Proverbs 12:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about marriage:

Proverbs 12:4 (ESV)

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,

but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

You have to read this proverb from two points-of-view.   One view is from that of the husband and one view is from that of a wife.  From the husband's vantage point we have a wonderful vision of respect and glory.    An excellent wife (virtuous) is a wonderful thing for a man.   It is like a "crown" on the head.   Most men can relate to that vision.   Most men feel like they "deserve" a crown on their head so this isn't such a hard concept for them grasp.   For men to have a wife who they can be proud of is a great feeling.  It crowns him with glory and pride.   On the other hand, thank of the wife in this proverb.   The wife sees this from a different point-of-view.  To be virtuous for her husband and toward her husband brings her honor and glory as well.  On the opposite side is the wife who brings shame to her husband.  That is like rottenness in his bones.   From crown to crones disease by just a change in relationship.  That is what a good marriage relationship can do for them each.  That is why it is so important to have a good relationship with a wife and to make sure a wife has a greater relationship with God.   Her relationship with God (who gives her virtue) will make her husband a better man.   Developing a relationship with God will not only give your life a blessing from God will it enhance your relationship with your partner.   God is at the top of the triangle and as we each draw close to Him we draw close to each other.  

Proverbs 11:31

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight contrasting the righteous and the wicked:

Proverbs 11:31 (NASBStr)

If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth,

How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Proverbs 11:31 (ESV)

If the righteous is repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Throughout Proverbs we see the righteous and the wicked contrasted; as we do the fool and the wise one. In both cases we see them both dually rewarded for the journey they decided to take in life.  Both have their focus on The Lord but the righteous fear Him and the wicked ignore Him.   In the above proverb we see that the righteous will be rewarded "in the earth."   It also states that the wicked and the sinner will be rewarded and implies, "in the earth."   God knows the difference between the two.  He also knows the reward the two should receive.   We work all of our lives for rewards.   We love to receive them.   In fact, if we don't receive them we are quite frustrated and even angry.   The Apostle Paul also mentions our wages.  He tells us in Romans 3:23 that the "wages" of sin is death.   So, we deserve death.  Everyone one of us.   Yet, God gives us righteousness as a gift and that is a reward we can rejoice in and sing praises over.    God is the giver of life and the rewarder of death.   He will bless His children with life and those who reject Him with death.

Proverbs 10:27

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the fear of the Lord:

Proverbs 10:27 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short.

When a person chooses the way of folly vs. the way of wisdom (the theme of Proverbs), he is not only choosing to honor God or not honor God, he is choosing the quality and quantity of his life.  Those who choose to honor God are rewarded with long life and with abundant life (Prov 3:2; 9:11; 14:27).   Those who choose folly will live in folly and be awarded with folly; which leads to death (Job 15:32,33 & 22:16; Psalm 55:23).   Those who reject God and choose self find themselves making decisions that hurt the body and that causes death to draw quickly and quicker.  When we read about King Hezekiah, we learn that God is the one who gives length to days (2 Kings 20:18-20).    Wisdom in the heart causes decisions of the will to result in safer life for the body.  A safer life for the body means life is longer.    When we choose to associate with those who are given to danger and hatred we can expect to suffer the consequences of the those choices.  This proverb does not say that if we, by faith, and choose wisdom we will always live longer.   We know that God takes some home early in their lives.  We also know that those who reject God can live a long time.   But, the principle stated in the above proverb is for us to learn and live.  Follow Christ in faith and you will have a life that is abundant and meaningful and, by God's grace, long.  If you, in disbelief, follow your own will you will have a life of pain and suffering and, by God's grace, short.   That is what God's Word says in the above Proverb.  Those who live in the fear of the LORD live in a way to make wise choices about their life.  Those who reject God and do not fear him will, more often than not, will make poor choices that result in a rough and struggling life.   Yes, believers have rough lives and struggle.   But, in Proverbs the theme holds true: Those who Fear the LORD have blessing and those who don’t have folly and curses.  

Here are the other proverbs that speak to the Fear of the Lord.  It is the theme of Proverbs.  Note what happens in our lives when we fear the Lord:

1. We obtain knowledge:

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2. We see who hates knowledge:

Proverbs 1:29 (ESV Strong's)

Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

3. We know God:

Proverbs 2:5 (ESV Strong's)

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

4. We hate evil:

Proverbs 8:13 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.

