Daily Challenges Archive
“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...
“Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.”
As a king shows love and faithfulness or mercy to his subjects, they return it in kind. This helps to assure the kings position and security in his role. In the same way, we see people who act kindly and forgive quickly tend to receive the same tr...
“A corrupt witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.”
Literally the “corrupt witness” is a translation of the “witness of Satan”. When someone speaks about someone else and is lying or twisting the truth, they become Satan’s tool or Satan’s witness. I can’t think of a much worse title. The person is ...
“For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”
The same Hebrew word is used for churning, twisting and stirring up. It is the word “Mits” which literally means pressure. All of these were examples in Solomon’s day of applying increasing degrees of pressure. Intentionally and unfairly applying ...
“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
One of the signs of the truly wise is that they know how easy it is to reveal our foolish ways and thoughts by talking. They are aware that staying silent is a great protection against revealing their own foolishness. Solomon has said basically th...
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