GW, AK – Proverbs 17:17-23

17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

Continuing the thoughts of friendship and love in its relationship, the verse completes the notion indicating that a brother is born for adversity. Have you ever interacted with a peer that progressed to a kindred bond? This is the idea. The Hebrew rendered born is יָלַד which means brought forth. So be it by blood or by adversity, your “brother” can help aid the ailing soul.

18 A person lacking in sense shakes hands and becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

Perhaps this could also be found in relationships as well. Don’t throw your all into a relationship at first. And this isn’t only romantic relationships as well. One who is friendly ought not confused friendly with overly trusting. Don’t be one who will go to court on behalf of a neighbor you just met! Therein lay wisdom and folly!

19 One who loves wrongdoing loves strife; One who makes his doorway high seeks destruction.

I could already recount on both hands the number of times already this year the number of that I’ve made relational mistakes. I’ve wronged someone, I’ve spoken an unwise word, I’ve caused unintentional pain on behalf of my careless tongue. This is why we all should seek the betterment of others rather than ourselves alone.

20 One who has a crooked mind finds nothing good, and one who is corrupted in his language falls into evil.

Here lay a two fold danger. One that is crooked in mind distorts what is good. I will not make many commentaries on the politics of the U.S. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take longer, regardless of your party affiliation if you interested, to become disgusted. That is precisely why the writer says one who has a crooked mind finds nothing good. The hope however lies in that our corrupted tongue my by straightened for the sake of the gospel (cf. James 3).

21 He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

He who fathers is of primary importance i the word choice. To father is the word yō·lêḏ which is to give birth. You and I must be responsible. As birth is not the role of the father but the mother, raisig a child certainly falls, on both the father and the mother, in the proverbial lap of both parents! Fathers, recognize that your role doesn’t stop in the bedroom. Your role begins in best case on your knees pleading with the Father to created in His image, not yours, a child who in turn will live a life as a testimony of God’s great grace!

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Simply put, do you have a coworker or classmate who seems to bring a smile to your face when you see them? That is the idea here for the first part. I’m not a naturally cheery person. Have a couple cups of coffee and then we’ll talk. But if you are one of those naturally morning cup of cheer type people, praise the Lord! You can help the rest of us as we navigate the day! Further, medicine doesn’t have a one time effect but ca have a lasting effect! You, be good medicine for the weary soul! However, a broken spirit can have a deteriorating effect. That is why, you must be salt and light but also pray the He would leave a sweet aroma after!

23 A wicked person accepts a bribe from an inside pocket to pervert the ways of justice

The word is literally מֵ֭חֵיק meaning from the bosom but the meaning is the same. A wicked person accepts a bribe from the coat or a concealed pocket so pervert the ways of justice. It is striking also that the perversion comes to the “ways” of justice. Justice is often not the matter that is distorted only but the leading up to it. From a mistrial on a technicality to a simple mathematical error, temporarily criminals can be set free. But, though they have escaped temporary justice, their eternal judgement is condemned unless they have bowed their knee and surrendered to Jesus!

GW, AK – Proverbs 17:9-16

9 One who conceals an offense seeks love, But one who repeats a matter separates close friends.

Much like the NT principle of restoration following trials brought about by sifting, there are time when it would be best to conceal offenses. Whether it be simple cultural oversight or abject ignorance we have the responsibility to seek the betterment of others. Conversely if we “keep on” as friends used to say, true harm to the friendship or relationship can occur. When attempting to maintain a relationship both parties must constantly seek the betterment of the other lest sin separate and divide!

10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

As a husband and a father I am largely oblivious to my misgivings. I just “do”. This is not to say the doing didn’t need to be done. The verse however deals more with the how than the what. When we are rebuked or when we are rebuking let us remember that the ultimate end of any conversation ought to be seasoned with the graces of the Savior. That is why when we are both rebuked or rebuking, the end goal is the restoration of the relationship. Also, landing 99 blows into the flesh of an infant in the faith is both abuse and potentially catastrophic!

