Proverbs 3:34

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 mocking the proud: 

Proverbs 3:34

He (God) mocks proud mockers, But gives grace to the humble.

Proverbs 3:34 (ESV)

Toward the scorners he is scornful,

but to the humble he gives favor.

 This proverb gives us insight how God’s grace is given out to man. Its message is rather simply but implications amazing. The second line contrasts the first line. It is called “contrasting parallelism” in Hebrew poetry. The first line states that God actually mocks those who mock others or Him. Mockers are men who are proud and think they are above others. They might think they are more superior in any number of areas, but the most extreme are those who think they are more spiritual than others. The second line shows the opposite. Although God mocks the mocker, He gives grace to those who show themselves as humble. When you are in trials and don’t think it is fair, that is when God resists giving His grace. Humility doesn’t say, “I don’t deserve this.” Humility says, “Show me your grace, for a I am a lowly man.” The next time you feel yourself proud in spirit note that God’s grace is no longer flowing.  The Apostle James uses this proverb to make his point about God’s grace:

James 4:6 (ESV) 

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James, like Solomon, gives us the key to God’s grace giving.   God gives grace to the humble.  Humility is recognizing what little you have or are and how great those around you are, such as God.   The proud resists the knowledge of God.   That is why God resists the proud.   They resists Him, first.   It takes humility to admit you are a sinner.   God gives grace to those who humbling admit they are full of sin.  

Proverbs 2:20

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 our walk:

Proverbs 2:20 (ESV)

So you will walk in the way of the good

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

You are the company you keep!  Or, so the saying goes.  Another popular colloquial saying is, "You can judge a man by the company he keeps."   Or, "You can judge a man by his enemies."   Any of these modern day sayings are based on the truth Solomon establishes in the above proverb.   To understand this proverb you really have to know what Solomon has said in the previous 19 verses of this chapter.   He has just told us that if we hold fast to God's Word and put it into our hearts that we will be given the gift of Wisdom (Christ) that gift will give us several benefits.  One of the blessings wisdom gives us is the clear understanding and discernment of where we should walk and who we should walk with as we travel through this life.  Solomon tells us that when we have the wisdom and understanding of God (through fearing The Lord and obeying His Word) we will end up on a "walk" with "good men."   We will end up traveling on "paths of the righteous."    The logistics of this is quite easy to understand.  As we listen to God's Word and compare it to the words of those around us we will inevitably start to hear others who speak the same language as His Word and flock to them.  We don't have to fret and worry if we are on the right road and with the right people IF we simply listen to God's Word.  He will enable us to walk on the narrow path of righteousness.   There will be few with us, but we can be assured we are where God wants us to be.

Proverbs 1:5

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 learning more and more:

Proverbs 1:5 (ESV)

Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

There is an archetype that men and women live out in their lives identified as the Sage.  The Sage is someone who knows things.  They are often asked, "What do you think?"  In fact, they love being asked that question.  The Sage will be asked that question most of their lives.  Especially if they are a good Sage and actually have some great knowledge, wisdom and understanding.   However, there are men and women who do not have the character of a good Sage.   The reason for this is that they might be asked, "What do you think?" but they never, in return, ask anyone, "What do you think?"   The reason for this is they believe they have reached the end of the line; they are at the end of the food chain when it comes to accumulating knowledge.  This is what Solomon is addressing in the above proverb.   A true Sage, someone who is knowledgable and has wisdom by fearing the Lord, will be someone who is "increasing" in learning.   They continue to acquire knowledge and understanding.   When we think we have reached the end of the learning line and we think we are only left here to deliver that accumulated knowledge, we become fools.   God's Word tells us that a wise person is someone who is increasing in knowledge.   The word for increasing in the above proverb means to "add to it."    As we grow in The Lord we are to "add to it."   We are to increase our “fear of The Lord.”   The older and more wiser we get, the more we are to seek deeper understanding and acquire wise counsel.  If we find ourselves seeking less and delivering more we become that poor Sage that simply thinks they know stuff and in reality are no longer significant in the seeking of Wisdom.   A wise man is "increasing."

However, instead of “increasing,” we find many who think they already have accumulated what they need.  Have you ever meet someone who has been around a long time and seems to know everything? They are usually older and think that just because of their “longevity” they have it all together. But we know that time on the earth isn’t a very good measurement for the amount of wisdom in the heart and mind. The above proverb tells us that in order to add to what we know we should be ever learning and Solomon’s Proverbs are a way to do that. Those who wish to be “wise” should seek guidance from others. You can always identify those who think their age and experience are enough—they are the ones who don’t ask for others opinions and won’t listen to the ideas and thoughts of others. If you want to be truly wise, don’t let longevity be the measurement of your wisdom, but let your learning and listening heart be the indicator.

