Proverbs - One Month of Wisdom

Proverbs / January 10, 2022

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

I hope this has been for you, an amazing journey and a season of growth, as it has been for me. I would like to leave you with one final thought…

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Love Conquers Over All… Peace Will Come!

lynnibug

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Proverbs / January 10, 2022

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

Happiness in Marriage

The Sayings of King Lemuel

1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, 3 do not waste your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. 5 For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. 6 Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. 7 Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. 9 Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

A Wife of Noble Character

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?She is more precious than rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. 20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. 21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. 23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. 24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. (NLT)

insights

Proverbs 31:10-30

The wisdom in Proverbs 31 is attributed to King Lemuel’s mother and speaks primarily to finding happiness in marriage. She taught her son not only what to look for in a wife, but to cherish her once he found her.

It all goes back to creation…man was created in the wilderness, and woman was created in the garden. We are different by design, God’s design. Understanding our differences and our God intended roles will lead to happiness in marriage.

In a time and social setting where women were treated as property, what Lemuel’s mother taught her son is how to live side by side with a woman as God intended. We may be designed for different roles, but we are designed to be equal. Happiness in marriage is only achievable when both parties share power in equality.

We are of equal value to God and should also value each other equally. With God in the center of a union between a man and a woman, the fullness of love can be achieved.

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lynnibug

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Proverbs / January 10, 2022

Proverbs 30

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

The Sayings of Agur son of Jakeh

1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.

I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. 2 I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense. 3 I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.

4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name-and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!

5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. 6 Do not add to his words, or He may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

7 O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. 8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. 9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

10 Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it.

11 Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother. 12 They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed.
13 They look proudly around, casting disdainful glances. 14 They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.

15 The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied- no, four that never say, Enough!”: 16 the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.

17 The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.

18 There are three things that amaze me- no, four things that I don’t understand:19 how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.

20 An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, “What’s wrong with that?”

21 There are three things that make the earth tremble- no, four it cannot endure: 22 a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers, 23 a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

24 There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: 25 Ants-they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer. 26 Hyraxes – they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks. 27 Locusts-they have no king, but they march in formation. 28 Lizards-they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces. 29 There are three things that walk with stately stride-no, four that strut about: 30 the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything, 31 the strutting rooster, the male goat, a king as he leads his army.

32 If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame.

33 As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels. (NLT)

insights

There is much speculation about the identity of Agur, son of Jakeh. In rabbinical literature, based on the meanings of the names, it is theorized that Agur was the compiler, the one who first gathered the maxims together, and Jakeh was one who spat out or despised the word of God. The literary style and the tone of this chapter are distinct, and no doubt written by a distinctly different sort of man than Solomon.

If Agur son of Jakeh is indeed the one charged with gathering the maxims and compiling the book of Proverbs, he was likely born of a servant class, and blessed to rub elbows so to speak, with the most learned men of his day.

He seems to lack self esteem, but has a street kind of wisdom all his own. He has studied the creatures of the earth and has gleaned wisdom from what he has observed. He senses the magnificence in the order of heaven and earth, and so reveres the Creator, while conceding that he does not feel a personal connection to Him.

Proverbs 30:4

In this verse Agur son of Jakeh cries out because he wants to know his creator. He is longing for a personal relationship with God. You and I can have the relationship that Agur so desired because Jesus came to stand in that gap for us, to intercede and represent us as pure and acceptable in the presence of God.

This, of all things, provides the perfect place to include one of my all time favorite worship songs, Saving the World by Clay Crosse.

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Proverbs 30:7

Agur’s prayer is profound. He asks for only two things. One is for his spiritual life and one for his physical life. His spiritual request was to live a fair and honest life that would honor God. He did not want to deceive others. As the one charged with compiling the known wisdom of his day, he surely would want God’s guidance in order to be accurate and thorough in his work. The request for his physical needs is humbling. He must have seen much arrogance in the respected intellectuals of his day, and much desperation among the common class he most likely came from. He was in essence asking God to protect him from temptations that come with either extreme, the poor being tempted to steal to survive, and the wealthy being tempted to think they don’t need God. Agur son of Jakeh wanted to have enough, but no more. He feared success would go to his head, and wanted no part of that.

