God’s Glorious Design – Part 3 – Proverbs 5:17

“Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.” Proverbs 5:15-18

This is part 3 of a series on God’s Glorious Design. Today we will be taking a deeper look into verse 17. Previously we have sought to mine out the nuggets in verses 15 and 16. For a more in-depth study of these verses, please see the Proverbs Texts from April 5 and October 5, 2014.

Solomon gives this admonition in his discourse to his son on maintaining sexual fidelity within the lifelong covenant of marriage, and commands him to stay away from sexual immorality. While these are not easy topics to consider, it is a must. The sex-crazed culture in which we live has turned the pure, holy, and righteous Biblical views of marriage and family on its head. This is an attempt to raise the Biblical standard and rally God’s troops to do so too.

In review of the previous verses, we will identify the key images Solomon gives his son. First, the cistern and running waters from one’s own well; second, the fountains; third, the rivers of waters; and fourth, the streets.

1. Cistern and running waters from own well – one’s wife

The Pulpit commentary says this about this figure of speech: “It may be remarked that the allusion to the wife, under the figures employed, enhances her value. It indicates the high estimation in which she is to be held, since the “cistern” or “well” was one of the most valuable possessions and adjuncts of an Eastern house.”

2. Fountains – sexual pleasure

What does it mean to have one’s fountains dispersed abroad? This is a symbol of sexual pleasure. A husband and wife should enjoy each other. This is good and commanded by God. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled:” Sex is good in marriage like fire in a fireplace, but sex outside of marriage, is like fire outside the fireplace that destroys the home. Sex outside marriage does not follow God’s glorious design; therefore, it is self-inflicted destruction.

3. Rivers – children

The natural progression occurs of fountains growing into rivers. What are the rivers of waters to which Solomon refers? They are the children from the husband and wife enjoying each other. When you consider Solomon’s command to his son, he is really reiterating God’s blessing in which He commands mankind to be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28, 9:1).

4. Streets – beneficial influence

Next, Solomon says that these rivers of waters will be in the streets. These children from those following God’s glorious design of a Godly marriage are then a source of benefit in the cities in which they live. These are children trained up in the ways of the Lord (Prov. 22:6). Perhaps Solomon had Psalm 127:4-5 in mind when he wrote this. Psalm 127:4-5 says, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” The speaking with the enemy in the gate means subduing the enemies in the gate. Wow!

Now, that we understand the context, let’s read Proverbs 5:17 again, “Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.”

Solomon is saying let the fountains of sexual pleasure and the rivers or children produced from those fountains be only from you and your wife (5:17-18). Warren Wiersbe makes this insightful observation: “Solomon compares enjoying married love to drinking pure water from a fresh well, but committing sexual sin is like drinking polluted water from the gutter or sewer. Sex within marriage is a beautiful river that brings life and refreshment, but sex outside marriage is a sewer that defiles everything it touches.” – Bible Exposition Commentary – Bible Exposition Commentary – Be Skillful (Proverbs).

This leads me to see six assumptions that Solomon makes in this passage:

1. That it is the norm that a man has a wife
2. The temptation to sexual infidelity is common and must be intentionally guarded against
3. Man is easily dissatisfied with God’s plan and seeks to fulfill himself apart from the Lord
4. A monogamous marriage versus a polygamous marriage is God’s best
5. One of God’s purposes for marriage is procreation and the perpetuating of a Godly seed
6. There is permanent damage and scars to family relationships caused by sexual infidelity

Let’s take a closer look at each assumption:

Assumption #1 – It is the norm that a man will have a wife

Solomon speaks to his son who is married or will be married soon. Marriage is the norm for men and women according to Scripture (1 Corinthians 7:1-2). Marriage is a life-long commitment till death. (1 Corinthians 7:39) Commitment brings safety. Marriage is not a prison, and if one views marriage this way, they should not get married. As mentioned before, marriage keeps the fire in the confines of the fireplace, while sexual infidelity puts the fire in the middle of the room and burns down the home. Marriage is honorable, a wife is a sign of God’s favor, and a prudent wife is a gift from the Lord (Hebrews 13:4; Proverbs 18:22, 19:14). While marriage is the norm not everyone gets married. As the Apostle Paul put it, singleness allows those that are single to more fully focus their energies and time on serving their Lord and Savior which is quite a noble calling (1 Corinthians 7:25-26, 32-35). Whether you fall into the norm or outside the norm, be content where God has you. Grow where God has planted you.

Assumption #2 – The temptation to sexual infidelity is common and must be intentionally guarded against

Solomon says don’t let your sexual pleasures and children be from anyone but your wife. Let those fountains and rivers be only thine own and not strangers with thee. The temptation to lust starts in the mind. Sexual infidelity must be guarded against first in the mind before it leads to the actions. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

While temptation is always present, we are each responsible for our own actions. When temptation comes, humbly take the way of escape the Lord provides. Let’s not put ourselves in a situation where we know we will be tempted (Proverbs 4:14-15). Remember the admonition to flee youthful lusts and follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace because not fleeing is the inverse and is following unrighteousness, unbelief, hate, and unrest (2 Timothy 2:22). Let’s ask ourselves, “What do I want?”

