Don’t Waste Your Sympathy

Proverbs 21:10 (BES) The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.

This is an interesting translation.  As often happens when I look at the LXX, I wonder if it’s interpretation more than translation, but not being an expert in the Hebrew or the Greek I really don’t know.

I think there is a good point for us here though.  We go through sharing prayer request during Sunday school and on Wednesday evening.  There’s a certain class of prayer request that I don’t know how to deal with.  I don’t know the people asking well enough to dig deeper.  My big question is when they share a need for prayer for someone I’ve never met, where are they spiritually?  It seems that we’re getting more and more requests for young people with cancers and problems that we’ve never heard of it before.  I keep wondering and wanting to ask, “did they take the vaccine?”

There is a real sense in which at this point it doesn’t matter.  It would just be my curiosity.  One of the things that we don’t like to admit is that there are consequences for our behavior and having a group of believers at church pray for your recovery does not cancel decades of debauchery.  I recognize that as being judgmental and so I hold my fire and wish for the best.

So?  What’s that verse about?  Praying for those who despitefully use you?  It’s not our place to judge and it wouldn’t do any good if we did.  At the same time we need to realize that there are consequences both positive and negative or decisions.  

Be a Calamity

(Pro 21:15 KJV)  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

We are in a battle for the direction of our country.  If you stop to look at history you will realize that this is nothing new.  The forces of evil have always been out to destroy the things of God.  To look at it another way, yes, they are out to get us.  We believe in justice.  It is a justice based on the standards and holiness of God.  That is why they fight so hard.  The Living Bible puts the last part of this as, “...it is a calamity to evildoers.”

So?  Live a holy life.  Expect opposition.  It is the nature of the beast that seems to be in control of our culture and neighborhoods.  

Unsavory Options

Proverbs 21:7 (KJV) The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

Life often puts us in situations where we must choose.  Those choices determine our path.  Often we are faced with what we don’t like.  It brings no joy.  How do we respond?

Think about how this is being played out today.  We see incomprehensible graft and fraud going on in government circles.  If we can believe the reports, and that is never a sure thing, then much of the misery and scarcity in our life is because of people in power abusing that power.

We also see violence being the default of certain elements of society.  We have been taught that violence is not the answer and we abide by that.  The wicked are always willing to resort to physical attacks if they don’t get their own way.  That is part of what defines them as evil.  We are called to justice, what the KJV labels as “judgement.”

So?  There may be times when we are compelled by justice to use force but we are not allowed to do so for our own personal gain.  Leave that to the wicked.  

Golden Thoughts

Proverbs 21:5 (KJV) The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want.

The word “diligent” is translated “gold” more often than diligent. I personally find that a bit confusing. It will come across as “fine” gold or “refined” gold. That might give us an indication of what is going on here.

We are talking about people who are willing to apply the thought process to come to a valid conclusion. Too often we go off half-cocked and are surprised when we can’t hit the target. I think the term “half-cocked” comes from the safety on certain types of firearms that set the safety when the hammer is pulled half way back. You can fire it before you pull it back. You can fire it when it is all the way back. The first click means that all you can do is wave it around.

So? With a revolver, half-cocked is a good thing. When making decisions it makes your thinking useless. Think with focus and without haste. Give God a chance to cut through the fog and supply a path.

Broaden Your Parameters

Proverbs 21:8 (KJV) The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

One of the topics that keeps coming up when it is ignored involves whether the saved must sin or whether it is optional equipment.  Is it like the heater in your car or a DVD mounted on the roof?  I welcome the discussions because it shows that we are wrestling with the truths that God wants us to consider.

Today I offer this verse to the discussion.  My question for you, if you are one of those that loves to misquote Paul on none being righteous, is, “If it is impossible to be pure, what is the point of this verse?”

I am not going to digress into the meaning of pure.  Whatever it means there are millions of believers and an uncounted majority of scholars who will tell you it is impossible, whatever it means.  Really?  Then was God just playing word games when He caused this verse to be in our Bible?

So?  Interpret it any way you want as long as you are seriously trying to deal with the expectations that God has for you, and rejoice on the journey.  

Basics

Proverbs 21:3 (KJV) To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

This is a short verse and has no big theological words yet it is a bit of basic truth that we need to internalize.  To put it another way, attitude is more important than actions.

It isn’t that the actions are not still required.  The sacrificial system was not thrown out by God when He made statements like this.  He was simply pointing out to Israel under the law, and us under grace, that it is our genuine faith that gives feet to our obedience.

