Don’t Be a Quatermain

(Pro 20:2 KJV)  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

I was drawn in by a post on 100 books I should have read.  As I went through two things impressed me, first that I had already read many, and second, based on that and the titles I saw, I was not feeling any need to comply with the choices.  One I did read was King Solomon’s Mines.  I have often heard the title and I think there is a movie.  Why bring that up?  The main character, Allan Quatermain, is a professional hunter.  He talks about all the elephants he has shot and about hunting lions.

Which brings us to this verse about kings and lions.  As a general rule it is best to avoid lion country.  When you hear the roar, lock the door or go the other way.  Of course when you hear the roar it may be too late to retreat.  The advice in this verse is that when dealing with the government it is better to avoid them altogether.  I would add that it would help us to learn ways of avoidance and do some thinking about how to respond if the lions decides we are his lunch.

So?  Face it.  There will be times when you have to become the hunter but it is best to avoid that role.  Keep your head down and your mouth shut.  Also, keep your powder dry. 

Be a Mystery

(Pro 12:23 KJV)  A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

If you walked into someone’s living room and saw a painting on the wall that looked like the work of Frederic Remington you would assume it was a copy.  When I was checking the spelling of his name I did a little looking at prices.  Originals at auction don’t give you much information on the price.  The one I found was in the $400,000 range to start.  Prints started at $25.  While I would assume that what I was looking at was a print, the wall of the living room might be a good place to hide an original.

There are many ways to “conceal” (3680) things.  We wrap packages when we are giving gifts.  We put small items under the seat of the car.  If we are wealthy enough to have anything of high value we can use a safe deposit box.  My daughter hides the cookies behind the vegetables.  In many cases they are only hidden from someone who does not really want them.  You can find them if you are serious.  That is why we sometimes get better results to God’s wisdom when we don’t wave it under people’s noses.

So?  If door to door witnessing doesn’t seem to be working, try to live in such a way that people wonder what your secret is. 

Planning to Fall

(Pro 7:9 KJV) In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

For most of us the times listed in this verse are our times of most vulnerability.  We are tired and unfocused.  If there is a part of the day when we are least attentive, these qualify.  This is when the young man in question is moving toward tragedy.  He is moving step by step.  He has plenty of opportunity to change or withdraw, but onward he goes.

So?  Most of our great sins were seen a long way off.  They are the ones that are harder to have forgiven because they were not moments of weakness but the result of planning and choice.  The time to avoid sin is when it first occurs to us. 

A Fool’s Choice

(Proverbs 15:5 KJV)  A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

A “fool” (191) is not “prudent” (6191).  I guess the corollary of that is that a wise man is.  Have you ever prayed for prudence?  I don’t think I have.  It may be like praying for patience.  You don’t want situations where you have to exercise that gift. 

But it should be on our list, maybe close to the top.  Prudence has to do with balance and restraint.  Those are not popular in our personal choices or our cultural priorities.  Prudence makes it impossible to pray, “I want patience, and I want it now.”  Prudence says, “What is the right response (amount, priority, direction)?”  Prudence gets into all the little cracks of life.

So?  We all have many decisions daily.  Use some common sense.  God has given us the guidelines we need but we have to apply them. 

Sensibly Prudent

(Proverbs 14:18 KJV)  The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

A good question for the day would be “What does it mean to be prudent (6175)?”  The NASB update of 1995 changed the translation to “sensible”.  At first I thought it was an accommodation to the culture of the day that thinks being a prude is negative.  In looking at the Hebrew definition I concluded that they did not go far enough.  It means being sensible in the crafty, sly and shrewd sense. 

We are not to be deer in the headlights.  Part of what that means is we avoid the lifestyle of the world around us but we might need to do it in such a way as to not call attention to ourselves.  I am not what I would consider a hard core survivalist.  I don’t have a garage full of Mountain House or MREs.  I can’t make a fire with sticks, although I will confess I have watched it done.  The thing this verse tells me is that I would not tell you if I was.  The advice I come across from people who prepare is, “Don’t tell anyone.” 

