Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Summary: So many things in life influence the direction our steps take. Solomon shines light on one of the most important.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:26 — Hungry People”
Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.
Summary: Are you taking pills for anxiety? God’s Word tells us that there is a better answer.
Continue reading “Proverbs 12:25 — Infinite Possibilities”
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”