Proverbs 27:19

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 how a heart is seen on the face: 

Proverbs 27:19

As water reflects a face, So a man’s heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19 (ESV)

As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of man reflects the man.

 This is a word picture proverb. It is called emblematic Hebrew parallelism.   The picture is of a man who stops by a pool of water and bends down, perhaps to get a drink. As his face draws closer to the pool he begins to see his reflection. No matter how hard he tries he cannot hide the look on his face. The pool, like a mirror, is always accurate. So, too, do we reflect in our face what is really in our hearts. We can’t hide the real feelings we have in our inner being. Just as the pool of water accurately reflects the expression and character of our face, so too does our life reflect the true character of our hearts. The only way you improve on the reflection of the pool is to change the face. And, the only way to change the life we act out is to change the heart. And, the only way to change the heart is to give it to the Chief Heart Surgeon, Jesus Christ. Only Christ can change a life by changing the heart. Give Him your heart and He can make life changes for you.  You can try to hide, smoother, and/or disguise your heart.  But, eventually, the truth of your heart breaks through on the telling of your face.   In the book of Proverbs Solomon is telling us how to avoid folly and to walk, rather, in wisdom.   This proverb does not tell us as much how to walk in that wisdom, as it tells us more about what that will look like.  Someone who has wisdom in their heart will show it on the character of their lives.  Someone, too, who has folly in the heart shows that foolish character in their lives.  Joy in the heart shows up on the face.  Depression in the heart also shows up on the face.   Jesus stated it this way:

Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

So, our face and our eyes point out the condition of the heart.    We ought to work on the inner part first because the outer part will show us what condition we are truly experiencing in our lives. 

Proverbs 26:4-5

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 how to talk to a fool: 

Proverbs 26:4-5 (ESV)

Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

These two proverbs cause great difficulty in interpretation.   They are, seemingly, intended to be completely opposite.   In verse four we are told not to answer a fool.  In verse five we are told to give the fool an answer.   The apparent contradiction may not be, however, a contradiction at all.   The purpose of Proverbs is to equip the person pursuing wisdom with wisdom.   Solomon is telling the listener that they should beware that when talking to a fool they should practice discernment.   If you simply address every fool you meet who speaks out loud every time they want, you need to be careful.   But you can't simply ignore them all the time either.  There are times when we need to speak up and there are times when we need to be quiet.   That is one lesson taught in the above proverbs.   

Another lesson is that we ought to make sure when we do speak to them we don't act like them.   We are not to respond "according" to his folly but we are to respond in a way the fool deserves.   One of the great verses in the New Testament tells us that we should be ready to give an answer to those who ask the reason for the hope in us (1 Peter 3:15).   Solomon is telling us if we answer someone who is spouting out folly we ought to be wise in how we confront them.  But there are times we have to confront them.   Don't charge into the battle with a fool, but if you do be wise.

If you are a tattoo freak this might be the best couple of proverbs to tattoo on your self.   If not your body certainly your mind.  How often do we get into arguments with people, who if they are not fools, are acting like fools?   What this set of proverbs is telling us is to use discernment when engaging in a conversation or conflict discussion with someone who shows foolish tendencies (they reject the truth of Christ and the Fear of the Lord).   As already stated, on the one hand we are to be careful to answer them "according" to his folly lest we be just like him.  The point being, don't be like a fool ... don't be drawn into a foolish and vain conversation with them that is absent truth and void of God's perspective.   But on the other hand, we are to answer a fool, but in a way he/she deserves, so they don't walk away thinking they are a wise and superior.   What a fine balance we are to maintain.   Don't argue like them but make sure they don't leave the conversation thinking they are superior ... how?   We do that by sharing truth and God's perspective on the subject we are talking about.  When God's mind is brought into a conversation fools run.   When truth is brought in to share light on the conversation fools look for the shadow.  Don't argue like a fool.  But share truth and make sure the fool doesn't leave without it.

Proverbs 25:13

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 power of good news:

Proverbs 25:13 (ESV)

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is a faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Who doesn't like good news.   We typically wait eagerly for it.   We get excited at the prospect of good news.   Since most are not farmers we might have trouble with Solomon's analogy, but his point is none-the-less weighty: "In hot work a cool breeze is so refreshing, so too a good word on a bad day."  If you are in sales and you are waiting for word to see if your client says "yes" to the proposal, you know this truth.  If you are in sport and you are waiting to see if you are "in" or not, you know this truth.  If you are grand-parent "to-be", you know this truth.   But, the "message" in this proverb is implied as being "good news."   The real emphasis in this proverb is not necessarily the message, but the messenger.   What Solomon is telling us is that carrier of the message is as important as the message.   In our day of email, voicemail and cyber communication we might fail to miss this truth.   But, Solomon wants us to know that the person who delivers this message, in "faithfulness" is an important and refreshing aspect of the communication system.      Perhaps what Solomon is telling us is that good news needs to be entrusted to faithful messengers.   We ought to take as much care in the delivery of good news as we are the manufacturing of good news.  There is no doubt their is an implication for those who are messengers of the gospel.  We don't want to diminish that truth.  But the principle provides guidelines to all our communication.   As you deliver God's Word (or, truth derived by studying God's Word and in prayer) be a faithful messenger.  That is as refreshing to the hearer as the message.

