Would You Rather: Strength vs. Wisdom

Would you rather is a fun game to play, particularly when getting to know someone. A person is asked to choose betwen two things of equal desiring—making it hard to decide and opening dialouge as to why the person chooses the option they choose. Recently I stumbled accross several versions of "Would You Rather?: Bible Edition" and found the questions quite intriguing. I've decided to answer one every Sabbath. Let me know your answer to today's "Would You Rather?" in the comment section.

Would you rather have the strength of Samson or the wisdom of Solomon?

Answer: Wisdom of Solomon

Backstory

Samson

Samson was a miracle baby, given to God before he was even born. His mother took a Nazarite vow for him and God granted him strength like no other. Samson had quite a few rough patches in life and struggled to live up to his calling. He was betrayed by Deliah and ended up losing both his eyes and his strength in the betrayal. Despite this, he ultimately succeeded in killing many of Israel's enemy.[1]

Solomon

Solomon is the son of King David and Bathsheba who inherits the throne of Israel. Solomon asks God for wisdom and becomes the wisest man in the world. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon were all written by Solomon. Like Samson, he has moments of weakness and struggle, but ultimately fulfills God's plan.[2]

Rationale

At surface level, the question is would you rather be wise or strong. There are so many situations where wisdom is more helpful than brute strength, and even in the cases where you need strength, wisdom allows you to engineer a solution. From that perspective, wisdom is an easy choice for me.

However, if you look at the lives of these two men, it becomes more nuanced. Both men struggled in life. Solomon tells us all is vanity and Samson ends up with his eyes gouged out. Solomon marries 1000 women (that can't be wise) and Samson's "claim to fame" is that he killed a lot of people.

¹The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ²Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 KJV

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. Judges 16:21 KJV

What I learned from this question and studing the lives of Samson and Solomon is that the trait itself isn't really that important. Samson had great physical strength, but he didn't have self control. He let his desire for women get him into trouble. Solomon had great wisdom, but he didn't always use that wisdom to the glory of God. The key to success is choosing to follow God, whether you are strong, or wise, or a healer, or anything else. These gifts only do you so much good if you don't fully surrender them to God.

Ultimately, I chose the wisdom of Solomon because of the contributions he made and how we remember him. I think I would rather be known as a wise person (who sometimes doesn't listen to my own advice) than someone who killed people (even if it is in the name of God or for the good the people). That's just my personal preference. Which would you choose and why?

References and Footnotes

1. Judges 13-16
2. 1 Kings 1-14
3. I found many versions of "Whould You Rather?: Scripture Edition"; this question was found in both versions made by Rebecca of Out Upon the Waters and Megan of Church Leaders

Ecclesiastes 12: The Meaning of Life

Ecclesiastes 12 is the final chapter in the book of Ecclesiastes and summarizes Solomon's thoughts on the purpose of life. Solomon summarizes his message by concluding that our sole duty is to respect God and follow His commandments. When put into words, it sounds easy, but in action, it's a lot harder!

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 12 is the final chapter in the book of Ecclesiastes and summarizes Solomon's thoughts on the purpose of life. Below, I highlight some of my favorite parts of this chapter.
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Live Fast and Die Young?

There are so many songs that have lyrics with the phrase "live fast, die young." Today, it's basically glorified, with people surmising that you should "make the most" out of your youth by indulging in worldly behaviors. Solomon says the opposite, warning us that we should remember God while we are young, before evil comes.

When I first read Ecclesiastes 12:1, I thought of a very specific scenario that many of us fall prey to—luckily God is a God of mercy and forgiveness when we repent. A common thread I've seen is that during the prime years of our lives, we tend to drift away from God. Some people have even said something to the effect of "I'll get right with God when I'm older." However in many cases, it's simply a case of not having the spiritual wisdom to fight against the world.

As a society, we are aware that the teenage years are hard and a time of turmoil for growing minds. Teachers and parents spend a lot of time discussing the effects of peer pressure and trying to help teens find themselves. However, I've found that even in to our 20's, many of us are unsure of ourselves. In fact, it's these early years of adulthood in which we first break free of parental supervision that we are most vulnerable.

Focusing Your Engery

A friend of mine once asked if I regretted going to graduate school because we "missed out" on "normal" things. When I questioned him on what these things were, his immediate response was partying. In his mind, and many others, the mid 20s was meant to be spent "enjoying" your youth through alcohol, dancing, hooking-up, etc. This is what society tells us is normal. Society tells us to take advantage of our youth because we won't always be able to handle such adventures. As we age, our body won't recover from liquor and sleep deprivation the same way. We gain responsibilities. In essence, things change... The devil wants to sell you on lavishing in these pleasures that will not be options for you in the future.

However, while we are distracted with parties and dating, there is work to be done for the kingdom of God. As I approach the close of my 20s, I often look back on my high school and college days wondering how I managed to be involved with so much. It seems like I had endless time and energy back then. I was so passionate about everything I did and I made time for everything I wanted to do! It was nothing to stay up until 3 or 4am. I could run up and down 10 flights of stairs without feeling it. But I can't do those things now...

The devil isn't wrong that there's certain treasures and vitality in our youth that we shouldn't waste. What he is wrong about, however, is what it means to waste it. We often only return to God after we've spent our energy and time on ungodly things. However, if these are the best years of our lives, shouldn't we be giving them to Christ? Jesus was about 30 when He started His ministry—how old do you think the disciples were? Some may have been younger, some older (and yes, some probably did waste their early 20s on ungodly things, just like many of us).

Solomon tells us that we should remember God in our youth before evil comes. Part of what ages us is the stress and pain of life. As we experience hardships, they effect how we see the world, and God. We lose that passion and become worn down from failure. If we have not come to God before evil days visit us, we are likely to be driven further from God, as opposed to being driven toward God.

He could also be referencing the end of the world. There will come a time when evil will consume the Earth and people will have taken the mark of the beast, such that they can never repent.

Time Runs Out

As Solomon discusses the subject of taking delight in God while we are young and able to experience the joys and pleasures of carrying out God's will, he also leaves us with phrases that direct us to prophecy. Solomon tells us that we are to remember God before the sun, moon, or stars be darkened—this is a clear reference to judgment (e.g., Isaiah 13:10, Ezekiel 32:7, Amos 8:9, Matthew 24:29, Acts 2:20, Joel 2:31, Revelation 6:12). When judgment comes, it's a final verdict. At the end of time, there will be no more time to correct ourselves or repent.

God is a forgiving God, so whether you surrender you life to Him at 14 or 84, He will hear you and welcome you into His fold. The problem is we don't know when the end will come—note that our physical death might as well be the end of time. In this regard, "youth" is relative. Even in the languages used to compose the Bible, youth could refer to someone as old as 40!^[1]

Solomon's point isn't that you must surrender to God as a child; his point is that time will run out. We will lose abilities and senses (as described in Ecclesiastes 12:4-5), making it more difficult to carry out His work. Eventually, we will cease to live. I don't know when the sun and moon will darken for my life so the earlier I come to God, the better.

Knowledge and Wisdom

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Annie Spratt

There's a saying that more you learn the less you know... Solomon doesn't say that exactly, but he does tell say that learning is "weariness of the flesh." His point is that we can study for all our life and we will never know everything; there will always be more study. As such, we shouldn't pressure ourselves to solve every problem or understand ever observation.

The Meaning of Life

Solomon's basic premise of the entire book is to define the meaning of life. In the end he summarizes it in Ecclesiastes 12:13 as "fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Things are going to happen in life, but all we can do is follow God through the rollercoaster. In the end, God will judge us based on that decision.

Solomon's conclusion is such a simple statement, but we overlook it so often! It's easy to worry about worldly things, get stressed out, and completely forget the bottom line. I feel like this should be one of the most repeated quotes in the Bible. Considering the fact that Jesus tells us love for our neighbor is one of the most important commandments (i.e., don't kill, steal, commit adultery, envy, lie, or disrespect you parents), can you imagine how we would behave if we actually believed our whole duty was to keep the commandments?

References

1. "Q&A". La Vista Church of Christ. 2016

Ecclesiastes 8-10: Wisdom

These 3 chapters of Ecclesiastes hold some oft forgotten wisdom along with a few popular quotes. My favorite quote from Ecclesiastes is found in chapter 9, verse 11: "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."

Introduction

Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 8-10 contain nuggets of wisdom that are repeated even in the secular world today. From reminding us not to be idle and to focus on our own race, to discussions on leadership and how we carry ourselves, Solomon gives us more to think about than I could ever summarize. Below are just a few take-a-ways I had while enjoying these chapters.
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Keeping the Commandments

Solomon tells us that whosoever keeps the commandments will not feel evil things. Our brain can be trained by our thoughts and actions (if you're interested in this topic, look for information on Neuroplasticity). Basically, the more we do something, the easier it becomes, until it's a habit. If you are carrying out the commandments as intended, you are programing your brain to good.

