(Proverbs 31:11 KJV) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
The KJV has two differences from the NASB in translating this verse. The first is in inserting the word “safely” before “trust” (982) the second is in talking about “spoil” (7998) instead of “gain.” I want to look at the second. I must admit that I think the KJV is more accurate here.
In both translations the word is usually translated “spoils”. It has a root of plunder and booty, not just simple profit. Why it is “gain” here in many translations I do not know. I think the point here is that a trustworthy wife can keep a husband from compromise. How many times has a woman spent her husband into penury? How many times has a need for a new car or the latest fashion caused a man to work extra hours, take a second job or cut corners that should not be cut?
Reverse it. How many times has a man forced his wife to work instead of staying home with the kids so he could have the new truck or more leisure? How many men are slacking by putting their wives into the job market? Financial responsibility is a matter that involves both spouses.
So? Are you trapped into the financial rat race because you want more or is there genuine need? I can’t call that one for you. You can’t call it for me. God is the judge and He knows the heart.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
Earthshaking Brides
(Proverbs 30:23 KJV) For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
This is not a theme for a romance novel. This is not Cinderella, slaving away for the ugly step-sisters and finally getting discovered by Prince Charming. This is the ugly step-sister who has forced her foot into the slipper and obligated the Prince to marry her. As the KJV says, she is “odious” (8130). As the context says, she shakes up her world. She also ruins the life of the Prince and his entire family.
One lesson is for us to be aware that all are not innocent victims. Some are obnoxious manipulators. Some people are sitting in the corner by themselves because they are so unpleasant to be around. God loves them. Jesus died for them. They are still “odious”.
Another lesson is that we had better not be that anti-social person. We are not allowed to be nasty to people. We can’t manipulate and destroy and have a part of the Kingdom of God.
So? Walk in love. Practice love. That means patience, kindness, forgetting wrongs and all those other things that the world mocks. Walk in grace.
This is not a theme for a romance novel. This is not Cinderella, slaving away for the ugly step-sisters and finally getting discovered by Prince Charming. This is the ugly step-sister who has forced her foot into the slipper and obligated the Prince to marry her. As the KJV says, she is “odious” (8130). As the context says, she shakes up her world. She also ruins the life of the Prince and his entire family.
One lesson is for us to be aware that all are not innocent victims. Some are obnoxious manipulators. Some people are sitting in the corner by themselves because they are so unpleasant to be around. God loves them. Jesus died for them. They are still “odious”.
Another lesson is that we had better not be that anti-social person. We are not allowed to be nasty to people. We can’t manipulate and destroy and have a part of the Kingdom of God.
So? Walk in love. Practice love. That means patience, kindness, forgetting wrongs and all those other things that the world mocks. Walk in grace.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
A Song of Hope
(Proverbs 29:6 KJV) In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
What a song of hope this gives us. Life can dish up some pretty tense moments. We face temptations on all fronts. I am not talking about the classical things like sex and booze. I am talking about the temptation to compromise on the clear teaching of the word of God. I am talking about the temptation to submit to despair. It is always there.
Look at our nation spending and fornicating its way into a Sodom experience. Look at our world being attacked by killers and terrorists. Look at the front page with its predictions of massive earthquakes and killer comets. If we give in to despair we are joining the “evil” (7451b). If we want to stay on the “righteous” (6662) team we sing about the hope and assurance we have in Jesus. It isn’t hiding our heads in the sand. It is understanding the big picture.
So? Are the Chinese, Koreans or Iranians going to nuke us? Maybe. Will it be fun? No way. Can we be ready to either go be with Jesus or stay and be salt? Definitely. Rejoice. You are part of the solution.
What a song of hope this gives us. Life can dish up some pretty tense moments. We face temptations on all fronts. I am not talking about the classical things like sex and booze. I am talking about the temptation to compromise on the clear teaching of the word of God. I am talking about the temptation to submit to despair. It is always there.
Look at our nation spending and fornicating its way into a Sodom experience. Look at our world being attacked by killers and terrorists. Look at the front page with its predictions of massive earthquakes and killer comets. If we give in to despair we are joining the “evil” (7451b). If we want to stay on the “righteous” (6662) team we sing about the hope and assurance we have in Jesus. It isn’t hiding our heads in the sand. It is understanding the big picture.
So? Are the Chinese, Koreans or Iranians going to nuke us? Maybe. Will it be fun? No way. Can we be ready to either go be with Jesus or stay and be salt? Definitely. Rejoice. You are part of the solution.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Borrowing Trouble
(Proverbs 28:10 KJV) Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
There is no clear statement here that the person doing the leading is automatically “evil” (7451b). The results of their action clearly are but it does not say they are themselves. Let’s look at the context to get a feel. That does not always work in Proverbs but bear with me.
In verse 8 we see reference to usury and unjust gain. One of the major traps of life all through history has been debt. It was one of the three ways that people could end up being sold into slavery. Debt is a destroyer. In our modern times where everything is based on debt and our credit score it gets even worse. We not only have all the shiny toys, now we can buy them. In ancient times people went into debt from desperation. Now we go into debt because we want more than we can pay for now and are not willing to wait for satisfaction. Credit cards and “needs” destroy individuals and families. It is destroying our country.
How does this come back to bite the lender? When you get an entire culture living beyond its means then eventually things fall apart. Think of Paris during the French Revolution or Russia in 1917. To be wealthy was to be a target. It could happen here.
So? When someone comes to you for a loan think twice before you say “yes”. Maybe think three times. Do they really need it? Are you contributing to their destruction? Are you laying the groundwork for hostility toward yourself?
