Throughout Proverbs, on almost every page, the “fool” is regarded negatively. What's not clear from the reading is what that word actually means. In scripture, "Fool" does not refer to someone who is just being silly. It always means someone who is morally bankrupt, a person without virtue.
These are not silly people. These are empty people ... empty people who have no idea just how empty they are.
I can sum up Proverbs, pretty easily: pity —and mostly avoid— the fools.
For extra credit, check out the Dunning-Kruger Effect for a modern take on this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning–Kruger_effect
Blessings,
Steve
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We are reading The One Year Chronological Bible (New Living Translation - Tyndale). The best way is with your own copy of this Bible translation. Or, copy and paste this link to the daily reading schedule:
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan/oneyearchronologicalbiblereadingplan.pdf
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My fave scripture this week:
Proverbs 10:12. Compare it to 1st Peter 4:8 to see why. Okay, I admit, you need to read it in a different translation to get the best effect: “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.” (New King James Version, but other translations carry a similar message). Under the new dispensation —ushered in by Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection— the idea that “love covers a multitude of sins”: just sounds so new. But Peter didn’t just make that up out of thin air, and it wasn’t new with the teachings of Jesus. It had been there, deeply embedded in God’s wisdom literature for centuries.
[Note: Jesus and his close disciples often did this kind of thing ... brought existing teaching forward and highlighted it. Why? Because the “spiritual leaders” of that day were ignoring what had been right in front of them for centuries.]
These are a few of my favorite things:
Did you find some Proverbs you liked more than others? ... maybe some you did not like? Some of these strike me as true; but some I take issue with, not accepting them as universally applicable even though they are presented as if they are.
Here are some Proverbs I liked:
8:30 - "And when He [God] marked off the earth's foundations, I [Wisdom] was the architect at His side."
11:25 - "...those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."
11:27 - "...if you search for evil, it will find you!"
14:4 - "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."
14:31 - "Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors Him."
17:12 - "It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness(!)"
Here are some Proverbs I question:
Do you agree? Disagree? Agree to disagree? Let me know.
14:10 - "Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy." (That seems off. Surely we can let others in to help ameliorate our bitterness and to share in our joy.)
16:31 - "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life." (It is the rare person who doesn't get gray hair ... just sayin')
18:23 - "The poor plead for mercy; the rich answer with insults." This leaves the impression that to be wealthy automatically means someone is a bad person ... makes me skeptical of the translation. I like the Common English Version (CSV) because I think it captures the true message of the passage: i.e., that the poor must exercise care when they speak, while the rich, because of their position and wealth, can act with near impunity and answer just about any way they want ... “The poor must beg for help, but the rich can give a harsh reply.” http://bible.com/392/pro.18.23.cev Or, consider The Scriptures 2009 version ... “The poor speaks beseechingly, But the rich answers fiercely.” http://bible.com/316/pro.18.23.ts2009
RESPONSES & REACTIONS NEXT WEEK!
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