In the New Testament, we see the Pharisees adding to the law and attempting to follow script rules rather than the spirit of the law. Solomon is referencing the spirit of the law. Jesus summarizes the spirit of the law throughout the Bible reminding us that we are to love God and love our neighbor. If we truly love both, the actions of the law will follow.

What's interesting is that in most cases, the Ten Commandments intersect. For example, coveting is the first step to stealing and adultery (perhaps even dishonoring your parents, depending on the situation). Theft and adultery often escalate to murder, while the envy produced from coveting can also tempt someone to kill. The feelings and actions we are commanded to abstain from are the foundation for evil behavior. If we eliminate our desire to break those commandments, and make a habit of following the commandments, it stands to reason that we will not have evil thoughts and feelings.

Death

Solomon reminds us that no man—neither the righteous nor the sinner—has any control over death. We don't know when we will die and when death comes to us, we have no power to stop it.

Death Comes To All

¹¹Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. ¹²Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: ¹³But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 KJV

Solomon points out something very important here. We are often discouraged because it seems as though God is not punishing the wicked, however, God knows what He is doing. When we observe those around us, we only see part of the story, God sees the whole picture. What's more, God doesn't want us to fail! This is why He isn't quick to dispense punishment—He wants us to choose correctly. If we ultimately choose wrong, however, we will be punished. Solomon is reminding us that we shouldn't dwell on the actions of the wicked because eventually they will pay. (We're going to come back to this verse when we talk about leadership, though.)

Just as this issue comes up in our minds often, it shows up in Solomon's writing often. He begins this discussion in Ecclesiastes 8 and continues in Ecclesiastes 9. Whether we are good or bad, we must experience all there is in life, both good and bad. With the exception of a select few (such as Elijah, Enoch), we all must experience the first death, and sometimes it will seem that we do good in vain. We have to remember that our end goes beyond the first death; we are kingdom bound.

The State of the Dead

So many people express sentiments about their loved ones being in Heaven as soon as they die, or acting as guardian angels. Yet, in Ecclesiastes 9:4-6, Solomon tells us the dead are not aware. Once we die, we are essentially in a dreamless sleep until judgment day (the saints from Matthew 27:52 have already been resurrected as firstfruits, however). Revelation 20 tells us the dead will be awakened in 2 different resurrections: 1 for the saved and 1 for the lost.^[1] Solomon is reminding us that once we die, all the choices afforded to us in this life disappear. If we haven't chosen to follow God at that point, we are eternally lost. Solomon tells us the dead have no more business in our world, which makes sense because after the resurrections of Revelation, Heaven and Earth will pass away. The dead will wake to the creation of the new Heaven and the Earth (Revelation 21:1). Nothing we have accumulated on this planet will be left for us when we are resurrected.^[2]

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Ecclesiastes 9:11 KJV

The Nature of Power

We all know the saying "absolute power corrupts absolutely." Solomon starts chapter 8 with a bit about power, and it's weaved through the text. One of the most beautiful things about Ecclesiastes, to me, is hearing the man who ruled Israel at the height of it's greatness, discus power with realness. As one would expect, Solomon encourages the people to obey the commandments of the king, pointing out how ridiculous it would be for someone to question the king. However, Solomon prefaces this obedience with the stipulation that the king is wise and following God. We can identify the wise man because his face shines with light of God—one example of this is Moses when he returned from Mount Sinai (Exodus 34). Nonetheless, throughout the chapter, Solomon gives us more to dwell on in terms of power.

The Timing of Punishment

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:11 KJV

Much of Solomon's musing focuses on the question of why the wicked get away with so much. God is patient and often it seems as though the only punishment the wicked will receive is the second death, a permanent death in which they can't escape. Often, I believe, we simply aren't privy to the punishment they receive. For instance, many celebrities are rumored to have incurable STDs, they suffer from depression, and self medicate with narcotics and other drugs. Meanwhile, all we see is the fame and the fortune. The same is true for our neighbors; we never truly know what they're struggling with.

Solomon reminds us that while God is longsuffering, punishment must be dealt quickly. When I first rescued my cat, who was an 8 week old kitten at the time, the vet was very clear that in order to train her, I needed to reward and punish good and bad behavior as it occurred. If you wait, the cat doesn't understand what she's being punished or rewarded for. Children are the same way. With adults, I think we know right from wrong, however, the longer we get away with doing wrong, the easier it is for us to convince ourselves it is right. The fact that Jesus has been gone and hasn't returned in over 2,000 years has definitely caused people to doubt both His existence and the promise of His return. This is part of why the closer we get to the end, the more mankind turns away from God.

Once we become apart of God's kingdom, we become representatives of God on Earth. Like Solomon, we often question why God has not punished people and watch them descend further and further into evil. Yet, we often enable this behavior. Remember, the devil only has power because man gave it to him. We choose to listen to his crazy schemes. We choose to watch movies and listen to music or attend sporting events despite the reputations of the people we are supporting. We often choose to remain silent when our friends and family do wrong, allowing people to believe we are ok with their actions. Solomon is reminding us that as earthly leaders and earthly representatives of God, we have a duty to speak up for righteousness. God is often waiting to see if His people will chose to allow rebellion against Him in their midsts (this is exactly how Satan got his hooks in 1/3 of the angels) or if we will stand for God.

Cruel Leaders

If I asked you to list cruel leaders of the world, I'm sure you'd be able to list several with rapid speed. We are often shocked at the people that are elected, beloved, or simply followed out of fear in this world. In Ecclesiastes 8:9, Solomon points out the fact that sometimes leaders are destructive. They hurt the people they are meant to lead, but ultimately they hurt themselves. Solomon goes on to remind us that because they aren't following God they will ultimately fail (see Matthew 18:6). Those of us who believe and struggle with our sins may lead meek and humble lives on Earth, but after judgement day, we will enjoy the kingdom with our Father.

Live Life To the Fullest

Solomon reminds us to eat and drink with a merry heart because God accepts our works. When God accepts our repentance and our actions (or works), our garments are made white. Matthew 17:2 tells us about Jesus' garments turning white during the transfiguration. In Revelation 3:5, God tells us that the saved are clothed in white, which represents their purity.

Solomon continues to remind us to enjoy that which we have in our life. Once we are in God's graces, we have nothing to worry about. Nothing bad can permanently affect us if we have dedicated our live to God. Although we will not stay dead forever, once we die the first death, we can no longer serve God or enjoy the blessings we were given while we were alive. As such we should strive to do all the good we can while we are alive.

Doing Right Isn't Popular

My dad always told me that when you do the right thing, you will stand alone. My dad got this wisdom from Solomon. When we stay close to God and follow in his footsteps, we will often be laughed at and unappreciated. Solomon tells us wisdom is always better than foolishness, but people won't always appreciate wisdom. Sometimes we won't be liked and we might not be remembered among the wicked, but God will remember and that's the only thing that matters.

One Bad Step...

Solomon tells us something we should know even without reading his texts. It only takes one lapse in judgment to ruin a person's character. There are plenty of celebrities and big names that I'm sure you can think of on your own, but I'd like to share a personal observation. When I was in high school, students from a college nearby used to help with our band. One of those students was a phenomenal musician; the section he helped with benefitted greatly from his mentoring. What's more, he pushed the rest of us just as hard. He knew the fine line between pushing too hard and just enough to make us great. One summer, he decided to involve himself with a girl from our school. According to accounts from him, her, and her friends, she lied about her age, nonetheless when her parents found out he was charged with satutory rape and barred from helping with the band. With a conviction, he also lost the ability to become a high school band director (possibly any band director, actually). His whole life turned upside down over one poor judgement call.

Solomon tells us that just a little folly can ruin our honor. Think of preachers who are found guilty of adultery. Seeing someone who professes to be a Christian in a compromising situation (i.e., drunkenness, rage, etc.) stains their testimony. The number one complaint among non believer has nothing to do with God and everything to do with us, His followers. Ghandi once said "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."^[3]

In short, Solomon is advising us to be careful what we say and do.

Words

Solomon's advice about words could truly be an extension of his warning about one wrong move tainting an person's honor, since often it is our words that get us in trouble. I've placed it in it's on section only to highlight Solomon's description of the words that come from the wise versus the foolish.

Wise men speak graciously; they know when to be silent and how to speak out of love instead of hate. The more I read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, the more I'm compelled to work on my own speech. As believers, we are often given wisdom beyond our own understanding. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to things those who have not accepted Jesus are unable to understand or experience. With this knowledge comes the desire to share, but the flesh isn't always kind about how we share things. Sometimes we rush knowledge upon people who aren't ready, or we harshly judge someone when they need a more tactful reply. As representatives of God, it important that we let Him control the words we speak (or write!). We don't want to turn someone away from the kingdom because of our foolishness. Also, we want to be silent long enough to allow those who are wiser to tell us when we're being foolish!

