Archives for July 2019

OVERVIEW: 

The judgment of Babylon; the judgment of Assyria; the judgment of Philistia; the judgment of Moab; the judgment of Damascus; the judgment of Ethiopia.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we move into chapter 13 today, we find ourselves in the midst of a transition. Whereas chapters 1–12 dealt with judgments specifically related to Judah and Jerusalem, chapters 13–23 broaden the prophecies of judgment to include the Gentile nations.

Because Babylon was the nation that destroyed Jerusalem and took the people of Judah captive in 586 B.C., it is no coincidence that Babylon is at the top of God’s list of the Gentile nations to receive the execution of His judgment! In 13:1–5, God prophesies concerning those who would actually wield His judgment, saying, “They come from a far country…” In an historical sense, those “from a far country” were the people of Persia, whose nation was positioned approximately 350 miles east of Babylon. In a prophetic sense, those who will “come from a far country” to execute judgment will be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ and the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:11–16) and will take place on this planet, “in that day”; in “the day of the Lord”! (13:6, 9, 13)

Once God has executed His judgment “in that day”, Isaiah says to the nation of Israel in 14:3, “And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.” Obviously, this is a reference to the peace and rest Israel will experience during the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. You just have to love the way God describes what it will be like when His kingdom has finally been established in 14:7: “The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” Hallelujah! What a day that is going to be! May we all say with the Apostle John, “…Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  (Revelation 22:20)

Just as in Ezekiel 28:11–17, where the Lord was not just speaking to the king of Tyrus, but was also speaking to the power that was working in and through him (none other than Eden’s first “king”, Lucifer himself!), Isaiah 14:8–23 does the same basic thing. The passage has application to the king of Babylon, but is obviously also referring to the satanic power working behind and through that earthly king, and provides us with vital information concerning Lucifer’s fall. Notice in 14:13–14, Lucifer’s infamous five “I wills”:

• “I will ascend into heaven.” 
• “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.”  
• “I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”  
• “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.”  
• “I will be like the most High.”

Each of these blasphemous declarations are tremendously significant and teach us many things about the location of heaven, and the position Lucifer once held. Notice that the presence of our Lord in heaven is way far out in a “northerly” direction (check out Psalms 75:6 and 48:2; Job 26:7 and 37:22), far “above the heights of the clouds”, and “above the stars of God”. Notice also that Lucifer had a “throne”(!!!) and, comparing Isaiah 14:14 with Ezekiel 28:13, that throne just happened to be in “Eden, the garden of God”! Hmmmm. 

Of significant importance is Lucifer’s fifth “I will,” because it foreshadows for us what has been Satan’s mode of operation all through the annals of human history. He is, first and foremost, a “deceiver!” Revelation 12:9 even identifies him as the one “which deceiveth the whole world”! Listen to that! He “deceiveth the whole world”! Satan has been successful in his evil campaign, not by presenting himself as Satan so he can turn the world into a bunch of Satan worshippers, or try to get all the inhabitants of the earth to hate God or to set themselves against God. No, what he seeks to do is COUNTERFEIT God by actually POSING to BE GOD, and, through RELIGION, deceive people into thinking that they are actually following God, loving God, and obeying God! We must be very discerning especially in these last days! (1^st Timothy 4:1; 1^st John 2:18) Don’t ever lose sight of the fact that Satan has always been impassioned to “be LIKE the most High”!

This may sound a little “back-woodsy” to some, but if I had a Bible that didn’t identify “Lucifer” in Isaiah 14:12, I’d get one that did! Satan has done a masterful job of writing himself right out of almost every church history book on the market, and in the past several decades, he’s also written himself out of almost every Bible on the market! Some Bibles refer to him in Isaiah 14:12, not as “Lucifer, son of the morning,” but as the “Morning Star”. Some actually even have cross references in the margin pointing people to 2^nd Peter 1:26, and then to Revelation 22:16, where the “Morning Star” is specifically identified as our very Lord Jesus Christ Himself!!! Again, I say, we must be very discerning, and fully acquainted with how the Bible says Satan operates!

Obviously, in the context, Isaiah 14:27 is talking about what God purposed concerning Babylon and Israel. Devotionally, however, it is a tremendous verse that also applies to anything and everything God has promised that is in accordance with His purposes for us as New Testament believers: “For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” 

In chapters 15 and 16, Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Moab. Though it definitely had an application for what would be happening in the near future in Isaiah’s day, don’t miss the fact that it also has application for what would be happening in the far distant future! Isaiah 16:5 refers to the time when Moab will seek refuge in Judah (16:3–4), and the rescue will come from the Lord Jesus Christ as He rises to his throne at His Second Coming, “judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” (Compare Isaiah 16:5 with 9:7; 11:4; 28:6; 32:16; 33:5; 42:1,3–4; 51:5). Recognize, also, that though the prophetic application of this verse was in “the far DISTANT FUTURE” for Isaiah and those living in HIS time, its fulfillment will, no doubt, be “in the NEAR FUTURE” for those living in THIS time!

Chapters 17 and 18 prophesy the destruction of both Damascus and Ethiopia, and yet, is filled with verbal “icons”, as it were, that point to the time of Christ’s Second Coming at the end of the Tribulation Period, and the beginning of His Millennial reign. (17:4, 7, 9, 11; 18:4)

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 13:6 – “the day of the Lord” 
• 13:9 – “the day of the Lord” 
• 13:13 – “in the day” 
• 14:3 – “in the day” 
• 17:4 – “in that day” 
• 17:7 – “at that day” 
• 17:9 – “in that day” 
• 17:11 – “in the day” 
• 18:4 – “I will take my rest”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ONE WHO WILL SIT ON THE THRONE OF DAVID — Isaiah 16:5 (Luke 1:32–33) 

OVERVIEW:

Isaiah’s message for King Ahaz; Christ’s birth and Kingdom foretold; Assyria to be broken; the promise of Israel’s restoration; Christ, the Branch.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The chapters in today’s reading (Isaiah 7–12) are sometimes referred to as “The Book of Immanuel” because of their clear prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep in mind, as we continue through this book, that Isaiah prophesied during the time period that is chronicled in 2^nd Kings 16–25, during the reigns of King Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

Also keep in mind that the nation of Israel became divided after the death of Solomon with the 10 northern tribes being referred to as Israel, and the two southern tribes being referred to as Judah. The capital city of Israel was Samaria, and the capital city of Judah was Jerusalem. Though Isaiah’s ministry was centered in Jerusalem, his messages influenced both the northern and the southern kingdoms.

As we pick up in chapter 7 today, understand that because of Assyria’s menacing power, the surrounding nations wanted to form a coalition to stand against her. King Ahaz of Judah, however, refused to join the confederacy, so Syria and Israel actually joined forces to attack Judah to try to force her to cooperate with them. (7:1-2) From 2^nd Kings 16:1– 9, we know that, rather than trusting the Lord to help, Ahaz was secretly negotiating with Assyria to protect to him. While Ahaz was inspecting the safety of the water supply, God sent Isaiah and his son, Shearjashub (meaning “the remnant shall return”), to give the king a message of confidence and hope. They tell him not to fear, because Israel and Syria would both be “broken” within 65 years. In the fulfillment of the prophecy, Assyria defeated Syria (Damascus) in 732 B.C., and defeated Israel in 721 B.C.

