Proverbs 7:8-9

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 sin and the dark:

Proverbs 7:8-9 (ESV Strong's)

passing along the street near her corner,

taking the road to her house

In the twilight, in the evening,

In the middle of the night and in the darkness.

Have you ever wondered why folly loves the dark?   You can see in this verse where folly loves to roam.  In the darkness seems to be her favorite place to be.   The Apostle John said the same thing in the following:

John 3:19

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

Men love darkness.  Evil men love darkness.   Friday night and Saturday night seems to carry their own evil.   Folly is out when the light is gone.   Folly can fool you when you can't see the light.   Men love to go out in the dark to do darkness because they believe they will not be seen.  They love darkness because their conscious is seared.   Light can't break through when men are doing their deeds in the dark.   The gospel is the light.  Jesus is the light of the world.   Wisdom loves light because it is the light.   It is the Light of the World.    There is a true contrast in Proverbs between light and darkness.   Wisdom vs. Folly is Light vs. Dark.   Beware of the darkness.  In the above proverb(s) we see what happens to the young simple man when he is lead astray in the cover of darkness.   The human nature seems to think that a dark environment means God can't see and outcomes don't matter.    The verses in this chapter don't echo those flawed thoughts.   God can see and will hold us accountable for the dark deeds done in dark alleys.

Proverbs 6:1

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 co-signing:

Proverbs 6:1 (ESV)
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,

Apparently God is concerned about our standing up and taking responsibility for the debts of a neighbor and a stranger.   These two lines of this proverb are complimentary.  The second line compliments and further states the premise of the first line.   Solomon is about to warn the reader (his son) on the dangers of "co-singing" for someone else's debt ... in this case, the neighbor or stranger.   It should be noted that he clarifies the person we are to avoid in co-signing.   We are not to go into business with someone we don't know or have no relationship with.   A stranger is someone we have no knowledge of in regard their ability to pay they debt back.  We are not to stand in for payment for a neighbor since a neighbor doesn't always show you his/her true character.  We see our neighbors every day but we don't know their character to pay or ability to pay.   Solomon is warning us that danger comes from developing a business relationship with those we don't know.  The theory here would be to get to know them before you jump into business with them.   The proverb is not referring to someone you do know.   It could be applied, in a broad basis, that co-signing for anyone might be unwise.  But that can’t be derived from this single proverb.   This proverb does teach the truth that if you co-sign for someone else’s debt you better know they have the ability to repay.   It is foolish to do otherwise.  

Proverbs 5:19-20

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 intimacy:

Proverbs 5:19-20 (NASBStr)

As a loving hind and a graceful doe,

Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;

Be exhilarated always with her love.

 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress

And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

Proverbs 5:19-20 (ESV)

a lovely deer, a graceful doe.

Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;

be intoxicated always in her love.

Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman

and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?

I'm not sure many men would get away with buying a valentine card that told his wife she reminded him of a doe!   Hallmark would not be able to capture the meaning that Solomon has here in this proverb.   He is using language particular to the day and that might resonate with the reader in his familiar context.   His point is that, just as a beautiful animal of God's creation can capture and "intoxicate" the mighty hunter, so, too, should the body of the wife capture the husband.   If you have ever hunted for deer you might be able to understand his point.   The armed man might stand in the woods behind a tree and as the prey gets closer and closer, the heart of the deer slayer beats at such a pace it feels like it is coming out of the chest.   This is what Solomon means in the next line when he states the husband should be "exhilarated" (intoxicated) with his wife.   He SHOULD NOT allow other women to intoxicate him.   It should be noted that Solomon doesn't tell us to do this if we feel like loving his wife.  He doesn't tell us to do this if we are "turned on" by her.  Solomon makes this a matter of faith by stating it the way he does.  This is wisdom from God.   We must approach this subject in Proverbs like we approach all of God's Word.   The husband's intoxication with his wife is a matter of faith.   He simply approaches his relationship with her in an action of faith and God supplies the feelings and the emotion to accompany that act of faith.   What he is telling us is that a healthy relationship with the wife will feel like intoxication as we see her as God's marvelous creation for us.   Today's society tries to tell us what is attractive and what is a "turn-on" for us.   God simply states that the wife you have been give by God (Proverbs 18:22), was created by God and He has made you both to enjoy each other.   We are to approach our relationship with our spouse in this manner.   If we don't we will begin to seek that intoxication from others and in other ways.   That is the danger of failing to love by faith and rather by feeling.   God wants us to do everything in faith (Romans 14:23).   Loving our spouse is no exception.

