Proverbs 8:32

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 keeping God’s Word:

Proverbs 8:32 (ESV)

“And now, O sons, listen to me:

blessed are those who keep my ways.

My purpose for writing a small devotional/lesson on each proverb was to provide it to my children and my grandchildren.   My hope is (was) to compile all of them and entitle the work, "Wisdom for my Children."   As my life comes to an end I have been amazed at the blessing(s) God has laid on me.   For the corrupt man that I am I have no right to have such blessings.   I have read a chapter of proverbs every day in my life as far back as I can remember.   It has been the reason for my success in every area of my life.    That is the reason, before I die, I wanted to write something to my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren about what can happen when you put your faith in God's Word and rely not on your own understanding but the wisdom of God.   In the above verse Solomon is saying the same thing that I feel.   He is speaking to "his sons" and telling them that if they will but trust in God's Wisdom and not their own He will bless them and keep them.   So, we need to make sure we heed Solomon's words as the very Word of God.   He will indeed bless us if we hold to God's Wisdom and fear Him always.  I can testify to that truth.  God has blessed me in ways I can't count.

Proverbs 7:13

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 the brazen woman folly:

Proverbs 7:13 (ESV)

She seizes him and kisses him,

and with bold face she says to him,

Sin is brazen.  Sin isn't afraid to make contact with us.   In this chapter, folly (sin) is personified as an adulterous women.   In the story we have a naive one (you and me) who is caught by her in the middle of a seductress act.  She (folly) will soon use her speech, sent and sight to tempt the young boy.   But, before that she uses the most powerful tools in her arsenal, touch and speech.  She is said to take hold of him, kiss him and than speak with a brazen attitude toward him.   Sin is not afraid to touch us.  To titilate us.  She wants to make us feel good about ourselves.  She wants us to feel good, period.   We have to be aware of sins personal touch toward us to attract us and entice us to follow her and engage with her.   Don't be surprised when sin touches you.   Don't be surprised with she uses convincing language to convince you.  She wants to deceive us.   Under Satan’s direction, Folly transforms itself into false light and disguises the darts we see:

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (ESV)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)

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

Satan often shoots us with darts, but don’t be surprised that the darts can often look like, or feel like a deceptive kiss.   

Proverbs 6:10

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 laziness:

Proverbs 6:10-11 (ESV)

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

I feel like I am always sleepy. I try to go to bed early and get a good nights sleep but, yet, when I awake in the morning I almost always quote in my head the above proverb.    At least I quote verse ten.   My conscience, however, always says, "I think your forgetting the next verse ... verse eleven."  These two verses can't really be handled separately.  Solomon is not warning us about waking up tired, actually.  He is warning us about waking up "lazy." Proverbs has a lot to say about "laziness" (often referred to as "slothfulness").  In this verse he is mocking those who say, "I think I'm just going to take a little nap" when, in reality, they ought to be planting fields, or securing their safety.  Yet, because they decided to lay instead of labor they won't have something to eat in times of harvest, or won't be ready when the robber comes to thieve.   Laziness is a sin in God's book.  We don't think of it that way, but God does.  Those, today, who refuse to work and just want to lay around may get around our government assistance checks and balances, but they won't slip by God's notice.   God rewards hard work and integrity.   God disciplines laziness and slack.   Lay on the couch and you won't have sustenance and/or protection.   You will eventually be in want and jeopardy.

Proverbs 5:1

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 leaning into God’s Word:

Proverbs 5:1 (ESV)

My son, be attentive to my wisdom;

incline your ear to my understanding,

When we give attention to something or incline our ear to something, we go to an extreme extent to make sure we see, hear or observe something.   Just before I read this proverb I actually practiced the principle.   I was sitting in the salon of our boat (the living area) and the boat started to rock violently, obviously from a passing boat not observing the no-wake zone for our harbor.   I rushed up to the helm to see if I could see who it was, but at the same time I heard the football game I was watching reaching an epic point.    So, while half way up to the helm, I stopped to "stretch" back and "lean" in to see the key play of the game.   That leaning in and bending down to catch a game is what Solomon is talking about.   But he is telling us to do this action and activity for something far greater than a game.   When we hear God's Word and know the that truth is being offered we should stop what we are doing and lean in and stoop down to hear the Word.   The is what the words "give attention" and "incline your ear" mean in this proverb.   Stop what  your doing.   Take time to incline your ear to hear His Word.

