Posting from Proverbs

By Nick Harris

The book of Proverbs has been a source of wisdom and guidance for individuals, families and churches for centuries. After retiring, the author started a daily devotional and posted it on social media. This book is the fruit of those labors. Each verse is pondered thoughtfully and is followed by a brief prayer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664220324

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (Proverbs 1:1) Solomon is an anomaly. He prayed for wisdom, was granted wisdom, taught others the value of wisdom (Proverbs), yet lived a life of folly. He sought abundant life in liquor, lust, learning, and luxury yet came to the end of his life in despair and disillusionment (Ecclesiastes). Lesson: Wanting wisdom, having wisdom, and even teaching wisdom to others does not insure that we will walk in wisdom. Illustration: I could learn to cook, love to cook, teach others to cook, and be a great cook, and yet starve to death if I did not eat what I cooked. Prayer: God, grant us the wisdom to walk in wisdom, not merely possess wisdom. Amen.

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (Proverbs 1:1) Solomon’s father was a great man. David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22, ESV), yet he often struggled with and was defeated by lust, duplicity, and failure. His psalms reveal that he was a great sinner and a great repenter. He killed a giant, led a rag-tag band of outcasts, wrote songs, served a king, and became the greatest king of Israel. Yet, he yielded to lust, committed murder, told lies, and often gave in to depression and despair. Perhaps his greatest failure was in his home. He was a negligent and overly permissive father. What a difference it might have made for Solomon if David had been a loving, present, disciplined, discipling father! Prayer: God, help us never substitute success in other areas for success in our home relationships. Amen.

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (Proverbs 1:1) Solomon was the son of David, but also the son of Bathsheba. He was her second pregnancy with David. Their first child, the one conceived in adultery, died in infancy. Solomon was their second son, Bathsheba’s delight, and perhaps a constant reminder to David of his sins in the past, even though he received God’s forgiveness. It seems that David was never able to give moral instructions to his children, perhaps because of his own past failures. One of Satan’s tactics is to remind us of our failures even though we have been forgiven and restored. If God doesn’t condemn us, we should not condemn ourselves, and we certainly should point Satan to the cross where all our sins were erased. Prayer: Father, help us confess our forgiveness as well as our sins. Amen.

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, (Proverbs 1:2) Solomon puts his purpose statement on the front door. His desire is for his son (and for us) to know wisdom. The Hebrew word for ‘know’ is more than mental grasping of the idea. It is an experiential knowledge that comes from a combination of hearing truth, loving it, and joyfully putting it into practice. One danger in our Christian homes and Christian schools is that the target is often the head rather than the life. Savvy kids learn how to imitate Christian behavior and regurgitate Christian talk without learning how to incorporate that truth practically into their lives. This happened with Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. Even with a father who had written Proverbs, this rebellious, selfish son divided the kingdom and brought grief to a nation. Prayer: O God, help us ‘know’ the truth in such a way that it changes our behavior, attitudes, and relationships. Amen.

To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, (Proverbs 1:2) The Book of Proverbs focuses on wisdom. Wisdom is not knowledge. There are brilliant people who have no wisdom. There are uneducated people who are filled with wisdom. No school can give wisdom, no bank can sell wisdom, and no legislature can impose wisdom. It is given by God alone. Wisdom is the ability to see life from an eternal perspective. God’s view of life is very different from man’s view. Only God’s Word can provide God’s view. We normally make our decisions based on temporal and worldly perspectives. That is one reason they so often fail. Wisdom actually sounds like foolishness to the worldly-wise man. When faced with any situation, especially an emotional response to an offense, ask two questions. 1. What is the natural response and decision; 2. What would be the opposite to number 1? Usually, the second answer is closer to God’s wisdom. Prayer: Father, help us seek wisdom more than money, Your counsel more than food, and Your perspective more than our opinion. Amen.

To know ... instruction, (Proverbs 1:2) Instruction is not simply being taught as we think of instruction. It carries with it a sense of correction through experience. Even as children we learned to tie our shoes by trying again and again and sometimes failing again and again. I can’t even count the number of bumps and bruises (to body and ego) I received while learning to ride a bicycle. Although I had instruction in the normal sense from my parents, it was the trying, falling, and trying again that finally taught me to ride that bike. However, once I did learn it seemed so simple and I could hardly believe I fell so many times. Biblical instruction also teaches us by failing sometimes. How patient God is with us as we are learning! He does not humiliate, shame, or chide us if we fail. He is not disappointed and angry. He lovingly lifts us up, cheers for us, and gives us another chance. When we finally ‘get it’, we are excited and so is He. Proverbs is a book that teaches us wisdom, but it also instructs us through our failures as well as our successes. Prayer: Help us never get arrogant about our success nor despairing about our failures. Use them both to instruct us. Amen.

