food that we eat is designed not for our appetites, but to satisfy our souls.

Would that not be a great topic for a diet book?  Actually, I think I have read such a book. It was called The Weigh Down Diet.  And the point of the book is that you eat in response to the built-in mechanisms that God has put into your body.  You respond to the body’s call is based on your contact with the Holy Spirit and not with your sinful appetites.  You eat to satisfy your soul.

So?  I wish I could say that I have this down.  I still struggle.  I am a glutton.  I can’t fix it.  I trust the Lord to somehow give me victory over this and to satisfy the crying out of my soul. 

Entitlement

Proverbs 12:9 (KJV) He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

As I thought about the meaning of this verse and seemed to find something, I looked a little further down and saw verse 11.

Proverbs 12:11 (KJV) He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain person is void of understanding.

They both seem to be heading in the same direction.  What kind of people are despised in our culture?  Generally people who work low-level jobs, who get dirty, work with their hands.  Of course the definitions of low-level would vary with the individual.  Working with your hands could be an artist or a toilet scrubber.  The point is that some people look down on them no matter how well off they are.

On the other hand, you have those who think very highly of themselves when they have no reason to.  We’ve all seen video clips of people who have degrees in such challenging topics as “women’s studies” and complaining because they can’t make six-figure incomes to start out.  They think that just because they are noble, wonderful people they deserve the best in life.  They honor themselves.  Unless they have parents letting them live in their basement, they lack bread.

So?  For most of us it’s a little late to change our direction in life.  We have established a course and are making progress.  At the same time maybe we need to evaluate our attitude towards others and their sense of entitlement.  Don’t feel guilty because you work hard and are able to support your family while the other person sleeps in and complains about how hard things are. 

Segue

Psalms 101:1 (KJV) [[A Psalm of David.]] I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

As I started reading this Psalm, I noted it was written by David, and that he seemed to be rejoicing in the Lord.  That seems pretty obvious but after I got down a few verses it seemed to change, and I couldn’t figure out what was going on.  Then I realized that somewhere in this passage of scripture, it went from David talking about his joy to God expressing His perspective on His people.

If you have your Bible look down through it.  Toward the end, it is clear that it is God speaking.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could be so in tune in our worship, that God speaks to our hearts the way God spoke to David.  I don’t expect that we will start writing scripture, we are past that stage, but God can certainly speak to us.

So?  Worship.  Sing out.  Maybe write some things down.  Especially if you write things, it’s possible that God will go back and have you read it again later and again speak to your heart.  I wouldn’t advise publishing it as a new revelation.  God can speak to you through what He has already provided. 

Unredacted

Psalms 87:4 (KJV) I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.

(Proverbs 10 also read)

At first after reading this Psalm I just kind of shook my head and said, “What was this all about?”  I closed my Bible and said that was kind of a waste of time but then as I kept thinking about it I thought, “Now it is in the Bible. There must be a significant reason.”

Call me rationalizing.  Call me stretching.  The thing is, as I read this again, I began to realize that it was still in the Bible.  One of the things that haters often pontificate about is that the Bible is inconsistent or contradicts itself.  I would admit there are things that need to be worked out.  There are things that are hard to understand.  There are mysteries that honestly we probably can’t understand.  All that adds to the genuine nature of this being a book written over centuries by real people as God spoke to them.

As we look at various documents that we want the government to turn over and open up we get angry when they give us an entire page where everything is blocked out.  It is redacted to the point of the ridiculous.  God did not go back and re-edit the Bible to make us happy.  He gave it to us the way He wants us to have it. It is a genuine expression of what prophets heard, what Paul understood, and what Matthew meant to say.

So?  Read with confidence.  You may not understand it the first time, or the 10th time.  You can rest and the fact that this is what God wanted said. 

Angle on Repentance

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

One of the trails my thinking is running down deals with salvation and what’s involved in it.  I’m thinking of words like justification, regeneration, faith, grace, and a word that I never thought was controversial, but evidently is, repentance.

Evidently there are some people that think that repentance is a work of the law and is not necessary.  I find that rather novel and naïve.  Why that comes to mind is that in looking at this verse I see an insight offered about what repentance involves.  Noticed that first word “Forsake”.  I always think of repentance as being a change in direction.  I believe that’s at part of the root of the word, turning.  This gives another view of it.  When you turn. when you change direction. you are forsaking things which have been important to you before.  You are forsaking your goals and possibly your dreams.

So?  Forsake in a sense means to let go.  I understand “let it go” as not just to release your hold upon the rope and sink into the sea but to transfer your grasp to something that will actually save you.  You’re letting go of your own ambitions, strength and wisdom, and instead trusting in God, and in the blood of Jesus.  Just another view of repentance. 

What Is Missing?

Psalms 74:7 (KJV) They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.

(Proverbs 8 also read)

This is a Psalm written by Asaph.  It is not David speaking.  It’s not Solomon.  As I read over this verse, it almost seems like this is written after the southern kingdom is hauled off into exile.  Noticed that the sanctuary, the temple, has been destroyed.  That’s just my observation.  I don’t know what the scholars say.

Israel is in dire straits.  The whole Psalm reads as a desperate people crying out to their God for refuge.  We know that God offers refuge.  We know that God has promised a willingness to redeem his people.  We know all of that.  So do they.  What is missing in this Psalm?

Repentance.  Confession.

There are plenty of attempts to manipulate God, and a desire to appeal to His ego.  It didn’t work for them.  And my point today is, it won’t work for us.

So?  Seek the Lord with a heart willing to confess and willing to repent.  God will meet us, but He doesn’t meet us when our arrogance colors the meeting. 

Mule Headed

Proverbs 7:11 (KJV) (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

What got my attention in this verse was the NASB’s translation of “rebellious” for the KJV “stubborn”.  We have a common bit of wisdom in our culture that teenagers are rebellious. I must confess that my son went through a very difficult time and rebellious would be a good description.  My daughter never came close.  When I look at my three brothers and I, I don’t see any genuine rebellion in our modern sense.

This is where the older translation gives us an insight into the meaning.  When you look at the Hebrew background of the word, the idea of being stubborn and refusing to respond or move is much more in line with the word itself.  This would point out to us that, even though we have accepted Christ and entered the faith, there can be a refusal to grow that cripples us and forces us into paths that God does not want us to follow.

So?  Extreme flexibility makes us open to all kinds of nonsense.  Extreme rigidity can lock us into foolish behavior.  In between is that living response to a living God. Stay on the living edge. 

In a Quarter of a Mile…

Proverbs 6:22 (KJV) When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

I don’t know if you’re one of those few Americans that have never used the GPS on your smart phone to help you get somewhere but what it does is talk to you.  When it’s working correctly, it will warn you ahead of time what is coming.  For instance, it will say, “In a quarter of a mile the road will split.  Stay in the right side and bear right.”  Now you have a choice to make.  You either follow those directions, or you don’t.  If you are totally ignoring the GPS then you have a 50-50 chance of getting the right direction but it’s pure chance.

If I’m playing a board game and rolling the dice, then pure chance is part of the game.  It throws in that unknown that brings excitement.  I don’t want to live my life that way, at least not in the important issues.  What this verse is saying is that God will give you the directions you need for the important decisions.  He will “lead” you.  Notice it doesn’t say force you, grab you by the nose and direct you, drag you kicking and screaming through the mud.  He says He will lead.

When you ignore the GPS or, for reasons unknown, go a different direction, the GPS will recalculate.  It will give you a new advice on how to get to where you said you were going.  God does the same thing.  Notice at the end it says when you get up He’s going to talk to you.

So?  Listen.  Decide.  God will give you the information you need.  The question is are you going to follow it?

Starving at Harvest

Proverbs 5:23 (KJV) He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

This is a sad indictment on the condition of so many people.  The question I would have is how can you have no “instruction” in the midst of so much information.  You see, this person that is going to die and who has gone astray is not in that situation because there is a lack of knowledge available.  He is there because he has refused to consider it honestly.

While I would consider that there are probably some people isolated enough not to know anything about Jesus, I don’t think that applies to anybody you know.  I know it doesn’t apply to anyone I know.  The problem is not a lack of knowledge.  The problem is the lack of willingness to accept that knowledge.  I am struck by what Jesus says in John chapter 3.

John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Jesus is talking about judgment and people being condemned.  The sad truth it shares is that people hate the light.

So?  You may have crossed over into the kingdom.  Praise God for that.  Pray for others around you that have not made that decision.  In your own life, keep seeking knowledge and wisdom, and allowing yourself to be instructing so that you can grow in grace. 

Be a Hugger

Proverbs 4:8 (KJV) Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

I had to take a moment to look back to who the “she” was in this verse.  It turns out to be wisdom, and there is a promise about wisdom doing something for us.  However, the promise is dependent upon us doing something.  The word is translated as “embrace” in this spot but there are other places where it uses the word “hug”.  So keep in mind that you are supposed to be hugging wisdom.

Now by nature, I am not a hugger.  I am more comfortable shaking your hand, however, I endure it because I’m in a church that’s full of huggers.  They just can’t seem to help themselves.  That’s the kind of people they are.  So I go along with it and consider it part of my attempt to develop the spiritual gift of helps.  The point is, that’s the way we’re supposed to be with wisdom.  When you see it, reach out and pull it to you.

Another interesting fact here as I looked at the software is that this verb “embrace” is in the imperfect tense.  In the Hebrew that means an ongoing event.  It’s not just a one time thing.  It’s not just a matter of reading through Proverbs once or Psalms on occasion.  It’s a matter of continually reaching out and grabbing wisdom into your clutches.

So?  Read and embrace the truth so that it saturates your being.  That works best when it gets a good hug. 

Choices and Promises

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

Which is more important, grace or obedience?  I’m not sure that either one is optional or expendable.  Grace obviously is central.  It is only through the free gift of God that we can know salvation.  It is only through the free gift of His Holy Spirit that we can know power and direction.  But I use the word “free” loosely because there is always a condition attached.  Salvation is beyond our reach.  It’s something we cannot do so we trust in Him.  At the same time there are actions He expects from us.

That brings me to this verse and I see two very important words here.  First you chesed.  That is the word translated “mercy” or “kindness”.  Then you have “truth”.  These are two central words to the Old Testament and the concepts translate into the New Testament.  But notice that we are to “write them on our heart”.  God gives a gift.  We must apply it.  The verse starts off with “let not”.  That speaks vigilance.

So?  Don’t squander the gifts of God.  Draw close to Him.  Take the word, read it, understand it, and apply it.  That’s the only way you will get it onto the tablet of your heart. 

Eternal Hike

Proverbs 2:21 (KJV) For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

A part of me knows that this is a crazy interpretation, but when I read this, it seems to imply that those who live righteous lives will continue to dwell in the land.  That brings to mind the New Jerusalem.

What we like to call “heaven” is really the New Jerusalem on earth.  That is where eternity will be spent.  It will be the center of our existence, and I somehow feel will be able to take long walks in that land.

So?  There are all kinds of hints about where the righteous will spend eternity as opposed to where the wicked will be.  Hints are not declarations.  They are simply indications of possibilities.  The reality will be much better. 

One Way

Proverbs 1:31 (KJV) Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Remember the gesture we used to make meaning “one way”?  Remember watching Billy Graham riding in a parade and holding up that index finger signifying, “one way”?  It was a glorious moment.  It meant the Jesus was the only way.  Unfortunately it was not something that the entire population adopted.  Tragically it wasn’t even something that the entire church adopted.

Notice the one way that the general population and the majority of Christians choose to follow.  It is called “their own way”.  There may be brief times where it seems to follow the path that God has laid out, but ultimately it branches off, and does its own thing.  It may even be so close to the actual “way” that you can’t tell the difference with a casual glance.  That is where you would look to the other verses in this chapter and get clarification.

So?  Are you walking in your way or His way?  Don’t settle for second best.  It is almost never too late to get on the right path.  I would say never too late, but I’m afraid I read the verses before this. 

An Obvious Secret

Psalms 73:26 (KJV) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

Every time I read this Psalm this verse takes me by surprise.  Someone put it into a song which I love to sing.  It contrasts the outward struggle and the break downs that we face with the inner rock that keeps us from crumbling.

The word “strength” literally means rock.  It has the concept of the immovable and impenetrable object, which is attacked by the irresistible force of life.  There are times when I wonder why I seem to keep getting up and moving forward again and the answer is here in this New Testament concept.  It’s the concept of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  It is the song we sing about Jesus being in our heart.

So?  Keep reaching down.  Keep reaching inside.  If you have met with God He will be there to be found.  And although He’s a rock, which is heavy, He will keep you floating and on top of the waves. 

Why Mow?

Psalms 72:6 (KJV) He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

(Proverbs 29 also read)

It always surprises me the things that catch my eye and get my brain to going as I read.  Today as I was reading this and I saw the reference to mowing grass and of course my mind went to getting my mower blades sharpened and wondering if it would start up after the cold winter.  Somehow I don’t see that fitting in with Psalm 72.

My first thought was that Solomon, the author of this Psalm, was having people manicure his lawn.  I guess it’s possible.  It just didn’t seem like the way things would be.  Mowing a lawn with a scythe or a sickle would take forever, but I guess he had servants to do that.  But then my mind started thinking about the culture of the day.

Why would the ancient Israelites mow the grass?  Probably for the same reason that the farmers of the Midwest would mow their fields.  They were harvesting the grass for the winter seasons to feed their animals.  Usually grass doesn’t grow well when it’s cold out.  And if you’ve ever driven past a field full of bales of hay, or those big rolls of hay, you see the results of farmers mowing their fields.

So?  You can do things for ornamentation or you can do things for augmentation.  As we do the things that God wants you to do such as reading the Bible, praying, meditating, serving others, we can do them for ritual reasons, or we can do them to enrich our lives, and the lives of others. Motivation and attitude are really important. 

A Dove, Not a Chicken

Psalms 68:13 (KJV) Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

I have speculated on how some people think that God is a chicken because there are places where it talks about being covered by his wings.  I even think it talks about being chicks running under those wings, but that could just be my addition.  Here we see specifically that God is a dove, not a chicken.

Actually, I don’t think that is the point of this verse. What David is trying to get across is that God sheltered us in the past, shelters us today and will shelter us tomorrow.

So relax. He’s in charge and you are one of His concerns.

