Good morning as we read on more wise words from King Solomon or as we call him respectfully in short, king Solly.
We are going to begin this in chapter 21.
Proverbs chapter 21
1The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Verse does not just speak on kings we've had on the earth, it also includes Jesus. And verse two; we will see a man do something as I mention before and he will justify himself or herself in his or her mind; but God will weigh what you really had on your mind to see if the action was justified.
9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Never read this to your wife when she is angry men and brothers. This is a profound truth in my discussion with different men. An angry and argue-some woman is pretty rough to be around; still men must deal with their wives out of knowledge. In other words, you must know how to handle your wife, for the main fact that she is yours.
Also, Solomon had many wives and concubines, he would certainly know and he was the real "international-player" if you want to call it that because he married strange women, that is women for different countries (that later got him in trouble). I guess women are women no matter what country you go to.
12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Righteous men wisely consider the ways of the wicked and how their out come is. He watches what happens to violent men, to thieves, to adulterers, and he can see that the majority of them have made life more difficult for themselves. They have kids outside the marriage and now child support comes in, sexually transmitted disease, jail time and a record, getting shot and not able to walk anymore, and so many irreversible things happen and the wise consider it and steer clear.
Another thing the wise also consider are the poor. They do not close their ears to the cry of the poor knowing that with the swing of the pendulum, they can become poor and have to cry for help also.
14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. When a man commits adultery against his wife, or he does something else foolishly or forgetful; a gift will pacify the anger, however, the issue still much be addressed. No use in putting a band aid on without stopping the bleeding.
16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. If a one has no understanding of this world and the Word of God, they are considered spiritually dead. We are reading through this book together with understanding. Once the Lord blesses you with the ability to understand knowledge, if you wander from that, you will remain in the congregation of the spiritually dead, and eventually if you are spiritually dead God has no use for you and you'll become physically dead.
17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. This is something I think everyone should know. What do drug addicts initially start using drugs for in general? To escape pain and increase pleasure. They usually end up very poor, so poor they steal to pay for their pleasure, which the world calls addiction. Solomon is giving solid proof in the pudding, we have to recognize this and understand. If the drug user does not clean themselves up they become a poor man or woman.
23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. This is important, because some people cannot shut their mouth. They have to get the last word in a debate or argument, they have to tell their boss a thing or two on their mind, and cannot hold back when someone says something to anger or annoy them. It is wise to work hard on controlling your mouth.
I remember being in the car with a young lady some time back; and she made a 'u-turn' in front of her house to get a parking space. An officer pulled her over right in from of her house and confronted her. He was not going to give her a ticket; but he wanted respect and to warn her. Instead of just saying officer I'm sorry, she went into, I'm right in front of my house, you are being anal, and so on. The officer wasn't even a traffic officer, I believe he was a detective, and he called for back up to have her written up.
I pleaded with her to close her mouth and be humble and apologetic; but she could not and kept rambling until a nice $75 dollar ticket was in her hands. I learned my lesson, even though I already knew not to wise talk police. I learned not to let a woman drive! I know send all letters of complaint to me women.
Proverbs 22
1A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
I read this in high-school, and I worked hard to have a good name. What I noticed is that your reputation will kill you or deliver you. Some teachers just knew I would never get in trouble because my parents were good, my older brother had set a good reputation and I followed that. I saw doors open that would not have if it were not for the good name.
3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
I see an argument cooking up, in my house or down the street, I attempt to avoid it at all cost. However, the simple see two gang bangers arguing and the walk right between them to get some liquor from the corner store and when the two bangers pull guns and begin shoot at one another, the simple man is shot as a bystander because he did not use discretion.
I've learned one thing in this world; to be humble. Have humility because man does not control one vital thing in this world. He does not control the elements, cannot stop his aging, cannot stop death, and 97% live paycheck to paycheck or in poverty. They cannot even get riches easily. This is humbling and until you become God you have to stay humble to receive the ability from Him.
6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. The child may veer off the road as they test life for themselves, however, when it is said and done, if you've instilled sound doctrine of qualities, they will not depart from it.
In any society, the rich will rule over the poor and the borrower will be the servant of the lender. That is why in America and slowly over the world, the citizens are becoming servants to the Federal Reserve because they are doing all the lending.
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. If you get yourself caught up in this strange woman, physically or spiritually (strange woman in the bible is one that pretends to be the wife of the bridegroom Jesus), you are hated by the Lord. Do not get caught up in her or her ways.
Solomon is kind of all over the place with these wise words but he wants us to know these so we can pass it on to someone in need one day. It is not good to get knowledge and understanding and sit on it. Eventually the Lord will send someone your way and you have to be bold enough, yet ready to guide that person.
The chapter ends with powerful words of wisdom that would have kept the United States out of the bad debt they are in currently. If you do not have the money, do not take on the debt. Allowing people to buy cars or homes, even appliances they cannot afford is a mistake. But the greed of the buyer is also at fault. I only buy things when I have the physical cash to purchase, and I do not go into debt to buy anything.
Proverbs 23
1When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.Know who you are before when you are dealing with important people. President Obama invites you to dinner and you come in there and lick the plate, and everyone is looking at you like "not only is this your last invite, but get out now!"
Some people don't get that you have to be all things to all people and some people are loose, while others you have to sit up and fix your neck-tie when you are before them. When Joseph went to meet Pharaoh(and Pharaoh need him), he shaved his beard a tradition for Egyptians, but not Hebrews just to show respect for the Pharaoh. You must curb your behavior to fit well with those you must go before, especially dignitaries.
6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
This was made a book and is a teaching today that as a man thinks in his heart or mind, so is he. I agree. However, in this context it was not for that purpose. Here it is saying be careful in eating and communing with people that are inwardly against you but outwardly acting as your friend.
As a man thinks, so is he. If you think you're poor, you are poor. If you think you're not good enough for the next level of life, financially or spiritually, you are not. Whatever you think, that is the sum total of you. So in essence, thinking better thoughts can change your life and who you are. Wallace D. Waddles, Napoleon Hill, and all the positive thinking men got this from a king in Israel.
13Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Do not hold off from correcting your child. If you beat him, he will not die (unless you get down right abusive). Correcting your child verbally or physically will deliver them from hellish situations like county jail or county cemetery.
17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Fear God all day long because there is an end to things in this world. And it would be just horrible if you got enticed by the sinners lifestyle and began to run with them and give up your crown of eternal life.
23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. You cannot literally buy the truth with cash, but this example is to stress how vital it is to get it. When you learn this, don't pond it off like a cheap gold watch. Keep it, also see if you can get a buy one, get three free deal, in buying the truth, and getting wisdom, instruction, and understanding all in one purchase.
Reading verse 27 on down gives insight on how giving in to much alcohol can impair your decision making abilities. In the bible there are comparisons of being sober so you can distinguish good and bad. Alcohol will impair the decision to go into the strange woman, physically and spiritually. As we learned in Jacob's case decisions you make when you are drunk is not good enough reason to be exonerated.
The fool get's scum drunk, make mistakes he never even knows about, and I'm sure we've all heard it before, he can't wait to do it again the next day. I laugh when I hear college guys or gals say, "it's Friday, I am getting wasted or hammered tonight." Too much pleasure.
Proverbs 24
1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. It can be enticing to run the street. I use to want to do that, run with the village boys or be the head kingpin of a drug cartel. Much goes with these lifestyles, I suggest you learn what one has to do day in and day out before you chase that lifestyle.
Like people see a new born baby and they are drowned with love, joy and compassion and literally want to take the infant home and maybe envious of the parents. However, keep in mind the mother doesn't sleep at night, and the cute baby cries, poops, shouts, and demands care taking all day long. Get the whole picture and not just beauty and glory of a lifestyle.
Proverbs chapter 24
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
I cannot stress this any more that God created your mind, eyes, and hears. He knows what you think, see, and hear. You cannot hide from God nor hide anything from Him. Whatever you see and do, just know that God sees it too.
16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. They made this into a Dwayne Wade commercial; however, it clearly shows that even the just will make mistakes, we are to ask for forgiveness and get back into the game. If you don't, eventually you'll be swept off the court or field.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
I'll never forget when a man died that I was fond of. He was not the typical take him home to meet the family. He was wild, eccentric, but he had a good heart, but his environment kind of messed him up in his youth. He passed away and I was sadden by it along with another friend; and my friends girlfriend said, "praise God". She never met the guy, only heard about him. I couldn't believe it; she couldn't even celebrate in private among sadden people she celebrated.
But it is not good to be happy at any evil; so when you see a clear enemy fall, do not have any feelings towards it because the Lord may ease the hammer on the person or nation.
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Fear the Lord and the King. That is the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, the king. They are God and God does not change. There is confusion that God changed the law by saying we no longer have to keep the commandments. Here we see that we shouldn't meddle or deal with beings that are given to change. In other words, don't get involved with people who change their mind all the time.
College recruits stay away from universities where their is a coaching change every year. Senator John Kerry didn't get into the white house because of having a flip floppy behavior when it came to making up his mind.
