October 19, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 19
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
3. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
4. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
7. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
8. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
9. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
10. Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12. The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
13. A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
14. House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
17. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
18. Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
19. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
22. The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
23. The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24. A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26. He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
27. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
29. Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

Today's Pathway:
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"The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD." - Proverbs 19:3

There is some tremendous teaching in this verse of Scripture. The two parts of the verse fit together perfectly, and they describe the condition of many unsaved and backslidden individuals.

The proverb opens by reminding us that it is the foolishness of a man that causes him to go in the wrong direction. Men make choices, and in this case the choice was foolish. It was undoubtedly made without consulting the Lord, either through prayer or through the Scriptures. It was made based upon the desires of the man's carnal mind and flesh without any consideration to what God's will might be. The end result was that the man made a mess out of his life. He got headed in the wrong direction and probably had to suffer the consequences for not being where he was supposed to be.

The second half of the verse gives us the foolish man's response. Rather than admit his own guilt, he blames God. He frets against the Lord. He gets angry or bitter or upset at God for putting him in this unpleasant situation, but the truth is that God had nothing to do with it! The Lord gave the fool His Word, and if he is a believer He also gave him the Holy Spirit, but the man wouldn't listen. Thus, this individual has no one to blame but himself.

How often we see this scenario being played out! Men get in trouble and blame God. They act like God has treated them unfairly, or they think that He should have kept them out of trouble. They accuse God of not caring about them, but in fact they rejected His love.

We need to understand that our waywardness has been caused by ourselves alone, and rather than blame the Lord we need to repent and get back on His path.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery