Day #174

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 30-31 - Audio
Proverbs 30-31 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

30

2-4 = Interesting way to open up, "I am too stupid to be a man." Agur confesses that he is not wise. He quickly points to the fact that only God can comprehend certain things. This is much like Job in Job 38-39.

4 = The rhetorical question, What is his name, and what is his son’s name? is remarkable since the obvious answer is that God is the only one who moves between heaven and earth and who controls the wind and the waters. What, then, does the text mean by asking about his son? The Christian reader naturally thinks of the Son of God, but the purpose of the words here is simply to say that no mere human being (whether father or son) has done these things, and that God is “the Holy One” (v. 3) whose ways are high and exalted, infinitely greater than “the understanding of man” (v. 2). -ESVSB-

5 = "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." 2 Sam 22:31

6 = Reminds me of Rev 22:18 - "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book"

7-9 = This is the only prayer in Proverbs. 2 things are requested: 1. remove lying and falsehood, 2. give me my daily bread. Makes me think of the Lord's prayer.

9 = This shows us that Agur's reasoning for having anything is so that He can focus on God. He doesn't want too much, because it may take his eyes off of God.

10 = Slander is "speaking lies about someone to others." This is a HUGE problem in our politics today. Our call as Christians, and wise people, is to join in the conversations with discernment while proclaiming truth.

People that God does not look kindly upon:

11 - Those who show no respect to their parents

12 - Those who are outright immoral and show no concern for God's ways

13 - Those who are arrogant, prideful

14 - Those who take advantage of the poor

*This shows us that God's heart is for obedience, humility, and a healthy concern for the broken.

Q. Does our heartbeat match His?

15-16 = This text contains two sayings involving numbers (v. 15a and vv. 15b–16). Both concern insatiable things, and together they give the number sequence 2, 3, 4. The first (v. 15a) indicates that the leech has two daughters named Give. The saying probably alludes to the two suckers on a leech’s body, and it may have been a common byword used to describe a selfish or demanding person. A frustrated mother may have said this when her children were clamoring for something. It is easy to see in what sense the four things of vv. 15b–16 are insatiable, but it is harder to guess at the point of the list. It may be that this was simply a byword used of any situation or task that has no end, and that it is here simply to say that life is full of such situations and tasks; in that case, Eccles. 1:3–7 is comparable. -ESVSB-

17 = Again, Agur is discussing the importance of respect for our parents.

18-19 = Four amazing “ways.” The word translated how is literally “the way of.” The wonder of the “ways” or movement of the eagle, the snake, and the ship may lie in the fact that they do not leave traces or that they are smooth and graceful. As for the way of a man with a maiden, love is a mystery, but just how it is mysterious is left to the imagination.

20 = The additional wonder. This verse seems mechanically tacked on and inappropriate, but it might be intended as a shocking climax. The four “ways” are mysterious and graceful and leave no trace. The way that is, behavior of the adulteress too is amazing: She is unbelievably smug. She thinks she can wipe her sin away as if wiping the crumbs off her face. -JSB-

21 = Four things the earth can't bear - seen as unnatural:

1. Slave becoming king - It violates the social order, which Agur believes is the way things should be.

2. Disobedient slave being rewarded

3. A loathsome or "hated woman" getting a husband

4. A slave-girl supplanting her mistress. ie...Sarah and Hagar

24-28 = We see here some small, but very clever creatures. Ants, Rock Badgers, Locusts, Lizard. This shows us that much wisdom can be found in even the small things in God's creation.

29-31 = Four animals that move in "majestic fashion" - Lion, Rooster, Goat, and the one that is a little out of place..."The King whose army is following Him."

32-33 = If you're not pointing to God in everything that you do, then keep your mouth shut.

31

*Proverbs concludes with a poem describing a wise woman. This is an ideal woman of God.

1 = Good mother, teach your son well.

3 = This is not referring to monogamous marriage.

4-5 = A king's judgment should never be clouded by wine and strong drink (beer).

6-7 = wine and strong drink are approved for merriment and misery in this proverb.

8-9 = King Lemuel, like us, should speak for those without a voice and be concerned for the broken and needy.

10 = seen in other proverbs as well (12:4, 18:22, 19:14). Another reason to take time and discern this rather important decision.

If you pick a good wife:

11 - Trust

12 - Does him good...not just for himself, but the entire household

13 - Skilled in working with textiles to provide for needs of family

14 - She goes out of her way to secure food and things for her family

15 - She plans and is holds a very effective household

16 - She discerns wise purchases and is engaged in business dealings

17 - She is able to work

18 - able to discern economic gain / diligent

19 - A distaff is a staff with a fork at the end that holds flax or wool that has yet to be spun, from which thread is drawn when a person is spinning thread or yarn on a spinning wheel. A spindle is a rod with tapered ends on which thread is wound once it has been spun by hand. The point of this and several other verses is the remarkable range of manual, commercial, administrative, and interpersonal skills at which this woman demonstrates excellence. -ESVSB-

20 - Active concern for the poor

21 - Always prepared

22 - Does everything with excellence

23 - A godly spouse is something we can boast in, that we will be known for.

