Proverbs 25:2 NKJV

God has infinite wisdom of all things. He gloriously acts without revealing His purpose, seeking counsel, or exposing matters to public scrutiny. Kings are much different. Since they understand very little in comparison, they should act only after diligent examination and deliberate consideration. It would be folly for them to act in an arbitrary way, pretending to be wise as God. And all human rulers should follow their prudent example.

The world moves according to God’s secret will, of which we know little (Deut 29:29). He does not seek counsel or reveal these matters (Job 26:14; Rom 11:33), and there are many such things with Him (Job 23:14; Ps 139:17-18). Only by revelation of Scripture and passage of time do we learn this will. But we have been given His revealed will, the Word of God, by which we are to govern our lives and verify all decisions (Deut 29:29).

The LORD deals privately with men, in their souls, and only rarely exposes them to the judgment of others. He often afflicts men in their beds and chastens them in their thoughts (Job 33:14-33). He told Abimelech during the night not to touch Sarah (Gen 20:3), and He told Laban to be gentle with Jacob (Gen 31:24). David knew to use these private times with the Lord (Ps 4:4; 42:8; 63:6; 77:6; 119:147-148; 139:17-18).

He forgives us daily, of sins large and small, without exposing them to any. For this we should be very thankful, and we should also see…

His great glory in such gracious concealment. And when we have opportunity to overlook and conceal personal offences against ourselves, it is also our glory (17:9; 19:11). But it is our duty, with the authority He may have given us in a particular role, to search out matters and deal with them according to the wisdom of Scripture.A noble king must gather all the facts, call wise counselors, examine witnesses, review precedents, consider consequences, and deliberate before drawing a conclusion and making a judgment. Solomon did very wisely in dealing with the two harlots (I Kings 3:9-28). Ahasuerus did so regarding Vashti’s rebellion (Esther 1:12-21), but he failed in hastily approving Haman’s personal vendetta against the Jews (Esther 3:8-15).

God told Moses how authority should deal with hearsay (Deut 13:12-18). They should inquire about it, make search, and ask diligently. If their investigation showed the matter to be true and certain, then they were to execute the appropriate judgment. The same procedure was to be followed in matters of conflicting testimony (Deut 19:15-21). Job, the perfect and righteous man that he was, followed this godly procedure (Job 29:16).

Every authority should copy the noble king. Parents should search out matters regarding their children. Children do not have rights; they have responsibilities and privileges. If there is reason to be suspicious, or even if there is not, wise parents will make diligent inquisition and search to confirm or convict. A sin nipped in the bud, before it is a full grown poisonous plant, is much easier to correct for both parent and child.

The father who does not search out things, but hides his head in the sand, is no father worthy of the name. And He will be brought to painful shame (29:15,17). The father who believes all that he hears without careful investigation exalts simplicity (14:15). David foolishly let Adonijah go so far in rebellion without questioning him that it cost him his life (I Kgs 1:6; 2:10-25). Let every father reading this proverb be a noble inquisitor.

The purpose and wisdom of human rulers is to examine all matters carefully, in order to properly rule and protect their subjects. God never intended careless and/or overbearing rule when He ordained the five spheres of human authority. Rule was not given just for the pleasure of the one reigning, but also for the protection and perfection of those under the reign. Righteous Job even considered the contentions of his servants (Job 31:13-15).

It is this honorable aspect of Christian authority that every magistrate, master, father, husband, and pastor should also include in the discharge of their office. While the degree of service to those under authority varies from position to position, it is an important part of using your God-given authority in a holy way. For example, masters rule in employment situations for the profit of the company and themselves; but they are also bound to use that rule equitably and fairly (Eph 6:9; Col 4:1).

Our Lord Jesus operates at a level we cannot explain or even define. He divides between the joints and the marrow, and between the soul and the spirit (Heb 4:12-14). All things are naked and opened to Him, but He Himself dwells in a light that no man can approach unto (I Tim 6:16). He searches our reins and hearts (Rev 2:23). Rather than have Him discover our secret sins while trying to hide them, let us open our hearts before Him and beg Him to make merciful examination (Job 34:31-32; Ps 26:2; 139:23-24).
Jonathan Crosby

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Proverbs 25:2 KJV

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Proverbs 1:3 The Message MSG

Proverbs is the manual, instruction, and direction for living.

