September 17 / Proverbs 30:1-10

Proverbs 30:1-10 Who has ascended to heaven and come down?Who has gathered the wind in his fists?Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?Who has established all the ends of the earth?What is his name, and what is his son’s name?Surely you know! Proverbs 30:4 This verse immediately transports me back to our tour …

September 16 / September 29:15-27

Proverbs 29:15-27 Many seek the face of a ruler,but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice. Proverbs 29:26 Proverbs is an immensely practical book, providing wisdom and insight for everything from child rearing (Pr. 13:24; Pr. 29:15,17) to money management (Pr. 22:7), from honesty and integrity (Pr. 20:10) to the value of …

September 15 / Proverbs 29:1-14

Proverbs 29:1-14 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,will suddenly be broken beyond healing. Proverbs 29:1 This proverb brings to mind the Exodus. God sends Moses to tell Pharaoh to release the people of Israel from slavery, but Pharaoh repeatedly refuses, despite devastating plagues. Again and again he hardens his heart — or …

September 14 / Proverbs 28:15-28

Proverbs 28:15-28 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.A faithful man will abound with blessings,but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 28:19-20 The truth of these proverbs should be reasonably plain to all. Faithful, diligent hard work over time …

September 13 / Proverbs 28:1-14

Proverbs 28:1-14 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13 This proverb presents a core truth of Christianity. The first real step in receiving mercy is to recognize our own sin and to repent. We cannot stand on our own righteousness. Yet it is a …

September 12 / Proverbs 27:15-27

Proverbs 27:15-27 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,and never satisfied are the eyes of man. Proverbs 27:20 Madison Avenue survives and thrives on the truth of this proverb. The advertising industry not only recognizes our tendency to always want more, but feeds that tendency, promising us satisfaction if only we’ll buy what they’re selling — …

September 11 / Proverbs 27:1-14

Proverbs 27:1-14 Better is open rebukethan hidden love.Faithful are the wounds of a friend;profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:5-6 How well do you take constructive criticism? How about open rebuke? Do you honestly evaluate critical words to see whether they have merit, whether there is any truth in them? Or do you …

September 10 / Proverbs 26:13-28

Proverbs 26:13-28 For lack of wood the fire goes out,and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. Proverbs 26:20-21 Have you been setting — or fueling — any fires lately? So also the tongue is a small member, yet it …

September 9 / Proverbs 26:1-12

Proverbs 26:1-12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12 Most of the proverbs in today’s reading disparage fools in one way or another. It is easy to nod our heads in agreement. We can all point to examples of …

September 8 / Proverbs 25:15-28

Proverbs 25:15-28 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,for you will heap burning coals on his head,and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22 I once encountered some teaching that tried to explain away the “burning coals” part of this proverb by saying …