25 - She is not concerned/worry about the future

26 - Her words are wise

30***

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised!"

Day #170

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 27-29 - Audio
Proverbs 27-29 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

27.2: Two things flow out of this proverb: First, “Don't toot your own horn”. Second, communities of faith should toot the horns of those who deserve honor.

27.3: When a fool speaks nonsense in the midst of a terrible situation and believes he is bringing wisdom it is unbearable.

27.9: It’s a huge deal to have wise friends who can give you counsel.

27.12: Fools go where angels fear to tread.

27.13: Another warning about promising financial backing for someone you don’t know.

27.14: For the non-morning person this is a great and important truth that morning people need t0 hear and understand.

27.23-27: On the surface these verses speak of the wisdom of caring for one’s flocks so that they are healthy and provide in turn for the needs of one’s family. These words, however, are part of a section of Proverbs that come from Hezekian Collection (Hezekiah was a king of Judah), therefore they more broadly speak of how a king needs to care for his people.

28.2: The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about how a society functions and how it is ruled. This Proverb is not calling for a single ruler, but it does make us ask about how our leaders interact and maintain the order of our society. This Proverb warns that when a country is rebellious it will produce a wide variety of opposing leaders. The result of this is disastrous. An example of a country’s rebellion and the result can be seen in the book of Hosea where many foolish rulers came over the people.

28.8-9: Based on verses like these in the OT, the church forbade lending until the time of the Reformation. During the reformation John Calvin and other discerned that loans were important for economic development. For the first time wealth was being created and not simply handed down from one generation to the next. In this context Calvin noted a difference between loans for capital development and loans in the Bible that were given to assist the poor in hard times. He continued to insist that loans to the poor be given without interest, but allowed loans with interest for economic development.

28.22: “Stringy man” is literally translated as “bad of eye” which was a Hebrew idiom for a greedy person.

29.4: A leader who is greed for wealth will destroy a nation. In a slightly different context Paul tells us that those who lead the church may not be greedy for gain or lovers of money (1 Timothy 3).

29.7: The rights of the poor are spelled out in different places in the Old Testament. They have the right to borrow money without interest, to glean fields, to have a kinsman redeemer and so on. A righteous man (note that in the Hebrew Bible Ruth follows directly after Proverbs and shows us just such a righteous man: Boaz) knows these rights. A wicked man ignores them.

29.9: Another reason that it does no good to argue with a fool. Also, such an argument brings grief to the wise person who has to listen to the fool rant.

29.11: Contrary to what many of have been told a truly wise person restrains anger rather than letting people have it with both barrels.

29.15: God expects parents and communities to train their children in his ways. Children do not simply come to faith on their own, it is a community effort to bring children up in the fear of the LORD.

29.16: The reality is that all wicked people and all wicked kingdoms finally do fall. Whether from death or decay they can’t survive.

29.17: For a child to give a parent “peace” or “rest” means that they don’t cause the parent concern because they have wandered from God’s ways. The idea of peace brings a picture of wholeness and well being.

29.18: Without the words of the prophets and the Torah a people cast off restraint and life outside of God’s wisdom. The perfect example of this is what happened at Mt. Sinai with the making of the golden calf.

29.20: Wise people are slow to speak, quick to listen because they know that a snap judgment or word can’t be taken back.

29.27: Whoever you are, someone will not like you.

Day #169

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 25-26 - Audio
Proverbs 25-26 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Proverbs 25 (the collection includes Proverbs 25-29) begins the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. This section speaks either directly or indirectly to kings and rulers. Matters justice, standards for rulers, and the behavior of rulers dominate these chapters.

25.2-3: God’s greatness and glory are shown by his wisdom that is far deeper than all others. The glory of a king is shown first in his seeking out the truth in difficult circumstances and second by being like God in that he too is unsearchable. This picture is one where God is seen first place, the king second, and the rest of people live in third place. It is a hierarchy of importanc and wisdom

25.4-5: The importance of good and righteous advisors for the ruler. When a ruler banishes wicked advisors, then he does the good God desires. A powerful example of this is found in 1 Kings.

25.11-12: These verses continue the legal framework of verses 7-10. When a right judgment is made it is like the crafting of fine jewelry. When the reprover or judge (NIV “wise man’s rebuke speaks truth to correct our path it is like a gold ring in the ear--a thing of beauty.

25.15: We are given wisdom on how to influence a ruler. True influence comes not from brawn but from brains and wise words.

25.16-17: Too much honey will make you sick, too much time at the neighbors will make him sick. This proverb calls us to know and practice proper limits.

25.26: When the righteous give way before the wicked the community become muddy and polluted as the good is overtaken by evil. The righteous must stand firm if the community is to drink of the clear and refreshing waters of justice, mercy, and covenant faithfulness.

25.27: Proper limits apply to both eating honey and being a glory hound.

