Category: proverbs
-
Fear As a Theological Response
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;fools despise wisdom and instruction.–Proverbs 1 This word for ‘fear’ occurs 18 times in the Old Testament and each time fear is treated as a category. It is either present or it is not. Some people push back here and say that this verse makes it sound like…
-
Contentment or Excuses
8…give me neither poverty nor riches;feed me with the food that is needful for me,9lest I be full and deny youand say, “Who is the LORD?”or lest I be poor and stealand profane the name of my God.–Proverbs 30 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ…
-
Are You Hasty?
20Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.—Proverbs 29 Hasty is other times in the Bible translated as ‘rash.’ The Apostle Peter is the obvious biblical character who struggled with this. Many times in the Gospels he seemed hasty in his words.…
-
Biblical Storytelling and You
2Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.–Proverbs 27 I co-lead a Griefshare support group at my church. And we have a basic principle: DON’T SHARE ANYONE ELSE’S GRIEF STORY. Let that person share their own story if they want to. You are encouraged to share your…
-
Stop Rolling Stones
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.–Proverbs 26 In the ancient world, pits were dug to trap. It was passive warfare, yet aggressive. A village might trap a dangerous wild animal or an army enemy soldiers. It also could be used for passively…
-
Leave the Simple Ways
6Leave your simple ways, and live,and walk in the way of insight.”–Proverbs 9 In the book of Proverbs, you are heeding the call of one of two ‘women’–Lady Wisdom or Madam Folly. Let’s unpack this verse with three statements. Those of us who follow Jesus already understand these. But, frankly, every person is a disciple…
-
Hatred and Evil
12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,and I find knowledge and discretion.13The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.Pride and arrogance and the way of eviland perverted speech I hate.–Proverbs 8 Lady Wisdom was talking here in this proverb. This is God’s wisdom personified in a person. She is contrasted in Proverbs with Madam Folly. So let us…
-
Temptation War
1My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;2keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.–Proverbs 7 Proverbs 7 is a very sexual chapter. And you could argue that nobody knew that temptation…
-
What Do You Pack?
20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. 21Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. 22When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.—Proverbs 6 I just came back from traveling…
-
The Pondered Path
21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.–Proverbs 5 Sorry this one is so late. I was in California at a biblical counseling conference all week. The final day was yesterday and I had an overnight flight back home. Jen and the kids picked me up at the…
Joel M Bradshaw 