In 7:10–16, God wanted Ahaz to ask for a sign to confirm the prophecy, but Ahaz piously refused. The Lord then determined to give a sign to the entire “house of David.” (7:13) The sign is delineated in 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” As with many of the prophecies in the Old Testament, there is actually a “double fulfillment” included in this sign. In other words, to affirm and confirm that the prophecy would be fulfilled in the future, God would often allow there to be a partial fulfillment of the prophecy in more of the immediate present. That seems to be the case in the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. This is an obvious reference to virgin birth of Jesus Christ, who was conceived of the Holy Ghost in Mary’s womb, Mary having never known a man. (Luke 1:31–35) The more immediate partial fulfillment of the prophecy, however, was that a child was to be born to Isaiah’s wife, as detailed in Isaiah 8:1–8. Apparently, Isaiah’s first wife, the mother of Shearjashub had died, and Isaiah had taken a new wife shortly after giving this prophecy, and the virgin he took to wife gave birth to a child by the name of Mahershalalhashbaz (meaning, “speed to the spoil, haste to the prey”) within the next year.

From 7:17 through 10:34, Isaiah is preaching to apostate Israel, warning the northern kingdom that Assyria would come upon them and completely annihilate them. It was at this very juncture that Mahershalalhashbaz was born; his very name pointing to the soon destruction of Samaria and Syria. (8:4)

In chapter 9:1–7, Isaiah gives a second prophecy concerning the coming Messiah. (Compare this prophecy with Matthew 4:13–16.) In 9:8 through 10:34, Isaiah continues to warn Israel of her impending ruin. At the same time, he warns Assyria not to become proud of her victories, recognizing that she would simply be a tool in the hand of God, and that she, too, would soon be defeated. Note also in this section, that Assyria is a type of the antichrist (“The Assyrian” – 14:25; 19:23; 30:31; 31:8; 52:4; Ezekiel 31:3; Hosea 5:13; 11:5; Micah 5:5–6) who will gather the nations of the world together in battle against Israel at Armageddon at the end of the Great Tribulation!

In chapters 11 and 12, Isaiah prophesies that Israel and Judah will unite in the Kingdom.

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”: 

• 7:18 – “in that day”
• 7:21 – “in that day”
• 7:23 – “in that day”
• 9:7 – “and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it”
• 9:14 – “in one day”
• 10:3 – “in the day of visitation”
• 10:17 – “in one day”
• 10:20 – “in that day”
• 10:27 – “in that day”
• 10:32 – “that day”
• 11:10 – “in that day”
• 11:11 – “in that day”
• 11:16 – “in the day”
• 12:1 – “in that day”
• 12:4 – “in that day”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• In the SON WHO IS BORN OF VIRGIN, CALLED IMMANUEL — Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:26-35)
• In the CHILD UPON WHOM THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER — Isaiah 9:6 (Revelation 11:15)

OVERVIEW:

Israel’s backslidden condition; Isaiah’s exhortation for repentance; the coming of Christ’s kingdom; Jerusalem’s glorious future; God’s judgment upon sinners; Isaiah’s vision of God’s holiness.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

The book of Isaiah is one of the most intriguing books of the entire Bible. There are either some very strange “coincidences” found in this book, or there are some very incredible things God reveals to us through it!

Is it mere coincidence that the Bible is comprised of 66 books and that the book of Isaiah is comprised of 66 chapters?

Is it mere coincidence that Isaiah chapter 1 begins, as does the book of Genesis, talking about the “heaven” and the “earth”? (Genesis 1:1 c.f. Isaiah 1:2)

Is it mere coincidence that chapter 40 of Isaiah, corresponding to the 40^th book of the Bible (or the first book of the New Testament), talks about, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God,” just as does the Gospel of Matthew?  (Isaiah 40:3 c.f. Matthew 3:1–3)

Is it mere coincidence that Isaiah chapter 66, corresponding, of course, to the last book of the Bible (the book of Revelation) talks about the “new heaven and the new earth,” just as does Revelation 21? (Isaiah 66:22 c.f. Revelation 21:17)

Is it mere coincidence that the first 39 chapters of Isaiah (i.e. representative of the Old Testament) is so distinctly different in content from the last 27 chapters (i.e. representative of the New Testament) that many have insisted that there are actually two “Isaiah’s” that authored this book? The first 39 chapters, coincidently enough, point to man’s tremendous need for salvation and the last 27 chapters point to God’s gracious provision of it!

Wow! Obviously, we’re not dealing here with mere “coincidences”! The book of Isaiah is actually a microcosm of the Bible. If you are unfamiliar with the term “microcosm”, it simply means “a miniature” or “a small and yet perfect representation of the whole”. Because New York City has residents from literally every nation on earth, we could say that it is a “microcosm” of the world. Because the capstone of a pyramid is simply a miniature of the entire pyramid, we could say that the capstone is a “microcosm” of the pyramid itself. So, the book of Isaiah is a perfect, miniature representation, or microcosm, of the entire Bible!

Note also that the book of Isaiah begins the books of the Bible referred to as “the Prophets.” (Luke 24:27, 44) Of course, “the Prophets” are divided into two main categories or headings: Major Prophets, and Minor Prophets. What determines the distinction between their being “Major” or “Minor” is not the significance of their content, but very simply the amount (or length) of their content. The books comprising the Major Prophets are simply longer than the books comprising the Minor Prophets.

The theme of Isaiah is the same as in all of the Prophetic Books: it is “the day of the Lord” or the second coming of Christ. Regardless of the situations that Israel was facing; regardless of the sins that Israel was committing; regardless of the subject of which the prophet was preaching, the theme in the Prophetic Books is always the same! It always ends with and/or is pointing to “the day of the Lord”!

Note also that the time of Isaiah’s prophecy is approximately 814 to 769 B.C., and takes place during the last half of the book of 2^nd Kings, chapters 16 through 25. Primarily, Isaiah writes to the two southern tribes.

Israel’s spiritual condition in chapter 1 is a familiar one in Israel’s history. Once again, they have allowed themselves to spiral downward into apostasy. Note that Isaiah actually uses seven different terms or phrases in verse 4 to describe their backslidden state:

1. “sinful”
2. “laden with iniquity”
3. “evildoers”
4. “corrupters”
5. “forsaken the Lord”
6. “provoked the Holy One”
7. “gone away backward”

The pitiful thing about it, however, is that though these terms were accurately descriptive of Israel’s true spiritual condition, it did not stop the people from going through the motions of all kinds of activity that made them think they were doing okay spiritually! Despite God’s graphic commentary of their pathetic spiritual condition, they continued all of their religious observances: the feasts, the sacrifices, the new moons, and the sabbaths long after they had any meaning in their hearts or bearing on their lives. If I may paraphrase, God says to Israel through Isaiah in 1:10–15: “I’m sick of all of your religiousness! Don’t bring me any more of your vain oblations! I can’t stand it! You’re wearing me out will all of this stuff you’re doing! I’m going to close my eyes so I don’t even have to see any more of your hypocrisies! When you lift up your hands in prayer, all I see is all of the sinful things you’ve been doing with them! Spare Me!”

