Being an Example (Proverbs 24:30-34)

There are plenty of examples of how we should not conduct ourselves around us in the world. All we need to do is look around.

"I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man who was void of understanding; and, lo, it was all overgrown with thorns, and nettles had covered its face, and its stone wall was broken down." Proverbs 24:30-31, Amplified

Solomon is speaking of a personal experience that he had walking through his kingdom. He was traversed by a field that had become dilapidated and in disrepair. The condition of the field was obvious to the viewer. We must ask ourselves how we look to passers-by. Are we in ruin and in disrepair? Has our spiritual condition become so that it is covered in thorns? Have we become so lazy in our faith that we have forgotten our first love?

"The I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction." Proverbs 24:32, Amplified

Whether we like it or not, we are always going to be an example to someone. That example can be a positive or a negative one.

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man." Proverbs 24:33-34, Amplified

We can take a break from anything. Here in California a 10 minute break is earned after working four hours and a 30 minute break is earned after working six hours. We can take a break from watching television and many other things. But as we take those breaks, we move out of the loop and out of the know. Ask anyone who goes to the gym how detrimental a break from the gym can be. A break from the Lord can be just as detrimental. We become less in tune with His voice. Our devotional time needs to be redeveloped. I myself have fallen into this trap too many times.

Truth and Retribution (Proverbs 24:28-29)

"Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and deceive not with your lips." Proverbs 24:28, Amplified

Deception is such a vile thing. It violates the very nature of the human community. Why is this even in the Bible? Because we do it and need to be reminded that we are not to do it. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25, NKJV) Paul was actually quoting from the Old Testament. The prophet Zechariah was speaking of the Holy City of Jerusalem of the future. "These are the things you shall: speak each man the truth to his neighbor, give judgements in your gates for truth, justice, and peace." (Zechariah 18:16, NKJV) If this is the kind of people we are going to be in the New Jerusalem, why should we not hold ourselves to that same standard now?

"Say not, I will do to him as he has dome to me; I will pay the man back for his deed." Proverbs 24:29, Amplified

Retribution is another part of the nature of man. The Bible is riddled with verses concerning our desire to take vengeance for ourselves. "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:17, 19-21, NKJV) If anyone has our backs, the Lord does. He is the unbiased party in any and every conflict and He knows how to act appropriately concerning vengeance. He sees the circumstances that we do not.

Change (Proverbs 24:27)

Change is a good thing. In fact if we want to change, our environment must change.

"[Put first things first.] Prepare your work outside, and get it ready for yourself in the field, and afterward build your house and establish your home." Proverbs 24:27, Amplified

What Solomon is trying to say here is that we must make the environment around the house suitable for habitation before it is habitable. In other words, clean it up, make it ready, make it safe, then build the home.

It is much like our Christian walk. Once we initially come to the Lord, a light is turned on within the soul. But how does one walk with the Lord if he does not change his environment? I have heard the miracle of Lazars being raised from the dead as a correlation to being born again. The linen coverings were drenched with the bodily fluids, he had little to no mobility and he couldn't even see because his head was covered in a shroud. Jesus told those around him to loose him. You see, Lazarus needed help being loosed from those death clothes.

Our Christian walk can be likened to this in that as we shed those death shrouds we become new men. But take it a step further and change the environment. What does that mean? Change your friends, change habits, change what you watch what you listen to. Change everything. Once you have made the outside ready then you will be ready to build your home, a home established in peace.

Kissing the Lips of Friends and Brothers (Proverbs 24:26)

"He kisses the lips [and wins the hearts of men] who gives a right answer." Proverbs 24:26, Amplified

This verse is all about honesty and integrity. We must not think of kissing in the sense that most of us do. The word here for "kiss" actually means to "fasten up". In other words the one who gives an honest and correct answer makes others ready. Ready for what? Anything and everything. If we wish to make others ready, then we too must be in tune with the Lord. As I study more and more, I find that Christianity is about community. Solitude brings destruction on a man, but when he immerses himself into a community of believers, then he has strength.

Judging (Proverbs 24:23-25)

To be partial with someone is unacceptable to the Lord.

"These are also sayings of the wise. To discriminate and be partial, having respect of a person in judging is not good. He who says to the wicked, you are righteous and innocent, peoples will curse him, nations will defy and abhor him." Proverbs 24:23-24, Amplified

The judges that Solomon had in mind were sitting at the gate of the city. They were the ones to hear all the cases and were to be unbiased in their decisions, only allowing for the law to interpret judgement. Leniency is one thing, but to purposefully absolve any wrong doer just because violates the hearts of men. The heart of man can take only so much injustice before it must act.

"But to those [upright judges] who rebuke the wicked it is well and they will find delight, and good blessing will be upon them." Proverbs 24:25, Amplified

Not much more needs to be said about this. It is important for us to constantly read our Bibles and pray everyday. This is not a prescription for life, but it is a guaranteed way for us to hear the voice of the Lord. There is no method to judging, in fact we are encouraged to judge each other, but not in the way that you might think. "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smaller matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?" (First Corinthians 6:1-3, NKJV) Judging between brothers and sisters in the Lord, that is what the church must do; but do it righteously they must without bias.

Constant (Proverbs 24:21-22)

Every person needs a constant in their lives, something that never changes. Humans are given to change, but Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

"My son, reverently fear the Lord and the king, and do not associate with those who are given to change [of allegiance, and are revolutionary]; for their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knows the punishment and ruin which both [the Lord and the king] will bring upon the rebellious?" Proverbs 24:21-22, Amplified

Every time we make the decision to sin, we become those revolutionaries against the Lord. Our allegiance has momentarily changed from the Spirit to the flesh. It is so important for us to have the constant of Jesus on our lives to be that anchor. I am reminded of the scene in "The Patriot" when the militia is going against the English and they are overcome and they begin to retreat. Benjamin Martin sees this and he rides to cut off the retreaters, waving the American flag. This is what they need to gather the strength to overcome their fears. Jesus Christ is that very same banner. He is our strength. He is our freedom. He is our constant.

Suffix of the Psalm (Proverbs 24:19-20)

David, in the Psalms, often wrote of the prosperity of the wicked but he always suffixed his thoughts with the goodness of the Lord. Solomon does the same thing here.

"Fret not yourself because of evil doers, neither be envious of the wicked; for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out." Proverbs 24:19-20, Amplified

The "Suffix of the Psalm" is always focused on the goodness of the Lord. David would always write about how the wicked prospered and how great their lives seemed to be. He would speak of the frustration with living a life devoted to God and how it seemed to go nowhere. But in the "Suffix" David turned his gaze upon his God and remembered His goodness and His mercy. Our lives are no different. My house is currently in foreclosure and I have the opportunity to blame and complain about how those not living godly have huge houses. But in the "Suffix", I know that the Lord has the best for me.

Yes there are those out there whose lives are not lived accordingly to the Word, but I know that the Lord knows. He sees. He rewards.

Turning Away Wrath (Proverbs 24:17-18)

Laughing at the demise of your enemy is never a good thing. The Lord desires that all come to Him, and if we laugh at our enemy who has not turned to Him, how much better are we?

"Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown; lest the Lord see it, and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender]." Proverbs 24:17-18, Amplified

I have been in this very same place where I watched as someone I did not like get exactly what they deserved. I was so very happy to see them fall. Not soon after, though, they began to prosper again because I found such great pleasure in their demise. The Lord does not enjoy disciplining, this is not His heart, but His nature must exact justice on all evils.

Just for the record, however, this is the first time in 697 verses that I disagree with the translation of the Amplified Version. At the end of verse 18 it seems that the translators thought that the Lord would turn His wrath away from the deserving to those who found pleasure in the other's demise. There is no hint of that in the original language.

Rising Seven Times (Proverbs 24:15-16)

Falling is falling. Failing is failing. The difference between us and the world is that we will rise up again.

"Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the [uncompromisingly] righteous - the upright, in right standing with God; destroy not his fold or his resting place; for a righteous man falls seven times an rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity." Proverbs 24:15-16, Amplified

The protects those who belong to Him. We all make mistakes but He is there to help us up again. The wicked man is overthrown because his strength resides within himself. Our strength resides in the Lord. Micah wrote, "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light on me." (Micah 7:8, NKJV) He always covers those who are His children.

In the book of Job, after everything has happened to him and he is sitting alone, three friends come to his side to try and comfort him (poorly I might add). Eliphaz, one of the three, says something profound, considering that Job has sinned and this is why God has judged him so. But we know that the Lord was bragging on Job to Satan. God allowed for Satan to affect Job's life. Though Eliphaz is wrong in that Job had not sinned, what he said is no less profound. "Behold, happy is the man whom the Lord corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds but His hands make whole. He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you." (Job 5:17-19, NKJV)

What is it about the number seven that is so significant? Seven is the number of completion (i.e. seven days complete one week). I think that we need not focus on the seven times in which the man falls, rather focus on the seven times that he arises. It is a complete rising. We need not hobble or hunch our bodies in condemnation. There is no condemnation in Christ. Yes, we fall. But by His blood, we rise completely.

Read Your Bible and Pray Everyday (Proverbs 24:13-14)

The Word of God is so sweet to the human soul. But we must pick it up ourselves and ingest it ourselves.

"My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the drippings of honeycomb are sweet to your taste. So shall you know skillful and godly Wisdom to be to your life; if you find it, then shall there be a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off." Proverbs 24:13-14, Amplified

Most of us seem to think that the reading of the Word, or even just developing a devotional time with the Lord is so much work. But what Solomon is saying here is that if we just take the time, we would find it to be much different than we imagined it would be. As we begin to take those little bites of the Word everyday, we might just find it is like the sweetness of the honeycomb. And as we begin to take those little bites everyday, we might just become hungry for more. And as we begin to take those little bites everyday, we might just graduate to a full blown meal.

The only way one can receive a reward is to finish something or even accomplish a task. I am not suggesting that going to is in the hand of the Christian, but how are we to hear the voice of our Father? Even from a human stand point, it takes two to have a conversation. It isn't much of a conversation if there is only one participant. Our relationship is no different with the Lord. Prayer is how we speak to Him and the Word is how He speaks to us. As we read more and more everyday, His voice becomes more distinct and familiar to us, our relationship becomes even stronger with Him. Read your Bible and pray everyday.

The Slaughter House (Proverbs 24:11-12)

It is our job, as followers and imitators or Christ, to act accordingly. As we see others floundering in this life, we must step up and guide them toward the light. These cannot be forcible actions, but this is done out of love. No one can be pushed toward the light, rather they must only be shown the way.

"Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter hold back [from their doom]. If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the hearts perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works?" Proverbs 24:11-12, Amplified

This is not just a good suggestion. From the language of the verse it seems to be more of a command. We are to deliver those who are going toward the slaughter. What exactly is that slaughter? Take for instance a cow. When it is time, the cow is taken to the slaughter house in order to be killed and prepared for consumption. People in that town, or place, know exactly what the slaughter house looks like as they drive by. There is no mistaking it. We, too, as Christians can come to a place where we can look at another life and see that they are headed toward that slaughter house. Those who are "tottering" toward the slaughter house are living a life that is contrary to the Lord. We all know the signs. We can never claim ignorance, only cowardice. As we fail to perform and act accordingly to our Father, He weighs the heart. He knows the true intent, or lack of, within our hearts.