Proverbs Study – Lesson 40 – June 26, 2011– Seacoast Community Church

Proverbs Study – Lesson 40 (Proverbs chapter 27:19-27)

V. 19 When looking at your face in the mirror things are revealed that you were not aware of. Before looking you thought everything was alright. You have a smudge on your face. Your hair is out of place. You look tired. You have bags under your eyes. Or, YOU LOOK MARVELOUS, affirming what you already believed to be true! The same goes for the heart. Man’s heart answers to man’s heart if we let it and take a look. The heart is like a mirror if we are brave enough to honestly take a look at it. Avoiding taking a look at the heart keeps us in the dark on what’s happening in our life not letting you make adjustments in your thoughts, attitudes, values and appearance making your heart and you look marvelous. You can avoid looking at your face not realizing that there is egg on it if you want to, but the reaction from others will tell you that something is wrong. Avoiding looking at the mirror does not fix the problem. It only leaves you wondering what is wrong. A wise person is not afraid to check in with their heart to see if things are ok. Prov. 4:23 acknowledges to ‘keep your heart with all diligence’ just as we are encouraged to keep our appearance. We frequently look in the mirror checking our appearance. So too we must routinely check our heart. In checking in with our heart it is good to remember that even our heart can deceive us. But, if we are honest with ourselves and not afraid of seeing things that may need to be spruced up a look at the heart with some regularity can keep us looking marvelous.

V. 20 There are some things that are never full or never satisfied. It seems like the ocean is never totally full. There is always room for a little more water in it. Solomon also made the observation that it seems that death is also never full either. He observed that no matter how many people die that there is always room for one more. He saw the same for destruction that as bad as it can be it seemed to him that there was always room for more. So too he noticed the same for the heart of man. Filling the reservoir of the heart concerning want seems bottomless. It is amazing how much such a little organ can hold. It seems endless. When you look at man and at the human race in general we too have to wonder and marvel at the seemingly endless ability of the heart to hold so much. It seems that just after filling our heart full of some thing or some experience that we no more let the paint dry so to speak than we begin again to want more or to do or have something else cramming in a little more…being surprise that yes there is more room and surprise of surprise when we are done with that there is still more room to put something else. I think that his point is not that we should go ahead and keep filling the heart to see where its max is, trying to find its limit, but in reality that we might slow down or stop our race to fill the heart warning us that like death and Hades our heart will never be satisfied no matter how much we put in it.  A full heart is not a happy heart, but in v. 19 he tells us that a well maintained heart is.

V. 21 Some things are meant to refine or draw the better or best out of us. It is meant as a catalyst, a stepping stone or process to better things. When the process is applied and begins to work through its steps the quality of the material being processed begins to come forth and be seen for what it really is. For silver and for gold there is a process that is applied involving heat that is meant to draw out the impurities revealing the true character and quality of the inherent silver or gold. The process including the heat applied has really two purposes. The first is to refine the material that is being refined and the second is to actually reveal the underlying quality of the material being refined. The true quality of the material cannot truly be known until tested. When the heat of the fire is applied to silver or gold it won’t be long before you know what you really have.  So too the true quality and character of an individual are revealed by certain things…praise being one of them. When praise is given to an individual their response reveals a lot about the hidden qualities or character of the person,…or the lack thereof. Praise given to a person of lesser character will often be met with a response of pride and arrogance taking full credit for the compliment whereas praise given to a mature believer will be met with appreciation, humility and honesty giving credit where credit is due acknowledging God first and others as their reason and source for their abilities.

V. 22 What do you do with someone who will not listen to advice? Many of the hard parts of life seem to have at least the parallel purpose of separating out the parts of us or our world allowing us the opportunity to get rid of or change or refine those things that are not beneficial to our life and embrace, enhance or perfect those areas that make life better for us and others. It seems that after tasting or experiencing life for years that we can look back and see that the harder or more difficult times of life seemed to have some of the most dramatic influence on us initiating and at times actually forcing us to make changes that were absolutely necessary. These are changes that if we were honest we would not have been able or willing to make without the introduction of the trouble into our life.

But, here in this verse, Solomon’s wisdom tells us that that is not how it is for some. Many are tempered by the difficulties of life. But, he says that a fool is unaffected by any of this. He says that a fool does not listen when life speaks or is attempting to teach. He gives the impression that for most of us when we at first do not listen to good advice through the University of Hard knocks’ that life eventually has a way of turning up the heat or intensifying the training pressing the point or lesson harder eventually causing the chemical reaction of giving in and changing forcing us to give up and receive the wisdom that is presented. He tells us that the true fool, however, even when pressed hard does not learn or adopt wisdom making a change. Solomon creates an apt picture saying that you can even crush a fool hard as grinding into mortar attempting to teach him something and that you are wasting your time. Often we have the picture that a fool, however, is some silly never amounting to nothing or is a nobody which is often true. But, here I think that Solomon is also referring too many of us in those times of our life when we are extremely stubborn when we have made a decision and have decided to ‘die by it’. Solomon would say ‘How foolish’ to hold onto an impulsive or bad decision when you realize its error or untruth admitting that we may have been wrong. In deciding to hold onto our folly at all costs Solomon would say that we put ourselves in the category of a fool receiving life’s hard lessons again and again being un-teachable by life’s lessons.