It is quite interesting to observe how much this particular passage, in Isaiah 1, mirrors the letter our Lord Jesus Christ wrote to the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:14–22, describing the spiritual condition of His church in our day. God’s people come to church in the Laodicean Church Period, looking the part, faithfully participating in the offering, standing and singing the songs, taking copious notes, nodding our heads in all of the right places, saying “amen” in all the right places, and yet, our hearts are not in it! Somehow, all of the things we do on Sundays, have little, if any, bearing on what will take place in our lives Monday through Saturday!

God’s answer in Isaiah’s day, just as it is now, is “Get your heart right! Then, get your heart into it!” God says in verses 16–20 of Chapter 1: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” The key parallel passage in the New Testament is, no doubt, 2^nd Corinthians 6:14–7:1.

Notice a key phrase in Isaiah 1:19. God says, “If ye be willing AND obedient…” Perhaps the key word in this phrase is the word “AND”. Laodicean churches are filled with many “WILLING” people. They’re WILLING to serve in a children’s class; they’re WILLING to be involved in the upkeep of the facilities; they’re WILLING to offer the Lord a gift of love upon the first day of the week; they’re WILLING to do any number of things! The only problem is they just seldom ever “DO” any of these things! WILLING? Yes! OBEDIENT? No!

On the other hand, Laodicea is filled with “OBEDIENT” people. They would never think about not obeying Hebrews 10:25 by missing a service; they would never not obey 1^st Corinthians 16:2 by not participating in the offering; they would never miss taking notes during the message on Sunday morning; they would never not “DO” a lot of things! The only problem is, their OBEDIENCE is strictly a matter of DUTY! It is ritualistic, legalistic, hypocritical, and the result of self-disciplining and suppressing their real desires, and “cranking out” spiritual-looking activity rather than the joyous, passionate, heart-felt, Spirit-led response of a “WILLING” heart. Oh, may we surrender ourselves to be both “WILLING AND OBEDIENT”!

As we start down the path of “the prophets” in today’s reading, may I suggest that you underline in your Bible every specific reference to “the day of the Lord” (the Tribulation/Second Coming of Christ/the Millennium). I’ll list the ones I see each day, but it’ll be a whole lot more engaging and valuable if you underline them as you find them yourself, first. By doing this, you’ll understand in a whole new way why the first day of our 365 Days of Pursuit began by emphasizing that “the day of the Lord” is the theme of the Bible!

SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO “THE DAY OF THE LORD”:  

• 2:2 – “And it shall come to pass in the last days”
• 2:11 – “in that day”
• 2:12 – “For the day of the Lord”
• 2:17 – “in that day”
• 2:19 – “when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth”
• 2:20 – “in that day”
• 2:21 – “when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth”
• 3:7 – “in that day”
• 3:18 – “in that day”
• 4:1 – “in that day”
• 4:2 – “in that day”
• 5:30 – “in that day”

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ONE WHO WILL JUDGE THE NATIONS — Isaiah 2:2–4 (The Lord Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing — 2^nd Timothy 4:1)
• As the BRANCH OF THE LORD, BEAUTIFUL AND GLORIOUS — Isaiah 4:2 (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Isaiah 11:1)

OVERVIEW:

The song of all songs that describes the love between a man and a woman.

• SCENE 1: In the King’s Palace. (1:1–2:5)
• SCENE 2: In the Young Maiden’s Bedroom. (2:6–3:5)
• SCENE 3: The King’s Entrance. (3:6–11)
• SCENE 4: In the Young Maiden’s Bedroom. (4:1–5:1)
• SCENE 5: In the Presence of the King. (5:2–7:13)
• SCENE 6: In the Beloved Shepherd’s Town. (8:1–14)

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we make our way through the Song of Solomon today, note first in 1:1, that Solomon refers to this book as the “song of songs”. The construction of this phrase is how God often chooses to identify something or someone in His word that is supreme, the highest, and/or the best as in, the “holy of holies”, the “King of kings”, the “Lord of lords”, and in this case, the “song of songs”. Though Solomon had composed a total of 1005 songs (1^st Kings 4:32), it is apparent by Solomon’s introduction in 1:1, that he regarded this one as the greatest of them all. And no wonder! By virtue of the fact that this song is included in the canon of scripture, we know that it was actually written under divine inspiration! This song was dramatically different than the other 1004 songs Solomon wrote, in that he wrote these words as he was “moved by the Holy Ghost”. (2^nd Peter 1:21)

This “song” is actually a love story that involves three main characters. The first character is a beautiful young maiden (the “fairest among women” — 1:8; 5:9; 6:1) who appears to come from an oppressive family. (1:5–6) The second character is the man of her dreams, a simple shepherd (1:7), yet, he is the maiden’s “beloved”, who has stolen her heart. (1:13–14) The third character is none other than the wealthy and mighty king Solomon, who is renowned for his obsession for beautiful women and for getting whomever he wished! (1^st Kings 11:3)

The storyline of the song is somewhat difficult to follow in its written form, because it is often hard to distinguish which of the three characters in the story is actually speaking. Were the trio of characters actually singing this song, it would be obvious.

The essence of the story (song) is basically this: on one of Solomon’s journeys, he meets a beautiful young lady, and is so smitten by her that he exercises his self-invented “kingly privilege” in taking her to his palace. The young maiden, however, is not impressed with his wealth nor his words, and has no interest whatsoever in having a relationship with the king. She is already madly in love with a young shepherd from “back home”. Though the “daughters of Jerusalem” (which is a nice way of referring to the women in Solomon’s harem — 2:7; 3:5; 8:4) try to persuade her to turn her affection toward Solomon, she can only think of her true love, and desires only to be with him. On several occasions, Solomon seeks to win her affection but to no avail. She is passionate only for her “beloved”. Finally, Solomon sees that it is futile, and frees her to return to her family and the man of her dreams.

In navigating through the book, seeing it as a musical/drama with the following six “scenes” and distinguishing the following “singers/actors” may prove extremely beneficial.

SCENE 1 — In the King’s Palace

• 1:1 – The Title of the Song (Musical)
• 1:2–1:4a – The Young Maiden (her part ends with the word “chambers.”)
• 1:4b – (chorus)
• 1:5–7 – The Young Maiden
• 1:8 – (chorus)
• 1:9–10 – The King
• 1:11 – (chorus)
• 1:12–14 – The Young Maiden
• 1:15 – The King
• 1:16–2:1 –The Young Maiden
• 2:2 – The King
• 2:3–5 – The Young Maiden

SCENE 2 — In the Young Maiden’s Bedroom

• 2:6–3:5 – The Young Maiden

SCENE 3 – The King’s Entrance

• 3:6–11 – (Chorus)

SCENE 4 — In the Young Maiden’s Bedroom

• 4:1–5 – The King
• 4:6 –The Young Maiden
• 4:7–15 – The Beloved Shepherd
• 4:16 – The Young Maiden
• 5:1 – The Beloved Shepherd

SCENE 5 — In the Presence of the King

• 5:2–8 – The Young Maiden
• 5:9 – (Chorus)
• 5:10–16 – The Young Maiden
• 6:1 – (Chorus)
• 6:2–3 – The Young Maiden
• 6:4–9 – The King
• 6:10 – (Chorus)
• 6:11–12 – The King
• 6:13a – (Chorus – ends with “upon thee.”)
• 6:13b – The Young Maiden
• 7:1–5 – (Chorus)
• 7:6–9a – The King
• 7:9b–13 – The Young Maiden

