Proverbs 22 tells us that humility is the fear of the Lord. We need to remain faithful to Him to show our children what is correct. The results of this are shown later.

Verse six is the one many quote about children that are raised in the fear and admonition of God. Many believe that their children will never rebel. This verse does not say that. It tells the parent that eventually they will return for permanently.

Diet is dealt with in Proverbs 23. Dining with the wealthy requires some discretion to prevent health problems. If you eat too much, it may be held against you. Drinking too much is also discouraged.

Moving boundary lines is also warned against. Promises of good fortune for the obedient are also given.

Wickedness and wisdom are two recurring themes in Proverbs and chapter 24 is no exception. Don’t envy the wicked because they are trouble-makers. Foolishness and scheming go hand in hand. The wicked will be snuffed out. Don’t worry about them.

A house is built by wisdom. The wise will prevails. The foolish do not understand God’s wisdom. Wisdom is like honey. Practical wisdom is discussed. An honest answer is like a kiss. Do your outside work first and then work inside. This is what we call common sense.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Have you read any of these Proverbs that you do not agree with? Chapter 19 verse four says, “Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.” This the kind of action by the Jewish community that is condemned in the Prophets. The mistreatment of the poor is condemned. Often in these verses, we are told that the unrighteous will reap appropriate punishment.

Wives are complimented and insulted both in these proverbs? A quarrelsome wife is like a leaky roof. A prudent one is from the Lord. Shame and disgrace are brought upon a child that treats their parents with less than respect.

Do you need a reason not to drink? Proverbs 20 says that wine is a mocker and beer makes you a brawler. Most of us know this is true because we have seen others react these ways after a few.

Do you have an insight given by Jehovah? If so, you have the discernment to help determine what lies in the hearts of others. Your spirit may be the lamp of the Lord.

Leaders are given advice in Proverbs 21. The Lord can channel good things to the people. Pursue righteousness and love and find life, prosperity, and honor.

Justice is more important to God than our sacrifices. Our gifts to God should be done for the correct motive. Turning our back on the poor will come back on us. Do not use this verse as saying that you should give something to everyone who claims they are in need. The wise person gives only through organizations that do the most for the indigent. Read Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Man With the Twisted Lip” for more on this.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

We all believe that what we do is correct, but Proverbs 16 tells us that Yahweh looks at our motives. He judges us by them. He does not care about superficial actions or Religious actions and preferences.

Love and faithfulness will atone for our sins. When He sees these, He takes pleasure in us and protects us. Our trust in Him brings blessings. A last verse deals with using a device to gain knowledge of what is the desire of God.

Proverbs 17 asks if we listen to liars. Wisdom will prevent this problem. We are instructed to refrain from quarreling. This will lead to peaceful lives with our family and friends. Verse eight reminds me of the quotation “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

Are you an unfriendly person? Proverbs 18 tells us that they pursue selfish ends and start quarrels. Many comparisons are made between the foolish and the wise. “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower.”

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Go back to the last few days and reread those comments. Many of the Proverbs in chapter 13 deal with the same topics. The New Testament warns us of the problems our tongues can cause. So, does Proverbs.
Hope is another idea embraced here. Fulfilled hopes give us life. Dashed desires bring depression. The wants of good people will be delivered, but those who are only serving themselves will be disappointed.

These Proverbs speak mostly to men. but in Chapter fourteen we read about the wise and the foolish woman. Sharing our joy and heartache is mentioned in verse ten. Sometimes, what we think is right leads to death. The patient will have an understanding.

Our response affects what happens to us. Our mouths are used for the destruction of others and ourselves or to help. Proverbs 15 tells us this and that Jehovah watches all of us. Do you believe this? If so, shouldn’t you worry about what He feels about your words and actions?

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Proverbs 10 gives us many different sayings. We will look at a few of them. Getting something without working for it is worthless. Hard work is its own reward. Walk in integrity and you will be secure. Love covers up our sins. This means that God’s love from His Son will blot them out.

Many things are said about the righteous. They will not go hungry. They are blessed by Jehovah. Life comes from right living. They delight in wisdom. Solomon contradicts the saying “Only the good die young” in verse twenty-seven. The contradictory phrases make it easier to understand.

We are looking at dualities and opposites again in Proverbs 11. Let’s talk about what this chapter says about wealth. Good decisions on helping others financially can be hard to make. Look at the different examples that are given.

Jehovah and man are another topic that is discussed. We should not place our hope in mankind but in the Lord. Often it appears that our relationship with Yahweh can be seen in how we respond to others around us.

Do you love discipline? In Proverbs 12, it calls the person who hates correction stupid. Don’t chase fantasies. Be faithful to try to improve yourself with the guidance of Christ. Pay attention to what people advise you to do. They may have something constructive to say.

We see many comparisons of the wicked and the righteous. How can you judge wickedness and righteousness? By their deceitfulness or honesty in advice. Our words are also an indicator of whether we obey God or seek our own profit.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Why is he hung up on sex again in chapter seven of Proverbs? Because the misuse of it can ruin your life. Look at the description of the woman, the comments she makes, and the lies she tells. Ladies just reverse the sex of the tempter and you will be caught in the trap as well.

Does wisdom call out to us as Solomon asks in Proverbs chapter 8? Have you ever had a decision to make and someone gave you the advice you did not take? If the choice was the wrong one, you ignored the voice of wisdom. How do we know it is wise? It is the truth and will add to your life. Good decisions provide wealth, honor, and righteousness.

Jehovah created wisdom. Before the universe or the earth came to be, wise words existed. When it came about is not important. The fact that it was made by Yahweh is.

What are the simple ways that are spoken of in Proverbs 9? Would you like to know if you are wise or a mocker? Verse eight says that a mocker will hate those who rebuke them, but a wise man will love them.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  When we speak of fearing God, it is more respect than terror brought on by an evil master. We know that life is hard but living it with God will make it easier.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

As fathers, we want our children to learn from our mistakes. In Proverbs 4, King Solomon encourages his sons to follow his advice. He learned from his father and the process continues. He recounts the advantages of wisdom and understanding.

There is a way that is correct and one that is evil. Most of us want to be the type of man or woman the does right. We err sometimes without intending to. Some intentionally cause problems for others for their own gain of pleasure. Our actions grow from what is inside of us. We can ask Jehovah for wisdom to become the servants we should be or follow selfish desires that make us useless to others.

The free love movement has been around for over a century. You may think it began in the 1960s. There were proponents of sex without marriage since man was created. In Proverbs 5 young men are taught to listen to the instructions of a wise man to avoid adulterous relationships. Remember that this is the man that had 700 wives and 300 concubines. U.S. law only allows one sexual partner, husband or wife, at a time. Even these laws have been modified to the point that sexual promiscuity is no longer illegal.

As parents, we must teach our young men and women to remain faithful until they are married. read the reasons that are given here. If you do not believe Solomon and I, ask those who have lived this lifestyle of lust and now regret it.

Finances are a problem for many of us and in Proverbs 6 Solomon advises us to remove ourselves from obligations to others. Working to release ourselves from debt is what is advocated. Laziness is mentioned a lot in the book of Proverbs. The example given here is the ant. They work hard and enjoy the fruits of their labors only after the job is complete. The movie Ants depicts this concept through animation.

Next, we turn to the wicked. Are you a troublemaker? Do you plot evil? Do you stir up conflict? If so, you are in for a disaster. Seven things to avoid, a smart mouth, a lying tongue, hurting others, thinking up evil acts, running to commit those evil deeds, being a false witness, and stirring up conflict.

How bad is sexual sin, especially adultery? According to our culture, it isn’t a big deal. Share sex with anyone you want. One of the comparisons given is a man walking on hot coals. Hindu wise men pride themselves in this practice. If you can train your body to do this, then you can commit adultery, right? Wrong. Your feet aren’t what her husband will destroy.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

A proverb is a wise saying and as we begin in Proverbs 1, we see that Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel is our author or editor. The purpose of this book is to gain wisdom and insight and receive instruction in prudent behavior. We can all learn something from this book, no matter our age or intelligence level.

Many things are covered in this book and like much of the Bible, there is a lot of repetition. As we read, I will attempt to not repeat, and each day try to find some new morsels for you to digest. The first being, that the respect of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Following that is the instruction that it is foolish to despise wisdom and instruction.

Avoid those who attempt to draw you into actions that do not seem proper or fair to others. Wisdom wants us to follow in its footsteps and learn to be intelligent and caring. Following this route will lead to safety and contentment. When we are young, that often is not exciting enough for us.

What is the fear of the Lord? Proverbs chapter 2 says that wisdom will enable us to understand that it is not fearing what He will do, but respecting His abilities, power, and judgment. What is correct, just, and fair? Some call this common sense, others believe they act with fairness, while friends and family view them as cruel.

Have you made decisions in your life that you regret today? Have relationships gone bad, jobs turned out to be the wrong position for you, or have you alienated family or friends by incorrect choices? Wisdom from Jehovah can prevent these troubles.

When we are young, we often ignore the advice of parents and older friends and family. Proverbs 3 begins with King Solomon advising his son to listen to these words of wisdom that he wishes to pass along. Love and faithfulness should be our practice all our lives. Verses five and six are two to commit to memory if you do not already know them.

In this format, every group of two verses completes a central idea. Look at a few of these. Pride, wealth, and discipline are these ideas. The chapter continues with a description of what can be gained with wisdom and understanding. It concludes with another series of paired comments that illustrate how a wise individual will treat others. A fool is the opposite of a wise person.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger