Proverb 18:1 Desperado

by Chuck Ness

As I was reading Proverbs this morning, I was reminded of what I wrote in my journal many years ago.

"A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment."
Proverb 18:1

I had a dream last night about an old friend I haven't see in years. His name is Larry, and he was a preacher of his own church in Columbus Georgia. The last time I saw him was a time in my life when all I wanted was to be away from people. If anyone got too close I would disappear.

It was after my 2nd marriage fell apart. Our son had recently died, and it led to problems unforeseen. My wife was never the same, and things just deteriorated in our marriage. We separated, and I ended wondering around the country. I would stay in a place long enough to work a few Months and then leave town without notifying anyone. Sometimes I would leave without even collecting my last paycheck. I figured if I wasn't going to give a notice why collect the check.

For a few years I kept getting an urge in my heart to just go. It was about ten years or so before I truly accepted Christ in my heart. OH I knew Him, but didn't have a relationship with him. Today I know my uncomfortable feeling came from trying to run from Him. I would begin feeling uneasy and just pack up my backpack, chose a destination, and start hitchhiking from place to place. Working for awhile and then start hitchhiking again.

Wisdom vs Folly's Invitation Proverb 9

by Chuck Ness

Advice from Wisdom vs advice from Folly is continually compared throughout the proverbs. We’ve seen these analogies often, but one thing that stands out in this chapter, is not so much the difference, but the similarities.

Satan often imitates God to lure us in. After all, when you put out poison to kill a rodent, you do not use 100% poison, you only use enough to kill them. So you use 99% of a type of food they like, to lure them into eating. Once they eat, they get the 1% of poison that will kill them.

Judge Yourself Lest You Be Judged

Ever been sitting in the house, and out of the corner of your eye, you spot something moving along the floor next to the wall? Or maybe you’re lying in bed and you hear some scraping, scratching, and the pitter patter of tiny feet in the attic? When you have a mouse on the loose around the house, then you need to set a trap or two.

Everyone has their idea of what the perfect food is to trap a mouse. Cheese, peanut butter, or maybe a piece of sweet chocolate The idea is to use something that will attract the mouse over. Then when the mouse takes the bate, it meets it's maker. Well humans are no different, and neither is Satan. The only difference is the bate. If you take the bate that Satan sets out for you it could cost you your very soul.

Choose Wisely by Reading a Proverb A Day, Proverb 1

by Chuck Ness

The purpose of Writing the book of Proverbs was to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. Through Solomon, God shared His Wisdom, and He made sure that no topic was left to question. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings. Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly.

What Happened to The Virtuous Woman? Proverbs 31:10-31

Many women believe that their charm and beauty is what makes them the person who they are, yet as the proverb tells us,

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised

Proverb30:30

Peter tells women;

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes--
rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Proverb 26:1 Only A Fool Would Want Rain At Harvest Time

by Chuck Ness

1.) As snow in summer and rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool. Proverb 26:1

Very interesting in the way Solomon explains the folly of a fool in verse 1. No one but a fool would desire a snow blizzard in the middle of the Summer. Judea was primarily an agriculture society, so they needed the weather to be as it was meant to be. Just as a rain storm at harvest time would be a disaster for the farmer. So too would the weather needed for snow in mid Summer be a disaster to crops.

Israels climate is very similar to that of California's San Joaquin valley. It never, if ever, rains at harvest time, and it never snows in July. Imagine the mess a rain storm would create for workers and machinery in the muddy field as they sludge along to pick the crop, it would be very devastating.

To Defend Evil Will bring A Curse From The People, Proverb 24:24

by Chuck Ness

Today we may witness the mass destruction of the NFL. Remember, Satan twists reality of those who do not keep their minds eyes and hearts on Christ. When it comes to winning the souls of the rich and famous, the most powerful tool in Satan's arsenal, is the fame and fortune they seek. For those who reach the pinnacle of success, their minds will lie to them about their importance to the human race.

It is already difficult to avoid sin, with fame and fortune it becomes almost impossible. Paul tells us that the desire for wealth and fame can lead to many pitfalls, because the love of money is the very root of evil. Not money in and of itself, but the love for it.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom Proverb 9:1

by Chuck Ness

In Proverb 9:1 we read that;

“Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars"

This is obviously a symbolic description, since Wisdom is personified. So what is this house and what are these “Seven Pillars” that wisdom has erected?