To ... understand words of insight, (Proverbs 1:2) This is a difficult phrase to translate. It actually means to have intelligent discourse, or to gain spiritual truth by conversation with others. It is amazing how pointless much of our conversation is. We may actually go days at a time without having a conversation that truly helps us grow in grace. I love sports, national news, politics, etc., but I refuse to let those topics usurp the place of spiritual and Biblical conversation. There is much to share and much to learn by talking and listening with other Christ-followers who love Jesus and love to talk about His grace, love, and power. Let’s not push these kinds of conversations to the edge while we babble on for hours about topics that have no eternal significance. Prayer: Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord. Amen.

...to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; (Proverbs 1:3) As I read Proverbs, I often exchange the word wisdom with the word Jesus. Jesus is the wisdom of God and has been made unto us wisdom. One of my goals is to see Jesus in every verse of the Bible. He is the Hero of the whole Bible, and He is the Word (John 1:1). I see Proverbs as His instruction, not that of Solomon (who didn’t practice that wisdom). Although every book in the Bible had a human author, the real Author is God Himself. Don’t be confused by the fact that the human authors had many flaws (thankfully, those are still the only kind of humans God uses today). Hear the message above the messenger. The book of Proverbs contains instruction from Jesus, true wisdom. Prayer: Father, help us hear You as we read the Bible. Amen.

...to receive instruction in ... righteousness, justice, and equity; (Proverbs 1:3) As Solomon continues to state his purpose for these Proverbs, he adds justice, judgment, and equity. Justice translates the Hebrew word that means that which is morally, legally, and naturally right. Many today deny absolute right and wrong. It is interesting that those who take that position will usually howl when someone does them ‘wrong’. They know right and wrong if someone cheats them, lies about them, or abuses them. Justice is an application of what God has put into place to define right from wrong. We all recognize it when it applies to us, and those who deny right and wrong as absolutes usually deny it as it applies to others or if they want to justify their own ‘wrong’ actions. Proverbs reminds us that God is Absolute. His truth is absolute. His definitions are absolute. Justice can only be justice if there are absolutes. Otherwise, it would all be determined by personal definitions and opinions. What a shaky world that would be! Prayer: Sovereign, absolute God, we want to know Your definitions and determinations of right and wrong. We know we cannot live up to them perfectly, but knowing them helps us define our sin and our need for Your grace. We welcome that grace as weak and failing sinners who want mercy to overcome our failure to live justly. Amen.

...to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; (Proverbs 1:3) Judgment is seen today as a negative act. ‘Judge not’ is the cry of millions of voices today, especially those who are violating God’s commands. Everyone judges. Even those who cry against judgment are judging those who judge them. Funny, isn’t it? The Bible does not actually forbid judging, it says we must judge with right judgment (John 7:24, ESV). Judgment is essential for all of life. We make judgments every day. (Do I stop when the light turns yellow, or go on through? Do I eat the whole piece of cheesecake or…--bad example, of course I eat it all.) Judging simply means making moral decisions. I make them for myself and I observe and evaluate decisions that others make. Good judgment is a great quality. Proverbs is intended to help us make wise judgment so we will make right choices and properly evaluate the choices of others as well. Prayer: Father of wisdom, help us judge wisely based on the truth You have revealed in Your Word. Amen.

To receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; (Proverbs 1:3) Equity comes from a root that means equal, balanced, or fair. When we say something is equitable, we mean that everyone involved gets fair treatment or equality. It sometimes has the meaning of straight or even. The idea again is that which is ‘on the level’ for everyone involved. Much of life is about trading (hours for money, money for services, money for goods, goods for goods, etc.). In our ‘bartering’ it is important that we get a fair deal or equity. In our relationships, also, there should be an equitable giving and receiving. It is sad when a marriage in ‘inequitable’ and one person is doing all the giving and the other is simply receiving. Proverbs helps us in dealing with others and in our relationships to know how to give and receive in equality. Prayer: Father, help us love to give even more than we love to receive. Amen.

