October Devotions

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<div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="contact"><B>Pastor Cain</B></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="41"><div> <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="map"><B><IMG SRC="03c0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="map"><B>Map</B></A></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="699" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><B>Back to calendar</B></A><A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><B> </B></A><A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><IMG SRC="0400e0e0.jpg" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A>   </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> For<B>  PREVIOUS PROVERBS: </B>Scroll up<B>,</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT><I><B>OR</B></I> Return to Devotional Calendar</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=365 BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="509" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#66334C > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 21:30</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><I>There is</I> no wisdom nor discernment nor plan</div> <div>  to stand against Jehovah. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "To stand against" is from a Hebrew phrase literally meaning "to the front of."  </div> <div>     It can also mean, as some of the ancient Jewish versions have it, "There is no wisdom ... before Jehovah", meaning there is none compared to His.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jehovah</div> <bR> <div> Description:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">No creature's wisdom, insight, or planning can oppose Him</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Solomon reminds us again that everything is personal; that is, everything has to do with God personally.  God didn't merely build a plethora of principles into His creation by which it could be made to operate according to the savvy of anyone who understood those principles.  </div> <div>     That's how Satan approached the creation.  When he found he didn't like the created order as it stood, he used his knowledge of God and His patterns of operation to try to make some adjustments.</div> <div>     That's how Eve's mind maneuvered as she pieced together the data at her disposal.</div> <div>     Indeed, both Satan and Eve came 'very close', so to speak, to understanding the system's working.</div> <div>     Notice that in one respect, Satan was not nearly insane.  He never intended to overthrow God:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Isa 14:13, 14</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  For you have said in your heart, I will go up </FONT><I>to</I> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.  I will go up above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     We can plainly see that Satan only wanted to replicate something <I>similar </I>to God's dominion.  He did not want God's dominion itself.  The only items Satan desired superiority to were stars (the other angels) and clouds, both created things.  Otherwise, he only wanted a sort of 'parity' with God.  "I will be <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>like </B></FONT>the Most High" is a declaration by which Satan clearly acknowledged that God could not be dethroned.  Satan only sought to carve out his own territory beside God's, under God's.</div> <div>     Satan's means of commandeering this dominion may have been to cause man's fall, thus proving that God- unable to retain control of His domain- must acknowledge <I>another's</I> right to at least co-dominion.  If this was Satan's plan, it was certainly as clever a plan as was ever devised.  All of his premises were basically correct as far as they went.</div> <div>     Eve's plan also merely took elements of the created order God had put there and sought to arrange them to her liking.  God had Himself said that this was a tree of <I>knowledge</I>.  And she <I>did </I>gain knowledge when she partook.  Again, all the premises leading to her conclusion were basically correct per the knowledge at her disposal.</div> <div>     Of course, Satan and Eve both <I>left out</I> crucial premises which, included, would have steered their conclusions in a completely different direction.</div> <div>     Satan failed to realize God's severity, that He was not obliged to acknowledge a rival who would merely disrupt His original plan.  No, God had built in the disruption as a contingency from the start.  "You shall die" did not merely separate man from God, it made him a permanent enemy, subject to eternal punishment- barring God's intervention.  </div> <div>     If the Garden of Eden was actually Satan's initial rebellion against God, he could well have reasoned, "I have already transgressed in my heart, and I have not died.  This death God has warned must be an idle threat."  And so the serpent's words, "You shall not surely die" may well have been Satan's sincere belief (making it all the more believable to Eve).</div> <div>     At their best, though, both Satan and Eve could really only accommodate the <I>next step</I> into the future with their projections.  If they were wrong about that step, they were wrong about everything.</div> <div>     So it is with all sin.</div> <div>     Every sin is a wager that God won't follow through with threatened consequences, or that they won't be all that bad, or that I'm really tough enough to take it.  All these are completely insane conjectures when held in the light of God's fixed character.</div> <div>     The best that our "wisdom, insight, or planning" can do, according to our proverb, will always fall short.</div> <div>     Again, everything is personal.  Every sin is a direct challenge to God Himself.  In order to sin, something in our mind has to tell us, "I can get away with this- God won't take notice," or "It' s worth it even if I'm punished."  These notions spit at God's omnipresence, omniscience, righteousness, and anger against sin.</div> <div>     All these plans, all these intuitions, even when we care to craft them into detailed schemes, are doomed to failure.  Worse, they doom us to pain.  Worse, our pain is increased according to our presumption.</div> <div>     The final rule, the one we should therefore start with, is that anything <I>against </I>God or His way of doing things <I>cannot </I>succeed and <I>must </I>suffer a rebel's reward.</div> <bR> <div>     Will I even dare to go out and <I>purposely </I>sin today?  If I do, could this be sufficient evidence that I don't even know God?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> **********************************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_2"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="509" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#66334C > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 21:31</div> <div> The horse is readied for the day of battle; </div> <div> but deliverance belongs to Jehovah.<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CCFFFF" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Belongs to Jehovah" is from a Hebrew phrase literally meaning "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><I>is </I></FONT>to Jehovah."  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The horse</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Safety</div> <bR> <div> Their Descriptions:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Made ready for the day of battle</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jehovah's possession</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     In the previous proverb, God let us know how fruitless it is to wage war <I>against </I>Him (primarily, simply by sinning).  Today, He lets us know how fruitless it is to wage war <I>without </I>Him.  Except today, the emphasis is on the <I>means </I>of warfare.  Those who go into battle, or enter any other enterprise, certainly depend on some <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Calisto MT" ><B>means </B></FONT>to achieve their objectives.  Every man's life runs according to some blueprint, however vague it is or how ignorant he is of it.  This blueprint includes or assumes the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Calisto MT" ><B>means </B></FONT>to the finish line.</div> <div>     The example of means in today's proverb is the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BRADDON" ><B>horse</B></FONT>.  The specific enterprise for the horse's resources is <B>war</B>.</div> <div>     Why did Solomon choose <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Britannic Bold" >war </FONT>as his sample enterprise?  Because war has the greatest stakes of any venture.  In war, your very life is at risk.  If a man makes preparations for any activity, war is foremost among them.</div> <div>     Why did Solomon choose the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Britannic Bold" >horse </FONT>for the means of deliverance in war?  Because the horse was the premium war resource in Solomon's day.  The army with greater mobility usually wins, even today, and the horse provided the greatest mobility in Solomon's time.  Of course, the horse was mobility <I>combined with</I> 'fire power', for whoever sat on a trained war horse was actually wielding an extra weapon, as well as adding weight and positional advantage to his other weapons.</div> <div>     Solomon, then, was using the <I>ultimate </I>example (war) in order to say that the principle he's teaching therefore certainly applies to all <I>lesser </I>examples.  If our human preparations require the Lord's blessing and intervention in the <I>weightiest </I>encounters with the <I>best </I>resources available to them, then certainly, any of our <I>lesser </I>encounters require His help.  If our strongest strength is unable to rule the day, certainly our lesser strengths will come up lacking.  </div> <div>     The logic of comparing battle to less life-threatening pursuits depends on our ability to see the potential hazard in <I>any </I>enterprise, or, better, to see the militaristic nature of our <I>spiritual </I>lives <I>in general</I>.  We are always in spiritual battle.  We can only triumph by God's aid.</div> <div>     Triumph is indeed implied in our verse, but "deliverance" is what is actually assured.  He who lives through the battle <I>is </I>the victor, but in another sense, he has only <I>just </I>been delivered.  Similarly, he who is still standing, not fallen, after the battlefield of life, is victorious:  he trusted in Jehovah.   Mark, though, that we all actually began life as spiritual casualties, and it is God who resurrected us to wage war in Him.  We fight against the death that previously held us.</div> <bR> <div>     Notice what Solomon acknowledges.  Horses <I>are </I>made ready for the battle.  He doesn't say that this preparation is an act proving doubt in God.  He is not saying that the Christian must abandon all <I>means </I>to his objectives so that God can step in for him.  He is saying that when we have conscientiously prepared ourselves for a responsibility, <I>then </I>the objective must be committed to God for its final success.</div> <div>     This or that undertaking might 'randomly' succeed without our having sought God, but the Christian understands that nothing ever <I>really </I>succeeds unless it was committed to God:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Col 3:17</FONT>  And everything, <U>whatever you do</U> in word or deed, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>do</I> </FONT><U>all in the name</U> of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>the</I> </FONT>Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>the</I> </FONT>Father by Him. </div> <bR> <div>     The appearance of success without prayer can be very deceiving.  God is merciful, so we tend to prosper generally, but on a spiritual level, success is measured differently:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >John 15:5</FONT>  I am the Vine, you <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I> </FONT>the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for <U>without Me</U> <U>you can do nothing</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     Only those aspects of our lives actually consecrated to God can be expected to be part of our spiritual fruit.  Of course, nothing should be held back or excluded.  Major on the majors, certainly, but realize that everything about a Christian is part of Christ's dominion.</div> <bR> <div>     God intends for us to succeed.  He expects us to make preparations for all our tasks.  But He mostly expects us to commit our works to Him for His blessing:</div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 3:5, 6</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****************************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="540" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#000033 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 22:1</B></div> <div> A <I>good</I> name <I>is</I> to be chosen rather than great riches; </div> <div> rather than silver or gold, favor <I>is</I> better.  <B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     An even more literal rendering of the verse runs thus:  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >"</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >A name is chosen rather than much wealth, than silver and than gold- good grace."</FONT></div> <div>     The last phrase is just as literal whether it is "good grace" or "grace is better".</div> <div>     "Name" is a word serving double and triple duty in Hebrew.  It is also their closest word for "reputation".  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Contrasted<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A name / reputation       and       Good favor   .......  on the one hand</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Abundant assets            and        Silver and gold  ......  on the other</div> <bR> <div> Relationships<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Better</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Worse</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Again, all the direct comments Solomon makes concerning riches have been positive.  When he tells us, as he does today, that character qualities are <I>more </I>valuable, he is merely placing matters in their proper priority.</div> <div>     Our NAME is that by which we are known (this is true of God also, by the way).  Our name is nothing less than <I>how we are perceived</I>  among those who know of us.</div> <div>     What is Solomon teaching us about this?  As valuable as money is for earthly life, reputation is a 'currency' worth far more.  Money is that by which we buy and sell.  Money is the means of obtaining our daily bread.  But Solomon says our reputation is more valuable.</div> <div>     Two things Solomon has taught us about wealth are that it is a distinct advantage in this world, and it definitely influences people (18:11, 19:4).  So now we are learning that a good reputation is an even <I>greater </I>advantage and has even <I>greater </I>influence on people.</div> <div>     The superficial spirituality of the pietist scoffs reputation.  "Who cares what people think about me?  I only care what God thinks."  Sounds spiritual, but it's not.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Luke 2:52</FONT>  And <U>Jesus</U> <U>increased </U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>in</U></I> </FONT>wisdom and stature, and in <U>favor with</U> God and <U>man</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     I guess Jesus started out with misguided goals.  He should only have had favor with God.  Favor with man means you're compromising.  Right?</div> <div>     Wrong.  <I>Eventually</I>, a godly man will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12).  But <I>generally </I>a Christian should be well-spoken of in his circles.  It should only be the hard-core ungodly who care to pierce beneath his solid reputation to bring him down, like the Persian governors wanted to bring Daniel down.</div> <div>     Again, Jesus spoke specifically about the reputation we should seek:</div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Matt 5:16</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     We are supposed to seek friendly relationships in the world.  If men turn against us, it should be a definite testimony of their hardness.  If we've been stand-offish and unfriendly, we are not even meeting the minimum standard of a neighbor.</div> <div>     Solomon is definitely telling us to seek a good reputation.  We should BE good.  If we are, this should lead to a good reputation.  When it does not, we are still to do the things that lead to a good reputation.  Of course, we do not seek a good reputation for its own sake.  We do not simply do whatever it takes to be well spoken of.  That would not be a truly good reputation anyway.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >    "Good favor" or "good grace" is better than silver or gold.  That is, in complement to the first half of the verse, the good favor or compassion that men bestow on us is better 'currency' than silver or gold.  It is more valuable to us to have</FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>human resources</B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >in the community than to have a bank full of money.  The faces on dollar bills don't smile at you.  They accompany you, then leave you.  It matters not to them.  It is the faces of our neighbors that smile at us.  We should invite their smile by our neighborliness (remembering Jesus' definition of a neighbor, Luke 10:29 ff.)</FONT></div> <bR> <div>     The Christian life is a strange one.  We know that men are generally likely to turn against us at some point, at least for a time.  Yet we are to value their friendship in the meantime.  Be sure, God has appointed us as His witnesses and will justly recompense those who despise us for our goodness.</div> <bR> <div>     So.  Do you care what men think of you?  Or are you one of those island fortress Christians who is holding his last stand against the world on a perpetual basis?  </div> <div>     Are you really sure God is in your fort?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>**************************************************</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="oct_4"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="434" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#330066 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 22:2</B></div> <div> <B>Rich and poor have met together, </B></div> <div> <B>The Maker of them all </B><I><B>is</B></I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><B>Jehovah</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>.</B></FONT> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Met together" is from a Hebrew word meaning "to come in contact with."  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The rich</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The poor</div> <bR> <div> Descriptions of both<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">They meet</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jehovah is the maker of them all</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     It is natural for men to think of a large and almost irreversible rift between the rich and the poor.  We cannot conceive of two 'species' that are less related.  But Solomon in our proverb has found a complete meeting ground for them.</div> <div>     From the previous proverb, we are already thinking about the advantages of wealth.  We took the advantages of wealth as the comparing point for learning about the <I>greater </I>benefits of reputation.  Now we are seeing that riches are not only a lesser advantage, they are also not the distinguishing factor they seem to be.</div> <div>     Solomon does not deny that there are differences between the rich and the poor, nor that they are great.  In fact, he seems to concede this.  Rather, he is taking this initial thought and returning to a more basic level of comparison.  Here we find that our former concept of distinctions is fairly wiped out.  The differences, in fact, are not so great as the similarities.  The rich and the poor are basically alike in that they are both creatures God made.</div> <div>     Therefore, any elements in a society which draw out the existing similarities between the rich and poor will tend to have an equalizing effect on their relationship.</div> <bR> <div>     Is this good?  Is this desirable?  Is this what Solomon is getting at?</div> <div>     In third century America, that is certainly what we would assume.  Our "one man, one vote", "everyone's equal under the law" motifs make us think that we have conquered socio-economic distinctions.  We assume that, at least on some level, we have erased the unattractive buffers between rich and poor.</div> <div>     But let's not congratulate ourselves too quickly.  Go to any American big city and the ugly distinctions between rich and poor are as evident as in any other place and time in history.  The smelly street person living in garbage in the shadow of a high rise apartment housing a billionaire- we have certainly not reached utopia.</div> <div>     On the other hand, our founding documents do uniquely credit God with Creatorship, specifically mentioning the leveling effects of the same.  Our founding fathers never intended to erase the distinctions between rich and poor.  They knew that economic factors would always make some people accumulate more and some less.  They merely sought to create a political environment in which the needs of the poor could be voiced and not be categorically hushed by the rich.*  </div> <div>     </div> <div>     The rich do not want to have commonality with the poor.</div> <div>     The poor cannot see where they do have commonality with the rich.</div> <div>     The actual link connecting them is a theological one.</div> <div>     Part of the effect of the gospel is that it addresses disruptive distinctions between the rich and the poor.  The unrighteous rich are flamingly denounced (James 4:1 ff); the Christian rich are told to share and be generous (1 Tim. 6:17, 18).  <I>All </I>Christians are told to be generous and share (Matt. 6:3).</div> <bR> <div>     Whatever human distinctions exist between men, whether they be monetary, racial, or other, part of the Christian message and ethic is that men are equal in the sense of their standing with God.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >1 Pet 1:17</FONT>  And if you call on <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>the</I> </FONT>Father, who <U>without respect of persons</U> <U>judges</U> <U>according to</U> the <U>work of</U> <U>each one</U>, pass the time of your <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>earthly</I> </FONT>residence in fear</div> <bR> <div>     Let us pray today for the grace to live as a created being among fellow- created beings. </div> <bR> <div>     As to prayer specifically, the well-off Christian must picture the poor and pray that his own soul is not lifted above their humble state.  The poor Christian must picture the rich and pray that his own soul is not or does not become foolish and self-reliant like theirs.</div> <bR> <div> * <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Century Gothic" >This is no small advance in human social life and probably largely explains why we have not been destroyed sooner for some of our grievous errors.  We have completely ignored the root principle of human equality by favoring pregnant women over their unborn children in the apparent competition for survival between these two 'species'.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ******************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_5"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="434" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#330066 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 22:3</B></div> <div> A clever <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#A6CAF0" FACE="Georgia" ><I>one </I></FONT>sees the evil and hides himself; </div> <div> But the naive pass on and pay the penalty. <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Pay the penalty" is from a Hebrew word used for paying fines.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Clever</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Simple</div> <bR> <div> Their Descriptions<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Recognizes the evil and takes cover</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Crosses over and suffers the consequences</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Here is a proverb that tells us that being on the 'right path' is not enough.  The simple can follow the wise onto the right path, but until he learns to recognize danger signals ahead, he is just as likely to meet with spiritual harm as before.  </div> <div>     The naive is therefore seen as always 'minus one ingredient' from the wise.  This time the missing ingredient is foresight and the ability to see evil before it has materialized into a full-blown snare entangling him.  Other times the missing trait may be different.</div> <div>     We have seen this pair, the clever and the naive, contrasted twice before, in 14:15 and 14:18.</div> <bR> <div> Pro 14:15<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  The simple believes every word, but the clever considers his step. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Pro 14:18<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  The simple inherit foolishness, but the clever are crowned with knowledge. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     The naive man is always missing something because he has not learned to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>take the initiative</B></FONT> in arming himself spiritually.</div> <div>     The clever, who is "subtle" like the serpent, using the same Hebrew word, has his eyes open.  He "sees", it says in our proverb.  Some translations say he "foresees", because it is something <I>ahead </I>on the road he spots.  </div> <div>     And what does he see?  He sees evil.  He sees where temptation could arise out of the set of circumstances before him.</div> <bR> <div>     At this point, our proverb is somewhat unique.  It advises us to take an action that may sound like cowardice.  Why would I hide myself?  Shouldn't I move bravely forward and face my challenges?</div> <div>     According to our proverb, the clever Christian, the one we would normally think of as spying out every advantage and opportunity, <I>draws back</I>.</div> <div>     Our proverb today is the seventh of seven Proverbs' testimonies on the clever, excluding a near repetition of today's verse later at 27:12.  Solomon 'completes' the picture of him today with a bit of 'surprise' information.  But it's really not surprising at all.  </div> <div>     The man who scopes out every situation from every angle also scopes out <I><U>himself</U></I><I> </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Demi ITC" ><I>in relation</I><I> to</I></FONT> his environment.  He knows his limitations.  He knows, in fact, that even when he presses forward to seize an opportunity, he does so <I>cautiously</I>.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Britannic Bold" ><I>There is always a way to be tripped up in any situation</I></FONT>, perhaps especially when we are getting ready to pose for our trophy picture.</div> <bR> <div>     We would have thought that Falstaff would never have been our example with his cowardly "discretion is the better part of valor" principle. Well, in fact, he is not.  He did not hide himself from evil, he hid himself from attack while his comrades were in peril.  When evil is actually assailing us, we must do battle.  That is the purpose of spiritual armor.</div> <div>     Our proverb is talking about the ability to assess the potential for spiritual danger and to avoid making ourselves an easy target <I>before </I>full-scale battle develops.</div> <bR> <div>     It is important to note here that when we are using the analogy of a path with dangers on it, we can speak of <I>hiding ourselves</I> in one sense while we speak of <I>pressing ahead</I> in another sense.  Solomon is not saying that there must be lack of progress in the Christian life on some days.  He is not saying that we must sound retreat and give up ground on occasion.  </div> <div>     The path in Solomon's analogy is primarily a path in the <I>heart</I>.  A man's inner path in relation to temptation proceeds on one level, while his path in relation to other factors proceeds on another level.  Stopping and 'holing up' while temptation subsides does not mean that we have altogether come to a dead standstill.</div> <div>     Even in a military analogy, notice that it is the ability to stand our ground, not only to take new ground, which is a measure of successful warfare:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Eph 6:13</FONT>  Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able <U>to withstand</U> in the evil day, and having done all, <U>to stand</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     Paul recognizes the principle of our proverb.  Satan's forces come against us.  When that happens, we are making much 'headway' simply to keep what we have.</div> <bR> <div>     A fairly consistent analogy might be camouflage.  As we travel, we see an enemy looking for a fight.  We pull our hat down, refuse to make eye contact, and navigate around him.  We spy a salesman ahead trying to draw us in to a  sinful pleasure.  We hold up a newspaper to block his view from us.  Giving this wide berth indicates the low self-esteem we have.  Such low self-esteem is Biblically accurate:  we are <I>very </I>easy to tempt.  Boundaries encircling sin are very easy to cross over.</div> <bR> <div>     So the clever man is a knowledgeable man.  He knows:</div> <div>  1)  What evil looks like before it gets dangerously close;</div> <div>  2)  Himself, and how easily he can be tempted;</div> <div>  3)  Evil's destructive power.  Should I give in, I'll pay a price I'll wish I hadn't;</div> <div>  4)  Purity is desirable.  It is very worth keeping myself from temptation for the benefits I will gain, not just the negatives I will avoid.</div> <div>   5)  How to hide himself.  Exactly where to say, "I'm not going there; it's trouble.  I'm not answering in kind; he's already angry.  I'm not entertaining that question; it's a trap.  I'm not accessing that information/ entertainment; it leads to a trespass, and my Lord's honor is more important."</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> **********************************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_6"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="506" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#330066 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 22:4</B></div> <div> <B>The result of humility- the fear of Jehovah-</B></div> <div> <B>is riches, and honor, and life.</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CCFFFF" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The Hebrew word for "humility" denotes lowness. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Cause<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Humility</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">i.e., the fear of Jehovah</div> <bR> <div> Effects<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Riches</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Honor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Life</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>        Most translations supply "and" between "humility" and "the fear of Jehovah."  This makes them two separate co-causes of riches, honor, and life.</div> <div>     A couple of other translations place a grammatically safe "is" after "humility", making the fear of Jehovah the first of a <I>four</I>-item list of the effects of humility.  But there is no "and" between the "fear of Jehovah" and "riches" as there is between the other benefits.</div> <div>     Though it seems a bit of a 'limb-climb' to make the fear of Jehovah the equivalent of humility, this is certainly the most straightforward reading of the verse grammatically, as we have rendered it (per Roland Murphy).</div> <bR> <div>     Actually, this construction nicely advances the teaching Solomon has previously given on the benefits of godliness.  We do seem to be in a section of Proverbs that extends lessons begun earlier:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 15:33</FONT>  The <U>fear of Jehovah</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I> </FONT>the discipline <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>leading to</I></FONT> <U>wisdom</U>, and before <U>honor</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I> </FONT><U>humility</U>. </div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" > Here we see the connection between the fear of God and wisdom; also the connection between humility and honor.</FONT></div> <div>     Early in Proverbs, wisdom conferred all three of the blessings listed in our verse today, though "life" was termed "length of days":</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 3:16</FONT>  <U>Length of days</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I> </FONT>in her right hand; and in her left hand, <U>riches</U> and <U>honor</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     So, considering the two causes and the three effects of today's proverb separately, we see that humility might well be considered the equivalent of the fear of God.</div> <div>     A different Hebrew word for humility (but one also denoting lowness) is connected with wisdom:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 11:2</FONT>  ... with the <U>lowly</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I> </FONT><U>wisdom</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     And wisdom is certainly connected to the fear of God:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 9:10</FONT>  The <U>fear of Jehovah</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I> </FONT>the beginning of <U>wisdom</U></div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >So much for defending our translation.</FONT></div> <bR> <div>     As for its teaching, consider first that the <I>benefits </I>of godliness are being laid before us.  </div> <div>     Is godliness cheapened by <I>inducing </I>us with its benefits?  Doesn't God say, "Just do it because it's right; don't worry about rewards."</div> <div>     In fact, the answer to that is expressly No:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > Heb 11:6</FONT>  But without faith <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>it is</I> </FONT>impossible to please <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>Him</I></FONT>, for he who comes to God <U>must believe</U> that He is and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>that</I> </FONT><U>He is</U> <U>a rewarder</U> ...</div> <bR> <div>     One of the biggest differences between a Christian and a mere theist (someone who believes in God) is that a Christian is expecting something very <I>specific </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" ><I> </I></FONT>from God.  The theist has a much vaguer notion of what God might give.  Our proverb enumerates a partial list of the benefits given by God.</div> <div>     These benefits, like everything bequeathed to the Christian, have their ultimate fulfillment in Heaven.  "Life" is an obvious example.  Death is not done away until we are in God's presence:</div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Rev 21:4</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death ...</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >    </FONT>Therefore, the life God rewards us with <I>now </I>is received as a 'down payment'.  In one sense, we are fully alive, because the life in us now is of no different quality in itself than the life we will have in Heaven.  But in another sense, because sin and death continue to work within us, life cannot yet be experienced to the full.  In Heaven, it will seem like we had never tasted life before, we will feel so different, finally being free of death.</div> <div>     As a Christian, our experience of life, honor, and riches are mainly in comparison to what we had before.  The non-Christian possesses none of these benefits- not as God gives them.  </div> <div>     Obviously, riches and honor are benefits which will be mainly conferred later.  Even a Christian who receives plenty of each on earth has received nothing yet by comparison to the Heavenly portions to come.  Plus, riches and honor on earth we own today can easily be gone tomorrow.  </div> <div>     But we have seen that God, to whom the earth belongs, does see to it that we receive riches and honors now.</div> <div>     Of riches we have already read:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 15:6</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  In the house of the righteous </FONT><I>is</I> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >much treasure</FONT></div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >Of honor, we know that God's servant will honor others who also serve Him.  The psalmist describes the citizen of God's kingdom:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Psa 15:4</FONT>  in whose eyes the reprobate is despised, but he <U>honors</U> those who fear Jehovah</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >    </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >F</FONT>inally, notice the order of the benefits conferred by our humble fear of God.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>Riches </B></FONT>are first:  assets we can hold and use.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>Honor </B></FONT>is second:  reputation, something we can't hold in our hands like riches, but something which we certainly hold title to when God gives it.  This includes honor from God- the place He gives us as sons, princes- and the honor men give us when they realize that we operate by integrity, not personal advancement.  Lastly, God gives us <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>life </B></FONT>for our caution before Him.  Obviously, God is successively giving more essential aspects of our being.  Honor is the reputation for who we are, but life is <I>who we are!  </I>Life makes us living beings.  True life, of course, is reconnection to God.  Our proud disdain of God (opposite of humble fear) showed our dead condition.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >    </FONT>True humility is the recognition of who we really are.  This recognition is only possible in relation to the Sovereign over all things.  Hence, humility <I>IS </I>the fear of God.  Those who humble themselves under the mighty hand of God are told by Him what they will receive.  He delights to give them these benefits.  We should delight to receive them.</div> <bR> <div>     The worldly counterfeits of riches, honor, and life are right before our faces.  They are called by the same names.  They are easy to 'smell', 'taste', and experience.  That is why so many Christians choose a variety of 'godliness' that merely enjoys the worldly benefits and thanks God for them.</div> <bR> <div>     Which variety are you seeking?</div> <div>     Which variety are you enjoying?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ********************************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_7"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="506" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#003300 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 22:5</B></div> <div> Thorns <I>and</I> snares <I>are</I> in the path of the twisted; </div> <div> he who guards his soul stays distant from them.<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#33CC00" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CCFFFF" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The Hebrew word for "thorns" is only used one other time.  It means something prickly; Strong's suggests a cactus hedge. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The warped person</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The person who watches over his soul</div> <bR> <div> Opposing Descriptions<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Barbs and traps are in his path</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Stays distant from them [the barbs and traps]</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     This is the sixth out of seven proverbs concerning the "twisted".</div> <div>     The twisted are unbelievers who are very conscious of morality, either by a naturally sensitive conscience or by previous Christian training.  Their soul becomes a seedbed of steaming soil- active spiritually, but also activated carnally.  They cannot escape the presence of God in their consciences, so their cravings become part of an internal dispute between the approval and disapproval of their doings.  They distort themselves into impish creatures spiritually, often more akin to demons than men.</div> <div>     The path of the twisted is described for us here.  It is like a forest trail that has been invaded by brambles.  But further, a hunter has deemed these brambles a likely haunt for his prey, so he has strewn various traps among them.  Of course, spiritually, these traps are both the bindings of Satan and the cages of our own unbreakable habits.</div> <div>     Both brambles and traps are <I>natural </I>to the twisted man's path.  And this is part of what distorts his soul further.  He curses and fumes as he cuts himself and catches himself and wrenches himself free (wrenching some flesh free as well) only to be waylaid on the next step.</div> <bR> <div>     Now what is one tell-tale sign of a warped man?  He TALKS like someone at great liberty.  He is usually the best ambassador for Satan in dragging other men down.  He can almost walk another man into spiritual slavery merely by giving an ongoing narrative of his own soul's state.</div> <div>     Warped men make great Christian 'wolves'.  Peter warns of them:</div> <bR> <div>  2 Pet 2:15<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  who have forsaken the right way and have gone astray ...</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > 2 Pet 2:18, 19</FONT>  For when they speak great swelling <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>words</I> </FONT>of vanity, they <U>lure</U> through <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>the</I> </FONT>lusts of the flesh, by unbridled lust, the ones who were escaping from those who live in error;  <U>promising</U> them <U>liberty</U>, <U>they themselves</U> are the <U>slaves</U> of corruption. </div> <bR> <div>     So the farthest things from our actual view of the twisted man are the thorns and snares he wears like his own skin!  It is only when we have become like him that the truth becomes woefully obvious.</div> <bR> <div>     The upright in our proverb are described in terms of <I>contrast </I>to the twisted.  The upright "guard their souls".  This is exactly what the twisted fail to do.</div> <div>     The upright guard their souls chiefly in two ways:  <I>what </I>they forbid and <I>how </I>they protect.  Perhaps we should first say <I>that </I>they forbid.  The ability to say no to our cravings is a most singular sign of the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.</div> <div>    Each Christian is an 'under-shepherd', tending his own soul.  He first <I>forbids </I>entry to the wolves of pride, various greeds, angers, and fears.  He then <I>watches over</I> the 'flock' of his Christian virtues, pasturing and watering his love, humility, and righteousness with Scriptures and prayer.</div> <bR> <div>     So doing, is the Christian guaranteed a trouble-free life?  Doesn't our proverb promise that?  He "will be far from" the snares and thorns of the perverse.</div> <div>     Indeed, it is <I>those particular</I> snares and thorns he will be far from.  And what are the twisted man's particular entanglements?  They are SOUL entanglements.  It is the Christian's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>soul </B></FONT>which he guards.  It is the warped man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>soul </B></FONT>which is woven with underbrush.   </div> <div>     True enough, the Christian can submit to his old nature, thereby inviting snares into <I>himself!</I>  But the Holy Spirit puts no thorns or snares in the Christian's soul naturally.  This is as much as to say that God tempts no man.  The perverse man's shackles are of his own devising.  </div> <div>     The same <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Castellar" >outward circumstances</FONT> that will face the bent man will also face the Christian.  It is in the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>heart land</B></FONT> where they differ.  The Christian desires and has been given tools to clear his spirit's path.</div> <div>     This is an important verse in understanding how God can "lead us into temptation."  In our heart's landscape, when we spy some attractive idol on a bypath, our movement towards it already sets vines and smaller thorns around our feet.  As our fascination with the idol finds it and us retreating into the jungle, God still has ultimate oversight of our folly.  He doesn't cause our folly, but He molds the terrain to fit our punishment to our crime.  The more committed we become to the idol, the more thorns and traps become our native ecosystem.  God simply constructs that realm to both teach us and pay us our due.  That is the process of being led into temptation.  When we ask to avoid it, we are asking God to identify in our hearts attractive idols that will lead us astray SO we can escape their grasp.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *************************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_8"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="519" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#003300 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 22:6</B></div> <div> <B>Consecrate a child in the instruction of His way,</B></div> <div> <B>and when he is old, he will not depart from it.</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CCFFFF" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Instruction" is literally "mouth".  It is often properly translated "according to".</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Condition<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"Narrow" a boy by the mouth of His path</div> <bR> <div> Promise/fulfillment<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When he is old, he won't turn off from it</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     We have finally reached the most well-known proverb in our day.  If you say, "Train up a child in the way he should go" to any Christian, he can usually fill in the second half of the verse:  "and when he is old, he will not depart from it."</div> <div>     Unfortunately, this is also probably the most misunderstood of all the familiar proverbs.  This is because of the usual translations.  They take the Hebrew phrase "by the mouth of his path" and make it quite idiomatic:  "in the way he should go."  True enough, "by the mouth of" often means simply "according to", meaning corresponding to.  