Proverbs 26 “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge” Part 4  

(Pro 26:13-16)

[Study Aired March 5, 2026]

Pro 26:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
Pro 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
Pro 26:15  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
Pro 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

In this study of (Pro 26:13-16) we’ll review how Christ who is our wisdom (1Co 1:30) works within our hearts and minds (Jer 17:9) to lead us unto repentance (Rom 2:4) by the power of God’s holy spirit. God’s words which are spirit (Joh 6:63) become a lamp unto our path (Psa 119:105), that helps us discern His will that takes us out of a direction of spiritual slothfulness into a liberty in Christ, that produces a zealousness to do what is right in the temple of God that is being cleansed as we are “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (Rom 8:14-17, 2Co 7:9-11 ,  2Co 3:17-18).

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Paul beseeches us (Rom 12:1-3) to present our lives a living sacrifice in order to overcome this slothful spirit, and John also explains the same message of not loving the world or being conformed to it so that we can discern the will of God (1Jn 2:15-17) which, when accomplished by God’s holy spirit within us (Zec 4:6, 2Co 3:17), will lead us into the glorious liberty of the children of God, even now (Joh 2:17, Rom 8:21, 1Jn 3:1).

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (Joh 17:3)

Joh 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (1Co 3:16, Php 2:12-13)

Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

In order “to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge”(Joh 17:3), we must be granted to see all these negative traits found in these proverbs, within our own heavens first (Pro 16:4), and continue to overcome them by the goodness of God that is expressed in “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” (Rom 2:4) traits of our heavenly Father that are used to continue to receive his children in this age (Heb 12:6, Tit 2:12-13).

Pro 26:13  The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

This verse can be seen as referring to Christ who is the lion of the tribe of David who is the way, the narrow way in the streets, meaning in life, where God willing we are being consumed by His zealous spirit that is working within us both to will and to do of our Father’s good pleasure (Rev 5:4-5, Mat 7:13-14, Php 2:12-13).

Adam and Eve hid themselves in the garden and did not want to be judged by Christ who is the lion in the streets (Gen 3:8). God’s elect are being dragged to the altar which is the cross, where we die daily (Joh 6:44, 1Co 15:31) for the purpose of being cleansed by that light that is Christ within us, our hope of glory who is able to cleanse the temple from all sin (1Jn 1:6-10, 1Jn 3:1-3).

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:(Heb 10:25)
1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.(Col 1:27, Rom 8:9)

The lion in the street can also be taken as meaning Satan who is the god of this world going to and fro seeking who he may devour in the streets (Job 1:7, 1Pe 5:6-8).

Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The solution to overcoming the second lion is found by drawing close to Christ who is greater than him who is in the world (Jas 4:7-10, Luk 18:1, 1Pe 5:6-7, Php 4:6-7, Luk 22:31-32, 1Jn 4:4).

Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:(Luk 18:1, 1Jn 4:17) and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Pro 26:14  As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

There is a negative and positive use of a door and a bed, and the negative door is the one that “the door turneth upon his hinges” like “the slothful upon his bed”.

Pro 26:14  Lazy people turn over in bed. They get no farther than a door swinging on its hinges. (GNB)

Positively, the “bed” is undefiled in Christ because our labours in Him are holy and undefiled, and predestined from the foundation of the world (Heb 4:3, Eph 1:3-5, Heb 6:1).

Heb 4:3  For we which have believed [Joh 6:28-29] do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest [a predestined work] to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest [Php 2:12-13], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [Php 2:12-13], lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

[not acknowledging Christ doing the work within us is equated with slothful unbelief, and doing the work is equated with the faith of Christ “we which have believed [Joh 6:28-29] do enter into rest”].

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [Luk 12:32, Luk 17:21]

Those works are being accomplished not by might or power but by God’s holy spirit, via the “door” (Php 2:12-13) who makes a way for us to bring forth much fruit through that door, that vine that Christ is to us.

