The Big Picture

Psalms 18:20-21 (KJV) 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

If you know anything about the life of David, you know that he does not have clean hands, at least in the way we look at it.  We also know that David was aware of the sin in his life.  And yet he makes this statement.

There are a couple things we need to consider that David was also aware of.  First of all, he was aware of the fact that he never violated what seems to be God’s biggest concern.  David never worshiped other gods.  He never made sacrifices to other gods.  He maintained the Lord God as his Lord.

David is also aware of the process of repentance, confession, and forgiveness.  He knew that God would respond to his openness and contrition.

So?  You can get hung up on literal understandings of this verse or you can look at the entire scripture and understand what David is really trusting.  He’s not trusting in his righteousness, he’s trusting in God’s mercy.  

Stewardship of Wisdom

Proverbs 10:14 (KJV) Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

The NET is a paraphrase.  I don’t care if the letter “T” stands for translation, it isn’t.  And sometimes a paraphrase gives you an insight or at least shakes your brain up so you see what’s really there.  I had that experience in this verse.

Proverbs 10:14 (NET) Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

Storing up, hit me a little harder than laying up.  When I checked other translations, the idea of storage was common, so the NET is not unique.  That got me to thinking about not sharing everything I know.  That’s probably a good idea.  I don’t think there is a spreadsheet that keeps track of how much wisdom we have stored up in the archives of our mind.  There must be something there.  But the idea here is to build up a reserve.

One of the great qualities of knowledge is that just because you share it doesn’t mean that you loose it.  In fact, it may be that by sharing certain ideas, it causes you to think deeper, and thus increase your understanding of what God has to say to you.

So?  Take in as much as you can.  Review it on a regular basis.  If you get a chance to share it when someone will listen, then feel free.  

Overlooked Patience

Jeremiah 26:3 (KJV) If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

I am currently reading in Jeremiah and just worked through chapter 26.  One of the things that strikes me as I read Jeremiah is not that Jeremiah is the weeping prophet or that God is threatening to destroy Israel.  What impresses me is the constant effort of forgiveness and restoration that God offers.

God has made it clear what the consequences are of their rebellion and refusal to follow along.  He is condemning them.  Keep in mind that when it talks about refusing to obey the law, it’s not talking about plowing with an ox and a donkey it’s talking about worshiping other gods.  They were sacrificing their children in the fire to Molock.  This is serious stuff and they are incredibly guilty.

In spite of that God offers to set aside that disobedience, to forgive and restore them.

So?  We need to bask in the love of God.  We can’t presume.  We can’t assume.  But we can be honest with Him and repent.  He waits to forgive.  He longs to forgive.  The ball is in our court.  

Don’t Drop the Adjectives

Proverbs 8:17 (KJV) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Or maybe it’s an adverb, it depends I guess on how you translate it.  When you look at the King James, you see how the word “seek” is modified by “early”.  That is legitimate.  I think I’ve written about getting up in the morning and making it your first priority of the day.  That’s a good way to interpret this.

But as I was reading today in the NET and comparing it to the KJV, I noticed that the modern translation left out the modifier.  It just had “seek”.  Seeking wisdom is always a good thing, but the modifier is what makes it powerful.

    Proverbs 8:17 (NET) I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

A quick look over the other translations shows that they modify it different ways.  The NASB uses “diligently”.  Either way you look at it you need to take your seeking and find a way to make it more powerful.

So?  Sometimes the power of a statement is in the modifiers, rather than the basic statement itself.  Lean into those modifiers.  Listen to what they have to say.  Enjoy the full power of allowing wisdom to be a part of your life.  

Strong Foundations

Psalms 11:3 (KJV) If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

(Proverbs 7 also read)

When I was still working with my father in construction, I remember a particular house that we went to that was slowly fading into the ground.  It was built on a foundation of redwood.  When it was built, the thinking was that redwood would last a long time, and the results worked just fine, until… Over a period of time the optimism of redwood foundations faded very quickly.  It was learned that wood does not make a good foundation.

What kind of foundation are the righteous supposed to have?  Unfortunately many of them build their foundation on their sectarian theology.  I’ve been there.  I’m not sure that I am not still there, although I am working on it.  Sectarian theology is great for short periods of time or until the wind blows too hard.  Then it begins to crumble.  And that is when we have a choice to make.  Do we continue shoring up the crumbling redwood or do we invest in allowing the cosmic construction expert to replace it with eternal concrete?

Obviously, I’m talking about what Jesus meant when He condemned the Pharisees for following the traditions of men instead of the law of God.

So?  It’s a daily journey.  We regularly need to keep looking back at the word of God and listening to what the Holy Spirit is telling us.  Many of our foundations are man-made and rotten.  They need to be replaced.  

A Sure Thing

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

One of the reasons that people will go to church is to hear the sermon.  They might go to Sunday school to listen to the lesson.  One of the mindsets of these ideas is that you are going someplace where someone else will share the results of their study, prayer, and meditation.  Someone else spends the time preparing, and we benefit from it.

That in itself that’s not a bad thing.  The problem comes when we allow that to become a substitute for our own personal focus and study.  Notice the first word of this proverb, “bind”.  That is an action that requires focus and coordination.  It doesn’t happen by osmosis, or any other type of automatic absorption.  It is a conscious attempt to attach yourself, in this case to a truth.

So?  Accept the responsibility for spiritual growth.  Ultimately it’s up to the Holy Spirit to teach us, impress us and change us, but there is that element where we consciously open ourselves for him to work.  

Cultural Erosion

Psalms 9:5 (KJV) Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

When I first read this, I started thinking about the pyramids of Egypt, the gates of Babylon, the aqueducts of Rome, and I wondered how this was applied.  Then I did what we should always do when I read things in the Bible, I started thinking about the context.

If you go back to the beginning of this Psalm, you’ll find that it’s written by David.  If you know much about David’s history he was constantly fighting wars against the “nations” around him.  I would literally guess that most of them you have never heard of outside the Bible.  Even in the Bible, when you read the names on a list of enemies of God, you ask yourself, “Who is that?”  How many are names for cities we have no historical reference for outside of the Bible?  The list is long.  If you think about it and do any reading, you’ll even find that mention of David is just about nonexistent outside the Bible.

So?  Yes, these nations have been forgotten.  Some may be dug up because the Bible references and we may learn something about them but for all intents and purposes they are gone.  God’s promises, and his threats, are very real.  Keep that in mind today as you decide what your priorities are.  

Beyond Application

Proverbs 4:4 (KJV) He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

My mind focused a bit on the phrase. “keep my commandments”.  The obvious meaning of this is to follow the rules.  We are to do the things that God has given us, or in this case, the father.  A good place to start.

Or maybe it’s not a good place to start but a good way to apply.  I think perhaps a side thinking on this is to treasure those commandments.  As I wrote that I wondered if the root meaning of the word “keep” was a word that we often see translated as “guard”.  So I went to my Blue Letter Bible, and did a little research and, yes, one of the definitions of this word is to “guard”.

So?  Before you apply, understand.  Before you act, build a foundation.  Guard the commandments as a part of who you are.  Internalize them.  Of course that means you still have to apply them, but do so knowing what you’re applying.  

On the Other Hand

Proverbs 3:16 (KJV) Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Don’t you love it when your choices are between two great options?  So much of life is a matter of life and death.  So many decisions carry tremendous consequences if we make the wrong one.  Often we can’t even tell the difference.  I never had the option of trying to figure out which of two wonderful women to marry.  I had to choose from a field of one.  I was good with that.  What would I have done if they were two women that I found fascinating?  Most of our decisions or not that way.

I am thinking of an old commercial back when television was still something that we actually watched.  It was a commercial for oil filters.  The actor made the proposal of “Pay me now, or pay me later.”  He held up an oil filter in one hand, and a piston in the other.  The point was clear.  Which direction do you want to go?  Wisdom on the other hand, if we will follow it, gives us the best of both worlds.

So?  Which will it be, long life or riches?  I guess the greatest blessing is that in cases where God is making an offer like this it is both not either.  

Again, Salvation

Psalms 6:4 (NKJV) Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!