Many explanations exist regarding the seven pillars of wisdom in this passage. One idea is that, seven expresses completeness in Scripture, thus Solomon may be communicating that the application of wisdom results in a complete, orderly, well-furnished house, one that which lacks nothing.
Then there are commentators who see the seven pillars as describing a traditional banquet. So then, Wisdom’s call in Proverbs 9:5 would be fitting in that;

Vengeance Is Mine Says The Lord, Proverbs 6:34-35

by Chuck Ness

Mind you, Proverb 6:34-35 was written some 2900 years ago when women had no power. It was normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines. After all, Solomon himself had some 700 wives and 300 concubines. However, times have changed, and women can be as vengeful if not more so than men when they find out their husband has been sleeping around with another woman.

This Proverb can be used for both both men and women. Prison is filled with those who have gotten revenge to the ultimate degree. Thus the Lord warns us all to not even give the thought of adultery a chance of planting a seed in our hearts. Vengeance is mine says the Lord, but in the moment of anger and hurt, logic and reason are often times far from ones mind. It is a sin that can destroy many lives.

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but
rather give place to wrath; for it is written,
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19

Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.' Deuteronomy 32:35

The Penalty For Sexual Immorality Proverbs 5:11

by Chuck Ness

Today, more than at any other time in our society, our rejection of God’s moral standards has led to an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases and infections. This commentary will be a devastating one about our society. It will show you how we have become no better than past societies of the Romans, Greeks, Babylonians, and yes those of Sodom and Gomorrah. I suggest you have a shower ready to scrub yourself clean after learning how truly disgusting our society has become.

As you look at the graph below, you can see that by the mid 1990's STDs started to rocket up. This is directly related to the leadership of the country. In 1992, when Bill Clinton became President. Clinton was an immoral man who eventually admitted he was having sex wioth Mionica Lewinski. The Clinton administration's attitudes on sex effected the nations immorality.

It was Bill Clinton's surgeons general, Joycelyn Elders who, in response to a psychologist who asked her whether "a more explicit discussion and promotion of masturbation could help slow the spread of AIDS". Her response told the World which direction the sexual standards of America was headed;

Biblical Lessons, Phylacteries, & Proverbs 3:1-4

by Chuck Ness

Today's chosen commentary is on Proverbs 3:1-4 which alludes to Deuteronomy 6:6-8. In this passage, God tells the people how they can be assured they will always keep the law. Like all things, it comes with repetition so that it will be trained into our memory. Something we are to diligently teach our children, so that when they get older the law will be always in the forefront of their consciousness. For us Christians, we too should raise our children to know the Scriptures as they know how to walk. Everyday is a time to learn something new about the things of Christ. Everyday is a chance to ensure their eternal Salvation and a place in heaven.

Do Not Rejoice When Evil People Fall Proverbs 24:17-18

by Chuck Ness

As we watch the way the Democrats attack every good thing, while upholding and rewarding all evil, it is natural to desire the day they fall. Yet when that day comes, and it surely will, remember not to celebrate nor rejoice. Instead consider what Solomon wrote in Proverb 24:17-18;

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him
Proverbs 24:17-18

Happy Is He Who Keeps the Law Proverbs 29:18

by Chuck Ness

Some believe it will be so cool to see the things that the ancients have spoken of. The truth is, we know that those days are not something they should wish to see, let alone experience first hand. Those of us who are getting older, know that we may be gone when the end comes. So we will know nothing of what transpires since we will be in the very presence of our Lord. Yet, we now see where the world is going, and our hearts are saddened at the things those left behind must endure.

As I type this, we are  witnessing times changing so fast that few things make logical sense anymore. Revelations 13:17 tells us that a time will come when men will not be able to buy or sell with out the mark of the beast. Well, today we are already seeing multibillion dollar corporations limiting what some people can sell or purchase unless we follow their unconstitutional regulations in America. These are the times spoken of by the ancient prophets like Paul, who wrote in his second epistle to Timothy,

The Levirate Law of Proverbs 20:16

There are many sordid story's with many shocking facts shared in the Scriptures about God's people. One such story is the twisted account of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar? (Genesis 38:7-26) The story of Judah and Tamar is certainly not the most pleasant story in the Bible. In fact, most commentaries on the book of Genesis don’t spend much time on this chapter. After all, the story of Joseph (Genesis chapters 37-38), has a lot more preaching material and great spiritual lessons!