Cardiac Rest

(Proverbs 14:30 KJV)  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

We should want a “sound” (tranquil NASB) (4832) “heart” (3820).  And I am assuming that such a thing is within reach of everyone.  This could be a statement about stress and blood pressure.

This is really one of the great promises of life in Christ.  The word for “tranquil” is most frequently translated “healing” and has the idea of health and cures.  When we truly trust in Christ, not only for our salvation, but for our daily care it makes a difference in how we face the day.  Jesus promised this inner peace.

(John 14:27 KJV)  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Since we are also promised persecution if we are faithful, this cannot mean that everything will go smoothly around us.  It is an inner promise of peace of “heart” (3820), or mind.

For the outward trials we face we have another promise.

(1 John 4:4 KJV)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

So?  We can have inner peace if we trust.  We can have outward victory if we have inner peace. 

Can You Afford It?

(Proverbs 13:8 KJV)  The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

What is a “ransom” (3724a)?  In English it is a price paid to buy your way out of captivity.  I recently read a biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine and it had a long section on King Richard the Lionhearted who was captured by an enemy king and held for ransom.  You have seen reference to it in the stories of Robin Hood. 

The Hebrew has another approach.  This word is the root for a family of words that are translated “atone” and “atonement.”  These are theologically loaded words that talk about the payment for our sins.  The wealthy often substitute their “riches” (6239) for the sacrifice of Christ.  They think that their success says something about their worth.  Take the first part of this verse in the context of the last verse and it becomes obvious that “riches” (6239) could be a fraud.  It is hard to be ransomed by a fraud.

So?  In what do you find your personal worth?  How do you measure success?  I would suggest you think about what is eternal and what is temporal.  All may be well.  Your priorities may be straight.  Then again, maybe not.

Just(ice) Right(eous) Love

(Proverbs 12:5 KJV)  The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

We are expected to be “right” (just NASB) (4941).  I have already gone through a litany of what that means but being “righteous” (6662) is more than being fair and adhering to truth.  If that is all we seek, we can become legalists.  We would be honorable and useful members of society, but legalists none the less.

Keep in mind the caution about this trap.

(1 Corinthians 8:1 NAS77)  Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

I use the NASB because the KJV uses “charity” here instead of “love.” 

Our goal should not be knowledge alone.  That can be a trap of self-righteousness.  Our goal is love because it edifies and builds up. 

So?  Be just.  That is a benchmark, a starting point, a convenient measure.  But let the love of Christ control you as you live in that justice.

(2 Corinthians 5:14 KJV)  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Fat Souls Are a Blessing

(Proverbs 11:25 KJV)  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

The first part of this verse was examined last month.

On the idea of being “fat” (prosperous NASB) (1878) the KJV hits it right on, calling it “fat,” but for the wrong reason.  You see, in the 17th century, in fact throughout most of human history, being fat was considered a sign of prosperity and blessing.  Fat was beautiful.  Really.  It was hard to attain and showed that you did not have to work so hard that you were skinny.  Look at the artwork of the past.  Plumb was prosperity.

Today in our leisure culture skinny has become the sign of the wealthy and powerful.  We have the well known problems of anorexia and bulimia.  We have people getting addicted to drugs in an effort to take off pounds.  We have entire industries dealing with what is usually a problem of self control.

That self control would come with less difficulty if our souls were fat instead of our body.  You see fat has three biological purposes, all of them are beneficial.  Fat stores energy for times of scarcity.  Fat provides insulation against cold.  Fat provides padding against a world of sharp edges.  Spiritual fat can do all of those things but in addition it is something that can be shared and it makes the lives of every one better. 

Spiritual fat comes from being a blessing to others.

So?  Seek spiritual fat.  It doesn’t come through donuts and pizza but through giving of yourself to others.  And when you are involved with others you sometimes don’t think to have another bag of chips or if you do you share them and only eat half.  Apply it.

Never, Never

(Proverbs 10:30 KJV)  The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

This seems a bit hard to believe, to be honest with you.  “Never” (5769/1077) be “removed" (shaken NASB) (4131)?  Never?

I find the translation of “never” interesting.  It is a compound word.  When I looked at the first part the definition has words like “forever, perpetual and everlasting.”  That got my attention.  How do you get “never” out of “always?”

It is the second part that turns it around.  It simply means “not.”  Put it together it becomes a promise.  We will forever not be shaken.  It gives us the eternal dimension of God’s promises.  It takes a threat and makes it a blessing.

So?  Keep in mind that is how the grace of God works in our lives.  It takes all the things that go wrong and sanctifies them for the kingdom.  Remember the other promise,

(Romans 8:28 KJV)  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God takes the failures and pains and weaves them into good.

We will look at what “removed” means at another time.

Adjustments

(Proverbs 9:6 KJV)  Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Our culture is in a downhill slide.  That is normal.  People always feel that way.  The difference between now and the past is that the people of God have allowed themselves to be squeezed out of positions of influence and leadership.  As I was reading these verses I was reminded of the prevailing attitude in the schools where I work.  The expectation is that society is supposed to adapt to people.  We are expected to tailor every lesson and every class to the individual needs of each student.  Students are not expected to adjust to their world.  They are taught that the world will adjust to them.

That is being carried over into our walk with God.  This is killing people spiritually and driving them to hell.  Notice in this chapter, Wisdom is prepared.  She is ready.  She invites people to come and partake.  Notice the two key words here that are being denied by our culture.  We are to “forsake” (5800a) the “foolish” (folly NASB) (6612a). 

Wisdom is not going to customize herself to meet our desires.  We are expected to listen and obey. 

Don’t miss that the result is that we will “live” (2421a).

So?  Are you still waiting for God to do it your way?  It isn’t going to happen.  We are to adjust to Him, or better yet, allow Him to adjust us.  It is the way to life. 

Creation in the Strangest Places

(Proverbs 8:26 KJV)  While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

Where does this fit into creation?

All believers accept Genesis 1:1.

(Genesis 1:1 KJV)  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

I don’t care if you are a 7/24 believer or an Old Earth believer that verse is the foundation of how you look at the beginnings.

The point here is that Wisdom was around before all this.  So was God.  So was the Holy Spirit.  And when the Holy Spirit caused the books of the Bible to be written He was not coming from ignorance.  He was revealing the order of creation, even here in Proverbs.

So?  You can believe the written Word.  It comes from God.  You can get excited about science because it is studying the universe that God made.  The Word and the Creation, they go together better than a horse and carriage.  Don’t ever be afraid of truth.