32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Solomon went by the field of the lazy man and saw the grass was not cut, the fence was broken down, and it was just a mess, and he considered it like any wise man would do and got instruction. Sleep and idleness will promote poverty, and the poverty will come on the lazy person like an armed man.
Proverbs 25
1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. We can see Solomon was credited with these proverbs by Hezekiah. We can see why Hezekiah was a wise and good king in Judah.
5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. This is why Jesus will have no problems when He reigns, all the wicked will be taken away.
Jesus spoke on six and seven about being humble at great events. Some people like to take the great seats of the great men and are escorted out when a greater man comes in. Be humble and be promoted rather than being a big shot and demoted.
16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. I learned that life is like a sport, it's a game of runs. Things will eventually get old to you and you'll have to learn to renew it. When you have a favorite food, I do not think there is a man in the world who can eat that favorite food every day of his life. By the 30th day he'd be ready to never see that food again.
So eat until you are satisfied. One of the biggest weight-loss secret is to only eat when you are hungry, and eat until you are satisfied. We tend to think we are hungry but we only have an appetite. Then we eat past satisfaction and eat until we are filled. The body was not designed to be a gas guzzler.
This leads to the next verse: 17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. Do not over stay your welcome at a friends home, because they will get tired of you and begin not to like some of your ways.
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. Don't just be nice to enemies because you want to see them perish, but do it because God said be good to your enemies and let God handle whatever else comes with it.
24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. I just wanted to point out that it is written in here again.
Proverbs chapter 26
This chapter points out so many qualities of a fool and the lazy. Upon reading this chapter if you harvest any qualities here, work real hard to remove them.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. There is no reasoning with a fool or lazy man. No matter what documentation or statistics you show them, they just won't get it.
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. This was one of my favorite verses in high school, and we know it is true from the book of Esther, when Haman attempted to get the gallows to hang Mordecai with and it ended up being used to take his own life. It's a shame, so avoid digging a pit for others to fall in; you may fall in yourself.
Proverbs 27
1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
I use to joke about this until I saw I was not in control of anything. I remember a television program coming on and I told a friend that I will be "glued" to the screen to watch it the next day. "There is nothing that can stop me from watch this show tomorrow," I boasted. Then the day came and I was leaving to come home and there is normally smooth sailing at that hour.
But because of my special boasting, there was a road jam so congested; I missed the entire show. I remembered this verse and never boasted of what I was going to do ever again. If I did boast, be certain it was followed by a very humble, "if God allows me."
Verse two is a humble verse as well. Imagine Tiger Woods coming out and saying I'm the best golfer to ever play the game? I remember a girl telling me how humble she is. I am thinking a humble person never tells you such a thing. Let other people praise you and not you yourself.
I love the wise sayings here; open correction is better than a secret love. Tell someone their dress is ugly than to smile and say you look cute, but in your mind you are horrified at the dress. Tell your buddy his breath smell difficult or that she has spinach in her teeth.
When you're full, the best steak won't entice you nor will it taste good. But when you are legitimately hungry, sink water taste like manna from Heaven.
15A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
In other words, a contentious or argumentative woman is annoying! Women, and men in some cases, if you are like this your spouse is certainly annoyed if they told you or not. I am telling you now because I'm not married to you. This is behavior you just want to take steps to improve for the health of your marriage and relationship.
In this chapter we are told to be diligent in our business or careers. Keep track of what you have so you can increase where there is need.
Proverbs 28
1The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. One of the curses Israel had was that they would flee when no man chases them. Because that is what wicked guilty people do. They are scared of everything because they do wrong so much they have to live on the paranoid basis.7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
You are a wise son if you keep the law of God, but if turn from the laws of God and think to make a prayer to Him, your prayer is an abomination. As we read in Leviticus 11 of the foods you can and cannot eat. You can't thank God for the camel you're about to consume. That is an abomination.
21To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. God has no respect of persons and we should not either. A bribe or a gift, even simple flattery will make us break God's laws if we favor people. You'll find also that when you correct people and not flatter them, they have more respect for you.
Proverbs 29
1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.2When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
These are easy scriptures to understand, in verse one, a man who is always corrected and he always ignores the correction, sooner or later he will be destroyed and there will be no fixing on what he is being destroyed with.
Also in America, George W. Bush was in authority and the country mourned for 8 years, now America has Barack H. Obama; and the people are rejoicing. No one is sure that he is righteous; but it shows Bush was not that favored because the cheers for Obama is more than any other incoming President ever.
