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07/23/2024

Proverbs 23:13-Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Hey Reader-Corporal punishment for children is a law from heaven. It is not an option, suggestion, or theory. Its purpose is simple – save children from premature and unnecessary death. Debating or opposing this command makes you an accomplice in child murder, for you reject God’s means of saving children’s lives. Let God be true, but every man a liar!

The world assumes and believes it has a better idea – let children do whatever they wish, and the freedom will motivate them to be disciplined and wise on their own. Add a daily dose of the public zoo, MTV, revolutionary music, and texting moronic peers, and they will grow like weeds into the weed-smoking educators that invented the anti-God idea!

The fruit of this experiment is obvious to all but the willfully blind – youth today, and the so-called adults they become, are narcissistic, snotty, ignorant, lazy, and rebellious fools, as the Bible warned and defined (Pr 22:15; 29:15; Ps 14:1). The proof of this indictment is beyond the scope of this commentary, but the moral degeneration of the last few generations is easily observed and quantified by nearly any measure of social integrity.

The correction here is corporal punishment, for it involves the use of a rod. Your grandparents understood it well, for spanking was obvious to their sober minds. The rod had much to do with the former greatness of America and the tranquility of its society. Let Britannica Encyclopedia (14th Edition) remind the ignorant or effeminate:
FLOGGING has been one of the most universally utilized methods of punishing public crimes, as well as a means of preserving family, domestic, military and academic discipline.

The instruction from God and Solomon is to use this form of correction with children. It must be administered to save their lives, and it should be done early (Pr 13:24; 19:18). It is the mark of true love (Pr 3:12; 13:24), for parents with a great desire for their children’s futures will want to drive foolishness out of their hearts (Pr 22:15; 29:15,17).
Parents rejecting the use of a rod hate their children and will cause them harm, for they will grow up with innate folly ruling them to their own hurt. Any sentimental drivel or twaddle to the contrary is irrelevant, for the permissive actions of the parents prove disregard for their children’s futures. Sober obedience to authority saves lives, but merely grounding a child or withholding an allowance for a day or two will not train it into them.

How can children die? A thousand ways! Su***de is self-murder by unruled emotion. Undisciplined children disobey speed limits, drug laws, gun laws, and police authority. They flaunt anger, envy, and pride, which can cause fatal conflicts. Undisciplined children violate marital and other contracts, which can bring murder or public ex*****on. Of course, Solomon wrote under a government practicing capital punishment.

But there are other ways to die as well. Some jobs are dead end, because an untrained child will not obey authority, get along with others, or pursue a transferable skill. Some marriages are dead, because childish pride and selfishness destroyed the union designed for peace and pleasure. Fools can ruin other relationships, and a soul can practically die from the pain and trouble caused by his own foolishness (Pr 5:7-14; 7:21-23; 9:16-18).

Corporal punishment consistently and lovingly administered will prevent these different ways people die. Thankfully, God loves His children enough to chasten and scourge them (Heb 12:5-10). Turning a person back to truth saves a soul from death and hides a multitude of sins (Jas 5:19-20), and sometimes it may take stronger methods to get them to turn (Pr 26:3; 29:19). God has spoken; this issue is not debatable (Ps 119:128; Is 8:20).

07/20/2024

Proverbs 21:13

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

07/05/2024

Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.


Your words or name can get you in financial trouble. Be careful! Think soberly before opening your mouth or signing your name. The lesson here is foolishly cosigning for a friend to a stranger (Pr 6:1-5). There are two parts – financial prudence and guarding your speech and signature. Both issues can be costly. Both issues give the proverb great value.
Solomon warned his son several times about suretiship, which is guaranteeing the performance of a friend to a third party, often a creditor (Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26-27; 27:13). The modern activity is cosigning a loan at a bank for a friend. Since Solomon was a king, there would be many parasites seeking favors from the royal prince.

Cosigning, or suretiship, is an easy way to show kindness and influence. Just a word, a handshake, or signature will do it. Your friend is indebted to you, and your pride of life revels in your financial power. But paying off such debts, if your friend does not perform, could cost you dearly. Solomon warned that a creditor may take your bed (Pr 22:26-27)!

