Knowing God - The Lord Sees it All

Proverbs 5:14

Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite,…

The Lord Sees It All

Everything is plain before our God’s eyes.  He sees the mischief and the spite.  In this verse, we learn that God sees the mischief and spite someone has against us.  Nothing is hidden from Him.  He knows the hearts of those that surround us and we mustn’t panic or scheme to discover others’ thoughts towards us.  The Lord knows these things and He is our defense.  We ought to rather focus on pleasing Him alone and trusting Him to protect and defend us.  This makes life so much less complicated and we won’t be so troubled by the hostilities of others.  He sees and He knows how to handle it.

Proverbs - A Mother's Exhortation

Proverbs 31:8-9

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

A Mother’s Exhortation

Our children must be instructed in standing up for those who are being victimized.  They need to be bold and speak up.   They must open their mouth.  Are we showing our children this example?  Do we stand up for someone when they are being devoured in a conversation?  Are we doing what we can do for the unborn children that are appointed to destruction?  Do they see us evaluating things righteously so that everyone is treated fairly?  As we open our mouths and instruct our children to do the same the poor and needy will have someone to stand up for them and those that are not heard will have a voice. 

Knowing God - The Lord Hates Coveting

Psalms 10:3

For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire,

and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

The Lord Hates Coveting

The Lord absolutely loathes the covetous.  When the people He has made become not only discontent with what He has given them but looking at what He has given someone else, it repulses Him.  God is a God who loves to see His people enjoy what they have.  He loves us being godly with contentment and being thankful for what we have.  He has said He will never leave us nor forsake us, so if we really believe; our gratefulness will show. If we become people who always want more, we might very well be in bad standing with the Lord.

Proverbs - Perishing, Heavy Hearts and Alcohol

Proverbs 31:6-7

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish,

and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Perishing, Heavy Hearts and Alcohol

This seems to be an exhortation towards medicinal uses for intoxicating drinks.  Someone who is ready to perish may need something so that they aren’t as aware of the pain and misery they are facing.  Alcohol was used as anesthesia in certain war times.  There can be a time for a narcotic or mind altering drug in a state of pain or death.  Recreational drugs are not for anyone who is trying to have good judgment and make decisions that are safe and of the Lord.  Our children need to know the difference and understand how important it is to have a sober mind. 

Knowing God - God Favors Us

Psalm 5:12

For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous;

with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

God Favors Us

God’s favor protects us.  This favor is called grace in the New Testament.  It means that we are his favored ones.  We are His favorites.   Just like the Lord chose the nation of Israel to be a special people to Him and show those who did not know Him that He was real and powerful, those of us who are in Christ are now partakers with Abraham in that favor.  Here we learn that this favor actually surrounds us like a shield.  This shield will protect us from behind, beside and before.  Knowing God loves us and is blessed with us because of the righteousness of Christ being put upon us, will protect us from haunting reminders of who we used to be, help us walk in the joy of acceptance today and will lead us into the lives He has for us tomorrow.  His grace will work mightily through us and protect us from our adversaries.

Proverbs - Warning Our Children About Alcohol

Proverbs 31:4-5

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.”

Drinking alcoholic drinks is not for kings.  Getting drunk or having our judgment impaired causes us to forget the law and lose good judgment.  We can raise our sons in such a way that they see themselves as kings or princes.  We must remind them that the Lord wants them to rule their lives well and drinking is one the ways that destroys kings.  We need to remind them that their judgment may be impaired and in one night of fun can come a lifetime of consequences.  Our lives must exemplify soberness and wanting to make decisions by the leading of the Holy Spirit and not in impulsive moments of intoxicated thought.  Lord, help our children steer clear of anything that would impair their judgment and help us be good examples to them.

Proverbs - Use Your Womanhood Wisely

Proverbs 31:3

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Here, this mother is warning her son not to get involved illicitly with prostitutes, adulterous women or seducing ladies.  Women can be a blessing to men and the power of the attraction to women can be a man’s downfall.  Men can give their strength to women.  This is important for us to know as women.  We should be careful not to ask for men’s strength.  We must not manipulate them nor seduce them.  Our goal is to reverence our husbands and esteem them highly.  Our sons should see us standing behind our husband’s decisions and not tearing them down.  Women were used in David’s downfall, Samson’s sabotage and Adam’s disobedience.  If we know that men can give their strength to us, we would do well never to receive it.  Men need to be men and they need to be strong.  We must not belittle them or nag them to the point that they weaken under our wrath.  Let us render honor to whom honor is due.  Don’t be threatened by the strength of your husband’s decisions.  Enjoy his leadership and watch the Lord establish him as king.