Proverbs teach wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Reading a chapter of Proverbs every day will change your life. After all you will be reading the manual for life. Every day we will focus on a verse from the chapter for that day. You can reveive the daily Proverbs verse by email, twitter, facebook, or on the aDailyProverb homepage.

Comment or post your thoughts or experiences as we work through The Book of Proverbs daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. If you already read a Proverbs chapter a day, let’s hit the reset button and start a new month. If this is going to be your first month reading a chapter a day, get ready for the changes The Lord is going to make in your life in just one short month!

Here are some other Bible versions of Proverbs 1:3

1. To receive instruction in wise dealing, ASV
2. for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; NIV
3. Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity, AMP
4. To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; NKJV
5. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. NLT
6. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;KJV
7. You will learn what is right and honest and fair. CEV

Proverbs 23:19 ESV

When you have adopted wise counsel and instruction as your own, when you have committed yourself to the knowledge you were given through your ears, you will be wise. You have a mind, soul, and spirit that understand and know the truth of the universe, your role in it, and what you ought to do in most situations. You have acquired prudence and understanding, but you have not yet reached your objective.

You must direct your heart – your affections, emotions, and preferences – to the things of truth and wisdom. Love is not a power outside your mind

or body that influences you. Cupid shooting arrows of desire into your heart is both pagan and stupid; such desires are only the lusts of fools. True love is the intention of your heart for some thing, and your mind must direct your love to what is wise and good, as loving God your Father.

God has defined the way you should live in the Bible…

(Ps 119:128). He has described the extreme importance of heaven and things above (Eccl 12:13-14; II Cor 4:18). Wisdom in your mind must direct your heart to love God, heaven, and the way He has chosen for you (Col 3:2; Ps 119:36,112; Rom 12:1-2; I John 2:15; Jude 1:21). This is the true God, the true religion, and true wisdom. And it all begins with hearing! What will you do?

Find yourself a teacher who will give you the certain words of truth, by which you can acquire wisdom (22:17-21; I Pet 2:1-3). Hear him! Accept and adopt as your own the wisdom he gives you from God’s word! Then direct your affections and preferences away from foolishness and this world and toward godliness and heaven. You will please your Father and avoid all the things ready to ruin you outside His way (23:15-18,20-35).
Jonathan Crosby

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

Proverbs 23:19 KJV

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Proverbs 21:30 CEV

 
Don’t fight against God and his plans, rejoice in him.
 
PHILIPPIANS 4:4 NIV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
 
No matter how bad things are around you, you can always rejoice in the Lord. God is good — even when circumstances are bad. You can look beyond the temporary problems of life and focus on the Eternal God and His goodness. You can rejoice that God loves you and that you have a home in Heaven.
 
If you only rejoice when you feel like it — and circumstances warrant it — you may never rejoice much. But you will miss a lot of joy. For when you rejoice in the Lord and focus on Him, joy begins to flow out of your inner being and strengthens you. This is God’s answer for depression. Focus on God. Rejoice in Him, and receive the spiritual strength you need to carry… on in victory.
 
HABAKKUK 3:18 NIV
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
 
“Yet I WILL.” Whenever you decide to, you can rejoice. In spite of feelings and circumstances, you can choose to rejoice. Rejoicing is subject to your will — not your circumstances. When can you rejoice? When should you rejoice?
 
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16 NASB
16 Rejoice always;
 
SAY THIS: I will rejoice — in the Lord!
Dean Wall
 

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

Proverbs 21:30 KJV
 

Proverbs 9:4 AMP

 
Thank you for the birthday and get well messages. I will reply to everyone of them in the next few days as I am still fighting this flu.
 
More importantly please pray for one of our Daily Proverb community members, Judy. Her son is need of God’s wisdom, protection, and love. Also, please keep Judy and her family in your prayers as they work through a very difficult time in their lives.
 