Proverbs 30:24-27

Agur son of Jakeh uses examples from nature to show wise traits and the ability to overcome adversity and long odds through wisdom. The ants, though small in stature, working diligently together to store up food for less plentiful seasons, the hydrax, or rock badger, making its home among the rocks, the locusts who march in harmony together, and the lizards who thrive in the homes of both paupers and kings. What they all have in common is that they are simply being what God created them to be.

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Proverbs / January 10, 2022

Proverbs 29

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

Free Will

1 Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

2 When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted.

4 A just king gives stability to his nation, but one who demands bribes destroys it.

5 To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.

6 Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.

7 The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all.

8 Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger.

9 If a wise person takes a fool to court, there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.

10 The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them.

11 Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

12 If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common- the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

14 If a king judges the poor fairly, his throne will last forever.

15 To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.

16 When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.

18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

19 Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood, but they are not heeded.

20 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

21 A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel.

22 An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

23 Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

24 If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.

25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice comes from the Lord.

27 The righteous despise the unjust; the wicked despise the godly. (NLT)

insights

Proverbs 29:6

There is much to be joyful about! Hear that and believe it! God gave us free will to choose his love or not. When we focus on God and his love for us, we are released to express our joy. Then why do we experience sorrow?

God knows that without some sorrow in life, we would have no capacity to appreciate that which brings us joy. Kahlil Gibran expressed this concept beautifully in his book, The Prophet, saying “The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”

Just how much does God love you? Just listen to this and choose to love Him as He loves you.

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Proverbs 29:13

Rich or poor, weak or strong, powerful or oppressed…the Lord has given us all the same free will opportunity to seek Him in wisdom. We all have the capacity for sight. Even those who may not have the gift of sight in the physical body, still are capable of spiritual vision. We can either chase after him blindly or work at seeing this world as the Lord sees it. When we can see as He sees and weep for what makes Him weep, then we are ready to fulfill the task he has set before us.

Proverbs 29:26

In exercising our free will we will all make some good choices and some bad ones. We have all heard the phrase “life is not fair” and have felt at some point that God must not really care about us. We may have felt guilty thinking the bad fix we are in is solely due to a bad choice we have made.

It is at these times when we must stop looking for our fulfillment to come from the world, but rather from He who is our true Provider. There will be times in life when we grow by leaps and bounds, and other times when pruning is necessary.

Even in times of deepest darkness He is still there for us. He is our hope and our strength, and if we allow Him to guide us through the darkness, we will discover in the light of day that even those dark times were ultimately for our benefit and part of His plan.

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lynnibug

To support continuation of this project and others yet to be birthed, donations are most appreciated.

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Proverbs / January 9, 2022

Proverbs 28

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

Corruption and Greed

1 The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. but wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

3 A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

4 To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.

5 Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

6 Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.

7 Young people who obey the law are wise; those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.

8 Income from charging high interest rates will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.

9 God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law.

10 Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.

11 Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.

12 When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.

13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

14 Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.

15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear.

16 A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people, but one who hates corruption will have a long life.

17 A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don’t protect him!

18 The blameless will be rescued from harm, but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.

19 A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.

20 The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

21 Showing partiality is never good, yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

22 Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.

23 In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.

24 Anyone who steals from his father and mother and says, “What’s wrong with that?”is no better than a murderer.

25 Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.

26 Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

28 When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish. (NLT)

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insights

Proverbs 28:2, Proverbs 28:16, Proverbs 28:25

On August 23, 1987, the deaths of two teen age boys in Mena Arkansas began the unraveling of a tale of corruption and greed at the highest levels of local and national government. I spent much time in prayer before making the decision to post these videos. They are a reminder that we must not let down our guard for even a moment, when it comes to holding our leaders accountable for their actions.

This true story illustrates how deeply corruption and greed can penetrate a government, and how the greed of a few can shatter the lives of many innocents. Be watchful, for the hour of judgement is near.

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lynnibug

Proverbs / January 9, 2022

Proverbs 27

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

Dealing With Feelings

1 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth- a stranger, not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.

4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.

5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love!

6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

7 A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry.

8 A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest.

9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

10 Never abandon a friend- either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad. Then I will be able to answer my critics.

12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!

15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. 16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands.

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interests will be rewarded.

19 As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.

20 Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.

21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.

22 You cannot separate fools from their foolishness, even though you grind them like grain with mortar and pestle.

23 Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, 24 for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.

25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, 26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. 27 And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls. (NLT)

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insights

Proverbs 27:4

Dealing with feelings is learned behavior. Learning is a process. This ballad walks us through the songwriters process of dealing with feelings in a very intimate way.

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Proverbs 27:19

Dealing with feelings must be done on both a physical and spiritual level. Many thanks to Angie Reeves, for allowing me to quote from her sermon, Spiritual Anatomy 101

Our spiritual bodies consist of our eyes, the windows of the spirit, our tongue, which speaks the truth of who we are and what we believe, our hearts, where our truth, emotion, and passion reside, and our mind, which is the processing center of our spiritual bodies.

God’s heart speaks directly to our hearts and encourages us to action, but sometimes our hearts can be hard, and we can miss what God is telling us. Dealing with feelings that cause us to question if God is listening can close our hearts to hearing Him.

The mind receives input from the spiritual eyes and sends it to the heart to speak to God about what we feel about what we have seen, and then the heart hears from God, how God feels about the information. The heart then sends its feelings to the mind, for the body to decide what to do. The mind formulates a plan while listening to the heart, that is listening to God.

This only works correctly if we feed the mind good and true information, just as our physical bodies work better when we feed them good and nutritious food.

“Fill your minds and meditate on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, and gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly, things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard, and saw, and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.” Philippians 4:8, The Message Bible

Proverbs 27:21

Some of us are dealing with feelings of inadequacy; others quite the opposite. Some people are just full of themselves. It is when they are praised that their true colors shine forth as they toot their own horn and strive to make themselves the center of attention for as long as possible.

The problem with this kind of attitude is that it takes their focus off of the One responsible for the gifts and talents that made their praise worthy accomplishment possible in the first place.

When we accomplish great things, we must remember to give God, from whom all good things come, the glory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywx6CIw3RIA

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lynnibug

Proverbs / January 9, 2022

Proverbs 26

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

Foolish and Lazy

1 Honor is no more associated with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

3 Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle, and a fool with a rod to his back!

4 Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

6 Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison!

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

8 Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool is like a thorny branch brandished by a drunk.

10 An employer who hires a fool or a bystander is like an archer who shoots at random.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.

12 There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.

13 The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!”

14 As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.

15 Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth.

16 Lazy people consider themselves smarter than seven wise counselors.

17 Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

18 Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon 19 is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”

20 Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.

23 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, but they’re deceiving you. 25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them. Their hearts are full of many evils. 26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 If you set a trap for others, you will get caught in it yourself. If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and flattering words cause ruin. (NLT)

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insights

Proverbs 26:4-5

This chapter focuses on the foolish and lazy people in our world. Foolishness is addressed first.

I chose to look deeper into two consecutive verses that totally contradict each other, yet both are wise. I am reminded of a commercial where the frazzled mother calmly states, “You have to choose your battles.”

What it really comes down to is that there are some confrontations that aren’t worth having. It is foolish to think we can convince fools to choose wisely, but if we do not challenge them on some level, it will seem, to the foolish, that we have approved of their foolishness, thus giving them validation.

Beware of becoming an enabler for foolish and lazy people. To quote popular comedian Ron White, “You can’t fix stupid.”

Proverbs 26:13-16

The book of Proverbs speaks much about laziness. Terms like “sluggard” paint a picture of extreme laziness. It may be one of the plagues of our generation.

We are called to help the poor, but when government programs are structured to reward people who can work for not working, foolish and lazy politicians may be encouraging the recipients to more foolish and lazy behavior. What we need are more programs that “teach a man to fish” while reserving welfare for those who cannot work.

