PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

KING JAMES BIBLE | 3/12/2019 | PilgrimsProgress

[Pilgrim's Progress]

“A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn” (Proverbs 12:2 KJV).

[Pilgrim's Progress]

“A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD,” for the Lord knows the heart of every man and knows which of His creatures are desiring to walk in the light of His Word. The story is told by a missionary of a native that could not bring himself to worship the sun, the moon, and the stars as was the custom of his village. Instead he would look up to heaven and say, “I wish to worship and serve the One that put those bodies in space for I know that He which hung those things my people worship is greater than those things. Because one man was seeking to know the truth, God obligated Himself to send the Gospel to that man. The missionary that told this story is the man that God sent to that tribe. The missionary found favor of God through his obedience, and the native found favor of God through desire, and his village rejoiced in God’s favor because of their tribesman.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45 KJV).

Wherever good is in abundance, good is the product. Think on the good qualities that Paul describes to us in Philippians 4: Things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praise and God’s favor will be apparent both with the “peace of God” (vs. 7) and the “God of peace” (vs. 9) presence.

“For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield” (Psalms 5:12 KJV).

Paul instructs us to bear the shield of faith, but not a weak, anemic faith—but rather the strong, vibrant faith which can only be owned when one is facing the enemy of our souls with the “captain of the Lord’s host” (Joshua 5:14). It is a true favor of the Lord to know that he is with us always, and at every occasion.

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4 KJV).

“Favor,” should be apparent by now that it is a synonym for “grace.” It is Noah’s grace, it is Joseph’s grace, it is Daniel’s grace, and it is more than any of us will ever deserve. It is equal to the goodness of the saint. God’s grace is sufficient to every occasion and even more so when the vessel is attuned to the will of God.

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:33-36 KJV).

Father, I’ve known days when I sensed Your presence as though we were walking shoulder-to-shoulder along the path, and there have been those times when I felt you were far from me. I thank You for those days, for they are that which tells me that something is not right in my life. I thank you for not only Your throne of grace, but also for a mourner’s bench where the Blood of Your Son is available night and day, and able to cleanse and restore favor with You. Amen.

[Pilgrim's Progress]

Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!

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[unread]

Nice..! Me and mine were discussing Paul this very morning...

[Pilgrim's Progress]

Paul gets accused of a lot of things, but his writings are truly a blessing and they shed light on so much of the Old Testament. I like the couplet which reads: The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:25-27).

[frank ballenger]

In the context of the time of Proverbs there was a lot of attention given to the Evil Inclination versus the Good Inclination. God is watching when we give in to temptation or turn away from it.
This verse was said to advise us to tip the balance scales in favor of the good rather than be an example of evil schemes that others could observe and follow. That would go along with adding to the good in this world.

[Pilgrim's Progress]

How does one know when they’ve done enough to “tip the balance scales?”

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:10-13).