But "his way", that is, the child's way, is what we would <I>least </I>expect Solomon to use as a guide for teaching him:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Eccl 11:9</FONT>  Rejoice, in your youth, young man; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in <U>the ways of your heart</U>, and in the <U>sight of your eyes</U>; but know that for all these <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>things</I> </FONT>God will <U>bring you into judgment</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     This is the seventh of Solomon's seven 'intermediate conclusions' in Ecclesiastes, holding the reader over until he can give him the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>final </B></FONT>conclusion:  Fear and obey God.  The fifth and sixth intermediate conclusions began to smack of sarcasm.  Now, this one is fairly dripping with sarcasm.  "Do as you please; but, oh, by the way- you'll fry for it!"</div> <div>     This is all part of Solomon's scheme to lead us <I>away </I>from any other conclusion to life's problems than fearing and obeying God.</div> <bR> <div>     Seeking to orient the phrase in our proverb to the child in other ways (as some translations and commentators do) may be less offensive, but they still seem to be a complete innovation from everything Solomon has been teaching.  "Use a child's own personality patterns to help ingrain your instruction of him" may be sound enough advice, but is it sufficiently God-oriented to merit a promise of life-long effectiveness?  This simply seems to break Solomon's mold of ingraining a child in <I>God's</I> ways- in <I>His </I>wisdom and understanding.  </div> <div>     And this raises the chief problem of the verse.  How many children have we seen who have seemingly been faithfully reared and yet later <I>departed </I>from God and the gospel?  Is this not a denial of the promise in the verse?</div> <bR> <div>     This problem has guided many in their entire approach to Proverbs.  The results have been tragic.  Christians do not take proverbs very seriously because they assume that proverbs are worded so as to allow various exceptions.  This makes proverbs interesting and maybe provocative, but certainly not compelling like other Scriptures which can tell me exactly what to do or give me promises to definitely expect.  Hence- an emasculated book of the Bible.  </div> <div>     And many firmly believe that is how God intended it.  They conclude, then, that wisdom must be necessarily vague to be of any real value.  It must <I>hint </I>at a solution but always allow for possible exceptions.</div> <div>     The set of Proverbs' expositions before you has labored to dispel any such approach to the book.  Solomon is precise.  If there is 'wiggle room' in any of his concepts, it is a flexibility <I>built in</I> to his language, reflecting reality, not breaking with reality.  </div> <div>     Without exception, when we think Solomon may have gone too far or misspoken, we are always guilty of failing to read his language with the amazing precision he used.  It is usually fairly easy, once we have allowed him this possibility, to fathom his real meaning.</div> <bR> <div>     So what is Solomon's precise meaning in Proverbs 22:6?  </div> <div>     Keil and Delitzsch get it right when they take "his" of God.  There is no distinguishing upper and lower case in Hebrew, nor any grammatical solution to the identity of "his".  </div> <div>     It is simply of matter of- have we been listening to all that Solomon has thus far said?  How can "his" refer to the child?  How can a child be his own reference point?  How can "his" <I>not </I>refer to God?  How can anyone <I>but </I>God be a child's reference point?</div> <div>     Solomon, the man who dedicated the Temple of God, uses the same word in this verse as is used for the "dedicating" of the Temple:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >1 Kings 8:63</FONT>  And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to Jehovah, twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel <U>dedicated</U> the house of Jehovah.  [See also 2 Chron 7:5]</div> <bR> <div>     Certainly Solomon takes child training in a deeply reverential sense:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 4:20 - 22</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  My son, listen to my words; bow down your ear to my sayings.  Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.  For they </FONT><I>are</I> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >life to those who find them, and health to all his flesh. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     It is hard to imagine that Solomon would employ a mere psychological principle to achieve what he knows only the Spirit of God can bring about.  When he says to "dedicate" our children, he surely would not be advising us to merely tailor our instruction to their personalities.  Assuredly he is taking us to the Tabernacle with Hannah, to drop off our child into God's permanent keeping.  Except we are not asking the priest to do this for us.  <I>We </I>are the priests charged with the work, mothers especially:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >1 Tim 2:15</FONT>  <U>she</U> will be saved through her child-bearing, if <U>they</U> continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety. </div> <bR> <div>     And that is what our proverb is commanding:  to consecrate our children for our very own souls' sakes.  If we do not consecrate <I>ourselves </I>to God, we certainly cannot dedicate our <I>children </I>to him.  But if we <I>do </I>dedicate ourselves fully to God, how can we help entrusting our dearest possessions to him?  As we indoctrinate them unto Him, we put a spiritual guard around <I>ourselves </I>at the same time, according to 1 Timothy 2:15 above.</div> <bR> <div>     Can there be, then, <I>exceptions </I>to the rule of Proverbs 22:6, for it is undeniably phrased as a conditional promise? </div> <div>     The only exceptions can be of the Judas sort.  God may have a special purpose for placing a reprobate in our 'flock', even as He did for giving Judas to Jesus.  Jesus prayed,</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >John 17:12</FONT>  "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those that You have given Me I have kept, and <U>none</U> of them is <U>lost</U>, <U>but</U> the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled." </div> <bR> <div>     Jesus will also 'keep' all of ours who are faithfully committed to Him, unless He has a specific purpose for a betrayer in our midst.  In that case, they were never His from the beginning.</div> <bR> <div>     But here is the big question.  Who among us can say we have truly consecrated our children to God?  <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" >Who has limited his instruction such that Scripture directly flavored everything that entered his children's souls?</FONT>  Who has done so being filled with the fruit of the Spirit himself, free from the rotten works of the flesh?</div> <div>     Yes, here is the main point.  If we could say we actually fulfilled the condition of the verse, we would only rarely be denied the fulfillment promised.  When denied, it would clearly be a specific manifestation of God's glory.</div> <div>     Our proverb is a conditional promise <I>of degrees </I>(as we have seen nearly all the comparative proverbs to be).  <I>To the degree </I>that we consecrate our children, to that degree there will be later fruit in them.  In fact, even the reprobate who was raised Christianly holds to this pattern, for he turns into a miserable creature- a 'twisted' man of the previous proverb, <I>because of</I> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" > </FONT>his deeply ingrained knowledge of the truth of which he cannot rid himself.</div> <bR> <div>     It is a deep, deep mercy of God that He saves our children despite our inconsistencies and hypocrisies.  </div> <div>     May we at least be granted the grace to say before Him that consecration is our sincere aim, the true desire of our hearts, and the direction we are taking.  Knowing the conditions for consecration, most professing Christian parents cannot even truly say they want it.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ********************************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_9"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#003300 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 87 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 22:7</B></div> <div> The rich rules over the poor, </div> <div> and the borrower <I>is</I> servant to a man who lends. <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CCFFFF" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Georgia" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "The rich" is singular, while "the poor" is plural.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The rich to the poor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The borrower to the lender</div> <bR> <div> Relationships<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Medium ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The rich governs the poor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The borrower is the worker for the lender</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     As is the norm for Solomon's comments on the rich, he makes observations without direct moral evaluation.  Moral suggestions are implied, but Solomon's main purpose is to make us wise as to the workings of the world.  With this savvy, we can avoid frustrations, fears, and angers that arise from the feeling that there is some big 'machine' or conspiracy working against the hapless forces of justice.  </div> <div>     Some unpleasant circumstances arise merely because of economic 'law' in a fallen world.  These economics are both mathematical and soulical.  We can always depend on an imbalance in the distribution of earthly resources because some men who attain positions of power will always horde more than their portion and will find ways to deprive the weaker of some of their production.  Expect this and maintain your sanity.  In fact, 'rescue workers', moving in among the debris of shattered lives, of necessity must be immune to the 'virus' themselves (not poverty, but a helpless, victimized feeling).</div> <bR> <div>     As to the specific teaching of our proverb, there is a definite 'pecking order' in the world.  Some men rule over other men.  It doesn't matter if we live in a 'free' society.  Some men are 'under the thumb' of others.  This doesn't necessarily mean abject slavery, though that exists abundantly throughout the world, including 'free countries', including America.  It means that my life, my actions are limited by what someone else decides.  </div> <div>     It is a fantasy, and a silly one, to think that as an American I am free of any undesired lordship.  The rich <I>do </I>rule over the poor in America.  The rich are the ones who work in the political realm, or fund one another's campaigns, to sit in positions of power so they can zone certain areas for the exclusive residence of the rich.  The poor are not 'free' to move there.  Sometimes, all that is left is undesirable property, even property subject to hazards.  </div> <div>     The rich need the poor to live in the general vicinity to do their dirty work, so they have particular areas zoned so that 'human trash' is more likely to move there.  The poor man feels 'free', even grateful, to receive living  accommodations.  But he is actually being 'herded' there by the upper class.  </div> <div>     Some poor men who finally discover the puppet strings attached to them rise up in arms and rant prophetically, rallying their oppressed comrades to overthrow their oppressors!  Of course, their neighbors are all motivated to take immediate action.  They grab the bug-eyed fool, sit him down, and instruct him not to rile the 'powers that be', lest they receive a worse turn at their hands.</div> <bR> <div>     Secondly, the man who borrows is certainly a 'slave' to the man who loans him money.  The creditor <I>dictates terms</I> to the debtor.  He does so with the sanction of law.  The debtor has to sign on the dotted line.  He is <I>subject </I>(slave terminology) to the terms of the contract.  He doesn't feel any shackles or hear the sound of clanking chains at his feet; yet he is as bound as an inmate in maximum security.  </div> <div>     This is why Solomon treats debt with such urgency:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 6:1 - 5</FONT>  My son, if you have <U>become collateral</U> for your neighbor, If you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;  <U>You are trapped</U> by the words of your mouth. You are <U>ensnared</U> with the words of your mouth.  Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, Seeing you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.  Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.  <U>Free yourself</U>, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, Like a bird from the snare of the fowler. </div> <bR> <div>     I don't feel any pinch while I can make payments, but I am in no less danger.  If something happens to me today whereby I cannot work, that does not change the terms of my loan.  I still pay or blatantly forfeit my rights as a free man.  My creditor is empowered to send collectors to take whichever of my possessions might satisfy my debt.</div> <bR> <div>     Paul puts Solomon's observations into a simple imperative:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Rom 13:8</FONT>  Do not continue to owe- not a single <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>thing</I></FONT>, not to a single <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#444444" FACE="Georgia" ><I>person</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div>     This remarkable command contains three negatives in the Greek!  It cannot be literally translated into English with correct grammar because of double (and triple) negatives.  The last two phrases are merely the same Greek word, "not a one" twice in a row.  One apparently applies to what we would owe and the other to our creditor.  Maybe they both apply to what we would owe and Paul is merely saying, "Do not owe- not a thing, not a thing!"</div> <bR> <div>     America is a debt-ridden society.</div> <div>     When you begin to take freedom from debt seriously and pay more than your 'minimum payment' on loans and credit cards, you'll be flooded with tons of other offers to take on <I>more </I>debt, since you've now distinguished yourself as one of the ones who actually pays his bills.  Don't listen!  Your reward for reducing debt must not be increased spending!  Free yourself at least from <I>this </I>overlordship.  </div> <div>     You cannot help having rich overlords, but you <I>can </I>avoid enslavement to creditors.  Solomon mentions both kinds of enslavement so we will know where we must wisely 'toe the line', and where we can deferently throw off the dangerous shackles.</div> <div>     Your own desire for money is real.  Here we have seen that money rules.  Therefore, the love of money is also the love of power.  At that level, a Christian by definition says, "In defiance of my original and inbuilt defiance, I am NOT God; I am NOT in power.  Money will not be my tool nor I its.  I will simply handle money recognizing it IN the world system where it operates." (Luke 16:11; 1 Cor 7:30)</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ***************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#003300 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 99 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:8</div> <div> The one who sows <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CCFF33" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CCFF33" FACE="Baskerville Old Face" >perverseness reaps turmoil, </FONT></div> <div> And the rod of his anger will wear out.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Perverseness" is the word for evil whose root means "distortion."  </div> <div>     "Turmoil" is from the Hebrew meaning "to pant," as in vanity, but which is almost always translated by some kind of moral evil, wickedness, or iniquity.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Whoever plants immoraltiy</div> <bR> <div> Outcomes:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">His harvest is error</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The tool implementing his anger will break down.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     One would think that Proverbs would be replete with sowing and reaping analogies, as in this verse, but such is not the case; there are only two or three of them.  Solomon seems to reserve planting as the picture of a calculated plan.  The man sowing is someone who invests resources and time into a pursuit from which he expects results.  A man industrious enough to 'farm' deviance, therefore, is certainly worth our attention.</div> <div>     We have a second figure in the proverb which assures us that this deviant is deliberate:  his "rod".  He uses his rod to punish those who do not align with his purposes.  The rod can be a figure for <I>any </I>means a man uses to inflict retribution. </div> <div>     Having said that this foul farmer knowingly plants his crops, we must quickly observe that he will probably <I>call </I>them anything but moral perversity.  He will probably name his crop some kind of good <I>or </I>he may simply categorize his naughtiness as a necessary pursuit, unashamed.  This is simply man's way- our depravity seen in our defining.</div> <bR> <div>     Moving on from the sowing and reaping analogy, the next important observation is that an immoral man (we're calling him perverse- a twister of definitions according to his twisted soul) is always an <B>angry </B>man- "the rod of his anger" assumes anger in him.  He may not be known by others as a <I>mean </I>person, but he carries a quarrel with him.  He has learned that his will cannot be universally imposed on others, so he adopts a strategy to punish 'transgressers' of his will when it is in his power to do so.  The depth of his particular perversity is seen in the extent of his determination to make others pay.  Some men are more deeply distorted than others.</div> <div>     A child can be as perverse as an adult.  As determined as a child is to have his own way, he can bring to bear many punitive measures into the lives of others, especially his parents.  In our day, most parents simply kow tow.  Proverbs is quite opposite this.  It puts a rod into parents hands to break the anger and break the rod their children are <I>assumed </I>to wield as sinners.</div> <div>     So now, as is so often the case in Proverbs, we have identified the unrighteous archetype as a regular sinner, a normal human.  We have concurrently seen (as usual) that some men bear his stamp more completely than others.  We must expect to see this villain's shadow connected to <I>our </I>feet.  We must also expect to find <I>all </I>men fairly thoroughly given over to moral deviance- of <I>any </I>type, breaking <I>any </I>command.</div> <bR> <div>     Now why would Solomon make such a seemingly obvious connection between the seed and the harvest he warns about?  "He who plants immorality will reap evil."  It's because the planting speaks of his deed, whereas the harvest speaks of his circumstances.  The seed is in his hand; it is his offering to the equation.  It is sown into the 'ground' of earthly life by his deeds.  What life yields back to him is now actually a surprise.  His planting was in self-seeking, but his harvest does not answer in kind- it does NOT serve him.  It is wild and unruly.  It is thorny.  It hurts him.  It is inedible.  He treats it as a stranger:  "Where did this monstrosity come from?" not recognizing the picture right on his seed package:  not recognizing it because only those who believe Scriptures are told what it is.  In unbelief we automatically assume that the self-interest in which we've sown will reap us selfish gains- the ongoing fantasy of the the very First Sin.  </div> <div>     Hence, it is anything <I>but </I>an obvious connection.  Solomon is not saying "plant a sunflower seed, get a sunflower."  He's saying, "Do deviance from God's command and it will always yield you an unexpected, undesireable result."  For our selfishness always wrongly assumes earth's cooperation.  Not consciously perhaps, but the very fact that we act in self-interest* shows that we are counting on a continued environment favoring our selfishness.</div> <div>     This is a very interesting microcosm.  In some ways THE biggest question of all is How could God create a good creature who could go bad?  Our proverb suggests a backdrop for the answer.  We ALL sow deeds with an imaginary environment in mind- what we <I>suppose </I>our world will yield.  We all become like Lucifer or Adam in their first sin every time we mentally create a landscape that pays us the dividends we desire:  homage, autonomy, self-determination: some variety of pleasure.</div> <bR> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Harrington" ><B>Conviction Application</B></FONT>:  Think about it.  Our proverb puts us in an environment.  Our thoughts naturally run on a certain <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" >landscape </FONT>or stage.  We naturally play scenarios out in our minds.  We are always <I>planting </I>seeds, at least theoretically.  We definitely <I>reap </I>turmoil, even in imaginary scenarios.  We see how our desires are <I>not </I>being served.  We fume.  It is because we have already planted desires.  We <I>want </I>it to be <U>this</U> way.  We think we deserve <I>this</I>.  Someone is not conceding my worth in <I>that</I>.</div> <div>     How important it is that we RECOGNIZE  this make-believe world and commit it to God.  It is a vastly helpful paradigm.  I can catch my sinfulness forty different ways if I can just see my little test world popping up in my thoughts all the time, playing out a puppet scence in my head with the 'players' in my life.  Playing out the scene, really, in my attitude.  It's almost never a full-blown script.  It's usually an impression (which can easily flesh out into a script if we dwell on it.)  Expect this fanstasy and catch yourself planting dominion, challenging God.</div> <bR> <div>     Finally, the immoral man is a walking criminal justice system-except that it's injustice.  This is seen in his "rod," a tool of punishment.  When we took up Satan's invitation to "be like God," we wanted to shape the rules, but that also meant designing and implementing punishments for them.  Man naturally punishes.  We naturally evaluate others' actions in terms of punishment.  Sometimes our reaction is only frustration and depression, because we cannot carry out our punishments.  The Christian recognizes his unrighteous tendency to punish and chooses to leave punishment to God, praying for his enemy instead.</div> <div>     The deviant's rod wears out.  He is angry, and he attacks, but he will eventually find that his punishment does not have the effect he desires.  This may be because people begin to avoid him.  It may also be because they minimize him, and their opinion of him is what empowers his rod.  They realize they're not going to please him, so his opinion ceases to matter.  But not every 'secret police' can be ignored.</div> <div>     As ghastly as a torturer's chamber is a home with an angry parent.  The children undergo endless rounds of cruelty, and it may take years before the angry rod breaks down.  They may have long been adults before they are out of its reach.  </div> <div>     Ironically, the wise parent uses the Biblical rod partly as a <I>short circuit</I> of his anger.  He never gets angry, because he gives a measured spanking, in keeping with the disobedience, long before the behavior becomes frustrating.  The "rod of God's love" brings good where the "rod of our anger" brought evil.  It follows the pattern of God's own discipline of His children.</div> <bR> <div>     Expect to find your anger today.  Trace it back to your perversity.  Plant peace in its place.  Wherever you do not, you are walking <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Castellar" >with </FONT>those who are doomed.  They lead angry lives, expecting at last to correct any God who would dare to have misused them so.  Their rods will finally burn with them in the fire of durable retribution.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> *  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Some self-interest is simply survival, you might say.  I eat to stay alive; that is a form of self-interest.  We are assuming a more consuming self-interest that becomes a man's morality.  Justice be hanged, I decide based on what I need or desire, period.  Actually, it's justice be perverted, not hanged; we always newly frame justice to justify our misdeeds</FONT>.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> **********************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#990000 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 107 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:9</div> <div> He who has a good eye, he is blessed, </div> <div> for he gives of his bread to the poor. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Good eye" is a phrase used only this once in the Old Testament.  We will see its opposite, "evil eye," in two verses later in Proverbs.  Jesus seems to have expanded on the concepts of both the good and the evil eye.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one who has a good eye</div> <bR> <div> Description:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He is blessed</div> <bR> <div> Reason:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He gives from his bread to the weak</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Solomon has a well-developed doctrine of the <B>poor</B>.  We are to have a definite stance concerning them.  There are two main Hebrew words for the poor, and Solomon uses this one fifteen times and the other sixteen times.  Proverbs is certainly the "poor" book of the Bible.  The Jews adopted a three-pronged definition of duty towards God, and Jesus agreed with it.  Duty towards the poor was the first of the three prongs, Matt. 6:1-4.</div> <div>     Our verse today is part of Solomon's very entailed definition of the righteous man.  One way we will find him (and be him) is by how he <B>sees </B>others, the poor especially, and how he therefore treats them.</div> <div>       What is a "good eye"?  Solomon speaks of a good eye using the common word for good.  Many translations extend the idea of good into one of the many areas it can legitimately go by translating it "bountiful."  Others paraphrase further, fearful that the reader will find even "he who has a bountiful eye" difficult to comprehend, paraphrasing "the generous man" or something of the like.  But it is better that we should be made to think of the meaning of a "good eye."  </div> <div>     We all know about the eye- that it is the organ of sight.  Saying "good eye" is a simple enough way of causing us to picture a man's outlook- how he sees things.  "Good" carries the double connotation of both soundness and perception.  A good eye can be an eye in good shape, able to see well.  A good eye can also be an eye that sees things in a good light.  </div> <div>     Jesus carries the idea of the eye's goodness, probably right from this verse, into Matthew6:22. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Matthew 6:22</FONT> The lamp of the body is the <U>eye</U>.  Then if your eye is <U>unifed</U>, all your body is light. </div> <bR> <div>     The word "unifed" is <I>haploos </I>in Greek.  It literally means "unfolded," as in a cloth without multiple folds.  It was used in legal documents of arrangements pure and "simple."  The root word, meaning "braided/  twisted" is only used of the crown of thorns so <B>woven </B>for Jesus to wear.  <I>Haploos </I>is <B>un</B>-woven.  Jesus therefore speaks of our eye being "unblurred," hence <I>focused</I>.  This certainly fits Jesus' summary:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Matthew 6:24</FONT>  No one is able to serve two lords; for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other; or he will cleave to the one, and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and wealth. </div> <bR> <div>     This is where Jesus was driving with the eye illustration.  If our eye is fixed on God, He will actually have charge of our lives.  But if our eyes are distracted by things around or within us, we are unfocused- unable to comprehend or follow- and there's simply no way for God to be our real master.  Interestingly, it is wealth Jesus sets as God's competitor.  That's why the Christian MUST be generous.  Generosity is part of his self-discipline to keep money from getting its hooks into him, diverting him.</div> <bR> <div>     "He who has a good eye"- whose view of life is focused through the proper lens- "is blessed."  As Jesus explained "blessed" to Peter:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Matthew 16:17</B></FONT>  And answering, Jesus said to him, <U>Blessed</U> are you, Simon, son of Jonah, <U>for</U> flesh and blood did not reveal <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>it</I></FONT> to you, but My Father in Heaven. </div> <bR> <div>     Jesus tells Peter why- under what conditions- he is blessed; therefore, this serves as a good definition of blessed.  Hence, blessed means revealed by God, or bestrowed from Heaven.  Someone with a good eye, then, got it from Heaven.  The Hebrew word in our proverb, <I>barak, </I>means to kneel.  It is <I>not </I>the word for blessed in Psalm 1:1, for instance, which speaks more of the the outcome of blessedness.  <I>Barak </I>speaks more of the <U>conferring</U> of blessing.</div> <div>     Someone with a good eye got it from Heaven, our proverb says.  This we should have known:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Proverbs 20:12</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  The hearing ear and the seeing eye, Jehovah has even made both of them. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     The new birth supplies men with an eye capable of being fixed on God, capable of finally seeing ourselves for who we are, and capable of seeing our situation among men correctly.  This '<B>triple </B>vision'- of God, self, and others- surely requires <I>haploos</I>.  It is really all one view.  It is the Biblical view of reality.  With it we see that <B>God </B>has made <B>us </B>caretakers of the <B>poor</B>.  WHY can we be said to receive God's blessings?  "For he gives from his bread to the weak."  We feed the needy.</div> <div>     "From his bread."  From our very own food.  What was to be <I>my </I>supply becomes <I>his </I>supply.  This intimates personal involvement.  I come to my kitchen stores and include someone outside the family.  The idea of sacrfice is involved.  It is not an extra, unneeded loaf of bread.  It is the bread I'm eating from, part of my own portion of the day, the week.  The way the righteous man <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Castellar" >sees </FONT>things, "How could <U>I</U> eat all of this if <U>he</U> needs some of it."</div> <div>     Most people would not qualify as "blessed" from on high:  they interact with no poor people.  Our proverb speaks of a regular, lifestyle activity.  The blessed man's eyes not only see the poor, but see their way to him.  "Give us this day our necessary bread" obviously includes the network of whom that bread will feed.  Give me what <U>I</U> need, and give me eyes to see my way to <U>others</U> with whom I need to share.  Blessed eyes have blessed feet, or a blessed door where the poor know to come.</div> <div>     You have been blessed with enough?  You are not poor.  Someone who doesn't have enough?  He is poor.  You may already know someone poor.  If not, God is extending your network of acquaintances.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF66 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 102 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:10</div> <div> Throw the scorner out and fighting will exit; </div> <div> and litigating and aspersions shall cease. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Litigating" is a courtroom type term.  It fairly exclusively has to do with official legal type decisions.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The scorner</div> <bR> <div> Action considered toward him:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Expel him</div> <bR> <div> Consequences:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">1)  Disputes will leave <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>with him</I></FONT>; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">2)  Striving will cease</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">3)  Disgrace will end</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     There is no sin apart from a sinner.  This proverb says to get rid of a certain type of sinner and certain sins will go missing as well.  The saying "God loves the sinner but hates the sin" seems to imply that sin can be a disembodied entity, with no one really responsible for it.  The statement can perhaps be corrected simply enough by saying "God loves His people but hates their sin."  Then one is left thinking, correctly, that God both assigns responsibility and does something about sin.  It also avoids giving the impression that God loves </div> <div>     We should not infer from this proverb that there's just one scorner in any group where fighting is occurring.  It IS telling us that if we could get rid of every single scorner/ scoffer from a group, we would have effectively banished contention from that group.  The problem is that there is at least a little (meaning a lot) of scorner in all of us.  Even the Christian on earth to whom God would give the "peacemaker" trophy at a given moment is still prone to take authority and other people's honor (as a bequest from God) lightly.  Any of us can become a scornful instigater put in the right situation.</div> <div>     Is the proverb then suggesting that we try to get rid of certain people at all?  Generally, no.  It is mainly teaching us to locate scorn in people, self first.  It is teaching us that if we have found a fight, we have found scorn.  This is an amazing insight.</div> <div>     There is one other proverb that similarly says that to rid ourselves of one type character would be to rid ourselves of conflicts:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Proverbs 26:20</B></FONT>  The fire goes out where there is no wood, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>so</I></FONT> the strife ceases where <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>there is</I></FONT> no whisperer. </div> <bR> <div>     So in a simple putting of two and two together, we can now see that a whisperer, or gossip, operates in scorn:  equally part of the amazing insight.  Fights don't just happen.  Fights aren't just because we're tired.  If we get tired and lose resistance against our natural scorn- there's the cause: the scorn getting uncovered.</div> <div>     Again, this helps us to see that scorn is universal among mankind.  It also helps us to make an exact identification of the problem if we are playing peacemaker, as we ought to be doing.</div> <div>     Are there situations, though, where we <I>should </I>remove someone from our company?  Most definitely.  Proverbs gives several other pointers on who to stay away from.  Being told to cast someone out reminds us of New Testament practice of disfellowshipping.  Several passages command us who and why we must avoid as a congregation.  One example:</div> <bR> <div> <B>2 Thess 3:14</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  But if anyone does not obey our Word through the letter, mark that one, and do not associate with him, that he be shamed. </FONT></div> <div>  </div> <div>     That is a hard, hard lesson!  Who wants to mark someone out?  One church in a thousand will actually disassociate from someone nowadays.  Notice that our proverbs says to throw the sccorner out.  He is a "litigator" and will not leave his courtroom behind willingly.  That's where he gets his sense of purpose, his award of justice, and his calling as sheriff.  Notice also that we have implied that a church is a place where scoffing has come under control generally (unfortunately not always the case; some churches simply move from one contention to another).  The new heart IS able to identify and avoid its own scoffing.  The litigator is only able to use God's rules to wedge people in and out of the positions he desires.</div> <div>     Big picture:  God gives us the responsibility to bring peace to our surroundings.  Do we accept His charge?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFF66 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 97 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:11</div> <div> He who loves pureness of heart, the grace <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>of</I></FONT> his lips,</div> <div> a king <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>shall be</I></FONT> his friend. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The wording of this verse is rather stark.  Given is the most literal rendering.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">One who loves cleanness of heart</div> <bR> <div> What this purity is equated to:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The grace of his lips</div> <bR> <div> Consequence:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The king is his friend</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     This proverb moves progressively outward, from our interior to the ends of the earth.  The key to understanding the verse is the word chosen for pureness/ <B>cleanness</B>/ purity.  It is the word for CEREMONIAL cleanness.  Its 97 occurrences (mainly in the root, verb form- ours is the noun made from it) are mainly in Leviticus and Numbers, giving prescriptions to the priests for recognizing, isolating, and reinstating those who have become ceremonially impure.  This ceremonial impurity is not sinful in itself, for people were <I>obligated </I>to contract it when they participated in a relative's burial, for instance.  They simply had to go through the ceremonial waiting and washing afterwards.</div> <div>     Our verse is Solomon's only mention of this kind of cleanness, but, of course, he is not speaking of ceremonial cleanness.  He uses the ceremonial word but applies it to the <B>heart</B>.  His father David had used it similarly (and almost as infrequently- only twice):</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Psalm 51:2</FONT>  Wash me completely from my iniquity, and <U>cleanse</U> me from my sin. </div> <bR> <div>     David, who meditated long and deep on all the Law, including the lengthy material on ceremonial uncleanness, knew from the material itself that REAL cleansing had to be in the soul, not in the flesh, that washing his body after a certain waiting period would not readmit him into favor with God after he had sinned.  The fleshly, ceremonial lessons were only there to teach about REAL cleansing, and David had learned his lesson, as the above verse shows.  He had passed it on to Solomon.  Our proverb is Solomon's reflection on the matter.</div> <bR> <div>     He who loves the REAL cleansing, of which the ceremonial is only an object lesson, will SPEAK a certain way.  So we have moved from heart to speech, inner to outer.  He who finally grasps what inner purity is, as David reflects in the psalm, is going to speak in a PURIFIED manner.  He will have <B>grace </B>upon his lips.</div> <div>     The closer the Old Covenant got to the coming of Messiah, the more this word for "grace" seemed to take on its New Covenant meaning:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Zechariah 4:7</B></FONT>  Who <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I></FONT> you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>you shall become</I></FONT> a plain. And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts: <U>Grace</U>! <U>Grace</U> to it! </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Zechariah 12:10</B></FONT>  And I will pour on the house of David, and on those living in Jerusalem, the Spirit of <U>grace</U> and of prayers. And they shall look on Me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>son</I></FONT>, and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>they</I></FONT> shall be bitter over Him, like the bitterness over the first-born. </div> <bR> <div>     Our proverb speaks of the REAL application of cleansing to man's soul.  It is therefore speaking of New Covenant type reality, a reality which existed in the soul of any true man of God during the Old Covenant, but which was not provided by the Old Covenant itself.</div> <div>     Our proverb also reflects the connection between justification and sanctification.  Inward purity is equated to the outward evidence of it.  If one has a pure heart, he HAS gracious lips.  One may not be justified- declared righteous by faith- and then find himself lacking actual righteousness in his life.  The life imparted at justification is real life, not imaginary.  In fact, LOVING pureness of heart itself is part of sanctification, as IS pureness of heart, for they do not speak of a heart merely declared pure, but one which has actually entered the bath and had impurities removed.</div> <bR> <div>     The final connection of this proverb is that when someone craves inward purity, praying for life-giving words to spring from the fountain of his lips (the prayer itself a gracious product of the lip), he will be in position to help even the highest in a the community, the nation, or the world.  How can a leader find an honest, wise, and caring counselor- one who does not seek to curry the leader's favor, but only to be of real service?</div> <div>     Gracious lips and a pure heart are so <U>at all times</U>.  They are aware of the added pressure to prevaricate before an influential person, and so they feel the added pressure to maintain purity.  They see how easily the genuine difference between an official and a regular citizen can rationalize to an underling a softer answer than would be true.  This same pressure applies in any inferior-to-superior relationship.  We have to LOVE truth inwardly to maintain it in all circumstances.</div> <div>     Of course, God is the main king who is friends with the ingenuous.  It is their frankness with Him (learned from His frankness with them) which teaches them sincerity in all relationships.  Sad the man who cons God (frighteningly, man's common way of dealing with Him and the instinctive way even a believer does).</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 108 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:12</div> <div> The eyes of Jehovah safeguard  knowledge, </div> <div> but He overthrows the words of the treacherous. </div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Safeguard" is from a Hebrew word meaning to guard but is often used in the sense of simply keeping.</div> <div>     "Overthrow" comes from a word meaning to wrench and also carries the idea of subverting.</div> <div>     "Treacherous" comes from a word meaning to cover.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Jehovah's activities</div> <bR> <div> The Two Activities:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Safeguarding by eye</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Subverting</div> <bR> <div> The Objects of These Activities:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Knowledge</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The words of the devious</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     The problem some commentaries have with this verse comes from the seeming strangeness of God's eyes preserving an abstract quality.  It sounds a little odd that God's eyes guard knowledge (this is the only verse where God's eyes guard anything per se).  This peculiarity is easily overcome by doing a phrase search of "eyes of Jehovah."  We find that God accomplishes essentially the same activity with comparable objects:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Deut 11:12</B></FONT>  It is a <U>land</U> which Jehovah your <U>God cares for</U>. The <U>eyes of Jehovah</U> your God <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I></FONT> <U>always upon it</U>, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year. </div> <bR> <div>     The eyes of Jehovah being on the land is explanatory of His caring for it.  So His eyes guarding knowledge simply speaks of His careful attention to how men and angels respond to the truth.  Knowledge is not simply a commodity out there which men may treat one way or another.  God takes TRUE knowledge personally.  How men react to <U>it</U> is how they react to <U>Him</U>.</div> <div>     When we consider God's zeal over the truth, man's cynicism comes to the fore.  Even many who claim to believe Scriptures cannot help inadvertently blaming their ignorance on God.  They respond to difficult passages of Scripture or the questions that arise from them as though knowledge had gone missing.  They do not speak as though knowledge is CERTAIN and it is up to us to discover it.  There is, frankly, no reverence in their response.  The fear of God does not guide them.  They essentially say that until THEY know something, the knowledge of it does not exist.</div> <div>     One infamous way this scenario plays itself out is when men take two opposing interpretations of a verse and insinuate thereby that the truth is not certain.  One or the other of these two views <I>might </I>be correct, so knowledge cannot be reached with certaintly.</div> <div>     RATHER, they ought to say that two reasonable but opposing views of a verse or doctrine show that we have perhaps not ARRIVED at the truth <B>yet</B>.  The emphasis should be on the certainty of the truth versus our own present uncertainty.  The emphasis should also be on the onus upon us to search out the matter to a successful conclusion.  If the matter is too difficult to resolve presently, it must at least be 'filed away' reverently.</div> <div>     Even filing away hard sayings can tend towards irreverence, though.  When one matter after another goes in the "too-hard-to-do" folder, we still give the impression that truth was not intended to be known or knowable.  RATHER, we ought to note what CAN be ascertained about the verse or matter.  We ought to say what ideas must be RULED OUT concerning the doctrine.  We ought to be able to say that the answer we seek will be in this or that area or that it will be along these or those basic lines.</div> <div>     The eyes of Jehovah are preserving knowledge all the while we are maligning it.  We do not even recognize our smugness.  Declaring another 'mystery' in the Bible is treated as an act of reverence, as though God had scored a point by managing to be over our heads.  We excuse ourselves from further study and pin God's merit badge on our chest for doing so.</div> <div>     In this light, God subverting the words of the surreptitious sounds like an act He'd perform mostly against those professing service to Him.  Not so.  But neither are they exempt.  TO THE DEGREE we minimize knowledge- Biblical knowledge especially- we invite God's vengeance.  How can He NOT answer an insolent approach to His Truth, precious commodity that it is?</div> <div>     Sadly, those whose words God subverts will not catch it.  They are so good at playing the agnostic game (cannot know), they don't even know when their own arguments have failed.  They certainly want to make a point, but the flatness of their thrust escapes them.  