Proverbs-A Bible Study

Proverbs 12: 16 – Stop and THINK!

2011-11-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

I’ve chosen to title this post, “Stop and THINK!” This verse seems to say that doing that, is the difference between being called a “fool” or being someone who is “prudent.”

Proverbs 12: 16 (NKJV)
¹⁶ A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

First, lets look at the definitions of the main words in this verse. I used the online Free Dictionary by Farlex.

fool: 1. One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding. 2. One who acts unwisely on a given occasion

wrath: 1. angry, violent, or stern indignation 2. Punishment or vengeance as a manifestation of anger

prudent: 1. discreet or cautious in managing one's activities; circumspect 2. practical and careful in providing for the future 3. exercising good judgment or common sense

covers: 1. a. To protect or shield from harm, loss, or danger.

shame: 1. a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of having done something dishonorable, unworthy, degrading, etc.2. an occasion for regret, disappointment, etc.

The first part of this verse says that “A fool’s wrath is known at once.” As we see from the definitions, a “fool” is someone who is deficient in judgment and/or one who acts unwisely on a given occasion. In this case, the occasion is one of ANGER, and can even be some kind of vengeance because of that anger.

An example of this would be the person who can’t control their temper and strikes out with a fist or something at the person they are mad at… or even at someone that is “in their way” during a fit of anger at something or someone else. They are fools because they act before thinking, being carried away by their feelings instead of controlling them. God calls these people, “fools!”

The second part of the verse contrasts the “fool” with the “prudent man.” A prudent man is a person who is discreet or cautious in managing his activities. This person exercises good judgment and common sense and is careful to provide for the future. He doesn’t jump into things with “fists ‘a flailin’” but takes a step back and thinks about the next step and what it could mean for his future.

One of the definitions of “cover” is to protect or shield from harm, loss or danger, and this is the one that seemed to me to be the closest to the meaning in this verse in its context. IF a person steps back and thinks things through, with an eye to the future, then they will want to protect or shield themselves, and/or those they love, from the loss or danger that comes with doing something dishonorable, unworthy or degrading.

They don’t want to have to look back on their actions with regret and disappointment in themselves and in what they have done. They don’t want to have to say, “I’m sorry,” but want to be able to stand up as having acted honorably, so that they can be proud of themselves, and, more importantly, so that those they love, like God or their families, can be proud of them.

Lord, I ask that when trying situations come into my life, that I will STOP and THINK before I act or say something that I will regret later on. Please give me wisdom in these situations. Amen.

Proverbs 12: 15 Seek Wise Counsel…

2010-08-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

This verse is another contrast between those that God sees as being foolish and the ones He sees as being wise.

Proverbs 12: 15 (NKJV)

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

But he who heeds counsel is wise.

Here are the definitions of the main words in these verses:

the way: the path

fool: One who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding; opposite of wise

right: Most favorable, desirable, or convenient

heeds: pays attention to; listens to and considers

counsel: Advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person

wise: 1. possessing, showing, or prompted by wisdom or discernment 2. prudent; sensible

Using these definitions, we see that people who are deficient in judgment and understanding choose paths that THEY feel is most favorable or convenient for them. They base their path in life on their feelings instead of sound judgment.

In contrast, the person who shows wisdom or discernment and is sensible, will listen to and pay attention to advice or guidance from a knowledgeable person.

As we saw in the first several chapters of Proverbs, God illustrated that the wisdom that comes from Him and studying His Word is the true wisdom available in this world. Since He created this world, He knows what will help us get through our life in it, in ways where He can lead and bless us.

We must be very careful to base the way we act and the things we do in this life, on what God says and not on what we “feel like doing” from one minute to the next.

Proverbs 3:1-12 (N I V)

Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,

but keep my commands in your heart,

2 for they will prolong your life many years

and bring you prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will direct your paths.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and shun evil.

8 This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,

with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

and your vats will brim over with new wine.

11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline

and do not resent his rebuke,

12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,

as a father, the son he delights in.

Proverbs 12: 14 What Will You Sow…

2010-07-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse continues with the theme of being careful with our speech, and the “work” we do for those things will decide the type of “reward” we will receive.

Proverbs 12: 14 (NKJV)

14. A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,

And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

satisfied: Filled with satisfaction; content

good: Ample; substantial: a good income. b. Bountiful

fruit: Result; outcome (in this usage of the word)

mouth: Utterance; voice

recompense: to pay or reward for service, work

hands: 1. Physical assistance; help 2. One who performs manual labor

rendered: 1. To give what is due or owed 2. To give in return or retribution

When we look at the definitions of our main words in this verse, we see that God says a person will be filled with satisfaction and be content with an ample, and bountiful income as a result of the wise things he says.

The second line can be interpreted two ways: If you sow bad seeds (laziness, evil, etc.), you will be rewarded with bad things, while if you plant good deeds/words/actions, etc. you will be rewarded with God’s blessings. It boils down to, “you will receive what you earn…” OR, another way of putting it would be, “you will reap what you sow…”

Proverbs 12: 13 Be Ensnared or Make it Through…

2010-06-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse is about the trouble we can get into through the things that we say…

Proverbs 12: 13 (NKJV)

13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

But the righteous will come through trouble.

First, let's check our definitions...

wicked: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious

ensnared: to trap or gain power over someone by dishonest or underhand means

transgression: 1. A violation of a law, command, or duty 2. The exceeding of due bounds or limits.

lips: Insolent talk; To utter

righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin

through: 1. In one side and out the opposite or another side of 2. At or to the end of; done or finished with, especially successfully

trouble: 1. A state of distress, affliction, difficulty, or need 2. A distressing or difficult circumstance or situation 3. A condition of pain, disease, or malfunction

As we can see, evil, obnoxious people can become trapped by speaking about violating the laws or duties that have been given to them. Morally upright men, on the other hand will make it out of their problems because they will be guided and blessed by God.

Job 15:5 (NKJV) says: Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty, and Jesus said, in Mark 7: 18 (NKJV) “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart…”

The book of James also teaches about our speech…

James 3: 5 – 10 (NKJV)

5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

And finally, the Amplified Bible brings us a clear picture of what God would have our speech be:

Ephesians 4:29-32 (Amplified Bible)

29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).

32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

Proverbs 12: 12 Wanting and Getting

2010-06-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 12: 12 (NKJV)

12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men,

But the root of the righteous yields fruit.

Here are today’s Definitions of the main words:

wicked: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious

covet: long for, desire, fancy, envy, crave, aspire to, yearn for, thirst for, begrudge, hanker after, lust after, set your heart on, have your eye on, would give your eyeteeth for

catch: 1. To capture or seize, especially after a chase. 2. To take by or as if by trapping or snaring. 3. To take hold of, especially forcibly or suddenly 4. To hold, as by snagging or entangling 5. To deceive

evil: 1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked 2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful 3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous 4. Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous 5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious

root: An essential part or element; the basic core

righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin

yields: 1. a. To give forth by or as if by a natural process, especially by cultivation b. To furnish as return for effort or investment; be productive

fruit: Result; outcome (in this usage of the word)

Using these definitions, we see that those that are evil by nature, and in practice, lust after or crave, the things that other morally bad and evil, malicious men have captured, often through trapping or deceiving others. God says, though, that the basic core or spirit of those that are morally upright, will produce or cultivate good results and outcomes. This would come through the natural process of having God furnish the return on the investment put in through living in Godly ways and with God given wisdom.

This is the basic reason that God put in the Ten Commandments, that we shouldn’t covet, for it breeds evil. If we follow God and HIS ways, we will be blessed.

Proverbs 12: 11 Work and Eat…

2010-06-07T19:26:00.000-07:00

This verse is the essence of the story of the grasshopper and the ant. The ant worked HARD all summer while the grasshopper wiled away the hours, playing and having fun, but when the winter came, the ant had plenty of provisions laid up for his family, while the grasshopper died out in the cold.

Proverbs 12: 11 (NKJV)

11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,

But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.

tills: To prepare (land) for the raising of crops, as by plowing and harrowing; cultivate

satisfied: Filled with satisfaction; content

bread: 1. a. Food in general, regarded as necessary for sustaining life b. Something that nourishes; sustenance 3. Means of support; livelihood

frivolous: 1. Unworthy of serious attention; trivial 2. Inappropriately silly

frivolity: 1. The quality or condition of being frivolous. 2. A frivolous act or thing.

devoid: Completely lacking; destitute or empty

understanding: 1. Characterized by or having comprehension, good sense, intelligence or discernment. 2. Compassionate; sympathetic

Using the definitions of the main words from today’s verse, we see that the person who works by doing the job that God has given him to bring him his “Daily Bread,” will be sustained and content, while the person who doesn’t pay attention and just goes around being silly instead of working, doesn’t show ANY intelligence or good sense.

I found some of the other translations of this verse to be helpful in understanding it as well:

The New American Standard Bible puts it this way:

11. He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense.

The New International Version says: 11. He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

And last, but not least, “The Message” version says: 11. The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies.

Proverbs 12: 10 (NKJV) The Treatment of Your Animals Shows What’s Inside…

2010-06-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse talks about the way people treat their animals as being a way to judge their character. I find this interesting because we see more and more animal abuse and neglect as the incidence of other forms of crime, abuse and neglect rise.

Proverbs 12: 10

10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,

But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin Upright: Adhering strictly to moral principles

regards: 1. To give heed; pay attention 2. To take into account; consider. 3. Obsolete: To take care of.

Synonyms: regard, esteem, admiration, respect

These nouns refer to a feeling based on perception of and approval for the worth of a person or thing

mercies: 1. Compassionate treatment 2. A disposition to be kind and forgiving 3. Alleviation of distress; relief 4. humane and kind, sympathetic, or forgiving treatment of or disposition toward others

wicked: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious

cruel: predisposed to inflict violence, pain, or hardship, or to find satisfaction in the suffering of others

By using the definitions of the main words of the Bible Text, we see that people that are morally upright, or adhere strictly to moral principles, will pay attention to the care of their animals. They feel that there is worth in living things, and that they have feelings and need love.

By contrast, those people that are evil by nature and in practice, and that are predisposed to inflict violence, pain, or hardship, or to find satisfaction in the suffering of others, just don’t seem to have the capacity within themselves to give humane and kind, sympathetic or compassionate treatment even to their animals. Jesus said, "You shall know them by their fruits..."

This is SO SAD! I feel that one of the main ways to change people is to change their hearts, and only love, and in particular, the Love of God and His forgiveness in lives, will do that. When we ask Jesus into our lives to wash us from the sins we’ve repented of, and to become the LORD and Savior in our lives, then HE will change us from within, and when He comes again, Romans 8:21-23 tells us:

Romans 8: 21 – 23 (NKJV)

21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Proverbs 12: 9 (NKJV) Humility vs. Pride

2010-05-11T03:08:00.000-07:00

I have had some trouble with this verse and finally decided to look it up in some Bible Study notes. The definitions below give some clues, as well.

Proverbs 12: 9

9 Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant,

Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

Here are the definitions of the main words. The Bible commentary that I used said that the part about “honoring himself” meant that the person was arrogant, so I added the definition for that word as well.

slighted: 1. To treat as of small importance; make light of. 2. To treat with discourteous reserve or inattention.

honor: 1. High respect, as that shown for special merit; 2. Good name; reputation. 3. Glory or recognition; distinction.

lacks: To be without or in need of

arrogance: The state or quality of being arrogant; overbearing pride.

A person who is “slighted,” is one who is looked down on or made light of. They are treated discourteously by ignoring them purposely. The person that is spoken of in the first part of this verse, is well off enough, though, to have a servant. He may not be treated nicely by those around him, and he may even be ignored, but he doesn’t come to his own defense. He is humble.

The second part of the verse speaks of a person who “honors HIMSELF.” He acts like he is something special, and seeks after glory or recognition, putting himself above others. Another word that describes this attitude (as given in the Bible Commentary I used from my NKJV Bible’s notes) is arrogance, or an overbearing pride.

The person that is being arrogant and prideful in THIS case is one that doesn’t even have enough money to buy bread.

The point of this verse is that even if you are treated badly by those that around you, but you still are “solvent” enough, or have enough money to have a servant, you are much better off than someone who is to prideful and arrogant to do what needs to be done to help to support himself and/or his family.

I would note, at this point, that pride is also one of the “Seven Deadly Sins” spoken of earlier in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 12: 8 (NKJV) Commended or Despised?

2010-03-22T23:57:00.000-07:00

We have choices in the way we live our lives. We can live in ways that will bring commendations our way, or we can live in ways that make others despise us.

Proverbs 12: 8

8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,

But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

Here are the definitions of the main words in today’s Bible verse as found in the Online Dictionary:

commended: To express approval of; praise.

according: 1. To grant, especially as being due or appropriate 2. To bestow upon

perverse: 1. Directed away from what is right or good; perverted. 2. Obstinately persisting in an error or fault; wrongly self-willed or stubborn. 3. Marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict. 4. Cranky; peevish.

heart: 1. Emotional constitution, basic disposition, or character 2. The most important or essential part

despised: 1. To regard with contempt or scorn 2. To dislike intensely; loathed 3. To regard as unworthy of one's interest or concern

As we have seen in past studies, we gain wisdom as we study God’s ways and live according to His precepts. He also promises to give us wisdom if we ask for it. When we do these things, we become more and more like Him, taking on many of His attributes. The wiser we get, the more we realize that God is the one that helps us to become more and more like Him and we can’t take the credit for it.

Today’s verse tells us that we will receive approval or have praise granted to, or bestowed upon, us in accordance with the amount of wisdom that our lives show, but those whose most important or essential disposition or character is perverted, contradictory, wrongly self-willed, stubborn, cranky or peevish will be regarded by others as contemptible. They will end up being disliked, loathed, or regarded as unworthy of interest or concern by others.

We have the choice to turn to God and study His ways to become wise and receive approval, or to continue to live in self-willed stubborn ways, and end up becoming contemptible.

Proverbs 12:6 Watch your tongue…

2010-03-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

Today's verse contrasts the way that wicked men speak with the life giving way that people who follow God talk, and shows what results from each manner of talking.

Proverbs 12: 6 (NKJV)
6 The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

wicked: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious
upright: Adhering strictly to moral principles; righteous
deliver: To set free, as from misery, peril, or evil

Those that are offensive, obnoxious, and evil in everything they think or do show the things that are in their hearts by spewing it out in their words. They plan evil and death with their friends.

In contrast, people that stick to high moral principles speak words of comfort, love, care, and peace… things that will help them to be set free from misery, peril or evil when they find themselves in difficult circumstances.

Proverbs 12:5 (NKJV) What is inside of you?

2010-02-20T01:43:00.000-08:00

In lots of Bible Verses, the idea is put forth that what is IN a man’s heart/soul/inner being is what will drive him throughout his life. It will end up being what others ultimately see him as…

Proverbs 12: 5

⁵ The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful

Here are the definitions of the main words in today’s verse:

thoughts: 1. the act or process of thinking; meditation, or reflection 2. application of mental attention; consideration 3. purpose or intention

righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin Upright: Adhering strictly to moral principles

right: That which is just, morally good, legal, proper, or fitting.

counsels: 1. A plan of action. 2. Private, guarded thoughts or opinions

wicked: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious

deceitful: 1. Given to cheating or deceiving. 2. Deliberately misleading; deceptive.

Using these definitions, we can see that the people who are moral, or without sin, meditate on, or give their mental attention to the things that are just, morally good and proper, while the private, guarded thoughts and opinions that cause evil men to make their plans will lead them into areas given to cheating or deceiving others. These type of highly offensive, obnoxious men will deliberately mislead others.

As we have seen in our studies before, by accepting Jesus into our hearts and learning to let the Holy Spirit lead us in God’s ways, we can become righteous as HE changes our hearts and renews them. In fact, that is the ONLY way that we CAN become righteous! His Spirit “renews” and "feeds" our hearts and minds as we follow the paths that He leads us on with the light of His Word.

Proverbs 12:4 (NKJV) Good wife – Bad Wife

2010-02-12T01:55:00.000-08:00

Today’s verse teaches us about the difference between how a husband with a “good wife” feels compared to what the husband of a “bad wife” feels.

Proverbs 12:4
4 An excellent wife (literally: wife of valor) is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

Here are the definitions of the main words in today’s verse:

excellent: Of the highest or finest quality; extremely meritorious
valor: 1. the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger 2. a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
crown: A distinction or reward for achievement, especially a title
shame: 1. A painful emotion caused by a strong sense of guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace. 2. One that brings dishonor, disgrace, or condemnation. 3. A condition of disgrace or dishonor; ignominy. 4. A great disappointment. rottenness: 1. the quality of rotting and becoming putrid 2. Made weak or unsound by rot

Using these definitions, we find that a wife of the highest quality or one with a quality of spirit that enables them to face danger or pain without showing fear, is a reward, presumably from God, to their husband. All of us have to face problems and pain in this life, but a husband that has a wife that will stand with them during those times is blessed.

In contrast, a wife that brings embarrassment, dishonor, disgrace, or condemnation on her husband, is looked upon by God as someone who makes their husband feel weak, and unsound, as if their bones… the part of their body that holds them up and supports them… are rotting and turning putrid.

Often, women don’t understand this about their men. Men NEED to feel respected by their wives, as it says in Ephesians 5:33b. Sometimes, this can be a very hard thing to do if they haven’t done much to be worthy of respect. The first part of Eph. 5 tells us that Christian men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, being willing to die for her… A husband who puts his life on the line (whichever way the wife NEEDS) to show his love, will win the respect of the wife.

This is an interesting dilemma, and one of the reasons that God asks us to be very careful to not be “unequally yoked,” or married to someone who is NOT a Christian. Of course, if we become a Christian AFTER we are married, it just becomes harder for the spouse. If he isn’t a Christian, he will generally NOT have that love deep down inside, that is given by God, and will be unable, or unwilling to give the type of love that God made marriage to be designed for. This, in turn will make it hard for the wife to respect him.

Still, God asks that WE treat others, and that includes our spouses, in the way that He wants us to treat them… with the love He speaks of in 1 Corinthians 13.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NKJV)

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails…

Proverbs 12:3 Do You Want Stability?

2010-01-15T01:35:00.000-08:00

Today’s verse speaks of having a stable foundation that can be our strength in times of trouble.

Proverbs 12:3 (NKJV)

3 A man is not established by wickedness,

But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

First, as usual, let’s look at the definitions of our main words:

established: 1. To place or settle in a secure position or condition; install. 2. To make firm or secure.
wickedness: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious
root: An essential part or element; the basic core
righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin Upright: Adhering strictly to moral principles
moved: To dislodge from a fixed point of view

Today’s verse tells us that a person is not made secure, or placed into a secure position by being evil, offensive, or obnoxious, but one who adheres strictly to moral principles in the basic core of their being, can not be dislodged from a foundation of truth. With God’s foundation secure within us, we have all that we need to find peace in our lives.

Proverbs 12: 2 (NKJV) God’s Favor or condemnation?

2010-01-04T21:32:00.000-08:00

Today’s verse speaks of obtaining God’s favor or His condemnation. This is OUR choice. We can choose which way we will be… either good, or wicked.

Proverbs 12: 2
2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD, But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

Here are the definitions of the main words from this verse:

good: 1. Worthy of respect; honorable. 2. Reliable; sure 3. Valid or true 4. Genuine; real 5. Of moral excellence; upright 6. Benevolent; kind 7. Loyal; staunch 8. Well-behaved; obedient
obtains: To succeed in gaining possession of as the result of planning or endeavor
favor: Friendly or favorable regard; approval or support, Something given as a token of love, affection
wicked: 1. Evil by nature and in practice 2. Highly offensive; obnoxious
intentions: A course of action that one intends to follow
condemn: 1. To express strong disapproval of 2. To pronounce judgment against; sentence

Using these definitions, we see that a person that lives a lifestyle that is worthy of the respect of others because they are reliable, truthful, upright, kind, loyal, obedient, and real or honest in their dealings is someone that gains the approval or support of a God that loves them.

God loves us anyway, but, as a good parent does with their children, they discipline them if they aren’t living in a good way, so that they will change FOR THEIR OWN GOOD!

Once a person does live in a "good" way, then God is faithful and will help, or bless, them in the things that they do. God also tells us that WE can never be truly "good" enough, by ourselves, to be able to go to heaven because our sin has tainted us, but through repentance of our sins and acceptance of Jesus free gift of life, then God can see us as "good" and will help us to change into that image...

In contrast, those that intend to live in a way that shows they are evil by nature and show this by doing offensive and obnoxious things to others, will find that God will strongly disapprove of them, and will end up, since He is a “Just” God, pronouncing judgment against them. According to His Word, He could, eventually, even have to sentence them to hell.

Psalm 37:20

But the wicked shall perish; And the enemies of the LORD, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

God does not WANT to have to pronounce this sentence on anyone as we see from the following passages in His word:

Ezekiel 33:11

Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die…

Ezekiel 33:18-20 (NKJV)

18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it. 19 But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways.”

As is indicated in today’s verse, God’s favor or His condemnation is MY CHOICE! I need to remember this each day and stay on God's Path to goodness.

Proverbs 12:1 (NKJV) Knowledge or Stupidity

2009-12-14T23:39:00.000-08:00

Today, we are starting a new chapter in Proverbs, and this first verse speaks of the difference between those that thirst for knowledge and those that reject correction or training.

Proverbs 12:1

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,

But he who hates correction is stupid.

instruction: 1. a direction or order 2. the process or act of imparting knowledge; teaching; education

knowledge: 1. The state or fact of knowing. 2. Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. 3. The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.

correction: 1. The act or process of correcting. 2. Something offered or substituted for a mistake or fault

stupid: 1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse. 2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes. 3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless

Using the definitions of the main words in today’s verse, we find that those that love receiving directions or orders that help them to learn will find that they will come to love HAVING that knowledge… it comes in handy so often somewhere along the line. Others also end up looking up to knowledgeable people.

In contrast, those that dislike or “hate” being corrected and being taught correctly, will find that they will be slower to learn. They will also tend to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.

As we have seen in so many verses in this book, God wants us to seek wisdom and knowledge BECAUSE He doesn’t want us to make poor decisions and careless mistakes throughout our lives. He wants us to have abundantly blessed lives because He loves us.

Proverbs 11: 31 Reap What You Sow

2009-12-11T21:26:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 11: 31 (NKJV)

31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,

How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

recompense: Payment in return for something

ungodly : 1. Not revering God; impious. 2. Sinful; wicked

Today’s verse is the last one in this chapter, and is another way of saying, “You will reap what you sow.” It tells us that those that are morally upright, and without guilt or sin, will receive a “just” payment for the way they have lived. We have seen, in other studies, that living wisely (following God’s Will and ways) bring rewards in our lives here on earth in the blessings that God pours out on us: Peace, Joy, Love, etc.

The second part of this verse says that those that don’t follow God’s way, but choose to live in a sinful and wicked way, will also be “payed back” for the things that they do. We need to remember to build our "house" or life, upon the rock of God and not the sand of Sin.

Proverbs 11: 30 Fruit of the Righteous

2009-12-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 11: 30 (NKJV)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.

The following definitions were taken from the Online Dictionary…

fruit: Result; outcome (in this usage of the word)

righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin

tree of life: A tree in the Garden of Eden whose fruit, if eaten, gave everlasting life

wins: To achieve success in an effort or venture

soul: 1. The animating and vital principle in humans, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity. 2. The spiritual nature of humans, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state. 3. A person considered as the perfect embodiment of an intangible quality; a personification 4. A person's emotional or moral nature:

Using these definitions, we see that this verse tells us, those that follow a life of righteousness will have the result of gaining everlasting life. Also, they are wise if they achieve success in bringing another person’s immortal, moral nature into a relationship with God so that they can become morally upright and without sin (through the salvation Christ offers).

Proverbs 11: 29 Heir or Servant

2009-12-02T21:10:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 11: 29 (NKJV)

29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,

And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

heir: 1. A person who inherits or is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another. 2. A person who succeeds or is in line to succeed to a hereditary rank, title, or office. 3. One who receives or is expected to receive a heritage, as of ideas, from a predecessor.

v. troubles: 1. To agitate; stir up. 2. To afflict with pain or discomfort. 3. To cause emotional strain or anxiety to; worry or distress. 4. To inconvenience; bother

servant: 1. One who expresses submission, recognizance, or debt to another

The first part of today’s verse talks about a person who agitates, or stirs up problems in their own home. This type of person brings worry, distress and emotional strain to all those around them. A person of this type can cause so much trouble that they could be “kicked out” or “disinherited” from the family, thus inheriting nothing but “wind/air” in the long run.

The second part of the verse goes on to say that a person that is foolish like this, will end up serving or owing others who are “wise of heart.” In past verses, we have seen that, in the Bible, God considers a person to be “wise of heart” when they follow His leading and teachings in their lives.

Several of the “Fruits of the Spirit,” which grow in those that DO choose to follow God and become born again so that His Spirit lives within them, are attributes that would be the opposite of “stirring up troubles,” but instead, will bring peace and love into the family.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Proverbs 11: 28 Trust

2009-11-17T21:29:00.000-08:00

Today’s verse speaks of trust. Some people trust in their own abilities to accrue riches, while others trust in God and His blessings because they are living a righteous life following His ways.

Proverbs 11: 28 (NKJV)
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Here are the definitions, from the Online Dictionary, of our principle words:

trust: 1. To have or place confidence in; depend on. 2. To expect with assurance; assume

riches: wealth; an abundance of money, valuable possessions, or property

fall: 1. A reduction in value, amount, or degree. 2. A marked, often sudden, decline in status, rank, or importance:

flourish: 1. To grow well or luxuriantly; thrive: 2. To do or fare well; prosper: 3. To be in a period of highest productivity, excellence, or influence

foliage: 1. Plant leaves, especially tree leaves, considered as a group.

Using these definitions we see that a person who places their confidence in, or depends upon, his wealth, money, or material possessions will end up with a reduction in the value of his worth, and be marked with a decline in status, rank, or importance…

In contrast, those that follow God and His Messiah will grow well. They will thrive because of His blessings. In 1 Kings 2:3 it says: “And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn…” This verse compares these blessings as flourishing the way a vine does when it is getting plenty of sun, rain and nutrients and grows luxuriant leaves.

Proverbs 11: 27 Favor or Trouble...

2009-11-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

What you seek determines what you will find…

Proverbs 11: 27 (NKJV)

27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

All definitions are found on http://www.thefreedictionary.com

earnestly: 1. With a purposefully or sincere intent 2. Seriously; determined

seek: 1. To try to locate or discover; search for. 2. To endeavor to obtain or reach

favor: 1. To perform a kindness or service for 2. To treat or regard with friendship, approval, or support 3. To be or tend to be in support of 4. To make easier or more possible; facilitate 5. To treat with care; be gentle with:

trouble: 1. A state of distress, affliction, difficulty, or need 2. A distressing or difficult circumstance or situation 3. A condition of pain, disease, or malfunction:

evil: 1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked 2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful 3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous 4. Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous 5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious

Using these definitions, we can see that the first part of verse 27 tells us that a person who is seriously determined or has the sincere intent to locate and obtain the virtue of “goodness,” will find the friendship, approval, and/or support of God and/or those men that work or live around them.

The second part of this verse goes on to contrast what the person that is determined to be wicked, harmful, spiteful, or malicious will find. They will find distress, affliction, difficulty, need, pain, disease and/or other malfunctions in their lives.

Many of these things come to those that ignore God and His ways, as we have seen before, but they also come to those that DO follow His ways, at times, through the problems that sin in this world has caused. The difference is that God will take you around or through the problems that arise if you are truly seeking “good” or His ways.

This was the whole point of the book of Job. That book shows us things about problems from a heavenly point of view. Horrible things come to wonderfully good people for reasons that we don’t understand and that others might believe are some kind of “judgment” on us, but God has His own reasons for the things that He allows: Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV) “ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

Job also tells us that after God’s point was proven to Satan, then He “restored” him:

Job 42:10-17 (NKJV)

10 And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. … 12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. 16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and full of days.

Proverbs 11: 26 Blessings or Curses

2009-10-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse speaks, again, to the differences between those that are stingy and those who are generous, and the way these types of attitudes work on a person’s life.

Proverbs 11: 26 (NKJV)

26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,

But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

Today’s key words are defined as follows:

curse: 1. a. An appeal or prayer for evil or misfortune to befall someone or something. b. The evil or misfortune that comes in or as if in response to such an appeal

withhold: 1. To keep in check; restrain. 2. To refrain from giving, granting, or permitting

blessing: 1. the act of invoking divine protection or aid 2. the words or ceremony used for this 3. the bestowal of a divine gift or favour

This verse speaks of people who have control something of importance to others. Something that is important to the very “lives” of the people around them. The first part talks about the way people feel toward those that “horde” this important commodity, in this case, the grain. Grain, being a staple food in the culture of the times, stood for either being physically well fed, or being weakened from not having enough for self or family. A person that had this important commodity and refrained from giving it or permitting it to be sold, would anger those around him, and bring on their disgust and even hatred.

The second part of today’s verse tells how people, and, God, will provide protection and aid to those who provide for a way for people to acquire the much needed commodity. As we see, throughout the Bible, GOD is our provider and the one who bestows true “blessings” to those who are generous in their hearts.

The story of the woman that had only enough for one more meal for her son and herself when the prophet Elijah came to ask her for food, gives us an example of what can happen when we are willing to part with something that is very important to us, even if it is the last of that “thing.” She was willing to share, and because of her generosity, even in her desperate situation, God blessed her with plenty to get by until the famine was over. He took her THROUGH this storm in her life, BECAUSE of her generosity, and shortly after that, the Lord used him to bring her son back to life! You can read the first part of this story in I Kings 17: 8-16.

Elijah and the Widow

8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 So she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.’” 15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

Proverbs 11: 25 Generosity

2009-10-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse continues with the theme of our last verse. It speaks of the blessings that come to those who are generous toward others.

