Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 10:26; 26:6 ESV

10:26

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.

26:6

6 Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

The warning in the words of 10:26 and 26:6 are repeated in substance throughout the Proverbs. One who reads and understands the warning stated here, understands how carefully a messenger must be chosen.

The messenger will determine if and how the message is delivered. A sluggard, in his laziness, will most often fail to fulfill his mission. The dishonest person cannot be depended on to deliver the message he is given. The message he delivers will be self-seeking, self-protecting, and false in its content.

There is nothing extreme in this application. The words of Proverbs seem to be straight forward and plain to the reader. But man is limited in knowledge and insight and will often fail in his choice of messengers.

The “how much more” of Scripture completes the conclusion if man should choose his messenger wisely and if he were able he would never send a lazy, foolish, or false one, how much more is God’s care that His messengers be capable, honest, and faithful.

The application is then apparent. The so-called gospel preachers who are foolish, false, and greedy are not sent by God and therefore neither will nor can do gospel preaching which will result in gospel conversions. Their converts and followers are as false as they are.

The answer to this is most often “but God can take a crooked stick and strike a straight lick. Look at Balaam’s donkey. God used him to bring an honest message”. Both the proverb and the illustration are true - but only within the proper bounds.

We must remember that even in the best of instances, “this message is brought in vessels of clay.” The errors and fallibility of the best of men does not change the judgment on those who are deliberately false.

The Apostle Peter warns (II Peter 2:1-3) of the presence of these false teachers. It is of interest that he describes the teachers, the followers, and the results which are so apparent in the church today. Acts 20:29-30

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 9:1-6 ESV

1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 "Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.

The free offer of the gospel is one of the great truths of the Scriptures. Chapter 9:1-6 is an example of this. That which follows is on outline of the context.

I. 9:1-3 The offer of this gospel is sufficient for all needs.

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

9:1 Here is true stability, a house with all the support needed.

9:2 Here is an adequate supply for the hunger of the human soul. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

9:3 The call is freely and clearly given.

II. 9:4-5 The gospel contains the requirements of the Sovereign Lord.

9:4 The necessity of repentance is plain. “Let him turn”

9:5 The requirement of faith is stated clearly. “come eat and drink”.

III. 9:6 The directions for gospel success is contained in it. Col. 3:1-17

9:6A Leave the path of darkness

9:6B Live in the freedom of grace.

9:6C Walk in the path of righteousness. Hebrews 2:3

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 6:17A ESV

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

What are “haughty eyes”? Whatever this means, there is something that is certain. “The Lord hates them”. That is they are under His judgment and never will receive any promotion, kind concern, or blessing from Him. They are and will continue to be an abomination.

By definition “haughty eyes” are self exaltation. It is in the King James Version, pride. God does not allow pride to man as a prerogative.

Psalm 101:5B is a simple statement of God’s determination toward the proud person. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. In another way of stating this, “God is impatient” with the proud person. He will quickly remove either the pride or the person.

The most arresting illustration of human pride is found in Exodus 5:2 ESV 2 But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go." Pharaoh’s reply to Moses and Aaron is the contempt expressed in every proud look. The contempt expressed there, if truly known, is contempt toward God. Let all be aware of this. It is known and judged.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 5:15-20; I Cor. 7:1-9C ESV

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be for yourself alone,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;
be intoxicated always in her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?

I Corinthians 7:

1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman."

2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.

7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.

9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

The Biblical description of the intimacy in marriage is often graphic, but it is never vulgar.

I Corinthians 7:9C is in the immediate context of 7:1-9 and in the larger context of I Corinthians 5:1. As Paul having previously condemned the adultery of Corinthian church members - not forgetting that - speaks to the issue raised in 7:1. He clearly states the provision made to satisfy human sexual needs, both male and female. This is the provision of marriage.

We can learn from two truths in the Corinthians context.

1. The single provision for human sexual desire is marriage.

2. This provision being true, marriage is not solely for reproduction. But this is not a denial of any other Biblical truths about marriage and the physical sexual relationship which is a vital part of it.

Proverbs 5:15-20 and the Song of Solomon describe marriage and sexual intimacy as being both desirable and beautiful. Sexual intimacy in marriage, portrayed as unnecessary and sinful separate from reproduction, as some religions teach, is both sinfully criminal and morally dangerous.

There are five evident truths in Proverbs 5:15-20.

