(Pro 6:12 KJV) A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
The OT does not hesitate to call evil, evil. Here it defines the “naughty" (worthless NASB) (1100) “wicked” (205) man. It does so with no apology. We are so polite and afraid to offend that we cannot communicate. How many times have you heard people tell you that everyone has worth? I guess it is true but keep in mind that every piece of garbage has worth, too. It is just that the worth is so little that it can’t be measured. Keep in mind that the repeated message of Proverbs is that people become this way because of preference. This is a deliberate choice. There are options.
The KJV calls him a “naughty” man. This is a bit confusing since we use the word for children who get into mischief. I would think that the word comes from “naught.” This is an old English word meaning zero. So you can see that the meaning is the same: worthless.
A “froward" (false NASB) (6143) “mouth” (6310) is more than just simply lying. It can involve deceiving with partial truth or truth and will obviously not be understood. Truth is a requirement of God. The KJV word here, “froward”, is not a misprint. You will still find the word in modern dictionaries. It means not easily controlled, wilful, contrary. It means it in a very negative sense. Some people replace slick for truth. You may never be able to catch them or pin them down, but they have false mouths. Unfortunately we find them in the church. They are to be condemned and labeled as worthless and wicked.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Guard What Is Important
(Pro 5:2 KJV) That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
“Regard" (observe NASB) (8104) at first seemed to mean to watch but as I read it over I begin to think its meaning is more akin to observing a holiday. It is often translated guard. It has the idea of watching to protect or correct. Why do we observe holidays? Think about the 4th of July. The focus today has become a day off work but the original reason we were to observe it was to remind us of what it stood for. It was to get us to pause and remember the cause of freedom. We must make choices and set priorities. We must be alert when we do this. It is so easy to take canned decisions made by others and not do any thinking ourselves. We must engage our minds and spirits. One of the reasons that people are not open to real holiness and drift into legalism is that true holiness means that we are listening to the Holy Spirit and making intelligent, informed decisions, not just following in lock step. It is hard to stay mentally active and alert. We are called on to pause and reflect.
“Regard" (observe NASB) (8104) at first seemed to mean to watch but as I read it over I begin to think its meaning is more akin to observing a holiday. It is often translated guard. It has the idea of watching to protect or correct. Why do we observe holidays? Think about the 4th of July. The focus today has become a day off work but the original reason we were to observe it was to remind us of what it stood for. It was to get us to pause and remember the cause of freedom. We must make choices and set priorities. We must be alert when we do this. It is so easy to take canned decisions made by others and not do any thinking ourselves. We must engage our minds and spirits. One of the reasons that people are not open to real holiness and drift into legalism is that true holiness means that we are listening to the Holy Spirit and making intelligent, informed decisions, not just following in lock step. It is hard to stay mentally active and alert. We are called on to pause and reflect.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Dawn vs Dusk
(Pro 4:18 KJV) But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
In verses 18 and 19 we see some of the contrasts between the way of God and the way of evil.
There is a “path” (734) of “the just" (righteousness NASB) (6662). I think this must be similar to the Highway of Holiness the prophets talk about. I am reminded of so many people that say righteousness is unattainable. If that is true, many of the Bible writers were whistling in the dark.
There is a picture here. Proverbs describes a life of obedience as the “light” (216) of “shining" (dawn NASB) (5051). It is different than the light of dusk. There may be moments that are the same but the total picture is different. Both are changing, but in opposite directions. Being part of God’s family is not static, it is a journey. We must keep moving. We cannot rest on our laurels. As we move through life, if we are focusing on what Proverbs and the rest of the word has to teach, we grow in our understanding of things temporal and eternal.
Righteousness shines “more" (brighter NASB) (1980) on a continuing basis. This is the life of the righteous rooted in wisdom and knowledge. We are constantly learning and growing. We get new insights all the time. We see a future that is glorious and looks better all the time.
We can expect a “full” (3559) “day” (3117).
In verses 18 and 19 we see some of the contrasts between the way of God and the way of evil.
There is a “path” (734) of “the just" (righteousness NASB) (6662). I think this must be similar to the Highway of Holiness the prophets talk about. I am reminded of so many people that say righteousness is unattainable. If that is true, many of the Bible writers were whistling in the dark.