...to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— (Proverbs 1:4) The word used here for prudence can mean crafty or trickery in a negative sense, but in the positive sense it means ‘wise as a serpent’ (Matthew 10:16, ESV). It is the idea of knowing when to hide, when to strike, how to maneuver, and how to avoid being caught. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV). Prudence helps us discern the proper time for each action. What might be a bold action can become a destructive action if done at the wrong time. Proverbs helps us know when to speak and when to listen; when to by jovial and when to be serious; when to rescue a foolish man and when to let him suffer his consequences. We need more prudence! Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us not only act properly but act in the proper time as well. Amen.

...to give prudence to the simple, (Proverbs 1:4) The word for ‘simple’ is a word that means seducible or naïve. By nature most people want to be trusting of others. That makes us vulnerable to con artists and those who simply take advantage of our trust. Prudence helps the naïve person learn how to distinguish between honest and dishonest people. It enables young men and women to recognize flattery, false claims, and dishonest people. Nearly everyone is simple early in life. Early experiences of being taken advantage of, warnings by those who are older, and a growing awareness of human nature often cures that simplicity in many people. The book of Proverbs has warnings, comparisons, metaphors, and analogies to help the simple become wise. Read it and gain prudence. Prayer: Father, we want to be trusting of people yet not gullible. Help us learn how to find the balance wisely. Amen.

...to give ... discretion to the youth— (Proverbs 1:4) The word for discretion is an unusual word. It usually has a negative connotation and is often translated devices, inventions, or schemes. In its positive meaning it implies planning ahead, thinking through consequences, and making decisions with the long view in mind rather than the immediate benefits. This is much needed today in youth and adults. Satan’s great advantage is our shortsightedness. Few people would trade a new car for a piece of gum (although Esau came pretty close to being that foolish), however thousands of young people and adults trade health, marriage, reputation, and ministry for the fleeting promise of fun and sensual pleasure. I plead for discretion. Think ahead. Let discretion warn and guide you. Prayer: Father help us see consequences more than fleeting pleasure. Amen

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, (Proverbs 1:5) One indicator of a wise person is their response to instruction and counsel. A wise person seeks godly people, loves instruction in truth, and recognizes and follows wise counsel. The foolish person has a know-it-all attitude and seeks to impress others with their knowledge rather than learning from others. We have all seen such foolish people, sometimes even in the mirror. Let us be quick to hear and slow to speak. (James 1:19, ESV). We learn little if we are doing all the talking, but we learn much if we listen much to wise people. With access to the Internet, we have access to much wisdom. However, discernment is required to make sure we are listening to truth and not error. Prayer: Father, help us be listeners, learners, and lovers of truth. Amen.

To know wisdom and instruction, insight, instruction, righteousness, justice, equity, prudence, knowledge and discretion to the youth...(Proverbs 1:2-6) These are the purposes of the book of Proverbs. What a lofty goal! We all need all nine of these. However, we can never add these things to the core being of our life. We can try to, and we can even imitate them. The only way they can become a part of who we are is by welcoming the One who is the personification of them all. Jesus IS wisdom, righteousness, knowledge, prudence, etc. When He makes His home in us, He brings all that He is to supply all that we need. Stop trying to ‘do’ for Jesus and let Him ‘be’ who He is in you. Prayer: Father we welcome the Source of wisdom and character and trust Him to produce it in us. Amen.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7). What does it mean to fear the Lord. It is not the kind of fear that makes us want to run from Him. It is a fear that recognizes His greatness, His power, His holiness, but is also overwhelmed at His amazing mercy, grace and love. It is a fear that makes us want to bow low in reverence and jump high with joy. It is a fear that makes us laugh with delight and tremble with amazement. It evokes worship and praise, instills humility and joy, and results in an overwhelming desire to honor, serve, and obey Him, not because He demands it as much as we delight in it. Prayer: O Father, help us tremble with this kind of amazement and joy that ignites a passion in us to let Your love flow in us and overflow through us. Amen.

...fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7). This is an often repeated theme in Proverbs. The wise and the foolish are contrasted. Whereas the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, a fool is recognized by his contempt for wise counsel and correction. A wise son does not despise the correction of a loving father because he knows the motive is love and the goal is godliness. The fool despises correction because his focus is on himself. Remember that Christ can often be substituted for wisdom. Fools despise the true Christ just as the Pharisees did. Seek wisdom (Jesus) and welcome instruction. Don’t be foolish. Prayer: Father, help us love wisdom, welcome instruction, and learn from correction. Amen.

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (Proverbs 1:8). Not everyone had godly parents who provided love, grace, security, and wise counsel. For those who did this verse is a reminder of that love and wisdom. Listen to it and do not reject it. For those who didn’t have that blessing of godly and gracious parents, let the love and wisdom of your Heavenly Father provide that instruction and the Holy Spirit provide that counsel. They are even better than the best parents because they are perfect and ever present. Prayer: Father, thank You for earthly and heavenly instruction and counsel. Help us appreciate it and heed it. Amen.

