Proverbs 7:11

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: 

Proverbs 7:11

She is boisterous and rebellious,

Her feet do not remain at home;

What does folly look like?   Solomon, in chapter seven, gives us one of the best looks at folly and her seductive ways.  In this particular proverb we see an unusual characteristic of folly.    Solomon gives us three aspects that should warn us about her ways.  The first is that she is "boisterous".  Note how he says the same thing in this proverb:

 Proverbs 9:13 (ESV)

The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing.   

He states she is LOUD!!  Folly can be deceptive and secretive.    However, in most cases, as here, she is loud.  She wants people to see her, hear her, and embrace her.   She will not be hidden and stuck in a closet.   However, folly is also "rebellious."   She does not tolerate or stand under law.  She wants her own way and her own laws.   She will not submit.   Lastly she has no “security.”   When the last line says she will "not remain at home" we must understand that this is Solomon's way of saying that Lady Folly has no security or place to lay her head.   She doesn't want something to hold her down, like a home.   She sees a 'home" as permanent and stable.   Folly is not stable.  Folly offers only transitive life.  It offers only temporary satisfaction.   If we hope to resist folly we must identify it when it comes around.  Folly is today's entertainment: It offers nothing stable, is full of noise and doesn't succumb to rules.  Folly is today’s political structure:  It offers nothing stable.  Folly is today’s societal whims:  They offer nothing stable.  Folly is today’s work world:  It offers nothing stable, only a hamster wheel going no where.   Folly offers but does not deliver because she is loud, rebellious and unstable.   

Proverbs 6:6-8

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 antidote for laziness:

Proverbs 6:6-8 (ESV)

Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

Without having any chief,

officer, or ruler,

she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.

This is an Emblematic Proverb (word picture poem) and the meaning is rather obvious. Those who have trouble being self-motivated are to consider the ways of the ant. The ant doesn’t have anyone to tell him (or, her) what to do. They simply do what they do best (what they are made for) and don’t need to be instructed. Our society today could use a lot of the ant’s character. We pay men and women a lot to simply motivate others to work and watch them do it (we call it leadership). But, the wise person needs no external motivation. Our motivation to work and to plan and to be prepared for the “winter” of our life ought to be something we do naturally. But, we rely upon society to push us. True wise people don’t need society to push us. We should be more like the ant at work rather than the slug! Which are you?

I don't know what is more impressive about this proverb: 1) that Solomn uses something so little and insignificant as an "ant" to teach us something so big, Or, 2) by observing the ant we can learn wisdom? I can imagine Solomon sitting on the deck of his house eating a sandwich and thinking of something wise to write to you and me. As he reaches for the roast beef on rye bread he spots a single ant working his way up the table leg with the mindset of a noon snack. Solomon observes that the ant has to go a long way. He doesn't stop for anything. He has no one yelling to him to move along. He has no one to "command" him. He is coming to get food for tomorrow and refuses to wait for tomorrow to get it. The ant waste no time.  The ant does not do unprofitable activities.   The ant is our example and our "ant-te-dote" for being the lazy sluggard, or wasting time. The ant - the little guy who can carry much more than his weight. The little guy who goes to work every day without complaining or worrying about the weather. Solomon gives us a large picture through a small example. Go to the ant and be wise.

Proverbs 5:22

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 future of the wicked:

Proverbs 5:22 (ESV)

The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,

and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.

Unbelievers don't think they have much to worry about.  They seem to live carefree and footloose ... Ask the poet Aspah (Psalm 73).  The wicked gather their treasures and embrace their risks. They seem to fear nothing, especially God.  They walk through life with nothing to think about but today. Their only concern about the future is what will retirement look like and will I have enough to sustain my desired lifestyle while doing nothing at all in life.   They live in their own bubble hoping for the best and acquiring everything they can to get it.  While believers fret and worry about how God feels about them the unbeliever never gives a thought to God's presence, God's promises and certainly not His punishments. Yet, in the above proverb we read the real story. The sins of the wicked eventually catch him/her. He cannot escape his own cords. The future is bleak for the wicked.  He must use the world now to reduce his pain.  To decrease the pain that is coming he increases the pleasure that is here.  The future of the wicked is death.  They may not show it but their inward captivity to sin is radiant in their behavior.  In the end, the fruit comes to bear.   You can know the root by the type of fruit you see.  If someone spends their life in seeking pleasure and living for today, they will never hear these words from God tomorrow: 

“Well done, good and profitable servant.”

