Daily Devotional for Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Well, Happy Valentine’s Day. It’s like that song with these lyrics, “Love Is In The Air!"

Everywhere I look around. Love Is In The Air, Every sight and every sound.” It’s the day we express love to our loved ones. Since most of the last few devotionals have been long — primarily due to me setting up context and explain Greek New Testament words, I though we all could shift gears and look at some Proverbs by Solomon. 

I believe that the Book of Proverbs expresses God’s wisdom in practical and applicable ways through the use of Hebrew poetry and prose. Let me explain how Hebrew poetry expressed through proverbs are structured. Chuck Swindoll helps us with this *Charles R. Swindoll, Living In The Proverbs: Insight For the Daily Grind, pp. 2-4):

The most common structure in Proverbs, for instance, is the couplet. The writer places two ideas side by side such that each complements the other. Look at Proverbs 13:10, for example: “Through insolence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel” (NASB). The book of Proverbs employs at least four distinct types of couplet: contrastive, completive, corresponding, and comparative. In a contrastive couplet, the key term is usually but. One statement contrasts with the other to show two sides of the same coin, as it were. The contrasting conjunction links the statements together, yet keeps the two ideas distinct. Each statement can stand alone but, together, their message becomes more profound.

First, here is a Proverb that represents the contrastive couplet — the contrasting conjunction links the statements together, yet keeps the two ideas distinct. Each statement can stand alone “but . . .”, together, their message becomes more profound such as in Proverbs 13:1,”A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke” (NASB). See also Proverbs 13:18 and 13:24. 

Second, here is a Proverb that represents the completive couplet — meaning the first statement completes the second statement us as in Proverbs 14:10, “The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy” (NASB). See also Proverbs 14:13 & 16:3. 

Third, here is a Proverb that represents the corresponding couplet — very common in the Psalms as well—features two lines expressing the same thought using different terms. Another name for this kind of couplet is “synonymous parallelism.” While the first statement expresses a complete idea, the second adds depth, dimension, and color. Th effect is like seeing the world through 2 eyes in 3D. Here is an example  in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (NASB). 

Fourth, here is a Proverb that represents the comparative couplet — suggests, the two statements invite comparison as in Proverbs 15:16, “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it” (NASB). See also 25:24.

When we study any book of the Bible, we like to know the author, the date, the intended audience and its main theological significance. When it comes to the Book of Proverbs, we know Solomon is the author, that means we can date it around 1,000 BC. But we have no idea who the intended audience is. The good news is this: through the centuries people in all cultures have valued and appreciated the wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. This is why when the Hebrew text is translated into any language using that languages own terms and nuances, ding, a bell goes off and people connect. 

One other thing: A Hebraic way of thinking believes that to know the truth and not live it out is stupid. This is why in the Book of Proverbs the words “fool, fools and foolish are used.” So, let’s tackle one of them. Take your Bible and read all of Proverbs 1:20-33. One of the main uses of Proverbs is to give a reproof. We see this in Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom He delights” (NASB). Look also at Proverbs 29:1, “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof, Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy” (NASB). 

In Hebrew, a “reproof” [תּוֹכַחַת, takhachat] “a reproof” refers to a reprimand that leads to correction, to convince that one’s way is wrong.” (Ronald E. Murphy, Word Biblical Commentary, “Proverbs,” Vol. 22, p. 221). The promise of Proverbs 29:1 is that one day the wicked will all fall. The Hebrew word translated as “stiff-necked” is [ערף, oref] and it means “stubbornly unteachable.” Ever known someone like that? 

It is like when an airline pilot is flying to low and he hears from the onboard computer this message in the cockpit, “Pull up, pull up. Low terrain.” A wise pilot is convinced of that message and corrects the attitude of the airplane. Or the signs on the street that read, “One way. Do not enter.” A wise driver is convinced the sign is corrects and makes the appropriate adjustments.

Think about this: since 1964 — that is for the last 60 years — every U.S. Surgeon general was warned us about the dangers of cigarette smoking with the following different warnings:

• SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: “Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, Emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.”
• SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Smoking in pregnant woman may result in  Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Low Birth Weight.”

This is a reproof with the intent to change people’s behavior to do the right thing. Our public schools have taught this for the last 60 years as well. Do people still smoke knowing this? Yes! Why? They are stiff-necked! That’s why.

I love how Joseph Exell puts it in his commentary on Proverbs (see Joseph S. Exell, The Biblical Illustrator, “Proverbs,:” p. 656).

“But here is a principal reference to our Christian faith. Often reproved—this is undoubtedly our character . . . The Word of God has reproved us. God has reproved us by His providence in private and public calamities. God has reproved us more immediately by His Spirit. We have also been our own monitors. Conscience has often pronounced our doom. Even the irrational creatures and infernal spirits may have been our monitors. Solomon assumes that a man may be often reproved, and yet harden his neck; that is, obstinately refuse submission and reformation. Nothing but a sullen and senseless beast can represent the stupid, unreasonable conduct of that man who hardens himself in sin, against the strongest dissuasion and reproofs from God and His creatures. The stiff neck that will not bend to the yoke of obedience must be broken, and its own stiffness renders it the more easily broken. It may harden itself into insensibility under reproof, but it cannot harden itself into insensibility under Divine judgments. He shall be suddenly destroyed. Sudden ruin is aggravated because it strikes a man into a consternation. There is dreadful reason to fear that you will always continue in your present condition if you persist in being proof against all admonition.”

Chuck Swindoll gives this closing illustration to show how this is so true (See Charles R,. Swindoll, Living In The Proverbs: Insight For the Daily Grind, pp. 17):

“A man purchased a new car and enjoyed driving it everywhere. Unfortunately, he didn’t heed the dealer’s instructions to check the oil level at every other fill-up and to have the oil changed every three thousand miles. After a year, he ignored first the smell of burning oil and then the strange, hollow sound of his engine. He had long since covered the annoying yellow warning light with a piece of black electrical tape, so he didn’t see the light flash red, and he didn’t know why his shiny car rolled to a stop and refused to start. Unfortunately, he had also failed to heed the counsel of his financial adviser, so he couldn’t afford a new engine either.”

Questions to Consider

• What warnings have you ignored from God’s Word in the past? Why? What happened?
• What warnings do you continue to ignore from God’s Word in the past? Why? What is happening?
• Who have been the most unlikely sources to reproof you so that you are convinced to change your direction to obey God?
• A Hebraic way of thinking believes that to know the truth and not live it out is stupid. What do you think and why? If you do not change, then what are you?
• When you hear God’s reproof to you through your devotional time or through a sermon or a Bible study, how do you react and why? Is there something right now you should either stop doing and/or start doing? Explain.

Scripture To Meditate On: Proverbs 13:18, “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored” (ESV).

Prayer To Pray: “Jesus, help me to be more accepting of Your reproof from Your Word and other godly Christians. I can be stiff-necked about things in my life while the same time quickly pointing other stiff-necked Christians. I do not want to be like that. I want You to correct me, to reprove me and to set me on the right course. 

I love you, Pastor Kelly