Proverbs 11: 25 (NKJV)

25 The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

First, let’s look at the definitions of the main words in this verse:

generous: 1. willing and liberal in giving away one's money, time, etc.; munificent 2. free from pettiness in character and mind 3. full or plentiful

rich: 1. Possessing great material wealth: 2. Having great worth or value 3. Magnificent; sumptuous 4. a. Having an abundant supply b. Abounding, especially in natural resources 5. Meaningful and significant 6. Very productive and therefore financially profitable

water: Basic life giving fluid

We can see that those that are willing and liberal in giving of their time, money, etc. and are free from pettiness in their inner beings will be blessed, or “made” to be rich. This could be in worth or value in God’s, and other men’s sight, as well as, in material wealth. HE will bless with abundant supplies and help them to be productive (maybe with an idea or creative thought), which can also lead to financial abundance.

This verse goes on to say that those that those that gives of the basic fluid of life, will receive back the same life from God. Jesus is called “the living water” or the “water of life,” and this is shown in the story of the “Woman at the Well” found in John 4: 7 – 14:

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Proverbs 11: 24 Poverty or Abundance

2009-10-22T00:24:00.000-07:00

NOTE: I have been sick and had a family crisis, so haven’t been able to write recently, but will continue with this study as often as I am able to. I am sorry for the delay…

Proverbs 11: 24 (NKJV)

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more;

And there is one who withholds more than is right,

But it leads to poverty.

scatter: sow by scattering;

increase 1. To become greater or larger. 2. To multiply; reproduce.
withholds: 1. To keep in check; restrain. 2. To refrain from giving, granting, or permitting
poverty: 1. the condition of being without adequate food, money, etc. 2. scarcity or dearth

One of the definitions of “scatter” speaks of “sowing” by scattering, and in the Bible, “sowing” is often equated with planting things of God… giving to others, helping others, etc. The first part of this verse indicates that those who plant/sow things of God will be blessed and will become greater or reproduce those things as God uses the things they have given Him. See the following verses as examples of this principle:

1 Corinthians 3:6-8 (NKJV)
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

2 Corinthians 9: 9 &10 (NKJV)
9 As it is written: “ He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness…

The second part of today’s verse speaks of the person who doesn’t give freely, but “refrains” from giving and even keeps back the things that he KNOWS it would be right to give. Because of the hardness of this type of person’s heart, he will NOT be blessed and this type of “stinginess” tends to bring about poverty.

Proverbs 11: 23 The Righteous Desire Good

2009-10-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 11: 23 (NKJV)

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,

But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Today’s verse is another contrast between those that are righteous and those that are wicked. It is fairly self-explanatory. Righteous people’s ONLY desire, in everything they do or say, is to bring about good, while the only thing that those that choose to live a wicked life can expect is to find God’s wrath.

Proverbs 11: 22 Women Without Discretion

2009-10-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse tells us what God thinks about women who lack discretion…

Proverbs 11: 22 (NKJV)

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,

So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

The word "discretion" means: 1. The quality of being discreet; circumspection 2. Ability or power to decide responsibly.

If someone put a “ring of gold” in a pig’s nose, it wouldn’t be seen as being very pretty because the filth that most pigs live in, will, very quickly, make it be soiled beyond recognition. This is the way that God feels about a woman who is not discreet and doesn’t take the time to learn to act responsibly. No matter how pretty the woman is to look at, she will quickly lose that “loveliness” as disgust at her lack of integrity make themselves known.

Proverbs 11: 21 Punishment & Deliverance

2009-10-07T21:49:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse contrasts, from a different angle, the difference between those that are wicked and those that are righteous.

Proverbs 11: 21 (NKJV)
21 Though they join forces,[Literally- hand to hand] the wicked will not go unpunished
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

Posterity: 1. future generations 2. all of one's descendants

This verse lets us know that, even though wicked men join together to cause problems for others, they will eventually be punished. We know, from so many verses in God’s Word, the Bible, that even if they “SEEM” to prosper here on earth, if they don’t change their ways and repent (turn away from) their evil doing, then they will end up in Hell.

Many people DO NOT want to think about there really being a Hell or place of everlasting fire, but there are so many places in the Bible that they have to ignore to continue “hiding their head in the sand.” (Matt. 5: 22 & 29-30 – Matt. 18:9 -- Luke 16:23 – 2 Peter 2:4 & Rev. 20: 11-15 are just a few ) Many people try to make God into something that He is not, by ignoring the things they DON’T want to hear from His Word, but that will not work for He IS God and He is the same yesterday, today AND tomorrow.

Throughout the whole Bible, we find examples of the countries that were practicing evil things, and worshiping “gods” that they created in their own minds, that ended up being WIPED OUT TOTALLY for doing that. Many of the prophecies for the end times speak of a “great army” coming against God’s people—“they join forces” – but God, Himself, fights for those that are following Him!

THAT brings us to the second half of today’s verse, for its promise is that future generations, or all of a person’s descendants of those that follow Him, WILL be delivered, and that tends to mean that they will eventually end up in Heaven! NOW is the time to chose which side we want to be on!

Proverbs 11: 20 A Perverse Heart vs. the Blameless

2009-10-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

“Abomination” is a very strong word, and today’s verse tells us about people who, the Lord says, are “abominations” to Him.

Proverbs 11: 20 (NKJV)
20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

As usual, we will start out by looking at the definitions of the main words in our verse:

As we have seen before, the word “perverse” means: 1. Directed away from what is right or good; perverted. 2. Obstinately persisting in an error or fault; wrongly self-willed or stubborn. 3. Marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict. 4. Cranky; peevish.

“Abomination” means: 1. a person who is loathsome or disgusting 2. hate coupled with disgust 3. an action that is vicious or vile; an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence;

“Blameless” is defines as: Free of blame or guilt; innocent. It is synonymous with: innocent, clean, upright, honest, virtuous, untarnished, and above suspicion.

The definition of the word, “delight” is: 1. Great pleasure; joy. 2. Something that gives great pleasure or enjoyment.

With these definitions in mind, we can see that a person who purposely tries to turn people away from what is right or good, obstinately persists in error and is wrongly self-willed, stubborn, contradictory, cranky, and/or peevish, God finds loathsome or disgusting.

The second part of this verse tells us that those that are innocent, clean, upright, honest, virtuous, untarnished, and above suspicion, give God great pleasure and joy.

I know that, at times, I can be some of those bad things, like being stubborn, cranky, and peevish, etc., and I need to remember the way God looks at those traits. Instead, I need to strive to let His Holy Spirit cleanse me from those things and instill in me the things that He will delight in.

Proverbs 11: 19 Life or Death…

2009-10-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse summarizes and reiterates the theme of this Book of Proverbs and simply restates it.

Proverbs 11: 19 (NKJV)

19 As righteousness leads to life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

We’ve seen that “righteousness” means someone who is living morally, virtuously, and without guilt or sin, and today’s verse says that this type of living leads to life. I believe that, in the context given, this is talking about eternal life.

The second half of the verse shows the negative of the picture given in the first part. IT restates the theme that “pursuing evil” will lead to the pursuer’s eternal death.

Proverbs 11: 18 Deceit vs. Rightousness

2009-09-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 11: 18 (NKJV)

18 The wicked man does deceptive work,

But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

As we have seen before, a “wicked” man is characterized by traits such as evilness and maliciousness. They are highly offensive and obnoxious, while a “righteous” man’s traits are morality, being virtuous, and being without guilt, or sinless.

The online dictionary defines “deceptive” as: causing one to believe what is NOT true or, to fail to believe what IS true. To purposely deceive someone.

The definition that is given for the word, “sow” is: 1. To scatter over the ground for growing. 2. To spread with seed. 3. To strew something around or over an area 4. To propagate or disseminate (as information)

The word “sure” is defined as: 1. Impossible to doubt or dispute; certain. 2. Confident, as of something awaited or expected 3. Bound to come about or happen; inevitable

Putting these definitions together lets us understand that today’s verse means that malicious, obnoxious people go around purposely deceiving others. We have seen, in past verses, what happens to “wicked” men like this, while people who spread, or disseminate, information that leads to morality, virtue, and a way to be saved from sin can be certain that they WILL receive a reward.

Proverbs 11: 17 Mercifulness vs. Cruelty

2009-09-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse shows the contrast in the lives and happiness between people who are merciful to others and those who are cruel.

Proverbs 11: 17 (NKJV)

17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,

But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Here are the definitions of the main words in this verse:

merciful: 1. giving relief from pain or suffering: 2. showing or giving mercy; compassionate

good: 1. Being positive or desirable in nature 3. Of high quality 4. Worthy of respect; honorable 5. Beneficial to health 6. Reliable; sure, valid or true, genuine; real 7. Pleasant; enjoyable, propitious; favorable
8. Of moral excellence; upright, benevolent; kind, loyal; staunch 9. Well-behaved; obedient

soul : 1. The animating and vital principle in humans, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion and often conceived as an immaterial entity. 2. The spiritual nature of humans, regarded as immortal, separable from the body at death, and susceptible to happiness or misery in a future state.
3. A person's emotional or moral nature

cruel: 1. Disposed to inflict pain or suffering. 2. Causing suffering; painful

troubles:

1. A state of distress, affliction, difficulty, or need 2. A distressing or difficult circumstance or situation 3. A cause or source of distress, disturbance, or difficulty 4. A condition of pain, disease, or malfunction

Using these definitions, we can see that those that are compassionate toward others and do things like finding ways to help relieve pain or suffering, will cause their inner most beings – their thoughts, actions, and emotions- their very “natures” to become positive or desirable according to God's Word. They will also be blessed by God.

These people will be considered to be of high quality, worthy of respect, and honorable by others. These characteristics tend to be very beneficial to people’s health because those that are reliable, genuine, pleasant, enjoyable, favorable, morally excellent, benevolent, kind, loyal, well-behaved, and obedient are well liked and often, will be treated in kind, thereby having less stress in their lives.

In contrast, a person who tends to inflict pain or cause suffering, will find themselves in a "state of distress," affliction, difficulty or need. Distressing and difficult circumstances or situations will tend to follow them because God’s principles of “You reap what you sow…” will come into play in their lives.

A cruel person, will constantly be “stressed out,” and will end up suffering pain and disease in their own bodies as the malfunction of their souls extend into their bodies. So many recent studies have shown that the more stress a person is under, and the longer the period of time that person is under a lot of stress, the more their bodies malfunction, causing lowered immunities and more disease.