...for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. (Proverbs 1:9). As the Olympics approach we begin to think about gold medals and awards. Few people ever win those. Very few! However you can have a graceful garland and a gold medal if you heed wise counsel and follow the godly instruction you are given. This is open to all, and especially those who have had godly parents who instructed them from God’s Word. Let this be the gold medal you seek, Prayer: Father, let us hear Your truth, seek Your face, receive Your love and experience Your grace. Amen.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. (Proverbs 1:10). A simple, wise, and heart-felt plea from a father to a son surrounded by enticements to sin. How much more are those words needed in our media-driven, self-centered, sensual-saturated day! I would get on my knees before every teenager I know and plead with them to hear these words. It is not that I do not want them to enjoy life. It is because I DO want them to have fullness of joy and maximum pleasure. Satan’s invitation is to a minute of pleasure in trade for years of grief and regret. The invitation of Jesus is to joy for the present, joy for the future, joy for eternity and no regret, shame, or guilt. Don’t be misled by invitations to sin. Enjoy the Person, presence, power, and pleasure of being loved by, and loving in return, the greatest Lover in the universe. Prayer: Lord Jesus, in You we find unending joy and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore Psalm 16:11, ESV). Help us find so much satisfaction there that this world’s enticements will look pale and unappetizing. Amen.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse— my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. (Proverbs 1:10-19). Read and be warned.

Proverbs 1:11-19 records the invitation of evil men to participate in criminal activities. It includes violence, greed, cruelty, and theft. It is hard to know why such actions would be appealing, but obviously they are. Young men especially, and today young women, too, need to avoid groups who have this mentality (gangs). How much better to seek groups whose goals are serving, worshipping, and giving. How thankful I am for godly youth groups who not only avoid evil, but also positively impact their world. Prayer: Father, I am so grateful for godly young people today. May their number increase! Amen!

Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. (Proverbs 1:19). Greed is a problem in every country, because it is a problem in the heart of man. There is nothing wrong with gain secured by honest and hard work (as long as the work itself doesn’t become an idol), but greed that drives a man to lie, cheat and steal (and there are multitudes of ways to do all of those) is an expression of a selfish, discontented, and dishonest heart. All sins grow out of a heart like that. The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. We can never cure the problem by merely dealing with the symptoms. Only Jesus can slay the evil heart (and He did on Calvary) and give us a new heart filled with truth, love, and joy. Prayer: Father, thank You for a new heart that worships You, loves people, and enjoys things. Help us never change that order. Amen.

Proverbs 1:20-32 is an interesting section. In Middle Eastern countries it is common to have sellers crying out in the streets to get an audience and sell their merchandise. Even prostitutes did the same in the shady areas of town. Here we have a beautiful, stately woman of dignity and wisdom (that is the way I picture her) crying passionately and urgently to all who will listen. Her name is Wisdom and it is not in church that she speaks but on the streets where real life takes place. Many people live in a ‘church bubble’ on Sundays or Wednesdays. It is an artificial setting where artificial people give artificial response to non-practical religious talk. (Not everywhere, of course). Wisdom (Jesus) calls us in real life, in the streets, the home, the school, the business, the sports activities (REAL LIFE). Listen for that call today. It won’t sound ‘churchy’ but it will guide you in every situation you face. Prayer: Father, help us listen to Wisdom’s call. Train our hearts to hear her voice in the places we need her most. Amen,

How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (Proverbs 1:22, 23). Wisdom’s cry is simple, straightforward, satisfying, and severe. First, it is simple: Aren’t you tired of being simple, naive, foolish, and wasteful with your time, money, and life? If you will listen to me, change your thought patterns, and receive my truth, I will fill you with my spirit of wisdom, truth, and joy." What a simple invitation. No call to work harder, just hear me, humble yourself, and welcome me. Jesus came to His own and they would not receive Him, but all who did, He gave them sonship (John 1:11-12, ESV), abundant life, eternal love, amazing grace, and joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8, KJV). He is still calling! Prayer: Help us hear the call, welcome the One who calls, and be filled with the Spirit He promises. Amen.

Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. (Proverbs 1:24-31) Some of the saddest and most frightening verses in the Bible. If anyone rejects God’s marvelous grace, there is no Plan B. Mockers are mocked, rejectors are rejected, and ultimately those who want life without God get what they want for all of eternity. So sad! Prayer: O God, soften hard hearts. Amen.