Assumption #3 – Man is easily dissatisfied with God’s plan and seeks to fulfill himself apart from the Lord

If we were not easily dissatisfied, then there would be no need for Solomon’s command to let the fountains and rivers be your own and not strangers with thee. In short, rejection of God’s design is self-destruction. This principle applies in any area of life, not just marriage. Christ came to save us from sin. I know in my case He also came to save me from myself. Our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) Trusting our own hearts rather than the heart of God is characteristic of a fool (Proverbs 28:26). Through Jeremiah, the Lord contrasts the heart condition of the one seeking fulfillment outside of God’s plan for them and the heart surrendered to and trusting in the Lord in Jeremiah 17:5-8. “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” That makes the choice easy. Let’s ask ourselves, “Am I trusting my heart, or God’s heart? Where am I seeking to find satisfaction?”

Only when we, the finite, quit seeking to fulfill ourselves with the finite and look to the infinite God instead, will we be satisfied.

Assumption #4 – A monogamous marriage versus a polygamous marriage is God’s best

I find this principle interesting having been written by Solomon’s pen, a man who had violated the command of God to not to multiply wives unto himself (Deuteronomy 17:17). Maybe he wrote Proverbs 5 in retrospect of his own life, after seeing some of the consequences of his sin of having many wives. In Scripture, polygamy is never encouraged. Wherever polygamy is in Scripture we see it accompanied with a host of family tensions and trouble (Genesis 16, 21, 29-30). The law of first mention in Scripture is also interesting regarding polygamy. The first recorded polygamist was Lamech, a proud and arrogant murder (Genesis 4:23-24). Lamech, who was dissatisfied with God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman, was satisfied in following the wicked example of Cain in murder. Marriage is God’s plan. God’s way is always best. While our culture seeks to redefine marriage, God says marriage is between one man and one woman, and that’s final.

Assumption #5 – One of God’s purposes for marriage is procreation and the perpetuating of a Godly seed

God’s best is that out of that lifelong covenantal relationship of marriage, that children would be born and have the stability of a father and mother who love each other because they love God foremost. We see the importance God places on the family, the parents’ responsibility to pass that faith onto their children, and the father’s primary role in leading the effort in Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and Ephesians 6:4. I am thankful my parents took the commands of those verses seriously. It was these verses which were a major impetus for them to home school my six siblings and myself from kindergarten through high school. They reasoned that it would be impossible to instill in their children a Christ-centered worldview if their children spent most of their time outside the home and under the tutelage of the public schools which teach a humanistic and godless worldview. I am grateful for the sacrifice my Mom made to quit her nursing career to stay home and teach my siblings and me. Whether you are married or unmarried, purpose to be a Godly influence and to pass your faith on to the next generation whether it be to your kids or kids that God has placed within your realm of influence. Are we allowing the world to impress itself on the impressionable minds of the children God has placed in our realm of influence or are we doing everything in our power to impress on their minds the truths of Scripture from our loving Heavenly Father? Let’s not allow the world win the battle for the minds of the children God has placed in our life.

Make Psalm 78:4-8 your mission, “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.”

Assumption #6 – There is permanent damage and scars to family relationships caused by sexual infidelity

There is a shame, stigma, and permanent damage to one’s reputation for those who have engaged in sexual infidelity. Proverbs 6:32-33 says, “But whoso committed adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonor shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” These are somber and heavy truths to consider. Do not toy with immorality in thought or action (Matthew 5:27-28). Sexual immorality results in irreparable damage. Sin is forgivable, but sin has consequences. The pleasures of sin last only a season; however, the damage of sin lasts for eternity.

God’s glorious design is for purity, stability, commitment, and a multigenerational vision in the marriage relationship. It is fitting to end these thoughts with Paul’s admonition to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:22b “…keep thyself pure.” As the hymn writer said, may we say, “Nothing between my soul and the Savior, .”

The Unwelcome Neighbor – Proverbs 25:17

Proverbs 25:17 “Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.”

Here God gives us a command, “Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house.”  An alternate reading of this in my Bible is, “Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house; lest he be full of thee, and so hate thee.”  In other words, don’t invite yourself over to other people’s houses much.  Sure, it is fine to drop in occasionally, but do not be a burden to them and do respect their time. As in all things, we need to be Spirit led in our actions and activities.  Have purposeful, God led reason in what you do.  Below is a summary of the meanings of the Hebrew words from which this verse was translated to give a better understanding of what Solomon is seeking to drive home to us.

The Hebrew word for “Withdraw” (H3365) is a word meaning to esteem very highly, valuable, precious and in this instance, it is used in a figurative sense of making it a rare occurrence of paying visits to your neighbor.

The Hebrew word for “Neighbor” (H7453) is a very broad term. It means a second party, so anyone other than yourself.  This Hebrew word is the same Hebrew word for “Neighbor” that is used in the ninth and tenth command of the ten commandments, thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor and thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor’s (Exodus 20:16-17).

The Hebrew word for “House” (H1004) means the home, door. So, the personal space or property of the family.