SCENE 6 — In the Beloved Shepherd’s Town

• 8:1–4 – The Young Maiden
• 8:5a – (Chorus – ends with “beloved”)
• 8:5b – 8:7 – The Beloved Shepherd
• 8:8 – 9 – (Chorus)
• 8:10 – 12 – The Young Maiden
• 8:13 – The Beloved Shepherd
• 8:14 – The Young Maiden

In this story, Solomon is a picture or type of the world who tries anything and everything to lure the young maiden (“bride-to-be” — 2^nd Corinthians 11:2) away from the “beloved Shepherd”. As believers, we are the bride of Christ, and like the young maiden, our affection for our “Beloved” should be so all-encompassing that we would never allow anything in this world to come between us! We are commanded by God to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) just as we are commanded not to love the world, or even be its friend! (James 4:4; 1^st John 2:15) May we remember, daily, the faithfulness and love our beloved Saviour/Shepherd has shown, and shows us, and return that same kind of faithfulness and love to Him!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE SHEPHERD — Song of Solomon 1:7 (Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls — 1^st Peter 2:25)
• As THE BELOVED — Song of Solomon 1:14; 2:8; 8:5 (Matthew 3:17; 12:18)

OVERVIEW:

The vanity of wisdom apart from God (chapter 7); the vanity of hoping in government (chapter 8); the vanity of life’s unfairness (chapter 9); the vanity of foolish living (chapter 10); the vanity of selfish living (chapter 11); the vanity of forgetting God (chapter 12); Solomon’s conclusion of the whole matter.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we make our way into Ecclesiastes 7 in today’s reading, perhaps we should note that we are entering into the 666^th chapter in the Bible. If you are not familiar with the number 6-6-6, it is the number of that “man” that Revelation 13:18 refers to as the “beast”; the “man” that 2^nd Thessalonians 2:8 refers to as “that Wicked”; and 1^st John 2 refers to as the “antichrist”. Coincidentally enough, note that this 666^th chapter just happens to inform us that “…there is a WICKED MAN that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.” (Ecclesiastes 7:15) Additionally, coincidentally enough, Revelation 13 just happens to inform us that “that Wicked” man, the “beast” or “antichrist”, is going to receive a life-ending head wound at the end of the first 3 1/2 years in the Tribulation Period, and yet, he will “prolong his life in his wickedness” as Satan literally inhabits his body, and continues his rampage for the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period, as Satan in human flesh.

Wouldn’t you know, that in this same 666^th chapter in the Bible (Ecclesiastes 7), not only do we “just happen” to find the “WICKED MAN” but we also “just happen” to find his female counterpart from the book of Proverbs, the “STRANGE WOMAN”! She is the “woman” that Revelation 17 says is riding on the back of the “BEAST” or, “that WICKED MAN”! In other words, she is the “harlot and fornicating religious system” that the ANTICHRIST will use to unite the world religiously during the Tribulation Period! (Revelation 17:3–6) With that in mind, check out the warning Ecclesiastes 7:26 gives concerning her: “And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.” Check it out: a perfect description of what will take place religiously on this planet during the Tribulation!

Though we are most definitely commanded by God to “incline our ears unto wisdom” (Proverbs 2:2), Solomon lets us know in 7:23 that even acquiring wisdom will not bring us fulfillment in life if it is done apart from God. While we are commanded to seek it, the fact is, real wisdom (God’s wisdom, as opposed to “the wisdom of this world” — 1^st Corinthians 1:20–21; 2:6; 3:19) is not actually the result of seeking wisdom but is a by-product of seeking God! (Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ephesians 1:17; James 1:5)

Chapter 8 deals with the vanity of hoping in government or politics to make everlasting change. If this world will ever experience real change, it will be because believers in Jesus Christ take both the “privilege” and “responsibility” of our entrustment with the gospel (1^st Thessalonians 2:4), and faithfully carry out our mission, seeing God change hearts, one soul at a time! The laws of government and/or the policies of politicians and other government leaders can only change behavior. Only God Himself has the power to change people’s minds and lives by changing their hearts through the new birth! No law on earth is perfect, but Psalm 19:7 declares that God’s is! No man’s judgments are altogether true and righteous, but Psalm 19:9 declares that God’s are! Our hope must be placed in God and His glorious gospel not the government!

Chapter 8 and verse 11 is worth noting on several fronts. The verse states that “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Note that the principle revealed in this verse has key applications:

1. In a NATION. This principle provides a perfect explanation as to why the death penalty in America and many other countries in the world is not an effective deterrent to crime. The average wait on death row is over 10 years! Not quite what you’d call being “executed speedily”, that’s for sure!
2. In a HOME. Another practical application of this verse has to do with the disciplining of our own children. Rather than disciplining at the point of infraction, most parents allow their child’s disobedience/wrong doing to cause them to become more and more frustrated and angry, while continuously hurling idle threats concerning consequence. Our failure to discipline “speedily” sets our children on a collision course for their hearts to become “fully set in them to do evil”.
3. In a CHURCH. A pastor/leader always needs to give extreme carefulness to make certain that he has properly assessed what appears to be some type of “evil work” being carried out by an individual, or a group of individuals in the church, lest he get the facts wrong. Acting in haste, without careful assessment, can damage people, not to mention, do significant damage to the pastor’s on-going leadership. However, once a situation has been properly and biblically assessed to be an “evil work”, it is incumbent upon the leader to deal with the situation “speedily”, lest the problem fester and spread like a cancer throughout the fellowship.

As we make our way into chapter 12, Solomon has some choice words of wisdom to impart to young people. Many times, young people get the idea that since they “have their entire lives before them,” (or so they think! — Proverbs 27:1) they can live for themselves NOW and get serious about God and His mission LATER, after they’ve done the things they want to do, after they’ve “sown their wild oats”, as it were. In chapter 12 and verse 1, Solomon is trying to let us know just how whacked that kind of thinking actually is! Solomon dogmatically states and pleads with young people to: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” Solomon is purporting in this chapter the audaciousness of offering to the holy, Creator God our “left-overs” rather than our very best! In stark contrast to presenting ourselves to the Lord as a strapping and vivacious young man or woman with unending promise, potential and possibility (12:1a), in 12:1b–7, Solomon paints a picture of us presenting ourselves for the Lord’s use at a time in life when we are so decrepit, that:

• Life, itself, is a burden. (12:1b)
• We have one health crisis after another. (12:2)
• Our hands are shaking and our knees are bowing and weak. (12:3a, b)
• Our teeth are falling out. (12:3c)
• We’re losing our sight. (12:3d)
• We’re losing our hearing. (12:4a)
• We awaken from sleep at the slightest sound. (12:4b)
• Our voice is deep and weak. (12:4c)
• We become afraid of heights, and all kinds of other minor things. (12:5a, b)
• Our hair turns white…just before turning loose! (12:5c)
• The smallest things become a hassle. (12:5d)
• The desires that used to drive us are no longer there because we’re about to die. (12:5 e, f)
• Our body, in general, is just falling apart, until it is thrown in the ground and returns to dust. (12:6–7)

Oh, may the words of Solomon that come to us by Divine inspiration arrest the very soul of every young man and young woman today: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…”