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster." (Proverbs 1:32, 33). Rejecting and neglecting God’s gracious offer of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life are equally dangerous. (How shall we escape if we NEGLECT such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:3, ESV)). Complacency may be more deadly in America than contempt of God. Maybe neglecting such a sovereign, glorious, gracious God is the highest insult. Ignoring God is as insulting as rejecting Him. The last half of this passage is beautiful for believers. Those who receive Him have the eternal blessings of security, salvation, and safety. God’s offer is broad (whosoever), simple (believe, receive), certain (will have), and lavish (eternal life). Welcome this Savior and gracious Friend! Read the verses slowly and hear both the warning and the promise! Prayer: Father, help us hear You, welcome You, and rejoice in Your grace to us and to all who believe. Amen.

CHAPTER 2

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5). A very meaningful if/then statement. Many people want intimacy with God and insights into God’s Word but are not willing to take steps in that direction. I would like to play a guitar. My mother and both my brothers play well. Why can’t I? Because they did more than want to. They practiced for hours, interacted with others who played, and made the necessary sacrifices in order to enjoy a skill that was meaningful to them and to others. If I welcome God’s Word, treasure it, fervently pray, and value it more than money, THEN I will understand and apply truth to my life. My worship will be genuine and my knowledge will become experience. Prayer: Father, help us hunger and thirst for You. Amen.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; (Proverbs 2:6). Wisdom is not gained, it is given. Education, intelligence, position, and even experience are no guarantee of wisdom. It comes from God. All of God’s blessings, including forgiveness and salvation, must be received. They are not rewards or wages. The world system operates on the basis of ‘you get what you earn or work for’. It is sad when people approach God on that basis. He needs nothing, is impressed by nothing in us, and cannot be manipulated into some kind of bargaining. Every good and perfect gift begins in the loving heart of God, is secured by the loving sacrifice of Jesus, and is delivered by the loving work of the Holy Spirit. My part is to humbly recognize my insufficiency, gratefully rejoice in His sufficiency, and joyfully receive by faith the gifts He provides. Prayer: Father, we praise You for Your goodness and generosity. Help us humbly receive Your marvelous gifts. Amen.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; (Proverbs 2:6). God has spoken! How blessed we are to have the Word of God. God spoke and creation resulted. The Living Word, Jesus, spoke and healing, forgiveness, and salvation resulted. The Holy Spirit spoke and the Written Word, the inspired Scriptures, resulted. When God speaks, we should listen. When God speaks, truth, grace, and love is the message. Through His Word, He gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Do you want wisdom, truth, and understanding? If so, pick up the Bible. Ask God for wisdom. Begin to read. He does not give wisdom contradictory to His written Word. He does not give wisdom apart from His written Word. His Word brings light, truth (it is truth), salvation, maturity, and principles for healthy relationships. It is a sign of wisdom to hunger for God’s Word, and it results in more wisdom as we read it. Prayer: Father, help us hunger for Your Word, feast on it, be nourished by it, and satisfied with the wisdom in it. Amen.

... he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, (Proverbs 2:7). Many people invest money in various savings programs. God invests wisdom in the heart of those who belong to Him. Who are the upright who walk in integrity? They are not natural born men who have achieved that status by their own effort or merit. No, all our righteousnesses is like filthy rags in God’s eyes (Isaiah 64:6, ESV). Our uprightness and integrity must be received by faith alone. Praise God! He achieves perfect righteousness, removes all our sin by His death and resurrection, then provides that righteousness as a gift of grace alone through faith in Him. Then He is a shield of protection and preservation to those who have received that righteousness. What a glorious God we have! Trust Him, love Him, and tell others about Him. Prayer: Thank You, Father that You have achieved our salvation and we have received it by faith alone. Amen.

...guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. (Proverbs 2:8). When I was in the 3rd grade, I was bullied by a boy named Carlos. He would make me bring him an apple to school every day and when I didn’t have one, he would rough me up at recess. I was terrified and begged my teacher to let me stay in and wash blackboards during recess. One of the biggest boys in our grade, Barrett Stephens, asked why I didn’t want to go out and play. I told him I was afraid of Carlos. Barrett told me not to worry. He said he would watch over me and if anyone threatened me, he would intervene. At the very next recess Barrett gave Carlos a whipping for messing with me. From that day forward (even through 12th grade) Barrett and I were close friends and we always watched out for each other. How wonderful to know that we have the Creator-Redeemer guarding the paths and watching the way of those He has declared to be His friends/saints/righteous ones. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your constant watch-care and your perfect protection from the bully of our souls. Amen.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; (Proverbs 2:9). When we receive wisdom, we receive understanding in righteousness; we understand that God’s righteousness is given to us by faith alone. We cannot earn it or achieve it. It has been achieved by Jesus, it must be received by us. We will also understand justice; it was accomplished at the cross. The horrible and just sentence upon sin was fulfilled when For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV) We also understand equity; the balance is seen in the fact that our sins were exchanged for God’s righteousness, justice was tempered with mercy. God’s just judgment was pour out on Jesus so his perfect righteousness could be placed on us. Hallelujah! What a savior! These three then lead us to understand every good path. He justifies, purifies, and satisfies both God and man. Prayer: Father help us worship first and let our understanding grow out of our love and adoration. Amen.

...for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; (Proverbs 2:10). I love Blue Bell Ice Cream (practically any flavor--although white chocolate almond is my favorite). There are many other foods that excite my taste buds. We all know about foods that are pleasant to our tastes. This verse promises that when wisdom fills our heart, then knowledge will be pleasant to our soul like delicious food is to our taste buds. The knowledge spoken of here is skillful ability to make truth practical. It is wonderful to understand theory, but even more to put it into practice. I took swimming lessons at 4-H camp in the 4th grade, but I wouldn’t put my head under water. The lessons were useless. The next summer I learned to swim by swimming. Lessons in holiness are just as meaningless until we put them into practice. Prayer: Father, help us learn principles, but let them become practice. Amen.

...discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, (Proverbs 2:11) The book of Proverbs uses some words over and over. That is good for us. Meaningful expressions need to be repeated and so do serious warnings. I love you, and Be careful are always important to hear repeatedly. Discretion and understanding are two of the words used many times in this book of wisdom. These two qualities stand like guards to protect us. Both imply the ability to see beyond the surface of situations. They allow us to sense character, motives, and schemes so that we will not be gullible, flattered, and taken advantage of. This is vital for young people, especially girls, to sense danger in the smooth talk of a narcissist who flatters with their words but has selfish intentions. Pray for discretion and understanding. They are much needed sentries in this shallow and self-centered world. Prayer: Father, give us discretion and understanding to protect us from the schemes of men and devils. Amen.

...delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, (Proverbs 2:12). Wisdom, and all its accompanying virtues, will deliver you from the way of evil. There really is an evil way! The voices that invite us there, the examples who lead us there, and the natural inward longings that push us in that direction are all real and strong. There is also a way of righteousness and holiness. The voice of wisdom calls us to that path. Incidentally, that is not the path of forced obedience, hypocritical pretense, religious activity, or legalistic requirements. The way of righteousness is JESUS. He is the Way. Early believers were called followers of the Way. His way is the way of grace, freedom, joy, fulfillment, and peace. Wisdom does not force or shame us into avoiding evil, but warns us of sin’s false promises and invites us to walk in the way of true joy. Prayer: Father, help us hear Your voice as a loving voice that pleads with us to not hurt ourselves and invites us to a feast. Amen.

...delivering you from ... men of perverted speech, (Proverbs 2:12). Wisdom not only delivers us from the way of evil, but also from the perverse or froward mouth. This can have two meanings. It may mean that wisdom will help us guard our speech from unwholesome words. It could mean that it would deliver us from words of others intended to corrupt our mind, heart, and behavior. Both are true but I think the latter is more likely the meaning here. In school and the workplace we are often subjected to perverse speech. Profanity, obscenity, and vulgarity is the accepted order of the day. It is virtually impossible to avoid completely. Wisdom serves as a ‘filter’ in our heart to protect our spirit from being corrupted by perverse speech we hear. We must guard our own lips but also our spirit. God’s wisdom will serve to do both. Prayer: Father, set a watch over our lips and a guard over our heart. Deliver us from perverse speech. Amen.

...who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, (Proverbs 2:13). It is one thing to walk ignorantly in the wrong way. Some were never instructed in uprightness, which is very sad. However, he speaks here of those who forsake the right way. So many young people who grow up in Christian homes, attend conservative churches, and perhaps attend a Christian school, forsake the path in which they have been taught. The problem may be because of hypocritical failure on the part of their instructors, but it may also be the result of hearts that have memorized religious doctrines but have never received and rejoiced in the glorious grace of God. They have never been overwhelmed with Jesus and His love for them. It may be that they have listened to the lies and false promises of the world expressed through the mouths of ‘friends’ who have also believed those lies. The best antidote to this is to magnify God’s grace, glory, and love. The cross and resurrection show all three. Prayer: Father, help us passionately love You and not merely imitate the Christian life. Amen.

