September 2nd, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Steer A Straight Course

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Opening Prayer

God of power and glory, I praise Your holy name. Speak to me and work through me today.

Read Proverbs 15:1-33

[1] A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. [2] The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. [3] The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. [4] The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. [5] A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. [6] The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. [7] The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. [8] The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. [9] The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. [10] Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die. [11] Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD- how much more do human hearts! [12] Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. [13] A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. [14] The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. [15] All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. [16] Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil. [17] Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. [18] A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. [19] The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. [20] A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. [21] Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course. [22] Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. [23] A person finds joy in giving an apt reply- and how good is a timely word! [24] The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead. [25] The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place. [26] The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight. [27] The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live. [28] The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. [29] The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. [30] Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. [31] Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. [32] Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. [33] Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“The value of experience is not in seeing much but in seeing wisely” (William Osler, 1849-1919).

Think Further

I chew the rich diet of these verses slowly, cherishing old favorites and savoring new tastes. The Lord is mentioned more times than in Proverbs 10. I look for a pattern of these occurrences. There are again several proverbs about speech–gentle words (1), bull’s-eye words (23), words pondered rather than gushing out (28). There are other favorites, about the happy heart and cheerful face (13) and about consulting the board (advisors, 22). The jaws of death open suddenly in verses 11 and 24, hidden from us but open to the Lord.

I write out the eleven or so verses that focus on the wise person and/or the fool, the scoffer. The fool nibbles on folly (14), ignores or spurns discipline, resents correction, lacks judgment. In 10:1 he causes grief to his mother, but here in verse 20 he has grown more callous. In contrast, the wise person keeps her eyes fixed on the goal (21; Prov. 4:25), is teachable, seeks knowledge and makes good use of it (2a), shrewdly heeds correction and spreads joy. The fear of the Lord (33) is not just the gateway to this behavior; a God-fearing humility characterizes her whole course.

I reflect on my own teachability, not just the correction of my external behavior, for this chapter mentions “the heart” seven times (7,11,13,14,15,28,30), and what comes out of my lips reflects the state of my heart (7). I turn to James 3:17 and lay this verse on my heart, asking God for wisdom with its eightfold fruits, remembering the whole emphasis of James on practical Christianity–so that wisdom is not just about knowledge and information, but about discerning and generous action.

Apply

“Be teachable” is a four-fold admonition (5,12,31,32). How teachable are you? What attitude can help you be a good learner (33)? See what Paul had to say about the subject (Phil. 3:12-15).

Closing prayer

Lord, give me gentle, observant, diagnostic wisdom. Keep my eyes and my heart close to You.

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