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Reading Proverbs – 31:31 Brag on your Wife Daily

Steve — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:20:54 +0000

Extol her for the fruit of all her toil, and let her labours bring her honour in the city gate– Prov 31:31

The end of Proverbs – we’ve made it through all 31 chapters. And how appropriate to end up at this chapter that lauds the wife. Marriage is more than a contract. It is a 2-sided life-long commitment that must be adhered to without let-up. Diving in with both feet, supporting each other to the fullest, being strong where the other is weak, and each trusting the other’s strength to cover one’s weakness – these are some of the graces of the best marriages, and so they are shown here.

It is clear that this is a fairly wealthy household. The mistress of the house has servant girls to manage (v. 15); buys a field with her own money (v. 16), and is hardly likely to plant the entire field herself, so she must also be managing farm hands. She has applied herself in the past and can sew (vv. 21, 22, 24), weave (v. 19) and trade in the marketplace (vv. 14, 18, 24). She is also generous to the poor and needy (v. 20).

It is also clear that this is a marriage that has continued for years. She has raised children who are well-fed and clothed (v. 15, 21) as well as respectful (v. 28). Her husband is one of the village or town elders (v. 23).

The gates of a village, town or city were important places in the ancient Middle Eastern world. It was where the elders gathered (Job 29:7). They could see goods and people enter and leave the city – an important job for the elders, for it took the pulse of the community. Inbound people could ask for directions. Farmers off to their fields would be seen and noted. The poor could ask for alms (Amos 5:12). Discussions of weather and war would take place. Boaz came to the gates of Bethlehem to redeem and ensure his marriage to Ruth (Ruth 4:1-12, esp. v. 11), for this was where justice was executed and witnessed (Amos 5:15; Deut 25:7).

So when, “her works praise her in the gates” (Prov 31:31, ESV), just who is telling people about her works? Her husband, of course. Verse 23 says that her husband sits among the elders of the land in the gates, and he’s obviously been bragging on her in a big way. By the way, just because we don’t hear anything about what the husband is doing in the chapter, it would be wrong to assume he sits around in the gates all day doing nothing. This chapter is a paean to her, not to him.

The thing is, such boasting as the husband is doing has a manifold impact. First it protects the marriage from outside attack because it tells the listeners that he thinks highly of her. Secondly, the listeners naturally feel they should respond with some bragging on their own wives – which can only be a good thing. Thirdly, the word gets passed on to others, possibly people who will trade with her or just chat on the street, who will see her in an ever better light. Fourthly it will get back to her – and whilst it is always nice to hear a compliment first-hand, it is even better to hear it second- or tenth-hand.

What an excellent thing it would be if every husband would follow suite and boast daily about his wife!

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 30:5 The Shield of Faith

Steve — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:20:14 +0000

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.– Prov 30:5

It would be an interesting exercise to take every proverb listed in the book of Proverbs and sort them by topic. Nearly 2 weeks ago we covered this verse:

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.– Prov 18:10

… and here we are on the same subject. I wonder too – in how many verses across the entire Bible does God speak of His protection, or just say, “I am here”? We’re defenseless in so many ways, and it can be a great comfort to meditate on an all-powerful God who is present, or who will intercede on our behalf, or who limits what we must endure.

There is one difference in this verse though – here He is a shield rather than a tower. A shield is something that protects us, it’s true, but now we are on the attack rather than defense; in fact it’s more for deflection than outright protection (there’s got to be a song in there somewhere).

When we stand up for the Lord, our job is to trust the shield while we use the sword. Paul connects directly to this thought and this verse when he exhorts us to ‘In all circumstances take up the shield of faith’ (Eph 6:16 ESV) -

Here’s Baring-Gould, quoting from Matt 16:18 in his glorious hymn:

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never ‘gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
Sabine Baring-Gould, Onward Christian Soldiers

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 29:23 Sitting in the High Chair

Steve — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:20:59 +0000

The Great Banquet

One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.– Prov 29:23

Humility is the virtue, not arrogance or assumption. We often want ‘what’s coming to us’ – perhaps we should think more about hoping that we don’t get what we deserve. Jesus surely had the sentiment of this verse in mind when He saw the pushing and shoving for the best places at a feast:

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Luke 14:8-11

… and when He gave the Sermon on the Mount He thought of it again:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Mat 5:3

The poor in spirit recognize that (1) they bring nothing to the feast; (2) they are invited by Love’s Grace alone, and (3) they deserve only to sit at the farthest end from the high table, if there. In such humility God delights, for He can use that person within His kingdom – so He invites that person to the head table, to a seat of honor.

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 28:6 Being Poor can be Rich

Steve — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:20:40 +0000

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.– Prov 28:6

Oh, how money can turn the heart! When you’re rich, your whole life can revolve around the appreciation of money, often unconsciously. The thought of not having some convenience or luxury is unpleasant; but to be unable to send your child to the best college, or have the best insurance coverage is anathema. Wealth is the public indicator of success, and brings power and control with it. To be poor is to be weak and without support or admiration.

… or is it? If there truly is a world to come, and “we can’t take it with us”, then in economic terms everyone is equally poor in eternity – and we’d better reevaluate what we … um … value.

Integrity means ‘intact’ or ‘whole’, and by extension someone who holds to a set of high moral principles (MSN Encarta). It’s true that the author implies by context that being rich is better than being poor. However, he makes it clear that having high moral principles trumps either condition. And we should see the point: however it was acquired, wealth is an external characteristic, whilst integrity is internal. It demands discipline and will-power to take the high ground, especially when the alternatives are attractive or easy. We will make such choices in the next life, so that is the real treasure – one that we can take with us.

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 27:17 Iron Sharpens Iron

Steve — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:20:24 +0000

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.– Prov 27:17

Competition may be fun (if you’re competitive!), though physical competition isn’t very comfortable (I prefer humming). This verse carries the image of one man going up against another in some sport – wrestling, perhaps, or archery or fencing – and each is pushing the other to more effort, developing more strength and eventually more skill.

Alone, each man may have been pretty good, but together they can hone each other’s skills to a razor sharp level.

Similarly, accountability is never comfortable. It’s giving someone else authority over us, and we’ve fought all our lives to be competent and independent of others. We don’t want someone else in our face, monitoring what we do or say; we don’t want them critiquing our actions; we don’t want them calling us on doing (or not doing) something. Nor do we want to put ourselves under the authority of a mentor who will push us to do things we don’t particularly want to do, as if we were an apprentice.

I think accountability ‘is the new black’ where competition is concerned.

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 26:20 Poisonous Whispers

Steve — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:20:40 +0000

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.– Prov 26:20

There are times when justice should be demanded – when we should shout out for wrongs to be righted. Prophesying of the coming Day of the Lord, Amos spoke those glorious words:

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. – Amos 5:24

But there are times when we must just let something go. Sometimes it is a small hurt; sometimes it is an unintentional slight. The context for this particular verse is that of a quarrel: v 17 speaks of the passer-by meddling in someone else’s quarrel; vv 18-19 speaks of the person who says something hurtful or hateful and then claims to be ‘only joking’; v 21 speaks of the quarrelsome man who enjoys stirring up trouble, and v 22 of the whisperer whose gossiped poison incites like a wildfire.

And in the middle of all this is our verse 20. If we don’t let the whispering start, then the hate and hurt shut down. This is plain common sense, for all that it is contrary to human nature. Stop the whispering campaign. Why is it a ‘whisper’ in the first place? So that no one who knows the truth can hear the spreader of lies, rumors and innuendoes.

Get it all out in the open. Get everything on the up-and-up. Get it all explained.

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 25:2 The Glory in Concealment

Steve — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:20:44 +0000

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.– Prov 25:2

God who knows everything has no need to search – all is in plain sight to Him. We work and struggle, on the other hand, to uncover His secrets – not often meeting with success!:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! – Rom 11:33

We are not alone in searching – the prophets and even the angels themselves tried to uncover certain things:

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. – 1 Pet 1:10-12

And although many things remain hidden for now, some are revealed by the Holy Spirit and bring glory to God at the revelation. For instance:

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. – Matt 16:15-17

On the human side, there are things that must be uncovered. It was the duty of a king in David and Solomon’s time to sit in judgment. People throughout the land would come for justice that was both impartial and insightful. Solomon in particular was famed for his powers here, and it is perhaps not surprising that this chapter of Proverbs is titled ‘the proverbs of Solomon’. His most famous case seemed impossible at the time – the case of the two prostitutes (1 Kings 3:16-28) – and it was the wisdom of the king that uncovered the secret.

