Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29:1-27

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,

will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

• ​"Stiffening of the neck."  You can picture it.  "How dare you correct (reprove) me!"  The neck and jaw stiffen, the brows furrow.  Pitiful when I do this.
• If we don't surround ourselves with brothers and sisters who have the green light to point out where we are straying from the path, how are we to progress forward toward Christlikeness?
• I have accountability partners who have this green light to "call me out".  How about you?  
• It may be a hit to your ego when it happens, but that's the point.  The alternative is spiraling down a hole where you'll be "broken beyond healing".

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

• ​Feel yourself groaning lately?  The only ones who aren't groaning are those who don't know truth.  They've bought into the lies.  Sad.
• When those in leadership are righteous and obeying and leading by God's way, there is joy.  The people are better for it.
• But when those with their own agendas and own ideas rule, ignoring God along the way, the people suffer.  The nation suffers. 

He who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

• ​ Someone who loves wisdom, lives by wisdom.  He also hungers for more and more wisdom, continually improving.  This makes a father glad.  It also makes our Father glad.
• "Prostitutes" is just a metaphor.  However, it can be a metaphor for prostitutes, I suppose ;) .  However, it's referring to anything that tempts you and subsequently takes away your "wealth", whether that be financial or spiritual wealth, or your good reputation, or something else.  Think:  a companion of casinos, or a companion of thieves, or a companion of liars.  Hanging around with something that tempts you is a recipe to sin.  
• Lesson:  Stay away from that which may tempt you.

By justice a king builds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

• ​When leadership provides a foundation of justice, there is confidence in that leadership creating a firm foundation to create, improve, and excel.
• But a leader who is all about himself, or all about power and prestige shakes confidence.  And without confidence, the people are hesitant to put in effort to create, improve, or excel.  If they do, will it all be for nothing?  Will it all be taken away?  Might as well not even try.

A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

• ​We define the word "flatter" today in a different way than its original meaning.  Here is the definition:  to praise or compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively.
• Flatter does not just mean to compliment.  It has an evil, ulterior motive attached to it.  
• Many people use flattery with those who they believe can "do something" for them.  I've known people like this.  And it's worked for a while, but they are ultimately discovered ... either by man or by God.  Either way, they will pay.
  

An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,

but a righteous man sings and rejoices.

• ​Someone who sins without repentance (without intent to stop) is a slave to that sin.  They are ensnared, caught, trapped, a prisoner.
• But a man who lives his life trying his utmost to obey God, although he does stumble and make mistakes periodically, lives without worry.  
• Those who place their lives in the hands of Jesus should not worry about anything.  They can sing and rejoice.  They need only obey what God says, and know that it's how to achieve the good life.

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;

a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.

• ​Our Founding Fathers knew this and wrote it in our Constitution:  All men [rich or poor] are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.  That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
• Thomas Jefferson also said, "Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others.  I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual."
• The point is, it is not by the law that the poor have equal rights and must be treated well, and helped to improve their situation.  It is the knowledge that God - their and our Creator - have endowed us with certain rights.  These are not rights given be a government or a given leader, but by God and God alone.

Scoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

• ​Common English translation: Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town, but by wise men wrath is turned away.
• The Message paraphrase:  A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.
• I think of Ferguson.  Justified or not (answer: not to that level of reaction), the scoffers and mockers did not improve matters.  They exacerbated the problem.  Those with righteousness and peace in their hearts said, "violence is not an answer to any problem".  The answer was acknowledgement of feelings, focus on fact, and addressing the core issues.  This is wisdom in action.

If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

• ​It's not worth your breath to argue with a fool.  Plant the seeds of wisdom from God, then back away.  Debating will go nowhere and will not result in a changed mind.
• Imagine a conversation with Bill Maher.  Now stop imagining that before you get angry. ;)

Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless

and seek the life of the upright.

• ​They hated Jesus.  Let me be clear:  They did not just disagree with Jesus and leave it at that.  They HATED him.  So much so that they wanted him dead.
• And those who try to be blameless are also hated.  Paul, John, Peter ... Bonhoeffer, the Pope, Luther, Mother Theresa ...
• Instead of seeing them as a model and a light to this world, evil (bloodthirsty) men will disdain them.

A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise man quietly holds it back.

• ​Ever see someone completely lose it?  It's a ridiculous site.  Obviously no self-control, self-righteous, silly.  
• It's so easy to lose your temper.  In fact, it feels good, doesn't it?  It's a fundamental fleshly desire to let loose your wrath.  It's something we feel entitled to.
• But a man wise in God's kind of wisdom knows this is not right.  We must show self-control, restraint.  
• The wisdom comes in knowing that losing your crackers results in nothing good ... only in bad for you, for others, for the situation you're in.

If a ruler listens to falsehood,

all his officials will be wicked.

• ​If a given leader is known to listen to, and maybe even be fooled by lies and deceit, his entourage will start taking advantage of that.
• If he starts listening to evil gossip and taking it seriously, all the workers will become infected the same way.

