Proverbs

Proverb for the Day 3:25-26 — He Got Me!

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.

These two verses conclude a short section from father to son about how life can be — when we’re connected to wisdom, understanding, sound judgment and discretion (:21).

Admittedly, there’s some question as to whether these bad things are happening to or coming from “the wicked.” But verse 25 is very clear that we won’t need to be concerned!

Together, these verses offer a compelling promise of safety — mental (“have no fear”) and physical (“the LORD…will keep your foot from being snared”) — when “sudden disaster or…ruin” shows up. We can be certain about this because “the LORD will be at your side.”

As the Apostle Paul wrote, “If God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31). So, if all this is true — I must be bullet-proof!

Well, not exactly!

While I don’t need to have any fear — that doesn’t mean I won’t. I’ll have to choose to trust Him!

And He will keep my foot from any trap — as long as I don’t jump out there on my own best thinking and get caught up!

God really does have everything under control — but me!

In His wisdom, He’s given us all authentic freedom of choice — with each choice bringing its own consistent and inevitable benefits or consequences.

No fear…safe steps…every day! My choice!

Proverb for the Day 31:28 — The Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31 — My Momma!

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her

One week ago today, my 89-year old mother gently passed from this life into the next, after a short bout with cancer. Having virtually no pain throughout the process, mom slipped into a coma and quietly breathed her last breath.

While there’s no question she was ready to go to Heaven – and at the end wanted to get it done(!) – I admit it wasn’t easy to just let her go.

I had her around for 63 years…but she and 89-year old father have been married 68 years – and it’s been even harder for him.

Their only child, I admit mom wasn’t perfect…and she didn’t raise a perfect son, either! But she loved people and was so willing to share with others from what God had given her.

Basically shy, she was great company once she was comfortable in a group. But, if she didn’t know anyone, she enjoyed just sitting back and watching all the activity.

Mom lived and shared her faith – in a quiet way – right to the end…and she had a wonderful impact on people around her. To her final day she lived out what she believed in the presence of both residents and staff at the retirement community where she and dad resided.

Able to stay in her own place to the end, there was a steady stream of folks stopping by to see her before she passed.

As I read again this acrostic poem about the Proverbs 31 “wife of noble character” (:10-31), I was struck by how much of my mom I could see in these verses. Today’s verse notes, “Her children arise and call here blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

Dad and I do! And with a mother like that, it’s no wonder I married one of those ladies, myself!

Proverb for the Day 30:21-23 — Tough-To-Deal-With People!

21 “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: 22 a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat, 23 a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.

This is the third of four “three…four” comparisons in Proverbs 30. Here the focus is things under which “the earth trembles” and “it cannot bear up” (:21).

The context is life-situations which are hard to deal with — and they all involve other people. You may have your own list!

First is “a servant who becomes king” — a rags-to-riches story which sounds great for the servant! But, typically, such a one doesn’t really understand or appreciate the responsibilities that go with all the benefits. It could be tough working with them.

Second is “a godless fool who gets plenty to eat.” The fool has said in his or her heart “there is no God” (Psalms 14:1) and now that they’re full — they’re certain!

Third is “a contemptible woman who gets married.” “Contemptible” is the standard Hebrew word for “hated” — this is apparently a not-too-nice lady.

Don’t know why a guy would marry her…maybe for her money. But this won’t be a picnic!

Yet remember…these are the observations of a guy — Agur (:1). The reverse would be just as true!

Fourth is “a servant who displaces her mistress.” Whatever happened to the lady-of-the-house, this servant-girl is now her. Sort of a sad rerun of the servant-become-king scenario above.

These four statements are simply Agur’s observations about people and life. But we’re all familiar with the issues he’s discussing.

I think the message of this wise saying probably includes the following:

  1. Understand the reality of our situation
  2. Adjust our thinking so we can best deal with these realities
  3. And, just maybe, know that we can still make a difference and help effect change in some of these people, places or things!

Proverb for the Day 29:2 — Wicked Become Righteous!

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

This wise saying offers a very regular contrast in Proverbs — “the righteous” and “the wicked” — and their impact on society.

