Tag: Life

The Words of My Mouth

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Proverbs 8:8-11 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 

‘Righteousness’ – All my sayings are righteous, declaring what man owes to God, his neighbour, and to himself, so that each can receive his due.

‘Froward or perverse’ – Crooked or crafty, perverse, unrighteous, or difficult.

‘They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge.’ My words are plain to him that understands, and righteous to those who have the knowledge. This is in contrast to the crooked, crafty, and unrighteous ones of Proverbs 8:8. The man of understanding and wisdom does not despise truth.

‘Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.’ Choose instruction over silver, and knowledge over gold. Wisdom is even better than rubies and all other things one can desire (8:11; cp. 3:15).

‘Better than rubies’ – Seventeen “better” things in Proverbs: Wisdom is better than gold (3:14; 8:19). Wisdom is better than silver. Wisdom is better than rubies (3:15; 8:11). A despised man is better than one who honors himself (12:9). A little with the fear of God is better than treasures with trouble (15:16). A dinner of herbs with love is better than a feast where hatred is (15:17). A man slow to anger is better than a hot tempered mighty man (16:32). A man who rules his spirit is better than an intemperate hero (16:32). A morsel of bread with quietness is better than a feast with strife (17:1). An honest poor man is better than a fool with perverse lips (19:1). A poor man is better than a liar (19:22). It is better to dwell alone in a small place than in a large one with a brawling woman (21:9; 25:24). It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with an angry and contentious woman (21:19). It is better to be exalted than to be abased before men (25:7). An open rebuke is better than secret love (27:5). A near neighbour is better than a far-off brother (27:10). A righteous poor man is better than a wicked rich man (28:6).

Speak Truth

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Proverbs 8:6-7 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 

‘My mouth shall speak truth.’ This is the third great personification of wisdom (8:1-9:18; cp. 1:20-32; 3:13-18). She lifts up her voice in the most public places and warns the young to avoid the ways of seduction and sin (8:1-14). She promises riches, honour, wisdom, knowledge, and success in every field of endeavour to those who love her (8:15-21). She speaks of her eternity with God and advises men to obey her because of her ancient experiences (8:22-9:18).

‘Truth’ – this word is used by Jesus in John 22 times and only 4 times by Him in the other gospels. He is the truth of God that sets free (John 8:32-36; 14:6). He is the teacher and source of truth (Matt. 22:16; Mark 12:14; John 1:14, 17).

Many claim today to speak God’s truth, but they speak lies in hypocrisy (1Tim. 4:2) [Greek: pseudologos] speakers of lies in pretended revelations; putting on an act of self-denial and mortification of the flesh to prove their false doctrines to be truth. All liars and slanderers shall have their part in the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8; 22:15).

Twenty personal acts of wisdom: She cries (8:1-3). She stands (8:2). She calls (8:4). She speaks (8:4 – 9:18). She reproves (8:5). She abhors sin (8:7). She admonishes (8:10). She searches (8:12). She hates (8:13). She counsels (8:14). She advises (8:15). She loves (8:17). She leads (8:20). She blesses (8:21). She rejoices (8:30). She delights (8:31). She builds (9:1). She cooks (9:2). She plans (9:3). She invites (9:5).

‘Wickedness’ [Hebrew: resha‛] lawlessness (Isa. 57:20-21).

You Simple… You Fools

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Proverbs 8:4-5 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O you simple, understand wisdom: and, you fools, be you of an understanding heart. 

‘Sons of man’ – The call is to all the sons of Adam – to the simple, to the fools (8:4-5).

‘Simple’ [Hebrew: pethiy] inconsiderate; unwary; artless, guileless, and unsuspecting; those who, through lack of knowledge and experience, act rashly and unwisely (1:22, 32; 7:7; 8:5; 9:4, 16; 14:15, 18; 19:25; 21:11; 22:3; 27:12). Referring to those who are unsaved.

