Proverbs 26:23

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 deceit: 

Proverbs 26:23

Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. 

Proverbs 26:23 (ESV)

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

 This is an emblematic proverb. It is a "picture" of the what happens when the "heart" is fake but the lips are real. God sees all hearts and knows when we have fresh "lips" but bad "lives." An "earthen vessel" is a bowl or dish made out of dirt. It has little value. Dried crust that is masquerading as fake cement. But, a fake heart is hidden by "burning lips." The picture here is that the lip can bring passion or poison. Lips can produce fruit or fire (see James 2). But, the lips can always lend to truth or to tricks.   When we are being spoken to we might also be lead into a trap. The lips burn with words but seldom with wisdom. We have to be careful as we listen to those around us. They may be only a vessel full of dirt and made of dirt even though they speak of gold and silver. Let the words be heard but the heart beware. God is the revealer of the real heart but we are to be warned about and beware of the false heart.  Lips can be made to look so refreshing and wanting.  They can cover the sick, guilty and shameful heart.   Lipstick can change what we see on their face, but it won't cover-up what someone has in their heart.  We tend to want to worship the words of the lips.   We need to be careful not to give the words of others in our lives “worth-ship” status.  The heart can be deceitful.   The lips can appear pleasant.   It is better to weigh the words we hear via the lens of God’s Word.  His lips speak truth from the purest of all places.   Those are The words we should worship and give worth in our lives.  

Proverbs 25:3

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 leadership:

Proverbs 25:3 (ESV)

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Sometimes it is not easy being the guy or girl at the top of the ladder. The burdens of the company, the family or the government are weighty on a heart. The above proverb talks about how unsearchable the hearts of leadership can be. We don’t always understand the reasons leaders do what they do, but you have to understand the depth of their heart. Fathers are not always understood by their sons; employees don’t always understand the CEO; players and parents don’t always understand the coach. But, the ultimate is that we, as God’s children, don’t always know what is in God’s ways … His heart is the ultimate unsearchable heart. Understand that God is God, so we shouldn’t be able to understand Him. If we could fit God in our box and understand His heart, wouldn’t He be normal? Who wants a normal God?  The proverb just before the above proverb states:

Proverbs 25:2 (ESV Strong's)

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

It is to God’s glory we don’t understand him.   We have to study His Word and we can understand him “better” but not “completely.”   God will give us as wisdom to fear Him and understand Him.  But, we will also never full grasp the depths of the character of God ... do you really want to?  That would put God on the same level as every human being.  

Proverbs 24:2

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 dealing with the world around us:

Proverbs 24:2 (ESV Strong's)

... for their hearts devise violence,

and their lips talk of trouble.

If you are a believer in this world and do business with this world, this is a great proverb to memorize and mediate upon. When we deal with a lost and fallen world it is best for us to remember that the world is broken and the depravity of the mind is constantly at work in the heart of the unbeliever. In this proverb we learn that those void of faith are not only without salvation but their hearts ("minds" in some translations) are constantly at work devising plans of trouble. In Proverbs 1 we read this of those who want the naive one to go astray with them:

Proverbs 1:10-11 (ESV)

My son, if sinners entice you,

do not consent.

If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;

let us ambush the innocent without reason;

They try to entice him to follow their corrupt plans (1:8-19). We can see it every day in this life of our political world, our business world, our sports world, our educationals system. People are constantly looking out for number one (themeselves) so they spend their time devising plans to promote themselves over others, to secure the biggest chance for themselves or their children and/or to be first in some mytical line or corporate ladder. Be aware, their hearts devise violence and their lips talk of trouble. It is why the Psalmist prayed for protection from those who speak falsehood:

Psalms 144:8 & 11 (ESV)

whose mouths speak lies

and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Rescue me and deliver me

from the hand of foreigners,

whose mouths speak lies

and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

 This proverb warns us to watch for and pray for protection from the mouths of the deceit.

Proverbs 23:7

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 to work with a selfish person:

Proverbs 23:7 (ESV)

for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.

“Eat and drink!” he says to you,

but his heart is not with you.

