This old hymn by Lina Sandell is a precious one. Please take time to read these words and meditate today on how He strengthens us day by day. If you would like to hear the hymn, there is a video below these lyrics. I was able to find one that is very pretty, and has lovely photos of our Father's workmanship.
Day by day and with each passing moment,
strength I find to meet my trials here;
trusting in my father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
gives unto each day what He deems best –
lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me
with a special mercy for each hour;
all my cares He fain would bear,and cheer me,
He whose name is Counselor and Power.
The protection of His child and treasure
is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This is the pledge to me He made.
Help me then in every tribulation
so to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
that I loose not faith’s sweet consolation
offered me within Thy holy word.
Help me Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
one by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
'Til I reach the promised land.
Have a blessed weekend, my friends!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Proverbs 26:17 Don't rush in...
17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
Let's imagine that you have done what Solomon is saying here --- you have grabbed a stray dog by the ears. Perhaps he was menacing you or your little one, and you grabbed the first thing your hand touched . . . what's going to happen? Well, if you keep holding on, you have a pretty good chance of getting bitten by the squirming dog. If you let go, you have a pretty good chance of getting bitten, by the squirming-but-now-free-to-move dog.
Either way, it doesn't look good!
Solomon is telling us that, just as in the example above, there are not many good consequences if we rush into a quarrel that is not our own. Just in the last chapter, number 25, we were told in verse 8: Don't go forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
If we are to be slow to anger, and not be hasty to get into fights on our own account, then we definitely don't need to be meddling in other people's business!
But, you say, I'm just trying to help. I've got the best of intentions, and I have a great track record, too. Well, let's look at a story of a king who had a super track record, and great intentions . . .
In the Old Testament, one of the shining stars is King Josiah. He ascended to the throne at the tender age of eight, and when he was a mere teenager (nineteen) he started reforms in his kingdom, to end pagan worship. He took down idols, burned and destroyed false prophets bones and idolatrous shrines, and just generally was giving his kingdom a good spring cleaning.
When he was twenty-five, he decided to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Workers found a dusty old book, and it was discovered to be a "Bible" or what was known to be scripture at that time. (It would have been the first five books of our modern-day Bible.) As a portion of it was read to King Josiah, he realized what it was, and tore his kingly garment. This was to show his sadness and repentance, as he realized how far his country had gone, away from God.
Filled with energy and enthusiasm, he began a campaign to restore his country's worship of God. The population was assembled, and the entire scripture was read to them. King Josiah and the people pledged themselves to the covenant of God, and more reforms and "cleaning" were carried out. Finally, King Josiah hosted a huge Passover celebration; this hadn't happened for years. All of the people of Judah, and some from Israel, joined the celebration and worship of God.
Now that you know his track record, let's hear the rest of the story. In Josiah's 31st year as King, The Egyptian king and his army wanted to cross over Judah to get to a battle with someone else. "Just let me scoot across here," he said, "I have no quarrel with you." (My paraphrase.) He was even inspired by God to tell Josiah that he should not meddle in this situation.
Now, whether Josiah thought he could meddle and keep the two factions from fighting, or whether he just wanted to keep the other king out of his land, he should have obeyed the message from God, and minded his own business.
But he didn't. (You knew I was going to say that, right?) He went into battle and was mortally wounded --- and Judah slipped right back into their old sinful ways.
If we stick our noses into a dispute that is not ours; if we rush to take sides in a quarrel that has nothing to do with us; oh, the consequences are often pretty distasteful. Let's heed Solomon here, and learn to mind our own business!
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
Let's imagine that you have done what Solomon is saying here --- you have grabbed a stray dog by the ears. Perhaps he was menacing you or your little one, and you grabbed the first thing your hand touched . . . what's going to happen? Well, if you keep holding on, you have a pretty good chance of getting bitten by the squirming dog. If you let go, you have a pretty good chance of getting bitten, by the squirming-but-now-free-to-move dog.
Either way, it doesn't look good!
Solomon is telling us that, just as in the example above, there are not many good consequences if we rush into a quarrel that is not our own. Just in the last chapter, number 25, we were told in verse 8: Don't go forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
If we are to be slow to anger, and not be hasty to get into fights on our own account, then we definitely don't need to be meddling in other people's business!
But, you say, I'm just trying to help. I've got the best of intentions, and I have a great track record, too. Well, let's look at a story of a king who had a super track record, and great intentions . . .
