Daily Challenges Archive
“Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.”
This is the verse for the innocent victim. In this passage, among other things, Solomon is telling us not to assign motives to our neighbors requests regardless of the legitimacy of their request. We are seldom 100% accurate in judging our own mot...
“But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.”
This person is destitute of moral principles and “the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason.” The consequence or sin, adultery as well as all others, is ultimately death. It can be physical but it is always spiritual. Spiri...
“For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.”
It can be kind of cool when someone shares something personal with you. It shows they trust you and perhaps even want your counsel. Well, how much greater, as Solomon tells us, when God does. He reveals to those who walk faithfully with him His tr...
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:”
After witnessing a life of virtue and excellence by the proverbs 31 woman, her children and her husband heap praise on her. Recently in a small group that I’m a part of we talked about what would go on our tombstones. We chuckled at the one that a...
“When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.”
There are two ways this verse is understood. One that disappoints me is that the righteous are too timid to stand a declare God’s truth boldly when their country is controlled by those who don’t respect God. I have seen businesses taken over by me...
“For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;”
One ancient theologian believes this passage teaches an upside down view of the impact of adversity and the complacency of plenty. I agree. We endure adversity but we are corrupted by prosperity. Adversity causes us to work hard, trust deeply and ...
“A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
Neither lying nor flattering represents the truth. Flattery may seem kind at times. Perhaps it is, but it is still not being entirely truthful. As we saw a few verses ago Jesus called Himself “The Truth”. His reference was being the only way to Go...
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”
The writers at ‘Let God Be True’ put it this way, “Your success depends on ruling your spirit. Great men rule their spirits. They resist temptations to react or overreact. They restrain their emotions and manage them for good.” Self Control is one...
“Do not testify against your neighbor without cause— would you use your lips to mislead?”
Telling an untruth about another person in this verse is literally “to break and cut him to pieces with thy lips” according to R. Judah and Ben Melech. That is a brutal image but if you have had it done to you then you realize just how accurate So...
“Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.”
Like any sinful behavior the one actively involved in the sin seeks to involve others in it with them. The image Solomon shares in this verses is of a seductress who has not only enticed the sinful man but uses his sin to draw others into the same...
“Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors.”
I’ve been looking at articles talking about shifting morals and values. They refer to how beliefs and values change as people age. They also talk about shifting morals as we discover more in science and other disciplines. I suppose some things cha...
“A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.”
The depth to this verse is very encouraging. The original language includes the concept of this persons speaking “boldly and freely.”. How refreshing it is to have a “careful” listener as well. This person pays close attention to what is being sai...
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