In light of all that Solomon experienced in his life “under the sun”, Solomon concludes that everything in life all comes down to this: “Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (12:13) After being born again, those two simple pieces of advice will take us far in our journey!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE POOR WISE MAN — Ecclesiastes 9:14–16 (2^nd Corinthians 8:9 tells us that Jesus Christ became poor, so that He, by His grace, might make us rich.)
• As THE CREATOR — Ecclesiastes 12:1 (John 1:1–3, 14)

OVERVIEW:

The vanity or emptiness of life under the sun (apart from God); the vanity in life’s cycles (chapter 1); the vanity in life’s pursuits (chapter 2); the vanity of time (chapter 3); the vanity of social status (chapter 4); the vanity of religion and riches (chapter 5); the vanity of a long life (chapter 6).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we pick up in our journey through the Bible in the book of Ecclesiastes today, let’s begin by talking about the title of the book. The word “Ecclesiastes” is actually from the Greek word, “ecclesia”, which means, “a called-out assembly”. In theological realms, the study of “the Church” is called, “Ecclesiology”. Interestingly enough, the human author of this book repeatedly refers to himself as “the Preacher”. (1:1, 2, 12; 7:27; 12:8, 9, 10) Now, we know by the other descriptive phrases that the author uses to refer to himself (i.e. the “son of David” and “king in Jerusalem” — 1:1; the one who had “gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem” — 1:16; and the one who had “set in order many proverbs” — 12:9), that from an historical standpoint, the author is none other than Solomon.

But how interesting it is, that here is a book in our Old Testament, written by the “son of David, king in Jerusalem”, “preaching”, as it were, to His “called out assembly”. Could it possibly be, that from a prophetic standpoint, our Lord Jesus Christ (“the Son of David, King of Jerusalem”) is actually “preaching” a message to those of us in His “church” about what is really important in life? How interesting it is, that in these last days of the Church Age, one of the key difficulties (i.e. sins!) found in Christ’s Church is the misprioritization of time we spend chasing after things we think will cause us to find meaning in life, which are invariably, the wrong things, and are, in fact, the very things for which Solomon was chasing!

To help fit Ecclesiastes into the big picture of where we find ourselves in the Bible, understand that whereas the book of Psalms reveals the HEART of GOD, and the book of Proverbs reveals the MIND of CHRIST, the Book of Ecclesiastes reveals to us the MIND of the SPIRIT. It is a book that shows the great contrast between the workings of the spirit of MAN and the Spirit of GOD.

As mentioned above, the book was written by King Solomon, the son of King David, in his old age after a life full of selfish living, worldly pursuits, and many regrets. He writes this book, under the inspiration of the Spirit, to spare us the bitterness of learning by our own experience that nothing “under the sun” (a phrase Solomon repeats 29 times in 27 verses in this book!) really satisfies the human heart apart from God. This small book in the Old Testament gives us undeniable evidence of our need for a Saviour in order to provide us a purpose for living on earth. Without Jesus Christ, and the mission for which He left us to accomplish, we also would be living empty lives without any meaning, as Solomon so eloquently describes for us in this book.

The basic theme of Ecclesiastes can actually be summed up in one verse found in Jeremiah 2:13: “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” That was precisely Solomon’s problem and continues to be the problem of many (dare we say “most”?) believers today. From this verse, we learn three things about people in general:

1. They are EMPTY (because they have no God!)
2. They are STUBBORN (because they are determined to be filled with something!)
3. They will ultimately be DISAPPOINTED (because they cannot be filled!)

Ecclesiastes is a book written about things that do not have the ability to satisfy, and yet, are the very things for which men in every generation continue to seek. (See John 4:13) Solomon lets us know that men will invariably seek:

• Human wisdom. (1:16–18)
• (2:1–3)
• (2:15)
• Hard work/labor. (2:19–21)
• (2:3)
• (2:4-6)
• (2:7)
• (2:8–9, 5:10–11)
• (2:8)

Solomon was correct in concluding that in our labor “under the sun”, “all is vanity”! It’s completely meaningless. It’s totally useless. Thankfully, Jesus came to meet our every need and to give us an eternal purpose for our lives here on earth. God says, in 1^st Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as YE KNOW THAT YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.” Hallelujah! May we spend our lives faithfully seeking our Lord Jesus Christ and passionately carrying out His mission!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE SON OF DAVID — Ecclesiastes 1:1 (Matthew 1:1— Jesus Christ is the Son of David)
• As THE KING OF JERUSALEM — Ecclesiastes 1:1 (Psalm 2:6)

OVERVIEW:

More warnings and instructions; the words of Agur; the words that Lemuel’s mother taught him.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we conclude the book of Proverbs today, please keep in mind that this is a book that merits continual and lifelong reading, study, meditation, and memorization.

Whereas the book of Psalms presents the HEART of GOD, the book of Proverbs presents the MIND of GOD, or perhaps, even more specifically, the MIND of CHRIST. (1^st Corinthians 2:16) It is the most intricate book in the entire Bible to reveal to us how God THINKS, or to reveal to us “the mind of the Lord”. (1^st Corinthians 2:16) In essence, this book reveals to us God’s viewpoint and opinion on virtually every issue of life. If, as God’s people, we would simply make God’s opinion, as it is revealed in the book of Proverbs, our opinion, and if we would simply adopt God’s viewpoint, as it is revealed in Proverbs, as our viewpoint, not only would it SIMPLIFY our lives it would REVOLUTIONIZE them!

Whereas the book of Leviticus is an intricate book detailing God’s instruction concerning the PHYSICAL aspects of ISRAEL’S life, the book of Proverbs is an intricate book detailing God’s instruction concerning the SPIRITUAL aspects of a BELIEVER’S life.  Any squabble or conflict we face in life, whether it be relational or financial, and whether it be in our home, church, workplace, or neighborhood, it can invariably be traced back to a violation of a spiritual truth God specifically revealed in the book of Proverbs. This book is actually that comprehensive, and that practical!

Proverbs 31 is infamous for its teaching on the “Virtuous Woman”. (31:10) From an historical and devotional standpoint, it is filled with significant and admirable qualities that God wants every woman to aspire to possess. But from a prophetical standpoint, however, there’s a whole lot more going on in this chapter! Much more! Though Proverbs 31 presents God’s description of the “virtuous woman” (through the counsel provided to King Lemuel from his mother — 31:1), did you know that there is only one woman in all of Scripture that is actually specifically referred to as a “virtuous woman”, and do you know who she is? It just “happens” to be Ruth! (Ruth 2:3; 3:11)

As we’ve already seen, concerning Ruth in our 365 Days of Pursuit, she is that member of a cursed race, who, in a time of famine, hears the “good news” that there was bread in the city of Bethlehem. Upon hearing this news, she leaves her father and her mother, and all that she holds dear in her homeland, to partake of this Bread. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, she goes to work in the harvest field of her one and only Jewish Kinsman Redeemer, until he called her up out of that field to be his bride. Obviously, she is the greatest picture of the church (the Gentile Bride of the Jewish Kinsman Redeemer from Bethlehem, Who is the Bread of life!) in the entire Old Testament. From a prophetic standpoint, the “virtuous woman” of Proverbs 31 finds her fulfillment in us, the Bride of Christ! Once we make that connection, this chapter takes on a whole new significance, not just for ladies, but for every person who is “espoused” to Jesus Christ as their “one husband”! (2^nd Corinthians 11:2)

With that connection in mind, check out verse 28: “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Notice how this verse points to a time when all of God’s “children” will “arise up”.  That “rising up” is specifically spelled out in 1^st Thessalonians 4:11–17 as an event we call the Rapture.

Once we are raptured (“caught up”), the Bible teaches that we will then all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. At the Judgment Seat, all of the people God has graciously permitted us to win to Christ (i.e. our “spiritual children”) will call us “blessed”! My, what a joyful and humbling experience that will be! But, not to compare, however, with the joy and humility for those to whom our “husband”, the Lord Jesus Christ, will “praise” because He regards them a “virtuous woman”! What greater joy could there possibly be, than on that day, for our “husband”, the Lord Jesus Christ, to “praise us” by saying, “Well, done!” (Matthew 25:21)

If we would simply allow the book of Proverbs to be our wise and “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6) for living life, by the time we apply God’s wisdom as it is revealed in the first 30 chapters, we would find that we had actually become the “Virtuous Woman” of chapter 31. The question of Proverbs 31:10 is a good one: “Who can find a virtuous woman?” Sadly, the answer to that question in these last days of the Laodicean Church Period is, NOT MANY! She is definitely hard to find. She is extremely rare. She is almost extinct. Would our Lord consider you a “virtuous woman”?

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE ONE WHO DESCENDED FROM AND ASCENDED TO HEAVEN – Proverbs 30:4 (John 3:13 – Jesus came down from heaven, even the Son of Man, Who is (now) in heaven.)

OVERVIEW:

Similitudes and instructions; warnings and instructions.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Today we enter the third and final section of the book of Proverbs, chapters 25–31. Keep in mind that God neatly “divides” (2^nd Timothy 2:15) the Proverbs into three sections that are clearly identified by the three times He inspired Solomon to pen the words, “The proverbs of Solomon.” (1:1; 10:1; 25:1) The first three chapters in today’s reading (chapters 25-27) are different in structure than what we have encountered thus far in this book. The difference is that the proverbs in this section are presented in groups of verses on the same topic, rather than individual verses that present a specific proverbial truth. Literary truths presented in this fashion are often referred to as an “epigram” which is defined as “a brief, clever, pointed remark or observation typically marked by an antithesis”. The last chapter in today’s reading (chapter 28) shifts back to the comparative, completive, or contrastive couplets type of proverbs as in the previous sections of the book.

The first part of chapter 25 refers to KINGS (or, monarchs, rulers, or presidents of nations). Solomon reveals to us that:

1. Kings like to “search out a matter.” (25:2)
2. A king’s heart is “unsearchable.” (25:3)
3. Kings’ thrones are “established in righteousness.” (25:5)
4. Kings reject people who praise themselves. (25:6)
5. Kings have no patience with people who vaunt themselves. (25:7)

The second part of chapter 25 is sort of a conglomerate of information concerning interpersonal communication and human relationships.

In chapter 26, Solomon gives us a discourse concerning FOOLS. He reveals that:

1. What fools really need is the rod of correction. (26:1–3)
2. The “committed” fool will conform you to himself if you attempt to answer him, so don’t! (26:4)
3. The “simple” fool can be turned from becoming like the “committed” fool, so answer his questions, providing him with wise counsel. (26:5)
4. The fool is unable to articulate the truth of a proverb. (26:7)
5. When a fool is given honor, it is dangerous to himself and to others. (26:8)
6. A parable in a fool’s mouth is as a wound, i.e. he’ll hurt you with it! (26:9)
7. Any reward a fool receives comes from the God of all creation. (26:10)
8. The fool will inevitably return to his folly. (26:11)
9. There is more hope for a fool than for a self-proclaimed “wise man”. (26:12)

Because of the “apparent contradiction” concerning “answering a fool according to his folly” in verses 4 and 5 in chapter 26, perhaps a little more explanation can provide clarity. Notice that verse 4 instructs us not to answer a fool according to his folly, lest we become like him. Then, in the very next verse he instructs us to answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own conceit. So, which is it?  Are we supposed to answer a fool in his folly or not?

Note that the key is the difference between the two types of fools with whom we may potentially be dealing. The first type of fool (verse 4) is what might be called a “committed” fool. He is already “wise in his own conceit”. He has accepted that wrong is right, and is committed to persuade others to believe the same. To answer this type of fool doesn’t do anything to convince him otherwise but only drives him deeper into his folly. He is argumentative and will twist our words to negatively influence new and/or immature Christians, or twist our words to convince a “simple” fool that the truths we’re communicating are wrong. Verse 4 lets us know that we are to ignore this type of fool.

The second fool, is what might be called a “simple” fool. As mentioned above, he is reachable and teachable. He says foolish things and is involved in foolish behavior mainly because he has lacked the proper influences in his life to teach him about God’s wisdom. He is looking for a role model, and inevitably will find one! He is a perfect candidate for those in gangs to initiate into their criminal activity on one hand (1:10–19), and yet, on the other hand, he is a perfect candidate for those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ to reach him with the gospel of salvation, introducing him to the ultimate Role Model, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (1^st John 2:6), and providing him a human role model ourselves, by entering into a discipling relationship with him. (1^st Corinthians 11:1)

In the next group of verses, 26:13-16, Solomon gives us a discourse concerning SLUGGARDS.

1. The sluggard gives exaggerated reasons for not leaving his house. (26:13)
2. The sluggard has restless sleep. (26:14)
3. The sluggard doesn’t even like to exert the energy to feed himself. (26:15)
4. The sluggard is very skilled in creating ways to avoid work. (26:16)

The final two chapters in today’s reading (chapter 27–28) are full of extremely practical proverbial truths for living. I’ve chosen to highlight a few of them below, but recognize, God may want to highlight different ones as you make your way through these chapters today.

