THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
PROVERBS
CHAPTER 10
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
The previous chapters (Proverbs 1-9) have dealt with wisdom personified. True wisdom begins with reverence for God and His Word; it is, in fact, a GIFT from God. Wisdom calls to mankind, but mankind must answer with willingess to receive. Wisdom will guide a person in making right decisions.
Now, the book of Proverbs begins to teach observances of life. Principals and truths are presented in short form.
Solomon, having been given an inordinate amount of wisdom about living life and observing truisms, is used of God to teach these general observances.
We have seen that the character of a "wise" person is to trust God with all his heart (Proverbs 3:5-7), and to base his decisions upon God's truths. We have also seen that the "foolish" person has no reverence for God or His truths (Proverbs 1:7).
A "wise" child will bring JOY to his parents; but a "foolish" child brings them HEAVINESS.
The training for morality and integrity is the responsibility of the parents. The initiative for the same must be in the child.
When a child responds to parental guidance with willingness to servitude, he brings happiness to the parents. When the child refuses to respond in that manner, he brings sorrow.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
All the money and possessions in the world cannot bring genuine "profit" to the eternal soul. But living for God will "profit" the soul by delivering the person from eternal separation from God.
The end result of those who live for God is total fulfillment. They shall never want for anything when they come to the place of eternal glory with the Lord. However, those who refuse to live for God shall find that all those "things" which were theirs in abundance on earth are LOST, GONE, DEPARTED! They shall dwell for eternity being "famished," and having eternal desire for fulfillment which will never come.
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Diligence in business is required in order to receive and maintain possessions. The person who is "slack" in his business will suffer loss.
This proverb is supplemented with an example. The person who is diligent about gathering in the harvest exhibits wisdom. But the person who "sleepeth in harvest" exhibits laxness.
Jesus applied this proverb to spiritual values as well (Matthew 9:37-38). He who is diligent about the business of bringing others to know Christ exhibits wisdom. He who does NOT bring others to Christ actually is working AGAINST Jesus in rebellion.
"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12:30)
6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
The end result of those who act justly and follow God is the eternal blessings of joy and happiness with God. However those who refuse to follow God shall have their excuses cut off, and will reside in eternal shame.
People speak well of a person when he has lived in righteousness. But those who have lived wickedly are not often remembered.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
True wisdom is shown in receiving and obeying the commandments of God. Eternally disastrous is the fall of the "fool" who does not acknowledge God (Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1). As a general rule, the person who does not trust God boasts in his own accomplishments.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
To walk "uprightly" is to live responsive to God. He who does NOT walk with God perverteth his ways.
To "wink with the eye" refers to acknowledging something, but also trying to subvert it. A person who acknowledges God, but is not obedient is subverting truth. He brings himself eternal sorrow.
The words of a person reflect the character and integrity of the heart (verse 11). The conversation of a person who is following God will yield truths profitable for living. The conversation of those who refuse God shall be "covered with violence" at the end judgment.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
The gossip acts in hatred: speaking ill of his neighbor and causing strife. The person of God, filled with the love of God, will "cover" sins of his neighbor by not speaking openly of them.
True love is exhibited in helping, not hurting.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
Again we are told that wisdom is exhibited in conversation. He who speaks with reverence for God will readily be received. But he who speaks with irreverence for God will receive an eternal correction.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Those who trust and follow God "lay up knowledge" for those who come behind.
Those who have no reverence for God do not realize how CLOSE eternal condemnation is. Life is BRIEF and UNCERTAIN. We are no sooner born that we are faced with the possibility of death.
15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. 17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
Some men are given riches as a gift from God to glorify Him. There is nothing wicked about riches when the owners use them righteously.
However, some rich people are so intent on being and remaining rich that they exploit the poor. While thinking that riches will keep them safe, they bring about their own destruction.
The work of those who love God will be concerned with helping others. Their work "tendeth to life." Even some poor people seek riches so intently they bring about their own destructiin by not adhering to God and godly principals.
The work of a person demonstrates righteousness by keeping the instructions of God, regardless of whether the person is rich or poor.
The "way of life" is to follow God's principals in living. To refuse doing so is great error!
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Again we are pointed to the conversation of a person as reflective of character.
SLANDER is direct disobedience to God.
Profuse speaking results in mistakes. It is better to restrain speech than to overly speak.
Those who speak with wisdom from God will yield help to others. Those who speak with irreverence to God have very "little worth."
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
This is almost an exclamatory burst of praise in the middle of the proverbial truths. In itself it is also a proverbial truth.
How WONDERFUL to know the "blessings of the Lord!" It makes a person RICH in spiritual worth (which is the most important "bottom line").
There is NO SORROW in the riches of knowing God and his abundant blessings!
23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
The word "sport" here means "laughing." The fool makes a laughing matter of sin! He has no reverence for God and ridicules those who do. He considers sin to be only mischievousness with no real consequences.
However, the man of God will "understand" the consequences of sin, and certainly not allow it to become a laughing matter. Sin brings consequences not only to the one committing them, but also to others. Sin is a SERIOUS matter.
24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
The "fear" of the wicked is death because he believes there is nothing more than this life. But death has no fear to those who follow God. In fact it is a welcome relief because the child of God knows that death results in being WITH God for eternity.
When I was a child growing up in Louisiana, we saw many small "whirlwinds" which would blow by just before or after a storm. These small whirlwinds would blow dust in your face, but they quickly diminished and disappeared.
The "wicked" blow dust in the face during the breif lifespan they have. But quickly they are removed to be eternally unseen!
The "righteous" (who live for God) yield eternal truths in the brief life they live. They tell of the "everlasting foundation."
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
The "sluggard" is a person who is very slow to get anything completed. The person of such character is a constant aggravation.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
To live in reverence for God results in ETERNAL life. To live in reverence for God is also to live wisely on this earth. Generally, that results in a longer lifespan.
God knows the trouble that wicked people cause on earth. To live without regard to the body, and without regard to others is to diminish physical life.
What is the "hope of the righteous?" It is to one day realize the joy of living with God eternally in a place where there is no sorrow, no sickness and no death because there will be no sin in heaven.
OH! How exceedingly HAPPY we shall be when God brings us to that eternal home!
However, the wicked shall LOSE his expectation. His expectation is to die and everything be over. But he will be awakened by the Lord for an eternal judgment! His expectation of no judgment will "perish." But his judgment will NEVER perish!
29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
Living for God gives "strength" to a person to endure the difficulties of this life because of the HOPE of eternity with God. To serve God in the world results in strength to endure the world.
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Yep! There it is again! The Lord has referred to the conversation of man reflecting his walk with God 3 times now in this chapter (see verses 11 and 20-21).
It is important to know that those who surrender to the Lord will generally speak exceptionally and they will be acceptable.
The true righteousness of a person is demonstrated in his speech.
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)