“Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who send you?” The truth is that we are sinners in need of a Savior. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

Solomon says today that even “a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again”. For those in Christ, we may still fall but we can run to Jesus to be restored. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (John 1:9) “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

So for those in Christ, we will still stumble but we are not defined by our stumbling; we are defined as saints! Jesus’s bloodshed paid the price for our sins. “So then you are no longer strangers or aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)

When we stumble, we have a Savior to whom we can run to confess our sin and be restored. Then we can rise again and walk in freedom. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciple, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Tomorrow is Song of Solomon so keep reading.

(Proverbs 22:17-24:34)

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We learned in Genesis 2 that the Lord created us to work. “When no bush of the field was yet in the land…and there was no man to work the ground…the Lord God formed the man…” (Gen 2:5-7) “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Gen 2:15)

Solomon knows the value of hard work and he warns against being lazy in today’s Proverbs. “The lazy man will not plow because of winter, He will beg during harvest and have nothing.” “Do not love sleep lest you come to poverty.” “He who loves pleasure will become a poor man.” “The lazy man says “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!”” “The desire of the lazy man kills him. For his hands refuse to labor.”

Later in the Story Paul will tell us, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain”. (1 Corinthians 15:58) And when Jesus is sending out the 72 to share the Good News, “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

We will get to the Missions and Church Eras soon where Paul and Jesus are teaching us to go and do the work of the Lord, but if you are alive today and following Christ this is your work. Today is the day to labor for the Lord! “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” (Hebrews 6:10)

One more day of proverbs reading and then Song of Solomon. Keep reading!

(Proverbs 20:1-22:16)

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“Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.” “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.” “He who loves transgression loves strife”. The definition of strife is “angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues”. Disagreement is normal but the way we handle it can cause strife.

Solomon says that “Death and life are in the tongue”. “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” However, a wise person’s words give life. “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.”

Later in the Story James will say, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell…With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” (James 3:6-10)

Solomon gives us some good advice today regarding the tongue. “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” 🤭 The struggle is real! 😩 Keep reading.

(Proverbs 17:1-19:29)

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Solomon teaches us the way of the fool: tears down his or her own house, full of pride, does not have knowledge, is deceitful, mocks at sin, rages and is quick tempered, self-confident, pours forth foolishness, and despises father and mother. 😳 From the mouth of Mr. T, “I pity the fool”. (surely I wasn’t alone in that thought)

Ok. So, left to our own devices we would all be fools. Solomon knows this and that is why he says 2 times in today’s reading, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death”. (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25) Wisdom comes from the Lord. But see, no one is going to seek the Lord’s wisdom unless they understand their desperate need.

We are all born sinners deserving death since the fall in the garden with Adam and Eve. Paul explains this in Hebrews 2:1-5 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” However, the Lord provides a way to give us wisdom and make us righteous through His Son. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

So apart from the Lord we are dead, walking in the ways of evil. The only way to walk in the way of wisdom and truth is to walk in the way of the Lord. A wise person does not trust his own thoughts and ways but seeks instruction from God through His Word and time in prayer.

Solomon says in order to guard our thoughts we should commit our lives to serving God. “Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.” Paul will say later in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will”. The renewal of our mind and thoughts comes through time spent in His Word, time spent in prayer, and time spent with others walking with the Lord.

With that said, let’s keep reading!

(Proverbs 14:1-16:33)

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Solomon talks a lot about righteousness today. We have already learned that our righteousness comes from our faith in the Lord. It all started back in the garden after Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan and ate the forbidden fruit which brought sin into the world and broke man’s relationship with God. However, the Lord did not leave them in brokenness without hope. He killed an innocent animal and covered Adam and Eve with its skin. He also made them a promise to send a Savior to crush Satan. The covering of Adam’s and Eve’s sin in the garden shows that the shedding of the blood of the innocent atones for the sins of the guilty and points to the perfect sacrifice to come. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, will be that perfect sacrifice whose blood will take away our sins and restore us to a right relationship with His Father, the Lord. We learned through the story of Abraham, before the law was even given, that his righteousness came from his faith in the Lord and His promises. Paul says is Romans 3:22 “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe”.

Today Solomon speaks of righteousness as leading to life:

“…But righteousness delivers from death” Proverbs 11:4

“As righteousness leads to life” Proverbs 11:18

“The desire of righteousness is only good” Proverbs 11:23

“But the righteous will flourish like foliage” Proverbs 11:28

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” Proverbs 11:30

Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us righteous, which gives us life both here on earth and for eternity! “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21) “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Cor 1:30) 🙌 Keep reading.

(Proverbs 11:1-13:25)

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Solomon tells us that if you try to correct a fool with the Word of God, he will only hate you. But “Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser”.

