Proverbs 14:22

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 having goodness and faithfulness in your life: 

Proverbs 14:22 (ESV)

Do they not go astray who devise evil?

Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.

The last verse in Psalm 23 states the following, "... surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life ..."!   Notice that when we follow the Shepherd, we end up having "goodness" and "mercy" follow us.   David, the composer of Psalm 23, is trying to let us know that when we walk after God we will have His blessings (goodness and mercy) follow us all the days of our lives.   His son, Solomon might have had this Psalm in mind when he wrote the above proverb.   Those who follow after evil and devise in their hearts, will never have God's goodness and mercy follow and pursue them.   But, those who fear The Lord will devise good and will have kindness (same word as "mercy" in Psalm 23) and truth as their blessing.  When we have evil in our hearts we will go astray, down the path that is not found in Psalm 23.   But, following The Lord as my Shepherd is the same as the Fear of The Lord in Proverbs.  That brings the blessing of truth and mercy on our lives: Both on our lives and through our lives to others.  Folly's downfall is that she does not provide the safe haven she pretends to provide.   When we allow folly to guide our heart she devises evil into hearts; that affects our minds; and that causes us to direct our feet on a stray path.  But, when we seek truth and follow hard after God, we devise good in our hearts and that caused our minds to make decisions that move our feet to do good things for God.

Proverbs 13:14

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 teaching of wisdom:

Proverbs 13:14 (ESV)

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death. 

I once taught the truth of this proverb to a group of 250 teenagers.  To illustrate the power of the proverb I brought in a chocolate fountain and surrounded it with toothpick lanced marshmallows.   In between the teenagers and their toothpicked marshmallows was restrictive items that prevented them from reaching into the chocolate spraying out of the fountain.   The lesson was obvious, God gives us truth like a fountain and Satan is in the business of turning us away.    If we can get to the fountain, avoiding Satan's weapons of distraction and harm we can find the truth to make wise decisions in the future - avoiding more of Satan's snares of death.  Satan prohibits us from reaching the fountain - at least he tries.  He lied to Eve in the garden to keep her from seeing the truth of God's warning.   But, the teaching of God's truth is a fountain of life.    The more we can dip our lives into it the more we have life and escape Satan's snares.    God wants us to drink from His wisdom and offers it freely through His Word.  His Word, the Bible, is the most sold book in the world.  However, how many have it in the homes but no place near their hearts.   The fountain is there on the coffee table ready to spew out wisdom for life.   Yet, too many are distracted by the snares of death.  The very way to escape the snare is found in the Book that Satan hinders us from reading and obeying.

Proverbs 12:14

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 producing righteous fruit in our lives:

Proverbs 12:14 (ESV)

From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,

and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

Making sure our words match our work is the content of this verse. Both lines are written in conjunction with the other. You can’t have good come from your lips and not have good works from your hands. You can’t wish someone a Merry Christmas with your lips and not give them what they need with your hands. That is hypocrisy. Solomon is telling us that we will be rewarded if we have consistency between our lips and our lives. Doing what we are saying is a theme in the book of James (see James 1:22-27). Those who “walk their talk” will have great reward from God. He does not mention what the reward will be. However, there are plenty of verses in Proverbs that tell us what the penalty is for not matching the two. We must make our walk match our talk.  Folly does not do that.  She talks a good game, but in the end she is death.   That is what Solomon has been trying too tell us throughout the book.   Each, single, proverb is to drive home the point that Lady Wisdom can be trusted (her works match her words) but Adulterous Folly can’t be trusted (her works do not follow her words ... they go in opposite directions).    

However, another way to read this proverb is that when speak (the fruit of his mount) and it is intended to be something good that we say, we can be satisfied, as those words won’t come back to hurt us.   The second line, then is to warn us and remind us, that our words come back at us.   So, we should be careful what we say about life, about others, about our views, about our actions.  Because, our words can bite us in the end.   If we have a pure heart and speak from a pure heart, we will be satisfied, because those words will come back and satisfy us.   Either way we interpret this proverb our heart must match our words and our words our heat.  If we are doing that, we will be satisfied.   

