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Nov
22

A Look at Proverbs 10.24

By | Proverbs

Pr 10:24.
24 What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

The Parts

Parallelism Examined

24a

25a

fears

desire

of the wicked

of the righteous

will come upon him

will be granted (him)

fear / terror – an extreme sense of horror. The verb speaks of intimidation before a stronger or superior being or thing. It is a state where survival itself is threatened!

wicked – this noun is used over 266 times paralleling almost every word for sin, evil, and iniquity. A description of someone in contrast to the character and attitude of God, e.g., violates social rights, violent, oppressive, greedy, plotting against the poor, murder, community threateners, dishonest, self-serving. This person contrasts the righteous not only in lifestyle but in life results.

desire – long for, regard as beautiful. The verb often relates to what our “soul” (being) seeks, something for the depths of our being.

References to consider:

Ps 34:4.
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

Ps 9:5.
5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.

Ps 9:16.
16 The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment.
In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared.

Pr 24:20.
20 For there will be no future for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Mal 4:3.
3 “You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts.

N.B. – Such wickedness is not irreversible, cf Ps106.6; 2Chron6.37; Neh9.33; Dan9.5. It is confession / repentance the Lord really seeks.

Pr 13:12.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Pr 13:19.
19 Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.

Sharpening for my life today:

The gem of God’s wisdom picks up from the preceding Proverb where the wicked take pleasure in their sin, yet, there is a day ahead that their conscience speaks about to them. Let’s make a note here, God’s provision of our conscience is a gift to prick, prod, and point us to the things we need to see in our lives. Rightfully so does the wicked have a gnawing inside of them, it is a gift of God to call them to repentance!

We would do well to consider “What do the wicked fear”? Our word for fear / terror is frequently used in promise-fulfillment motifs. It is suggested what is to be worried is what will “come upon” us. Scripture is consistent in the truth, what you sow, you reap, or called talionic justice.

At the heart of all “dread” is the thought of the wicked that they must stand before the Lord. This “dread” is frequently treated as a laughing matter, anesthetized with activity, alcohol, materialism, immorality, and many more masks! The truth of the Word of God is that there will be a day of reckoning.

At this point, our jewel from the Lord, sets a hope before the righteous of standing before the Lord. This is the hope of life! Read Ps 73, meditate on Ps73.24-28. Ahead of the righteous is the desire of life granted from the Lord. The conscience of those who walk with the Lord blesses those who love Him.

Take a moment and see if there’s something gnawing in your heart. Know the Lord restores all who turn to Him in faith! His blessing can be yours, now, and when you stand before Him!

Nov
17

A Look at Proverbs 10.23

By | Proverbs

Pr 10.23
23 Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

The Parts

Parallelism Examined

23a

23b

doing wickedness

(doing) wisdom

is like sport

(is like sport)

to a fool

to a man of understanding

sport – laugh, laughter, play. Wrongness is so much a part of the nature of the fool that it’s satisfying activity, he “laughs” at his “sport”! This is something in which he finds satisfaction. “Sport” is implied in our parallelism of the wise person with the fool. They have this in common! Each one does something just for the pleasure of it!

fool – (see Pr10.18 study)

wickedness – plan, device.

understanding –

References to consider:

Wickedness

Pr 12.2
2 A good man will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.

Pr 14.7
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

Pr 21.27
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

Pr 24.9
9 The devising of folly is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

Pr 10.4
4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Understanding

Pr 15.21
21 Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,
But a man of understanding walks straight.

Pr 3.13
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.

Pr 9.10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Sharpening for my life today:

Our gem touches the habits of our hearts! We might first want to notice that this jewel is not a contrast, “but,” { incorrectly translated by the ESV, NIV, NKJV Bibles } it’s a comparison, a commonality between the fool and the man of understanding. They have something in common!

The fool has no sense of sin because there is no moral foundation. Wrongness is such a part of the nature that it is satisfying activity.

The wise man has a sense of sin because there is a moral foundation. We can easily see that if sin is getting too close to us, it’s not because of our closeness to the Moral Foundation, the Lord and His Word!

Here we also find some insightful counsel. The person (or group) which commits sin and laughs it off is to be avoided! Such action not only clouds our ability to see, choose, act wisely, it is an abomination to the Lord and His Truth in our lives.

God’s Word and Ways in our lives brings blessing! We might just stop and reflect on this a little longer. What are we “laughing” about, “sporting” over, “making light” of? Sin is exceedingly deceitful! Here again, a great truth for habits of our hearts.

Pr 12.2
2 A good man will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.

Oct
16

A Look at Proverbs 10.20

By | Proverbs

Pr 10.20
20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

 The Parts

Parallelism Examined

20a

20b

tongue

heart

of the righteous

of the wicked

choice silver

little

choice – “to take a keen look at” – almost always used with theological overtones (Dt12.5; 14.2), involves careful and thoughtful choices (1Sam17.40; 1Ki18.45; Isa1.29; 40.20), key is serviceability, not just arbitrariness (Isa41.8-16; 43.10).

words of the righteous – What is “righteous”? Spend some time considering your answer.

words of the righteous – Who puts them out? Spend some time considering where the “words” your taking in are coming from.

“Righteous” makes a straight path (Pr11.5); guards integrity (Pr13.6); hates what is false and dishonest (Pr13.5; 29.27); committed to justice (Pr29.7); disapproves any miscarriage of justice (Pr18.15; 17.15); gives honest and accurate testimony (Pr12.17); generous (Pr21.26); bold (Pr28.1); wise (Pr8.20); keeps getting up after falling (Pr24.16); displays stability (Pr10.25); experiences joy (Pr10.28); attains life (Pr11.19). He blesses and responds to the prayers of the righteous (Pr10.6; 15.29).