The poor man and the oppressor meet together;

the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

• ​This is both a statement of truth and a promise, I believe.
• First, all men whether poor or oppressor, have in common the light (truth, knowledge, wisdom) available to them.  They can see, if only they'll open their eyes.
• Two, they were created equal, and they will see things the same way one day.  God will make sure of this.

If a king faithfully judges the poor,

his throne will be established forever.

• ​If the King treats and judges (and judges for) the poor honestly and fairly, he will be loved and will reign on the throne for as long as he wishes.

The rod and reproof give wisdom,

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

• ​Spare the rod, spoil the child.  Discipline IS love.  A parent who does not discipline is sentencing their child to a horrible life.  There is nothing quite so unloving as to avoid disciplining a child.  
• Every criminal, every drug addict, every liar, every thief can trace something back to their childhood.  And more often than not, it has to do with discipline - or lack thereof.  

When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

but the righteous will look upon their downfall.

• ​God promises that, while the wicked types may "win" sometimes in the short term, they will not in the end.  
• We are living in a time where the wicked is increasing, but this isn't new.  Transgressions ARE increasing ... abortion, redefining marriage, sexual immorality, etc.

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;

he will give delight to your heart.

• ​Yep.  Just like we need God's direction and correction to become who we're created to be, our children do too.
• Discipline - as mentioned above - is love.

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

• ​People stumble over the fact that they don't completely understand what God is up to.  They have to understand the why of everything, or they just give up, or use it as an excuse to throw out the baby with what seems to be bath water.
• But those who simply trust in Him, obey Him, knowing that His commands are for good ... that He is good ... they will be blessed.

By mere words a servant is not disciplined,

for though he understands, he will not respond.

• ​Words mean little if there is no follow up.  
• I'm thinking of our children and raising them up.  Similar to "Spare the rod, spoil the child", this is intended to tell us that words not followed by action will result in intellectual understanding, but not a changed heart.
• This also parallels James' "Faith - without works - is dead" commentary.  You can't just say you are a Christian.  Your statement will be contradicted by the fruit you produce.  Because if the branches are leafless and without fruit, we know that the roots are dead.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

• ​Self-control.  That's what it comes down to.  James talks about the tongue, like a small spark, able to start a forest fire.  We can't seem to control it completely.  We need Jesus to control it for us.
• We must never be hasty - in words or in action.  Someone who can't do that is no better off than a fool - he IS a fool.

Whoever pampers his servant from childhood

will in the end find him his heir.

• ​This basically means that when someone treats someone working for him like a son, eventually that person will love and respect him as a son might love his father.  He then works for him, not from mechanical obedience because he "must", but in a true desire to please him.  
• God does the same with us.  We are heirs - co-heirs with Jesus - sons and daughters of God.  We are no longer just servants (although we are), but also His friends.

A man of wrath stirs up strife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

• ​Pretty straightforward - a man who can not control his anger, or uses his anger to gain his own way, causes nothing but trouble.  God is NOT pleased.
• And with anger comes sin.  The sin of wrath/anger begets (leads to) more sin.  Nothing good will come from it, that's for certain.

One's pride will bring him low,

but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

• ​The meek shall inherit the earth.  
• Pride comes before a fall.
• He became sin who knew no sin.
• Humility is key to Christlikeness.  If we are to move toward him, we must drop our pride, humble ourselves, and trust Him.
• He must become greater.  We must become less.

The partner of a thief hates his own life;

he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

• ​If you befriend an outlaw, you become an enemy to yourself.  It's as though you don't care about your life, your soul.
• You hear the victims crying out, but you won't testify?  Horrible.

The fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

• ​I have struggled with this ever since I've become a Christian.  Fear of man that is sometimes greater than fear of God.  Fear = caring what they think.
• How often do you worry about what others think of you more than what God thinks?  For me, less and less, but still far too often.

Many seek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.

• ​We shouldn't be seeking justice from our rulers - they are fallible.
• Where we should seek it is from God.  
• Why do we spend so much effort asking our leaders to do what is just, and so little time asking God to make it so?

An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

• ​We can't stand an unjust man.  They stick out like a soar thumb to those who know the difference, and they make our blood boil.
• But those who are righteous, following God's ways not man's, annoy and irritate the worldly.
• We see this clearly in politics.  I've seen it, for instance, on Facebook with the announcement by Ted Cruz that he's running for President.  All of my Progressive friends have nothing but ridicule for him, mostly because he is Christian, conservative, and believes in an objective moral compass (God).  
• This is a crazy upside down world we live in.

God bless,

Greg

Proverbs 28

​Proverbs 28:1-18

The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

• Generally speaking, the wicked stand for nothing.  Those who are righteous are only so because they are in Christ, so their boldness stands even under the greatest of pressure.  
• There is something about wickedness that leads to fear.  And there is something about righteousness that leads to boldness.
• The word “bold” here can be translated from Hebrew into “reckless, careless”, so even fools can do things that are “bold” by this definition.  
• The difference is, the righteous can be bold, reckless, and careless (in a manner of speaking) because they are on the side of a just cause, knowing in confidence that God is with them.
• And what makes the wicked flee?  A bad conscience.  

