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.