• Proverbs 27:1 is a verse that every believer should commit to memory. Not only is it a very vivid reminder not to presume upon the future, it is a verse that we will find ourselves repeatedly able to use as we witness to lost people.
• One would think that the wisdom presented in Proverbs 27:2 would be a no-brainer, but it isn’t! The “pride of life” that causes us to want others to recognize our “greatness” can either blatantly or subtly be evidenced in our speech. The key to not praising oneself, of course, is not in controlling our tongue, but in recognizing our own “nothingness”! (Galatians 6:3)
• As Proverbs 27:6 suggests, having a friend who loves us enough to speak hard truths to us, even at the risk of hurting our feelings, is a great treasure. Being the kind of person who is willing to receive the rebuke of a friend should be our aim.
• Proverbs 27:10a lets us know that relationships with family friends, that cross generational lines, is something that we should work very hard to maintain!
• There is the obvious practical wisdom we all can glean from the teaching of Proverbs 27:12, but it is important not to miss the prophetic application, especially for those of us living in the last days. The “day of evil”, that the Bible refers to as the “tribulation”, is fast approaching. God has provided a hiding place “in Christ” (Colossians 3:3), and those who are prudent will enter that refuge. Those who are “simple” will see all of the warning signs around us and continue headlong into the punishment that awaits the lost.
• Proverbs 27:17 makes very clear that having friendships that result in mutual spiritual stimulation and edification are imperative for our spiritual well-being.
• May Proverbs 27:23 admonish every father, as well as every pastor, to constantly have the spiritual pulse of what is happening, or not happening, in the lives of those under our watch care, and may it challenge us to provide even greater loving oversight.
• Proverbs 27:26a lets us know what kind of animal it was that God used to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned in the garden. As you might expect, notice that this verse reveals that to clothe them required the shedding of blood and the death of a sacrificial lamb! (John 1:29; Revelation 4:4)
• Proverbs 28:6 tells us that we would be much better off to have absolutely no material possessions, and yet, possess great character than to have great possessions, and possess no character.
• God certainly wants all of us to pray, but Proverbs 28:9 lets us know that if our lives reflect the fact that we disregard God’s word, God will neither be blessed or impressed by our prayers to Him. Much to the contrary, if we are not listening to Him, it is an abomination to assume that He will listen to us! Perhaps we could say it this way: if we disregard how God has chosen to communicate to us, He will choose to disregard how we communicate to Him.
• Proverbs 28:13 implores us to always take full ownership and responsibility for our sin. As we consider this verse, recognize that sometimes we try to “cover our sins” from God, but most often, we tend to “cover our sins” from people with whom we have wronged and refuse to own our wrong with them. Getting right with people is imperative to being right with God!
• Proverbs 28:21 lets us know that we must be certain to treat every person with the same respect, regardless of their physical comeliness, their position or stature in the community, their material wealth, or any other standard of measurement we may tend to use to elevate one person above another. This proverb teaches us that if we have respect of persons, we will inevitably make compromises over the simplest matters of life.
• In Proverbs 28:20 and 22, God lets us know that being rich is not wrong in and of itself. It is wrong, however, to desire to be rich! The desire to be rich will leave us impoverished in other key areas of our life!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As the ONE WHO REWARDS THOSE WHO REPAY EVIL WITH GOOD — Proverbs 25:21–22. (If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he’s thirsty, give him a drink. —  Romans 12:20)

OVERVIEW:

Warnings and instructions about life.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In the same way that Solomon, the “son of David”, intended for his son, Rehoboam, to personally apply the wisdom, admonition, and instruction he was imparting to him when these proverbs were initially written, our Lord Jesus Christ, the “Son of David”, intends for us, as His “sons”, to personally apply the wisdom, admonition, and instruction He is imparting to us through these same proverbs now! Make certain that you note that in the New Testament, our identification as “sons” (John 1:12; 1^st John 3:1–2; Philippians 2:15) includes both males and females!

With that connection clearly in mind, note some of the key bits of wisdom/ admonition/instruction the “Son of David” gives to his “son” in today’s reading, and how profoundly these things apply to our lives some 3000 years later!

• Regarding Human Authority. (21:1)
The Lord’s authority trumps any and all earthly authority. The Lord, however, works through human authorities, directing them as He will, to accomplish His own purposes. The simple rule of thumb is that we are to obey our human authorities until following human authority would cause us to disobey what God’s authority in His word has clearly revealed.
• Regarding Self-Justification. (21:2) Solomon tells us, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes.” That should tell us that we have the dangerous ability to justify anything!
• Regarding Choosing a Spouse. (21:9, 19) Simple instruction to the wise: “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” (21:9) “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.” (21:19)
• Regarding Pleasing People. (21:10)
Some people are just so evil, nothing we do will ever be enough, or win their favor.
• Regarding Treatment of the Poor. (21:13; 22:16, 22–23)
We need to be very careful about how we deal with the poor, because how we deal with them is how the Lord is going to deal with us! If we mess with their souls God will mess with ours!
• Regarding the Tongue. (21:23)
We need to learn to not say everything we think! Involving ourselves in other people’s matters never works to our advantage.
• Regarding Our Attitude Toward Preparation. (21:31)
We need to always work like crazy to be prepared, but all the while, realizing that without the Lord, we can do nothing! (John 15:5)
• Regarding Our Name. (22:1) We must be very careful not to put a blot on our name, for the simple fact that we have taken Christ’s “good name”! We are, as it were, “CHRIST-ians” or “CHRIST’s-ones”! It is better to receive Christ’s “loving favor” than to receive “silver and gold” (wealth)!
• Regarding Borrowing Money. (22:7)
The problem with borrowing money from people is that they end up owning us!
• Regarding Team Building. (22:10)
Having the wrong people on the team will always keep things stirred up!
• Regarding Laziness. (22:13)
A lazy person always has some “good excuse” for not doing what they ought to be doing!
• Regarding Disciplining Children. (22:15)
There is only one thing that is able to free a child from the foolishness that is bound in their heart! It is the “rod of correction”! Parents, psychologists, psychiatrists, and and/or other experts will never invent or discover another successful alternative.
• Regarding Choosing Friends. (22:24-25)
We are instructed not to hang out with or be friends with an angry person, because inevitably, they will rub off on us! We’ll start acting like just like them, and it will be a snare to our very soul! We must choose our friends wisely!
• Regarding Co-signing. (22:26–27)
As a general rule, we should not co-sign on loans for people. If we do, we should be fully prepared and willing to joyfully assume the entire debt as a gift! In other words, if we’re not willing to give them the money, we should not co-sign on the loan.
• Regarding “Humility” and the “Fear of the Lord”. (22:4) Notice that according to this verse, “humility” and the “fear of the Lord” go hand in hand. The only way to really see ourselves for who we really are, is to see the Lord for who He really is! Until we “fear the Lord” we will continue to be preoccupied with thoughts about self. Andrew Murray’s definition of humility is classic: “Humility is not thinking meanly of ourselves; it is not thinking of ourselves at all.”
• Regarding Child Training. (22:6) Every child is different, so there is a “way” God intends every individual to “go”. It is a parent’s responsibility to so understand the truth and wisdom of the word of God, and to so understand the uniqueness of their own children, that they are able, not only to direct them toward that “way”, but to “train” them in it! That is how God intends for them to remain in “His way” their entire lives, and how He intends to keep them focused on how He uniquely desires to use them.
• Regarding Not Losing Sight of Our Familial and Spiritual Roots. (22:28; 23:10)
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” (22:28) “Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless.” (23:10)
• Regarding Alcohol. (23:19–21, 29–31)
“Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” (23:19–21) “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.” (23:29–31)
• Regarding Having a Home Blessed of the Lord. (23:3–4) There are three key components to having a home that is blessed of the Lord. It is “built” by WISDOM. It is “established” by UNDERSTANDING. And it is “filled with all precious and pleasant RICHES” (i.e. the things money can’t buy!) by KNOWLEDGE!
• Regarding Seeking Wise Counsel. (24:6)
Seeking wise counsel is imperative before making important decisions. The danger of our blind spots is removed when we have heard the wisdom and insight of a “multitude of counsellors”.
• Regarding Hard Work. (24:30–34)
We can learn a lot from people whose field is overtaken with thorns and weeds, and whose territorial wall is breaking down. What they teach us is the inevitability of coming to poverty if we are only interested in sleeping and relaxing. God admonishes us to learn how to work hard.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As HE THAT IS PURE, WHOSE WORK IS RIGHT — Proverbs 21:8 (John 4:34; 17:4)

OVERVIEW:

The contrast between good and evil; warnings and instructions about life.

