(Proverbs 7:11 KJV) (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
Is “a woman’s place in the home”? Years ago, in a more traditional time, I remember hearing something like that. If you wanted to you could use this as a proof text. Like many proof texts it was misused to control and manipulate people, in this case women. It made the Bible the club of the curmudgeon rather than the sword of the Spirit.
For a simple illustration of why locking women in the kitchen is not a proper understanding, read chapter 31 about the excellent wife. She is buying and selling property, running a small business out of her home and being heard.
Because of that, I like the KJV’s use of “abide” (7931) better than the “remain” of the NASB. The meaning here is more “home is where the heart is”. At least that should be true of godly women. It should also be true of godly men.
So? Take a look at your priorities. Abide. It is a great New Testament concept too.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Monday, July 6, 2015
Easy Come, Easy Go
(Proverbs 6:11 KJV) So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
One of the first Greek vocabulary words I learned was “erkomai”. It was translated both “come” and “go”. Confusing? It was to me. The Hebrew word “come” (935) presents the same choices. It also adds “bring” and “brought” to the mix. I get a picture of an action that involves movement and baggage.
The results of sloth, as it is presented in the previous verses, brings the baggage of “poverty” (7389). Poverty is delivered automatically, not by request. I remember in my youth signing up for a science fiction, book-of-the-month club. The plan was that I would get a notice of the monthly selection and if I did nothing, I would receive it automatically. I would receive the bill just as automatically. I don’t know how many books I received because I was too lazy to return the card saying, “No”.
Poverty is like that. It will be delivered if we do nothing.
So? Make a choice because if you do nothing the club will deliver.
One of the first Greek vocabulary words I learned was “erkomai”. It was translated both “come” and “go”. Confusing? It was to me. The Hebrew word “come” (935) presents the same choices. It also adds “bring” and “brought” to the mix. I get a picture of an action that involves movement and baggage.
The results of sloth, as it is presented in the previous verses, brings the baggage of “poverty” (7389). Poverty is delivered automatically, not by request. I remember in my youth signing up for a science fiction, book-of-the-month club. The plan was that I would get a notice of the monthly selection and if I did nothing, I would receive it automatically. I would receive the bill just as automatically. I don’t know how many books I received because I was too lazy to return the card saying, “No”.
Poverty is like that. It will be delivered if we do nothing.
So? Make a choice because if you do nothing the club will deliver.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Setting the Alarm
(Proverbs 5:13 KJV) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
As I was looking over this verse I noticed that the Hebrew for “listened” (885) is shama. That made me check out the famous Jewish recitation of the same name,
We could talk about the different ideas expressed by the two English words but it is a concept that we must embrace: We must develop a habit of paying attention to what God is saying to us.
It is easy to go on cruise-control. It is hard to stay alert. It is also vital to our survival in this world and for eternity.
So? Find a way to pinch yourself spiritually. Try to find some way to work into your patterns a moment that serves as an alarm clock. Listen and hear, then live accordingly.
As I was looking over this verse I noticed that the Hebrew for “listened” (885) is shama. That made me check out the famous Jewish recitation of the same name,
(Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:“Hear” and “listen” are the same word, which adds to the impact of this verse.
We could talk about the different ideas expressed by the two English words but it is a concept that we must embrace: We must develop a habit of paying attention to what God is saying to us.
It is easy to go on cruise-control. It is hard to stay alert. It is also vital to our survival in this world and for eternity.
So? Find a way to pinch yourself spiritually. Try to find some way to work into your patterns a moment that serves as an alarm clock. Listen and hear, then live accordingly.
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Beauty Tips
(Proverbs 4:9 KJV) She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Somewhere I heard it said that “in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” I guess in the land of the ugly, plain Jane is the beauty queen. So much of what we consider “glory” (beauty NASB) (8597) is based on cultural norms and expectations. Have you ever wondered why all the women in Renaissance art are overweight? Because having enough food to be fat was a sign of wealth. Skinny meant you were a starving peasant. The same applied to having a tan.
We live in a world in which righteousness is considered ugly. Our world sneers as the idea of being a prude. Victorian is an insult unless it refers to the design of your house. Being a virgin is looked at as a badge of failure. Disciplining your children is considered child abuse. You get the picture.
We are called to be righteous. Part of righteousness is wisdom. It may not be accepted by your neighbor, but then, neither is God.
So? Go for the crown given by a holy God, not by a panel of celebrities.
Somewhere I heard it said that “in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” I guess in the land of the ugly, plain Jane is the beauty queen. So much of what we consider “glory” (beauty NASB) (8597) is based on cultural norms and expectations. Have you ever wondered why all the women in Renaissance art are overweight? Because having enough food to be fat was a sign of wealth. Skinny meant you were a starving peasant. The same applied to having a tan.
We live in a world in which righteousness is considered ugly. Our world sneers as the idea of being a prude. Victorian is an insult unless it refers to the design of your house. Being a virgin is looked at as a badge of failure. Disciplining your children is considered child abuse. You get the picture.
We are called to be righteous. Part of righteousness is wisdom. It may not be accepted by your neighbor, but then, neither is God.