Pride and arrogance and the way of evil

and perverted speech I hate.

5. We obtain wisdom:

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

6. We prolong our life:

Proverbs 10:27 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short.

7. We gain confidence:

Proverbs 14:26 (ESV Strong's)

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,

and his children will have a refuge.

8. We avoid the snares of life/death:

Proverbs 14:27 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

9. We are content:

Proverbs 15:16 (ESV Strong's)

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

10. We learn humbly:

Proverbs 15:33 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

11. We turn from evil:

Proverbs 16:6 (ESV Strong's)

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

12. We have a satisfied life:

Proverbs 19:23 (ESV Strong's)

The fear of the Lord leads to life,

and whoever has it rests satisfied;

he will not be visited by harm.

13. We have a rich life:

Proverbs 22:4 (ESV Strong's)

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord

is riches and honor and life.

14. We avoid envy:

Proverbs 23:17 (ESV Strong's)

Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

Proverbs 9:16

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight into the world of the naive: 

Proverbs 9:16

"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding she says,

Proverbs 9:16 (ESV)

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

And to him who lacks sense she says,

(This is the same proverb as Proverbs 9:4.)   

The above proverb is coming from the lips of Lady Wisdom who is telling us all what Mistress Folly says as she calls out to those who pass by. She calls out to the "naive" on the street for the purpose of enticing them to come to her and to fall to her trap. But, it is not only the naive who fall! The strong fall, as well. Perhaps as often as the naive! But, maybe that is because none of us are "mature" - we all fall into the category of the "naive." We tend to think of the other guy as "naive" while we fall into the same arms of deceit and succumb to Folly's ways. We fool ourselves into thinking we are "mature" and can toy with Folly, conjuring up strength at the last minute to fend her off. Yet, like the foolish naive one we fall into her net. What's worse, is that we know better. Her power of enticing so strong we trip and splash into Folly's pool looking for refreshment only to find stink and condemnation. Yes, Folly sits at the street calling for the naive. But, her fishing is better than most. Not only do the naive fall into her trap, but the mature, as well.

Proverbs 8:29

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about God, creation, boundaries and wisdom:

Proverbs 8:29 (NASBStr)

When He set for the sea its boundary

So that the water would not transgress His command,

When He marked out the foundations of the earth;

Proverbs 8:29 (ESV)

when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

Wisdom is being described in chapter eight of Proverbs.   Solomon is giving us a blow by blow picture of Wisdom.   In the above proverb we see that wisdom is making sure the boundaries of the sea and the land remain in their places.   Wisdom was there when God marked out the boundaries of the sea.  Without God's Wisdom the world's balance would be out of sorts.   God established boundaries to assure that we could be safe and live in security.   Without God's wisdom, life, the planet, would be in constant chaos.  In Romans 8:22 we read that creation groans in pain, waiting for the redemption that is in Christ.   Because of sin the world is falling apart.   Jesus told us that in the end times there would be earthquakes.   The earth is in pain.  It groans.   It pushes against the boundaries set for it.   If we didn't have the design of creation, by Wisdom, we would all parish.    God has made the seas to be right where they are.  Even though, through storms (the results of sin), the seas bellow and surge, crossing those boundaries, God is still in charge.   We can rejoice in the fact that God rules the universe and set the boundaries fast and sure.

Proverbs 7:10

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about Satan’s deception:

Proverbs 7:10 (ESV)

And behold, the woman meets him,

dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.

Each of us, every day, are confronted by people who are there to lead us astray from the course God has set us on. The woman met the naive one, in chapter seven, and uses the "eye-gate" to entice him. She dresses in an attire pleasing to his eyes but deceptive beyond the eyes. We seldom can see what we need to see. In the forefront is what temptation wants us to see. Inside and beyond the visible is something we can't see. The deception Satan uses is creative and appealing. The world see's Satan as a horned, pitch-forked, scary animal. In reality he dresses up as a seductive mistress who is looking to bring us down. Everyday temptations are beautiful to the eye. The only way to know what is cunning of heart is to be able to look through the deception with the eyes of faith. God gives us insights to avoid temptation. But, we have to live by faith to see what Satan has posed to us. If we don't act by faith we will respond to sight and destruction follows.  Notice what Paul says about Satan and his deception:

2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV Strong's)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Notice what he also says about what to do with these disguises and schemes of the Satan:

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

We have to be prepared to be tempted by the thing most pleasing to the eye.   That is why God gives us wisdom in the heart.   

