Tag Archives: poetry

PROVERBS 7 CAUTION ON SEDUCTIONS

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September 26

PROVERBS 7

16 I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;
20 he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.”

21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; 

   with her smooth talk she compels him.22 All at once he follows her,

   as an ox goes to the slaughter or as a stag is caught fast
23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare;
    he does not know that it will cost him his life.

                                                                  – Proverbs 7:16-23

PROVERBS 7 CAUTION ON SEDUCTIONS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As we serve the Lord Jesus Christ, let us be mindful of seductions

In this corrupt world we live in there is an abundance of temptation

Those who do not know the Lord will be driven by their pleasures

It is with caution that God wants us to be constantly aware

The Lord wants us to be soaked in his truth so we are not trapped

When we walk in His Spirit, we won’t be enticed and lured.

In this book, Solomon describes in detail the enticements that the adulteress prepared to lure. Notice that colored linens were used to cover her couch and perfume on her bed. Linens were used in the tabernacle to symbolize purity. It held crucial religious significance and was used by priests during ceremonies. The devil defiled this use of linen by using it on this occasion to entice the young man to sin. Perfumes were usually used to anoint as Mary did with Jesus’ feet.  Myrrh and Cassia, were ingredients in the holy anointing oil used to anoint priests and kings. And in this seduction scenario, myrrh was used to lure the man to sin.

These things used for purification were now used for temptation to sin. That’s how the devil seduces. He mocks what is holy. He subtly changes God’s purposes to make us sin.

REFLECTION

  • What are some forms of seductions that are so prevalent in our world today?

PROVERBS 7 WARNING TO THOSE WHO LACK SENSE

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September 25

PROVERBS 7

6 For at the window of my house, I have looked out through my lattice,
7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths,
a young man lacking sense,8 passing along the street near her corner,

     taking the road to her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening,
    at the time of night and darkness.1

0 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
11 She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
13 She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,
14 “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;
15 so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

                                                                – Proverbs 7:6-15

PROVERBS 7 WARNING TO THOSE WHO LACK SENSE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one does not heed the word of God and follow his way

You will be an easy prey for the enemy to deceive in his guiles

The world will trap you and tempt you towards doing wrong

The youth and simple are being lured and consumed by their lusts

Watch out that you do not forget the teachings of the Lord

They will guard you against temptations and the ways of the world.

In this book, Solomon describes in detail what he has observed among the youth and the simple. Bible reference.com explains that the word “simple” does not mean stupid but it refers more to the ignorant and the uninformed. So, the following advice is not only for the youth who still lack sense, but for those who are oblivious to the truth. He clearly gives us a picture of the plight of these people who do not know God or follow his laws.

They become easy prey to be devoured by those tactics of the temptress.

Solomon also illustrates and depicts the woman who was dressed as a prostitute, lying in wait for the young man. She is loud and restless and cannot keep her feet at home. She seizes the young man and does not give him any chance of saying no to her.

REFLECTION

·       Why is it important for God’s people to be aware of the ways of the world?

PROVERBS 7 KEEP GOD’S TEACHING AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE

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September 24

PROVERBS 7

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;
2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,
5 to keep you from the forbiddenwoman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.

                                                                – Proverbs 7:1-5

PROVERBS 7 KEEP GOD’S TEACHING AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God’s people listen and heed to his truth

God’s words will fill up their hearts and will take root

Treasure what the word of God says and pursue wisdom

When you seek wisdom, insight will not be far from you

Follow the commandments so you may have a blessed life

Remember it and consume it so it will be stored inside your heart

Then you will be delivered from all those who plot evil

You will have insight and discern how to deal with them.

Solomon counsels us to treasure the commandments of the Lord and keep God’s teaching as the apple of our eyes According to Merriam Webster The idiom “apple of one’s eye” actually refers to the pupil of the eye. In ancient times, the pupil was believed to be a round, solid object comparable to an apple. Since the pupil is essential to vision, it was held to be something very precious. Thus, when you call someone the “apple of your eye,” you are telling them that they are cherished.

Deuteronomy 32:10, reads “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.” Deseret.com says that a more literal translation of the Hebrew is actually “little man of his eye,” which probably refers to the reflection of oneself that one sees in the eye of another person. Thus, the phrase developed into “apple of one’s eye” and retained the meaning of something treasured.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you have to keep God’s teaching as the apple of your eye?