The Hebrew word for “Weary” (H7646) has the idea of being full to overflowing with something.  On Thanksgiving Day, after that large turkey dinner and pumpkin pie, often our stomachs are so stuffed we do not want to see any more food.  In the same way, inviting yourself over to your neighbor’s house is like trying to stuff another piece of pie into someone who doesn’t want to eat or even see another bite of food.

The Hebrew word for “Hate” (H8130) means to be unwilling, to be hated. It is the opposite of love. It means enemy, foe, odious. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines “odious” as being less than abominable and detestable.

In this simple verse, Solomon brings to light three core principles of a prosperous society:

1. Private ownership
2. Respect of others private property
3. Love of neighbors

The Bible forbids excessive self-inviting, thus establishing a respect of others property. However, the Bible encourages excessive other inviting, hospitality, sharing what God has given us thus assuming the principle of private ownership. We are to be given or accustomed to hospitality. Hospitality should be our state of mind.  We should always be ready and willing to share with others the resources with which God has blessed us.  While we should have a mindset of hospitality towards others, we should not have expectations that others demonstrate this same hospitality to us. Hence the second principle of a prosperous society, respect of others property. Hospitality should come from a loving heart that demonstrates genuine concern for his or her neighbor, the third principle of a successful society.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans describes the love that is without dissimulation or hypocrisy that believers ought to have.  This love distributes to the necessity of the saints and is given to hospitality (Romans 12:13).  Solomon says we are to have hospitality so much, that if we even see our enemy hungry and thirsty, we should feed him and in so doing heap coals of fire on his head. In fact, Paul echoes this command as well in Romans 12:20-21 (Proverbs 25:20-21).  Why are we to be so hospitable to an enemy?  Because our good deeds will overcome evil with good. The idea of “Heaping coals of fire upon his head” doesn’t mean that we will burn him good, though we may like to think that.   In ancient times, a person sometimes needed some coals to start their cooking fire. They would request some coals from a neighbor with an established fire. That person in turn would put the coals in their neighbor’s vessel which they would carry to their cooking site on their head. Solomon is saying be generous with the coals from your fire, heap it up in that vessel of your enemy. The goal is to overcome evil with good.

In conclusion, let’s make it a rarity where our neighbor feels pressured to be courteous and hospitable to us because we show up at their house uninvited.

However, let’s see the needs of others, be hospitable, be generous, and love unconditionally.

For us: “Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.” Proverbs 25:17

Our attitude towards others should be like this: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

 

The Better Life – Proverbs 15:16

The Better Life

Proverbs 15:16 “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.”

This Proverb speaks of the importance of the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is defined in Proverbs 8:13. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” The fear of the Lord is described as wisdom in Job 28:28. In essence, the fear of the Lord is a hatred of sin and a reverential awe of Him. It does not matter our status in life, rich, poor, or middle class. God defines a person in this verse as being richer or better off than anyone who has great riches but lacks the fear of the Lord. Without God, problems are inevitable. With God, problems are still inevitable, but God honoring solutions are possible. This then leads to the question, “Do I fear the Lord?”

You may think, “Well, the fear of the Lord is an Old Testament concept”, but the fear of the Lord is also a New Testament concept (Acts 9:31). The substance of this concept is clear in Romans 12:9. The question “Do I fear the Lord” could also be rendered “Do I love the Lord?”

Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” This verse is a great New Testament reiteration of the Old Testament fear of the Lord. If we truly love and fear the Lord, our love for Him must be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). How does that happen? The last half of the verse states it simply as abhorring that which is evil and cleaving to that which is good or right. Don’t misunderstand the fear of the Lord as a list of do’s and don’ts. It’s not. It’s a relationship with God. Biblical Christianity starts with Jesus and ends with Jesus (Revelation 1:8). Christianity is faith in Christ’s death on the cross as payment for my sin, and His subsequent resurrection three days later. This belief in Christ takes us to heaven to be with Him forever, and that relationship can be now. In John 17:3 Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Other religions start with you and end with you. These false religions vainly place hope in one’s own goodness to merit heaven, which is impossible (Titus 3:5). Jesus purchased salvation with His blood (Eph. 1:7). A person is saved by grace through faith in Christ alone by acceptance of this free gift of salvation (Eph. 1:7, 2:8-9; Romans 6:23). The joy of knowing that He did what I could never do for myself fuels the fear of the Lord. His love causes me to marvel and makes this awe and fear of Him almost spontaneous (1 John 4:19). The joy of Him is my strength (Nehemiah 9:10). However, if I say this, my love for Him ought to be without hypocrisy. I must hate my sin and cleave to Him. To refuse to hate my sin and cleave to good is very foolish. Proverbs says it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil while to depart from evil is the highway of the upright (Prov. 13:19b, 16:17) Are you on the highway of the upright?

There is nothing wrong with being rich or poor. The key to a life worth living is fearing the Lord. This is the key to the happy life! A life knowing God is good no matter what!

Proverbs 28:14 says, “Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”

Let’s live the happy life! We can have the happy life whether we are rich or poor. A personal relationship with Jesus makes all the difference! Let’s get on and stay on the highway of the upright to the better life! “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Proverbs 15:16

The God Genius – Proverbs 3:20

Proverbs 3:20 “By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.”