Proverbs 11:10

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 on leadership:

Proverbs 11:10 (ESV)

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

Leadership is sometimes overrated.   Sometimes it's not.   Solomon is telling us that it is not just leadership that matters, but it is "righteous leadership" that matters.   When the righteous rule a city things go well and the city can rejoice.  People who are lead by righteous leaders should be able to rejoice (see the story of King Josiah).   Solomon goes even further by saying not only is it good when the righteous rule it is even better when the wicked rulers perish.   We can shout for joy when the wicked ruler is gone.   It is true that God tell us to pray for and submit to our rulers (Romans 12 & 1 Peter 4).   However, the balance in the equation is found in this proverb.  It is okay to rejoice when the wicked rule no more.   Leadership is never overrated when it  is righteous leadership.   Rejoice if you have a righteous leader.   In the political world we see this play out all time, obviously.  It is actually hard to find a “righteous” politician.  That is not a knock on politicians.  It is a statement based upon observation.   We need more “righteous” people in politics.  But, the system does not support those who really want to follow righteous.   But, Solomon recognizes the beauty of those in position of leadership and the impact of righteous behavior on a community.  

Proverbs 10:5

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 labor vs leisure:

Proverbs 10:5 (ESV)

He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,

but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

Being industrious and productive is rewarded by God.   God put man in the garden to "keep" the garden.   When man sinned, the penalty, along with loss of possession of the garden, was that his "keeping" the garden would turn to "working" the garden.  There is a difference.     In Ecclesiastes we see that enjoyment of our work is a "gift" of God - that is because only God can take the penalty He gave Adam (and all mankind) and turn it into a gift.  

Ecclesiastes 3:9-12 (ESV)

What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;

In the above proverb God is further telling us about His view of labor vs. leisure.   Our society is bent on leisure.  As I write this I am also watching a football game at Buffalo Wild Wings (it’s half-time).   This is an entire restaurant dedicated to games and leisure.    God isn't against leisure, however.  What this proverb is telling us is that the time for harvest calls for work.   If you take your nap during times of harvest you are shameful.   God wants us to fulfill what His purpose is for us.   We can enjoy leisure but we must gather when we are called to gather.   And, we should gather even when it is not time.   The first line of the proverb tells us we are wise if we "gather" in the summer.   That is actually before the harvest.   Typically we are not “gathering” in the summer.   We gather in the fall.   So, Solomon is telling us that God rewards those who are diligent to work and gather, even when the time says go ahead and relax.  That is wisdom.   But don't sleep when you must work.  That is shameful.

Proverbs 9:9

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 given instruction to the wise: 

Proverbs 9:9 (ESV)

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;

teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

When you correct someone it reveals what their character is like. In Proverbs 9:7-9 we have a series of Proverbs that talk about what happens when you try to correct a scoffer … a fool. If you do you will only compile hurt to yourself. But, if you correct a wise person they will become even wiser. So, how a person takes your correction gives you a good indication as to how much more correction they should be given. Don't waste your time on the fool who rejects sound teaching and correction for it will only hurt you and do nothing for them.  The fool is someone who so rejects the truth of God's Word that they fail to understand and respond.  Their hearts will become hard and you will see that hardness in their reaction and rejection of God's truth.  It should be noted, however, that Proverbs is about wisdom.   When we see what the fool does, we need to know that wisdom responds differently.   Those who are wise will take the correction when it comes.   The righteous accept teaching ... in any form.   Even discipline and suffering is a teacher to the righteous.   The fool can not take correction.  The righteous can.  He learns from every teacher. We can become stronger as we listen to righteousness.

Proverbs 8:4

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 wisdom crying out:

Proverbs 8:4 (ESV)

“To you, O men, I call,

and my cry is to the children of man.

God wants to give us His wisdom.  Note what James says about this thought:

James 1:5-6 (ESV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

In chapter eight of Proverbs we have the voice of Wisdom crying out.   She is crying out for us to follow her and embrace her.   The entire chapter is about Wisdom telling us about her beauty and about her benefits.   In the above verses we see “who” Wisdom is calling.   She is calling to all mankind.   She is calling all mankind and their children.   There is no one She is not calling out to hear Her benefits.   The issue is not the call.  The issue is the response.   Note what Solomon tells us in chapter one of this book:

Proverbs 1:23-28 (ESV)

23 If you turn at my reproof,

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

25 because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

26 I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you,

27 when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

When the world rejects God’s Wisdom, God rejects man’s reaching out to Him when they need Him.   He will “laugh” and when they call, He “will not answer.”    Wisdom is crying out and waiting for mankind to respond.   That is what Wisdom does every day.  Remember, Wisdom is the personification of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 1,2).   

