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Bible Reading Notes
April 2011
The following notes were first published in June/July 1991
Wednesday, April 27th - Proverbs 17: 1
The amount of material possessions we have does not matter so much as does the spirit by which we acquire and in which we enjoy them. The carnal man wants many things, and is willing to fight for them, foolishly thinking that his possessing them will satisfy him. The godly one knows better, realizing that there is only one thing necessary (Lk. 10:42), which to possess is to enjoy the secret of being content in all circumstances (Phil. 4:11-13).
Thursday, April 28th - Proverbs 17: 2,6,21,25
The mutual ties of natural relationships grow deeper and more blessed as the Lord expands a family and sustains the lives of its members (v.6). The modern realities of the nuclear family (i.e., parents with their children), or sub-nuclear family (i.e., one parent family), are exceedingly impoverished when compared to the biblical pattern of a vital, interacting, multi-generational family. However, the mere begetting of progeny is no automatic blessing. Foolish children rob their parents of joy and add to them sorrow and bitterness (vv.21,25). A wise and godly servant will be, at least by godly as opposed to doting parents, more highly esteemed, more surely trusted, and promoted to greater responsibility and reward than will be a foolish son (v.2). Whereas blood may be thicker than water, the spirit of godliness is thicker than both.
Friday, April 29th - Proverbs 17: 3
There are natural tools and procedures for the purging of impurities from natural elements. But man’s heart is so hidden, so deceptive, his thought and motives so inextricably tangled with sin, that there are no natural means to purge one’s heart and mind of sin. Secular psychology may attempt to succeed here, but it will fail in everything except extracting from us the payment of frightful fees. Only Christ, whose eyes are like a flame of piercing and purging fire (Rev. 1:14), can penetrate and purify our hearts. How grateful we should be when He does so.
Saturday, April 30th - Proverbs 17: 4,11
One reason why men speak lies is because there is a market for such speech. There is an affinity between all wicked liars. They supply destructive lies because they know that there are many, like themselves, who will credit their deceptive communications. But how suicidal is this appetite for lying fare! When a man’s heart does not hunger for the truth, cruel liars come to him, being judicially sent by the God of truth, against whom members of the league of liars—both listening and speaking—have rebelled.
Sunday, May 1st - Proverbs 17: 5,9,17
Rather than our participating in the infernal fellowship of liars (vv.4,11), or that of cynical mockers (v.5), who deride the poor man as though he were a mere despicable object, we were made to have fellowship in love and charity and reciprocal service. Our God made all men, and when we behold a fellow creature in need of anything, or in trouble, we do right to love through thick and thin, realizing that the supply the Lord has given us is entrusted to us to share with those in adversity (v.17). The Lord notes attitudes and actions contrary to holy charity, taking such offenses personally, and responding appropriately (v.5). Such charity extends beyond mere material provision. It endeavors to cover transgression (1 Pet. 4:8). The man who loves knows that sin inheres in all men, impoverishing individuals and endangering relationships. Rather than magnify sin by its broadcast, the charitable soul, realizing that he, too, is not without sin, refuses to cast stones, but rather commits others to Christ, who alone deals justly, graciously, and effectively with sin.
Monday, May 2nd - Proverbs 17: 7,12
Abundant speech, no matter how excellent it may seem, is inappropriate coming from a fool. However fine and numerous his words, a fool speaks from the folly of his heart, and he should be avoided, as one would avoid an angry animal. Foolish dithering ultimately proves not only obnoxious, but detrimental. Much worse, however, is when a responsible character in authority speaks lies. He is in position to do great damage, for whereas we are warned to avoid fools, we are told to submit to those in authority over us. Let us then pray for the integrity of our leaders, and pray for our own integrity, especially if we are in positions of authority.
Tuesday, May 3rd - Proverbs 17: 8,16,23
Bribes may seem to be keys to unlock every door. Yet bribes only work with the wicked, motivating them perhaps to facilitate the material prosperity of the one offering the bribe (v.8), but at the price of justice being perverted (v.23). The best things in life, the most precious things, such as love and wisdom, cannot be bought and certainly are not subject to bribery (Acts 8:18-20). They are gifts bestowed upon us by the Lord, not as commodities to be possessed, but as powers blessedly infusing and transforming our characters and our lives in every way.
Wednesday, May 4th - Proverbs 17: 10
A person who has true understanding realizes that he is far from perfect. Thus, he does not resist legitimate rebuke, construing it as a challenge threatening to injure him, but rather he sees such rebuke as directed to specific areas in his life that need correction. He delights to be free from the bondage of his error, and so accepts rebuke, not only outwardly, but directs it to his heart that it might purify him deeply. A fool hardens himself against words of rebuke, and even against the outward blows of discipline. He remains addicted to his folly, which kills him, not least by making him impregnable to godly correction. Which of these do we tend more to resemble?
Thursday, May 5th - Proverbs 17: 13,15,26
As far as it lies in our power, we should do everything to reward and promote good, while putting down evil. When men are tempted to condone evil deeds or persons, as happens often in families where parents dote on wild and wicked children, they do well to remember that such justifying of the wicked necessarily involves condemning the righteous as the other side of the same coin. Such giving of evil to good souls, who have themselves given good, will result in one’s inheriting nothing but evil as the just reward given by God. Sin within us gives us an affinity with wicked men, and inclines us to some degree to penalize the righteous. But we must learn to crucify such unholy and ungrateful sin, for the wicked only wound us, whereas the righteous love and serve us for our highest welfare.
Friday, May 6th - Proverbs 17: 14
We say that water over the dam can never be retrieved and should be forgotten. When one opens a hole in a dam, water also irretrievably escapes. It is far easier to open such a place in a structure holding water, than to repair it once a breach is opened. Thus with strife, it is far easier to start a quarrel than to end it. Furthermore, once words of strife escape our lips, they can never be retrieved, and even their retraction leaves a sore wound. It is far better to consider and if possible to contain our words, than to let loose a flood of combative communication.
Saturday, May 7th - Proverbs 17: 18
The counsel against one’s becoming surety for another (cf. 6:1-5) is not based on callous, economic greed, but is rather based on a wise and responsible stewardship, which recognizes that in many respects, including economic, each one should bear his own load (Gal. 6:5). One’s promoting individual responsibility is not inconsistent with charitable generosity. We are not here forbidden to give to others, but rather we are told to avoid incurring a share in their debt. If one chooses to incur debt, he should be prepared to go it alone and face the possible consequences of his failure to repay. Therefore this counsel serves to foster wise and responsible attitudes all around.
Sunday, May 8th - Proverbs 17: 19
A righteous man must at times enter into strife as he endeavors to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3), but he does not love such strife. Yet those who love sin actually enjoy fighting and inflicting pain on others. Such lovers of strife serve their father, the devil, who is a liar, a murderer, and who is also exceedingly proud. Therefore, this verse adds an observation on pride. The man who exalts his door, namely, who gives the appearance that only the high and mighty are allowed access to him, unwittingly seeks destruction. Satan aspired to a station higher than he deserved, and was cast down accordingly (Is. 14:13-17). He continues to inspire others to adopt a similar course. Let us resist him by cultivating humility, and the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Monday, May 9th - Proverbs 17: 20,24
Verse 24 pictures an understanding soul who is composed and contented with the treasures of wisdom, in which he reposes with delight, security, and profit. In contrast, a fool is shown to be restless, never contented, but always on a vain quest to fill his vacuous soul. Though such a fool may encounter good and loving souls, who would care for him and seek to show him a better way to live in Christ, such perverted hearts see no good in the godly or in their God. Hence they claim never to find what is good, and they carry on speaking perversions which serve only to bring trouble upon themselves. How poor and pitiful are such fools! How rich are those possessing a true understanding!
Tuesday, May 10th - Proverbs 17: 22
A joyful heart, being medicinal in every way, should be zealously prized and protected. For the alternative, ultimately, is a broken spirit, which saps strength and resiliency. Sin and its consequences of guilt and fear serve to break our spirits. But there is joy in Christ, and only in Christ. His joy is our strength (Neh. 8:10), and when we abide in Him, His joy is made full in us (Jn. 15:11), being formed within us as a fruit of His indwelling Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
Wednesday, May 11th - Proverbs 17: 27,28
The joy of the Lord, spoken of in yesterday’s reading, is not the giddy and boisterous spectacle which some would display in the name of joy. Rather, it is a quiet and wise assurance, founded on the possession of salvation in Christ, and fueled by progressive sanctification in Him. Our Lord would always have us to be joyful, wise, knowledgeable, and understanding, rather than to spend our time and energies merely appearing so. In the same way, our spirituality is to be true, rather than merely something about which we talk (Mt. 6). We should never equate a cool and quiet spirit with a joyless or ignorant heart. True virtues manifest themselves by quality, not quantity of display.