Have you taken a moment lately to think of the genius of God?

He is the God of judgment that broke up the depths in Noah’s day.  He caused the worldwide flood as punishment on a wicked world.  Yet He is also the God of mercy.  He provided a way of escape through the ark in the days of Noah. He is the God who that gives the morning dew and whose mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  He is the God who has made a way of escape from the lake of fire through the death of Christ for our sins and his resurrection three days later (1 Cor. 15:3-4).  He is the God who gives grace and glory and withholds no good thing from those that walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).  God’s genius causes me to marvel, in that most common liquid, water, which is so necessary for our existence.

The Hebrew Word for “Dew” is translated as dew in all 31 occurrences in the 30 passages it is used.  The Hebrew word (H2919) means covering and comes from a Hebrew (H2926) to strew over, to cover.  This verse contrasts the magnitude of God’s power and His tender care.  He is in control of the water under the earth and the water over the earth.  He is over the hydraulic power that burst forth from the fountains of the deep in the world-wide flood of Noah’s day and is over the gentle provision of the cool morning dew.  He exercises His authority over creation with awesome power, incredible accuracy, and compassionate concern.  He is the God of power, precision, and purpose.

I find the depths or the fountains of the deep to be an intriguing topic.  Scientists tells us that these fountains do exist thus confirming the scientific accuracy of the Bible.  These fountains were opened during the flood and closed following the flood according to Genesis 8:2. While no literal oceans of water exist underneath the earth’s crust, there is water tied up in minerals. Researchers have found that water can be held by a mineral called wadsleyite.  Wadsleyite exists only in temperatures more than 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and is found as far as 400 miles below the earth’s surface.  Scientists have calculated that if 60% of this layer is wadsleyite, as seismic seems to indicate, then there is enough water locked within this wadsleyite to fill over 10 oceans worth of water!  Further scientific studies have analyzed the amount of water brought up during volcanic eruptions and have concluded that there may be sufficient water within the earth to fill 30 oceans!  Wow!  God is an awesome God!

Paralleling nature, God likens His word unto water in both the Old and New Testaments (Isaiah 55:10-11, Eph. 5:26).  Just as some this water is hidden deep in the earth, so the treasures of God’s Word are found by those committed students of the Word (Prov. 2:1-5, 2 Tim. 2:15).  The water of God’s Word is a storehouse of God’s inexhaustible knowledge and wisdom (Rom. 11:33, Eph. 3:8).

Today, let’s praise the Lord for His genius.  He is a God of precision, power, and purpose.  God makes no mistakes, His power to walk in victory is available to us as we humbly seek Him, and He has a special plan for each of us (Psalm 18:30, James 1:5-7, Jer. 29:11).  Submit yourself to God only wise (1 Tim 1:17). He is the God Genius and knows what He is doing.  May we with Moses say to the Lord, “Show me Thy way, that I may know Thee” (Exodus 33:13).  Praise God, we have God’s Word.  We ought to drink of these waters daily and share it with others.  This Word is the key to faith, faith is the key to pleasing and glorifying God, and glorifying God is our purpose, but this power can be only unleashed when we get into the Word and allow it to change us.  Are you fulfilling your purpose of glorifying the God Genius?

“By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.” Proverbs 3:20

Source: http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/fountains-deep-discovered

​Stay Clear of Evil – Proverbs 4:15

“Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”  Proverbs 4:15 

Proverbs four has three sections that utter the heart cry of a loving father for his son.  Listen to the cry of the father as he begins each section with a command to pay attention and receive his instruction, understanding, sayings, or words. In the first section (4:1-9), Solomon tells his son to get wisdom, get understanding, and heed his words; in the second section (4:10-19) Solomon urges his son to hold onto what he has been taught and to stay clear of the evil way; and then in the last section (4:20-27) Solomon admonishes his son to a lifestyle of keeping his heart attitude right.  These verses picture the heart cry of our heavenly Father for those who are His children through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

The verse we are focusing on today falls under the second section, Solomon urging his son to hold onto what he has been taught and to stay clear of the evil way (4:10-19).  Solomon wanted his son to not just follow his instruction, but to make it his own.  No longer would life be driven by “I have to, because dad said so”, but his heart would be knit with this father’s heart.  The son would choose to do right, not because he had to, but because he had chosen to obey his heavenly Father.  The Bible is our heavenly Father’s instruction to us.  Hopefully, as you and I read our Bibles, we make our heavenly Father’s convictions our own.  

Solomon speaks from the heart as he warns his son against the path of the wicked and the way of evil men.  In the previous verse, Solomon commanded his son not to enter into the path of the wicked or go in the way of evil men.  “Path” and “way” are the activities and lifestyle of the wicked.  Solomon urges his son, to avoid and not even approach these sinful lifestyles, to turn from any inclination to go that way, and pass away from any opportunity that comes to partake of that sinful lifestyle. 

Again our verse is Proverbs 4:15, “Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”  There are four commands in this verse each dealing with a different dimension of how we may be brought face-to-face with evil.

