Archives: Pastors' Corner

Proverbs 9 sets up another contrast between the way of wisdom and the way of folly.  Here is how the proverb begins: Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;  2 She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.  3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city, 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 5 “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.  6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of […]

Let’s finish up chapter 8 of Proverbs: “Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.  33  Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.  34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.  35 For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;  36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.” Have you noticed how repetitious these first eight chapters of Proverbs have been?  We have been reading the same themes over and over again.  Why?  […]

The “Experience” of Wisdom The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.  23 I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.  24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.  25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.  27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds […]

I am continually amazed at how God presents the value of wisdom!  Please read the verses below from chapter 8: “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.  13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.  14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.  15 By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.  16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.  17 I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.  18 Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches […]

I decided to skip over chapter 7.  It is about the dangers of adultery and I think we’ve covered that pretty extensively over the past two weeks.  Proverbs 8 changes the subject a little bit.  Here are verses 1-11: Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?  2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.  3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:  4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.  5 O you simple […]

Let’s read Proverbs 6:30-35: People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.  31  Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.  32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.  33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.  35 He will accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts. Though Proverbs doesn’t […]

After giving us a list of the things that God hates and before launching into another warning about adultery, the writer of Proverbs reminds us of how we can best avoid falling into sin.  Let’s read that in verses 20-23: My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.  21 Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.  22 When you roam, they will lead you;
When you sleep, they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.  23 For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way […]

Proverbs 6 goes back to the warning against sexual sin.  Let’s read verses 24-29:  24 To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.  25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.  26 For by means of a harlot
A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.  27  Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?  28 Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared?  29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever […]

My wife Janet’s favorite movie is “The Sound of Music”.  I admit that at first I thought it was a lame movie but having watched it many times, I have really come to like it…perhaps it appeals to my feminine side.  Julie Andrews sings a song in the movie titled, “A Few of My Favorite Things” where she lists some things that she likes.  In Proverbs 6:16-19 we have a list of God’s “Not” so favorite things.  Let’s read that list now: 16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:  17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that […]

Proverbs 6 continues with God’s characterization of the wicked.  Let’s read verses 12-15:  A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;  13 He winks with his eyes,
He shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart,
He devises evil continually,
He sows discord.  15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;
Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. As I read this description of a worthless person and a wicked man I am struck by how pervasive the wickedness is.  Wickedness affects every part of the man’s life.  It affects his mouth, his eyes, his feet, his fingers and his “heart”.  […]