Prov. 17 : 18 - 22 There's Light at the End of the Tunnel!

Pro 17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Pro 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 

Pro 17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Pro 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Pro 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

This is a big chunk of verses here, but I felt like it would be good to look at them all together. It's interesting that the first four verses are different from the majority of the proverbs we have discussed --- usually there are two parts to a proverb, and one will be positive while the other is negative. These four, however, are kinda "downers" in that they are completely negative; I think Solomon had a reason for that. I think that these are things that he thought were really important "don't do this" proverbs. We have had verses similar to them before, so he must have thought they were important enough to repeat them!

Here is the list of don'ts in modern-day language:

•        Don't become legally liable for the debts of others.
•        Don't get your kicks stirring up strife and conflict.
•        Don't be proud of your wealth and fix up your house to "show up" all the neighbors.
•        Don't be full of resentment and bitterness.
•        Don't use spiteful and abusive language.
•        Don't let a wayward child suck all the joy from your life.

Then we get to verse 22, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel! After ending on a low note, with no joy in sight, Solomon cheers us up by reminding us that a cheerful spirit and outlook can make us happier and even impact our health.

You see, "merry" in the verse means "glad, merry, joyful, rejoicing." There it is! A rejoicing heart doeth good like a medicine . . . What do medicines do? My grandma used to say her tonic was "good for what ails you." I think Solomon's prescription is, too.  A heart rejoicing in God, and in His blessings, and serving Him with gladness, will affect our own well-being, and the welfare of others, too! It will put a bounce in your step as you go about your day.

Proverbs 15 : 13 - 15 It's a very old prescription!

Tonya is taking a break to get Stephen and herself some rest . . . please continue to remember them in your prayers. You're stuck with me, Snoodles, for the remainder of the week -- I hope you're not disappointed!

Pro 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Pro 15:14  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Pro 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

There are an awful lot of new medicines advertised these days. Seems like every time you listen to the radio or turn on the television, you hear about a new drug that is absolutely the best for whatever ails you. Of course, nowadays they are required to tell you all the details, such as it may make your hair fall out, turn your skin a curious shade of heliotrope, cause you to drive your car in your sleep, or cause you to explode. (Grin)

But one of the oldest prescriptions is found in the Scriptures . . . and in fact, a couple of chapters further on, it is specifically referred to as a medicine --- I'm talking about a merry heart.

Solomon notes here that a merry heart can make our countenance cheerful - well, yes! If we are contented and "making melody in our heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19) then our face will be cheerful. What kind of a witness are we, if we have a long, sad face? Solomon cautions us that by "sorrow of the heart" our spirit can be broken . . . in Hebrew, that word means stricken, wounded. I believe he's referring to when we let our sorrow have control; we let it have free reign in our hearts.  I believe my Grandma would have said "when we wallow in it."  If we want to attract others to the grace that we have found, we will (Grandma just stuck her head back in the door) attract more "with honey than with vinegar."

What is the key to having a merry heart? Well, I think I know one of them, anyway.  The last word of verse 15 is a root that can mean banquet (a feast, right?) or drink . . . I think if we are drinking what Jesus called living water . . .
John 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

And if we accept the gift of that everlasting life, we will indeed find ourselves doing what we saw in Ephesians 5:19:  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.


And I betcha --- if you glance in the mirror, you'll see a cheerful countenance!