So?  Obey.  Live righteously.  Understand that such actions are only of value when rooted in a belief in the God of the Bible and His sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  

Hidden Strength

Proverbs 21:22 (KJV) A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

I was sitting thinking about the chaos that we see going on around the world.  In Nigeria and Sudan we have Christians being slaughtered.  In Europe, we have justice being perverted as Muslim rapist are treated softly and their victims are put in jail.  It seems like chaos rules everywhere .

I think this is the time where we need to focus on the wisdom that God has made available to us.  One of the first parts of that wisdom, remember, is the fear of God.  When we have that fear of God, it puts other things into perspective.  It helps us to filter out the noise and exaggerations of our media and seek for truth.

One of the elements of truth that we need to realize is that God constantly watches out for His faithful remnant.  Are there cases where believers are persecuted?  Obviously, yes.  Often, though you need to understand that there are special circumstances.  I remember reading Eusebius’s History of the church and much of the persecution that went on was because overly enthusiastic believers which march into the palace, announced they were believers and dare the governor to do anything about it.

So?  Live in wisdom . It is possible that God is going to allow you to go through some persecution.  Face it with joy and in faith.  It’s much more likely that He will cause the chaos of violence to flow around you like water will flow around a mound. 

Read On

Proverbs 21:21 (KJV) He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Once again this week, I heard people expanding on Paul’s statement in Romans 3:10 that there are none righteous.  Once again, I agree with that verse in the context in which it is written.  I could do no less, believing that the Bible is the word of God.  But my thinking and my understanding do not stop with that verse.  It expands into the entirety of scripture.

We are incapable in our own strength of dealing with our sin and becoming righteous.  Having said that, though, I have to deal with the continual statements through the entire scripture about how we are to live upright, holy, righteous lives.  For most of the people that I hear quoting Paul I’m not really worried.  I see them living in such a way as if they actually understood the entire scripture witness.  I see them not living like what they say implies.

My concern is with that person on the borderline who thinks that once he has prayed a set prayer, he’s good to go and nothing else will be required.  We are saved because God extends his grace toward us when we believe.  That is not a matter of putting a quarter in the machine and getting out of candy bar.  It’s a matter of going through a door and beginning a journey with the living God.

So?  Pursue righteousness.  Seek to be the same that God has declared you to be and has given you the power through the Holy Spirit to develop.  

Use Your Canines

Proverbs 21:21 (KJV) He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

As I was looking at the definitions of these words and focusing on “follow” I came across an interesting definition.  It doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible itself, but the idea of following has a determination and a focus that we don’t often see in our own lives.  The definition was “dog".  Now this is not the noun; it is a verb.

To dog something means to follow with total attention.  It means to be so committed to following that you never give up.  The dog will drop in its tracks before it quits.  It is basically very determined.

So?  Dog it.  Go after righteousness and mercy with everything you have.  The payoff will be awesome.  

The Façade of Righteousness

Proverbs 21:27 (KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

I noticed that there seems to be two levels of abomination.  The first one is simply bringing a sacrifice is not righteous.  He may not even be thinking about it.  He may be living in rebellion and so used to that lifestyle that he doesn’t even seriously consider the things that God expects of him.  He brings a sacrifice.  It is an empty ritual.  It is an abomination.

Then you go to a deeper level.  This speaks of someone who comes consciously thinking wicked things.  He still goes through the motions.  He still offers sacrifices. He may work overtime to make people think he is living a righteous life, but underneath he knows exactly what he’s doing.

So?  I would hope this does not apply to me or you.  But what it does tell us is that we need to be aware of people who know how to go through the motions and are either not thinking about it or are deliberately being deceptive.  Discernment is a quality that God wants us to develop.  

You Can Do It

Proverbs 21:27 (KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

This morning as I was glancing through some Clickbait, I saw a question asking what the Bible means by abomination.  I didn’t bother listening to the video.  I don’t need some self appointed expert, defining simple terms from the Bible for me.  I can do it myself.

I start by just thinking about what it means to me and my understanding of the English language.  That’s bad enough.  I certainly wouldn’t want the Lord considering anything I do, say, or think to be an abomination.  I could then go to a dictionary and see what the secular world has to say.  I have not done that to be honest, but I could.  If that wasn’t enough, I could get out my concordance, look up the word and see what the Bible has to say about it and it’s different references.  I could also do that on my software.

Knowing what words mean in the Bible starts with a desire to know.  You can ignore any definition if that’s your choice

So?  Ask questions, and I would venture to guess answer them.  