Proverbs 26.1-12 form a unit concerning fools (notice that the word “fool” is used in every verse verse 2). Verses 13-16 form a second unit that talk about a sluggard, a subclass of fools. Ray Van Leeuwen in his commentary of Proverbs gives some very important insight, “...the passage uses the problem of interaction with fools to teach out the need to properly ‘read’ other people situations, and even oneself (vs. 12). In doing so, it teaches about the nature of proverbs and their use (vv. 7-9). Wise interpretation of proverbs, of persons, and of circumstances should lead to fitting relations and actions in every area of life.” (From The New Interpreter’s Bible)

26.1: Here is a proverb that would be well used in our day: It is not fitting for there to be snow in the summer, so also it is not fitting for a fool to receive honor. The word “honor” is “kavob” (pronounced “ca-vod with the “a” short and the “o” long) which is often interpreted glory. Fools do not deserve renown, importance , etc. Oddly, in our culture we believe it is fitting to give fools glory and honor. We see the paparazzi pursuing celebrities and all kinds of attention paid to those who are fools. Such attention is not fitting and is not good for either us for the fool.

26.4-5: In these verses we find a key to understanding the book of Proverbs. These two Proverbs contradict one another. One tells us not to answer a fool, the other tells us to answer a fool. A wise person knows that it is fitting at times to answer and at other times to remain silent when dealing with a fool. A wise person figures out which time is which. The problem, of course, is that these verses give us no hint as when to follow which course. Perhaps one good bit of advice is we answer a fool when others are listening who might be led astray by them if we do not speak up

26.11: Humor: Dogs return to their own vomit and eat it because they like the smell, fools are not wiser that dogs, they love the “smell” of their foolish ways so much they keep going back to them

26.12: This proverb calls us to evaluate ourselves in light of verses 1-11. Do we think we are wise in our own eyes (see Proverbs 3.4ff), if so we are fools. Only those who are not wise in their own eyes but instead rely on God’s wisdom are truly wise.

26.17-28: This section gives wisdom on a very important topic: what causes fights and conflicts between neighbors. In telling us what causes such conflict we also learn behaviors that make for being good neighbors.

Summary #23

Weekly Summary
Proverbs 1-21

Beware summarizing proverbs -- it'll make you crazy. Because proverbs refer to specific things, and defy thematizing with great gusto.

Embedded in the story of Solomon, who prayed for wisdom and received it in great quantity are the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs -- the wisdom books. While they are powerful and beautiful, they don't much move along the narrative of the true story of the whole world. So how to do a weekly summary?

What I have decided to do is list a couple of my favorites as an enticement to you to dig in to a chapter or two today, even if you didn't get a chance to keep up this week. Here we go:

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Prov. 3:6 How wonderful to trust that God will direct us if we honestly intend to follow him, even when the way doesn't seem clear.

So what is my excuse for my (sometimes) messy desk? "Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox." Proverbs 14:4. I know the oxen comparison isn't so flattering, but probably better than Vanna White.

Ending thought: "Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,but blessed is he who is generous to the poor." Proverbs 14:21 One of the foundational themes to Proverbs, this is a great way show not only wisdom, but also love.

Read on this week!

Day #162

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 22-24 - Audio
Proverbs 22-24 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Proverbs 22.1-9: God’s Sovereignty Over Wealth

• 22.4: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. This proverb teaches that a wise life leads to well-being; however, we must not absolutize this proverb for proverbs are situation and it takes wisdom to discern when to apply their teaching. Some have taken this proverb and taught that “God wants us to be rich,” or “if you are following God you will never suffer and be wealthy.” While it is true that living wisely rooted in the fear of the LORD will help us understand this world, it does not mean a guaranteed life of well-being or wealth.
• 22.7: This verse shows the relationship that occurs between those who borrow and lend money. It can also be seen as a warning against going into debt. In the Old Testament, it was common for the poor to sell themselves into servitude to other families in order to provide for their families. This verse puts these types of practices into perspective and warns against them.

Proverbs 22:10-16: Moral Instruction about Wealth

Throughout the book of Proverbs wealth, how it is gained and how it is used, is seen as a moral issue. Here the writer gives some moral instructions about how to use wealth.

• 22.16: This verse concludes the section and brings it back to the theme of wealth. Here how we use our wealth is a moral issue. The writer attacks a system or use of wealth which makes the “rich, richer and the poor, poorer.”

Proverbs 22.17-29: The Beginning of the Sayings of the Wise

The Book of Proverbs contains several different sections. Proverbs 22.17-24.24 contain the “Sayings of the Wise.” These sayings are mostly brief admonitions to the reader.

Proverbs 23

• 23.23.6-8: “stingy” is literally “an evil eye”--notice the New Testament connection where Jesus talks about having a bad eye, Matt. 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 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! Wise people don’t eat with those who are stingy. There is not true joy in sharing the meal. The meal will actually turn your stomach sour no matter how good the food.
• 23.12-35 form a unit calling on children to yield to discipline and not to be undisciplined in their drinking.
• 23.26-28: The NIV’s wayward wife is literally the “strange woman” that we have encountered in Proverbs. She is one who does not belong to the son.

