Proverbs 16 & 17

Proverbs 16

This Chapter is loaded with wisdom to guide the believers life.

3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

This section starts out encouraging believers to commit their works to the Lord and he will guide their thoughts. It then talks about God's hatred of the proud, and how these people will go down. Then it says that we purge our iniquity by God's mercy and his word, and men depart from evil when they fear the Lord. Verse 7 is my favorite of the chapter, it says, when a man pleases God even his enemies will be at peace with him. God can calm your anger to the point where it will calm your enemies also. It is hard having a one sided screaming match. God can also, keep you out of situations that can create enemies.

16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

This section deals with wisdom and making choices based on Godly virtue. It starts out stating that wisdom is worth more than gold. Ever look back on your past and say I wish I would have known that? It then says that the upright depart from evil to preserve their soul and have a blessed life. Then it says that it is better to be humble and lowly, than to partake in the sins of the world with the proud. An illustration of the Godly and the ungodly. It finishes by saying that handling a matter with wisdom will bring good, and anyone who trusts the Lord will find happiness.

23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Verse 23 says that the heart of the wise teaches the mouth to speak wisely. People who are wise have self control and do not let their mouth get them in trouble. It goes on to elaborate on this idea saying pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul. If all we ever said was sweet things our lives would be so sweet. It ends saying that what is right in a mans eyes, leads to death. This encourages people to let the Lord guide their life.

27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

This section is the opposite of the last, it talks about the ways of the ungodly. It talks about the mouth of the ungodly digging up evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire. Ungodly people dig up dirt and start trouble with their mouth. They create strife and destroy friendships with lies. It says violent men entice their fellow man to do evil. Ever heard a bad apple spoils the whole batch. These people cause damage with there evil speaking.

Proverbs 17

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished

This passage starts by saying God refines the hearts of his people the same way gold is refined, which is by fire. God will punish you for your sins to get them out of you, It will be painful, but it will leave you refined. Again we go back to sins of the tongue. Evil people listen to lies and tell lies themselves. We see how God deals with people who enjoy watching other people fail and suffer. God will punish them for it.

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

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Here we are told that disapproval from God has more effect on the wise, than a fool being whipped 100 times. God's disapproval is mighty and can destroy your life, if you do not wise up. It then says evil people seek rebellion against God, therefore God will have to be cruel back to them. In some cases he will send Satan and his demons after them. Like wise for people who reward evil, it will come back to them.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

This section starts out saying that people who justify the wicked and condemn the just are an abomination to the Lord. It then says that there is no place for wisdom in the heart of a fool. It goes on to say that a true friend will be there for you no matter what.

26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Here we close out the chapter saying that to punish just people is not good, neither is taking what others have for gain. Then it says wise people choose their words and understanding leads to joy. People who do these things are held in high esteem.

I encourage you to go through and read these chapters for yourself. This is not a comprehensive study, just my thoughts. I hope you gained wisdom from this and I will leave you with the gospel.

I Corinthians 15

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: