(Pro 26:10 KJV) The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
The difference between the KJV and all the other translations I have available is jarring. You will notice that the KJV has “God” and I hope you will notice that it is italics. Again I remind you that italics in the KJV are not for emphasis but to let you know that the word is not in the original language. I also remind you that reading the Bible always requires an alert mind and a seeking heart.
The context of this verse is to warn us about the “fool” (3684). Don’t get distracted.
So? Fools are dangerous. Beware.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
The Mark of Cain
(Pro 25:10 KJV) Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
You may have heard of the “mark of Cain”. It has been used for a lot of things from racist opinions to cookie crumbs on our chin. It is a sign that you have gone beyond the pale. In this verse we get the warning that being a gossip or character assassin can be the mark of Cain for you. Who is willing to listen to a gossip? Probably other gossips. Some might listen for a moment but once the gist of the conversation becomes clear they tune you out.
So? Although there is a time to stand up and point out the king has no clothes it will probably not happen in a “private” conversation when the person being discussed is not present. They may not hear but God will.
You may have heard of the “mark of Cain”. It has been used for a lot of things from racist opinions to cookie crumbs on our chin. It is a sign that you have gone beyond the pale. In this verse we get the warning that being a gossip or character assassin can be the mark of Cain for you. Who is willing to listen to a gossip? Probably other gossips. Some might listen for a moment but once the gist of the conversation becomes clear they tune you out.
So? Although there is a time to stand up and point out the king has no clothes it will probably not happen in a “private” conversation when the person being discussed is not present. They may not hear but God will.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Wisdom Intersects the Real World
(Pro 24:5 KJV) A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
We are currently working through the joy and stress of a newborn grandchild. He is going through a lot of issues. None are crisis life threatening types but could be serious is not dealt with. Our granddaughter went through a lot of the same drama but it is better this time. What is the difference? Wisdom.
Both births were overseen by professional medical staff. They had all the certificates and diplomas necessary to be medical doctors. They did their specialty training. What they lacked was enough experience to really know what they were talking about. They did not have the real world experience that let them separate the sterile lessons of the text book and classroom from the world of flesh and bone.
So? We can study and memorize. We can be certified and certificated. We can have the right to speak but if we have not worked at putting the whole picture together we are often doing more damage than repair. We need to apply what we are reading with what we are living. That means living an upright life in a real world.
We are currently working through the joy and stress of a newborn grandchild. He is going through a lot of issues. None are crisis life threatening types but could be serious is not dealt with. Our granddaughter went through a lot of the same drama but it is better this time. What is the difference? Wisdom.
Both births were overseen by professional medical staff. They had all the certificates and diplomas necessary to be medical doctors. They did their specialty training. What they lacked was enough experience to really know what they were talking about. They did not have the real world experience that let them separate the sterile lessons of the text book and classroom from the world of flesh and bone.
So? We can study and memorize. We can be certified and certificated. We can have the right to speak but if we have not worked at putting the whole picture together we are often doing more damage than repair. We need to apply what we are reading with what we are living. That means living an upright life in a real world.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Older Children Still Need Guidance
(Pro 23:13 KJV) Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
By any measure my children are now adults. How does this apply to me at this stage of parenting? We have done the groundwork. To me the admonition of Proverbs,
I think if we have done our foundational work our children will feel free to ask for our input when they get older. I doubt we still have the right to corporal punishment but there will always be a responsibility to share from our greater experience and hopefully, wisdom.
So? Since we don’t know what the questions will be before they are asked we cannot cram for the exam. All we can do is live in constant preparation by studying the word and living the life. Then we can trust the Holy Spirit to help us get the right answers.
By any measure my children are now adults. How does this apply to me at this stage of parenting? We have done the groundwork. To me the admonition of Proverbs,
(Pro 22:6 KJV) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.is past tense. But I am still a parent. There is still a danger if I “hold back” (4513).
I think if we have done our foundational work our children will feel free to ask for our input when they get older. I doubt we still have the right to corporal punishment but there will always be a responsibility to share from our greater experience and hopefully, wisdom.
So? Since we don’t know what the questions will be before they are asked we cannot cram for the exam. All we can do is live in constant preparation by studying the word and living the life. Then we can trust the Holy Spirit to help us get the right answers.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Truth Is Truth
(Pro 22:21 KJV) That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
Having ready access to the Bible puts a responsibility on us, a responsibility that we don’t want. We have access to “truth” (571). We are expected to share it without watering it down. The KJV uses “truth” twice. The second time the NASB translates it “correctly”. This is a place where we are told to reject the current philosophy that is popular in our culture, the philosophy of relativism. The technical term is deconstructionalism. It is a belief that words have different meanings to different people or to the same person at different times. In this thinking there is not real objective truth. All is subjective. Thus you can have no universal moral standards and the rules can be applied differently to each individual.
