King of Hearts

(Proverbs 21:1 KJV)  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

When Solomon wrote this there had only been two previous kings of Israel.  He had heard about the path of Saul.  David had been his father.  Saul had sinned and not genuinely repented.  He was removed by God.  David also sinned but his repentance was genuine.  One is regarded as a failure, the other a success.  God chose them both but viewed them differently.

(1 Samuel 13:14 KJV)  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

When you move water around, sometimes you let it flow naturally, sometimes you build damns.  Sometimes gravity pulls it, other times you need a pump.  God has methods and influence we cannot dream of.  The key is that He will see His will done, if not by us, then by someone else.

So?  You may not be a king but you can bring a willing heart.  Remember that David started out as a younger son and a shepherd.  He ordered murder and committed adultery.  God still found a way to see into his heart. 

Cheap Talk

(Proverbs 20:6 KJV)  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

The saying goes that “talk is cheap.”  What a man “proclaims” (7121) does not always reflect what he really believes.  I work in education.  Sometimes kids will ask my why I am a teacher.  I give them many answers.  One of them is, “It beats digging ditches.”  Another is, “To keep my children from starving.”  I give those kind of answers because the reasons are too complex to explain to someone with an attention span designed for text messages. 

I have occasionally had issues because I tend to be open about who I am and what I believe.  The biggest circus I caused was when I told a class my stand was based on what the Bible taught.  When confronted by the principal and her sidekick I asked, “Do you want me to lie to them?”  I could see in their eyes that they really wished I would just retire and go away but they could not say that.  Like I said, talk is cheap.

So?  Make your talk expensive by making it honest and true.  Things go up in value when they are scarce.  Make your tongue golden. 

I Have Met the Fool and It Is I

(Proverbs 19:3 KJV)  The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

“Foolishness” (200) sounds like part of the human condition.  The Bible is not afraid to make sweeping statements.  If we were writing this today we would make sure that we put in the qualifier of “some” or perhaps “many” before the word “man” (120).  We would never have the nerve to imply that everyone was foolish.

But we are.  The exceptions are those who seem to listen the first time.  The unusual are those who learn from the mistakes of others.  In fact we tend to label people who pray first instead of last as being simple.  I guess that is part of our foolishness.

So?  Since we all go through it, I am trying to make it as short a stage as possible.  At times I wonder if I will ever learn.  The good news is that with the diagnosis there is promise of a cure along with God’s patience and forgiveness.  Hang in there with me. 

Better than Snowflakes

(Proverbs 18:15 KJV)  The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

This verse seems to assume that “knowledge” (1847) is important.  I heard someone say recently that we live in The Information Age.  You have heard it said that knowledge is power.  Knowledge is another major emphasis of Proverbs.  The Hebrew word is used in 89 verses in the Old Testament.  39 of them are in Proverbs.

Understand though that all knowledge is not equal.  You hear so much about the overwhelming increase in knowledge in modern times.  Don’t be overly impressed.  It doesn’t rock your world that we now know 1,000,000 more shapes that snowflakes can take.  At least it shouldn’t.  Most of the knowledge being gained is totally useless, unless you are publishing a catalog of snowflakes. 

The knowledge that Proverbs speaks of has to do with knowledge of God and His principles.  This is the information that has eternal application.

So?  Don’t neglect your study of snowflakes if that is your major in college but don’t let that be an excuse for ignoring the one who is designing those pieces of crystal.  Just think, no two people are exactly the same either. 

The Last Word

(Proverbs 17:9 KJV)  He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

I always seem to want the last word.  I think it is built into many of us.  When you get two last-worder’s together it makes for a long conversation.  Each “repeats” (8138) the same idea even if they use different words.  If it goes on long enough it “separates” (6504) us from our “friends” (441a).

I still have not learned to squelch this tendency.  It usually takes several rounds before I wake up to what is happening.  Usually at that point I try to find a way to back off.  That involves being the loser in the discussion.  What helps me is an awareness that I wasn’t going to win anyway.  What I find amusing is that the other person doesn’t want to let me go.  They will make repeated statements hoping to pull me back in.

So?  Let me go when I back away.  You don’t know me by sight?  Then extend the courtesy to anyone who tries to withdraw from a pointless argument.  You may save a friendship.

Attitude Alert

(Proverbs 16:2 KJV)  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

It is obvious that how we live is important, or at least it should be obvious.  All the calls for righteousness and upright walks are repeated for a reason.  It is also important “why” we live that way.  One reason we are not saved by works is because God looks at our attitudes as much as our actions.  That is what this verse points out.

Are your “spirits” (motives NASB) (7307) right?  Do you tell the truth because you might get caught or because it is the right thing to do?  Do you tithe out of fear or love?  You may not know what is in my heart, but God does.  We can only be assured of the right motives when we call on Him to work on our hearts and make them right.  That is why the fruit of the Spirit develops in transformed hearts and love is the first fruit listed.

So?  Time for the good old attitude check.  If you are not in the green, it is time to call on God to work in your inner being. 

Micro-Correction

(Proverbs 15:31 KJV)  The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

The NASB calls it “life-giving” (2425b) “reproof” (8433b).  The KJV says “reproof of life.”  I think we tend to put this in our “life saver” cubbyhole.  You have seen those round objects at pools.  They usually have a sign that says, “Use only in emergency.”  Or we might think of fire extinguishers that we see encased in glass that says “Break in emergency”. 

We relegate statements like this to the moment of crisis.

They are intended as our regular diet.  That bowl of soggy flakes you had was life giving.  That sandwich for lunch was life giving.  Your mashed potatoes were life giving.  If we don’t get the basics we can keep going for a time but there comes a point where we begin to weaken.  If we wait too long the super vitamin will not help.

So?  God is constantly sending messages to us, messages of reproof and correction.  If we listen on a daily basis we avoid the crisis.  It isn’t as exciting but it is more healthy.