Tag Archives: Proverbs

Proverbs 27, John 9-10

— by on

“Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit”.  This natural process reflects a spiritual process.  It takes time and effort to maintain a tree and subsequently enjoy the result.  Similarly, our spiritual fruit requires time and effort to maintain and grow. “As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” Our internal spiritual development is seen in the way we act.

Jesus could describe himself as the good shepherd, because his actions reflected that idea.  Just as a good shepherd is willing to put the safety of the sheep above his own life, so Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself in order to protect the sheep that he led. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

As sheep, we must be familiar with the voice of safety, “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father… there will be one flock, one shepherd”. It is up to us to be familiar with the voice of the true shepherd, to follow him, to find safety and rest and eternal salvation.  Jesus says “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Maintaining our relationship to the good shepherd is like tending a fig tree, requiring a frequent and continual commitment.

Proverbs 11

— by on

Solomon continues his snippets of advice in Proverbs 11. “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” This has allusions to Psalm 1, that tree planted by the river of water, flourishing with its influence from God’s word. Solomon continues that theme a few verses later, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life”.

Proverbs 11 also contrasts the righteous with the wicked. Being righteous starts by following an example, since “Where there is no guidance, a people falls”. It affects all aspects of one’s life, starting with one’s attitude, “with the humble is wisdom”, and continuing to the way we treat our neighbours, “With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbour, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered… A man who is kind benefits himself”, focus in life, “The desire of the righteous ends only in good”, and daily habits, “Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor”.  All of these ideas are picked up in the NT, and apply to our lives today as we follow the example of Jesus.

Proverbs 7, Luke 21

— by on

Proverbs 7 provides the last of 4 warnings about the dangers of being unfaithful to Wisdom, in vivid and graphic detail, designed to help avoid the unfaithfulness of sin. Solomon precedes the warning by saying “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; write them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Solomon’s advice was a treasured possession for his son, designed to occupy his heart and focus. We’re familiar with the idea of a treasured possession, that feeling we have when we finally get something we’ve been eagerly waiting for; we’re so careful with it when we finally get it, whether a new phone or a long-anticipated pet or a fresh bag of coffee beans. God’s word should be treasured and nurtured like that.

Jesus tells his disciples, “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”. Like Solomon, Jesus’ words provided advice to all generations, regardless of political climate. It’s important for us to treasure these words in our heart, allow them to affect us and guide us.

Proverbs 5, Luke 19

— by on

Solomon writes, “My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.” Wisdom is not some passive thing that can be gained once then forgotten. It requires constant attention and maintenance, active participation. 

Solomon warns about the “forbidden woman”, attractive to those who have stopped listening to wisdom. “Keep your way far from her… For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.” Sin is so attractive,  deceitful and dangerous, Solomon advises to avoid it, to keep away from situations that will lead to sin.

The Pharisees took this idea to extremes, attempting to avoid sin by avoiding sinners. But as Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” At various stages of life we are all lost, having wandered too far down that path leading away from God. Fortunately, Jesus was sent to save people just like us.

Proverbs 10

— by on

In Proverbs 10, Solomon lists a variety of proverbs with little connecting thought flow. A number of these proverbs contrast the righteous and wicked, both in terms of actions and end result. The righteous are delivered from death, receive blessings, rewarded with a wage that “leads to life”, fear God, have a joyful hope, will never be removed from the promised land, their words bring forth wisdom, they know what is acceptable.

Similar ideas are expressed of the wise, when compared with the foolish. A wise son makes a glad father, the heart of the wise receive commandments, they collect knowledge, take pleasure in understanding.

These varied proverbs all have one thing in common. They remind us that God cares about the way we act, and that our eternal salvation is dependent upon a certain way of life. We need to follow “the way of the Lord”, knowing that it is a stronghold that we can rely upon.

Proverbs 6

— by on

Solomon provides practical advice for us in Proverbs 6. The ant works diligently, apparently without any oversight, yet working in harmony with other ants to provide for the whole colony. This is similar to the body of Christ, where we individually work together for the benefit of the whole body, without apparent supervision.

Solomon also warns about unfaithfulness using the analogy of adultery. In order to preserve ourselves from the “smooth tongue” of sin, our Father’s commandment and teaching needs to be constantly before us.  “When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you”. This is similar language to David’s psalms that describe his love of God’s word and constant meditation, and provides us with insight as to how vital our relationship with God is, both through prayer and meditation on His word.

 

Luke 17, Proverbs 3

— by on

The cleansing of the ten lepers presents us with an insight into the behaviour God expects from us. While all ten demonstrate faith, and are healed because of their faith, only one is thankful.  The Samaritan praised God with a loud voice, returned to Jesus, and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving thanks. He is commended for his actions, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well”.

God has extended to us an offer of salvation, which requires us to live a particular lifestyle. But there is more to our relationship than a response to God’s actions.  Unlike the unworthy servant who merely did his duty, true servants of God develop a deeper relationship resulting in genuine love and thankfulness expressed.

Rather than being preoccupied with eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building, we are advised instead to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”.

Proverbs 2

— by on

Solomon describes true wisdom as the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. True wisdom comes from God, “from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding”. It must be searched for like people search for silver or hidden treasure.  True wisdom helps us to “understand righteousness and justice and equity”, and protects us from the way of evil.

True wisdom requires time and effort to develop, but it is more than intellectual knowledge. It’s something that affects our thoughts and actions, helps us avoid temptation and guides us to “walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous”.  It offers hope of an inheritance.  It’s up to us to spend the time developing this wisdom, to make the choice between two masters and serve God.

Proverbs 28, John 11

— by on

Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” A difficult thing to hear when your brother has just died, but Jesus was using this tragedy to demonstrate the amazing hope that he offered, despite the personal grief that it caused.

We don’t know whether we’ll still be alive by the time Jesus returns, but we do know that if we believe Jesus words, if we reflect Jesus’ values in our life, then we can have eternal life.  Or as Proverbs records, “whoever walks in integrity will be delivered.”

 

Proverbs 27, John 9-10

— by on

“Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit”.  This natural process reflects a spiritual process.  It takes time and effort to maintain a tree and subsequently enjoy the result.  Similarly, our spiritual productiveness requires time and effort to maintain and grow.

Jesus could describe himself as the good shepherd, because his actions reflected that idea.  Just as a good shepherd is willing to put the safety of the sheep above his own life, so Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself in order to protect the sheep that he led.

It is up to us to be familiar with the voice of the true shepherd, to follow him, for Jesus will give such people eternal life.  Maintaining that relationship between sheep and shepherd is like tending a fig tree, it requires a frequent and continual commitment.