18 July

Bible In 365 Days                                                        

Proverbs 16-18

Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:1. A somewhat obscure proverb which recognizes that man has to exercise his own reason in making his plans, but that he is dependent on the Lord for the answer of the tongue. The implied moral of the proverb is: If we cannot do the less without God, do not attempt to do the greater without Him.

Proverbs 16:4. This is simply the affirmation of the fact that in the orderliness of the divine economy the harvest must be according to the sowing.

Proverbs 16:21. Wisdom is recognized, and where there is ability to impart it, it becomes helpful to others.

Proverbs 16:26. That is to say that hunger will make a man work when nothing else will. This is in harmony with the apostolic principle, "If a man will not work, neither let him eat."

Proverbs 16:32. This is a proverb that is constantly quoted, and very little believed. If men only recognized that there is more valor and heroism in self-control than in doughty deeds which others acclaim in song and story, how different our world would be.

Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17:3. Two important thoughts are suggested by this proverb. First, that the heart will yield to no force other than that of God. Dross in metal may be discovered and expurged by fire, but evil in the heart can be discovered and dealt with only by God. Second, Jehovah does try the heart.

Proverbs 17:5. The first part of this proverb does not teach, as is so often stated, that poverty is from God. Rather, it recognizes the inherent rights of every man in God, notwithstanding his poverty.

Proverbs 17:10. The finer the disposition, the less is needed to correct it.

Proverbs 17:15. A self-evident statement, and yet one that needs to be made, for in every age there have been those who fall into both forms of wrong.

Proverbs 17:24. The contrast here is between "before the face of him" and "the ends of the earth." While it is a sure sign of weakness to see only the things that are near, it is a yet surer sign of folly to be forever looking at far-off things, to the neglect of those close at hand.

Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18:1. The protest of this proverb is against the self-satisfaction which makes a man separate himself from the thoughts and opinions of others. Such a one finally "rages against," or "quarrels with all sound wisdom."

Proverbs 18:9. This plainly teaches that there can be no middle course between construction and destruction. Every man is contributing something to the commonwealth, or is a wastrel.

Proverbs 18:10-11. Each of these verses taken separately constitutes a perfect proverb; but the force of either is diminished unless we note the antithesis created by considering them together. On the one hand, the true refuge of the soul is declared. On the other, a false refuge is described.

Proverbs 18:24. The whole force of this proverb lies in the contrast between the word "friends" and the word "friend." In the first case the word would perhaps be best expressed in modem language by the word "acquaintance." The second word needs to be rendered rover." The whole teaching of the proverb is that one true friend is a lover, and is worth more than a multitude of acquaintances, who are likely to lead into extravagances and evil courses.