There is a picture here. Proverbs describes a life of obedience as the “light” (216) of “shining" (dawn NASB) (5051). It is different than the light of dusk. There may be moments that are the same but the total picture is different. Both are changing, but in opposite directions. Being part of God’s family is not static, it is a journey. We must keep moving. We cannot rest on our laurels. As we move through life, if we are focusing on what Proverbs and the rest of the word has to teach, we grow in our understanding of things temporal and eternal.
Righteousness shines “more" (brighter NASB) (1980) on a continuing basis. This is the life of the righteous rooted in wisdom and knowledge. We are constantly learning and growing. We get new insights all the time. We see a future that is glorious and looks better all the time.
We can expect a “full” (3559) “day” (3117).
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Live Long and Prosper
(Pro 3:2 KJV) For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
This verse reminds me of Paul’s statement:
(Eph 6:2 KJV) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
So one way we honor our parents is by listening to them.
Look what is being promised: longer “life” (2425b) and “peace” (7965) [shalom]. These are benefits that are to be given for listening to the word.
Longer “life” (2425b) is a promise if we pay attention. This is one of those promises that can make us scratch our heads. What about Charlie? He was one of the most dynamic believers I knew. He was in training to be a missionary doctor. He died of leukemia in his 20's. What about...? I am sure we all have examples we could give. Three answers come to mind. The first answer I reject: God’s Word is not true. If we reject that, and I hope you join me, my second point would be that God always reserves the right to perform miracles that are outside the normal working of how we know the universe. If He can work the miracle of healing, He can also choose to shorten life. There are reasons; we just don’t know them. The last is that people who live righteous lives live longer than they would if they were deep in sin. Someone who lives to be 50 may have died at 30 with an overdose of drugs.
“Peace” (7965) is the Hebrew word shalom. It is one of those words that can mean many things. Since we have been promised wars and rumors of wars and there is such a thing as “suffering for Jesus,” I have to assume that this means primarily an inner peace. A constant diet of the word of God is constantly renewing the inner strength that keeps us stable in the midst of the storms of life. We have hymns that talk about harbors in storms and anchors that keep us stable. I think modern technology has given us a better picture. Modern ocean liners have powerful gyroscope type stabilizers that keep the ship steady as nature does her best. That is like the Holy Spirit in us if we follow the directions of the Maker. That doesn’t rule out the wisdom of harbors and anchors but is an added tool of God’s grace.
God will “add” (3254) these things.
This verse reminds me of Paul’s statement:
(Eph 6:2 KJV) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
So one way we honor our parents is by listening to them.
Look what is being promised: longer “life” (2425b) and “peace” (7965) [shalom]. These are benefits that are to be given for listening to the word.
Longer “life” (2425b) is a promise if we pay attention. This is one of those promises that can make us scratch our heads. What about Charlie? He was one of the most dynamic believers I knew. He was in training to be a missionary doctor. He died of leukemia in his 20's. What about...? I am sure we all have examples we could give. Three answers come to mind. The first answer I reject: God’s Word is not true. If we reject that, and I hope you join me, my second point would be that God always reserves the right to perform miracles that are outside the normal working of how we know the universe. If He can work the miracle of healing, He can also choose to shorten life. There are reasons; we just don’t know them. The last is that people who live righteous lives live longer than they would if they were deep in sin. Someone who lives to be 50 may have died at 30 with an overdose of drugs.
“Peace” (7965) is the Hebrew word shalom. It is one of those words that can mean many things. Since we have been promised wars and rumors of wars and there is such a thing as “suffering for Jesus,” I have to assume that this means primarily an inner peace. A constant diet of the word of God is constantly renewing the inner strength that keeps us stable in the midst of the storms of life. We have hymns that talk about harbors in storms and anchors that keep us stable. I think modern technology has given us a better picture. Modern ocean liners have powerful gyroscope type stabilizers that keep the ship steady as nature does her best. That is like the Holy Spirit in us if we follow the directions of the Maker. That doesn’t rule out the wisdom of harbors and anchors but is an added tool of God’s grace.
God will “add” (3254) these things.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Receiving Is Active
(Pro 2:1 KJV) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
It is easy to say we want to “receive” (3947) the “words" (sayings NASB) (561) of God, it is another thing to really want them. This is the cry of God calling us to be actively involved in our spiritual growth. Most of us would not think of sitting down to dinner and just playing with the silverware. We would not take the dishes as they were handed to us and pass them on untouched. We would take and consume. We would receive. When we dished out some mashed potatoes, we would not just sit and look at them. We would not wait for them to crawl up our arm, force our mouth open and sneak down our throat. We would not expect them to be absorbed by osmosis through out skin. The whole idea is ridiculous.
Yet we seem to expect to get value from the things of God with no active seeking and taking on our part. How do you expect to get anything from worship is you don’t sing, read or listen? How do you expect to know what God says if you are not listening?
It is easy to say we want to “receive” (3947) the “words" (sayings NASB) (561) of God, it is another thing to really want them. This is the cry of God calling us to be actively involved in our spiritual growth. Most of us would not think of sitting down to dinner and just playing with the silverware. We would not take the dishes as they were handed to us and pass them on untouched. We would take and consume. We would receive. When we dished out some mashed potatoes, we would not just sit and look at them. We would not wait for them to crawl up our arm, force our mouth open and sneak down our throat. We would not expect them to be absorbed by osmosis through out skin. The whole idea is ridiculous.
Yet we seem to expect to get value from the things of God with no active seeking and taking on our part. How do you expect to get anything from worship is you don’t sing, read or listen? How do you expect to know what God says if you are not listening?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The First Purposes of Proverbs
(Pro 1:2 KJV) To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
Here begins a list of the goals of the Proverbs. They are not instant, but they are reachable. There are things that you can “know” (3045). This word for knowing is frequently used in the OT and has the sense of deep and complete knowing. Three of the qualities come from the inside, “wisdom” (2451), discernment, and “understanding” (998); two are from the outside, “instruction” (4148) and “words" (sayings NASB) (561). The inside qualities are to make use of the information supplied by others.
“Wisdom” (2451) is a given. This is a different word from the one used for “wise” in the next verse. Wisdom is something inside. As we read through Proverbs it would seem that it is a quality that can be developed. We will find many references. Older people would have the advantage over young people but age does not guarantee wisdom. Youth almost makes it impossible but remember that it is one of the gifts of the Spirit.
The proverbs are to give “instruction” (4148). One thing I have learned about instruction: It must be accepted to be of any value. Sometimes it is accepted because the benefit is seen instantly but the more useful teaching, the one that has to do with wisdom, comes from discipline and application. It requires a long range view because often you cannot apply it at the moment.
It is harder to “discern” (995) the meaning of the“words" (sayings NASB) (561). Discernment is hard for two reasons. First, it takes a bit of intelligence and wisdom. Second, it takes a desire to know what we might not want to know. It requires qualities such as honesty to be of any worth.
Notice that it is the sayings that are being discerned. “Understanding” (998) is really just a category here. Part of the process is deciding what you are going to focus on. Discerning the wisdom of a fool is a waste of time. We spend much of our time wasting our minds by the TV we watch and the books we read. I enjoy science fiction and sometimes a get an insight from it, but it is not as valuable as a non-fiction book by C.S. Lewis.
Here begins a list of the goals of the Proverbs. They are not instant, but they are reachable. There are things that you can “know” (3045). This word for knowing is frequently used in the OT and has the sense of deep and complete knowing. Three of the qualities come from the inside, “wisdom” (2451), discernment, and “understanding” (998); two are from the outside, “instruction” (4148) and “words" (sayings NASB) (561). The inside qualities are to make use of the information supplied by others.
“Wisdom” (2451) is a given. This is a different word from the one used for “wise” in the next verse. Wisdom is something inside. As we read through Proverbs it would seem that it is a quality that can be developed. We will find many references. Older people would have the advantage over young people but age does not guarantee wisdom. Youth almost makes it impossible but remember that it is one of the gifts of the Spirit.
The proverbs are to give “instruction” (4148). One thing I have learned about instruction: It must be accepted to be of any value. Sometimes it is accepted because the benefit is seen instantly but the more useful teaching, the one that has to do with wisdom, comes from discipline and application. It requires a long range view because often you cannot apply it at the moment.
It is harder to “discern” (995) the meaning of the“words" (sayings NASB) (561). Discernment is hard for two reasons. First, it takes a bit of intelligence and wisdom. Second, it takes a desire to know what we might not want to know. It requires qualities such as honesty to be of any worth.
Notice that it is the sayings that are being discerned. “Understanding” (998) is really just a category here. Part of the process is deciding what you are going to focus on. Discerning the wisdom of a fool is a waste of time. We spend much of our time wasting our minds by the TV we watch and the books we read. I enjoy science fiction and sometimes a get an insight from it, but it is not as valuable as a non-fiction book by C.S. Lewis.
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