Proverbs Study Days 12 and 13

Sorry that I am a day behind. I have been trying to rest and heal. Still need your prayers. Zach is better, he is still a little congested, my ears are still ringing and I am congested as well. Matt is not feeling well tonight either. I guess it is spreading through our house. Pray that he and Abby will be OK.

Now...
Read Proverbs 4:10-19 (marking my son, wisdom, and wicked) and then we will list instructions for and benefits of seeking wisdom.

Pro 4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.
Pro 4:11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
Pro 4:12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.
Pro 4:13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
Pro 4:14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
Pro 4:15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
Pro 4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
Pro 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Pro 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Pro 4:19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Instructions and benefits of seeking wisdom:
1.Accept my words-your years will be many
2.Keep Hold Of My Instruction
3.If you walk your steps will not be hampered
4. If you run you will not stumble

Instructions for avoiding wickedness, and list separately characteristics of the wicked.
It says to flat out avoid it, do walk in it, do not follow wickedness.

characteristics of the wicked:
they cannot sleep, they eat and drink wickedness and violence, they walk in darkness and do not know what they stumble over.

contrast the wicked and the righteous:

Wicked / Righteous
Cannot Sleep Rest
They Stumble Do Not Stumble
Walk in Darkness walk in light


Day 13
Read Proverbs 4:20:27 (marking my son, and heart)
Pro 4:20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Pro 4:21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.
Pro 4:22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
Pro 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Pro 4:24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
Pro 4:25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
Pro 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
Pro 4:27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Note the instructions about "my sayings" or "my words" and their value to those who find them.
My words: Be attentive, Let them not escape your sight, and keep them in your heart.

The Value:They are LIFE to those who find them
They are healing to all their flesh

List the body parts that the author mentions and the instructions for each one Summarize how they relate to verse 22.
Ear
Eyes (Sight)
The Flesh
Your Feet
Heart

In order to have life, and healing of the flesh, I think you must honor the Lord with your whole self. Not just with words, not just in hearing, not just in doing, but with all things combined. Sometimes we think it's enough to sit in church and listen, sometimes we think it's enough to be the good guy that walks around helping out his neighbor while never hearing the word, but it's not good enough. We are to worship God with our whole self in order to receive what God has promised in verse 22. If we do not use all that God has given us to direct our path, we will fall into the path of the wicked. If we do not hold dear all that he has told us, we will stumble and fall. If you are thinking that going to church on Sunday morning is enough, your wrong. If that is seriously all that you desire of God, don't be surprised when you fall.

In the book of Proverbs we are given so much instruction, what will happen if you do good, what will happen if your do bad. Inevitably, we will still do bad even though we know what lies ahead. Inevitable we still won't dig deeper in the word, even though we are told the rewards that we will gain. Ask yourself, what am I doing right and what am I doing wrong. Because what is happening in your life, lies in your hands. God gave us instruction, its our choice as to whether or not we choose to follow it.

Prayer Requests:
Max and Lucia needs healing and strength
My family needs healing
Cara's friends who lost her husband
Melissa and Miranda finding a job
My brother is moving to Tulsa
Cindy Grizzle's Mom (Sue Earls)
Finances for my family to go to Massachusetts for a week this summer and help Ryan and Christy with Church planting.

Proverbs Day 11

Day Four of Week Two....


Read Proverbs 4:1-9 today, marking my son, heart, instruction, teaching, understanding, commandments, and wisdom. These key words appear throughout Proverbs. Consider starting a running list of everything you learn about these words throughout your study of the book of Proverbs. Several other themes run through the book, so as you see them cropping up again, you can compile lists of everything you learn in all the chapters of Proverbs...

Pro 4:1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
Pro 4:2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.
Pro 4:3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
Pro 4:4 he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
Pro 4:5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Pro 4:6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
Pro 4:7 The beginning of is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
Pro 4:8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
Pro 4:9 She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown."

Now go back and read Proverbs 1:1
Pro 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
and note the author: Solomon

Read Proverbs 4:3
When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,

2Samuel 12:142Sa 12:14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die."

1 Chronicles 14:3-4 1Ch 14:3 And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David fathered more sons and daughters.
1Ch 14:4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,


Leave a comment answering the following questions.....

Can you figure out the author's father and mother?

Was he the only son his mother?

In light of these verses, what does "the only son in the sight of my mother" mean?

What do your think?

What actions does the author urge?

....now make a list of each acdtion and list the benefits of each action in a second column.

Do you want these benefits?

I will post my answers in the comments section. Do not read the comments until you have formed your own answers and opinions. I hope this will help you get into the study a little more, and not just read what I have studied. Leave your prayer requests in the comments section, click subscribe if you would like to be emailed when I post my blogs.

