Proverbs Reading Challenge – Chapter 3

Posted on January 30, 2020 by dkoop

Thanks for continuing to read along, I’m praying for you.  In chapter 3 we find one of the most popular verses in the bible and one we should definitely memorize:  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Chapter 3 is about the Further Benefits of Wisdom.   It’s broken down into five parts:

1 .  God’s Word will Guide Us  (3:1–4  & 5–8),

The will of God is revealed in the Word of God (Col. 1:9-10), and the only way to know His will is to study His Word and obey it.

 Leaning has the sense of putting your whole weight on something, resting on and trusting in that person or thing. When we have an important decision to make, we sometimes feel that we can’t trust anyone — not even God. But God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than even we are! We must trust him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as your guide; and then follow God’s leading. He will make our paths straight by both guiding and protecting us.

2.  God’s Portion of Income Should be Returned to Him  ( 9-10)

There’s no such thing as “spiritual” and “material” in the Christian life, for everything comes from God and belongs to God. The Old Testament Jews brought the Lord the first born of their flocks (Ex. 13:1-2) and the first fruits of their fields (Lev. 23:9-14), and in this way acknowledged His goodness and sovereignty.

Many people give God their leftovers. If they can afford to donate anything, they do so. These people may be sincere and contribute willingly, but their attitude is nonetheless backward. It is better to give God the first part of our income. This demonstrates that God, not possessions, has first place in our lives and that our resources belong to him (we are only managers of God’s resources). Giving to God first helps us conquer greed, helps us properly manage God’s resources, and opens us up to receive God’s special blessings.

If we don’t faithfully give to the Lord, we don’t really trust the Lord. Of course, our tithes and offerings aren’t “payment” for His blessings; rather, they’re evidence of our faith and obedience. Giving is heart preparation for what God wants to say to us and do for us. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).

3.  God’s Love can bring Discipline  ( 3:11-12)

Discipline is a part of God’s plan to help His sons and daughters mature in godly character (Heb. 12:1-11). God disciplines us, not as a judge punishes a criminal, but as a parent disciplines a child. He acts in love and His purpose is that we might become more holy and less selfish (Heb. 12:10). Sometimes He disciplines because we have rebelled and need to repent; other times He does to keep us from sinning and to prepare us for His special blessing. No matter how much the experience hurts us, it will never harm us, because God always disciplines in love (Deut. 8:2-5).

 4.  God’s Blessings are to be Enjoyed (vv. 13-35)

When we trust and obey, God will direct our path into the blessings He has planned for us; the first of these blessings is the true wealth that comes from wisdom (vv. 13-18). Some people know the price of everything but the value of nothing; consequently, they make unwise choices.  It’s good to have the things money can buy, provided you don’t lose the things money can’t buy. What good is an expensive house if there’s no happy home within it? Happiness, pleasantness, and peace aren’t the guaranteed by-products of financial success, but they are guaranteed to the person who lives by God’s wisdom.

Another blessing is enjoying God’s creation (Prov. 3:19-20). The wisdom of God brought everything into being (8:22ff), People in the so-called “New Age” movement try to be “at one” with creation, but they’re doomed to fail because they reject the wisdom of God. Christians who live by God’s wisdom will be good stewards of His creation and will enjoy his creation at the same time.

 A third blessing is God’s daily care (3:21-26). Because God directs our path, He is able to protect our path. The Lord isn’t obligated to protect His children when they willfully go their own way. They’re only tempting Him, and that’s a dangerous thing to do. When you surrender yourself to God, every part of your body belongs to Him and will be protected by Him. He will help you keep your eyes from wandering (v. 21), your neck from turning your face away from God’s path (vv. 22; see Luke 9:53), your feet walking on the right path (Prov. 3:23, 26), and even your sleep will be sweet (v. 24). If something frightening suddenly happens, you won’t be afraid (v. 25; see Pss. 112:7; 121:3-6), because the Lord is protecting you.

5. God’s  People need to care for Others (3:27-35 )

God’s people will be kind to their neighbors and live peaceably with them (vv. 27-30), doing their best to avoid unnecessary disagreements (Rom. 12:18). After all, if we truly love God, we will love our neighbor as we would want him to love us.