In business, potential financial debts are called contingent liabilities – meaning, if certain things do not work out just right, there will be obligations to pay. A prudent man is very cautious about potential risks. He avoids cosigning, except in emergencies or necessities; he insures himself wisely; he invests cautiously; he analyzes “business opportunities” skeptically; he signs contracts reluctantly; he never bets the farm on any idea; he keeps reserve funds; he seldom uses debt to operate; and he keeps an excellent credit rating.

Such wisdom is rejected today. Instead of paying cash, most borrow for a car, or even worse, they lease it. What happens if you lose your job and cannot make the payments? You owe more than the car is worth. You are stuck! You are trapped! How about buying a house with nothing down, financing it with an interest-only loan, and getting an equity line to 125% of value? What happens if housing prices drop 5% and you need to move?

The financial wisdom of this proverb is great. Prudent men commit to contracts and obligations only with great sobriety and only after skeptical analysis. Financial liquidity and personal freedom are very important to wise men. They hate debts! But there is more wisdom in the proverb. You need to guard your speech in all matters, and you need to be a man of your word. One way to accomplish both is to be very slow in commitments.
David and Solomon warned about keeping vows, which is helped by vowing reluctantly (Ps 15:4; 24:4; Eccl 5:1-7). Backbiting, slandering, talebearing, and whispering are all avoided by diligently guarding speech about others (Pr 11:13; 20:19; 25:9-10). Fewer words are better (Pr 10:19; 17:27-28), and slowness in speech is righteous (Jas 1:19-20).

To be a man of integrity, only make commitments you can easily keep. If you promise to be somewhere at a certain time, be there early. Do not promise hastily, because once you have spoken, you are bound to keep your word. Performance may be based on diligence; punctuality may be based on time management; but both can be helped by only making commitments and promises with great care and leaving some room in your estimates.

Fools and wicked men blast off and make promises they cannot keep (Pr 12:13; 18:7). Their lips trap them in trouble. Consider Herod and his oath to Herodias’s daughter (Matt 14:3-11). If words have been uttered and a trap set, Solomon’s remedy is to do whatever it takes to undo your commitment and make your friend surety for himself (Pr 6:3-5).
There are two rules of wisdom to remember about suretiship and promises in general. First, suretiship is allowed for necessity and charity (Pr 18:24; 19:17; Ps 112:5; Philemon 1:18-19). The proverb condemns rash or excessive commitments. Second, a promise made in good faith is not binding if the other party’s intentions were not in good faith and/or the consequences would be sinful or dangerous (I Kgs 2:12-25). The limitations should be understood by both parties if possible, or you may revert to God as your Judge.

But what of God Himself? The LORD Jehovah opened His mouth and cannot go back. He promised eternal life before the world began (Titus 1:2). He is not like a man – He cannot lie or change His mind (Num 23:19). His justice demanded full payment. No man could pay. So His own arm brought salvation. Jesus Christ became the Surety of His people to pay the necessary price for them. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!

06/24/2024

Proverbs 25:23-The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.


Anger is good when someone criticizes a person not present. Get indignant! Tell the person to stop running others down. Tell the person to take up their attack with the party directly. Tell them, if they cannot say something good, then not to say anything at all.
Backbiting is detracting, slandering, or speaking ill about a person not present. God hates it, and He condemns it in several places (Ps 15:3; Rom 1:30; II Cor 12:20). It is often described by the similar sins of slandering, talebearing, and whispering (Pr 6:19; 10:18; 11:13; 16:28; 17:9; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20-22; Lev 19:16; Ps 50:20; Rom 1:29; II Cor 12:20).

Foolish or wicked men criticize others when they are not present to flatter themselves. If they can destroy the character of others, they think it makes them look better and reduces their competition, though only in their wicked minds. You should make strong efforts to protect and defend any persons not present, just as you hope others would protect you.

What is backbiting? It is telling things about a person behind their back that hurts their reputation. Backbiting is not justified if the disclosed facts are true, for truth can also hurt a reputation, which is the essence of the crime. Failures in the past should remain buried unless it is absolutely necessary to reveal them (Pr 10:12; 16:28; 17:9). You should protect and enhance every man’s reputation as far as you possibly can. God bless you.

Righteous men will not allow backbiting in their presence. They hate sin in themselves, and they hate it in others. They must correct wrongdoing, and they want to protect the character of all men. If they hear backbiting, they will end it with an angry look of disapproval, for it is a duty of godly men to warn the unruly (I Thess 5:14). If the guilty party is under their authority, they will correct it or cast the offender out (Ps 101:4-6).

Not all accusations or relating of facts about others is backbiting. Informing authorities for the sake of truth, exposing dangerous individuals, protecting the innocent, helping an offender, righteously recording history, prudent illustrative examples, or witnessing in court are justified actions of reporting the faults of others (Lev 5:1; Deut 13:12-18; Matt 18:16; Acts 15:36-41; I Cor 1:11; Gal 2:11; I Tim 1:20; II Tim 4:10,14; III John 1:9).

Solomon knew about weather (Eccl 1:5-7), and he knew wind out of the north drove away rain in Israel. Elihu wrote in the book of Job, “Fair weather cometh out of the north” (Job 37:22). These two witnesses make our faith. For Palestine, the north wind was cool and fair, the south wind warm, the west moist, and the east dry.
Most commentators violently pervert these words of God, much like the serpent in Eden, by making the first clause read: “The north wind brings forth rain.” But even a child can know they are wrong, by a simple comparison with the parallelism of the second clause. Does an angry countenance bring forth backbiting, or drive it away? Let God be true!

For entertainment, consider the NIV, “As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks.” What about the NASB? “The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.” How about the name-stealing New King James? “The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.” If a backbiting tongue causes an angry countenance, what is the lesson? Let God be true!

Poor John Darby was the most confused, even before he got to speculating about Bible prophecy. He guessed at the translation of Proverbs 25:23, “The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.” How in the world does an angry countenance cause backbiting? Let God be true! God demolished the arrogance of these textual critics by manifesting their folly to all men (I Cor 1:19-20; 3:19-20).

If wise men and righteous men fulfilled the rule of this proverb, there would be less detracting and slandering of reputations. Good men would have spotless names, and evil men would be exposed as their obvious inferiors. Every conscientious reader will make sure that he has a preserving effect in this world by shutting down backbiting tongues.

06/15/2024

Proverbs 16:26-He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.


Why do men work a job or business? Because they enjoy it? Because others expect them to? Out of love for society? They want to help an enterprise succeed? Because they are bored? Men work because they have to, and this basic fact of life teaches sound wisdom.

A life sentence of hard labor was Adam’s curse for listening to his wife rather than God (Gen 3:17-19). Instead of leisurely dressing a garden and enjoying a great variety of easy food, men must scratch in the ground to survive. But whether a man knows about Eden or not, there is a powerful necessity that drives him to hard labor – he must work or starve.

Solomon’s observation teaches wisdom, if you will think upon it. Men work hard by a selfish necessity – for themselves. If they do not work, they will starve. This is man’s condition in the world, whether he wears a white or blue collar; he must labor to eat. If he does not work, he will not eat; the fear of hunger forces him to work every day (Eccl 6:7).

Survival is a strong motivator that will produce good results, such as a hardworking society, when selfishness is allowed to satisfy itself by diligent labor. Even God’s laws through Moses included divine reasoning about man’s selfishness to govern his conduct (Ex 21:20-21; Pr 27:18). Rightly understood, selfishness is a rule of ethics and wisdom.

A perverse society resents this wonderful motive for labor. Children are given everything, for doing nothing. Parents say, “Let him be a child; there will be plenty of time for work later,” meaning he should play all day. They legislate welfare, which mysteriously multiplies those needing handouts. Others provide meals for men too lazy to work. A government could quickly reduce welfare, increase national productivity, and raise tax revenues by simply punishing any citizens harboring or feeding slothful persons.

Here is the cure for sluggards – no work, no food. This rule is inspired wisdom. Solomon knew laziness was a problem (Pr 6:6-11; 10:26; 12:27; 13:4; 15:19; 19:24; 21:25; 22:13; 24:30-34; 26:13-15). It is difficult to teach or force foolish young men to work hard. But just a few days without food will produce a laborer. Both Solomon and Paul endorsed and taught this wise rule of God that leads to a good work ethic (Pr 20:4; II Thess 3:8-12).
From that rule comes the profit motive in the Bible. Contrary to experience and wisdom, communism hallucinates, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Yet that dream has never worked. A man will never apply himself diligently for an idiotic theory that gives the lazy as much as the diligent, but he will apply himself diligently for a proportionate reward. Let him see the endless possibilities in a free market system, and he will very gladly do his job well and look for extra work. Wise employers use incentive compensation to raise employee productivity even higher.