Proverbs 4:18

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 righteous:

Proverbs 4:18 (ESV)

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

 A proverb is a tool to teach wisdom in a simple way with a word picture, or with contrasting or complimentary statements. In this proverb the second line expands the thought of the first line and uses a simple picture to convey truth. When we walk in ways that please God (in the path He directs us to walk according to His word) we are on a “righteous” path. And, we are on a path that is visible and shines bright like the dawn of a new day. As we keep walking on this path it gets brighter and brighter as we walk and our life grows older. It will increase in brightness until we have the light of a full day. Such is the walk for the believer who walks according to God’s word. The more you walk on that path and in obedience to His word the clearer things become. In contrast, those who walk according to their own wisdom and map are never sure what is ahead. God’s word tells us they walk in darkness and it gets more and more dark as they walk that road. So, walk in the light as He is in the light and be assured the walk is right.

The clear path or dark path is our choice. In this proverb we see that Solomon talks to us about the type of path we have in life before us. For those who choose to walk in the way of righteousness there is a clear and bright path. It is filled with understanding and wisdom about what to do in life. But, for those who forsake God's righteous ways there is another path. This path is vague and dark in what is before you. You don't know where you are, or have little understanding about life. When we meet with an group of people who do not have God in their lives you see this darkness; their vague understanding about the better things of life. They seem to love the most trivial and argue about the most mundane things. That is the path you are on when you choose not to follow God's righteous ways. We choose the path we follow when we choose to obey God's righteousness.

When we think of the righteous and their battle with sin we get much from the Apostle Paul in his writings. However in Proverbs 4 Solomon gives us some added insight. Paul tells about the struggle we still have over sin despite being set free from the penalty of the sin. In Romans 6 and 7 he tells us that the power of sin has been wounded but even its weakness combined with its sheer presence it can still render us it's victim. Paul let's us know his own on-again-off-again walk in Romans 7. But, shouldn't we have more victory and less defeat if Christ is truly living in us, for us and with us? Solomon adds some great truth in Proverbs 4:18. He tells us that the walk of the righteous should be one that gets "brighter and brighter" as the walk draws closer to the "dawn.". Solomon tells us that victory is inevitable (the "dawn") but also growing in brightness (victory) each step. The believer goes forward into ultimate brightness. He doesn't shrink back into the dark. The unrighteous (verse 19) are entirely in darkness and don't know what they stumble over. Believers should be experiencing and realizing a brighter walk as they draw closer to their ultimate glorification. But, until then, we have perfect brightness in an ever growing bits and pieces. Rejoice in the brightness of the walk. It will be even brighter tomorrow; then even more brighter next week, next month , next year until we are home.

Proverbs 3:31

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 about envy:

Proverbs 3:31 (ESV)

Do not envy a man of violence

and do not choose any of his ways,

After reading this proverb one might ask, "Why would you envy a man of violence?"    Certainly a violent man is not someone to desire to be with or be like. Yet, Solomon seems to be going to great extent to make sure we don't follow them.   Apparently there is some temptation to follow such a person. It would be inferred that those who would follow such a man have not read the rest of Solomon's proverbs.   In other parts of this book we read that violent (wicked) men are going to meet a certain end of destruction.  Apparently we are being told this because the acts of the violent man and the destruction of the violent man is not, at this point, visible.  We only see the "peaceful and prosperous" life the violent (wicked) man portrays. We see their prosperity and we might be compelled to desire to be like them.   Notice how the song writer, Asaph, describes it in one of his many psalm songs:

Psalms 73:1-3 (ESV)

A PSALM OF ASAPH.

