Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Diligent hands will rule,
but laziness ends in forced labor.
Summary: This proverb outlines a stark choice. We can either rule with God, or serve God’s enemy. There doesn’t seem to be any third option.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:24 — Diligent Hands”
The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
Summary: What is folly and what does folly have to do with knowledge? The answer lies mostly in our understanding of truth and what we do with the knowledge we have.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:23 (Part III) — Facts & Folly”
The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
Summary: How we view our personal beliefs determines how well we get along with others.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:23 (Part II) — Golf Story”
The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
Summary: Today’s post is part one of three parts on “knowledge.” Understanding the nature of knowledge helps us understand what Solomon is talking about in today’s proverb.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:23 (Part I) — Deep Waters “
The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in people who are trustworthy.
Summary: Being lied to is a horrible experience. God suffers this every day and he still wants to forgive us and through the redemption of his Son on the cross, have us live with him eternally.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:22 — Liar, Liar”
No harm overtakes the righteous,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
Summary: Today, we ponder three possible meanings for this passage. Does Solomon refer to our physical well-being, spiritual, or the eternal?
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:21 — Heaven and Hell”
Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.
Summary: Perspective is the key to understanding this passage. From God’s perspective, any selfish act that harms others is a sin. From our perspective, any selfish act others might do that we don’t like is a “sin.” The two types of “sin” don’t always agree.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:20 — The Demetrius Effect”
Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Summary: There is a time reference in this passage that forces us to ask the question, “Who is speaking?” When we look at this passage through the lens of scripture, we realize that these words reflect God’s point of view. Considering that the Bible is “God’s Word,” this shouldn’t surprise us.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:19 — Time Warp”
The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Summary: Words have power, and if we don’t pay attention to how we use them, we can be like a drunkard with a sword, hurting those around us.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:18 — Power Words”
An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.
Summary: This proverb seems obvious on its face, but there are things to be learned here. How we discern the truth-teller from the liar is as important as how we discern God’s truth from the world’s lies.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:17 — Truth & Lies”