11 A rebellious person seeks only evil, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

A person of rebellion is one who seeks evil. What are you seeking as you live? Do you seek better things for others and restoration for severed relationships? On the other side, what “messages” are you receiving regarding you treatment of others. Has your boss or coworkers shied away from you because of your rash temperament? Have your friends or family withdrawn in their desire to be around you? In following the tail end of this verse, has bad news or distressing notice been offered to you? It is wise to regard the notices of His grace before his chiding is the only attention getting mechanism He has left.

12 Let a person meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his foolishness.

Thinking of another verse in Scripture referring to a mother bear and her cubs as a fearsome sight, it is not wise in the least! What’s more, it very well could be the last sight you have this side of eternity!

13 One who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

Just like the provocation of a mama bear, if you or I repay good with evil, we should expect evil to not depart from our house until we make the matter right in the eyes of the Lord!

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

Much like poking the mama bear, if we begin to strive against the Lord, it is not long before His majesty and righteousness will correct our behavior! Rather than waste the time pursuing our own vain chasing’s, why not simply turn around? We should recall that the Lord never moved so that we can return!

15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

The transgressions are the same! Justifying wickedness or condemning the righteous are examples of a heart that is set against the Lord! We should daily examine our own lives and then ask the Lord to reveal to us our sin! We cannot go without sin! We can however relinquish that sin to Him and be restored! What is repentance? As Peter preached in Acts 3, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord… (cf. Act 3)”.

16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, when he has no sense?

Finally we end on a pneumonic device in English that “money….no sense” akin to no cents. The question stands however, why is there money in the hand of a fool…? Perhaps we should be like Philip in Acts 8 who ran up to the Ethiopian who was struggling to understand the Scripture. We have that wisdom, Christ! When we see others with the wisdom the in hands and homes of many who haven’t tasted and seen Christ, we can show them! Rather than tell them to just forget about Christ, we can show them Christ, show them that they have immeasurable value in the Words of the Lord and then introduce them to the Savior of the world!

GW, AK – Proverbs 16:16-33

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

Why might you ask? Though gold is great for a time, it is still a limited commodity and only temporary. After this life is the eternal one. If we are not widely invested in the life to come, we can be sure to suffer loss and for those without a personal loving relationship with Creator God, eternal damnation because He wanted that relationship with you and I! Understanding is useless if you are without a relationship!

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who watches his way preserves his life.

Highway here should be taken as the fast way or sure way from point A to point B. To be on the highway is to follow after Jesus. But like any traveler, at times you take the wrong exit, get turned around, and even get in an accident from time to time. This is precisely why we are admonished to allow Christ to be our gps and guide!

8 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Favorite verse in all of Scripture. Not because I have attained it but rather because so often I fail. Compounded with the fact that I’ve had to learn to walk three times now, it helps one stay grounded to the fact that we are but one breath away from ceasing to live.

19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Tine after time and example after example individuals can be used as pictures of what NOT to do, self-included! Rather that count your chips before the hand is finished remember we’ve still got spoil to gain as we advance the gospel to the outermost of the earth!

20 He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

In our attention deprived, fast food environment, we want three points and a poem one or two times a year so we can check off our religiosity card for the year. Nevertheless, giving our full attention to His Holy Word yields life everlasting & the added benefit of help for today as well! That’s why blessed is he who trusts (daily) in the Lord.

21 The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Knowing what to say, when to say it, and how to say it are three separate skills we all must master. A doctor may find cancer but because of their training let the patient know in a calm and reassuring manner. A carpenter may find termites that have eaten the frame up in the basement without the owner knowing. To me the sweetness of their behavior can belie the truth they have found. Shoot straight and tell the truth!

22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.

That is why the discipline in question here is understanding of life. Difficulty is a given, how you and I deal with the difficulty often determines our legacy or languishing!

23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

That is why the motive of the wise is to build nor burden beyond repair. Often to build tearing down part of the structure is necessary. Yet as one replaces the foundation with brick and mortar, the wood, hay, and stubble formerly gathered can be burnt off in lieu of solid foundation!

24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Honeycomb was primarily used in this time as the sweetener for the meals. Pleasant words, like pleasant food often have both a restorative effect on both the mind and body!