In the proverb just before this one, Solomon has warned us to be weary of selfish people.   In this proverb he gives us the reason; they are deceptive in their hearts.  The selfish person may be saying to us, "Eat and drink!" when in reality his heart is not with you - implying it is against you.   We might be enticed by food and beverage.   But we must never be deceived by them.   Selfish people, even in their offerings, are always selfish.    We might see their gifts and think otherwise, but their gifts are for personal motives.   They give to get.  They invite to capture.   Their world is made up with them in the center and everything revolves around them.     Selfishness is not always corse and rough.   We may think of selfish people as caustic and crooked.   However, this proverb tells us that is not always so.  They can be so inviting that we fail to see the kool-aide they offer is kill-aide.   We think they may change and we think they may want to help us and benefit us ... they don't ... their heart is not with us.  We might think of Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss.   Don’t always look at the outward activities someone presents but rather take time to study the inward motives behind that activities.   

Proverbs 22:10

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 how to deal with a scoffer:

Proverbs 22:10 (NASB)

Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out,

Even strife and dishonor will cease.

Proverbs 22:10 (ESV)

Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,

and quarreling and abuse will cease.

One of the most difficult attitudes to deal with is the scoffer.  A scoffer makes light of the heavy conversation, fun of the serious and ignores instruction.   Scoffing is a serious problem in a society bent on fun, self-indulgence and vanity.   If you lead a group of people and you harbor a scoffer in your midst you have felt the thorns of the rose ... a person created in God's image who doesn't admit it.   Solomon gives us the solution for the scoffer but it is not an easy one to employ.  Solomon tells us to "drive out the scoffer."    Driving out is not something we do.   We want harmony..  We want to enlist people into service.  We want to invite people to join.  Here we are told to drive out.   Solomon gives us the benefits of such an act, however.   He tells us that if we drive out a scoffer we will end "contention".  We will see strife and dishonor "cease."   The implication is that a scoffer fosters contention, strife and dishonor.   If you read Proverbs long enough you will see that Solomon offers NO solution to change a scoffing mind.   We can change the naive and are instructed in Proverbs of how to do that.    However, we are not encourage to change the scoffer's mind.  We are told to drive him/her out.   Seems tough but those who reject the authority of God in their lives possess the scoffing life.  If they are not driven out they will affect the entire environment.   Drive them out or live with them.  There doesn't seem to be a middle ground.

Proverbs 21:1

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’s sovereign rule over leadership:

Proverbs 21:1

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; 

 He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases. 

This proverb gives us insight how God actually directs and works with leaders. We all think that the boss, the politicians, the leaders of the world makes decisions that affect us. However, this proverb gives us different insight. When I was a child I remember playing outside in the rain. When water would run down the driveway I would drag my foot and make a channel for the water. The water had a mind of its own, but I would direct it where I wanted the “mind” to take it. The water did what water does. But the dragging of my heal and the subsequent channel took control. That is how God directs leadership. They may be “doing what they do” but it is God who creates the channels they run through and operate in. We don’t need to fear the decision the boss may make, or a law a politician creates, or the direction the leader will go! For, we know Who is digging the channels they all run through.  Perhaps one of the best examples of this is the punishment, by God on the nation of Israel, for their disobedience.   God brought the nation of Babylon into their lives to use this wicked nation to punish them.  The prophecy is that the punishment would last 70 years (Daniel 9).   EXACTLY 70 years later, with Israel still in captivity and Babylon long gone, Cyrus King of Persia has a sudden change of heart and is moved to let some of the captives go to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. 

Ezra 1:1-4 (ESV Strong's)

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (See verses 3 and 4, as well). 

God moved Cyrus like a dug channel makes highway for running water.   God did that.  He does that all the time.  To fulfill His plan, God digs the channels and uses the nature of man to follow that channel to accomplish that purpose.   The kings hand is in the hand of the Lord and He moves it wherever He wants.  

Proverbs 20:2

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 a king:

Proverbs 20:2 (ESV)

The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;

whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

Since we do not live in a monarchy society it is hard to imagine the truth of this proverb.  In Solomon's day the King was Sovereign.   He ruled.   Sometimes in grace but mostly with an iron fist.   Pity the poor man who angered the King!!   For us to grasp the truth of the verse (and, despite the fact we don't have any king, the proverb is still truthful and practical), we could make our application in today's work place.   The leader is not feared like a sovereign king but the leader still can carry terror and growl like a lion.   When we do something to provoke the owner of the business, the coach of the team or the supervisor of the shift we can get a sense of the terror of the King.   It is not necessarily a bad thing that Solomon is referring to.   The king was to be feared.   He was to be revered.   Obviously the leader should not lead or rule in such a way that we can not respect him, but he is there to rule.   When we provoke the righteous indignation of the leader we should see his terror.    When we provoke him in such a way as to stir his anger we must realize we put our life into his hand.   Poor leaders and ungodly leaders are not to have our respect.   However, if we provoke them we, too, may be forfeiting our life.    A good leader uses his "terror" correctly.  A bad leader uses his "terror" wrongly.   Either way, we suffer for it if we stir it up.

