Bible Reading Challenge Blog

We hear in the first verse of the first chapter that the author of Ecclesiastes was a son of David, the king of Jerusalem.  We also read in the final verses of the first chapter that the author was gifted with “great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me.”  From this we can take that the author of Ecclesiastes was probably Solomon.  There is some debate about this, but I say that if it was Solomon, it was probably a Solomon in his very final years.  Here is someone who has been able to look over his life and see the great power that he had over wealth and people.  Yet he comes to realize that while he had this great power, God was still sovereign.  Even after all his battles, all of his struggles, even after all of his long life, God was still in control.

As a result of this realization he is able to say that all is a chasing after the wind.  After all of this introspection he realized that he is not able to control pretty much anything at all.  That is a great lesson for all of us.  No matter how well things are going, because it is in the good times of life, we are not able to control anything at all.  Job taught us that lesson.  

In this last chapter of Proverbs we find quite a transition from the words of King Lemuel to an inspiring passage to a description of a “capable” wife.  The first few verses give us words of wisdom and advice from the mother of King Lemuel.  So from vs.1-9 we see words of wisdom to a king from his mom.  She focuses on pretty much don’t go with girls who drink or chew or anything else for that matter.  The king’s mom is  looking out for her son.

But then we get these verses that are used so often for mother’s day.  We find a whole slew of attributes of a good wife, all of them are keeping the household and a hard worker.  But not actually all of them, which is a bit shocking.  We also read in vs.  14-20 some really strong attributes which in that time period would have been relegated to the men of that society.  Here are some examples:  considers a field and buys it, makes her arms strong, she perceives that her merchandise is profitable.  While all of these characteristics don’t necessarily have to be matched with the men of the society, back then they were.

The kicker is seen in vs.30 which reminds us that for all people, men or women, what really ought to set up apart is that we fear the Lord.  No matter what else we do or what else we have, if we lack the fear of the Lord then we are fools.  

If you look at this chapter and check out the footnotes that accompany this chapter you will see this statement in a few places: “Meaning of Hebrew uncertain.”  There are certain places in Scripture where we frankly do not know what word or what phrase the author was trying to get to.  Either the Hebrew is damaged in the manuscripts that we have, or we simply do not know the root of the word which is being used.  

I think I have said in the past that Scripture for me is the authority and the lamp unto my feet.  I do not use my experience to trump Scripture, and Scripture is that upon which I base my life.  That is not to say that this is a blind following that I have.  No, I know that when we read in Leviticus the codes for what we should and should not eat, that when Peter  had his dream God said all things that I have made are clean for you to eat.  So there are things that are found in Scripture which we need to take within the full context of the Bible.  There are also events and statements that are made that we know are simply the product of the first century and not of the Word of God.  

This next to last chapter contains a series of statements that have four things which the author uses to describe his current day realities which are unacceptable in some cases, and to be exemplified in other cases.  It is within these statements that we find the unclear phrases.  Interestingly enough we also read in vs.5 and 6 that “every word of God proves true…do not add to his words.”  This reminds me a bit of the verses that we find in Revelation 22:18-19 which gives similar counsel that we are not to add or subtract to the words of Scripture.  They are given to us as a guide unto our feet.

This chapter tells us that we ought to be an abomination.  It ought to be our goal to be an abomination.  Hmmm, not sure where you are going with this one.  Look at vs.27, the last verse in this chapter, and we are told that the upright are an abomination to the wicked (we also see before this its opposite which is the unjust are an abomination to the righteous).  I guess it is important that we understand that our actions ought to be hated by those who pursue their own selfish motives.  Our perspective ought not to be to find favor in the sight of all people, but rather to find favor in the sight of God and then let the chips fall where they might.  

Let’s look at vs.20 and focus on hasty speech.  We are called to pause and ponder what we say.  As Presbyterians our calling card is that we are creatures who try to do all things decently and in order.  As a result this requires that we do not hurry any process in which we find ourselves.  Tom Martin and I went out today to look at a van that we might consider accepting as a donation for the church.  I told the guy that we were definitely interested but it takes time for us to make a decision on this.  We have a process which cannot be hastened, and when it is sped up, it breaks down.  It is so important that we hear what hasty speech is able to produce.  I think also in terms of marriages and how hasty speech tends to be a mainstay in many families.  We get angry so we lash out.  When we lash out we say things that are hasty.  Listen again to what this Proverbs says about hasty speech: “There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.”

There is a bit of an undercurrent to this chapter that almost speaks directly to the leader of the people.  We find an admonition for the king to reach out to the poor and the powerless.  If you look at vss.2-3 you hear about a ruler who is intelligent and produces order.  Actually an intelligent ruler not only produces order, but lasting order.  Where an unintelligent ruler is one who oppresses the poor.  This has always been the way in which I have chosen to vote.  Which person is going to be on the side of the poor and the powerless? That is my guiding value.  Who out of the two candidates that I am considering is going to be a friend to the poor?  Jesus states something similar in Matthew 5 when he calls the blessed poor.  I am absolutely convinced that Jesus had a prerogative for the poor.

