FREE YOURSELF

Proverbs 6:1-11 / Keywords 6:5

 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

 

Warnings Against Folly

6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

    if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

2 you have been trapped by what you said,

    ensnared by the words of your mouth.

3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,

    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]

    and give your neighbor no rest!

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,

    no slumber to your eyelids.

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;

    consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander,

    no overseer or ruler,

8 yet it stores its provisions in summer

    and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?

    When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

    a little folding of the hands to rest—

11 and poverty will come on you like a thief

    and scarcity like an armed man.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 6:3 Or Go and humble yourself,

1. Often without wisdom, we agree too hastily to a commitment that we cannot keep or will burden us too much. When we realize that we have done so, we must not sleep until we have freed ourselves. We will regret it if we do not. The financial, physical, mental, and emotional toll will be our undoing.

 

2. The author of the proverb gives two analogies of freedom: a gazelle from the hand of the hunter and a bird from the trap of the fowler. It is highly unlikely that either can get free, but it’s possible when they try persistently with all their strength. To succeed, the trapped prey doesn’t give up until they have escaped, even if they are injured and bleeding.

 

3. Why do people not seek a way out from their unwise commitments? It is because they procrastinate or are too lazy to try. Those who sleep and try to forget about it will lose precious opportunities and become impoverished. The proverb offers the example of an ant, which is so diligent and self-starting. Though so small, an ant displays extraordinary commitment, diligence, patience, planning, work ethic, and wisdom.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving me the means to get out of any situation when I persistently do something by faith. Help me to escape unwise commitments before it is too late.

One Word Be diligent and be free

DRINK WATER FROM YOUR OWN CISTERN

Proverbs 5:1-23 / Keywords 5:15

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.

Warning Against Adultery

5:1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,

    turn your ear to my words of insight,

2 that you may maintain discretion

    and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,

    and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,

    sharp as a double-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death;

    her steps lead straight to the grave.

6 She gives no thought to the way of life;

    her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

7 Now then, my sons, listen to me;

    do not turn aside from what I say.

8 Keep to a path far from her,

    do not go near the door of her house,

9 lest you lose your honor to others

    and your dignity[a] to one who is cruel,

10 lest strangers feast on your wealth

    and your toil enrich the house of another.

11 At the end of your life you will groan,

    when your flesh and body are spent.

12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!

    How my heart spurned correction!

13 I would not obey my teachers

    or turn my ear to my instructors.

14 And I was soon in serious trouble

    in the assembly of God’s people.”

15 Drink water from your own cistern,

    running water from your own well.

16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,

    your streams of water in the public squares?

17 Let them be yours alone,

    never to be shared with strangers.

18 May your fountain be blessed,

    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—

    may her breasts satisfy you always,

    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?

    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,

    and he examines all your paths.

22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;

    the cords of their sins hold them fast.

23 For lack of discipline they will die,

    led astray by their own great folly.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 5:9 Or years

 

1. Proverbs 5 strongly warns against sexual immorality.

 

2. First, we must use discretion in our speech and guard our lips. The path to sexual immorality begins with who we associate with and choose to talk to. By opening this door, we make ourselves susceptible to smooth talk or a line that hooks us into an immoral relationship. Next, we are trapped by where we go and with whom. We would not fall into immorality if we did not go alone somewhere with the opposite sex. (This includes being alone with a digital device for sexual pleasure.) After committing sexual immorality, what is the result? Tragically, lives are ruined (9-14). Immorality makes us lose everything: our strength, spirit, power, wealth, and reputation.

 

3. Second, we must reserve sex for marriage. The command, “Drink water from your own cistern,” is a metaphor meaning that sex was made for marriage. There is an intoxicating joy in marital sex. Complete intimacy with your marriage partner brings real love and delight. It is a fountain of blessing to us. To achieve marital purity, we must fear God who sees all our ways and be on guard against the snares of folly and cords of sin.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for your strong warning against sexual immorality. Please help me to have discretion and guard my ways before you.

One Word Let your fountain be blessed (18)

TWO WAYS

Proverbs 4:10-27 / Keywords 4:11

I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

 

4:10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,

    and the years of your life will be many.

11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom

    and lead you along straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;

    when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

    guard it well, for it is your life.

14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked

    or walk in the way of evildoers.

15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;

    turn from it and go on your way.

16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;

    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

17 They eat the bread of wickedness

    and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,

    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

    they do not know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;

    turn your ear to my words.

21 Do not let them out of your sight,

    keep them within your heart;

22 for they are life to those who find them

    and health to one’s whole body.

23 Above all else, guard your heart,

    for everything you do flows from it.

24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;

    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;

    fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet

    and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;

    keep your foot from evil.

Footnotes

c. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level

1. This passage compares and contrasts two ways. The first way is to accept wise instruction and to follow it. When we humbly accept instruction, we will be upright in heart. We will have spirit and strength to run our race by faith. By diligently following the right way, we can guard ourselves from the consequences of sin and wickedness.

 

2. We must decide not to follow the way of evil and wickedness. When we are tempted, we must avoid it, turn away from it, and do not go near it. Wickedness controls us so that we cannot sleep unless we satisfy its wicked desires. We become evil and violent. We are no longer ourselves.

 

3. To overcome this, we must listen to what is right and keep God’s commands in our hearts. They will bring us life and healing. We must be alert and guard our path to go the right way with a fear of God, holiness, and the courage to do what is right. We must ponder our ways (26) and honestly ask ourselves, what way am I following? Am I seeking God’s way or my own evil desires?

 

Prayer Father, thank you for showing me the way of life in Jesus. Please help me to follow his teachings and live by faith in him.