OR the shame God allows them to experience is blamed once again on Him.  If God had wanted more consistency from me, HE should have been more consistent first.</div> <div>     And this shows the great danger.  One disloyalty towards knowledge leads to another.  If we don't learn HOW to say, "I don't know that," we will treat the Bible more and more diffidently.  We all have to say, "I don't know," but how we qualify our ignorance decides between our <I>own </I>eyes guarding knowledge along with God's (Prov 5:2; Mal 2:7) OR our words inviting His subversion for their falsehood.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="410" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#BFBF00 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 122 WIDTH="398"><div> Proverbs 22:13</div> <div> The lazy one says, </div> <div> A lion <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> outside! </div> <div> I will be killed in the streets! </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Lazy" is from a Hebrew word meaning to lean.  It pictures someone leaning, perhaps against a wall, instead of standing upright or moving forward.</div> <div>     "In the streets" is actually "in the midst of the streets".  The exact phrase is only used in one other verse, Deut. 13:16.  There it speaks of piling in the street things that need to be burned.</div> <div>     "Outside" can also mean "abroad" and is even translated "streets" many times.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The lazy person</div> <bR> <div> His Claim:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">There is a lion abroad</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I will be killed in the streets</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     This proverb comes across in a humorous fashion, but Solomon is not seeking to entertain us.  He is giving us a real 'm.o.' for the lazy man.  Remember also, the first person we should see in any sinner in Scriptures is ourselves; otherwise we are self-righteous; otherwise we lie( 1 Jn 1:8).  </div> <div>     In this proverb, the ridiculous sounding element is the lion- the supposed presence of a lion nearby.  But remember, their fear of lions would be similar to our Appalachian countrymen's fear of panthers on a wooded trail.  You probably aren't going to see one, but they are definitely out there.  True, lions weren't waiting out in the middle of the street for the Israelites, but neither were they foreign animals.  Most Israelites could easily engage in activities that would put them in approximation to lions.  And just as bears wander into neighborhoods in Florida from time to time, so lions sometimes wandered into Israeli communities.</div> <div>     A close analogy to this in our day would be someone living by a kind of hazardous Murphy's law.  Take "If something CAN go wrong it WILL go wrong" and add "to your harm," and you have the lazy man's credo.  <I>Anyone </I>is wise to be on guard against harmful calamities, but a lazy man uses them to shut down.</div> <div>     Remember, the man in our proverb is not lying in saying that lions are "abroad."  And he is only prognosticating in predicting his own death.  Death by lion <I>was </I>one possible outcome of a trip outdoors, though very unlikely.  Solomon's point is that the lazy man's imagination is very active in envisaging what are ultimately EXCUSES.  This is a proverb about <B>excuses</B>.  Solomon wants us to see the element of exaggeration and absurdity in ANY excuse.</div> <div>     Here are five lessons we should learn about laziness and the lazy person from this proverb:</div> <bR> <div>  1)  The lazy man, like any man, projects a certain future for himself: but <I>his </I>forecast automatically calculates (because he loves rest, hates work, abhors responsibility, etc.) avoiding a certain task, avoiding work in general, or winning more time for self-indulgence.  Any of us <I>could </I>focus on negatives; the lazy man <I>does </I>so (in relation to work).</div> <div>     Do <I>you </I>see seemingly insurmountable obstacles when (some) work is laid before you?</div> <bR> <div>  2)  Lazy people do not want to be called liars.  They do not wish to be known as lazy.  What they see and litigate for is their own safety.  They elevate to the status of real harm that which should only be seen as a negligible possibility.  The possibility of hitting their thumb with a  hammer becomes an invitation to a gargantuan hospital bill.</div> <bR> <div> 3)   The lazy man is self-indulgent.  He puts his own ''safety" ahead of everything.  He thinks work will harm him; therefore, he invents a scenario where harm <I>will </I>come to him if he heads towards the work.</div> <bR> <div> 4)  The truly lazy man does differentiate himself from others.  He will be unreasonable and have overblown fears.  We would call many of them psychotic and the like, but we should really see a simple avoidance of responsibility.</div> <bR> <div> 5)  The lazy man takes it personally.  He is overly attuned to his own feelings through self-centeredness.  He 'feels' how loathesome work is going to be and he is threatened.  He projects the fear onto phantom villains and shrinks from them.  He fears not only lions but his own persecution by them- being taken into the middle of the street for a public execution!</div> <bR> <div>     How can we help the lazy?  IF we can, it will come down to some sort of a slap-in-the-face call back to reality.  "Oh, really now!  No such thing is likely to happen.  Just get to work and if anything threatening begins to materialize, let me know.  I wish no harm to come to you, but the worst harm before us presently is avoiding our work."  Or perhaps, "I don't savor working either, but I'm not inventing any lions to deter me."</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="429" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 93 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:14</div> <div> The mouth of nameless women <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a deep pit; </div> <div> those despised <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>by</I></FONT> Jehovah shall fall there. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Nameless" is from a Hebrew word meaning to turn aside, as in for lodging, picturing a traveler, someone from out of town.  From that idea it carries further connotations of unsanctified (pagan) and also adulterous.</div> <div>     "Despised" is most closely "angry" but it can carry the idea of hatred and scorn as well.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The mouth of transient women</div> <bR> <div> Its description:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A deep hole</div> <bR> <div> Its use:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Those with whom God is angry fall in the hole</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     The word for the "nameless" women is used most often (77x total) of foreign people or things, those from out of town.  But it is also used of the "strange" fire (Exod 30:9) Nadab and Abihu offered to God and were killed for (Lev 10:1, 2).  There the word carries the idea of something alternative and out of place.  This is very close to the meaning of the "strange" woman.  "Unauthorized" would be a good translation of the fire, but "nameless" comes closer to describing the adulteress.  Her actual name is known, no doubt, but she herself is truly unknown to the man.  She might as well have no name.  Ironically, his whole life might well become bound up with her, and her ever-mysterious name may well consume him, yet she is still essentially a stranger: an outsider who arrived and conquered and took possession.  She becomes an invading sovereign over his soul.</div> <div>     She is also a stranger in the sense of alternative.  She is an alternative to a man's wife, even be it his prospective, future wife.  He chooses her over a wife.  (Indeed, she may <I>become </I>a wife:  a Delilah, for instance.)  </div> <div>     Proverbs 1-9 is the foundation of proverbs; chapters 10-31 are the actual proverbs.  Chapters one through nine are repeatedly addressed to "my son."  There fully one third of the instruction is warnings against adultery/ fornication.  Now we have returned to the subject.</div> <div>    Proverbs 22:14 sounds a very familiar note.  It is the alluring woman's <B>speech </B>which imprisons men's hearts.  So previously:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 2:16</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>They</I></FONT> will deliver you from the <B>strange woman</B>, the stranger <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>who</I></FONT> <U>flatters </U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>with</U></I></FONT><U> her words</U>, </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 5:3</FONT>  For the <U>lips</U> of a <B>strange woman</B> drip honey, and her palate <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> smoother than oil; </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 6:24</FONT>  to keep you from the evil woman, from the <U>flattery of the tongue</U> of a strange woman [<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Fax" >from a different Hebrew word meaning unexpected, but also translated mostly as "foreigner, alien, stranger, strange."</FONT>] </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 7:5</FONT>  so that they may keep you from the <B>strange woman</B>, from the stranger <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>who</I></FONT> <U>flatters with her words</U>. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 9:16, 17</FONT>  The simple one, let him turn in here. And to one lacking heart, <U>she says to him</U>, </div> <div>   Stolen waters are sweet, and bread <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>eaten</I></FONT> in secret is pleasant. </div> <bR> <div>     If a man is entranced by a woman's beauty, that is surely captivating enough.  But if a woman wants to make the man her personal slave, she will also speak to him.  She will speak to him words of her special spell.  She will flatter him.  She will make herself vulnerable in his eyes, like bait on a hook.  </div> <div>     All women have a general power over men.  Once a woman discovers this power, some will find it addictive.  They will crave conquest.  They want men to desire them.  They want men's lives to be bent out of shape over them.  The men who become thus misshapen have fallen precariously into a "deep pit".  Proverbs 2:19 indicates they have fallen for good.</div> <div>     Solomon further comments:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Ecclesiastes 7:26</FONT>  and I find more bitter than death the woman whose <U>heart</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> <U>snares and nets</U>, and her <U>hands</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>like</I></FONT> <U>bands</U>.  Whoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. </div> <div>     </div> <div>     As always, Proverbs is a book of degrees.  It gives characteristics in motion, often at an extreme; then we see what degree of that characteristic may be in us.  Any young woman receiving attention from multiple suitors fancies the attention given her.  Most women, though, learn a reasonable amount of restraint.  They realize that the idea is to settle on one fellow.  They recognize what <I>they  </I>would become if they made an ongoing game of men's pursuit; therefore, intoxication with men's desire is traded for life with just one man.  </div> <div>     The nameless woman, though, cannot be satisfied with this.  She lives for the sport of enslaving men.  The extreme nameless woman has a <B>heart </B>of "snares and nets" (Eccl 7:26 above).  Her whole inner being thinks like a trapper or slaver.  This woman is "more bitter than death."  That's bitter!  She imprisons men for life if she can.  When she has them, they think they must have her.  This is the homage the nameless woman wants.  She will doubtless have to cast many men aside, leaving the wounded like so many flecks of foam in her wake.  Indeed, perhaps she chose her course to exact revenge for having been cast off herself.</div> <div>     A nameless woman may be married.  She may be a refined woman.  She may be satisfied to rule one man- at a time.  But she lives to rule, to imprison.  Notice that the nameless woman is almost certainly <I>not </I>a prostitute.  She almost certainly <I>is </I>a fornicator, but not a prostitute.  She is no <I>better </I>than a prostitute, but a prostitute merely seeks to take advantage of men.  The nameless woman wants more.*</div> <div>     Note also that it is "nameless <I>women</I>," plural.  It is assumed that the man will eventually move from nameless woman to nameless woman.  His lover moves on to another man, so he must hand his heart's reins to another enslaving woman.  He is captive to a whole, cruel society.</div> <div>     Furthermore, the nameless woman is a "pit" into which men "fall."  She is a surprise.  She cannot be foreseen.  She doesn't <I>seem </I>to have designs upon his soul.</div> <div>     Indeed, a nameless woman can operate absolutely instinctively, never seeing in her mirror the characteristics we've described.  She likely recognizes that she doesn't really love the men she pursues, but she instinctively tells them she does.  She may even play her role as though it were real.  Whatever conscience remains in her might demand it.  "I love you," she says, and believes it herself.  Poor man who also believes her!  But she is <I>so </I>believable.</div> <div>     Ironically, many men she is likely to rule were themselves willing to hurt women to please themselves.  "I love you," <I>these </I>men would say, only to convince the woman to have sexual relations with them.  But he meets more than his match in the nameless woman.  And he deserves it.  In fact, our proverb tells us that any man she catches <I>is her fair game!</I>  Not that she is in the right, but the men she catches <I>deserve to be enslaved</I>.  God has set them aside for the fate!</div> <div>     "Those despised by Jehovah."  Whom does God despise?  For we see it is someone He already hates who receives the further sentence of the seductress.  But does God really despise these men?  Doesn't He love everyone?</div> <div>     "Despise" is an interesting word.  The Hebrew <I>za'am</I> basically means "to foam", speaking of great fury.  It is only used twelve times and makes an excellent word study.  The word seems to clearly carry the idea of either anger <I>or </I>hatred, depending on the context:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Prov 24:24</B></FONT>  He who says to the wicked, You <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I></FONT> righteous; the peoples shall curse him; nations shall <U>abhor</U> him. </div> <bR> <div>     "Abhor" means hate.  Most Christians do not understand that Hell is the place for those whom God hates.  When they do, they can also realize that He was hating those people before they went into Hell:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Psalm 5:5</B></FONT>  The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you <U>hate</U> all evildoers. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Psa 5:6</FONT>  You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD <U>abhors</U> the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. </div> <bR> <div>     These are yet two <I>more </I>Hebrew synonyms for hate- speaking here of those whom God <I>presently </I>hates.  </div> <div>     Our proverb is saying that when God hates a man, one sentence He can give him is 'seductress jail.'  This is not a random sentence.  The punishment fits the crime, just as it will in Hell.</div> <div>     Here's another example of whom God hates:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Prov 6:16</B></FONT>  These six <U>Jehovah hates</U>; yea, seven <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I></FONT> hateful to his soul: </div> <div> Pro 6:17<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, </FONT></div> <div> Pro 6:18<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  a heart that plots wicked plans, feet hurrying to run to evil, </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Pro 6:19</FONT>  <U>a false witness</U> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>who</I></FONT> speaks lies, and <U>he who causes fighting</U> among brothers. </div> <bR> <div>     Again, "God loves the sinner but hates the sin" seems clearly to be a church overstatement or an outright fiction.  God hates some sinners.  God loving a sinner but hating his sin may be true of a Christian, but if a Christian has a "proud look" (above), God will hate that.  God will therefore act in a righteously hateful way towards a prideful Christian.</div> <div>     David could see God's hatred of his sin all the rest of his life.  Where did it start?  David apparently had the smell of 'cologne de haughtee' when he stayed at the palace in a time when kings were supposed to go to battle (2 Sam 11).  A woman bathing just in the place where she could be seen from the vantage point of the palace was perhaps 'fishing' for a promotion in life, a station more in keeping with her great beauty.  Like many women, she was willing to play the seductress <I>within set borders</I>.  She had no wanton desire to give herself away on the streets, but if she could get an offer from a nobleman...  She was certainly amenable when David called for her.</div> <div>     Could we say that most women in the world have at least a bit of the nameless woman's calling card?  For the right man, she'll <I>just </I>leave an opening in case he wants to drop his own hint.</div> <div>     And most men?  Fodder for such an invitation?  Sadly, "most" and then some would seem accurate.  Most men invisibly sport the rooster feathers of pride sufficiently to be fair game for a seductress <I>every day</I>.  Pride is hateful to God.  A man thinks TOO HIGHLY of himself; He's willing to reward himself with a lady's charms.  His reward <I>turns into</I> his punishment.  </div> <div>     Truly, an amorous man finds himself a nameless woman of some variety even if <I>he </I>seduces <I>her</I>.  Anything she says short of, ''Get out of here or I'm calling the police" is an <U>encouragement</U> when he tries to kiss her.  Her mouth is a deep pit even when she's saying, "No, we'd better not," but keeps on kissing.</div> <div>     The adulterer and adulteress are a perfect match.  That's what our proverb is saying.  <B>He</B>'s prideful.  <B>She</B>'s shopping her wares.  Bingo.  The sleazy criminal and his jail have met.  Whatever kind of jailbreak he makes afterwards or early release she may grant, they have both been pegged by our proverb.  The more of the perfect nameless woman she is, the better she will be able to string him along.  The less she is, the more she'll castigate herself and disdain her fluttering venture.  The more pride he has, the deeper he'll fall for her.  The less, and the more he'll humble himself in arrears and retreat from his cockiness <I>and </I>thus his shackles.  </div> <div>     But he may find his host a maximum security prison he hadn't counted on at all.  He, of course, thought <I>he </I>was in charge of the situation, as is always the case with the prideful.  It may take a true miracle for him to escape, for:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Proverbs 2:19</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  None going in to her return, nor do they reach the paths of life. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     Added to everything else, he has attuned his pleasure sensors for her special kind of satisfaction.  Addiction is the right word.  We don't perceive fornicators as addicts, nor do we see that they die as drug addicts do.  But their death is a spiritual one.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >*  </FONT>There is probably a little of the nameless woman <I>in </I>a prostitute.  They glory in men's weakness for them.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="471" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 90 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:15</div> <div> Obstinance is fastened in the heart of a youth; </div> <div> the rod of discipline will distance it from him. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Obstinance" has a Hebrew root meaning perverse.  It is one of the two main Proverbs' words for folly/ foolishness.</div> <div>     "Fastened" simply means tied.</div> <div>     "Distance" is from a word meaning to widen.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being considered<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A youth's foolishness/ obstinance</div> <bR> <div> The problem:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It is strapped into his heart</div> <bR> <div> The solution:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The stick <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>used to</I></FONT> punish removes it from him.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     The striking feature (no pun intended) of this proverb is the disconnect between the <I>immovable </I>nature of the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>folly </B></FONT>and its subsequent <I>removal</I>.  The foolishness is bound tightly in place in the first part of the proverb, but it is extracted in the second part.</div> <div>     The solution to this dilemma is in the word for removal.  It does not necessarily imply permanent removal.  Amongst its 59 uses, we find:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Deuteronomy 14:24</B></FONT>  And if the way is <U>too long for you</U>, so that you are not able to carry it, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>or</I></FONT> if the place is too far from you, which Jehovah your God shall choose to set His name there, when Jehovah your God has blessed you, </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Deu 14:25</FONT>  then you shall turn <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>it</I></FONT> into silver and bind up the silver in your hand, and shall go to the place which Jehovah your God shall choose. </div> <bR> <div>     Here the whole point is to <I>make </I>the journey that is "too long for you," only with money instead of an animal or grain.  The destination is 'far removed', just as a child's folly can be put at a good distance from him; however, a return trip is just as feasible in both cases.</div> <div>     Here is the fixed fact of the verse:  stubborn foolishness is <U>tied securely</U> in a child's heart.  The only thing that can loosen the sin's grip- loosen its grip so the child can act sanely and righteously- is the use of a rod:  a spanking.</div> <div>     This verse is probably most the philisophical <I>base </I>for Scriptural instruction about spanking.  It gets most to the <I>bottom </I>of why parents must spank (oops, no pun again, really).  In a word, this <I>basis </I>is man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>depravity</B></FONT>, also called Total Depravity.  Simply put, depravity is the teaching that since the Fall, every aspect of man is controlled by sin- rebellion against God.</div> <div>     Our proverb is one of the clearest testimonies to depravity in the Bible.  Sin is <U>locked away</U>- even in a child!  Humans are organically amiss, meaning we're just made that way (that is, by inheritance from Adam*).   The surprising feature of our proverbs, as we have said, is that we can modify that inbuilt sinfulness in any way.  This is the Christian parent's hoorah!  It is the promise that we do not have to sit by and let sin claim our children.  As another proverb puts it:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Proverbs 19:18</B></FONT>  Chasten your son, <U>for there is hope</U>, and do not set your soul on making him die. </div> <bR> <div>     But notice, just as in human affairs generally, sitting on the fence is a fiction.  We are either disciplining our children to remove their sinfulness, or else we are virtually cheering them along the road to eternal separation from God.  We can't be inactive and just hope for the best.  </div> <div>     But there is no good reason for their death:  there is hope!  Though we will not be able to retire our spanking rod for many years, yet every stripe we leave is a token of sin's impermanence.  Sin can ultimately be ridded from a person.  The rod is a parent's tool in token of this <I>and </I>effecting it by degrees- even aiding the immediate work of God's Holy Spirit, sensitizing the child's conscience to sin and strengthening his grasp of righteousness.</div> <div>     Only God ultimately banishes sin altogether at our glorification, and the initial promise of this is at our calling/ conversion.  But even if our child becomes regenerate, there is still stubborn folly that is part of his being a child.  We still owe him the love of consistent spanking.</div> <bR> <div>     Now HOW do we go about spanking?  Many have been discouraged from the spanking path by lack of direction in implementing the rod.</div> <div>     Our initial tool is the word "No."  We uncover our child's rebellious nature by refusing him.  So are we to go <I>looking </I>for our child's rebellion?  In love and faithfulness, indeed, yes:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Proverbs 13:24</B></FONT>  He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him chastens him <U>early</U>. </div> <bR> <div>      The word "early" actually means at dawn.  It means we always have an eye towards finding out our child's sin.  We rise like the soldier on guard duty, alert.  The sin is always there.  I can either love my child and uncover it or hate him and ignore it (Look at the verse again; it says "hate").</div> <div>     Now we are not supposed to <I>instigate </I>sin in any way.  All our work is to ENcourage righteousness and DIScourage sin.  Remember, this is about hope.  But just as we know our own sin nature is with <I>us </I>every moment, <U>so we know</U> the same is true of our child.  Do I believe the Bible?  Then I believe my child is a sinner.  But<I><B> I</B></I> should be the experienced sin hunter, so I am now here to help my child find and fight <I>his </I>sin.  Sin is locked in my heart too.  It manifests itself in cowardice and laziness in the face of my child's sin.</div> <div>     The child must learn the "Not" commands, where God says "Do not", "You shall not," etc.  We represent these commands with the simple "No."  The child crawls and reaches for an electrical outlet.  We firmly say, "No."  The child is probably surprised at this new tone of voice.  Sometimes even this will make him cry.  Eventually, he will go ahead with an action we said "No" to.  We calmly but firmly take him, look him in the eye, remind him that we said no, and spank in a business-like way, rod to buttocks (possibly removing plastic diapers, and possibly requiring only one swat).  Because we were alert, we are not angry or frustrated.  We did not wait for the child to exasperate us; we were 'on top of it' (a good synonym for 'early').  [Hence, if we DO get exasperated, we know it is a consequence of not having stayed on top of things.]  </div> <div>     Exasperation may also be a measure of the child's natural competitiveness.  "Can mom keep up with me?  I bet not."  Or just plain, "I'm not giving in, I don't care if they beat me to death."  But if we play by the Proverbs rules, we will still come out on top.  Plainly, though, child training is first and foremost PARENT TRAINING.  My child will test MY mettle.  Do I have the wit and the backbone to stay ahead of him?  It's a big calling.  Much prayer required (and a bit of our own stubborn refusal to be beaten- not personally, but on God's behalf).  It's soul against soul, only it's because my soul is <I>for </I>his soul.</div> <div>     We must also identify unacceptable attitudes.  The child stamps his foot when he doesn't get his way.  That's a spanking.  We may not be able to spank him straight into a sweet spirit, but we cannot allow manifestations of rebellion to our authority.  We represent God's authority, and we must show that God means business.</div> <div>     Children learn very early if we have a cave-in point.  "I just can't go any more.  This isn't working."  The child wins, but, of course, the child loses:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Proverbs 23:13</B></FONT>  Do not withhold correction from a child, for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>if</I></FONT> you beat him with the rod, he will not die. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Pro 23:14</FONT>  You shall <U>beat him</U> with the rod, and shall <U>deliver</U> his soul <U>from hell</U>. </div> <div>  </div> <div>     How can a beating deliver someone from Hell?</div> <div>     God connected our bodies to our souls.  Souls can be reached <I>through </I>bodies:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Proverbs 20:30</B></FONT>  The stripes of a wound cleanse away evil, and beatings cleanse the chambers of the inner man. </div> <bR> <div>     Again, this is a simple matter of design.  God made us such that our inward character CAN be molded by treatment of the body.  A child is merely a particular example of this.  The above verse applies equally to adults, as whippings were regularly applied to criminals (and still are in many parts of the world).  So in answer to the question:  Yes, children can be delivered from Hell by the rod.  Hell is the ultimate punishment for sin; the rod is an early, partial punishment for sin.  The rod 'heads kids off at the pass'.  It says, "This is what's coming if you don't change."  Then Jesus' words become more meaningful:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Mark 10:14</B></FONT>  But seeing, Jesus was indignant. And He said to them, <U>Allow</U> the <U>children</U> to <U>come to Me</U>, and do not hinder them. For of such is the kingdom of God. </div> <bR> <div>     Without spanking, we are doing our part to keep our children from coming to Jesus.  We basically deny that there is a Hell, since we deny proper consequences for sin, so why would our children need a Deliverer?  Spanking encourages children to come to Jesus by saying, ''Child, do NOT come into the arms of sin."  Saying, "Come to Jesus" <I>without </I>spanking is saying, "Child, you can have Jesus <I>and </I>sin!  No need to choose one over the other!"  For this is the message the Church preaches in our day anyway.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >*  </FONT>Not suggesting that we sin though we don't want to.  Depravity means we sin only because we <I>want </I>to<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="471" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 90 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:16</div> <div> He who oppresses the weak- unto his <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Georgia" ><I>own </I></FONT>gain, </div> <div> He who gives to the rich- only unto lack. </div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The answering quality of the two lines present this as a sing-song kind of a riddle.  The meaning has to suggest itself through less-than-perfect grammar; but we already knew we were supposed to become expert in riddles:</div> <div> <B>Proverbs 1:6</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  to understand a proverb and an enigma; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. </FONT></div> <div>     There are ways to diminish the grammatical roughness, but our rendering seems truest to the wording.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">One who represses the vulnerable</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">One who gives to the affluent</div> <bR> <div> Their Consequences Respectively:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">For his increase</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Only for shortage</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>      The second half of this proverb is necesarry to make sense of the first.  The <I>second </I>half tells us that someone who adds to the rich man's stash is actually doing subtraction.  It is a paradox.  You watch increase take place, you add up the columns on the bank statement, and you have an increase.  But when things have taken a while to settle, a greater amount has gone missing than what was put in.</div> <div>     With this understanding, we see that the <I>first </I>half means that someone who makes things hard on the poor only <I>thinks </I>that he is making gain thereby.  It is "unto his gain" in his own mind.  But we readily perceive- what is there really to gain from the poor in the first place?  A sense of power?  Some of their meager possessions?</div> <div>     The grammar is more stark in the <I>second </I>half of the verse.  A dash or a colon work well to relate the brief introduction to its following definition.  The <I>first </I>half of the first could just as easily be translated as a regular pharase: "One oppresses the poor to multiply for himself."  The more stark version of the first half is adopted to reflect the parallel in the second half</div> <div>     Finally, we know Solomon paired both halves of this proverb for a reason.  They are both talking about the same man, or at least the same type of man.  Someone who looks down on his downtrodden neighbor is the same kind of fellow who will ingratiate himself to his well-off neighbor.  More specifically, the kind of person who would take advantage of the helpless is the same kind of person who would consider it wise to lay praise or possessions at the feet of the influential.</div> <div>     There ARE classes of men; that is not in question.  Someone who fails to recognize this fact because of his personal humility or just minding his own business is nonetheless subect to the interactions going on around him.  Because of his own assets (any possessions or traits people find valuable), others may play up to him.  Or because of his lack of these assets, others may snub him.  He will find it difficult not to be flattered on the one hand or offended on the other, <I>even though</I> he himself tends to treat people according to their personhood rather than their class.</div> <div>     We should also note that there <I>are </I>legitimate classes of men by which 'worthies' <I>should </I>be acknowledged.  Younger people are generally to submit to older ones (1 Pet 5:5; Lev 19:32).  Citizens are to generally honor government officials (Rom 13:7).</div> <div>     A Christian must disregard class where relation to God is involved:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Galatians 3:28</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     Yet we are just as obligated to acknowledge the poor as a class, even if they are Christians (Gal 2:10, etc.).  If we do not bear their poverty in mind, we might easily mistreat them without even thinking about it.  We also might give the rich undue honor if we do not bear our proverb in mind.</div> <div>     A Christian, as a representative of God and His righteousness, must not only avoid slighting men or employing favoritism, he must stand against such practices by others.  We owe it to men to inform them where they are transgressing our proverb.  It would probably be well to kindly inform them of the very verse.  "Are you aware that the Bible says ...?  It would seem that you were [mistreating this poor fellow] [bribing this well-positioned man]." </div> <div>     The courage for such admonition should come from a real concern and a desire to help the offender. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="828" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#C0DCC0 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 162 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:17 -  21</div> <div> Stretch your ear and hear the words of wise ones, and set your heart to my knowledge, </div> <div>   for they are pleasant when you keep them in your inward parts, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>when </I></FONT>they are ready together on your lips. </div> <div>   So that your trust may be in Jehovah, I have caused you to know today, even you. </div> <div>   Have I not written to you in counsels and knowledge threefold, </div> <div>   to cause you to know the reality of the words of truth, to return the words of truth to those who send to you?</div> <bR> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The first word "stretch" is literal.  It also means to bend and so gives the picture of someone stretching his neck or bending over so as to place his ear closer in order to hear better.  The combination of "stretch" and "ear" occurs 26 times with various objects and subjects, God hearing me, me hearing God, or as here:  an admonition to listen.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To extend the ear towards certain words</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To place the heart on certain knowledge</div> <bR> <div> An immediate reason given:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The words and knowledge are pleasant when thus stored</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Finding expression on the lips</div> <bR> <div> The deeper reason:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">That your haven will  be in Jehovah</div> <bR> <div> Background motive and history:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">You ARE the one who is receiving this right now</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">As I've been amassing written materials up until now</div> <bR> <div> Double Purpose:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To cause you to KNOW the words of truth</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">So you will exchange in/by these words in whatever capacity you are called on</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Our proverbs have all been single-verse compositions until now, excepting one.  Our first multi-verse proverb was 21:25, 26.  Of course, numbered chapters and verses themselves were later additions to the original text (so with all of Scriptures), but in Proverbs especially, the verse size has been an accuate measure of the general length of a proverb.</div> <div>     Today we have our first 'paragraph' length proverb (or collection thereof).  In this way AND in theme, we have also returned to the tone of the first 'half' of Proverbs (chapters 1 - 9).  We have Solomon* again urging his audience (his direct audience being his children, 2:1; 3;1; 4:1; 5:1; 6:1; 7:1, etc.) to give careful, heartfelt attention to what he says.  Here's an reminder example:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 4:10</FONT>  Oh my son, hear and receive my sayings, and the years of your life <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>shall be</I></FONT> many. </div> <div> Pro 4:11<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right tracks; </FONT></div> <div> Pro 4:12<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  when you go, your tracks shall not be narrowed, and when you run, you shall not stumble. </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Pro 4:13</FONT>  Take fast hold of instruction, do not let her go; keep her, for she <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> your life. </div> <bR> <div>     Our passage today is a very intricately interwoven passage, mainly giving supporting reasons for the key admonition to LISTEN.  The reasons are sequential, but they are also layered in an inter-linking fashion.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >    First, though, Solomon branches out from himself to the whole community of the wise.  If you're listening to me, he says, it should be because I have </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>wisdom </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >to give you; therefore, listen also to everyone who has this wisdom.  "</FONT>Stretch your ear and <U>hear</U> the words of <U>wise ones</U>, <U>and</U> set your heart to <U>my</U> knowledge."</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >    Then he lays out the basic nature of wisdom in its relationship to its adherent.  Wisdom is </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>delightful </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >when it is internalized.  It gives us joy within.  The test for its successful internalization?  It finds its way recurrently to the </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>lips</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >.  The fulfillment wisdom gives us multiplies itself when it bubbles up like a spring.  Its speaking forth invites new light to reflect into and through it.  "</FONT>for they are <U>pleasant</U> <U>when</U> you keep them in your <U>inward</U> parts, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>when </I></FONT>they are ready together on your <U>lips</U>. "</div> <div>     Then the core reason is given for all this teaching, all this effort, this tireless (and often tiresome) way of life.  Without it, we will not be <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>confident in Jehovah</B></FONT>.  We will not find real refuge in His truth, His reality unless we are filled with and proficient in His teaching.  "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >So that your trust may be in Jehovah."</FONT></div> <div>     Solomon then reminds his charge how <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>constantly </B></FONT>he has <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>taught </B></FONT>him.  Reams of books have </div> <div> already gone into him.  "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >I have caused you to know today, even you.  Have I not written to you in counsels </FONT></div> <div> and knowledge threefold?"</div> <div>     The rationale behind this colossal undertaking, the aim for this life-seizing enterprise is that the apprentice should be personally confirmed in the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>reality </B></FONT>of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>God's viewpoint</B></FONT>.  That way, he can sincerely pass it on to others.  He will not approach the matter or related matters with fear, insecure in his scholarship or depth of experience.  He will know enough to keep learning.  He will also know the logic of opposing views, having sorted through them and their proponents thoroughly.  "T<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >o cause you to know the reality of the words of truth."</FONT></div> <div>     Finally, moving out from ourselves (and the concentration of all this is definitely on ourselves first), how will all this training affect <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>others</B></FONT>?  That is a test for the teaching's true establishment in the soul just as we found that the joy of it is tested whether it is impelled to our lips (v. 18).  If these teachings represent reality, we will live them.  They will be our policy.  Our lives, then, will simply be the 'stamp' that these things are so.  In this way, we will minsiter those same policies to those who count on us and those who order us.  They will eventually notice that we are guided by a larger principle, whether they credit the principle to the words of God or not.  We will speak in terms of those priniciples.  We are only messengers.  We should be noteworthy servants of others BECAUSE we are more broadly and fundamentally serving God.</div> <bR> <div>     Again, to paraphrase this large section more succinctly:</div> <div>     "Bend your ear":  Put yourself in position to listen undistracted; then you can actually "hear" and fully take in wise men's words:  you can enter into their fellowship.</div> <div>     "Apply your heart to my knowledge."  I've made the knowledge my own as you can.  Think it over,  and move from "Ah ha!" to "Therefore".    </div> <div>     Do those three things:  Incline your ear, hear, and set your heart on it; these will result in your "keeping it all within you."  This is when you will add real joy to your life- a joy which will be both manifested and deepened by <I>speaking </I>what is treasured inside you.  <I>Open </I>the treasure chest if it is real treasure.  Thus you will show and know better yourself that your confidence is really in God.</div> <div>     You are the one I've taught these things.  You must internalize and personalize them now.  It is no accident you are here in my school.</div> <div>     Some certainty guides every man; if not a thought-out philosophy, an immediate and practical intuition.  For instance, man is convinced that God will not lead him right.  Your certainty, though, must be deeper than that of the sincerest atheist.  For you, if it's not certain, it's nothin; but your certainty is in something outside yourself.  If we can't absolutely bank on God's words, we are absolutely adrift.  You need to answer men, but without certainty:  no answer.  You also need answers for your pupils, for you must teach others what I have taught you. </div> <div>     Your own words are not words of truth, only God's are.  You remain honest to God and honest in your speech when you bear this in mind.</div> <bR> <div>     Finally, consider the depth of feeling in this paragraph.  This admonition is obviously prompted by a heart full of love, zeal, and fear.  Solomon knows that his students (mainly his children) have a lot of dangerous ground to cover before they have passed the test of life.  They can make it through, but their tool chest and ammunition box are irregular ones for man.  </div> <div>     Man does not feel that study can lead directly to daily life.  We feel that academics only teach us <I>about </I>life; they are not life itself.  This is even the common Christian view of Bible study, despite Jesus telling us that His words ARE life and spirit (Jn 6:63).  We treat Bible study as a medium <I>by which</I> to reach God, whereas, God represents His words as His direct presence (Isa 66:2).  </div> <div>     So Solomon is concerned.  Can you love these words, this teaching, enough to see you through?  Can you give the painstaking attention required to secure them in your soul?  For Solomon, the question definitely hangs in the balance.  One tool he has to urge his pupil towards the proper answer is his sincerity.  "See here the depth of my feeling.  Know that I do consider these matters life and death."</div> <bR> <div>     Have you ever received such admonition?</div> <div>     Have you ever passed it on?  </div> <div>   </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >*  </FONT>Our new paragraph indicates the beginning of a new section but not necessarily of new authorship.  Even though the "words of the wise" are mentioned, there is still a singular source speaking:  "<U>My</U> knowledge", "<B><U>I</U></B> caused you to know", "Have <B><U>I</U></B><B> </B>not written".  Why wouldn't this still be Solomon?  We definitely switch to other authors later in the book.  If this wasn't Solomon, it could say so here as it does later.  The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament from just before Christ's day) uses words from the first line as a title:  Words of the Wise.  The Hebrew itself does not do this.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="471" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 143 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:22, 23</div> <div> Do not fleece the helpless because he <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> weak, </div> <div> nor crush the afflicted in the gate.<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> For Jehovah will sue their lawsuit, </div> <div> and will plunder the soul of their plunderers.