Heavenhigh

Trust And Faith!

# 48 2023 Dev. Ge. 41:15-16. Trust And Faith! Read all of chapter forty one first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.41:15-16 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’”

Ch.41 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. But Joseph had to wait two more years after the cup bearer was restored to Pharaoh’s staff. We may be sure Joseph was discouraged as any one of us would be. But, like what we should do, Joseph trusted that God had a purpose for him. Trust and faith comes to bear in this chapter.

Vs.1-8 Pharaoh’s dreams; seven fat cows and seven emaciated cows. seven full heads of wheat and seven withered heads of wheat. All the wise men in Egypt could not tell Pharaoh what his dreams meant.

Vs.9-14 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings…” and he told Pharaoh that Joseph had interpreted his and the chief bakers dreams and they came out as he had interpreted them. “So pharaoh sent for Joseph…”

Vs15-16 “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’” Joseph did not take credit for himself but honored God!

Vs.17- 24 Pharaoh tells Joseph his dreams.

Vs.25-32 “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years… The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.’”

But Joseph was not done interpreting. He repeats “God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do” There will be seven years of great abundance and the seven years that follow will be severe and the good years will be forgotten.

The Spirit moved Joseph to convince Pharaoh that this will actually happen, he adds what we all have learned when reading scripture; when something is repeated it is more important. So God sent Pharaoh two dreams and as Joseph points out: ‘The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.’”

Vs.33-40 The Spirit was not done with advising Pharaoh; Joseph goes on: “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

So Pharaoh asked them, his officials, “Can we find anyone like this man, one In whom is the spirit of God?”

Vs.41-56 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” God had been preparing Joseph all this time; honing his management skills in Potiphar’s household, and teaching him humility and trust in jail. All this time Satan was tempting him and trying to kill him, first his brothers and then being accused of rape. But God was in control and protecting Joseph and preparing him. God always protect and prepares us because for all of us, serous followers of Jesus, God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. Count on it!

Pharaoh, renamed him and gave him a wife, Asenath, daughter of Potiphara priest of On (Heliopolis). Was this an attempt on Pharaoh’s part to influence Joseph? There is no indication that Joseph was influenced by the religion of Egypt. During the years of plenty Joseph collected so much grain he was no longer recording it. The famine that followed was so severe that “all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph…” It is hard to know why God allowed an extreme famine, but we know that God wanted to build up His people into a nation. God did so in isolation, until they were ready to possess the promised land. God’s Grace and Salvation today mirrors what happened in Egypt. We have a lot to be thankful for!

Justice!

# 47 2023 Dev. Prov. 29:7. Justice! Read all of chapter twenty nine first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Prov. 29:7 “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”

Prov. 29 continues with the proverbs of Solomon. In this chapter he uses couplets comparing the just and the unjust and the righteous with the wicked.

Vs.1-9 The stubborn are “without remedy” The righteous are wise. They “thrive” and “the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”Righteousness brings joy. “By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy…tear it down.” Yes, we see it happening today! “Those who flatter” can’t be trusted. “Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy”. “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.” Don’t go to court with a fool. We see what is happening with the lack of prosecution, “and there is no peace.”

Vs.10-18 “The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.” That was going on then and is going on today! “Fools…rage but the wise bring calm… If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.” We all have this in common, “The Lord gives sight to the eyes…” What do we see?

“If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever. A rod and reprimand impart wisdom…” lack of discipline “disgraces its mother,” and father. “When the wicked thrive, so does sin… Discipline your children, and they will give you peace… Where there is no revelation, (God’s Word) people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

Vs.19-27 “Servants (People) cannot be corrected by mere words…” wages are required. For slaves, in the day, good treatment is required. Do not “speak in hast… A servant ( a child or slave) pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent. An angry person stirs up conflict, and… commits many sins. Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.”

