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

HERE

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 19

1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. 4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

These are comparisons. The poor person with integrity is better off than the fool who is perverse in his speech. The person who shows character and morality in his life is a better person for society than he that speaks lies.

To have a soul, and have no knowledge of the eternal value of the soul is "not good." That person who has no knowledge of eternity will go through life without consideration for what happens afterward. In that respect, he "hasteth with his feet" to meet a final judgment for which he is unprepared.

To not consider God is "foolishness." And to not consider God is to be AGAINST God (Matthew 12:30).

It is neither good to have friends simply because of wealth, nor to be separated from friends because of poorness. Both conditions bring a heart to sadness. Both conditions are the result of sin in the life.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

There is a FINALITY about this statement. Even though a person may fool others with lies and gossip, he does not fool God. There will be "A Payday Someday." (Romans 6:23)

See also verse 9.

6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

Again, we are shown the foolishness of the sin of preference because of wealth. Every person is prey to this sin, and Christians must be constantly on guard against prejudicial treatment based on wealth or any other reason.

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

Wisdom comes from God. The person who desires it and searches for it finds the love of God and the understanding he needs for life.

10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

This is another comparison. The fool cares nothing about God, and therefore has no true "delight" in his living. His only hope is a cold grave. Everything is valued in its relationship to NOW, and nothing has eternal value.

It would be absurd indeed for a person who doesn't believe in God to have any faith in eternity. It would equally be absurd for a servant to rule over the king.

Only as a child, and then only by direct order from the king, would a "prince" be subject to servants. It was an "absudity" to social mankind for Christ, the Lord of Glory, to come and be subject to man. ONLY as a direct order from God, did Christ become subject to man, and that only for a moment in eternity.

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)

God's purpose in Christ being subject to mankind for a brief moment of eternity, was to grant man redemption. The privilege of becoming an adopted "son of God" is given through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And if a man becomes an adopted son of God through Christ, then he is made to be a PRINCE!

Eternally then, saved people will no longer be under the rule of mankind, but will be totally subjected to God alone for eternity.

11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

Anger is easily provoked by "transgression." And I believe, here, that the context is concerning a quick temper at something said in offense.

It is better to totally IGNORE such comments and not let them bring us to INDISCRETION by retorting.

When a person of great authority is angry, his anger is compared to that of a hungry lion about to devour a prey. God is certainly a person of GREAT AUTHORITY!

When they person of great authority is entreated, "favour" is found. And that favour is gentle, like "dew upon the grass."

It is much better to TRUST God, and entreat Him for mercy than to provoke His anger!

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

The "foolish son" seeks only to devour that which is provided for him. He determines no need to replace or refurbish. This kind of son is indeed a "calamity" to his father.

The continually griping wife is like a faucet that is constantly dripping. When a man can only think continually of ESCAPE, how can he have a genuine relationship with his wife?

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Good parents provide for children while they are alive, and even when they are gone. The "inheritance" of things in this world are provided indirectly by our parents (God is at the helm of the ship).

But a good wife is provided DIRECTLY by the Lord! This is indeed a blessing! It is even more of a blessing if the wife is "prudent," or watches carefully over the things with which the family is endowed. This wife is a blessing which should be cared for even MORE than the blessing of earthly wealth!

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

How many businesses have been lost because of "slothfulness"? MANY!! The "idle" (or slothful) soul suffers HUNGER.

See also verse 24.

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

To KEEP the commandments of God is to keep watch over one's soul. That is desire born out of a regenerated soul. But to DESPISE God's commandments brings DEATH! ETERNAL death!

Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

The true test of a Christian is his attitude toward the Word of God.

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

One of those "words" from God is to care for the poor. ((See Leviticus 25:35 - among many others.))

God grants rewards to those who help the poor. Of those rewards, the immediate one is JOY!

18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Many psychiatrists must have torn this page out of the Bible, or they never read it. The word "chasten" here means: chastise, correct, punish.

Yes, someone is going to say you can do all those things without spanking. However, words alone will not correct a child always. Corporal punishment is a must in order to give the child a "limit" to his actions.

Corporal punishment need not always be used. But there are times when it is necessary for true correction. (((See Proverbs 23:13-14))

19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. 20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

The man who allows himself to be "carried away" by his anger will soon run into great difficulty. And if he is "delivered" from one instance by a good friend, he shall soon need deliverance again.

Listen to what God is saying (verse 20). Wisdom comes from Him.

Man has a quick mind. The brain operates at speeds up to the same as electricity, 186,000 miles per SECOND! We think MANY thoughts, and make many plans. SOME of our thoughts are good, and some are bad. Some of our plans work out correctly, and some don't. Some of our advice based on our experiences work out well, and some don't.

But GOD'S counsel is ALWAYS TRUE!!

Listen to what God is saying!!

22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

Innate in the soul, by the design of God, is the desire to be KIND to others. A poor man can only offer kindness, that is all he has. He is better if he offers, than the well-to-do man who offers but LIES!

23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Reverence for God teaches us to also rever life. But even if life is threatened, reverence for God grants SATISFACTION in the soul. The thought of death to the saved person is not a thought of "evil." Because of the inner security of God's eternal salvation, the saved person REVERS death, but does not FEAR it.

25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

When a person who knows the Lord and tries to live for Him is reproved, he will listen. But a scorner is one who mocks God and defies the laws of man.

The lesson here is that those who break the law should be punished in order that others might realize the penalty for law-breaking.

26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

The word for "wasteth" means to oppress, rob, spoil or destroy. It is shameful for a son to do such things to his parents. He would ruin the estate of his own father, and alienate the affections of his mother.

An education is valuable. But in some instances educators will teach things which are against God's Word. Here, the child is taught to ignore such teaching because it is destructive to living for Christ. Parents should so instruct their children to be kind and good students. But they should also teach them to never seriously consider any teaching which denies God or the value of His Word.

28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

The word for "judgment" here is used in the punitive sense, meaning to pronounce a verdict and a penalty.

The "judgments" of law are prepared for those who are "scorners" and "fools." They are a means of deterrent to crime.

God has a FINAL judgment for all men. One day, we will all stand before God and receive the final judgment for our eternal destination.

The verdict for those who have scorned God and loved against His truths will be eternal death in the pit that burns with fire and brimestone forever.
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14-15)

The pronouncement of this judgment should be a deterrent to mankind's sin of scorning God.

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.