25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Too often I have been deceived to thinking the easy way was the right way. Sometimes it is but more often I have to be reminded that I am a guest here. This is not my eternal home. As such, as a sojourner, I will lead my family with the view that one day all this will pass and we will dell forevermore on a new earth with Him. It is to this future we should fix our gaze

26 A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.

Plain enough, if you’re to live you’re to work. One day that privilege will pass but if you’re hungry, work

27 A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire.

In the dark corners of the world wide web all sorts of mischief can be found. Likewise however, and closer to home, it may be that those in need are placed in your care because you have a need to provide. What can you and I offer?

28 A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

Verse 28 speaks clearly but I wonder could the slander I utter be used as a dart of Satan to be hurled at others? Don’t speak in darts but love!

29 A man of violence entices his neighbor And leads him in a way that is not good.

Someone who encourages senseless violence could be the catalyst for further trouble. Are the words I am speaking building up the kingdom or creating further division?

30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things; He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

Perhaps foreign to many but to a Jew is these days, to wink your eye was to give approval of an encouragement to evil. Flee evil and encourage good!

31 A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.

Gray hair is given often to those who have been through adverse and difficult trials. While certainly not a blanket statement, I certainly know that my beard was red and brown until I was a pastor for a short time. Now it being gray as well as my hair on my head in understand gray hair just means that you have made so many bad decisions that the color of your hair has either fallen out or colors have been hidden from the world!

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

Why? To capture should require planning and compassion as the people inside are still people or created potential representatives of the King of kings. Thus to barge in and command your way is to ignore the planning and foresight of those who came before. Instead, learn from what has already been done so that you may build and not conquer.

33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

Playing a number of board games this Christmas and recognizing the lot of the dices decision seemed to be dictated by chance made me even more aware, Jehovah God knows the cast of the dice, the hairs on our head, and the breaths we have left. Therefore, probably best to check with Him on what’s next! Blessings as you continue!

GW, AK – Proverbs 16:12-15

12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts, Because a throne is established on righteousness.

Starting right in on verse 12, the world should recognize, no ruler, no authority, no premiere should assume they will go unpunished. If you have been elevated to a position of authority you have been granted that position in part to display the character, leadership, and servanthood of Christ. If you do not know Christ, the ability of showcasing Christ to the employees is substantially less. This is why it is indeed “…an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts…”. If the king is to showcase their leadership position as an example for others, the misdeeds likewise should be shunned. “Because a throne is established on righteousness” we have to remember that the leadership of an individual starts and ends on the person. If you are lord over a small country in the eastern hemisphere you still have a duty and obligation to your people to lead them.

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And one who speaks right is loved.

Righteous lips are a delight because they are truthful. There is no ulterior motive. Likewise, one that speaks right will come to be loved as well. When we speak truth in love “…we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:15, NIV). Speak the truth, but speak it in love hoping for the best outcome to all involved.

14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death; But a wise person will appease it.

When a leader or king or president or ruler is furious, there are few who truly understand I would surmise. This is why it is like death because there are few who can rightly judge who should live and die. In fact, knowing all the secret deeds and misdeeds belongs to only One. Christ alone. However, the interesting statement in the second half that a wise person will appease it. In the U.S. we carry on novel invention of trial by jury in criminal cases. If the verdict is reached warranting death, it is decided by a collection of peers not a sole unrighteous judge alone.

15 In the light of a king’s face is life, And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.

Taken to mean the countenance, in the king’s face is life is a phrase simply implying that in the kings mind and impression of the person often could determine both favor and destruction for the party being judged. Again, we in the U.S. are somewhat separated from this judgement type as we have a court and hearings. Yet the second part of the verse 15 states the favor is like a cloud with the spring rain. It is noteworthy I believe to note that in the climate of Israel, it was important that the crops receive both the early spring rain for initial growth and then the latter rain of the year to both cement the crop into the ground and to give it a broad base for growth. To draw on a New Testament parable Jesus gave, regarding the sowing of grain in fertile ground. In order to grow you must be planted!

