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We have established the methodology of Proverbs: the massaging of biblical wisdom into one’s heart using short, memorable statements to ponder. This is how one “Keeps his heart with all vigilance” (4:23). Such biblical wisdom is the application of God’s moral law to the practicalities of life. As we work through these reflections, we will see how the Ten Commandments are explained and expanded upon in the Proverbs. One such commandment is the seventh commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Proverbs contains much wisdom to apply this command. And much of that wisdom is packed into chapters 5, 6, and 7. Let me touch on some of the highlights from these chapters. The battle against sexual sin is a battle for your heart. I start with a verse at the end of these chapters because this is the central issue, not only for sexual sin, but all sin. 7:25 says, “Let not your heart turn aside to her ways.” As we established before, all of our actions flow from our heart (4:23). What we treasure, that is what we believe to be good and true and beautiful, shapes what we do. That battle against sexual sin starts with our heart. An appropriate “battle” prayer is from Psalm 90:14, “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love” so the temptations of sexual sin will not sway us. ... Keep Reading

When you read the Proverbs, you quickly notice that they are a different genre of literature from the historical books like 1 and 2 Samuel, or the Gospels, or even Paul’s letters. The Proverbs are poetry, but different than the Psalms, which also are poetry. A single chapter can contain a singular focus, like Proverbs 7 that warns against the adulteress, or chapter 8 that personifies and celebrates wisdom. But then there are many chapters that seem to bounce between various topics like speech or work ethics or the poor or integrity in relationships. A single verse can pack a full sermonic punch. Therefore, Bible scholars categorize the genre of Proverbs as wisdom literature and it is quite unique compared to most other literature we read. It is meant to be pondered and meditated upon. We are meant to let a verse or two soak into our hearts and reshape our perspective on life. And the Proverbs circle back on various topics to press home the wisdom of living life in the fear of the Lord. In these reflections I plan to focus on a few of those topics that Proverbs repeatedly addresses. Today, however, I want to highlight the methodology that Proverbs commands for acquiring wisdom. In our fast-paced, instant-gratification, overly-entertained society this methodology seems foreign. The method takes practice and even discipline. But without it, the wisdom of Proverbs will not take root or produce fruit in our lives. What is this method? It centers on our hearts. Consider the repetition of the commands concerning our hearts:... Keep Reading

When you read the Proverbs, you quickly notice that they are a different genre of literature from the historical books like 1 and 2 Samuel, or the Gospels, or even Paul’s letters. The Proverbs are poetry, but different than the Psalms, which also are poetry. A single chapter can contain a singular focus, like Proverbs 7 that warns against the adulteress, or chapter 8 that personifies and celebrates wisdom. But then there are many chapters that seem to bounce between various topics like speech or work ethics or the poor or integrity in relationships. A single verse can pack a full sermonic punch. Therefore, Bible scholars categorize the genre of Proverbs as wisdom literature and it is quite unique compared to most other literature we read. It is meant to be pondered and meditated upon. We are meant to let a verse or two soak into our hearts and reshape our perspective on life. And the Proverbs circle back on various topics to press home the wisdom of living life in the fear of the Lord. In these reflections I plan to focus on a few of those topics that Proverbs repeatedly addresses. Today, however, I want to highlight the methodology that Proverbs commands for acquiring wisdom. In our fast-paced, instant-gratification, overly-entertained society this methodology seems foreign. The method takes practice and even discipline. But without it, the wisdom of Proverbs will not take root or produce fruit in our lives. What is this method? It centers on our hearts. Consider the repetition of the commands concerning our hearts: ... Keep Reading

We have an idiom in English about dangling a carrot in front of someone. It speaks about offering a tantalizing incentive in order to motivate someone to do something. The kicker, however, is that the incentive is usually unattainable. This is how sin works. It promises pleasure, security, acceptance, or even significance, but can never make good on those promises. But the allure of the promises is strong. That’s why we fall into sin and temptation. The Bible, namely God, Jesus, and the biblical authors, also uses promising incentives to help motivate us to obey God’s will. The difference, however, is that the incentives of the Bible are real. Pastor John Piper loves to highlight how the Bible uses incentives to motivate people. He will speak of fighting the temptation of sin with “superior pleasure.” What sin promises and can provide pales in comparison with all that God has for us in Jesus Christ. If we are going to overcome sin and temptation, our hearts must be drawn by the superior pleasure offered in obedience to God. Chapter 2 of Proverbs is all about giving incentives to make it one’s priority to pursue wisdom. Every time I read Proverbs 2 I pray that God would grip my heart with the wonders of what is promised there. The entire chapter is structured with the conditional if-then statements. A series of eight different verbs set up the conditional “if” statements in verses 1-4. The consequences that play out if the conditions are met are spelled out in verses 5-22. Let’s consider these in turn. ... Keep Reading