There are a couple of verses here that I want to look at.  Look first at vs.17 where we read “iron sharpens iron”.  It goes on to say that we are able to sharpen the wits of each other.  The literal Hebrew is that we are able to sharpen the “face” of each other.  This verse is used consistently to refer to how when we hold each other accountable it allows us to sharpen each other.  Normally this verse is used to how Christians are able to help each other out and strengthen each other as we go about our daily lives.  Iron sharpens iron.  We are able to sharpen each other.

The other verse I would like us to look at is vs.25 where it speaks of when the grass is gone, new growth appears.  I’ll never forget driving along in the countrysides of Italy and seeing the shepherds with their flock of sheep and seeing them setting fields on fire so that once they were burned down to nothing, grass would soon grow and it would provide their flocks places to graze.  It strikes me a bit strange that we transition from making sure that the reader is not doing really evil things, to making sure that they are keeping care of their flocks by night.  These verses do reflect how important it is to know that what we do during the day will affect what our livelihood will be.  

So we find ourselves once again on the doorstep of a proverb which teaches us how to act.  The fool is not to be trusted and what they say is to be regarded as chaff in the wind.  The fool thinks they are wise in their own mind, and think that all those around them should beckon to their calling.

He transitions from speaking out against the fool to speak out against the lazy person.  The lazy person refuses to leave their bed and says that there is imminent danger right outside the door so it would be foolish to leave the home.  The lazy person makes up stories in order to justify their position.  

From the lazy person to the gossiper the author states that the one who “whispers” is one whose words go all the way down into the soul of a person.  The danger of a whisperer, a gossiper,  is that what they say actually does affect the person and actually does make a difference in someone’s life.  The old saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me,” simply is not true.

So, in all we can say that one should not be a fool, not be lazy, and not be a gossiper.  That’s pretty good counsel.

This might be one of my favorite Proverbs, simply because there are so many New Testament parallels that we can lift up.  Let’s start at vss.6-7 where we find that a person should never put themselves too close to the seat of honor, but rather there is more dignity in being asked to move forward.  We find the same message given to us in Luke 14:7-11 where Jesus tells us to always put ourselves in the back row so that we can be moved up,  and not vice-versa.  The opposite of this can be seen in James 2:3 where the wealthy person is asked to sit up front in worship.  Yeah, that isn’t going to fly either.

This reminds me of this commercial which was popular so many years ago:

Basically Proverbs here is telling us: don’t be a Bob Uecker.

But there is also vs.22 which is picked up again by Paul in Romans 12 and especially verses 9-21 where we actually read in vs.20 a direct reference to treating your enemies with respect and assistance because by doing so you will be heaping coals upon their head.  Who doesn’t want to heap coals on their enemies’ heads?  

Once again this chapter is broken down into two sections.  The second part is called further sayings of the wise and it begins at vs. 23.  I couldn’t help as I was reading it to think of those who are convinced the stronger they are,  the louder they are, the more effective they can be.  There are those who believe that they are able to talk themselves out of anything, even those things which are fundamentally wrong and even evil.  We read a castigation to those who would say to the wicked that they are innocent.  The implication is not that they are saying it to the wicked, but rather trying to justify them to the rest of the world.  

The beginning of this chapter once again gives us the juxtaposition between wisdom and folly.  

This is a real beating on those who drink in excess and focuses on alcohol as the source of their enjoyment.  The author draws a straight line between those who drink and those who have woe, sorrow, strife, complaints, are wounded, and have redness of eyes.  He equates alcohol to a snake which at first might be pretty and almost hypnotic, but when you actually get close to it, and try it out, it bites you and leaves you bleeding and about to die.  The author looks at alcohol as an addiction which cannot be broken and which drives the person to ruin.

This is not the only place where literature describes alcohol in such a way.  But it is very strongly worded her.  We see this approach especially at the end of this chapter.  In the middle we hear a warning to not be among the “winebibbers”.  Now, that is a new word, and one that I have never heard before.  

At the beginning of the chapter he warns the reader to stay away from the wealthy who take pride in their wealth and find their identity only in their wealth.  There is a warning in vs.10 about encroaching on the fields of orphans and that if you dare do that then their redeemer will come to their aid and you will not be able to stand up against him.  Throughout these chapters you have these random warnings about alcohol, and prostitutes, and pride, but then you have this wonderful verse which reminds us of what Jesus’ primary message about the kingdom of God was all about.  It was about making sure that everyone knows that they are welcome to the banquet table.  I like that.