Proverbs 24

• 24.3-4: For a home to be built well it needs to be founded on wisdom and understanding. These verses connect to God and Wisdom building the house of the cosmos and so remind us that all human “building” needs to be done in harmony with the way the world has been established by God. When we “build” in harmony with God’s created order good results and people are blessed.
• 24.7: The gate is where the elders of the city gather (and where the king would sit) to render justice and give insight. In this place the fool has nothing to say because he does not know the ways of wisdom. The idea is not that he doesn’t say something, rather that no matter what he says is worthless.
• 24.9: Often in Proverbs we are expected to know that something is sin. In this verse that expectation is dropped and we are told straight out that people who pursue folly i.e. who refuse to live in creational norms and with humility before God, are people who sin.
• 24.10-12: These verses are a set. The day of adversity is a time when people are losing their lives due to injustice. The person of strength on this day will stand up to rescue those who are being put to death. The final words of this proverb set tell us that we can’t pretend we didn’t know what was happening for God sees through our lies and we deal with us accordingly.
• 24.21-22: This proverb ends this section of the book. Since the king represents God, it is a disaster to rebel against him. When it comes to rebellion against a king and ruling authorities we see that we are called upon to obey our leaders to the best of our ability--but if they break God’s commandments his people are called to respond appropriately.
• 24.23-34: This short section adds to the sayings of the wise that began in chapter 22. The “more sayings of the wise” indicate that this section was added as the book was put in its final form.

Day #161

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 19-21 - Audio
Proverbs 19-21- Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

19

1 = Continuing on the theme of it being better to be poor and and humble, walking with integrity, etc...than to be rich and crooked, arrogant, etc.

10 = I love the WBC's take on this: "It is bad enough that any fool should prosper, but it is a disaster whenever an incompetent rules."

Ideas for a "good" life with God:

16 & 20 - listen to instruction

17 - be kind to the poor

18 - be involved in your children's lives and discipline them

19 - avoid friendships with those who lack self-control

21 - acknowledge the rule of God

22 - understand that love and integrity are what bring real happiness

23 - FEAR the LORD.

Q. Think of your life and compare it to this list...

24 - Now that's extreme laziness.

26 - listen up kids

20

1 = This verse discusses the foolishness of becoming drunk. We lose the ability to make wise decisions. This verse does not condemn drinking, but as seen throughout the Bible, excessive drinking (drunkenness) is not what God desires.

4 = In Israel, the grain harvest began after Passover (around April), and the sowing of this crop (in a field that had just been plowed) was done in the autumn, after the Feast of Tabernacles (around November). -ESVSB-

9 = I don't know about you, but I'm thankful for Jesus, in whom, we have become the righteousness of God!

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling 3 the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

*We are only acceptable to God, because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. We can boldly stand before His throne and proclaim that through Jesus we are pure in heart and our sin is washed away!

12 - It is through the ready hearing of the right teaching, and through the observant eye, that one becomes wise.

13 - Maybe this is why College Students are always so poor.

16 - These are the words the lender might say when a man guaranteed the loan of a stranger, who then defaulted. See 6:1–5. The “garment” is a large cloak that one could wear in the cold and wrap himself in at night. Its importance is shown by the fact that Torah (Exod. 22:25–26; Deut. 24:12–13) requires that a garment given in pledge be returned each evening so its owner could use it. -JSB-

17 - There are repercussions to our actions, even if they seem wise and sweet at the time in our own eyes.

18-19 - One should not make major decisions without seeking the counsel of others. On the other hand, one should be careful about who is brought into one’s private deliberations. The example of making war particularly points to the need to find advisers who can keep a matter private. -ESVSB-

21 = My wife sees this happen all the time at her work. People gain a large inheritance and squander it. The issue comes down to wisdom. Give a fool a large amount of money and it will be squandered. This is why so many lottery winners go broke.

22 = See Prov 24:29

24 = This verse recognizes what Ecc affirms as well. The work of God in human affairs is beyond human understanding. The implication of this is that people should recognize their dependence on God and trust Him. See note on 16:9. -ASB-

26 = Jesus will eventually sort out those who have hated God - Matt 3:12

29 - This expresses appreciation for the glories of both youth and old age, the sign of which is gray hair. Old age was something to take pride in, for it implied (in the Sages’ view) both a successful life and the wisdom of years. -JSB-

21

Living God’s law [ chapters 21–22 ]. When we think of God’s law, we think most naturally of the books of law in the Pentateuch or the commands of Jesus or the *paraenesis sections of the NT epistles. But the proverbs also constitute God’s law. Some of them are phrased as commands: “Train up a child in the way he should go” (22:6); “Drive out a scoffer” (22:10); “Do not rob the poor” (22:22). But even when a proverb is expressed in a descriptive rather than prescriptive format, it embodies God’s law for living and contains an implied command. A good analytic grid for the proverbs in these two chapters is to ponder how each one is an explicit or implicit rule for life. -ESVLB-

2 = We get another echo of the LORD being the one who weighs the heart.

10 = Do people see evil, revenge, and hatred in you, or do people see mercy and forgiveness?