Another trait of the foolish is the need to lie. When I was interviewing this past Spring, many of my interviewers would comment on their shock that I could admit when I didn't know something. One of the hardest things to do is stand in front of people that you are trying to impress or lead and admit you don't know something. Yet, we all know that no one knows everything. Foolish people try to bluff their way through every situation. Some of them are really good at it too—think about politicians—but in the end, this method not only agitates people who can see through the lies, it endangers people as well. Instead of providing someone with the wrong answer, I should be encouraging them (as well as myself) to seek the right answer.

Honestly, this is a major reason why the 18-35 demographic is missing from churches today. We often didn't receive adequate answers to our questions, and no one directed us to the proper way of studying to find the answer. A babe in Christ with a rocky foundation and faulty answers is a sitting duck for the devil to swoop away.

Money and Wealth

The Bible spends a lot of time commanding us to take care of the poor and do right by the less fortunate. This is one of the few times we are told not to curse rich. Often, when we are angry with people for having wealth it is out of jealousy or how we perceive (i.e., judge) them to be.

In college, I had friends who often complained about the nicer cars in the student parking lot. Most of the time, they went into tirades about the parents of the students being bad parents for buying their child a Corvette or a Miata or whatever. The strange thing was that they had no idea who the car belonged to or how the person acquired the car. The car could have belonged to a student with a full time job, or a older student who came back to school for some reason. It could be borrowed while their car is in the shop. A parent or grandparent may have died and left them the car. They may have been battling an illness and been given the car in consolation. Who knows?

Without meaning to give away their thoughts, my friends clearly explained why it angered them to see someone with something they perceived as "too nice." The first reason was jealousy. Their parents had not bought them a car at all, they had never owned a new car, and they couldn't afford the cars they complained about other people having. The second reason was presumption. They all assumed the owners were stuck up and spoiled without ever having met them.

We have to be careful not to fall into this trap. It's easy to see other people succeed while we work ourselves to the bone and be upset that they have what we are working for. That is the devil distracting us. As an song we used to sing in church goes "keep your eyes on [your] prize, hold on."

An Idle Mind...

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Kristina Wagner

Again we know the saying "an idle mind is the devil's playground." Solomon addresses this in Ecclesiastes 10:18. Have you ever paid attention to where your mind wanders when you aren't focused on anything? How about looked back on a week and realized all the time you wasted that you couldn't get back? When I choose to do things that are unproductive, I often ask myself what will be lost that could have been saved if I die the next day. We could accomplish so much more if we motivated ourselves beyond slothfulness and idleness. Unfortunately, our society teaches us to indulge in these behaviors from such an early age.

References

1. "Are The Dead Really Dead?". Amazing Facts; visited October 18, 2017
2. "Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 Commentary". Bible Hub; visited October 18, 2017
3. "Mahatma Gandhi. "Quotable Quote". Goodreads; visited October 21, 2017

Ecclesiastes 4: Don't Go Through Life Alone

In Ecclesiastes 4, Solomon reminds us of how much better life is with two (or more) people, rather than one. Friendship is the one trait, Solomon never writes off as vanity, which means it must be worth a lot! Before jumping into friendship, Solomon discusses power and watching the evils of the world.

Introduction

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Kevin Delvecchio

In Eccelesiastes 4, Solomon reminds us of how much better life is with two (or more) people, rather than one. Friendship is the one trait, Solomon never writes off as vanity, which means it must be worth a lot! Before jumping into friendship, Solomon discusses power and watching the evils of the world.
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Oppressors vs. the Oppressed

In a game of would you rather, most people would probably choose to be the oppressor over the oppressed. However, the author reminds us that both positions suck. It's self explanatory why being oppressed isn't the good side of the fence. Given the the two options, oppressor definitely seems like it would be better, because you have power. Except, you give up your humanity and your soul when you mistreat people. The author says neither group has a comforter, which is interesting when you think about it.

Comforter is another name for the Holy Ghost.^[1][1] God is the comforter for the oppressed, but when you're in a state of oppression, you probably won't feel comforted, even though He's there. Think about Job; think about the Israelites. Even though God was always in control, these people still experienced pain, sorrow, and despair. God being our Comforter merely means that He heals us and gives us peace. Since the Holy Spirit also gives us wisdom, and other gifts, He helps us to deal with the issues we are facing. On the other hand, the oppressors are in opposition to God cutting them off from His comfort. There many passages in which God condemns those who oppress His people.

Best State of Life

Ecclesiastes 4 acknowledges 3 states our lives fall into, pre-birth, life, and death. Of these, pre-birth is ranked as the point we are best off, with death coming in second, and life trailing in last place. The rationale is that before we are born, we haven't seen any evil—essentially we're like Adam and Eve were in the garden. Once we die, we cease seeing evil, but as we live, we are constantly bombarded with the sorrows of the world.

Alone?

If a man is single, with no children, and no family, why does he work hard to accumulate wealth? This seems to be the main question posed in this chapter. The author asks what good is such wealth considering the fact that we can't take anything with us when we die? The heart of this question is, who will reap the fruit of our labor and who will enjoy the fruit with us. A life alone isn't worth much...

The author continues this thought reminding us that two is better than one. He doesn't specify a husband and wife, though that was what first came to my mind. Of course, this could refer to friendship or family, as well. When one person falls, the other can lift him/her up. Companionship is important; people give each other purpose. Friendship is the only thing the author of Ecclesiastes never calls vanity—something we should remember.

References

1. John 14:16
2. John 14:26

Lessons Learned: Wisdom Is Everything

Proverbs is a great book for introspection. As I read Proverbs, I started to think of how these nuggets of wisdom applied to my own life. Am I the fool or the wise man in Solomon's examples. As much as the truth hurts, sometimes I'm the fool, but with the wisdom given, I can work to improve myself and so can you!

Introduction

Proverbs is one of those books I never sat down and read from beginning to end. Generally, I thought of Proverbs as a bunch of disjoint sayings. Now that I've reread it, I rather like reading it as a whole. There are so many gems that even a person like me who isn't generally in to quotes can appreciate the book. I have a desire to make art containing the quotes to hang everywhere in my house. There's so much wisdom in the passages here, it'll never get old. We often forget even the simplest things.
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Improving Myself

As a woman, Proverbs 31 probably sticks in my head the most. However, I think reading Proverbs really made me reevaluate how I view myself. There is always something we can improve upon and I found several qualities in my on life I need to revisit. For one, most of the movies and TV shows I enjoy are riddled with violence; Solomon warns us about taking delight in such things and as I thought about it, it makes sense that God would not want us indulging in such things. Another question I had my for myself was how well do I take criticism? It's easy to criticize, but many times we don't want to hear other's criticisms of ourselves. Going forth, I plan to make an effort to be more aware and pray over criticisms before accepting or rejecting them. While I think I give thought to the poor, I spent much of the past few years feeling as though I was one of the poor. In that state I didn't do much to help those who actually are poor. As an American who grew up in the middle class, it's easy to allow your perception distorted. Even though I didn't have as much money as I needed to live the way I was used to living, I was still fairing much better than others. It is important not only to remember the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves, but to do all that we can for those suffering. This is something I plan to work on as well.

Future Reading

The next time I read through Proverbs I plan to keep a journal comparing the behaviors talked about to my own. I think that by using the wisdom here as a mirror to our own lives we can really improve ourselves and strength our walk with Christ.

References

Proverbs 31: A Virtuous Woman

as No one is perfect, but Proverbs 31 gives women a glimpse down the road of perfection. We find her several virtues we should strive for to make us better women. These help us to strengthen our relationship with God, which subsequently, strengthens our relationships with those around us.

Introduction

Proverbs 31 is the last chapter of proverbs and attributed to King Lemuel, who writes with inspiration from his mother's wisdom. Like with Agur, the identity of Lemuel is a mystery. Once again, there are scholars who believe this could be a nickname for King Solomon. This would make the woman whom inspired the wisdom Bathsheba.^[1]

If King Lemuel is not Solomon, Lemuel is either a nickname for another Israelite king or a gentile. Israelite history does not list a king named Lemuel for either kingdom. This means it could be one of the few entries in the Bible written by a gentile.
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A Few Tips

Before diving into the virtuous woman, Lemuel gives a few tips. First, he advises against a man giving his strength to women. While this could mean the man is not to give up his position as head of the house, it does not mean that the woman can never have what she wants. Since the verse references women verses one woman and goes on to talk about things that ruin kings, it seems more likely that this verse is talking about polygamy. A man who is married to multiple women, spends his energy pleasing his wives. This leaves less time and energy for other matters of importance.

Second, Lemuel advises kings not to drink wine or other strong drinks (i.e., liquor). Not only is excessive drinking unhealthy, the impairments caused while inebriated could cause social, political, or financial damage. People make poor decisions while under the influence and often say or do things they regret. To put it in modern times, how well do you think a meeting with a drunk Donald Trump and leaders from countries the US doesn't particularly get along with will go? Kings must be in proper condition at all times because the people look to them for an example and there is always the possibility of a crucial matter needing his attention spontaneously occurring at a time that interrupts his festivities. Only those who have nothing going for them drink.

Finally, he tells us to speak up for those who are disadvantaged by poverty or disability.