So? Keep in mind that Jesus did not say He was “a” truth. He said He is “the” truth. There may be many on ramps but Jesus is the only way. We need to keep that in mind in our multicultural society. Bread may come in many forms but it is still bread and never an apple.
Having ready access to the Bible puts a responsibility on us, a responsibility that we don’t want. We have access to “truth” (571). We are expected to share it without watering it down. The KJV uses “truth” twice. The second time the NASB translates it “correctly”. This is a place where we are told to reject the current philosophy that is popular in our culture, the philosophy of relativism. The technical term is deconstructionalism. It is a belief that words have different meanings to different people or to the same person at different times. In this thinking there is not real objective truth. All is subjective. Thus you can have no universal moral standards and the rules can be applied differently to each individual.
So? Keep in mind that Jesus did not say He was “a” truth. He said He is “the” truth. There may be many on ramps but Jesus is the only way. We need to keep that in mind in our multicultural society. Bread may come in many forms but it is still bread and never an apple.
Friday, February 21, 2020
Scale Models
(Pro 21:22 KJV) A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Notice that this is not Jericho. We are not told that God will make the walls of the pagan culture fall down if we just keep circling. Here we are given another strategy, one that is more realistic for all the barriers we face. We are to “scale” (5927), not batter. This word could be used of mountain climbing or using a ladder to reach a top shelf.
This is not a challenge to adventure. Have you seen pictures of people who are showing how crazy they are by climbing sheer mountain wall using ropes and pitons. In most cases there are other ways to get to the top that are not so difficult. This verse is not saying we need to tackle the hardest exposures of the pagan mountains. It is saying that we need to penetrate their world.
So? Find a way to scale the nonsense of our world. It can be done. It will be different for each of us. God gives us gifts to build the body of Christ. He also gives us unique personalities to witness to our world.
Notice that this is not Jericho. We are not told that God will make the walls of the pagan culture fall down if we just keep circling. Here we are given another strategy, one that is more realistic for all the barriers we face. We are to “scale” (5927), not batter. This word could be used of mountain climbing or using a ladder to reach a top shelf.
This is not a challenge to adventure. Have you seen pictures of people who are showing how crazy they are by climbing sheer mountain wall using ropes and pitons. In most cases there are other ways to get to the top that are not so difficult. This verse is not saying we need to tackle the hardest exposures of the pagan mountains. It is saying that we need to penetrate their world.
So? Find a way to scale the nonsense of our world. It can be done. It will be different for each of us. God gives us gifts to build the body of Christ. He also gives us unique personalities to witness to our world.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Male Refrigerator Blindness
(Pro 20:27 KJV) The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
One of the problems with “searching” (2664) is finding. When I look at the many ways this word is used and its definition the idea of disguising and hiding comes up. It is like the game I play with my granddaughter. It is hide-and-seek in plain sight. You cover your eyes and act like you cannot see or be seen. It is amusing to the child who is learning and fun for the adult. It does not reflect reality.
How often do we look for something when we don’t want it? Parents know that children are this way. They never seem to be able to find the basket for their dirty sox. Men suffer from what has been called “male refrigerator blindness”. One of the ways I deal with this is to tell myself, “It is there. Just because you don’t see it changes nothing. It is there. Keep looking. It is there.” And eventually it is there. Amazing.
So? God has lessons for us. He wants us to see. We are the ones who need to implement the search.
One of the problems with “searching” (2664) is finding. When I look at the many ways this word is used and its definition the idea of disguising and hiding comes up. It is like the game I play with my granddaughter. It is hide-and-seek in plain sight. You cover your eyes and act like you cannot see or be seen. It is amusing to the child who is learning and fun for the adult. It does not reflect reality.
How often do we look for something when we don’t want it? Parents know that children are this way. They never seem to be able to find the basket for their dirty sox. Men suffer from what has been called “male refrigerator blindness”. One of the ways I deal with this is to tell myself, “It is there. Just because you don’t see it changes nothing. It is there. Keep looking. It is there.” And eventually it is there. Amazing.
So? God has lessons for us. He wants us to see. We are the ones who need to implement the search.
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