Q. How approachable are you to your neighbors?

15-18 - When justice is practiced, it is a joy for those who have walked in its ways and a terror to those who have perverted them (v. 15). Verses 16–18 describe the reality of the terror for the wicked: they have turned from the path that leads to life (v. 16), loved mere pleasure and luxury to their own impoverishment (v. 17), and are themselves a ransom—an image that likely reflects the merciless manner in which they treated others (v. 18; cf. 10, 13). -ESVSB-

21 = Matt 5:6

23 & 24 = Opposites - Person who keeps his mouth/tongue vs. Scoffer

26 - A call to generousity

30 - The verse underscores the superiority of the Lord to human wisdom, despite its cleverness, even its good intentions (such as “fear of the Lord”).

Day #160

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 16-18 - Audio
Proverbs 16-18- Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

16

Overview = In addition to noting the usual considerations of values, virtues, and vices, we can profitably analyze the data with a view toward coming up with definitions of wisdom and folly (“skill for living” is one legitimate interpretive slant on the concept of wisdom, but there are others). -ESVLB-

1 = With all the planning and scheming (the arrangements of the mind) of a man...it is God's purpose that will prevail. In the end it is His response that will come.

2 = The Lord knows your heart, your motives. - 1 Samuel 16:7

3-4 = Q. Why is it important to daily commit our day to God? How do we build dependence on God?

6 = This proverb portrays the sacrificial system, by which iniquity is atoned for, as an expression of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness (cf. Ex. 34:6; Prov. 3:3; 14:22; 20:28). The right response is the fear of the LORD, by which one turns away from doing evil (a common “wisdom” phrase: 3:7; 13:19; 14:16; 16:17; Job 1:1, 8; 2:3; 28:28; Ps. 34:14; 37:27). The Bible consistently presents moral effort as the right response to God’s grace. -ESVSB-

Notice it says response to grace.

What is our response to the grace given to us in Jesus Christ?:

Luke 6:36 - Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

2 Corinthians 8:2-3 - for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord .

*Too many more to list.

7 = This is a proverb and thus it does not constitute a comprehensive statement about human relationships. The NT teaching and life-experience make it clear that people who follow God are sometimes persecuted precisely because their ways are pleasing to the Lord. This proverb recognizes that a life lived according to Yahweh’s order will commend itself to others. It will be characterized by compassion, forgiveness, kindness, and civility. Such virtues have the power to restore broken relationships. -ASB-

10-15 = These verses discuss the king's responsibilities and his ideal power/wisdom.

16-19 = Wisdom-Over-Wealth

18 = Not only does pride come before the fall, but it is the road to destruction.

19 = The opposite of being arrogant and prideful is this idea of being "lowly in spirit," an idea of humility. What camp do we find ourselves in?

16-19 = John Calvin states this: "'And Cain was very wroth'...We know also, that to hypocrites nothing seems of greater value, nothing is more to their heart's content, then earthly blessing. Moreover, in the person of Cain is portrayed to us the likeness of a wicked man, who yet desires to be esteemed just, and even arrogates to himself the first place among saints. Such persons truly, by external works, strenuously labor to deserve well at the hands of God; but, retaining a heart inwrapped in deceit, they present to him nothing but a mask; so that, in their labourious and anxious religious worship, there is nothing sincere, nothing but mere pretense. When they afterwards see that they gain no advantage, they betray the venom of their minds; for they not only complain against God, but break forth in manifest fury, so that, if they were able, they would gladly tear him down from his heavenly throne. Such is the innate pride of all hypocrites, that, by the very appearance of obedience, they would hold God as under obligation to them; because they cannot escape from his authority, they try to sooth him with blandishments, as they would a child; in the meantime, while they count much of their fictitious trifles, they think that God does them great wrong if he does not applaud them; but when he pronounces their offerings frivolous and of no value in his sight, they first begin to murmur, and then to rage. Their impiety alone hinders God from being reconciled unto them; but they wish to bargain with God on their own terms. When this is denied, they burn with furious indignation, which, though conceived against God, they cast forth upon his children."

20 = Trusting in God, once again brings life!

21 = Gains wisdom, or “increases learning,” i.e., teaches others effectively. -JSB-

22 = This reminds me of my wife and I trying to find locations before the GPS came into our lives. Wasting numerous gallons of gas because of wrong directions was a normal occurrence...until "Good Sense" found us in the form of the GPS.

25 = There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (So much truth here)

*Those who have gone through a "dark" time and have been brought out know the above verse is true, however, I encourage each of us to stop and consider our lives for a moment. Are we living for God's mission, His desires...or are we going down our own path, satisfying our own desires? Have we stopped to consider what the Creator of the universe desires with our lives?