A Virtuous Woman

Photocredit: ShutterStock.com/Djomas

The latter portion of Lemuel's proverbs deal with describing a virtuous woman. In the original Hebrew, this is actually an acrostic, in which the first letter of each line of the proverb constitutes the Hebrew alphabet.^[2]

A Metaphor?

Is the virtuous woman real, or is she just a metaphor? If you remember, Solomon personified wisdom as a woman in his first proverbs. There are also many passages, particularly related to end time prophecies, in which a woman is used to signify the church. Given this knowledge, it's possible that the woman spoken of in the passage is merely a metaphor for wisdom or the church and the traits are meant to be applied to them instead. The traits given could be easily applied to the Bride of Christ or wisdom.^[6]

The following is a list of qualities Lemuel says belong to a virtuous woman:

Valued Above Rubies

She is worth more than rubies (Proverbs 31:10)

Proverbs 31:10 tells us a virtuous wo an is hard to come by and her value is more than rubies. Most of us would agree that people (male or female) are priceless, which definitely makes them worth more than rubies. Nonetheless, I was curious as to what a comparison would look like. Rubies can cost as much as $100,000 per carat!^[3] A carat is 200mg (0.00044 lbs)^[4] and according to the CDC, the average woman weighs 168.5 lbs^[5] which would be equivalent to 382,151.57 carats. At the lowest price per carat—$100—that would be $38,215,157.00 and at the highest price per carat—$100,000—that would be $38,215,157,000.00. Based on this Lemuel is saying women are worth more than millions or even billions of dollars. Obviously this passage is speaking in figurative terms, as I mentioned before, people are priceless, but the numbers definitely drive home this fact.

Trustworthy

Her husband can trust her (Proverbs 31:11-12)

Trustworthiness is an important trait for men and women alike. Lemuel tells us that a virtuous woman is trusted by her husband because she doesn't bring evil upon him. Considering the fact that the Ten Commandments already commands us not to bear false witness (lie), it stands to reason that a woman of God would be honest and therefore trustworthy.

Business Woman

She works with her hands willingly (Proverbs 31:13-16)

Verses 13-16 pretty much shatter any argument that women are not capable of managing a business. Lemuel says that a virtuous woman not only works with her hands, but "bringeth her food from afar," "considereth a field, and buyeth it," and "perceiveth that her merchandise is good." In short, the virtuous woman is about to make money and cultivate wealth. Lemuel tells us that she is able to import her food, which we know costs money, and that she is able to buy land. Not only does she buy the land, but she works the land to produce goods that she considers on par.

This is far from the sexist views of women that have developed over time. Within these verses, it does say that she rises early to bring meat (or food) to those in her household, which is closer to the definition of womanhood society has created. However, in the context of the verse, it seems to show that with her earnings from her labor she takes care of her home. She does not horde the fruit of her labor for herself. If the woman is to represent the Body of Christ, this verse could easily be a reference to tithing, where rising early signifies giving the first of our efforts.

Compassionate

She helps the poor (Proverbs 31:20)

A virtuous woman has concern for the poor. This makes sense considering God continually reminds the men of Israel to be mindful of the poor. This is also illustrated in the fact that she provides for her maids (the poor) in addition to her family.

Fearless

She does not fear (Proverbs 31:21)

This is an interesting verse; it says that she doesn't fear snow because all in her house are clothed in scarlet. At first glance, it doesn't seem to make any logical sense. However, to be clothed in scarlet is to be covered in the blood. At the time of authorship, this would have referred to the sacrifices at the temple, whereas today it would refer to Jesus, our ultimate sacrifice. The snow is inclement weather, a storm, or hard times in our life. She doesn't fear for her husband or her children because she knows they are covered and protected by the grace of God.

Note that this isn't necessarily saying that women have to be super heroes and are responsible for bringing everyone in their house to salvation. A virtuous woman is most likely to marry a God-fearing man because the Bible tells us not to yoke ourselves with non-believers. Thus, she and her husband will be an example for their children. She will aid in training them to be faithful servants of God.

Independent

Her husband is free to carry out business because he doesn't need to oversee her (Proverbs 31:23)

No one wants a spouse they have to watch like a child. Proverbs 31:23 states that the virtuous woman's husband is known at the gates, which means he is free to carry out his business as needed. He doesn't have to be at home with her all the time for their household to function, for her to feel safe, etc. A virtuous woman can operate and carry on business as usual even when her husband is gone. Remember, at the time this was penned, there was no such thing as phones, a car or even a bicycle. When a woman's husband left to do business he had to travel on foot or by beast (donkey, horse, camel, etc.). He might be gone for days depending on where they lived in relation to where he needed to go. Once again, this is the complete opposite of what society began to teach about women.

Seamstress

She makes lavish coverings (Proverbs 31:22,24)

The virtuous woman is able to make beautiful garments to sell. They are of the highest quality. Note that purple was the most expensive color to purchase; this is why it is associated with royalty. Once again, it should be noted that purple, being associated with royalty, is ascribed to the woman. If the woman represents the Bride of Christ, she is the bride of the King and thus royal. In subsequent verses, it says she is clothed in strength and honor, which de-emphasizes fashion and physical coverings.

In today's world, it seems like a lot to expect a woman to know how to sew and make clothes, but when I think about the fashion industry, this seems more relevant than ever. Women's clothes are a disaster. Ignoring the fact that it's almost impossible to find clothes that fit properly due to the variety of shapes and sizes we come in, there's still the issue of appearance. Most of our clothes were not designed for practicality or comfort, but for sex-appeal and aesthetics. Who is designing these clothes? Well, all of the famous designers I can think of are men. How different would the fashion industry be if we were designing our own clothes? How much more empowered would we be if we simply made our own clothes without concern to sizes? I've never sewn an outfit, but I think Lemuel is on to something big here...

Strong

She is strong and honorable (Proverbs 31:25)

Both Proverbs 31:17 and 25 refer to the virtuous woman's strength. Strong is not usually a word associated with femininity, but it goes all the way back to Genesis. God created Eve as a "helpmate," but the Hebrew word translated to "help" is ezer. It occurs 21 times in the Bible and most times, it delineates God's help to mankind.^[7][8] In essence the word can be thought of as meaning strength. Although this may include emotional strength and fortitude, Proverbs 31:17 makes it clear that Lemuel is also attributing physical strength to the virtuous woman.

Wise

She is wise and kind (Proverbs 31:26)

Proverbs 31:26 reminds us to let wisdom and kindness guide our words. I know first hand that sometimes (particular at a certain time of the month), it is easy to say harmful and ridiculous things. However, I also know first hand the power of using wisdom and kindness in conversation to bring a blessing to someone. Not only do people respond more positively to wisdom and kindness, but we are made in God's image and should thus reflect His wisdom and kindness in our speech.

Hardworking

She is not idle (Proverbs 31:27)

There is a lot to be done in a day. Whether a woman is a housewife or a career woman, the list of things to get done in a day as an adult is excruciatingly long. We don't have time for idling. A virtuous woman knows how to prioritize and manage her time. I learned this first hand in the past two years. As a notorious procrastinator, I felt like I never had enough time to do things I wanted to do, but when I looked back on my days, I could figure out where my time was going. Eventually, I realized that instead of taking out the trash, I took several stupid quizzes (such as the ones BuzzFeed publish) online. Instead of reading the Bible, I browsed Facebook and read comments under controversial articles. I couldn't believe there was so much time wasted throughout my day. Now that I focus on how I spend my time and prioritize what needs to be done, I'm much more successful at getting everything done. Plus, I still manage to squeeze in free time to relax. So I definitely understand where Lemuel is coming from here. He's not saying that the virtuous woman does everything in the house, but that she manages her time well enough to accomplish more.

Praised

Her children and husband praise her (Proverbs 31:28)

It seems like a lot of pressure on a woman to be praised by her children and husband, and yet it seems quite normal. After all, a husband who loves his wife would praise her, would he not? Children on the other hand are a lot harder to please; we often go through rebellious phases in which we hate everything our parents do or say. If we're lucky, however, we live long enough to grow out of this phase and begin to appreciate the decisions our parents made. I do not think that Lemuel meant a virtuous woman is always praised by her husband and children, though. Most people are unable to always praise Jesus, who is perfect, so it's quite unreasonable to expect people to be able to praise a human indefinitely. Furthermore, proverbs consistently tells parents that they must punish and chastise their children to steer them in the right direction. Thus, at some point, children will bear ill feelings toward their parents. Usually, as we age, we come to realize our parents were right and resume praising them. I think Lemuel was referencing this endpoint.

Godly Woman

She fears the Lord (Proverbs 31:29-31)

Naturally a virtuous woman is one who fears the Lord. The virtuous woman knows that favor (among people) and beauty are no where near as precious as salvation. As such her actions lead her in the path God has set for her. Instead of spending her time cultivating favor among people (like a politician) or focusing on her beauty, she is out doing the work of God (as stated in the above traits). The second verse, which states that her works speak for her at the gates, can be interpreted in two ways. The most obvious is that when she appears at the gates of heaven, her work will testify to her righteousness. The second, requires knowledge of the time period. As mentioned earlier, business was often carried out at the gate in the cities. This is where Boaz approached Ruth's nearer kinsmen (Ruth 4:1). Men would gather here to discuss important matters. Therefore, the passage could be indicating that the men at the gate would recognize her dedication to God through her works.

