PROVERBS 19
Solomon’s wisdom to his son verse 1- 29
Better is the poor that walks in his integrity
THAN he that is PERVERSE in his lips and is a FOOL verse 1
MOUTH
Also, that the soul be without knowledge – it is not good
AND he that hastes with his feet sins verse 2
WICKED
The FOOLISHNESS of man PERVERTS his way
AND his heart frets against the LORD verse 3
WICKED
Wealth makes many friends
but the poor is separated from his neighbor verse 4
MONEY
A FALSE witness shall not be unpunished
AND he that speaks lies shall not escape verse 5
MOUTH
Many will entreat the favor of the prince
AND every man is a friend to him that gives gifts verse 6
MONEY
All the brethren of the poor do hate him
how much more do his friends go far from him?
he pursues them with words
yet they are wanting to him verse 7
MONEY
He that gets wisdom loves his own soul
he that keeps understanding shall find good verse 8
WISDOM
A FALSE witness shall not be unpunished
AND he that speaks lies shall perish verse 9
MOUTH
Delight is not seemly for a FOOL
MUCH LESS for a servant to have rule over princes verse 10
WICKED
The discretion of a man defers his anger
AND it is his glory to pass over a TRANSGRESSION verse 11
RIGHTEOUS
The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion
BUT his favor is as dew upon the grass verse 12
LEADERSHIP
A FOOLISH son is a calamity of his father
AND the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping verse 13
MARRIAGE
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers
AND a PRUDENT wife is from the LORD verse 14
MARRIAGE
SLOTHFULNESS casts into a deep sleep
AND an IDLE soul shall suffer hunger verse 15
WORK ETHIC
He that keeps the commandment keeps his soul
BUT he that despises HIS ways shall die verse 16
RIGHTEOUS & WICKED
He that hath pity upon the poor lends unto the LORD verse 17
AND that which he hath given will HE pay him again
WEALTH
Chasten your son while there is hope
AND let not thy soul spare for his crying verse 18
PARENTING
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment
for if you deliver him
yet you must do it again verse 19
ANGER
Hear counsel – and receive instruction
that you may be wise in your later end verse 20
WISDOM
There are many devices in a man’s heart
NEVERTHELESS the counsel of the LORD
that shall stand verse 21
WISDOM
The desire of a man is his kindness
AND a poor man is better than a LIAR verse 22
FRIENDS
The FEAR OF THE LORD tends to life
AND he that hath it shall abide satisfied
he shall not be visited with evil verse 23
WISDOM
A SLOTHFUL man hides his hand in his bosom
AND will not so much as bring it to his mouth again verse 24
WORK ETHIC
Smite a SCORNER – and the SIMPLE will beware
and reprove one that hath understanding
and he will understand knowledge verse 25
WICKED & RIGHTEOUS
He that wastes his father – and chases away his mother
is a son that causes shame – AND brings reproach verse 26
PARENTING
Cease – my son – to hear the instruction that causes to err
from the words of knowledge verse 27
WISDOM
An UNGODLY witness scorns judgment
AND the mouth of the WICKED devours iniquity verse 28
MOUTH
Judgments are prepared for SCORNERS
AND stripes for the back of FOOLS verse 29
WICKED
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 The foolishness of man perverts his way: and his heart frets against the LORD. (2196 “frets” [zaaph] means displeasure, rage, to boil up, to be peevish or angry, sad, be wroth, be out of humor, or appear troubled.
DEVOTION: Someone who doesn’t want to have Biblical wisdom and understanding is walking down the wrong path. We have covered almost two-thirds of the book of Proverbs and we have learned that true wisdom comes from the LORD. The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
Those who reject the LORD will NEVER have Biblical wisdom. They may be smart but they will never have wisdom. They will pass the world’s exams but not the LORD’S exams. They have missed the mark. They are living in sin as dead people walking.
However, in this verse the foolish man is angry at God. He is displeased with what the LORD expects of him. He is an angry man that those who are followers of the LORD should avoid being like.
We still have a responsibility to try to reach that individual for the LORD but we cannot follow his example. Too often some Christians want to be considered scholars instead of being Biblical accurate in their conclusions regarding interpretation.
Have you ever been mad at God? Do you ever get disturbed with the way HE is treating you? This verse says that the foolish stay there. The saints go to God with their feelings and seek an answer from HIM.
Psalm 73 and the book of Habakkuk are references to saints who have questioned God. They realized that HE was doing what was right for them and HIS people and they ACCEPTED HIS actions. We need to take our feelings to HIM and accept what HE is doing in our lives. It is for our GOOD. The book of James states: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God (1: 19, 20.