V. 23-4 Things don’t always stay the same. You work hard. You plan and toil. You scrimp and save and prudently and patiently move in life toward a better day, making headway. Life begins to improve. You are finally, after much toil and sacrifice, getting somewhere. You begin to think ‘ah..I can finally take it easy’. Solomon says ‘Not so Fast!’. It is not that easy. He tells us that in this life we can never kick back and relax completely. There has never been a man who has made or had so much that they ‘had not a care in the world’. He tells us that we do well to always manage and maintain those things that we are given, attending to the things of this world that are inherently attached to what we have. He says that if we do not that those things that we have worked so hard for, that make life better and we enjoy so much, will slowly lose their value tarnishing and will eventually disappear. Flocks that with a little attention and oversight tend to continue to gain and increase will dissipate and diminish into nothingness with no oversight. He makes the point in v. 24 that the crown does not necessarily get passed to the next generation as it should. It seems that the forces of this world are sent to make sure that that does not happen. Things tend to fall apart without oversight and at least some attention. It is only with oversight and intention that the next generation sees the king’s family carry on the family traditions.

In verses 25,26 and 27 he reminds us of the practical aspects of attending to the basic necessities of life. In doing so, life will pay off BIG in the things that matter most in life allowing us to enjoy its simple pleasures. In v. 25 he reminds us to attend or give attention to things in their season which have attached to them their own blessing and their own benefit. If we do not ‘make hay while the sun shines’ so to speak we forfeit not only the opportunity which will not always be there, but we also forfeit the result or payoff. Solomon says that it is the payoff of opportunity, realizing that opportunity and taking advantage of it, that ‘pays the bills’ of this world so to speak making life good instead of a burden. Missed opportunities often never present again or can put us ‘behind the 8 ball’ forcing us to take the utilitarian approach to life of making a living just to pay the bills.

In these 3 verses he paints the picture of the serene pleasantness of this approach to life. Things are done in their season. There is a time for this and a place for that. It is not mindless repetition, but pleasant expectation. He points out that God laid it out this way unfolding the seasons before us making life and its choirs and activities good. In v. 25 he says that first the hay appears. Right after this provision the tender grass appears providing the next thing that can be stored or used as needed. Then, he says next comes the herbs in the mountains that will need to be gathered allowing us not only practical benefits to picking and gathering them, but allowing for forays into pastures and hills that are pleasant and refreshing. Respecting God and the way that He laid out His creation and working with it makes work pleasant instead of drudgery, and comes with His blessing. It allows us to look forward to a season instead of dreading its coming. In doing so there is an aspect of worship for the Creator and His work. He seems to be quite ‘poetic’ in his expression here, and yet notice his extremely practical approach mentioning the practical benefits of seasonal activities, i.e. the lamb’s wool for clothing and the increase of the flock for the selling to pay for the rent of the pasture.

In v. 27 he reminds us that a person living this way can do very well not only having enough to take care of the demands of this life, but also enough to have some frills, feeding the hired servants that help make life easier for us. Solomon, a king, was wise enough to not be taken in by the deception of the promise of greed and things recognizing that there is ‘rich’ pleasure in ‘simple’ things. Simple things deliver their own rich pleasure, things that money cannot buy. Here I think that if we were able to see Solomon writing down these proverbs that we would see him wearing his ‘Life is Good’ tee shirt listening to Beethoven’s Sixth symphony (the Pastoral Symphony)…what a practical and wise man he was. 

Proverbs Study – Lesson 39 – June 19, 2011– Seacoast Community Church

Proverbs Study – Lesson 39 (Proverbs chapter 27:9-18 )

V. 9 Words said by a friend that are just what you needed to hear are like giving life itself. They’re refreshing! Ointment and perfume are meant to refresh and uplift the spirit. They are meant to be applied to something that is ordinary lifting it up making it special. The words of a trusted friend are just that. In the KJV Solomon uses a couple of special words to describe this friend. He uses the words sweetness and hearty. He describes this friend as being sweet, being pleasant to be with. Other words that might describe this friend are kind, patient or caring. The other word he uses describes the quality of the council as ‘hearty’ having the feeling of being robust or beefy having some substance to it not just a lot of superficial fluff. When they share words of wisdom with you it is sweet or delivered with the right spirit and is helpful being able to be practically applied.

Verse 10 reminds us to appreciate other people and not to take them for granted. We often get busy and preoccupied with many things forgetting those that are near to us. This happens not only with family, but friends also. Solomon reminds us that we need to take care of and maintain our friendships with others not neglecting them letting the bond and connection soften and fade. Relationships take attention. They take time. They need to be maintained to be solid and have benefit. It is also easy to neglect friends of the family so to speak. A friend of the family may not be as connected directly with you as to your father or mother, but they have been a true friend and support over the years. In olden days children of the next generation were encouraged to carry these family friendships on into the future. They not only represented support in life when you needed it, but often had tagged to it water and land privileges or rights. Solomon says not to let them go if your father or mother is taken out of the picture for some reason. He also says that friends at times can be closer than family as family can tend to move away being too far away to call on in your time of trouble. Sometimes practically speaking, close friends can be more beneficial than another family member or sibling.

