Tag: Proverbs 15

A reason to ignore discipline is because it doesn’t feel good. This follows the old refrain, “If it feels good do it,” and another, “If it doesn’t feel good it must not be good for me.” These excuses stem from a blind belief that the body knows what is good and what is not good […]

Listening to a like-giving rebuke is not the same as hearing. Though this point is merely a difference in the definition of words the point is still true. The original Hebrew word “shama” implies giving careful attention, diligent obedience, and firm belief in the rebuke. The opposite of this proverb is found in 3:11, “do […]

This proverb gives joy to the heart because of two words, “good news”; in Hebrew “tob shemua” and in Greek “gospel”. The good news concerning Jesus’ death and resurrection is indeed health to the bones. The cheerful look of the saved does bring joy to the heart. I am reminded of the joy on the […]

The Lord is holy, holy, holy. The wicked chose to be unholy. They do not listen to God and his wisdom though he cries out to them all day. (1:20-33) They turn away from his love. They make excuses for not turning to him. The LORD is far from the wicked because that is where […]

The mouth and the tongue and the words that come from them have been the subject of several proverbs. (10:19, 21, 31-32) The words I speak come from the heart whether good or evil. The righteous know to be careful in what is spoken and weigh answers. I do not always do this. Even though […]

A bribe is receiving something for self so that another may get away with injustice. (Deuteronomy 16:19-20) Bribery is also giving anything of value with the intention of influencing one in the discharge of his or her duties. (1 Samuel 12:3) Both the giver and receiver are guilty. Most wealthy are only different than the […]

The Lord God, Yahweh knows what everyone is thinking all the time. Nothing that can or cannot be done will stop this truth. He knows my thoughts and from where they spring. The Lord Jesus has emotions and values. He detests or finds pleasure in a person’s thoughts. Pleasure and despise are considered two of […]

A surveyor’s task to mark land boundaries has existed from modern-day to many millenniums past including in Solomon’s day. When modern surveyors find a property’s boundaries they place metal stakes in the ground to mark the corners. In Solomon’s day, they either placed a large stone in corners or a large pile of small stones. […]

What happens when I die? Is there life after physical death? Two questions that unite all. The answers are many. The Bible has two answers. This verse speaks of both; “upward” and “downward to the grave” (“maal” and “sheol matta” in Hebrew). Sheol (i.e. grave, hell) is deep within the earth (Ps. 88:6; Ezek. 26:20; […]

If someone asks me for advice or is seeking an answer to something in their heart and mind I find joy when I answer. According to this proverb everyone does. Whether my answer is good or bad, true or false, right or wrong, timely or not doesn’t matter. I am still happy to reply. The […]

The point is clear. Seek counsel and advice because you are not as clever and wise as you think you are. The principle is so important variations of it appear in three other places in the book of Proverbs (11:14, 20:18, 24:6). Stubborn obstinate pride doesn’t succeed as often as a humble amenable heart. The […]

The proverb is a variation of the one in 10:23. “Folly delights a man who lacks judgment…” here is “A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct…” in 10:23. And “…a man of understanding keeps a straight course” here is “…a man of understanding delights in wisdom” in 10:23. A fool to God is a person […]

Sadly, a child can be taught to despise their father and/or mother. This callous and cruel act can be accomplished by someone they look up to whether a peer, family member, teacher, the other parent, and/or society. The result is often harmful to the child and the inflictor of this education. A child trained to […]

A sluggard lifestyle and its trappings are well defined in Proverbs (6:6, 9; 10:16; 13:4; 15:19; 19:24; 20:4; 22:13; 24:13; 26:13-16). A way of life has the same meaning as the path of life that someone chooses. A sluggard is a lazy person whose lifestyle blocks them like thorns block a pathway. No one would […]

Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that Jesus sends to his people (Galatians 5:22-23). That is to say that a person with a personal love and respect relationship with Jesus is given the Holy Spirit who endows on a person the ability to be patient if they so desire. A benefit […]

