Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 29-31.

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First, I want to repeat something I have said each of the last few days.  Read the passage, pick one or two of the sayings in it, and meditate on them.

As I read the first verse in today’s passage I am unsure if it is a warning to us against refusing to listen to correction, or if it is a warning against excessively telling others that they are making mistakes.  I suspect it is a little of both.  On the one hand it warns us that if we refuse to listen to correction when we do wrong, we will eventually become unable to do wrong.  On the other hand, if we constantly berate someone for every little thing mistake they make, eventually they will be broken and unable to do anything well.  Along the same idea, the writer warns us that it is not enough to give instructions to those who are subordinate to us, whether servants, employees, or children.  We must make sure that there are consequences to not following, and to following, our instructions.  If our instructions are followed there should be positive consequences and if they are not, there need to be negative consequences.  If there are no consequences for not following the rules, the rules will not be followed.

Chapter 30 says that it is the words of Agur.  Agur tells us that God’s words are true and will shelter us if we turn to Him.  However, he also tells us not to attribute our own thoughts as being the words of God.  It will not end well for anyone who does so.  The most important part of what Agur tells us is in his prayer to God.  He asks for two things.  First he asks God to keep him far from falsehood and lying.  In asking for those two things, Agur covers all forms of dishonesty and deception.  We should ask the same of God as Agur did here.  Dishonesty and deception cannot lead to anything good.  But the second thing Agur asks for shows great wisdom and humility.  He asks God to give him enough for his needs, but to not make him wealthy.  For, if God made him wealthy he might begin to think he does not need God and thus turn away from Him.  On the other hand, if God allows him to become poor, he might dishonor God in order to satisfy his needs.  Let the same be our prayer.

Lord, give me enough for my needs, but not so much that I begin to believe that I accomplished it on my own.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 25-28.

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Much like the last couple of days, today’s passage contains multiple proverbs on similar subjects interspersed with proverbs on other subjects.  The first of those which I want to point out resembles a parable which Jesus recounted in the Gospel of Luke. There Jesus told us that when we are invited to a feast we should not sit int a place of honor, but rather we should sit in the lowest place.  If we were to sit in the place of honor, the host might come and tell us that it was reserved for someone else and we would be shamed for taking a place of greater honor than we deserved.  On the other hand, if we sit in the lowest place, the host may come and move us to a seat of greater honor, and we will receive even greater honor than the place we are seated will command.  Here the proverb tells us that it is better to be moved to a place of greater honor than to be removed from a place of honor.  Throughout today’s passage the writer comes back again and again to the idea of not seeking to honor ourselves.  The writer tells us not to tell others why we are deserving of honor, rather let those who have seen our actions do so.  Closely related to that, he warns us that doing things which we perceive as being glorious lacks glory.  We should not seek to do things because those things bring glory to us.  Some of the greatest disasters in history came about because people did something in order to gain glory.  Which is closely related to another theme repeated several times in today’s passage: those who are wise in their own eyes are fools.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 22-24.

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Today’s passage covers a lot of ground in the advice it gives regarding how to live wisely.  It begins by telling us that we should prefer being well thought of to being wealthy.  Alongside that the writer reminds us that the rich and the poor stand equally before God.  I want to point out that the translators’ note for verse 4 in Chapter 22 says that instead of reading, “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life,” it could be translated as, “The reward for humility is fear of the Lord, riches and honor and life.”  Considering the importance which the writer puts upon fear of the Lord (and the importance which he tells us it should have to us), I think perhaps that second reading is more correct.  Fear of the Lord is indeed a reward.  A reward which brings even more rewards with it.

Once again today I encourage you to read the passage and pick out one or two of the sayings in it to meditate on.  Nevertheless, I want to go a little further on themes the writer touches on.  He repeatedly warns against being a glutton or a drunkard.  Both of these lead one to ruin.  The writer links those two together and warns that they have similar impacts on your life.  I think he sees them as being closely connected…if you are a glutton, you are likely to also be a drunkard, and vice versa.  While he does not connect it with those two, the writer warns that laziness results in similar outcomes to gluttony and drunkenness.

I wish to point out one final piece of advice which the writer gives in today’s passage, and elsewhere in the Book of Proverbs.  He warns against being envious of sinners and evil men.  Such people devise violence and seek trouble.  They have no future.  We should be careful to not throw out lot in with them.  If we do, we will get caught up in the trouble they have brewed and have our future cut off.  Instead we ought to fear the Lord so that we see the future and enjoy the hope which God gives us.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 18-21.

