Proverbs 10:27 Choose the Length of Your Life

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 10:12 Love Covers...

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 8: 4 - 11

Yesterday, we saw, in the first 3 verses of this chapter, “Wisdom” portrayed as a woman crying out to those that would listen. This is the theme in this chapter. Today’s verses go on to tell us some of the attributes of wisdom, and end with the admonition that earths riches “cannot be compared with her…”

Proverbs 8: 4 - 11 (NKJV)

4 “ To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

5 O you simple ones, understand prudence,

And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,

And from the opening of my lips will come right things;

7 For my mouth will speak truth;

Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;

Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

9 They are all plain to him who understands,

And right to those who find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold;

11 For wisdom is better than rubies,

And all the things one may desire

cannot be compared with her.

We know that all TRUE wisdom is of God, and in our first verses of this section, we are told that He calls out to men and the “sons of men.” Before we come to know God, we are “simple,” as in ignorant, or without understanding, and, as we have seen numerous times in Proverbs so far, we are “fools” in God’s sight. Remember Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of knowledge…”

When we choose to follow God and His ways through asking Jesus into our lives, then He comes to live in us by His Holy Spirit, and teaches us the things of God. I believe that this also means that He will help us to understand the things that He wants us to know as we read and study His Word.

Scripture tells us that “God’s ways are not our ways…” and so we NEED His Spirit to help us understand His ways. This gift of the Holy Spirit entering into our lives, comes when we are “born again.” Through sin, our spirits died and we need to be “made alive again” through a new birth. I want to make it clear that I am not speaking, here, about the different “gifts of the Holy Spirit” which sometimes gets people confused and can get controversial… I am simply speaking of God’s Spirit that is within us after we’ve decided to follow Him, and THAT is what helps us to understand God’s wisdom.

These verses tell us that God speaks of “excellent things…,” things that are righteous and true. Reminds me of Phil. 4:8 “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (NKJV)

There is no wickedness or perversity among the words of God. Many times, people accuse God of wickedness and doing perverse things, but they don’t take into account that there is not only a God, but a Satan… and his followers… in this world that hate mankind and do all in their power to turn us from following God. Between these evil forces and the way they have influenced so much in this fallen world, and our own “lusts of the flesh” we may find ourselves in bad situations, but they aren’t authored by the God that loves us and even “paid the price of our sins” Himself!

The last verses in this section teach us that God’s instruction, knowledge, and wisdom is better than silver, gold or rubies, and anything else that might be desirable to us. Nothing can be compared to what God has in store for those who give their lives to following Him and His ways!

Proverbs 8: 1 - 3

Today we start chapter 8 of Proverbs. This chapter is all about the “Excellence of Wisdom.” It goes over the attributes of wisdom and the things that result from following Godly wisdom. There are many principles in this chapter that, if followed, will bring prosperity in body, soul and spirit, and it even speaks of the possibility of getting “wealth” as well. This is a totally uplifting chapter with only the final verse again stressing the warning of NOT following wisdom.

Proverbs 8: 1 - 3 (NKJV)

The Excellence of Wisdom
1 Does not wisdom cry out,

And understanding lift up her voice?

2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,

Beside the way, where the paths meet.

3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the entrance of the doors:

Chapter 8 again portrays wisdom as a woman calling out to those who would listen to her. As we saw in chapter 7, foolishness was portrayed as an adulterous woman who leads into the “lusts of the flesh” and this contrasts with those verses.

Verses 1 and 2 portray the call of “Wisdom” as a call to an abundant life of God’s blessings. It is a call that God wants all of His people to listen to and follow. It is there… out in the open… in obvious places… loudly proclaiming itself to any that would open their hearts to God’s call upon their lives.

Verse 3 continues with this idea and is also based on the Jewish customs of the day where the older men would gather by the gates and in public places to discuss important matters. The young person that wanted to gain knowledge and understanding would be free to go to these places and sit and listen, or be taught, about important issues of life, area news, etc. from men that had lived long lives and gained knowledge and wisdom through those lives.

By the time they reached this age, especially in those days, only the wiser men would still be around to be at these discussions. The ones that hadn’t learned wisdom, would have died, been incarcerated, or wouldn’t be interested in speaking in a group such as this.

I think that having respect for older people that have lived much of their lives and come to a place of peace and comfort through following God was God’s original plan for young people to learn. The book of Timothy in the New Testament covers some of these areas. If we take the time to learn from older people that have lived through “youth’s mistakes,” learned from them, then went to God and found Him to be a forgiver of those sins and a lover of their souls, then we can avoid many of the pitfalls that they have gone through.

In previous chapters and verses, we have seen that God’s plan was that parents started their children out young, teaching them at home to have respect for their elders, and guiding them to wise, interesting people of God. A young person that is taught that kind of love and respect from a young age, will tend to gravitate toward wise, older people throughout their lives. That would be what God would want for us as parents of very young children. Once they hit adolescence, it is much harder for them to talk to their own parents, but if they have been taught properly, through this principle, then they will gravitate toward other older people that they have grown to trust.

