Real Neighborly

(Proverbs 31:8 KJV)  Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

In this verse and the next we again we see the responsibility of wealth, power and position.  You say, “That lets me off the hook, I am none of these.”  Wrong.  Historically, if you live in the western world you are wealthy.  Even today, by world standards, the poor in America are wealthy.

Add to that the political rights that we have.  In America, think of the First Amendment to the Constitution.  We have in our basic source of law specific, written guarantees that make us cocky and loud without fear of the police attacking us as we worship, speak, read or gather with friends.  Much of the Western world shares that to some degree. 

In the days of Solomon, only the nobility and the very rich would have these rights.  The poor and slaves were expected to be quiet and obedient.  Today we are a part of the class that is to “open” (6605a) our “mouth” (6310) for others. 

In this verse there are two types needing our help.  First you have the “dumb” (483).  Literally this refers to the mute, people who are incapable of speaking.  Figuratively it would include those that are too shy or weak to have an opportunity to speak.  We have a responsibility to speak up for those who cannot.

Then we have the “unfortunate” (2475/1121) or as the KJV says, the “appointed for destruction.”  This is a compound word that literally means “sons of those who are passing away.”  It is an interesting combination.  “Appointed” (1121) is the Hebrew word “ben” which means “son.”  It is incredibly common.  The other word is used only here in the OT.  We are to be concerned with the children of the past.  This would be a very wide category.  You may have heard the phrase, “the world is our oyster.”  This would be rephrased to “the world is our clinic.”

So?  However you want to interpret these words it points out that followers of the One True God are supposed to be concerned about the people in our world.  Remember the OT command:

(Leviticus 19:18 KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

People think this was original to Jesus but it was really a standard God had demanded from the beginning.  Just think, Moses could have told the story of the Good Samaritan.

Timely Requests

(Proverbs 30:7 KJV)  Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

We have “required" (asked NASB) (7592) God for so many silly things in our prayers.  It might be embarrassing if God ever published a list.  Of course many were valid and sincere, but not all.  Most of the stories of genies and magic lamps and such have three wishes.  In the next verse we will get two examples of appropriate requests.

Notice that God did not ask for two requests.  He did not promise, like in the fairy tales, to grant just three requests.  As we shall see later, this will not be a wish list for the author but an expression of what he wants his life to say.

What would be our last wishes?  Have you ever had that fantasy?  “You will have thirty days to live.  What will you do with them?”  Or seven days or one hour or as the Bible verse says,

(Luke 12:20 KJV)  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Wouldn’t it be great if we were focused enough to make our last request 10, 20 or 40 years before we expected it?  I have mentioned it before but one of the ideas that C.S. Lewis expresses in several places is that we are preparing for eternity.  Eternity will have more growth and the further we can get down the road in this life, the greater our growth on the other side.  He says to think of steering a boat.  A small difference in the rudder doesn’t make much difference over a few feet but over an ocean voyage it can land you on the wrong continent.

So?  Prepare for eternity.  Don’t do it with the attitude I show when my wife is driving and I scream, “We’re all going to die!”  Do it with the attitude that someday this stock is going to be worth a lot of money.  Oh, and also to bring glory to God.

Personal Privilege

I want to take a  moment of personal privilege.  This blog is an outgrowth of my daily worship time.  I am speaking to myself as much as anyone.  I am going to keep it that way.

But I have a lot of issues that keep bubbling up that do not fit in this purpose of this blog.  To find an outlet for those ideas I am working on another blog that I am calling Medley of Worship.  It will address all the areas of life that are a part of our worship.  I will address politics, theology, education, whatever.  You may have noticed the list of books I am reading in the side column.  I have just finished Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.  I removed it from my reading list and posted a brief review on the other blog.  I also have posted the notes that I took while I was reading.  If you are interested in that kind of thing, check it out.  If not, ignore this post.

Perpetual Proverbs will remain my first concern of the day.  Thank you for visiting.