Proverbs 19:4

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 money:

Proverbs 19:4 (NASV)

Wealth adds many friends,

But a poor man is separated from his friend.

Proverbs 19:4 (NIV)

Wealth brings many friends,

but a poor man’s friend deserts him.

Proverbs 19:4 (ESV)

Wealth brings many new friends,

but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Money talks.   Money talks to many people, according to this proverb.   Money is like a magnet that draws people around it.  When you have money (or, when people think you have money) they are drawn to be your friends.   Many people want to hang with money people. People with money will deny that it is their money that attracts others but they will be deceiving only themselves.   Those who are friends with people with money know they are friends because of the money.   On the other side of all this is the poor man.  The poor man, who has no money, not only doesn't have friends he has to deal with those who desert him because he has no money.    It is interesting to hear about someone who died "poor" and alone, only to find out later they actually had much wealth.   God is the only friend the poor has (and needs).    Poor man and rich men have different social circles.   Poor men live alone, while the rich man is a social being.

Proverbs 18:15

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 what you listen to:

Proverbs 18:15 (NASBStr)

The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge,

And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

.

Proverbs 18:15 (NIV1984)

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;

the ears of the wise seek it out.

Proverbs 18:15 (ESV)

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

What do you listen to?   When you get in the car and turn on your radio, what are you searching for?   When you tune in the TV what program flips your switch?   What podcast do you listen to?   What is playing on your device that might be providing you knowledge?  If you have a chance to listen to gossip do you indulge?   When you get a chance to seek out folly, do you bend your ear and turn  your heart to enjoy it?   The mind that is following God and wants to seek Godly wisdom will turn their ear and heart toward the things of God.   Prudent people are prudent because they seek God.  Those who seek God will become prudent.   When we seek God, by faith, our senses (mind and ears) are slaves of God.   But, those same senses can be slaves of the flesh, as well.  In Romans 6:12-14, we read about the battle our "members" (senses) have between the faith and the flesh.   This proverb tells us the advantage of following God in faith.  Our hearts and minds will seek God when they are exercised by faith.

Proverbs 17:7

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 how we communicate:

Proverbs 17:7 (NASV)

Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,

Much less are lying lips to a prince.

Proverbs 17:7 (NIV)

Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool–

how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

Proverbs 17:7 (ESV)

Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;

still less is false speech to a prince.

If we were to say this in today's vernacular we might say, "Fools won't use good speech any more than rulers should lie."     When we observe fools we wouldn't expect to hear lofty and eloquent speech.   The same should be said about rulers or leaders in our midst.   If we observe them we should not observe that they are liars.   Leadership, if it is Godly leadership, will maintain truth.   It would be natural.   Solomon is telling us that the most natural thing about a ruler, who has been put into position by God, is that they speak the truth.   The most natural thing about a fool is that their speech is not eloquent or excellent.   The nature of the fool is to speak foolish.  The nature of the leader is to speak the truth.   Solomon is pointing out what we need know about those who surround us .. or, what we should know.    What Solomon is telling us is, "What's in the well should and does come up in the bucket."   Fools produce corrupt speach and rulers talk of truth.

Proverbs 16:33

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 decision making:

Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)

The lot is cast into the lap,

but its every decision is from the LORD.

 We can make all the plans but it is God who determines their success and completion. Proverbs 16:1,3,4,9,33. We can make sure we have planned out a life for God (and these verses show we should), but it will be God who makes our decisions and our plans come to fruition. We should always plan but rejoice and relax as God works out the actual life we live.   Too many times we get worried about "our" plans not working out.   The "death of a vision" in our lives can be traumatic ... when we envision something for us or our family and/or friends and it doesn't work out.   God sometimes has other plans for us than our hearts and minds have imagined.  This is why it is so important to make sure our hearts are in tune with His.   Than, no matter what happens we can be happy because we realize what He wanted always comes out.  However, as this proverb teaches, God's sovereignty does not rule out or nullify our participation.  We still cast the lot.  We still take the chance.  We still make the plans.   The casting of the lot had to do with a decision initiated by man.   He wasn't sure what to do so he "rolled" the dice to see what God would like.   We still are moving.   But, God is directing.   Like jumping in a boat on the river we take the plunge but all the current of God's sovereign rule to carry us.