In the Old Testament, one of the shining stars is King Josiah. He ascended to the throne at the tender age of eight, and when he was a mere teenager (nineteen) he started reforms in his kingdom, to end pagan worship. He took down idols, burned and destroyed false prophets bones and idolatrous shrines, and just generally was giving his kingdom a good spring cleaning.
When he was twenty-five, he decided to rebuild the temple of the Lord. Workers found a dusty old book, and it was discovered to be a "Bible" or what was known to be scripture at that time. (It would have been the first five books of our modern-day Bible.) As a portion of it was read to King Josiah, he realized what it was, and tore his kingly garment. This was to show his sadness and repentance, as he realized how far his country had gone, away from God.
Filled with energy and enthusiasm, he began a campaign to restore his country's worship of God. The population was assembled, and the entire scripture was read to them. King Josiah and the people pledged themselves to the covenant of God, and more reforms and "cleaning" were carried out. Finally, King Josiah hosted a huge Passover celebration; this hadn't happened for years. All of the people of Judah, and some from Israel, joined the celebration and worship of God.
Now that you know his track record, let's hear the rest of the story. In Josiah's 31st year as King, The Egyptian king and his army wanted to cross over Judah to get to a battle with someone else. "Just let me scoot across here," he said, "I have no quarrel with you." (My paraphrase.) He was even inspired by God to tell Josiah that he should not meddle in this situation.
Now, whether Josiah thought he could meddle and keep the two factions from fighting, or whether he just wanted to keep the other king out of his land, he should have obeyed the message from God, and minded his own business.
But he didn't. (You knew I was going to say that, right?) He went into battle and was mortally wounded --- and Judah slipped right back into their old sinful ways.
If we stick our noses into a dispute that is not ours; if we rush to take sides in a quarrel that has nothing to do with us; oh, the consequences are often pretty distasteful. Let's heed Solomon here, and learn to mind our own business!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Proverbs 26: 13-16 Spiritually slothful
13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
Wouldn't you know it? This passage of verses would just pop right up, after I didn't get up on time this morning . . . in fact, I hit the snooze on my alarm more than once! But I don't think that is what Solomon is talking about here.
In previous proverbs, we've seen that the slothful man, or the sluggard (very similar) is too lazy to roast the food that he hunted and brought back. We've seen that he won't plow because he says it's too cold outside. He (or she, don't forget!) will make excuses for laziness and passivity, instead of being diligent and working hard.
Did you know that there are spiritual sluggards, too? Someone who is not only too lazy to do anything for himself; but in verse 16, we're told that this sluggard also considers himself to be the only person who really knows anything!
The spiritual sluggard is one who will not dive deeply into God's word and feed himself. The sluggard depends on the pastor to give him all of the wisdom that he needs from the scriptures. The slothful Christian thinks it is too time-consuming to look at the study notes, flip over to the cross-reference verses and study. The sluggard much prefers to be spoon-fed theology, and comforts himself with the thought that "they've been to seminary, and know so much more than I do." Instead of searching for herself in her Bible, the spiritual sluggard will complacently accept what she hears. If we are slothful, we may feel that there is no real power in the Bible, but it's because we are not working at our study!
Let's try not to be sluggards. Instead of leaving the church and not thinking about the sermon topic any further, let's look for verses that apply to the topic, and study them. Let's make sure that we believe something because we have studied it and found it to be true -- not just because someone told us so. Let's ask our children what they thought of the sermon, or what they learned in their Sunday School or study group -- and study along with them. Let's meditate on verses from the Bible, and let's repeat them to ourselves when we feel stressed. Let's call our brothers and sisters by name in our prayers.
All of these may seem like work. They may seem difficult at first. But if we incorporate these concepts into our lives, we will experience the power that our Father has promised us.
And we won't be sluggards.
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
Wouldn't you know it? This passage of verses would just pop right up, after I didn't get up on time this morning . . . in fact, I hit the snooze on my alarm more than once! But I don't think that is what Solomon is talking about here.
In previous proverbs, we've seen that the slothful man, or the sluggard (very similar) is too lazy to roast the food that he hunted and brought back. We've seen that he won't plow because he says it's too cold outside. He (or she, don't forget!) will make excuses for laziness and passivity, instead of being diligent and working hard.
Did you know that there are spiritual sluggards, too? Someone who is not only too lazy to do anything for himself; but in verse 16, we're told that this sluggard also considers himself to be the only person who really knows anything!
