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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Wisdom Project 2/21



Proverbs 21 - NIV
Proverbs 21 - ESV

Proverbs 21:2 . . .
All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart
.


Commentary:
Proverbs suggests, however, that the mind doesn't function very well in the spiritual realm. In fact, we are sinners whose deepest imaginations are evil, and our thought-life produces a world of illu­sions. We think of ourselves as pure, when in reality we are guilty before God. That is why, for example, many people shift the responsi­bility for their behavior to environmental factors or to faulty upbring­ing. They fail to see their own rebellion and selfishness and imagine themselves to be the helpless, innocent victims of circumstance. In this way, they justify thoughts, feelings, and actions that are obviously sinful. Their way is right in their own eyes. As Christians, we should be aware of the deceptive nature of our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to correct our vision through a knowledge of God's Word.


Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the Daily Proverbs Reading Assignment.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Wow what a verse for my household this week, with the lying going on. After the assignment given my son Friday night This verse was great to share with him this morning. I do not think we realize sometimes just what can happen because of the things we say to others. This verse is great for parental lessons.

Unknown said...

Why, with knowing the LORD personally, would one choose death? This may be one of those questions that begs the thought – “why would you ask that?” Well, this choice of death is a daily decision that must be made. V25 - the desire of the sluggard kills him; it is the lack of desire that Solomon is writing about. Daily, when we awake, we must choose: to live – follow righteousness, or die – follow folly. May we make the wise choice of living: by dying to self. I have crucified the flesh with life in Christ - Gal 5:24-25.
Mike T.

Jim Morrison said...

Verse 16 - "A man who strays from the path of understanding comes to rest in the company of the dead."

When we chose to stray from God and from His wisdom, we chose a path that will ultimately lead to a life that God did not intend for us. Our choices to follow foolishness lead to destruction and God has so much more in store for us and for our lives.

Anonymous said...

Proverbs 21:2 . . .
All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
It is always easy to look right in our own eyes and to justify our paths. God is the true judge .He weighs out intents of our hearts and judges us righteously.
John Erbentraut

Nate said...

I find a slight bit of humor that this verse was stuck right in the middle of this chapter and seemingly out of context "19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman." At the same time I love this verse because it is a guide to those who may be searching for a wife. The guidance is this. If one does not focus on the heart of a woman and only on her good attributes he could end up in some trouble down the road!

Mandi said...

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.
God is the one that matters! it is not us. God is the one and only true Judge of what is right and wrong its not what we think but what God thinks.

Lisa Griffiths said...

I love how the Lord puts things in your life the exact day you need them. We have been studying Proverbs in my church as well and today was just the day I needed to hear all of this! 25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
Man I needed to hear that now, especially as we near the middle of the semester!

Unknown said...

I’m contemplating the concluding verses of this chapter and it seems to me that we can do so much to prepare for whatever life is going to throw our way just like the preparing of the horse for battle. But in the end it is God who will have the victory. It is God whose plan will be completed. These verses are an encouragement to me to ensure that I am following His plan in every area of my life for He will have the victory and I will either benefit from it or be the conquered.

Unknown said...

I love the way this chapter starts. It talks about how God smoothly controls rulers, how men have plans but God is looking at our heart, and how God wants righteousness and justice more than any other sacrifice we could give. I think the beginning of chapter 21 is so straightforward and clear. It then ends saying that ultimately victory belongs to the Lord. I like ending on a note that reminds me that it's all about Him and not me.

TWash said...

Satan is sooo good at tricking us into thinking that the decision we are making is a good one. Then we think what we are doing is right in or own eyes. We are sinful and selfish. Its Gods eyes we need to be making decisions through and his Word. Anyone can justify what they do, but everything ultimately comes down to absolute truth or perspective!

Carrie L. said...

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.

This verse reminded me that I need to prepare myself for the day of the LORD with the full armor of God. I need to daily go to God's word and prepare myself for battle, but the victory ultimately rests in the LORD. The LORD holds the reigns but it won't help if I don't have the bit in my mouth.

Danyelle Steckiel said...

vs 5 is a reminder to me to be diligent and not to just be quick to do something. it says "the plans of the diligent lead to profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty." We can not be so hasty in our decision making, or do something that is simply pleasing at the moment because it will only lead to poverty.

Jessica said...

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart."
Sometime we think the things we do are good but the Lord is the only one that matters and the true judge of what is right.

SarahK said...

"Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife"

I enjoy this verse, 1) because there is quite a bit of historical/cultural information in it. and 2) after living in the dorms for 4 1/2 years I can completely understand what writer is talking about with sharing space with someone who is "quarrelsome". It really changes the whole ambiance of a living space and those in it.

Erin said...

Proverbs 21:2, "All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart." No matter what a person uses as an excuse in their life, God looks to the motive of a person's heart. Any decision or choice we make for our life needs to be pleasing to God.

Renee said...

All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

The he in this verse is the sluggard. He wants more and more but he is not willing to do any work to get it. But the righteous have a giving spirit. I need to work on that area of my life. Its not that I won't give to others, I just need to have a mindset of giving to others.

Melissa Jordan said...

I like the verse He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. This is something I am working on because I know for me I say a lot of stupid or unnecessary things and sometimes hurt people due to not thinking before I speak. I am really trying to work on this area of my life.

Melissa Jordan said...

I like the verse He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. This is something I am working on because I know for me I say a lot of stupid or unnecessary things and sometimes hurt people due to not thinking before I speak. I am really trying to work on this area of my life.

Rachel said...

"No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord."
None can stand before the Lord, whether by merit or by wisdom; man possesses neither within his own power. All that we may gain on this earth is from God and all of it can be taken away by His divine decree. This decree is perfect; man's judgments cannot compare to the infinite perfection of God's judgments.

Ashlie said...

Vs. 2 " Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but hte LORD weighs the heart." There is so much in that verse. The last part is what really got me. The LORD weighs the heart. No matter what I do on the outside the LORD looks at my heart and judges me upon that.

Unknown said...

Verse 23 is something that I need to follow much more often. It is so true. I am one to usually react to things very quickly and that is not the best thing most of the time for me. This verse says "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." I need to practice discernment in my reactions and speech towards others.