Another point about this proverb is also quite clear.  In Proverbs 5 we are being instructed about how to avoid the adulterous relationship.   You would think this would be a popular, best selling chapter.   Yet, too many avoid the message in Proverbs 5 and fall into adultery like a bird to the snare.   We have to remember that this was written by Solomon.  For those who don't know, or remember, Solomon had almost 1,000 wives and/or concubines.  I wish I could explain this.   So, he is writing from the stand point of a man in the know.   His words tell us something he wasn't able to do.   But, that is true about a lot of teaching.   Paul himself struggled with that in Romans 7.   However, the wisdom here is a key to avoiding adultery.  If you want to avoid falling into a bad relationship than, by faith, obey God's Word.  A man is to make sure that he is "intoxicated" (exhilarated) with his wife.  We are to let her body (in this case, the breast) satisfy Him at "all times."  If I read this right, a step in avoiding lusting other women is to lust after my wife.   I am to be captivated by her body.   I am to allow her love to make me drunk.  Solomon uses the analogy of a deer.  Why I don't know.   Perhaps that is because men are to be hunters and a deer would catch their eye.   So, too, our wives.   By faith we are to have our spouse fill that hunger and desire in our lives to the point of intoxication.  That is what it means to be "drunk on love."

Proverbs 4:14-15

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 avoiding the wicked path:

Proverbs 4:14-15 (ESV)

Do not enter the path of the wicked,

and do not walk in the way of the evil.

Avoid it; do not go on it;

turn away from it and pass on.

These two proverbs need to be handled together.  If we  simply read verse fourteen we might be tempted to see Solomon's warning as merely a passive instruction to the one who seeks blessing in their life.  It would make sense for them to "not enter" the path they know will bring them into the company with evil men and with wicked ways.  However, when you read the second set of instructions (v. 15) you see this is not a passive instruction to think about but an active instruction to look to obey.  We don't just pass by the wicked's path; we are to find ways to avoid it and to turn away from it.   The wicked's path can be so titillating.   They have great music that appeals to the natural beat of our depravity.  They have great food that feeds our gluttonous nature.   They have exciting activity that builds and promotes our egos.    The evil way does not look like evil.  Read chapter seven.   The evil way of folly is full of sugar and spice and everything nice; as described by Solomon.   The instructions of chapter four are given to Solomon from his father, King David.   David himself did not follow these words.   He, too many times, followed the path of evil.   But, God uses him to instruct his son, Solomon, who instructs us.   Avoid the path ... no matter its beauty, sound, or smell.   Actively look to run the other way.

Proverbs 3:29

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 how to treat your neighbor:

Proverbs 3:29 (NASBStr)

Do not devise harm against your neighbor,

While he lives securely beside you.

Proverbs 3:29 (ESV)

Do not plan evil against your neighbor,

who dwells trustingly beside you.

Perhaps one of the most treasured societal norms, albeit Biblical from the start, is to love your neighbor.  When summarizing the Law and the Prophets into two basic thoughts, Jesus told us the first was to love God completely and the second: 

Matthew 22:39

The second is like it, ‘ You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ’

Solomon said the same thing many, many years earlier in the above proverb.    In this proverb we see that this truth is especially true when we have a neighbor who lives along side of our home who does so "securely."  The word used carries the meaning of trust.   The truth that Jesus and Solomon spoke about is vital when we are in a trusting relationship.   We are not to devise harm against our neighbor BECAUSE they trust in us.   This is not to say you can devise evil against a neighbor when they don't trust you, but only stresses that relationships with those who are close to you are important to protect and guard.   We are not to "devise" harm against them.   The word "devise" is used in the Bible in some place to describe how someone might put together jewelry (Genesis 4:12).   We are not to plan and devise something that might disrupt the relationship of trust.  In this chapter Solomon is listing the benefits of believing in God, fearing Him and attaining wisdom.  Most of the list thus far focuses on the benefits for the individual, personally.   In this proverb Solomon demonstrates that wisdom employed is for the purpose of establishing and retaining relationships.  Folly, as previously described destroys relationships.   Wisdom retains and maintains them.

Proverbs 2:15

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 the path of the wicked:

Proverbs 2:15 (ESV)

men whose paths are crooked,

and who are devious in their ways.

Do we truly believe that the non-believer is on a crooked path?   Do we really live our lives as though they are "devious" in their ways?  Note what Isaiah says about the unbeliever:

Isaiah 59:7-8

Their feet run to evil,

and they are swift to shed innocent blood;

their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;

desolation and destruction are in their highways.

 The way of peace they do not know,

and there is no justice in their paths;

they have made their roads crooked;

 no one who treads on them knows peace.

Before we can avoid their paths, we have to know what is on their path.   The unbelieving world does not post a sign onto the road they travel that says, "Be Warned: This way is crooked and devious."   In fact, they paint the picture of a beautiful path.  They seduce us into thinking that their path leads to great things.   To wonderful things.   "Broad is the way that leads to destruction," says Christ.  Many travel this road.  But in the above proverb Solomon wants us to realize that although the temptation to join their road it is full of danger and is full of twists and turns that lead to future destruction.   Avoid their path despite the beauty of the entrance ramp.

Proverbs 1:33

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 God’s protection:

Proverbs 1:33(NIV)

But, whoever listens to me (Wisdom) will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.

Proverbs 1:33 (ESV)

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

For those who believe that the Proverbs are also promises (some would believe they are principles and guidelines, not always promises) the above proverb is a wonderful pledge to grasp. The context of Proverbs chapter one is that we have a choice to follow the fools of life or to choose to follow God and live in the fear of the Lord, which produces wisdom. That wisdom, when chosen, leads to a life safe and without harm. Perhaps the thing to realize is that in this life, surrounded by sin and chaos, we can find peace as we follow the principles, guidelines and promises of God. When followed they will produce a life that is protected and secure in the sovereignty of God. So, if I am walking in wisdom the only thing that will happen to me fits into God’s plan for my life. Now, that is a place of safety and ease!!  It is really a simple formula, actually. Living a victorious Christian life boils down to Proverbs 1:33, "But he who listens to me shall live securely, and will be at ease from the dread of evil." That is the key to life: Just Listen to God. Of course, that is the rub ... listening is so hard to do. We have so many more voices shouting out to us. We tend to "listen" to them more than we want to "listen" to God's voice. This book of Proverbs is about "listening" to voices. In 1:20 we read that wisdom "shouts" out in the streets. This whole book of Proverbs is about Wisdom shouting out and our listening to it. However, it is a book that also warns about how foolishness shouts out and beckons us to respond; to listen to it. In the first nine chapters in particular we will see the contrast between wisdom's shouting out and foolishness shouting out. If we listen to wisdom we have success and are free from the fear of evil. But, if we heed the voice of foolishness we have calamity and disaster. Who will you listen to?

This verse doesn’t say we will be “free from harm.”  It says, as we obey God’s Word, we will not live in FEAR OF HARM!  The key is that harm may hit us, even if we obey God’s Word.  But, listening and obeying God’s Word will set us free from the fear of harm. What a blessed promise from God.

Proverbs 31:4

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 intoxicated leadership:

Proverbs 31:4

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

It is not for kings to drink wine,

Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

It is not for kings to drink wine and strong drink ... interesting?  How many people today would interrupt this verse as a principle to follow in God's Word.  The verse, in context, can't stand alone.   You have to read the following verses to grasp what the writer is saying.  Note the entire context:

Proverbs 31:5-7

For they will drink and forget what is decreed,

And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,

And wine to him whose life is bitter.