The wisdom here can be enhanced or leveraged. Give a man a loving wife and dependent children, and he will work even harder. Two are better than one, because they have a reward for their labor, among other benefits (Eccl 4:9-12). But the extra mouths to feed of those he loves above all others on earth will further motivate him. How does a boy become a man? Right training; no allowance; early job; early marriage; and early baby!

Parent, are you using this proverb with your children? Eating is not a right, except for helpless infants. Even young children can do chores, and they should be required to do them before eating. Many parents have an open-refrigerator policy, which fosters laziness and self-indulgence that leads to an undisciplined life. When most grew up on farms, this proverb was generally practiced, for everyone had to help with the chores in order to eat.

Christianity teaches a great work ethic. It is a shame some Christians are slothful at work. Whatever you find to do professionally, do it with your might (Eccl 9:10; Col 3:23). Diligent labor at your own business is part of sanctification for a believer (I Thess 4:11-12). And those disliking hard work are to be starved into enjoying it (Pr 20:4; II Thess 3:8-12), or they are to be excluded from the churches of Jesus Christ (II Thess 3:6,14).

This proverb also rebukes greed and covetousness. The ambitious man, obsessed with the reward of hard work, forgets he will die and leave his wealth to another (Eccl 2:17-24; Luke 12:16-21). He heaps up riches, not knowing who will spend them (Ps 39:6). Therefore, wisdom and true success are learning godly contentment with essentials, not seeking wealth (Pr 12:9; I Tim 6:6-10). Convenient food is the wise choice (Pr 30:7-9).

Pastor, do you labor diligently in your holy calling? The Lord Christ chose you to endure hardness as a good soldier (II Tim 2:3-4). Paul worked night and day to be the greatest apostle (I Cor 15:10; I Thess 2:9). Does your soul crave laboring in order to hear your Captain say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”? Let Paul’s inspired example and instruction invigorate your soul for Christ’s kingdom (I Cor 9:16; I Tim 4:13-16).

Reader, does your soul crave God and His word? It never will without God’s sovereign grace. Have you checked your hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt 5:6)? Does it drive you to separate yourself from foolish, worldly pursuits to learn wisdom (Pr 18:1)? You must stimulate your appetite and desire for the sincere milk of the word (I Pet 2:1-3).

Jesus met a great crowd, five thousand men plus women and children, who wanted to make Him king, so He could fill their bellies with free bread and fish (John 6:15,26). He told them to labor rather for the food that endures unto eternal life (John 6:27). Are you laboring for yourself in this crucial matter, reader? This is labor with a fantastic reward.

How much does your soul crave the kingdom of heaven? Jesus described it as a man finding a treasure in a field and joyfully selling all that he had in order to buy the field for its treasure (Matt 13:44). You should pray, “Lord, increase the craving of my soul for Thee and the things of Thy kingdom, and direct my labor fervently toward them. Amen.”

06/11/2024

Proverbs 11:31- Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.


Your eternal reward or punishment – heaven or hell – will far exceed any earthly reward or punishment. But God does repay the righteous and the wicked in this life also. The righteous should not despair that there is no reward for them now, and the wicked should not presume to think they can live today with impunity (Ps 27:13; I Pet 4:17-18).

Solomon wanted your attention – Behold! You should soberly consider God’s dealings with men. He will repay men on earth for their actions. You are not hid from His eyes; you are not lost in the crowd. The righteous will be blessed; the wicked will be punished. There is a God in heaven; He loves virtue and hates sin; a man will reap what he sows.
Both the righteous and wicked suffer adversity on earth – so that natural men cannot discern God’s love or hatred (Eccl 8:14; 9:1-3). However, the Bible reveals very great differences, which natural men cannot learn. God treats the righteous and the wicked very differently. Spiritual men know this: they understand His present and future dealings.

God sends adversity in love to chasten and perfect the righteous (Pr 3:11-12; Ps 11:5; Amos 3:2; I Cor 11:32; Heb 12:5-17). His thoughts are only good toward them; He hears their prayers and gives them their desires (Ps 34:10-16; 37:4; 84:11). He blesses them with riches, or things better than riches, or both (Pr 15:16-17; 21:21; 22:4; I Tim 6:6).
God sends prosperity in hatred to the wicked (Pr 1:32; Ps 17:14; 73:1-20). And He sends adversity as a warning of greater judgment to come. His thoughts are evil toward them; He does not hear their prayers; He laughs at their calamities (Pr 15:8; 28:9; 1:20-31). Their foolish joys will condemn them in the Day of Judgment (Ac 14:15-17; Ro 1:18-32).