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

• Another way of saying the above:  “Because of the sin of the land (the Nation), trouble will increase.  But a man of wisdom and knowledge will set it right, putting out the fires.”
• And here is the Message paraphrase:  “When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it - But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.”  So appropriate and timely.

A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

• Interestingly, “poor man” in this verse is translated both as “poor man” as you see above, but also as Rich King and other names that seem opposite.  
• So, “poor man” must mean “poor in character”.  With this, I can see what God intends for this verse to convey.
• A beating rain is relentless, heartless and cruel.  It does not care what effect it is having.  It just rains down hard, washing away crops and stored food, etc.
• Like the beating rain, a leader who beats down on his people, or a rich man who takes advantage of the poor is heartless, uncaring, selfish.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

• Those who ignore the law (God’s instructions on life) are saying, in essence, that they know better or that they believe this world over what God says.  They follow the creation instead of the Creator.
• Those who know, trust and follow the law are aware of the evil in their lives and are actively working to remove it, making it a thing of the past.

Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

• “Why would you be just when you can get away with being unjust?” they think.  If you can cut some corners, cheat, lie, steal … why wouldn’t you?  This is what evil men think.  They are running away from the Lord and toward themselves and their evil desires.
• Those who know God’s perspectives, study His word, understand justice and a whole lot more.  Wisdom comes from the Lord, not this world and not from our flawed selves.

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

• What you’ve accumulated on this earth is worth approximately squat in the end game.  
• A man with absolutely nothing earthly but has integrity, is FAR superior to a man who’s gained earthly stuff and has no integrity.
• Says who?  Says God.  Infinity!

The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

• We all know people who have a son or daughter that they’re just embarrassed to talk about.  Why?  Because they are not keeping the law in some way.  
• We always want to blame the crowd our sons or daughters are “hanging with” for their embarrassing ways.  But I bet the parents of that crowd are thinking the same thing.  
• A glutton for their own desires is just shameful and awkward to watch.  How embarrassing for a Father and Mother to see their kid ignoring the law and acting like a fool.  
• It’s a reflection on the parent who blames themselves for not doing a better job of instilling the law in their minds and hearts of their children.  They feel as though they’ve failed.

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit

gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

• If you get rich by charging interest and taking advantage of people, your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor.  That’s a promise.  

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

• A prayer from someone who ignores God’s laws is like the kid that back-talks, steals money from his Dad’s wallet, and bullies kids at school, then asks his parents for help buying a car.  It’s insulting.  Almost MORE insulting than the bad things he’s done.  It makes a father rightfully angry to even hear the request for help.

Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

• Leading those who are good and obedient to God into acts that displease God is just as bad, if not worse, as the acts themselves.  They will fall … God will ensure it.
• But those who are in Christ and do all they can to follow His guidance, turning away from evil desires, will win in the end.  They’ll have eternal joy in Heaven with God.

A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

• Reminds me of myself before I saw the light.  Arrogantly ignorant.  Or is it ignorantly arrogant?
• A rich man (rich in a worldly sense) thinks he's somehow wise because he's rich.  As though he's fully responsible for getting himself there.  The poor man who understands that all things come from God just looks at the rich man and shakes his head.  

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

• ​Notice it says "WHEN the wicked rise".  Because they will on occasion.  When this happens, we have a natural tendency to hide instead of standing up against wickedness.  
• All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to remain silent.  We can't let it continue, as good men and women.  
• When the righteous win, though, all is well.  The definition of "peace" is not that there is no fighting.  It's that "all is right and as it should be".  Sometimes this takes confrontation of evil.    

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

• ​We are called to confess our sins and repent of (turn away from) them.  
• Concealing a dead rat in the wall will only make it stink in the house eventually.  Plus it will draw insects, etc.  No matter how much paint you put on the walls, you are hiding something rotten inside.
• So confess to your brothers and sisters and - more importantly - to God (who already knows, but you must confess anyway).  Mercy triumphs over judgement for those who confess and repent.

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

• ​Fear of the Lord.  Always thought that was a strange phrase.  How can we fear "love"?  
• Fearing the Lord is revering Him and acknowledging his greatness, his awesomeness, His infinite wisdom and power and glory.   Take a minute and think about what He really is.  Jaw dropping.  This is FEAR of the Lord.  
• Now, those who will not acknowledge this, hardening their heart against this reality, will fall into trouble - here on earth, certainly, but more importantly in the hereafter.

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

• ​Another way of putting it...  
• Poor people are helpless against a wicked ruler; he is as dangerous as a growling lion or a prowling bear.

A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

• ​Understanding of God's word and wisdom is what is needed.  This results in hate for injustice.  
• Without it, leaning on his own understanding and ego, a ruler will become a cruel oppressor. 
  

If one is burdened with the blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death;

let no one help him.

• ​​If someone has killed, they will go into hiding.  We are not to help him or her.  