(Proverbs 2 also read)

I did not do a word search to find references to salvation.  I did not do a word search to find references to the mercy of God.  It just seems to come up in Psalm after Psalm.  Here we see it again.  What strikes me about this is that there is no mention of the law in the sixth Psalm.  There is mention of salvation, and there is mention of mercy.

Need I point out that this word in the KJV of “mercy” is the “loving kindness” of the NASB, and is the Hebrew word chesed?  Whether I need to point it out or not, I’m doing so because I think we forget that.  Salvation is linked to God’s mercy not to the law, even in the OT.

Does this mean the law is unimportant?  It is important to David.  You read this again and again, how he loves the law and how wonderful the law is.  But the purpose of the law is to give an outline of how to live, and please God in your lifestyle.  Ultimately, it is a promise to the nation to bless them in the land, in this world, among hostile neighbors.  It is not so much focused on the individual’s salvation.  That is what this Psalm is looking at.

So?  God is giving you plenty of indications on how you should be structuring your life.  Keep in mind those are all wonderful ideas and are very important, but your salvation comes from the mercy of God as you call up on Him, one on one.  

Another Opinion

Proverbs 1:1 (KJV) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

I allowed my curiosity to draw me past the Clickbait into the actual video on YouTube.  Some guy I’ve never heard of, and may never hear again, claimed to have chosen the three best translations of the Bible.  I’ve seen these titles before, but for some reason this time I actually clicked.  His first choice was the King James, his second was the Legacy Standard Bible, and his third, to my surprise, was something he called the NET.  I’ve seen the initials, I found that it was available on the Blue Letter Bible and so I download it.  I’m now going to read it this month as I work through Proverbs.

I don’t know that you need to read the NET.  I would, however, recommend that you read Proverbs in some translation.  This month I will be reading it in the NET and looking for any new insights that might come from this translation.

So?  If you haven’t read through Proverbs recently, this might be a good time to start.  Allow God to speak to you.  I’m sure He has something to say.  

Interesting Combination

Proverbs 31:26 (KJV) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

I am wondering if I have noticed this before, but I see this phrase “law of kindness”.  I wondered if this is that Hebrew word I enjoyed so much, chesed. I looked it up and, yes, it is.  This is the word translated “loving kindness”.

It seems to me that you have here juxtaposition two opposing concepts.  On the one hand you have the law, which is often thought it was being cold and impersonal.  That’s not really a good analysis because in Psalms and Proverbs, the law is lifted up as a wonderful thing, but that’s how many think of it.  Contrasting with that as this idea of loving kindness, mercy, and grace.

I like the idea that we as believers are to be guided by the law of kindness.  It goes along with the definition of love that Paul gives us.  It is a basic quality of God himself.

So?  Looking at this idea of a law of kindness, and find a way to work it into our daily interactions with other people.  

Source of Hope

Psalms 5:7 (KJV) But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

The idea being expressed at least through the second half of this chapter is the way in which God reaches out to those who are called righteous.  What is it that makes them righteous?  A couple of things in this verse.  They come into His temple.  They set their face and direct their feet with a specific desire to be in the presence of God.

Second, they can count on what the KJV calls the multitude of his mercy.  “Mercy” again is that word “loving kindness”, chesed.  That part should be obvious.  What I would like to point out for those of you who are locked into the Old Testament being a pool of law and legalism, the law is not mentioned at all in this chapter.  Loving kindness is mentioned, as is translated mercy.  Righteousness is mentioned . And the source of that is found in the love of God.

So?  Recognize grace when you see it.  God does not have to love us.  In spite of what He doesn’t have to do He still does.  Here rooted in the Old Testament is a reminder that we approach Him, and He responds to us, not because of the law, but because of His character. 

Foundations of Justice

Proverbs 29:26 (KJV) Many seek the ruler's favour; but every  man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

There is a reason why social justice will never bring about social justice.  It’s based on the favor of the ruling class.  It constantly changes in its definition.  It has absolutely nothing to do with justice, according to standards that matter.

The culture or society that even begins to come close to having real justice, will do so because at the root of their decisions, standards, laws and procedures is the idea of God’s justice.  God’s justice does not fluctuate with every wind of change.  It does not get more fluid in hot temperatures.  It is not become unresponsive when things get frigid.  God’s justice is above all of that.

So?  What are your plans for today?  What do you think you’re going to do tomorrow?  What will be the basis of the decisions you make?  Be sure that it is based upon the judgment of God, and not on the most recent headline on the Internet.  

Incoming

Psalms 4:4 (KJV) Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

I have just finished almost a full week of having company in my home and being in constant dialogue.  It was almost impossible to not be talking to someone.  Of course, part of that is listening, but I always have something to add.  Getting the last word is so important especially when what you have to say is so important.

Today is the first morning that I have not expected someone to come out and join me on the front porch or to head me off on my way.  Today was a day to get back into listening mode.  Today it was time to start freezing my mouth and lubricating my ears, in a spiritual way, of course.

So?  God wants to speak to us.  He wants to communicate not only truth but encouragement and direction.  That’s hard to do if we don’t listen.  I need to get back in that mood today.  

Who Is That in the Mirror?

Proverbs 27:22 (KJV) Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

It would seem that fools never learn.  It would seem that they constantly knock their heads against the same branch and trip over the same root.  We have all met these kind of people.  They are all around us.  We can’t avoid them.

What do we do when we see them in the mirror?

As I read this this morning, the Lord impressed upon me how often I have had to relearn the same lessons.  I know that there are times when walking away from a confrontation just leads to deeper problems.  I tend to walk away anyway.  I know the tire needs more air, but I convinced myself that it will go one more day.  I’m sure that if I wanted to embarrass myself, I could give you many more examples.

So?  I need to get in the habit of applying these lessons to myself, and not just worrying about you.  Oh, I will still worry about you, but I need to make sure that’s not just an excuse to ignore my own shortcomings.  

The Depths of Fools

Proverbs 26:1 (KJV) As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

Reading through this chapter, there are repeated references to fools.  I found myself wondering, “Do I actually know anybody that I think is a fool?”  I drew up a blank slate.  I couldn’t think of anybody that I would just assume was a fool, at least not in my personal circle.  I could think of a lot of politicians, celebrities, reporters, authors, and so forth, but not in my personal circle.

So I looked a little deeper into what is a fool?

I’m looking at the definition of the Hebrew word it seems to focus on people who are shallow, stupid, and lacking in understanding of anything.  I think there’s a nuance that says that this is a choice and not a condition.  So who are these fools?

I think the people we need to be careful of are the ones who think they know a lot, but are really empty sacks.  We might also consider that there needs to be a bit of caution in our own hearts about sharing great wisdom, which we don’t really possess.

So?  This is where it comes home to me.  I’m not so much worried about other people being fools as I am about avoiding the condition myself.  And this is where you bring in other references, which talks about listening more than talking or being slow to speak.  Growth can be painful, but it’s better than the opposite.  

Routine Praise

Psalms 148:3 (KJV) Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

How does the sun praise God?  How does the moon praise God?  How does a star praise God?  You can go through this whole storm asking that question.

If you were a farmer in the hill country of Israel, assuming farmers could farm in the hill country, you would probably have enough superstitions, myths, and traditions, to actually believe that the sun and moon were sentient.  You might have had no problem with these statements.

Today on the other hand, we look at it a little differently.  Unless you happen to be one of those who worship Gaia and assume that the planet has a personality, you think of these things as just big balls of fire or big rocks.  You don’t give them the ability to praise.  So is this just a literary device?  Is it just poetry?

If I’m searching for an actual accurate application I might come up with a thought that the sun praises God by doing what it was created to do.  Take that thought and run it down the list.  Then apply it to us as human beings.

So?  One of the greatest ways that we can praise God is by living as He would have us to live, and give Him the credit in the glory for it.  I love it in Texas when someone says, “Have a blessed day.”  It reflects the glory of God.  

More Two Edges

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?

Do you have any idea how much people hate that last phrase used here by David in the book of Proverbs, which is in the Bible.  That little phrase of “according to this works”, appears repeatedly, and you may not have noticed it, but the last words of Jesus are very similar.