God is always waiting, with his wisdom and love. Turn to HIM!
Chris
 

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Proverbs 9:4 KJV

 
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Proverbs 8:10 CEV

 
Yesterday and today I have been trying to sleep off this flu or a bad cold that has wiped me out. That’s why I didn’t tweet, email, post, or facebook a Proverb yesterday as I was either complaining to my wife that this was the worst I have ever felt or sleeping. God bless her for her patience when I am sick.
 
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
 

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Proverbs 8:10 KJV

Proverbs 1:2 CEV

 
Reading Proverbs will give you wisdom. Wisdom will give you knowledge and knowledge will lead to understanding and discipline. Understanding and discipline will give you more wisdom.
 
People often talk about a downward spiral. We all know what leads to a downward spiral because we all have been in one or many at some point in our lives. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding can stop the downward spiral and begin a new upward spiral, a new life.
 
Proverbs is the manual to life and a life how to book. It teaches us how to handle money, how to raise our children, how to trust in The Lord, how to learn and have self-control, and 915 verses of God’s word for us to live by.
 
Welcome to day 1 of a new month!
 

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

Proverbs 1:2 KJV

A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might.

Proverbs 24:5 ESV

Proverbs is a very powerful book of the Bible. Besides direction, Proverbs will give you strength to get through difficult situations or problems.

If you stop learning, you will forget what you already know.

Proverbs 19:27 CEV

The more you do something, the better you get at it. Without daily wisdom from God, we lose knowledge. We gain wisdom through Proverbs, devotionals, prayer, and worship. We lose wisdom when we put other things in our life before God. Days can turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months can turn into years. We know what we need to do we just can’t forget to do it.

Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

Proverbs 19:27 KJV

Proverbs 16:2 NKJV

 
Things Are Not What They Seem
OCCASIONALLY in seasons of collapse and disaster great discoveries are made concerning those who appeared to be commercially sound but turn out to be rotten. Then the whole machinery of financing is laid bare, and things which directors and managers have thought to be right have been seen to be utter robbery. All looked solid and substantial until the inevitable crash came, and then no man felt that he could trust his neighbor. No doubt these schemers thought their ways “clean;’ but the event discovered their dirty hands.
 
Spiritual failures of like kind occur in the church. Great reputations explode, high professions dissolve. Men readily cajole themselves into the belief that they are right, and are doing right. They misapply Scripture, misinterpret providence, and in general turn things upside down, but the inexorable judgment overtakes them. A weighing time comes, and their professions are exposed. Niagara is at the end of the fatal rapid of self-deception: the self-satisfied pretender descends with a plunge to sure destruction.
 
Let us practically consider some of the “ways” which appear to be “clean;” but are not so, when the Lord comes to weigh the spirits.
 
I. THE WAYS OF THE OPENLY WICKED. Many of these are “clean” in their own eyes.

To effect this self-deception:

They give pretty names to sin.

They think ill of others, making them out to be much worse than themselves, and finding in this an excuse for themselves,

They claim to have many admirable qualities, and fine points.

They urge that if imperfect they cannot help it.

They also seriously resolve to amend; but never do so. Men do with themselves as financiers do with companies:

They put down doubtful assets as certain property.

They reckon expectations as receipts.

They tear out pages from the account-book.

They conceal damaging facts, and ruinous entanglements.
They cook the accounts in all sorts of ways, and make groundless promises.

The Lord’s trial will be thorough and decisive. He weighs with accurate balances and weights; and he looks not only to the open way but to the inner spirit.
 
II. THE WAYS OF THE GODLESS.

These often boast that they are better than the religious.

They pretend that their superior intellects prevent their being believers: they must doubt because they are clever.

They extol regard to the second table of the Law as being far more important than any service rendered to God himself.

They will not be held accountable for their creed, or be judged for rejecting a few crabbed dogmas.

But all these shall be weighed in the balances and found wanting.
 
III. THE WAYS OF THE OUTWARD RELIGIONIST. These seem “clean,”

His observance of ceremonies.

His regular attendance at worship.

His open profession of religion.

His generosity to the cause, and general interest in good things.

Thus ministers, deacons, members, etc., may boast, and yet when the Lord weighs their spirits they may be castaways.
 
