Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life...
Summary: God’s Word is a complete whole. We cannot separate the Old Testament God from the New. Both are one.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:23 — Light”
Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
Summary: Solomon encourages us to take more than a passive interest in God’s Word.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:21 — Implant”
There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
Summary: You can learn a lot about who the bad guys are by reading through Proverbs. It is almost like there is going to be a test at some point. Oh wait — there is! It is called “real life.”
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:16 — Real Life”
A troublemaker and a villain…
…who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.
Summary: Solomon gives us three clues to avoiding troublemakers and villains. The third clue sounds easy to spot but sometimes requires a discerning eye.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:14 — Stirring Up Conflict”
A troublemaker and a villain…
…who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
Summary: Solomon gives us another warning. Keep an eye out for signs, winks, and gestures. They can be valuable clues to what is in a person’s heart.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:13 — Time Will Tell”
A troublemaker and a villain...
who goes about with a corrupt mouth…
Summary: Spotting a corrupt mouth is easy if you know the truth to start with.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:12b — Picking Truth”
A troublemaker and a villain…
Summary: What is Solomon doing here? What is he talking about? This information is intended for older children. These are young adults and adults who have to live in the adult world.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:12a — Bad Guys”
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
Summary: This passage is similar to the one about ants. The difference is that instead of looking at how the ant stays busy, we look at how hunger and want surprise the sluggard.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:10-11 — The Reliable Guide”
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Summary: Being born rich isn’t always a good thing. It can be easy to fall into bad habits. Solomon knows this about his children, and God knows this about us.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:6-8 — Self Sufficiency”
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands… free yourself!
Summary: Solomon describes a problem we have all faced. It is sometimes difficult to recognize until we feel the trap close around us. Then our whole focus needs to be on getting out of the trap.
Continue reading “Proverbs 6:1-3, 5a — The Trap”