Proverbs 6:2

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about being caught up in our own words:

Proverbs 6:2 (ESV)

if you are snared in the words of your mouth,

caught in the words of your mouth,

It is hard not to be caught in the above scenario.   If you are old enough to talk, you are old enough to be caught in a snare with your words.   In the context of Proverbs 6 Solomon is talking about making a pledge to someone you shouldn't or making a pledge about something you shouldn't.   If you offer to support your friend and you can't or shouldn't  you have snared yourself by your words.   If you have promised to pay a debt for someone and you shouldn't have, you are caught by your words.   He goes on and tell us how to deliver ourselves in the following verses.   However, before we try to deliver ourselves we have to admit we are caught.   Before we find relief, we have to know we are in need of relief.  This verse is not the solution but the admission of the need.   We will have times in our lives when our words catch us and trap us.   To get out of that situation we have to admit we have misspoken.  That takes humility and a loss of pride.  It is not "if" we have been snared but "if" we will admit the snare.

God takes making a vow very seriously.   Note the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 (ESV)

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Psalms 15:4 (ESV)

in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

When it comes to “giving a pledge” for others we put ourselves at risk.   It “snares” our mouths according to Solomon.    Solomon, in this proverb, wants us to come to the realization that making a vow puts us in risk, especially when you are making a vow to cover for someone else’s vow.  It is one thing to make a vow about your own life.  But, when you attempt to make a vow to cover someone else’s needs, you put yourself at risk. 

Proverbs 5:21

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the hidden sins … that are not hidden:

Proverbs 5:21 (ESV)

For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD,

and he ponders all his paths.

This proverbs should be viewed with one that Solomon is recorded as having said later in this book:

Proverbs 15:3 (NASBStr)

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

Watching the evil and the good.

The last line of Proverbs 5:21 should be viewed in light of what Solomon says in the following:

Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NASBStr)

For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

The context of Proverbs chapter five is that of the adulterous women and the foolish young man who , might, succumb to her wanton ways.  When the act of adultery takes place it is done so in secret; at least that is what is in the mind of the two parties.  Don't let anyone know.  Keep it secret.   The looks, the glances, the not-so-innocent-touches; are all done with the thought they are hidden.  Yet, in 5:21 we read that a very comforting truth to those who are living free from sin is also a warning to those who think they sin in secret.   God is watching and will hold anyone accountable for sins, both done in public or private view.  The same truth that provides peace to some (that God is always watching) can be haunting to others.   He "watches" or "ponders" our path.   He holds us accountable.  He can, because He is the only one who sees it all.   When we think we are in secret and can sin without harm, we fail to know the truth of 5:21.  Make 5:21 a blessing and not a curse by allowing the Spirit of God to keep you from sin.  If we are going through tough times, through suffering, knowing God is watching us, is refreshing.   If we are in adultery, God watching is not so refreshing.  But, either way, He is!!

Proverbs 4:16-17

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about how the wicked operate: 

Proverbs 4:16-17 (ESV)

For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;

they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.

For they eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

What keeps you up at night?  For this section the NIV gives us a note to read: Ps 132:3–5.   In that Psalm we read King David telling us that he can't sleep unless he builds a place for God to dwell.   Hamman on the other hand could only think of one thing: How to destroy Mordecai.   Here you have two different life styles:  The righteous should be worrying how they should please The Lord (see the contrast between the married and the unmarried on this subject in 1 Corinthians 7).  Solomon is warning us to stay away from the wicked (4:12-15).  Now he gives us a reason: The wicked only think about wickedness.   In verse 17 he tells us that their very food and drink is wickedness and violence (cf. also 2:12- 15).    The picture painted for us here is that the foolish, those who reject the fear of the Lord, are gang like in nature; only looking for evil.    This picture description of the someone who can't sleep because they want to consume more wickedness is the scene at all evil across the world.   People stay up late and lose sleep simply to do something other than glorify God (that is what wickedness is ... doing something that doesn't glorify God).   The next time you can't sleep decide if it is because you are more like King David or wicked Hamman.