Shalom Family,
Thanks for accepting the call to corporately study and share. We will be doing one chapter a day. I encourage as many as can, to read, study, meditate and share a thought/s from your devotion.
May the Lord bless our devotions.
Key Verse: Proverbs 1:7
The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.
Proverbs 7
Day 7 .
Thur May 07 2020 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (East Africa Time)
Overview
✳️ *Verses - 27*
✳️ *Theme - Warning Against the Craftiness of the Adulteress*
Have you noticed how the last few chapters have emphasised on adultery?
Remember one of the writers of the Proverbs is Solomon. A man who "knew" too many women. But I believe during his restoration he manged to see the light. And God permitted him to write "wise sayings." Let us pay attention.
Some notable verses:
✳️ Verse 3 - tablet of the heart. God gave man laws on tablets of stone and they never had any effect. Jeremiah talks of a heart of stone and a heart of flesh. Variously God speaks of writing His ways in our hearts - Proverbs 3:3; Isaiah 59:21; Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 11:26-27; Galatians 3:29; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16; 12:22-24.
A letter that is not sitting in the heart will always kill. But if the letter docks in the heart by the inspiration of the spirit, it will produce life. May our hearts become tablets that host the counsel of God in its purity. Amen.
✳️ Verse 4 - salute wisdom as a "sister". Cherish wisdom. Call understanding your kinsman! Treat both wisdom and understanding as "blood" relatives!
✳️ Verses 6-9 The youth without judgment.
When we are overtaken in a matter of sin, we tend to say it was a moment of weakness. God calls it lack of judgment.
✳️ Versesl 15 - the classic lie espeically when the enemy wants to trap you. He tell you you are the one".. That I have been looking for you. Makes you feel special until you realize you have become "meat" for the devious.
We need to overcome the desire to "feel special" through sweet words. Married people who fall into unfaithfulness end up there when they try to fill a void. There is always that excuse of "at least he or she treats me better" in a certain way. The desire to feel special is a trap. We need to be confident in who we are in Jesus Christ and know that we are complete in Him.
For the single, being unequally yoked also stems from the idea of being made to feel special. Be complete.. Nothing "special" will ever surpass the knwowdge that you are complete - a healthy self esteem; loving yourself correctly after knowing how Jesus Christ completely loves you. 🙏 🙏.
✳️ Verses 16-23 Strategies of the enemy to entrap the simple in to sexual sin.
✳️ Verse 22 - is a bit harsh! Likens falling for the adulteress an ox that is led to the slaughter or a deer that smells the noose!
Commentaries
Ciruu Kiniti
I am loving Proverbs 7! It has spoken to my heart.
-Wisdom is Essential in every day living as it will guard me from the path of the loose woman, who I am reminded doesn’t even know her own path – Probverbs 5 stated that her feet lead to death; straight to the grave!
- V9-23 tell a story of a young man who is lured by the loose woman. Oh how easy it to fall for her. As I read the story I am reminded of James 1:14 “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed”
This young man willingly walks down the loose woman’s street, she comes out boldly and to meet him. She is unruly, she knows no boundaries…and the rest is history! And oh how familiar this story is…I know I am not supposed to do something, but I begin to flirt with the idea in my mind…kidogo kidogo Whaam! I have given in!!
-Oh that I may guard my heart with all that I have, that I may keep the words and commandments given to me. That I may seek and cling to Wisdom and understanding !!
Love this! Especially about Verse 3 and that our hearts would be tablets that take in the Word!!
I am learning a BUCKET LOAD of stuff....I've read Proverbs many many many times before but I love how it's become alive for me as we read it together.
And hapo kwa V.15 imenena kweli...sweet words...😊😊very deceptive.
Sau Karani
This is so well explained. Like Ciruu I'm learning a lot. The explanation on verse 3 is very insightful.
Verse 15, knowing who one is in Christ makes one wholesome. You don't need anyone else to fulfil you.
Nduta
: Proverbs 7
- My take in proverbs 7 is how the writer says that I should keep the law and this teaching as the apple of my eye. It being compared to the apple of my eyes makes me realize it's dire importance
- Bind the teachings on my fingers and write them on the tablet of my heart. It's not about reading the word but allowing it to transforming me by memorising it, meditating on it and living it.
- The streets which is the world is full of wickedness. The young man being enticed by the immoral woman is a picture of what happens in the world. Sin is enticing, it seduces, blinds and makes one think it can give the satisfaction they are looking for. (vs 8-22)
- The result of sin is death. Vs 23.
- Sin, what the streets offers i.e what the world offers is only for a moment. It leads to death. Vs 27
Mrs Okello: Proverbs 7
What a challange to me hapo motor and bricks..
May God search my heart.
Its true sm clothes/shoes/handbgs we never use even during normal days,and wn it comes to Charity walk we give out zile mbay mbaya .
Am really challanged here. May God challenge us.. And search our hearts (Psalm 139)..
That He may lead us in the way everlasting.. 🙏
Moureen Proverbs 7
See the way wisdom is chilled looking at this young man go astray. The thing is wisdom will not seek us out, it is we to seek wisdom.
The word of God preserves life.
Someone said the streets is the world. I borrow that and say, whatever the world offers us is just manipulation. That there is nothing it can offer us but destruction.
Like pastor said in his exposition i agree we need to tame what we want to hear. Let your worth be in Christ and let it be enough for you. That nothing the world has to offer will look like a deal.
For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men.
No one is strong without Christ, wisdom and the right judgment. So don't trust yourself.
Moureen: We need to overcome the desire to feel special.
If i deviate kidogo pasi and ask how to deal with an environment that you feel people do anything to get ahead sometimes at the expense of others especially at a workplace setting. How do you balance integrity and at the same time not feel left behind cz you are not shouting aloud what you are doing. I hope you get me. 🤦♀️
Obed Pastor: I perfectly understand..
The work place is one place that tests your "faith or salvation".. 🤣
You have non-believers and even believers who are very adept at "politics, sideshows and working to be seen". In the process, they also look for opportunities to undermine others.
Integrity:
1. Always work as though you working for the Lord.
2. Be faithful.. Make sure no one can accuse you.. For example, if people come to work late, have many abstentions, go for extended breaks (twa or lunch), leave for home before time etc..don't be counted among such.
3. Be sure to possess both spirit and skill. Don't ve the believer who knows how to pray during staff meetings but has poor work ethic or is incompetent.
4. Be the intercessor at your work place. Always pray for the good of your organization. Pray for the leadership. Whether an issue is starting or persisting, keep praying.
And when you have opportunity, use wisdom and speak out. Speak out truth.
If you be righteous before God, believe you me, God will vindicate you (Psalm 26).🙏
5.The other wisdom which is key is to keep off gossip of another colleague.. Kuna vile mushene ya ofisi ni sweet mpaka hautaki kuwachwa nyuma 🤭🤭. Ask God to give you self control...
Use Philippians 4:8 as a guide.. When talking about another person, let it always be guided by that scripture.. 🙏 🙏 This should guide our thought and by extension, our speech.
Selah.. No one is strong without Christ. 🙏 Let our speech be seasoned with salt. More so, in the market place.. 🙏
Jeremy Whiscard Proverbs 7
12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
16 And his name-by faith in his name-has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
22 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.'
24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'
26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness." Acts3.12-26
Nduta Proverbs 7
~A moment of weakness God calls it lack of judgement.
~ overcome the desire to "feel special"
Weuh.. Am learning lots. 🙏🏻