Proverbs 15:26

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 wicked: 

Proverbs 15:26

Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

But pleasant words are pure.

Proverbs 15:26 (ESV)

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,

but gracious words are pure.

In our country we have had way to many mass shootings.   The lost of innocent lives are far too often struck down by evil cowards.   The evil that was perpetrated in the heart of these individuals is unfathomable.     How can any human being shot innocent children is hard to understand.   These things are pure evil.  In the aftermath of the tragedy countless asked, "Where is God."   The answer to that question is in the first line above.  God, like us, hates the evil in this world.   It is an abomination to Him.   He so hates it that He sacrificed His ONLY Son to redeem man to rescue from this evil ... not on this earth but on eternally.   That is the power of the second line.   These words of grace are pure.   God's grace in the foreground are pleasant words as compared to the evil plans that lay in the heart of men.   God hates evil.  We ought not to think of God as absent from this evil.  When men cry to God, "I don't need you in my nation," don't complain when evil happens.   But, be assured that God hates it more than you do.  He hates evil so much that he decided to solve it by sending His own Son to save us from it.   God’s solution to the evil things of this world are to offer gracious words.  What words?  

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is how you fight evil.  You overcome evil with good.  That is God’s response to man’s evil.  Yes, God hates evil.  But, unlike us, He does something with it.  He overcomes the evil by sending us the good of His Son.  

Proverbs 14:12

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 our plans:

Proverbs 14:12 (ESV)

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

There are those who have an opinion about what they should do or the direction they should go. They boast about "knowing" the direction of life. They proceed in a particular direction they chart out ... only to find out in the end that the way they are going is death. They don't know that when they start out. They actually think they are going the right direction. There is one thing to find out you are headed for "death." It is another thing to find out you actually "planned it.” It "seems" right but ends in death.  They "think" they are heading in the right direction only to go over a clift. The lost and dying world "thinks" it is headed in the right direction. However, this proverb lets us know they have two problems: They are headed for death AND they think they are heading for safety. Their path does not reflect God's Word. They rely on themselves and not on Godly wisdom. If we rely on your words and not His Word they you will end up in death and not life. Notice what Paul tells the church at Corinth:

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the non-believers.  They tend to believe they are going the right way, but are actually being lead astray by the god of this world.   The god of this world makes the non-believer think they are headed for life.  But folly is like that.  Folly never tells the truth.  Folly would rather lead us to death, with us thinking we are headed for life. 

Proverbs 13:4

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 craving:

Proverbs 13:4 (ESV)

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Wanting something really, really badly is a national past time.   Everyone wants.   In fact, everyone “really” wants.   But wanting doesn't produce anything.   Having a desire for something doesn't bring about anything.   Desire is necessary before you can accomplish something but desire alone is not going to accomplish anything.    The above proverb outlines what happens when a craving is in the heart of the sluggard. Those who are lazy can want all they want, but that is all they have, a craving.   The converse of the sluggard is the diligent.  When a person is diligent and full of work ethic their desires come to fruition.   The diligent don't just crave, they actually get "fat."   It is only through faith that we can be "diligent" and productive.   The lazy want.  The lazy dream.   The lazy imagine.    It is the diligent (those who plan hard and work hard) that eat the lunch of the sluggard and are made fat.   Are you a dreamer or a doer?  Wisdom is at the core of the diligent.   Folly is at the core of the sluggard.  Since it is the fear of the Lord that produces wisdom and wisdom produces diligence, diligence comes from fearing the Lord.  That is Solomon’s instruction in this proverb (and all the proverbs).  We can’t lose sight of what he is trying to teach us.  Hard work and the ethics to be diligent come from the soul of the wise person.  The sluggard does not fear the Lord and therefore is not wise.  They therefore sit all day and dream.  The diligent fears the Lord and makes the dream happen.