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. 

Your Own Lying Eyes

Proverbs 12:2 (KJV) A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

Stop and read that verse again.  I hope you see a bit of tension between what it says, and what you have probably been told again and again.  Because of the influence of certain theologians and theological systems, we have taken certain verses such as,

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

and,

Romans 3:10 (KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

and interpreted them in such a way that ignores large portions of scripture which modify these statements.  Yes, we are all sinners, we have all sinned.  No arguments there.  And whether you understand it or not that second verse quoted is just a restatement of that.  That does not mean that people do not have desires to live right, and opposed to that, desires to commit evil.

So?  According to the Bible, not just the apostle Paul, but the entire scripture, there are people who desire to do what is right.  God’s grace is extended to those people.  Their sins are forgiven, not expecting perfection, but putting us in right standing with God.  Be one of the good guys.

Perfect Grammar

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

(Proverbs 11 also read)

First, let me make it clear that I am not an expert in Hebrew by any means.  What I have to do is something that anyone can do and that is use the tools available through books and software to try and understand what the Bible is saying.  In this case, I started looking at the verbs in verse one, and follow through to the end of the chapter.  I found that in every case, except for one of the verses were in the imperfect tense.

The imperfect tense in the Hebrew is similar to the present tense in Greek.  I know that clarifies it to you right?  What that means is that it is a continuous action.  So in verse one when it says the Lord is my shepherd the idea is conveyed to be a continuous process.  So the 23rd Psalm is a living testimony of David walking with God and can be a reassurance for us.

The one exception is the anointing that takes place in this verse.  This is in the perfect tense, which means that it is a one time event.  You can draw whatever parallels you want from that.  You could take the fact that as king David was anointed one time.  You could take it as evidence that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and saved that it is a one time event, or at least should be a one time event.  You could take this as a messianic prophecy.

So?  The Bible is to be read as a living document designed and delivered to living people.  It is something that we can apply day after day and trust what it has to say.  God is continually preparing a table for you.  Sit down and enjoy. 

Effort and Depression

Proverbs 10:4 (KJV) He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

This seems like such a simple statement.  It is.  Too simple.  We need to dig a little deeper and look a little wider to find the full council of God on this.  This is flushed out by this complementary passage.

Proverbs 13:23 (NASB95) Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, But it is swept away by injustice.

The Bible is clear that hard work makes us better off than being lazy.  It is also clear that there are people in power who can corrupt the system and make it impossible for us to get ahead.

So?  If you are a warrior for justice as defined by righteousness then you are on God’s side.  Yes, God does take sides.  If you are a social justice warrior, pushing your agenda then you are one of those who is sweeping others away with injustice.

Quite a Pair

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

The word “simple“ or “naïve“ has the idea of being empty headed or, as I’ve said before, having an open mind.  It’s like driving down the freeway in a pickup loaded with ping-pong balls and having a tailgate down.  That is the kind of openness we are talking about.

Although I won’t consult it for doctrine, the NLT paraphrase has an interesting insight here.  It says,

Proverbs 9:13 (NLT) The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.

That’s quite a pair being ignorant about being ignorant.  It’s ignorant, both looking out and looking in.

So?  The solution to this problem is to close your tailgate and fill your pickup with truth that is vetted by God himself.  Seek wisdom in Him not in your culture, your education, your friends, or within your open mind. 

Biggest Sale Ever

Proverbs 8:34 (KJV) Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

One of the uses of paraphrases like the NLT is that the surprising way of putting things can catch your attention and make you think.  This verse got me today.

Proverbs 8:34 (NLT) Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!

As I contemplated this verse and tried to think of situations where we would make a priority of standing and waiting, my mind went to Black Friday.

I must confess that I have never gone out early in the morning on Black Friday and searched for great deals.  There are no bargains that are worth me sacrificing my dignity and personal safety by standing in a mass of people who are willing to shove, push, step on you and many other unsocial behaviors in order to get the first TV off the pile.  I cannot identify with that.

However, it is an attitude that would be good for us if we could adopt it when it comes to learning the truth of God.  You might not need to stand in line and push and shove.  It might require simply getting up an hour early, find a quiet corner and opening your mind of God.

So?  I’m not looking for guilt trips.  I’m just suggesting that we often find what we’re really looking for.  Just as you always seem to have time for what you want to do but not time to do the chores your wife has for you.  You’ll have more chance of hearing God’s voice if you’re actively listening. 

Having a Bad Day?

Psalms 22:6 (KJV) But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

(Proverbs 7 also read)

This is David writing, according to the first verse.  This is the man who has been identified as being one who is after God’s own heart . In the next Psalm we will have that glorious statement of “The Lord is my Shepherd….”

Obviously, David was having a bad day.  Again, I remind you, if David can have a bad day, why do you think you won’t have them?  Or maybe you’re accustomed to it and are aware that sometimes it is the valleys of life that point out how special the peaks are.  It is the struggles that make the victories so glorious.  It’s kind of like how coffee makes the donut taste so good.

So?  Keep looking up, keep trusting, believe that God is there for you, and that He will be the one who hold you up, Who shelters you. 

