Proverbs 30:28

The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

Spiders are very small creatures of God, but they are very wise (30:24). Here is the fourth of the small things that provide object lessons for us. Agur will teach us the wisdom of the spider (30:1). Instead of fearing or despising them, let us learn the lesson.

Are you too proud to learn from this small creature, which you can crush and destroy so easily? “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning” (1:5). Are our hands less capable than a spider’s? Are palaces more closed to us than spiders? Consider it, reader.

Many people think spiders are dangerously poisonous and likely to attack at any time. This is not true. The only dangerous spiders in our part of the world are the brown recluse spider and the black widow spider. The brown recluse is not common, especially in places of human activity; and the black widow rarely bites, and not without provocation. For the most part, spiders are beneficial, eating insects and other spiders!

Spiders are invertebrates – they do not have a backbone or spinal column. They are also arthropods – they have a skeleton on the outside of their body, and their legs are jointed.

Spiders have two body parts – a head and an abdomen. They have eight eyes in their head; and they have four pairs of legs on their abdomen, which is larger than the head.

Spiders are mostly known for their intricate webs to catch insects. The webs are made of fine silken threads produced by “spinnerets” on their abdomen. The silk is secreted in liquid form, which hardens when exposed to the air. Wipe a web away today, and there will be one there tomorrow! Some species spin parachutes to travel great distances! The ingenious design, pattern, and structure of webs reveal incredible intelligence from God!

Wise Agur, by the inspiration of our Creator, wants us to know two things about spiders. They take hold with their hands (all eight of them), and they are in kings’ palaces. Even though great pains are taken to keep them out of palaces, they are still found there! And from these two observations we may learn a lesson to teach us God’s wisdom for success. Faithful and diligent perseverance in a task, even against much opposition and difficulty, will bring significant reward!

When you have a job to do, use your hands and do it! When it is a repetitious job, keep using your hands. Don’t stop! Take the next object in your hand and perform the necessary operation. Do not fold your arms or put your hands in your pockets, like the sluggard (6:10; 19:24; 24:33; 26:15; Eccl 4:5). Use them! See the comments on 19:24.

Men do not assist spiders at all, and they do most everything to hinder their work and lives. Spiders are discriminated against constantly, and they have every reason to be discouraged. But they do not complain, sue, or quit! They simply keep taking hold with their hands, and they do not give up because of trouble!

The way a woman uses her hands reveals her character. A virtuous woman’s hands are seldom still, because there are so many things to be done with them (31:13,19-20). You can find these women by their well-dressed children, clean and organized homes, and excellent meals. And good women with diligent hands should be rewarded (31:16,31)!

If you use your hands diligently, you also will end up in kings’ palaces, for kings and great men want diligent persons working for them (22:29). Slack or lazy hands lead to poverty; but diligent hands lead to riches (10:4; 12:14,24; 14:1; 21:25; 26:6; Eccl 10:18).

Can you match the spider today, dear reader? What task do you have before you? Take hold of it! “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Eccl 9:10)!

Proverbs 29:23

A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Are you going up or down in life? Are you more a prince or a prisoner? Are you honored or hardly known? Every person wants a successful life, and this simple proverb tells you how. One of the greatest factors is your attitude about yourself. If you are arrogant and haughty, you are going down! If you are modest and meek, you are going up!

King Solomon warned often against pride, and he had reasons to be conceited. He had the most wisdom, wealth, and power; and he was attractive! But he blasted pride as an evil that destroys men’s lives. He warned his son and citizens. The many repetitions in a book of wisdom declare loudly – this matter is very important and tends to be overlooked!

Consider! “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom” (11:2). “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility” (18:12). “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him” (26:12).

How will pride take you down and humility bring you honor? Men hate arrogance, and they love graciousness (9:6-9; 11:2; 14:3; 21:24; 22:10-11). If you are conceited and haughty, you will not grow in favor with men; they will do what they can to cut you off from friendships and opportunities. If you are meek, modest, and submissive, men will appreciate and enjoy your spirit and do what they can to include and help you.

How will pride take you down and humility bring you honor? Conceit and haughtiness lead to bad decisions, because you are too arrogant to hear others, and you are too confident to examine your own ideas (11:2; 12:15; 14:16; 16:25; 22:3; 26:12,16; 29:20). You are doomed! A humble man, who trusts the Lord, doubts his opinions and is eager to hear the judgment of others (3:5-7; 6:6; 11:14; 12:15; 15:32; 19:20). He will prosper!

How will pride take you down and humility bring you honor? If the first two results of pride do not bring you down (and they will eventually), the final result most surely will. God hates pride and the proud, and it does not matter how much effort they make to protect themselves – He will destroy them (3:34; 6:16-17; 15:25; 16:2,5; 21:2; Job 40:9-14; Dan 4:37). But God shall bless and exalt the humble in spirit (3:34; Is 57:15; 66:2).

Contrary to Solomon’s inspired wisdom, the world now considers pride a virtue and defends conceit. From athletes to actresses to politicians, bloated egos and haughty words are the norm. Children are taught self-esteem and self-love until they are convinced the

Proverbs 28:25

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

Pride causes fighting, but faith brings prosperity. Here are two rules of wisdom – one saves us from conflicts and disagreements, and the other brings blessing and success. These are opposites: proud men do not trust the LORD, and those who have faith in the LORD are not proud. You cannot be both. Are you a proud heart or a man of faith?