Intimidation

One of my friends wrote a blog or Facebook post on how intimidating this passage on a virtuous woman can be (I wish I could remember who and where so I could link it). When we read through this, it seems like the virtuous woman has everything. She's an independent career woman who makes her husband proud, takes care of her house, rears her children well, manages her time, sews her own clothes, is wise and charitable, has a relationship with God and is strong. That's a lot to live up to, which explains why Lemuel says a virtuous woman is hard to find. Many of these traits are dependent upon the others. For instance, if a woman is not God-fearing, she can't remain clam in tough situations and her wisdom will be limited. If a woman does not manage her time, she won't be able to make time for business endeavors. We can't read this proverb and become a virtuous woman overnight, it takes patience, prayer, and purpose.

Why Isn't There a Proverb on the Virtuous Man?

I've heard people ask why there isn't a mirrored passage that describes a virtuous man. The question is meant to accuse Biblical writers, and therefore God, of placing a heavier burden on women than men. However, they neglect the fact that the Bible most often addresses men. The authors refer to their audience as men most of the time. With the exception of sewing, most of these traits are commanded of the men throughout the Bible, and even though there isn't a passage that commands men to sew, men are the ones placed in charge of creating the coverings for the Temple and priestly garments (Exodus 35:30-35).

Examples

the Bible doesn't explicitly refer to any of the women mentioned as being virtuous as defined in Proverbs 31, but I'm sure many of them were. When we think about Eve, Miriam (Moses' sister), Sarah, Rachel and Leah, Mary, and Martha, we know that none of them were perfect. Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Miriam overstepped her bounds chastising her brother over his choice in a wife and was punished with leprosy. Sarah didn't trust God to give her a child. Rachel and Leah fought over Jacob's love. Mary and Martha accused Jesus of being too late to heal Jesus. These women are not perfect, but they are given to us as examples, which should be a reminder that we will not be able to fulfill ever trait all the time. We must strive to do the best that we can, learning from our mistakes and pushing forward.

References

1. "Lemuel". Bible Study Tools; visited August 2017
2. Michael D. Marlowe. "Acrostics in the Hebrew Bible". Bible Researcher; visited August 2017
3. Dr. Barbara Smigel, Dr. Joel Arem, Donald Clark, Richard B. Drucker. "Ruby Value, Price, and Jewelry Information". Gem Society; visited August 2017
4. "Carat (mass)". Wikipedia; visited August 2017
5. "Body Measurements". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 2017
6. "What should we learn from the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31?". GotQuestions.org; visited August 2017
7. Heather Farrell. "The Real Meaning of the Term "Help Meet"". Women in the Scriptures. November 9, 2010
8. "5828. Ezer". Bible Hub; visited August 2017

Proverbs 30: Agur's Proverbs

People aren't really sure who Agur was, but he took the time to pen a chapter of proverbs for us. He makes mention of God's son, which is definitely something to discuss! Agur's proverbs give us concrete examples of the values and concepts he's discussing, which is helpful in understanding his point.

Introduction

The proverbs found in Proverbs 30 are attributed to Agur. In the later half of his proverbs, Agur strongly utilizes comparison to make his points, listing 4 examples of certain qualities or concepts.
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Who Was Agur?

Agur is introduced as the son of Jakeh in Proverbs 30:1. However this is the only time in the entire Bible his name is mentioned. Driven by today's customs, one would think his father, Jakeh, must have been a prominent figure in Israelite history—or at least recorded in the text somewhere for us make a connection. Yet, Jaken is also only mentioned the one time in the Bible. So who were these people and how Agur's proverbs end up in a book with knowledge from Solomon the Wise?

There have been a few theories and attempts to identify Agur. The Hebrew version of the text refers to him as Ha-Massa, which is taken to mean he was a Massaite. Not only would this have made him a gentile, his origins somewhere between Palestine and Babylonia. We don't often think of gentiles in the Old Testament unless they are the villain of a narrative, so this is definitely an interesting theory.

Another theory is that Agur is not actually a name. Remember Semetic languages don't have capital letters like English, so it's probably a little more difficult to identify a name versus a regular word. Take for instance the name Hope. If I said "Hope will prevail," you might surmise I was talking about my friend hope, whereas "hope will prevail" would indicate I was referring to the concept of hope. Many of the words in Proverbs 30:1 can be translated such that the verse is a verse denoting Solomon as the author.^[1]

Whoever he is, Agur admits he has no more understanding of God than the rest of us, though that does not exclude him from being wise. Most wise people are keenly aware of how little they know in comparison to all there is to know.

Agur's Initial Proverbs

...who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?Proverbs 30:4 KJV

Agur apparently knew God had a son because he asks us for both God's name and His son's name. If Agur lived during or after the time of Hezekiah (who compiled the previous section of the book), he would have been familiar with Isaiah's prophecies of the coming Messiah. Those who follow Judaism and deny Christ suggest instead that this is a reference to Deuteronomy 14:1, in which God refers to Israel as His son.^[8] Considering the fact that many biblical passages have multiple fulfillments and meanings, I think both could be true.

Agur goes on to remind us that every word of God is pure. We view His pure Words through a tainted lens, which is important to remember as we read. We should be careful not to add or subtract from God's Word. This is told to us in several places, and Agur felt the need to say it again.

Agur required two things before he died: removal of vanity/lies, as well as, a position in life between poverty and riches. Vanity and lies is lumped together likely because when we become vain, we lie to ourselves, usually without even knowing it. Agur asked to be spared from poverty because he doesn't want to be tempted to steal, but he doesn't want to fall into the pitfalls of the rich either. This is something we should be mindful of today.

Agur also discusses a rebellious generation that curses their parents. This generation justifies themselves instead of following the way of God. Each generation has been following this trend for quiet some time. We can all relate to these statements and feel that it relates to our own generation. This descent will continue until the end.

4 Things...

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Mark Tegethoff

Agur groups his proverbs in sets of four.

4 Things Never Satisfied

The first list of four focuses on things that are never satisfied. Agur gives the following four things:

1. The grave
2. Barren womb
3. The earth not filled with water
4. Fire

An interesting observation in this list is that both the grave and fire are symbols of death and destruction whereas a womb and water signify life. In Agur's example, the earth is devoid of water and the womb is devoid of a child. Thus, all four examples point toward death and the loss of life. Each of these are consequences of sin and gloated over by the devil. The devil will never be satisfied, which is why God will have to intervene to put an end to the devil's treachery once and forever. Directly after listing these four things, Agur speaks of the punish that will come to those who do not obey their parents. Proverbs 30:17 is reminiscent of Luke 17:37.

4 Things too Wonderful

Agur continues by telling us certain things are too wonderful for him to know. Each of thing listed leave little to no trace for our eyes to see. Psalm 139:6 also uses this phrasing.

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Giovanni Calia

1. Way of an eagle in the air
2. Way of a serpent upon a rock
3. Way of a ship in the sea
4. Way of a man with a maid

For each of the above, there are many things that can be inferred—common sense tells us the eagle has been in the air and the ship has been in the sea. If we are in a rocky terrain where snakes are naive, we can assume they crawled upon the rocks. The way a man and woman exchange looks or words can be telling of a relationship as well. However, without being present at the time of event and witnessing it without our own eyes, it is hard to prove that such things have occurred. God is the same when acting in our lives. We may feel His presence, but from the outside, other will not necessarily be able to identify His presence unless they are familiar with Him.

Before moving on to another list, Agur mentions an adulterous woman, which seems to be a continuation of the description concerning a man with a maid. As I mentioned earlier, things such as rings and displays of affection in public give away a relationship. With adultery, the participants would want to eliminate suspicion and thus there would likely be no evidence of the relationship to protect both parties.

4 Things Disquiet the Earth

Some is disquieting if it causes anxiety or worry. The follow four things are meant to describe the collapse of society, highlighting people in places that they do not belong.

1. A reigning serpent
2. A fool filled with meat
3. An odious woman who is married
4. A handmaid heir to her mistress

The first is obvious: the devil and the serpent are often used interchangeably. A place where the devil is reigning supreme is definitely going to be a place of anxiety and worry. This probably also refers to crooked human leaders as well.

The second thing in the list is a bit odd, however. I'm lead to believe that meat in this verse does not mean food, but information or ammunition. A fool who has been. well fed in foolishness is dangerous. They inspire others to join their foolish thoughts and behaviors.

An odious woman is one who is unpleasant. It is definitely odd to see someone who is unpleasant married, whether the be male or female! When we stop and think about this, we must remember that in prophecy, a woman is often used to symbolize a church. Wouldn't it be concerning for an unruly church to claim unity with Christ (the husband)?