Dr. Livingstone, I Presume

Psalms 19:13 (KJV) Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

(Proverbs 6 also read)

This is the only place in the KJV where the Hebrew word is translated “presumptuous.”  Every other place it is simply “proud.”  I also noticed that the word “sins” is in italics, which indicates it is not in the Hebrew.  In the title I took the quote from Stanley when he met David Livingstone in the jungle.  The presumption was that he did not know for sure, but he had enough information to feel like he knew what he was talking about.  David is reminding us in his confession that we have a tendency to be a bit presumptuous when are thinking about ourselves and are communicating with God.

We need to make sure that our assumptions are based in scripture and not in culture.  They need to be grounded in the objective world God created not in the subjective environment we have established.

So?  Start your day by listening.  That’s really what meditation is and it’s an important part of worship.  Act like you are listening for instructions on an activity that you don’t know how to do or have not done before.  In a sense make each day new. 

Wall Bumpers

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

I have reached the stage in life where my path to the coffee pot in the morning involves help from the walls along the way.  It’s not an every day thing, but there are some days when I kind of bounce back-and-forth like a pinball.  It’s not a big emergency yet but someday it may be.  There are times when I get a little wobbly going downstairs.

That makes me read this verse in the NLT and smile.  Now the woman in the verse has nothing to smile about.  Running into walls is causing her great pain.  Her life is a shambles.  Unlike me she can do something about it.

Proverbs 5:6 (NLT) For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.

Like me, she doesn’t seem to realize that she’s running into the walls.  I have to wake up enough to understand that I’m not going in a straight line.

So?  Are you running into walls?  Are you aware that you’re running into walls?  You may think that’s the normal way to live life but God has something better for you.  Consider and ask yourself if you need to ponder the path of life. 

Repetition

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

There is a theme in this chapter of Proverbs, which is repeated ad nauseam.  It’s expressed in many different ways.  And it is summarized in the word “keep”.  Some translations use the word “guard”, instead of keep which gets closer to the intent.  This isn’t a matter of sticking something in your pocket, keeping it generally safe and out of the limelight.  This is a matter of setting up a rigorous defense, to keep it from being polluted, diluted or damaged.

Wisdom is precious.  Wisdom is vital.  Wisdom is easily corrupted, and watered down.

So?  Stay alert.  Keep checking to see if the germs are attacking.  If you have a pool, think of how you are constantly checking the chlorine level.  Add chemicals, the word, as needed.  There are no replacements. 

Not a Good Bet

Proverbs 3:7 (KJV) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

The New Living Translation caught my attention on this verse.

Proverbs 3:7 (NLT) Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

I got to thinking about how often we think we can handle the temptations of life and come out victorious.  I’m not talking here about the temptations we can’t avoid.  Some things are put on our plate and we have to deal with them.  In those cases we can trust God to help us find a way around or through the danger.  What I’m thinking of are those times where we get so impressed with her own wisdom and knowledge that we head straight into the storm.

I can remember going out walking in gully washers.  As a kid I would put on my poncho, don my pith helmet and boots and go for a walk in the rain.  Did I mention that I do this after dark and that much of my walking is done through the surging gutters on the side of the road and not on the sidewalk?  It was pretty stupid.  In the midst of my wisdom, I figured I was bundled up and ready to go.  I lived to not talk about it, at least around my parents.

This is a warning about that nonsense.

So?  I will admit God kind of has His eye on us and His guardian angels are working overtime to keep us out of trouble.  Don’t tempt Him to let us know how stupid we’re being.  Go for the wisdom, God’s wisdom, not ours.

Inferred Subject

Proverbs 2:12 (KJV) To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

This verse gives us the promise that wisdom, which is inferred from the context, will deliver us.  What we tend to forget is that this is not some kind of mysterious elixir or magic ray gun that hits us when we least expect it.  Consider the verses before and after.  Consider all 31 chapters.  Wisdom is available.  We must seek it.

Think of all the verbs that are used in explaining this phenomenon.  Listening and seeking are two.  Then we have meditating and thinking about.  Just about every verb that has to do with seeking knowledge is used in these chapters.

So?  Don’t just sit there and expect wisdom to descend upon your head.  Although the Holy Spirit will help you understand, and is willing to give guidance, there is still that element of growing spiritually, which requires us to direct her mind in our will toward seeking and receiving. 

The Big Robbery

Proverbs 1:19 (KJV) So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

This month I am reading Proverbs from the New Living Translation (NLT).  First a disclaimer. I am not a big fan of the NLT.  I don’t consider it a translation, it is a paraphrase.  If it admitted it was a paraphrase, I might find a use for it more often, but I don’t like hiding behind phony titles.  That being said, it did have an interesting paraphrase of this verse,

Proverbs 1:19 (NLT) Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.

Focusing on the financial aspect of life as your main motivation, robs you of real life.  I like the use of that word, “robs”.

Again note that this is not saying that money is the root of all evil, it is the priority of money, not the quantity.

So?  What is the love of your life?  What is your number one priority?  What makes everything else get in the backseat?  If you could answer that honestly, you may be on the road to revival.