The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting July 8th on Proverbs 8:17-21

Got 31 days in the month?  

God's got 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs! 

What a coincidence!

For each date then, again this month, you will find commentary on a few verses from the corresponding chapter. There are 7 months in the year with 31 days, so I divided each chapter into 7 parts and spread them out so that each verse will be reviewed on the date related to its chapter by the same number name.  No, I am not deliberately trying to make this explanation complicated! (But, if you can explain my system any better than I have tried to do in the past three 31-day months, there is probably a proverb proclaiming your wisdom, and you will be recognized here for your high achievement!).

Below this introduction you will find the whole chapter representing today's date, with this month's verses highlighted in red, and my amateur comments for today low lighted in blue. Enjoy!

PROVERBS 8

Wisdom’s Call

1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.


12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
15 By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,
and nobles—all who rule on earth.[b]
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.

17) Standing alone, this verse might give the wrong impression.  If I were to say "I love those who love me" I think I would come across as very self-centered.  Jesus tells us to love our enemies, after all, and, that He died for us while "we were yet sinners"! (Romans 5:8)  But remember who is speaking in Proverbs 8:17.  It is wisdom herself, declaring that the power of her love can only be truly received by those who pursue, engage and devote themselves to, Wisdom.  Those who do not seek Wisdom will never know her love.

18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.

18) Then she lists her promises.  The fruits of her love that might be included in her dowry, as it were, to the one who seeks her out.  Nothing too special though: just riches, honor, (enduring) wealth and prosperity and stuff.

19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.

19) And then for emphasis, she claims that her "fruit" is better than the standard, sought after riches of this world.  And she is right.  Would you not agree?

20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,

20) If we would all walk with Wisdom on these paths.  What commonly endured ditches we would all avoid!

21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

21) Let us together seek Wisdom.  Not just smarts, or knowledge, or stats, or facts, or trivia.  All of that, combined with God's revealed Truth in scripture, and applied to good effect and with love, is the work of Wisdom.


22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was constantly[e] at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.


32 “Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”




[Anyone willing to author an explanation of my system, let me know, and if it makes more sense than my attempts (how could it not?) I will use it in October.]




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

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting July 3rd on Proverbs 3:16-20

Got 31 days in the month?  

God's got 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs! 

What a coincidence!

For each date then, again this month, you will find commentary on a few verses from the corresponding chapter. There are 7 months in the year with 31 days, so I divided each chapter into 7 parts and spread them out so that each verse will be reviewed on the date related to its chapter by the same number name.  No, I am not deliberately trying to make this explanation complicated! (But, if you can explain my system any better than I have tried to do in the past three 31-day months, there is probably a proverb proclaiming your wisdom, and you will be recognized here for your high achievement!).

Below this introduction you will find the whole chapter representing today's date, with this month's verses highlighted in red, and my amateur comments for today low lighted in blue. Enjoy!

PROVERBS 3

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

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 peace and 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 submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.


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.


13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.

16) Who is the "her" here?  "She" is Wisdom!

And she brings long life, riches and honor!  Why do we not beckon her and listen to her counsel, instead of resist and scorn what she has to say?

17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.

17) Oh no!  Now pleasant ways and paths of peace!

18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.

18) It all comes back to free will.  Freedom of choice.  On what basis will you make your decisions, big and small?


19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;

19) Any cursory glance at the "earth's foundations", or deep look into the heavens, will reveal the under girding wisdom of God.   Our scientists continually reveal the intricacies and marvels of the material world, yet constantly work to dissuade the natural tendency of rational man to connect the wonderfully created with a wonderful creator; instead they propose improvable and scandalously unscientific alternative explanations for its workings and its origin.  Let the truth stand.  It was by His wisdom, accomplished.

20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

20) If wisdom is knowledge applied correctly, imagine what foundational knowledge God does inherently master. 


21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.


27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.


31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.


32 For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.




[Anyone willing to author an explanation of my system, let me know, and if it makes more sense than my attempts (how could it not?) I will use it in October.]


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

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting July2nd on Proverbs 2:9-11

Got 31 days in the month?  

God's got 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs! 

What a coincidence!