To draw it together for today, I must be submitted by faith to the broader purposes the Lord has for me and my family. I must trust in Christ, not mankind for my sustenance and wellbeing. Finally I must strive to be at peace where possible with others and at war with the only adversary, Satan and sin itself.

By the way, for the reader who still is looking for that special gift for that certain someone, why not try an uplifting read with a ton of resources to boot? Pick up “Malformation: when bad things happen to the right kind of people” from Westbow Press. Available on http://www.mymalformation.com, Westbow Press, Amazon, Google, Apple, B&N and more!

Merry Christmas!

Good King Adonijah?

As I read the pages of Scripture, the text is rife with intrigue, danger, excitement, and mystery. To illustrate just one example out of the text, we come across the narrative of Adonijah and Solomon in competing succession to the throne of David.

Found in 1 Kings 2, the text says:

“Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years he reigned in Hebron and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem. And Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. Now Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, “Do you come peacefully?” And he said, “Peacefully.” Then he said, “I have something to say to you.” And she said, “Speak.” So he said, “You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to be king; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother’s, for it was his from the Lord. Now I am making one request of you; do not refuse me.” And she said to him, “Speak.” Then he said, “Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not refuse you, that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife.” Bathsheba said, “Very well; I will speak to the king for you.” So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. And the king arose to meet her, bowed before her, and sat on his throne; then he had a throne set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right. Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as a wife.” King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom—for he is my older brother—even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!” Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, “May God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life. Now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father and who has made me a house as He promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.” So King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him so that he died.
1 Kings 2:10‭-‬25 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1ki.2.10-25.NASB1995

Context matters and for the sake of brevity I won’t quote all the pieces of Scripture that tie in but a piece by Got questions deals with this specific subject marvelously:

https://www.gotquestions.org/Solomon-Adonijah-Abishag.html

From that source: “Many lessons can be learned from this account. First, it is clear that a struggle for power can cause people to turn to deceit, violence, and lawlessness. Second, God is the one who ultimately appoints rulers, not people. Third, there are consequences for sin. In Adonijah’s case, his ongoing attempt to become king led to his early and abrupt death. We are called to submit to God’s will and to live contentedly where God has placed us in life.”

When the text tells us that it was asked by Bathsheba ““Do you come peacefully?”, chances are she already knew the answer was “no”. Yet because of a desire to have the nation of Israel see what the threats to the throne were, Adonijah was revealed for what he was really seeking, the throne and rule of a nation! Moreover, we are told elsewhere on Scripture “Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever” (cf. 2 Sam. 7:16). This was written and established so that there word be no challenge to the rule of the house of David.

Now you and I have the added benefit of history to bolster our faith in the past pronouncements of God. Moving forward what declarations of faith has Jesus made for our time that we can carry forward? Is it perhaps that “…I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you…” (Heb. 13:5b)? Or perhaps that “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).? Or maybe it is something as basic but sound as Matthew 7:24-25 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

Friend, we who are saved/redeemed, know this because Jesus Christ paid our dues. We don’t hope He does. We KNOW He does because of that relationship that lives within us. I hope you have that assurance only found in that relationship with Jesus. That way, you won’t be like Adonijah trying to worm your way into the kingdom but instead be like David, who though he had many faults, relied on Someone else to pay the bill because He said so!

Blessings as you continue, grace and peace as you go!

GW, AK – Proverbs 4:13-18

“Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”
Proverbs 4:13‭-‬18 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/pro.4.13-18.NASB

First continuing on from previous idea, instead of eating the bread of wickedness (v. 17) you see that you are exhorted to “take hold of instruction… (v. 13).” This follows the idea that all along the way the path and obstacles are fraught with distractions and divisions intended (by hell and it’s minions) to lead you and others astray but designed (by the Lord) to cause you to cling to the One Who can draw you to himself.

“Guard her for she is your life.” As you would expect, an active not passive role plays out as you and I are told to guard her and recall that wisdom is your life. Not that Christ is not your life, but just as you can be married to someone and still be an idiot, so it is with Christ! Don’t be daft, be Christlike!

