August 27, 2015.

Daily Reading: Proverbs 17-18.

Background: Proverbs 16.

Concepts and Connections.

Chapter 17

Proverbs for life: This chapter continues on in a like manner of the previous chapters before it, laying out couplets of few words but great wisdom. Each couplet typically addresses a different concept, but there are themes that run through the book, as we see also in this chapter: themes of wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness, speech and correction. There seems to be a general trend in the couplet found in this chapter on wisdom that applies to the way we live and interact with people. Topics addressed include bribery, strife, tranquility, righteousness and folly, self-control in speech and more. Some concepts of note include: peace among family is greatly valued (v. 1), the Lord tests our hearts as gold is tested in fire (v. 3), love sometimes involves absorbing wrongs (v. 9), we should nip problems of strife in the bud before they get out of control (v. 14), do not call good evil and evil good (v. 15), a brother is born for adversity (v. 17, compare with 18:24), a joyful heart is good medicine (v. 22), and finally, there is much wisdom and knowledge in silence, the ability to control your tongue and maintain a cool spirit (v. 27-28).

Chapter 18

Wisdom in word and deed: As in the previous chapters, chapter 18 lays out more couplets of wisdom that should be read over and studied carefully to apply to our everyday lives. This chapter, though spanning a wide range of concepts, has a relatively high amount of couplets pertaining to wisdom/folly in speech (v. 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 17, 20, 21, 23). There are also concepts of doing good to the righteous, laziness, pride, a crushed spirit, gaining knowledge, friendship and companionship. Some concepts of note include: fools only want to talk and not listen (v. 2), deep waters are filled with the words of a man (v. 4), a fools lips invite a fight (v. 6) and his ruin (v. 7), humility comes before honor (v. 12), don’t speak before you have heard everything/don’t speak too soon (v. 13, 17), there is wisdom in seeking knowledge (v. 15), death and life are in the power of the tongue (v. 21), a wife is a blessing from the Lord (v. 22), and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (v. 24).

Tomorrow’s Reading: Ezekiel 43-48.

There is wisdom in silence.

-Walter