9/26/18

Some Thoughts From Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:26

Lying takes a hard hit in this verse.  Overall the careful will do well to note how often and with what zeal the writers of Proverbs attack the liar.

Lying is a part of every sin described by the wise man, but in Proverbs 12:12 it is stated so that we cannot ignore it, “ lying lips are an abomination to the Lord”.

9/25/18

Some Thoughts From Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25: 2

² It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.

We are by this statement assured that God conceals things.

This being so why is it so hard to say “I don’t know.''

What did Jesus write on the ground in John 8?

I don’t know.

What was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.''

I don't know.

 Who wrote Hebrews?

 I don't know.

1. The truth is there are certain things due to a lack of application.

2. There are certain things I do not know nor will ever know.

3. There are certain things that I know but may change my opinion on these matters.

4. There are certain things I know that are not debatable.

5. I know far more than I what I do.  My concern then should be to do better with what I know.

9/24/18

Thoughts from Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24:10

¹⁰ If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.

What is here?

A. We can expect adversity.

B. There is the possibility of fainting or failing.

C. But there is no necessity of failing.

D. Failing is personal.

E. Seeking and doing what is needed to gain strength is not only desirable but necessary.

Proverbs 24:16

¹⁶ for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
    but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

The righteous are not guaranteed infallibility, but perseverance.

But the wicked are assured that troubles will bring failure.

Proverbs 24:17

¹⁷ Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
    and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

The prohibition of retaliation extends to the attitude the believer has toward his opponent.

Gloating is not an option.

I personally do not under­stand verse 18.

Proverbs 24:19-20

¹⁹ Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
    and be not envious of the wicked,
²⁰ for the evil man has no future;
    the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

There two reasons we are not to fret.

1. His influence is limited.

2. His life is brief.

9/23/198

Proverbs 23:17

Let not your heart envy sinners,
    but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

Psalm 73:2-3

² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had nearly slipped.
³ For I was envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

The Psalmist in Psalm 73: 2-3 states this as a fact and then explains the consequences. No matter how often this warning is given to believers, they invariably make this mistake. But why should we not envy sinners? Here are some reasons:

1. What they have is temporary.

2. There is no one certainty that it satisfies the owner.

3. There is no guarantee that it was acquired lawfully.

4. This envy is covetousness which is idolatry.

5. Prosperity brings with it both responsibilities and temptations which may be greater than our ability to manage.

6. The wealth we envy may be to the owner's destruction.

7. The "fear of the Lord" is damaged by this envy.

9/22/18

Thoughts from Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22: 7

The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

This first statement gives us an ancient fact. This is so now as it has ever been.

There are two facts to remember:

A. The rich own and control the resources.

B. They will best prepare themselves for these resources. The second statement gives the reason this ownership so often issues into servitude. The poor, for whatever reason, becomes a borrower  

and the debtor must always limit his freedom by his debt.

Proverbs 22:29

Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.

I was reared drinking cow’s milk. There it was a given “the cream will rise to the top." The wise man informs us the careful skilled craftsman will be known. Whether he be watchmaker, welder, or diesel mechanic you cannot hide him. He will be known by those who matter.

This is dedicated to all the craftsmen I have known, mechanics and preachers.

Thoughts from Proverbs 21

Proverbs 21: 2

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the hearts.

True religion can be identified by two traits:

1. It always has a spiritual motivation. It begins as the writer Proverbs asserts with “the fear of the Lord”. This translates in the New Testament faith in the Savior.

2. True religion will always be ethically fruitful or as in verse three," to do righteousness and justice." Claims to true religion without a faith that produces good works are shams.

Proverbs 21:4

⁴ A haughty look, a proud heart,
And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

That arrogance and pride are sin comes as no surprise, but that “the plowing of the wicked” is included seems unusual. But this informs us that the best production of the unconverted, (it is wise for him to plot his field), is sinful. This is the meaning of total depravity. All the unconverted does is sin.

Thoughts from Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20:22

²² Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
    wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

The history of society beginning in Genesis reveals an evolution of civic justice. From what began in the early chapters of Genesis through the history of the patriarchs and Israel as a nation is a progression of a system of an organized legal framework.  What began as the Lex Talonis by the time of the Proverbs is a justice system that does not allow retaliation or revenge. The establishment of justice by the established government is in Romans 13:1-7.

In verse 22 retaliation is disallowed.  It is this principle asserted when Jesus instructs  to “turn the other cheek”.  This is not forbidding protection of life and property.  It is confirming the prohibition of personal retaliation.

Thoughts From Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19:1

¹ Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

How bad is it to be a fool? It is better to walk in integrity. It is better to be a poor person "if" he walks in integrity. It is probably worse to be both crooked in speech or a deceiver and be a fool. Whatever, it must be noted for the writer of Proverbs, being a fool is bad. But being both a fool and liar is worse.

Proverbs 19:3

³ When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,
    his heart rages against the Lord.

Whenever you hear someone say “I don’t want a God that would allow this to happen”, be sure you have just heard a fool. Only a fool would assume to judge God.

Proverbs 19:21

²¹ Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Even the simple realize very early that there is no guarantee in man’s plans. This verse includes the fact that the number of plans does not change this. But there is a certainty, it is God’s purpose. Always has been...always will be

Thoughts from Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:13

¹³ If one gives an answer before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.

This verse has special meaning to me because I have been so often guilty of this.  When this verse is read, the truth of it seems so obvious, but it is so seldom practiced that it must be poorly understood.  There are at least two obvious results to this failing.

1.       The answer may be foolish to the one asking the question.

2.       It shames the person asking the question by ignoring their intent and substituting an answer not sought.

Proverbs 18:24

²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Two thoughts: 

1.       The number of companions do not equal friendship.  There may be many companions while there are no true friends.

2.      True friendship is no less a reality and no less valuable.

9/4/18

The gender of wisdom is first mentioned in Proverbs 1:20.  From this first mention wisdom is in the feminine gender.  And there is no change from this identity in any later contexts; cf chapter 1, 4:1-9, and chapter 8.  I say this as a denial of wisdom being Christ personified.  The Christ is never referred in the feminine gender.

Wisdom is an attribute of God present in creation and in God’s counsels of salvation and providence.

Wisdom is communicable also. All humans are called to exercise a general wisdom such as labor, justice and love.  Believers are the subjects of this also.  Wisdom drawn from commandment and word is special. 

There are two facts to know:

1.Wisdom is never perfect in man.

2. Believers are to increase in wisdom.

Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1  (ESV)

¹ The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

² To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
³ to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
⁴ to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
⁵ Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
⁶ to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,
⁹ for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;
¹² like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
¹³ we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;
¹⁴ throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—
¹⁵ my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
¹⁶ for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
¹⁷ For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
¹⁸ but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
¹⁹ Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

9/1/18

Proverbs 1:1ff

There are four takeaways in this chapter. They will be the foundation for the whole.

1. Verse 7 This is key verse to all wisdom. 

A. No fear, no beginning.

B. Always on every occasion without any exception fools despise wisdom as it is intended here.

2. Verses 10,15 This was then, and is now, the only way to escape destructive influence,

never start on their way.

3. Verse 23 There is no blessing from from the Holy Spirit.  And the Spirit never blesses the unrepentant person.

4. Verses 28-31 The wicked unrepentant person by definition hates God, His Word, and all requirements of His Law.  

All present sinful acts are a result of this hatred.