Guardrail

Proverbs 27:15 (KJV) A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

As I was reading through this chapter this morning, I began wondering about how the Bible speaks to us, and why the Bible speaks to us.  Much of what I was reading could’ve been written by almost anyone.  I picked out the verse today simply because it could have been written by Mark Twain, Ben Stein, or many other people.  But it wasn’t.  It was written by someone.  It was edited by God himself.

That makes it more than just part of a routine at Comedy Central.  It makes it something for us to carefully consider.  It makes it something for us to call upon the Holy Spirit to understand, interpret.  It becomes eternal wisdom.  In that way, it helps to direct us toward truth.  It becomes a guard rail or one of those hand rails that they put in the shower for us old people.  It becomes the card catalog that helps us to find answers that we couldn’t find on our own.

So?  Read and consider what God is trying to say.  He has something for you today.  Just because it’s raining today as I sit on the porch doesn’t mean that I have a contentious woman inside.  There may be another message for me.  I’m listening. 

Fools, Pro and Con

Proverbs 26:12 (KJV) Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

This verse is the last time in this chapter that the fool is mentioned.  It’s quite a display of knowledge and wisdom about fools.  Every time I read this, though, I think of what Jesus had to say about calling people a fool.

Matthew 5:22 (KJV)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

I have had this statement by Jesus thrown at me as a proof having something to do with the place of the law with Jesus supporting the law.  That I can deal with.  The issue to me is this seeming contradiction.  Jesus seems to be saying, don’t call people a fool, while Solomon in Proverbs has a long section about fools.  How do we work this out?

Just a quick observation is that Jesus is really not dealing with calling people fools.  He is dealing with controlling your anger.  Solomon is dealing with a general awareness of where people are coming from.

So?  Have the discernment to recognize fools when you see them.  Adjust how you deal with them.  That’s what Solomon is saying.  At the same time, don’t stand there and scream in their face, “Fool!”  It’s how wisdom works.  It’s how discernment works.  It’s how interpreting scripture works. 

Tone Deaf God

Psalms 66:18 (KJV) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

(Proverbs 25 also read)

I know you don’t want to hear this.  I know you don’t wanna admit it exists.  In spite of that, it still says what it says.  There are certain conditions in which God will not listen.

This is a scary thought so let’s try and break it down a little bit.  I looked at the different words using my software and the word “regard” is most often translated “see”.  So it has the idea of if I see iniquity, God will not hear.  “Iniquity” is a word which is different from the basic word “sin” but I don’t see anything significant to break it down for me.

On the one side because we know that we have a tendency towards sin it can’t mean that.  If it did, God would never listen.  So it must mean that if we take the time to examine ourselves and see that we are living in a condition of rebellion against God and we still try to pray without repentance, God will not listen.

So?  Since I believe that God is always wanting to hear us and always wanting us to come into His presence, I have to conclude that this is an admonition to us to take the time to consider our hearts, and to think about my love for God.  He will listen if we are sincere, which involves repentance and honesty with ourselves. 

Tense Moments

Proverbs 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?

As I was comparing the two translations of this verse, I noticed that the last word is plural in the KJV and singular in the NASB.  In looking at the software tools, it seems that the singular is the accurate translation.

It’s amazing how a simple “S” can make a difference in the meaning of a word.  I’ve noticed this in other places.  What is the difference between “work” and “works”?  The singular word is much broader.  It talks about the direction of life and the emphasis of life and the overall mechanics of who you are and what you’re doing.  The plural simply becomes a list of things you’ve done.  The singular talks about your attitude.  The plural talks about the actions.

So?  I’m thinking of this word in terms of Paul’s constant concern about the works of the law.  I think what is being said here is much broader.  I think this is saying that God will deal with us not on whether we checked off our list of activities, but what our ultimate and broader goal is.  I trust that the goals in your life are those of God. 

Picture That

Psalms 65:3 (KJV) Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I know what this says when I read it in English, but when I looked into the Hebrew for “purge”, I found that it had a certain root and word picture, which might be clear to the Hebrew, but doesn’t compute with me.  The most common translation of this word is “atonement”.  It has a root meaning, which is “to be covered with pitch”.  We can’t relate to that too well today because we don’t cover things with pitch.

As I was looking at how the word was used, it was interesting that the first place it was appearing in the scripture was when it said that Noah covered the ark with pitch.  I assume that the reason for that was to make it watertight.  I wonder when a Hebrew would think of this meaning as atonement if he didn’t think of it as some way of keeping the penalty or the punishment for sin out.

So?  It’s translated in the NASB as “forgive”. I don’t see forgiveness, making us immune to future sins and failures, but I do see it, making us immune to the penalty of past sins.  I assume that’s enough to let me make it into the kingdom in eternity. 

Hidden Grace

Proverbs 22:1 (KJV) A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

When I first started looking at this verse, and noticed the word “favor” as used in the KJV, I thought I was going to find the Hebrew chesed which means “loving kindness”.  That is one of my favorite concepts in the Old Testament.  At first, I was disappointed because it was a different Hebrew word.  But then I recognized that Hebrew word as the Old Testament equivalent of “grace”.

It’s an interesting way of expressing the idea of grace.  The Hebrew word here is translating as “favor” and it’s most common translation in the KJV is “grace”.  But when you put it together, I’ve never seen these two ideas in the same verse, or at least noticed them.

So?  Grace is present through the entire Bible.  God’s love is moving and active and touching upon every aspect of our lives.  What a reason to rejoice. 

The Fallow Heart

Proverbs 21:4 (KJV) An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

As I read this in the KJV, I wondered what it meant when it said the plowing of the wicked.  I couldn’t get anywhere with that.  When I looked at the Hebrew word, the basic idea is fallow ground.  It’s used just a few times in scripture and usually refers to the field that has not been plowed.  The idea is it has a hard crust and it is impossible for crops to be planted or to grow.

So the picture is that the heart of the wicked is rigid and inflexible and he’s not allowed God and his Holy Spirit to make any progress in breaking it down into the heart of flesh.

I wonder how often we either fall into that trap or start moving towards it by refusing to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  We get into routines.  We have a structured life that gives us no flexibility.  God wants us to do something new, or wants to do a new thing in us, and all we can do is say, “I shall not be moved”.

So?  Don’t be one of those that are condemned for being so open to change that you have no discernment, but at the same time as you read the Bible, as you listen to sermons, as you read other books, listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Take what you hear and compare it with the written word, and see if there’s a new plowing, a new breaking up of clods that needs to happen in your heart and mind. 

Near Death Loving Kindness

Psalms 63:3 (KJV) Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

(Proverbs 20 also read)

OK, I wasn’t near death.  All I was was in the ER trying to figure out why I was out of contact with my sense of balance.  But at my age, you never know when that other shoe will drop and the end will come.  I find great reassurance in the knowledge that even in the midst of a CAT scan or an MRI I am reveling in the loving kindness of God.

Like many small churches, mine has a large number of people who are elderly.  And by that I mean more elderly than I am.  Some people say, “Oh no, just old people”.  I say what a rejoicing atmosphere to see people who are still in love with the Lord, after all those years and all those trials.  Why?  Because they know the love and kindness of God.

So?  You may just have a splinter in your finger.  You may have a major tragedy in your life.  And all those situations just remember how this Psalm was adapted to a song and sing it to yourself, “Thy loving kindness is greater than life,...” 