Proverbs 24:11

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 rescuing others:

Proverbs 24:11 (ESV)

Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

I have never had the chance to "save" someone.  A few years back we saw a boating accident in which three people were in the water.   I was the captain of our boat but one of the people on our boat jumped in and probably saved a young girl from bleeding to death.   I would imagine anyone would have had the inclination to save someone from certain peril.  This is probably our biggest issue: We don't calculate that others are in "certain" peril.  This proverb does that.   Solomon is telling us that we are to "deliver those who are taken away to 'death' ".  If they are staggering to "slaughter" we are to "hold them back."  However, we seldom see others as in such peril.  We think there is always time to repent.   We think the situation others may be in will give them time and space to make adjustment.   But, without wisdom (Christ) people are facing death with every breath they take.  Let's not stand by and let them sink in their despair ... let's hold them back and deliver them by given them the gospel message.

Proverbs 23:16

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 rejoicing over the success of a child:

Proverbs 23:16 (ESV)

My inmost being will exult

when your lips speak what is right.

This proverb is on the heels of what Solomon said in verse 15.   He is rewarding and commending his son for taking hold of God's Word and God's promises and demonstrating that in wisdom.  He is telling the son how exciting and wonderful it is to see your son (children) demonstrate wisdom.   It takes him two proverbs to record his excitement.    In this proverb he relays how he is rejoicing on the inside by what he sees from his son.  When he hears his son speak truth it excites him.   Today's parents get so excited to see their children do something good or great.   They love to hear them read their first book.  But they flip over their first goal in a soccer game.   We get excited about too many of the things that are good, but not the best.   If we make a big deal about a child's pursuit of wisdom and truth we will see children have a desire for wisdom.   Let us rejoice within when we see our children speak truth and step up with truth.   There is nothing wrong with being excited about your child's first goal.  But, it pales in comparison to when they speak truth and pursue wisdom. What a parent praised in a child the parent promotes in a child.  

Proverbs 22:17-21

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 advantages of being ready with God’s wisdom:  

Proverbs 22:17-21 (ESV Strong's)

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

and apply your heart to my knowledge,

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

if all of them are ready on your lips.

19 That your trust may be in the LORD,

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

20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of counsel and knowledge,

21 to make you know what is right and true,

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

What is Ready on Your Lips!

To get a better understanding of the above group of proverbs we would do well to understand the word “ready” in verse 18.  It is the Hebrew word, “kun” and this is what one commentator says about the word:

(Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary) to be established, be readied, be prepared, be certain, be admissible.” This verb occurs in nearly every Semitic language (not in biblical Aramaic). Kun appears in the Bible about 220 times and in all periods of Hebrew.

This root used concretely connotes being firmly established, being firmly anchored and being firm. The first meaning is applied to a roof which is “firmly established” on pillars. So Samson said to the lad who was leading him: “Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them” (Judg. 16:26).

God has given us these proverbs (and the rest of Scripture) to prepare us, to make us ready, to give the answers we need when others approach us, confront us and/or seek our council.  God provided the Scriptures so we know what is “right and true.”   But not just so we know them.  He also wants us to be prepared to speak them when called upon to do so.  Knowing the Scriptures is imperative for the Christian walk.  But having them “ready” on our lips is what God intends.   Notice how Paul spoke something similar to this to the early church:

Colossians 4:3 (ESV Strong's)

3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

Paul wanted his time in prison to be an opportunity that he would open his mouth and speak the Word of God.   This is one of the reasons for the proverbs.  To prepare us with the wisdom we need to respond to the curious, cautious and confused world around us.  

A good teacher has a reason for the teaching.   If you approach learning you ought to have an objective for the learning.   The above proverbs are Solomon's approach to objective-teaching.   He tells us what we are to learn (Incline  your ear and hear the words of the wise and apply your mind to knowledge); he tells us that if we do these things, several other things will happen:  1) The learning will be pleasent (don't underestimate the need for learning to taste good and be good for you).    2) The learning will prepare you (it will be on your lips)   3)  The learning will provide us with the motivation to "trust in The Lord."     4).  The learning will be a practical and day-to-day experience (I have taught you today, even you).     Solomon wants us to know that God's teaching is beneficial to us and has purpose and is productive.  There is nothing about God's teaching that is stale, silent, or stagnant.  God's Word is active and move us.   Hebrews 4 tells us that God's Word is active and sharper than a two-edged sword.   If we incline our ear and our heart  and apply our heart to His teaching (speaks about our totality of commitment) we can be assured that we will receive the benefits of that commitment.

