Proverbs 20:1-15 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;I am clean from my sin”? Proverbs 20:9 No one. There is absolutely no way we can make ourselves pure. There is no heroic feat great enough to outweigh our guilt, no sacrifice we can make to atone. There is no self-help program that will …
Category Archives: RTB 2022 – Psalms and Wisdom Literature
July 20 / Proverbs 19:16-29
Proverbs 19:16-29 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 Last week we mentioned in passing a few verses about planning. Today we get another one. Here we are reminded that we do quite a lot of planning. We all do, …
July 19 / Proverbs 19:1-15
Proverbs 19:1-15 When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,his heart rages against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3 Does that not describe the human race? Ever since Adam and Eve we’ve shirked responsibility and shifted blame: “The woman whom You gave me… The serpent deceived me…” (Gen. 3:12-13) Whenever we make a mistake, our first …
July 18 / Proverbs 18:13-24
Proverbs 18:13-24 The one who states his case first seems right,until the other comes and examines him. Proverbs 18:17 Remember that the next time you turn on the news and get only one side of the story. The initial story (especially from media that have a one-sided agenda and narrative to uphold) is rarely the …
July 17 / Proverbs 18:1-12
Proverbs 18:1-12 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;the righteous man runs into it and is safe.A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,and like a high wall in his imagination. Proverbs 18:10-11 Two places of security. One is invisible, but outshines the sun. The other is in plain sight, but will fade …
July 16 / Proverbs 17:15-28
Proverbs 17:15-28 A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 “Friend”. That is a word that gets used quite a lot in today’s world. We have even turned it from a noun into a verb, so we can readily “friend” someone on social media. And we can even more …
July 15 / Proverbs 17:1-14
Proverbs 17:1-14 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,and the LORD tests hearts. Proverbs 17:3 What does it mean for the LORD to test hearts? What does testing the heart look like? The first half of this proverb — the crucible and the furnace — suggests intense heat. Zechariah 13:9 and …
July 14 / Proverbs 16:17-33
Proverbs 16:17-33 A worker’s appetite works for him;his mouth urges him on. Proverbs 16:26 Some people are just plain driven and work constantly, but they are the exceptions. Most of us gladly take advantage of paid time off. I’d even venture to say that if we were given unlimited paid time off, we’d take it, …
July 13 / Proverbs 16:1-16
Proverbs 16:1-16 Several of today’s proverbs explicitly mention “plans” (i.e., Pr. 16:1,3,9) — and Pr. 16:2 might as well have used “plans” instead of “ways”. So I thought I might focus on planning today, how it is good and prudent to plan, but that we need to hold our plans loosely, recognizing that the Lord …
July 12 / Proverbs 15:18-33
Proverbs 15:18-33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33 I am sure most of us have heard teaching to the effect that the word “fear” in the phrase “the fear of the LORD” doesn’t mean “fear” at all, but rather “respect” or “reverence”. That’s a common teaching, …