Proverbs 11:2 - Understand Your Limits

Proverbs 11:2

When pride comes, then comes dishonor

But with the humble is wisdom. 

Message: Understand your limits

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: This is the first time that pride is mentioned. This verse compares pride and humility. 

Pride seems to be a problem as this verse mentions, for with it comes dishonor. There is a connotation of pride in our world today that doesn't seem to be wrong, such as me saying "I am proud of my children" which seems to be an admission that I am glad that my children are mine. It is a word which shows that I am extremely glad with a deep level of satisfaction for having an association with a person or cause. 

But traditionally, pride is a vice. And more specifically in religious traditions, it is competing with reliance and dependence on God. With God as creator, we serve Him and surrender to Him and His ways. We are guided by His principles and in life, he is the one to receive glory for anything that is accomplished including my work. Without God in the picture, it seems like life shifts to personal achievement as well as societal achievement. Its focus is more on community being served and guiding our principles. 

I have been reading a book on life and more specifically life in my later years. I am 58 and so with the kids gone from the home and myself past my prime of productivity, I am looking at these later years and figuring out my purpose. Chapter 3 of this book is "Kick your success addiction" and primarily is focusing attention on workaholism. The book mentions that "work, which is a source of meaning and purpose, becomes workaholism, which hurts our relationships." Saint Augustine observed that "pride lurks even in good works in order to destroy them." Success is fine and part of excellence but somewhere along the way it becomes an addiction in our life. 

I know I struggle with pride. I have gifts that I think the Lord has given me and it seems it is important to not be tempted to think too highly of myself and in the process get my focus off of God. As years have gone by and as I have done things, often driven to do those things, I start seeing myself as the one that needs to do things. This mostly occurs at work, in the work I do and work assignments. 

In this verse, the writer states that pride produces dishonor. NIV says disgrace, shame (KJV). From the internet, "Luke 14:11 says, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted". This verse emphasizes a principle of spiritual humility, suggesting that those who seek honor for themselves through pride will be brought low, while those who are humble will ultimately be lifted up by God." Thus, God will humble every person. 

Thus, this verse is framing the unhealthy version of pride or the kind of pride that inflates the view of oneself. The dishonor or shame is the result of this unhealthy or inflated view of oneself. The problem seems to be when the scale is tipped and a person moves from confidence to overconfidence. The overconfident person takes unnecessary risks because they think they cannot fail. A student thinks they can't fail, so in turn, they don't study. A person who has great confidence in their driving might cause themselves to take risks on the road and result in getting a ticket which is showing them at fault. The person starts out thinking they can't fail, but this could produce failure. The failure is the dishonor or shame of now being seen as a foolish person.

I get this way at times, thinking I can do things that sometime are beyond my ability. That time I worked on Pamela's car and changing a tire and then forgot to tighten the lug nuts once the car was on the ground. And the wheel came off and I looked foolish. I felt like a bad person, a failure. And it all started with "I can do this" even though I am not a mechanic. 

The contrast here is the humble person. This is the person with a quiet confidence. It is a person that understands their limits. This is the person knows when they can handle something and knows when they need to shift the responsibility to another person. The humble person still acts but acts within reason and this is the person then which is seen as wise. This person knows when to give where credit where credit is due. 

Prayer: O God, help me to be that person that understands my limits. You have gifted everyone differently and often it is better when the right person does the task at hand. Help my overconfidence. I suppose I have that tendency to think, "I got this" but I can be a strong person that trusts in others and ultimately trusts in You. Help me understand me. And live within my constraints. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 8 - Israel Sinfully Demands a King

I Samuel 8

19 Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

Message: Israel Sinfully Demands a King

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: O God, my wife and I are preparing this week to go and see friends. Lord, help that time with them to be good and encouraging to us all. Keep us safe and make the times positive. If we play golf, help me to simply enjoy that time and not to be stressful. Lord, draw this couple and us closer to You through these days we have together. Give us strength as we prepare to leave. Thank you for this text and these lives of Samuel and others that lived 2500 years ago and yet there words are preserved for our understanding. 

Samuel is now older. He appoints his sons as judges: Joel and Abija. However, sons accepted bribes, they were fine with dishonest gain, and perverted justice. The elders want a different judge after Samuel, not his sons. Samuel prayed. The Lord responds that they are rejecting Him, not Samuel. They serve other gods. They abandon God. Samuel communicates to the people about the judge that is coming. 

