Month: May 2021

Scripture Readings Psalms 5:3Amos 6–7John 14Proverbs 1 Verse Focus (Psalms 5:3) In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;      in the morning I lay my requests before you      and wait expectantly. Meditation Our verse focus today comes from the Psalms, rather than the book of Proverbs. This is because we will actually be reading Proverbs for the next month. But I didn’t want you to miss the Psalms! So while we are reading Proverbs, our focus verses will be drawn from among my favorite verses from the Psalter. Today, we are looking at Psalms 5:3. “In the morning, LORD, you…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:13Amos 4–5John 13Psalms 150 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:13) To answer before listening —     that is folly and shame. Meditation Day 150! Congratulations, everyone. 🙂 Proverbs 18:13 is piercing. “To answer before listening — that is folly and shame.” There are different reasons why we might do this, but most of them boil down to us being self-centered, sinful people. We care more about ourselves, and what we think, and what’s important to us than we care about anyone else. And so we interrupt. Or we don’t have the patience to listen all the way. Or we try to…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:12Amos 1–3John 12Psalms 149 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:12) Before a downfall the heart is haughty,     but humility comes before honor. Meditation Today’s verse focus is Proverbs 18:12, which says, “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” Of course we can’t help but remember similar proverbs, such as Proverbs 16:18 on April 28th (Day 118): “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” There’s also Proverbs 15:33 from April 21st (Day 111): “Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.” So these are familiar themes for us. However,…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:10Ezekiel 47–48John 11Psalms 148 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:10) The name of the LORD is a fortified tower;     the righteous run to it and are safe. Meditation Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Talk about a comforting verse! David praises the LORD for being his Rock and there are many promises throughout Scripture that speak of God’s faithfulness and His steadfast love. But I’ve been thinking about this proverb today. The verse doesn’t say “The LORD is a fortified tower,” but rather, “The name of…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:9Ezekiel 45–46John 10Psalms 147 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:9) One who is slack in his work     is brother to one who destroys. Meditation Today’s proverb is another one that haunts me. Proverbs 18:9 says, in the ESV, “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” The adage pierces me. I have a lazy nature and have fought a lifelong battle against my inclination to take things easy. I always try to do my best for an employer. But there are still times when I have slacked off. But mostly it’s a problem in the…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:8Ezekiel 43–44John 9Psalms 146 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:8) The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;     they go down to the inmost parts. Meditation Today’s verse focus is one that sticks in my mind. Proverbs 18:8 says, in the NIV, “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” As the ESV translates the proverb, “The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” To me, this perfectly illustrates the danger of gossip. It’s like candy. Sweet and addictive: you…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:7Ezekiel 41–42John 8Psalms 145 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:7) The mouths of fools are their undoing,     and their lips are a snare to their very lives. Meditation As we have studied proverbs through the year, we have seen the power of language, for good or evil. Today’s proverb is sobering as it tells us that fools destroy themselves through their speech. Proverbs 18:17 says, in the ESV, “A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” We’ve all experienced what happens when we say too much. We get into trouble. Perhaps we just…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:5Ezekiel 39–40John 7Psalms 144 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:5) It is not good to be partial to the wicked     and so deprive the innocent of justice. Meditation Proverbs 18:5 tells us, in the ESV, “It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice.” As the NIV translates the proverb, partiality to the wicked is actually the cause of depriving the innocent of justice. In some ways, this proverb is so obviously true it makes me wonder why it’s even a proverb at all. We know God cares about justice. He is…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:3Ezekiel 37–38John 6Psalms 143 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:3) When wickedness comes, so does contempt,     and with shame comes reproach. Meditation Proverbs 18:3 says, in the NIV, “When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach.” The proverb is, I think, deliberately ambiguous. Does the contempt come from the wicked person, or in response to the wicked person? Likewise, does the shamed one reproach him- or herself (or others), or do others reproach the one dishonored? I think the answer has got to be both. Those who are wicked do scorn and revile other people. Part of…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 18:2Ezekiel 35–36John 5Psalms 142 Verse Focus (Proverbs 18:2) Fools find no pleasure in understanding     but delight in airing their own opinions. Meditation Have you ever been so eager to express your thoughts that you didn’t finish listening to what someone else was saying? It’s easy to be self-centered and so focused on your own ideas that you stop paying attention to what others are saying. And, yet, according to Scripture, this is foolish behavior. Proverbs 18:2 says, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.” It takes maturity to listen fully to others.…

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