‘Wisdom’ [Hebrew: ‛ormah] shrewdness. Translated as wisdom (8:5); subtilty (1:4); and prudence (8:12).

‘Heart’ – Eighteen commands concerning the heart: Apply the heart to understanding (2:2; 22:17; 23:12). Open the heart to wisdom (2:10). Keep the commandments (3:1; 4:4, 21). Write commandments on it (3:3; 7:3). Trust in the Lord with it (3:5). Keep it with all diligence (4:23). Bind commandments upon it (6:21). Do not lust in it (6:25). Do not be inclined to sin (7:25). Have an understanding heart (8:5). Be wise in it (11:29; 12:23; 16:21). Retain wisdom in it (14:33). Be merry in heart (15:13, 15). Study answers with it (15:28). Increase its knowledge (18:15). Apply it to instruction (23:12). Do not use it to envy sinners (23:17). Give heart to wisdom (23:26).

Wisdom and Understanding

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Proverbs 8:1-3 Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 

‘Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?’ Wisdom is personified in Proverbs 8:8-9. Just as the gospel [God’s Wisdom] is made known to man and is free and easy to find for those who seek it, we can find godly wisdom and understanding if only we ask and believe.

From James 1:5-7 we have the command to ask God (anything) if we lack wisdom, and He will, without scolding, give to all men liberally, BUT it must be asked in faith, without wavering because then you will not receive anything from the Lord.

Fifteen ways “wisdom” is used: Human education (Acts 7:22). Man’s wisdom (1Cor. 1:19-22; 2:1-13). Human philosophy and religion (Col. 2:23; 1Cor. 3:19; 2Cor. 1:12; Gal. 1:14). Earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom (Jas. 3:14-16). Prophetic anointing (Luke 11:49). Godly training (Luke 2:40, 52). Anointing to speak (Luke 21:15; Acts 6:1-15; 1Cor. 2:7). Ministerial ability for the apostles (Eph. 1:8, 17; 3:10; Col. 1:19, 28). Christ the wisdom of God (1Cor. 1:24, 30; Col. 2:3; 3:16). Divine gift of wisdom (1Cor. 12:8). Divine attribute of God (Rom. 11:33). Heavenly wisdom (Jas. 3:17-18). Spirit of revelation (2Pet. 3:15). Ability of Christ (Matt. 12:42; 13:54). Native insight (Rev. 13:18; 17:9).

‘Wisdom’ [Hebrew: Chokmah] wisdom, prudence, shrewdness, skill. Translated as “wisdom” 145 times (1:2, 7; 2:2, 6, 10; 3:13, 19; 4:5, 7, 11; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1, 11-12; 9:10; 10:13, 23, 31; 11:2; 13:10; 14:6, 8, 33; 15:33; 16:16; 17:16; 24; 18:4; 21:30; 23:23; 24:3, 24:14; 28:26; 29:3, 15; 30:3; 31:26; Ex. 28:3; 31:3, 6; 35:26; 31, 35; 36:1-2; Ps. 37:30; 51:6; 90:12; 104:24; 111:10; Eccl. 1:13-18; 2:3-26; 7:11-25; 8:1, 16;). It is the predominant word for wisdom in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

‘Top of high places’ – Wisdom cries in five places: high places, crossroads, gates, broad roads, and at the doors. Wherever men are, there she cries and warns of wrong ways (8:2-5).

The Chambers of Death

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Proverbs 7:18-27 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goes after her straightway, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hastes to the snare, and knows not that it is for his life. Hearken unto me now therefore, O you children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she has cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. 

‘Take our fill’ [Hebrew: ravah] to make drunk; to drink one’s fill; satiate.

‘Goodman is not at home’ – She tried to make him think she was married and only fulfilling religious vows and worship.

‘With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.’ She overcame his scruples with lascivious talk.

‘As an ox goes to the slaughter.’ Three comparisons of the stupidity of his folly: As an ox going to slaughter. As a fool to the stocks. As a bird to the snare (7:23).