To take it a step further, for those who do work, with all of the busyness thrust upon us there is a certain attraction to, or even lust for time to do nothing at all.

There is an abundance of commentary on the subject, which should not surprise us. With so much to choose from, I could have easily included an entire page of videos on laziness, but I finally selected one rather sarcastic and edgy video, that drives the point home.

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Proverbs26:23

The truth is easily hidden by those who have learned to tell a convincing tale. In politics it is called “spin” and among thieves and scam artists we call it a con game. It is not a game at all, but these are the “socially responsible” and “politically correct” terms for lies, lest we offend the liars.

As a society, we have grown to expect, and accept, being lied to by those who hold positions of power and authority. We tolerate them straddling the fence between their lies and the truth. I wonder when and how our complacency replaced the high ideals of America’s founding fathers.

Revelation 3:15-16 shows clearly what the perspective of the triune God is. To the church at Laodicea, John is instructed to send this message. ” I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!”

The truth is not something to be danced around, nor are grave errors in judgement and personal power agendas to be rationalized and made more palatable to the public. The truth should be demanded and leadership should be held accountable for their actions. I fear that the beauty of America has become only skin deep, and their is much ugliness and corruption at her core.

I pray that wisdom will prevail, and in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

lynnibug

Proverbs / January 8, 2022

Proverbs 25

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

Justice

More Proverbs of Solomon

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the advisers of King Hezekiah of Judah.

2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. 3 No one can comprehend the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!

4 Remove the impurities from silver, and the sterling will be ready for the silversmith.

5 Remove the wicked from the king’s court, and his reign will be made secure by justice.

6 Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. 7 It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace.

Just because you’ve seen something, 8 don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

9 When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret. 10 Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good reputation.

11 Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.

12 To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

13 Trustworthy messengers refresh like snow in summer. They revive the spirit of their employer.

14 A person who promises a gift but doesn’t give it is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

15 Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.

16 Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!

17 Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.

18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.

20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. 22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.

23 As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

25 Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.

26 If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

27 It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself.

28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. (NLT)

insights

Proverbs 25:4

God promises that justice will be ours in heaven. If only we could remove the wickedness from the “kings court” and have the same kind of security here on earth that awaits us in glory. We may not be able to conform the world to the way we would like it to be, but we can allow God to purify us, so that we may have our eyes and our thoughts firmly set on where we are going.

We can also pledge our time, talent, and treasure to promoting justice here on earth. When we shine the light of the Lord on injustice, we take that ground back from the enemy in His name.

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Proverbs 25:18-20

These three verses speak to common sense living. That they are wise, is not in question at all. If everything in the world were black and white, these would be easy verses to live by. The problem we encounter is that we live in a world filled with shades of gray, making justice sometimes difficult to discern.

In our hearts, we long for a simpler life, but we cannot turn back time. Of course there is a line to be drawn between absolute right and absolute wrong or evil, but with all of the choices we have in this day and age, with all of the worldly seductions we face, it is sometimes hard to keep a godly perspective and always act justly.

We struggle with our choices and we struggle with our relationships, and sometimes we hurt the ones we love deeply when we choose to follow a path we feel we have been called to.

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Proverbs 25:28

Self control is the mastery of self. It is a life long battle for most of us…controlling our thoughts, our eating habits, and our emotions to name just a few.

There is a great danger in losing that self control, which is likened to a city whose walls are broken down. In the time when the book of Proverbs was written, the city walls were the first line of defense. If the walls were to be breached, the enemy could rush in.

In the same manner, when we lose self control, we are giving ground to the enemy, and every inch of ground we relinquish takes us farther from what we truly desire.

lynnibug

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Proverbs / January 8, 2022

Proverbs 24

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

What Shapes Our Lives

1 Don’t envy evil people or desire their company. 2 For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble.

3 A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. 4 Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

5 The wise are mightier than the strong,and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. 6 So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.

8 A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker. 9 The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone detests a mocker.

10 If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death. 12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste. 14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.

15 Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live. 16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. 18 For the Lord will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them.

