Talk of JESUS .com

Tag: Proverbs

A popular saying, regarded as conveying wisdom. Scripture records a great number of didactic proverbs and also preserves some popular sayings.

Proverbs – Biblehub.com Proverbs topical index

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  • Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 7

    Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 7

    A casual quest for wisdom’s banquet

    We have explored wisdom in this series for the most part from the Bible’s book of Proverbs.  Solomon’s fame, fortune and riches brought leaders to his court seeking ‘words of wisdom.’ 

    I suppose they would ask: What can I learn about the success of this wise King? Perhaps if I could be wise like Solomon I could replicate his riches.

    Powerful leaders point uninformed others to places which will keep them in their place. The masses of humanity for the most part have remained uneducated and therefore cared little about wisdom.  Even the faithful have not been told God’s truth. So few have have read the truth recorded in scripture.

    A thousand years after David and Solomon the Messiah Jesus came into this world and proclaimed:

    “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ – John 14:6

    Just like those who had come to Solomon for wisdom, people often asked Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven, His Kingdom.

    An uncomfortable truth

    One day I saw a friend preparing for a great banquet for a wedding of important guests. As guests began to arrive in their tuxedos and gowns I asked a well-dressed guard at the door if I could enter briefly to greet my friend. The attendant guard of the door graciously agreed.

    I became increasingly uncomfortable as guests arrived, knowing that I had not dressed in the formal attire of arriving guests. We didn’t belong at this celebration for the bride and groom, which was about to begin.

    At the time I couldn’t help recalling  the uncomfortable ending of Jesus’ parable about the wedding feast.

    Just as the truth of wisdom makes us a little uncomfortable, so do the truths of death, judgment and eternal life.

    Until the days of Luther (and Gutenberg) most men could not read the Bible. Women rarely could read at all. Yet even now men and women who claim to seek wisdom fail to read the wisdom of the Bible.

    Perhaps a few will make brief inquiry about God in an uncomfortable place, a church. Doesn’t it make us feel like the uninvited wedding guest?

     Matthew 22

    2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast…

    As pointed out previously in this series:

    • “they would not come.”
    • Other servants invited them again, but the invited guests refused.
      • Some ignored the invitation and went back to work.
      • Others of the chosen killed the messengers!

    7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

    • He sent messengers to invite as many as they could find.
    • Other guests filled the wedding hall.

      Now the King enters the festivities. As he looks about the room with joy the King notices a man like me (not appropriately prepared for the great feast).

    11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants,

    ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness.

    The outer darkness of the fool

    Are you fearful? Here is the wise and all-powerful King and He judges you unfit for the feast. The King’s servants cast you into eternal darkness.

    Solomon and the Bible have had much to say about darkness, which is always contrasted with light and good.

    The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble. – Proverbs 4:19

    Surely the deep darkness of which Jesus speaks is Hell!

    In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

    14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

    Are you invited?

    Such a staggering thought that the King of Kings would judge your sin!  (And mine, as well.) Therefore we fear Hell, the place of eternal punishment so much deserved by all.

    In fact no reprieve can be bought, which was a catalyst of the Reformation.

    Are you an ‘outsider’ who is invited, OR do you just tiptoe in the door of the King to hear His wisdom?

    Because no family ties, riches or religious displays will get you into the banquet of the Lord, an invitation is required.

    Other wisdom of the Son

    Jesus IS the Son of Man and Son of God! Christ came to sinners as a sacrifice for our innumerable sins. Jesus frequently speaks wisdom to the crowds and Apostles, even explaining the meaning of parables.

    Have you read the Gospel? Find your invitation to the banquet of the King and embrace His righteous wisdom in this Good News for all.

     

     

     

  • Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 4

    Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 4

    No one is established by wickedness

    The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
    there is none who does good. – Psalm 53:1

    Proverbs 12:

    Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
        but he who hates reproof is stupid.
    2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
        but a man of evil devices he condemns.
    3 No one is established by wickedness,
        but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

    13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
        but the righteous escapes from trouble.
    14 From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
        and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
    15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
        but a wise man listens to advice.
    16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
        but the prudent ignores an insult.
    17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
        but a false witness utters deceit.
    18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
        but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

    All the world’s a stage and the powerful are its actors.

    Their scripts are not true however, and their plots are conceived in evil.

    One can hardly discern where to stop when reading the wisdom of the Bible. Yet who among leaders on the world’s stage reads Proverbs, let alone heeds God’s advice?

    Have you ever considered the relationship between wisdom and leadership, between the fool and the wise? Proverbs addresses it.

    God appoints kings and leaders: righteousness confirms their faith, but foolishness troubles their lands.

    21 No ill befalls the righteous,
        but the wicked are filled with trouble.
    22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
        but those who act faithfully are his delight.
    23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
        but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

    Do a people set against God not continue to choose rulers who echo our discontent, then turn against them when theirs lies are established?

    Fools will follow a boisterous king

    But the wise keep silent until the mighty fall.

    Proverbs 13:3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
        he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

    So many would have their say with contentious and evil words.

    Even in the palaces of the powerful wisdom’s table has no host.

    To be continued…

  • Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 3

    Banquet of the King in the House of Wisdom – 3

    Words of a Wise King or Prudent Messenger

    Pride leads to disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2 NLT

    Listen, you broadcasters of contention and messengers of alternative truth. Integrity and importance no longer occupy the seat of honor in your palaces!

    Adrian Sjoberg

    Righteous kings and true messengers choose their words well, while evil broadcasts a false balance. Your impudent proclamations and contentious questions weary the ears of the righteous.

    When will wisdom return to the feasts of the leaders of nations and conversation of those subjected to your entertainment news? You stoke the fires of hatred and fuel the frenzies of division.

    Proverbs 11:

    A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
        but a just weight is his delight.

    4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
        but righteousness delivers from death.
    5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
        but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
    6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
        but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

    Remember Solomon who wrote these words nearly three thousand years ago? He began as a righteous king with good intentions, yet the king fell into sin. A great kingdom fell after having been chosen by God to represent righteousness.

    Great kingdoms of the millennia diminished into discontent and dishonor; for wisdom no longer occupied a seat in their palaces or consideration in the thoughts of their subjects.

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    9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
        but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

    12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
        but a man of understanding remains silent.
    13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
        but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
    14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
        but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

    Hasn’t our focus been drawn to scandal, personalities and unrighteousness? Accusers point to what is evil in their opinion (calling it news) yet never point to righteousness in the eyes of the Lord.

    Media has become the message. Truth, importance and wisdom no longer invade media’s monetary message.

    23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
        the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

    28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
    29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

    Hear this, you evil messengers and rich rulers. It is the LORD who will judge both message and messenger. He will weigh injustice and offset lies.

    A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
    but a faithful envoy brings healing. – Proverbs 13:7

    An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. – Proverbs 17:11

    Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. – John 13:16

    I tell you haughty messengers and arrogant rulers:

    The Lord sits at the gate and sends the true message. He will weigh the words or your mouth and silence the shouts of your rebellion.

    To be continued…