If we contrast Jonah (Jon 1:4-6) with Christ (Mar 4:38-41) who are both asleep in ships in these stories it will help us understand how we are to enter into Christ’s rest through labouring in the word (Heb 3:18, Heb 4:11)

Jon 1:4  And the Lord sent out a great wind on to the sea and there was a violent storm in the sea, so that the ship seemed in danger of being broken.
Jon 1:5  Then the sailors were full of fear, every man crying to his god; and the goods in the ship were dropped out into the sea to make the weight less. But Jonah had gone down into the inmost part of the ship where he was stretched out in a deep sleep.

[We all start off as the foolish virgin as typified by Jonah in this story, and if we are God’s elect He deals with our spiritual inattentiveness, or slothfulness (Mat 25:5, Mat 26:40-41)]

Jon 1:6  And the ship’s captain came to him and said to him, What are you doing sleeping? Up! say a prayer to your God, if by chance God will give a thought to us, so that we may not come to destruction.

[trim your lamp by chance your God will give a thought to us]

Mar 4:37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mar 4:38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

[Christ (Mat 25:4) our hope of glory within (Col 1:27), is in the hinder part of the ship G4403, the area where the stern is, which is critical for the navigation of the ship Psa 107:13, Psa 107:19, Php 2:12-13]

Mar 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

[Christ’s rhetorical question because no faith had yet been given]

Mar 4:41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

[they were still focused on the outward miracle and not able to answer Christ as to why they have no faith. This all representing us before we were given the faith of Christ that makes it possible for us to enter into Christ’s rest]

Heb 3:18  And to whom did he make an oath that they might not come into his rest? was it not to those who went against his orders?
Heb 3:19  So we see that they were not able to go in because they had no belief. (1Jn 5:4)

Pro 26:15  The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

A strong illustration of (Pro 26:15) is found in the Parable of the Talents in (Mat 25:24-30). The servant who received one talent hid it in the ground, did nothing with it, and excused his inaction. This mirrors the proverb well: the sluggard hides his hand, and the servant hides his talent in the earth, earth, earth that we are (Jer 22:29). Both avoid exertion, and both suffer loss because of their unwillingness to act. It takes God’s process of judgements in our earth, earth, earth for us to become a special people who are zealous of good works (Tit 2:14).

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

The servant was not asked to do something extreme—only to use what he had been given—yet even that felt like too much. His inactivity is a parable telling us what Christ told us, that we could of our own selves do nothing without him (Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5).

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Those works, are works which are being done in the earth where the talent was buried. This is the point of the proverb and that parable of Christ, that the world does not understand and neither do God’s elect until were given to see that it is only Christ who can do those works through us as we continue to abide in the vine (Joh 15:5).

If we don’t acknowledge that it is Christ, and that we don’t have free will, those works are yet talents in the earth, symbolized by the unaccepted wheat offering of Cain that was not upon a burnt offering as his brother Abel’s was (Gen 4:3-7).

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

A similar pattern appears in the account of the foolish virgins in (Mat 25:1-13). They brought lamps but failed to bring oil. They began the process but did not prepare fully. Like the sluggard who will not finish lifting food to his mouth, they started but did not follow through, and their lack of readiness cost them dearly and is an admonition that by God’s grace and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:8-9), God’s elect will take heed in this age and be made ready and scarcely be saved through a process of judgement (1Pe 4:17-18).

This again is another parable that admonishes God’s elect and reminds us that we are being received of God to burn this spirit of the sluggard out of us (Heb 12:6, Tit 2:11-12), so that ultimately we can glorify God with the predestined works that He has called the body of Christ unto.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In our appointed time we are the first to say ‘haven’t I done many wonderful works, haven’t I trimmed my lamp’, etc. The truth is that once that man of perdition is destroyed from the temple of our hearts where we boast in our flesh,  then all such boasting is done away by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens that tries our faith, so that it becomes precious in God’s sight (2Th 2:3-8,  Rom 3:27, 1Pe 1:7).

It is Christ’s tried faith that puts an end to that boastful spirit and then we begin to no longer hide our talent in the earth but rather lay up treasure in heaven through Christ (Mat 6:20). The only works that are accepted of God are those that are accompanied with a burnt offering that symbolizes our acknowledging that Christ is the one doing the work through us. The many who come up in the great white throne, lake of fire judgement, second resurrection, are the majority of humanity who did not have God’s spirit within them, and like the rich young ruler whom Christ loved (Mar 10:21), cannot follow Christ in this age, and will come up in the second resurrection claiming they have done many wonderful works, not knowing that those works were all hidden in the earth, like the talent that was buried in the earth (Mat 19:23, Mat 25:18).