Revelation 22:12 (KJV) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

But notice how Proverbs balances this. The key here is not that He watches what we do because it’s not the actual tasks themselves which are judged, but it is what is going on in your heart. This is where grace and mercy and the work of the Holy Spirit come in.

So?  Yes, we are expected to live a certain way, but keep in mind that just living that certain way, although required, is not what saves us.  It is the blood of Jesus and the work of God in our hearts.  

When?

Psalms 146:7 (KJV) Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoner:

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I find myself echoing the words of David in other places, “How long, O Lord?”  I’ve read statements like this many times, and just accept them as statements of truth.  I still accept them as statements of truth because they’re in the word.  At this point though I’m not sure how to understand them or to interpret them.

When has the Lord loosened prisoners?  I can think of Paul, being in jail, and having all the chains fall off, but no one escaped.  I can think of the saints resurrected on the day of the crucifixion.  I can come up with all kinds of possible explanations, but nothing comes to mind that is a literal fulfillment of the statement.

In that case I need to, shall we say, spiritualize a little bit.  We have countless testimonies of believers who have been locked up in jail, or confined for speaking about the freedom that they feel in Christ.  I accept that.  I think that is an application, but it does not fulfill the literal statement.

Then I did something I rarely do.  I looked through the commentary sources on my software.  I found several solid examples starting with Israel being set free from Egypt.  I guess it helps to look a little deeper sometimes.

So?  One of the great joys of reading and studying the word is it gives us many things to meditate on, and many answers to find.  Some of them we will find in this life.  So we will not know until we reach eternity.  I remain convinced that the answers will come.  

Word Power

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

In this verse we see a kind of a change of direction in the comments.  This is the beginning of where Solomon reviews the effect of our words.  Notice that “word” is not used in this verse, but it does talk about us as “scorners".  A scorner scorns with his words.  I guess you could also use looks and gestures, but what we say is certainly a part of that.

The use of words continues to come up through the rest of the chapter.  Words are powerful things.  It’s probably a safe statement to say that we need to be more careful in what we say, and how we say it.  That would start with examining our hearts and our motives.  It would involve taking a moment to think before we speak.  It would demand that we seriously consider effects of our casual comments and words.

So?  I am certainly guilty of humor that injures people.  I’m guilty of speaking out of turn or too impulsively.  My God have mercy on me and on you. 

Twofer

Proverbs 21:31 (KJV) The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

There are two simple lessons given to us in this verse. The first one is the obvious one, God is the source of our security, both now and forever.  I think we all acknowledge that at least intellectually.  Often we don’t feel it emotionally, but we need to keep reminding ourselves that God is in charge.

The other one we might miss and that is that we are supposed to be preparing our horses.  You’ll notice that it doesn’t say that God is going to preserve you if you sleep in.  Earlier in verse 25 it talks about how lazy hands will cause you’re death.  This is another extension of that.  We are expected to be faithful on our behavior and serious about living, godly lives.

So?  Our trust is in the Lord.  Part of that trust is expressed by living upright and righteous lives.  He will enable us not only to live according to his standards but to live forever with him. 

Long Range Planning

Proverbs 20:4 (KJV) The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

I’m not a farmer, nor do I ever plan to be a farmer.  I’ve never plowed, nor do I plan to ever plow.  I think the short term application of this though is clear.  We need to prepare for next year’s harvest.

But this morning this reached out to me in a different way.  I got to thinking about how I ask myself, “What is my purpose in life?”  When you get up into the last decade of life, there’s not a lot of long-term planning that you get into because after all, it’s almost over for you.  I think part of the thinking in this first though, is that we are not just planning for ourselves, but for future generations.

We need to continue struggling with the issues of life.  It’s not that we will live to see the results but we have children and grandchildren.  If you haven’t either of those, then you probably have nieces and nephews.  If you’re so limited in relatives then consider the extended body of Christ.

So?  How does that plan apply today?  It’s going to be different for each of us.  The key is don’t give up.  Don’t think you have no contribution to make.  Think of the old man who plants apple trees that will not bear fruit for years.  He’s investing in the future.  

You Are What You Hear

Proverbs 19:27 (KJV) Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

I first read this in the NASB and noticed that when I compared what I had read to the KJV there was a real difference in what was being said.  One seems to say if we cease listening to instruction, then we will err.  The other says that listening to the wrong instruction will cause us to err, and we should stop.

I’m not a Hebrew scholar.  So I can’t get into the intricacies.  What I did was I went to the listing of the words and just read them off in order and the older translation is much more accurate than the new one.

So?  If you find that people you were listening to are edging you away from the truth then it’s time to stop listening.  The same could be said about what we read.  Seek truth.  Don’t allow your mind to be watered down with fantasy and error.  

The Rudder of the Spirit

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

I currently do not have any infirmity that I am aware of.  Of course, at my age any ache or pain creates concern.  What spoke to me in this verse?  Today it is my awareness of others who are struggling with real physical issues and yet continue to have a positive attitude about life.  That attitude is not based on this life but the belief that there is life beyond the grave.  It’s based on knowing the Life Giver.  And that belief is expressed in the witness of the Spirit Himself.

I’m thinking particularly of one lady in our church who is in her last days unless God works a miracle.  There comes a time for all of us to die so as we get older perhaps we are less concerned about the miracle as the attitude we have as we draw to a close.  This lady has an awesome attitude.  She is an inspiration.  Even the pastor who went to minister to her, felt like he had been ministered to.  That is the spirit that we all have available to us.

So?  Got problems?  You most likely have nothing compared to what this lady is going through and what other saints are dealing with.  Or maybe you do.  Either way, God is available to give you the faith and the power you need.  Live in victory even if you are almost at that transition point.  

Focal Point

Proverbs 17:24 (KJV) Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

(I almost missed today.)

 One of the jokes that stands out in my mind is the wise man, who said that he and his wife have an understanding that he deals with the big things in life, and she deals with the small things.  He then goes on to explain that he’s in charge of the national debt, world peace, and the space program.  Just about everything else is hers.

Sometimes we make our lives along the lines of this joke.  We spent so much time focusing on things that we I have no control over.  We worry about the Middle East.  We worry about corruption in government.  We worry about things that in which we have no say.  Oh, that’s OK to be concerned about those things but not to get eaten up by them.

Our focus needs to be on those things which are right before us.  That involves our family budget not the spending of the United States.  It involves being kind to our neighbors and not worrying about whether Israel and its neighbors get along.  It’s about applying the love chapter in our daily walk, rather than worrying about whether the rapture is pre-millennial or post millennial.

So?  Listen to what God has to say to you today.  Read.  Contemplate.  Listen.  Live in Joy.  

First Thought

Micah 6:8 (NASB95) He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

After a simple, good morning Lord and a reminder that I love God, what is the verse that pops into my mind today?  It is Micah 6:8 which is what I listed above and I listed it in the NASB because that’s how I think of it.

It is a verse that is often quoted and referred to because it is so key to how we live our day.  Justice refers to our relationship with our culture and society.  Kindness refers to how we treat individuals around us.  Ultimately our goal is to walk with humility side-by-side with our God.

My default is to say side-by-side.  There’s a very real sense in which we follow God’s leading, but from the days in the Garden of Eden God has wanted us to be creatures who walked beside him, sharing our lives and basking in His glory.  It is not a position of honor.  It is a position of trust and humility.  It’s how we work as a family of God.

So?  Rejoice in your marching orders for the day.  Look forward to making a real difference even if you don’t see anything.  

Well, Maybe One

Psalms 15:2 (KJV) He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

(Proverbs 15 also read)

If you were one of those to question the meaning of Romans 3:10 and the beginning of the previous chapter, then this is a good verse for you to read.  Those other locations are often quoted to say that there’s no one who ever acts in a righteous way, and yet here, in this chapter, just a few verses later, you see someone described who walks uprightly, who works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.  This is the definition of the righteous, of the one who does good.

We have to work out a theology that makes use of both of these.  Yes, there is a sense in which we are all sinners.  Yes, there is a sense and which we can live righteous and upright lives.  And if you read it correctly, and think correctly, both of them makes sense.