V. 11 A reputation is made before it is needed. When accusations begin to fly a good reputation can deflect the untruths. In those times you may need those who know you to stand up for you squelching any misinformation or false accusations. One of the first people that are often approached about a son’s alleged misconduct is their father. In those times a father is often approached by the accuser as if they were responsible for the alleged behavior or act. For a father this can be stressful and embarrassing. But, when the father knows that the son is truly beyond reproach because they have had the reputation of being wise the father can rest at ease letting the accusation go right on by. The key here, however, is that the father truly does know the son having spent enough time in relationship and observation of him knowing the son will be honest and tell him the truth. A parent may want to believe the best, but if not connected solidly in relationship with their son they have no true assurance of what actions they are capable of. However, a true relationship with your child can give confidence in situations like this when and if they arise.

V. 12 reminds us to always be looking ahead. Yes there is a danger of being preoccupied with the future if we are not careful. But, he/she is no fool who looks ahead at what is coming their way. Some things that are coming down the road in our direction can be easily handled with a little preparation. However, some for seen encounters are better to be avoided sidestepping them letting them go right on by. It is a foolish person that doesn’t know the difference. Continuing right on as if nothing was happening can result in being overcome by the tsunami heading your way.

V. 13 For those that make agreements with strangers you don’t need to wait for them to lose their shirt, you had might as well take it right now, it is as good as gone. If you are owed something from someone that has bad lending practices you had better keep something as collateral or you might lose your shirt also. Lending to a stranger is risky. In the second part of this verse the NIV and the KJV make reference to someone that puts up a loan to a foreign woman making reference to a woman that is wayward. This gives the inference of not only making a bad loan to someone they do not know, but in addition being influenced to drop or lessen their standards for making a loan even further making it even more sure that the debt will not be paid back. The warning here to us is not only to beware of loaning to someone that we do not know too well or does not have good lending practices, but also to not get into a spot that we agree to something totally foolish because of being influenced by foolish emotions and temptations doing something that we never would agree to under normal conditions. Kings have been known to give away half of their kingdom having been influenced by emotional situations like this. The elderly are often a target making foolish agreements being influenced by emotions having nothing to guarantee a payback. If you even consider lending to someone like this be sure that you keep something in collateral. There is a good chance that you will lose it all if you don’t. (Gen. 38:17-8 an example of O.T. pledge) This verse could apply to any investment you make. Riskier investments, some stocks and bonds or other investment, can be offered with not much collateral assuring some protection of your investment. Those who are rich have learned to never make an agreement without assurance of a return. To them proper collateral is essential to the deal.

V. 14 Be careful of those who are overzealous in their blessing. Some bless loud and strong in a public setting. It is embarrassing. What should be praise and should be meant to uplift and encourage so often comes off making you want to cringe and hide wishing that their supposed blessing upon you would be cut short. Everyone is looking and has now drawn the wrong kind of attention. When this happens some may actually mean it with the most sincere heart and intent. But if it was meant for you why does it have to be so loud. When this happens you have to wonder if there is some ulterior motive behind such a public demonstration. Again, they may have no other intent other than to sincerely praise you for something. However, such a public demonstration of praise may have other motives connected to it some of which may be perceived or it may not by the one doing the praising. If done for the wrong reason it may be done to simply draw attention to themselves in a public setting or may be meant to butter you up hoping to ask or get some special request at a later date. At any rate a blessing that is loud and done to early doesn’t set well. It can be irritating and leaves others wishing it would be short and questioning the motive.

V. 15-6 Nag. Nag. Nag. There is nothing pleasant about a spouse with a critical spirit, especially one that is verbal. This can go either way. The contentious party can be either the husband or the wife. It is like rain that goes on and on for days wearing down a relationship. When this is the situation you live in a box barely functioning. Your life is limited. You know if you go outside anything you do will be tempered by wet. To avoid getting wet or encountering this contention you chose from the limited options trying to stay dry. Options are few and limited. However, no matter how hard you try to stay dry you eventually get wet encountering the contention putting a damper on the relationship and the day. V.16 goes on to say that trying to restrain the words and actions of a contentious person is like restraining and controlling the wind when it blows toward you in your face. You can’t reason with a contentious person so there is no resolution possible. You just have to let it fly. All you can really do is try to get out of the line of fire. In v. 16 he uses another analogy saying it is like trying to pick up oil with your hand. Contention has a way of slipping right by you no matter what efforts you employ to defer or deflect it. This kind of relationship gets old quickly. If contention is routine in a relationship consider the words of Peter concerning developing Godly relationships written in I Peter 3:1-12 and Paul in Ephesians 5:22-33 encouraging a relationship built on admonition instead of contention. Contention destroys a relationship and is not God’s plan. If those in a marriage are not working at building a relationship as described by Peter and Paul there is no way to receive the blessing and Joy of that relationship. Curbing and eliminating contention in a relationship will bring out the sun in a relationship opening the door to many blessings.

V. 17 We do influence each other, either for good or for bad. However, the level to which we influence each other usually depends upon the level of relationship we have with each other. Solomon makes a point of this when he uses the word friend describing the one that sharpens another. Like enhances like. Bond strengthens bond. When looking at this verse it is easy for men to typically focus on the first part of this verse, the part that says that iron sharpens iron. But, this verse is really about the value of true friendship. It is easy to look at a verse like this and as a man take the perspective that it doesn’t matter who are paired up or thrown together to make this verse work. As long as they are men sharpening of a man will occur. But, in actuality Solomon’s point is that good friends sharpen each other through the relationship, like iron sharpening iron, being made of like interests and substance. In other words being a kindred spirit like sharpens like. It is true that just getting men together can have its benefits, but nothing is as effective as the honest relationship of a true friend in a man’s life to sharpen and temper him. True friends are honest. Men’s relationships can often be too competitive if real friendship is not part of the relationship. Solomon would say that every man needs at least one and probably no more than three good friends. We can have more of what we would call friends, but these special people called friends he refers to here could be classified as one in a million. 

V. 18 Maintaining a garden or any fruit producing tree is a lot of work before you get anything back. You have to plant, then water, then pull weeds, then prune and trim. Then comes the protecting your hard work from predators and pests. And, then eventually the harvest comes. But, if all is done, and all is done fairly well, then comes the fruit, and eventually the one who keeps the garden gets to partake. He goes on to say in this verse that so it is when serving your master, or in our day being a good employee. Your good work will not go unnoticed. Your master or your boss will not only take notice and be appreciative, but they will also bestow blessings or what we call perks because of you protecting their interests. If you were caring for his fig trees you might get some figs. If caring for the shop who knows what you may be offered. However, a really good servant or employee does not do a good job to get more out of their employer, they indeed do have their employer’s best interest in mind being content with no more than what they were agreed to be paid. However, again, good work never goes unnoticed by somebody and often is someone other than your boss.

Proverbs Study – Lesson 38 – June 12, 2011– Seacoast Community Church

Proverbs Study – Lesson 38 (Proverbs chapter 27:1-8)

V. 1 We make our plans. We take our steps to get there looking forward to the day when our plans become reality. There are very few things in this world that we can do or get without making plans. We plan to own a home…get a better job…have a family…spend time with our loved ones…take that trip…share the Gospel with our friend…help out…do more for God…with God…take more time for the things that matter. And yet…tomorrow is not a guarantee. Things happen in life...Unexpected things…Things that were not planned for…Things that make a difference. Hopes changed. Opportunities lost. Plans vaporized…In an instant…In a day…making tomorrow completely different than we had planned.

The interesting thing is the Book of Proverbs is very much about planning and receiving the blessing tomorrow…in the future. It has a lot to say about being diligent, consistent and faithful over time to receive the blessing of days and effort invested. He tells us to ‘Pay our dues’ and get the benefit. It has a lot to say about those who take shortcuts, wasting time on get rich quick schemes and investing in temporal pleasures. Solomon specifically tells us in verses like Prov. 24:27 to prepare and lay the groundwork outside in the field before we begin to build our house…planning on tomorrow…counting on it being there and then he lays a proverb on us like this.

But…Solomon was wise enough to know that things happen. Life does not always go as planned. People change, things come up, Details…priorities, likes…interests…desires morph into something totally different. What we are planning for and have invested so much time in doesn’t matter as much as it did. We turn around and those we planned to be with are not there anymore. They have moved away or have passed from this life.

In this verse Solomon is definitely not telling us that plans and planning for tomorrow are wrong. But, he uses a significant word in the beginning of this verse. He says that we are not to ‘boast’ ourselves of tomorrow which has as its basis ‘pride´ and assurance that if we work our plan and take the steps that we will for sure be able to do and get what we have planned whether God is part of the plan or not. He tells us that so often we get it wrong in life. We tend to hold onto the plan and trust in it instead of the One that put the principals in place that makes the plan work.  

When we study and apply the Book of Proverbs it is a good idea to give consideration to the entirety of Solomon’s admonition and message, not picking and choosing parts we like and missing the bigger picture that he creates for us. In addition to his instruction to plan he reminds us that there is some One else behind his instruction that makes these things work and that our focus and trust should be in Him and His ability to establish our plans, our world and our universe. He tells us in Prov. 16:9 that we devise our direction and steps, but it is God who directs our way and outcome. We prepare, but the end outcome is ultimately up to the One that we should be following.

V. 2 Self exaltation is hard to resist. We are taught and told to ‘believe in ourselves and our abilities’ and it is hard not to blow our own horn. It is only natural to want to be recognized for those things we do well and we are told and it carries a certain amount of logic that if we do not let others know what we are capable of that they will miss out on their benefiting from our gifts and talents. However, just as in the last verse, we are admonished to rest in the unseen presence of God and those who have benefited before from our help in the past to establish our reputation for us. This is a hard principle to exercise. In blowing our own horn our motive may not be all prideful, but…our view can and often is definitely skewed and can at times be a little exaggerated.

However, it is much more beneficial and practical to be recognized for our deeds than for our words only. When seeking out help from someone that has the gift that I am in need of it carries much more weight if others tell you that they are the one that you need. Words like ‘I heard that this person is good at that’ are helpful to know you are on the right track. However, what even carries more weight than what someone heard about someone is someone that had an actual experience with the person and the talent or gift that you seek saying that they really are what you need and in fact that that person excels in what you are looking for. James tells us the importance of actions carrying more weight than mere words in Js. 3:14-8. This verse tells us that we should work harder at establishing our reputation by what we do letting others testify of our capabilities than telling everyone about ourselves.

