Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Reflections on Proverbs 20

 Proverbs 20 (Contemporary English Version)
  1. It isn't smart to get drunk! Drinking makes a fool of you and leads to fights.
  2. An angry ruler is like a roaring lion-- make either one angry, and you are dead.
  3. It makes you look good when you avoid a fight-- only fools love to quarrel.
  4. If you are too lazy to plow, don't expect a harvest.
  5. Someone's thoughts may be as deep as the ocean, but if you are smart, you will discover them.
  6. There are many who say, "You can trust me!" But can they be trusted?
  7. Good people live right, and God blesses the children who follow their example.
  8. When rulers decide cases, they weigh the evidence.
  9. Can any of us really say, "My thoughts are pure, and my sins are gone"?
  10. Two things the LORD hates are dishonest scales and dishonest measures.
  11. The good or bad that children do shows what they are like.
  12. Hearing and seeing are gifts from the LORD.
  13. If you sleep all the time, you will starve; if you get up and work, you will have enough food.
  14. Everyone likes to brag about getting a bargain.
  15. Sensible words are better than gold or jewels.
  16. You deserve to lose your coat if you loan it to someone to guarantee payment for the debt of a stranger.
  17. The food you get by cheating may taste delicious, but it turns to gravel.
  18. Be sure you have sound advice before making plans or starting a war.
  19. Stay away from gossips-- they tell everything.
  20. Children who curse their parents will go to the land of darkness long before their time.
  21. Getting rich quick may turn out to be a curse.
  22. Don't try to get even. Trust the LORD, and he will help you.
  23. The LORD hates dishonest scales and dishonest weights. So don't cheat!
  24. How can we know what will happen to us when the LORD alone decides?
  25. Don't fall into the trap of making promises to God before you think!
  26. A wise ruler severely punishes every criminal.
  27. Our inner thoughts are a lamp from the LORD, and they search our hearts.
  28. Rulers are protected by God's mercy and loyalty, but they must be merciful for their kingdoms to last.
  29. Young people take pride in their strength, but the gray hairs of wisdom are even more beautiful.
  30. A severe beating can knock all of the evil out of you!

Integrity - "One who lives with integrity is righteous," says Solomon. "His children who come after him will be happy." (20:7) What is integrity? Solomon has defined it as being righteous. It entails one's whole moral character. What more does Solomon have to say about integrity? The person with integrity does not make boast about his integrity saying things like, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin." No one can make such a claim and the person of integrity refrains from it. A person of integrity seeks counsel for his plans. He would not finalize plans without counsel. A further wisdom in seeking counsel is the need to help a person understand what lies deep within themselves. A person of discernment can help him bring his inner thoughts and motives to the surface. A further word regarding a person of integrity is that he avoids conflict, finding it honorable to resolve a dispute before it escalates. Solomon says, "any fool can get himself into a quarrel." (20:3) The fool often thinks it honorable to quarrel in defense of his pride. But a fool's pride is easily bruised frequently drawing him into quarrels.

The Lord's Hand - Solomon also addresses the wisdom of regarding the Lord's hand in whatever we encounter. For example, he says, "Don't say, "I will avenge this evil!" Wait on the LORD, and He will rescue you." (20:22) Waiting on the Lord may stretch our patience seemingly beyond its capacity, but that, too, will be good for us. Allowing the Lord to avenge any evil we suffer will not only provide the best solution but will avoid compounding the circumstances.

It is further wisdom to recognize the Lord's hand in the carrying out of one's plans. To make and execute plans without considering the Lord's guidance is folly, for it is the Lord who determines a man's steps, not man himself. Even the best-laid plans can be derailed through unforeseen circumstances. Only God knows what lies ahead and we do well to seek His guidance and counsel. Sometimes it is we who derail our own plans, failing to understand or anticipate our own motives and the obstacles they may throw up to block our plans. It is the Lord who searches our "innermost parts" and knows what lies within, and it is the Lord to whom we should go to allow His light to shine on our thoughts and motives.

Ill-gotten Gain - Solomon also addresses ill-gotten gain. He touches on it from various angles, mentioning practices that may seem normal and acceptable but under scrutiny are actually dishonest. One he mentions is a common practice in bartering. The buyer claims an article being sold to be worthless in an effort to get the price down, even though he knows the article to be of some value. If he succeeds in getting the item at a lower price, he then gloats at the expense of the seller who who he took advantage of. Is it truly honest to pay less when one knows the value to be more? Is it not stealing just because the seller agreed to the terms, but was not aware of its full value? Solomon suggests this is ill-gotten gain.

More obvious in its dishonesty is the use of differing weights and measures when measuring out the quantity of an item being sold. Selling a pound of something when using a scales that is not accurate and therefore giving the buyer less than a pound is "detestable to the Lord," Solomon says. He also says that food gained by fraud will leave a bad taste in one's mouth and that an inheritance gained prematurely, "will not be blessed ultimately." Seeking an inheritance prematurely suggests trying to get it before the parent is dead. Doing so values the inheritance more than the parent. Such covetousness also suggests the inheritance will not be used wisely and, like the prodigal son, it will be wasted, further devaluing the parent who worked to provide it.

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