IV. THE WAYS OF THE COVETOUS PROFESSOR. His ways are specially “clean.”

His greed keeps him from expensive sins, and therefore he gives himself credit for self-denial.

He stints the cause of God and the poor.

He oppresses his workmen in their wages.

He makes hard bargains, drives debtors to extremes, takes undue advantage, and is a skinflint to all around him.

The Lord says of him, “covetousness which is idolatry.”
 
V. THE WAYS Of THE WORLDLY PROFESSOR. He thinks himself “clean.”

Let him honestly consider whether he is “clean”—

In his secret life? In his private and hidden indulgences?

In his pleasures and amusements?

In his company and conversation?

In his forsaken closet, forgotten Bible, lukewarm religion, etc.

What a revelation when the weighing of his spirit comes!
 
VI. THE WAYS OF THE SECURE BACKSLIDER. He dreams that his way is “clean;” when a little observation will show him many miry places:

Decline in private prayer (Job 15:4).

Sin gradually getting the upper hand (Jer. 14:10).

Conversation scantily spiritual (Eph. 5:4)

Scriptures little read (Hos. 8:12).

Heart growing hard (Heb. 3:13).

Religion almost destitute of life (Rev. 3:1).

Pride cropping up in many directions (Deut. 8:14).

The Lord gives him a weighing in trial and temptation; then there follows an opening up of deceit and hypocrisy.
 
VII. THE WAYS Of THE DECEIVED MAN. He writes pleasant things for himself, and yet all the while he is a spiritual bankrupt.

Failed in true faith in Jesus.

Failed in real regeneration.

Failed in heart-work and soul-service for the Lord.

Failed for ever. Will our hearer do this?
Charles Spurgeon
 

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Proverbs 16:2 KJV

 
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Proverbs 30:2 ESV

 
The fastest way to wisdom is to be a fool, for God resists the proud and gives grace to the lowly (I Cor 3:18-20; James 4:6,10). The fastest way to folly is to think yourself wise, for God will destroy the proud (26:12; Isaiah 5:21; Rom 1:20-25; I Cor 1:19-21; Gal 6:3).
 
Here are inspired words of Agur (30:1), revealing his poor spirit and humble character at teaching Ithiel and Ucal. Note his use of “surely” to strengthen his admission.
 
Brutish. Of or pertaining to the brutes, or lower animals, as opposed to man. In want of intelligence or in failure to use reason: dull, irrational, uncultured, stupid. He opens instruction to his students by claiming to be more ignorant than any man, like a brute beast; and there is no false humility here, for he speaks by prophetic inspiration.
 
Solomon showed the same humility; when offered anything by the LORD, he admitted he was but a child and asked for wisdom (I Kings 3:5-9). And this humble spirit before God brought him very great blessings of understanding and much more (I Kgs 3:10-13).
 
And Agur and Solomon are not alone, for we see this very same spirit also in Moses (Num 12:3), Elihu (Job 32:6-7), David (I Sam 18:23; Ps 131:1), Asaph (Ps 73:21-22), Jeremiah (Jer 1:6), Daniel (Dan 2:30), Amos (Amos 7:14-15), and Paul (Eph 3:8).
 
Dear reader, do you see a pattern? Great men of God do not claim to be wise, for their secret to success lies in their complete humility before their Creator and Lord. And this is God’s order for things (Rom 12:16), as this brings Him the greater glory (I Cor 1:27). The God of heaven looks unto the man poor in spirit and with a contrite heart (Is 66:1-2).
 
God will bless the poor in spirit with riches of wisdom and other spiritual blessings (Matt 5:3; Luke 6:24). The man who says, “I do not know what to do,” may stand still and see God work for him (II Chron 20:12,17). Go to Him this way today and become wise! None of us know as we ought to know (I Cor 8:2); but we respond with confidence when confronting enemies of truth (Job 33:1-3; 36:1-4; Luke 1:3; I Cor 14:20; II Tim 3:17).
 
Has there ever been any meeker than our Lord Jesus? Never! He was lowly in heart, forbid promotional efforts, and never raised his voice in the street (Matt 11:29; 12:15-20).
Jonathan Crosby
 

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

Proverbs 30:2 KJV

 
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