Twofer

Proverbs 21:31 (KJV) The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

There are two simple lessons given to us in this verse. The first one is the obvious one, God is the source of our security, both now and forever.  I think we all acknowledge that at least intellectually.  Often we don’t feel it emotionally, but we need to keep reminding ourselves that God is in charge.

The other one we might miss and that is that we are supposed to be preparing our horses.  You’ll notice that it doesn’t say that God is going to preserve you if you sleep in.  Earlier in verse 25 it talks about how lazy hands will cause you’re death.  This is another extension of that.  We are expected to be faithful on our behavior and serious about living, godly lives.

So?  Our trust is in the Lord.  Part of that trust is expressed by living upright and righteous lives.  He will enable us not only to live according to his standards but to live forever with him. 

Assumptions

Proverbs 21:12 (KJV) The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

Proverbs 21:12 (NKJV) The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their  wickedness.

Look at these two translations.  If you are even semi-serious about your Bible study, you recognize the use of italics in the tradition of the KJV, and the NASB.  It indicates that the word in italics is not in the original language.  It’s interesting to me the difference in translation between these two versions of the King James.  In both cases, the keyword is in italics.  The change in how they interpret it makes a difference in how the verse is understood.  This difference is reflected in different translations.

I think the idea that God is the one who is righteous and who examines the house of the wicked is much more appropriate than putting a man in there.  This reminds us that God is not blind, and that He does not ignore evil.

So?  You are not going to overthrow the wicked next door.  Ultimately, that is God’s responsibility and if you have read Romans 13, He is giving the government the responsibility to bear the sword to punish evil.  So relax.  Let God be God.  You can count on that even if you can’t count on the government doing its job.  

Loving Fish Eyes

Proverbs 21:15 (KJV) It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Have you ever noticed how some people rejoice in certain situations, specific foods, different types of company?  Have you ever talked to someone who has a negative reaction to a common, over-the-counter, medication?  Have you ever met someone who likes fire and brimstone preaching?  We all tend to be very different.

I was talking with a lady whom I believe was born in China and is now an American citizen.  I asked her about the kind of Chinese food we have here in America and how it compared to the real thing.  In the course of the discussion, she commented on how when she was a child, they would fight over who got to eat the fish eyes.  Needless to say, I was not real enthused about the prospect.  The eyes of a fish are not exactly something that I would consider a delicacy, but for her, it was the best part of the whole feast.

Sadly, doing the right thing is the same.  There are some people who just rejoice in a being able to do that which is right.  Others can’t wait until they can get away with something.  We see this in young children.  It’s not just a matter of being compliant or easy to get along with, it’s a matter of where the heart is directed.

As children both the compliant and the difficult are lost in sin.  Both need the grace of God.  Both need to learn repentance and faith in Jesus.  I’m not sure which one has it easier.  The compliant child probably feels like they’re OK already.  The difficult child is hard to convince.

So?  Either way each of us has to come to that position of standing before the justice seat of God and repenting of our sins. 

The Fallow Heart

Proverbs 21:4 (KJV) An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

As I read this in the KJV, I wondered what it meant when it said the plowing of the wicked.  I couldn’t get anywhere with that.  When I looked at the Hebrew word, the basic idea is fallow ground.  It’s used just a few times in scripture and usually refers to the field that has not been plowed.  The idea is it has a hard crust and it is impossible for crops to be planted or to grow.

So the picture is that the heart of the wicked is rigid and inflexible and he’s not allowed God and his Holy Spirit to make any progress in breaking it down into the heart of flesh.

I wonder how often we either fall into that trap or start moving towards it by refusing to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  We get into routines.  We have a structured life that gives us no flexibility.  God wants us to do something new, or wants to do a new thing in us, and all we can do is say, “I shall not be moved”.

So?  Don’t be one of those that are condemned for being so open to change that you have no discernment, but at the same time as you read the Bible, as you listen to sermons, as you read other books, listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Take what you hear and compare it with the written word, and see if there’s a new plowing, a new breaking up of clods that needs to happen in your heart and mind. 

Scientific Method

(Pro 21:2 KJV)  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

As I was looking into what it meant for God to ponder our hearts, I first looked at the different translations.  I checked out the word for ponder in the Blue Letter Bible.  And then, looking at the word, it seemed to me that it almost had the nuances of a serious scientist, examining the evidence for a theory, or some unknown substance.

The keyword here is serious, or you might say, legitimate.  There are a lot of scientists, who are looking for what they want to find rather than looking for objective truth.  When God examines our hearts, He is not overly influenced by what we see as our motives or our principles.  He looks beyond our own eyes and our own perceptions, and looks down deep into whom we are.

