Tranquil Testament

  Proverbs 10: The memory of the righteous is blessed Now. What defines a good man or a good woman?  What are the qualities that make people like this special? What makes a good friend? The list of qualities may vary from person to person. But certainly honest, loyal, and trustworthy would be on that list. Integrity, industrious, caring, humble, and thoughtful could all be added to that list as well. Conversely, people that do NOT possess these qualities are often avoided. A person may declare that he is an honest, hard-working individual, but day to day living will show the true quality of an individual. Proverbs 10 begins a comparison of day to day actions that would be considered good and pleasing to God against those that are more in line with worldly, sinful living. The actions and principles can be easily recognized in any age, or any society; and they certainly point to qualities that the Lord wants reflected in Christian lives. Not every verse will be addressed in thes...

 Whoever Is Naive, Let Him Turn In Here Now. Proverbs 9 completes a series of exhortations from Solomon. They are addressed to “my son” and “my sons”. While they were probably intended for his physical son and/or sons, they may have been intended for the entire kingdom. Solomon was the ruler of Israel, and when God asked him what he wanted, Solomon said for wisdom to rule wisely . He would have wanted the same wisdom for his subjects. Of course, the original writing was not divided into chapters, and they were probably written over a period during the early years of Solomon’s reign. But, regardless of when they were specifically written, their theme was the same. All are to seek for Godly knowledge and wisdom and avoid a life of sin. The rest of Proverbs contains short statements of how to achieve and retain wisdom and warnings concerning living contrary to God’s will. Whoever Is Naive, Let Him Turn In Here Now Tragically, as Solomon aged, he did not follow...

 Proverbs 8: Dwell with Prudence and Knowledge Now. In Proverbs 7 , Solomon described the actions of the adulteress. While the description may have literally described a person he observed, the adulteress also represented all actions and attitudes that are immoral, evil, and sinful. In Proverbs 8 , another woman is described; but in this case, the woman represents wisdom. Specifically, she represents Godly wisdom, and the opening verses clearly state that Godly wisdom is not hard to find. Verse 1 begins, “Does not wisdom call, and understanding lift up her voice?” Some have said that the Bible is too hard to understand. Their answer is to study the work of philosophers, turn to meditation, or chase after the latest spiritual “fad”. But that attitude shows a lack of commitment, a lack of respect for God and His Word. Proverbs 8: Dwell With Prudence And Knowledge Now The truth is that real wisdom CAN be found, and CAN be understood. Solomon wrote in verses 2-5 ...

 Proverbs 7: Do Not Let Your Heart Turn Aside. Proverbs 7 starts out very much like the first six proverbs, and one may wonder, “Why the repetition?”. But one must remember that Solomon was writing to his sons, and as king, to his people. If anything, the repeated exhortation shows his love and his concern. Parents and Grandparents will watch their young sons and/or daughters and smile at their happiness and innocence. There is also the wish for they be able to avoid the trials and troubles of life as they grow older. Of course, such a wish is fanciful, because there will be trials, troubles, hurts, and pains. But there is also the desire to give them teaching that may help minimize the trials that are in the future. Proverbs 7: Do Not Let Your Heart Turn Aside This seems to be the motive for Solomon’s words in the first verses when he wrote, “My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the ap...

  Proverbs 5: Love God. If married, Love Your Spouse Now. The theme of Proverbs 5 is very simple: The danger of immorality. The Bible is very clear concerning any form of physical, or sexual, immorality. It is sin. The only relationship that is approved by God is the physical relationship found in the marriage relationship. At the time of this article on Proverbs 5, this writer has been married almost 46 years. While there are others that have been married longer (one couple was married almost 72 years before he passed away), this experience gives this writer a good insight into the truth and wisdom of God’s Word when it comes to marriage, infidelity, adultery, and sexual immorality. In verses 3-4, Solomon wrote, “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.” Proverbs 5: Love God. If married, Love Your Spouse Now A common saying is “the grass is always greener on the other side”. ...

 Proverbs 6: Life can be difficult, confusing, and dark. An individual has worked hard, has a steady job, and is financially responsible. Then a good friend, a neighbor, or a family member comes up and says, “I am in a financial situation right now, and I am asking you to help me by cosigning with me on a loan. We have been close for a long time, and you know I’m good for!” The person has a few concerns, but against his/her own better judgment, the person cosigns with that other person on the loan. But then that trusted friend, neighbor, or family member defaults on the loan. The lending institution then turns to the person because, as a cosigner, that person had to pay back the money! Suddenly, finances become much tighter, and the person’s life becomes harder. Young men and women who have just entered adulthood and are working hard to make a life for themselves are especially vulnerable to this plea. A childhood friend, a classmate, someone at work, will say, “Pl...

  How do children learn? When they are very small, they learn from their parents by watching and trying to do what parents do and say. So, parents are the first teachers. But that learning process continues throughout their young lives. They learn what “No” means, what they can, and cannot, do. As they continue to mature, they learn about discipline. They learn that there are consequences when they do something wrong. Parents’ actions are very important as children grow into adulthood. Finally, those children grow into young men and young women, and they will be making their own decisions in life. Proverbs 4: Hear, O sons, The Instruction Of A Father Now When Solomon wrote the Book of Proverbs, especially  Proverbs 1-9 , it seems like the person, or persons, he was writing to had reached that stage in life. In verses  1 -9, Solomon wrote,  “Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding, for I give you sound te...

 Proverbs 3: Prudence Yields Abundant Well-Being Now. What do most parents want for their children? The specific answers many vary, but they can usually be narrowed down to a few specific things. The answer may be success. Of course, the definition of success will probably vary from parent to parent. The answer may be "contentment" within their child’s life. Maybe they hope their child will be “happy”. Again, the definition of “happy” can vary a great deal. Parents may hope that their child will be a “good” person who is respected by others. But in too many cases, the answers do not include God and His Will. Yet, the words in His Inspired Word hold the very instructions that help many those hopes become reality. Proverbs 3: Prudence Yields Abundant Well-Being Now In verses 1-4, Solomon wrote, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Do not ...