Signs for the Times

(Pro 22:28 KJV) Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Who are today’s “fathers” (1)?  I don’t think this is the literal man that sat across the breakfast table from you.  I think this is more a generic concept.  It is the idea in the hymn, “Faith of Our Fathers” and the term “Founding Fathers.”  It is a reminder that some things have stood the test of time and that endurance says something about what works.  

What would be some of those fence posts set up by previous generations?  Start with the Ten Commandments.  When people talk about the Law and how we are beyond the Law I think of this passage in Scripture.  We need to understand that if you had read them to Adam he would have just nodded and said, “Yes.  Those are obvious, expect what’s this resting from work thing?”  If you had read them to Abraham he would have said, “Yes, obvious”.  There are some sign posts that are eternal.

So?  Live in the liberty of knowing where the pot holes of life are located.  (Posted, September 22, 2020, PP)

The Truth Will Out

(Pro 21:28 KJV) A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

I keep hearing it but I have a hard time accepting it.  “The truth will out.”  Really?  When?  Will I live to see it?  We live in an age when the elite classes are rewriting history and theology to say what they want it to say instead of what it says.  We often see this in modern translations that don’t even blush when they change “son” to “child”, “man” to “person” or “God the Father” to who knows what.  We see it in our culture as they redefine marriage and the definition of evil.  We live in a day of deception.

This word tells us not to despair.  It does not deny the presence of evil or its persistence.  It does remind us that “The truth will out.”  

So?  Trust and have hope.  Remember that Jesus is the way the truth and the life.  It doesn’t depend on us. 

Plow or Beg

(Pro 20:4 KJV) The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

This is a simple lesson of cause and effect.  That is a lesson that is not being taught.  It is a lesson that is not being learned by experience.  We live in a cultural milieu which seems to teach that everyone deserves everything regardless of the contribution you make.  That is just one more example of how the standards of the Bible differ from the our surroundings.  The Bible expresses it several ways,

(Gal 6:7 KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

(2Th 3:10 KJV) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

This is not a matter of ignoring the poor or the lame.  The Bible also recognizes the difference between the worthy poor and the unworthy.

So?  Yes, we are saved by grace.  At the same time you can’t get away from the repeated demands that we live upright lives.  Harvest season is coming.

Understandable, not Justified

(Pro 19:3 KJV) The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

I imagine that rage can take many forms.  Some people can seethe with a smile on their face.  Some can pat you on the back and wish they had a knife in their hand.  How often do we say, “No, that’s okay,” when we really want to scream?  It is interesting that one of the definitions of this word has the idea of a sad face.

Is our anger at the Lord ever justified?  I don’t think so.  It might be understandable when we are going through a rocky time.  It might be forgivable when it comes on us suddenly.  In the long view, it is out of place.  Here the causes of the problem are lack of integrity, perversion and ignorance.  And because we are caught or exposed we get angry.

So?  God is patient.  I would say that it is rare that He strikes out at first offenses or even after many disappointments.  And the door is usually open for us when we come to our senses.  We have a lot to be thankful for.

Delight in Embarrassment

(Pro 18:2 KJV) A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

My first thought as I read this today was, “I resemble that remark.”  So often I assume I am the one that has the worthy thoughts to share.  To be honest, there are times when that is true.  To be honest, it isn’t as often as I think.  Repeatedly Proverbs tells us to slow down, stop talking, listen, think, consider and reach and “understanding” (8394) of what is being said.  I hope I am not the only one who later realizes that I sounded like a “fool” (3684).

So?  Sometimes the only way we learn is by being embarrassed.  Pray that God would give us insight, even if it makes us feel stupid. 

Reversal

 (Pro 17:13 KJV) Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

This verse takes the Golden Rule and gives a different spin.  This is a curse on people who are so lost to the dark side that they delight in slapping down what is good.  You run into this at times when you try to help someone and they turn on you.  You see it in the political world.  It can happen in families.  God sees and promises that they will be paid off.

So?  Our job is to be righteous not to be the sheriff. 

Behind the Scenes

(Pro 16:28 KJV) A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Disruptive people are not always obvious.  Often they have a lot of practice in causing trouble without being noticed.  In the recent riots it is not the organizers that are in the front lines.  The whole purpose is to let someone else do the disrupting and if there is any penalty they will also pay.  This might be one of the reasons we are told to be calm and forgiving.  There is often something going on that is being kept from us.

So?  We need to also be careful that we are not the ones being manipulated.  One antidote is to make sure that our decisions are based on God’s word not someone’s opinion.