In today's section, we read:
o Some more proverbs from Solomon
o Proverbs entitled "sayings of the wise"'
o The sayings of Agur
o The sayings of King Lemuel
o The beginning of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon, the wisest man ever, looks for meaning in life
Some thoughts that occurred to me:
There are a number of main themes through the readings:
Love justice and do not be deceitful, because this is the character of God – 20:23; 22:22-23,28; 23:10-11; 24:15-16,17-18,23-25,28-29; 27:10; 28:3,5,21; 29:7,23,26,27; 31:8-9
God hears our prayers and has our future in his hands - 20:24; 21:30; 22:12; 28:26
Purity and humility of heart are to be treasured and pursued, as God knows our hearts - 20:27, 21:2,3,4,12,27; 24:12; 28:9,13; 29:23
The need for godly and righteous government - 20:28; 25-4-5; 28:2,12,15,16,28; 29:2,4,12,14; 31:4
Welcome discipline and correction, as it is for your own good – 20:30; 21:11; 22:6,15; 23-13-14; 25:12; 26:3; 27:5,6,17; 28:23; 29:1,15,17,18,21
The moral shortcomings of being lazy - 21:5,25; 22:13; 24:30-34; 26:13,14,15,16; 28:19; 31:17
Watch your tongue – 21:6,9,23,24,28; 24:9; 25:9-10,18,23; 26:18-19,20,22,24-25,28; 27:1; 29:5,20; 30:10,33
Be generous – 21:13,26; 22:9; 23:6-8; 25:21-22; 28:27; 31:20
The dangers of too much food and drink - 21:17; 23:1-3,20,29-35; 25:16,27; 31:4-7
Better to follow and trust in God than to have all that the world can offer – 21:9,19; 23:4-5,17-18; 24:19-20; 25:24
Being rewarded by God as opposed to ill-gotten gains, don't envy other people - 21:21; 22:1,4,16; 24:1; 28:6,20,22
The words of the godly – 22:11; 24:16; 25:11,13,15; 31:26
Control your temper and do not be hot-headed - 22:24; 29:12,22
Honour your parents - 23:24-26; 28:24; 20:11-14,17
Prov 20:25 reminds me of Jephthah (Jdg 11:30). I was also reminded of Deut 29:29 by 20:24 and 25:2-3. Prov 25:20 - cf Rom 12:15, and 25:21-22 is repeated in Rom 12:20
Can anyone explain what we should make of Prov 26:4-5?
27:21 really made me stop and think "Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, / but a person is tested by being praised." Also, 29:25 "fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety."
Ch 30 is wonderful - I think Agur's prayer in v7-9 is so wise - never to tell a lie, and pray to have just enough to meet our needs. But I love v4 - "Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? / Who holds the wind in his fists? / Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? / Who has created the whole wide world? / What is his name—and his son’s name? / Tell me if you know!" What is his name? What is his son's name? At this Christmas time, we know the answer - JESUS!!!!
As Miriam pointed out, all the sayings about the wise woman are from King Lemuel's mother!!!
Moving on to Ecclesiastes, we have to remember that this is written by the wisest man who ever lived (1 Ki 3:12). Reading these two chapters, I was reminded of the Truman Show, and the knowledge of an enclosed world, while outside of it is a greater power, controlling it, who has all the answers that we on the inside lack. It is only when we leave the closed world of our limited humanity, that we will understand more fully what God has planned for us all along (1 Cor 13:9-10,12)
1 comment:
Proverb 26 vs 4 and 5 just goes to show the difference in translations. The NIV says Do not answer a fool according to his folly or you will be like him yourself (don't stoop to his level) and then Answer a fool according to his folly or he will be wise in his own eyes (except sometimes when his folly needs to be denounced).
Other funny translations:
NLT Prov14 v4
An empty stable stays clean but no income comes from an empty stable.
NIV Prov14 v4
Where there are no oxen the manger is empty but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
NLT Prov11 v16
Beautiful women obtain wealth and violent men get rich - makes no sense to me this - it's all right for beautiful women such as Miriam, Nicky, Caroline and my mother but what about the rest of us ugly-mugs?
But in the NIV the translation of the same verse makes perfect sense.
A kind-hearted woman gains respect but ruthless men gain only wealth.
Interesting!
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