‘Hearken unto me now therefore, O you children, and attend to the words of my mouth.’ Again the repetitive warning (4:1, 20; 5:1; 7:24) to obey godly instruction and reproof, no one will have an excuse one day to say they didn’t know (Hos. 4:6) – knowledge and wisdom have always been available to those who ask and seek it truly (Matt. 7:7-8; 21:22; John 15:7; Jas. 1:5-8; 1Jn. 3:22; 5:14-16). Solomon appeals again to the simple and inexperienced to follow his advice; again he warns against the harlot and the end of those who sin with her (7:24-27).

‘Many strong men have been slain by her.’ Four great men fell by women: Samson (Jdg. 16:4-21); David (2 Samuel 11-12); Solomon (1Kin. 11:1-43; Neh. 13:26); Herod (Matt. 14:1-36).

‘Hell’ [Hebrew: She’owl]) the unseen world of departed spirits. The unsaved go to hell when they leave their bodies (Ps. 9:17; 55:15; Isa. 14:9; Luke 16:23; Jas. 2:26; Rev. 20:7-15) and the lost are in conscious torment in hell (Deut. 32:22; 2Sam. 22:6; Ps. 18:5; 116:3; 139:8; Isa. 14:9-11; Ezek. 32:21; Son. 8:6; Hab. 2:5; Luke 16:23-28).

Peace Offerings

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Proverbs 7:14-17 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 

‘I have peace offerings with me.’ After the blood of the offering was shed and the fat burned, all but the breast and shoulder (the priest’s portion) belonged to the sacrificer, who could take it home and make a feast for friends (Lev. 3:1-17; 7:31-34). This shows how much worship was carried on in connection with idolatry and harlotry. The gods of many pagan nations were worshipped in the brothels, and fragments of the offerings were divided among the temple prostitutes. Every heathen temple, high place of sacrifice, and place of worship had its consecrated prostitutes to attract men to such worship.

Today we need to be aware of the same fact – not every word that originates from the Word of God that is used by the world is used to honour God, but people act sanctimoniously.

‘I paid my vows.’ She insinuated that she had made a vow for the health and safety of the young man; that she had made her peace with God; that she had come forth especially to meet him; and that by partaking with her in her worship no sin would be committed; and that she was forced to avail herself of the nighttime and the absence of her husband to complete her vows and worship.

‘To meet thee.’ She implied that she came to meet him and no one else, but if this young man had not come along, another would have been the same to her.

‘Bed’ [Hebrew: ‛eres] couch or sofa on which to recline at meals; not mishkab, a bed to sleep on, as in Proverbs 7:17. She used every means to incite the passions and appetites of the young man – worship, food, and the prospect of sexual satisfaction (7:14-21).

Loud and Stubborn

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Proverbs 7:9-13 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.  (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

‘The attire of an harlot.’ Harlots have always had their mark of identification. A description is given of Judah’s time in Genesis 38:14-19. In Solomon’s time as in Judah’s, they seemed to be known by their attire. Today women dress like harlots in their everyday attire and have no shame, sobriety or modesty (1Tim. 2:9-10). Even the behaviour described in this Scriptures is that of an acceptable normal standard to most individuals today for ‘having a good time,’ going out, partying and flirting. Morally it is of a very low standard and character and leads in every way to sinful behaviour (Col. 3:5-10; 1Pet. 4:1-5; 1Jn. 2:15-17).

‘She caught him.’ Ten facts about harlots: Their attire or marks that advertise them for hire (7:10; Gen. 38:1-30). Their subtlety of heart (7:10). Their boisterous and loud disposition (7:11). Their boisterous disposition (7:11-12). Their stubbornness and persistence in pursuing innocent victims (7:11). They have no respect for the good of men – married or unmarried. They gloat over causing young men to fall into sin and husbands to go astray. They are bold, unashamed, impudent and unlawfully familiar (7:13). They are flatterers (7:5, 14-21). They are deceitful of heart (7:13-21). They are liars (7:14-21). They are temptresses and seducers (7:13-21).