“The accomplices of thieves… dare not testify.” Do not fear man “but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe,” not from leaders, “but it is from the Lord that one gets justice. The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.” Righteousness and wickedness are in a constant battle, good and evil are opposed to each other, they have to be; one brings peace and the other brings chaos.

But Jesus says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Amen and Amen

Dreams!

# 46 2023 Dev. Ge. 40:8b. Dreams! Read all of chapter forty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.40:8b “Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’”

Ch.40 continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. God needed Joseph to be in this particular jail where he would meet two of Pharaoh’s officials who got in trouble with the Pharaoh. At this time and in the third world today dreams, have meaning. Some Africans I know converted to Christianity because of a dream they had.

Vs.1-4 “Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt.” He locked up both of them in the house of the captain of the guard and Joseph was assigned to them.

Vs.5-8 “After they had been in custody for some time,” This I think was longer than shorter, six months or so. It appears Joseph had been locked up for possibly a year. One night, both the baker and the cup bearer had dreams. It appears they were very depressed by their dreams. “Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.’”

Vs.9-15 The cup bearer tells his dream, three branches appeared, the blossoms immediately produced grapes, I squeezed them into the king’s cup and put the cup in the kings hand. Joseph interprets, the branches are three days and Pharaoh will restore you to your former position.

But Joseph makes an appeal, “please remember me to the Pharaoh because I have done nothing to deserve being locked up.” From my experience, doing ministry in jail, in prison everyone claims to be innocent.

Vs.16-19 “When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, ‘I too had a dream:’” He dreamed to have three baskets on his head, full of different breads “but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.” The interpretation was not positive. The baker would be executed in three days.

Vs.20-23 “Now the third day was Pharaoh birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials.” During the feast Pharaoh restored the cup bearer and executed the baker, “just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.”

We imagine Joseph was disappointed and dejected. Like us he would expect something to happen, like us he was disappointed, but like us sometimes we have to wait. God’s timing is not our timing. Amen! Joseph had to wait for two more years!

Understanding Right and Wrong!

# 45 2023 Dev. Prov. 28:5. Understanding Right and Wrong! Read all of chapter twenty eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 28:5 “Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”

Proverbs 28 continues with more proverbs of Solomon. This chapter continues using couplets mostly in opposites. This chapter is about the result of doing right and the effect of doing wrong.

Vs.1-5 The righteous and the wicked! “The wicked flee…but the righteous are bold… but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.” O, Lord! We desire order!

Those who oppress the poor are like a destructive storm! “Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked… Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”

Vs.6-16 The rich and the poor! “Better poor… and blameless, than rich… and perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Exploiting “the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. If anyone turns a deaf ear to my (God’s) instruction, even their prayers are detestable.”

Leading good people astray, comes back on them. “But the blameless will receive a good inheritance.” The rich think they are wise, the poor know the truth. “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.” Is it time to hide and to vote?… Whoever conceals their sin…” loses“who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Amen!

“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” A wicked ruler, destroys “a helpless people.” A wicked ruler extorts “but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.” We need to pay more attention to whom we vote for to be our leaders.

Vs.17-28 Practical advice. Unrepentant murderers seek death. “Let no-one hold them back. The one blameless… is kept safe, but…whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.” Is that Gahanna?

“Partiality” is bad, a person does wrong when in need, is also bad. Anyone “eager to get rich are unaware that poverty awaits them. Whoever rebukes…gain favor, rather…a flattering tongue. Whoever robs their father or mother and says, ‘It’s not wrong.’” Is partner to one who destroys.”

“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. Those who give to the poor will lack nothing., but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.” Amen, don’t we know it? Where is our human empathy, or has our basic human love gone cold?

God’s Providence

# 44 2023 Dev. Ge. 39:2 God’s Provision! Read all of chapter thirty nine first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.39:2 “The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”

Ch.39 is the story of Joseph in Egypt. God placed Joseph where he needed him to be to fulfill God’s purposes. I believe Joseph understood that God was with him, but I imagine he wondered where this was all going. It did not happen overnight. Like most of us, he was a little impatient.