Samuel tells them about the king coming. He will reign over them. Servants will go ahead of chariots. Commanders will be appointed. Some for military and some for farming. Daughters will be servants as well, like cooks, bakers. The best from your fields will be taken. A tenth will be given to him. He will take best servants. And will take a tenth of your flocks. But the people did not listen. 

God will give them the king they want, but it won't be for their good. Reminds me of Romans 1 when God gave the people over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity. The people do not want God so God in his sovereignty allows them to meet their own desires. 

Summary: At the end of Samuel's life, the people want a new king of their own doing. God provides a king through Samuel, not giving them what they need, but what they want. 

Promise: If we run after sin, the Lord may just allow us to fall, and much suffering will follow. 

Prayer: Lord, I need to always surrender to You and ask You, what you want in this situation. I want to be guided by your ways and seek You always. Help me in this Lord. Help me to be guided by You and trust in Your provision. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 11:1 - Black and White in a Grey World

Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,

but a just weight is His delight. 

Message: Black and White in a Grey World

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: God, it has been interesting reading these words of Solomon, starting in chapter 10 and the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. Lord, I believe I see the righteous as being those that are living their lives according to Your design. I see it as those individuals you have directly called as your chosen ones. The wicked are not your called ones. And so in life there is these two different types of people. And your word clearly shows that distinction while I think in our world there is a subtle move to try and take the ways of the wicked and make them to be not so wicked but more or less good. Is the world getting more gray? Yet Lord, there remains a clear distinction. 

God, maybe these Proverbs are there to help me see that distinction and remind me that it is there. Help me to read these proverbs so I can see the person I am to be. Help me to understand what the writer meant by these words and therefore what you what me to take away from them. 

This verse now uses weights and measures to make a contrast between what is good and not good or bad or unwelcome or against you. The text uses the word abomination which is a strong word Lord to show extreme dislike, hateful or morally offensive. This abomination to the Lord that is described is a false balance in this text. Other translations state dishonest scales with the Amplified even bringing in dishonest business practices. Lord, wouldn't this be obvious that you abhor what is dishonest or false? That principle seems easy, but maybe it is hard at times to call out what exactly is dishonest or false.

Right now, the first thought that comes up for me is work and our purchasing practices. In our quest to get goods and services, there is a thirst or desire to get what we need as fast as possible without having to jump through too many hoops. And I notice often it is hard to understand what the rules are and what we are permitted to do. And so we often will try to state things in the best possible way for our purposes in order to see if they get accepted. We only change when we are told to change. In essence, because the standard is unclear, we try to see what we can do. Thus, what is false is blurry. How we define what is false is blurry. I wonder if this is how we approach life at times. Rather than staring at the black and white, I look at the gray. 

Lord, you take me back to that album by Leslie Phillips -- Black and White in Grey World. As you know, I did not at the time get into her music as the rocker female lead singer was not my thing I gravitated towards and actually sort of disdained. Leslie, later known as Sam, is now seen as a person deconstructing their faith, which is now a popular term for describing people that are taking the traditional faith and revising it or changing it or even abandoning it. But I mention it here Lord because of the title track. Those lyrics voice the idea of standing out (i.e. black/white) in a world that blends.  

This world I live in Lord not only acknowledges the blending of black/white, but accepts it, then approves it and then celebrates it. It has turned grey into a stand alone conclusion. Now, black and white is no longer the standard but the exception and often described as radical. That song starts out with these words - "No distinction, no emotion for right or wrong / They tell me any choice will do / No color contrast in their dull morality / The shades of good and bad are through." 

Jesus, you have words that are now recorded in Revelation 3:15-16 to speak about this grey person - "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot...so because you are lukewarm....I will spit you out of My mouth." Ouch. Lord, those are strong words. While we venture towards lukewarm or grey, you state spitting that out. 

