Proverbs 22:17-23:35 Let not your heart envy sinners,but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.Surely there is a future,and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 21:17-18 With all the advertising that gets thrown at us, with all the unreality we soak in from Hollywood, with all the material prosperity of …
Monthly Archives: September 2024
September 10 / Proverbs 20:14-22:16
Proverbs 20:14-22:16 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteousbut terror to evildoers. Proverbs 21:15 We can see the truth of this proverb illustrated throughout history at various levels, from the punishment of notorious criminals to the defeat of the Axis powers by the Allies in World War II. But any such …
September 9 / Proverbs 19:1-20:13
Proverbs 19:1-20:13 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,the LORD has made them both. Proverbs 20:12 That statement is as true in the spiritual realm as it is in the physical. That is, we have no capacity to hear the voice of the LORD or see His Truth apart from His giving us ears to …
September 8 / Proverbs 17-18
Proverbs 17-18 Now that we are well into this Book of Proverbs, I think it’s worthwhile to make some general remarks. You might have noticed that many of the proverbs we’ve read tend to paint a picture of life in which wisdom, honesty, righteousness, and hard work produce wealth and prosperity, while folly, dishonesty, wickedness, …
September 7 / Proverbs 15:24-16:33
Proverbs 15:24-16:33 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. Proverbs 16:6 Steadfast love and faithfulness: two exceptional qualities, both of which are evidenced by actions, not just feelings, and both of which the LORD displays in abundance: Your steadfast love, O LORD, …
September 6 / Proverbs 14:22-15:23
Proverbs 14:22-15:23 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD;how much more the hearts of the children of man! Proverbs 15:11 In case you are wondering, “Sheol” is the place of the dead. It is neither Heaven nor Hell and does not properly imply an afterlife. We might just as well replace “Sheol” with “the …
September 5 / Proverbs 13:1-14:21
Proverbs 13:1-14:21 A wise son hears his father’s instruction,but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 13:1 We’ve all seen it. We’ve witnessed bratty kids ignoring their parents and making nuisances of themselves. We’ve all witnessed headstrong teenagers defying their parents’ instructions and sailing into predictable storms. And we’ve seen full-fledged adults do the …
September 4 / Proverbs 11:14-12:28
Proverbs 11:14-12:28 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25 Put another way, Jesus says: Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back …
September 3 / Proverbs 10:1-11:13
Proverbs 10:1-11:13 You might notice that our text today is quite different from Proverbs 1-9. I could address that here, but rather than repeat myself, I’ll ask you please just to look back at the first link from 2022 below. I’ll wait… So, making no attempt to cover all the individual proverbs in today’s reading, …
September 2 / Proverbs 9
Proverbs 9 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” Proverbs 9:4a,16a Both Wisdom and Folly call to us, issuing the same invitation. One sincerely offers life in paths of righteousness and justice. The other is a con artist, whose promises are empty and whose paths lead to death. It is easy here in the …