One of the distinctives of Proverbs is the author’s comparison of the way of the wise versus the way of the fool. We will see this throughout the book as we make our way through these reflections. The author utilizes this comparison immediately after his introduction in chapter 1. He contrasts the enticement of sinners in verses 10-19 with the call of wisdom in verses 20-33. Let me highlight some truths that this contrast reveals. Both the head and heart are engaged in choosing your path. The sinners “entice” us with appeals to the heart. They say in verses 13 and 14, “We shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder. Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse.” The longings of the heart for pleasure and security are tempted by such promises. People fall into such temptations, even if they “know better,” because the appeal to the heart is so strong. Wisdom makes a similar appeal to the heart in verse 33, “Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Again, this is an appeal to the longings of the heart for pleasure and security. Which path will make good on its promises? The end for both paths is clearly spelled out. First, the end of the way of sinners is highlighted in verse 19, “Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” Pursuing pleasure and security by sinful means leads to death. The promises might look good, but they prove to be empty promises. The end of the way of the wise is highlighted in verse 23, “Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” These words reflect the promises of the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34) and highlight the gift of God himself. The path of wisdom leads to the blessings of God. The author invites his listens to choose their path based upon the end result. ... Keep Reading

In my personal Bible study and meditation, I am slowly working through Proverbs. I have always appreciated Proverbs as a jammed packed book of practical wisdom for godly living. As a systems-loving person, however, I have always struggled with seeing an order or organization to Proverbs. For some of my reading, it seems like the random stream of conscientiousness from an old, wise man who can’t sleep at night. And how does Proverbs tie to the larger unity of the Bible that centers on God’s redemption plan accomplished in the work of Christ? These are the kinds of things on my mind as I work my way through Proverbs. In this series of articles, I will share my reflections on the Proverbs. Christopher B. Ansberry is a professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He wrote the commentary on Proverbs for the Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament series. He likens the opening seven verses to that of a college syllabus. You have the professor identifying himself with his credentials: “Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.” This is the Solomon who prayed for wisdom when God offered to give him anything (1 Kings 3:9). God honors his request and declares, “Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you” (1 Kgs. 3:12). With his God-given wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21), we can expect great things from this teacher. It’s like getting into a class with limited seats of the most sought-after professor on campus. We should feel honored to have a seat in the class. Next are the course objectives in verses 2-6. These verses begin with a series of purpose infinitives: to know, to understand, to receive, and to give. These verbs typically are associated with the acquisition of knowledge. “Let’s learn something new!” But Solomon has something more in mind. Verse 3 gets to the heart of the matter: “to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity.” Biblical wisdom is no mere head knowledge. It is the discernment of how to live rightly under God’s rule. Righteousness, justice, and equity are three terms repeated throughout the Old Testament as a summary of what God requires of his people (cf. Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8). The ESV Study Bible defines wisdom as “the skill in the art of godly living.” And so wisdom and insight are linked to virtue and godly living. And this virtue is largely outward facing in how we treat others. Ansberry summarizes Solomon’s objective as the “inculcation of wisdom and virtue.” ... Keep Reading

Most of our Bibles include the full title for the book of Acts to be “The Acts of the Apostles.” This is what the historic church has called this book. The title highlights that the apostles now move forward, with the empowerment of the Spirit, in spreading the gospel and establishing the church. Some Bible commentators have stated that the book should rather be called “The Acts of Jesus Christ” or “The Acts of the Holy Spirit,” since God is the primary mover in and through the apostles. Either way, one might think that the book of Acts is all about progress and success for the early church. But Satan actively seeks to oppose the work of God in the church. First, the Jewish religious leaders seek to suppress the witness of the apostles in Acts 4. Second, moral compromise within the church could undermine the witness of the apostles in Acts 5. Then there is conflict among ethnic groups in Acts 6. Persecution arises in Acts 8. Saul is on a rampage, imprisoning Christians, in Acts 9. King Herod kills the apostle James and imprisons Peter in Acts 12. Paul, while on his first missionary journey, is stoned while in Lystra (Acts 14). And then, in Acts 15, we read about a doctrinal debate that threatened the peace, unity, and purity of the church. And the conflict goes on through the entire book and all of church history. The church has always grown and persevered in the midst of conflict, no thanks to the members of the body. Only by the grace of the head of the church, Jesus Christ, does the church continue. Jesus makes this promise in Matthew 16:18, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Let’s consider one example where Jesus keeps this promise in Acts 15. ... Keep Reading