For each date then, again this month, you will find commentary on a few verses from the corresponding chapter. There are 7 months in the year with 31 days, so I divided each chapter into 7 parts and spread them out so that each verse will be reviewed on the date related to its chapter by the same number name.  No, I am not deliberately trying to make this explanation complicated! (But, if you can explain my system any better than I have tried to do in the past three 31-day months, there is probably a proverb proclaiming your wisdom, and you will be recognized here for your high achievement!).

Below this introduction you will find the whole chapter representing today's date, with this month's verses highlighted in red, and my amateur comments for today low lighted in blue. Enjoy!

PROVERBS 2

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.


9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.

9) What a promise!  But what a Promiser!  God's promises are not like man's: He does not blow smoke or bait and switch or dabble in semantics.  Romans 3:4 makes the distinction:   Let God be true, and every human being a liar.  Perhaps you have trouble even imagining that what God says, He means.  But He does, and you can cling to His word. 

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

10) Go back and re read verses 1-4 above.  They are the "ifs" that lead to these precious "thens" we are reading now.  Anybody can do the "ifs", and they can be done from anywhere at anytime under any circumstances.  Let me gather the verbs together here, and you tell me if they can be done in heavy traffic, in the sickest of sickbeds, or in the direst of dire straights: Accept, store-up, turn, apply, call out, cry aloud, look and search for.  The only one that might be difficult to do if you were locked in the trunk of a car is to store-up His commands within you.  Unless you have a Bible and a flashlight, it may be too late for the storing up so do that now!

11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

11) Thank you Lord, for this great promise.  Please help me to accept your offer and practice the ifs you have given me.  I can always use discretion and understanding!

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.


16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.[a]
18 Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.


20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the unfaithful will be torn from it.




[Anyone willing to author an explanation of my system, let me know, and if it makes more sense than my attempts (how could it not?) I will use it in October.]

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

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 9th on Proverbs 9:5,6

[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 here I offer my amateur comments on verses 5,6.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are neither       (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 9

Invitations of Wisdom and Folly

1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has set up its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls
from the highest point of the city,
4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
5 “Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed. 

5) All kinds of people want to "share", or "push" the things they are stuck on.  Smokers want more people to  stand outside in the cold with them and smoke, and drinkers want you to join them in the bar, and even druggies will share their expensive dope (for a while), if you do what they do.  Here Wisdom invites us to sit down, get comfortable, and partake of all the nutrition and sustenance she has to offer, but not for her own benefit or the comfort misery gains from company.

In Psalm 34:8, David echos this theme in a way that a spiritually hungry man can relate to:  "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of insight.”

6) It is so simple to just do what everyone else is doing.  People sometimes say Christians are just believers because their parents were.  (Not true.  People often become believers despite their parent's objections, and  others refuse to believe either because their parent's example did nothing to stir discipleship, or because...they just refuse to believe.)  But why do drinkers drink and smokers smoke, if not because of the pressure put on by their peers?  And this tendency masters more than those choosing their vices.  Every class and rank of man follow the pattern set by those surrounding them, whether into bad habits or cultured accomplishments.

Did you ever see Ernest Borgnine in "Marty"?  It's a great movie where Marty almost passes up his one good chance for love because of the opinions and pressures put on him by his friends and family.  Check it out!  I found this clip that will not give away anything, except a flavor of the character.

Solomon pleads for mankind to do something other than what is expected and typically done by all..  "Walk in the way of insight."

7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
13 Folly is an unruly woman;
she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way,
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious! ”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.

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

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting May 3rd on Proverbs 3: 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 here I will offer my amateur comments on verses 11-15.  Today's inspired verses are in red, and my comments are....neither (neither inspired, nor red).

PROVERBS 3

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

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 peace and 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 submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
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,

11) "Thank you Lord, for your discipline and rebuke!"  How far off the 'proverbial' deep end would we be without God's interference?  Deep enough.  I remember realizing that water doesn't have to be 100 feet deep to drown in; if it's over your head, that's enough.  So much of this life is 'over my head', and I need God's help.  ALL of His helps.

12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.