25-32 = People often have the wrong idea about what is good and what is bad. Hunger seems a bad thing, but it forces people to work and keeps them from idleness (v. 26). Verses 27–30 likewise describe types of evil that seem clever to those who practice them but which are actually vile and destructive. This includes general troublemaking (v. 27), spreading discord (v. 28), drawing others to join in crime (v. 29), and conspiring with others to commit crime (v. 30). Gray hair seems to be a mark of infirmity but actually is a crown of glory (31; cf. 20:29). Finally, a mighty warrior seems to be the strongest man of all, but in reality a man who can control himself is stronger than a conqueror (16:32). -ESVSB-

32 = "Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." -James 1:19-

33 = “Casting lots” involves the random selection or distribution of objects in order to make a choice uncontrolled and unbiased by the participants. In Israel it was typically performed “before the Lord” (see Josh. 18:8) in order to receive his direction. from the LORD. Not only the careful plans of the heart (Prov. 16:1, 9) but also the apparently random practice of casting lots falls under God’s providential governance. On the question of whether Christians should make decisions in this way, see note on Acts 1:26. -ESVSB-

17

1 = This continues some of the thoughts from the end of Chapter 16. It is better to have a house that is in unity that is small and poor, than to have a rich and full house that is in conflict.

*The things that are important to God are many times not the same things that are important to man.

3 = A furnace tests or assays and purifies ore by heating it until the pure silver or gold melts and rises, where it can be separated from the heavier dross. The analogy, then, implies more than God’s just looking into the heart. It implies a painful test to prove the purity of the sufferer’s faithfulness. Prov. 3:12 expresses a similar idea. -JSB-

Reminds me of 1 peter 1:6-9 = "In this (new birth, future glory) you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

5 = In what ways do we mock the poor? Such mocking can involve saying that those who suffer deserve it (e.g., the attitude of Job’s friends) or simply being callous or indifferent to their plight.

8 = More than likely this verse describes a course of behavior that seems valuable but is really destructive (see 14:12, and 16:2)

9-13 = Offenders and the Offended

13 = There is a play on the word “evil”. Evil, in one form or another, never leaves, even

though it be inflicted on another. -WBC-

14 = Q. What's your experience with quarrels? I think this verse is right on.

16 = This proverb either (1) expresses the irony of thinking that wisdom is a commodity that can be bought with money, or (2) suggests that a fool, because he has no sense, would refuse to buy wisdom even if he could. -ESVSB-

19 = Transgression and strife go hand-in-hand (cf. v. 14). Transgression is in the heart of the person who loves strife, i.e., who is unwilling to “quit before the quarrel breaks out” (cf. v. 14). Such a person is characterized by pride and arrogance (makes his door high; see note on vv. 14–19); though he seeks the ruin of others, in reality he is seeking his own destruction, which God will bring about in due course (cf. Ps. 55:23; 2 Pet. 3:7).

Q. How is this idea different than that way you handle arguments, disagreements, etc?

Q. What things can we put in place to make sure we handle our disagreements appropriately (God-honoring way)?

27 & 28 = My grandfather was a man of God who rarely said anything. However, when he did everyone listened. He was considered wise by all of us....hmmmm, wish I chose to shut my mouth more.

18

2 - This brings back the idea of civility. It's important for Christians to not just throw around their opinions and suggestions. We must seek to know what God desires and work through those things in community. It is only then that we understand and seek the good of the entire world. By doing this we set the example, and therefore proclaim, that God's created order is a better way to live and function.

4 = Human speech has the potential to be a deep fount of wisdom.

9 = God calls us to do everything with excellence. Our God is not lazy, and we shouldn't be either. Someone who is lazy is depriving the entire community.

9-12 = describe two types of security (the LORD and riches), while 9 and 12 describe two things that bring about one’s destruction (laziness and pride). Taken together, these proverbs imply that riches can give a false sense of security that leads to laziness, pride, and a downfall, but that humility and the fear of God exalt people. -ESVSB-

13 = Guilty of this....hmmmm

15 = Q. Do you long to acquire knowledge and understanding? How are you going about this?

21 = See Matthew 12:36

22 = While the proverb does not say, “He who finds a good wife,” that is clearly presupposed, since Pr contains many proverbs that illustrate the benefits of having a good wife and the consequences of having a foolish or bad one. The good wife is wise and she fears the Lord. Thus she is able to function as the appropriate or complementary helper that Gn 2:18 says man needs. A wise husband and a wise wife can function together in the way this “one flesh” relationship was designed to work. -ASB-

Day #159

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 13-15 - Audio
Proverbs 13-15- Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