So?  Again I say, I call it gestalt theology.  That means that you take the entire Bible into consideration and not just lift out your favorite verses to reinforce your traditions and theological system.  Welcome to the kingdom.  

Fools Need Not Apply

Psalms 14:1 (KJV) [[To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

This verse along with Psalm 51 and Romans 3 get me scratching my head every time.  I work it through and then the next time I see it I have to figure it again.  The popular interpretation of this verse does not work.  I know it seems to say that there is no one who ever has done anything right or good, but that doesn’t work with the rest of the chapter.

Take verse five,

Psalms 14:5 (KJV) There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

If no one does good, how can there be a righteous generation?

Today my solution comes with re-reading verse one and concluding that the ones who are corrupt and the ones who have no good in them are the fools described at the beginning of the verse.  People who say that there is no God are incapable of doing good.

So?  However, you interpret the verse, keep in mind that God has called us to live righteous and holy lives not to sin more so that grace may abound more.  I read that somewhere.  

Extol?

Psalms 145:1 (KJV) [[David's [Psalm] of praise.]] I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

It occurred to me as I began reading that I wasn’t totally sure with the word “extol” meant.  I did what we are supposed to do as we read any literature, let alone scripture:  I looked it up.  It has to do with lifting up, exulting, praising, speaking highly of, you can go on from there.  We are to lift up God forever and ever.

Of course, my mind gets skeptical even in things like this.  I ask myself how can I as a finite, fleshly, recently released from sin human being, extol the eternal Master and Maker of the universe?  It seems like an empty gesture.  It’s almost like the tiny curly bug which my grandson plays around with called him “good looking”.  Who cares if an insect thinks you’re good looking?

Don’t forget God’s point of view.  He created us.  He created us in His own image.  We know that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  We have this totally unique relationship with the God of the universe.  And He wants our prayers.

So?  Take a moment, and lift up the God of the universe.  You won’t be able to lift him very high, but there are many times where it is our attitude and effort, not our ability.  

The Process of Inspiration

Proverbs 12:28 (KJV) In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway therefor there is no death.

I don’t know what the scholars would say, but let’s assume for our discussion that Solomon wrote this chapter of Proverbs.  Sometimes the Bible will tell us, other times it’s open to our speculation, but for today this is Solomon writing.

What must have gone through Solomon’s mind as he wrote this?  It’s possible that he was thinking figuratively and talking about the quality of life, but it doesn’t seem probable.  It would seem to me as I read this that the message is clear about life after death.  If we want to know life after death, then righteousness is the avenue that we must follow.

Some people like to say that the ancient Hebrews did not believe in an afterlife.  Personally, I think this works against that idea.  Was Solomon aware of all that he was saying or was God just directing him to put this down?

So?  Keep in mind that inspiration works in multiple ways.  First of all it has to do with the actual writing.  After that we have the process of handing down the scripture, preserving it.  Then we have what it says to us as we actually read it and the Holy Spirit ministers to us.  Read.  Meditate.  Apply.  

How Is It Possible?

Proverbs 11:31 (KJV) Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Once again, this word “righteous” just keeps coming up.  This time it’s in Proverbs.  Other times it’s in Psalms.  The word is not isolated to these two books.  And yet we have people quoting Paul saying that there are none righteous.

A recurring problem we have when reading the Bible is that we are dealing with the translation.  This is common to many books.  It is especially a problem with the Bible when we take the meanings that we attach to our modern words and try to automatically transfer them over to the Bible without thinking about what the original Hebrew or Greek actually is trying to convey.  I think that’s part of what we’re dealing with with the idea of righteousness.

We tend to think of righteousness in a moral sense.  While the moral sense is included, the basic idea behind the Hebrew is justice.  It involves a straight up allegiance to the law.  It involves possibly fairness but not in our modern sense of fairness when we say, “That’s not fair”.  It is very possible to live a moral life in most areas and to be rejecting justice and thus rejecting righteousness.

So?  So live a righteous life.  Pay your bills.  Be quiet after 10 o’clock at night.  Don’t start up your jackhammer before eight in the morning.  Park between the lines.  Execute serial killers.  It has many applications. We can do this, because God makes it possible.  

Skip the Trial

Psalms 143:2 (KJV) And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

(Proverbs 10 also read)

This is a great verse for “out of context with a fly-by technique”.  What I mean by that is you emphasize the final statement and ignore the total verse and other verses that relate to it.

This could easily be quoted as a proof text that there is no one who has ever been righteous or who ever will be righteous.  That could be used as a foundation for saying that we cannot live a holy life and that sinning is something we are locked into every day in word, thought and deed.  In fact, it has been used for that.  That is not the point of this verse.  Notice the beginning of the verse.  He’s talking here about God judging us, about God putting us on trial.  And the clear statement is that compared to God and His holiness none of us have any hope

Fast forward to the words of Jesus,

John 3:18 (KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Through Jesus, and His shed blood, we can have forgiveness, restoration, regeneration.  We can be born again.

So?  If you are walking with Jesus, you have no fear of the judgment.  If you are living in the power of the spirit you have no fear of the judgment.  Our justification is not a matter of comparing us to the eternal holiness of God in our natural sinful state.  Fear not. 

Jailbreak

Psalms 142:7 (KJV) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

David has an interesting expression here, his soul is in prison.  Now I think we can assume he is still alive.  He is not traveling to Sheol.  He’s not in the grave.  He’s not locked up in some Philistine gaol.  This is a spiritual or emotional or psychological situation.  If we were just looking at the Bible and didn’t have our modern terminologies, I would simply say he’s having a bad day spiritually.

Have you ever had a bad day spiritually?  I assume that’s a rhetorical question.  Maybe you’re one of those rare individuals that never has had a down moment.  I accept that.  Most of us however, have had down days.  We should feel free to ask God to lift us out of that.

At the same time I can’t help but feel that perhaps David is getting the cart before the horse.  Or I could be just looking for some technique that brings renewal.  I will do just that.  I will suggest you take the second half of this verse and spend some time in praise about who God is and what He’s done for you.  Somehow, I think that will open up channels for His Spirit to refresh you.

So?  Don’t wallow in the pond of despair or whatever Pilgrim called It.  I enjoy the words of that chorus which went, “Reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.”  

The Attribute of Wisdom

Proverbs 8:22 (KJV) The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

One of the puzzles that keeps coming to my attention is the place of wisdom in creation.  If you read down through this chapter, you find that it seems wisdom is there at the beginning, and is a part of the creation process.  There is a tendency to personify wisdom.  That is a mistake because wisdom is not God.  Wisdom is not the fourth person of the trinity.  What I see happening here is that the attribute of God, wisdom, is involved in the creation process.

When I look at the universe around me, I think of the creativity of God.  I see it from my front porch in the oak trees, the wild flowers, even in the dandelions and weeds.  Creativity is an attribute in my mind.  I think I would add to that creativity takes place in the context of wisdom.  It’s not just a matter of seeing what kind of wild and crazy ideas you can come up with.  It is a matter of assembling all of this, in an attitude of wisdom.

So?  As we go through our day it’s not just a matter of seeing how creative we can be or what kind of bright ideas we can have.  It is a matter of us taking the wisdom of God which He offers to us and applying it to our unique situations.  Of course, we need to apply it to the every day situations that everyone faces, especially to the unique ones. 

Plan for the Day

(Pro 7:8 KJV)  Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

If you look through this chapter in Proverbs, you see the story of a young man who is seduced by a married woman whose husband is out of town, and the end of the story is that his soul is lost to hell.  At least that is a common way of reading it and interpreting it.  I will grant you that parts of this are true and accurate.

The woman was out looking for some action.  It is clear that she knows her husband is going to be gone for a while and that she has a clear field for her operation.  She is out on the prowl.  That much is clear.  She has her house all set up for a night of wild abandon, and she is ready to go.  All she needs is someone to fill the role of seduced.

Enter the young man.  Some might think that he is the innocent victim.  In a sense he is a victim because if he had found no one to fill the spot in his soul, he would have gone home frustrated.  However, this verse tells us that he took the path to her house.  I guess it’s possible that this was just a coincidence.  It may have been an accident.  Or maybe it wasn’t.