A prayer request was posted:
Please pray for Max and Lucia. Max needs healing and Lucia needs peace and strength. please keep them both in your prayers.

Continue to pray for me, I still lack a voice and hearing. Zach is much better, thanks for praying for him.

Continue to pray for Miranda and Melissa in their search for a job.

Pray for my brother David, he will be moving to Tulsa to take on a promotion.

PROVERBS DAY 10

We are week two day three of Proverbs.

Today we are going to read Proverbs 3:21-35, marking key words, including my son (wise), and references to the Lord. Continue looking for verses grouped around similar principles and subsequent good and bad consequences.

Pro 3:21 My son, do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion,
Pro 3:22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
Pro 3:23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.
Pro 3:24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Pro 3:25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
Pro 3:26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
Pro 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
Pro 3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you.
Pro 3:29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
Pro 3:30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
Pro 3:31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
Pro 3:32 for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.
Pro 3:33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Pro 3:34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
Pro 3:35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

How do verse 27-30 relate to verses 31-35?
27-30 are instructions on what not to do to our neighbors
31-35 warn us of the wicked


I like verse 24. How many of us have trouble sleeping at night? What is keeping you from sleep? Are you worrying about finances, work, home, family, etc? If so, then we need to ask ourselves why. Are we not what we should be in God. Because this verse says that if we have sound wisdom and discretion, that we will have a sweet sleep. I work in pharmacy and I can't tell you how many sleep aids we sell on a daily basis. If people only knew they could have the best nights sleep ever, if they only had the sound wisdom and discretion that we receive from God. Why is it so easy for us to look to earthly things to take care of all of our needs, when all we need is Jesus.


NEIGHBOR-5. One of the human race; any one that needs our help, or to whom we have an opportunity of doing good. (webster dictionary)

The next thing that stood out to me was how we should treat our neighbor. If we have it to give today, we should not wait until tomorrow.


CONTEND, v.i. [L., to stretch. Gr., See Tend, Tenet.]

1. To strive, or to strive against; to struggle in opposition.


We should not contend with any man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. This says that we should not contend (strive against or struggle in opposition) for any reason. That's a pretty bold statement. In today's world I think everyone is contending with everyone else. We have to have better cell phones than they do, we have to have better technology than they do, we have to make more money, work out more and look better than they do, we have to take better vacations. Don't act like you are not guilty, most of us are guilty of that on a daily basis. We are suppose to love our neighbor as we love ourself, not try to be better than they are. Your $500 phone, doesn't mean jack to the homeless who are starving. That verse says that we should not contend for any reason. So we are not allowed an excuse to be anything less than what God expects us to be.

verse 27, do not with hold good from those to whom it is due when it is whithin your power to do it.
WOW>>lets ponder that for a moment. I want you to take a minute and write down in your journal or on a peice of paper the good things that you think you are with holding from those to whom it is due, when it is within your power to do it.

Tomorrow we will read Proverbs 4:1-9

Proverbs Day 9

It's been a long day, and truly I don't feel like reading tonight. Sometimes you just have to get yourself into the routine. Just like I am going to have to get back into the routine of working out three days a week, as soon as we are better. Zach and I are not feeling well. Zach has been running fever all day, so please keep us both in your prayers. Pray for Melissa Hendrix, she is a little under the weather today as well. If you guys have any prayer requests fell free to post them so we can pray for you.

Today we are reading Proverbs 3:13-20 It's just seven verses, so it won't take long. Mark the same words that we marked in the first 12 verses. List all you learn about wisdom. Notice that these verses are not instructions, but they do contain principles for living.

Pro 3:13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
Pro 3:14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
Pro 3:15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Pro 3:16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Pro 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Pro 3:19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;
Pro 3:20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

WISDOM, n. s as z. [G. See Wise.]

1. The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion. I differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus.

Knowledge

KNOWL'EDGE, n. nol'lej.

1. A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement and repugnancy of our ideas.

UNDERSTAND'ING, ppr.

1. Comprehending; apprehending the ideas or sense of another, or of a writing; learning or being informed.


In this definition of wisdom is says that wisdom is the right use or exercise of knowledge. In home group we were discussing the difference between wisdom and knowledge. What I get from this definition is, who shows us how to use or exercise knowledge? God of Course. It is our job to obtain the knowledge by reading and teachings, but it is God who gives us the wisdom on how to use the knowledge in which we have gained. Some people think that wisdom is knowledge is the same thing, but obviously you have to have knowledge before you can obtain wisdom.

