We ARE making headway, aren't we? By the end of the month we'll have covered Proverbs in a fairly comprehensive manner. I'm learning a lot, about God's wisdom...and about me. I hope you are doing the same. I'm learning that I'm not nearly as wise as I once thought I was when I hold myself, and my behavior, up against God's instruction. The two things that have been impressed upon me (personally) so far is that I need to watch my words, be completely honest and completely trustworthy. No white lies, and no talking about people in any way that could be construed as gossip. I hope God is opening your eyes to areas that you need to pay attention to as well.
Reviewing the next four chapters we find that the list continues as to what God doesn't like and what pleases Him...so much to absorb. Making those detailed lists helps---I'm just giving some highlights.
Chapter 19
What does God honor? Integrity, good sense, understanding, a sensible wife...have to pause on that one. In verse 14, Solomon says that a "sensible wife is from the Lord." My version says "sensible", King James says "prudent". The original Hebrew word was sakal which translates to "prudent, circumspect, wisely understand, have insight, ponder, to cause to prosper." This is the kind of wife that is a gift from God. So what is this woman not? She is not one who goes through life not considering things in a serious manner. She has some insight into life and she can be the "woman behind the man" in bringing success to the family. She is a woman who seeks God...because Proverbs has already told us that true wisdom and insight all come from God. I want to be a "sensible wife." (And if you're not married, the same attributes apply to any godly woman.) I think we can all look back on our lives and recognize times when we were not very "sensible"...chasing after things that our friends have gotten that we feel we just have to have; so obsessed with our looks, our figures...is this being "sensible" in a godly way? I don't think so. I think, at 60, I have mastered many of these diversions, but they can easily raise their heads to pull us back in and we need to be aware, and we need to be sensible.
There are a couple of verses in Chapter 19 that I just love:
Proverbs 19:17 "Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender." Isn't that a beautiful picture...that we can loan money/goods to God! Putting them in His hands to use as He needs, and then He promises to repay with reward! Puts a new perspective on being kind to the needy, doesn't it?
Proverbs 19:21 "Many plans are in a man's heart, but the Lord's decree will prevail." We can make our plans, and I think God wants us to plan ahead in a sensible manner, but we do so with the overriding knowledge that nothing that we plan can or will take precedence over God's ultimate sovereignty. That should be comforting to us, knowing that God is a good, good Father and that His plans for us are the BEST plans, much better than we could ever plot out!
I've decided to do more posts, covering less material, so for today, that's it! Another post will be up in a couple of days covering the next chapter or two.
Much love to you, my sisters! Thank you for studying with me!
In His Amazing Love,
Janice
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