The spiritual sluggard is one who will not dive deeply into God's word and feed himself. The sluggard depends on the pastor to give him all of the wisdom that he needs from the scriptures. The slothful Christian thinks it is too time-consuming to look at the study notes, flip over to the cross-reference verses and study. The sluggard much prefers to be spoon-fed theology, and comforts himself with the thought that "they've been to seminary, and know so much more than I do." Instead of searching for herself in her Bible, the spiritual sluggard will complacently accept what she hears. If we are slothful, we may feel that there is no real power in the Bible, but it's because we are not working at our study!
Let's try not to be sluggards. Instead of leaving the church and not thinking about the sermon topic any further, let's look for verses that apply to the topic, and study them. Let's make sure that we believe something because we have studied it and found it to be true -- not just because someone told us so. Let's ask our children what they thought of the sermon, or what they learned in their Sunday School or study group -- and study along with them. Let's meditate on verses from the Bible, and let's repeat them to ourselves when we feel stressed. Let's call our brothers and sisters by name in our prayers.
All of these may seem like work. They may seem difficult at first. But if we incorporate these concepts into our lives, we will experience the power that our Father has promised us.
And we won't be sluggards.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Proverbs 26:12 Wise -- in whose eyes?
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
My KJV translates this as " Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?" So I think we should check out some definitions here . . . lessee, I found haughty, arrogant, proud, pompous. Whoa! I think that's enough! I definitely can see that this is a person that I don't want to spend any time around!!
Oh. The Holy Spirit just told me that I'm that way sometimes. Ouch.
Did he nudge you, too? Ouch again.
Conceit can be used in the sense of a thought, or an opinion. Something that we have thought up, and carefully crafted, and that we want other people to admire. We'll tell them about it, and then sit back expectantly, waiting for them to oooh and aaaah over it (and us). We aren't thinking about Who gave us the imagination and inspiration to come up with that special idea!
Conceit can also be used in the sense of our own opinion of ourself -- an opinion in which we are elevated above the everyday, the average, the "obviously un-imaginative people that we are constantly surrounded with, and that we have to put up with, in order to get anything done." Ummm, not a good way to think about others, right?
It's sad when a Christian exhibits these tendencies. It saddens me to think that I have sometimes appeared this way to others. What is even more sad, is that we are turning people away from the faith that we wish they would find -- pushing and shoving them away, because no one wants to be around that kind of person! The things that we should aspire to, like humility, modesty, and sweetness of spirit, are far more appealing to the unsaved person that we want to reach (and more appealing to our Christian brothers and sisters, too!).
I think it might help me avoid this if I have some verses tucked into my "survival belt" . . .
Philippians 2:3 tells me: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
And Romans 12:3 says: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
I want to be a helper to the Spirit, not a hindrance!
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
Oh. The Holy Spirit just told me that I'm that way sometimes. Ouch.
Did he nudge you, too? Ouch again.
Conceit can be used in the sense of a thought, or an opinion. Something that we have thought up, and carefully crafted, and that we want other people to admire. We'll tell them about it, and then sit back expectantly, waiting for them to oooh and aaaah over it (and us). We aren't thinking about Who gave us the imagination and inspiration to come up with that special idea!
Conceit can also be used in the sense of our own opinion of ourself -- an opinion in which we are elevated above the everyday, the average, the "obviously un-imaginative people that we are constantly surrounded with, and that we have to put up with, in order to get anything done." Ummm, not a good way to think about others, right?
It's sad when a Christian exhibits these tendencies. It saddens me to think that I have sometimes appeared this way to others. What is even more sad, is that we are turning people away from the faith that we wish they would find -- pushing and shoving them away, because no one wants to be around that kind of person! The things that we should aspire to, like humility, modesty, and sweetness of spirit, are far more appealing to the unsaved person that we want to reach (and more appealing to our Christian brothers and sisters, too!).
I think it might help me avoid this if I have some verses tucked into my "survival belt" . . .
Philippians 2:3 tells me: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
And Romans 12:3 says: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
I want to be a helper to the Spirit, not a hindrance!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Proverbs 26:11 Again and again
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
This is a rather unpleasant verse, but Solomon has a great truth here for us.
Ever seen your dog go outside and munch on grass? He hasn't suddenly turned over a new leaf and taken up vegetarianism . . . something is troubling his stomach, and he wants relief. The grass will make him vomit, and then his tummy will stop bothering him.
But, yeah, he will sometimes go right back and ingest what was hurting his stomach, and go through the whole process again.
Yuck.
Thank you, Solomon.
Actually, yes, thank you Solomon. You have illustrated for us a concept that we need to be aware of, as we try to witness to and minister to others. If an unsaved person, a sinner, a fool as it were, tries to tell us that he has figured out just what his problem is --- and he will never go back to the problem again, just remember this verse. It will help you understand.
