Tag Archive | proverbs

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 173

Jun21

   Day 173—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading.  Today, we finish the book of Proverbs.

 Day 173 – Proverbs 30-31. (Humble words of wisdom, a mom’s advice, the godly wife)

Proverbs 30 is written by Agur, son of Jakeh. This is the only mention of him in the Bible. He’s a humble sage.

Verse 2-3 say, “Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One…”

And yet he speaks wisdom in Verses 5-6. “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.”

He likes to make lists.

15-16.  “Four things never say ‘enough!’….”

18-19. “Four things are too wonderful for me to understand…..”

21-23. “Under four things the earth cannot bear up….”

24-28. “Four things on earth are small but exceedingly wise….”

29-31. “Four things are stately in their stride…”

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Chapter 31 are the “words of King Lemuel, as his mother taught him.” Many believe this is Solomon writing the words of his mother, Bathsheba. (They were close, as seen in 1 Kings 1.) 

In verses 2-9, she seems to be scolding the King. Don’t give your strength to women (he has 1,000) or your brains to wine (it’s for the dying and grieving). Speak up for the poor, defend their rights!

(Young and old men alike…  this is good advice!)

Chapter 31:10-31 contains very familiar verses about a godly, strong, industrious, and loving wife.  “She is an excellent wife, far more precious than jewels.”   She treats her husband with honor and respect, “doing good for him all the days of our life.”

She’s a strong and willing worker. She rises before the sun to make breakfast for her household and works late into the night.

She shops, bargains, makes deals, sews clothing and household goods to wear and sell. 

“She opens her HAND to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.”   “She opens her MOUTH with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”  Verses 20, 26.“

“Her CHILDREN rise up and call her blessed; her HUSBAND also, and he praises her, ‘Many women have done excellently, but YOU surpass them all.'” Verse 28-29.

“Charm is deceitful,

and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the LORD

is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 168 & 169

Jun17

    Day 168 & 169—We are in our sixth month of Bible reading. Praise God!

(Note: SUNDAY’s and MONDAY’s readings are combined.)

    Day 168 – Proverbs 25 – 26 (King Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs)

25:6-7. Both Luke 14:8-10 (Jesus) and James 4:7-10 mention this truth. It’s better to take a lower place and be invited to “Come up” than to assume grandeur and be embarrassed when asked to take a lower seat.   Yes, pride does go before a “fall.”

25:13 and 25. Both of these verses compare good news from a faithful messenger to the cold of snow in September’s heat and cold water to a thirsty soul – refreshing and restoring.  How doubly true when a lost soul hears the Good News of God’s salvation.

25:16  is good advice for a dieter – “If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.”  Does this also apply to pesky neighbors? 25:17, “Let you foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of YOU and hate you.”   (Oh, so practical is Solomon!)

25:21-22 is also mentioned in the New Testament by Paul (Romans 12:20), about loving your enemy by feeding him and giving him water… and by heaping burning coals on his head. (???)

25:24. And another unhappy married man and his quarrelsome wife.  (See 19:13 and 21:9)

26: 4&5 is humorous at first reading: “Answer NOT a fool according to his folly…” and “Answer a fool according to his folly…” It shows that there are times to rebuke foolishness and other times to ignore it.

Solomon also pictures the sluggard in verses 13-15 and gossip in verses 20-22. 

26:27 (dig a pit and fall into it, roll a stone, and it will roll over you) reminds me of the fate of Haman in the Book of Esther. The gallows he prepared for Mordecai were used to hang him.  (Esther 5:14 with 7:9-10).

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    Day 169 – Proverbs 27 – 29 (More of Solomon’s proverbs)

James 4:13-16 expands on 27:1. Don’t boast or make bold plans for “tomorrow” because you don’t even know if you HAVE tomorrow. (Instead, say, “If the Lord wills.”  Jesus told the parable about the rich fool who planned to build bigger barns for his abundant crops, but his soul “was required of him that very night.” (Luke 12:13-21)

27:2 – Let another praise you, and not your own mouth.

27:6 – Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

27:21b – …a man is tested by his praise.

The benefits of justice and the law. (28:4-9)

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” 28:13.  This is also seen in 1 John 1:6-9.

28:27. “Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who “hides his eyes” will get many a curse.” tells us about helping the poor and not ignoring them.  1 John 3:17-18 says, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet “closes his heart” against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”

Proverbs 29: 15 and 17 talk about the rightness of discipline.  15. “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.  17. Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.” 

And so ends Solomon’s proverbs. Chapter 30 is written by Agur, and chapter 31 by King Lemuel.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 158

Jun6

   Day 158—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading.  We are also reading the 16th book in the Bible this week: PROVERBS.

 Day 158 – Proverbs 13 – 15. (More of Solomon’s general wisdom proverbs)

Chapter 13  again begins with the pride of a father’s wise son. The following pithy, interesting, thought-provoking proverbs cover work, laziness, the mouth or tongue, wealth, and discipline.

13:3 “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

13:4, 11 “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”    “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”    

13:12, 19 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”    “A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.”

13:13-14, 24 “Whoever despises the Word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”    “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”

13:20. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Chapter 14 is eclectic in its topics, but is consistent in its comparisons.  14:1 “The wisest of women builders her house, BUT folly with her own hands tears it down.”  14:4 “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, BUT abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.” And notice in 14:11 who has a house and who, a tent. “The HOUSE of the wicked will be destroyed, BUT the TENT of the upright will flourish.”

14:17, 29-30 “A man of quick temper acts foolishly…”    “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

And two very familiar proverbs:

14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

There are many familiar proverbs in Chapter 15 as well, on speaking, praying, cheer, and good temper.

15:1, 4 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”    “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”     

15:13, 15, 30 “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”    All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.”    The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.”

15:16, 17 “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is that a fattened ox and hatred with it.”

15:8, 29 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to Him.”    “The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

And remember, PROVERBS are general rules on righteous living, NOT promises, prophecy, or law.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 157

Jun5

   Day 157—We are in the 6th month of Bible reading.  We are also reading the 16th book in the Bible this week: PROVERBS.  

 Day 157 – Proverbs 10 – 12. (General Proverbs by Solomon)

Today, we leave the specific advice of a wise father to his son in this book and look at Solomon’s more general proverbs. 

Chapter 10. If you underline or take notes, observe how many of them talk about the mouth and what we say.  For instance, in 10:11, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence,”  and 10:30-31, “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.”

10:1 is a segue from a father’s wise advice to the plain and pithy remaining proverbs of section two.  It says, “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”  

Remember, these proverbs are examples of general common sense. They are probabilities, not promises. They are often true, but not always. They are general rules on how to live in a way that honors God and others.

10:4-5: “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.”

10:12: “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”

Chapter 11 contrasts the righteous and upright with the wicked, the generous and stingy, the industrious and the slothful. There are very good truths here, but remember, it doesn’t mean they are promises or prophecies.

11:1:  “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.”

11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”

11:14: “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.”

11:24-25: “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessings will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Chapter 12 contains more contrasts in discipline, humility, mercy, truth-telling, and other matters of the heart. Many of these are familiar and have been memorized.

12:1: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

12:4: “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.”

12:9-10: “Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread. Whosoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.”

12:20, 35:  “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.”  “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”

12:28: “In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.”