11A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Have you ever said or told someone you're going to give them a piece of your mind? Or said I gave him or her a piece of my mind! You really gave them all of it, if you spake in anger, and verse 11 called that foolish. Be wise and not foolish. 20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
This is quoted in motivational books, and in business opportunities a great deal, but never the entire verse. People do perish where there is no vision, but those that keep GOD's laws are always happy. God's laws will always provide vision and thus you cannot perish. The chapter ends with the saying we should not fear man as that is bad and will be a snare to us. Instead, we should trust in our God.
Proverbs 30
1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
This leaves Solomon's credit and goes into Agur, probably a wise man in Solomon's counsel. He humbled himself saying he did not have wisdom, knowledge, or understanding. However, he asked some pretty good questions for a man who lacked the three.
Who has gone to heaven, and who has come down from heaven? Who gathers the wind in his fists? Who puts waters in his cloths and his cloths can hold it? Who made the ends of the earth? What is His name (that's one), and what is His son's name (that's two). Here is Father and Son, Jesus Christ, in Proverbs the Old Testament. This Agur guy was pretty sharp.
He follows this up with every word of God is pure that man should not try to change them, unless he runs into people like me and you (reading) who read the bible with understanding and we find them to be confused and liars.
This is good advice in any subject. Don't pretend to know something because you may just meet your challenge.
Agur requested from God to be given just enough, so that He doesn't become vain. If he gets too rich he may forget God. If he is too poor he may disobey God's commandments in order to eat. Satisfied is what we all should look for.
This chapter finishes with things that amazes Agur, like the flight of an eagle. God is truly amazing in all His works.
Proverbs 31
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
This is the famous chapter that is written to help women learn more about being virtuous. We will see that it is more than house wife type stuff. Lemuel was a king but not of Israel, probably of a city in Judah, so more like a mayor.His mother taught him these, that it is not good to be drinking, you may forget the law in your drunkenness.
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Real estate. So women were conducting business back then because a virtuous woman considers a field or land and buys it with the money she's made working with her hands, not her body.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She works hard day and night and has her business going on.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
She is elite, and thus she can marry a successful man and help him. If she was left to take care of her, she can do it because she goes to the merchants to sell. She is diligent about her business.
She just don't wear Prada or Rocawear, she wears strength and honor, she speaks with wisdom and kindness, and probably has the pretty smile going and isn't concerned about guys hitting on her just because she smiled at them because her smile doesn't portray flirting but it wears the I'm a happy nice person having a great day, on her face, which is not to be confused.
She works hard in her home too, making sure things are taken cared of and she does not have idle hands. Her children call her blessed and not just on Mother's Day, also her husband gives her praise.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Getting favor she knows is deceitful and that outward beauty is vain because we all will get old, and the beauty begins to fade a bit. When young brothers start to say, "I bet in her day she was gorgeous!"The real beauty in women and men is that they have the fear of God, this is when I praise a woman's beauty when she fears God. Her works and behavior will praise her. That is your virtuous woman and that is the book of Proverbs. We are going to go into Ecclesiastes to finish up today's reading.
Ecclesiastes 1
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. To sum up the book of Ecclesiastes, it is a book written by the wisest man to live, shares that all things are vanity, life is vain because there is no profit in life because generation pass on to generation, but the earth remains always.
I read this when I was younger and nearly dropped out of school because it made me think everything was and is pointless. As I came to understand it better, I learned that everything in life is indeed vain if you can't enjoy it forever.
In other words, you will live, do a lot of great amount of works, sum up a good amount of riches, find a beautiful wife, then die suddenly. I just can't imagine how vain that is. We're essentially living to die; thus there really is no profit beside have as much fun until it comes.
Also, 9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. There is nothing new under the sun. The new catch phrase you just came up with, is not new at all.
12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. This identifies the author, it was the son of David, who was also the king of Jerusalem.
16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. Solomon talked with himself, you see that is not all that crazy, and he talk about all his success in life, in wisdom and knowledge, but found that much knowledge brings much grief. The more you know the more you know is completely backwards and that eventually you'll be put in the graveyard. All that greatness will be buried in the dust of ground and everyone knows this that comes into knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 2
Solomon amassed a great amount of money, probably like the William Gates III in his day, but where is Solomon today? Solomon list out his great accomplishments and he concluded that it was for nothing.
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. Death happens to the fool and the wise, to the evil and to the good. This is good enough reason to hate this life, because you can go to a four year college, then further your education, make great money, then a no life drunk driver can hit you and kill you. Vain.
17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
18Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
24There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
We are finished for today, enjoy the day and we'll be back at it tomorrow.
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