The final example speaks of a handmaid inheriting her mistress' property. My first thought upon reading this was the worry that a maid might kill her mistress before she had children. Surely a woman would leave her possessions to to any children she had, preventing anything to be left to the maid. Someone might infer it was a condemnation of servants rising above their master, but Joshua was Moses' servant before taking Moses' role as leader (Exodus 33:11 and Joshua 1:1). Scholars actually suggest that the property the maid stands to inherit is the husband of her mistress.^[2] While I'm not sure how scholars came to this conclusion, it makes sense. There was a great tension between Hagar and Sarah after Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. Although it isn't explicitly mentioned, I'm sure there was tension between Rachel, Leah, and their maids Bilhah and Zilpah who were given to Jacob as wives. Present day there are always concerns about men leaving their wives for the nanny. Therefore I can see how this would be of concern.

4 Things Little, But Wise

Next, Agur tells us about the little but wise. He mentions four animals that are very small in stature, but we could learn a lot from.

1. Ants
2. Conies
3. Locusts
4. Spider

It is well documented that ants are extremely strong and great at working together to function as a unit. Not only can ants lift ridiculous weights in comparison to their size, they can form living bridges and boats to ensure their own survival (now you know why they never die when you try to get rid of them!).^[3]

Coney is another name for rabbit, but scholars assert that the coney mentioned in Proverbs 30:26 refers to the hyrax syriacus.^[4] Agur tells us that despite being small and weak, these animals are able to build strong homes, which is important for safety. The hyrax is know for creating their home in rocks.^[5]

Next on Agur's list of small but wise animals is the locust. Bees and ants have queens, but locusts do not have such a structure. They are able to organize the swarm without a head honcho. Although the church has a King, we must be able to organize ourselves without a physical presence, relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Spiders are small and pretty much unwelcome everywhere, yet a king's palace is just as likely to have a spider building a web in it as a poor man's house.

4 Things Go Well

The final list given by Agur is of things that "go well."

1. Lion
2. Greyhound
3. He goat
4. King

Some scholars believe these examples are meant to show the art of being strong but maintaining your temper, but most interpret this list to mean things that are stately or majestic.^[6]

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Gwen Weustink

The lion is regarded as the king of beasts; Agur states that lions are also the strongest. While it is known that a tiger is actually more likely to win a fight with a lion than the lion is, we must remember that a Godly definition of strength would never be based sold on physical strength. Unlike tigers, lions live in prides with their families. Their strength comes from the fact that they stick together for offensive and defensive action. So too, there are individuals who will be stronger than us, but as the church of God, we are collectively strong. Lion's have a regal and majestic demeanor which is another reason it is likely included in the list.

The KJV and NKJV list the second animal to be a greyhound, where the NIV and ESV translate the original word to rooster. Scholars have interpreted greyhound to actually mean a war horse, as well.^[6] Interestingly, greyhounds and horses are both used for racing! Greyhounds have been recorded as far back as ancient Egypt,^[9] so it's possible that Agur really did mean a greyhound dog. Of the three options I personally find greyhounds and horses to be more majestic than roosters. However, I have a biased opinion since I have been attacked by roosters and not by horses or greyhounds. Regardless, I will concede that roosters can be beautiful from afar as well.

He-goat, is a male goat, also known as a buck.^[7] Male goats are slightly less intimidating than a ram (a male sheep), but retain the beauty and are still powerful.

The final example is a king with the support of his people. For those of us who grew up in the U.S., a president might fit the bill since we have likely never seen a king.

References

1. J. Frederic McCurdy and Louis Ginzberg. "Agur Ben Jakeh". Jewish Encyclopedia; visited August 2017
2. "Proverbs 30:23 Commentary". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, via Bible Hub; visited August 2017
3. Russell Mclendon. "11 Amazing Antics of Ants". Mother Nature Network. July 13, 2017
4. "Coney".Bible Hub; visited August 2017
5. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Hyrax". Encyclopædia Britannica; visited August 2017
6. "Proverbs 30:29-31 Commentary". Bible Hub; visited August 2017
7. "Buck". Encyclopædia Britannica; visited August 2017
8. Gerald Sigal. "Is Jesus the son that is referred to in Proverbs 30:4? Who is It?". Jews for Judaism; visited August 2017
9. "Greyhound Guide". Animal Planet; visited August 2017

Proverbs 23&24: Saying of the Wise

Proverbs 23 and 24 contain more wise sayings by Solomon. In this post we discuss a few of them and how they apply to life today.

Introduction

I haven't included everything Solomon says in Proverbs 23 and 24, but I touch on the Proverbs I had to think about. There's also a self-explanatory summary of some of the behaviors addressed by Solomon in these chapters.
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Literal or Metaphorical?

Proverbs 23:6 says that we should not take the bread of the wicked nor covet his meat. Which could be literal, especially considering the regulations in the dietary law. A person not following God is likely not following these restrictions and may feed us unclean food. Of course, bread and meat both represent substance; remember, Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). We should not take their teachings and ideas or covet their way of life.

The verses following Proverbs 23:6 also suggest this could refer to the untrustworthiness of a person. Breaking bread is often seen as symbol of unity or alliance, however the wicked person can't be trusted to uphold his end of the deal.

We Fall Down, But We Get Up

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Myles Tan

Do you know the song "We Fall Down" by Donnie McClurkin? The song talks about how God's people are those who get back up after they fall. Proverbs 24:? echoes this principle. Everyone sins and everyone falls, but people who trust in God rise above the obstacles while those who do not follow God, wallow.

Landmarks

Proverbs 23:10 says not remove the old landmarks; this is a repeat of Proverbs 22:28. Scholars believe that the landmark in question are the inheritances of the tribes. Many of the modern translations (e.g., NIV) use the word boundary instead of landmark.^[1]

Strange Woman

Proverbs 23:27 discusses promiscuous and strange women. Both are compared to holes in the ground one can fall into. Essentially, Solomon is warning men not to get involved with these women. You're probably thinking that this is pretty odd coming from a guy who had 700 wives, many of whom were "strangers" to Israel.

This verse could have multiple meanings. Obviously there are dangers when becoming involved with people (male or female) that are promiscuous; this is how STDs are spread. Similarly, if we aren't familiar with the customs and culture of a person, or their culture conflicts from our own, problems can abound. However, this could also be a reference to spirituality. Harlot, whore, and adulterer are all used to describe worshipping another god. Solomon could have been warning us to steer clear of those whom have left the service of God. These interpretations are true regardless of gender.

Condemnations

• Gluttony
• Favoritism/Bias in judicial proceedings
• False witness
• Working for the purpose of becoming rich
• Delight at someone stumbling or falling (not just literally, but figuratively, as well)
• Drunkenness/wine

Endorsements

• Knowledge is strength
• The fatherless (orphans)
• Two wrongs do not make a right

References

1. "Proverbs 23:10 Commentary". BibleHub.com; visited July 2017

Proverbs 10-22: More of Solomon's Wisdom

Solomon tells us that it is better to be hated than to be without bread. He didn't say this because he was obsessed with the rolls at his favorite restaurant, either. In the Bible, bread always represents substance. Jesus tells us the bread it His body and what is the Body of Christ? His believers, who sustain His Kingdom on earth. Solomon is telling us that substance (both literally and spiritually) is more important than being liked an accepted by the world.

Introduction

A lot of topics are covered in these proverbs—eventually, I will separate out the topics covered across the whole book into individual posts. Below, I cover the highlights of the verses found from Proverbs 10-22. Major points include listening to our parents, following the commandments, non-violence and peace, criticism, and treatment of the poor. Solomon tells us that wisdom is more valuable than gold and silver! I can't cover everything, so I strongly encourage you to read Proverbs often.

³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. ³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.Proverbs 21:30-31 KJV

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The Commandments

One of the main points of Proverbs is to remind us to keep the commandments. Since these Proverbs were written by Solomon, who is suspected to have also penned Ecclesiastes, which proclaims the whole of our duty is to serve the Lord and follow the commandments, it stands to reason Proverbs would echo that sentiment.

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.Proverbs 13:14 KJV

Solomon informs us that the law is very important in our life. We know that we are actually saved by grace, but with grace, we gain a desire to follow God's Word. The commandments are not particularly convenient to keep, but they are prudent to our survival. Think about all the troubles that come with alcoholism, drug usage, sexual immorality, violence, etc. Surely, by listening to God this will save us from pain. When we accept Jesus as our King (the point of salvation), He gives us the Holy Spirit, Who inspires us to keep these commandments.

Follow the Ways of Your Parents

Many of the proverbs stress that children are to heed the wisdom of their parents. When we sin and reject wisdom, we are an embarrassment to our parents. Similarly, we are an embarrassment to God (our Father) when we disobey Him. Proverbs not only reminds us to follow our parents, but reminds our parents that they have to train us. Famous proverbs such as "spare the rod, spoil the child"^[3] and "train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart"^[4] substantiate Solomon's point that children have to be corrected to help them grow into wise adults.^[5] Once again, this principle can be applied to each of us as a child of God; we should be thankful when God corrects our behavior.