 

Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

• ​This is the Christian version of Kharma.  In fact, it came from God, so we had it first ;)
• Walk according to God's commands (instructions) and all will be as it should be.  
• Walk outside of God's commands and don't be surprised when things blow up in your face.
• Lean NOT on your own understanding ... lean on His.

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

• ​Use what you've been given.  We are blessed with certain talents, gifts and opportunities - not by happenstance, but by design.
• Take what He gives you and run with it.  Don't try to do other things that aren't in line with what God's obviously blessed you with.

A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

• ​From where does your "fire" come?  What are you sprinting toward?  Wealth and comfort?  Or God and eternal glory?
• Be blessed by focusing on the correct target - God.  He knows what's best for us.  The world promises - on the contrary - do not.

To show partiality is not good,

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

• ​We're studying this in James right now.  I am guilty of this at times ... judging a book by it's cover and treating someone accordingly.  Ouch.
• We are NOT to show partiality ... favoritism, preference for one person over another for external reasons (e.g. treating a rich man who we believe may be able to do something for us differently than a poor man) ... ever.
• "Everyone has a price" they say.   I hope and believe I don't.  For a piece of bread (think: your price), we will do things that are displeasing to God.  Pitiful creatures we are.  Thank God for grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  And with prayer, we can overcome our worldly desires and our weakness.

A stingy man hastens after wealth

and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

• ​A man so worried about his wealth that it surpasses his "worry" about pleasing God, and he will lose it.  
• You can not serve two gods.  You must serve God or money - not both.

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than he who flatters with his tongue.

• ​People value those who tell it like it is.  I know I've been saved many times by a godly friend or family member who has told me what I needed to hear without sugar coating.  And to this day, I remember the risk they took and am forever thankful for it.
• Telling people what they want to hear is - if you think about it - quite cruel.  "I'm going to jump off that cliff!", they say.  And you respond with, "Great idea!  You're such an adventurer!"  How is that loving?

Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is a companion to a man who destroys.

• ​Honor your father and mother.  It's number 5 on the top 10.  It is IMPORTANT.
• Steer clear of the guy who really believes that stealing from his own parents is no big deal.  He's capable of anything and everything evil.  

A greedy man stirs up strife,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

• ​The person who is always striving for more and more is dangerous.  He will cause problems for those in his path and for himself in the end.
• But for the person who just trusts in the Lord ... has a sense of well-being.  A peace that transcends. 

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

• ​Said this already, but "Lean not on your own understanding."  I was at the Perot museum yesterday, and there was a wall of scientific discoveries showing what people were ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN of at different points in history.  Science is a work in progress, but it's amazing how many who don't want to believe in God as the Creator of all things think that NOW ... in this point in history ... that we all of a sudden know for sure this time.  Evolution?  Yep, that's for sure.  Go ahead and remove that "Theory of".  The Universe created from negative energy?  You betcha - that makes sense in a Star Trek episode, so it must make sense in real life.  
• But if we continue to conduct science - and we should - knowing that it's leading us to a more detailed understanding of what God has already told us ... if we walk in God's wisdom instead of our own arrogance ... science and God will collide, teaching us that He knows best and that He is the reason.

Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

• ​I've learned this lesson personally.  Give and you shall receive.  I made the most money in my entire career (by a LONG shot) once I trusted in God and started fully tithing plus giving when the opportunity arose when I had enough to give.  To be clear - I did not do it for that reason.  I am only aware of it in retrospect and see it as evidence of God's faithfulness.  
• Will it always be financial blessings that result - probably not.  But blessings nonetheless.
• Equally, those who walk on by when they see someone in need, someone hurting, someone in despair ... God sees this and will measure his mercy based on the mercy you have given.

When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

• ​Isn't this the truth.  As the "Progressives" (the artist formerly known as the Liberals) have come into power under the Obama era, many good men have gone silent.  All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to say nothing.
• But if we stand up, speak out and fight back, those weaker individuals who currently afraid to speak up (and haven't as a result of their fear), will come out of the woodworks to stand with us to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done.  

God bless.

Proverbs 27

Proverbs 27:1-27

Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

• You are not in control.  No matter what you think or feel is true, He is in control.
• Ask anyone who has has a death in the family, or has contracted some horrible disease that threatens their life.  
• But also take comfort in this.  God is sovereign.  His plan is what’s best regardless of what we feel at a given point in time.  He knows what we don’t know.  
• Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.  James 4:13-16

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

• Let your actions speak, not your words.  Talk is cheap.
• I’ve been this guy in the past, during my “I’m a pretty big deal around here” phase.  Talking about how good I am at this or that.  It is deflating and – honestly – just annoying to others.  
• Let others toot your horn for you.  And you – if anything – give credit to God from whom all blessings flow.  You are nothing but a bundle of HIS goodness.

A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,

but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

• The weight of stone and sand is nothing compared to the trouble stupidity can cause.  
• Putting up with fools is a serious burden.  It weighs on you.  Like having a conversation with a highly opinionated, but equally ignorant and stubborn person.  It just makes you tired.