Right or wrong is a choice. The consequences or results of godly living are far superior to sinful living. Wisdom leads to internal happiness and satisfaction and external prosperity with long life (Pr 3:13-26; 10:22; 13:15; Ps 37:4; 84:11). Sin leads to grief, guilt, trouble, and death (Pr 3:33-35; 4:19; 5:7-14; 11:8; 13:15; 15:16; 24:20). The lesson is clear.

The proverb and its interpretation are true (Pr 11:20; Ps 58:10-11). Will you believe it and live accordingly? Righteous reader, take comfort! Sinner, beware! Read this:

“The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright” (Ps 11:4-7).

Life is hard (Job 5:6-7), but eternity in heaven is better (Is 57:1-2). Righteous men are loved now and later; the wicked are despised now and later. Though God presently loves and blesses the righteous, eternity is still the best view of life for its far superior quality and duration (Ps 49:1-20; 73:1-28; I Cor 15:19; II Cor 4:17-18; Phil 3:18-21; Col 3:1-4).

06/05/2024

Proverbs 6:14- Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

There are naughty people in the world, and God will judge them. They have several traits, three of which are described here, but they will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
Are you a naughty person – a wicked man? Can you identify people that are? Solomon listed traits of evil men and women and their coming punishment for you (Pr 6:12-15).

Wisdom has many advantages and facets. Here are two: do you live above the traits in this proverb? And can you identify those who do or do not? Wisdom is the power of right judgment, and you want to achieve both objectives – godly living and godly discernment.

Solomon described a naughty or wicked man as having a froward mouth (Pr 6:12). This is an easy way to identify a fool or evil man – listen! He will argue, be contrary, rude, harsh, unreasonable, hurtful, and uncooperative. Wisdom avoids these sins (Pr 15:28; 16:23), and it teaches you to spot them in others (Pr 9:7-8; 14:7; Eccl 10:12-14).

Naughty or wicked people also deal craftily and subtly with others (Pr 6:13). Rather than direct, honest, plain, and upfront speech, they sneak influence and opinions around, indicated by winking eyes and message-sending feet and hands. Godly men are open and truthful, without subterfuge of any sort. Their noble intentions are easily known.

This proverb gives three more traits of a wicked man. First, he has a froward heart. His froward speech is not accidental (Pr 6:12); it comes from his perverse and unruly heart. Such men have an evil disposition. They are arrogant, difficult to manage, hard to please, rebellious, and selfish. They prefer to argue, complain, debate, and fight than live in peace. Godly men are the opposite. They are content, cooperative, gracious, and patient.

Second, he is always planning mischief. His mind has no interest in the good and virtuous thoughts of a wise man (Phil 4:8). He cannot rest without conniving and conspiring to take advantage of others (Pr 4:16; Ps 36:4; Mic 2:1). God hates these persons (Pr 6:18). Their perverse and twisted hearts and minds imagine the worst about others and plan ways to undermine them, take from them, thwart their plans, or disrupt their peace.

Third, he is a troublemaker and disturbs the peace – he sows discord. Harmony, peace, and unity are goals of wise men, for they love calm and quiet. But naughty men are intent on backbiting, sedition, slandering, talebearing, and whispering. God hates these persons (Pr 6:19). They are contentious, and they cannot keep their unhappiness to themselves; they must wickedly disrupt the contentment and cooperation of others (Pr 16:28; 26:21).

What will God do to naughty persons? He will miserably destroy them (Pr 6:15). He will bring calamities suddenly into their lives to tear them up and repay them for the pain and trouble they have caused others. He will break their plans and peace, and there will be no remedy from His anger. Be sure your sin will find you out! Wickedness brings judgment.

God says to you, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas 1:21). Reject your naughty and wicked habits. Repent, and confess them to God. Go to those you have mistreated and make peace or restitution. Do not think for a minute that hearing this warning has any value. The blessing and reward are in the doing of it (Jas 1:22-27).