We can’t know for sure with him.  We can know for sure with us.  We can know what our ultimate goal is for the day.  We can know that certain pathways will not get us to our goal if our goal is righteous.  We can know that certain behaviors will make it impossible to reach a goal of righteousness.

So?  What is your goal for the day?  Where do you want to be when the sun goes down?  Do you have a choice of paths?  Choose prayerfully.  Choose wisely . Choose with eternity in mind. 

Yes, Virginia, There Is Evil

Proverbs 6:12 (NKJV) A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

Somewhere this week, I read that letter that was written, assuring Virginia that there was a Santa Claus.  That came to mind today as I was reading this verse.  We tend to be surrounded by doubters.  These doubters look at what is obvious, they look at the teachings of the Bible, they listen to the wisdom of their elders, and then decide all people are basically good.  They decide that it is society that is the problem and that we have to do away with all of the established norms in order to set the goodness in us free.

Not so fast.

The Bible is very clear that there are “worthless” people.  There is evil, and there are evil people.  At the same time, we are told to turn the other cheek, to witness with gentleness and reverence, and to be courteous.  None of those do away with the fact that most of the people we work with are on the side of evil, and although they don’t radiate the fact, they themselves are lost in sin.

So?  No one ever said it would be easy.  We are seeking to live the righteous life.  In doing so we become a target of those who hate righteousness and who reject the holiness of God.  Make sure you’re on the right side.  

Grow Up

Proverbs 5:13 (KJV) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

I can’t help but believe that what is being described here is the common condition of the majority of children in school.  There may be a time when we actually listen to our teachers, but we seem to grow out of that.  By the time we are teenagers we are daydreaming and lost in our own little world.  It seems to be a common condition.

As an adult I have to struggle with this when I am in certain situations.  One of those is in the morning worship time when someone is preaching.  I don’t mind the rabbit trails of the Holy Spirit leading me on as something is said that stimulates my thinking.  That’s not a problem.  I’m still listening to the Great Teacher.  It’s when I start to tune out the person who is speaking with the assumption that they have nothing to say to me.

In this verse not obeying is mentioned first, and then not listening.  I’m not sure that’s the order in real life but it will do.

So?  Give people a careful listen.  Usually they deserve it.  Usually you need it.  This goes for that irritating relative also.  

Choose Your Speed

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

Notice that there are two different speeds mentioned here.  The first is “goest” which seems to mean to walk because it is contrasted with the second, which is “run”.  Are these deliberate choices or are they things beyond our control?  I know that when I am on a downhill slope, I tend to walk a bit faster than when I am on level ground and a lot faster than when I am going uphill.  I also tend to walk slower when it’s dark or when there are many things making it necessary to be careful where I put my feet.

Life gives us different challenges.  Life throws us curve-balls, throws stumbling blocks, and prepares open pits for us to fall into.  Since the context of this remark is wisdom, I think perhaps this is telling us that we should consider what we’re facing, and the decisions we make, and adjust how fast we make those decisions based on what’s ahead of us.

So?  Don’t be in a hurry when it’s time to go slow.  You always run into people who are pressuring you and trying to get you to make a decision now.  Listen to that voice of wisdom.  Take the time necessary.  Give the Holy Spirit chance to provide guidance.  

Start with the Basics

John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

It never hurts to go back to some of the basic foundational truths of scripture.  Is there one verse that could do it all for you if you were on the short track?  If you were due to be executed next week or in five minutes, is there one verse that could tell you everything you really need to know to get right with God?

You just read it.

Everything you need to know to get over the hump, through the gate, past the judgment is found in this verse.  Think of it as that extra gallon of gas you had in your trunk when your car stopped just a few miles short of the station.  Think of it is that MRE in your backpack that you had when you were one day away from the trail head.  Think about it any way you want, but do think about it.

You can think about it with rejoicing.  That’s what I do.  I rejoice that it is that simple to start the journey with Jesus.  You can think about it with rejection.  That’s your choice and God will honor it.  You can think about it with acceptance.  Welcome to the family.

So?  If you make it over the hump the through the door, that doesn’t mean this verse has everything for the rest of your life.  It’s the starter package.  After this, you plunge into the depths of the wisdom and truth of God, and learn to walk and righteousness.  But it’s a good place to start.  

Of No Consequence

Jeremiah 10:5 (KJV) They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

We tend to get consumed with some superstitious nonsense.  How often are we careful not to offend other people because of their religious beliefs?  I think of how we are afraid to even touch the Muslim holy book, the Quran.  I think of how they riot when they think someone has insulted that book.  I think about houses of worship, dedicated to pagan gods or to Satan.  The word God is giving to Jeremiah is to set those things aside.  They themselves cannot do evil nor good.

So?  Keep reminding yourself.  There is only one God.  Yes, there are demonic forces.  Yes, there is a devil.  But there is only one God, and as God, He trumps any minor influence they might have.  Live in peace from that aspect of life.  You may have to worry about scorpions, but you don’t need to worry about idols dedicated to scorpions.  

Turn About

Psalms 141:10 (KJV) Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

(Proverbs 1 also read)

In the previous chapter, I noticed that David was concerned about the traps that people had set for him and was asking God to make sure that he did not fall into them.  Here we have the other side of that request.  We don’t know the timing of these two chapters.  We don’t know if David was thinking of the other when he wrote this.  We do know that he was praying for deliverance by God.

And how appropriate it is to pray that people would fall into the traps that they have planned for us?  I often wonder if that isn’t the way God works.  People plan evil.  The evil ends up consuming them.  How fitting.

So?  I don’t know that we should spend our time wishing evil on others, but it certainly is a reminder that we need to feather our nest with righteousness, and not with clever schemes.  

Well Planned

Jeremiah 4:22 (KJV) For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

Most of us know in a general sense the difference between right and wrong.  We know good from evil.  So does the rest of the world, even if they don’t agree with us on all of the fine details.  What is frustrating is that people tend to choose to go the way of wrong and evil.  Not only is it a deliberate choice, but it is a choice that involves conscious effort.

That comes through in this verse.  These are the children of Israel.  They may not know every detail of the law, but they have a general idea of how their lives should be lived.  Instead of putting the effort into finding ways to honor God, they invest the strength they have into finding ways around Him.  The KJV says they are wise, the NASB says, shrewd.  In many ways, these are positive qualities yet not when used to pursue evil.

So?  You only have so much time and so much energy.  You have a mind God has given you and an understanding and education with which to use that in mind.  Use it for God’s glory, not to fight Him.  

Brainstorming

Proverbs 29:11 (KJV) A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Modern business models at one point had a technique called brainstorming.  I believe you would sit around and just say anything that came to mind.  There was no criticism.  There was no limitation.  There was no penalty for anything you said.  At least that was the theory.  I’m not sure it worked that well in real life.  One reason it didn’t work very well is people are really afraid to express their thoughts because they knew what their superiors wanted and as low level employees they weren’t about to risk their necks by being honest.

Psychology has similar ideas about sharing your inner feelings and opening up who you are and what you really want to say.  I’ve never been to any in-depth psychological counseling, but I picture people sitting around and sharing your thoughts.  Remember the Bob Newhart show and how he would have a group of crazies sitting in a circle and sharing.  This is just another one of those ideas of modern psychology that go against what God seems to really want.

So?  I’m sure there’s a time for sharing thoughts but the point here is that you should spend a bit of time meditating and clarifying you’re thinking before you just blurt things out.  It goes along with the idea of being quick to listen and slow to speak.  

Legal Revival

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

(Proverbs 28 also read)

This whole section of Psalm 119 reflects the relationship between loving the law and God reaching out and restoring us.  It’s a constant conflict, especially for those of us who have been raised in the reformation ideas of grace and faith.  But notice here what happens in this verse.

First of all, the Psalmist writes about how he loves God’s law.  Here the synonym is “precepts”.  From there he asked God to “quicken” him.  I think a good way to think of this is that phrase that we often use “the quick and the dead”.  It means those who are alive and so here the Psalmist is calling upon God to make him alive.

The second point here is that he doesn’t say quicken me according to the law but according to God’s loving kindness.  This is that awesome Hebrew word chesed.  It speaks of mercy forgiveness and, yes, Grace.

So?  In the Old Testament you see the balance between the word of God and His standards and the love of God and His willingness to forgive.  I find that a great balance from my own life.  

Faint Praise

Proverbs 27:2 (KJV) Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

What do you do if no one ever praises you?  Most of us would admit that is a bit of an exaggeration, even though it often feels that way.  Very few people never get any praise.  The praise may not be sincere, it may not be deserved, but it still shows up somewhere in your life.  I remember in summer camp.  One of the boys was pinning over a young damsel, and we were giving him ideas about how to praise her.  My contribution was that he should tell her, “I like the way you hold your fork.”  I didn’t think it would work then and it probably wouldn’t work now, but it was my contribution.  You can see why people didn’t ask me for advice in the area of romance.

What if it doesn’t seem like anybody is praising you.  That could be for a very good reason, you don’t broadcast the wonderful things you do.  When it comes time to contribute to a special need at the church, you may slip your gift in quietly while others will make a show of it.  You may be the one who comes in in the middle of the week and scrubs the toilets and no one ever thinks about it.  It could also be because you never do anything worth praising. That is something to think about.

So?  Christian humility is a real thing.  It’s a matter of having a lack of pride and arrogance.  It’s a matter of putting others before yourself.  It’s a matter of turning the other cheek and going the extra mile.  Sometimes faint praise is the best kind of praise.  

Defensive Strategies

Psalms 140:5 (KJV) The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

How does God protect us from those who mean us evil?  Think of the words of the 23rd Psalm, “but deliver us from evil”.  There it could be interpreted as the evil one.  Either way, we are surrounded by forces that would drag us down.  Some are just the natural results of a creation that has been polluted by sin, and others are simply demonic.

Here we have a couple of suggestions.  It doesn’t come through very well in the KJV, but there are a couple of thoughts here.  First of all the idea that maybe God can guide us down paths where they won’t be waiting for us.  Very possible.  The weak spot in this is our reluctance to listen and pay attention.  Just think of all the problems we could miss with a little bit more wisdom in our decisions.

Another idea here is that God would somehow shield us from their traps.  That is the word “gins” in the KJV.  In the old English “gins” meant engines or elaborate schemes.  Maybe you could think of it as God transforming us into greased pigs.  I don’t know if you’ve ever seen that activity where a bunch of kids will chase a greased pig.  Greasy pigs are very hard to get a hold of.  So are people that are covered by the blanket of the Holy Spirit.

So?  David’s prayer should be yours, that God would shelter you and shield you from all of the evil gins of Satan and his minions.  

How Do You Know?

Proverbs 25:19 (KJV) Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

The question that is hard to answer here, to me anyway, is “How do you know someone is unfaithful?  Is there a standard test?”  I don’t think so.  Like so many other areas of a walk in faith, it requires discernment, reason, and willingness to look at truth as opposed to fantasy. 

And unfaithful man on one level is simply someone who’s not a believer, I guess.  It’s a person who has no faith.  I think that it goes beyond that.  There are times when we will have to rely on people who are not believers and we still need to make discerning decisions.  These are hard opinions to reach because they require us to do a bit of judging and evaluating.

Keep in mind that we don’t make up the rules.  If someone is a murderer, he is not a murderer because we decide he is but because God has called him that.  God is the one who decides what is right and what is wrong and if all we are doing is correctly applying those labels.  Weare not judging but simply responding with discernment.

So?  When you are evaluating whether someone is faithful or not, one of the ways in which you can make that judgment is on whether they follow the law of God.  Are they basically moral?  Can they be trusted when no one is watching?  Hard questions, but then life is not easy.  

Be Careful

Proverbs 24:17 (KJV) Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

As I write, we are digesting the knowledge that Joe Biden has cancer and is not long to be on this earth.  Many people have responded with traditional messages of condolence.  Others have been less dignified.  How should we respond to something like this?

There is no question to anyone has been paying attention that Joe Biden has been an evil force in our country.  He has been an enemy to Christianity and to the republic.  At the same time there is a very stern admonition here about how we are to respond when someone who is clearly an enemy falls.  Read it and weep if you must.  You must also not gloat and his misfortune.

This does not mean that we do not seek justice or enforce the law.  This is about our attitude as believers.  We are not of the world.  We are to be different.

So?  Be different.  If nothing else, pray that this last awakening call to Joe Biden before he goes into eternity will bring him to repentance.  

Landmarks

Proverbs 23:10 (KJV) Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

Before I spiritualize this and make an application, take a moment to consider what has gone before.  When Israel came into the promised land, it was divided up by tribes.  Within the tribes, it was divided up again and you ended up with people who were given land that was supposed to be theirs forever.  I believe the concept was that you could not sell it permanently, that, for instance, in the year of jubilee it would return to its original owners.

So the old landmarks were significant in saying who each family was, and how they fit into the nation of Israel.  They were not taken lightly.  They weren’t just some marks on the ground.  They were significant fixtures meant to be permanent.  They were the place which you begin to measure other things from.

Now let’s spiritualize just a little bit.  We have certain landmarks that are supposed to be permanent in our lives.  These are the rocks of truth that God gives us in His word.  They are not to be discarded or changed.  They are the starting point of everything else.

It’s easy to mistake landmarks with cultural points of reference.  In worship some people think that the hymns are the only spiritual music.  I confess I come close to that, but I don’t think I’m quite that closed minded.  But we have a scripture reference to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  It covers a lot of ground.

So?  Make sure that the basis of your decisions and your values are rooted in scripture not in culture.  Culture changes.  Traditions change.  Truth is a landmark that does not vary.  

Ouch!

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

At our Wednesday night service I spoke up when I heard some things that didn’t add up.  It became clear to me that the pastor had not done his homework.  It could’ve just been the fact that he’s been sick lately and his mind isn’t clear yet.  Either way what he said did not make sense.  All you had to do was a little digging yourself and you didn’t need any commentaries or any charts or graphs.  Things were clearly presented in scripture.

That itself is not the issue.  What I ask myself when I read verses like this is, “Should I just sit and be quiet when nonsense is spoken?”  I don’t really have an answer because I am wrong often enough that I can’t get too arrogant.  Would it be best if I “cast” (1644) myself out as a skeptic?  Would that really help the body to grow stronger?

So?  Someone once said if people are talking about the crazy member of the family and you don’t know anybody in your family that fits that bill then it’s possible that you are the crazy member of the family.  Apply that to scorners.  Self examination is very valuable.  

Assumptions

Proverbs 21:12 (KJV) The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

Proverbs 21:12 (NKJV) The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their  wickedness.

Look at these two translations.  If you are even semi-serious about your Bible study, you recognize the use of italics in the tradition of the KJV, and the NASB.  It indicates that the word in italics is not in the original language.  It’s interesting to me the difference in translation between these two versions of the King James.  In both cases, the keyword is in italics.  The change in how they interpret it makes a difference in how the verse is understood.  This difference is reflected in different translations.

I think the idea that God is the one who is righteous and who examines the house of the wicked is much more appropriate than putting a man in there.  This reminds us that God is not blind, and that He does not ignore evil.

So?  You are not going to overthrow the wicked next door.  Ultimately, that is God’s responsibility and if you have read Romans 13, He is giving the government the responsibility to bear the sword to punish evil.  So relax.  Let God be God.  You can count on that even if you can’t count on the government doing its job.  

Rewards

Proverbs 20:7 (KJV) The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Children and grandchildren are generally a joy.  For most people they are the greatest joy when they’re still in the diaper stage before they walk.  That is because they still seem to be innocent and their self-centeredness is disguised by their cuteness.  People sitting behind young parents will make faces at the babies as they look over your shoulder.  It’s a grand time.

But remember what Peter, Paul, and Mary sang, “A dragon lives forever but not so little boys.”  These wonderful “innocent” children grow up and begin to display a lot of characteristics that are not so wonderful . We still enjoy them.  We still think they are the best thing since sliced bread.

Eventually they grow up and start out on their own.  It is at that point that you begin to find out what kind of investment you’ve made.  What Solomon is saying here is that you don’t know until your children grow up what kind of an example you set for them.  I speak from my position of joy.  My father raised four boys.  They were all credit to him, family, and God.  My brother just died and I can say the same thing about his four children.  Their lives were lived in such a way that they invested in the next generation.

So?  If you have no children, then your contribution may be that of an uncle or a godfather, but you still have a contribution.  If you are a young parent, consider these words carefully.  If you’re an older parent, keep in mind that you continue to have input.  May God bless you and your children.  

Family Ties

Proverbs 19:26 (KJV) He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Recently, I visited my uncle.  He’s 93 and has made a decision to move from his two bedroom duplex into assisted-living.  It’s his decision.  He made it on his own.  He had some good reasons for doing so.  In the midst of this decision, I think there is an awareness as if it were necessary his children would find ways to take care of him.

This verse should remind us of a principle that God is established for the family.  When the children are young, adults take care of them.  The adults do a good job.  Then the children become independent and stand on their own two feet.  When the parents get too old to care for themselves the biblical standard is that the children will make sure that they are taken care of.  How that would work out and each individual family I don’t know.  We joke about if I were left penniless and no place to go, my son has a spare bedroom.  To his credit and my sense of satisfaction, he nods his head and says, “Sure.”

In many families, the animosity created by the parents, or the children would make this impossible.  In some families the elderly are so irascible that no one would have them.  To be honest many have earned that rejection.  It’s sad the way family breaks down, but there still is a biblical principle here.

So?  We never had to take our parents in, but we always made sure that they had a place to live and they were taken care of.  I trust that God will honor us in the same way with our children.  It’s a standard that needs to be reinforced. 

Be of Good Cheer

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

I think this verse stood out to me this morning as I was coughing and spitting and blowing, and all the other things that go along with one of these long-term congestions.  In spite of that, my spirits are high, because I know the Creator.  I know He put within me a system to fight disease and to attack invaders in my body.  That doesn’t make me cough less, but it certainly assures me that things are in good hands.

My ailments are minor in the scheme of things.  What is probably more encouraging than my knowledge that God is in charge is the spirit I’ve seen in others who are suffering from things that I would consider to be really serious.  All around me I see people who are going through possibly the last major illness they have, and they still exhibit a trust in the Lord.  Their joy at times may be a bit down, but the Joy is still there.

So?  Whether it is your own inner assurance, or the outer assurance radiating from other believers, it is good to know that we are sustained by the spirit of “God is with us”.  

Laying the Groundwork

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

There are a number of important issues that are addressed in this verse.  One is the issue of abortion.  When does life begin?  When are you killing a human child as opposed to what some like to call a lump of tissue?  I think some of that is pretty obvious here and it’s not what I want to address today anyway.

What strikes me here is the call of God on a life.  I am a big proponent of free will.  I believe that being created in the image of God makes us different than the animals and gives us the ability to make moral decisions.  The most important decision, of course, is whether we are going to trust in Jesus, or not.  It goes beyond that.  Here it is the question of what kind of precision God uses in molding some people in their personalities and attitudes.

Noticed that God says He is forming Jeremiah and that even before that He knew him.  He also says that He has ordained him as a prophet.  Does this mean Jeremiah had no choice in responding to God’s call?  Some would say so, but I don’t think so.  The issue is that God created in his heart not only the ability to be a prophet, but a desire to do God’s will.

I don’t think that God gets this detailed in everybody’s lives, but I do believe that there are some cases where He muddies the water to His advantage.

So?  Are you going to feel sorry for yourself that God has chosen you for a special role in life and has given you the abilities and gift to perform that?  Or are you just going to rejoice in the fact that God took the time to mold you into being something that He could clarify himself with. Your choice. 

So King Me

Proverbs 16:10 (KJV) A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

This verse begins a short segment that repeatedly refers to the king.  Being born in America, with a long history of challenging kings going back through England, we tend to think that kings are evil horses.  The Bible assumes that monarchy is the natural way things should be done.  Go ahead and look for the words, democracy or “federal republic” in the Bible.  In this case, I won’t bother to wait because I know they’re not there.

Does that make representative government evil?  No.  But it does remind us that the thing that makes America great and a country blessed by God is not the fact that we have elections instead of a king.  The difference is in the moral standards and principles behind the common culture of the country.  Unfortunately we seem to be abandoning those foundations even while we still have elections.

So?  We need to be more concerned about the moral fiber of our country than about cheating and elections.  If the moral fiber is strong the cheating is minimal.  If the moral fiber is decayed it won’t matter the way it’s done.  God is more concerned about the moral fiber.  How about you?  

A Case for Both/And

Proverbs 15:10 (KJV) Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

At first, I compared this in the KJV to the NKJV.  I saw a clear difference in how it was translated.  As I compare different translations, I saw two ways in which this was viewed.  The first was that for the person who forsakes the way of God correction will be hard to take and severe.  The other is that the person who forsakes of God will not respond well to discipline.

I am guessing that the different translations are more in the attitude of the translator them in the clarity of the text.  After a brief moment of trying to figure out which might be better I realize that this is a case where the Holy Spirit has caused the Bible to be translated in different ways, not showing that we would say either/or, but that we would say both/and.

Notice this is not just condemning the person who makes a mistake or gets a little casual.  This is the person who turns his back and walks away from God.  God is not amused.  Even more than that God realizes this person needs to be smacked hard if they’re going to be brought to the awareness of their need for repentance.

So?  Obviously, the first and most important thing is to be obedient and to serve God with all your heart mind, soul and strength.  I think it would be that if you ever do get smacked down to examine your life and find out if there is a growing belligerence or insensitivity, and you are directing your feet outside of his direction.  Grow in grace.  

Redefining

Proverbs 14:15 (NKJV) The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

I make a point of regularly pointing out the difference between a skeptic and a cynic.  Perhaps here is a better word to describe the role of the skeptic.  Skeptics do not deny truth they just ask for proof.

Maybe it would be better to consider myself prudent, rather than skeptical.  It sounds more noble for one thing, but it means much the same.  There is truth.  Biblical truth is relatively easy to find.  Political truth and current events truth is almost impossible.  That is why we need to start with the Bible and then move on with a smell test to see what the world tells us.

So?  Accept that there is truth to be found, and that God will help you find it but like many things in life if you don’t go looking, it will remain buried. 

The Payoff

Proverbs 13:22 (KJV) A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

I generally tend to start with financial issues when talking about inheritance.  I think that’s the general understanding of this verse, however it goes much further than that.  I just came from a week with my brothers family as we prepared for his funeral.  It was one glorious time.  I feel I know him better now than I did when he was alive because I was able to look into the hearts and minds of his children.  Even better, I was able to interact with his grandchildren, his children’s children, as it says in this verse.

What a delightful bunch of kids.  What a joy to be around.  What an inheritance.  I know that my brother faced the end in peace and assurance.  Much of that was based on his personal faith with the Lord.  In addition, there was the evidence that not only were his children on the right path but his grandchildren are following up.

So?  Are you making good investments?  The most important ones will not be found online as you review your portfolio.  Stop on the way by a bedroom.  Look in.  See the young souls being molded.  Rejoice. 

Root Resources

Proverbs 12:12 (KJV) The wicked desireth the net of evil I men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

One of the differences that I see in comparing the wicked and the righteous is the source of what they are looking for.  One looks inward and one looks outward.

The wicked is looking at what other people are bringing in and is hoping that he can gain from what he sees.  Here he seems to focus on those that are called evil.  I don’t know if you would call this birds of a feather or nuts falling from the tree.  Either way the resources available are destructive.

On the other hand at this point, at least, the righteous are going down to their roots.  We are looking inside.  I would have to conclude that we are talking about the way in which the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit living within us and having that fountain of living water.

So?  Which will it be?  Will you look at the lower level inputs around you or will you stick to the voice of God that is speaking to you from your heart.  And of course I would assume that you have been feeding that inner voice by a regular diet of His word. 