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 25:18  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

Another vivid example is the neglected field described in (Pro 24:30-34). The field is overgrown with thorns, the wall broken down, and everything deteriorated through neglect. The owner likely once intended to tend it, but repeated small acts of avoidance that led to ruin. This captures the “it grieveth him” mindset—where even necessary effort feels burdensome. In each case, what was needed was not extraordinary strength, but simple, faithful action that was continually put off.

Once again the story was written for God’s elect today to remind us that if we are faithful in little we will be faithful in lots (Luk 16:10), and that faithfulness will stem from our being given to not neglect so great a salvation, as God drags us to Christ, who permits us to bring forth much fruit to His glory in whom we first trusted (Heb 6:3, Eph 1:12). In other words we bring nothing to the table, and despite ourselves what God has started in us He will finish through the author and finisher of our faith, not by our might, or power, but by God’s holy spirit (Zec 4:6).

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Pro 26:16  The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

It takes a miracle for us to finally confess that we ‘are the man’ (2Sa 12:7) and that all our wise indictments of others’ bad behaviour is pointless and hypocritical if we don’t see ourselves as the chief of sinners in need of going through much tribulation, all the seals, trumpets, and vials, in order to enter into His rest. We can’t naturally do this in our flesh which does not have the power or might to open those seals without Christ giving us the power to do so. A process of judgement is being granted to the body of Christ in this age that can only be accomplished through Christ (Rev 13:4, Rev 5:1-5, 1Pe 4:17-18).

2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.(Col 1:27)

The sluggard who is wise in his own conceits is each one of us, who can’t hear  “seven men that can render a reason” because of that conceit in our hearts that needs to be burnt out by the seals, the trumpets and the vials of God so that we can enter into the temple of God (Rev 15:8).

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

The seven men represent the complete counsel of the church which the spiritual sluggard in me cannot receive until that spirit is burnt out of me through judgement. We are confident in our flesh that we can do what God asks of us, but in reality it is only Christ in us as, our hope of glory who can make a way where there seems to be none so that we can drink the cup that we are called unto (Mat 20:22-23).

Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Pro 10:15-32 “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city”

[Study Aired February 13, 2025]

This section of proverbs talks a lot about the mouth and the lips, so I thought it would be instructive to start off with these two contrasting verses, (Mal 2:7, Mat 15:8), that show us the negative and positive application of these words.

Mal 2:7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Little and by little the lips of the elect are being purified (Exo 23:30, Isa 6:7), so that we can lay up treasure in heaven in a “strong city” (Eph 4:26, Heb 11:10) that represents Christ and His christ, where “neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Mat 6:19-20, Rev 21:23-27). This is the foundation of good works that we talked about last week that God’s elect are blessed to lay up, as we present our whole lives as living sacrifices unto God (Mal 3:10, Mat 6:33).

Christ is our strong city who enriches our lives with the tree of life, or the book of life, within us. Here are some verses, (Gen 3:24, Pro 3:18, Pro 11:30, Pro 13:12 , Pro 15:4), that demonstrate how we can become spiritually wealthy in the Lord who is “a tree of life”; and the rest of these proverbs in chapter ten reveal the blessing of being God’s elect, with the life of Christ within them now, and what powerful promises and hope we have as a result of God’s mercy being shown to us in this age (Rom 11:31-32) via the relationship that we have with our Father and Christ, “At that day” (Joh 14:20, Joh 17:3).

Pro 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

As long as we are in these earthen vessels, these proverbs will serve to show us the light and dark side of the pillar within us, admonishing us and keeping us spiritually alive and quickened (Joh 6:63) as we are given to rightly divide the message that will “give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion” (Pro 1:4).

Pro 10:15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

A “city” in God’s word represents ‘a church’, and the “general assembly and church of the firstborn” (Heb 12:23) is where “the rich man’s wealth” is found, the rich man being Christ who is the head of the church that is “his strong city”. We are of course talking about spiritual riches that come in the form of the words of eternal life that Christ gives freely to those who thirst for them (Joh 6:68, Joh 7:37-38).