<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Helpless" and "weak" are from the same Hebrew word, meaning 'dangling; hence, weak or thin'.  Giving two synonyms is intended to enhance our appreciation of the original word.  It is a common word for the poor.</div> <div>     "Sue" is also the root word for "lawsuit."  These words are paired in eleven other verses, usually meaning something like "plead the cause", which is a common rendering here also.</div> <div>     "Plunder" and "plunderers" is from the exact same word. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not to rob the poor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not to oppress the downtrodden</div> <bR> <div> Occasion and Location Respectively:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Because he is poor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">In the gate</div> <bR> <div> Reasons to Avoid Said Activities:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Yahweh will litigate their case</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He will rob the soul of those who rob the poor</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     The gate was the place in ancient cities where legal cases were held.  It was their courtroom:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Amos 5:15</FONT>  Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice <U>in the gate</U>. It may be that Jehovah the God of Hosts will be gracious <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>to</I></FONT> the remnant of Joseph. </div> <bR> <div>     This tells us that someone robbing the poor is likely to use the cover of civil laws to do so.  </div> <div>     Who are the poor?  Those who not not have enough.  Those who have sufficient food and cover but nothing else are <I>not </I>defined as poor in the Bible:</div> <bR> <div> 1 Timothy 6:8<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  But having food and covering, we will be content. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     Of course, it is no small thing for us to have covering.  A home is a covering, be it rented or owned.  A steady means of putting food on the table (maybe not so much in the cupboard) is no small thing either.  It is LACKING these two necessities- food and shelter- that makes us poor.  And it is the poor we are to be careful NOT to take advantage of.  </div> <div>     However the poor got there, they are at a disadvantage.  Those likely to rob them are those in whom they must trust:  those who give them a daily wage, those from whom they must borrow some money or food.  It is easy to short a poor person.  What is he going to say?</div> <div>     It is also easy to put the blame on the unfortunate in litigation.  In real legal action or, say, in giving testimony before a boss, it is easier to point the finger at the unlucky.  Everyone already believes him accursed.  He doesn't know how to take care of himself.  He doesn't have basic survival skill, it seems.  Yeah, it's his fault.  Take it out on him.</div> <div>     But our proverb says <I>not </I>to put him down.  Take into account his difficulty.*  Realize that a destititute person is a magnet for trouble.  God tells His people to be non-metallic in this regard.  You have good advice?  Good, give it.  You can help in some way?  Good, do.  You have troubles to add to his list?  Think twice.  It had better be real justice you are doing.  Even the <I>way </I>you carry out censure is very important.  It is NOT:  "Well, he's finally clearly crossed the line!  Now to blast him!"</div> <div>     God has told us alot about Himself in saying that HE will become the attourney for the cheated poor.  God does not simply sit by as He watches mankind's parade of activity.  Yes, He allowed the poor to become poor  (that is another story:  one which we do well to leave in God's hands); yes, He watched while you carried out your plot against him; but, no, He will not simply stand by while you enjoy your achievement.</div> <div>     God gets involved.  He notes all the particulars of the case.  He records the twists by which you surfaced your superior attitude.  He remembers the words you chose or left out in leaving a hurtful impression.  All will be answered.</div> <div>     And because God responds with justice, you are unlikely to connect His verdict against you (yes, God is conveniently the judge as well as the attorney) to what has gone wrong in your life.  Our proverb tells us clearly why you won''t.  He "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >will plunder the soul of their plunderers.</FONT>"  He will deprive the SOUL, literally.  Some translations take this as "life", which it could mean, but "soul" is quite fitting by itself.  You are shorting the poor; God will let that shave a little off your very humanity, your own soul.  </div> <div>     Put another way, for your inhumanity to the poor, God will let you become even more inhumane:  more arrogant, less sensitive, more selfish.  That pretty well describes a plundered soul.  And how <I>easily </I>God plucks it clean!  We chose coldness; God allows us to wander further into the snow, where we were already half-frozen.  If we end up an icy, dead lump- fear not!  There are fires where we are going to thaw us out completely!</div> <div>     Everything is significant in life.  Everything has a God-given significance.  Everything tells our spiritual status.  But God gives us some signs by which we can more quickly recognize our drifting.  This is one of them.  Judgment Day happens a thousand times for the discerning <I>before </I>life has ended:  the same voice of God, disapproval of the same things.</div> <div>     Use the disadvantaged and demoralized as a spiritual bell weather of your own condition.  Relate your soul to him helpfully, sympathetically.  Find your soul nourished and strengthened.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> *  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >On the other hand, we are also told not to acquit him of wrong just because he is poor, Lev. 19:15</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="471" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 143 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:24, 25</div> <div> Do not pasture <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Georgia" ><I>with </I></FONT>a master of anger, </div> <div> and do not enter with a man of fury, </div> <div> lest you associate with his ways </div> <div> and take the bait for your soul. </div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Pasture" is the literal meaning of the word, but "be friends with" is a common meaning.  "Pasture" is also translated "feed", and may refer to regularly sitting at table with the man, as the next line warns against "going" or "going in" ("entering") with him.</div> <div>     "Anger" in the first line (from "nostril"- as in panting, or else flaring nostrils) is answered by "fury" in the second line (from "heat").</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not to take up company with Mr. Angry </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not to proceed with a man of rage</div> <bR> <div> Reasons:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Lest you learn his paths</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">And take the bait for you soul</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     "Master of anger" comes from a fairly common Hebrew word pairing.  "Master" is from the word <I>baal</I>. That's right, old Mr. Baal, the false god.  The word basically means lord or master, which is what Baal is being called (80 times), but it is also a common word (84 occurrences) for husband, owner, lord, and man.</div> <div>     "Master of" is used as in our verse four other times in Proverbs:  a "master of destruction", 18:9;  a "master of appetite", 23:2; a "master of schemes", 24:8; and a "master of fury", 29:22.  "Owner of" would also work in these places, implying that the man perfectly defines whatever trait or activity is being ascribed to him.</div> <div>     The advice given goes against immediate common sense, especially if we are presently disregarding the advice.  If we have an angry friend, we are likely to defend our friendship with him, noting no negative repercussions.  "He can get angry at times, but <I>I'm</I> still even-headed."</div> <div>     This brings up the phrase "take the bait" or "be entrapped by".  When we "involve ourselves with the conduct" of the angry, we are not necessarily becoming angrier ourselves.  We are simply learning to justify anger as a lifestyle.  Anger becomes an acceptable rather than an unacceptable mode of response.  This is the only bait we have to take to do us great spiritual harm.</div> <div>     In this sense, anger is no different than any other wrong lifestyle.  If I routinely make excuses for a sinful person, he is damaging my definition of righteousness.  Once that LINE is blurred, I will definitely suffer for it.</div> <div>     We have not yet addressed the issue of patience.  IF <I><B>I</B></I> am in the driver's seat in defining the issue to my angry friend and if <I>he </I>acknowledges the inexcusable nature of his sin, seeking repentance from it, we may remain companions.  The moment it becomes evident that his flare-ups, cussing, or whatever manifests his anger are 'old hat' to him <I>or </I>me, it is time to consider time apart, if not a parting of the ways.</div> <div>     "Do not go (in) with" him.  This is a command.  Don't dwell with him.  In the final analysis, I may have to tell him that God just tells me so.  God uses forced separations like this, of course, to shame the sinful, hopefully unto their repentance and restoration.</div> <bR> <div>     Now look at your own anger for a moment.  We humans are angry by nature.  This is obviously another reason, maybe the chief one, why we cannot afford to befriend the overtly angry.  But as to your own anger, who might <I>you </I>be tarnishing with your (very slight, very excusable- so we all think) manisfestations of anger?  Someone in your own house, most likely.</div> <div>     A word to mothers who yell:  someone is learning your ways.  Either that, or for their own safety, they are distancing themselves from you in whatever way necessary.</div> <bR> <div>     There is also a nifty instruction on prayer here.  Time spent = lesson learned.  Hence, spend time with Jesus- in prayer and meditation on His Word (that's the way to actually spend time with Him)- and you'll become like Him.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="519" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 143 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:26, 27</div> <div> Do not be one of those who strike the hand, </div> <div> those who are sureties for loans. </div> <div> If you have nothing to repay, </div> <div> why should he take away your bed from under you? </div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The peculiar words and phrases from these two verses have appeared earlier and will be discussed in the lesson.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not to buy on credit </div> <bR> <div> Reason:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Lacking payment, you may lose possessions you really can't afford to lose</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     As we have noted new sections beginning (most recently at 22:17), so we have a repetition of ideas from previous sections.  Each section show a progression of thought and organization of material.  Here we have, near the beginning of this section, a more prominent placement for the matter of LOANS.</div> <div>     Warnings against loans first appeared in the introductory chapters (1 - 9), in 6:1.  In the 'proverbs proper' (chapters 10 - 31), Solomon repeated the warning in 11:15 and 17:18.  Now we have a fourth warning to go with this new section.</div> <div>     A repeated warning in a new section might suggest that when we 'graduate' from one level of knowledge and experience to the next, we meet with new challenges to keeping old commands.  From the standpoint of personal progress, when we become more settled in life, better established in our community, financial institutions will probably be much more willing to extend us credit.  As it begins to seem 'no big deal' to commit ourselves to a payment plan rather than paying cash, or when our own good standing becomes an incentive to guarantee someone else's loan (such as our child's), we are reminded that the prinicple of risking collateral is never a good idea.</div> <div>     When business owners know us by name and trust us implicitly, perhaps are even our friends, they may treat a loan agreement as a mere formality.  They know we'll pay; we know we'll pay.  Time to get our little Johnny started with his first car!  He's not well established enough financially.  If we'll just sign on the dotted line for him... just a formality, of course.</div> <div>     But Solomon reminds us that if Johnny can't make the payments, we must; and if we can't make the payments, we still have to make the loan good.  They'll have to take from us whatever settles the debt.</div> <div>     The same advice we've been getting all along:  don't put up anything you can't afford to part with.  You already KNOW you don't control the future.  You can only 'bet' on this moment, which a loan institution is willing to do.  But that's because he's going to take what he is owed even if an accident keeps you from being able to work and make payments.</div> <div>     Even job insurance is risky.  If we take out an insurance policy to cover our salary should we become disabled, <I>that </I>is a monthly payment.  And if inflation forces us to cut back, the salary insurance will probably be one of our first cut backs.  Meanwhile, the items we bought on credit and tried to protect with the insurance are now back at full risk.</div> <div>     In our day, they can take not only your bed, but your bedroom.  Yes, they can take your whole house.  Hopefully you're still making enough money to rent an apartment or a trailer.  If not, and your insurance has failed, you may become a homeless person, or rather a person with a makeshift home.  This is a worst case scenario, but it can often be avoided if our house is the <I>only </I>item we purchase on credit.  If everything else is a cash purchase, we minimize the danger of "owning" a house on credit (meaning the loaning institution is the real owner; we're still technically just renters until the house is paid off).</div> <div>     Bankruptcy is a devastating blow to reputation- to our name- which a Christian cannot countenance.  In terms of our proverb, isn't your name worth more than your bed?</div> <bR> <div>     The first question when considering a credit purchase is, "<I>Must </I>we have this now?"  To luxury items, the answer is No.  To a car repair upon which our job depends, the answer may be Yes, but then we may need to consider revising our monthly spending so we can be putting a little money away for repairs that are certainly going to come up.  We can have another little stash building up to purchase luxury items, but if we must borrow from one stash for the other, the right and the wrong choice are both fairly obvious.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="503" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 95 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:28</div> <div> Do not move back the long-established landmark </div> <div> enacted by your fathers. </div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The Hebrew for "move back" means "to retreat".</div> <div>     "Long-established" is from one of the Hebrew words for eternal, applying to times beyond our present experience, past or future.  It means "concealed" with an idea of moving to a "vanishing point".</div> <div>     "Enacted" is from the simple word for make or do.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not shrinking existing property claims </div> <bR> <div> Specification:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Your predecessors established them long ago</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     The idea of inviolable boundary lines goes back a long way in God's Word:</div> <bR> <div> Deuteronomy 19:14<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  You may not remove your neighbor's landmark, which those formerly have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land which Jehovah your God is giving you, to possess it. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     God knew man's thieving tendency, so He warned against stealing land by encroaching on what we would call survey lines.  Notice that Solomon is really doing little more than repeating this statute.  Speaking of boundary lines, then, there is no essential line between Law and Proverb.  Both are simply Truth given from the mouth of God.  Neither is more clear nor permanent.  Proverbs, of course, tends to be a commentary on the Law, but it would not really wish to be much more, considering, as did the psalmists, the perfections of the Law:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Psa 119:96</FONT>  I have seen an ending <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>point </I></FONT>to all perfection; Your command <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> exceedingly broad. </div> <bR> <div>     So what is God protecting with this Law?  Where should Boundary law be categorized?</div> <div>     Under "Do not steal" for one place.  But guess whom you're really stealing from?</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Lev 25:23</FONT>  And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; <U>for the land </U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>is</U></I></FONT><U> Mine</U>; for you are aliens and tenants with Me. </div> <bR> <div>     Wow!  God 'gives' plots of land to people, but only as 'renters'.  When God sets boundary lines, it is not so much so each of us can have our little acre, but so the land as a whole will be there from generation to generation for His people.  God sees this law into the future as He sees it into the past.  We must respect the continuity in what He sees.</div> <div>     Now this was the law for Israel, God's geo-religious body.  Is the Church such a body?  No:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >John 4:21</FONT> Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will <U>neither</U> on <U>this mountain</U>, <U>nor</U> in <U>Jerusalem</U>, worship the Father. </div> <bR> <div>     Jesus argued that Jerusalem WAS the place to worship at the time (v. 22), but soon worship would be "in spirit and in truth."  In spirit- no geographical center; in truth- right in God's presence, not a proxy location like earthly Jerusalem and the earthly Temple.</div> <div>     So the Church has a real worship center, it's just not on earth.  We're not <I>geo-religious</I>, we're <I>Heaven-gathering</I> worshipers.  Our earthly meeting places are of no consequence in themselves any longer.  One place is as good as another.</div> <div>     But when God was 'leasing' plots of land to Israel, land meant everything.  Land was part of the promise of God to His people.*  You didn't have a portion in God without a portion of land.**  Therefore, God protected every man's parcel as it was drawn from days of old.  Names pass from generation to generation; land goes with it, and vice versa.  They all agreed on it from the start:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Deut 27:17</FONT>  Cursed <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> he who removes his neighbor's landmark!  And all the people shall say, Amen! </div> <bR> <div>     Situations would always arise where adjusting a boundary line would seem justifiable.  In the end, though, any exuse would boil down to greed:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Isaiah 5:8</FONT><B> </B> Woe <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>to</I></FONT> those who join house to house, laying field to field, until the end of space, and you are made to dwell alone in the middle of the land! </div> <bR> <div>     And the greedy had reason for concern, for God kept a strict eye and strict accounts on His Real Estate books:</div> <bR> <div> Proverbs 23:10<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  Do not move the old landmark, and do not enter into the fields of the fatherless, </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Pro 23:11</FONT>  <U>for their Redeemer </U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>is</U></I></FONT><U> mighty</U>, <U>He will contend</U> for their cause with you. </div> <bR> <div>     This is the God whom we alternately see active and inactive in our midst.  We see cases where, for no good reason (that our eyes can see), a poor man manages to retain his property against a rich vulture who had him in his cluthes.  But then we see cases where the rich successfully "join house to house," as in Isaiah 5:8 above, strewing the poor in their wake.  We wait maybe until the next generation for the fall of some great houses, but it is only so that, barring repentance, they may be cut off permanently (Ps 37:28).  God's seeming inactivity is merely a building of His case against wickedness, then.</div> <bR> <div>     A couple of applications of all this:</div> <div>  1)  We'd better respect the possessions of others.</div> <div>  2)  We'd better also respect a man's ancestry.  His family line is peculiar to him; he could choose no other one.  Demeaning his family name is really a demeaning of himself.</div> <div>  3)  We should respect our own ancestry.  However far we may think we have come from an undesirable lineage, even however far we may have <I>needed </I>to come from it, we will still always be more the products of our past than we may care to admit.  A proper acceptance of our lot is an acknowledgement of what 'neighborhood' <I>God </I>dropped us off in to begin our journey here.</div> <bR> <div> *  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >"The meek shall inherit the earth" tells us that land remains an important part of God's plan.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >** </FONT>The Levites being divided up within other tribes <I>without </I>a separate plot of land was already a forecast of what was to come in the New Covenant.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="503" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 115 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 22:29</div> <div> Do you see a man who is efficient in his work? </div> <div> He shall stand before kings, </div> <div> he shall not stand before obscure <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>men</I></FONT>. </div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     The Hebrew for "efficient" literally means "quick," which is the nearly universal idea rendered when the word describes Messiah in Isaiah 16:5 as "hastening righteousness." </div> <div>     The combination of the Hebrew words for "efficient" (4x), "work" (167x, a normal and commonly used word for work), and "stand" (48x) only occur in this verse.  Not even a pair of any of the three words occur together elsewhere.  This is even true if we insert the root word for efficient, "hurry" (64x), in its place.</div> <div>     A couple of other proverbs have this "Do you see?" format: 26:12; 29:20.</div> <div>     Out of the nine other times where the words "stand before" are used together, most of them connote confrontation, as in promising the Israelites that their enemies will not be able to "stand before" them.  The two times where the phrase resembles our usage, it speaks of the Israelites preparing to present themselves to Jehovah for an important meeting, Joshua 24:1; 1 Samuel 10:19.</div> <div>     The root word for "obscure" (1x) means "to darken," as is darkening a day or someone's sight.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being presented<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A man expeditious in his work </div> <bR> <div> Claimed of him:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He will stand before kings</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He will not stand before peripheral <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#888888" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>ones</I></FONT>.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Someone "quick" in his work is a good thing.  Someone who "hastens" his workmanship is being commended.  How?  We say that "haste makes waste," so we tend to think of someone hurrying as someone being careless.  Solomon knows about carelessness, Eccl 9:10.</div> <div>     Solomon, though, is thinking of someone who is so good at something that he <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>wastes no time</B></FONT> in producing it.  He has such a mastery of his skill that he can move from preparation to initiation to completion in the least possible time.  His expertise includes all the necessary muscle movement- fine-tuned fingers or firm flexing forearms- as well as mental motion.</div> <div>     We certainly should agree with Solomon that someone who is BEST at something can get from point A to point Z of the task with the least extra steps or time between steps.  Solomon is not picturing a race, of course; he is just picturing someone who could 'do this blindfolded':  someone who 'knows it backwards and forwards'.</div> <bR> <div>     One of Solomon's first tasks as king was to build and outfit the Temple.  He had king Hiram of Tyre help him build the structure and Hiram the Naphtalite (1 Kings 5 and 7 respectively) take charge of the furnishings (as Bezaleel had done for Moses back in Exodus).  The latter Hiram especially had set himself apart as the best in his field.  And, lo and behold, here he was standing before a king.</div> <bR> <div>     Being "quick" in a field also speaks of something else.  It describes mental acuity.  We use the term "quick" as one synonym for "smart."  Why?  Because that person mentally solves problems or sees the best solution very rapidly.</div> <div>     But Solomon is apparently using the word mainly the other way.  Efficient and expeditious are good English words to describe the man who can solve the puzzle <I>best </I>and in the <I>least </I>number of steps.</div> <bR> <div>     The promise of the verse is that this clever worker (and he may only be good at that one thing) will not STAND before (be the servant/ employee attendant upon) a nobody.  In proverbs parlance, his life's movement will be <I>up </I>the scale of bosses.  The better he is at his task, the greater will be his acclaim, and the wider will be the attention paid to him.  Naturally, more important men will hear of him and offer him positions in their service.  However long he stays in one man's service, his genius will bring further acclaim, which will bring him to still greater men's attentions.</div> <div>     The worker who has thus risen will do well to continue to ask himself:  "Who was I that got me here?"</div> <bR> <div>     Why would Solomon bother to tell us this (and he would certainly have seen it borne out many times as a king)?</div> <div>     The main reason is to encourage us to <U>develop our abilities</U>, especially where they relate to our calling.  NOTE:  We should NOT be seeking to rise to the highest position available.  The aim is not career advancement.  The aim is <I>excellence</I>.  In fact, the purest form of excellence is always:  1) excellence for God, our Creator's sake; and 2) excellence for the love of the work- a work given by God and reflecting Him- He being a worker (Jn 5:17).  Excellence for the sake of <I>profit </I>can always be compromised and degraded; i.e., it will no longer be excellent.*</div> <div>     Connected to this main encouragement is the encouragement to <U>patience</U> <I>while </I>we are excellent and <I>not </I>yet standing before high-ranking men.  Remember, there is a natural progression up a scale and a fitting number of CHARACTER goals God seeks in us for every step.  Joseph spent seven years in prison, but he absolutely required every minute of that hard duty to actually prepare him to stand in Pharaoh's presence.  Most of us would have blown our 'career opportunity' in the dungeon by focusing on our problem, not our excellence there.  That's why most of us will stand before nobodys.  There's more to truly excellent work than second-rate enviers will ever know.</div> <div>     A further consideration: as Solomon describes THE expedient man- the definitive one in his field- he describes the man who will climb the highest in that field.  Anyone of lesser ability or, more to the point, lesser PROOF of ability (for any of us might <I>think </I>ourselves better than we really are) will logically not be able to stand before as high ranking a person.  Again, we lesser workers may say, "I can do that, too."  Yes, but the thought process leading to it is what we mainly lacked, the mind for it.</div> <bR> <div>     And finally, God Himself is the highest king we should bring our work before.  In fact, we SHALL bring our works before Him.  Those whose works stand will continue to work for Him for a longstanding stint, Luke 19:17.  In dark days, God may be saying to sons of excellence, "These leaders are not worthy of your quality.  Finish out your preparatory works patiently and well.  You will stand before the King of kings with your wares."</div> <div>     Obviously, the greatest work we can bring God (or produce at all) is our own soul, crafted in submission to His Word and Spirit.</div> <bR> <div>     Ah, for men who love excellent work and are dissatisfied with less!  For women who forge their souls in the furnace of grace, bending their spirits back from the lazy and self-seeking into fine-tuned implements whose application to task rings out praise to the Creator from the anvil of daily life!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >*  </FONT>Profiting from our excellence is fine and may be a fitting reward for long, hard work; it just can't be our goal and never even <I>could </I>be the overriding goal for someone who actually loves the work.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="741" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 115 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:1 - 3</div> <div> When you sit down to eat with a ruler, discern, discern what <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> in your presence, </div> <div>   and put a knife to your throat if you <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I></FONT> an owner of an appetite. </div> <div>  Do not desire his tasty <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>food</I></FONT>, for it <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> the bread of lies. </div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Appetite" is simply the word for "soul." "Owner" of appetite is literally "master" of appetite- "owner" being a common rendering elsewhere too.  This is the only place this phrase is used.  Isa 56:11 calls Israel "greedy" dogs, literally, dogs "strong of soul." </div> <div>     "Discern, discern" is the word for wit or intelligence used twice.  It could also be "discern discerningly."  Most translations simply say "consider carefully" or the like.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Situation<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sitting with a ruler</div> <bR> <div> Warnings:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Intelligently scrutinize what is "before your face"</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Put a knife to your throat</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not long for his yummies</div> <bR> <div> Condition:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">You are a hearty fellow</div> <bR> <div> Reason:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">His offerings are the food of deceit</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     We move straight from a prophecy of a rising star to a warning for those who reach the top.  The fallen world makes both declarations necessary.  Important people demand the best for themselves, and so the movement of talent and ability in the populous tends to be upwards towards them.  But once in their presence, you must not think you have become one of ther peers.  No, rather, important people tend to look upon their hangers-on as just that: literal leeches come to suck them dry.  "Ah, you think you can have what I've got.  Well, there's only so much to go around."  And unless your attitude shows agreement that there is only one big man in the picture, you may find yourself neatly cut out of the photo.</div> <div>     Sitting at a ruler's table is not a common thing.  A mere worker is not likely to be a leader's dinner guest.  But having considered rising to the top, Solomon balances the <B>work </B>environment of the ruler by now considering his <B>private </B>habits.  The worker from the previous verse may not be the dinner guest in this verse, but he definitely needs to ingest this principle.  Those who sit with a big boss- of a company or region (a corporate <I>or </I>political leader)- have reason for great circumspection.</div> <div>     Solomon's REASON is essential to understanding his cousel for caution.  The scrumptious food (only used of Isaac's favorite dish in Gen 27, here, and 23:6) is a lie.  Why?  It invites you further, but you are really not welcome.  You are really not a friend.  At least, you will not be showing yourself a friend by digging into the food.</div> <div>     Food is a means of fellowship (same with God- see Communion), but the ruler doesn't really want you as co-ruler.  In whatever way you may advance his rule- good.  But acting like you already fly in his slice of stratosphere (like relishing his table)- bad; now you're a competitor, a potential traitor or usurper.</div> <div>     Solomon's advice could be as easily applied to <I>any </I>way in which we would show our greed to a leader.  If we are humble and know our place, we concede his superiority; but if we talk about lofty plans- now we are dangerous.  "Put a knife to your throat."  Just suck in any dreams or ambitions.  They will only mark you as one of those enemies the boss man may keep perilously closer than a friend.</div> <bR> <div>     God, on the other hand, is not threatened by us in any way.  This is crucial.  Our instincts are just the opposite.  We trust humans (at least to degrees beyond which we shouldn't) and mistrust God.  God is so un-threatened, He allows His chief competitor, Satan, a place in His council room, Job 1:6. </div> <div>     This is not to say that we may display self-indulgence in God's presence, but the reason we should not is simply that it is wrong, not that God will mark us out as a competitor.  Conversely, God is very glad for us to enjoy the good things of earth, 1 Tim. 6:17b, to relish them, in fact.  The only proviso is that we avoid idoltry by partaking in true thanks and a sense of indbtedness.  </div> <div>     Foremost in this vein, we should imbibe deeply of His Son at the communion table, becoming full of Him.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="542" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 154 WIDTH="530"><div> Proverbs 23:4, 5</div> <div> Do not labor to be rich; </div> <div> cease from your own insight. </div> <div> Will your eyes fly on it? And <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>it</I></FONT> is not! </div> <div> For surely it makes wings for itself, </div> <div> it flies <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>into</I></FONT> the heavens like an eagle. </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Cease from your own insight" can also be "By means of your own insight, cease," with reference to the laboring to be rich. </div> <div>     "Fly" is the same Hebrew word in the middle and last lines.  Because of the different Hebrew parts of speech they are in, the first "fly" might also be translated "fix." </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not toil to be rich</div> <bR> <div> Explanatory command:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Cease from your own intelligence</div> <bR> <div> Reasons:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When your eyes race to where money is supposed to be, it is missing!</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Money seems to have its own life: a bird-like one</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It grows wings and races its own course through the sky</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Buyer beware!  Particularly, we who buy into the <I>philosophy </I>that acquiring wealth is a true end of life- even if that wealth is for the goal of getting <I>out </I>of the race (retirement).</div> <div>     "Do not toil to be rich."  Are there any societies now or prior to us who did not toil for riches?  There have certainly been many cultures where most men had no prospect for riches.  The rich folk were born into it; the rest had to work just to live.</div> <div>     Working to live is not a bad life.  Living on your own crops and animals makes you depend on hard work and God (whether directly acknowledging Him or not).</div> <div>     But amid the farming community, there would be some whose abundance would bring in relative plenty.  They could sell their excess and afford better and better necessities and luxuries.  Their neighbors and buyers might easily look enviously upon them.  "Is there something <I><B>I </B></I>could do differently to make a better life for myself also?  More money obviously seems to mean more ease and enjoyment.  I would still have callouses, but I could afford perfumed ointments for them!"</div> <div>     Solomon might actually have nothing to say to the first fellow.  Remember, Solomon's philosophy of riches is that they are a gift from God when rightly acquired- by slow, steady labor (Prov 8:18; 13:11).  The man whose land simply yields him extra has only to worry whether he honors God with his riches (Prov 10:22; 3:9).</div> <div>     It is the man who PLANS to get rich whom Solomon warns.  It is his <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" >MOTIVE </FONT>to <U>be</U> rich which is problematic.  "Do not labor <U>to be</U> rich."  Solomon is telling us that <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bodoni MT" >IF RICHES DO NOT ACCUMLATE NATURALLY- AS A BYPRODUCT OF SIMPLE, HARD WORK- WE SHOULD CREATE NO SCHEME WHEREBY TO GAIN THEM</FONT>.  "Cease from your own intelligence."  It LOOKS like a few simple steps from where you are to riches.  Solomon says to look again.</div> <div>     Once again, Proverbs is a book of faith.  Learn to see differently than appearance.  Proof?  Only a million billion examples!  Time and time again, money-making schemes backfire.  Or they seem to succeed for  a while, only to crumble under their own weight.  Solomon helps us with a mental picture.  The goose that lays golden eggs is actually a strong flyer, and- look! monetary winter must be calling, for she is already halfway to the sunrise!</div> <div>     By another analogy, we naturally perceive riches as a solid or a liquid- a quantity we can package or bottle and save.  Solomon is telling us that riches are more like a gas- not at all easily kept, much more prone to dissipate and disappear.</div> <bR> <div>     Paul takes Solomon's command intact into his own admonitions:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>1 Timothy 6:9</B></FONT>  But <U>those who want to be rich</U> <U>fall</U> into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. </div> <bR> <div>     "Those who want to be rich."  You could almost insert "An American" in place of that phrase.  The quest for the dollar is so bred into us.  As much as we see its destructive effects, we still trust it.</div> <div>     Please note that it does not say "might fall" or "could fall", but "fall."  They <U>do</U> fall.  The desire for wealth is an automatic fall into temptation.  It puts you in a new world, a mindset.  It is a "trap" from which you cannot escape.  It is its own self-perpetuating drug, setting off a chain of complementary desires, "many foolish and harmful" ones.  It is from these that dishonesty is almost assured.  Not dishonesty for its own sake, necessarily, but dishonesty whenever the necessity arises; and it <I>will </I>arise when we have made a committment for wealth.</div> <bR> <div>     Riches are deceitful.  They complement so well our fallen suspicion of God.  He doesn't seem to want to move me clear of worry; a tidy sum of cash could do it.  Riches also collaborate with our outright enmity with God.  God wants to keep me humble?  Can't trust me with wealth?  Keeping me under His thumb, is He?  I'll show Him.  Riches will give me power to ignore him.</div> <div>     Riches tell us we can defy God.  We believe them.  Our heart is already there; we just need the means.  </div> <div>     When riches are <I>not </I>our goal, when they are subservient to our service to God, they fulfill their proper role and prove our sincerity, Luke 16:11.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="542" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CC99FF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 194 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:6 - 8</div> <div> Do not eat the bread of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>one having</I></FONT> an evil eye, </div> <div> and do not desire his delicacies, </div> <div>  for as he reasons in his soul, so <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> he! </div> <div> He says to you, Eat and drink, </div> <div> but his heart <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> not with you. </div> <div> You shall vomit the bit you have eaten </div> <div> and spoil your pleasant words. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Evil eye" has nothing to do with spells or curses.  The same phrase occurs again only in Proverbs 28:22.  The words for "evil" and "eye" appear almost 100 times in the same verses elsewhere, but never as a plain "evil eye."  The vast majority are kings and others who did "evil" in the "eyes" of Jehovah. </div> <div>     The root word for "evil" also describes the eye similarly in Deuteronomy 15:9, 28:54, 56.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not eat the food of someone with a wrong outlook</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not desire his excellent fare</div> <bR> <div> Unseen Reason:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The way he perceives from his soul is his real self</div> <bR> <div> His Words:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Eat.  Drink.</div> <bR> <div> His Heart:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not on your side</div> <bR> <div> Outcomes:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Whatever you have eaten will come back up anyway</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">It's 'vomit' will sour whatever pleasant words you spoke</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     This proverb hinges on the "evil eye."  We only have the exact phrase once more in Proverbs 28:22 and then once in New Testament Greek in Mark 7:22.  But it is Jesus' saying, "if your eye is evil" (Matt 6:23) which finally satisfies us concerning its real meaning.  Matt 20:15 is Jesus' other reference to an evil eye.</div> <div>     What is an evil eye? </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Matthew 6:19</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  </FONT>Do not lay up <U>treasures on earth</U> for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Mat 6:20</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  </FONT>But lay up <U>treasures in Heaven</U> for yourselves, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Mat 6:21</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  </FONT>For where your <U>treasure</U> is, there will your <U>heart</U> be also. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Mat 6:22</FONT>  The <U>light of the body</U> is the <U>eye</U>. Therefore if your eye is <U>sound</U>, your whole body shall be full of <U>light</U>. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Mat 6:23</FONT>  But if your <B><U>eye</U></B><B> </B>is <B><U>evil</U></B>, your whole body shall be full of <U>darkness</U>. If therefore the light <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>that is</I></FONT> in you is darkness, how great <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> that darkness! </div> <div> Mat 6:24<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     Jesus' teaching on the eye has to due with treasure.  What we <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>treasure </B></FONT><I>determines </I>our heart/ <I>shows </I>what is in our <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>heart</B></FONT>.  The condition of our heart, then, determines how we <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>see </B></FONT>things.  We can either have a "sound" eye, viewing things from a right perspective, or we can have an "evil" eye, viewing things from the wrong perspective.  If we can't 'SEE' Heaven, there's no way we can see to operate properly.  Earthly things will guide our decisions.</div> <div>     The word for the "sound" eye is <I>haplos</I>, literally, "folded together."  It speaks of cloth with a single fold, free of complication.  "Simple" is actually a better translation for it.  "Uncomplicated" would be a good translation too.  Since it has reference to the eye, "focused" would be a good paraphrase.  Jesus is speaking of an eye which can focus very simply on one thing, excluding complicating/ diluting factors.</div> <div>     Its opposite "evil" eye, then, would be defined by complication.  It CANNOT focus on the one thing it should.  The evil eye wanders.  It fails to take in the light through lack of focusing on the light.</div> <div>     James describes the complicated eye in other terms when he says:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>James 1:5</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  </FONT>But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him <U>ask</U> from God, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>who</I></FONT> gives to all freely and with no reproach, and it will be given to him. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >1:6</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  </FONT>But let him ask <U>in faith</U>, doubting nothing. For the <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>one</U></I></FONT><U> who doubts</U> is like a wave of <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>the</I></FONT> sea, being driven by wind and being tossed; </div> <div> 1:7<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > for do not let that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >James 1:8</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>he is</I></FONT> a <U>double-souled</U> man, not dependable in all his ways. </div> <bR> <div>     This is the literal translation.  The man has two souls.  He has one soul for God, but then he has another soul for the world.  He feels a definite attraction to the Lord, but he cannot rid himself of a prevailing submission to his own desires as lord.  These two souls represent his inability to focus.  He can 'see' God, he is aware of Him, but he cannot focus on Him, cannot give Him his undivided loyalty.  This, in fact, defines his doubt: not necessarily a felt doubt, but an actual loyalty bsides God.  Perhaps he looks like a chameleon spiritually, with two separate eyes focused on two different things.</div> <bR> <div>     So much for the evil eye.  If the Bible presents a unified picture of an evil eye, this is it.  Of course, if our proverb contexts the evil eye differently, we must be aware of that and view it accordingly.  