19 Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy the wicked. 20 For evil people have no future; the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, 22 for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?

More Sayings of the Wise

23 Here are some further sayings of the wise: It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment. 24 A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations. 25 But it will go well for those who convict the guilty; rich blessings will be showered on them.

26 An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.

27 Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.

28 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them. 29 And don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”

30 I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. 31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. 32 Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: 33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. (NLT)

To support continuation of this project and others yet to be birthed, donations are most appreciated.

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insights

Proverbs 24:13-14

What shapes our lives are often things that seem insignificant when they occur. A song, an event, a chance meeting… These verses triggered a memory for me. It is a sweet memory of a major turning point in my life. It was a season in which I made a conscious decision to seek God on a more personal level.

I had always been a bit of a skeptic when I heard the older and wiser generation talk about how the music that young people were listening to would turn them away from God. I still do not support censorship, as God has given us free will to choose, but I do recognize that what we allow into our lives will shape our thinking in the same way that a repeated prayer or affirmation will.

During that time, there was a popular contemporary christian song that I heard on the radio almost every day. Thankfully it was a song that drew me closer to God. I was at “the precipice”, about to enter a very difficult season in life, a season in which I lost everything I held dear and found myself starting over with nothing but God. In that time of crisis, the radio station stopped playing it, but it still “played in my head” often.

I had not heard it for years, until I this memory surfaced as I studied this chapter. It made me realize how influential videos and music can be and how much they are a part of what shapes our lives.

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Proverbs 24:30-34

Yet again I am humbled at the way God leads us and provides for us. If we allow Him, God is what shapes our lives.

When I started this project I was determined to have it published by June 1, 2010. The world pressed in as I completed chapter 20, and I could see no way to complete the project on schedule. It was on May 29, 2010 that I made the decision to publish what I had completed, through chapter 23, with the new goal of publishing the final 8 chapters over the next 23 days.

On May 30, 2010, Pastor Dawn preached on the final verses of chapter 24, and God’s plan became clear to me. I got stuck at chapter 24 to rest in His arms and await His provision. May the words of my pastor be both a blessing and a wake up call to you.

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lynnibug

Proverbs / January 8, 2022

Proverbs 23

I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.

Money Can’t Buy Love

1 While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you. 2 If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; 3 don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you.

4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.

6 Don’t eat with people who are stingy; don’t desire their delicacies. 7 They are always thinking about how much it costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it. 8 You will throw up what little you’ve eaten, and your compliments will be wasted.

9 Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.

10 Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers; don’t take the land of defenseless orphans. 11 For their Redeemer is strong; he himself will bring their charges against you.

12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.

13 Don’t fail to discipline your children. They won’t die if you spank them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death.

15 My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! 16 Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.

17 Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. 18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed.

19 My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.

20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, 21 for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. 25 So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.

26 O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.

27 A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well. 28 She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful.

29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks.

31 Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. 33 You will see hallucinations, and you will say crazy things. 34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t even know it when they beat me up. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?” (NLT)

insights

Proverbs 23:4-5

Money can’t buy love. Wealth will not make you wise. Throughout the book of Proverbs, we see this repeated theme about wealth vs wisdom. Here is another twist on that theme, warning us not to focus too much of our energy on accumulating wealth, which can be lost in the blink of an eye.

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Proverbs 23:15-16

When we develop a wise heart, God rejoices because it brings us closer to Him. Jesus spoke many times about what we are worth to God, and how much he loves us.

In his book, Planned for God’s Pleasure, Rick Warren says, “In God’s Kingdom, you have a place, a role, and a function to fulfill. This gives your life great significance and value.”

“Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work.” Jeremiah 1:5

Wisdom gives us the clarity to know our role and do our part, and when we do, God rejoices that we have chosen Him, chosen life over death.

Proverbs 23:31-35

Wine, like many of the temptations of the earth has its sparkle and sweet taste, but like so many other things, it can be a trap if used unwisely, or as a substitute for the love that seems to be missing in our lives.

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lynnibug

To support continuation of this project and others yet to be birthed, donations are most appreciated.

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