Basic Requirements

Psalms 79:6 (KJV) Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

(Proverbs 19 also read)

If you look at the first couple verses of this Psalm, you realize that it could not have been written before the exile of the southern kingdom.  There was no temple until Solomon, and to my knowledge, it was not destroyed until the Babylonians came.  So we are talking late in Israel’s history.

The call of Asaph is for God to pull their chestnuts out of the fire and restore them to whatever he thinks they had before.  I guess that’s a natural desire.  But you notice there are two things here that he is leaning on.  First is a knowledge of God.  Second is calling upon His name.  There is no indication in this Psalm that either one of these are enough.

I continue to see a lack of repentance and personal confession.  He admits that his ancestors were disobedient rebels but there’s nothing about him.  There’s nothing about his contemporaries.

So?  When calling upon God and calling upon His name make sure that your call is based upon the right requirements.  God doesn’t want to just hear empty words.  He wants to hear the cry of a contrite heart.  He doesn’t play games.  He waits to respond to the right call. 

On a High

Proverbs 18:10 (KJV) The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

This is a beautiful, poetic verse.  It throws a canopy of warmth and security over my mind and my soul.  But as I contemplate on it, I ask myself just what does this mean?  How can a name make me safe?

First of all, consider, the name of the Lord. There are three different names that come to me across the length of the Bible.

Yahweh, used here meaning I Am
Emmanuel, meaning God with us
Jesus, meaning Savior

Put that together, and we are running into an awareness and a reminder that the God who is has come to be with us, and to save us.

And then take that word safe.  Many translations, make that “uplift”.  The word has a root meaning of high, being lifted high.  So when we come to the name of the Lord and contemplate who He is, and what His name promises, it lifts us high and gives us a different perspective on the world around us.

So?  Perspective is very important.  If you’re in the middle of a maze, it’s hard to know which way to turn.  If you are above the maze, you can trace out the proper direction without even moving and if you have both perspectives you can safely weave your way through . Life is a maze.  God is a high tower.  He will give us the direction we need. 

I Heard You the First Time

Proverbs 17:9 (KJV) He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

In the past when I’ve read this verse, I tend to think of it as dealing with gossip.  That may have been the original intent, but today when I read it, it spoke to me of something else.  Have you ever been around someone who constantly repeats the same stories about your past failures?  Often these are the gems of family reunions, where people look back with fondness of the time where Uncle George threw up over the Thanksgiving turkey.  At the time it was a tragedy and incredibly vulgar.  As it ripens with age, it becomes a moment of hilarity, and Uncle George joins in the laughter because it’s based on love and warmth.  We know those things.  Often times Uncle George will bring it up himself.

I’m talking more about the way in which certain people will always bring up something that may not have even happened but “remember” it in such a way that it makes you look like the bad guy.  Maybe it was the time where you were accused of being late to something and causing a catastrophe because of your lateness.  What they don’t remember is that you were late because of something they did, not because you didn’t plan ahead.

These stories don’t come between you and other friends.  They are designed to come between you and the person telling them.

So?  First, forgive.  That’s the basis of love.  It’s a basic of relationships.  The Lord’s Prayer points out that we will be forgiven as we forgive.  Second, stop listening.  Once you’ve decided that the story is just an attempt to get under your skin, then let it go and get on with life.  Focus on the love of God and what He’s done for you and what He wants to do for you.  It makes a difference. 

Rewards

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

(Proverbs 16 also read)

David is going through a difficult time according to the introduction to this Psalm.  And then in this verse and the next we have two groups of people introduced.  In this verse we have people who uphold him.  In the next, we have those who are described as enemies.  I don’t know that I have any enemies, but I do know that there are people who are supportive of me.

This of course was originally written to David.  It applies specifically to him, but the principal that is shared here was meant to be applied to our lives.  Let’s not worry about the enemies right now.  I don’t know that I have any real enemies.  I’m not sure I’ve ever had any real enemies.  There might be people that don’t particularly care about me but I don’t know that there have been any out to get me, except for the cat course.

We are told to pray for enemies.  I think the point here is that we should also be praying for those who are our friends.  We should be asking God’s blessing upon those who serve him alongside us.

So?  Make sure you pray for the good guys.

I Don’t Like This Comparison

Proverbs 15:19 (KJV) The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

But then God isn’t asking me if I like it.  He’s just telling me what it is.  This entire chapter of Proverbs is contrasting different types of people.  I have no trouble when it contrasts the upright with the wicked, but here it gets really personal.  This says that the person who takes too many naps is contrasted with the righteous.

Of course, the question comes down to my paraphrasing.  Is sloth the same as too many naps?  And then we get into sophistry.  How many is too many?  Do you know the old question rewritten, “How many naps can dance on the head of a pin?”

But the real conflict is not established by how many part-time jobs you have in the afternoon or whether you keep your yard up perfectly.  The conflict is the one between the person who is following God’s path or taking the side trail that is less demanding and leaves more time for “personal fulfillment”.

So?  It’s never too late to stop and examine your priorities and your schedule.  What do they reflect?  Sloth or righteousness? 

Clues of Eternity

Proverbs 14:32 (KJV) The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

There are some scholars who like to claim that the Old Testament has no belief in the afterlife.  That’s obviously an opinion.  Even in the days of Jesus you have the Sadducees and Pharisees.  One believed in the afterlife, one didn’t.  So the discussion went on even then.

If you do not believe in an afterlife, if the Bible does not teach an afterlife, then what is this?  “Hope” is talked about here.  There is a hope in the face of death.  The word is usually translated “trust”.  The point for us is even when we face death we can trust.

I don’t know if your church has a time were you share prayer requests but one of the things that keeps coming up in our church are people who are facing medical issues moving towards death.  It is reality.  As human beings death is one of those things along with taxes that we can count on, assuming Jesus doesn’t return first.

So?  Live in hope.  Live in trust.  God will be there on the other side for us.

Ah, Culture

Psalm 133:2 (KJV) It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

(Proverbs 13 also read)

Let’s face it, we do not live in ancient Israel.  We do not live in that day and age.  The thought of eating locusts and honey does not send me into ecstasy.  There are many cultural realities of that day that make me recoil.  Here you have a good example.

The idea of pouring oil on my head and rejoicing as it runs down my beard and onto my clothes does not reach me.  I don’t expect that it would thrill you either.  This is where we have to take the context of culture and understand what that would mean to them, and how we can apply it to ourselves.

I’m sure the David thought of this in regard to the anointing that God had given him to be king.  In fact, the word anointing is our word “messiah”.  A messiah is different than The Messiah.  A messiah is simply one who has been anointed.  This applies to the priests and kings.  In modern times, we anoint with oil in ordination services, and we are told to anoint the sick with oil.  It still has a physical meeting.

For us it also has a spiritual meeting.  We would tend to think of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the image of that anointing running down over our face and under our clothes, should remind us that we want to be cleansed totally, wholly, from to end.

So?  Always put on your thinking cap.  When you see something that seems strange or challenges your ability to understand, turn up the dial and think more deeply.  God could have a message for you that transcends cultural limitations. 

My House or Yours?

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

As I read this promise of God, it came to me that I didn’t know what kind of house he meant.  Many times the nation is referred to when it refers to a house.  Sometimes it might be the building where I live.  It could be a family.  Which is it here?  Answer is, “Yes.”