Vs.1-6 It must have been several years before Joseph was trusted and Potiphar put him in charge of all his goods and business. God empowered Joseph to make the right decisions in order to prosper his master’s estate. Does God still empower people like that today? Yes He does, even unbelievers because He has a purpose for them as well, often for the good of God’s followers. Of course God empowers all believers to fulfill His purposes, it is the function of the Holy Spirit in our lives insofar as we listen to the Spirit. The Spirit does not force us and we may even push Him away in some instances. Listen carefully for the Holy Spirit, He speaks softly.

Vs.7-10 “Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’” Joseph refused, citing that her husband put him in charge of all except for her, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Joseph was walking close to God!

Vs.11-20 When no-one was around she grabbed him by his coat, to force him to bed but Joseph left his coat and ran off. She used his coat against him, turning the story around; Joseph had tried to take her and when she screamed he ran off, leaving his coat. I wonder what she was thinking when Joseph was appointed second in command? I suspect that Potiphar had his suspicions, one would think that as a slave he would have been put to death, but no, he went to jail.

Vs.21-23 ”But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” God was with Joseph but Potiphar was the captain of the guard who would be familiar with the warden of the prison. God placed Joseph in the right place and with the right people. Being in charge of everything in the prison meant he had a cushy job as far as a prisoner is concerned and had access to all the prisoners. “The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” God still does that for all who call on the name of the Lord!

Faithful Friends

# 43 2023 Dev. Prov. 27:9. Faithful Friends! Read all of chapter twenty seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 27:9 “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friendsprings from their heartfelt advice.”

Proverbs 27 continues with more proverbs of Solomon. This chapter seems to continue using couplets mostly complementing each other. These verses also seem to be random covering all of life except for verses 23-27 which concentrates on agriculture, on work.

Vs.1-6 gives personal advice: “do not boast about tomorrow… Let someone else praise you…Stone is heavy and sand a burden but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both…who can stand before jealousy?” “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Be prudent in your personal relationships. Don’t fake it! Be upfront. What you see is what you get!

Vs.7-14 gives general advice: gluttons and the hungry are compared. Cherish your home. “Perfume and incense brings joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family… Be wise, my son and bring joy to my heart…” The prudent and simple are compared. Consider strangers and outsiders. Blessings and curses are mutually exclusive. Be wise when dealing with a variety of situations, all knowledge is limited.

Vs.15-22 Solomon had many wives, he knows about quarrelsome women and that restraining them is not possible, yet he conveniently ignores the abusive husband. “As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.” Acknowledge the source of your wellbeing. “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Death and destruction are compared to the lust of the eye. Silver and gold are meaningless, “people are tested by their praise.” Punishment for fools – “you will not remove folly from them.” Practical wisdom brings about a peaceful life!

Vs.23-27 Advice for the farmer and herder, advice for all who work, whatever the job. Pay attention to the results of your work, “for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.” Hard, consistent work will provide for all your needs. Prudent management of your means will sustain you and your family throughout a lifetime. This proverb is full of useful and practical advice. Praise God! Are we ready to listen?

God in Control!

# 42 2023 Dev. Ge.38:1. God In Control! Read all of chapter thirty eight first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.38:1 “At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.”

Ch.38 is basically about Judah. Remember, Judah is the one who pushed his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery instead of killing him. One wonders why Judah left his brothers and his father’s house. Did he disapprove of his brothers actions? Perhaps he was running out of pasture for his flocks. Obviously he did not hook up with one of the captives from Shechem.

Vs. 1-11 Judah moves away from his brothers and from Jacob’s household. It appears to have been a temporary move since Judah is back with his brothers when they go to Egypt for grain. While Judah was living near his friend Hirah, Judah married a Canaanite women named Shua and she bore him three children.

Judah must have lived there for 25 or more years. His first born Er marries Tamar but before they had children he dies. Scripture tells us that God took him because of his wickedness. A common practice in those days was “Lavirate Marriages” The brother of the husband is required to marry his widow, especially if childless. This is still practiced today in the Middle East and Africa.

