The wise also will hear and increase in learning,
and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly].
MY MUSINGS
What moves you sail?
What influences the way that you direct your life from day to day?
Who's words are you using to guide your course?
"Everything that is written in the Bible comes from God's Spirit. It helps us in many ways. The Bible teaches us what is true. It warns us when we are doing wrong things. It shows us what is right. It teaches us how to live good lives. As a result, people who want to serve God can know how to live properly. They will be people who can do all kinds of good things" (II Timothy 3:16-17).
When you need help navigating your life,
grab your bible,
it will help steer you right!
It is the Lord who says wise words. He helps us to understand the things that are too difficult for us. He helps us to know what we need to know.
MY MUSINGS
For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6). Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17).
Do you want to know what God has to say?
Grab your bible. Read His words.
You can hear His voice every day!
Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom, and the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God’s word and life’s experiences].
MY MUSINGS
What do you desire out of life? Happiness? Riches? Honor?
Happiness can be obtained through Wisdom and by learning from and living by God's Word (Proverbs 3:13).
"Skillful and godly Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her" (Proverbs 3:15).
"The wise shall inherit glory (all honor and good) but shame is the highest rank conferred on [self-confident] fools" (Proverbs 3:35).
Your happiness, riches, and honor all depend on your relationship with God. Seek His Wisdom, "For whoever finds [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord" (Proverbs 8:35). "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart" (Psalm 37:4).
Be very careful about what you think.
Your thoughts run your life.
[The immoral woman] loses sight of and walks not in the path of life;
her ways wind about aimlessly and you cannot know them.
When you go, they [the words of your parents' God] shall lead you;
when you sleep, they shall keep you;
and when you waken, they shall talk with you.
My son, keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you [so they are readily available to guide you].
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me. For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.
But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.
MY MUSINGS
In Chapter 9, we learn that just as Wisdom calls out to us, Folly calls out also. Let's see what each of them has to offer.
Wisdom built her house and furnished it, and she is productive.
Folly sits on her porch and she is restless.
Wisdom made a sacrifice and prepared a feast for us.
Folly stole the meal she sets out.
Wisdom offers bread and wine to be eaten together at the table.
Folly offers plain water and stolen bread to be eaten in secret.
Wisdom sends out invitations and offers gifts to those who come to her.
Folly makes herself a distraction and operates in the deception of her guests.
Wisdom provides correction, instructions, and benefits.
Folly leads to offense, insults, and scorn.
Wisdom promises you life and insight. Folly promises you death and Hell.
They both call out to those who are naive or lack judgment to come to their house. So as we go about our day, please let us be mindful of whose voice calling out to us that we stop and give our attention to. And at the end of this day, think back, whose house did you visit,
Wisdom or Folly?
It is as sport to a [self-confident] fool to do wickedness,
but to have skillful and godly Wisdom is pleasure and relaxation to a man of understanding.
The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life,
and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men–
he gathers and receives them for eternity].
Life is in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation),
and in its pathway there is no death but immortality (perpetual, eternal life).
One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing [to keep permanently];
another man considers himself poor, yet has great [and indestructible] riches.
There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him,
but at the end of it is the way of death.
MY MUSINGS-All Scripture
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
MY MUSINGS
Let this be our prayer:‘The Lord God has given his message to me, his servant. I speak it on his behalf. I know what to say to help weak and tired people. The Lord wakes me up every morning so that I can learn something. I listen carefully to him, as a student listens to his teacher. The Lord God has spoken clearly to me. I have accepted his message, and I have not turned back. The Lord God helps me, so I will not be ashamed. I have decided to stand and be strong, because I know that I will not be ashamed. God is the one who says that I am right, and he stands beside me. Look! The Lord God himself helps me.' Then you should trust in the Lord as the God who will help you (Isaiah 50:4-5, 7-10).
Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
God probes for what is good.
The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.
The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge,
and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.
MY MUSINGS
The Passion Translations transcribes the Proverbs 18:15 as, "The spiritually hungry are always ready to learn more, for their hearts are eager to discover new truths." Tony Evans commentates on the verse: "God wants to know how serious we are about him. Many people rise early to exercise because they're serious about getting in shape, but they're too tired to rise early to spend time in God's Word. Others set aside time for their favorite TV show, but God can't get a slot on their schedules. The Lord is the one who gives wisdom. You can't obtain it anywhere else. But how serious are you to have his wisdom enter our mind and knowledge delight your heart? God only feeds hungry people. If you are not spiritually hungry, ask God to give you a new spiritual appetite."
Stay hungry for the Bread of God.
Keep learning from the Word of God. Always seek God.
Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man,
And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts.
MY MUSINGS
A man who has friends must himself be friendly (Proverbs 18:24a).
Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift] (II Corin 9:7).
Jesus is a giver.
To be His friend,
accept his gift.
To be a friend,
you be a giver.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls, but the lips of knowledge are a vase of preciousness [the most precious of all].
MY MUSINGS-All Scripture Prayer
"My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart. And my lips shall utter knowledge clearly (Job 33:3). My lips shall pour forth praise [with thanksgiving and renewed trust] when You teach me Your statutes (Psalm. 119:171). May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer" (Psalms 19:14).
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop [on the flat oriental roof, exposed to all kinds of weather] than in a house shared with a nagging, quarrelsome, and faultfinding woman.
When a wise person sees danger ahead, he avoids it.
But a foolish person keeps going and gets into trouble.
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe and delight in my ways.
Rescue the perishing;
don’t hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,” will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know—
Someone not impressed with weak excuses.
Don’t boast in the presence of a king
or promote yourself by taking a seat at the head table
and pretending that you’re someone important.
For it is better for the king to say to you,
“Come, you should sit at the head table,”
than for him to say in front of everyone,
“Please get up and move—
you’re sitting in the place of the prince.”
Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].
MY MUSINGS
Do not behave as a fool, one void of understanding, when you hear the Word.
Let it penetrate your mind.
Let it change your actions.
Let it alter your attitude.
"For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12 AMP).
Read the Word.
Feel the Word.
Live the Word.
Iron sharpens iron;
so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].
If a man willfully sheds the blood of a person [and keeps the guilt of murder upon his conscience],
he is fleeing to the pit (the grave) and hastening to his own destruction; let no man stop him!
MY MUSINGS-All Scripture
"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land" (II Chronicles 7:14).
The fear of man brings a snare,
but whoever leans on, trusts in,
and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.
God does everything that he promises to do. You can trust him and be safe. He is like something that you can hide behind.
Do not mix your words with his words. If you do, he will say, ‘You are wrong.’ And he will show that you tell lies.
You may think about yourself as good when you really are not so good. If you think like that, you are silly. Put your hand over your mouth.
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