Proverbs 24:12

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 God watching over us as we make excuses: 

Proverbs 24:12 (ESV)

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man according to his work?

Excuses, Excuses! We are not always great with excuses! 

The sun was in my eyes so I couldn't catch the ball! 

My dog ate my homework that's why I don't have it! 

I'm not feeling good today and won't be coming to work ... I will, however, be playing golf this afternoon! 

When it comes to excuses man is the master. "The woman you gave me made me do it!" said Adam to God. We think our excuses are profound and valid. In the above proverb Solomon tells us that if we use the excuse, "We did not know this," God will find us out. God sees through excuses. He "weighs" the hearts. If you say I can't serve in church because I am too busy, God weighs the heart. This proverb says God "watches over the soul." If you say you can't forgive because the pain is too bad despite the fact that He provided the way and commands us to forgive, God watches and weighs the soul. God will render a man according to his work because God knows the heart and soul of man. When it comes to serving God and worshiping God and loving God and/or man we need to do away with the excuses. We need to realize it is sin in our lives that hinders us from obedience, confess the sin and find power in the resurrection of Christ, via Faith. No more excuses ... have Faith in God.

Proverbs 23:17

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

Proverbs 23:17 (ESV)

Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

This is obviously a "contrasting" example of Hebrew parallelism poetry. The first line states a premise and the second line contrasts the first. In the first line we are told to "not" envy sinners. The word "envy" here is the Hebrew word, qanah. It means to have a jealousy for something. We are not to look at those who reject God and want their status, possessions or seemingly pleasures for life. I love Asaph's poetry in Psalm 73. In that beloved psalm we see Aspah disobeying Solomon's command in the above proverb ... at least for a moment. But then he quickly moves to the second line of the proverb: But live in the fear of the Lord always. God doesn't want us to to just "avoid" a particular way of life. He wants us to live in a particular way - in the "fear of the Lord." The second line is not only a contrast to the first line (no one can "fear" God if they "envy" sinners) but is the antidote for the problem in the first line. You and I are to live in the fear of the Lord. When we do that we WILL NOT ENVY SINNERS. Yes, they contrast, but in one sense they compliment. The later is the medicine for the sickness of the former. Live both lines.

Proverbs 22:22-23

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

Proverbs 22:22-23 (ESV)

Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate,

for the LORD will plead their cause

and rob of life those who rob them.

Having mercy is a reflection of God's character.  God sees our poverty of spirit and supplies us with Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit to care for that poverty (Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven - Matthew 5:2).  God gives.   God reaches out and touches our lives when we are rebellious and running away from Him.   So, to do the opposite, as suggested in the above proverb, is to act contrary to God and to act in the spirit of Satan.   To rob the poor of the little they have and to afflict the afflicted when they can't bear it, is not Godliness, but satanic.   But, don't think those who do such things are free of guilt and sin freely.    God pleads for the poor and the afflicted. If you are afflicted or poor, this is a comfort.  If you are the one robbing or afflicting, this ought to be a fearful thing.   God avenges the poor and the afflicted.   If you are poor and afflicted, these proverbs are good news.   If you afflict the poor and the afflicted, this is bad news. In Nehemiah’s day, he had to deal with those who did this very thing (Nehemiah 5).  Nehemiah had to stand in the gap.   We don’t know if he thought of this proverb, but he did put it into play.

Proverbs 21:9

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 marriage relationships:

Proverbs 21:9 (ESV)

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

God is blunt and to the point about His truths.   He doesn't hold back words when He relays His principles to us.  In this proverb he lays out a truth plain and simple for us to grasp.  He tells us what happens when we are in the home with a women (or, man) who is contentious in nature.   When a women (or, man) creates "strife" in her home, Solomon is telling us not to try to "fix" it.  We are to go to the farthest place in the home and allow the contention to cease.   He is not telling us to leave.  He is telling us to separate from the strife.   Strife in the heart needs work by the God of the Heart.   We can't fix what is hurting in the heart.  We don't "leave" it; we simply avoid it in a place we won't stir it.   In case we don't think God is sincere about this proverb He had Solomon pen the same words in Proverbs 25:24.   