But as it follows you must clothe yourself daily in the armor of the Lord (Ephesians 6:13-17). For as it states “Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.” For one daily putting on the armor, a chunk in the mail or a bedding in the helmet will undoubtedly be noticed to him or her who inspects the armor. After all we are at war with an enemy who is already defeated yet thinks he can still win!

In verse 15 we read “Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.” It is interesting to note, the natural tendency implied by the text is to gravitate towards it (folly). Thus we are told to avoid it and not pass by it. Not given nor told in the text but I recall from my upbringing that going through underbrush barefoot was dangerous not only for thorns a briars but for snakes and vermin! Again that is why we are told to take up the full armor of God!

Following in verse 16 we are told “For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.” Though we’re not given name and date, we are told leader and state. They are led by evil and thus only satisfied with more wickedness. We have an inborn desire for more. But that wicked desire can be tamed with a new desire for more of Him. But it is not both. Either run after wickedness which is natural, or run after Him! Then your sleep is peace as Psalm 4:8 tells.

And lastly “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” Such a beautiful picture. In the cool of the morning a break of dawn the world of darkness is flooded away by the rise of the Son! Oh that we might come to expect and rejoice in His arising in our hearts! Christ has risen. His light desires to shine through us on others that we might move as light bearers to the edges of the globe to bring His light to all nation’s! Then we can say with the writers of Proverbs it is the “…full day.”

And until that day, today, have a blessed one as you travel a little ways more up the path to draw others to the only road that lead to Him, Jesus. Blessings as you continue, blessings as you go!

GW, AK – Proverbs 2:7-19

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

For the first verse in this section we have the phrase תּוּשִׁיָּה (tushiyyah) — which is a rarely used Hebrew word. Occurring only 11 times, it is translated “sound wisdom,” “deliverance,” “helpful insight,” and other words of the same vein. The point being, the Lord stores up sound wisdom to reveal to the upright at the specific time. And correlating to that, He is a shield to those who walk in the integrity of Scripture and the wisdom of the Lord.

8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Similar to prior verses, and harkening back to verse 7, He says that those who walk in the fear of the Lord walk on the paths of justice of which the Lord guards. Correspondingly, they are guarded by the Lord Himself! Also, He preserves the ways of the righteous. It is important to note that the ways of the righteous and varied. Yet this is precisely the mark of the testimony as each child of God has a different account of how the Lord touched their life and revealed Himself to the individual.

9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course.

The “Then” in the sentence denotes the point of time in which the decision is made to follow the Lord in my understanding. As the decision is made up in the follower’s mind, the Lord reveals to the follower the understanding during which they are able to see for themselves and show to others the right way. Moreover, the justice in the decision, the equity in and fairness in its logic, and the reason the decision is effectively good. Let us not forget that decisions from the Lord sometimes do not make sense in foresight, but hindsight they are the correct way often because only He sees the full picture.

10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

As the decision is cast in our minds, a fuller implication of that decision begins to expand in our hearts. Consequently, though the decision is hard, the impact may be difficult, the resting ability in making the decision between options allows for the one making the decision to rest in Him.

11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you,

Again, once the decision is made, the discretion will guard the individual so long as the decision is made toward the Lord. For specifics, I suppose my testimony would be of dating again. Once my mind was made up that perhaps I could date again after the brain injury, through the wisdom of my father and the selection by my eyes (she is beautiful after all!), I was able to muster the courage to ask Leslie out on a date. And now 17 years later, she is still my glass menagerie, she is still my beauty and my joy. And she is still my pursuit along with Christ.

12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things;

Now in apposition to seeking the Lord and so seeking my wife, the way of evil is all to easy. Seek the things of the world and the pleasures apart from Him. And just as perversity is defined as “turned away from or rejecting what is right, good, or proper; wicked or corrupt.” So the path that leads away from the Lord and His good pleasure.

13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;

The paths of uprightness are those which lead up the mountain to the Savior. We can walk in the paths up the mountain on the side bearing the sun. But if we walk in ways of darkness, we are effectively scaling the rocky crags in the valleys below of our own pleasures apart from Him.