V. 3 A fool’s wrath is hard to bear. A fool cannot be reasoned with and because of this does not know when to quit. They are apt to say and do anything when they get mad at you…how embarrassing.  You want to just hide. A sensible person may have a gripe with you. They may even be wrong concerning the logic they hold associated with their gripe. But, at least you can talk and reason the issue out with them hopefully coming to some kind of agreement or solution. But, a fool has neither rhyme nor reason often acting on emotions never knowing where they are going with their issue or what their real motive is. It could morph into something totally different than what it began. Stones are heavy. Sand is hard to lift and move. But, bearing the brunt of a fool’s wrath is a weight that is hard to bear.

V.4 There are some strong emotional forces that drive people to actions that are hard to deal with, but none can beat jealousy or envy. When you wrong someone or are perceived to have wronged someone you can expect revenge or retaliation. However, you can usually almost predict the level of revenge that will come back in your direction being payback plus a little bit extra. When it comes to anger you can usually prepare realizing the source factoring in the situation. But, envy and jealousy is impossible to predict. It does strange things to an individual. Envy and jealousy starts running around inside someone going down roads of emotion and skewed logic that come out in words or actions that defy logic. Jealousy transports a person into the ‘Twilight Zone’ morphing them into some alien being capable of initiating devious and destructive actions beyond their control. This may sound cute or funny, but there is nothing funny about it. We need to be on guard with this one. When we let this monster in we will end up in a place that will even surprise us wishing we had never opened that door.

V. 5-6 Few of us want to confront others about an issue or situation. We do not want to hurt their feelings or are not willing to invest the effort to finish the conversation that we started. If done right telling someone the truth isn’t just dropping the bomb of reality on them. It is telling them what they need to hear and then not rushing away, but waiting to see how you can help support them in the new reality. This is not the person that claims to be blatantly honest. That person usually has a false sense of truth and although may be right at times has a judgmental spirit meant to be used to make them feel righteous or good. The person talked about here is really a friend that sees a problem in someone that they love or admire…someone they care about and is kind enough to help being willing to receive their initial response in return. Secret love does nothing but make the person who has it feel good. Open rebuke takes a risk of losing or damaging a friendship helping someone you love that truly has a need that they are not aware of.  V. 6 goes on to say that such action and perspective is truly the markings of a friend. A true friend is willing to carry the pain of another. This verse makes the point that sometimes friendship isn’t marked by fanfare and flashing lights or loud gestures that attract attention. In fact an enemy in public can look and acts like a good friend by their actions when in reality they hate or despise you. A true friend may not be able to always demonstrate how they feel because of the circumstances, but they are the first one to be there with real help. This verse reminds us to be careful to realize who your real friends are being sure to appreciate them and cherish their presence in your life. Knowing who your true friends are can help you receive a rebuke or admonishment that you truly may need to hear.

V. 7 It is not a good thing to have too much. Having excess can often make us ungrateful and unappreciative of God’s provisions and His blessings. It is a good thing to experience want or to be without. We strive for things. We live in a world that seems to provide them for us. Like honey, having them at first it makes us feel good. We get fat. Now we do things not for necessity and not even for pleasure, but for expectation or want…greed. Things become loathsome. He uses the example of honey which at first tastes real good, but eventually it becomes loathsome and interestingly enough grievous. Being so you think that we would stop eating honey, but often if it is available we continue being grieved even more. Solomon reminds us that it is not a bad thing to be without and be in need or want. Being thirsty and receiving a drink or hungry and then getting a good meal can remind us of the constant blessings that are showered upon us every day. It may be wise if we have things in abundance to choose hunger or thirst or to do without. There is a strange sort of pleasure in denial. The pleasure is not the denial itself, but is really in the thankful spirit that comes from doing so.

V. 8 There is a certain amount of safety and practically in being where you should be. Solomon in his proverbs warns frequently about being wayward and venturing into places that one should not go. Doing so can bring up opportunities and offers that when evaluated would be better left alone. There is a benefit to right living. Part of it is being where you should be. He uses the example of a bird who strays too far from their safer territory like the nest. Going too far out of the safe zone one can end up before they realize it in situations that can be dangerous and if they live to tell about it they will regret. Some translations translate this verse as to knowing yourself and your abilities and then staying in ‘the zone’ not trying to be someone that you are not. In doing so, you focus your efforts and maximize your time on things that matter and are going to be the most productive. However, the end of this verse seems to clearly point to the man or husband making the point that they should stay more near home as wondering can often lead to trouble.

Proverbs Study – Lesson 37 – June 5, 2011– Seacoast Community Church

Proverbs Study – Lesson 37 (Proverbs chapter 26:13- 28)

V. 13 When one is lazy and does not want to do something one can make up all kinds of excuses why they can’t do it or it can’t be done. Often at first blush the excuse given sounds plausible, but when given a little more consideration and especially considering the source it is easy to see that this person just has an aversion to work, …any kind of it. A truly slothful or lazy person is just plain lazy. It appears that quite often they seem to work harder at getting out of work than it would be to just do the work.

