Read Proverbs
18-19 & 2
Corinthians 2
To discover:
As you read consider what
lessons strike you most forcefully.
To ponder:
Some lessons from
Proverbs 18: Unfriendly people go after selfish things for themselves, so
friendship is seen in selflessness. Fools don’t want to understand, but just
air their own opinions. The wicked are held in contempt. Words can drown people
or give them life. It is bad to be biased towards the wicked. The speech of
fools brings him strife, and snares his soul before God, no doubt because he
sins by it. Gossip is digested by those who hear it, which is why it is
detrimental. Those who lazily leave work unfinished and those who destroy have
the same descent, probably because these traits derive from the same negligence
etc. The righteous find safety in God. The rich however rely on their wealth,
wrongly assuming it is impenetrable. Humility comes before honour, no doubt
because it leads to fearing God and therefore uprightness. It is stupid and
shameful to speak before listening. It is the condition of the spirit that
sustains people in their suffering, and none can bear it if theirs is crushed.
The wise desire and seek out knowledge. Giving gifts can give opportunities to
gain a hearing from others, even the great. The first person to make an
argument seems right until someone else challenges him and so another
perspective is heard. So hearing alternative views is sensible. Casting lots
can help settle disputes. Such disputes can be impenetrable, especially those
with a family member. How we speak affects our success and so wealth, and even
has the power over life and death in what it might lead to. Those who love
talking will therefore eat its fruit, ie. experience any detrimental consequences
to their speech. To be married is good and to receive favour from God. The poor
seek mercy from the rich, but the rich answer harshly, no doubt as they don’t
know what it is to be in need and are used to doing as they see fit. More
important than having many companions is to have one friend who is closer and
more of a support than a sibling.
Some lessons from Proverbs 19: It is
better to be poor and blameless, than not poor yet perverse. Zeal without
knowledge is bad, not least because you can act too hastily and miss doing
what’s right. The fool ruins his own life, yet rages against God for the
trouble he brings on himself. Sadly wealth brings friends, whilst both friends
and relatives desert the poor, even if they plead for their relatives to stand
by them. A false witness will be punished. Many seek to gain the favour of
rulers (or the famous), and everyone is the friend of those who give gifts.
These proverbs warn against superficial friendship. To get wisdom is to love
one’s own soul as it benefits and the wise person prospers. It is unfitting for
a fool to live in luxury, no doubt because this is unjust as they don’t deserve
it. The following point about it being worse for slaves to rule princes
probably has the similar sense of it being wrong for the undeserving or
unqualified to have a high position in life. The wise are patient, and this is
their glory - the display of their excellence as human beings. A king’s rage is
terrifying like a roar, but his favour life-giving. A foolish son can ruin his
father, no doubt in bringing his name into disrepute or requiring his father to
bail him out of difficulty. A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping and
so annoyance. Although wealth can come by inheritance, it can also come from a
prudent (cautious) wife, who is a gift from God. Laziness leads to sleep and
ultimately to hunger in not earning one’s keep. To obey instructions guards
one’s life. To be kind to the poor is to lend to God, and so will be rewarded
by him. The idea of lending suggests that God chooses in some sense to rely on
us as a means by which he provides for the poor. There is hope for reformation
of children if we discipline them. Indeed, not to is actually to contribute to
their death, whether through immoral living or at the final judgement! Allow
those who are angry or violent to pay the penalty for their actions. If you
keep them from that, you will have to again as they won’t learn. Listen to and
accept advice and you will be wise. Whatever our plans, nothing will hinder what
God has chosen to do. A man desires loyal-love from others. Here it being
better to be poor than a liar may stress that it is better to be poor and
faithful. Fear of God leads to life, ultimately, but also to contentment, being
untouched by trouble. This may refer not to the absence of trouble, but not
letting it get to you in the knowledge that God is in control and everlasting
life awaits. Those who are lazy have no energy for anything, even for eating
properly. Punish the mocker or fool and they will learn prudence (caution). But
just rebuke a discerning man and he will gain knowledge because he will listen.
The sense is that the fool needs more forceful correction, and that is why the
penalties of a criminal justice system are necessary. To rob or drive out one’s
parents is shameful. You need not just to hear wisdom once, but constantly
listen to instruction to remain wise and not stray. Corrupt witnesses mock
justice. The wicked don’t just taste a little evil, but gulp down much.
Praying it
home:
Praise God for
whatever he has most brought home to you. Pray that he would help you live
according to that wisdom.
Thinking
further:
None
today.
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