That is, Jesus put the evil eye in the context of what our hearts treasure.  Our proverb might be speaking of an eye that is evil in a broader, more general way.  Of course, if this were so, such an evil eye would no doubt include treasuring earthly things above heavenly, so Jesus' explanation remains pertinent.</div> <div>  </div> <div>     Our proverb makes it critical to know WHO has this evil eye, especially someone hosting a meal, especially a seemingly gracious and generous host.  No, the Bible is not telling us to be dour and suspicious (even though we should never forget that even our long-tested friend has as much of a sinful nature and potential as we do); but it IS telling us to bear these marks in mind, should they perhaps lead back to our host.  About our host, it also seems obvious that he is well off enough to entertain guests easily.  At least, he is using his resources for our benefit.</div> <bR> <div>     Our proverb is mainly telling us what to do HAVING discovered our host's materialistic bent.</div> <div>  1)  Do not use him as a meal ticket.  Avoid being his regular house or table guest ("do not eat").</div> <div>  2)  Avoid thinking of this as an advantage to be sought ("do not desire").</div> <div>  3)  Keep in mind that gracious words and acts do not necessarily belie a gracious intent.  Some will give to you only to indebt you.  A scheming, entrapping mind may be all that is at work in someone who seems to take you in as a dear friend.</div> <bR> <div>     And what does all this teach us?  That rich people are often in need of foils for their misdeeds.  They need all kinds of cover that only real, live people can offer.  You do not want to be such cover, though.  Rich people acquire some soul debtors to have on hand, knowing they will need faovrs later.  Some they acquire from habit, having learned to enslave.</div> <bR> <div>     What does Solomon warn us?  Your enjoyment of their hospitality will backfire.  You will find that any compliments you paid were regrettable charges toward your unseen bill, and they will end up like humiliating vomit on your clothes.  You will wish you had never accepted their 'welcome'.</div> <bR> <div>     Moving beyond actual situations of a host and a guest, the core information of the proverb is about anyone who make you feel special only to use you to his advantage.  The 'meal' he invites you to may only be flattery he gives.  You are invited to 'dine' on his 'warmth'.  You become a confidant.  Now you are a pawn in his game.  </div> <div>     He is as good at playing you along as he was at bringing you in.  You sense you are being used, but you know that it will seem that you are the rude one if you backed out of your unspoken (or spoken) obligations.</div> <div>     Beware the overly gracious.  If it seems too good to be true ...</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="542" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCCE4 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 90 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:9</div> <div> Do not speak in the ears of a fool, </div> <div> for he will despise the good sense of your discourse. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Speak in the ears" is a phrase (about 30x) used of personal or urgent speech.</div> <div>     "Fool" is <I>kuseel</I>, root word "fat," speaking of a more entrenched rejection of God.  </div> <div>     "Good sense" is the word for intelligence.</div> <div>     "Discourse" is a rather rare word, being used in Proverbs only once and almost exclusively in Job.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not speak in the ears of a fool</div> <bR> <div> Reason:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He will disrespect the reasoning of your appeal</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Many of the other places "speak in the ears of" is used gives us the idea of direct or intimate counsel:  "Here's something I have to say to you."  "Please listen to this."</div> <div>     Solomon is telling us that we must SCREEN the recipients of such speech.  A fool- someone operating in independence of God*- will not only disregard your words but will disrespect them.  Therefore, we don't give fools the benefit of intimate counsel.  We don't speak into their ears.  We don't tell them what they need to hear in a way they should be willing to hear it- because they're <I>not </I>willing.</div> <div>     Do we have <I>anything </I>more to say to them?  Perhaps, but no more intimate counsel.  From the time they have proven to be fools, a rebuke might be appropriate.  That's how Jesus communicated with the Pharisees who had proved themselves fools.</div> <div>     Is manipulation fair game towards a fool?  If we <I>have </I>to have dealings with him (work or family ties), is it better to position a fool farther from harm by our advice?  We can't tell him what's right just because it's right, but maybe we can steer him away from destructive decisions by advising him from the vantage point of his own best interests.  Do we owe him this?</div> <div>     Often we are given little choice in the matter.  In order to support our boss, we need to use our influence for peace and productivity.  Because a fool naturally counteracts peace, our counsel and influence can at least work to short-circuit the 'suicide bombing' mission he's on one way or another.</div> <div>     If we can't steer him away from harm, our best course is often to do take our proverb's command to its limit.  Don't just withhold intimate counsel, withhold all counsel.  Let him self-destruct.  This may become a time when a desparate fool will finally intuit the good we've tried to do him.  He may appeal to us in his desparation.  </div> <div>     This is the time for some bluntness.  "Listen, I've tried to steer you right before, but you haven't listened.  I've told you what was in your best interest, and you still didn't listen.  If you want advice now, I can only direct you to modify your whole outlook.  Want to know how?"  </div> <div>     At this point we say, one way and another, "You must be born again."  "You need a disposition that can do what is right for God's sake, and then you need to follow His directions."  If it's a Christian we're dealing with, we're taking him back to square one.  "Here's something you missed in your basic character development."  If he listens, maybe he really <I>will </I>be born again at last.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >*  </FONT>"Operating"- not "confessing."  It's those who confess <B>de</B>pendence on God whom we must probably screen most carefully, unfortunately.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="542" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCCE4 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 151 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:10, 11</div> <div> Do not move the old landmark, </div> <div> and do not enter into the fields of the fatherless, </div> <div> for their Redeemer <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> mighty, </div> <div> He will contend for their cause with you. </div> <bR> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Redeemer" is Hebrew <I>gaal</I>, used 104 times.</div> <div>     "Mighty" is from a Hebrew root meaning to fasten upon, to seize, thus showing strength.</div> <div>     "Old" is from the Hebrew for "everlasting", literally, "to the vanishing point."</div> <div>     "Contend" and "cause" are the noun and verb forms of the same word. The same pairing is used eleven other times in Scriptures, twice by Solomon, in Prov. 23:11 and 25:9</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not move the long-established boundary marker</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not enter the fields of the orphan</div> <bR> <div> Reasons:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Their redeemer is powerful</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Their redeemer will fight their fight</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     We have already considered the main idea of this proverb in a previous one:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 22:28<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  Do not move the old landmark which your fathers have set. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     "Do not move the 'time-out-of-mind' landmark" is exactly the same in both verses.</div> <div>     When we considered Proverbs 22:28, it led us back to the original instruction:</div> <bR> <div> Deut 19:14<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  You may not remove your neighbor's landmark, which those formerly have set in your inheritance, which you shall inherit in the land which Jehovah your God is giving you, to possess it. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     When God allots a man some possession, such as land, it becomes a sacred possession.  If the man despises his own Divine allotment, he is in sin.  Esau is a good example of this, both of his earthly and Heavenly inheritance.</div> <div>     But if I despise my neighbor's allotment,<B> I </B>am in sin.  Jacob is a good example of this.  How?  By grabbing Esau's inheritance.  But wasn't Esau's allotment promised to him?  Yes, but Jacob was impatient and sought to procure the blessing prematurely.  Would God have let it 'drop in his lap' at the right time?  Yes.  At THAT time, Jacob would have been within his rights to accept it.</div> <div>     We see this principle obeyed properly by David, who had Saul under his sword, but David refused to claim his rightful kingship prematurely.  The kingdom was promised to him, but that did not leave the means of accession in his own hands.  He could not violate Divine protocol to collect a Divine pledge.</div> <div>     Jacob, instead, followed his grandfather Abraham in seeking <I>God's</I> ends by <I>man's</I> means.  Abraham sought his Divinely promised heir by his own wit.  Eventually God brought Abraham to a point where he sought God's ends by God's means.  He left the true inheritance, Isaac, in God's hands, to do with as He wished.  Abraham finally learned that God will keep His promise but not by <I>our </I>hijacking of the promise.  It will only be the fulfillment of God's Word when it comes to pass <I>His </I>way through a <I>submitted </I>(subjective aspect) servant <I>obeying </I>(objective aspect)<I> </I>Him 'where it hurts' (putting the flesh to death).</div> <bR> <div>     All we have said thus far concerns the reality of men's inheritances and how we are bound to respect another's inheritance.  Our proverb adds the critical factor of HELPLESS peoples' inheritances.</div> <div>     We are not to enter the fields of the orphan.  His father is not around anymore, and whoever is watching over his affairs perhaps doesn't have the time or energy to protect all his interests as his father would have.  The back of my field ajoins the back of his.  His has grown wild with disuse.  I offer to tend an acre of that land while I'm farming my own and split the proceeds with him.  His overseers gratefully accept:  good deal for him and good deal for me.  </div> <div>     As the boy grows, he sees me as a kind benefactor, which I am.  But I've been thinking.  I've been the virtual owner of that land for several years now.  What if I were to move that back property marker more into his land?  He's been getting free produce for years; certainly this is my due.</div> <div>     I move the marker.  Not much, but noticeably to the observant.  I bring the young man back to that portion of the field to test the waters.  He views it oddly, as if something is amiss.  He goes to the marker I moved.  He looks further into my 'new' property.  He senses something.  He is unsettled.</div> <div>     At last he smiles and returns to me.  He has worked it through.  If he suspects that I have stolen land from him, at least he agrees that I have earned it.  What's the harm in a few extra square feet of farm land that would have lain fallow but for me?</div> <div>     Most thieves, of course would not even have this much conscience.  They would have worked out a more foolproof means of acquisition.  But either way, it is theft.  It is what GOD thinks about it that matters.</div> <div>     When it is in my power to take advantage of a situation, am I willing to cheat someone?  The old widow can't drive anymore, and she needs to sell her husband's old car.  She knows and trusts me.  I can tell her the car is only worth <I>this </I>much, pay her more than that, but still make out like a bandit.  If she took it to a car dealer, she'd have been ripped off much worse, so I've still done her a favor.  Right?</div> <div>     God is watching her back.  He expects me to be doing the same.  If I don't, God will take me to 'court'.  I may find my financial affairs/ possessions in shambles before long.  Where the orphan is powerless, God is powerful.</div> <div>     Another danger we must beware is the helpless person on the periphery, the one we wouldn't think of as an orphan, but he is.  We must take care that our decisions do not defraud him.</div> <div>     As to overall theology, Solomon is again making each one of us a clear part of the whole fabric of our society, of mankind as a whole.  Since the property an Israelite might steal was that of another Israelite, we are first beholden to "the household of faith," Gal 6:10. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="542" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 90 WIDTH="530"><div> Proverbs 23:12</div> <div> Bring your heart in for instruction, </div> <div> and your ears to the words of knowledge. </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>    "Knowledge" is a Proverbs theme.  The word is used 96 times in the Old Testament, 40 of them in Proverbs.</div> <div>     "Words" are primarily spoken words.</div> <div>     The combination of the words "ear" and "knowledge" are found only here and in Proverbs 18:15 and 22:17.</div> <div>     The phrase "bring" + "heart" is used only here and in Proverbs 2:10.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Bring your heart</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Cause your ears to come (same verb supplied by ellipsis)</div> <bR> <div> Where to bring them:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">For instruction</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To the sayings of knowledge</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     The most important word in this proverb is "instruction."  This is evident through Solomon's placement of the word in the very next proverb:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 23:13</FONT>  Do not withhold <U>correction</U> from a boy, for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>if</I></FONT> you strike him with the rod, he will not die. </div> <bR> <div>     Yes, the word for "instruction" in our verse is the word "correction" in the next one.  And the correction is clearly associated with spankings.  "Chastisement" is the basic meaning of the word.</div> <div>     Yet our proverb today seems to plainly correlate "instruction" with "the words of knowledge" in the second half of the proverb.  Another proverb seems to differentiate "instruction" from more straightforward chastisment:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 6:23</FONT>  For the commandment <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a lamp, and the law a light; and <U>reproofs</U> of <U>instruction</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I></FONT> a way of life</div> <bR> <div>     Our word "instruction" in this verse correaltes to "commandment" and "law" in the first part of the verse.  The "reproofs", from a different Hebrew word, are the chastisements, or rebukes, that come <I>through </I>teaching.  The instruction, then, would seem to be something <I>other </I>than chastisment in this verse.</div> <div>     Even so, the word for "instruction" in our proverb today is never divorced from the idea of correction.  It is like our English word "discipline."  We can speak of an academic "disicpline," but the word on its own always draws our minds back to correction, or at least to strictness.</div> <bR> <div>     Biblical "instruction" in general always has to do with reprimand:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >2 Timothy 3:16</FONT>  All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for <B>teaching</B>, for <B><U>rebuking</U></B>, for <B><U>correcting</U></B>, for <B>training </B>in righteousness </div> <bR> <div>     Half of Scripture's four uses are listed in the area of addressing our faults.  We have not properly received "teaching", then, if it does not rebuke and correct us as well.</div> <bR> <div>     Before we proceed, let us ask: what is the basic ministry of Scriptures to <I>you</I>?  Does it mainly inform?  Does the information additionally delight and fascinate?  Any use that draws mainly on the informative nature of Scripture falls far short of its true goal.  God is not at work if we merely agree with Scriptures, however heartily.</div> <div>     Do you use Scriptures to define who is or is not a child of God?  This is closer to a true use of Scriptures, for it at least uncovers man's natural hatred of God.  But if the first example lags behind, this one has really run <I>ahead </I>of the Bible's real function.  It is no good for the Bible to correct others if it has not first corrected <I>me</I>.  <I>I</I> am the one who must first feel, "If these things are so, how can the Spirit of God dwell in <I>me</I>?"</div> <bR> <div>     So when Solomon says, "Bring in you heart," he is making a doctor's appointment for us.  The doctor will <B>inform </B>by his prognosis for the purpose of <B>fixing </B>us.  "Bring your heart" means put it in a position to be corrected.</div> <div>     What we learn matters.  How we learn matters.  A Christian is basically a student.  The Holy Spirit is our teacher:</div> <bR> <div> John 16:13<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  But when that One comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you into all Truth</FONT></div> <bR> <div>     Think about the Truth.  Set time aside for it.  Put material in front of you which you can profitably think about.  This in itself is a putting of self to death.  The issue is not whether you contest the validity of the Truth.  This also is necessary in putting the flesh to death.  Our flesh is there; it <I>will </I>doubt.  We don't correct the flesh by avoiding the confrontation.</div> <div>     There is the same disrepect in half-hearted application to instruction as there is in half-hearted prayer.  Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God (2 Tim 2:15, Weymouth).</div> <bR> <div> 31/50</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="542" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 129 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:13, 14</div> <div> Do not withhold correction from a boy, </div> <div> for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>if</I></FONT> you strike him with the rod, he will not die. </div> <div> You shall strike him with the rod, </div> <div> and you shall deliver him from Sheol.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>    The word for "rod" is used for the "tribes", as in "tribes" of Israel.  This accounts for about ninety-five percent of its 190 occurrences.  It means to branch off, and so a branch.  It is the word for the three "sprears" with which Joab killed Absalom.  It is the word in Psalm 23 for God's shepherd's "rod" that comforts us.  It is the word for the "sceptre" of God's kingdom in Psalm 45:6.  All eight times Solomon uses it, it is an instrument of punishment, some for a criminal, some for a child.</div> <div>     "Deliver" is the same word common for God delivering us.</div> <div>     "Sheol" is the Old Testament term taken up by the term "hades" in the New Testament, usually translated "Hell."  It is the waiting place of the dead, especially of the unrighteous dead.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not deny your child correction</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Strike him with the rod</div> <bR> <div> Reasons respectively:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">If you hit him with the rod, he's not going to die</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">You will rescue him from Sheol</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Where does a child begin his life spiritually?  He's headed for Hell.  Solomon assumes that we need to rescue him from Hell.  He doesn't assume that a child, even a covenant child, is headed for Heaven.  He assumes that our children need to be "snatched away" (Hebrew for "delivered") from a direct course to Hell and from there to the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:14).  </div> <div>     Why would he assume this?  One reason would be seeing that Adam begot a son "in his likeness, after his image" (Gen 5:3), meaning that anyone born of Adam would have to inherit Adam's dead nature, since he died the day he ate of the fruit.  Hence, a child is born dead spiritually, separated from God.  That is why he sins.  It is not the other way around.  We are not pure as babies, only becoming sinners when we finally commit an act of sin.</div> <div>     This may be the only doctrine adequate to strengthen many parents' hand to spank.  It is a matter of eternal life and death.  Why should I spank if it is just behavior modification?  Quite right.  A spanking, rather, is a practice required because of a <U>fatal</U> flaw.</div> <div>     But note that Solomon assumes our children <I>can </I>be rescued.  They do not have to go where the rich man goes in Luke 16, a place of torment.  They can apparently be delivered TO Abraham's bosom, where Lazarus went in the same story.  What an amazing power, then, is in a parent's hands!</div> <div>     And- rude shock that it is to our culture- the delivering power in a parent's hand is <B>spanking</B>.  It is taking a rod- a switch, a slender branch, a wooden spoon, or some similar implement- and applying it to the child's rear end, making a painful connection.  THAT is how Solomon says we release a child from Satan's grip.  Amazing.  How could that work?</div> <div>     It begins with this:  God made man.  God designed men, bottom up.  Or in this case, bottom IN.  A bottom, among other things, is a buffer, a place to absorb physical pain.  We are physical beings, and we receive a message through pain.  When parents connect SIN with PAIN for their children, God gives the child an inside lane for outpacing Hell.  The child learns, "Sin is wrong.  I earned pain for my sin.  I need to avoid sin, both to avoid wrong <I>and </I>the pain it brings."  The <I>outward </I>pain works its way <I>in </I>to the soul where an inbuilt conscience testifies the same thing less completely (the conscience needs the instruction- like the one that comes with spankings- to be honed precisely).</div> <div>     God made Hell.  A child is brought close to Hell by spanking; he is shown into the Pit.  "Here is where your sin will take you.  God sent me to rescue you."  Spanking is punishment, payment.  It is therefore a preventive taste of Hell.  Jesus said:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Luke 12:4</B></FONT>  But I say to you, <U>My friends</U>, stop being afraid of the ones killing the body, and after these things not having anything more <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>they can</I></FONT> do. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Luk 12:5</FONT>  But I will warn you whom <U>you should fear</U>; fear <U>the One</U> who after the killing has <U>authority</U> to <U>cast into Hell</U>; yea, I say to you, Fear that One! </div> <bR> <div>     If a parent believes this (and many professing Christian parents do not, or practically do not), he will see the advantage he has in inflicting a rod and sending a message specially designed for a child.  Once they are grown, patterns are already developed.  That teaching opportunity was missed.  Solomon says children can learn the fear of God if we will begin early.</div> <div>     Child sins:  the rod.  It is not complicated.  Begin with "No."  Child transgresses:  the rod, enough for some crying, maybe some hard crying, maybe some dramatic crying; but "he will not die."  Ironically, his 'gnashing of the teeth' will be an early release program from the <I>real </I>gnashing of teeth- Hell.</div> <bR> <div>     Spanking:  the temptation is to hold back, to put off, to substitute other methods.  That's why the prime admonition is "Do not withhold."</div> <div>     Whole human philosophies are built around that cry of the human heart, "Withhold!"  Our own hearts cry like our little ones, and we give in.  "To give him pain is merely to vent my own anger and thus breed anger"- human philosophy.  It's the philosophy we naturally choose.  'There IS no fatal flaw in my child.  Trying to spank something out of him is pointless.'</div> <div>     So our children learn to cut deals.  Let's avoid pain.  But pain is visited for sin anyway.  The sin we refused to address will begin collecting its toll much earlier than the Second Death.</div> <div>     Christians must build philosophies FOR spanking.  There is definitely a war of ideas waging, 2 Cor 10:5.  Battles are being lost and won every day across a broad range of issues.  Territory is abandoned, like when Christians read this proverb and ignore or refute it.</div> <bR> <div>     "He will not die."  Our child makes us feel death.  We feel the death going on <I>through </I>our little one's cries.  Dilemma:  Spare me and him OR believe this is actually necessary.  Spanking is just as NECESSARY  in a parent's mind as his child's sin nature is REAL.</div> <div>     Solomon speaks of two deaths:  first, the death that apparently takes place but <I>doesn't</I> lay hold of the child; next, the death the child <I>will </I>suffer if I don't inflict the first death.</div> <bR> <div>     Christ died in Hell.  He suffered on the cross what His people <I>would have</I> suffered in Hell.  Our Hell became His Hell.</div> <div>     Christ tells His people to take up THEIR crosses.  We must put <I>ourselves </I>to death <I>by the power of </I>His death.  Communion brings us close to His death IF we celebrate it truly.  Spanking brings us close to His death IF, by it, we put our human intuition to death and show our children the REAL connection between <B>the death their sin earns</B> and <B>Christ's own death</B>.  That's how close we can bring them, by the power of God's Spirit.  We show them Hell, yes, but only to show them Heaven.  The Bible's Heaven is hollow if it is not an escape, by an awful means, from an awful Hell.</div> <bR> <div>     The child's personal adoption of this perspective is the subject of the next proverb, verses fifteen and sixteen.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 151 WIDTH="475"><div> Proverbs 23:15, 16</div> <div> My son, if your heart is wise, </div> <div> my heart shall rejoice, even mine. </div> <div> And my inmost being shall rejoice </div> <div> when your lips speak right things. </div> <bR> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>    "Inmost being" is from the Hebrew word for kidneys.  The word only occurs 31 times, the first sixteen describing that part of a sacrificial animal.  Solomon only uses it this once.  His father David had used it four times in Pslams (and Asaph once) as a term for deep feelings. </div> <div>     "Right things" is from a word meaning "evenness."</div> <div>     "Rejoice" is based on a different Hebrew word each of the two times it occurs.  The second one connotes even greater exuberance, perhaps.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Conditional statements<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">If your heart is wise, my son</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When your lips speak  straight</div> <bR> <div> Consequences respectively:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">My heart shall brighten, even my own <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#888888" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>heart </I></FONT>!</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">My inner man shall exult</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     This is the first proverb in over a chapter which is not centered around a command.  22:17 began this string of command-centered proverbs.  Our proverb today is the first one after it.  It seems to be a comment on what has proceeded.  Solomon seems to be saying that if his pupil/ child will keep all these commands, it will deeply gratify him as teacher/ mentor.</div> <div>     This proverb is also a renewal of the idea of the very first of the 'proverbs proper':</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Proverbs 10:1</B></FONT>  The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a father rejoice, but the foolish son <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> his mother's sorrow. </div> <bR> <div>     This proverbs, therefore, is likely the beginning of a new section, especially considering the fact that it comes after a previous, recognizable section.</div> <bR> <div>     There is also an interesting contrast with spanking from the directly preceding proverb.  One of Solomon's messages seems to concern the transition from childhood to adulthood.  For a child, the rod is a major influence on decision-making, but any wise parent knows that the rod is a temporary measure, soon to be replaced by the child's own self-control.  In fact, this is the whole point of the rod:  it <I>trains </I>self-control and facilitates the parent's imprint on the child's <I>vision </I>of self-control (i.e., what sort of behaviors and attitudes exactly <I>should </I>I be avoiding?).</div> <bR> <div>     Notice also that there is a direct heart-to-heart relation in our proverb.  "Son, if <I>your </I>heart is wise, <I>my </I>heart will light up with a smile."  Solomon's heart response depends on the heart responses his son will come to on his own.  Solomon could only say this if his use of the rod was in love.  He used the rod because of a human flaw common to us all, not to vent his own frustrations.  He is training the heart, and the heart must eventually gain its own discernment.  When it does, the parent as teacher beams with joy.  Indeed, he will barely contain the impulse to jump (the literal meaning of the second word for joy) with elation!</div> <div>     Without this foresight, spanking is likely to be a mere drudgery (not to say it is ever a delight in itself), a task accomplished for its own sake.  This certainly defeats most of the purpose of spanking.  A parent needs hope to sustain him through years of duty, through a single <I>day </I>of disobedient antics.  Our proverb describes this hope.  Ironically, the parent who trades in spankings to avoid present sorrow will be minus the later joy, since his child will never have developed the fear of God, never having made the connection between his sin nature and its rightful punishment, never having learned proper self-control.</div> <bR> <div>     This is the only verse in the Bible with the phrase "heart... even my own."  The phrase represents three Hebrew words: "heart," "also,"  and "mine".  It describes a precise awareness of one's own feelings.  It is saying that the joy felt at a son's choice of wisdom will be a unique, soul-fulfilling delight.  "Son, when you've adopted wisdom as your own rule, there will be no joy like that joy for me."  All the pain of preparation will dissolve in the joy of the birth of a man, just as  all the sweat of an education transforms into the delight of a diploma, or the agony of a woman's labor ends in the satisfaction of life brought forth.</div> <bR> <div>     Notice the connection between the child's- indeed, anyone's- heart and his lips.  The condition of the first equals the product of the second.  In the first line of this proverb, it is the child's <I>heart </I>being wise.  In the answering last line, it is his <I>lips </I>speaking uprightness.  Heart wisdom instructs lip straightness.  The heart, then, is not truly wise when lips speak with any degree of slant from a straight rule.  We should be very concerned of what we speak, as very proof before God and man that our hearts are protected by the guardian Wisdom.</div> <bR> <div>     Surely it is not too much to add here that God births us into His kingdom and family with hopes of our well-developed self-control and wisdom.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>John 1:12</B></FONT>  But as many as received Him, to them He gave <U>authority</U> to <U>become children</U> of God, to the ones believing into His name</div> <bR> <div>     He watches, prods, and awaits our arrival at true sonship, true adoption of His ways- delight in them and preference of them.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="487" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 133 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:17, 18</div> <div> Do not let your heart envy sinners, </div> <div> but only <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>be</I></FONT> in the fear of Jehovah the whole day. </div> <div> For surely there is an end <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>product</I></FONT>, </div> <div> and your hope shall not be cut off. </div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>    "End <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><I>product</I></FONT>" (product being a word supplied to aid comprehension) is from the Hebrew <I>akareeth</I>, meaning the last or end.  Many translators render it "future."  One renders it "hereafter," the farthest future, and certainly one the Israelites knew from earliest times (Job 19:25) throughout their history (Ps 17:15; Isa 26:19). </div> <div>     "But only" and "For surely" are both from the same Hebrew tandem <I>qee im</I>, words which singly or together have a wide latitude for meaning, but which draw our attention by their occurrence at the beginning of these two consecutive lines.</div> <div>     The second line can be read supplying the verb from the first line:  "But only let its [your heart's] envy be in Yahweh's fear all day."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Admonition<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Don't allow your heart to be jealous of those who miss <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>God's</I></FONT> mark</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Rather, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>walk </I></FONT>in Jehovah's fear throughout the day</div> <bR> <div> Reasons:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Certainly there is a latter end</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Your <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>raised </I></FONT>expectation will not be disappointed</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Ah, the miseries of Christianity!  One of them is rehearsed in Psalm 73.  Asaph's very deepest, most secret bitterness is laid out in diary form.  It would be quite a scandal, except that he also recounts how God opened his eyes and relieved his pain.</div> <div>     Our proverb today seems to be a summary of Psalm 73.  It is hard to imagine a better synopsis of the good man's vexation and reparation.</div> <div>     Here is an assumption being made about man in Psalm 73 and our proverb today:  men, Christians especially, envy sinners.  Here is another necessary adjunct: that doesn't mean we are inwardly saying, "Oh, I want to be just like Johnny or June Hollywood and have what they have!"  Allowing ourselves to think that <B>that </B>describes envy is really our self-justification at work.  "Hm, guess I don't envy sinners that badly, then, because I really don't care to be much like them."</div> <div>     The Christian approach to Scriptures is: "If it's a sin being described, I'm guilty."  This is based on James 2: 10,</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >James 2:10</FONT>  For whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>point</I></FONT>, he is guilty of all. </div> <bR> <div>     When I am specifically sinning against one commandment, I am generally breaking them all, because they are all threads in one fabric.  They can be distinguished, but they cannot be absolutely separated.</div> <bR> <div>     But the Church in our day has an even more ingenious way to further deal with our envy of sinners.  We simply adopt enough of their standards to avoid any hard feelings.</div> <div>     In worship, we say we're gearing the service to attract newcomers.  In effect, we're just giving ourselves what we like.  Newcomers go away from a worship service, as do we, saying, "I enjoyed that!", not "What a holy God we serve."  So who needs to envy sinners?  God lets us enjoy things.  It glorifies Him when we enjoy ourselves.  Doesn't it?  </div> <div>     "Christians can have fun, too!"  Can anyone really imagine the apostles inviting the early Christians into a worship meeting with those words?  But worship is just the final domino to fall as the Christian world has given in to more and more pleasure, less and less self-discipline.</div> <bR> <div>     Psalm 73 has two answers.  The first one is a little mean.  The happy sinner gets his come-uppence at last.  </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Psalm 73:19</FONT>  How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away with terrors! </div> <bR> <div>     Except it's not mean.  It's just justice.  The sinner betrayed and hurt people, used others as objects, had no fear of God.  Hell is a necessary balance in the cosmic equation.  Without it, the psalmist's initial qualms were justified- things really are unfair.  But I'm on a different timetable if I'm a saint.  My payday IS later.  Any benefits I receive now will NOT balance the equation.  I may be more or less content with them, but benefits in this life are NOT my real reward.</div> <div>     That brings up the second answer.  The second answer is my contentedness with God.</div> <bR> <div>     And yet we still do envy.  Any area where we actually deny ourselves a worldly license, we chafe.  "Why can't I just run off with pretty little Miss Jones?"  We envy the business executive to whom is conceded the reward of a trophy wife.  He can afford to support two households.  His ex- takes up with her tennis instructor.  Everyone seems happy.  Why can't I do that (besides the obvioius- my lack of  funds)?</div> <bR> <div>     In Psalm 73, the envy is TWO-SIDED.  The nearer side is my own attempt at righteous living.  Where has it gotten me?  Greater pains.  And what about Jack Worldliness?  His attempts at self-indulgence have just gotten him richer and happier.  So it is really the comparison of our self-sacrifice <I>with </I>the world's successful self-indulgence that bothers us.</div> <div>     Once again, the answer of the modern church is simply to bypass any great effort at righteousness.  Fasting?  That's for fanatics.  Prayer time alone with God?  I'll say little prayers throughout the day as necessary.  I don't envy Jack; I'm right behind him in my ease.</div> <bR> <div>     This is the only verse in the Bible that tells us to fear God all day.  Many verses clearly imply it, but it is nice to have the exact formulation before us.  Fearing God ALL DAY is the only way to ward off Sinner Envy.</div> <div>     Fear of God is connected to Sinner Envy on one side and Eternal Rewards on the other.  Fear of God must both affirm and negate.  Fear of God negates our natural longing for ease.  But just as importantly, fear of God affirms the conviction that all this effort will be worth it.  It will be worth it tomorrow,* and it will be worth it a thousand years from now.  My whole future, as far or short ahead as I can conceive, is securely planted as long as I fear God and keep Sinner Envy at bay.</div> <div>     Remembering that future, keeping it before me, is its own proper motivation.  You cannot define hope without reference to the future, and you really can't give a full definition of faith without it either:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Heb 11:6</FONT> But without faith it is impossible to please <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>God</I></FONT>, for it is necessary <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>for</I></FONT> the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>one</I></FONT> approaching God to <U>believe</U> that He is, and that <U>He becomes a rewarder</U> of those who diligently seek Him. </div> <bR> <div>     I receive some measure of my reward now, but the vast majority of it- by far the most important elements of it- are in the future.  Our proverb makes "the end" of things a stabilizer for us.  Our discouragements get the better of us often because we fail to set our final reward before our mind's eye.  "God, this is what You promised.  I need it; You are good for it.  I can wait for it.  Encourage me with it now."</div> <bR> <div> *  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >It will be worth it later today.  Every moment I train my mind on God, I am making it less likely my mind will stray from Him later.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="435" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 90 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:19</div> <div> My son, hear, you, and be wise, </div> <div> and make your heart go straight in the path. </div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "My son" is the common beginning to the early chapters of Proverbs.  It begins chapters two through seven (excepting chapter four, where it is found in 4:10 and 4:20), as well as eight other verses beginning in chapter one.  The next place it occurs in the 'proverbs proper' (chapters 10 - 31) is in 19:27, then 23:15, then here.</div> <div>    "Make go straight" is the literal meaning of the verb.  </div> <div>     </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Address<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">My son</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">You</div> <bR> <div> Admonitions:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hear</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Be wise</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Straighten/ guide your heart in the path</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     "My son," Solomon pled just four verses earlier, "it will mean so much to me if you become wise."  Now he continues with less personal interjection, simply admonishing, "Be wise."  It is not a matter of preference, merely.  It is a life-and-death matter.  There is a path, and it is easy to veer from.  The only boots that will grip that surface is hearing, the only conditioning for the uphill gradient is wisdom, and the only compass that will reveal the false detours for what they are is the Scriptures.  The Bible is the yardstick that draws the straight line on the map.  Use these in your trek to safe ground.</div> <div>     It is <B>hearing </B>that leads to <B>wisdom</B>.  Wisdom says, "I need to learn.  Teach me."  It then exposes itself to Scriptures.  Wisdom is always straining its ear.  "What do I need to take in that I don't currently have?  What have I overlooked that would pluck me out of temptation's closing net?"  Wisdom is all ears, and they are trained on what is Written.</div> <div>     The wise man listens closely because he knows about the broken gyroscope of his humanity.  However well he directs himself by wisdom, he knows many factors keep his inner gyroscope from running error-free on its own.  It requires constant maintanence.  His ship will only reach harbor if he attends as much to its brokenness as to the course itself.</div> <div>     We are not, then, being guided by our hearts.  The clear implication is that our hearts will lead us wrong if we follow them (stated explicitly in Prov. 28:26).  "Straighten your heart's path" says that hearts need reins attached to them, otherwise, we are being led by a self-willed horse.</div> <div>     Also, how easily we could overlook the phrase "the way/ path."  Solomon conceives of only one road that goes the right direction.  Jesus called Himself "THE way."  In Greek as well, this word means "road."  Jesus is the road.  We only travel accurately via Him.  </div> <div>     Walking Jesus as the road means the same things Solomon says in our proverb.  As much as our hearts may feel love for Jesus, we still have to MAKE our hearts stay with Him as the road.  Our hearts are weak at best.  We not only stray by outright ignorance or heeding deception, we have such a faint impression of the <I>real </I>Jesus (1 Cor 13:12), we are moving by degrees off His boulevard every day.  We need course correction every day (Psalm 119:176).  Appealing daily to God in prayer for course correction is obedience to our proverb.</div> <div>     Back in 23:15, Solomon said that his son's wisdom would make "<U>my</U> heart rejoice, even <U>mine</U>."  Now he says, "My son, hear, <U>you</U>."  Solomon first empasized himself as instructor.  Now he says, in effect, "despite <I>my </I>feelings or input, you are responsible for how you take this instruction."  No excellence of instruction alone will ever cause a pupil to stay on course.  Only his own meticulous attention to the instruction, the path, and his own heart will do that.  It is an all-consuming task.  But it is an all-rewarding task as well.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="484" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 133 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:20, 21</div> <div> Do not be among those who soak up wine, </div> <div> among gluttons who hoarde meat, </div> <div> for the drunkard and the glutton are dispossessed, </div> <div> and stupor clothes <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>one with</I></FONT> rags. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Gluttons who hoard meat" is literally "gluttons, flesh to themselves."  "To themselves" is hard to render exactly.  It could be taken in such as way as to have little practical bearing on the English translation.  That is how most translators approach it.  "Gluttens of their own meat" seems redundant.  "Hoarde" might seem to stretch "to themselves" too far, but it at least gives the phrase its own weight in the sentence.</div> <div>     </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Don't be in <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>the company of </I></FONT>quaffers of wine</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#888888" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f088888800.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Nor </I></FONT>in <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>the presence of</I></FONT> gluttons, feasters on meat</div> <bR> <div> Reasons:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The drunkard is dispossessed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The glutton is taken over</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Slumber will clothe them with tatters</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     We have run into the drunkard and the glutton in the same passage once before:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Deuteronomy 21:20</FONT>  and they shall say to the elders of his city, This son of ours <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> stubborn and rebellious; he will not listen to our voice; he <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a <U>glutton</U>, and a <U>drunkard</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     This was a description of a father and mother's accusation, after which the naughty lad was to be stoned to death.  