...who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, (Proverbs 2:14). What rejoices and delights your heart? Sadly, there are many who delight in evil. Foolishness, drunkenness, perverseness, and immorality is the fun they seek and live for (many of them also die for it). God is not opposed to fun. He is a joyful God who has created all things for our enjoyment. However, in order to be fully enjoyed, they must be used according to the Creator’s instructions. I loved sky-diving, but it would cease to be enjoyable if I decided to use a pillowcase instead of a parachute. God has created every pleasure (food, drink, sex, money, etc.), but as the Creator He has also defined and limited their use. We can misuse and abuse every pleasure and it can become sinful. If we delight in each pleasure within God’s prescribed limits, the pleasure is multiplied and there is no guilt or regret. Prayer: Joyful Father, thank You that You delight in our delight and enjoy our joy. Help us fully enjoy each one and never delight in misusing them. Amen.

...men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. (Proverbs 2:15). The word straight has been attacked in our day. Biblically it is a very positive word. It is synonymous with correct or according to the proper standard. The Greek word is ‘orthos’ from which we get orthotic, meaning a device designed to help us walk correctly. There are many who despise the straight path. Their walk is crooked and their ways devious. I am referring here to much more than sexual behavior. God has defined the path in every area of life. His ways are straight and level. We do not have the right to redefine the path. Our choice is to walk in it or not. We also cannot redefine the consequences. One way leads to destruction and the other (straight and narrow) leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV). We are all on the crooked way by birth, nature and choice. Jesus IS the straight Way. Our hope is ‘Christ in us’. The Christian life is not a roadmap to follow, but a Person to know, love, and joyfully follow. He is the Straight Way. Prayer: Father, deliver us from the religion of human effort and fill us with the romance of divine love. Amen.

So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, (Proverbs 2:16) Proverbs was written by a father to a son. The first chapter explains the purposes of the book, warns against wrong friends, and closes with an invitation from Wisdom to hear and follow her call. Chapter two pleads with the son to make seeking wisdom a priority, including the benefits of doing so. One of those benefits is that wisdom would protect the young man from the enticement of evil men. Verses 16-19 gives another benefit. It will protect the young man from the seductions of harlots and women who try to lead the young man into sexual sin. We once had to warn young girls to be on guard against aggressive, flattering, and pushy guys. That is still a valid warning, but I observe a sexual aggressiveness in girls during the past 20 years that makes this warning in Proverbs more applicable today than a couple of generations ago. Listen carefully to the warnings. Prayer: Father, help the Christian young men of our day take these warnings seriously and be willing to stand firm against the temptations of our day. Amen.

Wisdom will deliver you from the adulteress with her smooth words, (Proverbs 2:16). Joseph had this wisdom; Samson didn’t. Sexual sin has always been rampant. The Bible, world history, and today’s news reminds us that sex is wonderful and dangerous. It is like Liquid Plumber. Used according to the directions it has a great purpose and outcome (my apologies to all the plumbers who are grimacing at this illustration), but if it is misused it can have devastating results. The label contains dozens of warnings. Sex is that way. God designed it to be one of the best gifts and greatest blessings of joy, pleasure, and intimacy for a committed husband and wife. It is no surprise that Satan, the great deceiver and liar, would try to use this wonderful gift to bring about so much grief, sorrow, guilt, shame, and pain. God’s gifts are all good, but must be used according to His directions. Sin is the selfish abuse and misuse of some good gift that God has designed for our maximum benefit. Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of sexual intimacy and pleasure. Help us not miss out on Your best by substituting Satan’s misuse. Amen.

...the adulteress with her smooth words, forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; (Proverbs 2:16, 17). One of the blights in our culture today is unfaithfulness. It is promoted in sit-coms and movies. It makes headlines and night-time comedy shows (however it is not funny). Generally, men are highlighted as the culprit (and they deserve it), but no man commits adultery alone. He is often the initiator, but not always. This verse warns against the seductress. With her smooth words, unfaithful heart, and covenant breaking behavior, she entices like a hunter seeking prey. Her action may be the result of loneliness, rejection (by parents or husband), lust, or longing for ‘fun’. Whatever the cause, the result is often enticement and entrapment of a vulnerable man. She may offer sex for affirmation, affection, acceptance, or approval. She may think she is actually in love with a man who is off limits. Sons, listen to this warning. Run from the temptress! Love faithfulness and remain faithful. Prayer: Great is Thy faithfulness, O God. Help us to be faithful in heart and action. Amen.