7 Let him drink and forget his poverty

And remember his trouble no more.

You can see that the writer is telling us that it is not for leadership to drink to the point that their judgement is impaired.   Strong drink has a purpose but, according to Proverbs, it is not for leadership who wish to make sound judgements and lead with integrity and care for the poor: Those they are sworn to protect.   We have many people in this society who have lost sight of the purpose of leadership and their need to protect others.   The "kings" role was not to promote himself but to uphold the purposes of God and His Word.   Leadership is to follow through with what God intends leadership to do (Romans 13).  Drinking is not forbidden in these verses but the King is warned to avoid anything that might cause his judgments to go contrary to God's Word and God's purpose for his position.   That would be true of anything.  We are not to get drunk with the vine or with power or with possessions.   We are to fulfill God's Word and His purpose.

Proverbs 30:13

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 prideful and over confident:

Proverbs 30:13

There is a kind —oh how lofty are his eyes!

And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

Proverbs 30:13 (ESV)

There are those—how lofty are their eyes,

how high their eyelids lift!

The writer of these proverbs is outlining for us the type of people who demonstrate folly.  Agur, the writer, has, in the last two proverbs preceding this one, mentioned those who disrespect their parents and those who don't believe, as being sinful people.  He now comes to the above proverb and he is outlining for us those who are full of pride.   Disrespect and self-purity will result in having a very high opinion of oneself.   When we don't listen to authority and think we are pure from sin, what else is left, but pride?  Many people have a sense of "self-confidence" and in our society that is not only promoted, it is rewarded.  However, there is a difference in self-confidence based upon what God has done for you and in you and self-confidence based upon what you have done yourself, or think you have done yourself.   In this proverb Agur is condemning the later.   We can rejoice at what God can do through humble submission and an empty hand offered to Him to fill it.   However, when we believe we don't need Him and are full of arrogance and lofty eyes, we demonstrate our own folly.  This proverb serves as a stern warning to not rely on oneself but to revere God and trust Him to do great things through you and with you.  We don't really accomplish anything without His breath in us and His power propelling us.

Proverbs 29:20

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 hasty words:

Proverbs 29:20 (ESV)

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

It sometimes is not what we say as much as how fast we say it.   Hasty words are just as dangerous as wrong words.  It may be, however, that Solomon is telling us the combination of the two (wrong words and hasty words) are dangerous and leave very little hope for the one caught in such a speech pattern.   A fool has more hope than such a speaker and, in Proverbs, a fool has no hope at all.   So, quick and hasty speech are to be avoided.   The concept of "hasty" speech is dangerous (and maybe more so than the saying the wrong thing) because even the right words at the wrong time can wound.  We read in other places in Proverbs to be careful about speaking to someone who is hurting.  Even a kind word to a hurting heart can be harmful.  We are to be careful with our timing as much as the temperament of of our words.  Let's make sure we are slowing our speech to say not what pops into our minds but what is good for the hearers heart.   Be hasty to guard your speech.  Less words are better and measured words are best.  

Proverbs 28:1

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 being bold:

Proverbs 28:1 (ESV)

The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

What a great proverb to take solace in when we are in trouble or in stress. Those who have no faith in God "flee" (look for an escape) even when they don't actually see an enemy. But, they should flee ... for the God of the universe is their Judge! Read also Leviticus 26:17, 36 & Psalm 53:5 for further reference to those who run when nothing is in pursuit. If you remember the story of Hezekiah and the King of Assyria that is exactly what happened. Hezekiah prayed to God and the King and his army fled away from Israel even though no one was there (2 Kings 18, 19). People who don't fear God fear everything else, including their own imaginations. But those who have trust in God have nothing to fear. Not the army behind them or the Red Sea in front of them (Exodus 14). Not the giant in front of them (1 Samuel 17), or the lion or fire around them (Daniel 3 & 6). Those who trust in God are confident (bold) that God will revive them and use His mighty arms and hands to protect them (Psalm 138:7,8). We can be bold, not because we have some magical strength or superior weapon, but because we are safe in the hands of God. If we face harm it is there by God's design plan. If it is there by God's design plan we can be sure that God will not only bring us through, but also bring us beyond. We can be bold because as God has made us righteous He also will make us safe. (For further study see also Job 20:24 and Proverbs 15:24.)

