Some Thoughts From Proverbs 27

Proverbs 9:27

Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
    along with crushed grain,
    yet his folly will not depart from him.

The writer of Proverbs has already informed his reader that folly is not changed by instruction, discipline, parental guidance, or favorable relationships. Then he adds the fact that suffering will not change the fool.  Why are these things so?  The answer for the Bible student is that folly, like sin from which it has its origin, is a product of nature.  The nature is changed only by the New Birth.

There is a natural wisdom.  But the wisdom of James 1:5 is spiritual, a donation, and is found uniquely in believers..  The Scriptures are plain.  You can never expect a fool to be anything but a fool.

James 1:5

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

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.