Proverbs 11: 16 Graciousness vs. Ruthlessness

2009-09-24T16:13:00.000-07:00

As I read today’s verse. I was dismayed at what MY understanding came up with. The second part of the verse sounded like it totally went against the things that God teaches, so I decided to look up each of the important words so that I would be able to get a complete understanding of the meanings behind the words that upset me. First, let’s read the verse:

Proverbs 11: 16 (NKJV)

16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.

The word, “gracious” has the root word of “grace” which is defined as: 1. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill; To show mercy or clemency. 2. A favor rendered by one who need not do so 3. (Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under God’s divine influence.

The word “gracious,” itself, means: 1. To be characterized by: kindness, warm courtesy, tact, propriety, charm or beauty; gracefulness, elegance and good taste 2. To be of a merciful or compassionate nature. 3. (Archaic meaning) Enjoying favor or grace; acceptable or pleasing. These characteristics fit the example, at the end of Proverbs, of the “perfect” woman in God’s sight where it also says that this woman will be honored.

The word “retains” means: 1. To maintain possession of 2. To keep or hold 3. To keep in mind; remember.

The word, “honor” is defined as: 1. High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem: 2. Good name; reputation. 3. Glory or recognition; distinction.

Our last main word in this verse is “ruthless” which means: Having no compassion or pity; merciless: without mercy or pity; "a monster of remorseless cruelty"

The first part of our verse says that a woman (or person) that shows compassion, mercy, gentleness, courtesy, and tact, even when they don’t HAVE TO, will enjoy favor and be acceptable or pleasing to God. Someone with these traits will keep in mind, or hold onto, their good name and reputation. People will recognize them them by giving them a LOT of respect. An excellant example of a person like this was Mother Theresa.

Think of those people who have shown these qualities that you know, and how you feel about that person. This would be something I would want to strive for in MY life because I want people to see God’s work in my life.

The second part of this verse is what caused me to be confused because, through a cursory reading, it seemed to say that you need to be “ruthless,” or "a monster of remorseless cruelty," that has NO compassion, pity or mercy toward people if you want to be rich. If you look further, though, at the verse, it says these types of people will RETAIN their riches. They will NOT share them or use them to help others, no matter how badly it is needed.

I came to see that God was “reporting” on what happens in this world. By remembering so many of the rest of the verses that we have been studying in Proverbs, I know that those “riches” are doing NOTHING for the soul of that person. He would have NO peace, love or joy in his heart, for you only get those by giving them away to others. An example of this was Hitler who ended up going mad and killing himself.

I also remembered that several of the verses that we have studied essentially were “boiled down” by Christ into these words in Mark 8:36 -- For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

Proverbs 11: 15 Beware of Signing for Other’s Debts

2009-09-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 11: 15 (NKJV)

15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates being surety is secure.

The definition of “surety” is: 1. a person who takes legal responsibility for the fulfillment of another's debt or obligation 2. security given as a guarantee that an obligation will be met.

This verse warns us that becoming responsible for someone else’s debt is not very wise. It gives the impression that IF you should even think about doing this for someone, you should be very sure that you know that person VERY well. If you don’t, you are taking a big chance and you should understand that this can cause all kinds of problems between you and the person that you are trying to help.

I would tend to think that if a “stranger” would even ask a person that they didn’t know, to do something like this for them, then it would be likely that they would be trying to take advantage of that person.

The second part of this verse seems to imply that “hating” to be in that type of situation is actually being very wise, and this kind of wisdom will cause the person to be secure in their own financial dealings.

Proverbs 11: 14 The Need for Counsel

2009-09-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 11: 14 (NKJV)

14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;

But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Counsel: 1. The act of exchanging opinions and ideas; consultation. 2. Advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person. 3. A plan of action. 4. Private, guarded thoughts or opinions: 5. A lawyer or group of lawyers giving legal advice and especially conducting a case in court.

Counselors: 1. A person who gives counsel; an adviser. 2. An attorney, especially a trial lawyer.

In the Jewish culture, as we have seen before, the elders and wise men of the community would gather at the gates or certain special places in the towns and cities to discuss important matters. Often the younger men (Jewish men were considered to be “men” after their bar mitzvah at age 13) would come to learn by listening to the elder’s discussions. This is one of the main ways that they would learn.

With this type of cultural life, the young person would learn how wise it was to listen to or “take counsel” from older, more knowledgable people around them. They would see that those that despised listening to, and learning from, these leaders would cause people to have many problems and fall into many of life’s “traps.” Conversely, those that do mingle with, and learn from, the wise, will make wise decisions.

We need to understand that when we have problems or big decisions to make, we should step back and find someone who is proficient in that type of problem or decision, and consult with them. It would be wise to discuss the various points, so that we will be able to make informed decisions before we make our plan of action. We should beware of trying to figure out “big things” without taking “counsel,” for God says that could cause us to “fall.”

Proverbs 11: 13 Gossip vs. A Faithful Spirit

2009-09-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 11: 13 (NKJV)

13 A talebearer reveals secrets,

But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

A “talebearer” is defined as “one who spreads malicious stories or gossip,” and the definition of the adjective, “faithful” is: 1. Adhering firmly and devotedly, as to a person, cause, or idea; loyal. 2. Having or full of faith. 3. Worthy of trust or belief; reliable. 4. Consistent with truth or actuality. To “conceal” means to 1. to cover and hide 2. to keep secret.

With these definitions, we can see that this verse warn us not to trust people who “gossip” or “spread malicious stories” about others. If we DO choose to trust someone like that, it would be very foolish, for they will NOT keep the secrets that we have entrusted to them, but will reveal them to others in ways that will cause harm.

Conversely, we need to choose our friends carefully to be sure that they have a “faithful spirit,” for then we can be sure that they will be loyal, reliable, and truthful. These types of friends can be trusted to hold our secrets in the strictest confidence.

Proverbs 11: 12 Neighborhood relationships

2009-09-14T23:55:00.000-07:00

Note: Sorry I skipped a day… it was hubby’s and my 34th wedding anniversary and I played hooky over the weekend from writing my blogs… :)

Today’s proverb is one that speaks of neighborhood relationships, and the wise way to handle them.

Proverbs 11: 12 (NKJV)

12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.

First, let’s look at the definitions of the main words. The Online Dictionary gives the definition of the word, “devoid” as: Completely lacking; destitute or empty… and the definition of the word, “despises” as: 1. To regard with contempt or scorn 2. To dislike intensely; loathe 3. To regard as unworthy of one's interest or concern:

This verse, then, speaks of those that are completely lacking in wisdom and the fact that they tend to have no interest or concern for their neighbors. Throughout God’s word, His purpose is to draw people together in love and care for each other. We see that He feels that someone who doesn’t care about others is lacking in His wisdom.

The end of the verse goes on to tell us that “a man of understanding,” which we have seen in other studies in this book is a description of a “righteous man,” will “hold his peace…” Generally when THIS phrase is used, it means that person will hold his tongue or be very careful in the way that he handles situations. He will be in control of himself and his reactions to the problems that come up, and handle them in ways that God would lead him in. This, in turn, will lead to healing instead of further strife.

Proverbs 11: 10 & 11 People Reflect on Their Municipalities

2009-09-10T00:10:00.000-07:00

The type of people in a town, city or even a country, will give that “municipality” a specific reputation. Today’s verses touch on this topic.

Proverbs 11: 10 & 11 (NKJV)

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

First, let’s look at the definitions of the main words, that we haven’t studied before, in these verses:
1. city: A center of population, commerce, and culture
2. perish: To die or be destroyed, especially in a violent or untimely manner
3. jubilation: a feeling of great joy and celebration

4. exalted : Elevated in rank, character, or status.
5. overthrown : To bring about the downfall or destruction of…

Both of our verses today start with the effects that people that are righteous and upright, have on helping a city to prosper. These people follow God and/or His wise ways and their lives will be blessed because of it. When the righteous are blessed (“when it goes well with…” AND when they are receiving “blessings”) then the city or area that they live in will also be blessed because they will have more to spend, and more ways to help their neighbors. We have seen examples of this principle before in our United States history, when our country was blessed because we had a morally based society… one that was basically based on a Judeo-Christian heritage. We became one of the strongest, most blessed, AND most giving countries in the world.

Over the past 50 or so years, we have seen things turn around and start to go downhill. As the ratio of those that follow righteous, moral lives compared to those that are following wicked ways, tip the other way, our cities, towns and society in general are having more and more problems.

Verse 10 tells us that when the “wicked perish,” there is “jubilation.” Think about the celebrations that occurred when Saddam Hussein’s reign was overthrown to get a good picture of the truth of this verse.

The last part of verse 11 says that cities are “overthrown” by the mouth (or words) of the wicked. We have seen this on a small scale with the gangs pushing each other to do things that continually grow worse, and we have seen it on a large scale through the words of Adolf Hitler that ended in a World War.

We have even seen examples in the past year or so of whole cities and towns that are perishing and being foreclosed on because of the lies of wicked, greedy men that gave loans to so many when they really couldn’t afford it.

Our lives DO make a difference to those who live round us, and we need to be sure that they see the effects of God’s love and work in our lives, for that may be the only way they will ever think about learning about God.

Proverbs 11: 9 Hypocrisy

2009-09-05T00:35:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse covers the problems that neighbors can have when one or more of them have a problem with hypocrisy.

Proverbs 11: 9 (NKJV)

9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,

But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

The Thesaurus on the Free Online Dictionary gives these definitions of a hypocrite – 1. A person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives 2. A person who is inwardly evil but outwardly professes to be virtuous 3. Someone who leads you to believe something that is not true.

These types of people live on lying and gossip, and the words that come from their mouths, can cause great harm and even destruction to those around them. In contrast, those that are lead by the Spirit of God through knowledge of His Word and His Ways can find ways to extricate themselves from the webs of lies the hypocrite has woven for them. Their character and the ways that they have lived will show others which one is telling the truth and which is lying.

Proverbs 11: 7 & 8 Results of Wickedness

2009-09-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

Our two verses for today give more examples of the results of following a path of “wickedness,” and where it will lead…

Proverbs 11: 7 & 8 (NKJV)

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.

