THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for
the books of Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
PROVERBS
CHAPTER 6
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Entering an agreement with a friend to be a "cosignor" means a person must be SURE of his friend. That "friend" may cause a great monetary loss.
And being a partner to a "stranger" is not a wise decision. One should be SURE of his partner, because great loss could be incurred.
There's an old saying that goes like this:
"When a person with experience becomes partner to a person with money, the person with the experience usually ends up with the money, while the person with the money ends up with the experience."
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
The ant is a very industrious being. If a person studies ants, he will see that they are constantly busy. They are very wise about working diligently while it is "summer" so that they will have food in the winter.
Now people are a different story. Some are "sluggards." They like to sleep and lie around. The result is inadequate provision: "poverty".
Work is part of God's plan for man (Genesis 3:19). To NOT work is compared here to being a burglar or a robber.
12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
The "shiftless" person is determined to work mischief. He obviously has no thought of a judgment day, and gives no consideration to God.
He uses all his faculties to work mischief, and is called "froward" in his heart. The word tranlsated "froward" means perverse.
While planting "discord" among others, he takes advantage of them to bring gain to himself.
Note that the Bible tells us his END shall come SUDDENLY - as a CALIMITY! Having given no thought to God or final judgment, the "wicked" man will be quite surprised at meeting God for an eternal judgment.
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
The Christian should desire to know the things God "hates" and desire to keep them out of his life.
The "proud look" depicts one who considers himself better than others. God says that continual "liars" will not inherit His eternal glory (Revelation 21:8). A person who "sheds innocent blood" is a murderer.
One that "deviseth" evil with his mind and one that is quick to be involved in mischief are linked together here. It seems that one leads to another.
Also the "flase witness" (or gossip) is linked with one who plants "discord" among the "brethren." It has been said that gossip is character assassination or spiritual murder. To cause "brethren" to be at odds with one another is the same.
Take note here, that what God HATES is an ABOMINATION to Him; and thus should not be present among God's children!
20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
The practical use of God's Word is seen here. Concentrating upon DOING what God says is the way to keep ourselves from the difficulties brought on by sin.
The Word of God is a LAMP and a LIGHT. It will both GUIDE our life and reveal evil for the filthiness it is. When SIN is held under the magnifying LIGHT of God's Word it appears black and ugly! A Christian should ACCEPT the reproofs and instructions of God from his Word. Then he will be able to see sin for what it is and desire it not.
This will keep him from the lust of the flesh mentioned in the former verses. And paying attention to God's Word will also keep a person from adultery and fornication (verses 24-26).
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
I think it is important that we look at these verses separately. They show the MAGNETISM of sin! When a person allows his lust to lead him, then he is like a man who would pick up fire and put it in his lap! Obviously he's going to get BURNED!
Sin seems attractive on the outside. Only when examined under the Word of God does it become black and ugly. Therefore, the admonition here is to examine sin in light of the Bible and not according to our desires.
29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
There is understanding, and perhaps even compassion, for a man when he steals because circumstances have brought him to poverty. The poverty-stricken thief has been driven by desire. But his desire can partially be attributed to poverty.
But when a person commits adultery, there has been no reason other than his own lusts.
"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. (James 1:14-16)
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1John 2:15-17)
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.