False Pleasure

Proverbs 5:2 (NLT) Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned.

I am enjoying reading the New Living Translation this month, up to a point.  That point comes in verses like this.  I like the expression.  I think it points out a good thought.  My problem is that I don’t think it is accurate.  Compare this,

Proverbs 5:2 (KJV) That thou mayest regard discretion, and [that] thy lips may keep knowledge.

Do you see the difference?  The NLT has you sharing, other translations have keeping or guarding.  Both are good thoughts but one is a reflection of what God had written, the other is a paraphrase by a translator who thought he knew better.

So?  Enjoy a paraphrase.  Gain insight by the creativity of the writer.  Make sure you understand the truth.  

Turn off the Radar

Proverbs 5:6 (KJV) Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

There is an aspect of this verse that some translations do not bring out.  It is found in that first word, “Lest”.  Many, possibly most, people have a built in avoidance technique that keeps them from encountering uncomfortable truths.  Think of the ways in which modern automobiles have built in guidance systems.  My son has a new car that wants to do the driving for him.  When he is in his geek mode he delights in a car that slows down automatically when he comes up behind another vehicle.  He gets a kick out of how it will stay between the lines.

Then life intervenes and he is forced to admit that he is responsible.  When it follows the off ramp that he did not want to use it presents a problem.  When it jams on the breaks for no discernible reason he ends up in panic mode.  There is a price to be paid for going on automatic.

Too often people prefer to turn off the sensitivity they have built in to the things of God.  In this verse we have someone who is working to avoid thinking about the consequences that her choices deliver.  She doesn’t want to know.  That will not remove the wall she is heading for.

So?  Pay attention.  God offers guidance but you have the ability to ignore it.  Remember that there are results you can expect depending on your choices.  You can label them rewards or consequences but they will come.  

Double Edged Discretion

Proverbs 5:2 (KJV) That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

The word “discretion” in this verse stood out to me.  It seems such a positive attribute.  It’s a quality that we often overlook as we plunge ahead in our day and in our plans.  We invest the minutes of our life without stopping to think whether it’s a good investment.

In the context, it has the idea of retaining good knowledge, but if you look at the use of the word, it tends to go both ways.  It is also translated, “mischievous thinking”.  And that’s where this becomes double edged.  We need to not only regard our actions with discretion, but we need to use that same discernment when we look at what others are doing and what other others are proclaiming.

So?  When you read the news, when you listen to the sermon, when you are given advice, make sure that you are listening with your spiritual ears with discernment or as it says here “discretion”.  Sometimes what seems to be great advice with a little thought is clearly the wrong path to go down.  

Satan’s Cleats

Proverbs 5:5 (KJV) Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

Have you ever wondered why people reject the truth?  Have you ever wondered why they can’t see what seems so obvious?  Part of it is they have invested their life in evil and it really has a hold on them.  Here we see a description of what is basically a spiritualization of a prostitute.  She has decided the direction she’s going, and since she’s wearing her shoes with cleats on the bottom, her feet take hold.

Part of the idea on this is that when people decide on the direction their life is going to go, they start building in protection from getting off the path.  Hear the idea is that they’re wearing the kind of shoes that will give them good traction.  They are putting on what you might call Satan’s cleats.  It makes it very hard for them to get off the path.  Think of walking in Velcro shoes and going across a surface that has the other side in it.  It would be very hard to make a miss step.

So?  Make sure that your daily decisions keep you on the right path and keep you listening to truth.  Sometimes correcting your course is really difficult.  

Yes, They Do

Proverbs 5:13 (KJV) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

I have a picture of judgment day.  The picture varies depending on my mood, but one of the landscapes that I see is that people are standing before God and claiming ignorance. “I didn’t know.”  “No one ever told me.”  “It’s not my fault.”   All I can really say is , “Yes, they did.”

In Proverbs here it talks about how they didn’t listen, let alone obey.  They didn’t listen mainly because they didn’t want to hear what was being said.  It’s kind of like when you get on an airplane and the stewardesses stand up in the aisle and go through the nonsense of showing you how to buckle up the buckle and unbuckle the buckle.  They go through how to put on a vest in case of a water landing.  It always mystifies me when I’m flying from San Antonio to Las Vegas where they think they’re going to find a body water big enough to crash land an airplane.  But they go through the motions.  I tune them out.

That may be no big deal on an airplane flying over desert and being instructed on the water landing.  I pay a little bit more attention when they point to the exit rows.  Most people have many people pointing out exit rows to them.  But they don’t listen.

So?  Pay attention.  I like to think that anybody reading this it’s doing that.  I certainly work at it.  God will let you know what you need to know if you want to hear it.  

Grow Up

Proverbs 5:13 (KJV) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

I can’t help but believe that what is being described here is the common condition of the majority of children in school.  There may be a time when we actually listen to our teachers, but we seem to grow out of that.  By the time we are teenagers we are daydreaming and lost in our own little world.  It seems to be a common condition.

As an adult I have to struggle with this when I am in certain situations.  One of those is in the morning worship time when someone is preaching.  I don’t mind the rabbit trails of the Holy Spirit leading me on as something is said that stimulates my thinking.  That’s not a problem.  I’m still listening to the Great Teacher.  It’s when I start to tune out the person who is speaking with the assumption that they have nothing to say to me.

In this verse not obeying is mentioned first, and then not listening.  I’m not sure that’s the order in real life but it will do.

So?  Give people a careful listen.  Usually they deserve it.  Usually you need it.  This goes for that irritating relative also.  

The Place of Pursuit

Proverbs 15:9 (KJV) The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

This is a place where the NASB has a better word.  The King James talks about following after righteousness.  Not bad, but it misses the point.  It’s not just a matter of the person who walks in the way of the righteous.  It’s a matter of who chases it.  The NASB uses the word “pursue” instead of “follow”.  It’s much more in line with the meaning of the Hebrew.

You can have the mind set of the wicked.  You can pursue righteousness.  These are two choices that we have in life in many of our decisions.  It is a choice that we have probably had in more decisions than we want to admit.  On a daily basis we are tasked with deciding which way we want to go, even before we come to faith.  I personally think they’re showing us in progress to point out that some people are more ready to come to faith because of these decisions that they make.

So? You will face decisions today. Make sure that you choose based on which path you really want your life to follow. 

Starving at Harvest

Proverbs 5:23 (KJV) He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

This is a sad indictment on the condition of so many people.  The question I would have is how can you have no “instruction” in the midst of so much information.  You see, this person that is going to die and who has gone astray is not in that situation because there is a lack of knowledge available.  He is there because he has refused to consider it honestly.

While I would consider that there are probably some people isolated enough not to know anything about Jesus, I don’t think that applies to anybody you know.  I know it doesn’t apply to anyone I know.  The problem is not a lack of knowledge.  The problem is the lack of willingness to accept that knowledge.  I am struck by what Jesus says in John chapter 3.

John 3:19 (KJV) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Jesus is talking about judgment and people being condemned.  The sad truth it shares is that people hate the light.

So?  You may have crossed over into the kingdom.  Praise God for that.  Pray for others around you that have not made that decision.  In your own life, keep seeking knowledge and wisdom, and allowing yourself to be instructing so that you can grow in grace. 

Distractions

Proverbs 5:6 (KJV) Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

I find it interesting that in this verse the King James seems to be different from all the other translations.  In the KJV it makes it personal to us by using the word “thou”.  And the other translations it substitutes the word “she”.  I find the KJV more helpful in giving me some advice for my life today.

What this old translation is saying to me is that there are people and places and concerns that can distract me from seriously thinking about where I am going in life.  How many times have you given up your time of Bible study, prayer time or focus on worship because someone interrupts.  Sometimes the interruption is quiet and innocent.  Other times the interruption is quite overwhelming.  I either case it keeps you from doing what you knew you needed to do.

So?  Be alert to distractions.  It may just be life, it may be satanic, either way it keeps you from focusing on the things that God wants you to focus on.  Practice getting back on track.  When the ruckus is over, ask yourself, “What was I doing?” 

Wall Bumpers

Proverbs 5:6 (KJV) Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

I have reached the stage in life where my path to the coffee pot in the morning involves help from the walls along the way.  It’s not an every day thing, but there are some days when I kind of bounce back-and-forth like a pinball.  It’s not a big emergency yet but someday it may be.  There are times when I get a little wobbly going downstairs.

That makes me read this verse in the NLT and smile.  Now the woman in the verse has nothing to smile about.  Running into walls is causing her great pain.  Her life is a shambles.  Unlike me she can do something about it.

Proverbs 5:6 (NLT) For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.

Like me, she doesn’t seem to realize that she’s running into the walls.  I have to wake up enough to understand that I’m not going in a straight line.

So?  Are you running into walls?  Are you aware that you’re running into walls?  You may think that’s the normal way to live life but God has something better for you.  Consider and ask yourself if you need to ponder the path of life. 

On Guard

Proverbs 5:2 (KJV) That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

I think this is an unfortunate translation.  I refer to the KJV “regard” (8104).  Both translations that I use tend to look at this is something that is somewhat casual.  At the root of its meaning is the idea of guarding, keeping, watch over, focusing on.  It has the idea of intentionally concentrating on discretion so that we don’t lose it.

Wisdom doesn’t just happen.  Wise decisions are not accidents.  Being able to behave in the ways that God wants us to behave, to bring about brief glimmers of His kingdom on earth, require that we focus.  It requires that we apply ourselves.  Yes, it’s ultimately up to God‘s grace, and the work of His Holy Spirit.  At the same time He expects us to be consciously involved.

So?  Turn your brain on.  Take the knowledge that you know, arrange it, consider it and move forward, actively pursuing the attitudes and actions as God wants.  Make wisdom a part of your life.

Footwork

Proverbs 5:5 (KJV) Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

When I read from different translations, I often wonder how accurate they are as opposed to how creative.  The Septuagint gives me another place to ask that question.  Here is how the Seventy put this verse,

Proverbs 5:5 (BES) For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.

I like that phrase “feet of folly”.  What a great way of expressing how we tend to wander off by not paying attention or by deliberate choices.

Do we recognize folly when we approach it?  Does it blind side us?  Are we without excuse?  I’m afraid that the answer to that is not something we want to know.  We are very good at rationalizing our behaviors in our choices.  The last thing we want to admit is that we were the reason things went wrong.  We always want to blame other people.

The only way to avoid that difficulty, or tragedy, is to know what is right and wrong based on an unimpeachable source.  For us that source would be God’s word. It won’t be the words of the Pastor or the advice of a friend.  It will be God‘s word.

So?  Are you reading?  Are you paying attention?  God has provided the resources we need, from the written word to the active filling of the Holy Spirit.

Be Careful with Personalizing

Proverbs 5:7 (KJV) Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

God wants us to read His word.  He wants us to meditate on His word.  He wants us to apply His word to our lives.  But we need to be careful.  It is so easy for us to take a clear statement and, if we are in the wrong emotional state, twist it to mean what we want it to mean.  When our mind is made up, it is hard for the Holy Spirit to help us think things through.

Always be careful that you are not just looking to rationalize your behavior or your opinions.  It is a real risk.  I know I struggle with it.  It keeps me sometimes from listening to the wisdom of others.  It keeps me from seeing what the scriptures clearly say.

So?  God will communicate.  We need to make sure that we don’t put words in His mouth by twisting the words that came from His mouth to fit in our own. 

Drunk Walkers

(Pro 5:23 KJV)  He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

The Legacy Standard Bible has an interesting read on this verse.  That last phrase “shall go astray”, comes across as being intoxicated.  This made me look up the actual Hebrew, and one of the possible translations of this word has to do with being intoxicated or drunk and weaving as you walk or proceed down the road.

The picture here is of a person who doesn’t know if they’re going right or left, up or down, or what their destination is.  Last year I went to visit some friends and I forgot to get their address before I left.  I had their telephone number and I was able to get in the general area but they weren’t answering their phone.  I ended up wandering around, turning up the wrong street, running into cul-de-sacs and generally driving without a destination.  Eventually, I figured out where they lived.  That’s the way our lives are sometimes.

So?  If you’re satisfied with living that way, then keep on meandering.  If you’re not satisfied, then maybe it’s time to start actually reading the Word, listening to what God has to say, and becoming a disciple, instead of just a spectator.  God is waiting and his instructions are ready. 

Ready or Not, Here I Come

(Pro 5:12 KJV)  And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

As a parent, a grandparent and a once-upon-a-time teacher I have seen a lot of rejection.  Children can be defiant and hostile to your wisdom.  It happens.  Don’t get that confused with not being ready to learn.  There are actually measurable qualities in the minds of children that decide whether they are ready to learn.  It is true in the physical world.  I did not learn to ride a bike until I was half way through elementary school.  I was out of college and in seminary before it dawned on me what give-and-go meant in basketball.  Suddenly it all made sense.  The same can be true in spiritual matters.  

