Proverbs – Page 7

Digging in Deeper: Proverbs 31:3-4; 8-9

March 5, 2018March 1, 2018Leave a comment

“Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink. . .Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

Do you want to live like a king? Who doesn’t? And yet, what exactly does it mean to live like a king? Most cultures certainly have an answer to that question. It means getting to be wealthy. It mean getting to have whatever–or whomever–you want. It means getting to do whatever you want. It means getting to go to neat places and meet amazing people. It means getting to live like…well…a king. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Proverbs 30:7-9

February 19, 2018February 12, 2018Leave a comment

“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (ESV)

If you could ask anything of God, what would it be? Agur here asks for two things. He firsts asks for God to make him honest, to take all falsehood and lying away from him. We can understand that. Now, that may not be the first thing we would think of if we had a blank check from God, but it’s a pretty good thing if you think about it. He’s basically asking for God to help him live a life that is consistent with reality all the time. Most of us could probably use a little more reality in our lives. Living with fantasy may feel nice for a while, but eventually it runs out and usually leaves you lower than you were before you sought the fantasy high in the first place. This is a good thing. We get this one. The other thing…after the beginning…not so much. Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Proverbs 29:11

February 14, 2018February 12, 2018Leave a comment

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (ESV)

Have you ever had one of those days when you just wanted to let everyone know what you were thinking? Or, maybe you’ve had one of those moments when you wanted to let one particular person know everything you were thinking about them. Did you follow through with that? If so, how did it go? Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Proverbs 26:4-5

January 8, 2018January 8, 2018Leave a comment

“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.” (ESV)

One of the most common criticisms of the Bible (usually made by people who have either not read it at all or else not read it closely) is that it is full of contradictions. Places like this give these folks a great deal of ammunition. At first read and even second and third, this is obviously a contradiction. As one commentator noted, if these verses were located in different parts of the Bible it would seem the contradictory nature was exceedingly obvious. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Proverbs 25:14

December 27, 2017December 20, 2017Leave a comment

“Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.” (ESV)

Growing up in the Midwest, I was used to thunderstorms. We regularly had thunderstorms of all kinds. There were gentle storms when the thunder rumbled low and long. There were storms with occasional big booms mixed with longer rumbles. And then there were the big ones when the lightning seemed to be hitting close and the thunder blasts rattled the windows. The next morning things always smelled like rain. It was one of my favorite things. Read the rest…