Ecc. 10: Fulers

Ecclesiastes 10:3 "Even as he walks along the road, the fool lacks sense and shows everyone how stupid he is."

Even light foolishness denigrates solid wisdom.

I don't know how or why wisdom goes to the right and foolishness to the left. I'll leave political commentary out of it.

Rulers can put whoever they want in charge, and occasionally, they install fools. That happens, and Solomon describes it as an evil. People often occupy positions they have no business occupying. That's just the way it is.

If you dig a pit, you may fall into it...sometimes we fall victim to our own schemes.

Be careful what you say about someone...little birdies are everywhere.

Pr. 20: God Knows

Proverbs 20:15 "Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."

Don't overdrink. You become a mocker and a brawler. Note that beer and wine are not forbidden. Just don't be led astray. (v. 1)

So many people fight for honor. Proverbs flips that. Avoiding strife is the honor. Any dope can quarrel. (v. 3)

Didn't plow or plant? Don't expect to harvest. (v. 4)

An understanding man draws his heart's purpose out of deep waters. (v. 5)

Nobody hasn't sinned. But you can be blameless. (v. 7, 9)

Unfair weights and scales are detested by God. You don't want to be a part of any activity God detests. God is well aware of what people are doing. (v. 10-12)

I love sleep. I guess I will be poor. (v. 13) No, this speaks to the sluggard, who does nothing all day.

Lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel, even compared to gold and rubies. Wow. (v. 15)

Don't make plans on your own, it is wise to seek advice. (v. 18)

If you don't want to become a victim of gossip, avoid those who gossip. (v. 19)

Don't make hasty vows. Can you cash that check? (v. 25)

Discipline purifies. (v. 30)

Pr. 18: Even More Proverbs for Living

Proverbs 18:15 "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. "

It is implied here that there is great pleasure to be had in finding understanding. It's that "Aha!" moment that I've come to enjoy when reading through these scriptures with a willing heart and a mind open to learning. I express my opinion on these after reading, not like a fool, who does so beforehand, without really knowing what he's talking about. I've been that way long enough. (v. 2, 13)

Ever say something so foolish people wanted to give you a beating? Ever heard someone say something so foolish you wanted to pound them? (v. 6-7)

Gossip is tasty at first, satisfying. Feels good. But... (v. 8)

Pride in your wealth is misplaced. It will lead to destruction. (v. 11-12)

Get a second opinion. Listen to both sides of the story before passing judgment. (v. 17)

Don't want to show favoritism and invite quarrel? Cast lots. (v. 18)

I found good when I found my wife. She is a favor to me from the LORD. (v. 22)

If you have too many friends, that can lead to ruin. You have too many people to please. There's a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Where? Who? Do they have a specific friend in mind? A best friend? (v. 24)

Pr. 16: Proverbs for Living

Proverbs 16:20 "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD."

I would have thought the opposite of verse 1. It would seem that to the LORD belong the plans of the heart, and from man comes the reply of the tongue. What am I missing here? Man plots in his heart. What is the reply of the tongue? God answers man's plans?

There is a big difference between a person's "ways" and a person's "motives." (v. 2) Consider the motives behind a person's ways.

Can God use wicked people in his plans? Oh yeah. (v. 4)

Verse 6 is pretty amazing. Sin is atoned for via love and faithfulness. Those are action words, but it isn't empty works in themselves. But whose love? Whose faithfulness?

Verse 9 seems to speak about the will of God. In a man's heart, he plots his course. Man has a destination in mind. God determines the steps. So if man has this plan, is it God in the small things bringing man to that destination? Or is this God completely overruling? When you plot a course, you still take steps. Does God say, "Nuh-uh, follow these steps instead." I tend to think not. Could I become a great man someday without following God's steps? Not great in the eyes of God.

In an authority position? Don't abuse it with dishonest words, because you are to be respected as an oracle and knowledgeable. (v. 10)

Here it is... Pride goes before a fall. (v. 18)

Work hard. Eat. That's how you do it. (v. 26)

Gossip isn't in the Bible. Yes it is. (v. 28) Why throw your friends under the bus?

Got gray hair? Thank God for a long life. (v. 31)

Gonna play the lottery? I guess that's ok, but remember that lots are cast into the lap, and decisions are from the LORD. (v. 33)

Ps. 101: Practical Praise

Psalm 101:2 "I will be careful to lead a blameless life—when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart."

David lists a few ways to keep a blameless (not perfect, there's a difference) walk before the LORD. The overarching theme of all of them is to completely avoid any sort of sin temptation whatsoever. In this way, David is presented with fewer "opportunities" to fail. In this way, David keeps his house in order, never really knowing when God could show up on his doorstep, so to speak.

He removes vile things from his site, eliminates the company of evildoers and those who could influence him to turn to things ungodly. That specifically includes gossip and slander...liars. David was so mindful of these types of people that he devoted nearly an entire Psalm as a reminder to avoid them. He is the highly susceptible to temptation, and he realized that. This Psalm serves him well, I imagine.

Ps. 41: Mercy in Abandonment

Psalm 41:1 "Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble."

Caring for the weak and the poor sure is important to God, and should be important to us all. I have to ponder to whom the word "him" refers in the first verse. Does the LORD deliver the weak person, or the one who has regard for the weak person. Perhaps they are one and the same. I think its really easy to read a verse like that first one, and assume that this is a command to help other people, because we aren't weak. I am not weak. Really? When I think about it, there are things that identify me with the strong, and there are things that identify me with the weak. So important is this caring for the weak that God would protect that protector from his foes, would restore him on his deathbed. God apparently needs more people like that. Why would God preserve a person so specifically?

There's very little transition to segue the reader into the next concept beginning in verse 4. I can only figure that David considers himself weak among those who seek to harm him. Maybe David has had help in times of his weakness, and seeks to lift his helpers up because of that? 

David is so hated by people that he hears the talk. There are people who slander him, who gossip about him, who wish him dead, wish illness on him. It's really quite disturbing. In verse 9 he refers to betrayal...someone who broke bread with him, a trusted friend is now among those who want him destroyed. Possibly Saul? Betrayal has got to be so heartbreaking, especially be a close confidant.

So how does David handle this? I would probably get all scared, or mad, or sad. I can't really say I'd react positively. But David goes right to God, trusting in God's mercy to deliver him, and to keep him safe. He knows God has credited him with righteousness, and David's unwavering devotion to God is a delight.