Tag: Proverbs 19

This proverb means one thing to me this morning. Stop my spiritual habit of listening to God’s instruction through the Spirit and the Word and I will begin to stray from the words of knowledge. The apostles were no different. Even though Jesus taught them they still committed the same errors. Remembering for most involved […]

Children are expected to take care of their parents, especially when they are advanced in years just as parents are to take care of their children, especially when they are young. Robbing a father is not only taking his money and possessions. It can also include not visiting him and keeping his grandchildren from spending […]

Judgment and punishment are very important to a healthy society and any human organization and group. The result is that the innocent, righteous, and weak are protected from mockers and fools. A mocker is a person who treats others with ridicule or contempt. They frustrate hopes and disrupt order and structure. They are engulfed with […]

The laziness and slothful nature of the sluggard are embodied in a comical word image in this proverb. BDBD has defined a sluggard and presents a way to overcome this mindset in 6:6-8, 13:4, and 15:19. Thus far in the previous proverbs that address the sluggard lifestyle choice BDBD considered how and why to avoid […]

Fear the Lord is perhaps the most common phrase in Proverbs appearing twelve times. It also is common in other books of the Old Testament, making it one of the most repeated phrases in the Bible. Yet, most people today do not ascribe to it. Those who believe in Christ cannot accept it or understand […]

This proverb requires more thought and research than some others. Is it that a man desires kindness and unfailing love, or does it say that what makes a man desirable is kindness and unfailing love? The Hebrew is, “Taawa adam hesed” meaning “desire man loving-kindness.” Since both are true, either could be the point in […]

I plan for the future based on the commands, direction, and advice in the Bible. Making plans is a good lifestyle. It is wisdom exercised and an ingredient to success. My plans could be for the day’s routines and needed chores. Today could be laundry day, shopping day, yardwork day, and baseball practice after school […]

God did not intend for his children to isolate themselves. Part of his creation design is to mimic the relationship between God the Father, Son, and Spirit. He established a loving and respectful relationship between husband and wife. He commanded them to create a family. Groups of families establish a community under God’s authority that […]

While discipline is the subject of the first proverb, punishment is the subject of the second proverb. Discipline has a goal and purpose; that is to make one better through training. Discipline controls behavior by forming a new beneficial habit. Discipline is the tool of military commanders, sports coaches, mentors, and parents. Discipline can also […]

Solomon’s proverb and Jesus’ parable “The Sheep and the Goats” agree that the Lord God, the King of the Universe takes notice when people are kind to the poor. The proverb equates it with lending to the LORD. God rewards kindness to the poor. Jesus proclaimed that when he comes again in his glory with […]

Humans are born with character, feelings, instincts, a basic perception of right and wrong, as well as a strong nature to commit wrong and resist right. We are conceived with an inconclusive perception of God and a sustaining desire for God. (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32) We inherit that which is imperfect and willfully contribute to […]

Laziness, ambition, purpose, energy, and will merit the thought of today’s proverb. Slothfulness is the old English term that describes a person who lacks ambition, purpose, and will. The lazy have extremely low willpower. Having willpower is the mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides upon a course of action. I can deliberately […]

Death is a part of life as much as breathing. When parents die perhaps the children will receive an inheritance including their parent’s home and all that their parents acquired. Often this divides children, the subject of another proverb. The point of this proverb is parents leave gifts to their children and grandchildren for when […]

A foolish son in the Bible is one who does not fear nor love God. (28:7) Thus, his lifestyle choices are to his eventual ruin. His parents are grieved and bitter. Calamity follows their broken hearts. (10:1; 17:25) As in previous proverbs on this subject I think of my relationship to God my heavenly father. […]

Solomon again presents a proverb concerning a king (14:28, 35, 16:10, 14, 15) and will do so again in future chapters. This time he compares a king’s rage and his favor. The roar of a lion brings fear to the person in the wild. So does the rage of monarchy rule. Walking on dew-laden grass […]

Patience is one of those character qualities that is celebrated and yet hard to master. How to be patient when something is desired? How to be patient when justice is wanted? How to be patient when the end is delayed? This proverb says wisdom gives patience. How? Since patience is better than pride according to […]

The fool (“kesil” in Hebrew) in the Bible is a person who is unwise, lazy, and ungodly. Their behavior is folly due to their life-perspective and lifestyle choices. They are thoughtless and self-centered. They do not concern themself with nor fear God. They claim that either they do not believe in God or that God […]

Job, a righteous man was left all alone when disaster struck. His wife and friends deserted him after his riches and prosperity were taken. (Job 2:9-10) Like the man in this proverb, his family hated him and his friends kept their distance. No one helped him. Who listens to a poor man? Everyone thinks he […]

One bored pre-teenage day I noticed a book with a long title in the small bookcase in our living room. I had never seen my mother read a newspaper let alone a book. However, I learned that this was hers. It was titled, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. She was […]

The proverb in this verse and the proverb in verse 9 are nearly identical. Repeating in the Bible is a way to stress the importance of adherence. A false witness who pours out lies is one of the six things the Lord hates (6:16-19). A false witness is obviously one who lies except if a […]

The proverb’s observation, “Wealth brings many friends” has been experienced by all human society mostly because we want and expect something from our rich friend. Since the things that money buys can bring momentary happiness to a person’s demeanor and conduct, then these too attract momentary friends. We want to share in the momentary experience […]

Decisions I make every moment affect my present and future. It does not matter if they are small or major for even a small decision can have a major impact on my future. Any foolish decision I make can ruin my life. A small devastating foolish decision is easily forgotten. Though the effect is blamed […]

Zeal and enthusiasm are emotions that have not been the subject of a proverb until now. Some English translations have the first half of the proverb as “the soul without knowledge is not good.” While other translations have, “it is not good to have zeal without knowledge.” The second is clearer considering the rest of […]

Blameless in God’s eyes is to maintain spiritual and moral integrity even if it means sacrificing or not gaining what I desire or believe I need. A person of integrity adheres to the code of conduct taught by Jesus, the apostles, the prophets, and Moses. They are steadfast to the truth. Jesus was blameless when […]