Matthew Henry says that is far more greater to have wisdom than any earthly thing our heart desires. Think about it, if our minds filled with knowledge of Gods word and God then gives us the wisdom on how to use it. It is limitless, on what you can do, who you can reach, how you get through life. As my dad says, show someone how to fix it so next time they can fix it themselves. My dad is that guy, the guy everyone calls when they need something fixed, from air conditioners, to cars, to refrigerators, he has pretty much fixed a little bit of everything. Imagine being the person with all of the knowledge of the bible and having the wisdom of God on how to use it. Anyone can read the bible, but only those who fear the Lord and believe in him will be given the spiritual wisdom on how to use it. What would you be able to fix, how many people would call you up, because they in lack of knowledge and wisdom are seeking someone who could help. Isn't that far greater than anything we have here on earth. The more you dig in, the more you will rely on God, and not be so scared about every bit of life that is coming at you. My dad doesn't have much fear of things breaking down, because he can fix most of it.

It took wisdom, knowledge, and understanding for the Lord to create the Earth. It is going to take that for us to live on this earth that he created.

Proverbs Day 8

Week Two
The Teaching of A Father

According to Deuteronomy 6, Moses gave Israel the commandments so that they, their sons, and their grandsoms would fear the Lord and keep all His statutes and commandments all the days of their lives. Moses instructed Israel to teach the commadments diligently to their sons and talk about them all the time-when they sat, walked around, lay down, and rose up.

Less than five hundred years later, Solomon obeyed this command with the hope that through the wisdom God gave him, his son might also feat the Lord.

Day One of Week 2

Read Proverbs 3:1-12,
Pro 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
Pro 3:2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
Pro 3:3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Pro 3:4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
Pro 3:8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Pro 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
Pro 3:10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Pro 3:11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,
Pro 3:12 for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.


mark references to God and the key words and phrases wise, teaching, commandment, understanding, heart, and my son.

Watch for the word so, which introduces the reason for the instruction that precedes it.(So is listed differently in the KJV than the ESV. This is the ESV version above. The KJV says...Pro 3:10 So shall thy barnes be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
It also says So in verse 4..so we will find favour.

Make a list of the instructions and prinicples in these verses. Beside each one, list the result or the value of following the principle. You may want to rephrase prinicples to firm up your understanding, and memorizing your words will help you. Over the course of these 13 weeks, you'll see many prinicples repeated, giving you an idea of how important God thinks they are for us to know.

1. Do not forget my teaching, let your heart keep my commandments. For it will add days of life and peace to you.
2.Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you so you can find favour in God and man.
3.Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding...he will keep your paths straight.
4.Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil....It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
5. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; ...then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
6.My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

If you do not have esword, download it onto your computer. This is free and a great to when referencing other bible versions. Also many commentaries are listed that may help you get a better understanding.

proverbs day seven group discussion

What is the significance of wisdom and foolishness according to Proverbs 1-2?

What kinds of people are discussed in these chapter?
adulteress (which is and example of temptation)


Discuss their goal, their kinds of life, and their futures?
Those who are doing evil, will end of destroyed yet those seeking God and wisdom will be protected.

Discuss the idea of wisdom as a treasure?
It should be something sought after, considered valuable, and something you hold close to your heart.
It should be your motivation for getting close to God and seeking him out.
Obtaining wisdom is not something we should dread but desire, so we kind find the treasure (which is how God will use the wisdom to touch someone else)


What did you learn about the Lord in these two chapters?
you are going to fear the Lord ot btain wisdom
If you turn from him, he will turn from you, but if you seek after him he will guide your paths.

How does wisdom protect us?
with wisdom you understand righteousness and justice and equity every good path

How do wisdom, understanding, knowledge, teaching, and commandments relate to one another?

Its a backwards ladder, you first must obey the commandments, receive teaching and instruction to obtain knowledge, with the knowledge you must understand, Then wisdom will come when God gives it to us. But we must first do the first four things.

What application can you make to your own life?
Mine personally would be that I would seek God daily. That I will follow his commandments, and study and learn so that he can provide me with wisdom when the time is right on how to use what I have learned. I should also make sure that my kids are doing the same. A daily devotion time and prayer is very important for my kids every day.

How does this weeks study motivate you?
I have never been more motivated to study Gods working. understanding his protection over us, if we will seek him more. I am loving this study.

Proverbs Day Seven

Will be at our Fuel Cell
Sunday Night at 6pm
at the Duke House

Serving Potato Soup
and Corn Bread.

If you want to get more involved in the Proverbs Study come and join us.
or feel free to keep up on my blog. Feel free to interact with your thoughts and
questions.