It’s all of the above depending on the situation.  Keep in mind that the United States of America is nowhere found in scripture and is not qualified to be the chosen people.  Neither you, nor I have any special DNA qualification from God.

The principle still stands.  The house of the righteous will endure and be preserved.  That can apply to us as a nation, in spite of not being the chosen.  It can apply to you as an individual, even though you are not God’s golden boy.

So?  Be encouraged.  I don’t expect to know all the answers.  It’s a limitation of our minds and our bodies.  Trust that God is not bound by our limitations, but we are blessed by His lack of the same. 

The Real Danger

Psalms 71:13 (KJV) Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

We all encounter roadblocks in life.  Most of them are just the every day difficulties that we have to navigate through.  A traffic jam on the interstate might make it questionable whether you will be on time for work.  I remember one time when I was the treasurer of a church and I just could not find the reason that my books did not balance. I was only two cents off.  It finally came down to an adding error that a clerk had made in the store.  A child throwing up in the middle of the night when you have a big day in the morning can make life difficult.  Lots of roadblocks come our way.  For the most part, we can handle those.

But here it talks about “adversaries” to my “soul”.  This is a different category.  Often these adversaries are very close to us.  They could be an intimate part of our lives.  They could be a spouse, a child, a lifelong friend.  Sometimes they know what they’re doing.  Sometimes it’s just accidental.  The problem is it arrows deep.  It goes for the heart, the soul.  The prayer here is that they would be “confounded”.

So?  Keep your eyes on the prize, as the saying goes.  Keep focused on where God wants you to be.  Call upon him to confuse the enemy and clarify things for you.  He has access to resources you can’t even dream of. 

Reformed Sacrifice

Psalms 50:14 (KJV) Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

(Proverbs 10 also read)

If you read the verses before this, you’ll find God basically saying that He does not want their empty sacrifices of bulls and goats and such.  He throws in a little bit of humor when He points out that He doesn’t need their sacrifices in order to have steak for dinner.  He owns all the cattle on 1000 hills as well as all the animals in the forest.  He is not going to go hungry.

And your sacrifices of bulls and goats and such are pointless.

What seems strange about this is that God is the one who set up the sacrificial system.  What we seem to miss is that the sacrificial system was set up as a way of expressing something.  Sometimes it was seeking forgiveness and confession.  Sometimes it was an attempt by God to get us to focus on our attitudes and our purposes.  He wants us to be offering thanksgiving sacrifices.  The attitude is so important.

So?  We don’t have a temple anymore, at least a physical temple.  That doesn’t matter.  We no longer have to offer up the blood of animals.  What we now offer up is the heart of thanksgiving towards God.  That’s the kind of thing He really always wanted and now He forces the issue by destroying the temple.  Rejoice.  Give thanks. 

Timing

Psalms 69:17 (KJV) And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

Someone once said something to the effect, “I want patience, and I want it now”.  We can see the humor in that when we don’t say it.  Somehow, it’s a little bit more necessary when we are the one making the demand.

How often do we lecture God on His timing?  How standard is our expectation that He conform to our schedule instead of us waiting for Him?  I fear it’s more often than it should be.

This is not a criticism of asking God to move.  It’s not a a criticism of telling people going through trouble to be more patient.  It’s about the fact that we often think that we know what needs to be done now more than God does.  We often forget that there is much to be learned through the struggle and through the times of trust.

So?  Pray.  Feel free to ask.  I guess you could even demand, in a sense.  But the key is to trust and to learn in your haste to hasten and slow down with confidence. 

Vice-Versa

Proverbs 8:13 (KJV) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

We may not be able to see righteousness clearly.  It’s easy to fake.  Evil on the other hand is easier.  You can’t fake evil because in order to fake it, you pretty much have to become it.  So it is a one-way process.  We’ve seen this in recent political shenanigans, where one side is acting righteous, whether they are or not.  The other side is acting evil and there’s no question that that is what’s going on.

So?  What’s in your heart?  What has God made of you?  Let it shine. 

She’s Everywhere

Proverbs 7:12 (KJV) Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

What proverbs is telling us in this chapter is a literal story of seduction.  Since I am not a young dude out looking for some action, it doesn’t penetrate deeply on a literal level.  However, as I look at this verse, I see some figurative applications that are possible.

Notice that this harlot is lurking at every corner.  Since that is literally impossible I am going to choose to take it as a figure of speech for us today.  I don’t do that to show little concern for fidelity and high moral standards, but just to make it a bigger application.  How many things in our lives seem to pop up in different places, trying to drag us into sin and failure?  What are your big temptations?  What topics are good for Satan to drag you down?  My biggest weak point is gluttony.  That one is obvious to me.  It’s possible that there are other weak points that I am not noticing or choose to ignore.  I need to meditate on that a little bit.

So?  What are your weak points?  Is there some way that Satan is trying to get to you?  Ask God to reveal things to you.  If it’s simply a matter of changing your schedule to avoid them, then get out your calendar.  If it’s a matter of greater discipline, and start working on it.  God will meet you and help you overcome.  And watch those corners. 

Day Lights

Proverbs 6:23 (KJV) For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

I have numerous flashlights and illuminating devices spread around my room and the house.  By illuminating devices, I refer to things I have placed on the wall that automatically light up at night when I walk by. They are utilitarian devices that are there for when they are needed.  That should be one of the roles of God’s commandments in our lives.

What provides a bit of fun for us is that when my grandchildren come over they think that the flashlight is something that you shine around the room in the middle of the day.  They will pick up my solar powered flashlights and run around the house with them turned on for the entire time they’re here.  Since they are solar powered and solar recharged, I don’t care.  If I were paying for batteries it would be a different story.  But they have no idea of what they’re actually for.  Actually, they do know.  They just don’t care.  They misuse them in the spirit of fun.

So?  Misusing things in the spirit of fun is no big deal if it’s a solar powered flashlight.  It can be eternity changing when it comes to the commandments of God.  They are given to us for a reason, and it’s not just to shine around in superfluous situations.  Consider the guidance God has given us and do your best to follow. 

Distractions

Proverbs 5:6 (KJV) Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

I find it interesting that in this verse the King James seems to be different from all the other translations.  In the KJV it makes it personal to us by using the word “thou”.  And the other translations it substitutes the word “she”.  I find the KJV more helpful in giving me some advice for my life today.

What this old translation is saying to me is that there are people and places and concerns that can distract me from seriously thinking about where I am going in life.  How many times have you given up your time of Bible study, prayer time or focus on worship because someone interrupts.  Sometimes the interruption is quiet and innocent.  Other times the interruption is quite overwhelming.  I either case it keeps you from doing what you knew you needed to do.

So?  Be alert to distractions.  It may just be life, it may be satanic, either way it keeps you from focusing on the things that God wants you to focus on.  Practice getting back on track.  When the ruckus is over, ask yourself, “What was I doing?” 

You Will Need a Dictionary

Proverbs 4:12 (KJV) When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

I must have been reading this verse in a modern translation because today when I read it in the KJV all I could do was scratch my head.  Take another look at it and look at that word which you think says, “straighten”, but it doesn’t.  It’s spelled differently.  If you read this while thinking it reads “straighten”, then it doesn’t make any sense.  But again, that’s not what it says.