Way back in March when we were in Chapter 1, we looked at the way Jewish poetry is written. I thought it might be a good idea to review that information again for anyone new that may have joined us recently, as it helps us understand the book of Proverbs better.

The structure of Hebrew poetry is called “parallelism or intensification.” This means that the lines of each verse are parallel in some way and the second line intensifies or “concentrates” the meaning of the first one… if there is a third line, then the idea is even more powerful.

There are 4 main different types of parallelism. Sometimes the first and second lines are sort of the same, and the first just adds more emphasis to the second as in today’s first verse: “When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of the unjust perishes.”

Sometimes, the second line is an illustration of the OPPOSITE of the first line, which enhances the meaning by doing something like illustrating a point from another angle as seen in the second verse of today’s study: “The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.”

Another type of parallelism paints a word picture to get the point across like we saw in the word pictures painted in the story of the grasshopper and the ant. The last type, continues the same thought in the second line as was introduced in the first, intensifying the idea presented, such as Prov. 1:19 which says, “Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.”

Verse 7 tells us that the expectations and hopes of those that are wicked or unjust will perish. The online Dictionary give this as a definition of the word “expectiation:” something looked forward to, whether feared or hoped for. It gives the definition of the word “hope” as being, “A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.”

With these definitions, we can see that the “wicked” or “unjust” will die sooner or later, and when they do, they will have nothing to look forward too being fulfilled. There will be no hope or expectation of seeing Heaven, for these people. Verse 8 goes on to say that they will receive the trouble that the people that follow God will be delivered from. We need to ask ourselves if we want to have God on our side to deliver us from trouble by following His ways and His righteousness that He gives freely, or if we would rather not follow God and lose all hope of any kind.

Proverbs 11: 5 & 6 Righteousness vs Wickedness/Lust

2009-08-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

Both of our verses today, speak to us of those that are righteous as opposed to those that are wicked or lustful. As we have seen throughout our study of this book, this is the main theme of Proverbs, and is repeated in many different ways to emphasize it’s importance.

Proverbs 11: 5 & 6 (NKJV)

5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct

(Or make smooth or straight) his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,

But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust (or their own desires).

As we have seen before, those that follow Godly paths in their lives are blessed by God. They are given wisdom and guidance from God which directs them in the ways they should go, and delivers them from problems that come up in their lives.

We have also seen that those who choose NOT to follow God, but their own lusts of the flesh, become more and more wicked. God has two definitions for the word, “unfaithfulness.” The one, most everyone is familiar with, speaks of one spouse betraying the other by having a lustful relationship with someone else.

The other definition has to do with not being faithful to God and His ways of love. We see this clearly in the following verses:

Leviticus 6:2-5 (NIV)

2 "If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, 3 or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do- 4 when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, 5 or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.

In verse 6 of our verses today, we are told that the “unfaithful” WILL be caught, because their lust will lead them on, deeper and deeper into their sinful ways. The verse in Leviticus tells us what types of sin God considers “unfaithfulness” to Him, but it also speaks of being able to make restitution. The verses after this section speak of the blood sacrifices required to pay for these sins, and those of us that have accepted Christ as our Savior, know that He paid that price for our sins.

ALL of us have sinned, and God knows about it, so we have been caught. If we continue to go down the sinful paths, we will fall, but if we turn from them, accept what Christ did for us and choose to be righteous through Him, then we will be blessed and “delivered.”

Proverbs 11: 4 Riches vs Righteousness

2009-08-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

The verse we are studying today, warns us not to put our trust in riches, but in being right with God. We will use verses from the Bible with God’s definitions of the major ideas from today’s verse.

Proverbs 11: 4 (NKJV)

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.

God is a God of Love, and as such, He must judge evil. There is coming, a “Day of Wrath,” when God WILL pour out His judgment on those that refuse to accept Him as their Lord and Jesus as their savior! He gave up His son to save us and there is nothing further He can do. We don’t have to face this… It is our choice. Here is what God has to say about the “Day of Wrath” in Isaiah 13:9-13 (NKJV)

9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes,
Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger,
To lay the land desolate;
And He will destroy its sinners from it.

10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations

Will not give their light;

The sun will be darkened in its going forth,

And the moon will not cause its light to shine.

11 “ I will punish the world for its evil,

And the wicked for their iniquity;

I will halt the arrogance of the proud,

And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold,

A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.

13 Therefore I will shake the heavens,

And the earth will move out of her place,
In the wrath of the LORD of hosts

And in the day of His fierce anger.

Psalms 49: 16-20 (NIV) warns us not to be overawed with “riches,” because riches, in themselves, will not bring life.

16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,

when the splendor of his house increases;
17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies,

his splendor will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed—

and men praise you when you prosper-

19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life .
20 A man who has riches without understanding

is like the beasts that perish.

NOTE: It is the man that has "riches WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING" that will perish. It isn't the riches that bring about condemnation, it is putting them before God that does.

Psalms 15: 1 – 5 gives us a definition from the Bible, of the person that God feels is “righteous,” and who will end up in Heaven…

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless

and who does what is righteous,

who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,

who does his neighbor no wrong

and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man

but honors those who fear the LORD,

who keeps his oath

even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury

and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things

will never be shaken.

Now, let's read, again our verse from today: Proverbs 11: 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. After reading God’s definitions, I found this verse to be much more meaningful and significant in it’s meaning for me… I hope that you did too!

Proverbs 11: 3 Integrity vs Perversity

2009-08-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse contrasts the differences between the life of those that are people of integrity and those that distort or “pervert” God’s truth.
Proverbs 11: 3 (NKJV)

3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,

But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

To refresh us on the meaning of “integrity” and of “perversity,” lets re-read the definitions of these two words.

Integrity: .1. honesty; steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. 2. the quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness. 3. the state of being unimpaired; soundness.

Perversity: 1. deliberate and stubborn unruliness and resistance to guidance or discipline 2. deliberately deviating from what is good;

“The integrity of the upright” speaks of people who HAVE a strict moral or ethical code. Because they are followers of God (which is what the Bible means when it speaks of the “upright”) they have decided to follow His teachings and ways. This brings about ‘soundness” and “completeness” in every part of their lives and in their spirits. This “code” will guide them in paths that are blessed by God.

“The perversity of the unfaithful” tells us of people who choose “deliberately and stubbornly” to do things that are against God and His rules and ways. They resist proper guidance from Him and His discipline as well. As we have seen from past studies, God disciplines those that He calls his children, but those that refuse to submit to His discipline, and deliberately deviate from them (what is good), will end up following paths that lead to the slippery slope of destruction.

Proverbs 11:2 Pride vs Humility

2009-08-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse is about being prideful and, in contrast, about being humble.

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)

2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

The Book of Proverbs has a lot to say about “pride,” or a “haughty spirit.” Proverbs 6:17 lists this as another of the Seven Deadly Sins. Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) states: “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate. Proverbs 13:10a says, “By pride comes nothing but strife...”

The Online Dictionary defines the type of “pride” spoken of here as: 1. Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness 2. An excessively high opinion of oneself; conceited.

Proverbs 16:18, a VERY well known verse, warns us that, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Today’s verse tells us tells us approximately the same thing! “When pride comes, then comes shame…” If we put ourselves up on a pedestal, sooner or later, God will have to knock us off, for He is to be our God and we are to have NO OTHER god’s above HIM!

Pride was Satan's sin. Isaiah 14:12-14 (NKJV) tells us about this:

The Fall of Lucifer

12 “ How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,[literally, Day Star] son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘ I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

This certainly makes it clear that it is best to not allow this type of “pride” into our lives, but to recognize that our God is sovereign and HE is the one that has brought us everything that we might allow ourselves to be prideful over!

The word “humble” is defined as: 1. Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful. 2. Showing deferential or submissive respect. When we KNOW and acknowledge, that everything good that we have has come from God and His work in our lives, then we are wise, and can easily be humble, showing “deferential or submissive respect” toward God and others.

Proverbs 11:1 Don’t Cheat Others!

2009-08-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hi, fellow Wisdom Seekers! Today we will be starting a new chapter. Let’s see what the Lord has to teach us for today!

Proverbs 11:1 (NKJV)
1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,

But a just weight is His delight.

The note in my NIV Bible says that, “In a culture with no bureau of weights and measures, cheating in business by falsification of standards was common…” God calls those that follow HIM to be very careful NOT to cheat others in any way! He says that cheating is an “abomination” to Him. The word, “abomination,” as defined in the Online Dictionary, means, 1. Abhorrence; disgust. 2. A cause of abhorrence or disgust. 3. an action that is vicious or vile; an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence.

This would be another form of lying, and John 8:44 (NKJV) says, that if you lie, 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. Proverbs 6: 17 lists lying as one of the “Seven Deadly Sins” that God hates!

As we can see, God feels quite STRONGLY about cheating and lying, which go hand in hand. Revelation 22:14-15 (NKJV) makes this VERY clear! It says, 14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city [speaking of heaven]. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Lying and cheating are the exact opposites of everything the Lord wants of His people. This verse concludes with “a just weight is His delight” because God’s ways are ways of love, caring, help, and truth toward our “neighbors.” These things build up trust and confidence between His children (those that choose to follow Him), and eventually, we will all be living together in His kingdom, so we need to start building the type of relationships here that we will live with, forever, there!

Proverbs 10:30 - 32 More Righteous vs Wicked

2009-08-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Today we will look at the last three verses of chapter 10. These verses, as so many others in this chapter, are contrasts between those that are righteous and those that are wicked (or perverse.) Here are today's verses:

Proverbs 10:30 - 32 (NKJV)

30 The righteous will never be removed,

But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

The first part of each of these three verses speaks of those that God calls “righteous.” These are people who, as we have seen before, are “morally upright and without guilt or sin.” They have decided to follow God and His ways with their whole hearts, souls, and minds. They have accepted Jesus’ sacrifice that paid for their sins and have been “made righteous in God’s eyes.”

Verse 30 tells us that the righteous “will never be removed,” and, since it is contrasted by the words, “the wicked will not inhabit the earth,” it sounds like this is another way of saying what it says in Psalm 37:29 (NKJV), “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.” Isaiah 60:21 (NKJV) also says something about this when talking about the end times: “Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.”