Proverbs 7:21

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 persuasion of folly:

Proverbs 7:21 (NASBStr)

With her many persuasions she entices him;

With her flattering lips she seduces him.

Proverbs 7:21 (AMP)

With much justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him [to overcome his conscience and his fears] and forces him along.

Proverbs 7:21 (ESV)

With much seductive speech she persuades him;

with her smooth talk she compels him.

The women in Proverbs 7 is a picture of folly, as has been stated in these observations many times.   Her arguments for following hard after her are quite enticing and persuasive.   According to the above proverb she has a special sway on the simply one:  The naive one.   Those who have spiritual understanding have a way to fight off these persuasive messages.   Folly wishes to entice us to fall into her trap.  She uses her smell; her beauty (false as it might be); her comfort (brief as it may be), to seduce us and entice us.  Remember that God gives us warnings about how to avoid this enticement.   God speaks truth and allows us to know truth by following His Word.   If we are void of God's Word or not thinking of God's Word, we will fall into folly's enticement.  Notice how Solomon starts this chapter:

Proverbs 7:1-3

My son, keep my words

and treasure up my commandments with you;

keep my commandments and live;

keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

bind them on your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

The one who is naive has no guideposts in their lives to protect them from seeing these enticement and seduction.   Seduction is not meant to be seen or observed.  That is what makes it seducing.   The only way to avoid her sweet whispers and tasty words is to be understanding God's Word and trust it and follow it.

Proverbs 6:21

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 holding to God’s wisdom:

Proverbs 6:21 (ESV)

Bind them on your heart always;

tie them around your neck.

God's word is not to be left on the coffee table, at church, or near the bed stand.  God's word is to be taken with you throughout your day.   Solomon tells us that we should tie it to our hearts and wear it around our necks.   He is not telling us that we are to literally carry God's word in tattoos or neckless shaped verses.   He is telling us that we should make sure that when we leave the house and interact with society that God's word should be our guidepost and compass.   Carrying God's word in our hearts is a key to waring off Satan.   Mediating on God's Word in our mind is the key to fulfilling God's word this proverb.   Reading God's word is not enough.   Dwelling on it and thinking on it is paramount to obeying it.    We should not neglect or miss where God tells us in this proverb to hang God's word.   He uses heart and neck in this proverb.   We don't know the depth Solomon means in this proverb.   But God does not use any needless words.   As we meditate on the proverb we could see that the heart controls the will while the neck controls the way.   Our necks won't turn our eyes anywhere our hearts have not already gone.  Or, we can stop our necks from following our eyes if we are anchored in our hearts by God's word.   Bind God's Word in your heart and save where your neck turns.

Proverbs 5:9

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about giving in to folly:

Proverbs 5:9 (ESV)

lest you give your honor to others

and your years to the merciless,

The warning is here in Proverbs 5, to let us know when we give in to "folly.”  Folly is personified in this chapter as an adulterous woman and throughout Proverbs.  When you do give in to folly, you will give your best to become your worst.   Sin costs! It ALWAYS costs! And the cost is always paid to others. They win and you lose. We are warned about sin because it is so "cruel" to us. We need to remember that although sin looks so good (see Proverbs 7) it always cost us a wage. Romans 6:23 states that "the wages of sin is death." The ultimate wage is death. But, the payment is done over time and when we sin we give our good years to cruel gods. Be warned.  In the immediate context of Proverbs 5 we are being told that when we fall into the sin of adultery we might experience a euphoric sensation physically, but we begin to pay for it immediately in a spiritual, psychological, and, in this context, materially way.   Solomon is telling us that when we choose to sin, using adultery as an example, we will lose out in our material goods.   He uses one of the greatest and most personal aspects of our lives to illustrate the cost of sin.   We love our stuff.  To think we may lose it over a momentary tryst, seems cruel.  But it is the truth.   The truth is we don't know it but it will happen.  Sin takes away what you love and what you own.