So I went to the dictionary, and this word is more in line with our concept of a straitjacket.  The concept behind it can involve getting straight, but it’s more in the concept of confining and keeping within specific boundaries.  The overall point is that if you learn wisdom and allow it to guide you, it will open up your opportunities and your options.

So?  When you read something that doesn’t seem to make any sense, look a little deeper.  God is not the author of confusion, even if the translators sometimes seem a little old-fashioned. 

Early Morning Ears

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

As I read this, my thoughts turn to how correction and guidance do not have to be overwhelming or a matter of stern discipline.  I think about how God dealt with Israel with constant reminders and constant calls to repentance.  Israel’s response?  Business as usual.  We often focus on the tremendous threats offered by the prophets, and the tragedy of those threats being carried out.  We think of the deportation of the northern kingdom, and the ten tribes, and how they are never heard from again.  We think of the eventual exile of the southern tribes, and all of the death and destruction that went along with it.

It didn’t have to be . If Israel, as a nation had simply listened to the gentle voice of God, then they would’ve never had to face the storm.

So?  Is God speaking to you?  Are you listening?  There’s a reason why we refer to the influence of the Holy Spirit as “a still small voice.”  You can listen now or you can be punished later.  You can respond to the general nudging or wait for whack-a-mole. 

Wise Heart

Proverbs 2:10 (KJV) When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

One of the great benefits of the new covenant is the advent of the Holy Spirit coming to fill us and being available to all believers.  This is expressed in many different ways through the scripture and is interpreted from different theological points of view.  Here is just one of those little sides that add another depth to it.

Wisdom is not just something we read in a book, like the Bible.  It’s not just something we listen to from those who are deeper into their spiritual walk than we are.  Wisdom is something which has a living element that actually enters into our hearts.  It becomes a part of us.  If we allow it, it becomes almost automatic in guiding our decisions, our priorities, our thought processes.

So?  At another place you will read the phrase “seek wisdom”.  In the seeking spend time, thinking about it, meditating on it, and praying that God would actually let it enter into your heart.  I’m sure I’ve said it before and others have said it, but it’s like a spiritual GPS.  But of course the GPS only works when you listen to what it tells you. 

Personal Covenant

Isaiah 55:3 (KJV) Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

(Proverbs 1 also read)

One of the many rabbit trails I follow on my daily journey of study and meditation has to do with the idea of the covenant.  There are a number of covenants discussed in scripture.  You have the covenants of Noah, Abraham and Moses.  Each one is an agreement with God which affects them and others.

Here what I see is God offering an everlasting covenant with us as individuals . I say individual, because at this point in history, God already had a covenant established with the nation of Israel.  This seems to be a different offering given to us to respond to.  It deals with your soul.

So?  This was written millennium ago.  It still would apply today I think.  God is reaching out.  He is done this all through history.  He is doing it today. 

Say Please

Proverbs 31:9 (KJV) Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

The first part of this chapter is instructions given to a king.  I would suggest if you are giving directions to a king that you walk carefully.  Kings, especially in ancient times, tended to have total control over your life and your death.  You did not want to make them mad.

With that in mind, it’s interesting here not so much that the king was to judge righteously, but that he had to “plead” the “cause” of the poor and needy.  If you are in authority, your job is not to exercise your authority.  Your responsibility before God is to mold the hearts and minds of those that you are put over.  You are not to Lord over them.  You were to teach, and you were to lead them towards upright living.

So?  Don’t let your power go to your head.  If you’re a parent, it’s not just to be in charge of the house.  It is to mold your family.  If you are an employer, you are not just there to run the business and to make money.  You also have a responsibility to build up of the people put in your care.  Be a king in you’re a little world, a righteous king. 

Unnecessary Synonyms

Proverbs 30:33 (KJV) Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

For some reason today I was looking at the Hebrew in this verse, and I noticed something strange.  The same Hebrew word was used three times, and was translated a different way each time.  In the KJV notice you have “journey, “ringing, “forcing".  All three are the same word in the Hebrew.  The most literal understanding of the word means to press.

I’m not sure what to make of that.  The picture of making butter I can see in my mind as you squeeze the milk through cheese cloth to separate the butter.  If that is the picture, then we have three situations which require our specific and focused attention in order to achieve.  I think that perhaps the one that should be the most concerning is the fact that “strife” is often the result of our repeated pressing a subject.

So?  Why is it that some people can avoid conflict and others seem to run into it all the time?  This suggests that it is our focus, or our attitude, which causes it.  This could be an illustration, or an instruction for us to learn to back off and not be aggressive. 

Grammar Guesswork

Proverbs 29:4 (KJV) The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

As I investigate my Bible software, I find that the Blue Letter Bible will give me grammar for the Hebrew.  In looking at this, I’m considering the KJV endings of “eth”.  In the New Testament, this refers to the present tense, which is a continuing action.  I’m wondering if in the Old Testament this refers to the same idea.  So I did a little investigating.

There are two verbs in this verse which have that ending.  Both of them are in the imperfect tense of the Hebrew.  And the imperfect tense in Hebrew seems to be the same idea as a present in Greek, a continuing action.

So?  What that means is that the changes taking place are somewhat gradual and ongoing.  It’s not a statement that good judgment will immediately establish a country or that bribes will immediately destroy it.  The point is they will begin the process and move that nation in that direction.  I would guess that the same principle applies in our daily lives. 

A Psalm of Delusion

Psalms 44:17 (KJV) All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

I know I’ve read this particular Psalm many times before.  I’m not sure I’ve done it with my brain turned on.  As I read it today and got about halfway through, I realized this does not compute.  Take a look at the verse again if you didn’t read it attentively.  After you read it, I think about all of the accusations that come from Jesus and the prophets and down through the history recorded in the Bible.  Is this statement accurate or is it wishful thinking?

The author claims that Israel has not “dealt falsely with the Covenant”.  Do the statements of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, etc., agree with that?  If you’ve done any reading at all, you know they haven’t.

So?  We can live in a world of a delusion.  We can say whatever we want to say and not check to make sure it is true or accurate.  It doesn’t change a thing.  When you look at your life and wonder why it’s gone the way that you might want to look a little more carefully and see the decisions you’ve made.  God is waiting for us to be open to Him.  There’s literally little He will do if we insist on living in delusion. 

Defining Grace

Psalms 40:11 (KJV) Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

(Proverbs 27 also read)

One of the ongoing interests I have is trying to define grace.  We talk about it in different ways.  The common, popular definition is “undeserved merit”.  I prefer to define it as “God’s love in action.”

We also precede it with different adjectives.  We talk about saving grace.  We talk about sustaining grace.  You get the idea.  Here we have insights into how God moves in our lives and keeps our heads above water.  There are two words here that are very important.  The first is “loving kindness“.  I think this is chesed.  Then, of course you have that concept of truth, which we assume is universal, objective, and unchanging.

So?  Make sure you look for your definitions of biblical terms in the Bible.  Theology can help sometimes but keep in mind, that theologians, and blog writers, have their own opinions. 