The first parts of verses 31 & 32 also talks about those that are righteous, but concentrate on the way these people speak and what they say. Verse 31 says that people that have lived a life of following God will have gained wisdom as they have walked this path, and when they speak to others, that wisdom will show in what they have to say. Verse 32 says that these people will “KNOW” what is acceptable to speak, probably because of that wisdom they have gained.

Conversely, the second parts of these verses speak of wicked or perverse people. These types of people will not “inhabit the earth.” This means that they, and their type, will die off sooner or later. Not only will they be cut off from the earth in the future, but they, eventually, will not be allowed to speak at all. Verse 32 tells us that the “wicked” speak perverse things, and verse 31 even says that “the perverse tongue will be cut out.”

Proverbs 10:28 & 29 Blessings follow the Righteous

2009-08-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

Today’s verses bring us more contrasts between the blessings of those that follow God’s ways and the problems for those that don’t.

Proverbs 10:28 & 29 (NKJV)
28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
29 The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

The first part of both our verses speaks of the blessings of those that are made righteous by following the “way of the Lord.” These people have “the hope of gladness,” and they are also given strength. “Hope” is basically defined as: A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.

Life in this world is often hard, but when we know the Lord, and the love of our God for us, then we have a deep down hope in our heart that everything will turn out fine. This “hope” brings gladness into our lives and helps us to continue onward to the “prize” that God has for us. Those of us with loved ones that have gone on ahead, have gladness in our hearts for we have the “hope” of seeing them again, whereas others that don’t follow God, have lost all hope of ever seeing their loved ones again.

God promises to give us strength to continue our journey through this world when we are righteous from following His ways. That “hope” that brings gladness, often is exactly what gives us the strength to keep on going in the times of trials and tribulations that everyone goes through while living in this world.

By contrast, those that are wicked and are workers of iniquity, have no hope or “expectations” of good things to bring gladness into their hearts. Instead, their ultimate end is destruction.

Proverbs 10:27 Choose the Length of Your Life

2009-08-13T00:44:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse is about the length of your life. You can choose to prolong or shorten it.

Proverbs 10:27 (NKJV)

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days,

But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

As we have seen, “the fear of the Lord…” doesn’t mean terror of what He will do to us. It means to have awe and reverence or respect for His authority in our lives. When we look at God… the one that created everything, including us, we should be in awe of the fact that He has CHOSEN to love us though He knows EVERYTHING about us… every evil thought, or word, or action in our hearts and minds. He loved us so much that He didn’t want to lose us to the evil one and everlasting death.

If you have someone or something that is the most beloved thing in your life, would you be able to give that beloved one to others to torture and kill so that someone who hates, despises or simply doesn’t care about you could be saved? THIS is what God did for us because He loves us. We had sinned and separated ourselves from Him and He wanted us back, so He gave His precious Son to pay for our sins. THIS deserves our awe and respect. There is nothing that He can do that shows His love for us more than this.

When we have this kind of “fear/awe/reverence” and choose to learn of His ways, and follow them, then He will prolong the days that He has given us. We’ve seen how He has done this in the past for Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1-11) when he prolonged his life 15 years.

Those that refuse to acknowledge that He is GOD, our creator, and choose to reject the way that HE, AS GOD, chose to be the only pathway to Heaven, are sinners (not doing as God wants them to do) and are “wicked.” These people don’t choose wise pathways, and end up having their “years shortened.”

Proverbs 10:26 Lazy Employees

2009-08-09T23:50:00.000-07:00

Today, we are going to look at what God says about lazy employees, and how their employers feel about them.

Proverbs 10:26 (NKJV)

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.

According to my research, acids, such as vinegar, eat away at the enamel of teeth. This erodes the enamel and can cause sensitivity in teeth as well as cavities. Both of these situations can be very painful as most everyone knows. This pain can be either a nagging, throbbing type of pain, or it can be a sharp, stabbing type of pain.

Wood smoke has been proven to depress the immune system and can also damage the cells that protect the linings of the lungs. It can cause coughs, headaches, eye irritation, and irritate the throat. It is especially dangerous for children and anyone with asthma. Anyone that has been around a campfire knows that you want to stay upwind, and away from the smoke.

This verse says that these are the ways that an employer… “those who send him,” feels about an employee that is lazy. They are irritants of the first magnitude!

Proverbs 10:24 & 25 The Wicked vs The Righteous

2009-08-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

These two verses speak of the contrasts between the “wicked” and the “righteous” again. God repeats this thread throughout the book of Proverbs in many different ways to plant it deep into the hearts of those who would search for wisdom… and isn’t that the whole reason for this study?

Proverbs 10: 24 & 25 (NKJV)

24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Both of these verses start with the “wicked.” In verse 24, we are told that those that are “wicked” will have their “fears” come upon them. All of us have some kind of “fear” in our hearts. I think that the more “wicked” (not following God’s ways or paths) a person is, the more fear they have deep down in their souls whether or not they choose to see that.

Often, it is those “fears” that drive their thoughts. It is said, by many psychologists, that those that “fear” or that have deep inner hurts (which would engender fear that often leads to anger) are the ones that strike out at others.

The second verse also starts with words about the “wicked.” There are many parts of life that are like a “whirlwind.” Trials and tribulations swirl around our lives on this earth all the time like whirlwinds. All of us have gone through these storms… why is it that some end up committing suicide or murder, while others just seem to get stronger?

I think it is because the wicked have nothing with a strong foundation to hang onto, while those that DO have a strong foundation (God and His wisdom) are able to “hang in there” and even build stronger walls in their “houses of life.” This exactly what the second part of verse 25 states, and it goes even further to say that this “foundation” is an EVERLASTING one. Praise God, our foundation goes on forever!

The second part of each of these verses speak about those that are “righteous.” For those that may be new to this study, we have seen that the definition of “righteous” is: morally upright; without guilt or sin. The only way we can TRULY be without guilt or sin, is to accept Jesus sacrifice that nailed OUR sins to the cross and covered us with HIS righteousness.

Verse 24 says that those that are “righteous”… those that have chosen Jesus as their Lord BECAUSE of His sacrifice and love for them… will have their desires granted. God KNOWS the true desires of our heart, too. He sees our “wants” and knows whether or not they would be good for us, but our true “desires” are inner values of our hearts that bring us peace, joy, love… the Fruits of the Spirit when you get down to it!

Proverbs 10:23 A Fool vs. The Wise

2009-08-05T19:50:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 10:23 (NKJV)

23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,

But a man of understanding has wisdom.

When God talks about “fools,” He is speaking about those that “…say in their heart, there is NO God.” Psalm 14:1 (NIV) “The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” These people love to do “evil” just as so many love to play sports. It is an adventure to them… a source of getting an adrenaline (hormonal) high, just as exercise raises endorphins in those that play hard in their sports. From the evil companions that they keep company with, they will receive glory and honor, but their ways will still end up bringing them death.

As we saw numerous times throughout the first several chapters of Proverbs, those that study God’s ways and His word will gain understanding of God, and since He is the creator of everything, The more we understand about Him and His world, the more likely we are to make wise choices.

Proverbs 10:21 & 22 Righteousness & Blessings

2009-08-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

Today, we are studying verses 21 and 22 of Chapter 10. These two verses speak of “the righteous” in contrast to “fools,” and about the riches that God gives that will NOT end up bringing sorrow, like so many ‘earthly riches” do.

Proverbs 10:21 & 22 (NKJV)

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.

We saw verses very close to verse 21 when we read Proverbs 10:13 & 14. Those that are righteous, speak words of value and words that are “food for the soul.” That is one reason why Jesus was called the Bread of Life. When people are fed, they live and grow, while those that are foolish and don’t follow righteousness and God’s ways of wisdom, end up dying from "soul starvation"… both in this life and after it.

In other verses, we have also seen that by following God’s ways, He will bless us, and we will be rich. This COULD mean in worldly wealth, IF God knows that the person can handle worldly wealth, and has been faithful with the things he as already been entrusted with…

Luke 16:10-12 (New Living Translation)

10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones, but if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

These riches can also be inner, soul and spiritual riches that we CAN keep with us forever. These types of riches are TRUE riches, “And He (God) adds no sorrow with it. Way to often, “wordly riches” WILL bring sorrow, as those that aren’t equipped, spiritually, will let those riches overwhelm them and not use them wisely.

Proverbs 10:19 & 20 Watch Your Mouth! Continued…

2009-07-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

Today’s verses, like our last study, also speak of the importance of the words that come out of our mouths.

Proverbs 10:19 & 20 (NKJV)

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

I love the way that the New Living Translation, which is a paraphrase Bible, renders this verse! “ Don’t talk to much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!” I think that says it pretty well. It is when we get carried away while speaking, that we (or maybe I should say, “I”) have a tendency to add things that “exaggerate” a bit. If you look at it, “exaggeration” is, in essence, lying. Often, if I keep it simple and “just the facts…” then things will come out the way they need to for me to stay on track with what the Lord would want.

As we have seen in past verses that we have studied, God wants the words that we speak to be a source of “riches” to others. This verse says, like “choice silver.”

As we saw in our last study, the words we speak spring from our “hearts,” and Biblically speaking, that means from our inner-most beings… our true selves. Those words from Jesus are just so important that I am going to repeat them here again, for they are something that needs to take root in our “hearts” so that we will be deterred from getting carried away in our speaking.

Matthew 12:34b-37 (NKJV)

34b For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 10:18 Watch Your Mouth!

2009-07-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

Today’s verses are about the words we allow out of our mouths…

Proverbs 10:18 (NKJV)
18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,

And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

The first part of this verse speaks of those that have hatred in their hearts. Many of these people try to hide this hatred when they are speaking to others, and to do this, they end up speaking lies. We need to let God clean up our hearts so that we can have a truly forgiving heart, and then we will not have “lying lips” when we speak of others.

The second part of this verse is not in contrast to the first part as many of the verses that we have studied have been. In this verse, the second part compliments, or comes at the subject of our words from a different angle. Those that have hatred or malice in their hearts, will often spread “slander” about others. The Online Dictionary gives this definition of slander: 1. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation. 2. A false and malicious statement or report about someone.