You can be great in the sight of God and men by being the opposite of naughty and wicked men. First, you can have a pure heart that results in gracious speech that even a king would admire (Pr 22:11; Matt 5:8). Second, you can set your heart to planning liberal acts of kindness for others (Is 32:8; Ps 112:9; Ac 20:35). Third, you can be a peacemaker among your family and friends (Jas 3:18; Matt 5:9). Go for it, today!

God and Solomon have offered you wisdom in this proverb. A wise man will see the traits of naughty men and go as far as he can in the opposite direction. A wise man will learn to discern and perceive wicked traits in others – to warn and rebuke them, or to avoid them. A wise man will train these traits entirely out of his children. A wise man will thank God for the wisdom of His word and pray for the conviction to obey it fully.

Jesus Christ was the perfect Man. He had the purest heart that produced the most gracious speech (Ps 45:2; Lu 4:22). He was always dedicated to doing good for earthly and eternal benefit of others (Lu 7:12-15; 9:51; Jn 4:34). He settled disputes on earth and gained eternal reconciliation between God and His elect (Lu 9:46-48; Col 1:20). Follow Him.

05/31/2024

Proverbs 1:24-Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

Some invitations are not take-it-or-leave-it offers! If you disregard or refuse them, you beg for the wrath of the inviting parties. If a boss invites you to a meeting or a king to a dinner, you better show up. So is God’s offer of wisdom. Lady Wisdom calls to men, and they better take her offer, or she will mock them in their calamity (Pr 1:20-33). God does not owe an answer or help to men who neglect truth or play with sin (Ps 66:18; Is 9:1-2).
Truth and wisdom are not rights: they are privileges. He offered truth and eternal life in Eden; Adam and Eve chose the devil’s lie and death. They made a terrible choice. He gave them the consequences. Most make the same choice every day – the devil’s lie and the death it brings are better than God’s truth and eternal life. Therefore, He is holy and just to hide truth from men (Amos 8:11-14; Matt 11:24-26; 13:10-17; Rom 11:7-10; etc.).

He declares truth every day and night by the heavens and life’s blessings (Ps 19:1-6; Acts 14:17). Men are without excuse, because He plainly reveals Himself to their minds (Rom 1:20). The problem is their hearts! They hate His authority and despise His laws, so they rebel to idolatry or evolution to eliminate Him. He justly blinds them and rewires their minds to abuse each other with sexual perversions (Is 44:9-20; Rom 1:21-32).
He declares truth through His inspired scriptures, the Bible, which is preached by chosen men (Ps 19:7-11; Is 8:20; II Tim 3:16-17). But men hate the Bible for the same reasons – a sovereign Creator’s authority and rules that restrain the lusts screaming within. In righteous judgment, He sends delusions to believe lies and be damned (II Thess 2:9-12).

King Ahab rejected God’s prophet Micaiah, so the LORD gave him what he wanted – a flattering lie (I Kgs 22:1-18). Then Micaiah graphically described God’s choice of a lying spirit to get him to battle to kill him (I Kgs 22:19-40). God is fair. If you value anything in your heart more than His truth, He will deceive you (Ezek 14:1-11). If you think you can survive without His wisdom, He will blind you from it and destroy you (Is 29:9-16).
Israel was offered Old Testament blessing or cursing (Deut 28:1-14; 28:15-68). And it was offered New Testament blessing or cursing (Matt 21:33-46; 22:1-7). Paul made a grand comparison of them as a warning to the Hebrews (Heb 3:7-19; 4:1-11). Beware!

How have you used today to seek the will of God for your life? Wisdom calls to you from this proverb and from the rest of the Bible. Will you invest 1% of today, which is 14 minutes and 24 seconds, to learn? If not, look out! Tomorrow may be too late. The living and true God is under no obligation to wait for you to get serious (Pr 29:1; Rev 2:21-23).

05/25/2024

Proverbs 26:9- As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

Fools cannot be trusted for truth or wisdom. Drunkards hurt themselves with thorns; fools hurt themselves with parables. Drunkards are insensitive to the pain; fools are oblivious to their ignorance. Here is further ridicule of fools by King Solomon (Pr 26:1-11).
A parable is a dark and obscure saying, like Solomon’s proverbs, which requires careful interpretation and application to be profitable (Pr 1:6). Since a fool has no understanding, he ends up using a parable to his own hurt, much like a drunkard too intoxicated to handle thorns properly and ends up piercing his own hand. Wisdom is only for wise men.

