Monthly Archives: November 2016

Proverbs

Proverbs 8: 13-14

Leave a comment
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
 
We learned earlier that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If this is the case then we are to hate what God hates. We know evil is not of God and we have already learned that pride is the opposite of being humble. Arrogance just goes right along with pride and has nothing to do with understanding the wisdom of God. Wisdom hates pride and self exaltation above all. Wisdom hates all the bad things we have been talking about and loves the things of the Lord. Wisdom is what brought Solomon all the benefits he had. It gave him the understanding he needed. Understanding is a side benefit of wisdom, as well wisdom is understanding. In Isaiah 11:2, we read, “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;” Again we see in this scripture just how important wisdom is.
Proverbs

Proverbs 8:10-12

Leave a comment
Proverbs 8;10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
 
Here we see just how important wisdom and knowledge are. you cannot put a price on either of them. There is not enough silver and gold in he world that can help anyone gain these two qualities but with them you can accomplish anything. Not even rubies or anything else can compare to the value of the wisdom of
God. Wisdom deals with all things to help us with knowledge to be able to accomplish any task we undertake to do. Wisdom is something we should pray for and strive to obtain every day so that we can use the knowledge we gain from it to make wise decisions. It is also very important to read God’s word to help gain this wisdom and knowledge.
Proverbs

Proverbs 8: 7-9

Leave a comment
Proverbs 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
 
We see that wisdom is nothing but truth and everything we speak should be nothing but the truth. Those that like to gossip and tell little white lies and some ever tell big black lies are not speaking from wisdom and it is an abomination to God. We should always strive to speak nothing good things because from our mouth comes blessings and curses. A preacher should always preach nothing but the true word of God and not water it down in any way but also keep it simple so anyone can understand. All of us that know what God has given to share with the world is the knowledge of truth and righteousness and that is what we should do., and not lead people astray by compromising what God’s word says.
Proverbs

Proverbs 8:4-6

Leave a comment
Proverbs 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
 
Here wisdom is calling all who listen and heed the word of God. Those that are not learned in the scriptures it is hard for them to understand the wisdom of God. Wisdom ask us to listen and we will be taught the the excellence of God and the things that we here will be the right things. You know sometimes even the smartest people who can quote scripture at random are far from having the wisdom to understand what they are quoting. Likewise they are people who are unlearned, but has faithfully sought God’s guidance, that have more wisdom and understanding than those with a doctorate degree in religion. The best way to get the wisdom and understanding God has for us is to pray for it, spend time in His word and get in good church that teaches the true word of God and where you can fellowship with other believers. Hope you are in church somewhere today.
Proverbs

Proverbs 8:1-3

Leave a comment
Proverbs 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
 
Now we have the scriptures talking of another woman except this one does not wait for the night to come out. Wisdom and understanding both are things that everyone should desire to have because God offers to everyone. The thing is that you have to desire it and pray for it. God has it ready for those who ask for it. The openness and public exposure of wisdom contrasts with the secrecy and intrigues of the wicked adulterers in chapter 7. This wisdom and knowledge is for everyone and it is waiting for those who would allow it come into their hearts and minds.
A Note from Hope

The Edge of the Porch: A Note from Hope

Leave a comment

You probably remember the ‘possums that live at our house. We only see them at night – Dad says they’re “octurnal” or something like that; I wasn’t paying attention because Scout was trying to get my ball. But anyway, they come out at night and eat cat food with our cats. Mom says that’s OK because they also like to eat fleas and roaches and other yucky bugs, so she says it’s a good swap.

I’m not sure whether I like them or not- they do look kinda like Bunny the kitten, except for that pointy nose and those beady little eyes and that naked tail. Something just isn’t right about that…

But I would like to at least get the chance to talk to one of them, at least one time. Every time we go out at night, I rush out, thinking this time I’m going to be able to talk to them, but no- they go rushing off the end of the porch before I can get their attention. So then I have to run around the house trying to catch up with them.   I try following them to the end of the porch, but every time they just jump off, so then I have to run around the house really fast 2 or 3 times. But it doesn’t do any good. Every time they disappear.

Every night when I run to the end of the porch, Mom says, “Hope be careful! You’re going to fall off!”  And each night, I think, “Nah, I can stop before the edge.”

Except for last night…. because I didn’t stop at the edge. I just sailed right off into the bushes.  Of course, I jumped up and ran off around the house- I told Mom that I meant to do that. (It only scratched me a little. I’m a big girl- it didn’t hurt.) It did actually get me a little closer to where the ‘possums are.

But I don’t think I want to do that anymore.

I think next time I’ll take the steps.

Proverbs

Proverbs 7:24-27

Leave a comment
Proverbs 7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
 
Now we get the final warning of how to handle this situation and it says to listen to warning. Those that are strong in the wisdom and knowledge of God knows what to do when faced with the temptation of sin but it does not mean they cannot be deceived. We have to be strong and turn from those things that lead us astray. It says here she has caused many to fall but sin no matter what it is has caused many good men to fall as well as those that are weak. As it stats here to remain in sin is the quickest hell. The wicked devise a plot of deception in which the innocent are captured and victimized like the one who is taken by death itself. There is however a way to not to have to suffer the consequences of sin and that is to repent and accept Jesus Christ as your savior. One other thing we should remember is what Jesus told the woman that committed adultery in John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more
Proverbs

Proverbs 7:21-23

Leave a comment
Proverbs 7 : 21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
 
We now see the conquered young man give in because of convincing speech from flattering lips of the woman. But still it says she forced him so he might have still been a little hesitant. Then verse 22 tells us that he dives in with no thought for consequences that lay in store. It makes reference to fact that it is like a cow going to slaughter not knowing he is fixing to die or a criminal not realizing if he he caught he will be put in stocks. The liver is an organ that helps sustain life and just like damage to the liver can cause death and like a bird caught in snare is going to die what has happened here is death to God for both of these participants. When the location, time and setting were allowed, the seduction was easy. We need to make sure we stay grounded in the wisdom and knowledge of God so we are not led astray by deception of the devil in all walks of our life.
Proverbs

Proverbs 7:16-20

Leave a comment
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
 
Now the story continues with her describing the bed to show that there is wealth in this house because of the fine linen and the spices for an awesome aroma. This woman had planned this night before she ever knew who would be coming down the street. This is a lifestyle for her, she was planning ahead of time to sin.This is why we need the wisdom and knowledge of God to know how to resist the the temptations of the world. We have already seen how bold she is by kissing him and now she outright ask spend the night with her. She puts the final nail in coffin when she assures him they have nothing to worry about because her husband has left with a large amount of money and will not be back for several days at an appointed time. May I say this is just how Satan does us, paints the prettiest picture and assures us no one will ever know when we accept the sin he has placed in front of us. No one may know, but God will. Next the conclusion of this saga.
Proverbs

Proverbs 7:11-15

Leave a comment
Proverbs 7:11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
 
Here we begin to see how the lady of the night begins to lure the young man, she actually goes out of her house into the street and is very loud in letting the young man know she is there. She will go wherever she needs to get his attention. As she catches him she is very forward and kisses him and right off the bat starts to talk to him to lure him in to lair. She makes it seem that she is a religious woman by telling him she has a peace offing,which was the meat left over from a sacrifice from temple when she prayed that day. This has to be consumed on the same so she entices him to come in and join her for a meal. She tells him he was just who she was looking for and she found him. Such hypocrisy is concerned about the ceremonial law while aggressively seducing someone to violate God’s moral law. We will see in the next verses how she continues to lure this young foolish man.