Sunday, May 24, 2015

Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24: Thirty Sayings of the Wise (Cont.).
Saying 20: Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence. 
Saying 21: By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.
Saying 22:  The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength; surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.
Saying 23: Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
Saying 24: Whoever plots evil will be known as a schemer; the schemes of folly are sin.
Saying 25: If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength; rescue those being led astray to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
Saying 26: Eat honey, my son, for it is good; know also that wisdom is like honey for you.
Saying 27: Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place; for through the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. 
Saying 28: Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.
Saying 29: Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoers has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
Saying 30: Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials.

Further Sayings of the Wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good; An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips; Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready, after that build your house; Do not testify against your neighbor without cause; A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

God does not want us to associate with the wicked, to envy their lives, or to desire their company. The hearts of the wicked plot violence and God's will is for us to be at peace with one another. A house is built by wisdom and established through understanding. Wisdom and knowledge provide power and strength. God wants us to seek out advisers because victory is won through many advisers. We are told to rescue those being led to death and hold back those being taken to slaughter. God wants us to lead as many people to life (God) as we can and to prevent them from death (hell). The righteous will always rise again, this is a promise, even though we might fall seven times. God does not want us to rejoice when our enemy falls. It is God's will that we would allow him to punish our enemy, but God still loves him or her. The punishment is for the good of our enemy just as discipline is for the good of our children. God's will is that we would not be afraid of evil because he gives us this promise that the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.  

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