CHALLENGE: Face your anger and turn it over to the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 13 A FOOLISH son is a calamity of his father: AND the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. (4066 “contentions” [madown] means strife, quarrels, nagging, brawling, or discord.)
DEVOTION: Two things really disrupt a family in this verse. The first is a foolish son. He doesn’t listen to his father’s advice and goes and does what he wants. He is a disappointment to the family and to the LORD. The book of Deuteronomy informs us that a rebellious son can be taken to the elders and stoned by his parents is he is not willing to listen to them. That can’t happen today but we find that that many rebellious sons do cause heartache to their father as well as their mother.
The second activity in a home that can cause real problems is a wife who is continually nagging her husband. This is like having a leaky roof on the house. The water comes in and does real damage to all the household goods. The cleanup can be a real problem. Most things are ruined. They just have to be thrown out.
In a family situation this could mean that the children in the marriage are reaping the consequences of not having parents that agree. They have one parent tell them one thing and the other the opposite. It causes confusion.
Another consequence is abuse in the home. If mom and dad are yelling at each other all the time there is no peace. There can be other problems with parents that are not in agreement on the spending of the money. The list can go on that disrupts God’s plan for a home.
Children are to honor their father and mother. This can only happen if the two are working together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to raise their children to serve the LORD. Many Christian homes are not a haven of rest but a war field.
Solomon states in four places that if the wife is not working together with the husband there will be a home that doesn’t honor the LORD.
Discuss problems in the confines of the bedroom where the children are not affected. Sometimes there must be an agreement to disagree with each other on some issues but the husband who honors the LORD should make a final decision. He is the leader and will answer to the LORD for wrong decisions.
CHALLENGE: A home is to be a taste of heaven. Parents are to manifest the LORD of God to their children. Parents are to set a good example for their children to follow when they enter marriage.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 He that has pity upon the poor lends unto the LORD: and that which he hath given will HE pay him again. (2603 “pity” [chanan] means mercy, gracious, favor, kindness, or compassion.)
DEVOTION: We are to give to those who have a genuine need. It is showing compassion on those who we meet that have been going through a hard time and need someone to come alongside to help them during that time period.
Solomon is instructing his son in the area of human relationships. He wants his sons to realize that the LORD is pleased with those who help those who are less fortunate by helping in any way they can.
Many times the help will be in the form of money and this verse is not saying that the LORD will always restore the money if we are giving to those in need. Also, it is not that we are to give in order that others might see and praise us for our giving.
We are to give when no one is looking. We are not to brag about how much we give to those who are less fortunate than we are. One place in the Bible it states that we are not to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.
God wants us to be givers and not takers while we are here on this earth. It seems that an attitude of getting all we can any way we can is not of the LORD. Too often we find our thought life to give us this type of advice and this is not coming from the LORD.
The world says “God helps those who help themselves.” HE wants us to work as much as we can to earn what we need and what we can use to help others but not to just earn to fill our bank accounts for ourselves.
When we give to those who are poor we are giving in the name of the LORD if we are genuine believers and HE will bless us if we are giving in the right attitude. This does not mean that HE will give us more money but HE will give blessings.
CHALLENGE: When we give are wealth do we look to get or we giving because we love the LORD and want to honor HIM? Are motive for giving is important to the LORD!!!
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: 25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that has understanding, and he will understand knowledge. (3198 “reprove” [yakach] means to admonish or warn forcefully (as expressing strong disapproval), argue out together, prove arguments, judge, vindicated, or rebuke.)
DEVOTION: There are people who will receive instruction and those who will not receive any type of instruction.
All of us have met these types of individuals. We are supposed to help those who are willing to be helped and those who will not listen to correction we have to leave to the LORD to deal with.
Solomon has given his thoughts regarding those who are scorners of others. He has given instruction regarding those we can help and those who will not receive help from anyone. We have to be ones who will receive instruction and then be willing to help others. Our responsibility is to be good servants of the LORD and use our knowledge to help others grow closer to the LORD.
Remember that we can only rebuke those who are willing to listen and they will learn but there are others who will listen and then walk away without learning a thing to help them grow in the LORD.
It is not our responsibility for the outcome if we are giving instruction the will help a person grow in the LORD and they will not listen they will have to answer to the LORD for their actions.
We will all meet people who are scorners of our teachings but that should not stop us from trying to help. The outcome is their responsibility before the LORD as it is our responsibility before the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We have to know when to give instruction and when to pray for a listening ear on the part of those who we are trying to help and then give instruction. Remember that not everyone wants to be instructed.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandments verse 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 3, 14, 17, 21, 23
LORD honors those who have pity on poor verse 17
Counsel of the LORD verse 21
Fear of the LORD verse 23
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Poor verse 1, 4, 7, 17, 22
Man verse 3, 6, 11, 19, 22
Friends verse 4, 6, 7
Neighbor verse 4
Prince verse 6, 10
Servant verse 10
King verse 12
Son verse 13, 18, 26, 27
Father verse 13, 14, 26
Wife verse 13, 14
Simple verse 25
Mother verse 26
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Perverse verse 1
Fool verse 1, 10, 13, 29
Without knowledge verse 2
Hastens with his feet verse 2
Sins verse 2
Foolishness verse 3, 13
Perverts his way verse 3
Frets against the LORD verse 3
False witness verse 5, 9
Lies verse 5, 9, 22
Brethren of the poor hate him verse 7
Transgression verse 11
Contentions verse 13
Slothfulness verse 15, 24
Idle soul verse 15
Great wrath verse 19
Devices verse 21
Evil verse 23
Slothful verse 24
Scorner verse 25, 28, 29
Waste his father verse 26
Chases away his mother verse 26
Cause shame verse 26
Bring reproach on parents verse 26
Err verse 27
Ungodly witness verse 28
Wicked verse 28
Iniquity verse 28
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Integrity verse 1
Knowledge verse 2, 25, 27
Wisdom verse 8, 20
Understanding verse 8, 25
Discretion verse 11
Glory to pass over a transgression verse 11
Prudent verse 14
Keeps the commandment verse 16
Pity on the poor verse 17
Chasten verse 18
Hope verse 18
Hear counsel verse 20
Receive instruction verse 20
Kindness verse 22
FEAR OF THE LORD verse 23
Satisfaction verse 23
Not visited with evil verse 23
Reprove verse 25
Understand knowledge verse 25
Hear instruction verse 27
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon verse 1- 29
Wealth makes many friends
Foolish son is a calamity of his father
Contentions of a wife are a
continual dropping
Prudent wife is from the LORD
Pity on the poor
Many devices in a man’s heart
He that has fear of the LORD
abide satisfied not be visited
with evil
Words of knowledge
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Perish verse 9
Die verse 16
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QUOTES regarding passage
Proverbs 19:13 requires special attention. It is often taken to mean only that a nagging wife is like an incessant dripping. First of all, the modern reader should beware of making an anachronistic transfer of imagery. This is not the “leaky faucet” that is irritating and may deprive one of sleep but is only a minor household problem and is easily repaired. In a similar context in Prov 27:15 and in the verb form in Eccl 10:18, the word describes a leaking roof. A leaking roof is an irritation, but it is more than that. It can cause severe damage to a house, be expensive to repair, and can render a building unfit to live in. Second, a “quarrelsome wife” is more than a nagging wife. The Hebrew word implies antisocial behavior that stirs up discord and even prompts lawsuits.354 Such a woman no doubt does nag her husband (21:9; 25:24), but she is equally apt to create quarrels with those outside of the home (neighbors, people in the market, etc.). Third, 19:14, which parallels 19:13, states that the antithesis to the quarrelsome wife is not strictly the submissive wife but the “prudent” wife, implying someone who is adept in all kinds of circumstances and knows how to deal with people. In short, she is the highly capable woman of Prov 31 who is an asset rather than a loss to her husband. The quarrelsome woman destroys her house. (Garrett, D. A. (2001). Vol. 14: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (170). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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13 Folly and strife destroy a home. There are two problems that bring chaos to a family. The first is a foolish son (lit., “son of a fool,” meaning a son who is a fool), and the second is a “quarrelsome wife” (miḏyenê ʾiššāh). The foolish son brings “ruin” (hawwōṯ) to the father (cf. 10:1; 17:21, 25), but the quarrelsome wife is merely annoying (cf. 27:15–16). The LXX adds to the verse to fill out the complaint (see Notes). (Ross, A. P. (1991). Proverbs. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 5: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (1033). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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13. Contentions (av, rv): Moffatt has, excellently, ‘nagging’. On the simile of dripping water (treated more fully in 27:15, 16) Delitzsch passes on an Arab proverb told him by Wetzstein, which runs (in Toy’s more compact summary): ‘Three things make a house intolerable: tak (the leaking through of rain), nak (a wife’s nagging) and bak (bugs).’ (Kidner, D. (1964). Vol. 17: Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (126). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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continual dropping—a perpetual annoyance, wearing out patience. (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (Pr 19:13). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
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The two clauses of the verse are co-ordinate, expressing two facts that render home life miserable and unendurable, viz. the misbehaviour of a son and the ill temper of a wife. (The Pulpit Commentary: Proverbs. 2004 (H. D. M. Spence-Jones, Ed.) (367). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
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:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
The first line connects with chap. 17:25. How unhappy the home where both a foolish son and a contentious wife are found! They are very likely to be together; for where the wife disputes her husband’s authority, and takes sides with the children, in opposition to his proper discipline, the effect upon them will be anything but good.
