I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 29-31.

The final three chapters of the Book of Proverbs consists of the conclusion of the proverbs of Solomon collected by King Hezekiah, the sayings of Agur (about whom we know nothing aside from these sayings, and who might not be an actual person), and the sayings of King Lemuel (about whom we also know nothing other than what is said here).

In the group of collected proverbs attributed to Solomon, there is a theme that tells us that the stability and well-being of a society and nation depends upon the people, and their government, being godly, righteous, and just.  When a society and/or its government become dominated by the wicked, justice disappears and the society will become unstable and fall.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 25-28.

Today’s passage resumes being a listing of individual proverbs.  In this case we are told that they are a collection of proverbs from Solomon which were collected by King Hezekiah.  There is one proverb which appears to me to have multiple applications.

Just because you’ve seen something,
don’t be in a hurry to go to court.
For what will you do in the end
if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

The first application of this is that we should not be in a hurry to report negative information about others that we have observed.  This addresses specifically telling the court, or the government, but really it applies to telling anyone else.  It contains the hint that perhaps what we have seen is not as it appears; that perhaps there is more information of which we are unaware which changes the meaning of what we saw.  We should apply this both to spying on our neighbors for the government and to spreading gossip about them (please note that there are other places in the Bible where we are told to testify against those we know have committed crimes).  The full wording of this seems to imply having seen something which leads us to sue our neighbor.

There are so many proverbs in here that I would like to highlight, but you can read them directly for yourself.  However, I think it worth pointing out that there are two themes which this passage addresses in multiple proverbs.  The writer warns us repeatedly about being cautious in our interactions with fools.  Interactions with fools can lead us to becoming foolish ourselves, but failing to interact with them at all may lead them, and others, to believe that foolishness is wisdom.  The writer also warns us repeatedly against being lazy.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 22-24.

Today’s passage contains the end of the section of single verse proverbs before changing over to a different format, almost as if the next section was written by a different writer.  Before I touch on the proverbs from the section ending (and some from the new section), I want to talk about an important piece of advice the new section begins with.   The writer advises us listen to the words of the wise and apply ourselves to instruction.  We should keep these sayings in our hearts and ready on our lips.  This advice applies not just to the proverbs, but to verses from the entire Bible.  We should seek to memorize many aspects of the Bible.  I was reminded of this the other night when the verse, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” was what a friend needed to hear.  It was not that they did not know it, rather my saying it was an affirmation of their belief that it applied to the situation.

I could go on and on about these proverbs, but I want to focus on just a few today.  The writer tells us that humility and fear of the Lord leads to wealth.  An important aspect of that humility comes from the knowledge that no matter what divides us, no matter what you might think makes you better (or worse) than another, all of us have one thing in common: the Lord made us.  If you think you are worth more than others, you need to remember that they were important enough to God for Him to send His Son to dies on the cross.  If you think you are worth less than others, remember, God made you for a purpose, for His purpose, and that purpose is important to Him.  Finally, when you think about that wealth, remember that God does not value things the same way humans normally do and we should strive to learn to value what God values.  The writer tells us that the generous will be blessed, and that blessing is that they have helped others.  Feeding the poor does not cause us to receive blessings, rather doing so is a blessing in and of itself

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 18-21.

As I wrote about yesterday’s passage, today’s passage also consists of individual proverbs strung together which makes it hard to write a blog entry about.  However, some of today’s proverbs continue the theme about the importance of watching what you say.  Today, the proverbs put more emphasis on not talking too much.  Whereas yesterday’s put more emphasis on being careful in what you say.  Although both contain references to both.  Really, today’s focus comes down to the fact that, no matter how carefully you try to choose your words wisely, if you say too much you will say something which you should not have said.  It also warns against hanging out with people who gossip and talk constantly.  In both cases, if you spend too much time with such people you will say something to them which when told to someone else will put you in a bad light and such people will, sooner or later, tell those things to someone else.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 9-13.

Today’s passage continues the theme that Wisdom offers itself to all who will listen.  It does not take wealth, or special privilege to learn wisdom.  Of course, the same is true of Folly.  Foolishness offers itself to any who will take it.  Folly offers guilty pleasures but hides their true cost.  We live in an age where many speak of “privilege”, but the proverb writer reminds us that it does not take privilege to be wise and those born to privilege can be just as foolish as those born at a disadvantage.  More importantly, those born at a disadvantage can reap the benefits of wisdom if they so choose.  If you choose a life of self-discipline, good judgment, and wisdom you will reap the benefits they bring, no matter how much at a disadvantage you started out in life.