Still Creating

Psalms 139:14 (KJV) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

In this Psalm David is talking about how God individually molded who he was going to be.  You can look at the previous verse for more insight into that.  What struck me with this is one of the attributes of God, or what I consider His attribute, is being creative.  We, except in the beginning of the Bible where it tells us God created the heavens and the Earth, leave that behind.  Many sometimes think that He went on vacation after that.  We accuse the Deists of thinking this way.  In reality, I think many of us believe it’s kind of like a hands-off God.

Not so fast.  While it’s possible, the God of the extremes of the universe is still creating new galaxies and whatever else He has up there, here in our hometown we forget to apply that.  We know He is busy if we just pause think about how each human being is created in the womb, unique, one of a kind, in the image of God.

What I believe that means is that when we are conceived, we are given all of the attributes we need in order to live a holy and righteous life.  We are given everything we need in order to follow where God wants to go.  We have moral choice.  This is where it gets to a level that is beyond me.  How can that first fertilized egg have the ability to make moral choices?  I don’t have a clue.  But I know that God made that individual with the ability to achieve eternity with Him.

So?  What are you doing with your uniqueness?  Are you using it for the glory of God or just to have a rich life now? 

No Verses

Romans 1:9 (KJV) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Romans 1:9 (NASB95) For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,

(Proverbs 10 also read)

Take a moment to look at this verse in both translations.  You may notice that the KJV talks about making mention of them in their prayers but you don’t see that in the NASB.  This is one of those cases where you need to be reminded that the original manuscripts did not have the divisions in verses and chapters.  It was one continuous manuscript and later translators made the divisions.

If you have your Bible in front of you, you’ll notice that the phrase about prayer is included in the NASB, but in the next verse.  The translators had to make a decision whether they were going to make this a part of the previous verse or the start of the next verse.

Again, I think this is one of those cases where we don’t have to make a decision of either/or but the Holy Spirit is directing us to both/and.

So?  Look for things that you think might be discrepancies, put on your thinking cap, open your mind to the leader ship of the Spirit, and grow in grace and wisdom.

Cross Culture

Jeremiah 2:13 (KJV) For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

In this chapter, Jeremiah goes into a long recounting of the unfaithfulness of the nation of Israel.  He goes all the way back to Egypt.  He points out that once again after all this time they are going to trust in Egypt instead of their God.  There’s a lot of creative writing, figures of speech, historical references, and so forth.

But here’s a verse that should stand out in your mind if it doesn’t sound familiar already.  We have often strayed away.  This is something that is not just a problem for Israel.  It is a problem for everyone.  We substitute an artificial construction for the living God.  Building a cistern is not a bad idea if the source of water is unreliable.  That’s not the picture here.  What we have is a picture of a very dependable source of water, which has never failed.  And they decide to build a cistern.

And it’s a crummy cistern.  It leaks.  I can just see the mold crawling across the bottom.  It probably has green scum everywhere.  That would be bad enough but it seems that instead of using the living water on a daily basis, they use the cistern.

So?  What are you relying on for your hope for tomorrow?  What is it that feeds you on a regular basis?  God has provided His word.  We have access to worship. We can spend time meditating and worshiping Him.  But instead we go to self-help books, psychology, sociology and anything else that appeals to us.  This is a reminder to keep our focus on trusting him. 

Are You Following Me?

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

(Proverbs 8 also read)

The mosquitoes have decided that I was worth sucking blood from.  The sun was up and the warm air was starting to stir and make things uncomfortable.  I decided it was time to go in.  In the spirit of frivolity, I bid the Lord adieu and start it toward the door.  Rabbit trails can strike at any moment.

As I was moving toward the door, it occurred to me that even though I went inside the house, I did not mean that God was going to stay out on the porch.  He’s already seen the sunrise, knew every color that would be exhibited.  He didn’t have to worry about the mosquitoes.  And He wasn’t going to stay out there and let me think that I got off on my own.  God accompany me as I went through the door and back to my room to change my environment.

That is a lighthearted way of reminding me, and, possibly you, God is with us wherever we go.  We can’t get away from Him.  Of course, that brings up the question of, why would we want to?

So?  Rejoice in the awesome presence of Almighty God.  And keep in mind that, although the Bible doesn’t use the word, we look at God as being omnipresent. 

Trust

Proverbs 7:19 (KJV) For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

When I read something like this, I wonder why it is that people marry people they can’t trust.  It is beyond my comprehension that my wife would be cheating on me while I’m out of town.  I certainly hope she has that same feeling toward me.

And yet you hear about this kind of thing all the time.  I often wonder how common it really is.  When I was teaching, we used to have a group of young hotshots, who love to brag about their conquests.  I didn’t grill them, but I know human nature and I know young macho males.  Just because they wanted it to be true doesn’t mean it was.  Just because you hear something doesn’t mean it’s true.  Consider it an old form of fake news.

In my family and my immediate circle I don’t believe I’ve heard of any unfaithfulness.  Maybe I wasn’t listening.  Maybe I am in denial.  Maybe I am surrounded by people that love Jesus and walk according to His standards.

So?  It does make a difference what people believe.  And the right belief leads to the ability to trust.

Pick a Verse, Any Verse

Psalms 136:5 (KJV) To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

I am actually reading Psalms in the NASB.  The NASB family of translations make this word “mercy” into “loving kindness”.  In the Hebrew that is chesed.  It’s one of those words that just grabs hold of me and shakes me around every time I think about it.  In this chapter, it is impossible not to think about it because it comes out in every single verse.

This is a recurring theme with me and that’s OK.  It is an important theme or concept.  I rank it right up there with agape from the Greek.  It is a loaded word that is at the center of what we believe.  I prefer the translation of loving kindness.  Part of it may be artistic, but I’m not known as being artistic.  I just like the combination and spread of meaning it has in it.  It isn’t conveyed just the word mercy, although that is powerful.

So?  Take a moment to rejoice in the reality of God’s love and kindness.  Let it be a framework for your attitude today.

What about Me?

(Psa 135:4 KJV)  For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

I have a friend who makes a big deal of the fact that we are not Israel, and we are not the chosen people.  His point gets extended beyond the obvious to saying that the promises of God that were given to Israel do not pertain to us.  He is open to doing some interpretation and looking for principles.  This is double true when he finds something in the Old Testament that backs up one of his personal theories.  I think we’re all like that a bit.

So, if we are not Israel, and we are not of Jacob, what are we to do?  I would suggest to keep reading and apply the lessons and standards given because they come from God.  It’s true that if you take your children out to dinner, you are not responsible for feeding every child in the restaurant.  You don’t have to buy a child a present for Christmas if you don’t even know if he’s around.  There are a lot of limitations like this.  At the same time, the concept of feeding your children and giving gifts are good solid concepts.  They pertain to the parents and that restaurant who don’t even know your children.

So?  In the same way the Ten Commandments apply to you.  In the same way that first commandment that you would have “no other gods before Me” applies to you.  It may be that you don’t need to keep a kosher kitchen.  It’s obvious that you can’t do sacrifices in the temple, but neither can the Jews today.  Look for the ways in which you can bring joy to God’s Heart, not ways in which you can avoid His expectations. 

Anti-Cultural Blessing

Psalms 128:4 (KJV) Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

When you see verses like this you need to pause and look a bit at the context.  It is very easy to fill in the blanks of what a blessing is by our current priorities and desires.  Many of those are sent by our cultural environment and the expectations of others.  Take a moment to look back at the verses preceding this if you have your Bible open and available.

Blessing here is a comment about having children and our family.  We live in a day where children are considered a burden instead of a blessing.  We need to get over that.  We need to accept the biblical standard.

So?  You are probably like me, it’s too late to start a family.  What we can do that will help the situation is to encourage others who are younger to seriously consider that children are a blessing from God.   Keep in mind it’s not me talking, it’s what God says. 

Read It All

Psalms 127:2 (KJV) It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:  for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

It is really easy to read a verse like this and use it as an excuse for doing what you wanted to do in the first place.  You need to read the context.  It’s really isn’t a lesson in sloth, it is a lesson in obedience and trust.  We are expected to work hard.  We are to do these things with we can understanding that ultimately success is up to the Lord.

So?  Read the context.  Make sure you got the whole picture before you do something stupid.