Category: Proverbs (Page 1 of 2)

All & Only

August 23, 2022 / admin / 0 Comments

“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6)

“Every word of God . . . Do not add to his words.” All and only.

Do not doubt, neglect, or fail to believe any word of God. “Every word of God proves true.” “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45). “. . . not one word has failed . . . all have come to pass . . . all have been fulfilled for you” (Joshua 23:14-15). “Every word”!

But only God’s word: “Do not add to his words.” Do not canonize your own thoughts. His words—not my thoughts about His words, not my logical deductions about His words, not my applications of His words.

His words – all and only.

His word “proves true.” My words may be “found a liar.” Note the two outcomes: “proves” and “found.” Words are not idle things. Words have consequences. Words determine destinies.

Let God’s word stand. Let my words bow to His.

Review: Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary

April 24, 2022 / admin / 0 Comments

I just discovered this video review of my Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary. I think it gives you a good sense of the nature of the commentary.

I hope you find it helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm08TvkqgQQ

Opportunities and Memories

August 13, 2015 / admin / 0 Comments

Live wisely today, for you are making tomorrow’s memories. And memories are powerful things, for good or ill.

“The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (Prov. 10:7)

“Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Matt. 26:13)

Which One is Right?

September 11, 2013 / admin

“The first to plead his case seems just, Until another comes and examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17)

“The first evidence always sounds like the only evidence until further investigation takes place. The two lines of this proverb form one continuous sentence. The context appears to be that of a court of law, yet the principle of the proverb applies far more widely. The law demanded that judges impartially hear both sides of a dispute (Deut. 1:16). This is also essential for a parent, counselor or pastor — anyone who deals with people. Listening before forming a fixed opinion is mandatory, if justice is to be done (Prov. 18:2, 13).

The difference between hasty judgement and the right judgment comes when one ‘examines’ that which seems so obvious. The verb means to search, investigate or to examine. It describes an intensive, searching probe for the truth.[i] In relationships, a ponderous question is often more useful than a quick answer.” (p.402, Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary)

[i]. Wolf, Herbert, ‘h~qar,’ Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), 1:318.

Where is the Wisdom?

April 22, 2013 / admin

“Few pursuits of the human heart predate our search for wisdom. The tempter was confident that, even in a perfect world, his seductions would find an ear once the woman saw ‘that the tree was desirable to make one wise’ (Gen. 3:6). The record of our rebel race since that time reveals discoveries of knowledge and technology that are nothing short of breathtaking. Yet, T.S. Eliot still rightly asks: ‘Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?’

At the dawn of the nuclear age, General Omar Bradley rightly observed, ‘Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.’ The exponential growth of technological knowledge since that day has rendered us neither wiser nor godlier. We have, however, lost something priceless, something that no amount of mere information can regain for us.

Now, more than ever, we must know wisdom and no better starting point for doing so can be found than the Book of Proverbs. From its pages, God promises to set us on ‘The path of life’ (Prov. 15:24) and to rescue us from ‘the way of death’ (14:12; 16:25).” (Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary, p.11)