It is a very common thing to see parents disputing and wrangling before their household, with the baneful result that the sons and daughters learn to despise the father’s authority and to defy the mother’s correction, when she does attempt it; thus growing up in a lawless, insubject spirit, bent upon having their own way and persisting in their refusal to submit to proper discipline. Christian parents may well ponder the instructions given to each in Eph. 5, Col. 3, and 1 Peter 3. The contentious wife has her unhappy illustration in Michal, the daughter of Saul (2 Sam. 6:16–23, and 1 Chron. 15:29). (Ironside, H. A. (1908). Notes on the Book of Proverbs (246–247). Neptune, N. J.: Loizeaux Bros.)
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19:13. A foolish son (cf. 10:1; 15:20; 17:21, 25) brings ruin (lit., “chasm”) to his father; a foolish son is like an overwhelming catastrophe that sucks a person into a deep pit. Fathers with foolish sons can testify to the engulfing agony that sinks them into depression and despair.
A quarrelsome wife is a problem too. This is the first of five references in Proverbs to a quarrelsome wife (lit., “quarreling of a wife”; cf. 21:9, 19; 25:24; 27:15). She is like a constant dripping (these two words in Heb. occur only here and in 27:15) as her quarreling continues relentlessly, is irritating, and is difficult to restrain (27:16). Crawford H. Toy summarized an Arab proverb: “Three things make a house intolerable: tak (the leaking through of rain), nak (a wife’s nagging), and bak (bugs)” (A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, p. 373). The word for quarrelsome (māḏôn) is used more often in Proverbs than in any other Old Testament book. It is also translated “dissension” (6:14, 19; 10:12; 15:18; 28:25; 29:22), “disputes” (18:18-19), “quarrel(s)” (17:14; 22:10; 26:20), and “strife” (23:29). (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Pr 19:13). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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19:13 constant dripping. An obstinate, argumentative woman is literally like a leak so unrelenting that one has to run from it or go mad. Here are two ways to devastate a man: an ungodly son and an irritating wife. (MacArthur, J. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible : New American Standard Bible. (Pr 19:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Two further proverbs relate to poverty (19:17, 22). To be compassionate to the poor is figuratively to put God in your debt, which is always a good place to be (19:17). On the other hand, poverty is preferable to loss of integrity (19:22). (Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 172). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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17 The Lord rewards those who are charitable. This proverb teaches that the Lord will reward those who give to the poor. The one who is gracious or “kind” (hônēn) to the poor is actually lending to the Lord, for the Lord will repay or “reward” (yešallem) him for his deed. This promise of reward does not necessarily signify that he will get his money back; the rewards in Proverbs involve life and prosperity in general. In the NT such kindness is viewed as kindness to the Lord (Matt 25:40); see also the reward for following Jesus (Matt 19:27–28). (Ross, A. P. (1991). Proverbs. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 1035). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Ver. 17.He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord. English Church-people are familiar with this distich, as being one of the sentences of Scripture read at the Offertory. The word for “poor” is here dal, “feeble” (see on vers. 1 and 4). It is a beautiful thought that by showing mercy and pity we are, as it were, making God our debtor; and the truth is wonderfully advanced by Christ, who pronounces (Matt. 25:40), “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (see on ch. 11:24; 28:27). St. Chrysostom (‘Hom.,’ xv., on 1 Cor. 5), “To the more imperfect this is what we may say, Give of what you have unto the needy. Increase your substance. For, saith he, ‘He that giveth unto the poor lendeth unto God.’ But if you are in a hurry, and wait not for the time of retribution, think of those who lend money to men; for not even these desire to get their interest immediately; but they are anxious that the principal should remain a good long while in the hands of the borrower, provided only the repayment be secure, and they have no mistrust of the borrower. Let this be done, then, in the present case also. Leave them with God, that he may pay thee thy wages manifold. Seek not to have the whole here; for if you recover it all here, how will you receive it back there? And it is on this account that God stores them up there, inasmuch as this present life is full of decay. But he gives even here also; for, ‘Seek ye,’ saith he, ‘the kingdom of heaven, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ Well, then, let us look towards that kingdom, and not be in a hurry for the repayment of the whole, lest we diminish our recompense. But let us wait for the fit season. For the interest in these cases is not of that kind, but is such as is meet to be given by God. This, then, having collected together in great abundance, so let us depart hence, that we may obtain both the present and the future blessings” (Oxford transl.). That which he hath given will he pay him again; Vicissitudinem suam reddet ei, Vulgate, “According to his gift will he recompense him.” גְּמוּל (gemul), “good deed” (ch. 12:14, where it is rendered “recompense”). Ecclus. 