The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 11th on Proverbs 11:11-15

[If you have been here before, in May, then you might want to skip down below the green for today's post.]

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June and November

All the rest have 31

Except February which has 28

Except during leap year when it has 29"

NO I DID NOT WRITE THIS "POEM"!  (Talk about free verse!)

Why didn't somebody just point out that the four months that do NOT have 31 days (except February, and everyone knows all about February The Exceptional) come every other month except that there is no 30 day month between July and August?  The silly poem above mixes up the order just to hide the fact that the real 30 day months come in two orderly pairs: April/June and September/November.  Can somebody please write a non-silly poem for us that will make this clear, and stick in our minds, but without gooping them up with exceptions (and please just leave February out of it!)?

And to make matters (far) worse, MILLERWRITES has created a Proverbs Pull-A-Part Plan that decimates that fine collection of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, by spreading commentary on each chapter out over 7 months (the good 31 day months)!  Oh don't ask me to explain his system.  You can try to decipher what he said about it at the top of any P31P posts from January or March if you like, or just follow along this month and figure it out.

All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied here from Biblegateway.com

REMEMBER: My ideas may be oh so mesmerizing, but you will get more benefit from simply reading the chapter itself!

So today I offer my amateur comments on verses 11-15.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red, that is).

Proverbs 11

1 The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him.


2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.


3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.


4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.


5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.


6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.


7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
all the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.


8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
and it falls on the wicked instead.


9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.


10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.


11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.

11) So when a city, or a country, is more and more populated by "the wicked" than by "the righteous", it will be short on blessings and only more and more prepared for destruction.  The speech of its citizens speaks to its future state.  But the speech of its leaders (especially that speech well received), judged by its moral content, is an outright predictor of a nation's near fate.  


12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

12) How often we "deride"!  How easy it is to find fault, and make dire, head shaking note of the most meager observation.  If we can not hold our tongues, might we at least heed verse 11 above, and pronounce a neighborly blessing, even despite the shouting once heard through that open window?  Or the vile tardiness  in lawn maintenance?  Or that despicable arrangement of Christmas decorations that grates on our very nerves?  Let us "understand" the sovereignty of our neighbors.  

This verse seems to demonstrate the Biblical prescription for "tolerance".  We may hate the effects of a particular sin on the sinner and the society, but in God, we "understand" (for we our sinners ourselves), and we love the sinner (for we love ourselves) as  even Christ loves us.

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

13) If "betraying a confidence" is done in secret, and with a hush and a warning not to continue the thread, is it still a betrayal?  Yes.  

What about "keeping a secret"?  If a secret is kept hidden in the heart and mind, but is sincerely covered with compassion and prayer, but the person goes right out in public without saying a word to anyone about it, is he still trustworthy?  Um...Yes!


14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisers.

14) As opposed to through politicking and speech making.  It is way too easy for the direction of a nation to be decided by talking point arguments and bumper sticker slogans.


15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.

15) Good idea.


16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,
but ruthless men gain only wealth.


17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.


18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.


19 Truly the righteous attain life,
but whoever pursues evil finds death.


20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.


21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.


22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.


23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.


24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.


25 A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.


26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.


27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.


28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.


29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.


30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the one who is wise saves lives.


31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!




By the way...MILLERWRITES copy is COPYRIGHTED. Why cut and paste when you can simply copy the link?

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting March 16th on Proverbs 16:6-10

                   March 16th?     Read Proverbs 16!

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers. My amateur comments are offered below each of today's verses from Proverbs.]

Have you ever noticed that, like most months have 31 days, the Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters? Fascinating right? Well, it is at least interesting, and coincidentally beneficial to those who would like to read a portion of thought-provoking scripture every day of the month. You might like to read the calendar coordinated chapter from Proverbs every day this month (I've included the whole chapter below!) and then see if my comments on a few of its verses line up with your own observations. My plan is to go through the year, writing my response to about one seventh of each chapter's verses every day, during each of the 7 months that have 31 days.  Clear as mud? That's what I thought.

I hope you check it out every day, and leave a comment once in a while. Especially if I say something really off base and need to be corrected, because, as we will learn this month on the 27th, Proverbs 27:5 says

                                "Better is open rebuke than hidden love." 

                                    Today's inspired verses, 6-10, are highlighted in red

                                          (and my questionable comments are in blue).

Proverbs 16

1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the LORD.

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.

4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.


6) Whose 'love and faithfulness' can atone for sin?  Only God's!  I praise God that He IS so loving and faithful, even to his rebellious creation!    Ephesians 2:8 says,
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

7 When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace with them.


7) What a gift that is, to those who please the Lord!  May I, always.


8 Better a little with righteousness
than much gain with injustice.


8) I picture a little old man or woman living all alone in a ramshackle house.  There is nothing to show for the long life of labor, but there is always a smile on the face or a happy tune meddling around the spirit as he or she dwells happily with the clean conscience of a righteous life.


And then there is the picture of strife filling a mansion, as warring factions of a fractured family battle through their spites or ignore and hide from each other.  Without justice, all the fighting is unfair and selfish.  I too would prefer the "little" to the "gain". 

9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.


9) I wonder if this means that the LORD establishes the steps He would WANT us to take; the path most fitting and appropriate for each individual, and full of the greatest blessings.  Our free will is an amazing power.  We are even free to disobey or run away or change any of God's good plans into a life long disaster.  Perhaps we should go ahead and make our human plans, but only after consulting with the Master Project Manager.

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
and his mouth does not betray justice.


10) A good King, that is.  The quality of our leadership is so important!  We willingly elect our reps from among our very selves, and we give them great power to wield over us.  How careful would you be in choosing the juggler if he was going to be flipping chainsaws over your front row seat?  We need leaders who will never "betray justice".