Thursday, May 12th - Proverbs 18: 1,2
Although our dependence on Christ produces in us a liberating self sufficiency (Phil. 4:11-13), we remain members one of another in the body of Christ, bound together by ties of mutual love and service (Phil. 2:1-4). In view of this, we see the perversity of the separatist, who holds himself aloof from fellow Christians. One who withdraws from fellowship without just cause directly opposes the instruction of God’s Word, which tells us not to be concerned only for our own interests (Phil. 2:4). The separatist also is foolish, for instead of his humbly seeking to benefit from the wisdom of others, he delights only in telling his own trivial tale, as if others were as engrossed in his idiosyncratic thoughts as he is himself. There is, however, godly and just cause for separation, for which read Rom. 16:17,18.
Friday, May 13th - Proverbs 18: 3,6,7
The wicked person justly deserves contempt and reproach, but foolishly attempts to divert his condemnation onto others. Consequently, he speaks scornfully against others. But his contemptuous speech fails in its aim, as those so wounded thereby retaliate in self-defense. Therefore, the ruin that the wicked seeks to cast upon others returns with redoubled force upon his own head. This reaction not only describes a fact of life, but also speaks of a righteous response to wicked projections, which justly call for measured blows of discipline.
Saturday, May 14th - Proverbs 18: 4,8
The source of a wise soul’s communications is deep, issuing in clear, refreshing outpourings. Such wise words, known by their open, transparent, and expansive quality, can safely be and should surely be taken to heart. It is far otherwise with the murky whisperings of the wicked. We should beware of those specializing in private conferences, whose soft and subtle speech penetrates our hearts. There is something mesmerizing about hushed communications, so we must not judge simply by how another’s words make us feel. Rather we must judge on the basis of truth and love, which are expressed openly and freely.
Sunday, May 15th - Proverbs 18: 5
Being partial to the wicked necessarily entails being unjust to the righteous. This is true objectively because when a premium is placed upon sin, righteous character and action necessarily suffer devaluation. It is also true subjectively because the one who nurtures and acts in accordance with his affinity for wickedness will have an equal aversion to righteousness. The one so prizing the wicked and penalizing the righteous is not good and does no good. Such a one will answer to the good Lord for such evil.
Monday, May 16th - Proverbs 18: 9
Not only is the sluggard who avoids work condemned throughout the Book of Proverbs, but here we see that the slacker, who works but does so poorly, is also censured. We are called, and by divine grace equipped, to do all of our work well (Col. 3:23,24). Excellence and diligence are not options for the believer. The world may accept the minimalist attitude toward work, but the Word of God reveals the slacker to be kin to one who will destroy. Not only does slackness fail to help others as much as it should, but it positively serves to hurt others, especially those who either voluntarily or under circumstantial compulsion attempt to take up the slack.
Tuesday, May 17th - Proverbs 18: 10
The name of the Lord is not simply a nominal designation, but rather a description of the divine character. God reveals His many-faceted character through a number of names in Scripture. He is, for example, the God who provides, the almighty God, the gracious, covenant making and keeping God. The character of God, however, is most clearly and fully disclosed to us in Christ (Jn. 14:9; Col. 1:15; 2:9; Heb. 1:1,3). The righteous boast in the name of Jesus Christ above all others, running into Him and standing in Him and the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10ff). This not only protects us in evil days, but it lifts us to the height of heaven on all days (Col. 3:1-3).
Wednesday, May 18th - Proverbs 18: 10,11,24
In contrast to the security a believer has in the Lord (v.10) we see the sort of security the worldly seek. Mammon can appear so much more substantial than the Lord, who is Spirit. Monetary empires can seem to be more expansive than the Word of Lord’s intensive promise of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit. Thus the rich man is shown to have a strong city as opposed to the strong tower of the righteous. But the strength and expansiveness of wealth is only imagined, as the rich fool discovered (Lk. 12:13-21). Great quantity of finances or friends (v.24) cannot substitute for vital faith in and loving communion with the Lord, the pearl of greatest price and the one friend necessary.
Thursday, May 19th - Proverbs 18: 11,12
Walls of wealth often have pride as their foundation. If so, they call for divine demolition. However, the humble soul seeks his protection and provision not in what he himself can amass, but rather in what God has redeemingly accomplished in Christ. Accordingly, the humble person enjoys lasting security, satisfaction, and honor above what the proud could ever imagine, let alone attain and maintain.