...for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; (Proverbs 2:18). What a terrifying warning concerning the seducing adulteress! Death is the result: death to relationships, death to reputation, death to spiritual joy, and sometimes even physical death. Jesus came to deliver us from death and give us abundant life. Satan is a murderer who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10, KJV). Death is his goal and lying promises are his means. Every sinful temptation is a lying promise. The temptation is made strong by sin’s promise of pleasure, profit, power, position, or passion (a pernicious pod of powerful p’s). So, how does a young man, or an older one, overcome such enticing promises? First, look for the hook. The promises of sin is the worm on the fishhook. No fish would bite such a worm if he knew what was under it. Second, believe God’s better promises. Do you want pleasure? God wants it for you! "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11, ESV). Prayer: Father, give us wisdom to see the hook, and to hear Your promise for the best. Amen

...none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. (Proverbs 2:19). Thank God for grace that forgives and restores! While this verse is a general principle (like ‘a heavy object dropped from 30,000 feet will fall to the ground’) it can be overridden by a greater principle (like ‘if that object is a plane with proper aerodynamics and thrust, it will fly rather than fall’). Many of the principles in Proverbs can be overridden by the principles of grace found in Jesus. This warning is severe. It is also true that an adulterer never fully regains all that was lost, but praise God for grace that can take our greatest failures and sins and include them in Romans 8:28 as part of the all things that God causes to work together for our good. Excuse me for a minute while I praise and worship my wonderful gracious Father who never rejects His sinning sons, but continues to love, cherish, and restore them. It is always best to heed God’s warnings, but it is also wonderful to receive His forgiveness and restoration. Prayer: Father, I want to walk in perfect obedience, but I don’t always. Help me trust You for daily strength, but to receive Your daily grace when I stumble. Amen.

So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. (Proverbs 2:20). This is a conclusion to the first two chapters. If you seek wisdom and allow it (really allow Him, because Jesus is Wisdom) to enter and rule in your life, you will be delivered from many harmful dangers, wrong companions, and sexual sins. You will walk in the good way and the right path. Our life is likened to a journey (e.g., Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan), and the way of life is sometimes delightful, sometimes difficult, and sometimes dangerous. However, it is always right. Jesus is the Way. Walking in Him leads to Calvary, but also to resurrection life and power. As He lives in and through us, He loves, serves, forgives, and glorifies the Father. His way not only leads to life (heaven), it IS life. Jesus gives us LIFE right now. He is the good way and right path. Walk in Him! Prayer: Jesus, we delight in You. You are our life, light, love, and Lord. Help us joyfully walk in You, responding to Your overwhelming love and grace. Amen.

For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. (Proverbs 2:21, 22) This is a principle of national stability. Many of the proverbs reinforce the fact that nations are strong if the people are upright and walk in integrity. Another mark of a great nation is their seriousness in dealing with the wicked and treacherous. Our nation is failing in both areas. True character is not as prevalent today as in the past. Modern media has helped weaken moral standards and reverse definitions of right and wrong. At the same time, in the name of justice, many lawbreakers are shown a leniency that has almost become a joke among prison inmates. Finding the balance between genuinely loving lawbreakers and cutting them off and rooting them out of the land is very difficult. The answer lies in having wise, godly, honest, and just men in leadership and removing serious lawbreakers from the land. Prayer: Father, we need wisdom to find that balance. Help us walk in integrity, and show us how to help wayward sinners and quickly incarcerate stubborn ones who give no indication of wanting to change. Amen.

CHAPTER 3

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, (Proverbs 3:1). Forgetting is a constant danger. It runs the gamut from inconvenience (now where did I put my keys?) to irritation (how many times have I told you to turn off the light when you leave the room?), to danger (which road did they say to take?). Forgetting is not rebelling. It is a subtle loss of memory concerning things you have been clearly told. It pertains to stuff that is already in your memory bank. It is overlooking what you already know. It may be accompanied by intentional rebellion, but often it is just Duh, I knew better than that. What was I thinking? All the truth in the world will do us no good if we forget it. Thankfully, God has put it in a written form, the Bible. It tells us much more than what to do (it is not really a rule book), it tells us who God is, how much He loves us, what He has done to claim us for Himself, and who we ARE in Him. That is what He does not want us to forget. Prayer: Father, help us remember who we are and whose we are. Amen.

My son, ... let your heart keep my commandments, (Proverbs 3:1). Keeping is much more than simply obeying. What does