The lesson is simple. Fools are unfit teachers of wisdom: they will shame themselves trying to interpret dark sayings of wise men. Peter also warned about these unlearned men wresting Scripture to their own destruction (II Pet 3:15-16). A fool lacks mental ability, humility of spirit, revelation of God, rules of interpretation, or all four essentials.
Truth and wisdom are precious – the chief things to seek in life (Pr 3:15-18; 4:5-9; 8:11; 16:16; 23:23). But a fool has no right to them: they are beyond his ability (Pr 17:16; 18:2; 26:5). Solomon ridiculed fools trying to teach truth or wisdom in order to exalt both to wise men. They are treasures to wise men, because they know fools will never find them.

The words of truth and wisdom are plain to those that understand and right to them that have knowledge (Pr 8:8-9). God has not hid them from those that fear Him. But fools have neither understanding nor knowledge, for they are too foolish to fear God. They take the words of the wise and pierce themselves by misinterpreting and misapplying them.
Fools are lazy, and their little study is only to confirm their own thoughts (Pr 18:2). They miss the proper divisions and distinctions in sense and application necessary to be approved workmen in God’s word (Neh 8:8; II Tim 2:15). They are shameful in doctrine and practice. When they open their mouths, everyone knows they are fools (Ec 10:3).

There are more fools today than ever, largely due to more education, for most educators are humanists, who are fools by creed and content (Ps 14:1; 94:11; I Cor 1:19-20; I Cor 3:18-20). Many of these fools flock to the field of religion, where they can make an easy living writing new Bible versions or telling stories from a pulpit to ignorant audiences.

Consider a few examples of parables in the mouth of a fool. Look for the thorn going into the drunkard’s hand, as these fools expose their ignorance. Building committees have often used, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Pr 29:18), to justify new building programs. But the full verse clearly means the people have lost the word of God!

Why did Jesus use parables (Matt 13:34-35)? Fools say His parables were earthly stories with heavenly meanings to make His doctrine easy to understand by common people. But He explained the very opposite – His parables were to hide truth and keep the people from understanding (Mat 13:10-17)! The thorn is deep in the hand of the drunkard!

Jesus said, “This is my body,” while holding a piece of bread. Rome’s popes and priests will tell you He had changed the bread into His own body, blood, soul, and divinity, inviting His apostles to be cannibals. All their seminaries missed the metaphor, as when He also said, “I am the door,” and, “I am the vine.” Do you see the thorn? Where is it?

Paul said, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead” (I Cor 15:29), when proving the resurrection of the dead by the mode of baptism – immersion. But Mormon apostles say his words require their underground temple baptisteries, where you can be baptized for dead relatives that missed meeting Joe Smith. Do you see the thorn?

Was Solomon wiser than textual critics and novelists that write new Bible versions every year? Of course! His book of Proverbs is full of his parables, or dark sayings, which confound these fools (Pr 1:6). To see what religious arrogance and education gets you, here are examples of thorns in drunkards:

Want more spiritual entertainment? Can you find the thorn and identify the drunkard? God confounded mankind at the tower of Babel – giving them different languages to ruin their United Nations project (Gen 11:1-9). He did a similar thing with I Samuel 13:1 in Hebrew.

If fools would stop talking, or writing, they could save themselves from such shame, just as Solomon advised (Pr 17:28; Eccl 5:3). But those who should talk the least usually talk the most. If fools must talk, they should avoid all important topics, like a cripple with the wisdom to avoid dancing! Or like a drunkard with the wisdom to avoid thorns!

If you wish to be wise and understand the dark sayings of God, you must humble yourself before Him, which is the beginning of wisdom and understanding (Pr 1:7; 9:10). You then must tremble before His word and believe every word is pure (Pr 30:5; Is 66:2). Then beg Him for the wisdom you do not have (Pr 2:1-9; Ps 119:18; Jas 1:5).

With total confidence in God’s revelation, you can see the great darkness that covers the minds of most men (Is 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5,20-21). Learn to despise the words of fools (Ps 119:113,128; II Cor 2:17). Look for men that fear God, have no fear or respect of the world, and preach His word insistently – they will teach you the truth (II Tim 4:1-4).

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