Proverbs 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 forgetting God’s word:

Proverbs 4:5 (ESV)

Get wisdom; get insight;

do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

We all have a chance to "acquire" something in life.   In fact, our entire life is about "acquiring."   Solomon tells us in this verse to "acquire" wisdom and to "acquire" understanding.   He is telling us that of all the things in life we can "acquire" we should make sure that we acquire wisdom and understanding.   In the second line he tells us a little more about the wisdom and understanding we will acquire.    He tells us that wisdom and understanding are the words that flow from the mouth of wisdom.   When we search in this life we can search for much.   But, our search ought to end with wisdom from the mouth of God.   Jesus tells us to "seek first the kingdom of God and all things will be added unto us."   Proverbs 4:5 is that same verse.   We are to "seek" or "acquire" the things of God and the things the proceed out of His mouth.    That is to be our greatest search.

Proverbs 3:6

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 what happens when we strive to know God:

Proverbs 3:6 (ESV)

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

How exactly does this proverb work?   Think about it ... we are told to "acknowledge Him" and, in return, He provides a straight path, free from mysterious bends and thunderous turns.   How?   The word "acknowledge" in the first line of this proverb is the familiar and used Hebrew word, "yada."   It means "to know."  It is used in a variety of ways in the Old Testament.   Solomon tells us that in relationship to "our ways" (our plans and paths) we are to "know Him" and we will receive the benefit of the second line of the proverb - a clear path ahead.   Perhaps what we have here is the act of the will that wants to come to know God better and deeper with every step we take.   With that meaning, we see that as we "acknowledge" God in our day-to-day lives (each step), we will desire that each of those steps gets us closer to an understanding of Him.   When we attempt to know Him in our daily walk we will find our walk is “straight.”  God wants our walk to be straight; free from bends and turns that lurk ahead for the unbeliever.   So, as we "get to know Him" in our steps we will find Him clearing and securing our steps.   What is your plan for today?  Use that "plan" as a method to get to know Him more.   Use that meeting, that event, that trip, that task, that relaxation as a way to "yada" God.   As we "yada" God, we walk straighter.

Proverbs 2:4

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 what we pursue:

Proverbs 2:4 (ESV)

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

Our pursuits in life say something about what is in our hearts.   Jesus said, “Where our treasure is, so too will our hearts be.”  He knew that what we treasure is at the center of our hearts.   So, Solomon gives us the same thought, years prior to Christ.   But Solomon is trying to tell us to search for wisdom and understanding, just as we would search for riches or some hidden treasure.   We get that, don't we?   We know what it means to look for hidden treasure.  There have been books written and movies produced about looking for treasure.  There have been video games and board games developed around this theme.  There have been TV shows and reality shows on this subject.  There couldn't be a more appropriate way to convey how we should search for wisdom and understanding.   But, do we?  Do we actually pursue wisdom?  Do we search for her like we search for something hidden?   Do we think of wisdom as something we need to find and search for like money or wealth?   Let's find a way to search for wisdom the way we would what we value.   If someone told you they just lost a $10.00 bill on the ground we would stop and help them find it.  If they said they were looking for wisdom would you stop everything to help them search for it?  You can tell what is at the center of someone’s heart by what they talk about and what they pursue.  If we are pursuing Christ and the wisdom He gives FREELY, others will hear it when we talk and know that, at the center of our pursuits, is Jesus.   When we do that, nothing else seems valuable enough to search for it.

Additionally, have you ever wondered what the benefits of wisdom are for us?  If we pursue wisdom what will happen in our lives? It is worth forsaking all the world has to offer in order to pursue wisdom?  Let’s let Solomon’s own words answer the question.  This is why he tell us to seek her “like silver” and to search for her “as for hidden treasure:”

Proverbs 2:5 (ESV)

5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:9 (ESV)

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice

and equity, every good path;

Proverbs 2:16 (ESV)

16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,

from the adulteress with her smooth words,

Proverbs 2:20 (ESV)

20 So you will walk in the way of the good

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

Proverbs 3:2 (ESV)

2 for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 3:4 (ESV)

4 So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:6 (ESV)

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:8 (ESV)

8 It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:10 (ESV)

10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Proverbs 3:23 (ESV)

23 Then you will walk on your way securely,

and your foot will not stumble.

Is that a great benefit program, or what?