Without God's grace, that person will continue to be pulled in again and again by the particular sin that is his "folly." It may be alcohol, or it may be drugs. It could be the crowd that he/she wants to run with. It could be sexual sin, or it could be gambling. The list of possibilities is as long as the years that Satan has been roaming this earth, "seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8)
The person may muster up an extra dose of will-power. They may have someone that they know, to hold them accountable. They may have a token or talisman in their pocket that will remind them of their determination to avoid that sin. They may be enrolled in an awesome self-help course that promises results.
But when that accountability-friend is not there, or their will-power wanes, there they go again . . . back to that same sin that they swore they'd avoid.
Sometimes they are facing personal catastrophe; sometimes they are hurting the family that loves them; sometimes they are disillusioning their peers. It's just human nature, they say. I can't help it.
And you know what? They are right. They can't.
The Person who can help is our Father God; He can change them. He can make them a new creature, and give them hope, and guide them. As long as he/she stops trying to do it himself!
If that sinner will trust in Christ, and get into His word -- then wait on the Lord to lead, then they will experience success.
Don't jump out ahead of God, for you will make the same mistakes as before -- Wait on the Lord to lead you, for His timing is perfect. Even if it seems like it will take "forever" He will guide you, through His word and your prayer life.
Don't trust yourself . . . trust Him.
If you are ministering to someone who is in this destructive cycle, try to remember this, and be compassionate to them as you try to witness.
so fools repeat their folly.
This is a rather unpleasant verse, but Solomon has a great truth here for us.
Ever seen your dog go outside and munch on grass? He hasn't suddenly turned over a new leaf and taken up vegetarianism . . . something is troubling his stomach, and he wants relief. The grass will make him vomit, and then his tummy will stop bothering him.
But, yeah, he will sometimes go right back and ingest what was hurting his stomach, and go through the whole process again.
Yuck.
Thank you, Solomon.
Actually, yes, thank you Solomon. You have illustrated for us a concept that we need to be aware of, as we try to witness to and minister to others. If an unsaved person, a sinner, a fool as it were, tries to tell us that he has figured out just what his problem is --- and he will never go back to the problem again, just remember this verse. It will help you understand.
Without God's grace, that person will continue to be pulled in again and again by the particular sin that is his "folly." It may be alcohol, or it may be drugs. It could be the crowd that he/she wants to run with. It could be sexual sin, or it could be gambling. The list of possibilities is as long as the years that Satan has been roaming this earth, "seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8)
The person may muster up an extra dose of will-power. They may have someone that they know, to hold them accountable. They may have a token or talisman in their pocket that will remind them of their determination to avoid that sin. They may be enrolled in an awesome self-help course that promises results.
But when that accountability-friend is not there, or their will-power wanes, there they go again . . . back to that same sin that they swore they'd avoid.
Sometimes they are facing personal catastrophe; sometimes they are hurting the family that loves them; sometimes they are disillusioning their peers. It's just human nature, they say. I can't help it.
And you know what? They are right. They can't.
The Person who can help is our Father God; He can change them. He can make them a new creature, and give them hope, and guide them. As long as he/she stops trying to do it himself!
If that sinner will trust in Christ, and get into His word -- then wait on the Lord to lead, then they will experience success.
Don't jump out ahead of God, for you will make the same mistakes as before -- Wait on the Lord to lead you, for His timing is perfect. Even if it seems like it will take "forever" He will guide you, through His word and your prayer life.
Don't trust yourself . . . trust Him.
If you are ministering to someone who is in this destructive cycle, try to remember this, and be compassionate to them as you try to witness.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Proverbs 26:10 Aren't you glad He is patient?
10 The great God that formed all things both rewards the fool, and rewards transgressors.
The commentaries actual say some conflicting things about this verse, and some translations have very different words here. I went back to my old faithful King James, and as I studied, I was struck by this fact . . . our Father is so patient.
Not that we are always happy about that. Sometimes we are like little kids and we want to see God point His finger at the wicked sinner that is causing us trouble, or that has more goodies and prosperity than we do, and zap 'em with some lightning. Leave a little sooty spot behind, nothing more.
Listen to what Job said, as he said in chapter 21:
If our holy and righteous Father can be patient and kind, then so can we. The time of the sinner, of the fool and the transgressor, is coming. Don't fuss and fume about it. After all, we should be glad that He had patience with us --- He could have terminated our lives before the light of His truth dawned on us!
God will settle these accounts in His own time --- He gives sinful men and women lots of time to repent and turn their lives around.
The commentaries actual say some conflicting things about this verse, and some translations have very different words here. I went back to my old faithful King James, and as I studied, I was struck by this fact . . . our Father is so patient.
Not that we are always happy about that. Sometimes we are like little kids and we want to see God point His finger at the wicked sinner that is causing us trouble, or that has more goodies and prosperity than we do, and zap 'em with some lightning. Leave a little sooty spot behind, nothing more.
Listen to what Job said, as he said in chapter 21:
7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? 8 They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them. 10 Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry. 11 They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about. 12 They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute. 13 They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. 14 Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. 15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'I had to chuckle when I read that --- Job says that even their livestock lead charmed lives! On a more serious note, Jeremiah asked a similar question in Jer. 12:1:
You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?And Jesus addressed this, too:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)Sure, it bothers us that the wicked people can prosper now. Sure, we know that we are in it for the long haul -- that our rewards will be mighty in the eternal scheme of things. And that is nothing to belittle . . . it's a promise to treasure. Jesus' words in Matthew tell us that, for the Christian, God’s patience, His mercy on those who have no regard for Him, is an example for us to follow in treating those who hate us.
If our holy and righteous Father can be patient and kind, then so can we. The time of the sinner, of the fool and the transgressor, is coming. Don't fuss and fume about it. After all, we should be glad that He had patience with us --- He could have terminated our lives before the light of His truth dawned on us!
God will settle these accounts in His own time --- He gives sinful men and women lots of time to repent and turn their lives around.
II Peter 3:9 tells us: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.I don't know about you, but I sure am glad that He was patient with me!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Proverbs 26:6-9 Does it add up?
6 Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
These four verses have something in common . . . Solomon is saying that these things "don't add up." In other words, they don't make sense.
First of all, you would not send an important or confidential message by entrusting it to someone who you knew was foolish, would you? They might not value the importance of the message, and dilly-dally instead of hurrying to deliver it for you. They might also tell other people your confidential information, instead of keeping it secret.
Next, a proverb, or wise saying, is useless in the mouth of a foolish person --- they will more than likely turn it into a jest or joke, and make fun of it. So the wise words become useless, like the lame man's legs which he cannot use to walk or run.
We've already talked about giving honor to a foolish person --- Solomon says here that it would be like tying a stone in a sling. Remember David's sling that he put the stone into, and then used the sling to hurl the rock at Goliath and kill him? Well, what do you think would happen if you put the stone into the sling and then tied it shut? Yep, you're right --- nothing would happen, because the rock couldn't come out of the sling!
Lastly, he mentions again that a proverb in a foolish person's mouth is like a thorn in a drunkard's hand: it hurts him and he tries to get rid of it as soon as he can, by flailing around and perhaps harming others.
It occurred to me as I studied these verses, that we need to make sure that our lives "add up." If we say we are Christians, there will be those who quietly, carefully watch us. Do our lives show that we are "walking the walk," or that we are just "talking the talk?" Are we an example in what we say and do?
Do the things we say, and the things that we do, add up?
7 Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
These four verses have something in common . . . Solomon is saying that these things "don't add up." In other words, they don't make sense.
First of all, you would not send an important or confidential message by entrusting it to someone who you knew was foolish, would you? They might not value the importance of the message, and dilly-dally instead of hurrying to deliver it for you. They might also tell other people your confidential information, instead of keeping it secret.
Next, a proverb, or wise saying, is useless in the mouth of a foolish person --- they will more than likely turn it into a jest or joke, and make fun of it. So the wise words become useless, like the lame man's legs which he cannot use to walk or run.
We've already talked about giving honor to a foolish person --- Solomon says here that it would be like tying a stone in a sling. Remember David's sling that he put the stone into, and then used the sling to hurl the rock at Goliath and kill him? Well, what do you think would happen if you put the stone into the sling and then tied it shut? Yep, you're right --- nothing would happen, because the rock couldn't come out of the sling!
Lastly, he mentions again that a proverb in a foolish person's mouth is like a thorn in a drunkard's hand: it hurts him and he tries to get rid of it as soon as he can, by flailing around and perhaps harming others.
It occurred to me as I studied these verses, that we need to make sure that our lives "add up." If we say we are Christians, there will be those who quietly, carefully watch us. Do our lives show that we are "walking the walk," or that we are just "talking the talk?" Are we an example in what we say and do?
Do the things we say, and the things that we do, add up?
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