Proverbs 25:24 (ESV Strong's)

24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

God is telling us that there are times to avoid conflict and not try to fix it.   We separate ourselves and allow God to do a work.   When God does His work we can continue the relationship.  By going to the roof we won't say something we shouldn't.  By going to the roof we won't be hurt by something said.    By going to the roof we acknowledge our inability to solve the situation and we can wait for God to do His Work.    Faith pleases God and releases Him to do His thing.   Sometimes getting away gives the other person the space they need to work out what's causing their conflict.  Solomon says the same things in Proverbs 21:19:

(ESV Strong's) 19 

It is better to live in a desert land

than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

In this proverbs it is going to a “desert” land. If the roof is not far enough away, the separation to a place of the “desert” is appropriate.  Solomon is telling us  that when a soft answer does not turn away wrath, than being separated is another step.  We may never be able to appease.  We may not always able to accommodate.   But we should always be ready to be apart.

Proverbs 20:10

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 integrity:

Proverbs 20:10 (ESV)

Unequal weights and unequal measures

are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

Unless we lived in Solomon's day we may not understand this proverb.   Today when we buy food at the market, stores are required to print on the package the weight or measurement or size of the content.   It is hard to fool today's public.  But in Solomon's day when you went to a market and asked for a pound of a certain product they would put the product on one side of the scale and on the other side they would put the proper weight.   Crooked sellers would use false weight on one side thus making the product look more than it actually was.   Solomon uses the word "abomination" over 15 times in Proverbs.  He is not bashful in telling us what is abominable to God.   God tells us that lying, pride, arrogance, wickedness, and many more things are abominable to Him.  We wouldn't add crooked shop keepers to the same list.   But God hates anything wicked.  Even bad business practices.   How we do our business is as equally important to God as if we are untruthful or prideful or wicked.   Bad business practices are in God's view and hated by God.  So many people think they can cheat in their business and still be rewarded by God.    It is an abomination to God when we cheat others in our business.   God can and will avenge differing measures.   God stands for justice.  When we are not just God knows and hates it.

Proverbs 19:12

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 leaders:

Proverbs 19:12 (ESV)

A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

If you have ever been in the cross-hairs of a powerful leader you can relate to this proverb.  In my military days I was once chewed out by a Full-bird Colonel.  Scary!!  He was upset about something our unit did or didn't do and he simply used me as his focus for the message for us all.  I was an Acting-Jack Buck Sergeant at the time. I was 22 years old.  He was about 60.   Almost 20 years later I was also chewed out by a Superintendent of Schools who was frustrated by some action I had done (or not done).   I simply got up and walked away.   But, in each case, it was the "roaring of a lion."   The ruler who shows his wrath is scary.   God meant the ruler's wrath to be scary.  God's wrath, revealed, is more than scary ... it is frightening.  But, as horrible and fearful the ruler's wrath can be, it is so true of his grace.   As gentle as the dew hits the grace in the morning, so grace lays on those around the ruler.    God's grace is so comfortable.  His grace comes like rain on a hot day.   The king (ruler, leader, boss) who is living in the fear of The Lord will know when and how to use his/her wrath.   He or she will balance that wrath or administer that wrath with his/her grace.   However, the ruler who does not know God or has not experienced God's grace will not be able to minister in grace, other than the common grace given to all men.    God's grace is such a beautiful experience.  He forgives by grace, He heals by grace; everything we have in this life that is any ounce of good, is from God's grace.   Don't live in fear of the Lion.  Know His grace.

Proverbs 18:23

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 money:

Proverbs 18:23 (ESV)

The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

Money talks!!!   Solomon is providing us insight into the way society observes and responds to the aspect of wealth and poverty in our society.   The poor, because they are poor and have no influence, are left to beg and ask and request.   The rich, on the other hand, can say what they want and do so without the concerns of their hearers.   They can answer "roughly" because they are rich.  Bluntness is the tool of those who feel they have no want.   They can be rich in confidence.  They can be rich in many things and have no need to win the hearts and minds of others.   The poor on the other hand have a need.  They can be poor in friendship so they beg, ask and request for friendship.  The can be poor in influence and must act accordingly.   The contrast in Proverbs between the rich and poor is obvious by the many times the Spirt, through Solomon's pen, records these type of observations.  See further:

Proverbs 10:15 (ESV)

A rich man's wealth is his strong city;

the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

Proverbs 14:20 (ESV)

The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,

but the rich has many friends.