Proverbs 31:10

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 a great woman:

Proverbs 31:10 (ESV)

An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

A good women is not hard to fine if you look to God to provide her! God gives great women their greatness. The good qualities of a Godly women can only come from God. When you want to measure the greatness of a women it is those God given qualities that measure the longest and the highest. Today's world has its own measuring scale for great women. But Solomon (who knew women) knew that the greatest measurement is the qualities only God can provide. It takes faith to know and trust God's sovereign will when it comes to finding a rare jewel.  The value of a women is far above what we tend to value in life.   God's gifts are special.  They have no value on this earth.  They have eternal value.  God is not only able to provide a Godly wife, but is able to enable her to live Godly.  The key is that you must desire Godliness before you desire other things from a spouse.   If you desire other things more than a Godly wife, it won’t matter what she does.  You will never be pleased with her.  Although, God will be.

Proverbs 30:18-19

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 things to wonder about:

Proverbs 30:18-19 (ESV)

Three things are too wonderful for me;

four I do not understand:

the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a serpent on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a virgin.

What causes you to stop to "wonder?"   When you see something of creation, do you ponder it?   I ponder the humming bird.  Marvelous in its splendor!   I don't understand it.   I "wonder" about the tides.  Yes, they have been explained to me, but I still don't get it.   It is simply amazing that they come up and go down and can be predicted in their motion.    I remember as a boy watching in amazement at an ant farm as small ants, in a team, carried large portions of food (supplied mysteriously by me) across the ground.   Like a small army they retrieved and conquered.   These are mere examples of the mystery in creation, giving to us as a gift from God.   Solomon seems to be giving us his top four "wonderments."   He tells us to consider the eagle who soars effortless through the sky only to attack at great speed and with perfect accuracy a prey he, and only he, can see.   Solomon marvels as a snack slithers across the rock.   No feet and no place to get traction, the cast-down replica of Satan's pride moves, again with little effort, across the stone path.  The ship, with no effort, makes it way through the sea, driven by the wind and sometimes, contrary to the wind.   And, finally, Solomon's last example, the most amazing of all, the man with a maid.   The movement of love, when it is true love, is so special and beautiful as it unfold.   Again, with little or no effort by the man.  He simply moves the way he moves while he and the maid dance calmly across life's stage.   These things amazed Solomon because they were not easily explained.  They were the result of God's active hand and creation.  He, God, makes them all happen.  The scientific laws of God's creation and the love He places in the heart all make movement and action otherwise dormant and stagnant.     God is at work and He wants us to pause, like Solomon, to behold His wonder.   We may not understand it but we can explain it by God's care in creation and His sustaining providence.   God is amazing and the things we behold by Him should cause us wonder.

Proverbs 29:24

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 partnering with evil:

Proverbs 29:24 (NASV)

He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;

He hears the oath but tells nothing.

Proverbs 29:24 (NIV)

The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy;

he is put under oath and dare not testify.

Proverbs 29:24 (ESV Strong's)

24 The partner of a thief hates his own life;

he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

If you take part in wrong or gain advantage from it you will not be able to speak out and testify against it!   Solomon is teaching us that being party to foul play limits us in our ability to speak truth about it.  If we do it it will simply amount to a confession of guilt.  Our legal system would concur with Solomon and maybe even takes its laws from such proverbs.  It is funny how benefiting from sin can cause us to compromise our voice on sin.  When we have our hands in the cookie jar, we seldom complain about no cookies in the house.  David's sin with Bathsheba and the killing Uriah made it impossible for David to speak out against adultery and murder.  Aaron's sin, with the creation of the golden calf, closed his mouth in regard to telling the people to quit worshiping of idols.  We can't benefit from wrong and speak out about right.

Proverbs 28:6

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 riches and integrity: 

Proverbs 28:6 (ESV)

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Riches can only help in this life and even then they fail to give us assurance. Solomon was a very rich man. He had so much gold he had to use some of it to cover other gold. But in this chapter of Proverbs we read several warnings about the failing and risk of chasing after riches. In verses 6, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, & 27 we see several warnings about chasing riches and holding them in higher esteem than the poor, hard work and trusting God.  In the above proverb we read that it is "better" to be poor than to have riches and allow them to be used in the wrong manner or earned in the wrong manner.   Integrity trumps money.   In our society today we don't see that.   In this society having money, even obtained under false pretenses, is acceptable.  Athletes with no integrity are honored.   Entertainment heroes are praised, despite life-styles that are absent truth and integrity.   If we have no possessions to speak of but have a life committed to truth and the doing of right, we are in better shape than if we have boat full of money.   Often when leaders are asked to tell their top values they live by, integrity is at the top of every list.   Yet, in truth, people often sell their integrity for a meager amount.   We often see the urge to get more and more by showing less and less integrity. Notice what Solomon said in these other proverbs on integrity: 

Proverbs 2:7 (ESV)

he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Proverbs 10:9 (ESV)

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,

but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

 Proverbs 12:22 (ESV)

Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,

but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Proverbs 19:1 (ESV)

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Proverbs 20:7 (ESV)

The righteous who walks in his integrity—

blessed are his children after him!

Proverbs 21:3 (ESV)

To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

God seems to put a lot of value in walking integrity.   So ought we!

Proverbs 27:13

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 financial advice:

Proverbs 27:13 (ESV)

Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.

This proverb is the same as Proverbs 20:16 = 

Proverbs 20:16 (ESV)

Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.

This unusual proverb gives us some great insight into those who choose to walk on the financial wild side of life.  Taking a risk that is contrary to God's Word should cost you ... personally.   We might miss this harshness of this proverb when we view it from our societal view.  Today we own many "garments."   We have a whole closet full of "garments."  Maybe more than one closet.   So, we might not understand the importance of the phrase, "take his garment."  In Solomon's day a man's garment was limited in number and numerous in use.   You needed the garment you owned for covering, protection against the elements, a carrier of grain, etc.   You typically only had one.  What he is telling us in this proverb is that when you are so foolish to guarantee a loan for a stranger or for someone as non-dependable as an adulterous women, we deserve to have our most secure possessions taken from us.   God, though Solomon’s wisdom, is telling us that we are to be wise in our dealings with those around us.  Giving a “pledge” (committing to covering someone else’s loan) is lacking wisdom.  Much more so when you do so for a stranger and/or someone who lacks integrity and the ability to pay it back (adulterous woman).  Remember, in Proverbs, an adulterous woman is a personification of the fool.   So, the point Solomon is making, is if you want to co-sign for a fool, you might as be willing to give away your most important, prize and secure possession(s).  

Proverbs 26:27

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 evil having evil returned on them:

Proverbs 26:27 (ESV)
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

In this proverb the writer gives us a warning as to what happens when we plot evil toward other people. He uses a word-picture to show the character of the evil: The digging of a pit and the rolling of a stone. I would assume the pit is something we hope someone will fall into and the stone is something we hope to have fall on them. But when we do those things they come back to hurt us (think Wiley Coyote and the Road Runner cartoon). The seriousness of the proverb can’t be mistaken. Those who plot evil, though they may look like they are getting away with it, will soon reap its rewards personally. If you are rolling a stone or digging a pit, beware it is about to get you. If you think someone is digging a pit for you, rejoice … you may soon have to lend them a hand to get out of the pit.  This proverb ought to be a warning to us to not find ourselves on the digging of the pit, or rolling the stone.  What we reap, we sow!  We can be assured that those who commence evil will reap evil.  God will judge and bring all into account.

Proverbs 25:6-7

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 self-promotion:

Proverbs 25:6-7 (ESV)

Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence

or stand in the place of the great,

for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen

Proverbs 25:27

It is not good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

Proverbs 27:2

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

Solomon was sought after by kings and rulers and the people he lead.   They all wanted his wisdom and understanding.  They wanted to hear his thoughts.   Rather than allow himself to get into self praise and self promotion, he allowed God to direct him to where he needed to be and to be honored the way God wanted to honor him.   Solomon, because of his wisdom, knew the pitfalls of seeking one's own glory.   Balaam is a great example of a man of God who attempted to seek his own glory, especially for the riches that might be involved.   Elijah's servant, Gehazi, also is a great example of "seeking" one's glory for greed (2 Kings 5:15ff).   God knows our skills and our ability.  He will honor us the way He wishes to honor us.  He will use us the way He wishes to use us.  Self-promotion is a world system.  They tweet, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to promote their names and skills.  God simply says, let others do that and simply use the skills I give you to accomplish my plan.   God says I will promote you in due time.  Daniel and Joseph are perfect examples of this way of living.   Allow God to uses us and promote us in His way and His timing and His plan.  That is Solomon's life, as well.   It should be ours.  

