Expository Study: Proverbs

We look at the clear choice between living a life with God's favour or suffering the consequences of being a transgressor and living the hard life. https://bbfohio.com

We have this amazing blessing give to us by God in His word. It is "the word of life". A fountain of life. It delivers us from "the snares of death". But we must remain humble and never forget that the wisdom we hold is not ours and did not originate in us, but is the wisdom of God. He alone deserves any credit or glory. https://bbfohio.com

The descendants of Shem demonstrate the truth of this Proverb in very clear terms. Those that fear the commandment are a remnant but they have existed throughout history right up to the remnant of Bible believers, today. And all of these will be rewarded with eternal life and an eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus! https://bbfohio.com

There is not better illustration of the results of despising God's word than to look at nations. And we can see an even more broad and vast example by examining the three main branches of the human family coming from Noah after the Global Flood. In this devotional, we are going to look at the effect that despising the Word has on the descendants of Ham. https://bbfohio.com

The foolish nations who despise God's word are doomed to be destroyed. We look at the nations descending from Japheth as an example in ancient AND modern history. And the wise will learn from history, including the history written in the Bible before it happens! https://bbfohio.com

This is a very practical truth that most of us have experienced to one degree or other. Some have experienced it to an excruciating degree. And all who love the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will experience this to some degree as we wait and watch for His return! https://bbfohio.com

How many times have you seen someone get rich by gambling or some other means (legit or not) only to watch them go bankrupt? It's a warning for us but also an encouragement to show our appreciation for the coming inheritance we have from our heavenly Father! https://bbfohio.com

Being well advised is wise. But many have fallen by being too open to just any advice and that is not what this text says. It says "well advised". We will talk about that and Pastor Greg will give a few examples from his own past experiences as illustrations of being wise to reject bad advice based on Biblical truth and prayer. https://bbfohio.com

Believers must beware of causing shame and contention by our own sinful pride. To be sure, the world and lukewarm professing Christians will shame us for taking the RIGHT stand. And so long as we stand with Jesus and the doctrine of the apostles as found in our King James Bible, we will have much contention. But we should ADD to such with unnecessary contention and justified shame on our part due to our own stubborn pride issues. https://bbfohio.com

The lamp of the wicked is pathetic in comparison to the light of the righteous which comes from knowing the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. We will discuss the lamp of the wicked and end with a reminder of what our heart response should be toward our heavenly Father for giving His Son to die for our sins. https://bbfohio.com

Texts like this one serve as a test for the saved man or woman. Of course, there is some Dispensational context to be considered. But once we've put this in proper perspective, we should test our "Joy Meter". And one way to refresh our joy is to remember what we have been saved from. https://bbfohio.com

We continue our discussion of Proverbs 13:8 and focus on the "ransom" aspect. Comparing the ability of the rich to get out of trouble in this life using his riches with the more important question of our trouble with the Law (of God) and our need for a ransom to save our soul from eternal death in a Lake of Fire. https://bbfohio.com

The rich are under constant threat by those trying to gain their riches but also use those riches to avoid consequences. The poor need not worry about being pursued for riches. The wise will not covet the riches of this world but he riches found in Christ Jesus. https://bbfohio.com

Most of us know rich people who are miserable and die in darkness and misery. We also know those who are poor middle class or even more poverty stricken who have wonderful lives filled with love, family and friendship. But even that is in vain, if we don't have the riches that come by knowing Jesus Christ and being saved by His shed blood. https://bbfohio.com

The wicked finds himself or herself in a spiritual "Catch-22". What does that mean? We will discuss that and lay out the fact that Jesus is the only way out of the hopeless situation of the sinner who remains in his or her wickedness. https://bbfohio.com

Righteousness has a preserving effect on a man's life. Do right and you will face less trial and tragedy. Do wrong and you will only pile on to the trial and tragedy that life produces. It's a simple but seldom understood truth taught in this Proverb. https://bbfohio.com

What makes a wicked man loathsome? He is contrary to the righteous. The wicked man loves lies and alienates those who loves truth. We will discuss this and look at King Jereboam as an example of such a loathsome man who came to shame. https://bbfohio.com

The followers of Jesus Christ should hate lying. But instead of preaching to the choir about the obvious, we take a few minutes to point out where too many Bible believing Christ followers allow lies to creep in and take lodging in our midst. https://bbfohio.com

The sluggard wants but don't want to earn it or do anything to deserve it. The diligent is made fat. We will look at what that word "fat" means in this context and the relationship to the new slang word, "phat". And we will see that a poor widow who gave two mites is now eternally made fat! https://bbfohio.com

We previously discusses keeping your life by keeping your mouth and now we take the other side of the discussion regarding those who will NOT keep their mouths under control. A warning to each of us but also a recognition of our duty to confront foolish people like this with Proverbs like this with the hope that they will hear and learn from God's word. https://bbfohio.com

A very serious warning for God's people to practice "mouth control". But some have trouble understanding the application and the old saying goes, "the Devil is in the extremes". So, we find the Biblical balance and truth in order to properly understand this "keep-keep" situation: Keep your mouth and keep your life. https://bbfohio.com

Our discussion of the soul of transgressors applies to those who live lives full of transgression but we see the eternal implications as well. And the violence of death suffered by unrepentant transgressors is almost always dark and lonely. Yet, that pales in comparison to the dark, lonely violence of the flames of Hell that await all who reject God's offer of salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. https://bbfohio.com

Your mouth can cause you to "eat good" if your mouth bears good fruit. Evidently, we need a lot of reminders about the potential for good (and for evil) found in the mouth and tongue because God sees fit to sprinkle such warning throughout Scripture. But we also need to understand what it means to "curse men" not only to avoid doing so but also to avoid dereliction of duty. https://bbfohio.com

It is in our nature to scorn rebuke. It takes humility to submit to Biblical, sound, reasonable rebuke. But too often proud men like King Nebuchadnezzar, rebellious men like King Saul or willfully ignorant men who hear but will not DO as James explains in James 1:22-25. https://bbfohio.com

A discussion about the wisdom of hearing (and heeding) a father's instruction when his example and words are a reflection of the wisdom of our heavenly Father. There is a reason this particular instruction is repeated by God numerous times. https://bbfohio.com