God’s Word For Today

Text: Proverbs 22:12 (ESV)   12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.   THE LORD WATCHES OUR WORDS   We have learned that those who heed God’s wisdom have the likelihood of success. (Prov 1:7; 8:34–36) Thus, they are less likely to experience disasters as consequences of their foolishness and sin. In that sense, God's protective power is ex...

Text: Proverbs 22:10-11 (ESV)   10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. 11 He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.   PURITY OF HEART   Scoffers are arrogant and unteachable. However, tolerating them being hardheaded troublemakers is not wise, especially over time. References to "scoffers" i...

Text: Prov 22:8-9 ESV 8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. 9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. -Prov 22:8-9 ESV HAVE A BOUNTIFUL EYE Those who take advantage of others by denying them justice will eventually pay a price. Nobody can rebel against God without reaping a harvest of judgment. Paul says in Gal 6...

Text: Prov 22:7 ESV 7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. -Prov 22:7 ESV THE RICH RULES OVER THE POOR Definitely in this proverb, the statement that the rich rules over the poor is expanded in the second statement. In this case, Solomon notes that when someone takes a loan, the lender "rules" over them, much as a master would over a slave. Other pro...

God’s Word for Today 10 Apr, 2025 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Prov 22:5,6 ESV TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO The “paths” in the book of Proverbs is a metaphor for the choices a person makes in life (see Prov 1:15–16; Psalm 11...

God’s Word for Today 9 Apr, 2025 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. -Prov 22:4 ESV BE HUMBLE AND FEAR THE LORD Proverbs are not absolute statements that guarantee results. For example, a doctor might say, "Eat healthy food and you will live longer," and the patient knows this will not make them immune to all diseases or accidents. In other words, poverty, di...

Text: Proverbs 22:3 (ESV)   3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.   BE PRUDENT   Prudence is sometimes rendered as "shrewdness." Though shrewdness carries negative implications today. Our colloquial word for this is ‘street smart.’ In a good sense, he is a person who thinks about things and makes a beneficial choice accordingly. He is a man...

Text: Proverbs 22:2 (ESV)   2 The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the Maker of them all.   THE LORD IS OUR MAKER   How does God value people? Is it by their wealth? Definitely not! In the ancient world and even today, people often judge another's worth by their wealth. Thus, “the poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. (Prov 14:20).   All people are c...

Text: Prov 22:1 ESV 1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. -Prov 22:1 ESV CHOOSE TO HAVE A GOOD NAME Today, when given the choice between a good reputation and a million dollars, what do people prefer more? It is money, isn’t it? However, Solomon expresses that it's better to be known for our integrity and morality than to be wealthy an...

Text: Prov 21:30-31 ESV 30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. 31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. -Prov 21:30-31 ESV VICTORY BELONGS TO THE LORD No human effort could possibly undo God's intended purposes. The Lord has sovereign control of history. Man may try but he will fail. No power can trick Him, overcome...

God’s Word for Today 3 Apr, 2025 A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways. -Prov 21:29 ESV BE NOT ARROGANT God condemns the arrogant for they are unwilling to learn. The "bold face" here is a description of someone ignoring advice or correction, acting as if they are still right (Prov 21:24). It can also imply someone using deceits and rants to convince other peo...

God’s Word for Today 2 Apr, 2025 A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. -Prov 21:28 ESV LIARS WILL PERISH Liars will perish. “No lie will prevail forever. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Prov 12:19). There are consequences such as criminal charges, social outrage, or even vengeance from those they hurt. “A false witness wil...

Text: Proverbs 21:27 (ESV)   27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent.   THE SACRIFICE OF THE WICKED IS DETESTABLE   Scripture often reminds us that God judges more than mere actions. Every act is inspired by attitudes, thoughts, and motives, which matter just as much to the Lord (Mat 5:21–22, 27–28). Here, the Bible notes that when the &qu...

Text: Proverbs 21:25-26 (ESV)   25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. 26 All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.   THE UNMET CRAVING OF THE SLUGGARD   There is a big difference between those who "won’t work" versus those who "cannot" work due to physical or mental disability and illness. The latter str...

Text: Prov 21:23-24 ESV 23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. 24 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. -Prov 21:23-24 ESV LESS TALK, LESS TROUBLE There is great danger of unrestrained speech. Some people talk too much, to their own detriment. If Solomon recognized this in an era without internet, how much more today. In a...

Text: Prov 21:22 ESV 22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.. -Prov 21:22 ESV WISDOM IS STRENGTH Wisdom is the key to success in life.(Prov 3:1–8; 16:20). Here, Solomon poetically depicts wisdom enabling a man to climb the walls of a fortified town and bring down its defenses. Wisdom provides strength and security which can overcome any physi...

God’s Word for Today 26 Mar, 2025 19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. 20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. -Prov 21:19.,20 ESV THE WISE STEWARD The harsh conditions of a desert are preferable to the harsher conditions in such a home wherein the wife is quarrelsome. This is a repeat of v.9. Solomon o...

Text: Proverbs 21:17-18 (ESV)   17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. 18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.   THE PERIL OF LOVING PLEASURE   Living for pleasure causes a person to become destitute.[see Prov 10:1] The modern world, it is easier for people to be lost in mindless entertainment. Many individual...

God’s Word for Today 27 Mar, 2025 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. -Prov 21:21 ESV PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND KINDNESS A life marked by virtues such as kindness and morality tends to result in longer life, spiritual growth, and honor. Of course, this is not an absolute rule, since good people can suffer unfair treatment in this life. Generally, wha...

Text: Proverbs 21:15,16 (ESV)   15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. 16 One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.   TRUE JUSTICE & FREEDOM   Where is true justice based? True "justice" is that which corresponds to God's will and His standards, is it not? (Prov 1:1–7; 21:3). When truth and goodness a...

Text: Prov 21:13-14 ESV 13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. 14 A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe, strong wrath. -Prov 21:13-14 ESV GIFT MAY AVERT ANGER "The Righteous One," would ruin those who acted wickedly. [V.12] And, to ignore to help those who are really in need is a sin (Prov 14:31; 17:5; 19:17). Similarly,...

God’s Word for Today 20 Mar, 2025 9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. -Prov 21:9 ESV THE NEED OF HARMONY Here, Solomon points out the stress and misery caused by an argumentative, negative wife. This proverb is repeated in Proverbs 25:24 and is stated exactly the same. “A wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.” (Prov 19:13b...

God’s Word for Today 19 Mar, 2025 7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. 8 The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. -Prov 21:7-8 ESV THE CONDUCT OF THE PURE IS UPRIGHT Wickedness always backfires. Those who persist in sin are likely to be destroyed by their own crimes. “Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is...

Text: Proverbs 21:5-6 (ESV)   5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.   THE REWARD OF DILIGENCE   Diligent work is rewarded in contrast to last-minute decisions and sloppy choices. Those who think before they act, and who think well, tend to see bett...

Text: Proverbs 21:2-4 (ESV)   2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.   THE LORD WEIGHS THE HEART   No heart is beyond God’s sovereign control. [v.1] Why? He knows the smallest details of our inner thoughts. A pers...