Month: April 2021

Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:20Leviticus 15–16Acts 17Psalms 120 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:20) Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers     and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. Meditation Today’s proverb says, in the NIV of today, “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.” There was a little footnote in the text, however, that said the proverb could also be translated as, “Whoever speaks prudently finds what is good and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.” I looked up the proverb in a number of different translations and I did…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:19Acts 16Psalms 119 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:19) Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed     than to share plunder with the proud. Meditation Today’s proverb is an interesting take on the theme of pride versus humility. As the ESV translates Proverbs 16:19, “It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.” The word being translated as “poor” in the ESV and “oppressed” in the NIV does mean poor, wretched, weak, needy, and afflicted. The word being translated as “lowly” can also mean humble. Even though…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:18Leviticus 13–14Acts 15Psalms 118 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:18) Pride goes before destruction,     a haughty spirit before a fall. Meditation Today’s proverb is one that has become part of our English language and culture, albeit in a somewhat bastardized version. Proverbs 16:18 tells us, in the ESV, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Our English proverb has shortened this to, simply, Pride goeth before a fall. We know that pride is dangerous. When we quote the proverb in English, we mean, simply, that those who are arrogant or overconfident are likely to fail. Hubris…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:16Leviticus 10–12Acts 14Psalms 117 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:16) How much better to get wisdom than gold,     to get insight rather than silver! Meditation Proverbs 16:16 tell us, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” We have heard this message before, even if it wasn’t phrased exactly like this. One of the first proverbs we looked at, back on January 8th (Day 8), was Proverbs 3:13-14, which talks about how wisdom is more profitable than silver and gives better returns than gold. Indeed, this is a message that the Bible communicates to…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:9Leviticus 8–9Acts 13Psalms 116 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:9) In their hearts humans plan their course,     but the LORD establishes their steps. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 16:9, says in the ESV, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” In some ways, this proverb is the perfect example of free will versus God’s sovereignty. We choose. We plan. But God still ordains what happens. I actually find this proverb to be very comforting, since I can only control what I plan to do. I don’t have control over how the world responds…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:8Leviticus 6–7Acts 12Psalms 115 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:8) Better a little with righteousness     than much gain with injustice. Meditation Today’s proverb is similar to a couple of others that we looked at earlier this month. Proverbs 16:8 says, “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.” On April 13th and 14th (Days 103 and 104), we looked at Proverbs 15, verses 16 and 17: 16Better a little with the fear of the LORD     than great wealth with turmoil.17Better a small serving of vegetables with love     than a fattened calf with hatred. The Bible teaches us that “a little”…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:4Leviticus 4–5Acts 11Psalms 114 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:4) The LORD works out everything to its proper end —     even the wicked for a day of disaster. Meditation Today’s proverb contains one of those truths that we find a bit uncomfortable. Proverbs 16:4 tells us, “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” That a person or people could be created simply to be destroyed is horrifying to us. In Exodus 9:16 God tells Pharaoh through Moses, “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:2Leviticus 1–3Acts 10Psalms 113 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:2) All a person’s ways seem pure to them,     but motives are weighed by the LORD. Meditation Proverbs 16:2 tells us, in the NKJV, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.” Or, as the CSB puts it, “All a person’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs motives.” In some ways, this is such a damning proverb. We think we’re okay. We believe we’re doing what is right — what is pure, clean, and righteous. And yet the…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:1Joel 1–3Acts 9Psalms 112 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:1) To humans belong the plans of the heart,     but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue. Meditation Happy Earth Day! 🙂 Today’s proverb seems a little more opaque to me. I wasn’t entirely sure I understood what it was saying, so I looked it up in a variety of translations. For Proverbs 16:1, the NIV says, “To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.” The NRSV says, “The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 15:33Jeremiah 51–52Acts 8Psalms 111 Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:33) Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD,     and humility comes before honor. Meditation Proverbs 15:33 tells us, “Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.” In this translation, from the NIV, wisdom teaches us to fear the LORD. However, in other translations it is the other way around — fear of the LORD teaches us wisdom. As the NRSV says, “The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.” Whether it is the fear of God that teaches us wisdom, or…

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