It Works Better with Manufacturer’s Parts

(Proverbs 29:6 KJV)  In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

This verse shows contrasts between two types of people.  Some are stated, others implied.  The base contrast is in character.  You have the “evil” (7451b) and the “righteous” (6662).  This is a frequent pairing in Proverbs because much of the book is to show how life is different for people who follow the directions of the Manufacturer.  Proverbs proceeds to show how their lives are guided by their character.

He contrasts behavior.  Only the behavior of the first is stated.  He is caught in “transgression” (6588) {28:2}.  He is a sinner.  I think it is understood that we are not talking about the occasional failure of a person who is walking with the Lord, just as the righteous is not assumed to be absolutely, Mary-Poppins perfect.  What is the basic style of your life?  Are you living for yourself or are use living for Jesus?  Are you demanding and selfish or are you a servant?

Then Proverbs moves on to the result.  One is “ensnared” (4170), the other, by implication, is free.  This is the nature of sin and Satan.  Sin develops habits and chains that inhibit the freedom of life.  Sin cuts off potential and kills dreams.  With God we are love-slaves.  We are trusted as part of the family.  We know the master and desire to please Him and in the pleasing we have a freedom that is beyond compare.  Think of the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve had total freedom except for one tree.  What happened when Satan became their lord?  They were chained to that tree and kept away from the rest.  We now have the knowledge of good and evil but without the freeing blood of Christ we are denied the tree of life.  I wonder what the other trees in the garden would have been called.  We will find out, right after the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

The contrast finishes with attitude.  The “righteous” (6662) knows he has nothing to fear because he has done nothing wrong.  We can sing and rejoice.  Even in the presence of death.  Have you been to the funeral of a believer and joined in the singing of “Amazing Grace” or another favorite hymn.  That should help you define joy.  At an unbeliever’s funeral the highlight was the song “Happy Trails to You.”  This joy is stated clearly for the righteous, the other side is inferred.  It is also possible that the righteous knows how to confess and repent.  Remember the difference between Judas and Peter.

So?  Which side are you on?  Remember it is a choice.  God offers His love and grace.  Satan offers chains, misery and deception.  I know which side I am on.  I trust you have made the same decision.

(Proverbs 28:5 KJV)  Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

Again we see the reality:  “Evil” (7451) men exist.  Let me remind you, this is one of the key differences between people who believe the teaching of the Bible and those who do not.  The teaching of our post-modern culture is that man is good in his heart.  All the murderer or rapist needs is a chance to reform and they will do so.  This is why our prisons speak of rehabilitation instead of punishment.  This is why our school labeled our detention holding tank the Opportunity Room.  Our society believes, teaches and acts as if the only thing a criminal needs is to understand what is right and they will respond.  Of course, that mean they don't need a Savior, just a social worker.

On the other hand, the Bible teaches that man is inclined toward evil.  Without getting exhaustive let me give a few references.

(Psalms 51:5 KJV)  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

(Romans 5:14 KJV)  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

All human beings are lost.  They cannot help themselves.  That is why the second half of this verse is so important.  Remember that we constantly see reference to the upright and the righteous.  If all are lost, how can this be?  Some people have sought the Lord.  When we seek Him, He responds.  Grace is applied.  We are forgiven, born again, given the Spirit and the ability to be changed persons. 

We can be “not-evil.”  Not because we are that way naturally but because Jesus died on the cross to provide the way of redemption.

So?  Are you still one of the evil?  Are you still trying to be good in your own power?  It ain’t gonna happen.  Confess your sin to God.  Trust in Jesus for your salvation.  Be transformed.  Have you drifted away from God.  There is no time like the present to confess and be renewed.  Any day can be a happy new year.

What the World Needs Now Is...

(Proverbs 27:8 KJV)  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

We have had a lot of rain lately.  At school we always have some kids who like to stand under a down spout.  Others will stand out in the pouring rain.  I tell them that even my dog knows to come in out of the rain.  Sometimes we can look at animals to learn a thing or two.  The behavior that is being examined today is the tendency of a bird to protect the eggs or young in the nest. 