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

• Jealousy/envy is destructive.  Someone losing it and yelling at someone can certainly be hurtful, but envy permeates.  It becomes hate, and it’s like a poison, mostly to the one who has envy.

Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

• Do not withhold love when you have love to give.  If rebuke is needed, rebuke.  But do it lovingly, and with loving intentions.  
• “Well, say something!”  You know the feeling.  Sometimes it’s better to get critiqued than to have someone neglect  loving you.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

• Comes down to intentions.  Even if a true friend hurts you, you can rest assured that they meant well.  They were sincere, but simply hurt you in the process.
• Enemies will say nice things, but they are insincere.  Their intentions are not pure.

One who is full loathes honey,

but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

• We see this in America.  Q:  “Want to hear about Jesus’s free salvation?”  A:  “Nah, I’m good.”  We are full.  We are full with everything BUT God.  
• But to those in less fortunate, less distracted nations, the news of Jesus Christ is like cool water on a parched tongue.  

Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

• For a bird to stray from its home is irresponsible, not to mention risky.  Someone will be hurt.
• A man straying away from his obligations to his wife and family is selfish and irresponsible.  He is called to love his wife like Christ loved and served the church, and to lead his children in the way.  To neglect this, even if he never leaves the home, is destructive.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

• The sweetness and goodness of friends comes from the advice they give.  As iron sharpens iron, even if the advice is not what you wanted to hear.  Especially if it’s not what you wanted to hear, but what you needed to hear.

Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend,

and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.

Better is a neighbor who is near

than a brother who is far away.

• Never abandon your friends, or your father’s friends.  That way, you can always count on them when you need them.  Abandon them enough times and they may abandon you, too.
• It’s better to seek help from your neighbor who is right there than to go to someone who’s family, but is too far away.  Seeking help from a neighbor, also, will open the door to your neighbor knowing he can come to you if he needs help.  

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

that I may answer him who reproaches me.

• If you show that you have wisdom, acting it out in life, a father is happy.  With that fuel, he can put up with all the negative stuff the world throws his way.  

The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

• Use your brain.  Don’t take unnecessary risks.  Show some sense – some prudence.
• Simple people ignore warning signs and statistics/probabilities, and they pay the price.

Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.

• Better take some collateral, because the likelihood of getting paid back is low when someone signs for someone they don’t know.  Better – advise him NOT to put up security for the stranger.  That would be the more loving thing.
• And if someone signs/vouches for someone who is already known to be untrustworthy, forget it.  You better get paid up front.

Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

• The Message paraphrase says, “If you wake your friend in the early morning by shouting "Rise and shine!" It will sound to him more like a curse than a blessing.”
• Not sure if this has some secondary, symbolic meaning as well, but I think the message is clear.  Don’t be a loud mouth in the morning.   People need some time to get rolling.  Be gentle.  Be kind and considerate.

A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

to restrain her is to restrain the wind

or to grasp oil in one's right hand.

• Stepping delicately on this one ;) since my wife is reading this.  Heh.
• It’s said in Genesis that this will happen.  There is a tendency, due to the entry of sin into the world, that wives will “quarrel” in the absence of a man doing what he is called to do.  Even if she doesn’t, she really wants to.  
• Don’t try to "restrain" her.  Instead, figure out what’s causing it.  If you believe she has good intent (which is true 98% of the time), then something else is missing.  Check the Good Book for God’s instruction for husbands.  I’m betting you’re not doing something that she desperately needs.  
• For women, reverse my comments above for a grumpy, explosive, or distant husband.  

Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.

• I leverage this verse often.  We are meant for community.  We need others to challenge us on our journey toward Christlikeness.  Likewise, others need us to help sharpen THEM.  
• If we choose the “I don’t need church, I just need God” approach, we will be unsuccessful in our journey.  Too many think that they don’t need to find a church family.  This is not true, and it’s certainly not biblical.

Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honored.

• Loyalty, attention, being intentional and deliberate about providing someone else’s needs will always be honored and likely rewarded.
• My mind goes directly to marriage.  You want the best fruit of marriage, tend to it.  Guard it.  Be intentional about providing the care and feeding it needs to thrive and grow and prosper.  It will be time and effort well spent.
• Same with your job, your kids, your friendships, your community and your church.

As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of man reflects the man.

• For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Mattew 6:20-21
• Where is your heart?  Are your priorities straight?  Mine should be God, wife, kids, extended family, neighbors, then self, work, etc.

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

and never satisfied are the eyes of man.

• Sheol and Abaddon = Hell and Destruction.  They are relentless.  
• So are our eyes – our desire for things that are not good for us.  The pursuit of anything but God is endless.  Earn $100K, you now want $150K.  Earn $150K, now it’s $250K.  It never ends.  The same with sex, job-related achievement, food, and so on.  Beware of idolizing anything but God.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and a man is tested by his praise.

• Praise tests a person in that his reaction to it shows what he is really like.  
• If he gloats over it, he shows himself to be arrogant; he “knows” he is good. But if he accepts the praise modestly, he shows his humility.

Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle

along with crushed grain,

yet his folly will not depart from him.

• Sometimes you want to beat sense into some people.  But God says it won’t work.  
• You can beat a fool half to death, but he still won’t get it.  

Know well the condition of your flocks,

and give attention to your herds,

for riches do not last forever;

and does a crown endure to all generations?

• Wealth is not permanent.  Not even nations last forever.  Think of the great Babylonian empire, the Roman empire, the power of Great Britain at one point … America.
• So, we should keep an eye on it.  Our economy will collapse – it’s just a matter of time.  Are you ready for that?  Don’t worry, but certainly prepare.

When the grass is gone and the new growth appears

and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,

the lambs will provide your clothing,

and the goats the price of a field.

There will be enough goats 'milk for your food,

for the food of your household

and maintenance for your girls.

• God will always provide.  Once you’ve harvested all the wheat (so to speak), you still have your sheep that give you wool to knit clothing and goats that sell for a profit and buy what you need.
• You’ll have enough for the ups and downs.  Just do the work and trust him.  

Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:1-28

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

• I talk to my boys about being a man of honor and integrity all the time.  A man without honor is like watching a clown.  
• Synonyms for “honorable” include, honest, moral, ethical, principled, righteous, right-minded.
• And a fool, lacking the wisdom and knowledge that God gives us through His Word, is as ridiculous as snow in the summer.

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

a curse that is causeless does not alight.

• We all have created enemies, either intentionally or otherwise. And people vent their hatred in various ways.
• Sometimes we’re “cursed” at for doing the right thing … especially when it’s unpopular.  Example:  The guy who says he isn’t going to cheat on the test when everyone else is.  
• Sometimes we’re “cursed” at because we state (even gently and with love in our intent) God’s Truth.  We see that today with the abortion issue and the issue of homosexuality.
• A curse that comes without cause – undeserved – is as harmless as the flying around of a bird.  It’s not going to hit the recipient.   In fact, it will likely fly back home from where it came.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the back of fools.

• You can’t speak reason to a horse or a donkey and make it do what you need it to do, can you?  Of course not.  You need to direct it, to guide it. 
• Fools are no different.  It’s like they don’t speak English.  So they need to be treated as dumb animals to keep them in line.  
• Fools can be any color, any gender … any background.  But they are all the same in one way:  They don’t get it.  And if you don’t use the “rod” (control them physically), they will cause havoc.

Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

• "No you are!  No you are!  No you are!”
• "Oh yeah?  If he did that to me, I’m doing it back to him!”
• One of the challenges of parenting is teaching your kids that this goes nowhere.  In fact, it makes the original fool feel justified in his or her initial action.  
• God feels the same.  He looks at us fighting fire with fire.  Doing foolish things because, “She did it first!”  What children we still are.
• What God prescribes is to realize you’re dealing with a fool and fight back the urge to return the foolishness.  

Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

• Send a fool to deliver the message you want conveyed and you might as well cut off your own foot or drink some poison.  It’s not going to end well.

Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

• Words can be powerful.  They are strongly dependent, though, on the source of those words.  
• Wise words coming from the mouth of a fool can’t be taken seriously.  They’re worthless.

Like one who binds the stone in the sling

is one who gives honor to a fool.

• Lifting up a fool in honor and respect (cough-Obama!) is as silly, worthless and harmful as tying a stone to a sling shot.  

Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

• Put simply, a wise word (a Proverb) coming from a fool just doesn’t fit.  
• It doesn’t belong there as much as a splinter doesn’t belong in your skin.

Like an archer who wounds everyone

is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

• It’s irresponsible to have a fool or a drunk represent you in any way.  
• If you think they’ll do the job well and not cause a lot of harm along the way, you may be as foolish as they are.

Like a dog that returns to his vomit

is a fool who repeats his folly.

• I think this says it all.  Not getting that visual out of my head.
• Foolishness becomes insanity after a while.  Doing the same foolish thing over and over is like how a dog, well, you know.  Ick.

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

• Wisdom only based on personal experience is like saying you know what a seven-layer dip tastes like by skimming the very corner of the first layer where it’s burned.  
• Our perspectives and subsequent feelings that are attached are skewed … flawed.  Only God’s wisdom takes all into account.  
• Too many base their world on a small subset of the data.  We see this in polls.  Any worldview can be substantiated by skimming just the first layer of data, over in the corner where it’s burned.
• When we take all the data into account we get closer, even though we will never have all the data in this earthly lifetime.  

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!”

• We hear excuses all the time. "I can’t find a job because of the economy or because someone did me wrong or [whatever].”
• Sluggards (lazy, entitlement-generation people) will always find excuses not to take responsibility to tough through it.  
• Saw “A Home of Our Own” with Kathy Bates yesterday.  Want to see a family who made no excuses?  Wow.  Everyone needs to see that one.  

As a door turns on its hinges,

so does a sluggard on his bed.

• Instead of getting up and getting to the day’s work, a sluggard just rolls over and succumbs to sloth.  