 In this verse he uses the excuse of a ‘lion in the streets’ which sounds a little farfetched and it is, but in that day may not have been totally out of the question. However, the benefit of taking a chance and going outside to work far outweighs this remote risk. King Solomon’s proverbs concerning the slothful although true are comical. The picture or image of the lazy that he attempts to convey in v. 14 is easy to visualize and is an accurate description of one plagued with this disease. You can sleep your life away if you let yourself. The longer you stay in bed the harder it is to get up and get moving, turning over again and again like a hinge on a door. V. 15, however, separates the pro lazy from the amateur. The pro truly is lazy, he won’t even act to benefit himself, even if little effort is needed. To justify this lifestyle v. 16 says that you have to be a master of deception deceiving yourself seeing yourself wiser than wise. A true sluggard will defend their reason and rational to the death in their own eyes even though the wise give good and wise arguments and reasons otherwise. Like a fool, a sluggard can’t be swayed by reason.

V. 17 It is tempting to stop and help those in need when we pass by. Some things can use our help and assistance, others are better left alone to work themselves out. So it is with strife. It is never as easy as it first appears to resolve strife and contention. The moment after you enter in to help instantly you wish you hadn’t. Right away details begin to surface telling you that this isn’t going to be that simple to resolve. And, the longer you’re in it the more surfaces that wasn’t evident initially. But, now you are stuck, you are part of the contention that wasn’t yours to begin with. Solomon gives a great analogy here. He says it is like taking a dog by the ears. Ouch. A dog’s first reaction to you grabbing their ears is to bite you. When you enter into someone else’s strife those in the initial confrontation can turn on you. He is not saying here that it is never appropriate to help resolve strife between different parties. But, you better be sure that you enter the situation with both eyes open being aware that you who were originally not a part of the situation or problem can very easily become part of the contention not being able to exit the strife as easily as you entered. Often it is better to go in the opposite direction of a dog that can bite instead of going toward one with the intention of pulling their ears and seeing what will happen.

V. 18-19 I was just kidding. This is a big one…some of the most untrue words ever spoken. So often we mean what we said or did with the motive and intent behind it exactly as it was delivered or done and when confronted about what happened and the attitude that went with it the words come out ‘I was just kidding’, ‘I did not mean anything by it’, ‘I did this in jest’, ‘I did this in sport’. But, there is a problem with this. We did mean it, what was said and how it was delivered.

This is a very valuable tool and technique used by many done with evil intent allowing them to do or say something and yet to be able to dodge the bullet of inquire about what was done by saying ‘I was just joking’ giving the impression that others should know better than to take them serious on this issue.  But, we know them and the intent came through loud and clear. But, what do we say to their comment of it being just joke? It is hard to refute such a statement. It is not like they are saying they did not say or do it. Saying I was just kidding takes the incident into a gray area, one nearly impossible to disprove. It takes an action that by itself may be wrong and shifts it into the area of intent which can make the incident not an offence, but sport or horseplay almost giving the situation the flavor of being a ‘term of endearment’ saying ‘I thought you knew me better than that’. In V. 18 Solomon says that they just got away with murder using the word death in his observation. It is sad. We all use this technique from time to time. However, some use it more skillfully than others being able to at times literally slay their victim and walk away Scott-free. Political pundits night show monologs are good examples. It gets a good laugh, but is often meant to injure or maim their target.

V. 20 Sometimes you just can’t figure out what the trouble is. There is strife and confusion and discord and the reason for it is not obvious. Those involved are usually not that contentious. As a matter of fact they are never that way. But, boy things sure are quarrelsome now. More times than not if you stand back from the situation you will see that there is some outside influence initiating the situation causing trouble. Frequently that person is someone telling tails,…with their spin on it starting a fire. A fire will usually die out if there is no wood to keep the fire going. So it is if the talebearer or gossiper is taken out or removed from the strife full situation. When removed the situation will almost always begin to calm down and eventually the fire of contention will go out. Family situations frequently have this dynamic having one or more continuing to fuel the fire keeping the situation going. Quite frequent the one causing the trouble is not a part of the immediate family but can be a good friend or an extended family member. V. 21 goes on to say that another reason for strife is someone who is just plain contentious in spirit. This person is not happy unless starting the fire of strife. Wherever they are a fire is sure to begin. Even if nothing was happening before they got there. And, if some form of strife already exists even if it is a minor affair the contention is soon to escalate often beyond belief. Sometimes the best thing you can do in this situation is to shoo the contentious individual away to start trouble somewhere else.

V. 22 Everyone wants the inside scoop. It’s only natural. If someone asks if we want to know a secret our first reaction is to stop and listen. Even if a secret is overheard in conversation we most often stop what we are doing or saying and get real quiet so that we hear what is being shared. There is something about it that is appealing at first. Solomon says that it is sweet like candy or as appetizing as delicious food. The words of a talebearer are delicious food at first going down into our innermost being. But, in the end it is as eating poison afflicting wounds not only in us, but also the one the story is about as well. Knowing a so called secret at first is sweet, but once said even if found out to be a false statement it leaves a lasting impressions that is hard to change even after the truth is known. Even after you remind yourself that the information was false there is still that down deep doubt that is hard to erase. Gossip tastes sweet and is pleasurable to share and receive in the moment, but does not digest well.

