Proverbs 25:2

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 searching out a matter:

Proverbs 25:2 (ESV)

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

This proverb gives us insight on how important it is for someone in charge (a leader; parent; teacher) to search out what is going on before making decisions. Leadership has, as one of its goals, the need to solve problems. The person who knows the problem exists isn’t necessarily a leader. The person who knows it exists, knows the solution and knows the resources needed to make the solution happen is the better leader. This proverb gives us insight into that process. It is a contrasting proverb: Meaning the second line contrasts the first. God can “hide” things and doesn't need the counsel of others, because He is God. But, it is the humble leader that will go to others to get wisdom and counsel over problems. Poor leaders think they know it all and therefore don’t have to “seek” out more truth. Only God has that privilege. Good parents, business leaders and community leaders seek out truth through others.  When Nehemiah left captivity to return to Jerusalem, it was his desire to rebuild the walls of this great, favored city.   When he arrived, after everyone else was asleep, he searched out the situation and became familiar with each breach in the wall.  Note the following:

Nehemiah 2:11-12

So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God was putting into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding.

This story is as good as it gets to exemplify the above proverb.   Nehemiah was a ruler who had something in his heart.  He loved Jerusalem.  He saw it devastated and nothing like it was in in his memory.  He envisioned something different.   He searched out, in private, how to do create it.   It is the glory of a king to search out a matter.   Wisdom is to be searched out.   Search out what you need to know.  He had to prioritize his work, abandon some and focus on others.   This proverb tells us that just as it is to God’s glory to “conceal” it is a leader’s glory to “search out.”  

Proverbs 24:1

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 envious men:

Proverbs 24:1 (ESV)

Be not envious of evil men,

nor desire to be with them,

This verse may be one of the hardest Proverbs to practice and the easiest to preach. We envy others. If not, God would not have made it one of His top ten commandments: Thou shalt not covet. Aspah, the Psalmist, wrote about it in Pslam 73. Simon the sorcerer, when he saw the Spirit of God move in the midst of the church, was desirous of the Spirit (Acts 8:18). We all have moments of envy - where we desire something we can't have that others have obtained or achieved. It is an evil thing in our dark, dark hearts. However, there is reprieve avalable. Through Christ we have relief. We don't have to desire to be with evil men when we see their outcome (See Aspah's conclusion in Pslam 73:17ff). Evil men will be destroyed. Evil men, who enjoy life's pleasures today, will pay in the later end. God's timing is never fast or without patients. God will return to evil men the evil they have protrayed. However, until then we tend to envy their accomplishments, talents, treasures and/or possessions. Do not be envious of them. They will be paid for their evil eventually. If you crave the evil you must also endure the payment.

Proverbs 23:6

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 selfishness: 

Proverbs 23:6 (NASB)

Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies.

Proverbs 23:6 (KJV)

Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye,

neither desire thou his dainty meats:

Proverbs 23:6 (ESV)

Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy;

do not desire his delicacies,

Selfish people are deceptive people.  People who are focused on themselves can't focus on anything else.   Selfishness looks sickly.   It carries itself in strange manners and attempts to disguise itself into something it is not.   That seems to be the truth taught in this proverb and the next.   Selfish people like to lay out bread crumbs that others follow - but they follow them into a trap few escape.   A selfish person is so focused upon their own sediments and sympathies they do not se other's needs or other's wants.  But, the selfish person seems to always have others around them.  They seem, despite their self-promotion, to solicit a following.   Hence the warning from Solomon.  Solomon gives us two pictures.   The selfish person lays out "bread" and 'delicacies."   The bread can symbolize our needs, that the selfish person believes they could meet.  But they simply use your needs to meet their own desire.  The delicacies could symbolize our wants as the selfish person lays them out, again only to use us to accomplish their own deceit.   Beware of a person focused on self.   You are only a way for them to please their own greed and need.  Note what the next verse says:

Proverbs 23:7 (ESV Strong's)

.. for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.

“Eat and drink!” he says to you,

but his heart is not with you.

The stingy, selfish person only has their own desires in their heart. If they share something with you, it is to get something more or better from you.   

Proverbs 22:9

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 being generous:

Proverbs 22:9

He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

Proverbs 22:9 (ESV Strong's)

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,

for he shares his bread with the poor.