• 13.1: Heeds his father’s instruction The introduction to chapter 13 reminds us of the prologue (chapters 1-9) in which the father instructs his son in the ways of wisdom. The wise son is the one who listens to and learns the ways of wisdom. 13.1 and the prologue highlight the responsibilities of parents and children within a covenant community. The parent’s responsibility is to teach while the youth’s responsibility is to heed the parent’s teaching (see Deut. 6.4-8)
• 13.4: Craves and gets nothing The life of a lazy person is one filled with unrealized dreams and unrecognized responsibility. The consequence of this type of life is the inability to find joy/satisfaction in life.
• 13.11: Dishonest Money The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about our money. One of the things it warns against is gaining money dishonestly. Wealth and interaction within the economic realm is not banned nor looked down upon within proverbs, but the writer makes it clear that ones wealth/interaction in the economic realm must be done with wisdom.
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• 14.1: This verse in the NIV speaks of the “wise woman”, in reality the word “woman” is a plural and so should read, “The wisest of women build her house”. The idea is that women are following the ways of Lady Wisdom as they build their houses. Such building is not literal house construction, but building of families and communities (even as Lady Wisdom’s house is the cosmos). While wise women build houses of wisdom, folly seeks to destroy those houses.
• 14.3: Our words can bring about their own punishment.
• 14.5: This verse seems to tell us the obvious, but in doing so it is a call for us to be discerning in whose words we trust. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (a book by C.S. Lewis) the professor asks Peter and Susan who is most likely to tell the truth--Edmund or Lucy. Lucy has told about entering a land called Narnia but that there is another land that one enters through the wardrobe seems outrageous. This proverb would ask, “Whose word do you trust?”, follow that word.
• 14.10: We can’t really know another person’s pain. Again, knowing this allows those who are seeking to offer comfort to not give trite phrases or say that they know how the person is feeling. The proper response is to listen and discern the person’s heart as best possible and then remain silent or speak only the most carefully chosen words.
• 14.12: This proverbs warns about self-deception. Even the wise can become self-deceived-which is why it is important to have wise counselors.
• 14.20-21: These two proverbs form a pair. The writer tells the reality that people despise the poor and seek to get close to the rich. The writer, then, tells us how it should be telling us that such behavior is sinful and what God desires is for us to be generous to the poor. The first proverb reflects the way of the fool, the second the way of one who fears the LORD.
• 14.34: Moral character is not just for individuals it is also to be the reality of nations. God’s word to Israel that as they lived faithfully before him they would be lifted up. However, when a nation lacks righteousness God will bring it down. The book of Hosea speaks of “making idols for our own destruction” meaning that when nations follow after idols (power, nationalism, etc.) that they will be destroyed.
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• Proverbs 15 concludes the first part of Solomon’s collection of wisdom sayings. The next section of Proverbs will look at the reality that at times the righteous do not do well and following God does not make things go perfectly.
• 15.6: Treasure is a word that indicate resources saved over time. Income reflects “the next paycheck”. A wise person stores up treasure to weather the difficult days. A fool lives paycheck to paycheck. An interesting contrast to this picture is that of Jesus who because of his call has no place to lay his head. Likewise, Paul often goes hungry as he pursues the work of God.
• 15.11: The idea that we might be able to hide our actions and our hearts from God is just plain silly.
• 15.25: While a widow, one of the weakest members of that society, should be the one who is most in danger of losing what is hers (having someone move her boundaries is a way of saying that her land is being stolen) she is in fact protected while the wicked will be brought down.

Day #158

Sermon - Audio
Proverbs 10-12 - Audio
Proverbs 10-12- Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Proverbs 10-12

Leaving behind the 1^st nine chapters of Proverbs, where the parents urged their son to get wisdom, Chapter 10 begins the type of material that we will read in the remainder of the book. To understand our reading we need to accept the fragmented nature of the writings.

Proverbs 10

v. 1 - In Proverbs 1-9 the father implores his son to choose a life of wisdom. Proverbs 10.1 connects this section (10-15) to the previous section by presenting wisdom as generational.

v. 2-3 - The theme of money/economics is present throughout the book of proverbs. These proverbs suggest that wealth gained through dishonest/evil practice is unstable and unsustainable. Verse 3 presents the interesting question, “does God really always feed the righteous?” Remember that this section of proverbs is focused on humans reaping what they sow in an uncomplicated way. What we find here is a statement about God’s usual and regular way of dealing with humans; however, the next section of proverbs shows that this is sometimes not the case. Also, the other wisdom books (Ecclesiastes and Job) show the situation to be much more complex.

v. 4-5 - These verses link poverty with laziness and hard work with success. They also show that a wise person is someone who is in-tune with reality. Harvesting during the right time of year is something a wise person does.

v. 10 – Whoever winks the eye probably describes a person giving a concealed signal that he is lying.

v. 13 - sense literally means to “lack heart” which for the Hebrews was the central place of insight and understanding.

v. 18-21 - The tongue is a theme in the book of proverbs. The wise person uses the tongue properly but a fool’s tongue causes a great deal of harm. James 3:3-8 contains a similar discussion on the danger of using the tongue incorrectly.

v. 23 - On of the great mysteries of evil is that the fool finds pleasure in it.

v. 26 - teeth Without modern dental medicine and hygiene, it is likely that many adults had broken/ poor teeth. Pouring vinegar into a mouth filled with broken teeth would have been incredibly painful.

v. 27 – fear of the LORD is a common phrase in Proverbs. The book teaches that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The word fear does not mean “to be terrified” but “to have an extreme reverence and awe for someone or something.”