Truly God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,

my steps had nearly slipped.

For I was envious of the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

But, we are not to envy their prosperity for we are to know of their destruction.   We are not to follow any of their ways since those ways lead to that destruction.   In Proverbs 7 we see a real example of such ways.   Lot saw those ways and Sodom and Gomorrah ended up in destruction.   He lost his wife and needed his uncle Abraham to rescue him.   Scripture says Lot saw the prosperity of that city and wanted it, with all its ways.   Solomon tells us not to be envious of the wicked.   Don't copy their ways.  Destruction may not be visible but it is inevitable.

Proverbs 2:16-17

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 companionship:

Proverbs 2:16-17 (ESV)

So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,

from the adulteress with her smooth words,

who forsakes the companion of her youth

and forgets the covenant of her God;

Wisdom has an important responsibility in our lives.  She keeps us from evil.   More importantly, from evil people ... in this case, an evil woman.  In verse 17 above we read that this evil women "leaves" the "companion" of her youth and "forgets" the covenant of God.  The first thing we can see in this passage is that folly (personified as a woman in this proverb) doesn't keep her commitments.  Those who are affected by folly don't keep their obligations.   In fact, failing to keep your commitments is a good litmus test to indicate someone is controlled by folly.   Those who don't keep their commitments will eventually want to lead us astray.   Wisdom is there to keep us from her.   We might ask, "Who would leave or forget their commitments? Why would someone leave their commitments?"   Evil will drive people to do this.   Those caught in sin will often demonstrate that sin by breaking their covenants and companions.   When we love God we have the ability to make and keep our vows.  He empowers us to do so.    However, when we walk away from God we make it easy to walk away from our obligations.   Evil does that.  It makes it easy.  Wisdom is given to us to prevent that. 

Proverbs 1:2

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 the purpose of Proverbs:

Proverbs 1:2 (NASB)

To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,

Proverbs 1:2 (ESV)

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

Solomon wrote Proverbs for a specific purpose. And, like a good writer or speaker, he outlines that purpose right off the top of the writings. In these few verses of Proverbs, Solomon tells us that he wants this collection of proverbs to assist us in "knowing wisdom and instruction" and to equipped us in the "discernment" of these very sayings of understanding. Stated another way he wants us to know what wisdom and proper instruction of life is all about and to have the discernment to know how to exact it. Our libraries and book stores are full of words from mere men who hope to give us wisdom and instruction. They hope to provide us with discerment in our lives. In reality, God's Word is the only book that can accomplish that. Solomon doesn't try to hide that fact. He bodly states what all should know: God's Word provides all we need for wisdom and instruction in life to be discerning. Yet, the world doesn't see it. They ignore the Word and they search through meaningless pages of wit looking for real wisdom. The God of the universe has given it to them. Right here in Proverbs. Read them with the faith that what Solomon hoped to accomplish will be accomplished in the lives of all who read here.

Proverbs 31:6-7

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 drinking:

Proverbs 31:6-7 (ESV)

Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;

let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more. 