Avoid it– Be watchful against the path of evil.  If we are not, then we will enter into temptation.  That is why Jesus said, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation” in Matthew 26:41.  Keep a vigilant guard against sin.  To avoid we must watch against it and pray.  Pray or be prey.  An application can be made here to the internet. The internet is dangerous. Websites you think would be clean have provocative advertisements.  Filtering services, ad blockers, and accountability software are all great ways to help avoid evil.  It is also super important to have accountability partners.  The latter half of 2 Timothy 2:22 says we are to follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  If you are a man, find another like-minded man to keep your accountable.  If you are a woman, find another like-minded woman to keep you accountable.

Pass not by it – Do not consider evil.  Do not entertain curiosities about evil in thought or action.   Do not be like the young, simple man who was void of understanding that went on a stroll near the adulterous woman’s house and then lost his purity (Prov. 7).  In our culture today, the internet is easily the adulterous’ house.  It is very dangerous.  

Turn from it – If you find the opportunity right in front of you to do wrong, stand alone, turn from the wrong immediately.  Be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who courageously stood alone against the king’s command to worship the golden image.  They stood out like sore thumbs among the thousands who were bowed down to worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, had set up.  They knew the penalty for disobedience was death, but they stood and turned from the evil before them, and God miraculously delivered them (Daniel 3).  

Pass away – flee from evil.  Be like Joseph, when Potiphar’s wife caught him by the coat and requested sexual favors of him.  He turned and ran out of the house leaving his coat in her hand.  No doubt, Potiphar who was a high ranking Egyptian official as captain of Pharaoh’s guard had a beautiful wife.  Joseph refused to commit this sin against God, against his master Potiphar, against Potiphar’s wife, and against his own body (Genesis 39:1-12, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20).  Certain sins we must stand and oppose, but youthful lusts we must flee immediately (2 Timothy 2:22)

May we be firm in our purpose as the Hebrew young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were to stand up for righteousness.  Their passion for righteousness is clearly illustrated in Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”  Is this our attitude towards sin?  Have we made that choice that we will not serve sin, or do we like our sin?  Have we ridden our lives of any provision for our flesh that would be a source of failure? 

Romans 13:14 says, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”  We all have weak areas, but it makes no excuse for sin.  We must be bold and courageous, because we are victorious through Christ that loved us (Romans 8:37).  God knows with what areas of sin we struggle, and He is standing there waiting for us to humbly come to Him for the grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).  Though sometimes doing right seems impossible, God has given us the victory through Christ Jesus.  We are complete in Him (Romans 8:37, Colossians 2:10). 

How are you guarding yourself against the evil and anti-Christ philosophies that are so pervasive around us?  Take to heart the truth of Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”  Remember, “Without Him I can do nothing, with Him I can do all things” (John 15:5, Phil. 4:13).  Though doing right may cost you much as a Christian, avoid evil, do not pass by it, turn from it, and pass away.  It is always worth it.  Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”  It’s a choice.  What choice have you made?  More often than not, we cleave to our sin, and don’t want to give it up. We can’t imagine life without getting our own selfish way.  Thus we abhor the good way, rather than the evil way.  This ought not to be.  Choose to love Christ purely by abhorring the evil way and holding tightly to good. Hear the heart cry of the Father, “Stay clear of evil.”

The Benefits of Having no Respect of Persons – Proverbs 24:26

Proverbs 24:26 “Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.”

Kiss (H5401) – touch lightly, figuratively or literally.  This Hebrew word for kiss rarely is used in a romantic sense.  It often expresses the dearness of relationships between family and friends, especially at farewell.  It shows a mutual acceptance of moral qualities (Psalm 85:10) – AMG’s Complete Word Study Dictionaries

The kiss in the Middle East was a symbolical act representing affection and esteem.

Thus in this passage, people figuratively kiss by accepting, esteeming, and regarding the one who gives a right answer.

Right (H5228) – plain, upright, correct, straight, integrity

Answer (H1697) – this word is used over 1,400 times and translated by 85 different English words in the KJV.  In Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13, 10:4, the word “commandments” in referencing the Ten Commandments is translated from this same Hebrew word.  God’s commandments are His very words to us.  This Hebrew word is also used in the familiar phrase, “the word of the Lord” used by prophets when they shared their message from God.  This word essentially means, “Word, matter, or thing” – Lexical Aids to the Old Testament.

The context of this verse is part of a group of four topics of things that belong to the wise according to H. A. Ironside’s Commentary on these verses (Prov. 24:23-34).  The four topics are

1. Having no respect of persons in judgement (Prov. 24:23-26)
2. Counting the cost (Prov. 24:27)
3. Prejudiced witness (Prov. 24:28-29), and
4. Slothfulness (Prov. 24:30-34).

Our verse today, “Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer” is the last of four verses dealing with the first thing belonging to the wise, having no respect of person’s in judgement.

This social approbation (approval, satisfaction, fitness for public trust)/kissing because of a right answer is one of three blessings of not having respect of persons.  The other two are found in the preceding verse (Prov. 24:25).  The three blessings for not having respect of persons are the following:

1. Delight (in rebuking the wrong)
2. A good blessing (God’s favor).
3. Social approbation  (approval, satisfaction, fitness for public trust)

While most of us, probably will not ever find ourselves in a court of law with an opportunity to have respect of persons (favoritism to another because of wealth, fame, and/or other desirable characteristic), we certainly will in a wide range of life’s circumstances.  These verses can be applied to situations where there is the temptation to have respect of persons.  Respect of persons is wrong because of two reasons.