In these two proverbs Solomon gives the principle he wants us to follow and then, just in case we don't get it, he gives us an illustration of what he means. We are not to seek honor in front of people. Self-promotion is what Solomon has in mind. As a published author I have this challenge everday. I am asked every day by my "Christian" publshing company to hawk my books on the road when I speak. This week I am speaking at a Christian College in Pennsylvania. They have asked if I want to sell my books. The answer is no. Do I want people to buy my books? Yes! Do I have to hawk them to sell them? No! That is the point of these proverbs. Solomon is not saying that honor is bad and that people shouldn't be honored. He is saying that "self-promotion" is evil. It is better for someone to want to sell the books than for me to hawk them. Did I bring books. Yes and I will give away plenty of them. And, if someone else wants them and wants to pay for them, I will sell them. But, I cannot and will not violate this principle of God's Word.

Proverbs 24:5-6

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 benefits of wisdom, the theme of Proverbs:

Proverbs 24:5-6 (ESV Strong's)

A wise man is full of strength,

and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

for by wise guidance you can wage your war,

and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Wisdom brings many benefits to our lives.   In the above proverbs we see that wisdom aides us in our battles.  We see that by wisdom and understanding (synonymous terms in Proverbs) we gain both strength and guidance.   Many go to war on their own strength and in their own wisdom.  But, when we fear God He gives us wisdom that enables us to be strong and wise in our battle.  There is safety in a multitude of counselors.   When we have God’s wisdom we know how important it is to seek out wisdom from others.  We don’t rely on our own instincts and counsel.  That is the difference between those who Fear the Lord and those who don’t.   God speaks to us through the words of others He has given counsel to for us. We do wise to ask them and to hear them.   The benefits of wisdom is  to get counsel on what to do and to have the wisdom and the strength God provides to also carry it out.   Wisdom is the source of knowledge and the source of strength, according to this proverbs.  That is some powerful combination.

Proverbs 23:9

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 speaking to a fool:

Proverbs 23:9 (ESV)

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

for he will despise the good sense of your words.

It is hard to understand how those in Jesus' day did not get what He was saying. They had God in front of them, doing miracles, sacrificing His life and teaching the most divine truth in the best divine way. Christ was the best teacher, yet they were incredibly dull of hearing. So, it is with the unbeliever.  Do not speak in the hearing of a fool for he will depise the wisdom of your words. The unbeliever not only doesn't listen, the unbeliever actually despises your words. I work in the unbelieving world. I walk in their world and they often, reject my words and my counsel. They often despise me and what I say. But then again, I am a sinful man and make hundreds of mistakes. I am flawed and my counsel is flawed. But the unbelieving world will often reject sound counsel as though it is flawed. They don't have an ear for it. They will not only reject it, they will despise it. Don't be alarmed and don't be hurt and don't be embarrassed. They rejected the perfect wisdom from a perfect teacher. They despised Christ. Why should you be any different?  

Proverbs 22:12

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 wisdom and truth:

Proverbs 22:12

The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

Proverbs 22:17-19

Words of the Wise

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,

and apply your heart to my knowledge,

for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips.

That your trust may be in the Lord,

I have made them known to you today, even to you.

Proverbs 22:20-21

Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of counsel and knowledge,

to make you know what is right and true,

that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

We live in a society that celebrates and rewards those who seek knowledge and claim to have it.   Going to "college" after high school is "almost" (for some) a natural thought process.  Those who don't consider or don't extend for further education are often, in our society, looked upon as less valuable.   The problem is that knowledge does not belong to man.  As you can see in the above verses, knowledge belongs to God.   God is the keeper of all things "truth."   God disperses it as He will and He lets some know it and, to others, He hides its beauty.   When we seek knowledge from God we can be assured He will deliver it to us .  But it begins by fearing Him.  Those who do not fear Him might "know" things, but they don't "know" what they could if they only feared and reverenced God.   Notice what Solomon wrote earlier in this book of his many proverbs:

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

You can have knowledge of things without God, but you can't have insight.   God gives both knowledge and insight to those who fear Him.  He gives it through His Word.   

God is in the business of watching over truth and protecting the delivery of it. He will go to such an extreme that He will "overthrow" the one who tries to pervert truth for his or her own good. The root word behind the English word, "overthrow" in the above proverb is, "to twist." God will twist the words of the man who attempts to pervert knowledge (truth) to make destruction of them. God is sovereign over the affairs of man and over the words of his/her mouth. God will not allow falseness to be spread throughout the land. God preserves His Word ... the ultimate truth ... over and against the treacherous man who attempts to pervert judgment and sound truth. God "overthrows" those who stand against the Lord and His desire to preserve knowledge. In your arguments and in your fights of words, make sure you preserve knowledge ... God is!