Sharpening for life today:

Could you describe a “choice” car, or horse, or weapon, or guitar, or golf course? Now, what would “choice” speech be?

Where would you look for “words of the righteous”? A good place to start would be godly company, godly writers, godly singers . . . by the way, who’ve you been listening to on a regular basis? “Take a keen look at” the words that are filling your heart and head!

The words of the righteous come from the heart (mind) of the righteous! The words of the world are common at best, deceptive and resistive of the Lord’s Word and Ways at worst.

So, if the tongue of the righteous is choice silver, how is your bank account today?

Suppose, after balancing your “choice silver” account you’ve found your account a little short, maybe even deeply overdrawn, where would you look for some solid deposits?

If you don’t have a church home where they regularly teach the Bible and present Jesus as the Lord of life, look around and find that church. Ask the Lord to lead you to some godly mentoring, find some counsel in your church for direction for some godly reading. Also, don’t forget to stop taking in all the “cheap” things that have been taking your time and attention! Take that “keen look” right now!

Sep
14

A Look at Proverbs 10.16

By | Proverbs

Prov 10.16
16 The wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.

The Parts

Parallelism Examined

16a

16b

wages

income

of the righteous

of the wicked

life

punishment

wicked – someone contrary to God’s character, ways, Word. This person would not hesitate to violate another person for selfish gain, e.g., financial, verbal integrity, false witness, social, personal.

righteous – (write your definition of “righteous” as you study this Proverb)

income – can mean product, result, fruit

wages – work, recompense, rewards, often used of that which comes from God, what you have coming!

References to consider:

Prov 21.10
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

Prov 29.7
7 The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand such concern.

Prov 12.26
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Prov 17.15
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

Prov 17.2
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

Prov 24.20
20 For there will be no future for the evil man;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Righteous

Prov 21.3
3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.

Prov 15.29
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Prov 11.19
19 He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life,
And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

Prov 10.25
25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Prov 12.3
3 A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.

Income

Prov 8.19
19 “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.

Wages

Isa 40.10
10 Behold, the Lord God will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.

Prov 11.18
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward.

Isa 65.7
7 Both their own iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together,” says the Lord. “Because they have burned incense on the mountains And scorned Me on the hills, Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.”

Psalm 109.20
20 Let this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, And of those who speak evil against my soul.

Sharpening for my life today:

Considering the previous Proverb along with this one, while wealth can be a platform of ministry and a sense of provision and security, it is not the currency of life! Life comes by righteousness!

This gem of Proverbs lays out the currency of life! Real life comes from a moral choice, not physical, financial, technical, medical, political, military, etc.! Remember, even poverty can keep you from real life!

There is no doubt “what you sow, you reap”! So, we should be asking, “What is the return on the investments I’m making for life”?

Prov 30.7-9
7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

Aug
13

A Look at Proverbs 10.11

By | Proverbs

 Prov 10.11
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The Parts

Parallelism Examined

11a

11b

mouth of the righteous

mouth of the wicked

is

conceals

fountain of life

violence
sharpen_150x117

Prov 27.17

mouth – a figure of speech for what proceeds from the mouth, our words, our speech, indeed, our very heart, cf. Matt 15.18 below. Our mouth is the window to the world of our heart/mind!

mouth of the righteous – “righteous” is always tied to relationship, 1st with the Lord, then with those around us. These words are wisdom based, consistent, true, fair, loving, upbuilding.

mouth of the wicked – a “wicked” person is someone not in relationship; they’re only looking out for self! Therefore, the words are partial in truth, manipulative in direction, self?satisfying, self?promoting. There is no substance in these words (or in the life that speaks them!).

fountain of life – a source of vitality, strength, refreshment, healing, benefit

violence – almost always sinful violence. This is a characteristic of those judged in the Flood, cf. Gen 6.11 where this word parallels “corrupt,” and Gen 6.13 where it parallels “destroyed.”

This rendition “But the mouth of the righteous conceals violence” is preferable to the NIV, which follows Delitzsch (Proverbs Volume 1:212–13) in taking “mouth” as the object rather than subject. The NIV also translates “conceals” as “overwhelms” (also v6) which is forced and not the best translation of kasah. The idea is the wicked use their mouth, a figure of speech for their words, to cover/conceal their violence.
See: Duane A. Garrett, vol. 14, “Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs,” electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1993).

Proverbs’ focus on character (noted in the previous verse) continues here. It is “character” which preserves, is blessed, and brings a blessing.

Prov 10.6-11
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.

                        8 The wise of heart will receive commands,
                        But a babbling fool will be ruined.

                        9 He who walks in integrity walks securely,
                        But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

            10 He who winks the eye causes trouble,
            And a babbling fool will be ruined.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

References to consider:

Matt 12.34
34 “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Matt 6.21
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt 15.18
18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Luke 6.43-45
43 “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.
44 “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.
45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Prov 13.14
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.

Prov 4.23-24
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.

Sharpening for my life today:

Character in my life produces “fruit” in the lives of others. The converse is also true, lack of character is fruitless to those around me, reason, the focus is on “self” which robs from others to satisfy me, even with my words!

We can literally come alongside another with a “fountain of life,” i.e., blessing, strength, healing, comfort, power, and more, with the words with speak!

Take a second look at the “References to consider” and let this tip of the iceberg from God’s Word soak in. Our words are very important, they reveal our character, they reveal our relationship with the Lord and with others. Our words are one of the significant ways the Lord works in and through us to display His glory and bring His blessing!

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