This verse says that those that go around spreading “slander” are fools. Often, gossip is another form of “slander,” as well. We need to keep a close watch on our words! Here is what Jesus has to say about this subject.

Matthew 12:33-37 (NKJV)

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 10:17 Be teachable…

2009-07-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse contrasts between those that are teachable, and those that aren’t.

Proverbs 10:17 (NKJV)

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,

But he who refuses correction goes astray.

Jewish children were supposed to be taught God’s ways from the time they are very young at the time these proverbs were written. Since this verse is based on this premise, following these Godly instructions would lead the young person into paths of blessing and life.

Conversely, those that don’t follow the instructions of their youth, are then corrected and disciplined, but refuses to accept that correction and learn from it, will end up going astray. If they continue to follow THAT pathway, as we have seen in prior verses, they will end up falling away from God and that will lead them to the opposite of abundant life. They will lead lives of pain, despair, etc. --- since THEY have CHOSEN to turn away from the God that wants to bless them. If they continue to turn their back on God and the only way to eternal life, THEY make the CHOICE to reject Heaven after this life and CHOSE to make Hell their eternal “home.”

Proverbs 10: 16 Use Money Wisely

2009-07-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse is about the way we use our money.

Proverbs 10:16 (NKJV)

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.

We have seen in past studies that being “righteous” means to be morally upright, or without guilt or sin, and that by living a “righteous” life, we are blessed by God in many ways. The first part of today’s verse speaks of another way that God will bless us. It says that the ‘labor” or work, of the righteous will lead to life. God gives us each different types of work to do, and we are admonished to do EVERYTHING we do for the glory of God.

Some people work as mechanics, some in health professions, others as pastors, others have gifts of service… whatever God calls us to do, when we are seeking HIS righteousness first in our lives, will be blessed and lead us closer to Him. Eventually, THAT will lead us to an abundant life here. A life that is satisfying and blessed, not always with lots of money, but in peace and joy in our hearts and minds. We will also be given eternal life after we leave this one.

The second part of the verse, contrasts (as usual in the Hebrew form of poetry) with the first in that it is speaking of those that aren’t righteous, but lead sinful lives. It tells us that their “wages”: 1. Payment for labor or services to a worker… or 2. a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing, are spent on things that lead to sin in their lives, and “the wages of sin is death…”

Those that are “wicked” (1. Evil by nature and in practice. 2. Playfully malicious or mischievous 3. Severe and distressing:.4. Highly offensive; obnoxious ) spend their pay on things that lead them deeper into sin, and eventually, this will lead to their demise unless they allow God to change their ways.

Proverbs 10: 15 Wealth vs Poverty

2009-07-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse discusses the attitudes of the rich and the poor.

Proverbs 10:15 (NKJV)

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;

The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

The first part of the verse talks about a “strong city.” A “strong city” in Bible times was a place of refuge, protection and safety. This verse explains that a rich man usually puts his trust in his money to keep him safe and to take care of him. The problem with this is that Jesus taught us that you “can’t serve both God and mammon (money)… “ Matt 6:24 (NKJV) “ No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

It tells us in Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV) that, “Whoever loves money, never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is NEVER satisfied with his income.”

Matt 13:22 (NIV) tells us, “ The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful,” and 1 Tim. 6:17 (NIV) says, “ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

The second part of our verse warns that poverty can cause the destruction of the poor. We see this so often in the world today. Those that live in places of poverty often end up in lives of crime or consumed by drugs, because they get into the company of those that have “chosen” paths that led them into that situation.

One thing that comes to my mind, though, is that sometimes, we can be in poverty stricken places and still see people that are happy. They have an “inner wealth” that sustains them and by trusting in God as their provider, they will be able to climb out of the pit they have found themselves in. So, it is possible to be destroyed by poverty if you take it to heart and become bitter and envious instead of trusting in God to lead you to paths that will eventually bring you out of it. It all depends on what your eyes are on… is it God, or is it money?!

Proverbs 10 : 13 & 14 Wise or Foolish Lips...

2009-07-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

Today’s verses give us some more attributes of those that are wise, and those that are foolish.

Proverbs 10: 13 & 14 (NKJV)

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,

But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

14 Wise people store up knowledge,

But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Both of our verses today start out speaking about wisdom. Verse 13 tells us that a person that is wise and understanding, speaks wise words… wisdom is “found” on his lips, and verse 14 goes on to tell us that a wise person will “store up knowledge.” They don’t just “hear” it, they seek after it and put it into their heads, hearts and actions, so that they will remember it.

The second part of both of these verses show contrasts to the first parts. Verse 13 contrasts those who are “devoid of understanding” to those that “have understanding.” “A rod is for the back…” speaks of people who are caught and punished for doing foolish, ungodly things. All of us do these types of things at different times of our lives… especially when we are young. Hopefully these incidences become less frequent as we grow in knowledge and understanding of God and His ways.

God also tells us that “those He loves, He chastens…” when they need it, and there are several places in the Bible that speak about this principle. Just as we give our children the choices to choose between following our rules and not following them, if they will eventually NOT be safe if they don’t follow, then we will, if we are wise parents, discipline them so that they will stay on “safe paths.” God does the same for us, because He loves us even MORE than we love our own children.

The first part of verse 13, which as we saw, speaks of having wisdom on his lips, contrasts with the last part of verse 14 which tells us that people that speak foolishness are near destruction. As we have studied before, our words flow from what is in our hearts, and if they are full of ungodly things (The fool says, in his heart, there is NO God…) then each time the “foolishness” flows, it draws us closer to destruction because it draws us AWAY from God.

Proverbs 10:12 Love Covers...

2009-07-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today’s verse is a very important one… one that we should all memorize. The second half of this verse is God's ultimate Will for us to know and live... just as Jesus lived it out, even to dying to cover ALL of OUR sins.

Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV)

12 Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all sins.

The online dictionary defines “hatred” as: the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action. It defines “strife” as: 1. Heated, often violent dissension; bitter conflict 2. A struggle, fight, or quarrel. 3. Contention or competition between rivals.

When people allow hatred to settle into their hearts, whether caused by a wrong done to them or a loved one, some kind of pain caused them or one they love, or any other reason, (covetousness, jealousy, etc.) sooner or later, those feelings will “bubble up” inside of them.

These strong feelings, will eventually cause conflict of some sort. Sometimes, this is deep within one’s own body, as stress compounds like cortisol pour into the system. These compounds will erode the natural, God-given immune system that was created to help us fight off diseases.

The following is taken from a website about Stress Management:

Higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:

*Impaired cognitive performance
*Suppressed thyroid function
*Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia

*Decreased bone density
*Decrease in muscle tissue

*Higher blood pressure
*Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses

in the body, slowed wound healing,

and other health consequences

*Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of , higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!

Another thing that a continued, “simmering hatred” often does is to manifest outward problems, most typically anger issues, in a person’s life. They have anger that they just can’t seem to control, and that can come out in self-destructive behavior, as well as in violent displays and acts toward others.

Hatred is a sin! Jesus makes that clear in his teachings in Matt. 5:21 & 22:

Murder Begins in the Heart

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

The second part of this verse is the “cure” for these problems. It states: “love covers all sins.” When we are “born again” by asking Jesus to forgive our sins (that would lead us to eternal death), and to come and live within us with His Holy Spirit (leading us into God’s kingdom and eternal life), than that “renewed spirit” is one that God helps to grow into a forgiving, loving spirit as we grow and become more like Him.

This most often DOESN’T happen overnight… it often takes some time. Praying for the person or problem will allow God to work in our lives, give us self-control, and show us things that can change the “hatred” in our own hurting hearts. Once we reach a place of forgiveness, then the seed of love can grow. Here is what Jesus has to say on this subject in Luke 6: 27-36 :

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Proverbs 10 : 10 & 11 Speak Righteously

2009-07-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Today, we will look at two verses that have to do with the proper use of our mouth, or the words we speak.

Proverbs 10: 10 & 11 (NKJV)

10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble,
But a prating fool will fall.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

The first part of verse 10 speaks to us about those that “wink with the eye.” This is often a technique that people use to show that what they are speaking of at the time, is NOT what is really in their hearts. It tends to denote that there is a “lie” in their words, and this will always cause trouble sooner or later.

The second part of this verse again uses the words “a prating fool will fall,” and as we saw when this phrase was used in verse 8 of this chapter, a couple of studies ago, this part of the verse tells us that foolish people speak of only empty, foolish or trivial things that help no one. These people will ultimately fail or “fall.”

The first part of verse 11 points out that those that speak “righteous” words… words that are morally upright, and without sin, are people that bring “life” to others. Anytime we speak Godly wisdom, or the “Word,” we are passing around the “living water” spoken of by Jesus, who is known as “The Word.” John 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

The second part of Proverbs 10:6 is the same as the second part of verse 11. As we saw then, the violence spoken of through a person’s lips will eventually overwhelm them. These people will follow the lead of their lips, because out of the hearts of men, come their words, and death is the eventual result of a violent, sinful life.

Proverbs 10: 9 Walk With Integrity...

2009-07-13T23:48:00.000-07:00

Today, we will look at verse 9 of Chapter 10.

Proverbs 10: 9 (NKJV)

9 He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.

The Online Dictionary defines “integrity” as: steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code, or honesty. It defines the word “securely” as: 1. Free from danger or attack: 2. Free from risk of loss; safe: 3. Free from fear, anxiety, or doubt. 4. Not likely to fail or give way; stable:.5. Reliable; dependable: 6. Assured; certain:

So the first part of verse 9 tells us that those who walk according to a strict moral code and with honesty, will walk in safety. They can be free from fear because they are not going to fail in God’s eyes. They can be assured that the “Maker” of that code, God, is reliable and can be depended upon to keep them on a path that will lead them to safety… in Heaven sooner or later.

The Online Dictionary defines the word "perverts" as: 1. To cause to turn away from what is right, proper, or good; to corrupt. 2. To bring to a bad or worse condition; debase. 3. To put to a wrong or improper use; to misuse. 4. To interpret incorrectly; misconstrue or distort: So, the second part of the verse warns that those who do these evil, “perverted” things, will eventually be found out and punished… if not in this life, then when they ultimately face God, for He says “vengeance is Mine…”