EZ Credit

Psalms 37:21 (KJV) The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

A recurring theme in scripture is the danger of being a borrower, and even in the danger of being a lender.  In the Old Testament law, I believe Jews were forbidden from lending at interest to their fellow Jews.  They were allowed to charge interest to foreigners, strangers, sojourners, and such, but not the Jews.  Jews were their family and you don’t take advantage of family

I don’t know if I’m on solid ground, but I think this would refer to loaning money to people who are going through hard times and can’t buy food for the children.  I don’t know that it refers to business deals.  Loaning money to someone going into business in order to make a profit, seems legitimate, but I’m not sure the Bible makes that exception.

So?  As believers we are to give, not loan.  Generally when people have asked me to borrow money because they’re in need I will take this approach.  If I have it, I will tell them it is a gift.  If they want to someday give me a gift back that’s fine, but they are under no burden.  If I can’t afford it, I say so.  I think that’s the way the Bible wants us to do it.

Buttered Up

Psalms 55:21 (KJV) The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

David has a lot of concerns that we can identify with in this chapter.  One of them is that people he thought he could trust, his friends, are not what they seem.  At first he talks about how smooth they are at talking.  Underneath the talk, though, is an animosity and a hostility toward David.

When we think of David, we tend to like the stories of Goliath, hiding in the cave, or the victories that he won.  We are aware of Saul trying to kill him.  We know his big sins like his adultery and ordering a murder.  What we often miss is the day-to-day tension of being a king and having people who want to take over your throne.  What is it like to be surrounded by people who want to use you for their own purposes?

I don’t think most of us know what this is like.  We might have a little conflict with family members.  We might have someone at work gossiping about us.  There are conflicts we have, yes, but nothing like David was going through.

So?  Be aware.  Be discerning.  Know that people will be out to get you, especially if you are serving the Lord with gladness.  They can’t seem to stand it when people have the joy of the Lord.  So stand tall, call upon God and trust him to see you through. 

Elderly Clutter

Proverbs 24:4 (KJV) And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

As I was reading this section, there are several verses that talk about our home, and what we fill are home with, and the idea is to fill our heads, our minds and our lives with wisdom and righteousness.  Actually, I think I just added the righteousness.

I got to looking around my room and. for an old guy, I think I’m doing pretty good with the clutter.  You know how often when you would go into an apartment where someone my age is living it would be totally cluttered with little knickknacks and memorabilia.  Old people tend to collect things that bring memories.  That in itself, I still salute and celebrate.  I enjoy looking at things and thinking about who gave them to me and the warm fellowship that they provided.

But this can get overdone.  You can get your room so full of knickknacks that you don’t have room to store your socks.  In your room or apartment this is just clutter, in your spirit and your mind this can become disaster.

So?  What can we do to add spiritual remodeling to our minds, and our souls?  What can I put on my shelf instead of mugs and lotions and old books?  Perhaps a good concordance by the chair I read my Bible in is more important than the 14 volumes of the works of Wesley.  Something to think about.  More important, something to do. 

Not Always

Psalms 35:10 (KJV) All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

(Proverbs 23 also read)

We have a platitude that we like to throw out, “God answers prayer.”  Other times we expressed it as, “prayer changes things.”  Both of those statements are true, but not always.  Sometimes God pats on the head and says, if you will excuse the expression, “Walk it off.”

Some people don’t like that.  Some people apply it at a times when they shouldn’t.  The point that David is making here though is that there are times when we were in a situation which is too much for us.  In those situations we can trust God to intervene.  Sometimes He intervenes by giving us the strength.  We need to make it through the difficulty.  Sometimes He intervenes by making change happen, in us or the situation.

Other times He expects us to walk it off.

So?  The hard part usually is knowing which it is.  Can we deal with this with our own skills or do we need to just let God do it all?  If that’s the question, I think the answer is no.  Are we supposed to use our own skills abilities and strengths?  Yes, we are.  Are we supposed to depend upon God ultimately to make it out whether through our obedience or through his intervention?  Again the answer is yes.  It’s not one of the other, it is both. 

Purpose in Writing

Psalms 32:11 (KJV) Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

(Proverbs 22 also read)

As I read through Psalms, I am constantly reminded that it is possible to be considered “righteous”.  Psalms is very clear about that.  Paul, on the other hand acts like it is impossible at places.  I would guess that the prophets also aren’t real big on calling people righteous.  I’ve said this before.  I’ll say it again.

Today it occurred to me that the reason is the difference in the purpose of writing.  David is expressing his joy in the Lord.  He is writing to encourage and to draw people in.  The prophets, on the other hand, tend to be dealing with believers, whether they be in the church or in the nation of Israel.  They are people who are refusing to except humility before God, and are living either in heresy or on the very edge.  In the prophets there is especially a spirit of rebellion.

So?  Is it possible to be considered righteous by God?  Obviously yes.  Is it a natural tendency in people who are still living in rebellion?  No.  God can make us righteous and we can take that and practice it and live in righteousness.  Decisions are important.  Behavior is vital. 

Routines

Psalms 51:2 (KJV) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

(Proverbs 21 also read)

I have been up barely an hour and I have already washed my hands several times.  We do it without thinking, it’s just a reaction.  It is a healthy habit.  Why?

During the panic over Covid one of the big issues we were told to do is wash your hands.  Why were we told to wash her hands?  Two reasons really.  The first is because it’s a good thing to do.  Soap and water do not disinfect, but what they do is form a fluid which lifts the bacteria off your hands and flushes them down the drain.  This keeps them from having an opportunity to penetrate your body as you touch your eyes and so forth.

The second reason was really probably the most important, we weren’t doing it.  Even during all of the fear and panic, it was rather amusing to watch macho young men “wash” their hands.  They would turn on the water, swing their hands through the flow once and shake off any excess water that happen to have stuck to their skin.  If they were especially attentive, they might even take a paper towel and dry their hands.  If they were truly macho, they would just wipe them on their pants and walk out the door.

Yes, people need to be taught to wash.  In this particular spot and later on in the chapter, it’s a reminder I will need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.  That’s a bit of spiritualizing. The perfect man of God does not come along for another 800 years or so.  It might even not be what David was talking about.  But I think it’s what the Holy Spirit is telling us

So?  If you have never been washed in the blood, this is a good time.  Also, as David shows in this Psalm, it’s a good practice to be regularly confessing our failures and our sins and asking God to forgive and restore.  Wash. 

Well, Oh Yeah?

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

As I started reading through this chapter in Proverbs, I came to this verse and it jumped out at me.  The reason it jumped out is because I have a tendency to enjoy a good argument and want to win.  This can be with friends, arguing theology, or with my wife discussing cleaning the kitchen.  It has many forms and even more applications.

It is so easy to think that, because I am right, I should win the argument.  We don’t like to think of it as an argument, or as the KJV calls it, strife, but how else would you describe it?  To misquote, Shakespeare,

“A rose by any other name, be it oh so sweet, it’s still a Rose.”

Since the thing that hit me in the face was the translation, or rather paraphrase, of the NLT I might as well print that out.

Proverbs 20:3 (NLT) Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

So?  I should insist on listening and understanding rather than quarreling.  God have mercy on my soul. 

Dividing the Word

Psalms 119:1 (KJV) ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

(Proverbs 19 also read)

I have begun working my way through the book of Psalms again.  One of the difficulties that have to be dealt with is the fact that there are some months that have 31 days and that causes a problem when you divide Psalms into 30 Psalms a month.  What I am doing is taking the 119th Psalm and dividing it up with about 25 verses to read each month that has 31 days.