The Hebrews had a means to deal with rebellious teens.  They never recorded an instance of this sentence being carried through, though.  They allowed a child's repentance as an interruption of the process.  But it does help us to see that gluttony and drunkenness were serious sins (the actual punishable sin was rebellion against parents; drunken gluttony was just an evidence).  Putting gluttony in the area of sin- not sickness- would also have kept conscientious parents from allowing their children to become fat, an example we Americans should follow.</div> <div>     Solomon's advice, though, makes it clear that there were gluttonous drunkards in their society.  He puts them on the "shun" list.  Do not be their companion.  This is a subcategory of the dictum:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 13:20</FONT>  He who <U>walks with</U> the wise <U>shall be</U> wise, but one <U>associating </U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>with</U></I></FONT> fools shall be broken. </div> <div>  </div> <div>     Drunken gluttons are not the only ones we are to shun.  They are simply a notable variety of fools, the inveterate among whom are to be avoided.</div> <div>     Hophni and Phineas seem to fit this category (1 Samuel 2), but only their gluttony was chronicled; drunkenness was not mentioned.  </div> <div>     Ecclesiastes 10 has a closer description of this kind of behavior, but in leaders:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Ecclesiastes 10:16, 17</FONT>  Woe to you, O land, when your king <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a child and your leaders <U>eat</U> in the morning. </div> <div> Blessed <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>are</I></FONT> you, O land, when your king <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> the son of nobles, and your leaders eat in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>due</I></FONT> time, for strength, and not for <U>drunkenness</U>! </div> <bR> <div>     This passage seems to put both activities under a larger category, like "feasting."</div> <div>     An immediate question would be whether there are those in our society who fit this description but whom we might not instantly recognize as such.  The 'good old boys' who go fishing and drink beer might be drunken gluttons, though we shouldn't necessarily suspect anyone fishing while sipping a beer.  In any group who have gathered for the purpose of having drinks we might find our offenders, especially the portly among them.  In any gathering where alot of eating is done and alchohol flows freely afterwards we might also find gluttonous drunkards.</div> <div>     Be aware!  We're not talking about a nightly activity!  We're only talking about a habit.  The habit might only be on weekends.  The habit might only be on <I>some </I>weekends.  The habit might only be on holidays.  But if there are people who can be depended on to overeat and over-drink, we have found people with whom the Bible counsels no close fellowship.</div> <div>     Why?  Because they have no self-control.  They are not in control of themselves; their desires control them.  One way or another, they cannot dominate their appetite for pleasure; they cannot keep it within proper bounds.  God has "given us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Tim 6:17), but moderately.  The enjoyment itself is broad and full of thanks, but the items consumed must be kept in proportion to our good.  Drunken gluttons don't mind this gauge.</div> <div>     Why shun them?  They will be "dispossessed," and we may suffer loss with them.  (Why do so many translations say they will "become poor"?  The Hebrew word means to possess, dispossess, or inherit, and so they translate it 98% of the time.)  The appetites which they have given rein will indeed come to reign over them in one form or another.  They would not master themselves, so God justly appoints them other masters.</div> <div>     The fact that these new masters are cruel is seen in the last phrase.  They will be "clothed in pieces <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Bookman Old Style" ><I>of cloth</I></FONT>."  Their dispossession will lead to their poverty.  That is, as long as they give rein to their appetites, they will be divested of more and more of their property.  Irresponsibility will cause it to slip through their fingers little by little, or greediness will cause them to grasp so tightly that the lopsided mass tumbles.  Proverbs tells us the <I>direction </I>things moved based on the <I>forces </I>in play.  These people lose more possessions the more self-gratifying they are.</div> <bR> <div>     Remember the previous proverb:  "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >Do not let your heart envy sinners."  </FONT>The sinners won't abandon THEIR path to come on YOURS, so the only way to avoid their path is to avoid their close company.</div> <bR> <div>     A word of balance:  How far do we carry these concerns in the opposite direction- in the direction of abstinence?  Not a centimeter beyond sense.  The rule is not that the less wine and meat you consume, the holier you are.  Jesus had no problem consuming either.  He was actually accused of feasting, apparently on the basis of our proverb today!</div> <bR> <div> Luke 7:34<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold, a man, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     Jesus acknowledged that he ate and drank.  Did He <I>over</I>eat or <I>over</I>-drink?  Not a bite or a sip (or whatever measure of intake properly gauges these quantities).  To do so would have been a sin, and as a sinner, He could not have been our Savior.  <I>Our </I>exess of eating or drinking would also call into question our relationship to Him as Savior.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="484" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 90 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:22</div> <div> Listen to your father, this one begot you, </div> <div> and do not despise your mother when she is old. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "This one begot you" does not flow very well with the first part of the sentence in English, but it is literal.  Most translators render it the same as they would had it been left out:  "Listen to your father that begot you."  Perhaps "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><I>for </I></FONT>this one begot you" would be a justifiable inclusion ("for"), retaining the emphasis of "this one" while forming a better complement to the first part of the verse.</div> <div>     </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Listen to your father</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not disrespect your mother</div> <bR> <div> Reason for the First Command:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He is the one who produced you</div> <bR> <div> Appended to the Second Command:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When she is old / Because she is old</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     This verse is important in the structure of Proverbs.  It is a repetition that likely signals a new paragraph or 'page'.  The first parental mandate was right at the outset:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 1:8</FONT>  My son, hear your <U>father</U>'s instruction, and do not forsake the law of your <U>mother</U></div> <bR> <div>     The next appearance may be more of a development of Solomon's opening themes:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 6:20</FONT>  My son, keep your <U>father</U>'s commands, and do not forsake the law of your <U>mother</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     Then, most significantly, came the very beginning of the 'proverbs proper':</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 10:1</FONT>  The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a <U>father</U> rejoice, but the foolish son <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> his <U>mother</U>'s sorrow. </div> <bR> <div>     The next time we saw it, we marked a definite restart point, Solomon signaling the end of the first large section (10:1 - 15:19) and the beginning of the next:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 15:20</FONT> A wise son makes a glad <U>father</U>, but a foolish man despises his <U>mother</U>. </div> <bR> <div>     Every time it has appeared, it has seemed obvious that Solomon is using it at least partly to organize his material:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 19:26</FONT>  He who assaults <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>his</I></FONT> <U>father</U> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>and</I></FONT> chases his <U>mother</U> away, he <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a son who causes shame and brings reproach. </div> <bR> <div>     Because it returns to his very first proverb, 10:1, Solomon can color a group of proverbs by his treatment of parental authority:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 20:20</FONT>  Whoever curses his <U>father</U> or his <U>mother</U>, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness. </div> <bR> <div>     The intensity is ratcheting up as we move through the collection, as if to say that those who ignore the further lessons of wisdom spurn authority more and amass greater judgment.</div> <bR> <div>     Now our verse today moves into new territory.  It is part of a paragraph enclosed by parental admontions, ours at 23:22 beginning it, and then 23:55 ending it:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Proverbs 23:22</B></FONT>  Listen to your <U>father</U>, <B>this one fathered you</B>, and do not despise your <U>mother</U> when she is old. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Pro 23:23</FONT>  Buy the truth, and sell <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>it</I></FONT> not, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>also</I></FONT> wisdom, and instruction and understanding. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Pro 23:24</FONT>  The <U>father</U> of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise one shall even be glad in him. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Pro 23:25</FONT>  Your <U>father</U> and your <U>mother</U> shall be glad, and<B> she who bore you </B>shall rejoice. </div> <bR> <div>     Notice the parallel phases in the first and last lines.  Our father generated us and our mother brought us forth, therefore we owe them honor.</div> <bR> <div>     Here is the unique role of this proverb.  It tells us outright what we may only deduce elsewhere:  that we owe our parents (mothers in particular) honor WHEN THEY ARE OLD.  The command to HONOR our parents stays intact throughout their lives.  Other commands may be subdivisions of this main instruction.  To "obey" parents is a <I>subdivision </I>of honoring them.  Then when we are on our own, we know longer owe them our obedience, but we still owe them our honor.</div> <div>  </div> <div>     What is the connection between birthing and good advice?  We are told to listen to our father on the basis of his having produced us.  Why should this make his advice automatically wiser or better than others'?  Simply because he sees a direct connection between himself and us.  He might give advice to others, but he is involved with his advice on a different level with his children.</div> <div>     More to the point, though, it is not what his advice is to <I>him </I>that matters most.  It is what his advice means to <I>us </I>as those generated by him.  A father does know something about us others don't know.  HE went into the making of us.  His genetic material is now our genetic material.  Spiritually speaking, he knows more about our weaknesses.  They were and are his, too.  He can see where we have advanced beyond him, but he can also see where we only <I>think </I>we have.</div> <div>     Because a father's advice touches us at a deeper level, we might tend to fear it.  So Solomon tells us to listen.  Don't find a reason to blow it off.  Don't justify yourself or be angry.</div> <bR> <div>     We all need a 'magic' alarm bell.  There are some dangers we just can't see coming.  Consulting God, of course, is our first line of defense, but having done so, God gives us predetermined sources through whom He generally speaks.  Parents are one such source, as we can see from our proverb today.  Parents can be wrong.  We are not to simply obey them when we're older, but we are bound to listen carefully to them, hearing from them insider information we cannot expect from elsewhere.  </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="484" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 108 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:23</div> <div> Buy the truth, and sell <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>it</I></FONT> not, </div> <div> <I>also</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > wisdom, and instruction and understanding. </FONT></div> <div>  </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Buy" is from a Hebrew word used both for buying and for merely attaining.  Of the eleven times it is used in Proverbs of acquiring wisdom or such, only one other time, 17:16, seems to justify "buy" for some translators.  About half still use some word for obtaining rather than buying there.  In our verse today, most translations use "buy" because it is in obvious contrast to "sell," the plain Hebrew word for "sell."</div> <div>     </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Commanded<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Buy the truth</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Do not sell <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#777777" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" ><I>the truth</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> What you are buying along with Truth:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wisdom</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Instruction</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Intelligence</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     This verse sounds unique.  We haven't been told to "buy" the Truth.  But Solomon has actually used the same word in a similar way:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 17:16</FONT>  Why <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is there</I></FONT> a price in the hand of a fool to <U>get</U> wisdom, since <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>he has</I></FONT> no heart <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>for it</I></FONT>? </div> <bR> <div>     The word for "get" in this verse is the same as our word for "buy."  Several translations use "buy" in 17:16.  Proverbs 4:5, 7, and 16:16 are three more verses where Solomon tells us to "obtain" wisdom.  Virtually no translators use "buy" in those verses.</div> <bR> <div>     Let us break up our study of this verse into three parts:  1)  What it means to buy truth;  2)  What it means <I>not </I>to sell truth, and;  3)  How wisdom, instruction, and intelligence are part of the permanent purchase of Truth.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>What it means to buy the Truth</U></div> <bR> <div>     We are exhorted to buy the Truth.  Most importantly and primarily, then, Truth is not naturally in our possession.  Nor does it <I>come </I>naturally into our possession.  Man in his natural state is truthless.  Being truthless cannot be considered a neutral stance; devoid of the truth, man natrually lies.  He lies about himself, God, and his neighbor.  To come into possession of the Truth, he must BUY it.</div> <bR> <div>     We must buy THE truth.  It will not do to buy A truth.  There is only one self-consistent, complete truth in the world.  It is in the Bible.  But it will not do to buy SOME truth<B>s</B>.  We cannot come to the Bible selecting the truths we notice or prefer.  We may not select our choices among available Bible truths.  Bible truths are only true as part of the <B>whole </B>Bible Truth.  Otherwise, it is ultimately a lie.*</div> <bR> <div>     The World is selling something else:  a nearly infinite variety of packaging and approach to the Lie.  This includes lying in the form of religion, even lying in the form of Christianity.  As liars, we ourselves will naturally buy what the World is selling.  The true Christian, though, has to call everything else offered a lie and BUY the Truth.  </div> <bR> <div>     What is it to BUY?  Primarily, it is to come into possesion of.  More particularly, it is to EXCHANGE valuables in my possession FOR possession of something else.  Most often we exchange money for a possession.</div> <div>     To buy is not to borrow.  If you have merely borrowed truth, you have not come into possession of it.  When God tells us to buy the truth, He is telling us to make a permanent transaction.</div> <div>     Truth cannot be bought for money, though.  What, then, is in my possession that I may exchange for Truth?  This is the most critical question (followed by the then equally critical question of whether or not I am willing to part with it).  We MUST buy the truth, but what with?</div> <div>     Jesus said:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Mark 8:35</FONT>  For whoever will <U>save his soul</U> shall lose it; but whoever shall <U>lose his soul</U> for My sake and the gospel's, he shall save it. </div> <div> Mar 8:36<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Georgia" >Mar 8:37</FONT>  Or what shall a man give in <U>exchange </U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>for</U></I></FONT><U> his soul</U>? </div> <bR> <div> [All four occurrences of "soul" in the above passage are from the same Greek word, <I>psuchay</I>; many translations use "life" for the first two occurrences.]</div> <bR> <div>     This would suggest that our souls are tradeable commodities.  We can "save" our souls, hold them back, thus keeping from entering the transaction- no "buying" of Jesus taking place.  We can "lose" our souls, meaning that <I>they </I>are the 'money' with which we exchange- now we can "buy" Jesus/salvation.  (In verse 36, we can also "lose" our souls in the sense of consigning them to death.)  It is implied that there is no higher price a man can use in "exchange" <I>than </I>his soul.  His soul is himself.</div> <div>     Proverbs has already suggested that it is our very souls we must exchange to obtain the Truth:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 4:13</FONT>  Take fast hold of instruction, do not let her go; keep her, for <U>she </U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I><U>is</U></I></FONT><U> your</U> <U>life</U>.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div>     Instruction in the truth is made equivalent to life.  If I have it, I have life.  If I don't, I'm therefore dead.  What do I give for it?  Well, what can I <I>hold back</I> and still expect to get it?  If I hold back anything, I won't be able to "take fast hold" of instruction.  Solomon pictures an all-out campaign.  I give my <I>life/</I>my <I>soul  </I>to obtain Life.  This is what Jesus is saying too.  I give <I>everything </I>about myself, all my effort, all my heart, and all my desire, in order to gain back true life from Him.</div> <div>     An important side note here is that we are not making an equal transaction.  It's not that our souls are <I>worth </I>eternal life.  Our sinful souls are not.  It's only that we canNOT come into possession of Jesus' life while still in possession of our own.</div> <bR> <div>     So-  Buy the Truth.  Give your whole self in order to secure it/ purchase it.  Hold nothing back.  All brain, all heart, all everything will be little enough to trade, the matter is so thorny.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>What it Means Not to Sell the Truth</U></div> <bR> <div>     We are next told "not to sell" Truth.  This meaning is simple enough now.  Once we have made the transaction to obtain Truth, don't allow any subsequent transaction to relieve us of it.  Simple to understand, gargantuan to achieve.  We sell off bits of the Truth any time we compromise it.</div> <div>     The World will definitely offer us a price for Truth.  Not that the world wants Truth; it just wants us to let it go.  The World will be happy with any degree of easing our grip on Christ.  The World will even offer us honor if we will but attenuate the Truth.</div> <div>     Another way to sell the Truth is to buy it in a package deal or as a mix.  Truth mixed with non-Truth is ultimately not truth.  There is, again, some proportion of the Truth even blameless saints compromise daily- a heart distracted from full devoteion to the Lord.  But there is a deadly proportion, too:  one we see in nearly every New Testament epistle:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Galatians 3:1</FONT>  O foolish Galatians!  Who has <U>bewitched</U> you, that you should <U>not obey the</U> <U>truth</U>, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was portrayed publicly among you as crucified? </div> <bR> <div>     Discerning the difference between a deadly mixture and a non-lethal one is important.  But it is mostly important in order to prosecute the capital errors in our midst.  If we calculate error in order to excuse our own mixture of it, we show a predilection for poison.</div> <div>     Diluting of the Truth includes a false lifestyle:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >2 John 1:4</FONT>  I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children <U>walking in truth</U>, just as we received commandment from the Father. </div> <bR> <div>     THE Truth is a truth to be walked in, not merely believed.  Those whose doctrinal statement is full but whose pursuit of God is vacant or who walk in iniquity <I>have </I>no truth.</div> <bR> <div>     IMPORTANT NOTE:  Hucksters have some form of borrowed Christianity which they are selling.  This the best perspective from which to explain why the Bible makes such a big deal about following false teachers.  It is not assumed that you are likely to at least 'get saved' from their message, even though it is being taught out of the Bible.  It is assumed that someone preaching a <I>borrowed </I>Christianity vitually CANNOT pass on the <I>purchased </I>version, he can only convey a version which possesses you!</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Col 2:8</FONT>  Watch that there not be one <U>robbing you</U> through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. </div> <bR> <div>     The phrase "robbing you" (Gk. <I>sulagogeo</I>) here means stealing <I>you</I>- yourself, your soul.  Colossians is written, as are most of the epistles, to make this kind of religious thief recognizable.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>What Else We Must Purchase Along With the Truth</U></div> <bR> <div>    When We Buy Truth, our proverb tells us to lay hold of three other possessions equally doggedly.  The way these are presented in the verse, they may be a kind of definition of Truth.  Wisdom is the first part:  the complete remake of our thoughts and motives that develops when we fear God and are filled with His words.  Instruction is next:  our discipline of lifestyle that maintains what wisdom has gained.  Intelligence is last:  our ability to accurately define and decode all things from this attained and maintained perspective.</div> <div>     This insures to us what we already knew otherwise:  that Truth is not merely a collection of facts- not even religious facts.</div> <div>     These same three qualities are laid out at the very beginning of Proverbs:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Prov 1:2</FONT><B> </B> For knowing <U>wisdom</U> and <U>instruction</U>, For understanding sayings of <U>intelligence</U></div> <bR> <div>     This is the FIRST purpose statement for all of Proverbs.  Now we find the combo again in our verse, the only other time the three are so grouped.  They are a weighty company.  And they define Truth.</div> <bR> <div>     Jesus said He was the Truth.  Since it comes from Him, He embodies it.  Jesus didn't create Truth; it is part of Him.  Truth natrually flows from Him and represents Him.  If we love Him, we will love the Truth.  If we love the Truth, it should mean we love Jesus.</div> <bR> <div>     Have you bought Jesus?  Have you made exchange of your own soul- giving everything to possess His truth?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> *  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >This is not to say that we have to comprehend the whole Bible at once.  It only means that wherever we reverse or stop the process, we are bound to move into error.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="563" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 133 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:24, 25</div> <div> The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, </div> <div> and he who fathers a wise one shall even be glad in him. </div> <div> Your father and your mother shall be glad, </div> <div> and she who bore you shall rejoice. </div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Greatly rejoice" is the Hebrew word used twice, or a nearly identical word side by side, one a noun based on the other, a verb.  "Shall rejoice with joy" might capture it.  "Will spin with joy" would incorporate the root meaning for this word for joy.  The verb is used again as the last word in the verse.</div> <div>     </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Subject<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The righteous person's father</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The man who bears a wise child</div> <bR> <div> True of the subject respectively:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Doubles his celebration</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">By that child he shall be gladenned</div> <bR> <div> Subject considered a second time<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Your own father and mother</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The woman who bore you</div> <bR> <div> True of the subjects respectively:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Will be glad</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Will celebrate</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Perhaps the first item we should notice is that the righteous man is the same man as the wise man.  The wise man in line two is simply the synonym for the righteous man in line one.  Remember, the wise man and the righteous man are the two most prominent men in the book, the wise man being mentioned only a smidgen more than his twin, the righteous.</div> <div>     From this we perceive that there is no wisdom without righteousness.  Wisdom always essentially involves right versus wrong.  We further perceive that when one is righteous, his choice of what is right in every area of life- simple or complex as they are- insures us that he is also wise.</div> <bR> <div>     But the verse is essentially about children and their parents.  It answers this question:  What parent is happy?  The parent of the successful?  Of the chip-off-the-old block?  No, the parent who seeks to have his ambitions fulfilled through his children will not be happy.  He can only be satiated.  His self-satisfaction cannot pass for real happiness with contentment.  His is built on pride.  As long as he looks good in the mirror of his child, he has something to crow about. </div> <bR> <div>     How about the parent of the child who is happy?  "If you're happy, that will make me happy."  Whatever happiness a parent feels in his child's happiness can quickly turn to sorrow when the child makes a wrong choice, especially when the parent clearly sees it.  "What?  You're leaving your spouse?  For <I>her</I>?  How could you?  What about your children?"  Now the child's happiness appears in its true idolatrous light.  Worse, the parent could applaud the child, consistent with the selfish basis for life he taught him.</div> <bR> <div>     No, our proverb answers the question by saying that it is the parent of the WISE and the RIGHTEOUS who has unconditional and permanent right to be happy.  Now the child will always be on the right course.  His business falls through?  That's all right.  Businesses fail.  That's not what life is about.  He made the right choices.  He didn't lie to keep his business afloat.</div> <bR> <div>     This proverb is given specifically as motivation to a child.  Solomon changes persons in the second part, from third person to second person:  "Your" father; she who bore "you."  Children should be motivated to make their parents happy- the right way, of course, not at any cost; the right way- by being righteous and wise.</div> <bR> <div>     But notice this.  The wise, righteous man needs exhortation unto wisdom and righteousness.  He will only be good by having many reasons laid before him.  That is, reasons like in our proverb are part of his overall motivation to be wise.</div> <bR> <div>     Who is the righteous whose father is glad of it?  The man who does things God's way.  Who is the wise, delighting his mother?  The one who is filled with the Word and Spirit sufficiently to see and operate from God's perspective.</div> <bR> <div>     Our proverb is partly good evidence that the fifth Word (honor your parents) of the Ten Words should be grouped with the God-oriented commands.  "He who fathers" and "she who bore" both remind us of God as the one who ultimately produces us.  Parents are His stand-ins early in life.  To obey them is to obey God.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="441" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 90 WIDTH="429"><div> Proverbs 23:26</div> <div> My son, give me your heart, </div> <div> and let your eyes watch my ways. </div> <div>  </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Watch" is a word meaning to guard.</div> <div>     </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Addressed<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">My son</div> <bR> <div> Commanded:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Put in my keeping</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Cause your eyes to guard</div> <bR> <div> Objects of commands respectively<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Your heart</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">My paths</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <div>     Here is an utterly important lesson.  <U>Parents must ask their children for their hearts</U>.  This cannot be left to chance.  It cannot be assumed.  Parents must make this request and follow through on it in every way.  "Child, give me your heart."</div> <div>     The context of this request is plain.  Look at the very next verse:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" >Proverbs 23:27</FONT>  For a harlot <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a deep pit, and a strange woman <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a narrow well. </div> <bR> <div>     Clearly, the parent's request for his child's heart is a 'dibs'.  It is in light of the fact that others will come calling for his heart.  The foolish parent wavers at his right.  "Is not my child's heart his own?  What right do I have to demand it?"  Blind man!  <I>It is not for yourself</I> that you must take his heart!  You must take it in keeping <U>from all God's competitors</U>!  THEY will not waver at requesting your child's heart!!</div> <div>     Poor child- young man- whose parents never asked for his heart.  Of course he will give it away to the first pretty girl who asks:  give it in the wrong way, to the wrong degree.  The child was implicitly <B>trained </B>to give his heart away foolishly- his parents never took it in keeping.</div> <div>     Parent:  if you will not be bold enough to request your child's heart after the pattern of this verse, you will almost certainly lose his heart.  Perhaps you will gain it back, perhaps no, but you have the plain counsel of this example to avoid the loss in the first place.</div> <bR> <div>     WARNING.  You parent who was going to demand your child's heart anyway, YOU need to abandon your quest, then take up the task again in the name of Christ.</div> <div>     Many parents demand their children's hearts selfishly, out of insecurity, even from a greedy desire for affection and affirmation.  This does not follow the godly example of our proverb.  You take your child's heart NOT FOR YOU, but as his teacher and trainer in Christ.  You take his heart for Christ, same as you take your own for Him.</div> <div>     </div> <div>     Obviously, if either kind of parent- the timorous or the bold- does not take possession of his own heart in Christ, for Christ, he will do a poor job of it for his child.  Children are great discipline reminders.  I need prayer time in my life.  If I haven't mastered putting my heart in God's keep by prayer (which is a deep, intelligent response to God speaking), I will have little to offer my child except the bare mimicry of our proverb.  Still, this mimicry would be better than nothing if it is all we have.  It is better to request my child's heart and hope Jesus will fill in my huge gaps than to leave his heart a blank invitation for the first taker.  </div> <div>     Even the best parent will require Jesus filling in where he has not been the disciple or discipler he should have been.  If Jesus has your strongest, most consistent effort to start with, though, you have a promise:</div> <bR> <div> Proverbs 22:6  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >Give to the child instruction conformably to His way;</FONT></div> <div>    So he will not, when he becomes old, depart from it.                [Keil & Delitzsch]</div> <bR> <div>     Our proverb today ends by making a second request:  "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >and let your eyes watch my ways"</FONT></div> <div>     "Watch how I do it."  It is the parent who can at least say, "I'm really trying to be a disciple of Jesus in every way" who can sincerely ask for his child's heart and ask him to "Do what I do."  Most parents, most professing Christians, would hesitate to call themselves actual disciples.  The definition us disciple fitting us us somehow never comes up.  Even though we might easily be found saying we're doing our best, if we actually had to call our present behavior discipleship, we'd realize that we are very much our own men- not Christ's.  Much is not properly conceded to Jesus, and here we're talking about basic matters:  consecrated prayer time first thing every day, etc.</div> <div>     We MUST ask for our children's hearts, but we MUST be able to say, "Guide your heart <I>this </I>way- the way I do it" as well.  After all, how fit a holder of my child's heart am I if I am not an exemplary Christian?</div> <div>     Everything is a matter of life and death, because everything is part of life, and life is about life and death matters.  It's just that our duty towards our children forces the issue.  "I can't afford to be sloppy any more.  My child's heart is at stake.  To let myself go- to not disicpline myself in godliness- is to forfeit my child's heart to the first contender for it."</div> <div>     If we take his heart in keeping, we welcome his interaction with others meant to aid his sanctification.  We do not fearfully withhold or limit all contact.  We do, however, keep watch on even the most trustworthy, for we do no less toward ourselves ("Don't lead me into temptation" = "Show me the betrayer in me.")</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="466" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 154 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 23:27, 28</div> <div> For a fornicator <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a deep pit, </div> <div> and a strange woman <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>is</I></FONT> a narrow well.</div> <div> Surely she lies in wait, as <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>for</I></FONT> prey, </div> <div> and she increases the treacherous among men. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Fornicator" is a word that can refer to a male as well as a female (Joel 3:3).  We know it refers to a female here from the pronoun "she" in verse 28.  "Strange woman" is the feminine form of "stranger," referring in its regular masculine form mostly to foreigners.  The word is elsewhere translated "outlandish."</div> <div>     "Treacherous" is from a Hebrew word meaning to cover.</div> <div>     </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Reason for a son to give a parent his heart<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A fornicator is a deep pit</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">An exotic woman is a narrow well</div> <bR> <div> Her outcome:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Indeed, as catching prey, she lurks</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">She adds to the deceitful among men</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B>:</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="10_1a"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="414" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCCCE4 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 108 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 10:1</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" ><B>     </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>The proverbs of Solomon:</B></div> <div> <B>A wise son makes a glad father,</B></div> <div> <B>But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Solomon began the book of Proverbs with a similar introduction:</div> <div> Prov 1:1     The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: </div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >He then penned nine chapters in which he encouraged children to do two basic things:</FONT></div> <div>      1)  Seek wisdom with all your heart;</div> <div>      2)  Avoid fornication.</div> <div>      This was Solomon’s way of preparing us for the ‘proverbs proper’, the brief, two-part statements usually contrasting <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>good </I></FONT>people or behavior to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>bad</I></FONT>.  Prov. 10:1 then begins the collection of proverbs which continues through chapter 31.</div> <div>      This first proverb is, in a way, a recap of the first nine chapters, a sample of their beginnings running thus:</div> <div> Prov 1:8 My son,     …     </div> <div> Prov 2:1 My son, …     </div> <div> Prov 3:1 My son, …     </div> <div> Prov 4:1 Hear, my children, …     </div> <div> Prov 5:1 My son, …     </div> <div> Prov 6:1 My son, …      </div> <div> Prov 7:1 My son, …</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >     </FONT>The concept of authority is basic to Scriptural truth. </div> <div>     God is in ultimate authority.  This is the fact that man had a problem with in the Garden of Eden.  All subsequent redemptive history can be viewed as the re-teaching of that lesson we rejected.  </div> <div>     One means by which we learn God’s authority is by recognizing those whom He puts in positions of authority over us: governing authorities, family authorities, church authorities…</div> <div>      The most basic human authority is <I><B>parental</B></I>:</div> <bR> <div> Ex 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you." </div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > And note that its implementation comes with a promised blessing.</FONT></div> <div>      Solomon recognizes this as the starting point of wisdom.  A fool is one who acts in independence of God.  That independence must be replaced by submission to Divine authority, as manifested by submission to those he puts over us, parents first.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> **************************************************************************</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="10_1b"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="404" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFCCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 108 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 10:1 </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" ><B>    </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>The proverbs of Solomon:</B></div> <div> <B>A wise son makes a glad father,</B></div> <div> <B>But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  (This is Part Two of comments on Prov. 10:1.)</FONT></div> <div>      Obedience to parents is the true starting point of wisdom for children (Solomon’s first addressees in the book).  Obedience to parents is how children manifest the overall starting point for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>any </I></FONT>wisdom or knowledge:</div> <bR> <div>  Prov 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >     </FONT>The fear of Jehovah ("LORD" in all capital letter represents the Hebrew word <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Gideon-Medium" >hwhy</FONT>, "Yahweh", usually transliterated "Jehovah" using the vowels of another Hebrew word for God) is the only starting place for true knowledge.  Any knowledge without recognition of God is a knowledge that begins by denying the very basis for our existence.  God is the ultimate reality:</div> <bR> <div>  Acts 17:28  …for in Him we live and move and have our being,</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >     </FONT>But since God has chosen a life of faith for us during our time on earth, we show our basic attitude towards <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>Him </I></FONT>by how we treat <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>one another</I></FONT>.  For instance:</div> <bR> <div>  1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?</div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Likewise, obedience to parents is a child’s basic means of demonstrating faith in God.</FONT></div> <div>      Grownups continue to have authorities in their own lives: wives have husbands, workers have their bosses, citizens have governing figures, etc.  It is vain to imagine that we are submitting to God while we fail to recognize the authorities He places in our lives:</div> <bR> <div>  1 Peter 2:13-14  Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good…</div> <div>  1 Peter 2:18-19  Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully…</div> <div>  1 Peter 3:1-2  Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> **************************************************************************</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_12"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="404" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#66CCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 108 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 10:1    </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>The proverbs of Solomon:</B></div> <div> <B>A wise son makes a glad father,</B></div> <div> <B>But a foolish son is the grief of his mother. </B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > (This is the third comment on Prov. 10:1)</FONT></div> <div>      Children are to obey their parents.  This is the primary earthly means children are given to demonstrate their obedience to God.</div> <div>      Children come into this world as readymade rebels:</div> <bR> <div>  Ps 51:5  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me.</div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > And yet children have an immediate advantage in correcting this radical maladjustment.  Jesus specifically calls them:</FONT></div> <bR> <div>  Matt 19:14  But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." </div> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Parents must rule over their children, but humbly and kindly, as administrators of God’s rule.</FONT></div> <div>      Children have their own incentive to do things God’s way.  Prov. 10:1 says a wise son makes a glad father.  The children, though under authority, have a great deal to do with the well-being of their parents.  They can make their parents happy, or they can make them sad:</div> <div> "But a foolish son is the grief of his mother."</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >     </FONT>The main fact this may be communicating is that children are a parent’s <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>chief work</B></I></FONT> upon the earth.  However else parents may be successful and have reasons for happiness, if their children turn out poorly, parents will be miserable.  Child rearing is a weighty responsibility, one that cannot be successfully carried out without God’s instructions and His direct intervention.</div> <div>      Parents had better be Bible-reading, praying folk!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> ***************************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_13"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="402" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#CCFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 93 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:2</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But righteousness delivers from death.</B></div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words in the Verse</U></B>:<B> </B></div> <div>  </div> <div>      "Treasures" is from a Hebrew word meaning storehouse or depository.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Verse analysis</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> What are the two things being compared in the verse?</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The treasures of wickedness</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Righteousness</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Souvenir Lt BT" >    </FONT>Note: It is not wickedness and righteousness being compared, but the <I>treasures </I>of wickedness being compared to ‘plain old’ righteousness, you might say.</div> <div>     Nor is it the treasures of wickedness vs. the treasures (or fruits, etc.) of righteousness.</div> <bR> <div> What are the two outcomes?</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">No profit</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Deliverance from death</div> <bR> <div> <B>Graphically</B><B>:</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="618" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 ><NOBR><div> No profit</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>    <<<</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wickedness’</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>      \|/</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Righteousness</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>    >>></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Deliverance</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="99"><div>    treasure</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="109"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="109" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> from death</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>        <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Wingdings" >     </FONT>                                                                                                                                        </div> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Approaches to Life</U></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT>Solomon, in his second lesson, is trying to convey a second ‘basic’.  