PROVERBS 6 AFTERMATH OF ADULTERY    

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September 23

PROVERBS 6

27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31 but if he is caught, he will pay seven fold; he will give all the goods of his house.
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
35 He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

                                                                – Proverbs 6:27-35

PROVERBS 6 AFTERMATH OF ADULTERY      

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord loathes the unfaithful; they will not go unpunished

Do you really think a moment of pleasure doesn’t result in a consequence?

When you take another man’s wife or another woman’s husband

You are an abomination to the Lord for he wants total loyalty

When you stir jealousy from another man’s spouse, you will suffer

To get a lover out of marriage is like plunging into the pit of darkness.

In this book, Solomon stresses the aftermath of adultery. He challenges those who are contemplating dabbling into someone else’s spouse to think again if they ever fall into the prey of the devil to take someone that does not belong to them. They may have the thrill of the secrecy and the lies and hiding at the moment they are enjoying the affair, but in the end, it brings so much destruction and conflicts.

He mentions the effect of this sin in verse 32 where the adulterer is actually really hurting himself more than anyone else. Lust is a sin against our own bodies. Since we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we ought to treat our bodies holy and sanctified only for what it was created for. If you have no spouse yet, you are supposed to stay pure and not defile your own body for the sake of staying pure for Christ.

REFLECTION

  • What are the results of adultery in the adulterers and those around them?
  • Why do we need to take this commandment very seriously?

PROVERBS 6 THE THINGS THE LORD HATES

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September 21

PROVERBS 6

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
    and one who sows discord among brothers.

                                                                – Proverbs 6:16-19

PROVERBS 6 THE THINGS THE LORD HATES

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Because God is love, there are things he hates

He will not put up with liars and those who are haughty

He hates those who are violent and kills a human soul

He loathes anyone who plots evil against their neighbors

The Lord detests those who takes any chance to hurt someone

He abhors someone who speak lies and generates conflicts.

Why do you think Solomon enumerates in detail the things that the Lord hates? The Lord has granted him so much wisdom so that he could lead God’s people in the right way. If you look closely at these things that God hates, it has something to do with sin. They are things that go against his commands and laws.

If you follow the law of love that God has stipulated for his people, these things that Solomon enumerated here are opposite of loving God above all things and loving your neighbor as yourself. If you love God, you won’t speak lies or put down someone else. You won’t think of hurting someone else because you would treat them like your own. You won’t sow discord or conflicts because that would create destruction and ruin to others. Remember that our sinful nature would automatically make us do these things God hates. But if we walk in love and follow God’s laws, we will avoid doing these things.

REFLECTION

  • Would a true Christian do these things that the Lord hates? Why or why not?

PROVERBS 6 THE CHARACTER OF WICKED MEN

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September 20

PROVERBS 6


12 A worthless person, a wicked man,
    goes about with crooked speech,
13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,
    points with his finger,
14 with perverted heart devises evil,
    continually sowing discord;
15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
    in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

                                                                – Proverbs 6:12-15

PROVERBS 6 THE CHARACTER OF WICKED MEN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Be wary of those who appear charming and witty

They may look like they mean well, but they are wily

They use everything they know to manipulate you

They will cunningly design to bring you down

But don’t lose hope, the Lord will deal with them

Calamity will one day come and make them broken.

In these following verses, we hear Solomon depicts the character of wicked men.  One of the characteristics he pointed out is their crooked speech. He has a perverse mouth. He can never be clear with what he says, always vague and flipflopping. In other words, he can’t give a straight or honest answer because he is always looking for opportunities to manipulate or deceive someone.

Another feature of a wicked man is that they always deceive you. He may charm you first to get what he wants from you and then he sows discord and evil. He does it so cunningly that at first, you would be convinced that he is really a good person, but he waits for the right time to design a plot to snatch something from you. Solomon gives us a clear picture of these kinds of people because he wants us to discern them quickly so that they can be stopped from sowing evil plots against God’s people.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important to know the characteristics of wicked men?

PROVERBS 6 THE VALUE OF HARD WORK

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September 19

PROVERBS 6

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
    consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,  officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer
    and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man. – Proverbs 6:6-11

PROVERBS 6 THE VALUE OF HARD WORK

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Those who walk in the ways of the Lord perseveres and work hard

They work tediously because they know God will grant them fruits

Those who are lazy will have no fruit awaiting them

They avoid doing anything hard, they’d rather lie down.