1. God does not show respect to persons (Rom. 2:11, 1 Pet. 1:17) and
2. It creates an unjust double standard (James 2:1-4)

God shows no favoritism; therefore nothing can buy His favor, that is, to cause judgment to be twisted.  Nothing should buy our favor either.  When things buy our favor there will be twisted judgment.

Have you ever been in a large group where you want to speak up, but do not exactly know how to say what you want to say in response to a topic that seems to demand a response?  Then someone else says exactly what you wanted to say and how you wanted to say it.  The acceptance and appreciation that you feel for that right answer is an application of the “no respect of persons” principle this verse is talking about.  Also this verse applies to an individual that can take a controversial subject, simplify it, make the subject understandable in an understanding way, and give clear and right insight on the issue.   People will sincerely appreciate this individual’s right answer that goes against the political correctness of today’s thinking.  The political correctness of today seeks to legalize evil and call those who stand against evil bigots.

For example, Immorality is a self-destructive sin, and legalizing it in no way diminishes its consequences.  Calling evil good does not make it good, just as much as calling dog poop brownies does not make dog poop brownies.  Our generation needs people that are willing to stand alone from the crowd and share the truth in love (Exodus 23:2, Eph. 4:15).  To stand by and say nothing against the evil is to ok it.

Isaiah 5:20-21 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”  By God’s grace, let’s purpose to stand for what is right in God’s eyes according to His Word, the Bible.  Let’s be ready to give an answer to anyone that asks a reason of the hope that is in us, not with a prideful attitude, but with meekness (humility) and fear (respect, reverence) (1 Peter 3:15).  While the situations we may find ourselves in may be very difficult, when the opportunity arises, give that right answer.  It will be appreciated.

God’s Creative Genius – Proverbs 3:19

Proverbs 3:19 “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.”

Let’s take a look at a few Hebrew word meanings to gain a better appreciation of this verse.

LORD (H3068) – The self-Existent one, Eternal, Jehovah. “I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14)

Wisdom (H2451) – wit, wisely, skillful

Founded (H3245) -lay, ordain

Earth (H2504) – world, planet earth

Understanding (H8394) – discretion, reason, skillfulness, wisdom, thus mental prowess.

Established (H3559) – Erect, direct, fashion, prepared, make provision.

Heavens (H8064) – the sky, where the clouds revolve, and the higher heavens where the celestial bodies revolve, space.

A good paraphrase of the passage then is this,”The Self-Existent One by his skillfulness has settled the earth, and by His infinite mental prowess has erected the sky and space.”

To understand this with our frail human minds is beyond our comprehension. God made all this by the word of His power. Amazing! He spoke and it was done, He commanded and it stood fast. “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” (Psalm 33:8-9).

God directs the planets, stars, and galaxies in their courses through the space He created. God is the one who has fashioned the heavens. A big bang could never create order. I have yet to see a massive explosion create new complex life, as claimed by evolutionists who are willfully ignorant of God, their Creator. God calls those who deny Him being the Creator and instead put the creation of the universe into the hands of random chance and millions of years, scoffers who walk after their own lusts (2 Peter 3:3-7). Lusts are desires for that which is forbidden by God’s law. God’s law is written on the heart of every human. The evidence of the presence of God’s law is our conscience (Romans 2:14-15). However, our conscience can be seared and twisted if ignored and violated (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

God created the universe in six literal days by the power of His Word, and He keeps it all going by the laws of nature He established (Exodus 20:11, 2 Peter 3:5, Colossians 3:16-17). While no sane person would ever credit the creation of the a finely tuned sports car to an explosion in a factory and chance, yet these same sane people will credit the formation of life and the universe which is infinitely more complex to an explosion, which is totally insane. They will give a credit to the designer and engineer of a car, but will not give credit to their Creator. What an insult and lie of Satan the fable/theory of Evolution is. There is not a thread of evidence supporting it. There is no logic to their reason, all it is, is an attempt to get rid of God to whom they will give an account for their actions in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36). In fact, here is a couple of quotes from evolutionists debunking their own theory:

“One must conclude that, contrary to the established and current wisdom, a scenario describing the genesis of life on earth by chance and natural causes which can be accepted on the basis of fact and not faith has not been written.” (Dr. Hubert P. Yockey) From <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1435562/posts>

“Evolution [is] a theory universally accepted not because it can be proven by logically coherent evidence to be true, but because the only alternative, special creation, is clearly incredible.” Professor D.M.S. Watson, leading biologist and science writer of his day.) From <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1435562/posts>

One day, however, these guys too will bow the knee to Christ and confess with their tongue that their Creator Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11)

Praise God for His infinite and marvelous wisdom. Consider the size of space and wonder at our great God from the following examples from Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible:

1. Paper stack model

Let us say the thickness of a sheet of paper represents the distance from the earth to the sun which is approximately 93 million miles.

To represent the distance to the earth’s next nearest star, Alpha Centauri, we would need a 71 foot high stack of paper.

