Proverbs 20-22
One of the things I like about reading a decent chunk of the Bible in one go is that themes emerge that you wouldn’t otherwise have noticed. This is certainly true when reading Proverbs. In these chapters (and also in others, the following themes rise to the top:
- God hates falsehood and lies always lead to trouble
- A wise person does the right thing at the right time and reaps a reward
- The folly of the proud will be exposed but the humble will prosper
- God knows us better than we know ourselves, to seek his will is wise
What general lessons did others discern form these chapters?
I noticed a few verses on the importance of discipline:
Prov 20:30 Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
Prov 21: 11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
Prov 21:15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
Prov 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Prov 22: 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.
It makes me think of Hebrews 12:5-6
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Thank God he loves us enough to disciple us
Amen David! So isn’t it funny that we react so badly to any sort of discipline or rebuke. it seems to me that a sure sign of Christian maturity would be to “growup” in this area!