Love and hate can change anything. Love can make a simple meal into something wonderful. Hate can make a feast unappetizing. The proverb here implies that the meal has more than one person and assumes that several family members are sharing a meal. “Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened […]

The proverb in this verse combines two popular subjects in the book of Proverbs: fear of the LORD and wealth. The two at first seem opposed to each other. Upon closer examination, a lot about the two are revealed. First, fearing God is in degrees. One can have a little fear of God just as […]

Is life merely a matter of perspective? Better put, is the way I experience life a matter of the way I perceive it? The “oppressed” are people that are “afflicted” in this proverb meaning that they are troubled in their mind and heart. This type of person believes that the world is against them, God […]

The heart of one person is compared to the mouth of another. The first seeks knowledge and is called discerning. The second feeds on folly and is called a fool. The fact that I have to seek knowledge implies several truths. First, I am not born with knowledge. Though I am born with instincts and […]

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with […]

One of the attributes of a mocker is destructive self-pride. Such a person will not consult the luminous truth of the wise. They resent correction. Even when disaster sweeps over them like a dark whirlwind, they will not accept the advice of the wise and spurn their rebuke (1:28-30, 10:8, 13:1). Even if God were […]

“Death and Destruction” in the NIV is from the Hebrew words “Sheol and Abaddon” (a transliteration) in the original Hebrew. The KJV translated them as “hell and destruction” leaving the incorrect impression of the place of the wicked after their physical body dies. That is why most translations keep the original Hebrew. Still, I am […]

Jesus’ first disciples and the apostles were known as the “Way” (Acts 9:2, 22:4, 14, 22) after his resurrection and ascension into heaven before and as much as they were called “Christians” (Acts 11:26, 25:28). Choosing to be a Christian is accepting and adopting the way to live as taught by Jesus and the apostles. […]

I want to gain the Lord God’s attention in a good way. I want God to love me as a good father loves their favorite child. This proverb tells me how. First, since he loves those who pursue righteousness I will pursue righteousness. Second, since he detests the way of the wicked I will avoid […]

Both the upright and the wicked can be and often are religious. Just because I offer sacrifices doesn’t mean that I am upright in the Lord God’s eyes. The wicked also offer sacrifices. The LORD detests the sacrifices of the wicked. Niccolo Machiavelli’s political treatise “The Prince” is about justifying immoral and irreligious means to […]

A society rises or falls based on who is teaching and what is being taught. When wisdom is taught a society rises. When foolishness is taught society falls. “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, not so the hearts of fools.” What is wisdom has always been a matter of opinion in human societies. What […]

  What does the righteous consider a great treasure? What income does the wicked seek? What do I treasure? What do I collect? When I read the word treasure in this parable the thought of money and possessions came to mind. I do not have much.   Jesus taught, “For where your treasure is, there your […]

   A good Father will find the need to discipline his children even though it is hard and unpleasant (Hebrews 12:7-10). A prudent child will respond well to a Father’s discipline even when it is hard and unpleasant. Discipline takes several forms, meanings, and methods. The Spirit leading Jesus to 40 days of temptation in […]

“The Lord’s (Yahweh’s) eyes are everywhere…” starts this parable. God does not miss anything. When I was young there was a funny saying, “My mother has eyes in the back of her head,” meaning when I was doing something she knew of and disapproved of she would let me know. This verse isn’t exactly saying […]

The Christian Standard Version translation presents the first half of this proverb like sitting in a comfortable easy-chair, “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive…” The Hebrew word for attractive is “yatab” which can also be translated as “well”, “good”, “pleasing”, and “merry”. Who doesn’t admire a teacher who commands knowledge to the point […]

Me in a bad mood and in the right situation will bring forth harsh words that stir up anger in another and which I will regret later. A gentle answer is easier when I am in a good mood and in easygoing circumstances. But I have limits that prove that I am always in need […]