Some people wonder why they are never the center of gift giving. They always complain when others are honored and wonder, “why not me?” The above proverb sheds some light on the answer to that question: Those who are blessed and honored are generous givers first. Those who open their hearts to give are blessed in return. The law of the harvest a very true law. But, notice what the generous person gives. He doesn’t give out of his savings, but from his very food. He gives what he needs, not what he doesn’t need. We do a great job of giving those things to the poor we no longer have any use for, but how many of us are generous enough to give of our very food? In our society we hear of those of a great riches giving great wealth, and that is good. But, true generosity is to give what you need yourself.  We might consider the woman that Jesus observed putting in a small amount into the offering coffers of the Jewish leaders:

Luke 21:4 (ESV)

For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

She did not match the big gift givers.  No, she surpassed them.   They gave out of the abundance of their treasure and it made little sacrifice for them.  But she put in all she had to live on.  That is a sacrifice and that is true giving that God will bless.  The boy that the disciples found had two loaves and five fishes.  He gave it all to Christ and masses were blessed.  

Proverbs 21:31

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 skill and victory:

Proverbs 21:31 (ESV)

The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to the LORD.

The above proverb has mulitple applications to our lives. The immediate context speaks about a battle or war, obviously. Plain and simply put, we can train our hands to fight a war but if we are victorious it will depend entirely on God. Most of us don't think this way in our society. We tend to think that the stronger, the more trained, the more equipped will eventually triumph. However, the training may be in our control, but victory is His will. We can apply this principle to any discipline or situation we find ourselves facing. Our ability to prepare, in reality, also comes from God. Let us not think that we do anything of virture or worth without His enablement. We do, however, have a responsibility to "prepare" for victory. David prepared for victory by using his sling and stones while guarding the sheep. He was smaller in stature and less equipped. Yet, God gave the victory. Daniel had less "resources," (not even having a stone and a sling). Yet, armed with his tool of prayer he closed the mouth of lions. Moses had a staff and whipped the entire Egyptian's army. Elijah simply bent his knees in prayer and closed the heavens from raining.  We don't need a lot, we only need what God gives us and use that to its fullest extent. Prepare the horse but trust God for the victory.

This proverb, also, gives us a look at the partnership we have with God in the battle's we face. We are to trust in God for the victory but we are to prepare our resources for the battle. The horse (our strength, our skill, our size) is to be prepared for whatever battle we are about to face. We are to train and practice what God has given us for resources. But, we are not to trust in that preparation as the means of the victory. God is to be our trust. God will use those resources (as with Joshua) or even diminish those resources (as with Gideon). We might have the sword provided, but God will simply use the sling (David). We might have the sun stand still (Joshua) to make sure we can use our army to complete the battle. God will do some amazing things. We are simply responsible to prepare our resources.

Proverbs 20:1

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 led astray by wine:

Proverbs 20:1 (ESV)

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

The principle behind this verse is supported by the life we see every day in every era.   Alcohol has a strange affect on mankind.  There are stories throughout God's Word and natural man's tales that speak to the truth of this verse.  AA has a complete industry devoted to helping those who are confounded and humbled by the substance of wine and strong drink.  So, few would disagree with a portion of Solomon's proverb in 20:1.   However, Solomon is not politically correct when he says that those we are intoxicated are not "wise."   To most alcoholism is not a wise or foolish thing but a disease.   If our world doesn't want to deal with the sin behind or problems we just call it a sickness.     Just today I saw a billboard that proclaimed obesity was not a decision but a disease.    So, Solomon gives us the true source of the problem with intoxication ... it is a foolish behavior and not a Spirit led behavior.  It is something believers, who have the Spirit of God leading them, would avoid since the Wisdom of God dwells in us.   Intoxication and believers are on the opposite ends of the spectrum according to Solomon.  I don't think Solomon teaches abstinence.  But he does speak about the foolishness of allowing a substance to control you.  Believers, pay attention to God's Wisdom here.  We would do well to heed the warning.

Proverbs 19:3

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 the ruin our choices can bring upon us:

Proverbs 19:3

The foolishness of man ruins his way,

And his heart rages against the Lord..

Proverbs 19:3 (ESV)

When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,

his heart rages against the LORD.

A proverb is a way to teach wisdom in a simple way with a word picture, or with contrasting or complimentary statements. This proverb gives us insight about what causes us problems in our lives. The first line tells us why we run into some struggles in our lives and the second expands on it by telling us what we do about the life we ruin. Although there are certainly some great examples of a ruined life that is no fault of the individual (Job the best example), in most cases this proverb gives us insight into the most popular reason for our demise … our own foolishness. It is not some cosmic problem that cause problems in our lives. It is, according to Solomon’s wisdom, our own folly. It is when we make foolish choices that we cause ruin in our lives. And, once we make those choices, we rage against God asking, Why? Why? When we look back over our lives we will have to admit most of the issues we have that have caused us problems is the lack of the Fear of God and poor decisions to not Fear him. What choices are you making?  Our own guilt and shame rise in our hearts because of our own foolishness.  We sin against God, fail to confess the sin as sin and ask God to forgive and heal.  Then we wonder why we feel shame.  Our "heart rages against the Lord" because our will does not recognise God's authority in our lives.  That brings on shame.

Proverbs 18:14

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 depression:

Proverbs 18:14 (ESV)

A man’s spirit will endure sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

There is one thing to be sick and there is another to be depressed.   Solomon had some insight into depression.  You might read Ecclsiastes and see some signs of a man who found all of life vanity ... emptiness.  What he tells us in this proverb is that a normal sickness can be tolerated by the one who is sick.  However, he is speaking in the first line of physical health.   In the second line he changes the focus to sickness in regard to the spirit, the mental, and/or the psychological.  He doesn't really tell us, but the best interpretation is that he is speaking in regard to the psychology of someone.  Solomon is speaking here about someone who is in deep depression.  He is telling us that we might be able to handle physical aliments but when our spirit is lost we too are lost.   Think here about Job.   Job had physical aliments.   He was working on how to handle the physical issues.  However, the physical issues caused a problem with his theology.   Job could endure sickness, but couldn't bear it when the sickness broke his spirit.   Solomon simply warns us to be aware.  When we get into this situation in life we have only one course of action: Faith in Christ.  When we find ourselves with a broken spirit God is the only One to rescue us.  We must find solace in Him only.

Proverbs 17:6

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 grand-parenting:

Proverbs 17:6 (ESV)

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

and the glory of children is their fathers.

I have read this proverb countless times prior to my having the privilege of having grandchildren. Now that I have many, it seems all the more of a truth to me. Of course the second line is as important - it makes the first possible. The theme of the verse is that there is an obvious joy of having family come after you. In Psalm 146 we read the sad truth that when a man dies his thoughts perish on that very day. But, as this verse points out, his seed doesn't. It is glorious to have children and children's children. God gives us joy in the former and a crown in the later. We ought to rejoice in the seed that follows us. We may be forgotten by the majority of mankind, but our seed will be our glory forever.  The “legacy” we need to live is that we teach our children and grandchildren and those after us about the glory of Christ.  Note what God commanded mankind:

Genesis 1:28 (ESV)

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

One of the first things we were supposed to do in obedience to God’s command was to replenish the earth.   Man can glorify God by obeying Him.   Therefore, when man obeys God he glorifies God.  The crown of a man is to obey God’s commands and replenishing the earth is a path to that crown.  

Proverbs 16:32

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 controlling our anger:

Proverbs 16:32 (NASBStr)

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

Proverbs 16:32 (ESV)

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

This proverb gives us insight about the power of patience and keeping control over our emotions. The comparisons that are made in the proverb are very vivid. Think about a warrior, or many warriors that have the ability to take control of an entire city. Take Chicago as an example. Imagine the power of an army taking control of the entire city of Chicago. That is a lot of power. There would be little that can compare to that kind of power. Yet, Solomon tells us in this Proverb that a lone man, who has control over his temper or emotions, has more power than one of the soldiers, or even more than the entire army. Controlling your emotions gives you great power over others and great wisdom in extreme circumstances.  Notice what Paul says about this concept of “self-control” - 

1. Self-control is required at a great athlete/Christian:

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (ESV Strong's)

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

2. Self-control is a quality of Godly older men:

Titus 2:2 (ESV Strong's)

2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

3.  Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV Strong's)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Notice what we are having self-control over: Our anger.   Anger is NOT a fruit of the spirit.  Anger is not a characteristic of a Godly man.  Anger is not something great Christians demonstrate.   The second line is the opposite of the anger expressed in the first the line.  We are to “rule” our spirit.  The only what that happens is if we allow the Spirit of God to rule us.   

