Hey, Bro

(Proverbs 6:23 KJV)  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

The word for “commandment” (4687) [mitsvah] is a word that has crossed over into our English language.  Most of us have heard of a bar-mitzvah.  It is the coming of age of a Jewish boy, similar to a first communion.  It marks the coming of accountability.  I believe girls go through a similar ceremony called a bat-mitzvah.  A bar-mitzvah literally is becoming a son of the commandments.

As Christians we are born again or adopted.  Pick your favorite picture.  We become children of God.  As Christians we are under grace but keep in mind that Jesus came to fulfill the law not destroy it.  We are still expected to walk in obedience and live holy lives so there is a very real sense in which we become sons and daughters of the commandments.

So?  Rejoice.  You are part of the family.  That has blessing and obligations.  It is a part of a long historical chain of spiritual ancestors.  Hey, Bro. 

The Mourning After

(Proverbs 5:11 KJV)  And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

The context of this verse is a person giving in to the sin of adultery and living a life of dissipation and excess.  It could certainly be simply talking about how a life of sin will emaciate the body and destroy the joy of life.  That could be all that is meant by “at the end" (latter end NASB) (319).

It could also mean the prospects for eternity.  The words and feel are very similar to an event related by Jesus involving an unnamed rich man.

(Luke 16:23 KJV)  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

The end of this life or the beginning of the next?  If you live in rebellion and sin they won’t be that much different.

So?  Get your act together.  God is patient but His patience is not eternal.  If you are reading this there is still time for repentance and the healing of grace.  If you have already become a part of God’s family and are walking in the light, pray for someone else who is still in the dark.

A Little Bit Can Hurt

(Proverbs 4:14 KJV)  Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Sometimes when we are trying to keep kids away from drugs we point out that if you don’t take the first puff you probably will never get addicted.  The same can be said about alcohol and its dangers.  If you never take the first drink, you will never be drunk.  Here the caution is a bit wider but the principle is the same.  Don’t even “enter” (935) a “path” (734) that has any touch of “evil” (7451a). 

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can handle it.  We have this tendency to figure “just one look” or “just a little touch” won’t hurt.  Maybe not.  Maybe.  The wise choice is to avoid the first step.  Go another direction.  It is easiest at the beginning.

So?  Many doors will be open to you today.  Most will be value neutral, red or blue?  Some will be sending a message and starting down a path.  Tight and provocative or loose and modest?  Don’t get started. 

Son of a Gun

(Proverbs 3:1 KJV)  My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

The first seven chapters of Proverbs have an indication that Solomon is giving instruction to his “son” (1121).  The word is “son,” regardless of what your translations says.  One way I judge a translation and its reliability is in this word.  I understand that our culture has “gone beyond” such sexist language, but God hasn’t.  The word in Hebrew is [ben] which can be translated “children” or “people” when it is in the plural but to do so in the singular is to impose the values of our culture on the words of God.

The Holy Spirit can still teach.  People can still be saved.  Growth can happen using some of the modern abridgements but we need to understand that God has a reason for what He does.  We need to understand that the designation “son” is a title of honor, not a chauvinistic convention.  It means that we, be we male or female, are accepted on the highest level of relationship. 

So?  Base your standards, values and measurements on what God has to say, not what your local guru has chosen as the social statement of the month.  It will save you a lot of erasing and editing.

Roots of Discretion

(Proverbs 2:11 KJV)  Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Why is “discretion” (4209) important to us?  When I look at the definition of the Hebrew word and the way it is used in Proverbs I see two things.  First, its basic meaning is “purpose” which morphs into how the purpose is applied.  Second, it seems that the word is value neutral.  It can be used for good or evil.  It relies on the inner purpose and inclination of our hearts.

It can be part of the promise to “preserve” (guard NASB) (8104) that God mounts on our lives and ways as it is used here.  It can also be the careful preparation for the doing of evil. 

So?  Which way will you be planing your day?  What, or who, will supply the basic values and standards that you apply.  Let them come from God and His word. 

The End of the English Standard Version

In the past two months a reader asked me about the English Standard Version (ESV).  I could not say much because I had not read it.  On looking at my study software I found that I had a copy so I decided to read through it in the month of June.  I have finished the month.  The comments I am sharing are based only on reading in Proverbs.  I have not done an in depth study of how this translates the rest of the Bible.

One of the litmus tests I use is how a translation approaches the battle over gender neutrality.  Many modern translations show a tendency to mistranslate in order to be gender neutral and thus politically correct.  This means that when the Hebrew says “son” they will translate it “child” and so forth.  The first place I saw a difference was in 1:5

(Proverbs 1:5 ESV)  Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

(Proverbs 1:5 NAS77)  A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

In actuality the ESV is more accurate here because in both cases the word “man” is absent from the Hebrew.

In 8:4 the ESV uses “children” instead of “sons.”  That is within the range of meanings because it is plural and in the Hebrew the plural form can be understood that way.

(Proverbs 8:4 ESV)  "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.

(Proverbs 8:4 NAS77)  "To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.

Later we see in inconsistency in both the ESV and KJV but not in the NASB.  The word for “sons” and “children” is the same in all cases.

(Proverbs 8:31-32 NAS77)  Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.  "Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways.

(Proverbs 8:31-32 KJV)  Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

(Proverbs 8:31-32 ESV)  rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.  "And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.

Overall I would say that in Proverbs the ESV has not succumbed to the voice of political correctness. 

I compared the ESV mainly to the KJV and the NASB.  I saw a lot of variations but they were all the type of differences that you would find in an honest attempt to translate.  At different places you saw some that were more literal or closer to the original.  You saw more colorful word pictures.  I saw places I liked the ESV more and places I liked it less.

So, overall what I saw was a translation that I felt was trustworthy.  No translation will ever be perfect but I think I could use the ESV.  I will continue to stick with the NASB though because I have so much work already done in it and, like the KJV, it has the best study tools available.

Evil Alert

(Proverbs 1:12 KJV)  Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

This verse needs its context.  It is midway in a speech by some “sinners” who are trying to entice us into joining them for evil attacks on others.  Notice the way in which the speaker is very open about using the techniques of evil.  He wants to “swallow” (1104) people just like the “grave” (Sheol NASB) (7585).  When he talks about going down to the “pit” (953a) he is not talking about sending his victims to hell, but going himself. 

Our culture has come back to that point.  We have people openly worshiping the devil.  We laugh at evil and destruction.  Look at the cover of “music” albums.  Look at the tattoos adorning bodies.  You don’t need to go far.

So?  Be alert to the advice of our culture.  Take the antidote to evil.  Saturate yourself with the word so that the stains of the world run off.  Don’t let them penetrate.