Lord, as I study these scriptures, I see the reminder of the opposites while I live in a world of the gray or blending. Simply identifying the black and white now is hard for I am daily being trained in only the color of grey. Help me God to stand out even if my standing out is not what people want. I want to be of your delight and so i want to be a just weight or let your truth in me be defined by You and Your definition. I will stumble Lord. I will forsake You as I have done. Forgive me for this now and in the future. Let it be glaring in my life the direction I need to go and be. As I go to church today, I thank you for that place, a place of refuge that retrains me or reminds me of your standards. I go there to get trained. And then help me to return to the arena of gray and continue to stand out. As I come across these grey moments, help me to know what is the way of standing out. Sometimes I can't see it Lord or I am blinded to it. Sometimes I don't know what is your standard. I pray for your grace to be extended to me so I can see what is the just weight. Lord, help me also to separate the sin from the sinner. I want to hate the sin, but I want to love the sinner. This is hard at times Lord. Again, I pray for your grace. Thank you Lord for calling me and taking me to this standard of living - of being. In Christ alone I pray. Amen. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 7 - Israel Puts Away Foreign Gods

I Samuel 7

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

Message: Israel Puts Away Foreign Gods

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: The Ark of the Covenant is back in the right hands, "into the house of Abinadab." Eleazar is "to keep the ark." It was there for twenty years. The people lamented after the Lord. There is sorrow for the way in which the Ark has been handled. 

In verse 3, Samuel challenges the house of Israel with an IF..THEN statement of promise. If the people will return to the Lord and abandon the foreign gods then they will be delivered from the hand of the Philistines. And so they followed suit and did this. Samuel prayed for them at Mizpah. The people fasted, crying out their sin against the Lord. Samuel judged the sons of Israel. Samuel was God's representative of these people. 

It is interesting because he sounds like the office of the priest that is present today in the Catholic Church. And yet with the Holy Spirit as our guide, do we need this judge today? It seems we don't. The judge then made sure that the people followed correctly, redirecting people when necessary and punishing those that went wayward. He acted on the ways of God and laws of God before a people. This seems like a role that is still needed in some ways to God. People want to honor God, but are not sure and therefore go to people for answers, for help, guidance.

Coming back to the story of Israel. The Philistines heard about this gathering at Mizpah for Israel to get things right with God. The people go to Samuel and say, "Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” Basically, don't give up on us yet. 

Samuel sacrifices to the Lord and the Lord responded and confused the Philistines as they came to battle Israel. Samuel signifies this with a stone called Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us.” Philistines were taken care of and cities were restored to Israel that had been taken. They had been delivered. Samuel had acted on behalf of the people and the people had responded as well in turning their hearts to God, away from the foreign Gods. 

"Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life." Samuel judged Israel in many places. In Ramah he built an altar to the Lord. 

Summary: Samuel leads the people to restoration from the hand of the Philistines. The people respond by putting away their foreign Gods and Samuel removes the evil, restores the good and God responds and makes a way for victory against the Philistines. 

Promise: I need to be a person who repents and turns my life, all of my life, over to God. 

Prayer: O God, free from the sin that entangles me. I give air time to it all of the time. Instead turn my heart toward you so that I am removing anything that is serving the world and its ways. Those are my foreign Gods. Thank you Holy Spirit for interceding for me and being my intermediary between God and me. Thank you for working favor in my life. Keep me humble and worshipping you always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 10:32 - Knowing what is right and wrong speech

Proverbs 10:32

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

But the mouth of the wicked, what is perverted.

Message: Knowing what is right and wrong speech

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Well, it has taken me some time but I am finishing up this first chapter of Proverbs of Solomon for me, in chapter 10. It has been a good time so far and continue to see a contrast primarily between the righteous and the wicked. The writer, Solomon, clearly admonishing the righteous and showing the great results of this type of person and the unfortunate negative outcomes of the wicked. The wicked are those that are not following the precepts and ways of God. The contrast is simple. And yet it seems the world we live in is lived in the gray where the wicked are viewed often as another kind of righteous. Perhaps it is hard to view people as wicked who seem to be living good lives. 

In this verse, it is the mouth, the lips. This contrast occurred in verse 31, highlighting the mouth and tongue. Verses, 13, 20, and 21 mentions the righteous mouth, but not a contrast to the mouth of the wicked necessarily. Verse 6 highlights the mouth of the wicked whereas verse 11 focuses on the mouth of each. Clearly the mouth or our tongues is a big point of emphasis here. 

Here the words are almost a conclusion as the verse mentions "know." The righteous know what they are doing in their speaking. The wicked know what they are doing in their speaking. The righteous speaks what he knows is pleasing to God. His actions are consistent with his conscience. While the wicked has a mouth that is perverted or contrary to good and pleasing ways. 

The righteous speaks in a way that is pleasing to others. People want to be around this person. The wicked however speaks in a way that doesn't encourage a large audience. Granted, there will be people that like the wicked speech, but it won't be everyone. The wicked have a stubbornness about them. But it is almost instinctive. I have been learning how the Spirit of God takes over a person. Well, the wicked person does what is natural and that is most often protecting self. 

