Change of Pace

I have been posting on this blog now for over 12 years.  I know I have posted late in the day a few times but I don’t think I have actually missed a day.  That means I have written about 144 times for each chapter of Proverbs.  It numbs my mind to think about it.  

I plan to continue writing because this is a personal discipline for me.  My thoughts have certainly not gone viral but the discipline goes on.  

I am going to change my approach a bit.  I will still be reading a chapter of Proverbs each day in my personal worship but in the future I will also be considering the other reading I do for the day or something that might come to my mind as I prepare for the day.  

The Perpetual will continue but the Proverbs will at times be bypassed.

Blessings.

Bucket List

(Pro 31:7 KJV)  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

I have never been drunk.  I have never been even close.  It has been 40 years since I have even tasted alcoholic beverages.  I was curious enough about the taste to hold my nose and take a sip but as far as I was concerned it tasted as bad as it smelled.  So I have a hard time understanding what is going on here.  I read about it in novels and hear horror stories but I don’t have a clue.

There are times when I wonder if I am missing something.  Should I tie one on at least once?  The answer has always been “no” and I imagine it will continue to be that way.  There are some things that we don’t need to experience.  For most of us this is a call to wisdom and counting the cost.

So?  If you identify with one of these people then I guess this could be justification for getting drunk.  Somehow I think the advice of the rest of Proverbs might be a better solution.

The Price Is Right

(Pro 30:22 KJV)  For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

How easily are you bought?  Our cat is accused of being easy at times.  You scratch her ears and she is your friend for life.  At times it seems my grandchildren are easy.  If you want to get them on your side take them to a restaurant, put a bottle of ketchup by their plate, hand them a spoon and look the other way.  Are we any better?

We are constantly promised all kinds of wonderful things.  Senators are notorious for being paragons of virtue the last year of their six year term.  Then, knowing you will forget, they come out of their closet after the election and wreak havoc for five years.  Then they suddenly promise to be different, and get reelected.  Churches will take people in who are clean, smell nice and drive nice cars because they think they are their kind of people.  I still laugh about some friends of ours who had a great appearance but were hand to mouth being invited to a fancy fund raising dinner and we were ignored.  We drove old cars.

So?  There are times when doing the popular thing is the right way to go but we need to follow that path because it is right, not because it is popular.  Don’t be bought.

Killjoy

(Pro 29:18 KJV)  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

I am currently engaged in a sporadic discussion about the law.  Every time I talk about how God expects us to live upright and righteous lives I am accused of being a legalist and rejecting grace.  I obviously don’t see it that way or I would not say the things I do.  I think the law gets a bad rap because our understanding is stilted by a modern version of the traditions of man.  

One question that I find helpful is, “What is the purpose of the law?”  I am sure there are many answers but notice the one that is brought out here.  The law can make us “happy” (835).  I know that some people look at rules as confining and joy quenchers.  The law is designed to enable long term joy, often at the expense of short term thrills.  I did not see the story myself but I understand there was a recent collapse of an amusement park ride.  I would be willing to guess that the cause was ignoring the laws that regulated inspections and weight limits.  I am sure that the first couple of hills were exciting but the crash didn’t sound like fun.

So?  Use tools the way they were designed with the safety devices in place.  Life is more fun with all your fingers and both eyes. 

A Moment with Marx

(Pro 28:3 KJV)  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

As you read the Bible you constantly come across ideas that are at conflict with contemporary accepted mantras.  The way in which the Marxist doctrine of class struggle has been accepted should scare us.  It would if we were paying attention.

Here you have a statement that should alert you to the lie in that teaching.  Here is is clear that oppression is not just something that the rich do.  It is an attitude that does not come from the pocketbook but from the evil in men’s hearts.  It can apply to the poor as well as the rich.

So?  Be aware of the lies being taught.  Know the truth.  Examine your own values and priorities.

Wanderful

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

This is a word picture that does not automatically resonate with me.  Of course birds “wander” (5074).  How else do you expect them to find the food they need?  If you were applying the term to people this could involve going off to work, shopping or visiting friends but that is not the sense of the Hebrew.  One of the translations it to flee, to run away or be chased away.  

I think one of the reasons that families fall apart is because the “man” (376) does not want to be responsible or has come to a place where he can’t take any more.  One could be caused by the other.  When Proverbs uses the word “man” you need to look a little deeper.  Sometimes you notice the word is in italics.  That means it is not in the Hebrew, thus when the Hebrew says “evil” the translators add “man” in what they think will clarify.  Or they might put “man” instead of “soul”.

So?  Christians are expected to be responsible.  God expects it and friends and family should be able to depend on it. 

The Buck Starts Here

(Pro 25:5 KJV)  Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

The Bible does not give advice on politics in regard to political parties or partisan issues.  It does give us standards for our lives and our decisions that apply to politics and since we live in an age and place where a republican form of government is still on the books, we should take the standards of God and apply them to our political decisions as well as whom we will marry.  

As I write this the “early voting” time period has begun.  I am not sure if I will post it before or after the polls close so let me address it to both possibilities.  If you have not voted yet then you need to be aware that God expects you to do what you can to “take away” (1898) the “wicked” (7563) that have any access to our “king” (4428), which in our polity refers to the president.  In Proverbs you have a monarchy so you would think the king should be doing the removing but notice the wording.  It does not say, “King, take away....”  Even in a monarchy you have people who can influence what is going on.  If you have not voted then that rests on you.  As far as you are able you need to exercise your privilege and vote for the least wicked power broker you can.

If the election is over then most of this will be directed toward those with influence.  Then it will be time for those who were elected or reelected to step up to the plate and work to remove evil from the palace.  

So?  Be prayerful.  Be obedient.  Be aware that evil exists and we might have a voice in doing something about that.