I am not an ornithologist, but I do listen and observe.  When birds in the wild have laid eggs they make sure that they are covered and kept warm at all times.  It my differ in different species but in the examples I remember the mother would keep the eggs warm while the father went off looking for food to feed her, and, after the eggs hatched, to feed the babies.  As they got older the mother might also join the search for food but the nest was never abandoned.

The point for us is that parents have responsibilities.  I think this could be extended to both parents even though the pronoun is masculine here.  My reasoning is that “home” (4725) is better translated as “place” as it is in the KJV.  Thus “man” could be interpreted as “mankind.”  The principle applies both ways.

I think that in our modern culture at least, this should be targeted on men.  We live in a day when men are abandoning their God given responsibility to be fathers and husbands.  The number of families with only a mother in residence is reaching epidemic proportions.  This is not the place to try to analyze the reasons why, except to say it is rooted in sin.  This is the place to remind those who call themselves followers of Christ that the plan of God is for two parents in each home.  If the bird wanders the babies die.  When the man wanders the same thing happens to the children he leaves behind.  Sometimes it is physical death, usually it is emotional death.

So?  Sex leads to children.  That is why God put it in the context of marriage.  Be moral.  Encourage others to be moral.  Don’t do anything that would encourage the kind of thinking that it is cool or manly to have many children by many women.  You might not consider it, but be an influence for moral behavior in your community.

Attitude Check

(Proverbs 26:7 KJV)  The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

This is so politically incorrect and insensitive according to our modern standards that it deserves a close look.  It seems to mock the “lame” (6455).  Not really.  It is actually mocking the “fools” (3684) by making a statement of fact.  Perhaps we should use this as our standard rather than the current fur ball theology.  Full disclosure:  My gift of mercy allocation is so small that even I notice it is missing.  I am aware of this and try to compensate. 

I had the kids at school asking me if I had some syndrome I had never heard of.  They were talking about my eyes.  I am cock-eyed.  It has many terms, such as lazy eye, but it is a genetic thing.  I guess I am focus challenged.  It is the way I am.  I could have gone all sensitive and freaked out because the kids were “mocking” me.  I just laughed and told them I always called it “cock-eyed.”  We are what we are.  We should not get caught up in denial or being language police.  I am cock-eyed.  Some are lame.  Some are blind.  It is what it is.

Handicaps are nothing to be ashamed of.  Picture the man born blind that Jesus healed.  The Jewish leaders were trying to claim he was born blind because of the sin in him or his parents.  They were using his problem to glorify themselves and control those less fortunate.  Jesus said, to the contrary, he was born blind to show the power of God.  Too often we look at our limitations and think someone needs to be blamed.  We look for victims and scapegoats.  Try to wrap a God’s-eye perspective around things.

Our limitations exist for the glory of God.  Remember what Paul said.

(II Corinthians 12:9 NASB) And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

I quote the NASB because I like the word "boast" better than the phrase "glory in."

Think of people who have overcome physical limitations to be successful.  Would anyone have ever heard of Joni Erickson Tada if she had not suffered from a tragic accident?  This is not to say, “Oh, joy.  Another person injured.”  It is to say that God can take any situation we are in and remake it for His glory.  The key is in how we respond.

I do not speak from extreme experience.  I have big feet and a lazy eye.  These are not exactly big handicaps!  But any one of us can take small deficiencies and magnify them into real handicaps.  It depends on our attitude and our faith.  In this verse the problem was not the Proverb.  It was not the broken body.  It was the attitude which made the fool.

So?  Attitude Check.  Certain things are good to do regularly.  I can almost feel the attitude coming on at times.  It helps if I move to nip it in the bud.  I start thinking about my blessings.  I remember the price Jesus paid.  I allow the Holy Spirit to lift me as I call on God.  I remind myself that I am called to be a servant, not the Lord of the Manor.  For me it works.