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

• “Yo mama so lazy, she stick her hand in a bowl of food and don’t even pull it back to eat it."  Urban Standard Translation
• Some of us are so lazy, that we won’t even lift a hand to help ourselves.  We expect someone else to do it, making excuses why we can't.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who can answer sensibly.

• Logic doesn’t even play in the lazy man’s excuses.  He is right and there’s no convincing him otherwise.  
• He’s been done wrong, so he has no chance … so why try?  This attitude will be his end.

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own

is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

• Jumping into someone else’s argument is just asking for trouble.  
• And a tip, don’t grab a stray dog by the ears.  Unless, of course, scars will improve your appearance ;)

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

• "You know this person.  He will say something that is insulting or hurtful to you.  He will trick you, leading you astray.  But, when you confront him, he will tell you that he was only joking.”  — paraphrased from "I Was Only Kidding" by Travis Peterson
• “… a person who hides his insults behind his supposed humor, that man is like a person who hurls flaming arrows.  This person is dangerous, destructive, and deadly.  Watch out for him.  Do not listen to him.  Do not tolerate his falsehood.”  — from "I Was Only Kidding" by Travis Peterson

For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

• Stop stoking the fire with gossip.  If you leave it alone, it will be forgotten.  
• We are asked to forgive.  Many times, though, we say we’ve forgiven, but then we carry on complaining about it.  Either it’s forgiven or not, though.  There is no middle ground.

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

• Let’s face it.  It feels good to gossip … to talk about others unfavorably.  It’s also evil.  
• God tells us not to gossip.  Period.  He commands us because he knows it is a temptation no different than lust or greed.
• If you don’t have something uplifting to say, probably best to keep it to yourself.

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips

and harbors deceit in his heart;

when he speaks graciously, believe him not,

for there are seven abominations in his heart;

though his hatred be covered with deception,

his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

• Deception is evil.  Those who intend to deceive will do it with sweet words.  They will say what you want to hear, but their actions will be otherwise.  
• I want to pick on certain politicians, but we’ve all been guilty of this at times.  
• God knows our heart.  And even if the truth is not exposed to the public here on earth, it will be exposed on Judgement Day.

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

• You've made your bed.  Now you have to lie in it.  
• Start something with evil intentions and it will come back to bight you.  
• Indians refer to this as Karma.  What comes around goes around.  

A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

• Lying, in its very essence, is hate.  You obviously do not respect the person to whom you’re telling the lie enough to tell the truth.  Hateful.
• Flattering others to get your own way may get you some short-term gain, but it will end badly.
• Better to tell the truth and skip the deceptive flattery.

Proverbs 25

Proverbs 25:1-28

These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

• "secret things belong unto the Lord our God.” — Deuteronomy 29:28
• There are many things that are hidden and are known only to God.  This fact forces us to acknowledge our limitations … and His greatness.  
• There is a reason why He makes only certain things knowable to us.  Why?  No idea, but it’s Truth.  This started in the Garden of Eden with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
• Do we simply trust Him?  Or do we need proof (to touch the wounds in His sides, so to speak) before we believe?  Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

Take away the dross from the silver,

and the smith has material for a vessel;

take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

• Dross = Something regarded as worthless, rubbish, junk.
• I’ve read no less than three studies lately about removing distractions from your life – especially evil or worthless distractions that take us away from God.  
• We are flooded with such distractions.  “Satan does not need to temp or deceive us to win.  All he needs to do is keep us busy.”
• But if we can simplify (something my sister did a while back), we can start to focus on what matters:  God, family, those in need … well, that’s about it.
• The more the silversmith can cook out the impurities … the more a king can eradicate wicked and distracting influences … the more righteousness, the more holiness, the more of God’s plan for us can shine like a star in this dark world.  
• So, don’t do more.  Do less.  But make that less all about God.

Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence

or stand in the place of the great,

for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

• Ever hear someone tooting their own horn?  Feels awkward and wrong, doesn’t it?  Ever see a pro athlete do something incredible, then ruin it by acting boastful, demanding adoration from the fans?  Ick.  
• Now compare that to someone who shines, but doesn’t gloat about it.  No matter what they do, they still act in humility.  Wow.  Now that is something that just looks right and good, doesn’t it?
• Showing that you expect to be glorified only results in the opposite reaction.  And God’s reaction is no different.  He calls us to be humble.  To excel with the blessings He’s given us, but to give it all up to Him, the One who made us that way.  
• What are we, if not what God made us to be?  So act accordingly, in acknowledgement of “from whom all blessings flow”.

What your eyes have seen

do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

• Hasty = Acting with excessive speed or insufficient consideration.  
• “I know what I saw!”  Did you?  Have you thought it through?  If it’s absolutely clear after solid, thorough personal deliberation, then okay.  But don’t be hasty when bringing a claim against your neighbor.
• We are quick to react as a species, aren’t we?  Especially when we feel we’ve been wronged.  But keep in mind the word I just used … feel.  Feelings can’t be trusted in seeing things clearly.  Take a breath.  Count to 10.  Think about it, consider it, look at it from all perspectives (even from your aggressor’s perspective), and compare your intended response to God’s word on the matter.  Then act accordingly.

Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another's secret,

lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

• Don’t fly off the handle, running to the courts for blood, screaming “I demand justice!”  If we start with the idea that intentions were good, but maybe execution was poor, we can save a lot of grief.
• Address the issue with the one who allegedly wronged you.  Talk it through.  If that neighbor’s intentions were pure, you will likely resolve the matter to your satisfaction, and maybe even strengthen your relationship with that neighbor.  
• Seemingly unrelated … keep a secret.  Don’t be that guy who no one can trust to keep your confidence.  

A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

• "Lord please teach me to speak the right words at the right time with the right tone, that I may live peaceable with my neighbors.  Amen."
• That WORD comes from Him, either through memorization of scripture, so it pops out at the right time and in the right situation … or it comes from the Holy Spirit within a believer.  Either way, it’s from God.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is a faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

• Putting this verse in context of the time, snow from mountains was used to cool drinks.  Refreshing.
• “… so refreshing is a faithful messenger.”  Proverbs 13:17
• Delivery of the word of God by a faithful messenger is refreshing to our souls.  Bring it and bring it often!

Like clouds and wind without rain

is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

• People who promise gifts that they never ultimately give, or just generally promise anything upon which they don’t follow through, are like clouds without rain (in a time when rain is desperately needed).

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue will break a bone.

• Patient persistence pierces through indifference.
• A judge, seeing someone who has patiently put up with injustice without complaint, will look more favorably upon that person.
• Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
• A calm, reasonable delivery of your case will more likely convince someone.   Forcing it down their throat does not work.  

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

• There is such a concept as "too much of a good thing”.
• Moderation in all things.

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

• Same as above, to an extent.  Too much of a good thing … assuming your presence was considered a "good thing" in the first place ;)
• Don’t wear out your welcome by dropping by too often.  If you are wanted more often, you will be invited.

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

• Lies (false witness) are as destructive to a reputation as a club, a sword or an arrow are to the body.  

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

• Why did my mind go directly to our current President?  So many trust in him, despite what seems so obvious to me.  Perhaps it’s not so obvious, or people are just that easily fooled.
• Treachery annoys as well as deceives.  — From “Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
• Confidence in an unfaithful man is painful … — From "Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible"

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

• “Come on!  Cheer up!”  Ever hear that when you are feeling low?  It doesn’t help – it hurts.  It’s like being squirted in the face with cold water on a cold day.  
• Instead, try sympathy.  Stop trying to cheer up the heavy hearted and just love them, be with them.  

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

• We are terrified of ISIS and want to eradicate them.  Why not – instead – love them?  Radical thinking, I know.  Crazy to some, I know.  But we must not lean on our own understanding, but on His.
• How about, instead of dropping bombs on ISIS camps, we drop food and medicine?  Like heaping coals on metal will soften/melt the metal, kindness softens/melts the heart.
• Suffocating them with kindness.  What would this seemingly crazy approach result in?  A hardening or a softening of their resolve to kill the infidels?  Food for thought.
• God says that he will reward us for loving our enemies.  I – for one – believe Him.

The north wind brings forth rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

• Slanders would not be so readily spoken, if they were not readily heard. — From “Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible"
• Gossiping causes anger.  Why start?  What do you expect to gain?  Control yourself and do not gossip.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

• Contentious, quarrelsome, nagging, biting … this is not just about wives, but about dealing with anyone that is difficult and always picking fights.
• It’s better to just stay away … to not take part or response to biting, quarrelsome comments.  
• “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.” Proverbs 21:19

Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

• This speaks right to my newly found drive to deliver the Good News to far away countries who don’t know His name or about His free Gift.
• We have to remember, we are tainted here in America.  People tend to respond with scoffing or annoyance at the good news here.  Over there, they are thirsty for it.  When they hear it, they drink it up because they have extremely thirsty souls.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

• I’ve been guilty of this before.  My desire to be seen as “reasonable” turns into a muddying of the water of Truth when confronted strongly by unbelievers.  
• We try to compromise on God’s truth when nothing but the whole, unadulterated, unaltered Truth will do.
• I say this to myself:  Stand firm in the Truth, Greg.  Do not falter.  Do not muddy or pollute the waters in the name of “tolerance”.  People need the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.

It is not good to eat much honey,

nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

• We are to seek God’s glory, not our own.  
• Pair this with “If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.”
• Seeking your own glory, like eating too much honey, will leave you feeling nauseous eventually.  It is not fulfilling, and it’s not good for you.

A man without self-control

is like a city broken into and left without walls.

• "Ancient cities like Babylon or Jerusalem were protected from their enemies by fortified walls. One whose walls were broken down was a city inviting attack and plunder. In the same way, human beings without self-control are in danger of being ruined and humiliated by the blind pursuit of egocentric, self-indulgent, and forbidden desires.” — From Self-control and City Walls by Rubel Shelly
• I couldn’t have said it better.  This is an area of improvement for us all … until the end.