An Obvious Secret

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

(Proverbs 30 also read)

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

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

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

Why Mow?

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

(Proverbs 29 also read)

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

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

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

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

A Dove, Not a Chicken

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

(Proverbs 28 also read)

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

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

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

Guardrail

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

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

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

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

Fools, Pro and Con

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tone Deaf God

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

(Proverbs 25 also read)

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

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

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

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

Tense Moments

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

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

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

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

Picture That

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

(Proverbs 23 also read)

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

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

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

Hidden Grace

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

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

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

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

The Fallow Heart

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

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

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

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

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

Near Death Loving Kindness

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

(Proverbs 20 also read)

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

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

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

Basic Requirements

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

(Proverbs 19 also read)

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

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

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

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

On a High

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I Heard You the First Time

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

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

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

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

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

Rewards

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

(Proverbs 16 also read)

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

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

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

So?  Make sure you pray for the good guys.

I Don’t Like This Comparison

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

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

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

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

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

Clues of Eternity

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

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

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

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

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

Ah, Culture

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

(Proverbs 13 also read)

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

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

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

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

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

My House or Yours?

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

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

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

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

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

The Real Danger

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

(Proverbs 11 also read)

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

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

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

Reformed Sacrifice

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

(Proverbs 10 also read)

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

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

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

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

Timing

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

(Proverbs 9 also read)

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

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

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

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

Vice-Versa

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

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

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

She’s Everywhere

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

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

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

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

Day Lights

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

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

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

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

Distractions

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

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

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

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

You Will Need a Dictionary

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

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

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

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

Early Morning Ears

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

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

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

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

Wise Heart

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

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

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

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

Personal Covenant

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

(Proverbs 1 also read)

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

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

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