On the other hand, if our neighbor is a critical person who puts down our faith (Prov. 3:31-35), the Lord will guide us in letting our light shine and His love show so that we will influence him but he won’t lead us astray.   It’s possible to have a godly home in the midst of an ungodly neighborhood, for God “blesses the home of the righteous” (v. 33, ). We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and one dedicated believer in a neighborhood can make a difference.

Until  tomorrow,  Darrell

http://www.Upwards.Church

 Sources:
Bible Exposition Commentary – Old Testament
Life Application Bible Notes
New American Commentary
 
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Proverbs Reading Challenge – Chapter 2

Posted on January 30, 2020 by dkoop

Welcome to chapter 2!  I have prayed for you and hope you have gotten much out of your time in God’s word.

Today as we look at chapter 2 the repetition of the phrase “my son” (2:1; 3:1, 11, 21; 4:10, 20; and “my children” 4:1,) reminds us that the book of Proverbs records a loving father’s wise counsel to his family.

While the Proverbs of Ch 1-9 are directed toward young people, the principles supporting them are helpful to all believers, male and female, young and old. Anyone beginning his or her journey to discover more of wisdom will benefit greatly from these wise sayings.

Proverbs chapter 2 teaches the doctrine of two ways.

Chose the Way of God 2:1–4 and  2:5–11

Chapters 2-4 all begin with a challenge to listen to God’s words and take them to heart, because that’s the only way we can walk with God and live skillfully. Eight essentials in this paragraph reveal our responsibilities toward God’s truth: accept God’s words and store them up in our minds and hearts; turn your ear and apply your heart; cry out for understanding, look for wisdom and search for it.

 Avoid the Way of Death

10-19. Here we meet 2 more people “the wicked man” and “the adulteress” two people who are dangerous because they want to lead God’s children away from the path of life. The evil man holds out the promise of easy money (vv. 12–15; cf. 1:10–19), and the adulteress holds out the promise of easy sex (vv. 16–19; cf. 5:1–23).

The wicked man is known for his perverse (crooked) words (see vv. 12, 14; 6:14; 8:13; 10:31-32; and 16:28, 30). That is, he justifies his way of life with a distorted set of values in order to persuade others to join him. He walks on the dark path of disobedience and enjoys doing that which is evil. He belongs to the crowd Solomon warns us about in 1:10-19. The person who walks in the way of wisdom would immediately detect his deceit and avoid him.

The “adulteress” has no respect for God, because she breaks His law (Ex. 20:14); she has no respect for her husband because she violates the promises she made to him when she married him. She no longer has a guide or a friend in the Lord or in her husband, because she has taken the path of sin. Those who enter the house of the immoral woman find only the ghosts of those who preceded them and discover too late that there is no exit (vv. 18–19). This is a powerful image accurately and graphically describing the situation of those who have followed the allurement of sexual sin.  Anyone who listens to her words and follows her path is heading for death.

 Then You Will Walk in Ways of Good Men.

Note the argument that Solomon gives in this chapter that begins with the “if” of verse 1 and continues with the “then” of verse 9 and the “thus” of verse 20. If we receive God’s words and obey them, then we will have wisdom to make wise decisions, and  God will keep His promise and protect us from the wicked man and the adulteress woman. When you obey God, you have the privilege to “walk in the ways of good men” (v. 20).

The wicked may appear to be succeeding, but their end is destruction (Ps. 37). The godly will be rooted in the place of God’s blessing (Ps. 1:3), but the ungodly will be uprooted from the land. The safest and most satisfying path is the path of wisdom, the path of life.

May we walk in God’s way, Darrell

Ps. talk to you tomorrow

http://www.Upwards.Church

Sources:
Bible Exposition Commentary – Old Testament
New American Commentary
Life Application Bible Notes
Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
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Proverbs Reading Challenge – Chapter 1

Posted on January 28, 2020 by dkoop

Welcome to Chapter 1 of the Proverbs reading challenge!  I’m thankful for your desire to get to know God better through his Word.

As we enter 2020 and a new decade, what a better way to start this time than with some insight from God’s word?

Proverbs 1 is broken into 3 major parts:

  1. The purpose of Proverbs
  2. Warning Against Enticement
  3. Embrace Wisdom/Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

 Let’s see the reason the book was written.  And all the great things we can expect from time we spend in Proverbs.

  1. The purpose of Proverbs

I see some good things in store for us as we dig in (I am reading from the NIV):

  • attaining wisdom (vs. 2)
  • attaining discipline (vs.2)
  • understanding words of insight (vs. 2)
  • acquiring a disciplined life (vs. 3)
  • acquiring a sensible life (vs. 3)
  • to be able to do what is right (vs. 3)
  • to be able to do what is just (vs. 3)
  • to be able to do what is fair (vs. 3)
  • to be able to give moral instruction to those who lack moral sense (vs. 4)
  • to able to give knowledge and insight to the young (vs. 4)

I could benefit from all the above, couldn’t you?

Then comes what every commentator says is the key verse of all of Proverbs   1:7-9

  In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot. It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of life. The foundation of knowledge is to fear the Lord — to honor and respect God, to live in awe of his power, and to obey his Word. Faith in God should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. Trust in God — he will make you truly wise.

  1. Warning Against Enticement

(vv. 7-10, 15-19). This is the voice of a godly father, urging his son to listen to his parents instruction and to beware of those who would entice him to do the wrong things.

There will be people who will entice you to cut corners, to cheat, to be dishonest and immoral.  They will convince you that you can have something for nothing.

Vs. 15 – DO NOT GO ALONG WITH THEM.   Pretty clear isn’t it?   DO NOT SET FOOT ON THEIR PATH.  Yes sir!

Sin is enticing because it offers a quick route to prosperity and makes us feel like one of the crowd. But when we go along with others and refuse to listen to the truth, our own appetites become our masters, and we’ll do anything to satisfy them. Sin, even when attractive, is deadly. We must learn to make choices, not on the basis of flashy appeal or short-range pleasure, but in view of the long-range effects. Sometimes this means steering clear of people who want to entice us into activities that we know are wrong. We can’t be friendly with sin and expect our lives to remain unaffected.

Notes for 1:19

Going after “ill-gotten gain” is one of Satan’s surest traps. It begins when he plants the suggestion that we can’t live without some possession or more money. Then that desire fans its own fire until it becomes an all-consuming obsession. Ask God for wisdom to recognize any greedy desire before it destroys you. God will help you overcome it.

  • Embrace Wisdom/Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

  (vv. 20-33). How does Wisdom speak? In a loud ringing voice that everybody can hear! Through both creation (Rom. 10:18; Ps. 19:1-4) and conscience (Rom. 2:14-16), “what may be known of God is manifest in them [the lost world], for God has shown it to them” (Rom. 1:19, NKJV). The church’s task is to proclaim the Gospel message so everybody can hear, believe, and be saved. Like Wisdom, we must speak the Word in an uncompromising way.

Where does Wisdom speak? In the crowded streets and public places where busy people gather to take care of the business of life. The message of God’s truth is made for the marketplace, not church buildings alone; we must share it “at the head of the noisy streets” (Prov. 1:21, NIV). Wisdom even went to the city gate where the leaders were transacting official business. No matter where people are, they need to hear Wisdom’s call.

To whom does Wisdom speak? To three classes of people :

(Yesterday I wrote that over a hundred of types of people are mentioned in Proverbs and you may be able to identify someone you know with each type.  Here are the first 3)

The simple ones, the scorners (scoffers, mockers, NIV), and the fools – the simple are naive people who believe anything but examine nothing. They’re gullible and easily led astray. Scorners think they know everything and laugh at the things that are really important. While the simple one has a blank look on his face, the scorner wears a sneer. Fools are people who are ignorant of truth because they’re dull and stubborn. Their problem isn’t a low IQ or poor education; their problem is a lack of spiritual desire to seek and find God’s wisdom. Fools enjoy their foolishness but don’t know how foolish they are! The outlook of fools is purely materialistic and humanistic. They hate knowledge and have no interest in things eternal. I’ll have more to say about each of these in a later chapter.

