Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Review In the first lesson, we offered some general pointers for studying the Psalms. We examined Psalm 1, which serves as the intro to Psalms. There are two paths: stay on the right path by ignoring the world’s counsel and listening to God. Ps 1 says, in effect, that we will prosper by becoming wise through God’s word. We're more like...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Introduction to the Psalter The Psalter (the five books of the Psalms) forms a central part of the treasury that is God’s word. Central in the thought of first century Jews and Christians (as we know from quotations) in the Dead Sea Scrolls, the New Testament, and the early Christian writings. Mastering the Psalms is no easy task. Ther...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : The scriptures recommend intoxicating beverages for those in pain (vs.4-5). This has normally been interpreted as support for painkillers, especially in end-of-life situations. The point is that since alcohol affects judgment, those with decisions to make should do all they can to remain sober and alert. Reaction time...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Vs.3-4 -- to a Christian, at least -- sound highly messianic. Yet the LXX translated "children" in place of son (v.4), so we cannot have the degree of confidence we might like. Integrity means we don't ignore the majority of translations in favor of the special reading of a single version. This isn't honest. (I still f...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Notice how much  shorter the proverbs in this chapter are! Sometimes pithy and punchy gets the message across just as well as elongated and eloquent. There is a point of no return (v.1). It it tempting to equate this with the "falling away" referred to in the N.T. (Heb 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:20-22). (Not to be confused with...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Here is the truth about the psychology of guilt (v.1). God's solution is confession and renunciation (v.13), not hardening one's heart (v.14).  Then we are free; we can "sing and be happy" (29:6). In v.2, notice how responsibility is shared between the corrupt rulers and the system that produced him. Somes it is errone...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Don't boast about tomorrow (v.1). See James 4. Candid speech characterizes true friendship (vs.5, 6, 9). V.12 is a doublet for 22:3. Don't you delay when disaster's on the way -- do it today! V.14 fits with 25:16-17. Once again, social awareness is an area in which many need to improve. "Iron sharpens iron..." (v.17)....

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : The first section of this chapter deals with fools (vs.1-12, with the possible exception of v.2). Vs.4 and 5 don't contradict one another. "According to" refers to sinking to the fool's level in v.4, but connotes as they fool deserves in v.5. People who find contradictions in Proverbs have not received training in how...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Note on v.1: the compilation of sayings in Hezekiah's day (c.700 BC) was made many generations after the time of Solomon (who died about 970 BC). The book of Proverbs took centuries to reach its final (present) form. Research (v.2) is glorious. The disciple should rejoice in new discoveries, exploration, and science. Y...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : When others are being victimized, our responsibility isn't just to make a wise observation, but to get involved (vs.11-12). There is a similar passage in chapter 3. The applications are many: helping the poor, evangelism, putting a stop to human trafficking, etc. "But we knew nothing about this" reminds us of the plea...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : There's a connection between an insatiable appetite for food and an insatiable appetite for money (vs.1+, 4+). Gluttony isn't the central theme of this first passage. (That is firmly addressed in v.20.) The wisdom to see through superficial hospitality, along with self-control, seems to be the issue. As mentioned befor...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Reputation is better than money (v.1). There should be no rigorous class distinctions (v.2). Wise people take a long view of things. They don't procrastinate (v.3.) "Train up a child" (v.6) is a general correlation, not an ironclad guarantee. (Note: this verse is missing in the LXX, which was the Old Testament of nearl...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : V.1 alludes to the irrigation canals common in the Middle East. The king's heart is in the hand of the King of Kings -- the only being with true and absolute sovereignty. Religion alone isn't enough (v.3). This emphasis on the heart is prevalent in all three divisions of the Old Testament -- Torah, Prophets, Writings....

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Beware alcoholism (v.1). Indiscipline (v.4) cannot wait, or pace itself. It acts for immediate gratification only. V.9, like Ecc 7:20, is a sort of Rom 3:23 in the O.T. Don't love sleep (v.13)! "You can often gauge a man's ambition by whether he hates his alarm clock or considers it his dear friend." The proverbs accur...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Reading advice : Keep noticing how sayings are related, if only loosely. Notice how themes introduced in previous chapters are touched on again and again. Notice the doublets (14:12, 16:25) and near-doublets (19:5, 19:9). Understand the parallelism: Synonymous (19:5); a comparison is being made, or a statement is begin repeated in a di...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Fools enjoy conversation but do not change their views; they only air them (v.2). Avoid such discussions -- advice seconded by Paul in the Pastoral Epistles (e.g. 2 Tim 14,23-26). Note how various proverbs are connected, often quite loosely. See 18:1-2; 18:10-11; 18:17-19. Note the delightful way the Hebrew language ge...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : It can be painful when the Lord purifies our hearts (v.3). Like gold or silver in the crucible, it is through fire that our hearts change. V.9 in a more literal version: "One who disregards a fault, one who seeks friendship / One who insists on it, one who loses a companion." The fool isn't "impressed" with 100 lashes...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Judging motives is highly problematic. See John 2:24; 1 Cor 4; Acts 8. V.3 is wise counsel much more than a promise that God's children always get what they want. Warning: pride and arrogance are the most serious of sins. Don't take a chance; go our of your way to stay humble / humbled. V.9 pertains to divine providenc...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : When someone becomes angry with me, I should answer gently, thoughtfully, lovingly. Abaddon is rendered "destruction" in v.11. Those who get things done clear the way for productive activity (v.19). We all need multiple advisers (v.22). Challenge: Keep the highway clear . Deal with clutter, overdue tasks, unpaid bills,...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Productive and counterproductive -- the wise constructs, the foolish destructs (v.1). Hard work leads to a profit (v.4). Here is the rendering in the Jerusalem Bible:  "No oxen, no cattle-feed; stout ox, rich crop." Here the JB, a sensitive and literary translation, captures the feel of the Semitic original. 14:23 cont...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Undisciplined people are usually not good with money things (v.11). When are hopes are unsatisfied, we may become heartsick (v.12). Be real about how you feel. Walk with the wise and become wise (v.20). We need people -- help, models, counsel... The proverb about inheritance (v.22) should not be taken as a law or even...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points : Hating correction is stupid -- and makes us stupid. "The wife of noble character" (v.4) -- see 31:10-31. Prestige purchases that squeeze our normal budget are vain (v.9). Stop trying to make people think you're someone you're not! Caring for our pets, livestock, or other animals is a godly thing (v.10). Fantasies -- da...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Salient points: The Lord detests shady business practices. See Lev 19:15; Deut 25:13-16; Amos 8:5; Prov 11:1; 16:11; 20:10,23. Re: v12: One does not build himself up by tearing others down (also v.9). V15 and many other proverbs warn us of the dangers of guaranteeing a loan. People who value money over people -- ruthless, violent types...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website. Scholarly background: This is the first chapter with the typical "Proverbs" flow: a series of many seemingly unconnected adages. Chapters 1-9 are different -- prefatory material laying the foundation for the pearls of wisdom that follow. The connections between proverbs may be catchwords, similar sounds, related topics, parallel though...

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website . Salient points : Multiple voices vie for our attention. Wisdom calls us to a banquet. Think about how this connects with Luke 14 (the Parable of the Great Banquet) and Matthew 22 (the Parable of the Wedding Banquet). There is little point in correcting the mocker / fool / wicked, but the wise will always benefit from input (9:9). Here...