Onan, Judah’s second child is married to Tamar, but he refused to impregnate her, this displeases God and He takes him also. Judah, afraid of loosing his younger son sends Tamera back to stay with her father with the promise the younger son would marry her when fully grown. Judah had no intention of allowing Shelah to marry Tamara.

Vs.12-23 After a long time Judah’s wife died. Tamera sees an opportunity, she knows that Judah will not fulfill his promise to her. Widowed twice, no children, and no husband to care for her, she takes desperate action. She pretends to be a prostitute to tempt Judah to sleep with her, she is successful in her ruse. She keeps his seal and staff as proof.

Vs.24-27 Three months later Tamar is found pregnant, You can’t make up a story like this, obviously God is in control. Apparently, it is OK for Judah to prostitute himself but not for Tamar, “bring her out and burn her”, Judah says. But when he has to admits that she is pregnant by him, he declares her more righteous than him.

Tamar gave birth to twins boys, Perez and Zerah. Zerah appears to be born first but Perez comes first. Perez is in the line of David, ultimately in the line of Christ. Judah was chosen but he married the wrong women, God corrected it in a very human and a very unorthodox way. Thanks be to God!

Wisdom

# 41 2023 Dev. Prov. 26:12. Wisdom! Read all of chapter twenty six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 26:12 “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.”

Proverbs 26 continues with more proverbs of Solomon. This chapter seems to continue from Ch. 25, perhaps also compiled by King Hezekiah of Judah. Still using couplets mostly complementing each other, but the first half of the chapter highlights the folly of fools. The last section gives us good advice.

Vs.1-12 Do you know a foolish person? They have no honor, they curse those who do not deserve it, they are compared to horse and donkey. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly… Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” Interaction with fools is a detriment to you, proverbs are not spoken by fools. “Like a thorn bush in a drunkard’s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool…so fools repeat their folly.” V.12 says it all: “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” Humility, discernment and listening, really listening to God and to others is the road to wisdom!

Vs.13-16 highlight being lazy. “A sluggard says, ‘There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!’” A lazy person justifies his inaction with all kinds of excuses!A lazy person “turns on his bed.” but is going no where. If one is not willing to work, food will be hard to come by! “A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.” We all make up many excuses not to do something that should be done. Is this procrastination, is it laziness, or both? You decide for yourself, but things do not get done if you don’t move to do them!

Vs.17- 28 are a series of problematic actions. One should not rush “into a quarrel not their own. Like a maniac…is one who deceives their neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!’”

Vs.20-22 Is an issue to pay attention to: “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” This proverb highlights what is dividing this country!

Vs.23-26 high lights the enemy. Should people whose views differ become enemies? At what point does that happen? Think about that! “Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.” Wickedness will be exposed. Voters, empowered with truth, will sort it out! Open your minds and your eyes!

“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it… and a flattering mouth works ruin.”

Evil will not prevail. Thank God

Dreams!

# 40 2023 Dev. Ge.36, 37:3. The Wonder of Dreams! Read all of chapter thirty six and thirty seven first . We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.37:3 “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.”

Ge. 36 and 37: Ch. 36 is a genealogy of Esau’s family and indicates that Esau had to move because the land could not support both his and Jacob’s livestock. The same thing happened to Abraham and Lot. Esau moved south to the hill country known as Edom. Edom comes up again when the Israelites come out of Egypt following the king’s highway that ran through Edom. Moses requested to pass though twice but was refused. Edom sent an army to protect their border. Moses refused to fight them and went around them.

Ch. 37 starts out with vs. 2. “This is the account of Jacob’s family line” but not until ch. 49 are all the sons mentioned when Jacob blessed and commented on each of his sons.