They are always ready to learn obedience.  “Because I said so” is often the only fall-back that works.  Don’t be afraid to use it.

So?  We often talk about doing an attitude check on ourselves.  Perhaps it is a good idea to apply it to the learners in our lives.  Are they having a hard time because they refuse or because they are not yet capable? 

The Act of Marriage

(Pro 5:17 KJV)  Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.

This verse is about your sex life.  In fact a major part of this chapter is about your sex life.  That means that it is a clarion call for us to reject the standards and values of our current culture.  That was not always the case, but it is today.  The standard of the world is summed up in the soap opera line from a TV wedding, “as long as we both shall love.”  Since the love they spoke of was glandular, the duration of the marriage was guaranteed to be short.

We are called to be faithful.  Here it is specifically talking about faithfulness as opposed to promiscuity.  We are called to be faithful.  I remember a book I read years ago about marriage and the title was “The Act of Marriage.”  

So?  Keep it in the family, which means husband and wife.  It works best that way and the reason is that God designed it and set the standard.  Whom you going to trust, your cousin or Almighty God? 

Withdrawal

(Pro 5:12 KJV)  And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

I have some friends who have withdrawn from the church.  They don’t just spurn a specific local church but the church in general.  I can’t say that I blame them.  I feel that the church has lost its edge, its message.  The church has conformed to the age and is a reflection of the world.  It is a mirror rather than a beacon on a hill.

And yet the emphasis of this verse and the rest of the chapter is on our responsibility.  I suggest that we as believers have balked at instruction when it was too demanding.  I think we have been guilty of rationalizing our positions and refusing to listen to the hard words.  Where would the church be if we had responded to those pastors who spoke difficult truth and encouraged them to push harder?

So?  Find a church that offends you because it is too literal.  They are out there but you have to seek them.  You will be disappointed that they will be smaller and you might be expected to step up to the plate in serving instead of having great programs provided for you.  Strange how that works. 

Thought Criminals

(Pro 5:6 KJV)  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

When you compare the KJV and NASB you get a different picture.  I think the KJV translation is a good insight for us today.  It seems to imply that the evil people you run into are not content to live in sin themselves.  They are not even content to let you make up your own mind.  The KJV seems to be saying that they will do their best to try to keep you from thinking at all.

Isn’t that the problem with much of our activity.  We talk about certain activities being “escape”.  We are trying to get away from it all on vacation.  We zone out at the movies.  Video games can be so engrossing that you forget to eat.  This isn’t even touching on mind altering drugs.  

So?  I think we need to make conscious choices to think, ponder, meditate, pick your verb.  Take a look at the last 24 hours.  Have you don’t any serious brooding?  Maybe it is time.  Remember that the Devil would like you to be empty headed.

That Crack in the Sidewalk

(Pro 5:22 KJV)  His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

Today this brought to mind what some might consider a tangent but I think it applies.  Am I the only person who tends to blame others for my own failures?  It could be as general an excuse as blaming the government.  It could be as silly as blaming the dog, and I don’t have a dog.  I know that when I trip over something I glare at the offending spot even if I can’t see what made me stumble.  It obviously couldn’t be my clumsiness.  

I glory in the knowledge that God is patient.  The Bible says God is love.  The first quality listed in the definition of love is patience.  When I look at my life I am amazed at the patience God has for me as well as the rest of the world.

So?  Rejoice in God’s patience but don’t take it for granted.  We are expected to grow in grace.  If it was good enough for Jesus as a child it is good enough for us. 

Double Vision

(Pro 5:21 KJV)  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

It is easy to forget that God “pondereth” (watches NASB) (6424) all that we do in life.  That has its good side and its bad side.  On the good side it is reassuring.  God sees what is over the next hill.  He sees that microbe that thinks it has your name written on it.  He knows the temptation that is waiting for you.  So He can prepare you.

On the bad side, he sees everything you do.  I guess I should say “we.”  He knows every thought.  And he is paying attention.

And in the center of this is your free will.  You make choices.  Sometimes God overrules them.  Sometimes He lets them stand.

So?  Work on the right choices.  It will make a difference.