Violence is of the Wicked

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Adam Birkett

Proverbs has so many verses that say violence is the fruit of wickedness, I don't know why this isn't quoted in church more often. Anger and violence are things we resort to when we are unwise and do not know the love and peace of God. This is something most people could guess, even if they don't think about it often.

What we don't really talk about is the entertainment of violence. I've mentioned this in previous posts, but I'm going to mention it every time it comes up in scripture because you may not have read my previous posts. Basically, Solomon warns us that the wicked not only commit violent acts but that they enjoy violence. This encompasses everything from egging on schoolyard fights, to reality TV, movies, and video games. I was never a fan of violent video games, but boy did I have an affinity for violent movies. I used to joke with my friends that every movie I owned that wasn't a Disney movie (and even some of those fall into this category), either someone dies or something gets blown up in the first 5 minutes. My favorite franchises were The Fast and the Furious, Transformers, and The Dark Knight. In my mind, it was harmless because I would never advocate for such violence. When I interned for the government, I had to drive through a check point and saw one of those massive guns for the first time in real life. I was not amused, entertained, or impressed. Ever since then, I've wondered, why am I ok with watching people use these things on TV? I would say it's because I know that the movies are fake, but does it matter? Do you think God is entertained by fake adultery or fake murder? I don't know about you, but I can't see God being amused by watching people pretend to commit acts He told us not to commit.

Proverbs 12:20 tells us that those who preach peace find joy. In grade school, people often crowd around fights, egging them on and talking smack. However, Proverbs tells us that it's an honor to end a fight. Naturally, the wise are able to think through their anger and approach confrontation with a level head. Of course there is a time for war (Ecclesiastes 3:8) and Proverbs confirms that sometimes we have good reason to war. However, the take away is that this isn't to be a first choice or a first instinct. We should be slow to anger.

Laziness

God promises us rest, He created a whole day for rest, but that doesn't mean we have a pass to be lazy! Proverbs condemns laziness in several verses. Solomon tells us not to sleep during the harvest, that the lazy don't prosper because it impedes our path.

Having grown up on the farm, I can tell you without a doubt, you have to be ready for the harvest if you intend to reap anything. My parents planted a blueberry bush for me since I love blueberries (and they're crazy expensive in the store!). I used to casually pick berries off when the urge hit me. Unlike a real blueberry farm, where the purpose of the bush is to produce enough crop to sell, I just ate as I pleased. It never failed that the squirrels and the bugs often beat me to the punch. By the end of the bearing season, it was pretty hard to find berries that hadn't been tainted. If I wanted to sell those berries for profit, I needed to be ready the moment the harvest began and I should have cleaned the berries from the bush.

I don't think Solomon's words in Proverbs are restricted to a physical harvest in a garden. The Bible often refers to us as branches or vines that bear fruit. There is definitely spiritual wisdom to be found in the advice of not being asleep during the harvest. Whether God is harvesting us or we are harvesting gifts of the Spirit, you don't want to miss that.

In the moment, being lazy is the easy, but when we're lazy, we waste something (time, money, etc.). It takes the least effort and causes the least stress. However, in the long run, we miss out on the blessings God has for us because we didn't sew the effort to reap the benefits. Not to mention, it would be silly to sew the effort only to miss reaping the benefits because you were too lazy to collect the reward.

Reproof

Reproof or reproach is the act of chastising someone when they have done wrong. Proverbs touches on this process quite a bit. The main take-away is that fools do not take criticism well, but wise men are quick to adjust their behavior. One verse goes so far as to so that a wise man will learn more from the reproof than a fool will from being disciplined! We must be able to accept the truth when presented to us. It easy to believe that those accusing us of wrong as the ones in the wrong (see below on pride), especially in a world where deception runs rampant. We must take criticism with grace and pray on each point. Often we dismiss issues based on our own conclusions or because of who it is that is criticizing you. However truth is truth, no matter who's mouth it comes from. God uses all manner of people to relay His messages. Before we get angry or wave away criticism, we should bring the issue to God. We should ask "Lord, is this true? Is this something I need to fix?" (I know it's easier said than done! I struggle with this myself. Let's make a deal to pray for each other. I'll pray for you to be able to accept criticism and you pray for me, ok?)

Pride

Pride and vanity are discussed a lot in Proverbs. Most of us know it's bad but we don't always know why or where to draw the line. I'm sure God wants us to have some pride in ourselves. I'm proud to call myself a follower of Christ. I'm proud to say I was fearfully and wonderfully made. However, there's a line we shouldn't cross. We don't want to take on a holier-than-thou attitude in which we consider ourselves "better Christians" or "more Christian" than others. We don't want to be full of ourselves, flaunting our beauty as though it's something we have power over. In the movie Sydney White, the "queen bee" at a university flips out because someone else is voted more beautiful than her; we don't want to be that person.

Proverbs advises us to be humble. I know and you know that we should be humble because we really are lowly creatures compared to God, even compared to the angels. Nothing I've accomplished in life is of my own hand. For those who are struggling, however, Proverbs gives us a more practical reason for being humble: it comes before honor. Whether people are Christian or not, no one likes a braggart. You will not go far bragging on yourself, but when you allow your actions to speak for themselves, that is when honor is bestowed upon you.

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.Proverbs 16:18 KJV

One of the problems with becoming prideful is that we want to trust in ourself more than God (lean not on your own understanding, right?). From the very beginning all the way to today, people have relied on their own "wisdom" to make decisions, forsaking God's wisdom. Eve chose to believe the serpent and her own eyes rather than listen to what God said. Today we listen to the media and pop culture to define right and wrong rather than listen to God. This is all rooted in pride. Proverbs 21:2 tells us than in our own minds, we're always doing right, but only God's way is actually right. We vainly believe that we are good, even when we are wrong; people don't set out to be the villain of the story, usually they actually believe their own foolishness. This is what pride leads to.

An interesting note on pride is found in Proverbs 16:5. Solomon tells us that despite being joined hand in hand, with people, a proud heart will not go unpunished. We live in a society that prides itself on unity, which causes us to think anyone promoting unity is good. Unfortunately this is not the case. We can get along with our neighbors and talk about coming together in peace all while trying to magnify ourselves. Just because our end result may be desirable, doesn't mean God won't judge our heart.

Money Matters

Money is a big deal in our society. During Solomon's time they didn't have debit cards or paper money, but wealth and the concept of being rich still existed. Solomon leaves us a few tips about acquiring wealth in Proverbs.

One thing Solomon reminds us of, which is reiterated in the New Testament when Jesus tells the rich man to give away his riches to follow Him, is that it is better to be poor with great riches in Heaven, than to be rich on Earth with nothing in Heaven. Solomon tells us that is better to have a good name, than money. If you have a good reputation, people will try to help you, but if you have money with a bad reputation, nothing can fix that. People may put up with you, but they'll be happy to see you fall too.

Of course, wealthy in and of itself isn't bad. Many of God's chosen people were blessed and wealthy. Solomon was one of those people. If your wealth is earned from honest labor, you will be made prosperous and likely it will multiply. However, wealth obtained through vanity (i.e., ungodly activities), will be lost.

Photocredit: Unsplash.com/Jay Castor

When you're on the right path, you know that Earthly wealth is of this world, that you can't take it with you when you die. Proverbs 13:22 tells us that a good man leaves his wealth to his descendants. A long time ago, I remember being pretty irate with Steve Harvey for promoting the idea of spending every dime he had and not leaving anything for his children. People flocked to his comment, praising it, and suggesting the children should have to work for their fortune just as he did. From a secular point of view, this is why the poor stay poor and the rich get richer. I know people who graduated from college with $0 student loan debt and a trust fund from mommy and daddy to buy a house or invest in a business. Meanwhile I know people who graduated with tons of debt and have little to no support from their parents. Obviously the people who inherit are in a better place to succeed in our world. Spiritually, you have to think what life would be like if God took that approach toward our salvation. Imagine if Jesus had said He refused to die on the cross for us because He already had His robe and His throne. Imagine if He said we needed deserve anything He created and we needed to work and create our own stuff.

Another warning Solomon gives us is that those who love pleasure end up poor. In the list of pleasure, Solomon includes wine and oil. These were and still are fairly expensive items. If you spend all your money on lavish items like Ferraris and marble tile, of course you won't have anything left over!

Solomon tells us not to put our faith in wealth. Money can't buy everything; for example, all the money in the world can't cure you of an incurable disease. Certainly it may provide you with more comfort or prolong your life, but it won't cure you nor will it stop you from dying. Only God can save you from death.

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.Proverbs 11:25 KJV

Solomon also talks about our wealth as it relates to others. Cheating people out of money is forbidden by God, and according to Solomon, unwise. False weights were not to be used to receive more or pay less than the agreed upon amount during business transactions. Conversely, Solomon advises that we scatter our blessings, i.e., be generous. Generosity leads to more success, but stingy behavior leads to poverty. Note that in Proverbs 11:25, Solomon isn't referring to political liberals and conservatives; he's referencing generosity.