What does wisdom say to them? First, she brings an indictment against them (1:22) and asks how long they plan to remain in their dangerous spiritual condition. Wisdom has spoken to them time and time again, but they have refused to listen, and this will make their judgment even more severe. Then Wisdom issues an invitation that they turn from their evil ways and receive her gifts (v. 23). This is a call to repentance and faith. She promises to change their hearts and teach them the wisdom of God from the Word of God.

How do the simple, the scorners, and the fools respond to Wisdom? They refuse to obey her voice; they won’t take hold of her outstretched hand; they laugh at her warnings; and they mock her words.  Because they laughed at Wisdom, one day Wisdom will also laugh at them. Because they mocked her, she will mock them. Wisdom sees a storm of judgment coming that will bring distress and anguish to all who reject God’s invitation.

Until tomorrow, Darrell

http://www.Upwards.Church

Sources:
Bible Exposition Commentary – Old Testament
Vernon McGee’s Thru The Bible
Life Application Bible Notes
Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary

 

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Proverbs Reading Challenge – Introduction

Posted on January 27, 2020 by dkoop

Proverbs Introduction 

Greetings!  Thanks for being a part of the Proverbs challenge: to read a Proverb a day – 31 Proverbs in 31 days!    It’s going to be a great journey with lots of discovery, insight and fun.

Each day pick a convenient time to read your Proverb.  It could be in the morning when you wake up, at night just before you go to sleep, at work during lunch, etc.    Each day for the next 31 days, I will post on the blog and send emails to those who signed up.  Each day’s post/email will contain expanded thoughts, some background and commentary.   Each day’s post/email will also serve as an encouragement as I will be praying for you each day.

To start with I thought it might be helpful to give a general overview of the book – to whet your appetite for what is to come.   I will be drawing on several sources for commentary and insight as well as include my own thoughts and discoveries.  I will include a source list at the bottom.

Let’s get prepared for our journey through Proverbs by answering these five questions.

  1. What Is the Major Theme of the Book of Proverbs?

One word answers the question: wisdom. In Proverbs, the words wise and wisdom are used at least 125 times, because the aim of the book is to help us acquire and apply God’s wisdom to the decisions and activities of daily life.

What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?  “Knowledge” is (having the facts) and “wisdom” is (applying those facts to life). We may amass knowledge, but without wisdom, our knowledge is useless. We must learn how to live out what we know.

Proverbs also covers a wide range of topics, including money, youth and discipline, family life, self-control and resisting temptation, business matters, words and the tongue, knowing God, marriage, seeking the truth, wealth and poverty, immorality, and, of course, wisdom.

The word “proverb” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to rule or to govern,” and these sayings, reminders, and admonitions provide profound advice for governing our lives.

  1. Who Wrote the Book of Proverbs and How Is It Written?

Author:  We’re told that King Solomon is the author of the proverbs in this book. God gave Solomon great wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15), so that people came from the ends of the earth to listen to him and returned home amazed (4:29-34; Matt. 12:42). He spoke 3, 000 proverbs, most of which are not included in this book. The Holy Spirit selected only those proverbs that the people of God should understand and obey in every age.   Date: The book was originally composed in the days of Solomon (971-931 B.C)

Proverbs are pithy statements that summarize in a few choice words practical truths relating to some aspect of everyday life.  Someone defined a proverb as “a short sentence based on long experience.”

The book uses varied literary forms: poems, brief parables, pointed questions, and couplets. Other literary devices include antithesis, comparison, and personification.