If we are older, now, ourselves, then we need to take the time to sit with younger people and share, WHEN THEY ask for advice or want to talk. Wisdom can’t be pushed on another, but it can be shared. These men, which sat at the gates, were available. They didn’t go out seeking and chasing down young people to preach at them.

Proverbs 7:21- 27

Today we are going to finish chapter 7 and this current discussion on adultery. The bulk of this chapter, as we have seen, is written as a sort of “play” that portrays the seduction of a “foolish” young man by an adulterous wife whose husband is away on a business trip. The young man was out in the evening (dark) and sort of “looking for trouble,” and this woman was using all of the five senses to cause “the lusts of the flesh” to rise up within him. Now let’s look at today’s verses.

Proverbs 7:21- 27 (NKJV)

21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,

With her flattering lips she seduced him.

22 Immediately he went after her,

as an ox goes to the slaughter,

Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
(Footnote: some versions read: as a dog to bonds,

while another reads: as a lamb . . . to bonds—)

23 Till an arrow struck his liver.

As a bird hastens to the snare,

He did not know it would cost his life.

24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;

Pay attention to the words of my mouth:

25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,

Do not stray into her paths;

26 For she has cast down many wounded,

And all who were slain by her were strong men.

27 Her house is the way to hell, [Sheol]

Descending to the chambers of death.

As we see in verse 21, her seduction has worked, and he has followed her. Verse 22 tells us that he has followed her “as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks.” The next verse lets us know that this young man’s foolishness would cost him his very life.

The last four verses of the chapter expound on the moral of this story that has been told by a parent to their child. The young one is told to “pay attention” and “Don’t GO there…” Even “strong men” have been destroyed by this method.

Venereal diseases were just as rampant back then as they are now, and several of the kings of the Bible expired from them. Spiritually speaking, this was also one of the ten commandments and breaking it would ultimately send the foolish young person to hell.

I praise God that our sins have been covered and we can ask for forgiveness if we have fallen into this trap somewhere in our lives. God can heal both our physical and our spiritual infidelities and bring us redemption and freedom from their penalties through the work of Jesus, His son, if we make Him the Lord of our lives.

Note: Picture by Linda Brewer

Proverbs 5:1-6

Today we will start studying chapter 5 of Proverbs. This chapter is primarily about avoiding adultery and staying with “the wife of your youth…” It warns that getting involved in adultery will cause you to have many regrets later on in your life. Today’s study will be on verses 1 through 6.

Proverbs 5:1-6 (NKJV)
The Peril of Adultery

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

Lend your ear to my understanding,

2 That you may preserve discretion,

And your lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,

And her mouth is smoother than oil;

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

Sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death,

Her steps lay hold of hell.

6 Lest you ponder her path of life—

Her ways are unstable;

You do not know them.

In these verses, Solomon is speaking to one of his sons, while in later verses, he speaks to more than one of them. He starts out as he has in the last few chapters by trying to get his son’s attention and asking him to “listen” to him… how many of us have started out our conversations to others, particularly young people, or our children, with these two admonishments. “PAY ATTENTION!... LISTEN to me!...”

We studied, in Proverbs 2: 11, that discretion is - the trait of judging wisely and objectively; AND the ability or power to decide responsibly. This ability will “preserve” us, or keep us out of trouble. In this case, it goes on to suggest that the “discretion” in this case, would be in regard to speech.

Verse 3 tells us that “an immoral woman” uses her mouth and lips to draw a man… through her words and also, through sexy looks. We’ve all seen movies and pictures where women use their mouths in ways that many consider tempting or “sexy.” It uses a word picture of “dripping honey” and “being smoother than oil.” Both of these things are symbols that are often used in the Bible as being things to desire or entice.

Verses 4 & 5 goes on to warn that though these type of women look like something that is to be desired, if a young person uses “discretion,” they will see that only bad things will result if they follow those desires. It describes the consequences as being “bitter as wormwood,” and “sharp as a two-edged sword.” It goes on to say that “her feet go down to death… her steps lay hold of hell (sheol).”

“Wormwood” is “something harsh or embittering,” and anything that is as “sharp as a two-edged sword,” can be dangerous and even deadly, as verse 5 makes clear. There were STD’s even in Bible times, and some of the kings even died from them. Today, we are still seeing deaths being caused by the old sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis, as well as many new strains.

Another thing that often happens is that a person’s conscience will eat at them and this can also cause stress and problems in life

Verse 6 warns us that pondering the way of life of an immoral woman will show that her “ways” are unstable and that a young person has no idea of what they are getting into by following this slippery path. There are several Bible verses that tell us that those that continue in an adulterous lifestyle will not make it into heaven. ( see I Cor. 6:9 and Rev. 22:15 to name a few)

James 4:4 (NKJV) says: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God,” and Malachi 3:5 says, “And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts.

Adultery is so important that it is even one of the ten commandments. Our verses today are talking about an “immoral” or adulterous woman, that a father is warning his son against, but it also applies to men that commit adultery, as we will see farther on in this chapter.

One last note: Even adultery can be and IS forgiven when we repent of it, turn away from it, and accept Christ's free gift that paid for this sin the same as for any other.