Prayer: O God, help me to be a person that is filled by Your Spirit and therefore my speech honors You. Direct me. Catch me in those moments when I am quick to react rather than respond. I get angry and disappointed. Lord, help my speech to honor You always. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 6 - The Ark Returns to Israel

I Samuel 6

And the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom will He go up from us?” - verse 20

Message: The Ark Returns to Israel

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 5 mentions the impacts of the ark remaining with the Philistines and bad things that occur because of it. They try to get rid of it to other cities but bad things continue to happen to the people in those areas. Chapter 6 begins by telling us that the ark had been with the Philistines for 7 months. The Philistines speak to the priests and diviners for their guidance as to what they should do in getting rid of the ark and sending it on its way. 

The priests give them directions, mentioning an offering that should now be done. They mention a guilt offering of five gold tumors and five gold mice. They are to prepare a cart with two milk cows on the cart, cows that have never been yoked. Their calves are to be separated from them. The gold mice would be attached as well as likenesses to the tumors. 

The priests said that if the cart goes the way of Beth-shemesh then it is a sign that the Lord God has done this evil to them. It does go that way and the people there respond with joy and they in turn do offerings as well in thankfulness to God. 

17 Now these are the gold tumors which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron; 18 and the gold mice, corresponding to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five governors, both of fortified cities and of country villages. The large stone on which they placed the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.

But the people of Beth-shemesh were struck by the Lord. 50,070 men died for looking into the ark. And they said, "Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom will He go up from us?” I think this is a question many voice at times. In a word God is holy and no one seems worthy to stand before Him and that seems true. Only Jesus was worthy. And perhaps that is the point often of the words of these books and judges and writers. God is holy. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God." All are unworthy. 

It seems very possible that we as people simply do not recognize the full meaning of this - to know what it means for God to be holy and separate from us. These Israelites show me the importance of us worshipping God. They did it through sacrifices and in a way it is a sacrifice for me to set aside my ways and times to worship God. 

Summary: The Philistines turn over the ark, directed to by making a guilt offering of tumors and mice and it is received by offerings from the people as well. 

Promise: God is Holy

Prayer: O Lord, you are Holy. God, you are not to trivialized. You are to be set apart. You are to be revered. And I need to always make you number one in my life, loving you above all else. Thank you for loving me, accepting me and knowing me. You are holy and true. It is only Jesus that helps me to come to you each day. Teach me the meaning of these words continually in these scriptures and words and how I am to make them relevant to my life today. I praise you. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 10:31 - Speak Well Inside and Out

Proverbs 10:31

The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,

But the perverted tongue will be cut out.

Message: Speak Well Inside and Out

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Once again, this verse starts out in familiar territory with "the righteous." The overall goal in this chapter and in this book and in probably the entire Bible is to be righteous. It is the subject that I keep coming back to, especially in this book. The person who is righteous is walking and living their lives in a manner directed by God. This is living in right relationship with God, other people, and all creation. It seems reasonable to say that everyone on this earth agrees with two of these three parts - living with other people well and creation, but not everyone subscribes to the God part. But I do. 

And so this book and these verses continue to give us quick reminders of what the righteous person is all about and also helping us see what that person is not about. Yet, these are not commands, but rather descriptions of a person. It is written as outcomes or results. Thus, you be a righteous person and this will happen. I keep seeing this. I keep seeing who I am to be and who I am not to be. 

Here in this verse, I am to be a person that has a good mouth. I struggle with my mouth, not on good days or good situations or fun times, but I struggle when I just want a laugh and so may be sarcastic and/or hurt someone in the process — or I am in a selfish moment of wanting myself to be pleased. When my focus is on me, my mouth is a problem. 

The perverted tongue can reveal what is in someone’s heart. A tongue that speaks in an unwelcome manner will be cut off or cut down. 

Prayer: Lord, teach me to have a God honoring tongue and mouth. Cultivate in me a mouth that speaks well. My mom always said, "Speak less." But I notice it isn't only what comes out of me, but also what is inside of me, my self talk. Lord, I pray that this talk honors you as well. Lord, it is hard to speak words of honesty and critique. Sometimes I wonder how I am to be a person of correction. I suppose these verses are not saying that my words have to only be uplifting all of the time. And yet I know from my son that I don't need to be passive aggressive as that is a tendency with me as well, to hint at guilt when I speak. Show me the right way Spirit of God. Birth in me good words. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.