14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil;

Just for specificity, as if the Lord has not already brought to mind your specific traps and pitfalls, for those who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil, we are challenged to delight in Him! Recall at His baptism the voice of God the Father saying ““This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt. 3:17). This is in direct opposition to the picture of those who delight in doing evil!

15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;

Again following the path that are both crooked and who are devious in their ways, Christ says that “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:6).”

16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words;

This is not only a devious woman but the harlot of adultery who ensnares many a person with her deceitful eyes and her empty promises. Oh friend turn from her wicked ways and fall on the grace afforded to all who will follow Jesus! Flattery is no comparison to the Word of the Lord and the Rock of salvation, Jesus!

17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God;

The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Christ through His redemption comes to purchase back and restore. This is why we are told in our youth to run to Christ and remember the covenant of Christ! This is not only for our youth but for our older maturity that we might remember the deliverance and promises kept by Him so that when we need to fall on Him, we might recognize and remember He is the only pitfall of safety and security.

18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead;

Again the tension between the wisdom of the world shows itself against the wisdom of the Lord. Her path lead to death. It plays out that if we recognize that we have followed the wrong path, we have the opportunity in the revealed revelation to change paths and cry out to Him! Remember only He can rescue us, but only He should as only Jesus can restore us with His grace, forgiveness, and love.

19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life.

A stern warning and stark reminder, none who go to her return. This is important as there are many who claim to have found god in his varied incarnations. But for those who know Christ, know that there is but One God and His name is Jesus. All others, Allah, Budha, Shiva, etc, are but pale images of a deceitful devil who only wish for the comradery of fellow contrarians to Christ! Blessings as you go!

Get wisdom, apply knowledge: Proverbs 1:20-33

20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;
21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?
23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
24“Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 
25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;
26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,
27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,      
29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof.
31“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.
32“For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33“But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Briefly fast forwarding to 1 Corinthians 1:24 we find: “…but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (NASB)”. Finding that little nugget, that Christ is titled the Wisdom of God, just further illuminates and elevates Christ as the source and aim of our reaching. As Christ is the wisdom of God, the aim and focus of Proverbs, as well as the rest of Scripture, is to attain to and hold fast to Jesus! Yet understand that you and I will never be able to wrap our mind much less our arms around the One Who holds the worlds in balance.

Rather it is in Him wrapping His loving arms of grace around us that you and I are made whole. When we relinquish control over our lives and rest in His embrace, then we begin to see just how clearly the muddied waters of our lives are to Him.

To begin we read “20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square…” which is Christ calling out to all who would answer as “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). Even more, “21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:” As Christ in the midst of the storms in life comes walking on the waves calmly, so are we to show confidence and security in Him and not our world. This world is passing away in all its veracity and tempest, our Savior is only revealing Himself in part in a steady sovereign hand reaching out.

Verse 22 states “22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? Three questions, three answers.

Question 1, “how long will you love being simple minded?”

The rendering here for “simple-minded” literally is פְתִי which is from Strong’s concordance “foolish, simplicity, one Or pethiy {peh’-thee}; or pthaeiy {peth-aw-ee’}; from pathah; silly (i.e. Seducible) — foolish, simple(-icity, one).” So this is not to say necessarily as the song says that we are to be simple minded folk, but single minded folk. We should have the singular goal and aim to seek and serve the King of kings while loving others through Him. That single-minded devotion drives us to the cross and helps us understand “…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19)”

Question 2, “how long…scoffers delight themselves in scoffing?”

It is enough that we would delight ourselves at the expense of others. It is all the more evil to delight ourselves in taking advantage of others. It is both willful and evil to think that we honestly and openly deceive, detract, and derail others for the purposes of our own aims and goal. To scoff literally from BDB “speak indirectly or obliquely.” In other words, to make fun of or ridicule others without them even knowing. Then to delight or congratulate themselves for the act! Oh friend, may the Lord forgive me for all the times I have chided and derided others only to puff up my own self-importance! I am dust and dirt, He is the Rock of ages!

Question 3, “And fools hate knowledge?”