32 (35) 10, etc., “Give unto the Most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten give with a cheerful eye. For the Lord recompenseth, and will give thee seven times as much.” There are proverbs rife in other lands to the same effect. The Turk says, “What you give in charity in this world you take with you after death. Do good, and throw it into the sea: if the fish does not know it, God does.” And the Russian, “Throw bread and salt behind you, you get them before you” (Lane). (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Proverbs (p. 368). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)
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17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to Jehovah;
And that which he hath given will He pay him again.
It is truly precious to contemplate Jehovah as the patron of the poor. He has left such in the world to test the hearts of those who are better provided for, and He accepts what is done with compassion, to relieve the needy, as so much done for Himself. Money and goods bestowed with loving pity on those in distress are not gone forever. He takes note of every mite, and makes Himself responsible to see that all shall be repaid; and we may be sure the interest will be greater far than could be realized in any other way. Genuine philanthropy is the result of true love to God. When His love is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit, there will be a corresponding concern for all men. To do good and to communicate is well-pleasing to the Lord, and shall in no wise lose its reward, even though it be the giving of but a cup of cold water in His name. The widow of Zarephath was none the poorer for ministering to Elijah in his distress, but found instead an unfailing cruse of oil and an unending supply of meal (1 Kings 17:10–16). (Ironside, H. A. (1908). Notes on the Book of Proverbs (pp. 249–250). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Bros.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL: When I hear radical secularist declare that the discussion of God should be stripped from the classrooms, I want to ask them, “How can our students understand Lincoln during the Civil War without understanding his faith in the principles of the Declaration of Independence, his meditations on Divine Will, and his firm resolution expressed at Gettysburg that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. (p. 56, Rediscovering GOD in AMERICA by Newt Gingrich)
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2 Timothy 3
As Christians, we must be on our guard to follow the truth continually.
INSIGHT
The Scriptures are designed to be the basis of truth for leading a Christian to maturity in Jesus Christ. They are accurate and trustworthy, afford adequate knowledge, and lead to a godly, biblical lifestyle. They also yield a biblical ministry: “that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (v. 17). A mature Christian is one who knows what he needs to know (knowledge), is what he needs to be (lifestyle), does what he needs to do (ministry), and is guided by the Scriptures in all of this. (QuietWalk)
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MORALITY AND CONFORMITY
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
We are reminded here of the nature of the Christian life. I am increasingly convinced that most of our troubles arise from the fact that our whole conception of the Christian life tends to be inadequate. I am not referring to people outside the church at the moment, but to Christian people. I speak for myself when I say that there is nothing of which I have to remind myself more constantly than the very nature of the Christian life. We are all the same; the first Christians were the same as well, and that is why the epistles were written. It was because of this constant tendency to think and conceive of the Christian life in an inadequate manner that the apostles were led and moved by God to write their letters with their wonderful instruction.
What is the Christian life? Living as a Christian does not just mean moral living, nor just being good and decent. Of course it includes those things, but that is not the whole of the Christian life. Is it not obvious that there are large numbers of people who think seriously that constitutes the Christian life? There are many people attending morning services in church who say that just because they are not guilty of certain things, they are true Christians. To which I reply, “Hereby we know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit”; then our little morality shrivels into nothing. Morality is essential, but God forbid that we should reduce this glorious life to just a little decency and morality!
Then there are those who think of Christianity just as a matter of religious conformity. But to regard that as the whole of Christianity is to miss the splendor of this great thing that is expounded in the New Testament.
A Thought to Ponder: Living as a Christian does not just mean moral living, nor just being good and decent. (From The Love of God, pp. 92-93, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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