Friday, May 20th - Proverbs 18: 13,17
Prejudiced and ill-considered judgment and action always result in folly and shame returning upon the head of those so judging and acting. This is so because part of a story—one person’s perception of a matter—may seem so persuasive as to be unanswerable. But there usually are other persons and points of view that need to be considered if one is to perceive the truth in an issue. We should learn patiently to hear all sides of a matter before forming and expressing our opinion. For it is not the first to present his case, however plausible it may appear, who wins the day; rather, it is the one whose case can bear the scrutiny of the One who examines him fully and infallibly now (Heb. 4:12,13), and finally on the last day.
Saturday, May 21st - Proverbs 18: 14
One of the worst casualties of the hasty, insufficient judgment considered in yesterday’s reading is the spirit of the one judged unjustly, unwisely, or unlovingly. A man can bear bodily ills and circumstantial reversals, but when the malice or heedless insensitivity of others penetrates his heart and breaks his spirit, it is unendurable. Let us then determine to employ godly wisdom, charity, and generosity in our evaluations of and our dealings with others, lest we bear guilt for our serving to inflict this sort of pain upon them. Let us also determine to put on the breastplate of righteousness (Eph. 6:14), lest the inconsiderateness and malice of others pierce our poor hearts and break our spirits.
Sunday, May 22nd - Proverbs 18: 15
The heart of the prudent hungers for true knowledge of the Lord and of His manifold provision. Such a heart seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness is filled with that which it seeks, and all other good things in addition (Mt. 6:33). But note that there is an active seeking. The heart acquires only that which the ear hears and the hand seeks. Hence, we should ever engage and direct our senses toward the means of God’s grace, especially tuning our ears to seek the faithful preaching of God’s Word, along with the sanctifying sound of godly conversation.
Monday, May 23rd - Proverbs 18: 16,23
These verses describe attitudes that are, rather than those which should be. Members of a godless society invariably overestimate the value and power of money. Consequently, the rich can become abusively ill mannered in their dealings with others, calculating that their money will open far more doors than will their good manners. On the other hand, the poor are forced to bow and grovel, since their lack of cash gives them no leverage with which to move others. Such distinctions based on mere financial factors should not be. Though they arise, alas, even in Christian fellowships, God’s Word soundly condemns them when they do (Jas. 2:1-7). True distinctions in society are moral and spiritual. The one who has received God’s gift of salvation in Christ is truly rich. Yet such spiritual riches do not intoxicate, leading to haughty behavior, but rather inspire to love and good works of service for others.
Tuesday, May 24th - Proverbs 18: 18
The casting of the lot may have been the means of last resort in deciding temporal matters. But now we have the full manifestation of God in Christ presented in Scripture. The completed canon of Scripture is sufficient for us to decide all matters of faith and life. Beyond this there is, of course, the Lord Himself, who justly and gloriously decides all matters in time and on the last day.
Wednesday, May 25th - Proverbs 18: 19
The more intimate the relationship against which a man sins, the more difficult it is for that relationship to be restored. This is so psychologically because the wounded party suffers pain commensurate with the degree of personal vulnerability he had allowed in the relationship. The wounded one would naturally recoil from such betrayal of intimacy, and defensively resist the possibility of similar future injury. But this phenomenon is manifested due not only to psychological factors, but also due to the basic constitution of man made in God’s image. The fact is that sins against intimates are the most heinous, for they are sins against love and trust. Such sins were committed by Lucifer and by Judas. Let us be exceedingly careful, therefore, not to betray close relationships, as those fiends did. Instead, let us prize and nurture our closest relationships.
Thursday, May 26th - Proverbs 18: 20,21
Our words have tremendous power to result in good or evil. This is due to the fact that although words seem insubstantial, they serve to reveal and convey our hearts, from which flow the issues of life for good or ill (Mt. 15:18,19). Thus, the fruit produced by our speech can be bitter and poisonous, or sweet and healthy, depending upon the character of our hearts. When we determine by God’s grace to fill our hearts with love, making our tongues instruments to convey that love, then we shall and others will delight in our communications (1 Cor. 13:1).
Friday, May 27th - Proverbs 18: 22
There is an implicit proviso in this verse. It is only when we marry in the Lord that we find the good thing spoken of here in marriage. There are plenty of verses throughout Proverbs that show us the miserable state endured in godless marriages. However, when the Lord favors one with a life’s mate of His choosing, the good and happiness enjoyed by both parties is simply indescribable. Such a good thing is found, not when one looks for it, but when one looks for the Lord, the Giver of all that is good and pleasant (Mt. 6:33).
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