How is it that fools, who do not know Knowledge and would not if He were sanding with them ridicule Him? That is what it is to being lost. To have the Savior of the world as close as a brother yet because of blind hatred crucify Him because of our unknowing hearts. To know Jesus is to know true Knowledge. And to know true Knowledge means we cast off the best pretences the world offers and run to Jesus.

In verse 23 we are instructed “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.”

This is a Father beckoning His sons to return. Turn to His correction so that Christ might equip us with His Spirit. Then once the light and life Giver has been impressed on our souls we can see and share with the world that is lost and dying without Him. But don’t miss out, turn to His reproof. That means correction, refinement, and discipline are part of the goal. If you have no intention of changing, are you truly a follower of Jesus? We yield our lives to Him that He might change us daily.

Verses 24-30 are the outcome of a life that is not yielded to Him. The Scripture says in verse 29 “Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.” If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the fear of man would seemingly be the only alternative. As one who has lived long enough to fear various men in various positions of authority, not one of those authorities has ever crushed my soul. The varying points of pressure only lasted so long as the proper strata of oversight was in place. But for Christ, He is forever lifted High and forever exalted above the earth. That is why the appropriate fear of the Lord is so marvelously interposed with the love of the Son. The fear of the Lord is right and righteous to be sure. Also, for the believer, add in the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control of the Father and displayed through His love.

Finally, in verses 31-32 we read “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.” That is to say, the fruit of their own way is rotten and spoiled. The vermin of the rotten fruit will devour their ways from within. Therefore leaving them to their own devices will reveal to those who follow themselves the wicked and rotten ends.

In conclusion, with a cap of sorts to finish the chapter we have “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” This is not that he will be unaffected by evil. Death, famine, pestilence, sickness, loss, anger, offenses and ailments come to us all. However, the trials of life can be used as another platform of testimony for the one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High God! Friend, whatever the situation, whatever the sickness or ailment, whatever the condition, remain tethered to Christ. He will never leave you nor forsake you (cf. Heb. 13:5) He will be with you as you go!

Get wisdom…

Proverbs 4:7 “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
            And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”

Wisdom is a funny word. To get it you must lose common sense. To obtain it you must often spurn the collective answer. In fact, to get wisdom often requires that you grasp onto something unseen and unforeseen by faith that that hold will strengthen not dissolve into nothingness. And lest this post is straying into the abstract, to drive it home, to get wisdom often means to lose things forever.

To get wisdom, David had to lose his son Absolom. To get wisdom David had to lose one of his best soldiers, Uriah, in a lust-filled deceit that let to the eventual rending of the kingdom of Israel. To get wisdom David’s son Solomon had to watch as his own lusts led to a divided desire like his father and a broken home of his own doing.

Yes, wisdom is a dangerous gift to pray for. When we pray for wisdom, God answers the prayer by putting us through trials so that we can learn wisdom. That is perhaps why wisdom is such a difficult item to acquire! In Proverbs the composer of Proverbs 4 shares with us “acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.”

It is echoed in the New Testament as the Apostle Paul writes, “But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” (1 Cor. 8:1, NIV) See the similarity? It is the same teaching, separated by hundreds of years! God in His infinite wisdom has commanded us to get wisdom. But rather than sitting and watching a 5-minute howto video on Youtube, He wishes for you and I to plumb the infinite depths of His Word that testifies to the infinite depths of His Son!

But we have only seen the first half of the verse as it says in part 2, “… with all your acquiring get understanding.” I take this to read, “with all that time you spend marveling and worshiping the Father, understand that you have a responsibility lain out in Scripture to tell others of the Great One you have come to know.” And that is where I see the great commission ( go and tell others Who Jesus is) come to play.

As His Word commands us, you and I have the distinct and wonderful privilege of telling others your story of how Jesus found you! It is unique to you as only you can tell others about how Jesus changed you! This is wonderful news! So going forward into Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, remember why we rejoice! Not because your team scored a touchdown. Not because your paper got an A+ on it. Not even because the tumor came back benign. No, you and I rejoice because if you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then your name is written in the Lambs book of life. And that my friend is worth any amount of diamonds you could pile on any ring!

Blessings as you go!