Kirsty

Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:17Ezekiel 21–22I Thessalonians 4–5Psalms 135 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:17) A friend loves at all times,     and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Meditation Proverbs 17:17 says, in the ESV, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” I love this verse, and — having five brothers myself, I especially love the ambiguity of the second half of the proverb. Is the brother born to help you through adversity, or is your brother the cause of your adversity? Of course, with the way I tend to interpret Scripture, I think the…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:14Ezekiel 18–20I Thessalonians 1–3Psalms 134 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:14) Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;     so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Meditation Today’s proverb gets translated a number of different ways into English. The word for word translation doesn’t include all the nuances of the Hebrew, so different translations take a slightly different approach as to how to convey that meaning. As the NIV puts Proverbs 17:4, “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” There is not actually a reference to a dam…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:13Ezekiel 15–17Colossians 3–4Psalms 133 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:13) Evil will never leave the house     of one who pays back evil for good. Meditation Today’s proverb is a sober warning. Proverbs 17:13 says, in the ESV, “If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.” This is one of God’s rules about how things work. He will not allow a wicked person to go unpunished for returning evil to those from who you have received good. Ingratitude is something God takes very seriously. But this is worse than ingratitude. Returning evil for evil may not…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:12Ezekiel 13–14Colossians 1–2Psalms 132 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:12) Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs     than a fool bent on folly. Meditation The viciousness with which wild creatures will protect their young is legendary. Mother bears in particular have a reputation of being very dangerous when protecting their young. In fact, according to Bear.org, 70 per cent of the cases where humans have been killed by grizzly bears have occurred because of a mother grizzly bear protecting her cubs. This adds quite a perspective to our verse focus today! Proverbs 17:12 says, “Better to meet a…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:10Ezekiel 11–12Acts 28Psalms 131 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:10) A rebuke impresses a discerning person     more than a hundred lashes a fool. Meditation Proverbs 17:10 teaches us, “A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.” What a contrast we see here! A quiet word can have more impact than physical force. But effectiveness depends entirely on the person who hears the rebuke or receives the punishment. Are they wise? Or foolish? A hundred lashes is an extreme number. Deuteronomy 25:3 limits the number of lashes that can be given to 40. Even the Romans…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:9Ezekiel 9–10Acts 27Psalms 130 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:9) Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,     but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 17:9, says, in the ESV, “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” As the NIV puts the proverb, “Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” The second half of this proverb is very similar to the second half of a proverb we looked at just a week ago. On May 3rd…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:5Ezekiel 7–8Acts 26Psalms 129 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:5) Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;     whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. Meditation Today’s proverb, Proverbs 17:5, tackles a new subject for us, especially in the second half of the proverb. As the NIV translates the proverb, “Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.” About a month ago, on April 6th (Day 96), we looked at Proverbs 14:31, which says, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:4Ezekiel 5–6Acts 25Psalms 128 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:4) A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;     a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. Meditation Proverbs 17:4 says, in the NIV, “A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.” The ESV is similar, saying, “An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” On the one hand, the proverb makes perfect sense. People who are wicked will listen to lies and mischief because it matches what they have in their own hearts. Lies, deceit, gossip, insults,…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:3Ezekiel 3–4Acts 24Psalms 127 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:3) The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,     but the LORD tests the heart. Meditation I love Proverbs 17:3! As the NIV translates it, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” We immediately understand that silver and gold are purified by fire; likewise, God tests our hearts and purifies us by the situations he places us in. We think of silver and gold as valuable, but rarely think of the process that made it valuable and coveted. The raw ore is…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 17:1Ezekiel 1–2Acts 23Psalms 126 Verse Focus (Proverbs 17:1) Better a dry crust with peace and quiet     than a house full of feasting, with strife. Meditation Today’s verse focus is similar to one we looked at on April 14th (Day 104). Proverbs 17:1 says, “Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.” The proverb we looked at earlier was Proverbs 15:17, which says, “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.” Both proverbs contrast material wealth against spiritual health. Without the values that make life…

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