Apparently strong drink and wine, at the proper levels of consumption, does exactly what it is supposed to do.   Solomon, who undoubtedly was surrounded by good drink in this form and manner, must have had plenty of chances to see the affects of strong drink and wine.  Think of this verse when the new year comes around.   I have no doubt many are planing on getting wasted at a New Year’s Even party.   They are doing so for many reasons, of which "tradition" may lead the list.  On New Year's Eve we get drunk ... it is what people do.   But there may be other reasons.   The last year wasn't all that good.   The next year doesn't look that much better.  Many are poor and many have seen trouble after trouble.   Many see their lives through "bitter" eyes.   Solomon says when you see someone like that, give him wine and drink to cause him to forget his state and his status.   It is possible that this proverb by Solomon is stated in a tongue-in-cheek manner.   Since their lives are so bitter and in a state of poverty, Solomon gives in and says let them get drunk, there is little left for them.   It is doubtful that fatalistic view was on his mind (however, if you read Ecclesiastes, you can see where that thought is often echoed).  Solomon could be saying this in a sarcastic manner, as well.   Give them drink to get wasted since they have wasted their lives.   It is possible, however, to believe that  Solomon is telling the person who is perishing and in bitter poverty to relieve their stress with something God created, strong drink and wine.   The purpose of the two is to relax the senses and to forget the day(s).  The problem comes when we use this God-given creation to excess and fail to come to God, the ultimate comfort for the perishing, bitter soul.  The key to the passage is that the strong drink and wine is to be given to those "who are perishing."  This is for someone who is ready to depart and in dire straights.   This is not a verse for New Year's Eve.  It is a verse when you might not see another year.   Understand God does provide some comfort to those who are perishing.  We can not miss this portion of the text.  Solomon is writing to give comfort to the “perishing.”   It is probably more practical to think of this passage as medicinal than in the context of excess and experiential.   Those who are perishing are in pain and on the verge of death.   The medicine for this during Solomon’s day would have been strong drink and wine.  It would be used to ease their pain as they do, indeed, perish.

Proverbs 30:15-16

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 never being satisfied:

Proverbs 30:15-16 (ESV)

The leech has two daughters:

Give and Give.

Three things are never satisfied;

four never say, “Enough”:

Sheol, the barren womb,

the land never satisfied with water,

and the fire that never says, “Enough.”

These two proverbs give us a very important message and truth to equip us to live in today's society.   In our society we have many people, organizations and institutions who can qualify as "The Leech".    The metaphor Solomon gives us here is about "The Leech" - someone who has a hunger that is never satisfied and constantly desires that the hunger be feed by others.   Organizations try to suck the life out of their people.   People can suck the life out of other people.   The worst issue is that the "leech" is never satisfied.   To emphasize this, Solomon gives us examples, like the Leech, of other things that are never satisfied ... four of them.   The grave (Sheol) is never satisfied.  People will die because the wages of sin is death.  Sheol will constantly keep crying for more and never say, "This is enough."   A women who has a barren womb will constantly try to have a child.   They will never give up.  They will never say, "This is enough."   The earth will constantly drink in the rain.   Even in the worst flood the earth keeps sucking in the water.   It will never say, "This is enough."   And, the final example is the fire.  No matter how much fuel you give it, like the leech, it sucks wood and never says, "This is enough."   We have to be careful that we don't become a leech.   We always want more and more.   Solomon is telling us that we need to be careful to not get in a position to be the "leech" or try to satisfy the "leech."   We can't satisfy the leech.   God gives us what we need.  Without Him we act like the leech.   God satisfies us.    Nothing else satisfies.  Note what Solomon said earlier in the Proverbs about being satisfied and Jesus echoed in his teaching: 

Proverbs 13:25 (ESV)

The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Matthew 5:6 (ESV)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Proverbs 29:22

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 anger:

Proverbs 29:22 (NASBStr)

An angry man stirs up strife,

And a hot- tempered man abounds in transgression.

Proverbs 29:22 (ESV)

A man of wrath stirs up strife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

This proverb is similar to:

Proverbs 15:18 (NASBStr)

A hot- tempered man stirs up strife,

But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

When you think of the outcome of a hot-tempered man, you can see the results are not good for him any more than the person he is in anger with.   When you stir up strife you are as equally damaged by such conflict.   Stirring up strife, or engaging in strife is destructive to all parties, not just the person you are angry with.   When our temper is hot it produces more sin than just the initial anger.   That is the point of the second line, above.   Wrong anger is not only sin it opens the door to more sin.  When you think of the proverb that a soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1) you see that the soft answer stops sin from taking place.  But anger stirs up more strife opens the flood-gates of sin.   Solomon is not bashful to let us know the consequences of sin and the fallout of rejecting the fear of The Lord.   God has set the stage that what you sow you also reap.   So, when you sow anger it reaps more strife.   You can't avoid it.   Hot-tempered people create more anger in others and bring frustration and confusion to many.   But a person who does not lose his/her temper can calm the situation and allow others to find God's grace.   If you have too much strife in your life quit stirring it up with your own anger.