This can bring us comfort or it can bring us an alarm.  What is the motive of our Heart?  What makes us tick?  What are we really trying to accomplish?

So?  I don’t know about you, but I find comfort in the fact that God knows my inner heart.  Much of that is because I often feel like a total failure in achieving what I want even when I have the best of intentions.  I can relax and know that He is the ultimate honest broker. 

God Has Priorities

Proverbs 21:3 (KJV) To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

In my personal worship and study one of the things that I am pursuing is to understand the law.  I’m not out to become an expert on the law.  What I’m looking at is the conflict between David’s praise of the law and Paul’s rejection of the law.  They seem to be total opposites.

So as I read this morning, I found myself seeing that even God has priorities in what He wants to see in our lives.  The idea of sacrifice is certainly part of the law.  We know that Jesus died on the cross as the perfect Lamb of God, and shed His blood so that we could know forgiveness of sins.  That is the end of the process of sacrifice.  Jesus did it for us.

With that in mind, we are to live righteous lives.  We are to live the way Jesus would want us to.  That I would think is obvious, but here we are seeing that kind of concept unfolding in the days of Solomon.  Here it says God wants us to “do”.  This reflects other places in the prophets.  The idea is that we are to live the life not just follow the ritual.

So?  Jesus paid the price that I could not afford.  It just wasn’t in my budget, so to speak.  In response to that, I am going to take the grace that is given to me and apply it to doing justice and showing good judgment.

Listen Up

Proverbs 21:13 (KJV) Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

This spoke to me today as I am playing nursemaid to my wife.  She just had surgery, and although she claims to have a high pain threshold, and to not be a whiner, that does not always work out in real life.  She is a high need person right now and legitimately so.  I, on the other hand, I’m still a person who does not understand the gift of mercy.

In my case the cry of the poor applies to her.  She has many needs that she cannot meet.  It is my place to step in and take care of that.  I somehow have to reach down inside of me and find the mercy and service that are called on in the spot.

My concern cannot be selfish.  I can’t focus on the second part of this verse and try to be a servant just because I want to avoid suffering myself.  I guess might get the job done but that’s not how love is defined.

So?  I seek the right attitude and the right actions.  Keep in mind that the poor who are crying out to you may not be those who have no money but who are lacking and some other area.  Pray that you would be heard.

Rest Easy

(Pro 21:1 KJV)  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

We are in a time of great political tension.  Some of that tension is just a normal human condition.  We have an election coming up and we disagree on many issues.  Part of the disagreement is the sign of a healthy republic.  It says we have the right to speak our minds, and to express what we believe to be true.  It’s called freedom of speech, sometimes referred to as the First Amendment.  So this is a good time, even if it is a time of tension.

On the other hand, there are some of the issues that are really key.  We have a lot of people running for office who live in a world that is totally antithetical to our beliefs and what our God demands.  They have many followers.  What happens when we lose, or if we lose?

That is where this verse comes in and we need to be reminded of it.  God has the ability to force individuals in certain paths.  We believe in free will and we believe that God gives us the opportunity to make choices.  That’s part of the philosophy behind a republic or voting in a democratic system.  The people get what they want, or when I’m cynical, what they deserve.  At the same time God has the power to do what is necessary to bring about His well.

Remember how He eventually forced Pharaoh to let Israel go?  Remember how He broke Nebuchadnezzar?  Remember how He brought Paul to the point of repentance.  You may even have memories of things He did in your life to make you obedient.

So?  Get out there and do all the things that God wants you to do as a free citizen in a still somewhat free republic who has some remaining rights.  Speak up on what needs to be spoken up about.  You might include some testimonies about your God, and why He wants you to speak up.  Ultimately trust God because He is the one who is really in charge. 

Parallel Thoughts

Proverbs 21:21 (KJV) He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

There are many people in the Christian community who deny the possibility of righteousness.  They focus on Paul, talking about how “there are none righteous”, and ignore the whole context of what he’s saying.  One of the problems with that interpretation is that the Bible is full of references to people who are righteous.  Here it talks about those who seek righteousness.  The problem might be not so much that it’s impossible to seek righteousness, but the fact that people define righteousness in the wrong way.

It came to me as I was reading this morning, that there is a parallel thought in the New Testament, which supports the idea of following after righteousness.

(Mat 6:33 NAS77) "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Yes, those are the words of Jesus.  He’s telling us that we are to seek the kingdom of God first and notice that part of that is seeking His righteousness.

So?  Seek away.  God is waiting with the rewards and the results of that search.