Proverbs 21:8

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 planning:

Proverbs 21:8 (NASV)

The way of a guilty man is crooked,

But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

Proverbs 21:8 (NIV)

The way of the guilty is devious,

but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Guilty men make evil plans.   Think King David.   David was guilty in regard to his sin with Bathsehba.   He committed adultery with another man's wife and failed to immediately confess that sin.   His Psalm 51 tells us that he felt like his bones were broken within him.   Guilt was eating him away.   He didn't experience God's compassion and forgiveness because he did not seek it.   As a result the had crooked plans.  He was devious in that he planned the death of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband.   Adding murder to adultery is the result of a guilty man's thinking.   When we have unconfessed sin in our hearts we are left with the devising of evil (something The Lord hates ... Proverbs 6:16-17).   Guilt will drive us to feel out of joint and corrupt in our thinking.   We need to seek God right away after our sin lest we do the same thing.   Once we have been made "pure" by God's forgiveness we can rejoice in "upright" conduct. Confession will squelch guilt that will in turn squelch evil plans.  The "pure" or the "innocent" in Solomon's world are those who fear The Lord.  It would be those who seek God's forgiveness and find purity and innocence through Christ's redemptive work.   If you walk around with guilt on your heart and refuse to confess than crooked and devious plans are on your future.

Proverbs 20:9

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 our nature:

Proverbs 20:9 (ESV)

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;

I am clean from my sin”?

This proverb almost seems out of place in the book of Proverbs. Most of the other proverbs have taught some important “practical” lesson, as most do. Here, however, is a simple statement of a doctrinal truth, stated in question form. The question is meant to be rhetorical; it is asked simply for effect not to solicit a reply. It is stating that no one could answer that question with a positive statement. No one has “kept their heart pure or have been clean and without sin.” The proverb has been given to us to remind us of our state of being. We are not sinless creatures. We each have a bent for sin. When man has been given a path to follow righteousness or follow sin, but he will naturally chose sin. That is why we need the regeneration of the Spirit through the work of Christ on the cross. It is why we must be saved.  We can’t have the wisdom taught in Proverbs unless we first embrace the truth of this one single proverb.   Wisdom begins with the Fear of the Lord.  But you can not FEAR the Lord (have a holy reverence for Him) if we don’t come to grips with our natural bent to sin.   Each proverb tells us how the “righteous” will act, should act, can act or the path “righteousness” will take us.   But if we don’t come to admit the truth of this one proverb, we can’t receive the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ.

Proverbs 19:11

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 dealing with sin:

Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)

Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 14:29

He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

But he who is quick- tempered exalts folly.

Proverbs 15:18

A hot- tempered man stirs up strife,

But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

Psalm 38:13

But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;

And I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up strife,

but love covers all offenses.

James 1:19

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

So, what do you think the Bible has to say about being slow to anger?     God tells us that He is slow to anger:

Psalms 86:15

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

If, then, God is slow to anger, how should we respond?   The difference is of course is that God NEVER "overlooks" a transgression.  God can't because He is holy.  God won't because He has PERFECT justice.   We don't and we aren’t, however.   Since we, too, are evil (like the one offending us), we can't be holy in justice.   So, Solomon is telling us we should, at times, over look the transgression.   In the above text in Psalm 39 we see David, Solomon's father, speaking about those who were trying to kill him.  He had to be as a deaf man, or a mute man.   When you think of this Proverb of overlooking a transgression we can't help but think of David overlooking Saul's pursuit of Him.  On two occasions David could have killed Saul.  In both situations he overlooked it.   Allow yourself to be cool and be willing to remember you are not the Judge.  You might and should have to overlook a transgression.

But it seems unfair to overlook it!! In Proverbs 19:11 we see that it is a glorious thing in your life to “overlook” a transgression. It would seem the words are pointing to the fact that when someone sins against us and does us wrong it is to our glory to forgive them and overlook the matter. You can't argue about what is said, but only that it doesn't seem fair. But, when we remember that it is God who is keeping track and keeping score, we can relax. It is only when we understand that God will care for all the injustice in the world and our part is to forgive and move on that we can practice this first. It is truly glorious when we forgive others and overlook a matter. It is only then that God can do His part and take care of the injustice in perfect love and judgment. God will take the sin (offense) of others against us and either apply it to the wrath He poured out on His Son, on the cross, or complete the justice on the person in His perfect way, in His perfect timing.  Be glorious today – overlook a matter!  Think of Jesus:  When he suffered He committed Himself to His Father who “judges righteously.”  Note:

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV Strong's)

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

It is our responsibility, by faith, to overlook a matter and allow God to be the judge.  

