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PROVERBS 17 ON COVERING AN OFFENSE

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November 10

PROVERBS 17

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
    still less is false speech to a prince.
8 A bribe is like a magicstone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.

                                                                    – Proverbs 17:6-10

PROVERBS 17 ON COVERING AN OFFENSE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Love is patient, kind and doesn’t give up

It is not easily offended and slow to react

To cover an offense is a manifestation of love

Those who do not love, holds on to faults

When one covers an offense, he shows forgiveness

When one holds on to offense, they are unrighteous.

One of the hardest things to do is to let go of offense. Because we are fallen people and have inherited sin from Adam and Eve, we automatically get offended. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he described what the way of love. It is very different from how the world defines love. He says that the way of love manifests patience, kindness, humility, doesn’t hold on to wrongdoings, forgiving, rejoices with truth, believes all things, endures all things and never gives up. The world’s way on the other hand is the opposite. It is quick to react, harsh, arrogant and hides the truth, easily gives up and focuses on the self.

Covering an offense is a loving manifestation of a forgiving heart. When we let go of offense and focus on forgiving, we close the doors to Satan to eliminate us from being his prey that he can devour.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important to cover the offenses that others have committed to us?

PROVERBS 17 WHEN YOU MOCK THE POOR

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November 9

PROVERBS 17

 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
   than a house full of feastingwith strife.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
    and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    and the Lord tests hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
    he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

                                                                    – Proverbs 17:1-5

PROVERBS 17 WHEN YOU MOCK THE POOR

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you serve the Lord your God, you must be impartial

To prefer the rich rather than the poor insults your Maker

God created humans and he made them all equal

When you mock the poor, you are also mocking your Maker.

The book of James in chapter 2 talks about the sin of partiality. He says that if you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, you should have nothing to do with any form of discrimination. He gives the example of a situation when a rich man enters an assembly and wears a gold ring and fine clothing and another poor man in shabby clothing also comes in and you give preference to the rich one and treat the poor man badly, you have made distinctions and become judges with evil thoughts. Then James continues to tell us that God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of his kingdom.

Solomon also admonishes us not to mock the poor because if we do so, we are insulting our Maker. Genesis 1:27 says that we are all made in God’s image, man and woman alike. He didn’t make one better than the other, but he has all his DNA of righteousness planted in our hearts. When we go against the way he made us we are mocking him. We are presuming that we know better than he does.

REFLECTION

  • What are some ways we can mock the poor that can insult our Lord?

PROVERBS 16 WHEN ONE IS SLOW TO ANGER

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November 8

PROVERBS 16

30 Whoever winks his eyes plan dishonest things;
    he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained in a righteous life.
32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord.

                                                                    – Proverbs 16:30-33

PROVERBS 16 WHEN ONE IS SLOW TO ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one has patience and can control his temper

He is better than the strong and the mighty

When one isn’t easily provoked, he will gain friends

But the one who is quick to get angry is avoided

Whoever exercises control over his mouth and emotions

He is stronger because he does not give in to dysregulation.

There are some things that are hard to control in our lives. One of them is our tongue. The book of James explains in chapter 3 that the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. He says that animals can be tamed but the tongue of man is untameable. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison and is set on fire by hell. So, since we all have a tongue that is impossible to be tamed, it is probably wise for us know how to control our mouths. From the same mouth we can either bless or curse someone. When we are angry, most likely the tongue will manifest it through harsh or cruel words and can be followed by the hand or other parts of our bodies that can hurt others. Anger in itself is not a sin but Paul says in Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil”. No wonder Solomon stresses the importance of being slow to anger and how valuable it is. He thinks that when one is slow to anger, he is stronger than the mighty.

REFLECTION

  • How is controlling our mouths the beginning of controlling anger?

PROVERBS 16 A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT

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November 7

PROVERBS 16

25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him;
    his mouth urges him on.
27 A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.

                                                                    – Proverbs 16:25-29

PROVERBS 16 A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

There is a way that seems right but leads to death

It only takes care that a man’s interests are satisfied

This path caters to all that is comfortable and easy

There is no room for hard and difficult in this journey

The way that seems right does not want endurance

This path does not create relationships and character

The way that is truly right is the one that leads to God

It is narrow and difficult because this path leads to life.

We live in a world where most people hug and hoard comfort and an easy life. The world system has corrupted our minds thinking that the easy way is the right way. It may seem right because it caters for getting your desires met but it actually leads to spiritual death.

It is okay for unbelievers to take this path because they do not know the Lord, but Christian must watch which road to take because in Luke 9:23, Jesus requires his followers to deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow him. To deny oneself means to cater to the way of the Spirit rather than satisfying the cravings of the flesh. So, the right path isn’t supposed to be easy and comfortable.

REFLECTION

  • Why do some people think that the easy way seems to be the right way?

PROVERBS 16 LIKE A HONEYCOMB

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November 6

PROVERBS 16

19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the wordwill discover good,
    and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

                                                                    – Proverbs 16:19-24

PROVERBS 16 LIKE A HONEYCOMB

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Precious are the words that come from the mouth of God

They add sweetness to our soul and health to our bodies like a honeycomb

When we use the truth that comes from Scripture

We will find good sense and give us the right attitude

Whoever dwells and meditates on the word of truth

They will find the fountain of life flowing and bearing fruits.

A honeycomb is a mass of hexagonal prismatic cells built from beeswax by honey bees in their nests to contain their brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) and stores of honey and pollen. Honeycomb is rich in carbohydrates, antioxidants and minerals. Honeycomb can be eaten directly as a treat. Judges 14:9 tells us of Samson who killed a lion and he scraped honeycomb out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion. The honeycomb must have been the source of Samson’s great strength.