This proverb is very graphic.   In my minds eye I see a man running as fast as he can and as scared as he can be, with no apparent threat to him or with anything pursuing him. As he runs by he passes a man who is sitting in a chair sipping tea. The man in the chair just shakes his head and laughs as the terror filled man races by. The righteous know who is in charge and therefore don't dread or fear the terror by night. God is in complete control of cancer, markets crashing, job unemployment, marriage fights, weather disasters, and any other thing that man fears. The thief in the night can't scare the man who is walking in the righteousness of the King of Kings. The righteous are as bold as a lion because a truly righteous person is not trusting in his own righteousness but knows he is but dust and it is only through the grace of God that he has righteousness. That is what makes the righteous a bold as a lion.  Here is how it is stated in the Psalms:

Psalms 91:3-6 (ESV)

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Proverbs 27:9

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 giving advice:

Proverbs 27:9 (NASBStr)

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, 

so a man's counsel is sweet to his friend.

Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Have you ever needed an encouraging word from someone? Or, have you have been in the place where you need a good kick in the pants? Imagine going to a friend and you are in need of some encouragement and he kicks you in the pants. Or, imagine you need a good kick in the pants and the friend simply puts his arm around you and flatters you with encouragement. Not much of a friend, really. A good friend is not afraid to say the necessary words no matter what we may think. A good friend with great and timely words is like incense burning in a home. It is like perfume on a beautiful women. We love walking into a home when a nice candle has been burning for some time. It smells nice. Do you feel the same way about earnest council from a friend?  Solomon has just told us that even a kick in the pants can feel good, when appropriately given and received:

Proverbs 27:6 (NASBStr)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

Even if a friend wounds you it is good, having been given and received in faith.   But, those who don't encourage us or give us an appropriate good word, are deceitful.   A kiss that is covering the truth is destructive.    When someone makes our heart glad with an appropriate word of counsel it is sweet and smelly ... in a good kinda way.

I work in the business of providing counsel to people.   Believers and non-believers alike actually pay me to give them words of advice, warnings of danger and/or whisperings of encouragement.   I get paid by the hour.   That means the longer I take to tell them these words the more wealth is accumulated.   Quite the gig.  However, the above proverb gives me three warnings that I need to heed in my business of coaching, as well as anyone who offers wisdom to others: 

1. Free or Fee.   The first warning to learn is that the comparison of a man's counsel to oil and perfume indicates such words should be of equal value.   Oil and perfume in the day of Solomon was a precious commodity. It speaks of value.   Don't offer tidbits for diamonds.   The counsel we give others is valuable and should be valued.   Don't trifle by giving the trivial.  Give others valuable counsel ... it only comes from making sure your counsel is tied to God's Word (Psalm 33:11).   

2.  The second lesson for us to gather from the above proverb is that the counsel we give should not be painful for the listener.   In human terms we might call it "couching" our words.   Solomon tells us that Godly counsel from the Godly man should be smooth like oil and smell as refreshing as perfume (Psalm 133:2).  Don't make your words harmful.  Others should be drawn to Godly counsel.  Note Jesus.  Even though He torched the Pharisees, they kept coming back for more ... oil and perfume.   

3. The last warning in the above proverb is subtle but sound:  If you are going to provide counsel speak to the heart not the head.   Note that the wise man gives counsel that makes the "heart" glad.  The Hebrew for “heart” was “the seat of the will.” The word is used 860 times in the OT, often referring to the inner man.  The object of great counsel is not to simply stimulate the head.  Paul warns us that knowledge puffs up the person's ego.   True Biblical counsel and true Wisdom comes from God's Word and enters the heart.  For someone to experience change they must have their heart challenged ... the seat of their will.  If you want to be a person who provides great counsel to others you need to heed the warnings of this proverb.