Proverbs 4:20

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 bending our ear to hear the Word of God:

Proverbs 4:20 (ESV)

My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

Throughout Proverbs (and the Bible) we are warned, admonished, challenged and compelled to listen to God's Word and make it a priority in our lives.   The writers uses various metaphors to gain our interest and entice our motivations.  It is a light to our path (Psalm 119:105).   It is a sword that cuts into our soul (Hebrews 11:2) and protects us as part of our armor (Ephesians 6:17).   Here, in the above Proverb, we see that we are told to give attention to it and to bend our ear to it.    Wisdom is the speaker (Wisdom being Christ) and our inclining our ear to the Word indicates our submissive nature and that grace has entered our hearts.  For without grace, we could not hear and respond to the Word.  The Pharisees heard the Word but did not respond.   King Saul heard the Word and did not respond.  Josiah heard the Word and it caused a revival in the Kingdom.   Above, the son is told to bend the ear to the Word, which is a metaphor for giving the heart, soul and body to the commands of God.   In the previous proverbs Solomon was telling the son what the evil person does.  Now he starts to tell them what the follower of God does ... listen to the Word.

Proverbs 3:33

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 blessing and cursing: 

Proverbs 3:33 (ESV)

The LORD'S curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

One of the most famous places in Scripture is found in Deuteronomy 28-30.   It is known, especially to the Jew.   This is the passage in the Law that is often referred to as the "blessings and the cursings."  The name Deuteronomy is the Hebrew for "the second giving of the Law."   Moses is about to die and will never see the promise land.  His protégé, Joshua, will have the privilege of leading the nation into the land so coveted by Moses and his generation.  But, they sinned and, until now, all but Moses died in the wilderness.  Now it was Moses' time to die.   But, before he does so he repeats the Law (what was originally found in Exodus and Leviticus) here in Deuteronomy.    In the last chapters of that great book (as referred to above) he tells the new generation that was born in the wilderness to make sure they heed the Law.  He gave them this second writing of the Law at the foot of two mountains.  One mountain was the Mountain of Ebel and the other was the Mountain of Gerizim.     The mountains were to represent the two choices before the nation.  If they obeyed the Law they would experience the blessings of Mt. Gerizim.  If they disobeyed, however, they would experience the cures of Mt. Ebel.   So, when Solomon uses the words above to describe those who Fear The Lord and those who pursue folly as the righteous and the wicked; and says the righteous will be blessed, but the wicked cursed, the image of the listener of this proverb would be vivid.   Although the concept of being cursed by God for disobedience is spoken of many, many times in the Bible, this particular word for curse in the Hebrew, used here, is only used five times in the Bible.   It is used twice by Solomon (here and again in Proverbs 28:27 about those who turn a closed eye to the poor); twice by Malachi (one of those for those who steal from God by not giving Him their tithes) and once in the Deuteronomy passage.   God takes seriousness the sin against Him and the obedience toward Him.   But, as spoken here in this proverb it is not just the individual who is cursed or blessed.  It is the "house" or the "dwelling" of them both.   Those who disobey God will bring cursing on their entire home.  And, those who obey can be the conduit for blessing.   The psalmist wrote about this in Psalm 91.   Paul wrote about it 1 Corinthians 7 when he said a believing parent sanctifies the unbelieving spouse or the unbelieving child in the home.   Although we will each answer for our own response to Christ, cursing and blessing can be done corporately.   When the wicked rule the entire country is cursed (Proverbs 29:2).  Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim might have been directly illustrations for the second generation of Israelites, but the theme of blessings and cursings are for us today.

Proverbs 2:19

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 we are on:

Proverbs 2:19 (ESV)

none who go to her come back,

nor do they regain the paths of life.

Folly has many alluring temptations.  However, as she offers great feelings, wonderful smells, incredible highs, the same path leads us to a dead-end.   Folly wants us to follow her and paves the path with external blessings and superficial experiences.   However, the end of the road doesn't end up with heavenly blessings.  Following her path produces the opposite ... it produces a cliff at the end.   When they think they are pursuing life they will actually be inheriting death. They would like to turn around but they can't.  They would hope to start again, but they can't.   Repentance is only available for awhile.  In this passage we sees that the end is death.   Not only do those who follow folly (unbelief) end up in a death path, they may also lose the ability to reboot.   God is patient and continues to offer His grace every day.   However, that grace can have its end at the end of the path of folly.   Solomon is warning the unbeliever that the gift of grace has one short coming ... the offering of it, has an end.  The termination of grace is found at the end of the path of folly.   The opposite is true of those who put their faith in God and choose Him over folly.  Note:

Psalms 16:8-11 (ESV Strong's)

8 I have set the LORD always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Proverbs 1:4

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 being simple, naïve:

Proverbs 1:4 (ESV)

to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

If you are "simple," you need the wisdom God's provides: Discernment. Discernment, or prudence in some translations, is defined as the ability to make practical decisions. The simple, or naive, are void of practical decision making ability. This is where God's wisdom comes to the rescue. When God provides wisdom (through His Word) it doesn't come stagnant. God's Wisdom comes with an active assistant: The Holy Spirit. So, the youthful person, who lacks the ability to make practical decisions can be assisted by the Holy Spirit who will give them prudence, knowledge and/or discretion. In this first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon is outlining the reasons to study his collection of proverbs. The study of proverbs gives us all relief, because we all, in one way or another, are simple/naive. The reason Solomon wrote these proverbs was for us to study, learn and to leave the world of naivety and practice discretion. There is no reason for us to remain navie other than laziness. It is not based upon age or experience. Leaving the world of naivety is based upon study of God's Word.