Regardless of our culture or faith, we’ve all been given an innate sense of what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior. So, when “the righteous thrive, the people rejoice” and when “the wicked rule, the people groan” — because we almost all have that universal understanding of what’s good and what isn’t (see Romans 1:18-20).

And, we’ve gotten pretty good at it — because we have to deal with it every day: in the community, at work, in the family, even at church! Sometimes we rejoice but a lot more times we groan!

Yet here in the United States — and I suspect it’s almost universal — when famous, important, powerful people simply admits their failures or shortcomings, we’re so ready to forgive and move on. We probably won’t even feel the need to “groan” about it anymore!

In fact, that’s how “the wicked” don’t have to stay that way! By just being honest about themselves and their situation, they begin a rehabilitation process that can lead to them ultimately becoming “the righteous,” themselves.

It’s important to remember that righteousness and wickedness are more about who we are than what we do. To be “righteous,” we simply need to be honest about our defects of character.

Then, from that place of honesty, we’ll need to acknowledge and accept that God has the power to give us what we can’t find within ourselves. In the recovery world it’s: I Can’t; He Can; So Let Him.

After all, how do you think “the righteous” got that way?!?! Works every time!

Proverb for the Day 28:10 — Traps or Inheritance!

Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

Ancient Hebrew proverbs were typically written in parallel statements. Sometimes the second line was built on the first but, generally, was in contrast to it.  
Here “the blameless” of the second line is contrasted with “whoever leads the upright along an evil path.” Yet the focus on these two very different people isn’t their character or actions — but the consequences of their lifestyle choices.

“Whoever leads the upright along an evil path” is one who causes an innocent person (“the upright”) to go astray from the right road and then deliberately leads them in a direction that’s harmful (“along an evil path”).

While “the upright” will still have to answer for their own decisions here, this wise saying notes the one who does the leading “will fall into their own trap.”

We’ve seen this scenario play out before — many times. Remember Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote?!?!

The stark contrast in our verse notes “the blameless will receive a good inheritance.” These guys and gals not only don’t hurt others, they make decisions that set themselves up for “a good inheritance.”

Life’s all about choices. We can choose to help others — or hurt them. 

And our decisions, every day, will cause us to fall into traps of our own making or lead us to receive a good inheritance — something we can enjoy ourselves and even pass along to others.

We choose!

Proverb for the Day 27:20 — Never Enough!!!

Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes.

This wise saying offers an interesting comparison between “death and destruction” — two forces of the natural world — and “human eyes.” The point is that all three are “never satisfied.”

“Death” here is the Hebrew term sheol — equivalent to hades in Greek — and usually translated “hell” in the King James Version. While there’s significant theological debate about the precise meaning of the word, it’s generally understood as a place under the earth where the dead reside — the “underworld.”

Actually coming from the root verb “to ask,” this term, “death” — the underworld where the dead go (body or soul) — is “never satisfied” or “full.” It always has room and seemingly keeps “asking” for more.

The complementary force of nature, “destruction,” also refers to death or ruin — of people, places or things. It’s never full or satisfied, either.

A rather grim picture, they’re compared to “human eyes” which are equally “never satisfied.” While “death and destruction” will continue unabated until this world system is over, our own human desire and need-for-more tends to never be satisfied, either.

This wise saying offers a pretty accurate understanding of human nature in Old Testament times — and today. But, honestly, it doesn’t have to be this way!

One of our weekly Character Qualities here at Helping Up Mission is Contentment: realizing God has already provided everything necessary for my present well-being.

I’m either “never satisfied” or have “everything necessary for my present well-being.” It’s all about perspective — God’s or mine!

I’ve tried both. His is working pretty well for me!

Proverb for the Day 24:21-22 — Which Side Are We On?

21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials, 22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Often known as Saying 30 of the “sayings of the wise” (22:17), this proverb is about a healthy respect for God and the king.

“Fear the LORD” is a common phrase in Proverbs. To fear God is to see Him as He really is — to be in awe of Him because we realize His awesomeness! It’s all about our focus and understanding of Him.

This verse then adds that we’d do well to have a healthy respect for the king, too! After all — under God — he’s in a position to have quite an impact on my life, too.

As a sort of parallel statement, father added, “do not join with rebellious officials” — that is, those who’ve changed and chosen to not fear the LORD and king.

Dad’s reasoning here is simple. Seeing both God and the king as they really are, we can understand that “those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?” (:22).

And, if we’re hanging out with those “rebellious officials,” we can be easily caught up in all their collateral damage. To “fear the LORD” is the perspective that keeps me on track with Him and out of trouble with everyone else!

And He has the power to direct the king to do right thing for me, too! As I see it, “fear the LORD” and He sets me up all around!

It’s all my choice, and the consequences — good or bad — will be of my own choosing.

Proverb for the Day 22:29 — I would rather be influential than important!

Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

This verse is often referred to as the sixth “saying of the wise” (22:17). It’s about skilled, competent labor.
Beginning with a rhetorical question, it asks “do you see someone skilled in their work?”
The phrase “do you see” comes from the poetic Hebrew word often used for “visions.” I’ll suggest the writer is saying, “Can you imagine someone who…”

The person we’re to imagine is one “skilled in their work.” While coming from a word meaning “quick,” this “skilled” person is not to be understood as a quick-fix kind of guy or gal.

Instead, it describes an experienced, capable person who can quickly diagnose a problem and fix it right — the first time. No drama, no trauma!

If we can imagine such people, we should know that their “skills,” experience and competency won’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. They’ll rise to a place of influence — “serve before kings.”
It would have been fine with me if this proverb stopped here — but a final line adds something this skilled person won’t be doing. “They will not serve before officials of low rank.” 
“Officials of low rank” comes from a single word used only this once in the Hebrew Bible. An obscure term — that’s actually what it means — obscure, low, nameless! Our competent, capable, experienced person won’t be laboring namelessly or in quiet obscurity
But, neither does the verse say our skilled worker will become rich, famous, important or powerful! It’s just that their talents will be recognized and appreciated — they’ll be able to make a difference wherever they serve.
Dr. Elmer Towns was my professor at Liberty University 150 years ago! I heard him frequently say his philosophy of ministry and service — “I would rather be influential than important!”
This proverb’s about that guy!

Proverb for the Day 23:26-28 — Fell in a Hole…Ambushed!

26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, 27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. 28 Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men

Often noted as number 18 among the “sayings of the wise” (22:17), these verses represent a father’s advice to his son about immoral women. This is guy-talk and a regular theme in Proverbs — I wonder why!?!?

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways” (:26) — “heart” speaks of attitude, “ways” speaks of action. Dad invites his son to think like he thinks and act like he acts.

This is the reason why — “for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well” (:27). The “deep pit” and “narrow well” were most likely man-made, dug for specific agricultural, industrial or domestic purposes in antiquity.

But if someone ever found themselves at the bottom of either, it was probably a painful fall and it would have been tough getting out! Messing around with immoral women was like falling into such a deep narrow hole.

But, there’s more — “like a bandit she lies in wait” (:28). It’s an ambush! And she’ll rob us of whatever we have.

The saddest part of this whole three-verse wise saying is that it’s about “unfaithful men” (:28). In the end, both the fall into the hole in the ground and the ambush could have been avoided — by paying attention to what dad was saying (:26).

Of course, momma could have — and probably did — say the same things to her daughter! Hope they all listened…hope we are, too!

Proverb for the Day 21:8 — All About Me!

The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.


This wise saying contrasts two very different characters — “the guilty” and “the innocent”– and how they roll!
“Guilty” is a rare term used only here in the Hebrew Bible. Originally “criminal,” the term suggests one legally convicted — “criminal” in their character! 
And “the way of” such guilty/criminal characters “is devious” or “crooked.” They’re “crooks” in their thinking (“the guilty”) and their dealings with other people (“devious”)!
In stark contrast, “The conduct of the innocent is upright.” Called “innocent” — pure, flawless and clean — by their character, their “conduct” and every day dealing with others is “upright,” straightforward and on the level.
This wise saying is just a statement of fact about different kinds of people and life in general. But it does offer some meaningful thoughts to me.
We’re all “criminally guilty” in our character before God! I really have no defense.
Yet Jesus came and died on the Cross to make me acceptable — “innocent,” pure, clean and flawless” before God — in spite of all my shortcomings.
Consequently, through Him I now have the empowerment to be that “upright,” straightforward and on the level person in my thinking and activities.

This proverb’s all about me!