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 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
Both of the things mentioned here are out of tune with the natural. The Bible does not say that these things don't happen. Snow may indeed fall in summer, and rain may fall during the harvest season. But it is out of the ordinary when a fool is given honor.
A "curse" is more than a wish for harm to someone. It is also followed by the intention of doing harm. The Bible says that the LAW was a curse because it pronounced a curse upon everyone "..who continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them" (Galatians 3:10). But "..Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse FOR us.." (Galatians 3:13).
For the person who is GIVEN to Christ, the curse of the law is broken. And for the person innocent of wrongdoing, any "curse" pronounced upon him is causeless.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
There is a time for correction for all of us. The whip was made for the horse, and the "rod" is made for the fool. The "rod" is the WORD OF GOD!
There are times when the fool, ranting in his unbelief, should NOT be answered. For to answer one in his raving causes the saved person to appear also as raving.
There are times when the fool, acting in unbelief, must be told there is a God. Perhaps at that time, he will consider the truth and cease to act in foolishness.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. 7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool. 9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Again, it is "out of tune with the ordinary" for a fool to teach a lesson about God. Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings.
The thought of a fool teaching a parable is as "out of tune" as the lame having both legs working.
To tie a stone in a sling negates the very purpose of the sling. To give honor to a fool negates the purpose of honor.
For the fool to teach a parable is similar to the drunkard who does damage to himself. There's an old "preacher saying" that goes like this: The person who talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk is hurting himself and others.
10 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Now all these things have been said of the foolish who do not believe God. But God is very gracious. He allows the sun to shine on ALL men. God grants the rain for ALL men. God's GRACE is AMAZING! He even "rewardeth" the fool!
This thought may also be carried into a prohetic message. At the final judgment day, God has a reward for those who do NOT believe Him. That reward is an eternal hell!
God also "rewardeth" the TRANSGRESSOR. Now the TRANSGRESSOR is a person who KNOWS the law, but sins INTENTIONALLY. God's grace is sufficient to forgive even intentional sins when the sinner is truly repentant (1John 1:9). However, if the transgressor is unrepentant, he will receive the same reward as the fool.
11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
It is abhorrent, but natural for a dog to return to his own vomit. It is abhorrent, but normal for a person who doesn't believe God to continue in sin.
However, the man who believes in God will LEARN from his sin, and try and avoid it in the future.
There is a person who is in worse condition than the fool. The man who believes that he has ALL THE ANSWERS. The educated man who considers himself to be sufficient to answer every thing, including the aspect of the existence and work of God, has LESS hope in him than the fool!
A fool, when he is educated to the realness and purpose of God, may indeed turn to God for salvation. The man who believes himself sufficient to answer every thing will not RELY upon God.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. 14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
To me, these verses are particularly applicable to the person who believes God but is slothful in his duty as God's child.
The lazy person makes excuse upon excuse for not doing as he should. He will heap excuse upon excuse simply because he wants to justify his laziness.
Now, when a person SAYS he is a Christian, but makes excuses for not being in church, reading and studying his Bible, and visiting the lost -- he is a LAZY and SLOTHFUL Christian!
17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
To take a dog by the ears will certainly disable the dog. But then the hands cannot be used for anything else. And when the dog is released he will try to bite. Therefore to take the dog by the ears is just to INVITE trouble.
To be presumptuous and meddle in things that do not pertain to us particularly is to INVITE trouble into our lives.
18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
To intentionally harm someone else through gossip is as evil as throwing darts of death at him! Oh! How AWFUL it is to intentionally spread sick rumors when the facts are not known!
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
A great analogy. If you don't FEED the fire, it will go out! If the talebearer is ABSENT there will be no strife!
It is perplexing to me that newspapers can SELL bad news to almost everyone. But the GOOD NEWS of Jesus can hardly be GIVEN AWAY! It seems people love aggravation more than salvation!
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
In order to keep a fire burning one must stir the coals and/or add wood. In order to keep strife going, one needs only a contentious man.
The contentious man naturally states insinuations, accusations, and stirs up trouble with his conversation.
And the "talebearer," or one who CARRIES gossip, is using words as a sword to wound others!
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
There are those who have both "burning lips" and a "wicked heart." They SOUND good, but intend mischief (verse 24).
Some people make a good story out of gossip. But if they have been KNOWN to be a gossip BEFORE, we are cautioned to "believe them NOT!"
PROVE the rumor before giving voice to it! Because it is plainly stated here that those who intend mischief with words will be held accountable by our LORD! He will SHOW the evil of their intent before the WHOLE congregation!
27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
When a person uses the "rumor mill" to spread gossip about someone else, he is only opening the way for the same to happen to him!
28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
The REAL truth of the gossip is that he HATES the one about whom he is speaking! Though he speaks flowery language, the intention is EVIL!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.