Proverbs 28:5

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 justice:

Proverbs 28:5 (ESV)

Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.

Try to explain to a non-believer why you think abortion is wrong or captial punishment is right. Try to explain to them why we are told to discipline children. The phrase in the above proverb, "evil men", is the same way as saying "non-believers." When those who don't believe in God hear His standards and His justice they seldom understand. It is not that they oppose justice (at least most of the time), but that they don't always embrace it, either. God is a just God. Those who reject Him go to hell. Those who fail to submit to His teaching miss His blessings. God is a God of justice and demands justice from others. The unbelieving world does not understand God's justice because they do not understand and know God.  Those who seek God, however, “understand” all things.   When it comes to justice, those who fear the Lord have understanding.  Remember, the purpose of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 1:2-4 (ESV)

To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

Notice what wisdom is supposed to produce.   Those who have the fear of the Lord will “receive” instruction in wise dealings, in righteousness, justice and equity.   That is why those who seek the Lord understand justice and equity.   

Proverbs 27:12

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 the simple, the naive.  

Proverbs 27:12 (ESV)

The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

What do you do when you see evil; when you see something contrary to God's Word?  Do you pay the price of a ticket to go watch it?  Do you purchase it?  Do you befriend it?  Do you marry it?   This proverb seems to indicate how you respond toward evil (disobedience to God's Word) says something about your life and walk with God.   A Godly man/women will run and hide when he/she sees evil.   A simple (naive) man/woman will simply proceed onward and eventually pay the price.    In our modern society, the "running and hiding" aspect is often mocked.   But God says it is "prudent' to hide.   It is the "naive" person who simply ignores the evil and proceeds onward and downward.   The naive will eventually be penalized for their failure to heed the warnings of evil.   God has given us our eyes to spot evil.  He has given us His Word to be prudent about it.   When we see evil we don't just stop.   That seeing has to be mixed with God's Word which gives us prudence to avoid the evil.   Don't ignore what you see - mix it by faith with His Word and you will find yourself "hiding" from evil.  Probably the best example we have in someone who did NOT follow this proverb was the father of the man who wrote the proverb: David!   David failed to hide himself when he saw the danger of Bathsheba bathing.  If he had followed his son’s proverb, he would not have suffered for it in the way he did.   If Lot would have seen the dangers that were in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, he would have never lost his wife.   If we look for danger and, by God’s strength and power, avoid it, we have to hide ourselves from it.  

Proverbs 26:24-26

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 those who use flattery:

Proverbs 26:24-26 (ESV)

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips

and harbors deceit in his heart;

when he speaks graciously, believe him not,

for there are seven abominations in his heart;

though his hatred be covered with deception,

his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

The warning in the above group of proverbs is a warning to the reader.  We are being warned to beware of men and women who carry hatred in their hearts (maliciousness).   The person who has this hatred in their heart will always try to cover it. They can not be trusted.  Solomon tells us they hide their hatred and deceit with charming speech.   He uses deception to cover his malice.   When the proverb says there are "seven abominations in  his heart," he is telling us that his heart is "completely" full of hatred.   The number seven in the Bible always speaks of “completness.”  We are to be warned about this deceit and malice.   We don't have to worry about the results of it, however.   According to Solomon the deceit will be exposed to everyone some day.   We are not told when they will be exposed.   Even though his speech is "charming" we are not to believe him.   The mouth is camouflage for the heart.   We are not to be deceived by their lips.   Be careful when you find yourself with someone with sweet speech.  They just might of a dark heart. Note these additional proverbs:

Proverbs 29:5 (ESV)

A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

Proverbs 23:1-3 (ESV)

When you sit down to eat with a ruler,

observe carefully what is before you,

and put a knife to your throat

if you are given to appetite.

Do not desire his delicacies,

for they are deceptive food.

Solomon is dispensing wisdom.  Wise people are carful not to believe everything they hear.  

Proverbs 25:4-5

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 staying away from the bad to allow the good to flourish:

Proverbs 25:4-5 (ESV)

Take away the dross from the silver,

and the smith has material for a vessel;

take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

I know very little about silver smithing. I know very little about the chemical breakdown of metals and can't really say I could readily even define what "dross" is. But I can get the meaning of these two proverbs without that insight: Take away the bad and what remains is good. God, after He saves us for eternity and places Christ in our hearts (the essence of wisdom), He then goes on to purify us. In theological terms that is called the "sanctification" process. God is changing us as we grow "in Christ" from one degree to another ... from "glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). I imagine that in order to get dross from silver their is some type of refining process the involves heat. The dross is metaled away. That is a tough process. It is not an easy process. God is in the process of "burning" off the dross in our lives. He is in the process of "purifying" us. That can be, and often is, a very painful process. We sometimes look at our Christianity as a privilege given to us and therefore to be wholly enjoyed. And, that is certainly true. We should enjoy it. But, growth has its pain. The growth process is something we need to embrace and realize that in order to get silver God has to burn off the dross.

Proverbs 24:3-4

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 building a home:

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NASBStr)

By wisdom a house is built,

And by understanding it is established;

 And by knowledge the rooms are filled

With all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV)

By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.

If you have ever built a business or organization, or even a church, you know the value of the truth stated in the above proverb.   Solomon may be the best person to speak to this truth.   When Solomon received the kingdom of Israel from his father David, it did not look like it would later under his rule.   He would organize the architecture and building crew for both the Temple and his own residence.   He would build an army that was second to known.  He would construct a navy that would explore places never explored.   Solomon didn't have a college degree to do this.  He didn't graduate from Babylonian U.; The Community College of Lower Egypt; or,  Assyrian Technological University.  Solomon was taught simply by Fearing God and having understanding of Him and Him alone.   In today's world if you want to build a business you should go to Harvard Business School.   If you want to move into economics you should go to Carnegie Melon.   If you want to be great at anything you are supposed to find the school of thought that pushes that thought, attend and graduate.  I don't think Solomon would be against this but the point of emphasis in this passage is that those who wish to do well in building a house (business, organization, etc.) should first and foremost seek God and His knowledge and understanding.   That is all we need.   Even today's great spiritual voices push far to much the world's template for success.   Solomon was a young man who became the wisest man on the planet.   He did it by fearing God.  Period!!!   He believed the above verses by faith.  God did the rest.  God filled his "house" with precious and pleasant riches.   Today's modern "social networking" and "professional marketing" have taken the place of building something by the sheer understanding and knowledge of God.

 I live on a boat. So, the building of a house doesn't intrigue me at all. However, that is not the type of house Solomon is talking about in these two verses. Yet, many focus on that aspect of the "home." The great American dream is to someday own your own "home." We are told by economist that this dream is slipping away from our young people. I would say the dream of a "home" is very much still in the grasp of anyone who wants one ... if I read this verse correctly. A home is built, not with dreams, dollars and/or ducts. It is not the timbers that matter but the trust in God that matters. We are so focused on the tangible that we forget about the vertical aspect of the home ... trusting God for wisdom and filling the rooms with knowledge of Him and His riches. A true "home" can be built  in a cave or in cauldron or in a shelter. It doesn't have to be a ranch style or split-level to be a home. A true home is where God fills the rooms with Himself. We ought to strive in our lives for this type of home and not worry about the place we lay our head. If our heart is in God's hands then He will assure we have a place for our head.

Proverbs 23:8

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 selfishness:

Proverbs 23:8 (ESV)

You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten,

And waste your compliments.

Some proverbs are just too graphic.   Solomon seems to have an obsession with vomit.  He uses the same word (Hebrew to "spew") in 25:16.  

Proverbs 25:16 (ESV)

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

In 26:11 he uses it in reference to fools being like a dog, who in turn eats his vomit.  

Proverbs 26:11 (ESV)

Like a dog that returns to his vomit

is a fool who repeats his folly.

The word is used nine times in the Bible and Solomon has penned a third of them.   Here he began a couple of verses prior to warn us about sitting down with selfish men who only have their own appetites in their minds.   He is telling us to be careful what we take from a selfish man, no matter what the gift looks like.   It will come violently out of us and the compliments we used to obtain it, or show appreciate for it, will be wasted.  When we go to work for a selfish person and we show them respect, despite their demonstration they don't deserve it, we fall into the sphere of this warning.  What he gives can violently come back to haunt us and our very compliments are wasted.   In 23:6 he tells us not to eat the bread of a selfish man.  Here, in this proverb, is why.   The stuff he gives you may go down good, but it comes up violently.   It will leave a bad taste in your mouth.  It will waste the good you showed him/her.   Be careful who you surround yourself with and who you want to be seen with.   We tend to seek these selfish beasts out and we marvel when it comes back to hurt us.  Selfish people don't see friendship as an opportunity to give - they see it as an opportunity to get.  Don't follow them and eat what they give you.  You will puke it out and waste the time you invested in them.  David did this with Saul.  Saul was so selfish.  David so giving.  David ended up vomiting the things Saul gave him.  His compliments were lost.   Solomon must have heard these stories and thus was born this proverb.