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD;
all the weights in the bag are of his making.

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right.

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but the wise will appease it.

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to get insight rather than silver!

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a]
and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
and gracious words promote instruction.[b]

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
and their lips promote instruction.[c]

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel plots evil,
and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
and leads them down a path that is not good.

30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the LORD.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

The Proverbs 31 Project; Commenting January 29th on Proverbs 29:1-4

January 29;  Proverbs 29  Verses 1-4


[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!


[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 29


1 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
   will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy.


1) God "hardened Pharoah's heart" through a similar natural process.  He spoke truth to it, and it resisted; He spoke truth a bit louder, and it (Pharoah) resisted;  He corrected Pharoah again, and he stubbornly refused to listen.  Each time we deny the truth our hearts and minds become more resistant, more stiff-necked, more brittle.  And we too can be suddenly destroyed.  


There will come a point when the remedy offered now through the cross will no longer be available.  "...people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgement,"  Heb 9:27


2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
   when the wicked rule, the people groan.


2) Our political system is designed so that great fluctuations do not wreak havoc with our day to day lives.  Though we are often frustrated with the slow pace of governmental adjustments, we have seen in recent years that big changes pushed through in a hurry on many fronts, is much worse.  The point of this verse, and our reality demonstrates the same, is that the policies set by our leaders is vital: it will effect our very lives, and we will either rejoice or groan.


3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
   but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.


3) A father wants his children to do better than he did.  He knows his own mistakes and detours,  and, after a certain point, can only wish his sons would avoid the same.  Parents know that their children will thrive if they make good investments of their talents and their resources, rather than waste it all on the repeated short term fixes that so many vices offer.


4 By justice a king gives a country stability,
   but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.


If there is one overriding theme to Proverbs it is simply this:  There is a right way and a wrong way.  Too often we are told the lie that every way is OK.  That all of the religions of the world are equally valid, as if opposite ideas could both be true!  Does every opinion have the same inherent value?  No!  We each have the same and equal RIGHT to have whatever opinion we settle on, but then the real evaluation of each opinion begins.  A favorite color can not be debated, but an idea about which one better matches the sky certainly can be.  Which claims in a debate on economics are better supported by historical data?  While one may prefer the ideals behind capitalism or socialism, their applications both have a record that can be studied.


If you were to make the bold claim that "everybody is right", then, referring finally to verse 4 above, you would have to concede that a king may or may not impose justice, according to his own whims.  And that those who use bribery to get what they want are just as deserving and equal and justified as those who can not afford to pay the bribes, but suffer oh so sadly in the torn down streets.  






  

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 28th on Proverbs 28:1-4

January 28;  Proverbs 28  Verses 1-4


[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments are offered below the verses from Proverbs.]

Christians looking for a simple way to review the Bible regularly, have long been convenienced by the fact that the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters, the same number as most of our months.  Each chapter includes multiple bite-sized verses (uhm, proverbs) and can be read through simply in one sitting, one appropriately numbered chapter per day through the month.  A person might read through the Proverbs a chapter a day during any month, but why mess with your head (reading an extra chapter on one, two, or three days!) like that when there are 7 months every year perfectly suited for the endeavor?

My idea here is to reprint about 1/7 of the verses from each day's chapter throughout this year, every time a 31 day month pops up, and then offer a few comments from The Barking Owl.  So in January, we will get through the first few verses of every chapter and then in March, the next group, and so on, until December comes around and we can finally get to the last set of verses in each chapter and complete the book's reading.  If you are smarter than I am (is there any doubt?), you will read the whole chapter every day, every 31 day month, and then you will have read the whole book 7 times this year!  By then you are guaranteed to at least be wiser than The Barking Owl , though no one will ever match the wisdom of Solomon!


[All Bible passages are from the NIV, and are copied from www.Biblegateway.com]

Proverbs 28


1 The wicked flee though no one pursues,
  but the righteous are as bold as a lion.


1) I guess I have been on both sides of this fence.  I remember that  feeling of pursued guilt.  The one that makes you so jumpy because surely somebody is just about to call you out.  It was really God (I almost typed "only God") speaking to, or perhaps only threatening, my guilty conscience with His high standard.


I also remember standing with a very angry foreman in my face.  His judgement was off base, but even as his anger rose and he began to refer to my "church going" as an epithet, and I thought "this guy is going to HIT me!", I was able to stand my ground and give him the soft answer treatment we heard about back on the 15th.


2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
   but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.


2) What an interesting take on rebellion.  I guess, now that I think about it, that bad ideas and motivations multiply.  A bunch of rebellious people seldom carefully choose a leader.  They each want to take control of the mob and it ends up going off in 10 directions at once and ultimately falls apart.  Anarchy is its own self-defeating cure.


3 A ruler who oppresses the poor
   is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.


3) Jesus said: He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  Mathew 5:45


I've always enjoyed this truth.  Sun and rain come to everyone in time.  And, sun and rain both are seen as a blessing and a curse.  It all depends.  Folks all over pray for rain when it is lacking, but mourn the devastation of a flooding downpour.  Here, in verse 3 of Proverbs 28, it's the ruin of rain that compares with a poor oppressing ruler.


4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
  but those who heed it resist them.


4) I have been shocked sometimes by the enthusiastic support given to some people.  Usually it is granted freely to obvious "fools" (to use Solomon's freedom), without thinking.  But given just a little bit of "instruction", the would-be followers say "Oh", and turn away.   Certain reps in Wisconsin were so excited to meet Ian Murphy, and pose for pictures with him because he fooled their political enemy.  Then they were "instructed" on Murphy's earlier famous writings: revealed here.