I have four older brothers. They are between five and ten years older than me. So when I was in elementary school, I had brothers in middle and high school. By the time I was in fourth grade, two of my brothers were in college. As a young boy with older siblings, I loved tagging along with them on their adventures. Learning to drive. Visiting colleges. Exploring new grown-up hobbies like remote-controlled car racing. Listening to cool teenager music. And even hanging out with the girlfriends, for which I am sure my brothers loved having me around. You can say that I persisted in staying close to my older brothers. I was sad when they started moving out of the house for college or when getting married. In one sense the disciples were kind of like little brothers hanging around Jesus, of course with his full permission. They wanted to see where Jesus stayed at night. They wanted to join him for meals. They wanted to listen to his teaching. They wanted a front row seat for the miracles. They just hung around waiting for the next awesome thing to happen. Bible teacher, Ray Vander Laan, used the phrase “in the dust of the Rabbi” to describe the discipleship of these early followers of Jesus. The disciples wanted to learn from Jesus so much that they followed so close behind him that the dust from Jesus’ sandals would cover the front of their tunics. They were covered “in the dust of the Rabbi.” You can say that they persisted in staying close to Jesus. This is the image or idea that comes from the word used in Acts 2:42 that the ESV translates as “devoted.” The verse says, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” They were like little siblings who persisted in staying close to Jesus so they would not miss out on anything. They wanted to be covered in the dust of what Jesus was doing in the early church. Of course, Jesus was no longer present in bodily form. Where else could the church be close to Jesus? Acts 2:42 names four areas. Each of these are an avenue or means to be covered in the dust of Jesus. ... Keep Reading

My family enjoyed our annual vacation this past week in Oregon. One of my favorite things to do while on vacation is behold the beauty of God’s creation. We packed quite a bit into our five days in Oregon. We visited and explored Crater Lake National Park, Sahalie Falls, the Deschutes River, Tumolo Falls, the Oregon Dunes, and Cape Perpetua on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. What a display of God’s varied handiwork! Mountains and lakes and rivers and forests and waterfalls and dunes and oceans and rock formations. Like the heavens above, they all declare the glory of God (Ps. 19:1). Psalm 104 is a celebration of God’s creative power and genius. The psalmist opens with the invitation/command, “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty” (v. 1). Typically, Christians’ minds turn to the wonders of salvation through Christ when we think of the greatness of God. The writer of Psalm 104, however, draws our attention to creation. First, in verses 6-9, he marvels at God’s power in creation. God spoke and dry land and the waters were separated (Gen. 1:6). The psalmist highlights this moment in creation, “The waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them” (v. 6-7). The shape and elevation of the mountains, along with all the rock formations and placement of bodies of water were all “appointed” by God. The rocky cliffs along the Pacific coast in Oregon are God’s handiwork. ... Keep Reading

Have you ever felt like a failure? For most of us, failing is a scary thought and yet it is something we have all inevitably done and continue to do. Sometimes these failures can seem like little things that we can shrug off and at other times they are overwhelmingly disappointing, debilitating, and disparaging. Regardless, failure is an unwelcomed guest in our lives and yet we find him stubbornly present. The reality, that we do well to remember, is that we all inevitably will fail. The question isn’t so much will we fail but rather how do we respond when we do fail? The Bible does not shy away from recording the failings of people and this is good news for us. This is good news because, despite the great failings of God’s people throughout history, God’s promises of redemption in Christ have never needed to be revised. Where we often look at our failings as major setbacks and a derailing to our lives, our failings in the hands of God our Redeemer are tools he uses to deepen our understanding of him, our need for him, and our enjoyment of him. Briefly here today, I’d like to cover at least three ways that God uses our great failings for His great redemptive purposes in our lives. ... Keep Reading