So?  We are to be witnesses and share the love of Christ.  We are not to be foolish in dealing with a world that thinks the redistribution of wealth starts with taking what I have to give to the guy who never saved a penny. 

Homebodies

(Proverbs 7:6 KJV)  For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

I am a homebody.  I don’t need to go out and “do something”.  That is not necessarily a virtue.  If I had been Abraham my family would still be in Ur.  If I had been Lewis, Clarke would have explored by himself.  It is also not a vice.  In this passage it is the homebody, looking through his “window” (2474), who observes for us the fall of the young man who had to “do something”.

Might I suggest, since it is my inclination anyway, that we might be better off if we spent more time at home.  When I read about tragedies in the news it seems that a large number of those killed or injured would have been safe and healthy if they had stayed home and read a good book.  I accept you may be different but give it a thought.

So?  Maybe I need to get out more.  There is a balance in everything. 

Frosted Flakes Are Not Prudent

(Proverbs 14:15 KJV)  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

What is the difference between being “prudent” (6175) and being cynical?  In our modern culture the two are often linked together.  Prudent people don’t know how to let go and have fun.  They always doubt what politicians promise them.  They don’t believe the newspapers.  They are negative and cynical.  No, they are prudent.

As you look through the way the word is used in Proverbs, prudence is linked with knowledge and seeing what is around you.  A prude compares what he hears with what he knows.  The prude knows a lot because he pays attention and remembers. 

Prudence is also one of those words that can be instruments of evil or good.  It is the word that describes the devil as he jockeyed to deceive Eve.

(Genesis 3:1 KJV)  Now the serpent was more subtil (sic) {6175) than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

It is also used in Proverbs to describe the righteous.

So?  Leave the sugar coating for you donuts and breakfast cereal.  Look at life as it is in the light of the power and promises of God.  It makes a difference, or it should.

Maintain Your Walls

(Pro 25:28 KJV)  He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Historically “walls” (2346) have been a source of protection and liberty.  In a culture that had a tyrannical conqueror in charge the walls of cities would either be “broken” (6555) down or not allowed at all.  This would allow the ruler easy access to his subjects and keep the subjects on a short leash out of fear.

It would also leave them open to attacks by criminals and foreign invaders.

Walls need to be maintained.  If not constantly worked on they would develop cracks and begin to crumble. 

Walls needed to be guarded.  The best walls could be climbed by people with evil intent.

So?  How are the walls of your life?  Are you maintaining them?  Are you on guard?  Sometimes it only takes one moment of slackness to bring disaster. 

Seeing What Is

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

What does it mean to “consider” (7919a)?  It is interesting that in neither the KJV or NASB is there a common translation of this word.  It means to be prudent which means to carefully consider.  It means acting with discernment.  That seems clear.  Yet each time it is translated it seems to have a different nuance.  Maybe it has to do with the diverse face of evil.  The “wicked” (7563) have many faces.  They work overtime at covering themselves up, in wearing masks.

We as the “righteous” (6662) cannot go on intellectual vacation.  We seem to have that as a common character trait.  Because we are to be kind and patient we tend to think it means naive and compliant.  No.  We are to be alert but calm.  We are to be strong but polite.  Think of a verse that has to do with sharing our faith.

(1 Peter 3:15 NAS77)  but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

So?  Listen, watch, pay attention and then respond with clarity and graciousness.  We can do it.  We must do it. 

Yes, Actually, I Am a Prude

(Proverbs 13:16 KJV)  Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

Are you a prude?  You should be.

This is another area where our culture of coolness has diverted from the balanced life of God.  “Prudent” (6175) is a good trait according to the Bible and your dictionary.  My Bible software calls it “sensible.”  My computer dictionary brings out caring and thinking about the future.  Our culture says you are strange and have a lot of hang ups.

This one word should wake us up and get us examining the kind of life we want to live.

So?  Again I say, “Are you a prude?  You should be.”  The world may laugh at you for being thoughtful and considering how your actions will effect the future.  God smiles and nods His head.  I know where I want my approval to come from.