Proverbs 29: 1-9

Proverbs 29

Warnings and Instructions

¹A man who hardens his neck after much reproof
Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.
²When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
³A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.
⁴The king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.
⁵A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
⁶By transgression an evil man is ensnared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.
⁷The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand such concern.
⁸Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.
⁹When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,
The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

Today's Thought Question:

1. What proverb in today's passage spoke to you and why?

Blogging from a remote location today, and my resources are limited! (Internet connectivity very sketchy; access denied.) Keep pluggin’ despite me!

“Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.” (vs. 8, KJV)

Scornful men or scoffers do not come with welcoming words. Yet another expressive definition from the Hebrew: “into a snare” implies kindling a fire! The scoffer’s hot air is so heavy and strong that the city is set ablaze as a wildfire.

Fools either rush into laughter or into a rage, yes? (vs. 9) The scoffer can bring down our house with a few fiery blows. We often get singed, but we need to think back upon our solid foundation and realize that God will keep our houses from falling—the best home insurance ever!

And what is the response of the wise man? Perhaps, even before our houses are affected, we can act out of wisdom and turn away the wrath of the scoffer. Truly, no one wants to be angry. Circumstances drive some to use anger to persuade, to boast of their excellence—really, to shield everyone from their insecurities and lack of wisdom. So, knowing this, and knowing that God is the source of all wisdom (not to mention that He wants us to love) can we turn to God in an effort to steer the scoffer’s anger off the track?

Remember Solomon’s words to us earlier—that we are to be slow to anger, those rich in wisdom. The more we take our time, and use our hearts over our emotions, the more open that channel for Wisdom to flow—extinguishing the fires of the scoffer!

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Tomorrow's Scripture Focus and Thought Question:

Proverbs 29: 10-18 (of the transcribed proverbs of Solomon)

1. What proverb in today's passage spoke to you and why?
   

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Note: I read from the New American Standard Bible translation, specifically, The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB). I will quote other sources if used in a post.
I also use Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (with notes from the King James Version).