Bed Bugs

(Proverbs 7:17 KJV)  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

The question for the day is, “How do you get rid of bed bugs?”  I know that last year when we were traveling there were a lot of news reports about an epidemic of bed bugs.  My wife went into frenzy mode and it became an issue every time we stopped.  Somehow we avoided them.

Another question is how often do we find ways to substitute convenience for quality?  The adulteress “perfumed" (sprinkled NASB) (5130) her bed with three different substances that would impress people but did nothing to actually clean it.  This sprinkling is part of the ritual of sacrifice in the temple.  It usually means “waved”.  If you have a defiled bed it is much easier to spray it with room deodorizer than do a deep cleaning.  If you have bed bugs it is easy to spray a little bug spray than to really do a deep cleaning.

Often in our daily lives it is easier to substitute a ritual for real repentance.  Keep in mind that Jesus did not just ask us to sprinkle ourselves with a little righteousness.  The words are “filled” and “cleansed”. 

So?  Don’t take short cuts in your spiritual growth and preparation for growth.  Go for the deep cleaning and don’t let the bed bugs bite.

Don’t Be Cute

(Proverbs 6:17 KJV)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Notice that “lying” (8267) is a recurring theme in these verses.  We often act like it is a small thing, natural to the human condition.  God rages at that “small thing”.  The lie perverts all it touches and it can touch anything.  As I look at the word and how it was used I noticed something I found insightful.  Although the Hebrew word is given as a noun, it is usually used as an adjective or adverb.  If you remember your grammar, those are parts of speech which modify nouns and verbs.  In other words they change the character of facts and actions.

This verse in an example.  The problem is not the “tongue” (3956) but the tongue that is “lying” (8267).  A neutral organ becomes an agent of evil.  The same can happen in any part of life.  We can lie by being silent.  We can lie by looking the other way.  We can lie by acting like we don’t understand.  We can lie by deliberately choosing words that may be technically accurate but still do not convey truth. 

God does not think it is cute, clever or creative.  Look back a verse.  It generates His hatred.

So?  Truth matters.  It matters to God.  It matters to our culture.  It had better matter to us. 

Don’t Be a Solomon

(Proverbs 5:19 KJV)  Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

What kind of compliments do you give your wife?  To be honest, she might not be excited about being called a “loving” (158) “hind” (355).  Here is where the choices of translators again become a mystery to me.  Both the NASB and KJV use “hind” and for the second term one uses “doe” and the other “roe”.  If you look up the words, the first one means a doe or deer in modern English and the second is a female mountain goat.  I have a hard time understanding how a woman, even in ancient times, would have enjoyed being compared to a mountain goat.

We have all heard of male humor.  It might be there is also something called “male praise” that is not healthy for a marriage.  Your wife might not enjoy being compared to your favorite running back or a saucy type of supercharger.  You might mean well but it won’t help.

For wives I am sure the principle applies the other way. 

So?  Work on complimenting but try to make it something that will be appreciated.  Don’t be a Solomon in this case. 

Starting Gates

(Proverbs 4:15 KJV)  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

What are we supposed to “avoid” (6544a)?  The general sense is evil but the specific advice here has to do with the starting gate not the journey itself.  This is not advice on how to walk daily.  This is saying be careful what direction you start in.

It is very hard reaching New York from California by walking west.  I guess if you were a zombie that could walk on the bottom of the ocean you might have a chance but few of us qualify for that.  You can determine if a path is evil or righteous in several ways.  The inner direction has to do with your motivation and attitude.  Why do you want to go in that direction?  Another is to look at the lives of people who chose that path.  You also need to consult the clear teaching of the word.

So?  Where do you want to be at the end of the day?  How about tomorrow?  Don’t forget to ask yourself where you want to be for eternity.  Choices matter. 

No Harm, No Foul

(Proverbs 3:30 KJV)  Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

How are we to understand when “harm” (7463a) has been done to us?  Face it.  At times we are overly sensitive.  We are self centered.  We see things through our experience and struggle.  A business agreement that does not make a profit could be considered harm.  A remodel of your kitchen could go over budget.  That certainly can harm your financial situation.  That is not what this is talking about.

The most common translation of this word by far in both the NASB and KJV is “evil”.  This puts our response on a whole different level.  We are not allowed to “strive” (contend NASB) (7378) just because someone else beats us in some competition, business, sports or life.  Evil is another matter.  Evil has an objective element to it.  Evil is measurable in the truths God has given us in His written word.  Evil is real.  Fight it but know what you are fighting.

So?  You can be politically active.  You can get out and make noise.  Just make sure that you are not feeding your ego.  A good measuring stick is if the issue is for others and has no personal benefit. 

Point of No Return

(Proverbs 2:19 KJV)  None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

This would seem to imply that there are some people who do not have a chance of salvation.  We know what God wants.  He wants everyone to spend eternity in glory.

(2 Peter 3:9 KJV)  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Yet here it says that some will not have a “prayer”.  What gives?

I can only think that there comes a time in life when we have said “no” to God so many times and made so many selfish decisions that we are not willing or able to repent and change direction.  The immediate context is adultery but we know that sexual sin does not automatically put you beyond the reach of God’s grace.  Consider David and Bathsheba as an example.  The problem is in our hearts and does not develop over night.

So?  Walk in obedience.  No one moment of weakness or sin will condemn you.  Repeated rejection of forgiveness can.

Dim the Distractions

(Proverbs 1:24 KJV)  Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

What was the last message God sent you?  This verse is referring to people who are refusing to listen but if God keeps speaking to the rebels I think it is safe to assume He is speaking to the faithful.  God isn’t like modern communications.  I can remember the days when calls would not go through because all the lines were busy.  I have recently heard concerns about whether we would run out of internet addresses.  No matter how fast fiber optics are, there are limits. 

Not so with God.  He can communicate with every human being at the same time and give each one individual attention.  I can’t begin to wrap my mind around that.  I have a hard time watching a movie and listening to my wife at the same time.  The problem with communication in spiritual terms is in the receiver, not the sender.  Like the movie, we can’t understand what God is trying to say if we allow ourselves to be distracted by other demands.

So?  Listen.  God is speaking.  He has many ways but you need to put something into dimming the distractions.