Proverbs 16:2

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 purity: 

Proverbs 16:2 (ESV)
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.

When you and I measure our goals, purpose and desires of life we might view them through our own rose colored glasses. We might look at what we do and why we do things with a bent of purity and a mind of piety. We typically would use the measuring stick of the man next door. Since we are better than the neighbor to the left we must be really good. And if the neighbor to the left is actually better than us, we simply use the neighbor to the right, or someone else of lower stature. But, we are not the measurement. God is the measurement. His standards are what is on the other side of the scale. So, even though we might look good to others, let us remember that God is weighing out our spirit and our real motives. We might look awful humble but He sees the wicked pride underneath. Let Him be our measurement! And, let's rejoice in the fact that God places Jesus Christ on our side of the scale to even things out. Now that is a new way to weigh things.

Proverbs 15:28

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 pondering how to answer:

Proverbs 15:28 (ESV)

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

I need to follow the truth in this proverb.  When we have been declared righteous we need to remember that God gives us, with that, the Spirit of God who produces self-control, patience, and many more fruit in our lives.  Instead of just blurting out responses and reactions and rebuttals the proper response is to "ponder" how to answer.   When we have the Wisdom of God indwelling us (1 Corinthians 2), we have the ability, through faith, to ponder.   We may not think so, but we do.  We may not believe so, but we should.   Moses had the same thoughts we do ... "I can't do it!"   God sent him a "helper" in the form of his brother who was a "type" of the Spirit.   Aaron was there to speak for and with Moses.   So, too, the Spirit for us.  Don't just blurt out.   The mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.   The mouth of the righteous doesn't.

Proverbs 14:14

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 the faithless:

Proverbs 14:14 (NASV)

The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.

Proverbs 14:14 (NIV)

The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his.

Proverbs 14:14 (ESV)

The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,

and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

Satisfaction and reward await everyone; just not in the same way or with the same spirit.   It is obvious that Solomon is telling us that both the foolish and the wise will be rewarded.    However, the approach he uses to tell us this should be noted.    Both will find a full reward for their approach to life.    Faithless people get rewarded but the reward is hollow, like their lives.   The good man, or faithful, will also be rewarded but that reward will be something that satisfies him.    Paul tells us in Galatians that "we reap what we sow."   He may have been reading Solomon's words in this proverb when he penned those words.    When we lose faith in God and act like "Lot" we fall into certain peril and receive a reward worthy of having no faith.    But, when we continue to believe like Abraham we receive a reward from God for that faithfulness.   We are all rewarded.   It just may mean different rewards.  See how Solomon further develops this thought a couple of proverbs later:

Proverbs 14:18

The simple inherit folly,

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

We reap what we sow ... Sow faith!

Proverbs 13:6

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 the power of righteousness:

Proverbs 13:6 (NASBStr)

Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,

But wickedness subverts the sinner.

Proverbs 13:6 (ESV)

Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

How many times have you ever been protected by "righteousness?"  This proverb helps us understand the value of faith and the protection of God.  When we have faith in God, He gives us righteousness.  We are "clothed" with righteousness.   Notice how Paul instructs the Ephesian believer with similar words:

Ephesians 6:14 (NASBStr)

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

God's righteousness, that we earn by faith in Christ, is our breastplate.   Our vital organs are protected by it.   The same is not true for the wicked.   The wickedness of the wicked will undermine the sinner.   The word here is "subvert", or, in the NIV, "overthrow."   Wickedness eventually brings the wicked down.  We might not be around to see it.  In fact, we might actually see them prosper.  However, the wicked WILL fall into the pit they dug for others (see Proverbs 26:7).   Righteousness not only changes our nature it protects our nurture.   Righteousness is provided to us to reach our final destination but to also keep safe on the journey.    The next time you are protected from evil and its fruit remember that righteousness was the guard of your life.   Christ died for our sin.   He gave us righteousness and peace.  Notice how Paul states that peace, also, guards us:

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God guards us.   God keeps us from harm.

Proverbs 12:7

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 stability: 

Proverbs 12:7 (ESV)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

but the house of the righteous will stand.

Stability in this world is a blessing, not an entitlement.   Even though the constitution of these states talks about our safety and security, it cannot guarantee stability.   Recently in our country the hurricanes on the south and east have demonstrated to us the inability for us to live in total security.   Even the strongest of fortresses is not immune from blast or blight.  Think of Solomon's day!   To live in a time when animals roamed the streets at night and murderers and marauders controlled the highways, would be to appreciate any hope for stability.   That is what makes Solomon's statement in the above proverb so compelling.  The house of the righteous will stand!  That is a fundamental hope and desire for all those who live in a land of sinkholes and mortgage collapses.  The righteous (those who put their faith in the risen God who provides righteousness and wisdom) can rejoice in this proverb.  The wicked do not.   The wicked put their hope in the finances, their influences, their possessions, their positions and their false beliefs.    But, they are "no more!"   Stability is a blessing that comes from God not a state you achieve through effort.  It is a gift of faith, not a benefit of works.

Proverbs 11:3

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 gaining more and more insights from God:

Proverbs 11:3 (ESV)

The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

This proverb appears in the section where a number of antithetical parallelisms occur. An antithetical parallalism is a Hebrew poetry where the second line contrast the first line. If you read Proverbs chapters’ ten and eleven you will find most of those proverbs are antithetical in nature. Solomon is drawing a contrast between wisdom and folly in these chapters. He wants to inspire the reader to choose, by faith, the right path in life, one directed by wisdom. This proverb is telling us that those who have Godly "integrity" (a completeness) will be guided by that same integrity. In 13:6 we see a similiar verse saying:

Proverbs 13:6 (ESV)

6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

In this verse we read that the "righteousness" of the man with integrity will guide them. The "crooked" are not as fortunate. The "crookedness" leads into the path of destruction; further destruction. When we seek wisdom God gives us more and uses what we have to lead us into light of an even better path. When we refuse wisdom we are left in the dark because we refuse to ponder the way we take:

Proverbs 5:6 (ESV)

she does not ponder the path of life;

her ways wander, and she does not know it.

So, continue to follow integrity (doing what is right) and it will show you more right to follow.

Proverbs 10:30

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 stable or shaken:

Proverbs 10:30 (NASBStr)

The righteous will never be shaken,

But the wicked will not dwell in the land.

Proverbs 10:30 (NIV1984)

The righteous will never be uprooted,

but the wicked will not remain in the land.

Proverbs 10:30 (ESV)

The righteous will never be removed,

but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

In order to do anything great you must be in a place you can do something.  In the above proverbs we see that those who seek God will be around to do some great things for God.  On the other hand those who reject God (the wicked) will not remain in the land, which limits them from being successful or sustainable in their endeavors.   The fact that the righteous will not be moved by the rush and push of life, they can settle on mission and on glorifying God in all that they do.   When we know that we have sustainability we know that we can have long lasting endeavors that matter to God.  No matter where we are planted God assures that only He will uproot us.   The wicked have no such assurance.  They have only their own security in their riches, position, pride to trust.   In Psalm 1 we read that God allows those who trust in Him to grow in their season.   

Psalms 1:3 (ESV)

He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

This proverbs is simply echoing the same truth of Proverbs 10:25.   

Proverbs 10:25 (ESV)

When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,

but the righteous is established forever.

God is serious about His care for us.   That care is based upon our faith in Christ who declares us righteous (Romans 5).

Proverbs 9:1

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 wisdom:

Proverbs 9:1 (NASBStr)

 Wisdom has built her house,

She has hewn out her seven pillars;

Proverbs 9:1 (ESV)

Wisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her seven pillars.

Wisdom builds her house, while folly tears her house down with her hands (Proverbs 14:1).  The metaphor used here is to help us grasp that wisdom has built a safe place for us to reside.  When we are in the house of wisdom there is safety.  Thus the phrase, "she has hewn out her seven pillars."  The question is often asked, "Why seven?"   Note what we find in the World Biblical Commentary:

"These have been described not unfairly by J. Greenfield: "The seven pillars of wisdom have been variously interpreted:the seven firmaments or heavens, the seven planets, the seven regions or climates, the seven days of creation or the seven books of the law, the seven gifts of the holy ghost, the seven eras of the church, the seven sacraments, the seven liberal arts, and even the first seven chapters of the Book of Proverbs" (p. 13). This did not prevent him from adding his own theory, relating the seven pillars to the seven sages of Mesopotamian myth."

We can see there are plenty of descriptions for the "seven".   Perhaps the best way to interpret this is to look at the construction of Hebrew poetry.   Wisdom is perfection - it is the personification of Christ.  The number seven in Scripture is the number for perfection in the Bible.   So, perhaps Solomon is simply saying, but using the metaphor of the "house", that the perfect house is the one that is supported by Wisdom; and, when Wisdom is in the house, the house has support.  When we seek wisdom (by the fear of The Lord) we bring wisdom into our home and it gives us security.

If we imagined this as not a metaphor, but rather the building of an actually house, we might gain some knowledge and inspiration in Solomon’s words.   The part we see about a house is the beauty of the rooms, the furniture, the color the asserts available within and without.   What we don’t see is the foundation.   That is the key to the structure.   Any big wind will topple a mobile home.  It has as a foundation, wheels.   But, a home, built on a solid foundation has a better chance of survival.  That is Solomon’s point.  Build your life, your home, your family, your occupation on a solid foundation of wisdom.   That is the key to success and stability in life.   

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

Build Your House on the Rock

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

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.