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Writing something about today’s passage is challenging because the writer comments on a theme, goes on to other themes, then comes back and comments further on a previous theme.  Once again the writer comments about the difference between the way a wise person and a foolish person treats what others say.  The wise person patiently listens to what others have to say, and make sure they know as many of the facts as can be known before they decide what to think about a subject, let alone before they express their own thoughts on it.  A foolish person only listens until they can express their own thoughts.  The fool arrogantly thinks that he knows all that he needs to know and that pride will bring him to destruction.  While the wise humbly listen to the advice of others and patiently seek more knowledge before they make a decision.  Because they are humble they will be honored.  In all of that no matter what we plan, and how much advice we receive, we will not be successful unless we follow the plan which God has for us.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 14-17.

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I think the first verse in this passage refers to the stereotype of the woman who either says good things about her husband to make him feel more successful, or constantly puts him down in front of others to make herself look better.  However, the idea in the verse applies to husbands as well.  We have similar stereotypes of men who talk bad about their wives in front of others.  In either case, the writer here tells us that those who are wise will build up their spouse while the foolish attempt to make them look small.  Actually, this passage contains repeated references to the importance of choosing our words carefully and even wisely choosing when to, and when not to, talk.  Along with that the writer also tells us in various ways that our tone matters when we speak.  How we say things effects how people react to what we say.  If we speak gently, people will respond more calmly, if we speak harshly we will likely stir up anger.  Related to that, he warns us against seeking to profit from strife and conflict.  It might seem that we can benefit from strife between others, but conflict often spirals out of control and brings destruction in unexpected ways, harming those who seemed uninvolved in the conflict.

There is so much more to this, but it is difficult to write a short summary of it because it contains so many sayings which apply to different aspects of acting wisely.  I encourage all of my readers to read the passage for themselves and pick a few of the proverbs within it to meditate on.  I will finish my commenting by pointing to the writer’s them in the beginning of chapter 16.  There he writes that we can make whatever plans we choose, but God decides how they will turn out.  So, he recommends that we commit all of our work to serving God, because we are going to serve Him whether we choose to do so or not.  If we choose to serve God, we will get blessings from doing so.  If we refuse to serve God, we will suffer as we end up doing so.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 9-13.

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The first part of today’s passage contrasts Wisdom with Folly.  It shows how both invite people to themselves.  Both present an appealing front, but Wisdom calls for effort, while Folly offers ease.  However, Wisdom’s call leads to life while Folly’s call leads to death.  In between describing Wisdom’s call and describing Folly’s call the writer speaks of how different people respond to being told they have made a mistake.  He tells us that if you tell a wicked man that he has made a mistake, he will lash out at you, but that a wise man will love you for showing him his error.  The language the writer uses makes it seem as if he is warning us about to whom we should point out their mistakes…do not ever mention a mistake they have made to a wicked man, but always tell a wise man when you think he is making a mistake.  While that is indeed a good idea, it is not the writer’s main point.  He actually wants us to examine our own reaction to those who point out that we have made a mistake.  If we get angry at those who correct us, we are behaving like the wicked.  If we wish to be wise we will embrace those who point out our mistakes.  I want to point out that throughout this Book, the writer repeatedly points out that anyone who does wicked things is acting foolishly.

I find the next part a challenge to put my thoughts together because it consists of a lot of short pithy statements which all contain wisdom.  However, I realized there are some themes which run through these sayings.  One of those themes says that one cannot gain security and wealth with shortcuts.  Attempting to gain wealth through deceit or by a get-rich-quick scheme will lead to losing any such wealth just as quickly.  The only sure way to gain wealth is hard work and patient diligence.  Other themes speak to how we use words.  The writer tells us that wicked and foolish people use words to deceive and mislead, while the wise are always truthful.  He also tells us to carefully choose our words and only say what is beneficial and needful.  Using many words when a few will suffice leads to bad ends.  I could write so much more, but instead I encourage you to read the passage and meditate on those things which it says.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 5-8.

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I struggled with composing my thoughts about yesterday’s passage.  I never really got a good feeling about what I should write.  But after reading today’s I am bursting with thoughts about what to say about the passage.  The writer begins by addressing those younger than himself and telling them to learn from his wisdom.  By doing so they will learn to be discrete and to guard knowledge.  I actually almost missed the importance of this.  From the context I believe the writer is telling us to avoid gossiping.  In particular about the next subject.