Proverbs 14:31 (ESV)

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,

but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 17:5 (ESV)

Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;

he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 22:2 (ESV)

The rich and the poor meet together;

the LORD is the Maker of them all.

 We all should find ourselves poor in the spirit.   That is the only way we can truly find fulfillment.   Those who believe they have righteousness, without Christ, will never utter supplications.  They, instead, will speak roughly and proclaim their ignorance about God:

Psalms 53:1 (ESV)

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

there is none who does good.

Proverbs 17:23

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 17:23 (ESV)

The wicked accepts a bribe in secret

to pervert the ways of justice.

Wicked men in leadership prefer to accumulate possessions more than they prefer to enact justice.  That seems to be Solomon's statement in the above proverb.  We all know politicians and leaders who have tried to get rich or accumulate wealth and possessions and position based on subverted bribery.  The Hebrew word for“secret” (“bosom” in the NASB) conjures up in our minds the place of a child; a dear possession.  Solomon seems to be telling us that the person who is offering the bride has some sort of compassion, or passion for what they are offering.  This passionate bride is given to the one in high position who then subverts justice for the purpose of personal gain.   Note what Solomon has just told us a few verses back in the same chapter: 

Proverbs 17:8 

A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.  

In one proverb a bride is used in corruption in the hands of a wicked man. But in the other proverb a bride is used as a charm in the hands of its owner. The assumption in the second proverb is that the owner of the bribe will use it in a way that is righteous to promote justice.  The use of favors and promotion to pave the way for communication and relationships stands in stark contrast to those who use the same tools to pervert justice and promote wickedness.

Proverbs 16:8

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 wealth:

Proverbs 16:8 (ESV)

Better is a little with righteousness

than great revenues with injustice.

This is a much needed proverb for the day we live in.   In our world today we think that the accumulation of things brings peace, satisfaction and goodness.   However, the real measure of a person is not in the wealth they accumulate but how they handle wealth and how they use it to impact the world around them.   Wealth brings much corruption.  See:

Proverbs 15:6 (ESV)

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

Proverbs 15:16-17 (ESV)

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD

than great treasure and trouble with it.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

As we read this we have to remember that Solomon was a very, very wealthy man.  He was the most wealthiest man in the world at the time.  And, we have to remember that God gave it to him.   God promised him all these riches because he choose wisdom over wealth.   God gave him wealth and the wisdom of how to use it.  Without God's wisdom wealth can and will corrupt.   Solomon is telling us that it is better to have no wealth than to have wealth that comes via injustice and ill gain.   It matters not how much wealth you have, it appears.   But, it does seem to matter, according to Solomon, what you do with it and "HOW" you got it.   Don't measure yourself by how big your bank accounts are.   Measure yourself by HOW they are filled and how you will dispose of them.

Proverbs 15:13

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 a glad heart:

Proverbs 15:13 (ESV)

A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

This is contrasting Hebrew poetry: The first line is contrasted by the second. You can’t really understand the first line (a glad heart makes the face cheerful) without considering the second line (a sorrowful heart crushes the spirit). So, we can easily conclude that whatever is in our hearts will affect what we look like and what we feel like. If we want to have a great spirit to show to the world we have to have contentment in our heart. Believers who trust God will have that trust showing on their faces. When we worry, we wear that, as well. So, we can show what we wear in our hearts by what we wear on our faces. People who trust God and don’t worry show a cheerful heart. What do you show others about what you are wearing in your heart? Solomon would later say:

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Our emotions are connected to our disposition.  God is working on our hearts and as we allow Him and yield to Him we can expect a change in emotions.  Emotions are outward and visible while God's work is done inwardly and in secret, between God and us.