One Word Follow the right way

GET WISDOM AND GET UNDERSTANDING

Proverbs 4:1-9 / Keywords 4:7

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

 

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

4:1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;

    pay attention and gain understanding.

2 I give you sound learning,

    so do not forsake my teaching.

3 For I too was a son to my father,

    still tender, and cherished by my mother.

4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,

    “Take hold of my words with all your heart;

    keep my commands, and you will live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

    do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

    love her, and she will watch over you.

7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.

    Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

    embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 She will give you a garland to grace your head

    and present you with a glorious crown.”

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get

b. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

1. The writer (King Solomon) reminds the readers that he was a son of his father (King David). And his father taught him (3). And he wants to teach us the same topic.

 

2. “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; … Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; … Get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding.” (4~9).

 

3. To seek and keep wisdom, we encounter risks from time to time. But this proverb encourages us to seek and keep wisdom though it costs all we have. Why? Because wisdom will exalt us, honor us, and present us with a glorious crown. It will be like treasure hidden in a field and a merchant looking to find pearls (Mt 13:44, 45).

 

Prayer Father, thank you for your teachings that bless my life. Help me to get wisdom and insight above all things.

One Word Above all, get wisdom and insight

WISDOM IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE

Proverbs 3:27-35 / Keywords 3:35

The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.

 

3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

    when it is in your power to act.

28 Do not say to your neighbor,

    “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—

    when you already have it with you.

29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,

    who lives trustfully near you.

30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—

    when they have done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the violent

    or choose any of their ways.

32 For the Lord detests the perverse

    but takes the upright into his confidence.

33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

    but he blesses the home of the righteous.

34 He mocks proud mockers

    but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

35 The wise inherit honor,

    but fools get only shame.

1. An area of our life that truly requires wisdom is our relationships with people. This passage gives us proverbs to help us to have wisdom in dealing with people. Many times, we fail to have wisdom in our relationships and succumb to our feelings, temptations, and pride. We need to pray and ask for wisdom, and God will help us (Ja 1:5).

 

2. How we treat our neighbor requires wisdom. We should assist our neighbor within our power to do so (27). We should not do anything evil to our neighbor, betraying their trust. We should give generously and freely to our neighbors instead of avoiding them when they need help.

 

3. We shouldn’t fight with others for petty reasons. We should not envy violent people who abuse others to get their own way. We should know that those who are wicked are cursed, but the righteous are indeed blessed. God lifts up the humble and scorns the proud (34). God honors those who act wisely in their relationships with others. Are you struggling with others? Ask God for his wisdom to act honorably and be blessed by him.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving me wisdom on how to interact with people. Please help me to be wise and honorable, trusting you to bless me.

One Word Be wise and honorable in your relationships with people

BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO FINDS WISDOM

Proverbs 3:11-26 / Keywords 3:12

because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

 

3:11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not resent his rebuke,

12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

    as a father the son he delights in.[b]

13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,

    those who gain understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver

    and yields better returns than gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies;

    nothing you desire can compare with her.

16 Long life is in her right hand;

    in her left hand are riches and honor.

17 Her ways are pleasant ways,

    and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;

    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

19 By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,

    by understanding he set the heavens in place;

20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,

    and the clouds let drop the dew.

21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,

    preserve sound judgment and discretion;

22 they will be life for you,

    an ornament to grace your neck.

23 Then you will go on your way in safety,

    and your foot will not stumble.

24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Have no fear of sudden disaster

    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

26 for the Lord will be at your side

    and will keep your foot from being snared.

Footnotes

b. Proverbs 3:12 Hebrew; Septuagint loves, / and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child

 

1. Wisdom involves discipline. God disciplines those he loves. We should not despise God’s discipline. A good father disciplines his children to teach them the right way to go. Our Father God, in his wisdom, disciplines us for our own good out of his love to raise us in the right way. We should not despise God’s discipline but thank him for it. Are you guilty of despising the Lord’s discipline? Repent and thank him for his love and wisdom to help you.

 

2. When we grow in wisdom, we are truly blessed. We become truly rich in understanding — which profits our lives far more than rare jewels. Having godly wisdom is compared to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (18). With wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, God created the heavens and earth (19-20). If we base our lives on godly wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, we will have a firm foundation. Wisdom gives life to our souls (22).

 

3. Many things in life make us stumble and fall. We are confused, afraid, and helpless. But having wisdom makes our way secure, so that we are no longer afraid, and our sleep is sweet. We are confident in the Lord who will protect us.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for disciplining me according to your wisdom so that I may live a truly blessed life.

One Word Seek God’s wisdom and be blessed

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

Proverbs 3:1-10 / Keywords 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

 

Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching,

    but keep my commands in your heart,

2 for they will prolong your life many years

    and bring you peace and prosperity.

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

    bind them around your neck,

    write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will win favor and a good name

    in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord and shun evil.

8 This will bring health to your body

    and nourishment to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,

    with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,

    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 3:6 Or will direct your paths

1. Solomon urges us to practice God’s love to those around us, and to be faithful in any circumstance. In the midst of our busy lives, it is very easy to forget about God. We often tend to drift away from God to gain control over our own lives. We often think that we understand ourselves better than God and therefore attempt to rely on our own accomplishments.

 

2. However, human strength always fails. We must endlessly depend on God and his almighty power. We must fear the Lord and ask for his guidance in our lives. When we finally surrender ourselves completely to God, he will bless us and make our paths straight.

 

3. Our Creator God knows exactly what we need and provides everything out of his power and love. Only God can be the truest nourishment to our souls. Let’s trust in God with all our ways, surrendering to him my own stubborn ideas and plans.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving me your wisdom. Help me to trust in you with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding.

One Word Trust in the Lord with all your heart