REFLECTION

  • How can the word of God be compared with a honeycomb?

PROVERBS 16 PRIDE LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

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November 5

PROVERBS 16

13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
    and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.

                                                                    – Proverbs 16:13-18

PROVERBS 16 PRIDE LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

A man who thinks highly of himself will come to ruin

He who has a haughty spirit will constantly sin

His mind seeks only what is pleasing to himself

He has no concern for others but to gratify his desires

A proud man is wicked and is an abomination to the Lord

He will not go unpunished for he does not acknowledge God.

King Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:16 after he became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. In 2 Chronicles 32:24-26: “Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown to him; therefore, the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem”. In Daniel 4 we also have King Nebuchadnezzar as another king who was so proud. Daniel warns Nebuchadnezzar that he is a tree that could be cut down because of his pride in his power. Nebuchadnezzar will become more like an animal than a man, and will be humiliated and dethroned for seven years.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think pride leads to destruction?

PROVERBS 16 WHEN ONE PLEASES THE LORD

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November 4

PROVERBS 16

7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
    he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
9 The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps.
10 An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales are the Lord’s;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for the throne is established by righteousness.

                                                                    – Proverbs 16:7-12

PROVERBS 16 WHEN ONE PLEASES THE LORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one pleases the Lord, he walks in righteousness

His life’s purpose is to follow God’s commandments

The righteous fills his mind with God’s truth

He chooses only what the Lord wills him to do

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he is at peace

Even those who hate him sees God’s favor on him

When one’s aim is to please God, he will have God’s favor

There’s an overflow of blessings and a harvest of the Spirit’s fruits.

Who were some bible characters who pleased God? We know of Enoch whose faith pleased God and he was spared to experience death. He was taken up into heaven without dying. Abraham received God’s favor and was called the friend of God. Moses also received God’s favor and was blessed with seeing God’s glory. And of course, Jesus pleased God with his humility and his obedience and sacrificial love and God called him Beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased.

REFLECTION

  • What benefits have you received when you please the Lord?

PROVERBS 16 WARNING TO THE ARROGANT

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November 3

PROVERBS 16

The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

                                                                    – Proverbs 16:1-6

PROVERBS 16 WARNING TO THE ARROGANT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Watch out you haughty and arrogant people!

Your pride will not go unpunished and unnoticed

Everyone who are wise in their own eyes will crash

Be wary for you will all come falling down

Thinking that you are better than anyone

Is an abomination to the Lord your God.

Why do you think God hates the proud? Did he make us in his image so we can think highly of ourselves? Solomon warns us of arrogance in verse 5. He says that it is an abomination to the Lord. The Hebrew word tōʻēḇā is often translated as “abomination” and is primarily used to describe idolatry. In Psalm 10:3-4, the psalmist described the arrogant. It says “ For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain cursesand renounces the Lord. In the pride of his facethe wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” From these supporting verses, we can conclude that arrogance is loathed by God because it is idolatry and does not acknowledge him.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think arrogance is idolatry and why is it such a big sin to God?

PROVERBS 15 THE LORD IS FAR FROM THE WICKED

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November 2

PROVERBS 15

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
    and good news refreshes the bones.
31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
    will dwell among the wise.
32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
    and humility comes before honor.

                                                                    – Proverbs 15:29-33

PROVERBS 15 THE LORD IS FAR FROM THE WICKED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When someone is wicked, the Lord is far from him

God loathes all kinds of evil and abominates sin

Those who does all kinds of unrighteousness

Must not expect anything from God who is righteous

The Lord is wrathful to all those who loves sin

But he hears the prayers of all those who loves him.

Many unbelievers and people who call themselves Christians but are taught false teachings and do not follow God’s truth think that God is near to all. We witness here in verse 29 that the Lord is far from the wicked. In contrast to that, he hears the prayer of the righteous. Does that mean that prayers of the wicked are not heard by God? If you read between the lines in verse 29, we know that the answer to this question is a resounding “Yes, God does not hear the prayers of the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.”

If you don’t know the word of God, you’d think that he is a biased God. God is righteous and there is nothing evil in him. He cannot go against his character. So, he must loathe evil. It just makes sense that the acts of the wicked are an abomination to him.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God hears only the prayers of the righteous?

PROVERBS 15 AFTERMATH OF GREED

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November 1

PROVERBS 15

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
    but maintains the widow’s boundaries.
26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
    but gracious words are pure.
27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
    but he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

                                                                    – Proverbs 15:25-28

PROVERBS 15 AFTERMATH OF GREED

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The servant of the Lord is faithful to righteousness

But the wicked is devoted to fulfil his own covetousness

Whoever is greedy for dishonest gains brings trouble to himself

Even those in his household are affected by his selfishness

When there is greed in anyone’s heart, you will find dissatisfaction

This leads to more cravings, more hoarding and evil intentions.

Why do people become greedy? In an article from cowryrise.com, some causes were discussed. Among these are: discontent, lack, unmet emotional needs, envy, and insecurity. The bible tells us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.  So, we can say that people resort to greed because their idol is money.  They love it so much that they are willing to have it at any cost. The writer of Hebrew warns us in chapter 13:5 to keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have. In Luke 12:15, he also cautions us to watch out and be on guard on all kinds of greed because life is not all about an abundance of possessions.

Solomon exposes the aftermath of greed in verse 27 where troubles beset the greedy and also affects his own household. In Ecclesiastes 5:10, he expounds on the discontent of the greedy people. In Proverbs 28:5, he mentions conflict as another result of greed. In James

5, he warns of the miseries that are coming against the rich and the greedy.

REFLECTION

  • How is the “love of money” the root of greed and other evil?