Proverbs 14:21

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 poor:

Proverbs 14:21 (ESV)

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,

but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

The above proverb is packaged, in chapter 14, within three other proverbs that discuss how we should interact and treat the poor (Proverbs 14:20-23).   In Solomon's day there were many poor and he was very much concerned with how they were treated.  Their treatment was the extension of the heart of others.  Note what the NIV highlights about this proverb:  

Sharing food (22:9), lending money (28:8) and defending rights (31:9) are ways one can show kindness. Such a person “honors God” (v. 31; cf. 17:5) and “will lack nothing”.   So, the above proverb gives us one more insight.   

It is not enough that we do good for those of low estate but that we also should make sure their status is not despised in our hearts.  Notice the contrast between the first and the second line.   One can "despise" the poor and one can be "gracious" to the poor.  To do the former is to sin and to do the latter is to add a since of "happy" to one's life.  The Hebrew word used here for "happy" is what it means to be blessed by one of high degree on the one of low degree.   Note the irony of the proverb.  When we who are better off (high degree) extend grace to the one who is poor (low degree) than we can be assured that God (high degree) will bless us (low degree).   The is the principle of proportionate grace.   With the same measure we measure other it will be measured to us.  Note what Christ will tell us later in the Sermon on the Mount"

Matthew 7:1-2 (NASBStr)

 “ Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

God is concerned at how we interact with others, especially those of low degree.   The poor are here for Him to care for through us.  Let us make sure we neither despise them or neglect them.

Proverbs 13:13

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 listening to correction:

Proverb 13:13 (NASB)

The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 13:13 (ESV)

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

The "commandment" or "law" or "Word" of the Lord has two requirements everyone should know. These two things should be taught to everyone upon birth. The instruction manual that comes with children ought to include these two warnings: 1) The Law requires Perfection - you have to keep the whole law (all of God's word) if you want to please God. (You can't pick and choose). 2) If you don't keep the law in perfection there is Condemnation awaiting. Failure to obey the whole law means you are responsible to pay the consequences of that disobedience and the consequence is death. So, the above proverb tells us the simply truth of life: If you despise the law you have to pay its consequences. If you obey the law you get its blessing. Of course, no one can keep the entire law to perfection, so we all fall under the condemnation consequence side. That is why we need Christ. Christ is the fulfillment of the law. When we put our faith in Christ He meets the requirements of both parts: He perfectly kept the law and paid for our consequences in death and ressurection. We will receive the reward of the Word based upon His keeping the perfection of it.

When we think of God's Word and how we respond to it, we seldom think of being "in debt" to it.   Most people who reject God's Word think that rejection means they are not under obligation to the Word.   However, God's Word has authority over us, no matter what we feel about it or have faith in it.   We are subject to God's Word and all of its commands.  When we choose to not believe in God's Word or disobey God's Word, we are still in debt to it.  We will serve God's Word.   It just matters if we do so in the state of rejection or in the state of belief.  Those who believe God's Word are those who "fear" it.   The Word "fear" here is the word that we use in "fear of The Lord" (which is the beginning of wisdom).   Fearing God's Word is rewarded by God.  The rewards you receive are the rewards God's Word declares for us.   So, again, our approach to God's Word determines our outcomes in life.    Outcomes are not based upon our efforts, profession, skills, talents or passions.   We should view outcomes in life that are based totally on how we respond to God's Word.   We are either in debt to it or it will give us rewards.

Proverbs 12:13

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 avoiding trouble:

Proverbs 12:13 (NIV)

An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,

but a righteous man escapes trouble.

Proverbs 12:13 (ESV)

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

but the righteous escapes from trouble.

This proverb is self-explanatory and needs little help for us to understand.   The beauty of the Proverbs is that they are easy to understand and easy to relate to day-to-day life.   Here we have that truth demonstrated.    Those with no character will eventually use their tongue and speech to destroy themselves.  They fall into the very trap they are trying to set for others.  Their lies and deceit catch up to them and they have little hope for freedom.   There are plenty of examples of this every day in today's politics.  The converse of this truth is also relevant for us.  Those who are righteous due to God's grace and their faith in His redemptive plan will not be caught in his words because he/she is a man of truth.  Christ said that "truth sets  you free."   Speaking the truth enables you to be free and escape the pains of death and traps.   We can be assured that the lies of those around us who are trying to hurt us will eventually bring them down.   Righteous people are not caught in those traps as the truth on their lips sets them free.