Relative Value

(Psa 29:6 KJV)  He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

Different translations put this different ways but a number of them have Lebanon and Sirion jumping around like crazy animals.  Lebanon is a country.  Sirion is a name used for Mount Hermon.  This is an interesting word picture and one that is open to speculation.  Was David just waxing poetic?  Did he have some massive earthquake in mind?  

We need to be careful in how we think about scripture.  Much of what we read hits home and speaks to us on a regular basis.  The Ten Commandments or the Love Chapter come to mind.  Some might be vital to what we believe.  Others may just get us scratching our heads.  I think this fits in the last group.

So?  Read, think and apply when it is appropriate.  At other times just sit back and wonder.  Maybe write yourself a note to think about this some night when you can’t sleep.  It could give you interesting dreams and more to think about. 

Don’t Drink the Fool-Aid

(Pro 27:22 KJV)  Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

The basic point is that you cannot force someone to cease being a fool.  The more I watch the general population and our leaders the more I can accept that.  But keep in mind the difference between the basic statement, “you can’t force a fool to learn”, and the opposite, “Fools cannot learn.”  One is the truth expressed here.  The opposite is expressed other places.

The basic point is that there are very real limits on what you can do for other people if they do not get on board to help themselves.  Our current culture has gone the victim route.  We have been convinced that people need the government or some rich person to help them out of their problem.  In reality it just encourages most of them to double down and get more helpless.  It is a fine line to walk and requires a bit of discernment along with a healthy dose of tough love.

So?  Be willing to help but make sure that the help you are giving is the kind that helps people to stand on their own two feet rather than lean on you harder.  Make discernment the goal of your prayer and charity.  You goal is to help them not make yourself feel better. 

Turn up the Fear

(Pro 26:5 KJV)  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

I am going to make an assumption or stipulate of condition:  I am not the fool in this verse.  I am going to assume that I am the one dealing with fools.  I certainly feel that way most of the time.  That could be a sign of danger.  Being a fool is like being old and starting to lose you mind:  You are the last to know.

In spite of that it might be good for us to assume that we are surrounded by fools.  Keep in mind the proverbial statement that wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord and most of the people you run into during a day will not have a healthy fear of the Lord.  That will be true whether you are a bar tender or the keynote speaker at a pastors’ conference.

So?  Turn up your fear.  Understand God’s priorities.  Build your day according to that.  Expect to be the odd man out. 

You Can Trust Me

(Pro 25:15 KJV)  By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

How can “soft” (7390) “break” (7665) something?  I had to put my thinking cap on again.  I got to thinking about how most people break bones.  I imagine it is usually some kind of accident, being at the wrong place at the wrong time.  When you are the one who is going down some steps and it chooses you to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, it usually isn’t your fault.  If a car jumps the curb and you are on the sidewalk something is going to break.

I think the point here might be that we sometimes get lulled into not paying attention.  Or possibly when we are fooled by someone’s compliments while they set us up for a fall.  If that is the case then we need to worry when we find people being too agreeable.

So?  Be careful whom you trust.

Proper Change

(Pro 24:21 KJV)  My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

There are times when we stop and consider and ask ourselves if we are on track.  What should be “change” (8132)?  Businesses will do this before their annual meeting.  Teachers might do it at the end of the school year, or the beginning.  Many do it early in January.  This is not a condemnation of things like that.  This is a concern for people who are addicted to change.

This could be the fashion slave, one who has to buy the latest style.  If I am ever in a waiting room and forgot to bring a book, I might pick up a magazine and decide to look at what the models in the advertisements are wearing or how they have their hair cut.  It amazes me how I can go through entire fashion trends and never even know it.  This is about the person who feels that there is something wrong with them unless they live in slavish conformity.

So?  God’s standards and truth never change.  That should be the foundation for our decisions for changes we need to make.  If we keep in contact with who He is and His ideas of right and wrong it will guide us on when to change and when to stay the course. 

Be the Leader

(Pro 23:19 KJV)  Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

This verse finally had me waking up to the importance of our will in making decisions.  Notice that it is talking about our “heart” (3820).  We live in an age where we have all kinds of songs and poetry that tell us to follow our heart.  I am not sure that is just in modern times.  I would imagine the ancient poets gave the same advice.  Maybe David, being a poet, would have gone in that direction, but Solomon is known for his wisdom, not his poetry.  He repeatedly says the same thing in this chapter.

So?  Notice that we are to “direct” (833) our hearts not be directed by them.  We are not animals that operate on instinct but humans created in the image of God.  You have a choice.  Make it on a regular basis. 

Show It

(Pro 22:11 KJV)  He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.

We are to be “pure” (2889) of “heart” (3820).  We understand that this is only possible by the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.  What is also necessary is the discipline, or natural inclination, to speak with “grace” (2580).  This is the word that is used when we are told that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  

We are expected to act in ways that please God.  This includes things like courtesy and kindness.  It is explained in I Corinthians 13 as love is defined.  To be honest, this will be easier for some than others.  Some people are naturally gracious.  For others it is a constant battle.  

So?  Either way God expects us to take our clean heart and let it clean up our act.  One of the big reasons is what is mentioned here, the effect on others.