12) How God honors us by His love!  Remember Psalm 8?  "What is man, that you think of Him?"  And here He goes on to say that He 'delights' in us!  I know that joyous feeling I get when I think of any one of my three adult kids.  No matter what is/was going on, I get a dreamy eyed, smiley, DELIGHT in the back of my mind.  God gets something like that when He remembers ME  (and YOU)!

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,

13) Back to the subject: Being subject to the 'Lord's discipline' is the same thing as 'finding wisdom' and 'gaining understanding'.  Let Him do His work in the way He deems fit, and all will be well.  Embrace it all.  (Rewards mentioned below.)

14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold. 

14) God knows how to speak our language doesn't He?  'Yields better returns than gold.' He says.  Sounds like a midnight infomercial, but with credibility, and without shipping and handling fees.  I'm in.  "Lord, help me to be ALL in."

15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her. 

15) This claim that 'nothing you desire can compare with [wisdom]' will appear again in Proverbs 8:15 (which we will discover on May 8th).  We used to sing a worship song based on this idea, but after listing various beautiful and precious things (silver, gold, diamonds), the chorus declared that "Nothing I desire compares with YOU" referring of course, to our great God.  I loved that song, and I remember the time the worship leader asked for more down to earth examples of wonderful and rare things we might actually desire, but would gladly exchange for God's presence.  In Ketchikan Alaska (where it is almost always either raining or overcast), we then sang about sunshine!  What lovely thing are you longing for, but would give up in a minute, if you could have more of God Himself?

16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.




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

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting March 19th on Proverbs 19:6-9

                       March 19th?     Read Proverbs 19!

[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 those 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 in, and leave a comment. 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, 6-9, are highlighted in red

                                          (and my questionable comments are in blue).

Proverbs 19

1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.

2 Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

3 A person’s own folly leads to their ruin,
yet their heart rages against the LORD.

4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.


6) What's this about a curry flavored ruler?  The temptation to warm up to people because they can do something for us is repugnant.  Very real, but repugnant.  

7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
how much more do their friends avoid them!
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found.[a]


7) The way we judge each other is so sad.    Every person has something to share even the poorest of the poor.  Do we shun and avoid the poor just because we are afraid we will have to help them?  I guess the second half of the proverb suggests that they are pleading for help.  How dare they! 
 
8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.


8) There is nothing like being familiar with a machine or a subject or a book or a person!  Being involved long enough to be comfortable does indeed make life lovable.  Then one understanding simply leads to another and another, and pretty quick; you've prospered!


And developing an aptitude or a vocabulary or an achievement in any subject fosters advancement in any other field. I've noticed that many successful actors or athletes also have abilities with music.  Those piano lessons they hated back in the day, developed their discipline, memory, organization and study skills. 


9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will perish.


9) Good.  "Thank you Lord."  'Pouring out lies' suggests an unrepentant lifetime liar.  He will perish.  A repentant liar does no longer do any lie pouring.  But if one spills out here and there, and...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1John 1:9

10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like
the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless go hungry.

16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.

17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done.

18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to their death.

19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];
better to be poor than a liar.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.

26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother
is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting March 7th on Proverbs 7:6-9

March 7th? Read Proverbs 7!

[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 those 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 in, and leave a comment. 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, Proverbs 7:6-9, are in red
and my questionable comments are in blue.

Proverbs 7

Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

1 My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

6 At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.


6) When I picture someone peaking through the blinds, as it were, right away I suspect that they are doing something wrong, and they know it.  If you are looking to see if your husband is home YET, you fling the drapes aside and stand arms akimbo in the window.  If you are being nosy, or sneaky, or waiting "for the coast to clear", you peak.  This woman is definitely up to no good.


7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.


7)  Here we see that she is indeed looking for a victim!  A smart man, a good man, an honest man; a man with character and values would not be a suitable target for the adulteress.  In fact, she had to eliminate much of the street's populace before she found one to use.  She did not even mention the professionals, the educated, the middle aged, or the devout, but started her search "among the simple".  Then pared down to the young, and didn't even bother there until she saw one that "had no sense".  Perhaps if an adulterous-minded man realized that he had to be pre-sorted into the "simple youth with no sense" category in order to participate, his basic pride might help him resist.