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we have constantly and consistently seen, all the way through the 365 Days of Pursuit, the Bible is filled with practical truths for living. Those truths are especially recognizable in the book of Proverbs, for it is really nothing more than a collection of God’s complex and diverse statements of what is TRUE about life, compared or contrasted with that which is NOT TRUE. As was suggested in Week 28, Day 4, one of the best ways to get these truths as a functional part of our lives is to read the chapter each day that corresponds with the day’s date. If we would simply add one chapter of Proverbs a day to our regular Bible study each year, do you realize that in the next 20 years, we will have made our way through the Book of Proverbs 240 times?! Before we know it, the contrasts and parallels of God’s truth will become recorded onto the hard drive of our mind, providing us with moment by moment wisdom as the Holy Spirit guides us to walk in the way with the wise. (Proverbs 13:20)

Wow! I couldn’t agree more with Solomon in verse one in today’s reading! “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” (17:1) I’d much rather have my family all intact, living in peace (“quietness”) in a shack with just enough food to get us by, than to live in a fat house, able to eat whatever we jolly well please, but have it all in the midst of strife in our relationships with each other! (See also Proverbs 21:9) In the pursuit of the “things on earth” (Colossians 3:1–2), many Christians around the world, “GOT what they WANTED, but LOST what they HAD!” We must be careful! We must be wise! There are treasures in life far more valuable and precious than material wealth and monetary gain!

The second half of 17:6 packs such a wallop that I can’t just pass over it, though there’s not enough space in this venue to really nail all of the unbelievable implications of this tremendously powerful truth. Solomon simply says, “The glory of children are their fathers.” Note that Solomon isn’t giving instruction here concerning something we are to teach our children; he is simply stating a fact! The fact is, “The glory of children are their fathers!” What those seven simple words actually reveal to us, is that by God’s divine design, He places into a child’s little heart, even before they are born, a passionate desire to “glorify” the man in their life that they will refer to as their “father”. It’s what some choose to refer to as “Father-Power”. Because of “Father-Power”, more than anything else in our culture, environment, and education; more than the circumstances of our life or our socioeconomic level; even more than our MOTHER(!!!); humanly speaking, nothing has had or will ever have, a more profound influence and impact on who we are, what we are, and what we do, than our fathers! Whether he was present or absent; whether he was living or dead; whether we knew him very well or didn’t know him at all; whether we loved him, hated him, or somewhere “in-betweened” him; whether we admit it or not, the fact is, all of us were greatly affected and deeply impacted by the man in our life that we refer to (or, refuse to refer to!) as our “father”. Whether we are a son or daughter, a mother or a father, and whether we are old or young, the biblical information regarding fathers is something every person needs to understand.

Once again, this venue will not allow for an in-depth analysis, but please allow me to attempt to at least provide a cursory glimpse into this vitally important biblical subject. For some reason, God chose to give to men in their relationship with their children, the same title He reserved for Himself in the relationship He has with His children! That “title”, of course, is “Father”. I stated this in the previous paragraph, but try to get your mind wrapped around the fact, that for some reason, God also chose to design human life in such a way, so that we are all a born into this world with the innate desire put to “glorify” the man in our life we call “Father”. It’s why totally unprovoked, a little boy will say while playing with his friends, “My Dad can ‘beat up’ your Dad.” Or, “My Dad is ‘taller’ than your Dad.” Or, “My Dad is ‘whatever’ than your Dad!” It is that way all over the world! Somewhere along the way you’d think we’d have to ask ourselves, “How do those thoughts even pop into their little minds?” The answer is “Father-Power!” (Proverbs 17:6b) I would suggest, that apart from the power of the Godhead, and the power of His word, “Father-Power” is perhaps “the” most powerful influencing force on human behavior in the universe! God’s intention in building this desire into a child’s heart, is that if a man will be a good steward of this incredible entrustment, by putting on display what the character of our “real Father” in heaven is like, it is an indescribably tremendous positive power for good! Through it, a father can develop such a significant relationship and bond with his children, that as his child grows and matures, he can use his temporal and earthly relationship with his children to connect them in a personal relationship with their real, Heavenly Father, in the intimacy of a relationship and bond with Him that lasts for all of eternity! Hallelujah! What a blessing, and at the same time, what a stewardship!

If, however, a man “breaks” his “Father-Power”, be aware that it doesn’t cause its power to be diminished one iota! It’s just that the power he wields in his child’s life ceases to be a positive power for good, and becomes a tremendously negative power for evil! Apart from God’s grace and mercy, in many cases, broken “Father-Power” will insure that his children will never want to have a part in a relationship with the God who wants us to find Him, and relate to Him, as a father does with his children. This is precisely why God tells us in the New Testament, “And, ye fathers (notice, specifically “fathers,” not “mothers!) provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” When a father “provokes” his child (i.e. breaks his “Father-Power!”), it manifests itself in either a “rebellious wrath” (Ephesians 6:4), or a “discouraging anger” (Colossians 3:21). Interestingly enough, we could go to any major city around the world and on one side of the street, find a gang of angry young men, who don’t even know what they’re angry about, just looking for a way to demonstrate their anger, while on the other side of the street, is a man so broken down, he barely has enough fortitude to pick up his feet when he walks, much less, go find a job and become a responsible, mature adult. On both counts, it is just really two opposite reactions to broken “Father-Power”! Contained within God’s monumental declaration in the second half of Proverbs 17:6 concerning the passion He placed in children’s hearts to glorify their fathers, is the powerful, inherent message to fathers: “Make sure you don’t break your ‘Father-Power’!”

Note also that the first half of Proverbs 17:6 is also tremendously powerful. “Children’s children are the crown of old men…” You might have to wear the “crown” of being a grandfather to understand just how powerful those grandchildren are!

If you are prone to have “diarrhea of the mouth”, verse 27 of chapter 17 might be a great verse to memorize. Proverbs 17:27 says: “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” This verse has spawned quite a few catch phrases and quips through the years, such as:

• “Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, refuses to give evidence of it.”
• “Silence is a hard argument to refute”
• “He can never speak well who cannot hold his peace.”
• “As a man grows older and wiser, he talks less, but says more.”

Chapter 18 and verse 1 is key. It lets us know that to arrive at wisdom, we must possess a “desire” that is so intense, that we are willing to “separate” ourselves from anything and everything that would interfere with that pursuit! If you are looking for a reason to continue on in our 365 Days of Pursuit (I hope you don’t need a reason!), this verse is a great one! “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.” (18:1)

The “fool” on the other hand (18:2), has only one pursuit: “That his heart may discover itself.” How many “fools” (God’s identification, not mine!) have “LOST” themselves in the midst of trying to “FIND” themselves! The fact is, allowing our “heart” to “discover itself” is an invitation to disaster! We have been instructed to “KEEP our heart with all diligence” (Proverbs 4:23), not FIND it! Without that “guardianship” of our hearts, the “issues of life” coming out of it will destroy us! (Proverbs 4:23)

Verse 8 of chapter 18 is extremely graphic: “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of them, you understand just how perfect that description is. The talebearer, in effect, is a murderer! He slays a person’s reputation and/or character with a sword that Psalm 57:4 and 64:3 identifies as the tongue. There are many hearts that are bleeding today because they have been stabbed by someone’s tongue. No, we can’t help it happening TO us, but we most certainly can help it happening BY us! Once again, it’s a heart issue. Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” As always, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart! May God help us to “Keep (guard) our heart” today!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

• As THE KING Who sits on the throne of judgment — Proverbs 20:8. (John 5:22)