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 24:3 The House that Wisdom Built

Steve — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:20:06 +0000

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.– Prov 24:3-4

The idea of ‘building a house’ implies to us Westerners a literal building; but that is not the sense intended here – this is something more than bricks and mortar. In the first place, the word ‘house’ can refer to a home (of Mary & Martha, Luke 10:38); secondly it can be a family (Prov 14:1); it can also mean a dynasty (the house of Ahab, 2 Kings 8:27) or descendants (the house of David, Luke 2:4).

So there is an intimation of family welfare and growth in these verses; wisdom will enable the family to put down the roots needed to grow and flourish and endure through generations. In the house built through wisdom, there is safety:

“In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.– Isa 54:14

Again, wisdom should be seen as walking hand-in-hand with righteous thinking, and elsewhere there are warnings about folly and greed regarding the building of one’s house:

“Woe betide you who seek unjust gain for your house, to build your nest on a height, to save yourself from the grasp of wicked men!– Hab 2:9

Not to mention the warning from Christ Himself:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. … And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”– Matt 7:24,26

God employed wisdom to build His universe, as was mentioned in an earlier post, and as Jeremiah also tells us:

It is He who made the earth by his power, who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding stretched out the heavens.– Jer 10:12

… and His house is not limited to Heaven, or to the universe as a whole, but includes His people specifically:

For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.– 1 Cor 3:9

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 23:23 Buying Truth

Steve — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:20:17 +0000

Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.– Prov 23:23

I’m pretty sure this means neither “Be a student, never a teacher,” nor “acquire knowledge, but then horde it.”

The emphasis here is ‘acquire it’, and the sense is, ‘at any cost.’ See also Prov 2:2-4; Prov 4:5-7

Total Commitment

And what must you pay to acquire truth? Can money really buy it? In the West, we pay for tuition and are taught a set of facts, and we consider that to be knowledge. But to the ancient Hebrews the word ‘know’ was an inculcation – an absorbing or experiencing. ‘Knowing’ meant becoming one with that which was to be known – hence ‘Adam knew Eve’ and they became ‘one flesh’. Similarly, to know God means more than learning facts – we must commit wholeheartedly to obedience; like diving, it is a total commitment to Him – what Jesus called “losing one’s life” (“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Luke 9:24, ESV).

As such, the type of acquisition of truth, wisdom and understanding intended in today’s verse was an intimate and personal one; it cannot be gained through money, and doesn’t come from within. It must be bought with a journey, and possibly an arduous and even painful one at that. It is a characteristic that is gained through humility, observation, diligence and a host of other efforts. All of these characteristics take a great deal of labor and self-discipline. In the end, though, the author says it will be worth it.

Solomon was clearly someone who coveted wisdom beyond merely a set of facts. And to turn out as wise as Solomon, we must too.

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

Reading Proverbs – 22:13 Beware the Lion

Steve — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:20:29 +0000

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”– Prov 22:13

A funny-sounding proverb today. Not an excuse I’ve used a lot, myself, but then we don’t have a lot of lions around here. Of course, that was the point – there wasn’t a lion outside the sluggard’s house either. Rather than do anything like work, he came up with an excuse that would require him to stay in the safety of his house.

Having finished Batterson’s In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day ¹, I can now comfortably point to 2 Sam 23:20 as the example of what to do when you see a lion – chase it. Although not every lion’s paw is against us:

I’ve got a barn full of other excuses, of course. In fact, if you need one, give me a call – I’ll stop whatever I’m doing and spend a half-hour hand-crafting one just for you. My pleasure.

Mark Batterson. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars. Paperback. Multnomah Books, 2006 ↩

Tags: #AugustProverbs, Bible, Proverbs

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