He is telling us that our unaided view of life might convince us of the advantage that sinning can bring; but our view aided by faith will assure us that any such advantage is temporary and will eventually undo itself and leave the sinner with <I>no </I>gain.</div> <div>    He is also showing us how powerful righteousness is.  ‘Plain old’ righteousness is enough by itself to save me from man’s greatest nemesis- death.  By comparison, wickedness will save me from nothing at all.  Even if we give wickedness an advantage and include all the treasure it can possibly gain, it is still finally impotent.*</div> <div>    Throughout Proverbs, Solomon presses the discomforting premise that each of us is in one of two camps.  This is consistent with all of Scriptures, but Proverbs has perhaps the most stark and voluminous display of the split dividing humanity in half: virtually every verse from this point on says we can only be righteous <I>or </I>wicked, wise <I>or </I>foolish, etc.  </div> <div>     Paramount in gaining the benefit Proverbs offers is the Biblical premise (evident in many proverbs) that we all enter this life as wicked men- not neutral, but wicked.  We don't think of ourselves as liars, for instance, but would we be willing to tell just one lie to gain a significant advantage in life or avoid a major setback?  Yes.  (In actuality, we all tell many lies, most for very insignificant advantages)  If we came into this life righteous, we would know that all lying would eventually turn against us.  Manifestly, we don't come into this life as righteous folk.</div> <div>    Solomon is asking us to break ranks and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>join </I></FONT>the side of righteousness.  He is telling us to STOP being wicked.  He is telling us to make the long-term choice rather than the short-term one.  Does a righteous choice tend to put me at an advantage?  No, the truth tends to handicap me, unlike those willing to lie to achieve their ends.  But in the long run, the lie will unravel, betray us, and do us harm.  The truth will eventually make me invincible, if you will.</div> <div>     The righteous man knows that he will <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>ultimately </I></FONT>be vindicated for choosing according to what is just.  This is the optimism of Proverbs (and the whole Bible).  If I will sign on and learn the way of righteousness, God will rebuild me and protect me from harm and loss.  Indeed, He will nullify the greatest loss facing me, Death, and therefore all its lesser minions as well.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >* </FONT>The treasures of wickedness can be anything or any<I>one</I> I want to gain (getting the spouse I want, etc.) unjustly<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Theological point</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT>The righteousness in this verse can refer to the righteousness of <I>justification </I>or the righteousness of <I>sanctification</I>.</div> <div>    The righteousness of <I>justification</I>: Jesus’ righteousness on my account delivers me from <B>eternal</B><B> </B>death, the second death- the Lake of Fire;</div> <div>    The righteousness of <I>sanctification</I>: The righteousness Jesus works in my life delivers me from <B>daily </B>death, the pullings of sin which would separate me from God, who is Life.</div> <bR> <div>  P.S.  Calling this a theological point does not imply that it is ‘extra’ or obtuse information.  Any of the observations made could be called theological points, but this one is singled out as a correlation with a doctrine specifically developed elsewhere in Scriptures.  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****************************************************************        </div> <div>  </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_14"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="506" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#66CCFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 93 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:3</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But He casts away the desire of the wicked.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words in the verse</U></B><B>:  </B></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a730077014000000000.png" HEIGHT="21" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   When you see "LORD" in all capital letters, it stands for the Hebrew word <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Gideon-Medium" >hwhy</FONT>, YHWH in English letters, usually pronounced 'Yahweh'.  We have come to pronounce it 'Jehovah' because the Jews, long before the time of Christ, had superstitiously begun pronouncing the word 'Adonai' ("Lord / Master") when they came to YHWH, to avoid dishonoring God's most personal name.  The Masoretes, Hebrew copyists after the time of Christ, put the vowels for Adonai on YHWH in partial adherence to this tradition.  English versions which have "LORD" are following a tradition that dates back to the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint (c. 250 B.C.).</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a730077014000000000.png" HEIGHT="21" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   The word "soul" often refers to the entire man, including his bodily state.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Verse Analysis</U></B><B>:</B></div> <div>    </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT><B>This verse contains </B><I><B>two activities</B></I><B> of Jehovah</B>:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Not allowing hunger</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Pushing aside   </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT><B>The </B><I><B>objects </B></I><B>of these activities respectively are</B>:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The righteous</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The wicked man's desire</div> <div>    </div> <div> <B>Graphically</B>: </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="697" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="104"><div> Righteous</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="46"><div> <<<</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Does not</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>  <<<</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> Jehovah</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>      >>></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>   Pushes</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>    >>></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wicked's</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 ><NOBR><div> soul's hunger</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="46"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="46" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>     allow</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>   aside</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>  desire</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>God's Two Basic Approaches to Man</U></div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Now Solomon is into Theology proper- the doctrine of God.  Jehovah, who either gives or withholds man's provision, gives the righteous what he needs but withholds what the wicked man wants.  Man has two basic approaches to life (previous verse); now we see that God has two basic approaches to man.  </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >   This does not mean that God doesn't supply the wicked man with earthly provisions; He does </FONT>("He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust", Matt. 5:45)<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >.  </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >But what does the wicked man essentially want?</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Calisto MT" >  </FONT>"The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." Eccl. 1:8  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >  </FONT>The wicked man's desire is essentially for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>everything</I></FONT>!  He still has Adam's cry of  "I will be like God" in his soul.  God's response to Him is basically negative.  God will not allow the satisfaction of this insatiable demand.  Hence, we see what kind of God is running the Universe.  The unbeliever's approach to life is an ultimatum banged on God's desk; God's reply is to nonchalantly slide it to the side.</div> <div>     Conversely, God's basic interaction with the righteous is positive.  God sets Himself up as protector of the righteous.  God hears the saint's stomach growl and insures that he doesn't run out of provision.</div> <div>     Notice this difference:  God responds <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>actively </I></FONT>to the wicked and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>passively </I></FONT>to the righteous, if you will.  The wicked comes knocking on God's door and God tells Him to go away.  But God is the one who opens the door and goes out to find the righteous man to help him.  </div> <div>     Oddly, this draws us portraits of the two men which are contrary to a fundamental part of their natures.  It is the righteous man who seeks God out, while it is the wicked who leaves God alone.  But Solomon's point is that in God's Universe, He relates to all His creatures personally.  The wicked doesn't actually come knocking, but his selfish desires still elicit God's reaction.  The righteous doesn't ignore God, but God's care for him precedes and excels the righteous man's recognition of his own needs.  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >    </FONT>This, by the way, supplies us with a good definition for the righteous.  He is the one who has been given the grace to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>stifle </I></FONT>his natural insistence and replace it with a contented desire for God and His will (albeit through pitched battle with the old desire).</div> <div>    The defining aspect of every man on earth is His relation to God.  What he receives in life is based on this relationship, whether to God as friend or God as enemy (not a pronounced enemy- almost no one <I>says </I>he is an enemy of God- but enemy through rejection of the Divine commands).</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><B>: </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT>Considering that the soul's hunger goes beyond physical food, are you aware of the actual needs of your soul?  Are you aware that you may ask them of God and be glad in His provision?   Do you even acknowledge <I>to </I>God any deeply felt needs in your soul ?</div> <bR> <div> **********************************************************************</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_15"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="380" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:4</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>He who has a slack hand becomes poor,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But the hand of the diligent makes rich.</B> </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words in the verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     "Slack" is only used in Proverbs as 'lazy' (3 times); the 12 times it is used elsewhere it always means deceitful or false.</div> <div>     "Makes rich" literally means to accumulate.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Verse Analysis</U></B>:  </div> <bR> <div> <B>The two things being</B><B> </B><B>compared</B>:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one with a slack hand</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The hand of the diligent</div> <bR> <div> <B>Their two</B><B> </B><B>outcomes respectively</B>:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Becoming poor </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Making rich</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >  </FONT>Notice that it is a <I>man </I>being compared to a <I>hand</I>.  (This is similar to Prov. 10:20, where the <I>heart </I>of the wicked is compared unfavorably to the mere <I>tongue</I><I> </I>of the righteous.)</div> <div>    Notice that it is also a <I>status </I>(poor) being compared to a <I>process </I>(making rich).</div> <bR> <div> <B>Key Concepts</B><B>:</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >  </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" > </FONT>Here's a verse that demonstrates how important our hermeneutic (principle of interpretation) is.  Does 'become poor' mean 'will be flat broke'?  And does 'makes rich' mean 'will have a mountain of cash'?  Remember that "making rich" literally means "accumulates."  This removes the necessary connotation of a man being listed in the Fortune 500.  Also, the verse literally reads "Poor- he who deals with a slack hand."  So it is more like prophecy; he's already <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>as good as</I></FONT> poor, because his actions call for poverty.  Like so many proverbs, this one has to be viewed as <B>movement in directions</B>, not <B>arriving at ultimate extremes</B>.  A graphic view of the verse helps.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Graphically:</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="606" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 ><NOBR><div> Becomes</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>      <<<</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="174"><div> He who deals</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> The hand of</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div>     >>></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Accumulates</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="71"><div>    poor</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="174"><div> with a slack hand</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> the diligent</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="96"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="96" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Meaning of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Approaches to Work</U></div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >  </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >It would almost seem that an 'unmanned' hand put to its task could supply a man with provision.  'Just stay busy,' Solomon seems to be telling us, 'and you will have more than enough.'   Try to </FONT><I>avoid </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >work, though, and you are inviting the diminishing of your goods.</FONT></div> <div>    Again, Solomon is laying foundational concepts in these first few proverbs.  Here we are reminded that man was given the task to WORK <I><B>before </B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>there was sin</I></FONT>.  </div> <bR> <div> Gen 2:15  "Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>Work is not a punishment because of sin.  Adam apparently could not have fulfilled his God-given design <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>without </I></FONT>work.</div> <div>    Work is good.  Work is in the image of God.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Dauphin" > </FONT>John 5:17  But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been <U>working</U> until now, and I have been <U>working</U>." </div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >This is why laziness is such a pernicious sin; it is a direct challenge to the way God made us.  Therefore:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Prov 18:9 "He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer." </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >  </FONT> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Do you see </FONT><I>your </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >work as a God-given blessing, or as a curse you are stuck with?  </FONT></div> <div>    Even though sorrow has been added to our labors (Gen 3:17  "Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life."  Notice that it is the soil that was cursed, not work.), yet the Christian sees the labor itself as good, as a gift from God.  </div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Do you?</FONT></div> <bR> <div> *************************************************************************</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_16"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="492" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFCCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 85 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:5</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>He who gathers in summer is a wise son;</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>He who sleeps in harvest  is a son who causes shame.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Verse Analysis</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>What's being </B><B>compared</B>:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one who gathers in summer</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one who sleeps in harvest</div> <bR> <div> <B>The appellations (names for those who do such)</B>:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wise son</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Shame-causing son</div> <bR> <div> <B>Graphically</B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="500" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 ><NOBR><div>   Wise </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="22"><div> =</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>   Summer</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="103"><div>        <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Wingdings" >6</FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Harvest</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="47"><div>     =</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="90"><div> Shameful</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="62"><div>    son</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="22"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="22" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>   gatherer</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="103"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="103" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> sleeper</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="47"><div>     </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="90"><div>     son</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Background</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Harvest time is fall, after summer.  Children were expected to work in the gathering of crops.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Approaches to Work:  Part Two</U></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Solomon now combines 10:1 with 10:4, you might say- a verse on children with a verse on laziness.  Or you could say that we just had a verse on laziness; now for a particular example.  </FONT></div> <div>    The son who begins gathering early, before the real harvest gets into full swing, is the son who distinguishes himself as <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>wise</I></FONT>.  On the other end of the spectrum, the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>shameful </I></FONT>son earns his name by <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>resting </I></FONT>during a time clearly designated for working.</div> <div>    Bear in mind that in an agrarian culture, like the old Hebrew one, the harvest yield made its own demands of its workers.  When crops were finally considered best for harvesting, you simply had to harvest until it was done.  There may have been some nights you slept very little, or not at all, especially if you were trying to beat impending bad weather.</div> <div>    The son who sleeps during harvest may have a great need of sleep.  To avoid shameful behavior, though, he must put off sleep according to the demands of the job, or at least sleep no more than the other laborers.</div> <div>    The wise son has shown himself so by getting into the fields early, seeing which stalks have matured first.  If they can be harvested now, they won't slow us down during the main harvest.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>And </I></FONT>the wise son isn't doing a little early work to exempt himself  from the tougher harvest schedule ahead.</div> <div>    Remember, we all get tired.  Wisdom tells us when to keep going anyway.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Caveat</U></B><B>: </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >This verse does not condone the 'workaholic'.   It condones the one who does what is necessary to get the job finished.  In the world's God-created rhythms, harvest doesn't last all year.  Someone who is wall-to-wall work has missed this important fact.  They also fail to see:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Ps 127:2   It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for He gives His beloved sleep. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> **********************************************************************************</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_17"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="521" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#33CCFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 108 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:6</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Verdana" >Blessings are on the head of the righteous,</FONT></div> <div> But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.</div> <div>   </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT>The verb "conceals" is from the Hebrew <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="PCSB Hebrew" >hsky</FONT>, <I>kacah. </I><I> </I>It means "to cover."  The phrase could also be rendered "But violence covers the mouth of the wicked", depending on what is taken as the object of the verb.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> Person types being compared:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The righteous</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The wicked</div> <bR> <div> Symbolic body parts of these persons:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The head</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The mouth</div> <bR> <div> Activities of / to these parts:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Blessing upon (righteous one's head)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Violence concealed in (wicked one's mouth)</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Graphically</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="361" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 ><NOBR><div> Blessings on</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="163"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="163" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="105"><div> \/</div> <div> \/</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="163"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="163" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="105"><div> Head of</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="163"><div> Mouth of</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 ><NOBR><div> The Righteous</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="163"><div> The Wicked</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="105"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="105" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="163"><div> \/</div> <div> \/</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="105"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="105" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Violence concealed</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Inputs and Outputs</U></div> <bR> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >The real contrast of this proverb is the direction </FONT><I>to </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >or </FONT><I>from </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >the person.  Blessings come </FONT><I>to </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >the righteous; violence comes </FONT><I>from</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >, or is harbored by, the wicked.</FONT></div> <div>    The righteous is therefore <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>receiving </I></FONT>something from elsewhere; a gracious benefit:</div> <bR> <div> Ps 23 : 5    You anoint my head with oil,</div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >the head indicating blessings upon the </FONT><I>whole </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >person.  </FONT></div> <div>    The wicked, however, is <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>not </I></FONT>a blessed recipient.  It's almost as if there is something else about the wicked man that makes his head 'blessing-proof'.    As James says:</div> <bR> <div> James 4:6  "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  (Interestingly, James is here paraphrasing Proverbs 3:34)</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT>Apparently there is something in particular about his <I><B>speech </B></I>which disqualifies the wicked from receiving Divine blessings.  He hides <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>violence </I></FONT>in his talk.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Key Definition</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >It is important at this point to define "violence".  Violence is essentially </FONT><I>using force unrighteously.  </I><I>Manipulation</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><I> </I>is therefore a form of violence.  In fact, some people are the victims of violence, enslaved their whole lives, by nothing more than a </FONT><I>manipulative person</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >.  The manipulative person knows how to get others to do his will.  </FONT></div> <div>    We are not talking about a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>persuasive person</I></FONT> here.  A persuasive person is able to make another come into agreement with his perspective, from where this other person <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>freely </I></FONT>chooses a course of action.  A righteous man, in fact, is <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>supposed </I></FONT>to be thusly persuasive:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 11:30  ... he who wins souls is wise. </div> <div>  </div> <div> (This is not primarily a conversion verse, since conversion only happens once.  This verse is telling us to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>always </I></FONT>be persuading men to righteousness)                                                                                    </div> <div>                                                </div> <div> <I>  </I><I> </I>So the wicked man <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>conceals </I></FONT>violence in his speech.  He <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>subtly </I></FONT>works to have his way, even at others' expense.  He may even be largely unaware of the damage he does, so intent is he on getting his own way.  But his violence automatically defines him as a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>proud </I></FONT>(self-seeking) man, whom James, quoted above, says God resists.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>Are you a qualified recipient for Divine blessings?  Or do your manipulative, self-seeking words define you as a wicked one, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>deflecting </I></FONT>God's benefits (especially spiritual benefits)?  You came into this world as a manipulative one and worse (worse meaning one who inflicts direct harm by words or acts).  Have you been transformed from this into a righteous one?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> **************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="october18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A> </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="380" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#C0C0C0 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 101 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:7</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>The memory of the righteous is blessed,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But the name of the wicked will rot.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the verse</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div> Comparison between<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The memory of the righteous</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The name of the wicked</div> <bR> <div> Respective Outcomes<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A blessing  (the righteous one's memory)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Will decay  (the wicked one's name)</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Memoirs</U></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >When we recall the lives of the people of God who lived before, we are blessed.  The testimony that they lived by faith makes them essentially like all the believers recounted in Hebrews 11.</FONT></div> <div>    This verse definitely encourages the reading of Christian biographies.  If you have ever read one, you know firsthand the truth of our verse.  Remembering the lives of the saints is a blessing.</div> <div>    On the other hand, this verse also encourages instruction in general history, so that in learning the lives of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>bad </I></FONT>men we may count them for what they truly are: cursed.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Matt 26:24<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >   </FONT>"...It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." </div> <div>  </div> <div>   Jesus spoke this in reference to Judas; but Judas is only a typical unbeliever.  Obviously, non-existence would be better than the eternal Lake of Fire.  If we remember how truly cursed unbelief is, it is profitable (though not pleasant) to think on the unbeliever's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>name</I></FONT>- the particular ways he distinguished himself as a man apart from God.  These are the ways I want to avoid.</div> <div>    Concerning the contents of the Revelation of Jesus Christ it is written:</div> <bR> <div> Rev 1:3  <U>Blessed</U> is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. </div> <bR> <div>    The blessedness of reading Revelation includes the description of the Lake of Fire and its occupants in chapters 14, 19, 20, 21, and 22.  Again, it is an unpleasant blessing, but it motivates us to avoid matching the descriptions of those sent to the fiery pit.</div> <bR> <div>    Should we think ill of our unbelieving neighbor, though?  Aren't we supposed to love our neighbors, even the unbelieving ones?  Yes, but any true testimony of them after their lives must include the fact that they opposed the King of kings and died under His wrath.  Whatever admirable qualities an unbeliever may have, our spiritual evaluation of him must demonstrate which group of humanity <I>we </I>are in:</div> <bR> <div> Ps 15:4    In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD.</div> <bR> <div> <B>    Application</B>:  It is easy in our day to adopt unbelievers' attitudes towards saints of old.  Negative connotations are put upon the word "puritanical", for instance, but it is ultimately because of the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>holiness </I></FONT>the Puritans sought.  </div> <div>    If we find that <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>unbelievers </I></FONT>are our real heroes, that they are the ones whose memories are blessed to us, we can take Proverbs 10:7 as one of Proverbs' many dividing lines separating humanity into its real spiritual affinities.  Counting unbelievers as the ones with blessed memories in earth's history corralls us into the rotten group.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ************************************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="october_19"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="398" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#33FFCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 81 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:8</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>The wise in heart will receive commands,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But a chattering fool will fall. </B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <div>   </div> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >Prov. 10:10 also has "chattering fool."  The Hebrew for "chattering" is translated "lip(s)" all the 43 other times Solomon uses it.  We might therefore translate it "mouthy."</FONT></div> <div>    The word "fall" means "overthrown."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse:</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Being compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The wise in heart</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A mouthy fool</div> <bR> <div> Characteristics respectively<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Will receive commands</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Will be overthrown</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT>Notice that the wise is described by what he receives <I>day by day</I>; the fool is known by what he <I>eventually </I>receives (overthrow).  This tells us that the final outcome of foolishness is not readily apparent.  On other fronts, the fool may seem as successful as the wise presently, even though the fool is not receiving commands.  The wise knows <I>by faith </I>that his teachable heart is the wise course in the long run.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >  </FONT> Notice also that the wise is known by <I>intake </I>(of commands), the fool by <I>output </I>(of lip).</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Graphically</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="361" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ROWS" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Present</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="43"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="43" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="99"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="99" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="54"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="54" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> Future</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="62"><div> Wise</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="43"><div> <<<</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="99"><div> Command input</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="54"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="38" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="54" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="38" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="62"><div> Fool</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="43"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="43" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Talk output</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="54"><div>   >>></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Overthrow</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Inputs and Outputs:  Part Two</U></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >  </FONT> Man naturally dislikes being told what to do.  There's something within us that is just grated by a command.  Yet reception of commands is exactly what defines a man as wise.  A wise man has learned that his natural inclination will lead him wrong, so he must trust in someone wiser telling him what to do.  This ultimate wiser one, of course, is God.  Those who speak in His name must therefore be careful lest, through sloppy thinking, they teach their own commands rather than those of God.</div> <div>    The fool who is characterized by his mouthiness is setting himself up for a bigger than normal fall.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Ps 12:2-4 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.  <U>May the LORD cut off</U> all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?" </div> <div>       Finally, notice that wisdom is a matter of the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>heart</I></FONT>.  Scripturally, the head never competes with the heart, but both work together according to a man's spiritual inclination, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>for </I></FONT>or <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>against </I></FONT>God.  A wise heart suggests someone with whom wisdom is a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>settled way of life</I></FONT>, rather than someone who just (thinks he) <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>understands </I></FONT>the principles involved.</div> <bR> <div>      Do you receive commands?</div> <div>      Receiving commands is a matter of the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>spirit</I></FONT>.  An <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>obedient </I></FONT>spirit hears a command ready to obey.  A <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>stubborn </I></FONT>spirit hears a command and says, "Prove it (that is, prove the worth of your command)."</div> <div>      Have you purposely put yourself out of direct range of commands?  For instance, do you live by the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>exception </I></FONT>rather than the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>rule</I></FONT>?  The rule is: a command from someone in a position of authority- household authority, governmental, job, school, church- is a command from God.  But do you live by 'the exception'?  "Those guys could make a mistake.  I'll wait until I concur with what they say; then I won't have to worry about obeying any mistaken commands."</div> <div>     Sorry, you just chattered your way into the "fool" category.</div> <bR> <div> ****************************************************************************************</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="479" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 85 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:9</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>He who walks with integrity walks securely,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But he who perverts his ways will become known.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><B><U>:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> To walk "with integrity" is literally to walk "in completeness".  </div> <div> The word "securely" has to do with a place of refuge.</div> <div> "Perverts" means "knots" or "twists".</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> The two person types being compared:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one who walks in completeness / maturity.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one who twists / bends his paths.</div> <bR> <div> Their two outcomes in order:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Walking safely</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Becoming known</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><B><U>:</U></B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Modes of Travel</U></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>The righteous man is here pictured simply as a grown-up human.  This is the way, by our original design, we are <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>supposed</I></FONT><I> </I>to turn out- mature in our dealings with God and man.  When we return to God's definition of Real Man, our path in life is confident and has built-in protections, not to mention God's personal guardianship.</div> <div>    The wicked man is represented as one who avoids real humanity.  He twists his paths <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>any </I></FONT>other way, because righteousness is so unappealing to him.  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >   When compared to righteousness, perversion appears for what it is. The </FONT><I>world's normal state</I> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >is a form of this bent mode.  </FONT></div> <div>     The world accepts <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>token </I></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>acknowledgment</B><B> </B></FONT>of God, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>righteousness </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>adjusted </I></FONT>to personal taste, and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>relations </B></FONT>in which I may <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>hate </I></FONT>that person who irritates me.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><B>:</B></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >Have you accepted God's model for maturity?</FONT></div> <div>    The indispensable ingredient in this maturity can only be accessed through ears newly tuned, then thoroughly trained:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Dauphin" > </FONT>Heb 5:12-14  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need <U>milk</U> and <U>not solid food</U>. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a <U>babe</U>. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are <U>of full age</U>, that is, those who <U>by reason of use</U> have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>Only by much <B>use </B>of Scriptures, using them until they are second nature (actually first nature), can we pass out of spiritual infancy and reach true maturity.  </div> <div>     Think about it:  a man who has been a spiritual infant for ten years, say, is a grotesque aberration.  That's why the tone of the above passage from Hebrews is so alarmed.  If we don't pass on into spiritual maturity, there's something dreadfully wrong.  The longer we remain a spiritual infant, the more we spiritually resemble the man who twists his paths away from God.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="october_21"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="403" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#00CC99 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 81 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:10</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>He who winks the eye causes trouble,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>And a babbling fool will be thrown down.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>  </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">One who winks the eye</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A babbling fool</div> <bR> <div> Their Corresponding Outcomes<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Causing trouble</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Being thrown down</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Natural Means of Communication</U></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>This is the first proverb giving a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>comparison </I></FONT>instead of a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>contrast</I></FONT>.  Both halves of the verse are about the same basic kind of person.</div> <div>    Solomon already introduced the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>winker </I></FONT>earlier in Proverbs:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 6:12-13  A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth; he <U>winks </U>with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers</div> <bR> <div>    An evil man can be very accomplished at gesturing his bad intentions.  </div> <div>    One thing we should clear up immediately, though, is that not all gesturing is bad:</div> <bR> <div> Isa 33:15  He who <U>walks righteously</U> and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who <U>gestures</U> with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil</div> <bR> <div>    Gesturing is merely a form of communication, and any form of human communication is essentially a conveying of what's in the heart, be it good or bad.</div> <div>    Gestures are particularly suited to the devious, though.  The devious are those who secretly hate:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 26:24  He who hates, <U>disguises</U> it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself</div> <bR> <div>    They do not want their true intentions known.  Someone like this is going to cause trouble.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>And </I></FONT>he is going to maintain  'plausible deniability'.  "What?  You thought I meant <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>that</I></FONT>?  Oh no!  You misunderstood!"  Ah, we see his genius!</div> <bR> <div>    The Gesturer is being compared to the chattering fool.  We already met him:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 10:8  The wise of heart will receive commands, but a <U>babbling fool</U> will be thrown down. </div> <bR> <div>    And the same outcome was predicted for him there, too.  Remember that "babbling" was, almost literally, "mouthy."  So Proverbs 10:10 is a verse about those who use both <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>nonverbal </I></FONT>and <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>verbal </I></FONT>communication unrighteously.