Nov 7, Prov 7 Highlights

Proverbs 7:1 "My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, 5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words."

The treasure of your heart and the apple of your eye. This is talk of affection and deepest devotion. Is it the Word or the world? Is it wisdom or women? May wisdom be written on your heart to avoid such peril (see v. 23 "cost him his life").

Proverbs 7:7 "and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, 8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness."

I'd hate to point out that this is one of the only times that the Bible actually uses the word "twilight" but we'll let that slide for now. The young man who "lacks sense" is the one who walks into sexual immorality because he is ignorant, stupid, foolish.

Proverbs 7:25 "Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths."

Nov 6, Prov 6 Highlights

Proverbs 6:4 "Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber."

No, this is not a proof-text for playing video games all night. The context is speaking of one who needs to resolve interpersonal matters that have ensnared him/her. Matters must be resolved to find agreement with one's neighbor.

Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise...9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest."

As believers called to walk worthy of our highest calling, we'd do well to consider the ant's ways more often. There is wisdom in her many steps. If you aren't an ant, you are a slug. The sluggard is warned like the ensnared believer in vv. 1-5 to not rest until something is resolved. In the slug's case, it is that he must become wise like the ant. Slugs sleep, ants act.

Proverbs 6:21 "Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you."

When God's Word and godly instruction is bound around your heart, it is living and active. These words will lead you, watch over you, and talk with you. Does the wisdom of God's Word live in you in this manner?

Proverbs 6:25 "Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes."

The heart is what is fought for in the spiritual battle. Either the Word is living, active, and richly dwelling within, or the beauty of the things of this world will be actively destroying you from the inside. Do not be captured by anything but the Word.

Proverbs 6:29 "So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished...32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself."

The one who commits adultery in deed or in desire can expect one thing--consequences. To not "go unpunished" and to "destroy himself" show that consequences are brought upon you by one who punishes and that consequences are brought upon your life by yourself. Be wise and turn from the error of your ways and seek a vibrant, living relationship with the God of all wisdom.

Nov 5, Prov 5 Highlights

Proverbs 5:1 "My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil."

Like a father to a son, so these words come with wisdom, understanding, discretion and knowledge that we tend to lack. "Lips" are twice mentioned here. First, our lips must guard knowledge. That which we've been taught ought to remain in us and guide us in discretion when tempted. Second, the forbidden woman's lips call the youth to give up wisdom rather than guard it. No matter how sweet and smooth, we must guard knowledge and walk wisely.

Proverbs 5:7 "And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house."

A second exhortation and plea from a father who desires more than anything to get through to his son: keep your way far from her! We are told not to depart and to depart, fast! Do NOT depart from words of wisdom, but DO desperately depart from the forbidden woman. Note: "keep your way far from her." Where are your feet headed? Eyes set? Thoughts fixed?

Proverbs 5:12 "And you say, 'How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! 13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.'"

The son that did not listen to the father's plea and warning, looks back on his moral blunder and says, "If only I had listened." Watch for the word "discipline" in verse 23.

Proverbs 5:21 "For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. 22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray."

When it all comes down to it, the father cares not so much of how his son listened to his warning, but that his son realizes this: ALL OUR WAYS ARE BEFORE THE LORD. If our way should take us to the forbidden woman, may we remember our Heavenly Father's omniscience (all-knowing) and omnipresence (all-present). The son fallen into immorality is ensnared, caught in the cords of his sin. There is no easy escape. The "history" of the internet is not quickly erased. The guilt of "going too far" is not easily forgotten. The bondage of immorality of any kind is a snare for the soul. Why? Because he lacked "discipline" to walk wisely in the fear of the Lord.

Nov 4, Prov 4 Highlights

Proverbs 4:6 "Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you."

Wisdom is often personified as one who cries out in the streets that all who fear the Lord might find her. Once found, she will keep and guard you. This is strikingly similar to the Ultimate Personification of wisdom--Christ Himself. He calls out to us. He is the Person who walks in and talks of this wisdom that is from above (James 3:13-18).

Proverbs 4:13 "Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life."

Interesting to note: if you do not forsake her (guard her), she will keep and guard you. She is your life. It should be life to you to walk in the wisdom of the Lord. Do not let go!

Proverbs 4:21 "Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart."

Again, keep wisdom within your heart, write it on your heart, bind it one your neck, and you will be kept by her.

Nov 3, Prov 3 Highlights

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil."

All too often we rely on our own understanding by living prayerlessly, walking by sight rather than by faith, and holding a higher view of ourselves and lower view of God than we ought. But we must trust in the LORD! He is our faithful, covenant-keeping, personal God!

Proverbs 3:15 "She [wisdom] is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her."

Repeat: "nothing you desire can compare with her." Is there anything comparable to wisdom of God in your life? If I told you there was a check for a million dollars in the mail, I'm sure you'd sprint to the mailbox and ravage the parcels of mail until you found it. Do you pursue the wisdom of God in this manner?

Proverbs 3:19 "The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew."

And as we learn to appreciate His creation around us, we witness God's wisdom, understanding and knowledge displayed powerfully.

Proverbs 3:25 "Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."

Panic attacks should have no place in the mind and life of the believer for the LORD is our confidence. It is Him, not something that He merely supplies at times, or can perform if we are lucky--no! He is our confidence!

Proverbs 3:34 "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. 35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace."

Lord, make us wise and humble.