Monday's Moment

Proverbs 24:3-4

3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Good morning, and a Marvelous Monday may it be to all of you!

A great Sunday is behind us, and as we look forward to a blessed week, we'll continue Perusing the Proverbs together! Along the lines I've followed most days, here are my thoughts on a verse-by-verse basis:

1-2 - Don't envy evil men nor desire to be with them because their heart studies destruction; their lips talk of mischief. They plan violence.

3-4 - For some time now, I've thought about my soul as a house. These two verses follow that thinking. Through wisdom a house is built, and it is established by understanding. Because of knowledge, the chambers of my heart-house will be filled with all kinds of precious and pleasant riches. This is the house that the Lord builds!!!

5- A wise man is strong; yea, the strength of a man of knowledge only increases.

6- Wise counsel is a must if you want to wage war. Where there are many counsellors, there is safety (or victory).

7- Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the gate.

8- Those who scheme up evil shall be called mischievous.

9- The thought of foolishness is sin: and one who scorns is detested of men.

10- If one faints in the day of trouble or hardship, his strength is small.

11-12 - If you withhold deliverance from those who are about to die or be slain; if you say "I knew nothing about it"; remember the One who ponders the heart, and consider Him that keeps the soul - He knows!! Will He not render to every man according to his works?

13-14 - My son, eat honey because it is good. Eat the honeycomb because it is sweet to the taste. Knowledge of wisdom will be sweet to your soul. There will be a reward when you find it. Your expectation will not be cut off.

15- O wicked man, don't lay wait against the dwelling of the righteous. Don't mess up his resting place.

16- A just man may fall seven times but he will get up each time. But, the wicked will fall into mischief.

17-18 -  Don't rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles. In I Corinthians 13, we read that charity "Rejoiceth not in iniquity..." The Lord will see how we react when our enemy falls. He just might stop being angry with him if we rejoice in their trouble.

19-20 -  Don't worry about the evil that wicked men are doing. Don't be envious of them. There will be no reward for them in the end. The candle of the wicked will be put out.

21-22 - Fear the Lord and the king. Don't get caught up with those who don't fear the Lord. Their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows how bad the ruin will be for them?

23-25 - These things belong to the wise: it is not good to show respect of persons in judgment. The man who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," will be cursed by the people and abhorred by the nation. But, to the man that rebukes the wicked, he'll be a delight and a good blessing will come on him.

26 - Every man will "kiss his lips" when he gives a right answer.

27- Prepare your field first, then build your house.

28- Don't be a witness against your neighbor without a cause; don't speak deceit. Don't say, "I will do to him what he did to me, and I will repay him for his work." In other words, remember the Golden Rule - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

29-34 - Solomon took a walk and on his walk he noticed the field of the slothful (or lazy); the vineyard of the man without understanding. He found it overgrown with thorns. Nettles covered it; and the stone wall (the protection) was broken down. Then he thought about what he had seen and considered it well. He found instruction by looking at the field of the lazy one - a little sleep; just a little folding of the hands to sleep - then poverty will come like a thief and your shortage will come as an armed man. 

Thanks for stopping by and allowing me to write a little each day about the chapters of Proverbs. Lord willing, stop by tomorrow, and we'll peruse another chapter!!!