Vs.1-11 There was a major problem in Jacob’s family because he, Jacob, loved Joseph more than his other sons. Joseph did not help matters by being a snitch to his father about his brothers. Second, God sent Joseph dreams that annoyed his brothers and his father. As we know the dreams came true. Jacob, who also had his own dreams, kept Joseph’s dreams in mind. Third World peoples, in general, put a lot of stock in dreams; us, not so much. Does God still use dreams today?

Vs.12-20 Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers who where in the field grazing the livestock near Shechem, after what happened at Shechem one would think they would not go near the place. When Joseph arrived there he couldn’t find them. He was told they had gone to Dothan. Joseph headed to Dothan and when the brothers saw him coming they decided to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” Jealously is a powerful motivation to do evil!

Vs.21-30 “When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life” he said. Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into one of the cisterns here in the wilderness. Reuben was hoping to save Joseph and take him home. While they were eating their meal Ishmaelite’s traders came along, Judah, talked the brothers into selling Joseph to them and send him down to Egypt. God used the brother’s Jealousy and Judah’s compasion to get Joseph to Egypt, he was to be part of the larger plan to save Israel and to grow Israel. Praise be to God!

Vs.31-36 Now they had to convince their father, Jacob, that Joseph was killed by a wild animal. They killed a goat and soaked the coat of many colors with blood, Jacob’s response; “Joseph has surely been torn to pieces”. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave. So his father wept for him.” The sons who did this travesty under estimated the affect on Jacob, he did not recover, not even after he met Joseph again. Beware if you plan to bring a deception on your family – no matter how small it will lead to more and more sorrow!

Righteousness!

# 39 2023 Prov. 25:11-12. Righteousness! Read all of chapter twenty five first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story! Do you believe that this is also our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 25:11-12 “Like apples of gold in settings of silveris a ruling rightly given. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.”

Proverbs 25 Continues with more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by King Hezekiah of Judah. Still using couplets, mostly complementing each other, kings are included here. Today, however Christians are prophets, priests, and kings. This chapter emphasizes righteousness.

Vs.1-3 “It is the Gory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings” to understand the laws of nature, to discover God’s rules, and God’s ways. Think of what man has discovered already and what we will yet discover. The more we discover the less we really know about God’s glory, God’s creation or God’s Word!

Vs.4-5 “Remove the dross from the silver… remove wicked officials…”. Remove our wicked thoughts and actions, we change our ways and our righteousness shines through!

Vs.6-7 “Do not exalt yourself…” Pride is deadly, humility is life!

Vs.8 “What you have seen with your eyes do not bring hastily to court…” Sometimes things are not what they seem, practice caution!

Vs.9-10 “If you take your neighbor to court…” do not talk about it to others!

Vs.11-12 “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.” True justice, brings peace! “Like an earring of gold… fine gold…” Is the advice of a “wise judge to a listening ear.” Today, a just ruling is rare, one who listens is even harder to find!

Vs.13-14 “Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time…” at a time of hard work is a trustworthy person in one’s life but one who boasts falsely is empty!

V.15 stands alone. More may be accomplished “through patience… and a gentle tongue…” Amen and amen!

Vs.16-17 “If you find honey, eat just enough… Seldom set foot in your neighbors house…” All things in moderation!

Vs18-20 giving “false testimony against a neighbor.” Is “like a club or a sword or a arrow sharp” To depend “on the unfaithful in a time of trouble” is “like a broken tooth or a lame foot.” Lack of compassion is an open wound. Do unto others as you would have them do to you!

Vs.21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food… give him water to drink, and the Lord will reward you.” The blessings of God!

V.23 “a sly tongue” brings unexpected discord. May we all learn to hold our tongue until an appropriate time!

V.24 “Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Or with a cantankerous husband!

Vs.25-26 “Good news is like cold water to a weary soul.” The fall of the righteous “is like a muddied spring or a polluted well”. Good news and the upstanding righteous are a blessing from God!

Vs.27-28 Eating too much honey is lack of self control, Looking in to matters that are too deep, matters only God knows, does not honor God!