Proverbs - Judgment Without Self Interest

Proverbs 29:4

The king by judgment establisheth the land:

 but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

Judgment is to be done without considering how the judgment will benefit us.  We must judge things in an objective manner as the Lord has determined.  It is important for us to look at things with a heart to want to understand how God sees things.  Sometimes our evaluation of a matter will cost us something.  It might cost us a friendship, time or labor.  We must not allow this to persuade us in one direction or another.   Our land will be established as we seek to evaluate by God’s standards and please Him alone.

Knowing God - God Wants us to Understand

Dan 8:16

 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.                                                             

Daniel had a vision and then sought the meaning of the vision.  The Lord sent Gabriel to make Daniel understand the vision.  This means that the Lord hears when we seek to understand a vision.  This verse also reveals that the Lord sends angels to help us understand visions.  The neat thing about the Lord is that He wants us to understand.  Proverbs 14:6b tells us; “…knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.”  When we understand something it becomes knowledge we can use and share with others.  Our God wants us to not just be able to repeat what He says to us but be in a place where we understand and know it.  He will send His angel, His Holy Spirit, His teachers, His messengers, make us to understand.  Don’t be frustrated if you don’t understand, anticipate understanding being given to you.

Proverbs - Loving Wisdom Brings Joy to a Father

Proverbs 29:3

Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

Lord, we pray that our children will love wisdom.  We pray that the sexual identities of our children will be established by You and Your boundaries.  We pray that our children will want to do what’s right and trust Your judgment on matters.  We ask that we would show our children a great love for wisdom in our own lives and that we wouldn’t be women who dress like harlots.  Lord, preserve the next generation for Your glory and show them the paths of life. Let the riches they have in You be spent on that which lasts.  Protect them from wicked and unreasonable people.

Knowing God - The Lord Speaks Through People

2 Sam 23:2

 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

This was part of the last things that David wrote before he died.  He proclaimed that the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him and that the Lord’s word was on his tongue.  God spoke through David.  He spoke through David in the book of Psalms.  Most of these psalms were penned by David.  As David began to commune with the Lord in song, the Lord spoke through him and we have wonderful truths as a result of having this great book.  The Holy Spirit spoke through David and David knew it.  The Lord may be done moving through men of old to write down the scriptures as we know it, but He is not done with speaking through His people today.  Oh that the Spirit of the Lord would speak through us and that His Word would be on our tongues.  We, like David, could enjoy knowing we have been used by Him to speak to others.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

Proverbs - When the Righteous Rule

Proverbs 29:2

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

If you have a difficult husband, manager or landlord, don’t be surprised if you just feel down.  This is a truth spoken of here by the Lord.  If you have a righteous husband, pastor or manager and you wonder why you seem to enjoy working for them, this proverb addresses this as well.  Whenever there is a wicked person with influence over us, we must draw upon the joy of the Lord and seek Him to comfort us in our affliction.  We should remember that Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Although we may have to deal an unreasonable person, we can trust that Jesus is Lord over all and He will even use this time of mourning to keep us focused on pleasing Him and knowing His great love and care.  We will be serving Him and not the person over us. 

Knowing God - God Sees the Good

Gen 1:4

 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

After God made the light, he looked at it.  Then He took in the fact that the light was good.  Our Creator took the time to enjoy and behold what He had made.  Our God is not just about checking off completed tasks, but taking in the beauty and wisdom of all He does.  Do we stop and behold the things that He has created?  How about light?  Have you ever stopped and just noticed that everything around you is lit up by this fireball in the sky?  No one is paying the electric bill on this and the light is just perfect for our lives.  Our God makes good things and stops to enjoy their goodness.  Let’s take some time today and see things that He has made and enjoy their goodness as well.  This will make us more like Him!

Proverbs - Be Open to Correction

Proverbs 29:1

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

When we are reproved by a person or the Holy Spirit we should consider this and seek to be open to correction and change.  If we harden our necks, or resist the correction we can suddenly be destroyed without remedy.  Today if we hear His voice we must not harden our hearts.  If a topic keeps coming up at bible study or in our devotions we should consider this as reproof from the Lord.  He is getting our attention because He wants to transform us in that area of our lives.  If we turn a deaf ear or respond in a lazy way, He may stop speaking and allow us to reap from our choices in a way that will really awaken us with unnecessary troubles brought about by our own stubbornness.  Is there an area of your life that you sense the Lord correcting you?  Respond today with a tender heart and actions that show cooperation with His instruction.