*Three additional items I find interesting:

  • Here is something that will make the Book of Proverbs a fun experience for you: It’s a book about people. There are over a hundred different kinds of people talked about in this book of Proverbs in the Old Testament, from the wise son to the lazy messenger to the wicked king to the smooth talker and the upright judge and the excellent wife and the offended brother, the simple man, the mocker, the sluggard and, my favorite, the fool.    I think you will find there is a proverb that will fit all your friends and family members — but perhaps you had better not mention to them the proverb that fits some of them! There is a proverb that will fit every one of us, and we can have a good time going through this book.
  • Proverbs has no unscientific statement or inaccurate observation. For example, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” ( 4:23). This is a remarkable statement because it was about 2,700 years later that Harvey found that the blood circulates and that the heart is the pump. In contrast, in an apocryphal book called the Epistle of Barnabas, mention is made of the mythical phoenix, a bird that consumes itself by fire and rises in resurrection. Such a fable does not appear in the Book of Proverbs nor anywhere else in the Bible. It is strange that this is an ancient book containing hundreds of proverbs and not one of them is unscientific today. That in itself ought to alert any thinking person to the fact that the Book of Proverbs is God-inspired.

The Proverbs do not contradict themselves, while man’s proverbs are often in opposition to each other. For example: “Look before you leap” contrasted with “He who hesitates is lost.” “A man gets what he pays for” contrasted with “The best things in life are free.” The proverbs of man contradict each other because men’s ideas differ. But you will find no contradiction in the Book of Proverbs because it is inspired by God.

3. What Is the Key Verse That Helps “Unlock” the Book?

I suggest that 1:7 is the key verse we’re looking for: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning [chief part] of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (See also Job 28:28 and Psalm 111:10. )

There are at least eighteen references to “the fear of the Lord” in Proverbs.

If we truly “fear the Lord,” we acknowledge from our hearts that He’s the Creator, we’re the creatures; He’s the Father, we’re His children; He’s the Master, we’re the servants. It means to respect God for who He is, to listen carefully to what He says, and to obey His Word, knowing that our disobedience displeases Him, breaks our fellowship with Him, and invites His discipline

  1. What Does Proverbs Say about Jesus Christ?

In Jesus Christ “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3), and He is our wisdom (1 Cor. 1:24, 30). Solomon was the wisest ruler who ever lived, and yet Jesus Christ is “greater than Solomon” in both His wisdom and His wealth (Matt. 12:42). Certainly all the beautiful qualities of wisdom described in Proverbs are seen in Jesus Christ, and His earthly walk is a pattern for God’s people to follow (1 John 2:6).  The description of wisdom in Proverbs 8:22-31 suggests Jesus Christ as the eternal wisdom of God.

  1. What Must We Do to Get the Most out of This Book?

Solomon often uses the phrase, “my son” (Prov. 1:8, 10, 15; 2:1; 3:1, 11, 21; 4:10, 20; 5:1, 20; 6:1, 3, 20; 7:1; 19:27; 23:15, 19, 26; 24:13, 21; 27:11), which suggests that Proverbs contains truths that loving godly parents would pass along to their children (see 1 Chron. 29:1). As God’s children, we need His loving counsel, and He gives it to us in this book. So, the first essential for an effective study of Proverbs is faith in Jesus Christ so that you can honestly call God your Father. You can’t make a life until you first have life, and this life comes through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 36).

What applies to the study of Proverbs applies to the study of any book in the Bible: A willingness to obey is essential (John 7:17).

At least a dozen times in Proverbs you find the imperatives “hear” or “listen” (Prov. 1:8; 4:1, 10; 5:7; 7:24; 8:6, 32-33; 19:20; 22:17; 23:19, 22); many other verses explain the blessings that come to those who obey (who hear and heed) the Word of God (1:5, 33; 8:34; 12:15; 15:31-32).

As you read, keep in mind that Hebrew proverbs are generalized statements of what is usually true in life, and they should not be treated like promises. “A friend loves at all times” (Prov. 17:17, NKJV), but sometimes even the most devoted friends may have disagreements. “A soft answer turns away wrath” (15:1, NKJV) in most instances, but our Lord’s lamblike gentleness didn’t deliver Him from shame and suffering.

And lastly as you read Proverbs, understand that knowing God is the key to wisdom.  God calls us to receive His wisdom and be skillful, so that we can make a life that will glorify Him.  It’s one thing to make a living, but something else to make a life.

Until tomorrow, Darrell

http://www.Upwards.Church

Sources:
Bible Exposition Commentary – Old Testament
J Vernon McGee’s Thru The Bible
Life Application Bible Notes
Tom Holiday, Smart Living
Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary
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