To cover the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy would require a 310 mile high stack.

To reach the edge of the known universe would demand a pile of paper sheets 31 million miles high.

2. Orange and grain of sand model

In this illustration the sun will be represented by an orange and the earth by a grain of sand.

The grain of sand is the earth circling the orange representing the sun at a distance of 30 feet. Thus this thirty feet represents a distance of 93 million miles!

Pluto one of the remotest objects in our solar system (Pluto is not officially a planet anymore) would be another grain of sand, circling the orange at ten city blocks away.

The nearest star, Alpha Centauri, would be 1,300 miles away from the orange (sun), in this model!

As Christians, we serve an awesome God! He wants to share with us the genius of His wisdom through His Word and a personal relationship with Him. In Proverbs 3:21, God said through Solomon, “My son, let them not depart from thine eyes, keep sound wisdom and discretion.” Why would God say that? Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13) God wants the best for us and wants us satisfied. Wow! Let’s not be so slow of heart to believe it, but let’s wholeheartedly embrace this truth! Delight in the Lord and in His wisdom. If you lack wisdom, ask for it (James 1:5-6). We all need it, and we find it in our genius Creator (Romans 11:33). Now who wouldn’t want the help of a genius? May we all find our help in the Lord (Psalm 121:2).

How is Your Walk? – Proverbs 28:18

“Proverbs 28:18 “Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.”

How is your walk?  Do you walk upright or is there something down right wrong about your walk?

To walk uprightly means to live blamelessly, to live in truth, to live righteously, and to exude virtue not only in our relationship with God, but also in our relationships with others.  This is not uprightness that brings spiritual salvation, but saves one now from the consequences of sinful choices.

According to AMG’s Complete Word Study Dictionary the Hebrew word for “upright” is used more than 50% of the time in context of describing the animal without blemish God’s people were to offer Him (Exodus 29:1; Leviticus 4:3, 14:10).  These facts should cause us to ask ourselves, “Would my heart, spiritually speaking, be a spotless offering to God?  Am I withholding any of my life or desires back from Him?  Am I whole-heartedly presenting my body as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2)?  The upright’s walk is a lifestyle of living blamelessly before God.  It is having the attitude of King David in Psalm 139:23-24.  “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Having this attitude means keeping a short list of sins (1 John 1:9, Mat. 5:23-24).  This requires being sensitive to God’s leading and confessing our sins quickly to the Lord and others.

Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”  An easy working definition of “iniquity” is “iniquity is having my own way.”  Do I want my own way or God’s way?  If I choose my own way, I will fall.  If I choose God’s way, I will be saved, and God will hear my prayers (1 Peter 3:12).  I will be delivered, safe, and have the victory.  There is no safer place than being in the center of God’s will.  Yes, it will be hard (2 Tim. 3:12), and though God’s will may require suffering for doing what is right, our hearts and minds will be free in Christ (1 Peter 3:17, Acts 5:40-42).

The second half of this Proverb is a complete contrast.  H. A. Ironside in his commentary on this verse says that, Daniel and Jonah are perfect illustrations of the couplet of this verse.  Daniel was obedient to the Lord and was delivered from the lions.  Daniel was a top official in two world empires.  You would have thought the conquering armies of the Medes and Persians would have killed him, a high ranking Babylonian official.  His testimony of uprightness and wisdom was so strong that he was also a high ranking Persian governor during  the Persian Empire.

Then we have Jonah, a prophet given the command to preach God’s coming judgment to the Ninevites.  Our modern equivalent of the Ninevites  would be ISIS.  Instead of obeying, Jonah attempted to flee from God and God’s will for him.  Jonah fell quickly.  A fierce storm rose on the Mediterranean in route to Joppa as a direct result of Jonah’s disobedience.   Jonah told the crew his disobedience was the reason for the storm.  In order to save the ship and its crew, Jonah advised the crew to throw him overboard, so the storm would cease.  However, God wasn’t done with Jonah.  After being thrown overboard, Jonah was swallowed by a fish, spent three nights in the fish, somewhat repented during his stay, and was vomited by the fish onto dry land.  Jonah finally obeyed God and preached of God’s coming judgement on the Ninevites.  Much to his dismay the city repented and God had mercy on them.  Once again Jonah demonstrated he did not have the attitude that God wanted him to have.  Jonah would have rather drowned than see the Ninevites saved.  His attitude was crooked and perverse.

 

Every moment we have the choice to walk uprightly, or to have a perverse heart.  Know for certain, you will not get away with a perverse or crooked heart.  Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall (Prov. 16:18).  You do not know better than God.  The ultimate fruit of your actions will prove just that.  Character is destiny.  Will you fall or be saved?  It’s your choice.  How is your walk with God and others?

Don’t Let the Wilderness Be Better Than You – Proverbs 21:19

Proverbs 21:19 “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.”

If you have ever been in a house with an angry woman, which I am sure we all have been at one point or another, it is not fun.  I’m not sure why Solomon singles out women the way he does.  It’s not pleasant being around anyone that is angry.  Maybe it is because women have a greater tendency to be more gifted with talking.  A woman’s very nature is to be nurturing.  When she moves outside of God’s design, and fails to nurture, she tears down her house.  This woman is foolish to be contentious and angry; reason seems to go out the window when we are filled with wrath or unrighteous anger.