In our day, unfortunately, and in our present state of moral decay, every category of man, the young who know no better and his supposedly wiser elders are all walking down her street and even knocking boldly on her door.  They "wants what they wants when they wants it".


8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house


8) I think they call this skulking.  He still had enough shame over his temptation that he only walked "in the direction of her house".  I picture him walking around several unnecessary blocks so others might not discern where he is heading.  (Good thing she lives on a corner.  It helps with all the sneakery to have more than one approach and exit.) To complete the ruse, he stops and looks into store windows and maybe even thinks about buying her something...but he's too cheap.  It's not like he's in love anyway, and carrying flowers to her door might make a waste of all the skulking.
   
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.


9) So she's peering out through the blinds and he is accidentally meandering by just another house and the sun just happens to be going down.  Everyone on the street is turning in somewhere in a rush to set the table and turn on the TV, so this simple young fool pauses outside just another door to tie his shoe.  This rendezvous is about as well planned as the shuttle's docking with the space station!  What if we instead spent our simpleness on simply obeying God?  Would that our youth spent their time and vigor pursuing His ways!  Why not put the effort into planning an engagement and a marriage and a completed life with love and devotion, instead of a hook-up?


Through May, July and August, we will look at how this thing went down.  But it's not until October and December that we discover how this sad meeting ends (something about an arrow piercing his liver and chambers of death, if you must know). That is unless you choose to read the whole chapter today, and again on the 7th of each of the mentioned 31 day months.


God has been good enough to give us the warnings we need.  We might let them do their good work.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:

14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b]
23 till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.

24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
Footnotes:
Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool
Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting March 5th on Proverbs 5:4-6

March 5th? Read Proverbs 5!

[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 those 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 in, and leave a comment. 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, Proverbs 5:4-6, are in red
and my questionable comments are in blue.

Proverbs 5

Warning Against Adultery

 ¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom, 
   turn your ear to my words of insight, 
² that you may maintain discretion 
   and your lips may preserve knowledge. 
³ For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, 
   and her speech is smoother than oil; 
⁴ but in the end she is bitter as gall, 
   sharp as a double-edged sword. 


4) [See why you need to read the whole chapter every day?  Verse four needs to be read in the context of the verses above.]  The ultimate bait and switch trick is illustrated here.  What man, or woman, who has been seduced into adultery, ever found the temptation as "bitter as gall" that very first day, or "sharp as a double-edged sword" that first night?  No.  That shocking realization comes later.



⁵ Her feet go down to death; 
   her steps lead straight to the grave. 

No, these guys are not nearly as dangerous as adultery!

5) Too bad that no one warns us of these things!  How can we be held responsible for our sins if God didn't give us a head-up?  Such dire consequences as these should be written down somewhere and distributed across the planet!  Oh yeah. They are.


In the quaint little poetical collection of cute proverbs we find that death and the grave follow from what our society calls frivolous and fun; what we consider a 'fling', God tells us in no uncertain terms, leads "straight to the grave"!



⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life; 
   her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.


6) We follow our hormones and our emotions.  And sometimes our societal gurus who try to comfort us with the foolish idea that an affair might somehow  spice up our marriage.  This type of cultural counseling is an example of giving "no thought to the way of life."  


I have often marveled at the woman who has confidence in a man who abandons his wife for her, never thinking that he will do the same to her one day!  She thinks her affair is taking her somewhere good and right?  Indeed, Solomon, "her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it."


We would all do better to read this book for the warnings about things we have no doubts about.  What paths might we be on that are truly "aimless"?

 ⁷ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
   do not turn aside from what I say.
⁸ Keep to a path far from her,
   do not go near the door of her house,
⁹ lest you lose your honor to others
   and your dignity^[a] to one who is cruel,
¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth
   and your toil enrich the house of another.
¹¹ At the end of your life you will groan,
   when your flesh and body are spent.
¹² You will say, “How I hated discipline!
   How my heart spurned correction!
¹³ I would not obey my teachers
   or turn my ear to my instructors.
¹⁴ And I was soon in serious trouble
   in the assembly of God’s people.”

 ¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,
   running water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets,
   your streams of water in the public squares?
¹⁷ Let them be yours alone,
   never to be shared with strangers.
¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
   and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ A loving doe, a graceful deer—
   may her breasts satisfy you always,
   may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
²⁰ Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
   Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

 ²¹ For your ways are in full view of the LORD,
   and he examines all your paths.
²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
   the cords of their sins hold them fast.
²³ For lack of discipline they will die,
   led astray by their own great folly.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 5:9 Or years

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 20th on Proverbs 20:1-5

January 20;  Proverbs 20  Verses 1-5

[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 20

¹ Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
   whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

 ² A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
   those who anger him forfeit their lives.

 ³ It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
   but every fool is quick to quarrel.

 ⁴ Sluggards do not plow in season;
   so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

 ⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
   but one who has insight draws them out.

1) Remember the old add campaign?  "Riunite on ice!  That's nice!"  No?  So either you have a failed memory, or you are pitifully young!  Anyway, when I was a freshman in college in 1977, Wisconsinites could buy alcohol at age 18, so I did.  I fell for this stupid ad and I brought a bottle of wine back to my private dorm room.  Of course I found some ice, and I made a little habit of drinking wine by myself in my room. ( I had always hated the taste of beer, and only drank half a can when I thought I should be drinking with my seminarian classmates during summer get-togethers.   I wonder if Solomon will get around to saying:  Peer pressure is a bastard.)


Anyway, it wasn't very many bottles before I realized that drinking wine changed me (duh!).  That I became something I wasn't without it.  That I was giving my spirit over, and letting its spirit move me instead.  I never got falling down drunk, and nobody ever even noticed what I was doing, but I knew that this wine was not so nice.  That it was mocking me.  I quit.  I thank God today, that He kept me from being led too far astray by the mocking wine, or the brawling beer.


2) We know we should 'fear' the rogue IRS agent, or the uncontrolled social welfare worker, or the poorly vetted cop in the middle of the night.  A person with more power than they can decently manage is a scary thing.  Like a terrible King, or a violent dictator.  But God we should fear, because He is right, and does right.

pic from aaroniswhatever.tumbir.com

3) Ever been tempted to fight?  Think of Marty McFly being called "chicken".  In the end he made the 'honorable' decision and did not enter into the road race that nearly killed Needles, the obvious fool.  Not every fight can be avoided.  When an enemy is pouring over the border, or a fool is invading your home, it must be taken up with vigor until won. 

4) There is a time to work, and a time to play.  Work when the time is right, or there will be no play.


5) Remember Proverbs 18:4?  It was just two days ago!  Anyway, we were told there that "the words of the mouth are deep waters", and they were contrasted with the fountain of wisdom.  Here, another good thing is hidden in the larger volume, and waits to be distilled.  This is encouraging.  You may know someone, or be someone, who speaks too much, or withholds too much.  In either case there may be some refreshing drinks of wisdom, or the promise of great works, that need to be separated and nourished.  

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 16th on Proverbs 16:1-5

January 16;  Proverbs 16, Verses 1-5

[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 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.

[I hope you are reading the whole chapter today!]

1) This one is tricky, but here is my stab.  We might think and plan and prepare for what we want to say to somebody, or even in a speech; but when the moment arrives and the time to speak is at hand, those who have an openness to God's Spirit may find themselves saying something entirely different.  Instead of my diatribe, or lecture, or dumb joke, once in a while God may change the 'plan of my heart' so that I say something 'proper'.  Wow!  What a gift that is!

2) It's not just our words, but all of our 'ways' can be wrong headed.  Of course they seem right to each of us, and we may even fool our friends, but God knows all.  We must not judge other's motives because even they may not really know what they are.  God can judge, because He truly knows.

3) So here is the answer.  'Whatever you do' is quite the broad, all inclusive phrase.  We need simply to 'commit' it all to Him, and follow His lead.  Ahhhh.

Thank you Lord, for establishing my plans.