Chapter 11

v. 1 - Good and fair business practices delight God. To ignore such practices is something that God detests. The book of Proverbs does not differentiate between Israelites and non-Israelites when it comes to fair business practices. God’s people are not to take advantage of anyone.

v. 4 - The final word on riches is death--riches cannot rescue one on the day of God’s wrath. In fact, to have misused one’s wealth is to invite judgment.

v. 7 - Death is God’s final “no” to evil and his judgment on it. In the end the wicked never get away with their schemes. They may escape in this life but they will face judgment in the next.

v. 9 - “neighbor” is best understood as “fellow citizen”. This Proverb, therefore, begins a closer examination of how people treat fellow citizens in the political realm. In this realm the evil person destroys their fellow citizen with their words. Righteous people, however, are saved or delivered by people who have knowledge i.e. they know or can discern the truth.

v. 10 - This verse follows up the previous and tells us that healthy nation flows from healthy and righteous citizens. (Think about the idea that a nation gets the leaders it deserves.) Such citizens and leaders care for the city by building it up. This building both in those days and in this can come through financial investments made in the city (buildings, monuments, gardens, programs for the poor , etc.) Proverbs 11.10 shows us a righteous citizenship that rejoices in the good and detests evil, celebrating its fall. Paul will later echo this thinking when he says in 1Cor. 13:6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

v. 11 - The blessing of the upright is most likely their prayers and spoken blessings on the city. (see the Psalms were people are called upon to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the book of Jeremiah 29:7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

v. 14 - Wise counsel for leaders is essential to the health of the nation and its people.

v. 15 - It is important to see that it is not foolish to promise to back the up any borrower, it is only foolish to promise to back a stranger. A stranger is one you don’t know and don’t know if he is faithful in character and in financial matters.

v. 16 - As a woman can gain status and position via her beauty, so a ruthless man can gain wealth by violence. The reality of this statement does not mean either men or women should use such means to gain what they desire.

v. 20 - Wisdom on how to be one who God delights in. The text raises a very profound question, “Would you rather be crooked of heart (one who follows your own way) or one who finds himself as one who God delights in?

v. 22 - A wonderful Proverb that applies in reality to both men and women. No matter how beautiful a person is if discretion (knowing what to do in a particular situation) is not part of who they are their beauty is a mismatch.

v. 24-26 - Wisdom on a life of righteous living for those who have much.

v. 27 - You will get that for which you are seeking. When we run after righteous living we will become righteous, when we run after evil we become evil. Jesus words on this were “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6.33

v. 31 - If the righteous are punished for their sins on earth, how much more the wicked.

Chapter 12

v. 1 - Knowledge comes from others who are willing to speak into our lives. Gaining knowledge comes when we are willing to let wise people speak into our lives. Paul tells us that the heart of this wisdom is found in the scriptures for they are useful for teaching, rebuking and training in righteousness (see 2 Timothy 3.16-17). The challenge we face in a very individualistic society is to see others as wise and to accept their words as more than mere advice.

v. 2 - A good man is a man of wisdom. The favor he receives from the LORD is gaining even more wisdom. The crafty man or the man of evil devices is one who ignores God and actively plans evil. We find a picture of such a man (such men) in the opening chapters of Proverbs where we are told to those who try to trap and destroy the innocent.

v. 4 - This verse foreshadows the song of the Valiant woman (noble character NIV is literally valiant woman) in Proverbs 31. The wife of Proverbs 31 gives us the perfect example of what it means to live a wise life as one who shapes the world according to the heart of God bringing him glory, building up the community and bringing honor to her family.

v. 5 - This is another proverb that speaks of the direction of our lives. Those who are righteous continually build up a thought life that is ever more consumed with justice, while those who are evil keep thinking in ways that are destructive. It is a picture of Paul’s advice for living a godly life, Phil. 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

v. 6 - People who are upright do all they can to deliver others from attacks--and not mount their own verbal attacks.

v. 7 - combines with 12.3 and 12.21 in the ongoing insistence that the righteous will be established while the wicked will fall. The book of Revelation points out that this hope will turn into reality when Christ returns.

v. 9 - An ongoing concern of the book of Proverbs is to live a humble life. One ought not put on airs. This theme continues in the New Testament in a number of places. Paul writes in Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

v. 10 - This proverb doesn’t only mean that righteous people care for their animals, it means that as righteous people can see the needs of their animals so they can discern the needs of people in society who cannot speak for themselves. The wicked have no such insight, indeed they don’t want it.

v. 13-19 - form a group of sayings on speaking and listening. In these proverbs we find:

- evil people get caught in their own words

- wise people listen to the good council of their teachers, but fools listen only to people who think like they do

- wise people are able to endure an insult, fools get visibly bent out of shape

- it is important to speak the truth in court and in life in general so justice is done

- the words of the wise bring healing

- a liar will find God brings him to an end

v. 22 - forms a connection with 11.1 God loves those who speak truthfully and carry out their business dealings with integrity, but those who fail at these things are an abomination to him.

v. 23 - A wise person knows when to speak her wisdom and when to keep it to herself, a fool blurts out whatever is on her mind no matter what the circumstances.

v. 25 - A good word can lift the spirit.

v. 27 - Even when a slothful person has good things he does not properly enjoy them.