January, 2010

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A Look at Proverbs 10.27

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

Pr 10:27
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

Parallelism Examined

27a

27b

(the years of the righteous)

the years of the wicked

(who practice) the fear of the Lord

(who have not the fear of the Lord)

prolong life (days)

will be shortened (life/days)

Prolong –

Isa38.15: 15 years added to Hezekiah’s life!

Gen30.22-24: Rachel named her son with a request for another son, note NASB margin, “add to me” — Joseph in Hebrew!

Ps71.14: NASB margin, “add upon all Your praise” — pile up “Praise”!

Acts2.41, 47; 5.14; 11.24: God “adds to” the church of Jesus! This is a key to the message of Acts!

Years –

Also used of character, way, or life period

Isa16.14; 21.16: years of a hired man — wearisome, dreadful, wearing down

Isa61.2: year of favor — salvation through the Messiah, cf Lev25.10-11, year of release; Lev25.13, year of Jubilee; Dt15.1; 31.10, year of remission

Shortened – be short, impatient, vexed, grieved, inadequate

e.g. — Num11.23; Isa50.2; 59.1 — “the Lord’s hand is not short,” i.e., inadequate, unable to accomplish what is intended, desired, needed!

References to consider:

Wicked

cf Pr10.2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 20, 24, 25 for past looks at this person. The most basic characteristic of the wicked is a craving for evil, 21.10, which they absorb, 4.17.

Righteous

The righteous/wise path begins with a right relationship and response to the Lord, Pr1.7.

They commit their conduct to the Lord, Pr16.3.

They keep from evil, Pr16.6, 17.

Life belongs to the Wise

cf Pr10.16-17; 11.19; 14.27; 16.22; 19.23; 22.4

Sharpening for my life today:

This gem from Proverbs touches on key truth for a trait to be practiced!

As some our examples above show, e.g., Isaiah and Rachel, it is essential to recognize the Lord as the Author and Sustainer of Life! The wise, fruitful, godly life both has knowledge of the Lord and responds to the Lord in and through their life.

Putting the Lord is His place in our lives is far more than lip service, getting our religious card punched on a regular basis, or jumping through some religious hoop! Check out the theme of Proverbs below and spend some time thinking on this great direction for life. Ask, “Am I skirting issues, paying attention to the particulars of the Lord’s Word and Ways,” actually putting the Lord is His proper place in my life?

If the fear of the Lord is the awesome, reverential, trustful, obedience

 . . . where am I in awe of the Lord?

 . . . where am I in reverence of the Lord?

 . . . where am I in trust of the Lord?

 . . . where am I in obedience to the Lord?

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A Look at Proverbs 10.26

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Pr 10:26
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.

The Parts:

Parallelism Examined

26a

26b

This is “emblematic parallelism” where a “figure” is set next to a literal situation.

It has been called “cerebral cartooning” (William Mouser)!

One side is the picture, the other side is the caption.

Like vinegar to the teeth

(like) smoke to the eyes

So is the lazy one

to those who send him

Solomon has given us a riddle inviting our comparison.

We are called to “unravel” this picture!

lazy – sluggish, slow, heavy of movement. The root word is likely related to the word for “bone” which in the Old Testament is a picture of strength and health. We could say “lazy-bones” and not be too far off!

Compare:

            vinegar to the teeth –

            smoke to the eyes –

            lazy one to those who send him –

References to consider:

Understanding the Sluggard / Lazy

They make excuses to avoid work, Pr26.13; 22.13
Their way is blocked with thorns, Pr15.19
They will not begin things, Pr6.9-10
They will not finish things, Pr12.27; 19.24; 26.15
They will not face things, Pr22.13; 26.16; 20.4
They must be prodded, Pr6.6-8
They don’t understand time, Pr6.6-11
They learn too late, Pr6.6; 24.30-31

Contrast the Diligent:

Pr 10:4
4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Pr 12:24
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.

Pr 13:4
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.

Pr 21:5
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Sharpening for my life today:

Pr 15:19
19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.

Diligence is not a personality trait! It’s a moral issue! Diligence is a mark of maturity! It’s far better to tell someone “no” than to be unreliable.

If you struggle with diligence, what can you learn here and then do to grow in this area?

(consider: Pay attention to your responsibilities. Choose where to put your efforts. Seek the Lord’s provision of someone to come alongside you and mentor you in this area.)

 

If someone you’re working with struggles in this area, what can you learn here so you can share the Lord’s wisdom with them and help them grow?

(consider: Give them “small jobs” and let the develop success in diligence. Give them more “small jobs” so they build confidence, strength, and habits. Speak honestly with them, Pr27.6.)

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