God’s Word For Today

Text: Proverbs 25:27,28 (ESV)   27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. 28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.   THE VIRTUE OF SELF-CONTROL   This is a warning against excesses, even in positive things. A prior proverb mentioned the danger in having "too much of a good thing" (see v.16). When someone w...

Text: Prov 25:25-26 ESV 25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. 26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. -Prov 25:25-26 ESV THE GOOD AND BAD NEWS During the ancient times, people had to wait long hours, days, or even years to hear answers to their questions. Messages are sent by messengers by foot or horse...

Text: Prov 25:24 ESV 24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. -Prov 25:24 ESV IS THERE A HOME IN THE HOUSE? Solomon's advice about marriage is learned through a hard way. Even with his wisdom, he turned away from God's intended plan for one man to marry one woman. Solomon took seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines for hi...

God’s Word for Today 12 June, 2025 23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. -Prov 25:23 ESV THE NORTH WIND BRINGS FORTH RAIN “As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!” [v.23, NLT] The exact Hebrew phrase used here implies something deceptive, secretive, or slanderous. Destroying others down with gossip and criticism damages one's...

God’s Word for Today 11 June, 2025 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. -Prov 25:21,22 ESV LOVE YOUR ENEMY These verses are quoted in the New Testament by Paul (Rom 12:20). Human nature instinctively seeks revenge. And, this leads to an endless cycle of retalia...

Text: Proverbs 25:20 (ESV)   20 Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.   AVOID ADDING INSULT TO INJURY   Were you guilty before of giving careless and untactful comments to a person in sorrow? Classic examples are phrases like, "There's a reason for everything," or "At least it wasn't something worse....

Text: Proverbs 25:18-19 (ESV)   18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. 19 Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.   BEING DEPENDABLE   Giving false testimony against someone is as hitting him with a sharp weapon. Dishonest statements can ruin a neighbor's life, destroy his liveli...

Text: Prov 25:17 ESV 17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. -Prov 25:17 ESV HAVE A SENSE OF PROPRIETY A good thing does become bad, even nauseating when one has too much of it, does it not? That is the reason why moderation is needed in eating food, pleasures, and others. Here, similarly, a visitor will become a burden when he is taking...

Text: Prov 25:16 ESV 16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. -Prov 25:16 ESV THE VIRTUE OF MODERATION At first glance, this verse warns us about the danger of over-eating, which may result to an upset stomach. However, the meaning of this proverb is broader than just eating food. The general idea is like to our modern English expressions &qu...

God’s Word for Today 5 June, 2025 With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. -Prov 25:15 ESV HAVE A SOFT TONGUE The persuasive person exhibits patience and speaks softly when trying to convince others especially those in authority. The Hebrew term used here can also apply to judges or chiefs. Harsh, impatient words typically make others more resistant (Prov 15:1)....

God’s Word for Today 4 June, 2025 13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. -Prov 25:13-14 ESV A FAITHFUL MESSENGER Solomon recognized the quality of a person who faithfully follows instructions. A faithful messenger. Knowin...

Text: Proverb 25:11-12 (ESV)   11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. 12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.   A WORD FITLY SPOKEN   There is a tremendous value of wise words offered at the right time. The comparison here is to an ornate object made with precious metals. This is about tactfulness. A well-chosen word may edif...

Text: Proverbs 25:6-7 (ESV)   6 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, 7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.   PUT NOT YOURSELF FORWARD BEFORE KINGS   It is not wise to gate crash into the presence of a king or pretend to be great. The equivalent today is to a ‘social climber.’ The picture...

Text: Prov 25:4-5 ESV 4 Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; 5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. -Prov 25:4-5 ESV REMOVE THE DROSS FROM SILVER A "dross" refers to impurities found in precious metals. Left alone, these corrode the strength and destroy the beauty of the material....

Text: Prov 25:1-3 ESV 1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. 2 It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. 3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. -Prov 25:1-3 ESV SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE The divine inspiration of the Scriptures includes the scribes' coll...

God’s Word for Today 29 May, 2025 30 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, 31 and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 34 and poverty will...

God’s Word for Today 28 May, 2025 28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” -Prov 24:28-29 ESV AVOID HAVING A VENGEFUL ATTITUDE Being a witness carries a legal language suggesting things like formal witness testimony in court (Ex 20:16; Pro 19:5)....

Text: Proverbs 24:27 (ESV)   27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.   PLAN, PREPARE AND PRIORITIES   The importance of proper priorities cannot be minimized. There are few schools of thought about this verse. The first is one ought to complete his basic labors before worrying about non-essentials. Secondly, one has to develop...

Text: Proverbs 24:23-26 (ESV)   23 These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good. 24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. 26 Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.   THE WRONG OF PARTIALITY   Partiality in jud...

Text: Prov 24:21-22 ESV 21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, 22 for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both? -Prov 24:21-22 ESV FEAR THE LORD AND THE KING The "fear" of God is the cornerstone of the entire book of Proverbs. (Prov 1:7). This is not panic or fright. To "fear" somet...

Text: Prov 24:19-20 ESV 19 Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked, 20 for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. -Prov 24:19-20 ESV BE NOT ENVIOUS OF THE WICKED Being objects of trouble at the hands of unscrupulous people is inevitable. Jesus warned us that tribulations will come to God’s people. (John 16:33). Believers should be wise...

God’s Word for Today 22 May, 2025 15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; 16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from h...

God’s Word for Today 21 May, 2025 13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. 14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off. -Prov 24:13-14 ESV WISDOM IS HONEY TO OUR SOUL Eating honey is always associated with pleasure and satisfaction. Was not the "Promised Land" depicted a...

Text: Proverbs 24:11-12 (ESV)   11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?   RESCUE THE OPPRESSED   Firstly, we need to understand the context of...

Text: Proverbs 24:10 (ESV)   10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.   STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY   There is a play of words here. The original word for "adversity" is sārāh', while the word for "small" is sar'. On the other hand, the word translated "faint" can also mean to "let go," "weaken," or "fail." Stati...