Solomon gives us a lesson on hard work. He gives the ant as the perfect model for work. According to pestworld.org, ants can lift 10-50 times their body weight. Because ants are so small, their muscles are thicker relative to their body mass than in larger animals. This allows ants to carry objects much heavier and bigger than them. To put it into perspective, if humans could lift 10 times their weight, a 200-pound man could lift a small car above his head. Ants are very social insects, and they divide jobs among different types of ants in each colony. The queen or queens have only one job – to lay eggs. All other female ants are workers; they feed the larvae, take out the colony’s trash, forage for food and supplies, or defend the nest. Male ants’ only job is to mate with the queen.

No wonder Solomon uses ants as examples for hard work. He reiterates more lessons on hard work in Proverbs 13:4 where sluggards get nothing but the diligent is richly supplied.

The gardeners toil hard and God blesses them with the fruits of their labor.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think some people think that they do not have to work hard?

PROVERBS 6 WARNING ON GUARANTEEING DEBTS

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September 18

PROVERBS 6

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
    have given your pledge for a stranger,
2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
    caught in the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, and save yourself,
    for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
    go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
    like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

                                                     – Proverbs 6:1-5

PROVERBS 6 WARNING ON GUARANTEEING DEBTS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

It is wise not to guarantee debts of your neighbors or strangers

You do not know how they will pay what they owe their lenders

If you have accidentally co-signed for other people’s credits

Have yourself freed from such bonds because it is foolish

Do not waste any moment when you have gotten into this pledge

Save yourself from such oath and get out of it as fast as you can

Solomon gives his son another wise word on co-signing for other people’s debts. According to some commentary, the son here doesn’t necessarily mean his biological son, but could also be students. It is wise for us to follow this advice as believers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Another verse that reiterates the same theme as this is Proverbs 22:26 which says “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts.”

We are to lend a hand to our brothers but not to foreigners as stipulated In Deuteronomy 23:19-20 because it has a promise that the Lord will bless us in all that we undertake in the land that he gave us. We clearly see how God separates his people from the world. Those who do not know the Lord will not know what is right. It is wise for us not to get involved with foolish people especially those who irresponsibly got themselves in debt.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Solomon cautions us not to guarantee other people’s debts?

PROVERBS 5 BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR LOVED ONES

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September 17

PROVERBS 5
15 Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice
in the wife of your youth,19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.
22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.
– Proverbs 515-23

PROVERBS 5 BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR LOVED ONES
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you commit to the one you love, you need to be faithful
Never let other people corrupt and tempt you to break your vow
Continue to love the one you had made a covenant with
Enjoy deep intimacy with them and don’t let love slip away
Do not be tempted to look out for other sources of enjoyment
Stay faithful to your beloved so you won’t be trapped by evil.

In these following verses, Solomon warns the young men to stay faithful to their beloved wives. This was a lesson on how sex can be wonderful between husbands and wives. Solomon advises young men never to get involved with other women and stay faithful to their loved ones. Solomon depicts the beauty of sex in marriage and the ugliness of fornication with those outside of it. It is sad how the world has corrupted the sanctity of sex in marriage. According to Wiersbe “Solomon compares enjoying married love to drinking pure water from a fresh well, but committing sexual sin is like drinking polluted water from the gutter or sewer…. To commit sexual sin is to pour this beautiful river into the streets and the public squares. What waste!”

REFLECTION
• Why is it important to enjoy your marriage bed according to Solomon?

PROVERBS 5 LOVE DISCIPLINE AND REPROOF

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September 16

PROVERBS 5

7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength,

    and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.”– Proverbs 5:7-14

PROVERBS 5 LOVE DISCIPLINE AND REPROOF

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The Lord God disciplines those who belong to him

If you love him, you’ll heed his reproof in order to avoid sin

To love discipline is to protect oneself from the world’s corruption

To hate reproof will lead you to utter ruin and destruction

Do not allow yourself to be swayed and seduced by evil ways

Keep your mouth from speaking lies and focus on the right path.

Who wants discipline when you are actually going through it? We naturally hate to be corrected or be told what to do or cautioned not to proceed with something we love to do. This is our sin nature. But we can learn to love discipline if we understand the reason behind such reproof.

The world views discipline as a restriction from pleasures or desires. They think it kills the joy of life. But God’s purpose for disciplining us is always for our own good, never for our ruin. Human discipline on the other hand, involves control and power and can sometimes be selfish in its agenda.

Solomon warns us to run from those who plot evil. He focuses on discipline as a tool so that we can be protected from ruin and destruction.

REFLECTION

  • When can discipline be a bad thing instead of a good thing?