King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Chapters: Proverbs 25-26
Message: Proverbs: Truth Overcomes Lies
Hello My Friend,
I do not know what is going on, but the number of people who subscribed to the daily devotion being sent to their email has quadrupled in two months. However, as I saw the numbers climb I did know that some opposition was coming and the devil did not disappoint. From family situations to people reporting me as SPAM, it is no doubt that the devil is trying to stop a good work. As we return to the reading of Proverbs, we learn that truth overcomes lies. God, knows the way we take. While we may make some foolish decisions once in a while a true fool digs their own grave.
[2 Corinthians 12:6-9 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.]
Wow! God, knew that I needed to hear this this morning, and before I headed out the door for work. God, is so great that He knows right when we need something, how long we shall have it, and if we shall have it at all. Even if it is something too wonderful for us to comprehend, we just need to trust Him and go with His decision because His grace is sufficient, [Psalms 139:5-10 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.]
Is it not great and comforting to know that God is with us everywhere we go? At least for the saved, born again Christian He is. I surely do not want to be the fool on the other end who will face Him having been sent to hell because I did not accept Christ as my Saviour. The reason that these Proverbs are separated from the others is because the remaining were found by King Hezekiah decades after Solomon, his great grandfather and had written them. It is said that these were found two hundred and seventy years after the death of Solomon.
[Proverbs 25:1-5 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.]
It is okay and quite the honor from God Himself when His people get in His Word and start searching for some answers. God’s ways are often advisedly hidden from the world. In fact Jesus, said this as to why He spoke in parables, [Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.]
Walking graves, that is what I call an unsaved person walking around in their religion. They refuse to admit that they are a sinner and that the punishment for sin is death and hell unless they believe in the Gospel of Christ. Now, to the one who comes to grip with that realty and accepts that they cannot save themselves, hearing what Jesus did for them is both sweet and bittersweet.
[Proverbs 25:6-11 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: 7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. 8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame. 9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away. 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.]
Jesus said it this way, [Luke 14:8-11 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.]
People want to be noticed and recognized by great men or women in an attempt to be noticed and recognized themselves just for being around them. Believe it or not, great people of this world are not billionaires, celebrities, ivy leagues, or government leaders, they are God fearing, humble servants who treat each other as equals, [Luke 18:11-14 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.]
Have you ever eaten golden apples? They are sort of gold in color, the skin is softer as well as the flesh, and the taste is often sweeter than that of your average red apple. There really is nothing more sweet than to hear what God is saying to you whether it is through His Word, a song, a prayer, or a friend, or even conviction, [2 Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.]
Sometimes we need to hear that blunt truth about something, but there is also a line to be drawn, [Proverbs 25:13-18 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. 15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. 16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. 17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. 18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.]
[Maul; To beat and bruise with a heavy stick or cudgel; to wound in a coarse manner.] It is one thing to talk to someone about a matter, it is another to brutally attack someone verbally, especially when they do not know the whole matter. It is a sad fact that Christians are quick to tear others apart based on their own judgment. When Jesus confronts us about our sin, He does not tear us apart, He does not add to the charges or make up things about us, He does not condemn is for the rest of our lives while we are here, He tells us we are forgiven, and sin no more, [John 8:10-11 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.]
What happens, and this is why there are not many Christians who are wealthy, is that the more prosperous we become the more we desire. If we become proud in our prosperity then it is no longer about God’s glory, rather what we have done for ourselves. Wealth and fame always lead to greed if we do not remain humble.
[Proverbs 25:21-23,26-28 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. 23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. 26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.]
Jesus, said it this way, [Matthew 5:43-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.]
Those who have no control over their own spirit are quick to act out through them, often losing everything that is of true value. To keep ourselves humble we need to walk in God’s Spirit, [Galatians 5:16-17,25-26 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.]
[Fool; A wicked or depraved person; one who acts contrary to sound wisdom in his moral character.] In this world it is much too common for glory to be given to fools, those who are unworthy and unfit to even be in the positions they are in, but somehow are preferred over the qualified.
[Proverbs 26:1-8 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. 2 As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. 3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. 6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. 7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. 8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.]
We have all been foolish about something, but you learn, you move on, and you grow, but the real fool never learns and keeps doing the same thing over and over again. Never let a fool have rule over you, and never let them knock you down, if they do, never let them keep you down, get back up, you are better than that, you have a lot going for yourself, you belong to Jesus, and He knows the truth about you. Have you heard the way some people talk when they try to justify their reason for doing the horrible things they do? They really do sound down right foolish.
[Proverbs 26:10-17 The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. 11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. 14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. 15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. 17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.]
As I was reading this the thought that came to my mind are these people who record their children doing something wrong and continue doing it. And another thing comes to mind are these commercials that are asking people for monthly donations to help some cause, showing some sad scenes. My thought when I see these things is, “Why are you recording it and not doing anything yourself?” It is so easy to tell people what they ought to be doing, but not so easy to be accountable for ones own actions. God, knows the way we take and will reward us accordingly. The fool will often get corrected for their actions yet remain unruly, often becoming a burden rather than an asset to those who put their trust in them, but those who put their faith in Jesus Christ will have their reward, [2 John 1:7-8 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.]
Never let a fool have rule over you, and never let them knock you down, if they do, never let them keep you down, get back up knowing that Jesus is right there with you. You are better than the fool, you have a lot going for yourself, you belong to Jesus and they know that too.
[Proverbs 26:22-28 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. 24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. 27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. 28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.]
Have you heard the way some people talk when they try to justify their reason for doing the horrible things they do? They really do sound down right foolish. The reason they hate you is because they know that Jesus is with you, [John 15:20-21,26-27 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You do not keep us in the world to be a part of it, but to be a reflection of Your Son as we learn and grow into His likeness. With the world full of deception, we are challenged every day to hold on to our integrity, but You are our strength and guide to remain honorable and just. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, strength, mercy, and grace to be present in the world and not be a part of it. Help us to be cordial and friendly to all, even our enemies, while sometimes we must stand up and fight other times we must humble ourselves as You did and not say anything to them. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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