So? Go for the crown given by a holy God, not by a panel of celebrities.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Security Alert
(Proverbs 3:24 KJV) When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
How often do we hear a noise in the dark and we are terrified. I think of how I used to be “afraid” (6342) of the dark. The word has the sense of dread. How often do we lose sleep because we are worrying or dreading what is to come. Too often the fear that keeps us awake is not fear of the dark night but the unknown future.
I wonder when I stopped being afraid of the dark. Was it just maturing or did its timing have something to do with my regeneration and learning to trust. Except for worrying about stubbing my toe, I have no concerns about walking through the house in the dark. I don’t stay awake wondering about the monsters under my bed or in the closet. Even the noises of a creaking house are just the background noise of life. It is good to grow up, physically and spiritually.
Not fearing the future is a work in progress. Most of the time I am doing well. At times I forget Who is in charge of the valley of the shadow of death. I need to be reminded.
So? Make sure that your assurance is in Jesus. For most of us that is something we need a constant reminder of. I am reminding you.
How often do we hear a noise in the dark and we are terrified. I think of how I used to be “afraid” (6342) of the dark. The word has the sense of dread. How often do we lose sleep because we are worrying or dreading what is to come. Too often the fear that keeps us awake is not fear of the dark night but the unknown future.
I wonder when I stopped being afraid of the dark. Was it just maturing or did its timing have something to do with my regeneration and learning to trust. Except for worrying about stubbing my toe, I have no concerns about walking through the house in the dark. I don’t stay awake wondering about the monsters under my bed or in the closet. Even the noises of a creaking house are just the background noise of life. It is good to grow up, physically and spiritually.
Not fearing the future is a work in progress. Most of the time I am doing well. At times I forget Who is in charge of the valley of the shadow of death. I need to be reminded.
So? Make sure that your assurance is in Jesus. For most of us that is something we need a constant reminder of. I am reminding you.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Choices
(Proverbs 2:13 KJV) Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
This verse lifts out a contrast. The contrast here is not between Republican and Democrat. It is not between public and private school. It is not between any secular trains of thought. The contrast is between “uprightness” (3476) and “darkness” (2822). The difference is real.
These contrasts are “paths” (ways NASB) (1870) of life that result from decisions we make. Notice that this person or group of people made a decision to “leave” (5800a) the straight path. They were at one time going straight and decided to abandon it to go crooked. Why? I don’t know. I believe that there are many people who would rather burn in hell for eternity than bow their knee to a holy God. To them holiness is repulsive, or as it says other places in Proverbs, an abomination.
So? What destination is determined by the path you walk? Are you happy with it? Keep in mind that if you want to go to Tampa and you get on the plane heading for Barbados, they will not divert to deliver you. Be happy with your choice.
This verse lifts out a contrast. The contrast here is not between Republican and Democrat. It is not between public and private school. It is not between any secular trains of thought. The contrast is between “uprightness” (3476) and “darkness” (2822). The difference is real.
These contrasts are “paths” (ways NASB) (1870) of life that result from decisions we make. Notice that this person or group of people made a decision to “leave” (5800a) the straight path. They were at one time going straight and decided to abandon it to go crooked. Why? I don’t know. I believe that there are many people who would rather burn in hell for eternity than bow their knee to a holy God. To them holiness is repulsive, or as it says other places in Proverbs, an abomination.
So? What destination is determined by the path you walk? Are you happy with it? Keep in mind that if you want to go to Tampa and you get on the plane heading for Barbados, they will not divert to deliver you. Be happy with your choice.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The Law in Principle
(Proverbs 1:1 KJV) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
This is a book of “proverbs” (4912). It is considered part of the Wisdom Literature, not the Law. There is a difference. Both can influence your life and change outcomes but one is more along the line of strong suggestions and the other is, well, the law. There are places where Proverbs reflects the law and is written in the context of the law, such as adultery. In those cases it is obviously binding. There are other places where it is pointing out how you can blindly follow the law but miss the whole point, such as its comments about alcohol.
Proverbs is Wisdom Literature. You will get out of it what you want to put into it. It requires buy in and adoption. It requires a desire to understand the principles. It means that we can take those principles and adapt them for situations which were not possible in the days of Solomon. Solomon did not need to deal with pornographic web sites. He did however need to deal with cheating hearts.
So? We start through another month of Proverbs. I pray it will speak to me. I pray it will speak to you. That depends on us more than on the book itself.
This is a book of “proverbs” (4912). It is considered part of the Wisdom Literature, not the Law. There is a difference. Both can influence your life and change outcomes but one is more along the line of strong suggestions and the other is, well, the law. There are places where Proverbs reflects the law and is written in the context of the law, such as adultery. In those cases it is obviously binding. There are other places where it is pointing out how you can blindly follow the law but miss the whole point, such as its comments about alcohol.
Proverbs is Wisdom Literature. You will get out of it what you want to put into it. It requires buy in and adoption. It requires a desire to understand the principles. It means that we can take those principles and adapt them for situations which were not possible in the days of Solomon. Solomon did not need to deal with pornographic web sites. He did however need to deal with cheating hearts.
So? We start through another month of Proverbs. I pray it will speak to me. I pray it will speak to you. That depends on us more than on the book itself.
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