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>Interpretive </B></FONT><B>Paraphrase</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>of the Verse:</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><I>   </I></FONT><I>Beware of </I>all <I>forms of ungodly communication; </I>subtle <I>ones cause trouble; </I>loud <I>ones may try to bluster past inspection, but they will eventually be evaluated and deposed. </I></div> <bR> <div> ****************************************************************</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="october_22"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="437" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#99CCFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 78 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:11</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <U>Analysis of the Verse</U><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" >: </FONT></div> <div>  </div> <div> Being compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The mouth of the righteous</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The mouth of the wicked</div> <bR> <div> Their characteristics in order<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A fountain of life</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A hiding place for violence</div> <bR> <div> Directional comparison<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Life flowing from the righteous</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Violence hidden in wicked speech</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Graphically</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="274" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="COLS" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" >Life-giving words</FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="123" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 WIDTH="132"><div> G</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="25" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="123" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div>   <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >The righteous</FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>    <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bookman Old Style" >The wicked</FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="132"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="132" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div>     x x x x x x x </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="132"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="132" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div>      <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" >Violence</FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Two Basic Products of Man's Speech</U></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >The actual contrast Solomon is trying to illustrate to our thoughts is between something flowing freely forth and something lurking hidden below the surface.  The words of the righteous bubble forth like a fresh spring, refreshing those who partake; the words of the wicked are like the dangerous contents of a stagnant pool; OR better, like clear-looking water holding a deadly but invisible bacteria, sickening and killing men.</FONT></div> <div>     The freely flowing fountain within the righteous, the source he draws from when he speaks, is essentially the Holy Spirit, or is empowered by the Spirit; so says Jesus:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Georgia" ><B>John 7:38, 39</B></FONT>  He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall <U>flow rivers</U> of living water." </div> <div>   (But He <U>spoke this about the Spirit</U>, which they who believed on Him should receive; for <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>the</I></FONT> Holy Spirit was not yet <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#808080" FACE="Georgia" ><I>given</I></FONT>, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) </div> <bR> <div>     If we 'speak with the Spirit's vocabulary' (Scriptures) and employ His syntax (joyful obedience), we become a source of life that all who hear us can partake of.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >You and I are basically either one or the other: life-giving or death-dealing.</FONT></div> <div>    Is it even our concern today to serve health and healing to those who must partake of our words?</div> <div>    Could it be that we are thoughtlessly leaving hurtful material in our talk, not having examined our own hearts for spitefulness, selfishness, or envy?</div> <div>    Remember that violence is essentially force used unrighteously, and violent <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>speech </I></FONT>is what we are here concerned with.  Therefore, are my words manipulative?  Am I trying to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>control </I></FONT>others by what I say?  Or am I trying to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>free </I></FONT>them, to put them in touch with righteousness, which is true liberty?  Am I a wounded person, speaking defensively, only able to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>wound </I></FONT>others, or has Christ <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>healed </I></FONT>me?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *********************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="october_23"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="271" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFCCCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 81 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:12</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>Hatred stirs up strife,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But love covers all sins.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words in the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >"Stirs up" is literally "awakens".</FONT></div> <div>     "Strife" means contests, quarrels.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Hatred</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Love</div> <bR> <div> Their Identifiers Respectively:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Awakening strife</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Covering all sins</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Man's Two Basic Overall Modes of Operation</U></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>The basic contrast in this verse is in the activities of <I><B>love </B></I>and <I><B>hate</B></I>.  One of them awakens bad things, the other puts them to sleep.  Hatred awakens a fight when none was there.  Love puts another's faults to sleep, overlooking them.  By this awakening or else covering, we can see whether love or hate runs a man's life.  We are all basically motivated by one or the other.  The Christian will be known by love, very simply because his theme is:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > </FONT>Eph 4:32  ... forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. </div> <bR> <div>    A Christian has no business holding a grudge.  If he is a Christian at all, it is because he knows what a mountain of sins has been forgiven him.  How can he now hold other's sins against <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>them</I></FONT>?  Instead, he does as has been done for him- he covers it.</div> <div>    Until we become recipients of love, placed in us by God's Spirit,</div> <bR> <div> Rom 5:5 ... because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us</div> <bR> <div>   hatred rules our lives:</div> <bR> <div> Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, <U>hateful and hating</U> one another. </div> <bR> <div>    This hatred is first a reaction <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>against God</I></FONT>:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 19:3  The foolishness of man subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD. </div> <bR> <div>   The unbeliever, whom we can call the hateful one or the hater, lives life in reaction against God in one way or another.  He doesn't like the family God put him in.  He doesn't like the face God gave him.  He doesn't appreciate the abilities God gave him.  OR  he uses the gifts and advantages God gave him for purely selfish purposes rather than in thankfulness to God.  </div> <div>    He insists on religion on his own terms.  If he comes to the Scriptures at all, he does not come to them simply to find out his Lord's wishes.  He comes to define God in terms of himself.</div> <div>    Therefore, since his life itself is a contest with <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>God</I></FONT>, the unbeliever cannot help contesting matters with his fellow <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>creatures</I></FONT>.  He <B>highlights </B>others' faults rather than <B>covering </B>them.  His hatred is an alarm clock he carries in his heart, waking up fights everywhere he goes.*</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.</div> <bR> <div>    A peacemaker is a true son of God, because, like his Father, he overlooks a reason for conflict and finds a way to be reconciled.  Please note also that love "covers <B>all </B>sins."  Most people can find various instances in their lives where they have been forgiving; love finds a way to be forgiving of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>every </I></FONT>type of sin.  Of course, for those who will not be reconciled to us, we are not held accountable for their response; we may simply have to avoid them:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go</div> <div>   </div> <div>    The real question, though, is whether or not you have made peace with God in the first place.  Ask yourself, is there peace in your heart?  Are you at peace, knowing what Christ has done that you might be reconciled?  </div> <div>    Look at your life.  Does strife churn up in your wake?  </div> <div>    God graciously gives us the signs of love missing or hate ruling so that we might recognize ourselves and turn to Him for the change only He can give. </div> <bR> <div> *  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tahoma" >Most unbelievers like the picture of themselves as peaceful beings rather than hostile ones.  They therefore put on a nice face.  Plenty of Scriptures describe them, such as</FONT>:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Psalm 55:21</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Georgia" >  His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> His conscience may smite him for his hatefulness at times.  Usually, though, his smiling mask disguises himself even from himself.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> **************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_24"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="565" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FF99FF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:13</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding. </B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>   </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >The one who lacks "understanding", literally lacks "heart".  </FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >   The "rod" is an instrument of pain applied to the back.  It was still used as civil correction in New Testament times:  </FONT>2 Cor 11:25   "Three times I was beaten with rods"<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >, </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >says Paul.  'Canings' and the like are still used as punishment today in various parts of the world.</FONT></div> <div>    </div> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A discerning man</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A man devoid of heart</div> <bR> <div> Their Corresponding Characteristics<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wisdom presently on the <B>lips</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A rod eventually coming on the <B>back</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Two Consequences of Men's Basic Modes of Thought</U></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT>Again Solomon uses parts of the body to show how one way of life or another characterizes us.  This time the discerning man is known for his <B>lips</B>, his source of wisdom.  The fool, having no wisdom on his lips, can only offer his <B>back </B>as a place for corrective swats.</div> <div>    The definition of "discerning" is the same as the New Testament word for "judging"; that it, to mentally separate or distinguish.  The discerning man is able to separate actions and their consequences into the categories of good and bad.  The man "lacking heart" cannot do this.  Therefore the heart is not solely or even primarily an organ of feeling.  It is a faculty of thinking and analyzing in this verse.  The 'heartless' man is the one who can't figure things out; and since his heart won't figure things out for him, life's lessons have to be introduced through his pain receptors.</div> <div>    Notice that Solomon is again showing us that only the wise man is fully human (in 'like-original' condition), seeing that the fool is actually missing a proper human heart.  </div> <bR> <div>    So, you will either learn to figure things out the right way, by wisdom, or you're left with the hard way, by having it 'beaten' into you.  </div> <bR> <div>    Has Psalm 23 come to your thoughts yet in this connection?  Ps 23:4  "Your <U>rod</U> and Your staff, they comfort me."  It is <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>God's rod</I></FONT> that should concern us most.  Whether or not a government agency catches us for our lapses of discernment, God always notices and corrects.  This, in fact, is a matter of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>comfort </I></FONT>to us according to Psalm 23.  God isn't going to let me get away with anything bad.</div> <div>    And what form does God's rod take?  Everything around us!  God uses His whole world to discipline us!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Isa 10:5 "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger"</div> <bR> <div>    God used Assyria to discipline Israel.  (Read on and notice that He was also going to punish Assyria for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>her </I></FONT>arrogance in disciplining Israel)</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Ps 119:67  "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word."</div> <bR> <div>    David saw everyday trials as a form of God's fatherly correcting rod.  The believer is always in need of the fire of difficulties to burn out the sin in him:</div> <bR> <div> 1 Peter 1:6-7  ... you have been <U>grieved by various trials</U>, <U>that </U>the genuineness of <U>your faith</U>, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is <U>tested by fire</U>, may be <U>found to praise</U>, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ</div> <bR> <div>    According to our  proverb, the believer, thus chastised by life's difficulties in general and persecutions in particular, learns wisdom.  Trials drive him to the Word of God to find out what God is trying to teach him.  This wisdom learned then finds its way into his speech.</div> <div>    Is wisdom found on your lips?  Or have trials only driven you to complain, like those lacking heart?  </div> <div>    If you have Scriptural lessons to teach, are they just the old pat formulas that everyone hears and passes around but no one checks for Scriptural accuracy?</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ****************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_25"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="434" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#666633 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 75 ><NOBR><div> <B>Proverbs 10:14</B></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Verdana" ><B>The wise one stores up knowledge,</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. </FONT></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The wise</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The foolish</div> <bR> <div> Their Corresponding Characteristics<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Light ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Warehousing knowledge</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A mouth near collapse</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >    </FONT>[Note:  It seems that any <B><U>title</U></B><B> </B>for this proverb would necessarily be some sort of restatement of its own content.  Solomon now seems to branching out into the particular areas where the fear of God is either embraced or shunned.  Titles would still be profitable, but perhaps mostly as a tool to relate proverbs to one another in groupings.]</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>The fool is known by his <I><B>output</B></I>, the wise by his <I><B>input</B></I>.</div> <div>    The fool is just his mouth in a way.  He feels that what he says, what he brags, is what he is.  He's sure everyone else agrees.</div> <div>    The wise, on the other hand, only uses his mouth as a tool for his real resource, his <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>knowledge</I></FONT>.  We <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>are </I></FONT>what we <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>know</I></FONT>:</div> <bR> <div> Jer 9:24  ... let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and <U>knows Me</U></div> <bR> <div>    It's fairly easy for a Christian to master a few key concepts and phrases and pass himself off as someone concerned about the acquisition of valuable knowledge.  The <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>truly </I></FONT>wise person realizes that real wisdom is soul-saturating, far deeper than appearances could ever reveal.  He wants to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>know </I></FONT>because knowledge is <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>life</I></FONT>:</div> <bR> <div> Jer 24:7   Then I will give them a heart to <U>know Me</U>, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. </div> <bR> <div>    The wise realizes that most of the knowledge of God in the world is false knowledge:</div> <bR> <div> Rom 10:1-2  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a <U>zeal for God</U>, but <U>not according to knowledge</U>.</div> <bR> <div>    This 'anti-knowledge' is truly "near destruction."  The wise person realizes that the only way to avoid 'anti-knowledge' is through the careful study of Scriptures:</div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim 2:15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, <B><U>rightly </U></B><U>dividing</U> [Gk., "cutting"] the word of truth. </div> <bR> <div>    He realizes that man's natural way to handle the word of truth is '<B>wrongly</B>' cutting or categorizing it:</div> <bR> <div> 2 Peter 3:16  ... which untaught and unstable people <U>twist </U>to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the <U>Scriptures</U>. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div>    Are you one who stores up knowledge?  Are you employing some means to become expert in Scriptures?</div> <bR> <div> Eccl 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.</div> <div>  </div> <div>    Jesus never told anyone they <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>studied Scriptures too much</I></FONT>; only too little, or that they had twisted them:</div> <bR> <div> Mark 12:24  Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because <U>you do not know the Scriptures</U> nor the power of God?<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div>    If you are not storing up knowledge, Proverbs 10:14 indicates that you are sliding by on appearances, on mere talk.  This position is always "near collapse."  It is always one step away from being exposed for its falsehood, for its opposition to reality.  Reality is the position of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><B>knowledge</B></FONT>.  </div> <div>     What is reality worth to you?  For most, it is not worth the time to study Scriptures.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *************************************************</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_26"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="416" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#00FFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 81 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs10:15</div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><B>The rich man's wealth  is his strong city;</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>The destruction of the poor  is their poverty. </B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Being compared:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The rich man's wealth</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The poor man's poverty</div> <bR> <div> Their Identifiers:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A strong city</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">'Undoing'</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><U>:</U></div> <bR> <div>    This is the first proverb which is not making a moral comparison; it is merely stating a fact.  The fact:  In this life, money makes (or unmakes) our comfort.  The rich sits in a 'strong city' constructed by his wealth.  The poor crouches against the elements, exposed as he is to harm by his lack of resources. </div> <div>    Why is this important to know?  First of all, many pietistic Christians who don't think things through before they say them (see the previous proverb) would simply assert that money makes no difference to them.  They need to know that money <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>does</I></FONT><I> </I>affect <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>everybody</I></FONT><I> </I>here.</div> <div>    Secondly, knowing this, we are not surprised to find the unfavorable comparison between the rich and poor throughout the rest of Proverbs.</div> <div>    And thirdly, when we know this, we can deal with our tendency to keep the poor at arm's length.  He doesn't have a 'covering' of propriety.  He's more concerned with survival than social graces, so he's hard to be around, even hard to help.</div> <div>    Until we know how things really are, we are not in a position to respond to them wisely or be of much help.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><U>:</U></div> <bR> <div>    Be careful that your money is not your 'strong city' where you hide to escape the unpleasantries of life.  Even without piles of money, the average American is in a position to forget God's providence and simply trust in Wal Mart to meet all his earthly needs.</div> <div>    On the other hand, if you are closer to the other end of the economic scale, realize that God is your sufficiency.  Trust and take comfort in Him.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ***************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_27"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="368" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#33CCFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 88 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:16</div> <div>  The labor of the righteous leads to life,</div> <div> The wages of the wicked to sin.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The righteous man's labor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The wicked man's wages</div> <bR> <div> Their Outcomes<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Light ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Life</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sin</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >There are two unexpected comparisons in the verse.</FONT></div> <div>    The first is between the righteous man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>labor </I></FONT>and the wicked man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>wages</I></FONT>.  </div> <div>    The second is that the righteous man's outcome seems to lead to an <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>end</I></FONT>, whereas the wicked man's leads only to a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>continuation</I></FONT>, you might say.</div> <bR> <div>    As to the first unusual comparison:  Why would one man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>labor </I></FONT>be compared to another man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>wages</I></FONT>?  </div> <div>    Firstly, because what the righteous man does is not according to wage, strictly speaking:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > </FONT>Rom 4:4-5  Now to him who works, the <U>wages</U> are not counted as grace but as <U>debt</U>.  But to <U>him who does not work</U> but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness</div> <bR> <div>    Whereas, the wicked gets exactly what he <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>deserves</I></FONT>:</div> <bR> <div> Rom 6:23  For the <U>wages</U> of sin is death ...</div> <bR> <div>    However, notice that the work of the righteous man <I>is </I>leading somewhere.  Within the overall grace of God (awarding us <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>not </I></FONT>according to our deeds), there is a way in which God gives each of His children just what he worked for:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >   </FONT>1 Cor 3:13-14  ... <U>each one's work</U> will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a <U>reward</U>.</div> <bR> <div>    To clarify the picture Solomon is painting, consider the second comparison.  The righteous man receives <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>life </I></FONT>for his work.  Now we could look at this life as eternal life as it is enjoyed in eternity.  But we can also look at this life as eternal life as it is enjoyed <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>now</I></FONT>:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >   </FONT>John 5:24  ... he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me <U>has</U> <U>everlasting life</U>, and shall not come into judgment, but <U>has passed</U> from death <U>into life</U>.</div> <bR> <div>    Notice that Jesus here counts eternal life as a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>present possession</I></FONT>.</div> <div>    So the righteous man has been made alive.  His works are now done as a living man.  And what do his labors produce?  MORE life, deeper life!  The life of God becomes more apparent and active in him the more he utilizes it!</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >   </FONT>Matt 25:29 'For to everyone who has, <U>more</U> will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.' </div> <bR> <div>    On the other hand, what is the wicked man earning by his wickedness?</div> <bR> <div> 2 Tim 3:13  But evil men and impostors <U>will grow worse</U> and worse, deceiving and being deceived. </div> <bR> <div>    Just as Solomon says, his sin is leading to <I><B>more sin</B></I>!  He is building a cage around himself and making it harder and harder to escape.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div>    Solomon keeps building a picture of mankind in two thoroughly distinct categories.  Which one do you give evidence of belonging to according to this verse?  Are your life-engendered activities producing more life, or are your sinful activities producing more sin?</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****************************************************</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_28"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="386" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#6633FF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 87 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:17</div> <div> He who keeps instruction <I>is in</I> the way of life,</div> <div> But he who refuses correction goes astray.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse:</U></B></div> <bR> <div>     "Keeps" in the Hebrew means 'to hedge about'.</div> <div>     The Hebrew word for "instruction" means 'chastisement'.</div> <div>     The words "is in" are supplied by the translators.  The Hebrew literally reads "The way of life- he who guards (words of) chastisement."  The meaning "he <I>has </I>the way of life" may be a better connotation than "he <I>is </I><I>in</I> the way of life"</div> <div>     "Way" is from a Hebrew word for a well-trodden highway.</div> <div>     "Goes astray" in the Hebrew means 'to vacillate, either to reel or stray'.</div> <div>     The Hebrew word for "refuses" means 'to loose; so relinquish, permit'.</div> <div>     "<B>The way of life- he who safeguards chastisement.  But he who squanders correction does a detour</B>."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared: </div> <div>             </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one garnering chastisement</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The one letting go of correction</div> <bR> <div> Their Characteristics Respectively<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" >:    </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The highway of life</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wandering</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>Generally speaking, this verse applies the "no pain, no gain" philosophy to the area of instruction.  Those who want to be told the brutal truth about themselves are wise.  Those who'd rather not hear negative things about themselves are missing a key stabilizing element in life.</div> <div>    This is one verse which shows why many unbelievers have better personalities than believers.  Too many Christians feel that they are somehow beyond reproach.  They seem to have surmised that someone assigned the task of giving the world God's instructions should not be subject to instruction themselves.  </div> <div>    The opposite is true.  Only those humbled by reproofs <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>from any available source</I></FONT> are really qualified to give God's message.  Many unbelievers, while refusing God's correction per se, nevertheless insist that their friends tell them all the painful deficiencies they see.  From this they gain stability of character.  Christians are supposed to be ahead of this game:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > </FONT> James 5:16  Confess your trespasses to one another ...</div> <bR> <div>    Of course, a better personality won't get an unbeliever into heaven.  He is missing the most valuable correction when he refuses God's correction.  More importantly, he is showing his spiritual alignment:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Rom 8:7-8  Because the carnal mind is <U>enmity</U> against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. </div> <bR> <div>    To be at enmity means to be enemies.  The word Satan simply means "Enemy".  When we hate God's do's and don't's, when we don't want His finger of correction pointing at us, we are really betraying the fact that we are of the devil's spiritual brood:</div> <bR> <div> 1 John 3:10 In this the children of God and the <U>children of the devil</U> are <U>manifest</U>: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.</div> <bR> <div>    Notice that John includes love of other Christians as a sign of our spiritual affinity.  In terms of our proverb today, this love must include correction:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >   </FONT>Lev 19:17  'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely <U>rebuke</U> your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.' </div> <bR> <div>    And it must include <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>reception </I></FONT>of correction as well:</div> <bR> <div> Prov 25:12  Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an <U>obedient ear</U>. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Application</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div>    God is faithful to correct His own.  The truth He has to tell us about ourselves is a very painful one.  Our character and doings are actually deserving of eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.  And our own ways remain a mystery to us to a great extent:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Rom 7:15  For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. </div> <bR> <div>    Those who would travel the highway of true life would join the company of those who ultimately trusted only One opinion about themselves, and they invited that stinging opinion as the only corrective to their own natural straying tendencies.  I must invite His inward probings to uncover the murky depths which neither I <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>nor </I></FONT>my neighbors can see in me.  I will listen to all critiques, even from unwelcome sources, but God's critique must always reach the rawest nerve.</div> <bR> <div> *******************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="oct_29"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="403" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#66FFCC > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 85 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:18</div> <div> <B>Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,</B></div> <div> <B>And whoever spreads slander is a fool.</B></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Papyrus" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Someone hiding hatred</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Someone who spreads slander</div> <bR> <div> Their Two Identifiers:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Lies</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Is a fool</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>This is our second proverb which is not a contrast, but a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>comparison </I></FONT>(the first was 10:10).  Here we have two forms of evil communication- lying and spreading slander; but the real contrast of the verse is between <B>hatred </B>that is <I><B>hidden </B></I>and hatred which comes <I><B>out</B></I><I> </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>in the open</I></FONT><I>.</I></div> <div> <I>   </I>This verse gives us a very important identifying mark of an unbeliever, because John  gives us three basic tests in 1 John for whether we are really Christians, and one of them is whether we love other Christians or <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>hate </I></FONT>them:</div> <bR> <div> 1 John 2:9  He who says he is in the light, and <U>hates</U> his brother, is in darkness until now. </div> <bR> <div>    Proverbs 10:18 is telling us that there is more than one way hatred can be manifested, and one of them is subtle; it hides itself behind lying words.  Therefore, uncovering falsely professed Christians may be a very difficult matter.  This proverb will help us, though, in identifying one of the real motivations for lying.  Some people tell lies because they are concealing a secret hatred.  This is, unfortunately, very common.</div> <div>    Hatred is, in fact, one of the tell-tale marks of an unregenerate person, as we saw back in 10:12, where we considered Paul's words to Titus:</div> <bR> <div> Titus 3:3  For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, <U>hateful</U> and hating one another. </div> <bR> <div>    There's no way an unbeliever can avoid hatred.  He hates because he is enemies with God:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > </FONT>Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is <U>enmity</U> against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. </div> <bR> <div>    It is therefore especially shameful if a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>believer </I></FONT>acts in hate.</div> <bR> <div>    Those who <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eurostile" ><I>conceal </I></FONT>hatred, either from shame OR to seek a better advantage to harm from a covered position, may not be consciously aware that they hate.  They wouldn't think in their minds, "I hate so-and-so."  The hatred comes naturally, but so does its concealment, <I>AND SO DO</I> the lying words to cover it.  The terrible part is that the lying words are most often words of affection.  The one whom I hate, I address as though I love!</div> <bR> <div> Ps 28:3 ... who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts. </div> <bR> <div>    This is scary.  How many people might I know who treat me very nicely ... all because they hate me!</div> <bR> <div>    The other form of hatred, slander, is more open about it.  This is the second half of the verse.  In order to get other people to think less of Mr. J., I have to talk bad about Mr. J.  Of course, there are subtle ways to do this as well, but usually a slanderer has to shed disguises to a great extent.</div> <div>    What <I>is </I>slander?  Talking bad about Mr. J to Mr. K.</div> <div>    If we have bad things to say about Mr. J., to whom are we <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>supposed </I></FONT><I>to</I> speak them?</div> <div>    Jesus said:</div> <bR> <div> Matt 18:15   "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault <U>between you and him alone</U>."</div> <bR> <div>    Really, anything other than a private discussion of the fault <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>with the offending party</I></FONT> is slander and gossip.  And if I gossip, it doesn't matter that, "I only said things that were <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>true</I></FONT>."  It only matters that I spoke them to lower someone's opinion of Mr. J.</div> <bR> <div>    All this is especially sad because the people we hate are most often the ones who can help us the most.  We hate them, in fact, because they are too much <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>like </I></FONT><I>us</I>!</div> <bR> <div> Rom 2:1  ... in whatever <U>you judge another</U> you condemn yourself; for you who judge <U>practice the same things</U>.</div> <bR> <div>    If we would only get to know them, they would act as a mirror to help us uncover and cure our own weaknesses.</div> <bR> <div>    "Whoever spreads slander is a fool."  He is killing with his words, filling his community with corpses, causing people to be distrusting of one another, and inviting return slander upon himself!  Primarily, though, the slanderer shows himself to be a fool in that he has chosen a path <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>independent of God</I></FONT> or His laws.  This is a fool by basic definition.</div> <bR> <div>     Secret hatred and open hatred.  Each has its characteristic stroke to do harm.  Each comes naturally to us as fallen men.  The religious simply find ways to justify acts of hate, <I><B>unless </B></I>they are finding ways to discover them and give <I><B>them </B></I>the axe (the religous hypocrite versus the man of true religion, James 1:27).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> ********************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A NAME="oct_30"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="480" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#669999 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 84 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:19</div> <div> <B>When words are many, transgression is not lacking,</B></div> <div> <B>but he who restrains his lips is prudent.</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Humanst521 BT" > </FONT></div> <div>  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Many words</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Restraint of lips</div> <bR> <div> Their Identifiers<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Eras Light ITC" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Transgression not lacking</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prudence</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div>   <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > "In the profusion of words" our text says, "trespass does not hold back."</FONT></div> <div>    The comparison is technically between <I>words </I>themselves on the one hand and a <I>human speaker </I>on the other.  Of course, the words can only come from a person, but Solomon is emphasizing the nearly autonomous power of our lips.  Our tongues are 'hard-wired' to our spirits, which is why our eternal judgment can be based on our words, as Jesus said:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Matt 12:37  "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  </div> <bR> <div>    Any time our mouth is simply put in gear, then, and allowed to 'drive itself', it will inevitably begin to draw on our 'old man' and speak foolishly.  Only when we speak <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>deliberately </I></FONT>can we avoid sin.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Ps 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. </div> <bR> <div>    This goes for <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>religious </I></FONT>speech as well:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > </FONT>Eccl 5:2  Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything <U>hastily before God</U>.  For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. </div> <bR> <div>   And as Jesus warned:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" > </FONT>Matt 6:7 And when you pray, do not use <U>vain repetitions</U> as the heathen do.  For they think that they will be heard for their <U>many words</U>.  </div> <bR> <div>    In Ecclesiastes 5:2 above, Solomon includes the advice to "let your words be few," relating to the second half of today's proverb.    </div> <div>    Does this mean let your word be <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>absolutely </I></FONT>few or <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>relatively </I></FONT>few?  If it meant absolutely few, then Jesus' prayer that takes up the whole of John 17 wouldn't be a very good prayer; nor would Daniel's which takes up most of Daniel 9; nor would many of the Psalms.  Rather it means to let your words be select- few in that you have thought about them and chosen only the ones that convey your point and that <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>should </I></FONT>be included.  This is the 'restraint of lips' our proverb commends.</div> <bR> <div>    By the way, have you ever heard this verse?</div> <bR> <div> James 1:19 ... let every man be swift to hear, <U>slow to speak</U>, slow to wrath</div> <bR> <div>    Whereas this is good advice in our communications with <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>one another</I></FONT>, it is our communications with <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Poor Richard" ><I>God </I></FONT>to which James refers, specifically our response to His Word (check the preceding and succeeding verses for the context).  Our mouths are so vain that when God speaks, we begin jabbering back what we already know on the subject rather than preparing for the entry of new instruction.</div> <bR> <div>    The power to <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>command our words</I></FONT> is being commended to us in this verse.  Most people think they <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>are </I></FONT>in command of their words.  Far from it.  Unless we deliberately think about what we say before we say it, our words are actually in command of us.  Let us be those who restrain our lips generally, but especially when God is speaking. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *************************************************************</div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="oct_31"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="408" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFBF0 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 79 ><NOBR><div> Proverbs 10:20</div> <div> <B>The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;</B></div> <div> <B>The heart of the wicked is  </B><I><B>worth  </B></I><B>little.</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Words of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>   </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >Notice that the translators have supplied the word "worth."  Literally, the Hebrew reads, "The heart of the wicked is small."  Also literal would be "is a small thing."  The idea Solomon is trying to convey is one of an "insignificant" or "miniscule" heart, or one that is a "pittance."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Analysis of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Being Compared<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The righteous man's <I>tongue</I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The wicked man's <I>heart</I></div> <bR> <div> Their Descriptions<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" >:</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Choice silver</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A paucity</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Teaching of the Verse</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tempus Sans ITC" ><B>:</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="GoudyOlSt BT" >   </FONT>Of course, we first notice that it is one man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>tongue </I></FONT>being compared to another man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>heart</I></FONT>.  Secondly, we notice that it is a rather unkind comparison:  A <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>less </I></FONT>important part of one man is greater than the <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>most important</I></FONT> part of another.   </div> <div>    Before we conclude that God is being rude, let us remember what unredeemed man earns for his life here on earth.  In God's righteous estimate, no inflated figures, man earns a death sentence with no reprieve.  Jesus said,</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Mark 9:43   "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the <U>fire that shall never be quenched</U>"</div> <bR> <div>    The wicked man, then, is worth <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>less </I></FONT>than little.  His worth must be weighed in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>negative </I></FONT>amounts, we might say, going <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>opposite </I></FONT>the direction of righteousness.</div> <div>    A low opinion of the wicked, which is simple agreement with God, is a common testimony in Scriptures:</div> <bR> <div> Ps 39:5  Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.</div> <bR> <div> Ps 15:1-4  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  He who walks uprightly ... In whose eyes a vile person is despised</div> <bR> <div> Titus 3:10-11  Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. </div> <bR> <div>    And remember that it is the wicked man's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>heart </I></FONT>which is so worthless in our proverb.  There is simply nothing good about him (If there were, God would be unjust to throw even that part into Hell). </div> <bR> <div>    Now lest we overreact, this low opinion of the wicked does not translate into poor treatment of them.  God Himself treats them lovingly during their time on earth:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Perpetua" >  </FONT>Matt 5:45  He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.</div> <bR> <div>    And we must do the same:</div> <bR> <div> Matt 5:44  ... love your enemies</div> <bR> <div>    But we will never understand the gospel, nor our own salvation, if we fail to see the great atrocity and villainy of sin.</div> <bR> <div>    A contrasting observation in our proverb is the superabundant power of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>God's grace</I></FONT>.  He <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Stencil" >turns </FONT>a worthless heart into a silver mine (we all come into the world worthless; only He can change us).  Out of the mine comes an ore that is refined to high purity and great value.  Men are enriched by what comes from a righteous man's lips.  What an amazing salvation and transformation God performs!</div> <bR> <div>    How would we recognize such lips?  They speak words from an <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>existing </I></FONT>silver warehouse:</div> <bR> <div> Ps 12:6  The <U>words of the LORD</U> are pure words, like <U>silver</U> tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ******************************************************** </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>