Joh 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.[Mat 5:6]

One day all the world will hunger and thirst for righteousness, and will be brought to acknowledge their own blindness and spiritual poverty that currently has the churches of this world thinking they are rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing (Rev 3:17-18).

Pro 10:16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Our labour in this life must tend to the life of Christ within each of us (Col 1:27), and if Christ is in us, our love and concern for one another will grow and be reflected in the communion and discipleship we’ve been called to continue in through this life (1Co 10:16-17, Joh 13:35, Joh 8:31-32).

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The “fruit of the wicked” needs to be rooted and burnt out of us. The self-centered man in me does not come to serve his body, but looks only to my needs and not the needs of others (Php 2:3-8). That is “the fruit of the wicked to sin”, which is rich toward itself and not sacrificial toward others (Luk 21:1-4, Luk 12:16-21, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:45).

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Luk 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

It is the witness of “two mites” that are put into the treasury (in Luk 21:2 above) that represent the life of Christ within us who is the only one who can give us the power (Php 2:12-13, Rev 11:3) to be presented as living sacrifices [witnesses] who lay down our lives for one and other (Rom 12:1-2, Heb 12:1-2) . The poor widow’s gift is symbolically being laid up in heaven (Mat 6:20-21), whereas the self-righteous many wonderful works that we do in the earth without acknowledging the hand of God in all, is the treasure that is in fact buried in the treasuries of the earth to bear witness against us, where we receive our reward of men in this age (Mat 7:22, Mat 25:25, Mat 25:18, Mat 25:24-30, Mat 6:2).

Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is (2Co 4:7), there will your heart [Eze 36:26] be also.

Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? [“Strong delusion”] and in thy name done many wonderful works? [“hid thy talent in the earth”]

Pro 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Last week we talked about the importance of laying up store, and this proverb is another admonition for us to not grow weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if we faint not. Our labours in the Lord are not in vain and the way of life is to keep instruction, and we find our safety in the body of Christ through the counsel that God provides as spiritual meat in due season through the church (Eph 3:10) [“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction”].

God willing, He will give us that hunger and thirst for righteousness that can come from him alone (Mat 5:6), so that we remain intreatable like a humble child (Jas 3:17, Mat 18:3) not refusing the reproof that God gives every son whom He loves and receives in this life (Pro 10:17). These verses below show the result of being one who receives reproof, or one who becomes hardened through not receiving God’s reproof.

positive reactions to reproof:

Job 26:11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Pro 15:31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

negative reactions to reproof:

Pro 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Pro 5:12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

Pro 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

both negative and positive reactions to reproof:

Pro 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

Pro 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Pro 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Pro 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

This last verse regarding ‘reproof’ reminds us that “all the promises of God in him are yea” (2Co 1:20), and are all profitable unto the one that God is working with in this age:

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Pro 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

God sees our hearts, and we are deluding ourselves if we think otherwise [like Adam and Eve trying to hide from God in the garden of Eden]. Hiding hatred is akin to having a root of bitterness that goes unexamined. God must grant us to be introspective and examine ourselves that no root of bitterness, toward God or man exists in our heavens (Eph 4:31, Heb 12:15)

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

We lie to ourselves when we don’t see the need to go to our brother ‘between you and him alone’, or if we refuse to confess our faults when we’ve done wrong to someone. Lying lips have to be purged by God in this life if we are going to be profitable servants who don’t slander. ‘Slander’ is the exact opposite of covering each other’s sins, and such foolish behavior is destructive and hated of our Father (Pro 6:16, Pro 6:19)

Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Pro 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Pro 10:19  When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise. (NET)

Another couple of verses that correlate with this proverb are these: (Ecc 5:2, 1Co 14:19, Mat 23:12).

Ecc 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God (When words abound, transgression is inevitable): for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few (he that refraineth his lips is wise).

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased (When words abound, transgression is inevitable); and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (he that refraineth his lips is wise).

Pro 10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

A repentant heart, a contrite and broken heart (Isa 66:2), is someone who has a tongue of “choice silver” because of the fiery process of repentance that they have endured making it possible for living waters to spring forth from their bellies, symbolized by the “five words” spoken with the understanding mind of Christ (1Co 14:19). God is producing rivers of living waters through each joint that supplies, as He works in our lives and destroys the heart of the wicked that is of “little worth” within us (1Co 3:17) as it defiles the temple of God.

1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Pro 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Many are called, but few are chosen to have our initially defiled lips purified in this age so that in time the purified bride of Christ will “feed many”. In order for this to happen, the fool within me who thinks he can obtain the kingdom by my own might and power, by my own wisdom, must be destroyed daily so that the living waters can spring forth via the power of God (1Co 2:3-6).

Pro 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

The spiritual blessing of the Lord enriches our life and leads to a liberty that cannot be produced in Babylon where we are promised liberty but it is never found because of our inability at that time to be led of the spirit of God, where there will be true liberty (2Pe 2:19-20, Rom 8:14-15, 2Co 3:17).

2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it”, because He has promised that He will meet our every need (Rom 5:10) via the riches that God supplies through Christ (Php 4:19).

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Pro 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

The wisdom of Christ within the body of Christ keeps us from the mischievous spirits of this world where we once ran to the same excess (Eph 2:1-5) following the pulls of our foolish flesh which we must still continue to keep under all our days in order to be a man of understanding who has wisdom and knows how to make war against the powers and principalities we wrestle against by God’s power within us (Eph 6:12, Zec 4:6).

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Pro 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

Perfect love casts out fear (Rom 5:1-4, 1Jn 4:18), and it is a curse to have debilitating fear in this life. Scripture shows us that victory over fear is a gift from God who sheds his love abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5-6).

He does not always take away the circumstances that may cause us to start to fear, but when we pray and come boldly before the throne of God, “the desire of the righteous shall be granted”. That desire to overcome fear is something God will grant His children and freely give to us, as we boldly face our fears and conquer them through Christ (Rom 8:28, Rom 8:32). That carnal Adamic fear is replaced with a Godly fear of our Creator, and with such a spirit within us, we are as Christ was (1Jn 4:17) and we are heard of God (Heb 5:7).

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Pro 10:25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

It takes the Lord raising the storm in our life (Psa 107:24-25, Eph 2:10), “the whirlwind^H5492 that does pass”, to create the foundation of Christ in our hearts and minds, “but the righteous is an everlasting foundation” (Mat 16:18).

Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Whirlwind H5492 sûphâh soo-faw’
From H5486; a hurricane: – Red Sea, storm, tempest, whirlwind, Red sea.
Total KJV occurrences: 16

Pro 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

Both experiences of vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes are indicators of what the sluggard produces spiritually. Both ingredients are irritants, one to the teeth and the other to the eyes. Vinegar  symbolizes the word of God that has been improperly stored, not preserved correctly by the slothful man in me who forgets God’s words of reproof and cannot produce spiritual meat in due season (wine gone bad). Smoke is produced more abundantly when a fire is not kindled properly, which produces an unclean environment, just like a wick that has not been trimmed (Mat 25:7). Christ sends our first man Adam into the wilderness and this is all we can produce at first, vinegar and smoke, until the Lord gives us power to do otherwise.

Here’s an interesting translation from the [CAB] version: Pro 10:26 As a sour grape is hurtful to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so iniquity hurts those that practice it.

It is the iniquity in our lives which is self-righteousness that causes us to produce these types of fruit, vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, that reveal that it is our works being manifested and not the power of God that preserves us (Php 3:9, 1Co 2:5).

Pro 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Pro 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

God is going to preserve His saints by doing a quick work in the body of Christ. The quick work is the destruction of our old man in this life, “the years of the wicked shall be shortened”. The result of this adamic destruction in this age is that our days will be prolonged because of our fear of God working in our lives so that we can be heard of our Father, we can be judged in this age, we can be dragged to Christ, and we can inherit the Kingdom and be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Heb 5:7, 1Jn 4:17).

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Our hope of glory is in Christ (Col 1:27), and we understand that our deceitful and desperately wicked hearts (Jer 17:9) shall perish and not inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50). This is “The hope of the righteous” that makes us ‘glad’.