Later in the Story Matthew will tell us that we have one teacher and that is Jesus. ”Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.” (Matthew 23:10) And John will say that Jesus is the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was written in the Old Testament and He will come on the scene as God in human flesh.

Ok. So since we only have one teacher and He has revealed His teaching through the Word, a wise person reads the Word…it’s a top priority in their life. And if you lack wisdom, ask the Lord for wisdom and He will give it to you if you ask in faith! (James 1:5).

The Christian life is not a lazy, sedentary life. “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.” “The wise in heart will receive commands”, “Wise people store up knowledge”, and “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life.” Christ followers work diligently to receive His commands and store up knowledge so that they are walking in the way of life and are a light in the world.

Solomon, Peter and Paul all agree that we must be active to follow the Lord. Peter will say later, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge…For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8) Solomon says about wisdom “…those who seek me diligently will find me”. And later Paul will say “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. (Hebrews 11:6) Solomon and Paul both say to be diligent in your pursuit of the Lord and His teachings; nothing lazy about it!

Let’s continue to diligently seek the Lord and His ways through His Word. Keep reading!

(Proverbs 8:1-10:32)

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We are going to find out in a few days that even the wisest man can make dumb decisions when it comes to women. Solomon, who loves to build, also builds a really large family by acquiring women across the nations. He marries 700 and makes 300 his concubines. 😱 This is in direct disobedience to the Lord’s instructions about not intermarrying with the surrounding nations, and His instruction for kings not to have multiple wives. We will find out soon that his disobedience will have disastrous consequences. With that said…Solomon probably knows a thing or two about women.

Today he warns of immoral women. “For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey…But in the end she is bitter as a wormwood…Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell.” “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths…Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.” Since getting involved with an immoral woman = hell🔥, Solomon advises to “rejoice with the wife of your youth. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love”. ❤️

Solomon warns over and over again to follow the Lord’s instructions. Why is this so important? “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin, he shall die for lack of instruction.” Solomon knows that ignoring God’s Word leads to a life full of pain and misery and eventually death.

We also read today that there are 7 things the Lord hates: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. The Lord’s desire is for us to turn from our sin toward following Him and His instructions. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and foresakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13) Instead of forsaking God’s law we should, “Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck…For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life”. So choose life!

More from Solomon tomorrow. Keep reading.

(Proverbs 5:1-7:27)

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Solomon tells us that the purpose of Proverbs is, “To know wisdom and instruction”. He goes on to say, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction”. So the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. What is fear of the Lord? Solomon says, “My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you…Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom”. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through His Word. To know the Lord you must know the Word. If you receive His Word and obey His commands then you will understand the fear of the Lord.

See, we can‘t just make up our own god and what we think our own god tolerates and doesn’t tolerate. True fear of the Lord comes through the revelation of Scripture that He is the Creator of all, He knows all things past and present, He knows the heart and thoughts of every person, and He will one day judge us all. A person who fears the Lord also knows His grace and mercy for sending His Son to save us from our sinful nature and to transform us so that we desire to walk in obedience to His Word.

Solomon says, “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands”. A person who fears the Lord not only hears and understands the Word of God but also obeys. The fool chooses not to fear the Lord or walk in His ways. “Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them; And the complacency of fools will destroy them”. We can not trust our own thoughts and feelings; we must align all our thoughts and feelings with what God has said is true. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

Tomorrow Solomon warns of immoral women. Keep reading.

(Proverbs 1:1-4:27)

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“Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and rejoicing. So Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt.” Solomon is Israel’s third king following Saul and David. Soon in the Story, the kingdom will divide into two kingdoms, Israel (ten tribes) to the north and Judah (and Benjamin) to the south. But for now it is one kingdom under the rule of one wise man, Solomon, “He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. Also he spoke of trees,…of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.” Everyone came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

The Book of Psalms is divided into five separate “books”. Some say perhaps the five books are an imitation of the Pentateuch written by Moses, which consists of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Therefore, Solomon’s Psalm 72, which is all about the coming Messiah, ends with “The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended”. This was the last Psalm in book two.

Ok. One more Bible structure comment. (I know it seems like we are reading everything twice and sometimes the info is slightly different.) The Books of Samuel and Kings were written at the beginning of Israel’s exile—before the Israelites are taken captive (which we will read about later in the Story). This was a time of deep brokenness. The Chronicles were written after the return of exile when the Israelites were trying to re-build and re-establish themselves in the land. So these books were written from different perspectives but were all inspired by God. The Chronicles account track the kingdom of Judah. Judah’s kings all come from the bloodline of King David, the Kingdom that the Messiah will come from as the Lord promised King David.

Tomorrow we read the first of eight days in the book of Proverbs. Solomon is going to teach us how to live wisely, so keep reading!

(1 Kings 4:1-34, Psalm 72, Psalm 127)

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