Proverbs 28:3

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 giving others grace, like you received grace:

Proverbs 28:3 (ESV)

A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

There is nothing worse than someone who "needs" someone else to ridicule, make fun of, or degrade - who also needs something!! Think about this: A poor man, who needs grace by others, ridicules a man poorer than himself. This is the parabale Christ taught in Matthew 18. The man who couldn't pay his debt and was released from it. Rather than rejoice and forgive others of their debts to him, instead he went out and beat a man who owed him an insignificant amount compared to what he was just forgiven. In the above proverb, Solomon tells us this type of person is like a driving rain that leaves "no" food. It is a mean behavior when someone won’t forgive when they are, themselves, forgiven. It is an evil act when you are given grace and you can't give it to others. It is wicked to know what it is like to need and not find grace to others who are equally, or even more so, in need. God despises those who show no grace. This is why we need grace. This is why we need to show grace. Don't be a driving rain. Be a refreshing mist. Think about the word picture Solomon is giving us here.  Crops need rain.  They need a lot of rain to survive and to thrive.  Yet, a “driving” rain damages the very crops it should be nourishing. That is what it is like for a poor man (already needing mercy and grace) who oppresses the lowly ... those even less than themselves.   God sees these injustice acts.  He takes note of them and will rectify this in the final judgment.   

Matthew 5:7 (ESV)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Proverbs 27:10

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 friendships:

Proverbs 27:10 (ESV)

Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend,

and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.

Better is a neighbor who is near

than a brother who is far away.

Having a friend is an important aspect of our lives.   So much so that Solomon stresses that we not only make sure we keep our "personal" friends but that we also don't forsake the a friend that has been part of your family.   Having a personal friend you can trust and who knows you, allows you to navigate through life's journey.    Imagine having someone who was also an established friend of your father.   One who knows both the family secrets but also the family potential.  He knows you because he knew dad.     But, when we do need help we should be careful who we ask.   Solomon tells us that it is better to go to our neighbor than to a brother.  Family is not always better than a friend.    Sometimes a friend who is close is better than a brother who is far away.   Solomon is expressing to us the value of true friendship.   Solomon’s wisdom in this proverb: 1) Don't forsake your one friend.  2) Don't forsake long established friends.  3) Don't always burden your family in times of calamity.  4) A friend near is better than family far.

Proverbs 26:22

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 communications:

Proverbs 26:22 (NASBStr)

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

Proverbs 26:22 (NIV1984)

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

Solomon states the same proverb in Proverb 18:8.  

Proverbs 18:8 (ESV)

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Here, we read:

Proverbs 16:28 (NASBStr)

A perverse man spreads strife,

And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

The Bible has much to say about the tongue and how it can add quality to life, or can foil those who hear it, especially, Proverbs.  In the concept of speech God gave us a beautiful tool that no other created thing has.  We, and we alone, can speak to others in a variety of languages.  We are not the only ones who can communicate to our counterparts, but ware the only creatures who communicate in this manner.  We are definitely the ONLY creatures who use the communication system God gave us for the purpose of destroying fellow creatures.  We use the tongue for destruction the same way we use it for enjoying food: We love the taste of gossip like we love the taste of ice cream.  However, gossip destroys to the very heart and inner most part of the body.   It causes pain from the inside out.  We can actually destroy another person with just the words from our mouth.  They go down to the inner most part of the heart and hurt others like a knife to the arteries.  We can use our tongues for good or for bad.   That comes from our desire to do God's will or our own.