A Godly Woman

Proverbs 31 contains a detailed description of a virtuous woman, but there are other proverbs that speak on the matter as well. Since Solomon starts the book personifying wisdom as a woman, I like to ponder what these verse would mean in that context as well.

Solomon says that a virtuous woman is good for her husband but a wicked woman will harm him. The Israelites struggled with this. They often married women from pagan nations—Solomon was guilty of this himself—and then fell into idolatry. Critics of the church often complain about the expectations placed on women, but I find Solomon's advice to be interesting, and empowering. Solomon never says a virtuous man is good for his wife. In the New Testament, Paul says a woman may convert her husband or a husband may convert his wife, but Solomon, the wisest fully human man to live, only specifies a virtuous woman to be a great treasure.

Feel however you may about the standards women are held to, but it is true that men will often go through extreme lengths to please women. From the beginning, man desired a partner. Women were created to fulfill this desire. Adam was so fixated on Eve that he left her talk him into eating the forbidden fruit. The truth is, a good woman does have the power to affect positive change in a man. Solomon says that men who find a wife find a good thing and obtain favor from God (Proverbs 18:22). Isn't it odd, then, that it is women who are looked at funny if they are unmarried?

The Rewards of the Righteous

Solomon lays out the basis of salvation when he talks about the rewards of being righteous. Despite the fact that most afterlife is a hotly debated topic in modern Judaism, Solomon clearly understood that God had a plan to deliver us from death. Solomon says the righteous are delivered from death and inherit the Tree of Life. We see in Revelation 22:2 and 14 that after all is said and done, those who remained loyal to God (the righteous) will come before the Tree of Life and enjoy eternal life.

Sacrifice, Punishment, and Justice

Justice is important; we know that. Solomon tells us that justice and righteousness is better than sacrifices. When the Israelites presented sacrifices to God, it was part of the forgiveness process. Therefore, this is actually the opposite of the adage "better to ask forgiveness than permission." God despises the sacrifices given by the wicked! This relates to Jesus saying there will be many claiming to know Him that He will not recognize. It's not about the action, it's about the heart.

Speaking of the heart. Many times people sacrifice goals, dreams, values, etc. for those around them, only to be angry and resentful in the end. Other times Solomon tells us it is better to let well enough alone and be without if the sacrifice will cause us to be angry and resentful in the end. We're being told that sometimes we can't afford to pay the price of the sacrifice. Aren't you glad Jesus could afford to pay for everything?

Forgiveness

We all mess up; no one is perfect. Thankfully, God is a forgiving God. We can rest easy knowing that when we repent, God will hear us and forgive our imperfections. That is, if we're truly repentant. Solomon reminds us that if we continue to repeat transgressions, we cause a problem. This advice isn't just for our relationship with God, but our relationship with family and friends. If you do wrong by me once, of course I'll forgive you. However, if I notice it to be a pattern, I'm probably going to be less likely to forgive you.

Solomon tells us not to reward evil with good. Forgiveness could be considered one of the good things people are rewarded with. From this perspective, we have to remember that evil would be the intentional and repeated actions of a person. Clearly, Jesus tells us to forgive 70 times 7. Even though we may forgive people, I think Solomon's point is that we do not want to confuse evil doers by blessing them for bad behavior.

Treatment of the Poor

One of the things that really grinds my gears is the way so called Christians treat the poor. Jesus was a champion for the poor and the both the Old and New Testament testify to this fact. Proverbs is no exception, there are several proverbs detailing our treatment of the poor. We are told that if we oppress the poor to increase our own wealth, we will suffer—specifically, we will "come to want."

"20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends. 21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." Proverbs 14:20-21 KJV

Many people assume this means that the rich will lose their money, their companies, their fancy cars, etc. Life proves that this isn't really the case. Instead, we see them fall apart emotionally, which is far worse. We see them battling depression and drug addictions. The Clintons stand accused of spearheading the mass incarceration of Black men, specifically poor Black men,^[1] as well as misappropriating funds donated to a relief fund meant for the poor in Haiti.^[2] They're still rich, but I wouldn't want to be them for even a second. Nothing about their demeanor suggests a happy life. Can you imagine how it must feel to know you lost the presidency to Donald Trump? The man won by promoting hatred toward Hispanics and Muslims, was supported by White supremacists, and yet Hilary Clinton also lost Barack Obama, a former Muslim who is also Black...

God is the Creator of both the rich and the poor (and everyone on the spectrum in between). He wants us to have a heart for those who have less than us. You don't have to be millionaire rich for these words to affect you. As a graduate student making less than $30k a year, I still had more than many people. While God may not expect me to build a homeless shelter, considering I can barely pay my own rent, He does expect me to be mindful and considerate of these people. If there is something I can do to aid my fellow man, I should be doing it!

Lies and Deceit

The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.Proverbs 12:19 KJV

I mentioned "little white lies" earlier, and Solomon uses proverbs to give us a host of wisdom on the error of lying and deceit. All forms of deceit, from lying to cheating to slander are condemned in Proverbs. Solomon tells us not be fake and not to allow negative influences in our lives.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.Proverbs 20:1 KJV

The problem with deceit is that it is exactly what it is: deceiving. The grass looks greener on the other side and even the righteous are easily seduced to follow in a deceptive path. It takes discernment from the Holy Spirit to see through deceit.

Who's in Your Circle?

I'm probably dating myself with this reference, but there used to be a cell-phone commercial focused on the question "who's in your circle?" The idea was that those in the circle were the ones closest to you and whom you talked to the most often. These were the people you wanted to be able to talk to for free. Google+ still imploys a similar method for profiles, and we often use the phrase "circle" to describe cliques in society.

Words like "circle" and "clique" tend to have a negative connotation because they refer to exclusivity. Not everyone can be in the "premier" circles of society and so often they seem snobbish and elitist. God wants us all in the circle that goes to Heaven, but we have to choose to be there, and most people haven't made that decision. As such, sometimes we have to excuse people from our circle because we just aren't going the same way.

Solomon reminds us that we pick up the habits of those we are around, so he advises that we surround ourselves with wise people and avoid people who are foolish or prone to anger. If we have wise friends, we receive wise advice; if we have foolish friends, we receive foolish advice.

Solomon also reminds us that while blood may be thicker than water, friendship is often more nurturing than familial ties. I often joke with my parents when one talks about something crazy the other one did. They'll say "that's your mother/father" and I'll respond, "yes, but you chose to marry them." It's all in fun, but the truth is, we can't help who our family is. Some of us have wonderful families, and some of us have horrible families. On the other hand, we are fully in control of who our friends are. Our siblings (think Joseph and his brothers) or parents may wrestle with us, but we should choose friends that have our best interest at heart!

Misc.

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.Proverbs 10:10 KJV

Proverbs 10:10 says winking can cause sorrow. If you're like me, you read that passage, scratched your head, and said "come again?" After reading this proverb, I was totally confused. It's paired with a "prating fool" falling, and the use of "but" to combine the phrases implies this is an opposite action. However, falling isn't the opposite of sorrow, in fact I would think they were in the same realm. So let's take a look at this verse.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.Proverbs 17:15 KJV

To prate is to talk for a long time, usually about something unimportant,^[6] so a prating fool would be someone who is prone to idle chatter. Apparently all this talking will cause them to fall. How does this compare to the winking eye? Today we think of winking as a flirtatious gesture in which we quickly blink only one eye. That's not what is meant in this passage. Here, Solomon is referencing those who turn a blind eye to what is happening around them. Your lack of intervention causes pain and sorrow in those victimized by the situation you are ignoring.^[7]

This passage is meant to show us that running our mouths about things we know nothing about can cause trouble, but not intervening is also a troublesome action.

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.Proverbs 22:28 KJV

Apparently there is one landmark that was not supposed to be removed. It wasn't the Temple, because Solomon built the Temple and it was God who set the location. Also, the Temple wasn't a landmark, so much as a holy place. Landmarks are there to give direction or information, so whatever Solomon was telling them not to remove in Proverbs 22:28, was meant to provide direction to the Israelites. Scholars believe he was talking about tribal lines or inheritance boundaries. There are also some who think this could refer to theological disputes that have been settled by our forefather.^[8]

References

1. Aviva Shen. "Hillary Clinton Says She Agrees Her Role In Mass Incarceration Was A Mistake". Think Progress. March 6, 2016
2. Michelle Ye Hee Lee. "Did the Clinton Foundation raise ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ for a hospital in Haiti that was never built?". Washington Post. June 13, 2016
3. Proverbs 13:24
4. Proverbs 22:6
5. Proverbs 22:15
6. "Prate". Merriam Webster; visited July 2017
7. "Word of Wisdom - He That Winks With the Eyes Causes Sorrow". The Salt of the Earth. May 17, 2016
8. John Gills. "Proverbs 22:28 Commentary". Bible Study Tools; visited July 2017