1. This is a singular interest. Vs 15

2. In breaking this relationship there is a loss of privacy along with the loss of the honor that comes with covenant faithfulness. Vss 16-17

3. There is a blessing which accompanies this relationship kept within the proper bounds.

4. It is here that desire and love are united. Vs 19

5. Outside the bounds of marriage, sexual intimacy falls under the condemnation of the seventh commandment. "You shall not commit adultery.”

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 4:14-15 ESV

¹⁴ Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
¹⁵Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.

Some instructions - whether spiritual or moral – are very simple. Complexity is like change. It is never desirable merely for the sake of itself.

The instructions given in chapter 4:14-15 are very simple. Five times in the two verses the writer directs the reader away from any appearance of evil. This particular instruction begins in chapter one and is repeated throughout the Proverbs.

The surest way not to bog a vehicle down in sand, snow, or mud is not to go into it. Once in the mud bad things can happen. Once started on a path of sin bad things will happen.

The instruction in these verses is not only for the young. “The path of the wicked,” and “the way of evil” is always a danger for any Christian. Simple instructions such as this are replete in the Scriptures.

Paul warns “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” I Corinthians 15:33. This simple instruction is repeated often. Companions cannot be taken as neutral. A continual concern must be exercised toward the company a person keeps. The simplicity of the statement does not lessen its importance or the necessary attention that should be given to it.

The repetition of the negative in chapter 4:14-15 emphasizes the importance of the company kept and the beginning of activities that are chosen. This is a simple instruction, but it is of profound importance.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs three has “do not” thirteen times in its instruction. We have so reached maturity - by the estimation of some - that we no longer need negatives in the preaching and teaching of the church. How can this be?

It can be nothing less than a rejection of Divine restraint. Grace is seen as a removal of restraint, and freedom is taken to be license to sin. But nowhere is God’s Word in this anything less than Paul’s “God forbid.”

Chapter 3:5-8 is the conduct of believers in a right relationship with God. Verses five and seven are a synonymous parallel - with six and eight being promises which are attached to obedience to the verse before.

Verse 5A is parallel to verse 7B and verse 5B to 7A. The believer’s spiritual life begins with faith and faith is the strength by which it continues. The faith commended in 5A is complete, “with all your heart.”

Verse 7B begins with faith, “fear the Lord,” and adds to it the thoroughgoing repentance that always accompanies faith, “and turn.” This “turn” is sincere in that it is from “evil” as a category. No evil is omitted.

Verse 5B is the first requirement of repentance. It is a hearty distrust of intellectual ability to rationalize God’s requirements. Verse 7A is the distrust of innate mental ability. James 3:15 and 17 describe the contesting wisdom. James 3:15 says “this is not the wisdom which comes from above.” The writer of Proverbs says, “Be not wise in your own eyes; or by your own mental estimation.”

Repentance in the Old Testament is a whole hearted “turn” while repentance in Greek is literally a change of mind. Repentance must begin with a turn from the understanding of self to the understanding of God, and the understanding of the Gospel. It is a turn from unbelief to faith and a turn from hating God’s Law to loving the freedom it brings, the joy that comes with obedience, and the peace with God that results in the keeping of it.

God’s elect can say with the Psalmist, “Great peace have they who love your law,” and with John “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” Psalm 119:165; I John 5:3.

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs each month can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 2:1-5 ESV

1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

Mountain climbers know there is no easy route to the top. Distance runners know that the winner will have more than natural ability. Every winner knows that less than a full commitment to training, with the endurance and skills gained there, will not bring victory.

The writer of Proverbs in particular, and the Scriptures in general, never gild the lily. The necessity of commitment and effort to have the growth and all the benefits that come with spiritual improvement are stated with forceful clarity.

In chapter 2:1-5, there are three conditions stated to gain the knowledge of God. The Westminster Confession and the Catechism both state that the intent of the Scriptures is to know God and to know how to serve Him.

The first condition is in verses 1-2. It is to “receive” the word of God. This is a true and continual faith in the truth of God. Faith is a prerequisite to all that follows.

The second condition is in verse 3. It is direction to sincere prayer. The conditional “if” is the indication of a necessary condition. The desired result will not come unless the condition is completed.

The third condition is in verses 4-5. Again, this begins with a conditional “if”. What is gained through faith and prayer has a surpassing value. For miners seeking silver and for the treasure hunter, there is nothing more important than the object of the search. And it is only when this wisdom and knowledge which has God as its object and end becomes the controlling feature of your life is this condition fulfilled. John 17:3.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.