Take the Antidote

Proverbs 7:21 (KJV) With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

If you just read the second half of this chapter, you might have sympathy for this poor young man, who was seduced by the unfaithful wife.  She seems to have all the ammunition.  She seems to have the initiative.  He seems to be that which I like to call, “a helpless pawn in the hands of fate."

His failure is a choice, not predestination.  If you go back and look at the advice, at the beginning, it talks about taking wisdom, and making it a part of your heart.  It talks about the pupil of your eye, or the apple of your eye, being the place where God‘s commandments and laws should pass through, and then make your way into you.  There’s repeated reminders to spend time, knowing what God has told us to be into.  Obviously, this young man has chosen to ignore that advice.

So?  The problem wasn’t that she had such deep satisfying positions or arguments.  The problem is that he didn’t have the foundation that has been offered to him.  We can resist the wiles of the devil.  We can walk the path of truth.  But it only happens if we make the choices that lay the foundation.  Make this a day of wisdom. 

Priority Excuses

(Pro 6:16 KJV)  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

As you continue down in this chapter of Proverbs, you see the seven abominations that are listed.  Have you ever wondered if they are in order of priority or are they just listed as they came to Solomon’s mind?  When I see a list, I sometimes wonder about this.  For instance, when I look at the Love Chapter and it’s definition of love, I ask myself, “Is patience the most important thing because it’s listed first?”  And I say the same things when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit.

It is an interesting question, but the more important question is, “Why are you asking?”  Is there a desire in your heart to vindicate yourself over someone else because you’re less a sinner than they are?  Is there an awareness of multiple weaknesses in your life and you want to start working on one and perhaps are looking for the easiest to deal with?  Or is it just idle curiosity?

So?  It makes a difference what your motivation is.  If your life is controlled by sin, there is a sense in which it doesn’t matter which is the most important or most grievous.  What is needed is freedom from sin and forgiveness for the sins of the past.  Fortunately, both are offered by Jesus. That’s why He went to the cross. 

Star Praise

Psalm 148:3 (KJV) Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

I can read this two ways.  The first way is obviously just read it with an attitude of worship and acceptance and glorifying God.

The second way is to have my skeptic hat on and ask myself, “How does the sun praise God?”  I can then go on, and substitute the moon and the stars.  In reality, those are just skeptical questions.  They are also questions asking for insight.  We can read in just an attitude of worship, and God will meet us.  We can read with a desire for deeper understanding, with skepticism, and God will also meet us.

So the question still stands:  “How do the celestial objects praise God?”

I don’t for a minute to think that the sun is an entity that is aware.  So, in the sense of conscious praise, it is impossible.  It’s possible that the answer to this is that we praise God, simply by being what He has made us to be.  That works for the sun, the moon, and the stars.  It’s harder for us to see in ourselves.

So?  Maybe we could start by just thanking God that He made us the way we are with our attributes in our personality.  Quit thinking we need to be like other people and just rejoice and what God has given us to do and be.  If nothing else think about it as star praise.

Watch the Drift

Proverbs 4:5 (KJV) Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

My first inclination to stop and look at this verse came from the word in the KJV of “decline” (5186) (turn away, NASB).  How do you decline from the words of God?  That is a good question.  When I looked at the definition of the word and some of the early uses in Genesis I came across the idea of spreading out your attempt or pitching your tent.  At one point it seemed to talk about letting down your bucket deep for water.

What does this say about how we study the word?  We talk about digging.  We talk about searching and meditating.  Those are good concepts, and can probably be verified in scripture.  The problem we have is when we are so desperate for a great insights that we start wandering away from the central truth.  A nuance can be very beneficial, but when we are out looking for just that which is new and exciting, we tend to get into trouble.

So?  Start with the basics and as far as possible, stay with the basics.  We don’t need any exotic theology.  As I’ve said, and I possibly stole it from someone else, we don’t need something new until we get to the point where we are using what we have.  We don’t need new contemporary worship songs when we have hymnals full of songs we are not singing.  We don’t need new methods of outreach when we’re not witnessing or sharing. You get the idea. 

Considering Examples

Psalm 143:12 (KJV) And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

One of the words that brings the most joy to my reading is chesed (2617).  My favorite translation of this is “loving kindness.”  Here the KJV has “mercy”.  It’s such a broad word, and has such deep meaning that it warms my heart and put a new shine on the day.

Then I read it in a context like this, and David seems to feel that God’s mercy is going to “cut off” (6789) his “enemies”.  That seems a bit violent and I would assume rightfully so.  How does destroying and cutting off reflect loving kindness?

One of the answers would be, that God has a different attitude towards those who follow him as opposed to those who resist him.  You have God’s people on one side and the rebels on the other.  Just because we talk of Yahweh, as “God is love”, does not mean that love is stupid or unprincipled.

So?  Yes, God is love.  He is also holy, righteous, light, and a God of wrath.  Make a decision, which side of God do you want directed toward you?  Remember, Jesus died on the cross to save sinners, but there will be no mercy for those who die unrepentant. 

One of Those Days

Psalm 142:6 (KJV) Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

(Proverbs 2 also read)

There are times when I am aware of the saying “This too shall pass.”  I’m having one of those days when I’m feeling like the world is against me.  And this whole chapter kind of speaks to me.  It reminds me that this is nothing new.  I’ve had these days before.  I will have them again.

Much of the being brought low is in my mind.  Most of it is because I have been accosted in such a way that I tend to forget that the Lord is there watching and listening.  This reminds me.

As David, I will call upon the Lord and be reminded that He is there.   He never left.  I just got focused a little too much on me.  Of course they’re stronger than me . That’s the way life is.

So?  Refocus.  Remember.  Repent.  And, of course, rejoice. 

A Simple Intersection

Proverbs 1:4 (KJV) To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

There is a time in life when being “simple” (6612a) is natural and not a sin.  There is another time in life were being simple is equated with rejecting the depth of God’s love and His plan for you.  The Christian walk is a journey not just a place to stand.

Proverbs begins with giving an explanation of the purpose of wisdom.  It’s trying to explain how it works and how you achieve it.  Here it says that it is to give “subtlety” (6195) according to the KJV.  The NASB uses “prudence”.  The idea is that God’s wisdom, if we embrace it, will take our innocence and give us the tools with which to live life productively.

As I have pointed out before one of the nuances of the word “simple” is open minded.  That is not a good place to be.

So?  It is time to stop resting on your laurels and get moving.  Make some progress even if it’s small.  Start closing your mind to the vapid values of your contemporaries and build strong walls based on the foundations of God’s word, and what He’s done for you in Jesus.