There is no clear statement here that the person doing the leading is automatically “evil” (7451b). The results of their action clearly are but it does not say they are themselves. Let’s look at the context to get a feel. That does not always work in Proverbs but bear with me.
In verse 8 we see reference to usury and unjust gain. One of the major traps of life all through history has been debt. It was one of the three ways that people could end up being sold into slavery. Debt is a destroyer. In our modern times where everything is based on debt and our credit score it gets even worse. We not only have all the shiny toys, now we can buy them. In ancient times people went into debt from desperation. Now we go into debt because we want more than we can pay for now and are not willing to wait for satisfaction. Credit cards and “needs” destroy individuals and families. It is destroying our country.
How does this come back to bite the lender? When you get an entire culture living beyond its means then eventually things fall apart. Think of Paris during the French Revolution or Russia in 1917. To be wealthy was to be a target. It could happen here.
So? When someone comes to you for a loan think twice before you say “yes”. Maybe think three times. Do they really need it? Are you contributing to their destruction? Are you laying the groundwork for hostility toward yourself?
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Give a Fig
(Proverbs 27:18 KJV) Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
This seems to be a place in Proverbs that has a series of unconnected thoughts. This verse stands alone and is another way of expressing the greatest commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. It picks two types of work that are not that common today but have modern equivalents.
Ancient Israel did not have the wide variety of fruits available that we enjoy today. One was the fig. I would imagine that it was a hardy plant that could be cultivated in hilly country with iffy sources of water. Figs were not the cuisine of kings. Today we might think of farm workers who pick apples destined for the apple sauce or apple juice plants. They are working hard for low wages. If they eat a few apples in the process it is okay. We are to be considerate of those who work hard for a living, not look down on them.
How do you treat the clerks in Walmart? I agree that often their “service” does not deserve kindness but that is still what we are called to ladle out. We are to be courteous and kind because they are qualities of agape and we are to be controlled by agape.
So? Think of it as a way of turning the other cheek. It is difficult and counter intuitive but it is our standard of behavior.
This seems to be a place in Proverbs that has a series of unconnected thoughts. This verse stands alone and is another way of expressing the greatest commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. It picks two types of work that are not that common today but have modern equivalents.
Ancient Israel did not have the wide variety of fruits available that we enjoy today. One was the fig. I would imagine that it was a hardy plant that could be cultivated in hilly country with iffy sources of water. Figs were not the cuisine of kings. Today we might think of farm workers who pick apples destined for the apple sauce or apple juice plants. They are working hard for low wages. If they eat a few apples in the process it is okay. We are to be considerate of those who work hard for a living, not look down on them.
How do you treat the clerks in Walmart? I agree that often their “service” does not deserve kindness but that is still what we are called to ladle out. We are to be courteous and kind because they are qualities of agape and we are to be controlled by agape.
So? Think of it as a way of turning the other cheek. It is difficult and counter intuitive but it is our standard of behavior.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Cause or Effect?
(Proverbs 26:21 KJV) As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
The obvious reminder for today is that we are not to be “contentious” (4066 NASB/4079 KJV). Our effect on people around us should not be causing strife. Where this is put in the “don’t” category, Jesus put it in the “do” column,
So? This is a tall order. I understand it is harder for some personalities than others. That does not change God’s expectation.
The obvious reminder for today is that we are not to be “contentious” (4066 NASB/4079 KJV). Our effect on people around us should not be causing strife. Where this is put in the “don’t” category, Jesus put it in the “do” column,
(Matthew 5:9 KJV) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.And Paul chimed in
(Romans 12:18 KJV) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.I don’t think this is saying to keep our mouths closed when we see evil. That might not be possible. It means to not be the source of the evil.
So? This is a tall order. I understand it is harder for some personalities than others. That does not change God’s expectation.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Satisfied or Surfeited
(Proverbs 25:16 KJV) Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
The KJV and NASB have a tension here. One goes with “excess” (7464), the other goes with “filled”. Those would seem to be different concepts but they are both based on the same Hebrew word. And notice they both result in vomiting. The difficulty is that the word has a wide range of meanings from simply being satisfied to being surfeited. I had to look that last one up. It means stuffing so much food into your stomach that you cause it to malfunction, thus vomiting.
Like so many things we do, the meaning is found in the context. In this case, since you have the word “vomit” (7006a) as a result, it must mean the word of excess. This is difficult for a legalist and dangerous for an antinomian. One wants to ignore the Holy Spirit and one wants to ignore the law. Both are required to walk in righteousness.
So? Moderation obviously is required, but there is also a reminder that the rules of God are to be interpreted with a desire to understand them properly, not just an easy way out.
The KJV and NASB have a tension here. One goes with “excess” (7464), the other goes with “filled”. Those would seem to be different concepts but they are both based on the same Hebrew word. And notice they both result in vomiting. The difficulty is that the word has a wide range of meanings from simply being satisfied to being surfeited. I had to look that last one up. It means stuffing so much food into your stomach that you cause it to malfunction, thus vomiting.
Like so many things we do, the meaning is found in the context. In this case, since you have the word “vomit” (7006a) as a result, it must mean the word of excess. This is difficult for a legalist and dangerous for an antinomian. One wants to ignore the Holy Spirit and one wants to ignore the law. Both are required to walk in righteousness.
So? Moderation obviously is required, but there is also a reminder that the rules of God are to be interpreted with a desire to understand them properly, not just an easy way out.
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