Coming to the Still Waters

Today's verses are Proverbs 22:22-25, which read, v.22, 23 - Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the LORD will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them. The poor would position themselves at the gates of the city because many would pass by there to enter to visit or engage in commerce.  Those entering might have currency because they are coming in to purchase something and those exiting might have currency because they brought in their wares to sell and were leaving with the profits.  It would be a perfect place also because it funnels the people into one place for everyone has to come through one of the gates. Also at the gates were the wise who settled matters of justice.  They were the guardians of the gates to make sure that no one entered that wasn't suppose to or could be harmful to those who reside within.  So where the poor where, justice was also present.  This proverb also adds th...

Today's verses are Proverbs 22:19-21, which read, v.19 - So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you. We are continuing Solomon's introduction to another set of proverbs that are believed to be common at the time.  There are 77 of them that will stretch to Proverbs 24:34.  We were told to incline our ears and apply our minds to these proverbs so that they may be ready on our lips to recite.  Now Solomon adds that these proverbs build our trust in the Lord.  He also gives us the element that these proverbs are to be taught to all, even you.   The success of the classroom is not that the student remembers the material but actually puts it into practice.  Some of that practice will be to not participate in those things that are out of the wisdom of God and to participate in those that are.  I am praying that we will see the application of each one of these proverbs as we go through them. v.20, 21 - Have I not ...

Today's verses are Proverbs 22:16-18, which read, v.16 - He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Solomon gives us two unacceptable practices.  The first is taking advantage of others to your benefit and the others are those who are actually people that you should be helping rather than taking from.  The phrase  "more for himself"  let's you see that this action is feeding the sin of greed.  Again, we are doing just the opposite of what we should be doing for the poor and our focus is not on them but ourselves. The second action is coming up alongside of the rich for the same reason.  We give to those who have hoping they will give some of what they have to us.  The giving back to us might be for recognition of who we are or to put us in circles of others who are also rich by the world's standards.  We are  "brown nosing"  them or  "buttering"  them up....