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Pro 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

If we truly believe that Christ is our righteousness, our strength, our wealth, then the workers of iniquity, which is self-righteousness will be destroyed by the brightness of his coming into our lives (2Th 2:8). God must grant us that we decrease and that our Lord increase, and if He is building that spiritual house within us in this age, that is what is going to happen (Joh 3:30, Psa 127:1).

Pro 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

This proverb confirms that there is no rapture, as we’re reminded the “righteous shall never be removed” however the wicked shall not inherit the earth. Inwardly this is the main point for God’s elect today, as we are called to notice the foundation of Christ’s life being formed within the body of Christ that shall never be removed (Mat 16:18, Mat 24:40-42).

Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Pro 10:31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

Christ has to cut out the froward tongue in our lives if we are going to become just stewards of His word who bring forth wisdom. It’s not just our tongue that must be cut out (Mat 5:29-30), but anything that is going to hinder our reaching the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ (Php 3:14) that awaits those who have respect unto the recompense of the reward and demonstrate that respect by holding “fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Heb 10:23).

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised:)

Pro 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

We are naturally froward unless God is humbling us by the life of Christ within us who makes it possible for us to be accepted of our Father (Eph 1:6), through the judgement and trials that humble us. Christ is the one who delivers us daily from our otherwise froward spirit, humbling our hearts through affliction, persecution, tribulation and suffering so that His power can rest upon us and we can be found with His righteousness in our lives and not our own (Php 3:9). That is the narrow way God’s elect have been called unto that is found through a lifetime of judgement (1Pe 4:16-19) which will produce great spiritual riches within the body of Christ, [“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city” (Psa 19:13-14)].

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Psa 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Amen!

Proverbs Chapter 6

Part 1 – Pro 6:1-15 “Take Heed to Thyself“

[Study Aired Dec 12, 2024]

This sixth chapter of proverbs is mainly talking about our interaction with the world, and specifically with the churches of this world. The “friend” of verse one that we are not to intermix with has to do with intermixing our faith with others, “if thou be surety^H6148 for thy friend“[surety – aw-rab’ -A primitive root; to braid, that is, intermix; technically to traffic (as if by barter); also to give or be security (as a kind of exchange): – engage, (inter-) meddle (with), mingle (self), mortgage, occupy, give pledges, be (-come, put in) surety, undertake.].

Being “surety” happens when we inquire or desire to know how others conduct their religious ways and traditions in this world which we’ve been called out of, or if we are unequally yoked with someone (Deu 12:30 , Rev 18:4-5 , 2Co 6:14).

Deu 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

God’s elect are seen in this light by the world: “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot [within their altar of days, months, times, and years], speaking evil of you“, and by no fault of their own they can’t partake of the altar that we eat at (Heb 13:10) and so we are warned to not cast our pearls before the unbelieving (Tit 2:14-15 , 1Pe 2:9 , Exo 19:5 , 1Pe 4:4 , Mat 7:6).

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

We must die daily now (1Co 15:31), and not tomorrow at the great white throne judgement [second death], and the action of partaking of the traditions of mankind, is analogous with a world that has been seduced by the lips of the harlot system of Babylon of chapter five whose lips “drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil” (Pro 5:1) and whose house is filled with the sensual earthly doctrines that Satan wants the world to continue to partake in (Rev 18:12-17), and if it were possible to deceive the very elect with them (Mat 24:24 , 2Co 2:11). All of this wealth spoken of in (Rev 18:12-17) is symbolic of the false doctrines that have been stored up over the years in Mystery Babylon and will come to nought in one hour!

Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

God’s elect are blessed to have the desire to die daily as we war against our own self-righteousness (Php 3:9) and beastly nature that we fight against with the faith of Christ (1Ti 6:12 , Gal 2:20). That carnal nature is typified with this verse, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.” (1Co 15:32)

If our hope is not in the truth that we are raised in heavenly places today (Eph 2:6) and that we are being washed by the blood of Christ (Psa 51:9-13 , Rev 1:5), as sons of God who are being received and purified by the judgement that is upon us now (1Jn 3:1-11 , 1Pe 4:17), then we would have to conclude with these words, “let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die”. By God’s grace we do have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and see the need for judgment in our lives, as we are being made ready (Rev 19:7) to wash the world of all the sins of Babylon which have “reached unto heaven”, effectively wiping away every tear of mankind in the process (Rev 18:5-6 , Rev 19:7-8 , Rev 21:4).

Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psa 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities (Php 3:9 , Eze 33:13).
Rev 18:6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

We can’t be maturing witnesses of God who are engaged in spiritual wrestling matches (Act 5:32) if we hide our light under a bushel and never interact with those around us, however, it is a matter of how we do this (Eph 5:15 = Tit 3:2 , 1Pe 2:1 , Mar 10:15).

Christ is our example, and in this sixth chapter of Proverbs we learn of the need to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves, examining and judging our own selves (1Co 11:31), while always being on guard against Satan’s spirit that we are wrestling against, in the hearts and minds of those who God tells us to beware of (Eph 6:12).

Chapter sixth is jam-packed with wisdom and instruction for how we are to conduct ourselves in this life, “be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” who must “beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them (Act 5:32) and the Gentiles”(Mat 10:16-18).

Pro 6:1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
Pro 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Pro 6:1 My son, if thou be surety^H6148 for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

Pro 6:1  My son, if you have become a cosigner^H6148 for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge with a stranger, (TLV)

Pro 6:1 My son, don’t make yourself responsible^H6148for another person’s debts. Don’t make such deals with friends or with strangers. (ERV)

Our debt represents our sin, and the way we deal with the spiritual debt of others is that we direct people to Christ, our saviour and advocate (1Jn 2:1), of whom “death hath no more dominion over him”, meaning he is no longer in sinful flesh that he overcame by God’s grace while in it, for our sakes (Rom 6:9-10 , Rom 5:10). Now if we have that advocate working within us (Col 1:27 , Rom 8:9), we will be more than conquerors through him (Rom 8:31-33 , Rom 8:36-39)

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate^G3875 with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

G3875 paraklētos par-ak’-lay-tos
An intercessor, consoler: – advocate, comforter.
Total KJV occurrences: 5

Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (He liveth unto God right now in His body Gal 2:20 , Joh 14:20)

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Another use of this Strong’s number translated ‘surety’^H6148 in verse 1, is by the use of the English word ‘meddle’^H6148, reminding us that we are not to get caught up in a situation where we are meddling in the affairs of people that we should not be (Rev 11:2). A sure way to become ‘snared with your words’, is to be speaking where and when we ought not be, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” (Psa 141:3)

H6148 ‛ârab aw-rab’
A primitive root; to braid, that is, intermix; technically to traffic (as if by barter); also to give or be security (as a kind of exchange): – engage, (inter-) meddle (with), mingle (self), mortgage, occupy, give pledges, be (-come, put in) surety, undertake.
Total KJV occurrences: 18

Pro 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle^H6148 not with him that flattereth with his lips. (KJV) [Pro 2:10-11 , Pro 2:16]

Pro 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle^H6148 not with them that are given to change: (KJV)

Ezr 9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
Ezr 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves^H6148 with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.[Jer 5:30-31]

Psa 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Pro 6:3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

Pro 6:3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, since thou have come into the hand of thy neighbor. Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor.[ACV]

Pro 6:3 You are under that person’s power. So go to him and free yourself. Beg that person to free you from his debt.[ERV]

Pro 6:4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
Pro 6:5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

These verses talk about what we need to do “if thou be surety for thy friend“, and in particular the persistence needed to be freed from the debt of meddling with Babylon. It is God’s goodness that strengthens us to be persistent in this work (Luk 11:8-9), as we’re brought to our wits’ end through those trying times that will even bring us to “Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids“. This is how we “Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler” by God’s power (1Co 4:20 , 1Co 2:5 , Christ asked his disciples, “What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” knowing that they could not without God’s power (Mat 26:40)).

Luk 11:8 I say to you, though he will not give him, after getting up, because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, having awaken, he will give him as many as he needs.(ACV)

1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Pro 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Pro 6:7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Pro 6:8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

The subject matter has not changed and we are still talking about how we are to ‘come out of her my people'(Rev 18:4). If we love God, we are keeping His commandments that tell us to work out our own salvation which is our reasonable service in our whole sacrificial life (Php 2:12 , Rom 12:1-2).

