Category: proverbs
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Bring Blessing [1-minute read]
25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,and one who waters will himself be watered.–Proverbs 11
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S.H.M.I.L.Y.
7The memory of the righteous is a blessing,but the name of the wicked will rot.–Proverbs 10 I had the honor of co-officiating my great-grandmother’s funeral service yesterday. The first half of our verse today describes how the day went. Grandma was a blessing to so many people and had lived a righteous life. Therefore as…
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Cellphones and Milkshakes
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.—Proverbs 9 I recall this memory from the days of COVID quarantine. I had cracked my cellphone screen and was going to get it replaced. Limitations were placed on who could enter the store and how…
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Daily Living
32“And now, O sons, listen to me:blessed are those who keep my ways.33Hear instruction and be wise,and do not neglect it.34Blessed is the one who listens to me,watching daily at my gates,waiting beside my doors.–Proverbs 8 The wisdom of God is personified in this chapter as a lady. Remember, the book of Proverbs is poetry…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
Joel M Bradshaw 