‘Kissed him.’ She laid hold of him and kissed him to let him know her intentions (7:12-13).

‘Impudent face’ – She made her face look as friendly, confident, and sincere as she could.

Keep My Words

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Proverbs 7:1-4 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Say unto wisdom, Thou are my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman

‘Keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.’ Eight commands: Keep my words – guard against breaking God’s commandments (7:1). Lay up these commandments – take them into your heart. Keep my commandments, and live (7:2). Keep my law as you would the pupil of the eye (7:2; cp. Deut. 32:10; Ps. 17:8; Zech. 2:8). Bind them upon your fingers (7:3). Write them upon the table of your heart. Make wisdom your sister (7:4). Make understanding your kinswoman. These last two expressions indicate acquaintance with wisdom and knowledge.

These commands are preparatory warnings to the longer admonition against adultery, which was an often repeated subject with Solomon due to his many bitter experiences with strange women. He generally gave such commands before dealing with the subject (Pro. 2:1-10 with 2:12, 16; Pro. 5:1-2 with 5:3-6; Pro. 5:7 with 5:8-14; Pro. 15-19 with 5:20-23; Pro. 6:20-23 with 6:24-35; Pro. 7:1-4 with 7:5-23; Pro. 7:24 with 7:25-27; Pro. 9:1-6 with 9:13-18).

Whoso Commits Adultery

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Proverbs 6:27-35 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goes in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou give many gifts. 

‘So he that goes in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent.’ Just as a man cannot take fire into his bosom or walk on hot coals without being burned, so he that seduces his neighbour’s wife shall not go unpunished (6:27-29).

‘Despise’ [Hebrew: buwz] to disrespect; utterly despise; consider insignificant. People will not think it insignificant for a thief to steal when he is hungry.

‘But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold.’ If caught, the thief shall be restored sevenfold, even if it means being sold into slavery (Exo. 22:1-4; Lev. 25:39). The law does not clear a thief, regardless of how desperately in need he is.

‘But whoso commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding.’ Solomon returns to his often repeated warning against adultery and giving oneself to a prostitute (2:16-19; 5:3-6, 8-11, 15-23; 6:24-29, 32-35; 7:5-23, 25-27; 9:13-18). This Scripture states that both parties commit adultery (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22), the woman is not the only culprit as most people choose to blame their part in sin on others.

‘He that does it destroys his own soul.’ Six evil effects of adultery: Spiritual death (Rom. 8:12-13). Physical death (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22). Eternal death (1Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8; 22:15). A wound and dishonour (6:33). Lasting reproach. Blinding rage of the husband (6:34-35).

‘Wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.’ Among the Romans one caught in the act of adultery was delivered to the injured husband to be punished with infamy, disgrace, and even death if he chose (6:33-35).

A Whorish Woman

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Proverbs 6:24-26 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 

‘To keep thee from the evil woman.’ Seven things to be kept from: The evil woman (6:24) and her flattery. Lust after her beauty (6:25). Captivity by her eyelids. Poverty through her (6:26). Death by sin with her. Sin with her (6:27-29).

‘Strange’ [Hebrew: nokriy] Solomon had suffered much by sinning with foreign women, so could give warnings from experience (1Kin. 11:1-13). He should have followed his own advice because he became an apostate and fell away from God’s grace because he went into idolatry with these women.

‘Eyelids’ – Modern makeup or lipstick was unknown in the East, but they did line the eyes with a preparation of antimony to give them lustre. We are to pay more attention to the inward man than to the outer man (1Pet. 3:3-4).

‘Piece of bread’ – Here it seems that a man is brought to poverty by a prostitute, but in the Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic versions it reads, “For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf.” There were so many prostitutes in the land that they hired themselves out for a bare living.