Proverbs 18:22

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 finding a great wife:

Proverbs 18:22 (NASBStr)

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 18:22 (ESV)

He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the LORD.

We have all heard the phrase, "If mommy is happy, everyone is happy."  This modern day "proverb" is quoted and laughed about by many.    It elevates the woman in the marriage to be a controlling and dominant figure.   It would be foolish to think that is not true in many marriages around the globe.  However, that is not God's view.  Solomon (a man who married many women ... a devotional for another day) tells us in this proverb that finding a good wife is a "good thing" and is something that shows "favor" from God.   So, God uplifts the woman in the marriage as a "gift" from God ... someone special, to be adored and honored.   When man's ways please God then God, in His grace ("favor") provides man with the gift of a wife.  In our society the "finding of a good woman" is a mindset of men. They, like wild hunters, search the land for the "catch" of their life.   However, God sees it completely different.   Man may search and "find" the woman of his dreams.  But that woman is not someone he was "lucky" to find, or "skilled" to find, or "fortunate" to find.  That woman is a gift from God, who is showing His favor to the man.  Thank God today for your spouse.   Only God can provide such great gift.  And then, prepare to treat that spouse as a gift from God.   The mindset that the wife is a gift from God elevates how you would then, treat the gift.   If the wife is looked at as though she were a “catch,” or a “find,” or a “lucky find,” then we would treat that wife incredibly different.  But Solomon is telling us that a wife is a “good gift” from God and shows His “favor” (the Hebrew word for “grace”) on us. Note James take on God’s gifts:

James 1:17 (ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

God has given believing husbands a gift .  God has shown His favor on him.   In return we are to honor and cherish that gift.  We are not called to chisel it and hone it and shape it the way we want.  We are called to love it and honor it like we would our own bodies:

Ephesians 5:28 (ESV)

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

A wife is a good gift from God.   Honor her in that way!!

Proverbs 17:22

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 the power of a joyful heart: 

Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)

A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Because of a heart attack a couple of years ago, I am on a regiment of medication. Every week my wife lays out pills in piles and I dutifully take them morning and night. When I had the heart attack there was plenty of speculation as to the cause. Along with food habits and no habit of excercise, most of the advice I received was that I had to slow down and figure out how to reduce my stress levels. If I would have followed the medical "advice" of the above verse I probably wouldn't have to take the meds today. Putting yourself under stress is one sure way to "dry up the bones." This contrasting parallelism give us the wisdom that trusting in God (the real source of joy) is good medicine, while living without joy will dry the bones. The best medicine is to be controlled by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, "joy", etc. A joyful heart comes from the fear of the Lord and trusting in Him and allowing the Spirit to rule. Without it you are under stress with dried up bones that produces a broken spirit and ... eventually a broken heart.  We don't muster-up a joyful heart.  We don't wait for circumstances to produce a moment of happenstance.   Happy is a word that comes from a root word, "hap," which means something just "happened" to produce the moment.   People get happy because some particular circumstance changed to their favor.  Happiness is not a joyfulness. A joyful heart comes from allowing the Spirit of God to work within us, based upon the truth of God, sharpening us into a deeper knowledge of and shape like Christ.   That is great medicine.   I will take heart meds the rest of my life for the way I lived without Christlike joy.  One of the "pills" I take every day, now, is to allow the Spirit of God to shape my life.   He is good medicine for a guilty and shameful soul.  

Proverbs 16:7

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 your enemies:

Proverbs 16:7 (ESV)

When a man's ways please the LORD,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

This proverb tells us that there is a direct relationship between our walk with God and our walk with others. This is the “Triangle of Peace.” Draw a triangle on a paper and put God at the point on top, you on one of the points and anyone else at the other. As you move up the side of the triangle toward God (drawing closer to Him) and the other person does the same, you in-turn get closer to each other as you draw closer to God. However, this proverb tells us that as we draw close to God, He will make even our enemies to draw close to us in peace. He did this for Esau and Jacob; for Abimelech and Isaac; for David and his enemies. God did this for Israel.  When they lived in a way that pleased God, God gave them peace with their enemies.   Think about Hezekiah and his war with Assyria. God caused peace and safety in his final years:

2 Kings 20:19 (ESV)

Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?”

We don’t have to worry about agreeing with our enemies or appeasing them. We only have to worry about treating them with love and drawing close to God … God will cause even unbelievers to live at peace with us. This proverb is not a warning but a principle to be lived in faith. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you ... and He alone will give you peace with your most feared enemy.