Saturday, October 12, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 10:10-13


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Wisdom On Display: Wisdom Is Beneficial To Those Around Us: Proverbs 10:10-13
10) He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
11) The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12) Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
13) In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding.

In this section of Scripture, we will see that others who are around us can gain many benefits from our wisdom...

EXPOSITION:

10) He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
We now have two opposite types of fools being described:
1.  the “quiet” fool who guards his motives and true desires by working behind people’s backs to take advantage of them will cause painful wounds to their victim, and eventually, to themselves.
2.  the “boisterous” fool who speaks foolishly, revealing everything that is taking place in his mind, will end in utter ruin when all his workings are brought into the public eye.

This proverb reminds us that not all men are wise, nor is their speech beneficial.

“Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.”   (Psalms 35:19)


11) The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
1.  The words that a Godly man speaks is a source of life for those who will hear him.
2.  The words of the foolish and ungodly will create havoc and ruin in the lives of others, leaving him ashamed and without excuse.

This proverb reminds us of that both extended physical life and eternal life can be found when the message of the wise is heeded.

“The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.  The law of his God [is] in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”   (Psalms 37:30-31)


12) Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
1.  The foolish who hate others arouses feelings of enmity and anger where no previously existed.
2.  The wise who love others based on the commands of the Lord, will show forgiveness and “forgetfulness” as they put wrongs done against them behind.

This proverb reveals to us that the wise are a great source of forgiveness, encouragement and second chances.

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”   (1 Peter 4:8)



13) In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding.
1. The speech of those who see the true nature of things will speak wise words for the benefit of others.
2. Those who do not understand the true nature of things, have their priorities misplaced, living selfish lives and awaiting deserved temporal and eternal punishment.

This proverbs emphasizes and summarizes that the lives of those who are godly are of great benefit to those around them.

“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”   (Isaiah 50:4)

“Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.”   (Psalms 32:9)


SUMMARY:
Not simply for our benefit, but for the benefit of our family, friends, and acquaintances, let us live lives of wisdom.  When tempted to depart from the way of wisdom, let’s always remember we are not only harming ourselves but also those who we love and know.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

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Friday, October 11, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 10:8-9


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Wisdom On Display: Wisdom Results In Godly Living and Peace: Proverbs 10:8-9
8) The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
9) He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

In this section of Scripture we will see that, when we live wise lives, we will be glorifying to God and obedient to His Word….

EXPOSITION:
8) The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
1.  Those whose desires long for His Word will eagerly accept and fulfill the responsibilities God has given to Him
2.  Those who speak meaninglessly and silly things will be overthrown and disgraced.

In this proverb, the way in which we accept God’s instructions for our lives is in view… A man should be willing to silently receive instruction from the Lord and apply it to his life. For those who quickly speak out of turn, questioning the Lord and His desires for his life, he is headed for a life of embarrassment.

“Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”   (James 3:13)

“The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.”   (Ecclesiastes 10:12)


9) He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
1.  He that lives an honest, faithful lifestyle can be confident that he is hidden from harm
2.  He that lives a twisted, deceitful, perverted lifestyle can be certain that he will be found out and face retribution for his dishonesty

In this proverb, we find the important of “following through” our receipt of God’s instructions with our application of His instructions to our lives….  Once received His instructions bring us peace and security when they are applied to our lives.  Those of us who do not receive His instructions, or do not apply them to our lives, we can only look forward to being brought to shame and reprisal at the hands of the Lord.

“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;  He shall dwell on high: his place of defence [shall be] the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters [shall be] sure.”   (Isaiah 33:15-16)

“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.”   (Luke 12:1-2)


SUMMARY:

Wisdom in our life results in the graces of Godly living and peace.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 10:2-5


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Wisdom On Display: Wisdom Results In Material (Earthly) Needs Supplied: Proverbs 10:2-5
2) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
3) The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
4) He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5) He that gathereth in summer [is] a wise son: [but] he that sleepeth in harvest [is] a son that causeth shame.


INTRODUCTION:
Solomon now explains how our material needs can be supplied through wisdom (the application of God’s Word to our lives). …

EXPOSITION:

2) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Solomon begins by explaining to us the greatest benefit that comes with the application of wisdom…. It is the receipt of spiritual life….
1.  The possessions stored up through evil actions have absolutely no eternal benefits.
2.  When we wisely apply God’s Word (the gospel) to our lives, we receive Christ’s righteousness, this will deliver us from spiritual death and give us entrance to eternal life.  This is the supreme benefit of wisdom.

“They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;  None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:  (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)  That he should still live for ever, [and] not see corruption.  For he seeth [that] wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.”   (Psalms 49:6-10)

However, Solomon now reminds us that there are many other benefits of lesser value to be gained through wisdom.  In this case, it is the supply of our material needs…

3) The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
1. The Lord will not allow His righteous people (those who wisely apply His Word to their decisions and actions) to lack earthy, physical needs. 
2.  The Lord will snatch away the sinful gains of those who ignore His Word and the application of it.  When all is said and done, their unlawful gain will be of no lasting benefit to them.

“And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.  The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.  Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?”
 (Luke 12:22-24)

4) He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
1.  Those who foolishly seek to take the “easy way out” by choosing to deceive and oppress others instead of securing their needs in a wise way.  Eventually, they will become destitute and needy in spite of their abusive gains.  This is in comparison to…
2.  Those who are eager and diligent to apply God’s Word to their lives.  They will provide for their physical needs through honorable means. They will be graced with supplied needs and eternal rewards for the wise life they are living.

“Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the poor; [because] he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;   Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.  There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.  In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.”   (Job 20:19-22)

5) He that gathereth in summer [is] a wise son: [but] he that sleepeth in harvest [is] a son that causeth shame.
1.  A wise person will plan ahead to meet their future needs.  They will harvest crops in the summer for use in the winter.
2.  A foolish person who doesn’t look ahead will rest during the harvest season and run short of the necessities of life when winter comes.  It is this foolish man that brings shame and disappointment upon his parents.

Remember the lesson taught to us by the little ant….

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,  Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.  How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?  [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”   (Proverbs 6:6-11)


SUMMARY:
We should never forget that the greatest blessings we receive from living wise lives are eternal and spiritual in nature.   However the blessings of wisdom are not limited to that which is spiritual. 

The application of wisdom is the best way to ensure that our earthly needs will be supplied.  It is through wisdom that we can lawfully secure our needs.  This is done through perceiving our future needs and how is the best, most God-honoring way to secure those needs.   With this attitude comes the blessings of God upon our efforts. 

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 10:1


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Wisdom On Display: Wisdom Makes A Godly Parent’s Heart Glad: Proverbs 10:1
1) The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the heaviness of his mother.

INTRODUCTION:
In Proverbs chapter 10, we will be seeing a variety of ways that wisdom is displayed in the lives of God’s people. 

In our first proverb, we will be looking at a parent’s great joy when they see their children are living lives based upon the wise counsels of God…

EXPOSITION:
1) The proverbs of Solomon.
The chapter begins by reminding us that Solomon (“peaceful”) is the man used by God to pen His proverbs for our edification.

A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son [is] the heaviness of his mother.
Wisdom displayed in the life of a child affects the life of the parent…

1. An offspring that applies God’s Word to their life brightens their parent’s life bringing them great joy. 
2. However, a child that shows he is a fool, unable to discern the importance and benefits of the things of God, causes the heart of their parents to be afflicted with loss and great grief.

Please notice that this proverb not only emphasizes for us the need to apply wisdom to our life practices, but it also reminds us of the parent’s great desire for the spiritual well-being of their children.  Although a parent’s first desire should be to see their children as faithful servants of Christ, unfortunately there are times this is not the case.  Some parents are more concerned about the physical and material things, that this world has to offer. How often do parents discourage a child’s desire to submit to a specific call of the Lord, because that call may require sacrifice. Sacrifice on the part of the child or sacrifice on the part of the parent….

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”   (Romans 12:1-2)
 

Parents, who should have great joy in seeing their children in submission to God’s call, are saddened at the thought of their children having to sacrifice the material, physical possessions and experiences this world may have to offer.  The child is willing to place Christ first and make these great sacrifices, but for many parents it is painful to watch them “miss out” on the things of the world….

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  (Romans 8:17-18)
 

The parents may be called upon to sacrifice time spent with their children or grandchildren.  They may have to sell the family business to a stranger, because their child cannot manage the business.   They may have to stand by and see thousands of dollars wasted that had been paid for their child’s education, when the child turns their back on their worldly profession to fulfill the responsibilities God has given to them.  The list of possibilities is endless.

“Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.  But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.”   (Mark 10:28-31)


In spite of all of this, any wise parent will take great joy in seeing their children making the Word and will of God the first priority in their life.  Their joy will not be based upon the fleeting offerings of this world, but on a firm, spiritual foundation knowing that their child is glorifying God in their life, being used of the Lord to meet the needs of others and reaping eternal spiritual blessings…

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”   (Philippians 3:7-11)



SUMMARY:
May we all seek to live wise lives of service for Christ.  In doing so, we will be spiritually benefiting ourselves and glorifying our Lord while helping others in need.

If we have been blessed with Godly parents who understand the importance of putting the things of God first in our lives, let us all be thankful to the Lord for the wonderful parents He has given to us. For those whose parents have yet to come to an understanding of the importance of the things of God, let us be in prayer, seeking the Lord grace and the ability to set the proper example for them in our lives.

  
By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

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Saturday, October 5, 2013

“SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 9:18”


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

A Grand Comparison: The Companions Of Foolishness: Prov 9:18

18) But he knoweth not that the dead [are] there; [and that] her guests [are] in the depths of hell.


INTRODUCTION:
In this set of Proverbs we find the 2nd part of a split comparison that was begun in verse 10. In vs 10, it was taught that Wisdom has three companions…
1. Fear of the Lord
2. Knowledge of the Holy
3. Understanding

Now the comparison continues by looking at the two companions of foolishness: the dead and foolishness’ guests that will reside in hell…

EXPOSITION:

18) But he knoweth not that the dead [are] there; [and that] her guests [are] in the depths of hell.
Those who accept the invitation of foolishness do not understand that the students of foolishness are:
1.  the dead – those who are spiritually dead (separated from God) and soon to enter eternal death (eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire)
2. her guests that are in the depths of hell – those who have already died physically who are facing eternal damnation. 

“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”   (2 Peter 3:5-7)

“They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.  I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] children of the most High.  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.”   (Psalms 82:5-8)


SUMMARY:
What a difference can be seen between the companions of wisdom and those of foolishness!   Wisdom’s companions lead us to Christ, salvation, eternal life and faithful service to Him.  While foolishness’ companions lead us to separation from God, a life of wasted living, and eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire.  If all men could only come to understand these companions, they would go racing to Wisdom and the Lord Jesus, while turning their backs on foolishness and the eternal damnation that awaits. 
  
By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

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