Having “no guide, overseer, or ruler” is a testament to our diligence in the Lord as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, moving with fear as Noah did to build the ark (Heb 11:7), or as Christ who, in that he feared God, cried out and was heard (Heb 5:7).

If we are given eyes to see and ears that hear then we will give glory to God for all things, for both the sin and the overcoming of that sin, acknowledging that He alone is the one who “Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” within us as our “guide, overseer, or ruler“. So yes again, we work out our own salvation as though it depended on us, but we acknowledge that it is the Lord who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Php 2:12-13 , Luk 12:31-32).

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Pro 6:9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Pro 6:10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Pro 6:11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

The questions “how long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?” and “when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” are rhetorical questions as God knows our downsitting^{H3427 = dwell, abide} and our uprising^{H6965 = arise, stand, establish} (Psa 139:2), and it will always be just long enough to accomplish that which the Master Potter is working in each life he is dealing with (Heb 4:13).

We are admonished by this proverb to be the importunate widow (Luk 18:1-8) whose persistence was anything like that of the sluggard whose little sleep, little slumber and little folding of the hands to sleep, would ultimately lead to spiritual poverty: “So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man“. The poverty is revealed in the lake of fire for the world, after having slept through the reign of the saints and coming to realize how this verse applies to them, “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Mat 25:29).

Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luk 18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luk 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; [city is a church] and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. [Satan the accuser of the brethren (Jas 4:7)]
Luk 18:4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luk 18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luk 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? [yes in those few who will be granted that extra oil (Mat 25:4 , Luk 11:13)]

Pro 6:12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
Pro 6:13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
Pro 6:14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Pro 6:15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

These last verses we’ll look at today are talking about how our old man of sin operates within a self-righteous, confident-in-the-flesh approach through life, that will lead to death (Pro 14:12): “suddenly shall he be broken without remedy^{H4832 = ‘health’, healing’}“. Lord willing, today will be another start to our new man being birthed out of the old man, whose dying daily aorist death is continually on God’s radar, even as our new man remains the apple of His eye (1Pe 4:12 , 1Pe 4:17 , Heb 4:13 , Zec 2:8).

The new man will go “whither thou wouldest not”, as we’re granted to mortify the deeds of the flesh (Joh 21:18 , Joh 6:44), that being the only way we can continually overcome all of these evil attributes: “A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord“, fulfilling God’s will in the process (Php 2:12-13).

The good news is that God is able to make us more than conquerors through Christ by taking away our confidence in our own flesh (Php 3:3), through a chastening, and scourging process of judgement, a gift of God that leads to salvation (Heb 12:6 , Eph 2:8).

We are learning to rely and trust solely on our heavenly Father in this life, despite ourselves, and the wretchedness that flesh is (Rom 7:24 , Rev 3:17 , Rom 8:37), that must be put off, in order to see the new man (Col 1:27 , Rom 8:9) increase within us through much tribulation. That much tribulation will work together for our good as we enter into the kingdom (2Co 1:9 , Act 14:22 , Rom 8:28).

Here are just a few of the all things that “work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things (putting off flesh Php 3:3 , the sentence of death in ourselves 2Co 1:9-10 , much tribulation Act 14:22 , the fiery trials 1Pe 4:12) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Truly all things are ours in this life (1Co 3:20-23), the light, the darkness, the peace, and the evil, that are all working according to the counsel of God’s own will, and for a good purpose unto those who are the called and chosen, and granted to remain faithful unto the end (Eph 1:11 , Isa 45:7 , Rom 8:28 , Rom 5:5 , Rom 5:10).

1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

God grant us to see that our struggle of coming out of Babylon is not prefaced on isolating ourselves from the world, but rather by being given a heart that desires the wisdom and knowledge from God that we need, in order to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves, as we are led by God’s spirit to that end (2Ch 1:10-12 , Mar 12:30-31).

2Ch 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
2Ch 1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:
2Ch 1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

Abram, who typifies the Israel of God, comes to learn that God is “thy exceeding great reward”(Gen 15:1). Solomon is told, “I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like,” typifying the mind of Christ that is given to the elect (2Ch 1:12 , 1Co 2:16).

Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.