V. 23 Sometimes things aren’t what they first seem. Sometimes something can catch your eye or your attention looking or sounding marvelous only to be found out later to be cheap and not at all what it seemed. Solomon says that smooth talk can at times hide a heart that is not at all what it seems. He likens it unto a cheap clay or earthen pot that is underneath worthless and is covered by another cheap substance that looks great, looking much better than it is. The covering referred to here is a cheap imitation of impure silver made of lead oxide that from a distance looks great, but once evaluated is not at all what it appeared to be. Like lead, the outcome in actuality can be toxic even though it has all appearances of pretty and nice. A smooth talker can sound real good if you do not examine what is said and who is saying it close enough. The underlying intent of the person doing the talking may not be at all what it seems. Solomon admonishes us to be wise savoring what is said, considering the source evaluating if they are really for real or just a cover up and a con. He goes on to say in v. 24 that the same can go for someone who is actually harboring hate. On their face they have a smile. They say kind words…in a pleasant tone. But in their heart is meanness and hate. He says that this person carefully crafts their words, making them sound kind and sweet, but if analyzed and evaluated they are words that divide and sow discord.  V. 25 goes on to remind us to remember and consider the source saying that when they speak pleasantly in reality they have not one evil agenda or purpose, not two, but seven or multiple evil agendas being full of trouble. V. 26 continues by saying if we are patient enough and watch long enough though they be extremely good at their trickery and deceptive way at hiding their true intentions it will come out and be exposed. Not only will it be revealed in subtle ways exposing their true intentions, but eventually their pride will do them in doing something foolish on a grand scale in a public setting exposing their heart. A good example of this is Haman found in the book of Ester. When you read these few verses in the last part of chapter 26 we find that almost every detail that Solomon describes here is found in the account describing Haman, even the end result of his evil intents. Eventually evil intent and malice will surface and be found out usually coming out publically.

V. 27 reminds us that what goes around comes around. What you sow is what you eventually will reap. If we sow good Solomon again and again reminds us here in Proverbs that we will receive the benefit. If we harbor malice or hatred or meanness eventually it will come back to hurt us. He uses the analogy of digging a pit and falling in and rolling a large stone that once it begins to reverse direction it will come back toward us with such force that it will overcome us.

V. 28 reminds us that we should not be deceived being naïve. Those who tell lies about others harbor hate toward them and even if they smile and apologize when the truth of their evil intent comes out don’t be so quick to trust them. All of a sudden they may make out to now be your best friend when in reality nothing has really changed in their heart. People can truly have a change of heart, but in doing so there really is a change in their actions and not just in what is said. A little patience in observing a change of heart may be helpful in determining their true intent. A smooth talker is a smooth talker especially when they are in a bind.

The Proverbs in this section deal with situations and wisdom relating to the realm of a king or judge or someone in authority. Those in these positions often encounter people that can look real good on the outside, but are not at all what they seem. It takes a special wisdom to navigate this area of life. These Proverbs are helpful. 

Proverbs Study – Lesson 36 – May 29, 2011– Seacoast Community Church

Proverbs Study – Lesson 36 (Proverbs chapter 26:1-12)

V. 1 It is fairly obvious that it is a very strange phenomenon to see snow in the summer anywhere north of the equator. But, one might think that it was not too strange to see rain during harvest time. Rain during harvest here in the North America region is not all that uncommon. But, in Palestine in was almost unheard of, or at least very rare. In that region it is rare enough that some considered it a supernatural sign if it happens. So much so that in I Samuel 12:17 Samuel used it as a sign from the Lord to convince Israel that he was right and they were making a bad decision. So it is with bestowing honor upon a fool. A fool is never worthy of honor. Honor is earned, and a fool will never put in the effort to earn it. Putting a fool or wicked person in a place of honor is a bad move even if they are a relative or good friend. Their foolish behavior or selfish agendas will bring reproach on an honorable position and eventually back on you.

V. 2 People say all kinds of things. They give opinions on this and predictions on that. Much of it is just that, an opinion. Many of these opinions or predictions are founded on not much except a feeling or desire, having no inside information or logical rational. But, people say things. They pronounce on us blessings and curses. Some we receive others we cast aside as idle talk. But …some we do take to heart, acting on what was said, changing our life or direction even though what was said may in reality have no bearing on us if left to stand on its own merit. This verse reminds us that a curse pronounced on us or in our direction cannot find its mark or destination in our life unless it is indeed meant for us.

Curses pronounced on us come from many directions. If the source is obscure we tend to evaluate what is said much more objectively casting aside foolish comments or criticisms. But, sometimes we receive curses from esteemed sources. Sources that are hard to ignore, our friends, our family members or enemies with a reputation or background. They come with credentials or a degree. Many curses pronounced on us when objectively evaluated have no basis at all. We can carry a curse given by our parent for years only to find out too late that it had no basis of truth at all. Many curses only become reality because we decided to act on what was said instead of casting aside the untruth that was thrown in our direction. Much of what comes to be from a soothsayer’s prediction is because of this. This verse reminds us that although sometimes people share warnings that can be helpful and detour us from a tragedy, other things are said as curses that have no bearing on us at all being said to intimidate or said out of hate or jealousy meant to stop us from moving ahead in life. A curse is like a bird that you see flying by. It will land only where it is going, most of the time going right past us never to be seen by us again.

