Tag Archives: Proverb studies

Friday Proverb – Mischief Makers

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Proverbs 10:23

 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:

It would be presumptuous and proud to think that only the behavior in the illustration qualifies as mischief.  Any act of mischief  – vandalism,  gossip, back-stabbing, pilfering, cheating, cruelty, bullying, flirtations, or the host of evil things that people do qualify as mischief; because the persons who do such things, never think that what they are doing is of any consequence.  It is “sport” to them. 

They are fools! 

but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Living Water

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is where true wisdom and understanding is to be found.  As we can not sit at His physical feet at this moment in time, we can sit at His spiritual feet by going to church and reading His Word.  The more His Holy Spirit fills us – the less chance we have of playing the fool.  If we put Him on the back-burner, there is every chance that we will commit some sort of mischief, that we do not think is very serious. 

If we think in our minds that “It’s not that big of a deal.  It’s not like I killed somebody,”  then we are making sport of the mischief we are doing, and are counted a fool. 

Fill your time and mind with His Word – and there will be no chance for mayhem and foolishness. 

sage

Friday Proverb – Seeking Godly Advice

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Many great and powerful men, have been brought to ruin through trusting bad advice.  Conservative media outlets often express incredulous wonder at the kind of counselors the United States president keeps around himself.  Any studier of sinful human nature would not need to ponder why this is.  Birds of a feather DO flock together.  We like to keep company with those who think like we do.  If we are in darkness, we will be drawn to yet deeper darkness.  If we are in the Light of Christ, we will be drawn to yet more of His light. 

Proverbs 11:14

 Where no counsel is, the people fall:

The infamous incident, wherein the nation of Israel began to divide, is prime example of the first half of today’s Proverb.  In 1 Kings 12, the son and heir of Solomon, Rehoboam, is met with representatives of the congregation.  They ask him, quite politely, if he will reduce the heavy tax burden Solomon had levied.  He tells them to come back in three days, at which time he will give them an answer.  Rather than consulting his father’s old counselors, priests or prophets, he turns to his “friends,” who are as young and inexperienced as he is.  Perhaps even more so.  In following their advice, he states – “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”  This was not received well!  It is the spirit of rebellion at work.

1 Kings 12:15 states that  the reason this happened was in the will of God –   “the cause was from the Lord.”   His purposes for Israel are not license to sin.  Don’t make the mistake of justifying the use of ungodly advice via this Scripture.  Born again believers are never to take the mistakes made by Old Testament persons as an excuse to sin.  “David did it, Adam did it, Solomon did it. . .”  There is no Biblical justification for following in the path of sinners.  And, they were sinners all.

A godly counselor, will always lead you to Living Water.  If you tire of their reading relevant Scriptures to you, then you are not really wanting godly counsel.  You more than likely want affirmation, as Rehoboam did.  The desire to be accepted, colors all of our decisions.  If you really want godly advice, really – then seek the counsel of the aged men and women in your church family.

but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

sage

Friday Proverb – Holding Your Peace

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Proverbs 11:12

 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: 

There’s a lot of talk in the media lately about “low information.”  This or that politician or pundit is excoriated for making overreaching statements about things they don’t know enough about.  Well, the same thing happens in the Church family.  How often do we gaze around at what our brothers and sisters are doing and make judgments about them?  I sometimes bristle when people try to tell me about music, most often scolding me for not liking jazz.  There is an assumption that those heavily involved in classical music are also jazz lovers.  This assumption is based on low information.

In the same fashion, when we decide that someone is a “bad” Christian because they don’t make it to church every Sunday, or don’t “pony-up” for the offering – we are als0 demonstrating low information.  It is a sad state of affairs, when the family of God turns on itself.

When a brother or sister is struggling with sin, we have compassion and care for them.  When a brother or sister is embracing sin, then, and only then, do we judge righteously.  to do otherwise – is to be void of wisdom. . .

but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.  

Wouldn’t you rather be a man or woman of understanding?  There is no way, that we can know everything that is going on in the lives of our church family.  Only God knows.  Making petty statements about why this person is doing this or that, is gossip, and it is very harmful to the Church.  If there is something serious going on, that is for the pastor and church elders to handle.  If you notice someone struggling – then go over and talk to them!  Don’t talk to someone else!  Be Jesus’  representative in church as well as in the world.  Your title – Christian – means  “of Christ, or follower of Christ.”  That is an important title to carry, with awesome responsibility.

Romans 11:33-36

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.

sage

Friday Proverb – What Comes After the Church is Taken?

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rapture23

Perhaps not many view the Proverbs and Psalms as being prophetic.  After so many decades of Bible study, I see Prophecy in almost every line of the Bible.  As is understood, the Lord reveals things to us in stages.  Most often, Old Testament events and poetry, describe an actual event such as Passover – which is a picture of something far more dramatic in the future.  Such is the case with this Proverb.  At face value, it does not seem to reveal much to the casual reader – but we are here to see what it really says.

Proverbs 11:8

The righteous is delivered out of trouble,

Only those who are truly born-again of the Holy Spirit of God, will be delivered – because only the truly born-again – are considered righteous.  When we repent, and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we obtain His righteousness – which guarantees our deliverance.  None of the troubles, trials and tribulations of this present life and time, can compare to the Great Tribulation, and the judgments that will befall everyone on earth at that time.

Please do not allow the recent crop of preterists to worm their way into your faith in the deliverance promised to you by God in His Holy Book.  It is described over and over again – even in this short Proverb.  Every Word of the King James Bible is true – and you can trust it implicitly.  Read it literally, and with faith.

and the wicked cometh in his stead.

That’s right.  As soon as the church is taken up – The Wicked One will swoop in. Just as a vacuum needs to be filled – this will happen in such a way – that it will not be readily apparent to those who are not alert.  Since mankind always seeks to worship something or someone they can see, it will happen all too easily.  The Holy Spirit that is indwelling believers here on earth, will leave along with the righteous that are being delivered.  Once this happens, the only thing that was restraining the power of anti-christ will be gone!  It will happen, but, we will NOT BE HERE TO SEE IT!

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.

sage