Which brings me to the next subject.  The writer continues by warning against adultery.  Specifically, he warns young men against adulteresses, but I think that today the same warnings can be given to young women against adulterers.  Those who actively cheat on their spouse are smooth talkers, but their path leads to the grave.  Getting together with another man’s wife, or another woman’s husband can easily lead to you losing all honor and to ending your life alone and in misery.  Instead keep yourself for your spouse that you may grow old together.  Promiscuity is but one way in which one fails to stay disciplined, but it easily leads to the others.

The writer then spends a little time on a couple of other subjects which he warns against repeatedly: do not cosign a loan for someone else (if you do be prepared to pay the loan off yourself), do not be lazy about preparing for the future, do not be dishonest and deceitful sowing disagreement among those who would otherwise get along with each other.  Connecting closely with that, he lists seven things which are an abomination to God: looking down on others, compulsive lying, shedding innocent blood, those who devise wicked plans, those who are drawn to evil, false witnesses, and those who sow discord.

The writer goes back to discussing the dangers of adultery and warning against it before going on to explain how to distinguish wisdom from foolishness.  Speaking noble things, truthful things, righteous things, and what is right shows wisdom.  Speaking wicked and deceitful things shows folly.  Wisdom seeks knowledge, folly is satisfied that which makes one feel good.  Those who fear the Lord hate evil, while pride and arrogance leads one into the paths of folly.  Whenever we see the writer say that the fear of the Lord leads to certain behavior we need to remember that near the beginning of the first chapter of the Book of Proverbs the writer tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Finally, the chapter wraps up by telling us that seeking wisdom and seeking God are complimentary endeavors.  If we seek wisdom without seeking God, any wisdom we find will be limited compared to what is out there.  On the other hand, if we seek God without seeking wisdom we will not fully comprehend God if and when we find Him.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 1-4.

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The Book of Proverbs begins by explaining its purpose.  The writer tells us that the purpose is to help us to know wisdom and instruction, that the wise will increase in learning and those who understand will gain guidance.  Then the writer sums up most of the rest of the book: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and fools despise wisdom.

Then he begins his instruction.  He warns against joining in with those who say they will stand by you while you and they take from those weaker than yourselves.  Those who say that if you stand together you can have a lot of fun and get rich by abusing others.  Do not join with such people because they are merely setting themselves up for disaster.  He follows this warning up by contrasting it with what wisdom offers.  All we have to do is fear the Lord and choose to learn and wisdom is there for us, but if we hate knowledge we will remain simple and foolish.  Accept the words of God, listen to the voice of experience, think about what the proverb writer tells us.  This is the path to a good life and fellowship with God.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 29-31.

Today the passage, once more, gives many pieces of advice on different subjects.  However, one theme which the writer keeps coming back to is the way that fools rage while the wise remain calm.  I will remind the reader that the translators’ notes from early in the Book of Proverbs pointed out that the word translated as “fool” throughout the book implies someone who is morally deficient.  Both parts of that meaning are relevant when the writer speaks of those who give in to rage.  Allowing rage to control your behavior will not bring about good ends, for you or for others, but some people will intentionally give voice to rage in order to manipulate others.  On the other hand the wise see the benefits to be had by all if everyone remains calm, even while disagreeing, perhaps, especially while disagreeing.  I think of videos I have watched recently of people angrily jumping from one argument to another when the person with whom they are debating has a reasoned reply to one of their arguments.  Some of them are just too busy being angry to listen to what others have to say, while some use the anger and chaos to keep those they disagree with from making a point and possibly convincing someone.  If you care about convincing others you will choose the wise path and remain calm.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 25-28.

The passage begins with a series of proverbs attributed to Solomon by courtiers of King Hezekiah.  They give advice on good government.  I really like this one:
“Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established through righteousness.”
As a Christian, I do not feel that I should be involved in the government.  However, this proverb should be thought about carefully by those who seek good government.  All too often people who desire to address a problem created by corrupt government officials seek new laws, when instead they should seek to remove corrupt people from the government.  The lesson which applies here also applies to our personal life.  If you seek to find a loophole in God’s law you will not find the benefits of doing His will.  Actually, we have an example of this lesson in a pair of proverbs later in this lesson.  If you take each of them at face value, they contradict each other.
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.” 
It both says that you should not answer a fool according to his folly and that you should answer a fool according to his folly.  The first part tells us that we should not allow a fool to frame the discussion, do not allow them to set the definitions of terms in ways with which you disagree.  On the other hand, if you point out how you view the situation, they may realize the merit of your position.  There are so many more sayings in today’s passage which we should take to heart with lessons we should strive to live by.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.