4) You may have noticed that the proverbs in this book most often stand alone, or in pairs.  But here, at least these first four seem to flow sequentially.  When we commit our ways to Him, He leads accordingly; when the wicked refuse to do the same, disaster follows.  Not so much as a punishment, but as a natural consequence.  A fallen, unrepentant sinner will automatically leave the narrow road and fall into an abyss.  By definition.  He may cry foul from the snare he is caught in, and 'blame' God for the misfortune, but we really only do reap what we sow.

5) The 'proud of heart' set themselves up to be God's rivals.  They don't have a chance, but the harm they do to themselves and others by their waywardness and by their bad example brings God to 'detest' them first, and then to a just punishment.  (Perhaps I should be careful to use the proper pronouns in the italicized sentence above:  Would you please exchange these first person versions in for the third person I inexcusably used above?  We, we, ourselves, our, our, us.)

By the way, I sure would appreciate any comments.  I need to know if these comments are generally either lame or possibly helpful!  Thank you!

The Proverbs 31 Project: Commenting January 15th on Proverbs 15:1-5

January 15;  Proverbs 15, Verses 1-5

[Please note: The first two paragraphs below are repeated each day for new readers.  My amateur comments start 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 15

¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,
   but a harsh word stirs up anger.

 ² The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
   but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

 ³ The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
   keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

 ⁴ The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
   but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

 ⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
   but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

1) Somewhere in my writings I referred to this verse as one of the most applicable verses around.  So often we find ourselves the object of SOMEBODY'S ire.  Perhaps the clerk you bugged, or the guy you bumped, or another driver you bothered was having a horrible day and decided to let loose on you!  But if you manage to give him Solomon's old "gentle answer" routine instead of firing both barrels right back at him, you get to watch the anger just melt away!  It's like a little miracle, but you will see that Solomon knows what he's talking about.

2) The second half of this verse makes obvious sense.  We have all known people, fools, whose mouths "gush folly".  They say one stupid thing after another; or a series of profane laced sentences fills every paragraph and we get so exhausted from searching through all the ore of useless words that we can never find the nugget of truth that may have been buried within.  

But the first half of verse 2 is more interesting.  The wise tongue adorns knowledge.  Sounds like that means a person may have some knowledge to share, but it can waste away if he does not also have a "wise tongue" to bring it out in an attractive manner.  The word elucidate comes to mind.  Here are its synonyms:  explain, clarify, explicate, expound, illuminate, spell out, interpret  I have often been frustrated in an attempt to clearly 'illuminate' an idea, or an understanding I have on some subject or another verbally.  Personally, I do much better in writing my thoughts (I hope).  Too bad for me Solomon didn't say anything about 'keyboards adorning knowledge'. 

3) I am so glad that "The eyes of the LORD are everywhere".  It makes me feel good to think that nothing gets past Him because when I do what is right, and nobody notices, I know that He might be pleased with me and it pleases me to please Him.  It makes me feel good to think that nothing gets past Him because when I do something wrong, and I know it, and even if nobody else knows about it, I can share the truth of my sin with God.  And He shares the truth of His forgiveness with me. 

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

This gladness about His eyes being everywhere was only true for me AFTER I became a Christian.  Before, I preferred to hide with my sin.  Now I have found that being "in Christ" is better than being "in sin".

4) The contrast here is between a soothing tongue and a perverse tongue.  Do these seem like the opposites of each other to you?  I would think soothing/severe, or soothing/inciteful; and maybe correct/perverse, or rational/perverse.  But we should go with the wisest man in the world and try to see what he is getting at.  

I think he started with the two modes of living and worked backwards to the source of those life conditions.  In what kind of soil does the 'tree of life' prosper?  A soil rich with soothing words.  From parents who speak with love, and in peace.  Where strains of joy and a fruitful vocabulary abound.  And what is it that 'crushes a spirit'?   A perverse tongue.  Parents who are insulting and degrading.  Being surrounded by the words of abuse, hateful tones, angry blasts and unfair rants.  Profane and graphic imagery is only crushing for a child or a teen, and does, in fact, no good for anyone of any age.

5) Once again Sol hits on this theme of obedience.  He is not babbling from senility, but emphasizing the main points of his life understanding. His repetition should not bore us, but sober us.  It is vital that a youngster finds the will to submit to his parents' good discipline.