Proverbs 15:25

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 proud: 

Proverbs 15:25 (ESV)

The LORD tears down the house of the proud

but maintains the widow’s boundaries.

God, according to this proverb, knows who are exalted in this life and those that are abased.   God knows those who are proud and those who, because of their circumstances, have been humiliated.  In our society we see the exalted person promoted, recognized and valued.  We de-value; de-fame and diminish the lowly ... like the widow.    But, faith in God is the upside down religion.   God sees the proud and brings them down.   God sees the widow (simply an example of the lowly) and provides them with security and structure and safetly.   We ought not worry about things of life when we know God and have faith in God.  When we trust in ourselves we do not have God's mercy and grace.    When we have nothing in our lives and are striped to the bare bone, we can find faith in God and that faith will result in God providing us with the very things others strive for: Security.   When we have everything and trust only ourselves we will get what we fear: loss of everything.   Humility always trumps pride and God always knows who is who.

Proverbs 14:11

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 about the righteous and the wicked:

Proverbs 14:11 (ESV)

The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

By now, if you have read very many of these blogs or a few of the proverbs, you will begin to see the pattern discussed in this proverb.    The theme of proverbs is a life with God (characterized by wisdom) and the life without God (characterized by the life of folly).   Wisdom and folly are often personified as a competing women on the street that attracts and attempts to entice the naive one to follow them.   That is one major aspect of the wisdom vs. NO wisdom theme.  Another important aspect between this natural tension between good and evil is the theme that when one chooses good something good happens.  When one chooses bad, something bad happens. That is the passion and fruit of this proverb.   We don't always see what this proverb is teaching us.  We don't see the home of the folly follower destroyed before our eyes.  We often see them live a life of ease and comfort (Psalm 73).   We also don't see the "tent" of the wisdom worshiper filled to overflowing and befitting the concept of "flourishing."  But, by faith we can see it.   Moses refused to be part of the great things of Egypt but rather suffered and endured to find a city who's maker and builder was God (Hebrews 11).   When following Christ we know that we will flourish.   We know that those who reject wisdom will find certain destruction.   When it happens isn't essential to know ... only that it will happen.  Too many believers operate by “sight” rather than by “faith.”   When we follow God’s Wisdom, by faith, we will see that our house is flourishing.   The person of follow only sees what is physically in front of them.  They think they have a life of ease, but don’t realize they have built their house on the sand.  When the rains and wind of life comes to beat against their house it will fall.   That is the point of the above proverb.  

Proverbs 13:3

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 the tongue:

Proverbs 13:3 (ESV)

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

This proverb is a contrast between wisdom and folly.  All of proverbs is that contrast.  Here, wisdom and folly are represented by the man who can guard his mouth and the one who can't.   We don't typically think of wisdom and folly contrasted in this manner.  We think of more loftier and grander comparisons.  But no, it is as simple as the ability to control your tongue.  Remember, James tells us that a tongue is like the match that starts a forest on fire.   He goes on to say it is like a rudder of a mighty ship.   Such a big ship and a ruder, sometimes, less than a few feet long and side makes the ship go starboard or port.   So, too, is a tongue for us. It is the bucket bringing out of the well of our heart whatever has been fuming, planted or nurtured.   It moves us down one path or the other.  How we use the tongue can put us in favor with kings -or, it can insult the king and he can ruin our lives.  The tongue is the perfect representation of wisdom and folly.  Folly uses the tongue as a whipping post.  It flings out endless vanity and empty air.   But, it can be a blessing to others.  It can compliment the lowly and comfort the lonely.  It can build up and instruct.  It can softly reprove to correct the stranger.    You don't have to be around long before you know what someone's tongue is connected to.   It is an extension of their foolish or wise heart.  Just listen and you'll know.

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.