PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back” (Proverbs 26:3).

Now, I doubt very seriously that, in obedience to Deuteronomy 28, that our country will ever go back to public whippings. I'm not even sure that we would be for that. Who really has any trust in the justice system anymore? At any rate, the fact of the matter is, if the fool was brought justly into the town Plaza to get a few whacks from a rod, I bet there would be a lot less foolishness. I bet if the thief who is proven to be a thief, was brought to the town square, and given 39 licks, I bet there would be a whole lot of people that would think twice about breaking into someone’s apartment and stealing their plasma TV.

“A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back,” it seems to me the chief question to be asked here would be, “Okay, I know that I have foolish tendencies, but am I a fool? Because, if I am a fool that is all but a promise that God’s going to whup me, take me to His woodshed.

That is all but a promise. I mean, if you're going to act the fool, think like a fool, be a fool, I’ve got news for you; life is not your apple. The Lord is going to bring some stuff down on you and you're going to wind up with a whipping. Right? We've seen it, most of us, in our own lives.

The fool shows up 11 times in the first 12 verses of Proverbs 26. Plainly, this section is dealing with the fool and foolishness. One of the things that fools need is a whipping. I'm not suggesting that any of us should do the whipping on him, but I am suggesting that God will do it. If the Book of Proverbs is written to establish us, and to grant to us wisdom, and prudence, and discretion, then it is our sacred duty to do all we can to absorb its truths. We do not want to be found a fool in these last days.

Daily Bible study is necessary if we are going to begin our day with the right attitude and the right spiritual diet. Proverbs has 31 chapters, and most months have 31 days, so 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! Ideally, a chapter or two of Proverbs will fit in nicely with a good plan of reading our Bibles through each year.

If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.

For more books on all topics of the Bible, visit my web site at:

BAPTIST BIBLE BELIEVERS WEBSITE

BEGGARS AT A CAMP MEETING - KING JAMES BIBLE PREACHIN'

NO JUSTICE?

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.