Head Turning Value

(Pro 3:15 KJV) She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

What makes something “precious” (3368)?  When I pulled up this verse and read it out of context I thought Solomon was waxing strong about the wife of the week.  Wrong.  He is talking about wisdom.  He is setting wisdom above all of the fancy trappings of an ancient monarch.  I have to believe that when he wrote this, he was serious.  He believed it.  If you know about Solomon’s life you know that at the end he turned back to the pagan gods and began to encourage their worship.  What happened?

My guess is that he began to spend more time admiring the wealth he had accumulated than listening to the things that God had to say.  He started to listen to all the syncopates that surrounded him and believe what they say.  It is a caution for all of us today.

So?  Welcome the slap downs of life that remind you how unworthy you are.  God is so beyond our understanding that He can maintain the universe in His spare time.  While doing that He has time to listen to our prayers and mold our world.  That is precious. 

Gentlemen, Feather Your Engines

(Pro 2:10 KJV) When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

“Wisdom” (2451) is not a neutral quality.  It changes what it touches.  What is does not touch is also changed but for the worse.  I have never been a pilot but I have seen sequences in which the real pilot is constantly switching levers and checking dials.  He does not do that because there is an emergency.  He does it to avoid an emergency.  He knows what to look for so he is constantly adjusting all kinds of things that I as a passenger am not aware of.  He increases the fuel load to engine three.  He tweaks the little panels on the wings.  He turns two degrees to port.  He “feathers” the engines, whatever that means.  

The pilot is not guessing.  He is taking action based on “wisdom” he as accumulated by paying attention.  It was part of his training.  We do not need to be guessing either.  We should be growing in wisdom and doing a better job of “feathering” our engines all the time, whatever that means.

So?  Growth is not an option. 

Not So Fast There

(Pro 1:1 KJV) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

Here is a good place to look again at how to interpret the Bible.  One difficulty is not allowing for all the literary devices.  The Bible has hyperbole, metaphor, word pictures and so forth.  A bigger problem is focusing on one verse and thinking this is the final word.  Understanding a verse in the Bible demands that you make an attempt at understanding the Bible as a whole.  Obviously not everyone is at the same level on this but we can all put on our thinking caps and make a stab at it.

If you were just starting to read the Bible and chose Proverbs, the first verse might give you the impression that the Book of Proverbs was written by Solomon.  Many people who have been reading the Bible for years still think that is the case.  I might suggest that you take a quick look at how the last chapter starts,

(Pro 31:1 KJV) The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

You will find others that are connected to Proverbs besides Solomon.

So?  This is not a trick book.  It is meant to be read, understood and applied.  It is also meant to be studied and meditated on.  Chapter one is a good place for that to start. 

Targets

 Pro 28:13 KJV) He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Is there a difference between the “transgressions” (6588) of the NASB and the “sins” of the KJV?  Not in the Hebrew.  I noticed though that this word is overwhelmingly translated “transgression” by the KJV and always by the NASB.  I have not idea why the change here.  I would suggest that “transgression” has a wider target than sin.  Sin would be against God.  Transgression would also include acts against other people.  Both are condemned.

So?  We are to be the same people in public that we are behind closed doors.  Our attitudes and actions toward others is part of righteous living. 

Two Know

(Pro 27:23 KJV) Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

There are times when my study tools confuse more than explain.  When I look at the “know well” of the NASB and the “diligent to know” of the KJV I get a doubling of the number, 3045.  My assumption is that the word is repeated in the Hebrew for emphasis.  We see a similar arrangement in other places.

(Pro 20:10 KJV) Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

This is literally “a stone and a stone”.  

What today’s verse is calling us to is paying attention to things that are important and that we have some responsibility for.  I don’t need to know if the president likes two scoops of ice cream but it is important to know how my city council members vote.

So?  Stay awake.  It is hard to make a difference if you are taking a nap. 

Superficial Words

(Pro 26:23 KJV) Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

“Burning” (1814) “lips” (8193) could be a description of praise.  It could refer to someone who has something important to say and they are intense about saying it.  It could be, but here it isn’t.  Here the connection is with an evil agenda.  This is a person with a warped purpose who is adamant about pushing his narrative.  He could be convincing and seem so sincere.  He could be charismatic.  He could be a lot of things but he is bad news.

We run into this in so many places.  It seems ready made for politics.  It is too common in the pulpit.  The news is a natural home.  We need to be careful to look past the words at the intent.  We can’t do that very well when people are coming across a screen or even out of a book.  It is still a question we need to ask.

So?  Be wise.  Be discerning.  Be a skeptic.  There is really only one ultimate source of truth and everything must be measured by it.  

Distant Destinations

(Pro 25:22 KJV) For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

It is strange how some people respond to kindness and expressions of practical love.  It can get violent at times but we are still called to represent Jesus.  Rest assured that underneath it all you are providing ammunition for the Holy Spirit to work.  Don’t expect to see the results.  Often we are the witness to someone coming to the Lord because of what someone else did years ago.

I get tired of planting seed and not seeing the harvest.  I think that may be part of the agenda in the resurrection.  God works in wondrous ways.

So?  Live in surrender and obedience.  It is part of walking by faith.  We don’t always see the destination but we know the way.