So today as I read through the first 24 verses of the first Psalm one of the things I noticed was the many different names that are given to the “law”.  Each verse almost has a new word.  The next few verses have “testimonies”, “Ways”, “precepts”.

There are many different words but what is universal in all of them is the joy in which they are engaged and lived out.

So?  Don’t be afraid of the law.  When Paul talks about the law, he talks about the condemning nature of it, the fact that it tells you where the lines are.  When David talks about the law, he rejoices in the freedom that he has by walking within those lines, and avoiding so many pitfalls because of it.  You’re not saved by the law.  It’s still a good way to live.

Names Matter

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

(Proverbs 18 also read)

This is one place where I think the new Bible translation, the Legacy Standard Bible, has an advantage.  You’ll notice in the KJV and the NASB that the word “LORD” is in all capitals.  That designates that this is the Hebrew word for Yahweh, which is sometimes translated “Jehovah”.  In the LSB they have decided that, instead of capitalizing the word Lord, they would actually put in a transliteration of the Hebrew word.

What this does is it makes it more personal.  When you saw the definite article, it became a proper noun instead of a general designation.  If you were a Jew of ancient times, you would recognize Yahweh as a term rooted in the verb “to be”.  So when you are saying, give Yahweh the glory to His name, which is Yahweh, you understand better.  The great glory that Israel had in their God was that He existed.

What a fundamental truth.  The God of the Bible is different from all other gods in many ways, but the key element of it all is, He is.

So?  When you give God glory start off with a deep felt acknowledgment that He is really there and that He hears your praise and your thanksgiving. 

Got Problems?

Psalms 27:12 (KJV) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

When I think of David, I think of him marching triumphantly out to face Goliath.  I think of him with his sling and his stones, and coming to victory with no fear in his heart.  I think of him as the king of Israel being victorious over his foes.  Usually I forget about the fact that he went through some really hard times.  Some of it he brought upon himself.  Some was outside his control.

It’s good for us to remind ourselves of how even people like David, who is described as being a man after God’s own heart, went through some real struggles.  It should be a reminder to us that our road will not always be smooth.  It should also remind us that God will be there for us because as you continue to read or go back through the verses you find David putting his trust in God.

So?  I hope this is a good day for you.  I hope your blessings are overflowing your cups.  But if not, keep in mind that God is still there and still waiting to meet with you and still waiting to bless you.  Rejoice. 

On or off

Proverbs 16:17 (KJV) The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Notice that it doesn’t say Interstate, it says “highway”.  When I see this and the idea of “depart” I naturally think of getting off the highway.  I looked for an off ramp.  When you see a sign that says bridge out ahead, you naturally look for a way to avoid that bridge.  If you’re listening to the radio and you hear that the interstate is blocked by a bunch of demonstrators as happened recently you look for an alternate route.

This is the advice that applies to every time and area of life.  The highway is not necessarily an interstate.  It could be.  It might not be.  It is a recognize route to get to the destination.  In most cases, there are alternative routes or at least ways around obstructions.  We need to be aware of that as we move through life.

I experienced this recently as I was trying to drive through town.  Unfortunately, the road was not very clearly marked.  It said there was a detour for trucks because of a low bridge.  The mystery was that in the direction the trucks would be traveling there were no bridges, but it was an early warning that something was wrong.  Since I wasn’t driving a truck, I kept going straight ahead. Instead of getting off and going right or left I found myself facing a situation where I had no escape, and was heading into a road that did not go through.  I managed to find a way around and changed my path.  If I hadn’t, I would still be sitting there today.

So?  Be alert.  That seems to be one of the prices of life.  Watch out for obstructions. Here the emphasis is on evil.  Evil exists.  Satan is out to get you.  Be aware.  Work to avoid his traps and God will supply the way out. 

Trash Talk

Proverbs 15:14 (KJV) The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

I like good adventure stories.  One genre that fits that is solid science fiction.  Westerns also qualify.  I can also enjoy spy novels and mysteries if they’re well written, and are not woke.  That last part is one of the key issues.  The main problem with all of these types of reading is that they usually don’t give you anything worth remembering.  They are escape.

Often what we read, even if it’s news, becomes escape because we aren’t serious about finding real truth.  Double that for things that we listen to.  I recently listened to an hour long discussion and the theme was the danger of dispensationalism.  They continually talked about the danger, and the tragedy brought about by this theological system, but they never got down to explaining in reality why it was so dangerous.  I invested my time with their conversation, but for me it was mush.  That’s why when I read the NLT, it jumped out at me with the final word,

Proverbs 15:14 (NLT) A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash,

So?  If you have a desire, and again, I say “if”, to be wise rather than foolish, then spend your time feeding your mind and your heart with that which is not trash.  It can be done.  It just takes a little bit of focus and concentration. 

Fake Is Bigger Than the News

Proverbs 14:15 (KJV) The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Have you read or watched any news today?  Did you believe what you read?  If you did you have my sympathy.  Buried in all that we are inundated with are some facts and some truth, but very little.  The problem isn’t that there is no truth.  The problem is that we don’t want to put the effort into digging it out.

There is a process.  It starts with listening carefully.  It then goes to comparing what different people say and what you know from the past.  You also need to mix in a heavy dose of common sense.  When you read a story about a person that goes totally against what you know their character to be, get out your salt shaker, and have a few grains.

I recently heard about a man from South Africa who was talking in glowing terms about how good things were there.  My skeptic bell went off, and I said to myself that does not go along with other things I have read and heard from what I consider reliable sources.  I asked the person reporting if they could vouch for the character and veracity of the person who was talking about South Africa and I got a pretty solid, “No”.   My conclusion was that the person speaking was either living in a bubble or being very dishonest.

So?  The most vital ingredient in finding truth in what goes on around you is a healthy skepticism that is willing to accept what is provable, but also willing to look beyond the surface to see if there was fraud or deceit going on.  Again, the basis that you need to judge truth is knowing the truth itself, found in the Scriptures.  The principles and standards there that can give you a foundation for evaluating everything else.  Don’t be simple.

Me Too

Psalms 100:1 (KJV) [[A Psalm of praise.]] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

One of the principles of understanding scripture is to first ask yourself who is speaking, and then to whom that person is speaking.  This verse does not tell us who wrote it.  It doesn’t tell us it was David so we can’t assume that, but it is some person inspired by the Holy Spirit conveying what God wanted them to say.

To whom is he speaking?  Since this was written in ancient Israel, he was at the time, addressing Israel itself.  However, we have a qualifying word here, which means that it is to be applied beyond just Israel .  Notice the word in the KJV “lands”, and in the NASB “earth”.  Some people would like to say that applies just to Israel but that is really stretching your imagination.  I’m sure at times when the ego is involved, Israel would like to think they are the whole earth but that doesn’t quite work.

This is the same word that is used in Genesis 1:1 where it says that God created the heavens and the earth.  That doesn’t mean He just created Israel.  It means the entire globe.

So?  God reached out to mankind through the genealogy that you find in Matthew and Luke.  That focuses on the coming of the Messiah, the death on the cross, the resurrection from the grave, the ascension.  But think about it as a big X where everything comes down to the crossing point, and then widens out to infinity.  This is written to you.  Make a joyful noise.