In Vs. 3-12  Solomon gives attention to wisdom in dealing with foolish people. You cannot reason with a fool. A fool only learns by force. It has been said that most of what we learn is in the ‘University of Hard Knocks’. Well if that is true then I guess that we all fall into the foolish category from time to time. However, a true fool tends to only learn in this manner. There are those that are truly hard to teach whether it is because of their inability or their personality and being patient and persistent in our instruction can pay off. But, some no matter how much time or effort you might give the situation seem only to do what is needed by using some form of force. This verse is not advocating the use of meanness even when dealing with a fool. It is, however, saying that you may need to build a fire under a fool or put some pressure of consequences in their direction to get them to act. Reasoning will not work. Nor, are they motivated by the benefit that comes with good actions taken. For their benefit there are times when we may need to be direct with a fool to get them to act appropriately in a situation.

V. 4 and 5 at first look seem to contradict each other. The first says that we may be tempted to try to relate out of desperation to a fool on their level trying to get them to eventually act in a more responsible fashion, kind of like carrot and stick. But, his admonition to us is to not waist our time. It won’t work, it won’t accomplish our goal. V. 5, however, tells us to be careful how we approach or interact with a fool. If we are not careful as we help a fool they may honestly believe that their foolish approach actually had benefit and worked. Pride almost always goes hand in hand with a foolish spirit and encouraging them to repeat foolish behavior when in reality it was our intervention that produced a good or beneficial outcome is not good. Answering a fool in his folly can at times have benefit, allowing them to act and receive the natural consequence of their action and not allowing them to take credit for your help.

V. 6 goes on to say that a fool cannot be trusted with an important task. Even a simple message entrusted to a fool can get loused up causing trouble or misunderstanding injuring relationships or costing money. In doing so it is truly like drinking poison. You know better. What were you thinking? The outcome of doing so can have the same effect of an accident initiating permanent disability.

V. 7 Reminds us that a fool has no ability to tell a parable meant to relay a truth or give sensible instruction. First they cannot understand it so in order to have any possibility of getting the right message across their only hope would be to recite the parable exactly as given. This will never happen. A fool has no ability to do so because they are not usually gifted in memorization and also in reciting the parable they would usually interpret the parable foolishly getting the meaning of it wrong ending up emphasizing a wrong and very foolish point.

V. 8 At first this may seem like a simple proverb having reference to the foolishness of tying a stone to the pouch of a sling and then expecting to get the same result as you normally would when you go to use it. It doesn’t fit. It doesn’t work. So it is for the attempt of trying to tie or bind honor to a fool. However, this verse is not so easily interpreted. In the original text it actually seems to give a totally different analogy. In the original it actually gives the impression that it is foolish to use something of value that is small to increase the mass of worthless or valueless material. Valuable things are much better used and saved for special occasions where their value will be appreciated. If you were selling scrap by weight you would never include valuable items in the bulk mass sold. The net additional increase in doing so is miniscule. So it is with adding honor to an undeserving person such as a fool. The jewel of honor that you give will not raise their status enough to make any real difference for them or for anyone else.

V.9 Every proverb or parable has an underlying meaning. Some translations of this verse use parable others use proverb. A parable or proverb is meant to relay a truth or tell a story, meant to get across a point most often with some significance to life. It is meant to be helpful and to be instructive. A wise person willing to be instructed in truth looks for the meaning of a parable seeing if the truth found in that parable can be helpful and applied in their life. When confronted with a parable a wise person’s first response is to understand it’s meaning, the truth it contains. A fool on the other hand cares nothing about the truth contained in a parable only how it can be used to get what they want. In doing so they can add things to a parable or proverb that are not meant to be there or leave things out or even emphases the wrong point making it mean something that it was not intended to mean. It is like a drunkard that has a thorn bush in their hand, waving it around indiscriminately attempting to be wise sharing information that is not only not wise, but information that if applied will be painful and injurious. In doing so a fool not only harms others, but harms themselves. This proverb can very often be applied to the foolish that attempt to twist the truth of biblical wisdom confusing themselves and others injuring many. V. 10 says that like a transgressor, a fool, receives a reward. Even though a fool may not be involved in the actual act of the application of the foolishness they espouse here it says that they do not get away as if innocent. God sees it as if they are part of the transgression perpetrating and instigating wrong behavior and mistruth. V. 11 goes on to say that it is the way of a fool to do this being his nature. It does not matter how many times their foolishness has injured others and caused them pain they return yet again and again to their destructive practices. To them at the time it is sport and play, but in the end they and their loved ones are hurt and wounded.

V. 12 tells us that as bad as the consequences of a fool’s lifestyle are there is one thing worse, …a person blinded by pride. Pride is really a fool to the nth degree. There is nothing worse. There is no hope for someone that is proud that cannot see his wrong. Even a fool realizes at times that they are foolish, making the excuse that they know this but cannot help it. At least there is the remote possibility that someday they might give in to the thought that they might need help. A proud person never has a chance to turn from their ways because they truly do not see any wrong. Conceit sees no error even if one is totally wrong. This is a dangerous place to be.