Proverbs 14:1 says, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and this woman’s tongue brings death to relationships (Prov. 25:12).

The Hebrew word for “contentious” (H4079) is a plural form for the Hebrew word meaning dissension, strife, arguing.”   It means to brawl, to dispute.  This woman is in a constant state of fighting.

The Hebrew word for “angry” (H3708) means anger, grief, indignation, spite, or wrath.

The woman in this proverb is a fighter.  She has expectations that she demands be met which often are unrealistic.  If her expectations are not met, she impatiently and angrily lets others know.  She will do whatever it takes to get her way.  This woman is fueled by the bitterness inside her.  It spews out of her.  A root of bitterness springs up and defiles any it touches.  Bitterness is the poison ivy of relationships.  Hebrews 12:15 says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”  This contentious and angry woman is the epitome of Hebrews 12:15.  She has embraced the bitterness, and has given the devil a major foothold in her life.

Proverbs 21:19 is the second time Solomon says this sentiment in Proverbs 21, and he says it a third time in Proverbs 25:24.  Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24 are identical.  “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.”

In context of the culture, storms arose quickly and were often violent in the East.  Solomon is saying that it was better to be exposed to the elements and violent weather conditions than the elements of a contentious and angry woman.  At least in the wilderness or corner of a house top you have periods of repose with the weather, though it may not be very comfortable physically.

Matthew Henry says this in his commentary on this verse “Those cannot dwell in peace and happiness that cannot dwell in peace and love.”  That is quite a profound statement.   If you cannot have a heart of love and peace towards others, forget about having peace and happiness because it isn’t going to be.

Let’s ask ourselves a few questions.  What is my heart attitude like?  Do I have an attitude of irritability, discontentment, and anger like the contentious and angry woman?  Are people on pins and needles when they are around me?  Would it be better for the people around me to be in the wilderness facing the elements rather than facing my rotten attitude?  Am I better than the wilderness?  By God’s grace let’s not be like this contentious and angry woman.  Let us have the love of God and His peace evident in our lives.  That does not mean we compromise for standing for Truth, but it means we stand for Truth in love.  May our expectation come from the Lord, not our own desires (Psalm 62:5).  Let’s yield our expectations to Him, so we do not have a reason to get angry readily.

Are You the Ransom – Proverbs 21:18

Proverbs 21:18 “The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.”

When I think of the meaning of this verse, an historical account comes to mind from 2 Samuel 20:14-22.  In this passage Sheba rebelled against the rule of King David.  This took place right after Absalom’s rebellion against his father King David which had resulted in his death. Both of these men that rebelled ended up being a ransom for righteous King David, the man after God’s own heart.  In the case of Sheba, Sheba was also the ransom for the walled city of Abel into which he had fled from David’s army.  A wise woman on the city wall negotiated for the city to be spared with Joab, the captain of King David’s army.  Once this wise woman found out that all the attacking army wanted was the life of the rebel they were harboring in their city, she talked with the men of the city.  The city executed Sheba and dropped his head over the wall to Joab.  The city of Abel was spared.  The wicked was a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

This verse also cross references with Proverbs 11:8 which says, “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.”  In Isaiah 43:3-4, the prophet Isaiah reminds God’s people how he had given Egypt for their ransom.  God’s people were being oppressed by the Egyptians, and God delivered them out of trouble and Egypt ended up being the nation in big trouble with the ten plagues and the annihilation of their army at the Red Sea (Exodus 7-14).

At the end of the seven years of tribulation, God will again rescue Israel and wipe out the armies of the anti-Christ who seek to destroy Israel and God (Rev. 19).  This proverb of the wicked being a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright is a truth woven throughout history.

The most blessed and glorious reversal of this is when Jesus Christ the righteous chose to be the ransom for the unrighteous (1 John 2:1).  He willingly was numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12, Mark 15:28).  He, who knew no sin, was made sin for us, all humanity, when he died for the sins of this wicked world (2 Cor. 5:21, Romans 5:8, 1 John 2:2).  Praise God, Jesus did not stay dead but rose bodily from the grave three days later.  Jesus was and is victorious over sin and death, and is seated on the right hand of His Father in heaven (1 Cor. 15:3-4, Heb.10:9-11).  Christ freely offers the gift of eternal life he purchased with His own blood to whosoever will accept it by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9, Romans 6:23).  Christ chose to be the ransom for all.  Because He was the ransom, salvation is afforded to all those who believe in Him.  Salvation is easy for us, because it cost God so much.  It is as simple as ABC.  “A” we must admit that we are a sinner. “B” we must believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead three days later.  “C” we must confess Him as our Lord.

Praise God that though He is a God justice, He is also a God of mercy.  We all deserve to be in hell.  By God’s grace, let’s remember, that anything better than hell is a privilege.  Let’s also have a continual attitude of gratefulness as Christians because yes, we, wicked sinners, should have been the ransom, but Christ was our ransom.  Are you the ransom or is Christ your ransom?