A man with a proud heart will always be in conflicts – with most everyone at different times. Pride will not let matters drop, for he must avenge himself. Until he feels he has got the last word or act in on a disagreement, he will continue to push, fight, and disagree. Pride will not overlook minor offences; pride will not admit error or ignorance.

Pride will not easily forgive those who seek it; pride will not easily say, “I am sorry”; pride does not want to be corrected, and it resents those who make an attempt to do it. Pride resents the advantages of others, and it seeks to grab whatever honor or position is at stake. Pride does not have sympathetic appreciation for the pain of others.

When a person has pride in their heart, they will not have peaceful relationships with others. A proud husband will not forgive his wife for her minor failures. A proud wife will not submit and obey the husband she chose to be her leader. Proud children will not honor and obey parents in rules that encroach on their freedom or pleasure. Proud employees resent difficult assignments; proud church members resent pastoral rebukes.

Humility can end any conflict by giving in and seeking peace. When a person is at peace with God and themselves, they can overlook the offences of others, they can forgive easily, and they can take correction. They know they are not important, so they do not continue fighting. Submitting and seeking peace is more important than winning the day.

There is another way to live than by pride. Wise men, godly men, put their trust in the LORD. They do not have to protect themselves – the LORD will protect them. They do not have to resent correction, oppose others, and fight to get ahead. The LORD rewards their faith by blessing them by His power. The humble man who trusts the LORD will always outstrip the proud man who puts his confidence in himself. Always!

Fat is good, when it means God’s blessings of peace and prosperity. And the man who believes God will take care of him, without any fighting on his part, will become fat. He will have the blessing and protection of the LORD on his side. He will enjoy peace and safety, while the LORD rewards him for laying down his pride and trusting Him alone.

Proverbs 27:12

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Do you believe most of what you hear or read? Are you decisive and opinionated about choices? Wise men are cautious, critical, pessimistic, and skeptical about unproven assertions or situations. They do not believe all they hear or read, and they do not make decisions without carefully analyzing possible danger (14:15). Only foolish simpletons naively view the future and rush forward optimistically. And they get punished for it.

Prudence is the power of discernment. It is the discretion or practical wisdom to detect problems or dangers in any matter and avoid them by carefully altering actions to find the most profitable course. Obviously, prudent men move more slowly than simple fools, because they know that hasty or heady decisions are risky (19:2; 21:5; 25:8; II Tim 3:4). This rule for wise living is so important that Solomon repeated it for you (22:3).

A prudent man – one with cautious discretion – looks ahead and sees fallacies or risks. He hides himself from their danger by altering his beliefs or his actions. He will never be caught believing lies or walking into a trap. On the other hand, simpletons blithely let life happen to them. They do not question what they believe or what they are doing. They keep going forward and get clobbered repeatedly by dangers they overlooked.

Of course, your foolish spirit wants to do what it wants to do, and it wants to do it now! Foolish companions and peer pressure further encourage this insane approach to life. It is prudence – a component of wisdom – that slows men down to consider what they are doing. Only wise men look at every angle in a complete circle – circumspection – before making decisions (Eph 5:15-17). Fools rush ahead in blind zeal and stupid passion.

Wise men will not believe anything or do anything, until they prove God’s truth or will in the matter. The Bereans were commended for testing even Paul’s preaching, and the Thessalonians were commanded to do it (Acts 17:11; I Thess 5:21). It is fools that believe the evening news, Ben Spock’s childcare hallucinations, testimonials of any kind, think tanks of the left and the right, or any man because he calls himself a reverend or a doctor!

The best way to become prudent is to learn the Bible (Ps 19:7-11; 119:98-100; II Tim 3:16-17). It contains the truth of God and His will for successful living. The book of Proverbs is Solomon’s inspired rules for a prosperous life. Without God’s truth and precepts, you will be subject to the folly of feelings and the vain ideas of men. Without instruction from God’s ministers, you will be tossed to and fro by crafty deceivers (Eph 4:14). You need to be in a Bible-preaching church to grow in prudence and wisdom. Are you prudent to save some of all income, so future financial difficulties can be avoided (30:25)? Do you insure major assets against catastrophic loss, so you cannot be wiped out (6:1-5)? Are you very cautious about marriage, either your own or your children’s, to prudently avoid the odious woman (30:21-23)? Have you looked ahead to see if your job, profession, or business will be needed in the future (27:23-24)?

Have you acquired a transferable skill, or are you unskilled and subject to layoffs? Do you invest in high-yield opportunities, or do you question deals that sound too good to be true? Have you been reading some new version of the Bible without examining its origin and text? Do you prove everything you hear at church, or do you assume it to be right? Have you vigorously examined the training of your children to maximize its potential?

Did you fall for Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” or did you recognize it as an animated crucifix for Catholicism? Are you a purpose-driven Christian, or do you see the horrible compromise of seeker sensitive Rick Warren (II Tim 4:3-4)? Have you read the “Left Behind” novels, or do you know the antichrist comes before Christ’s return (II Thess 2:3)? Do you endorse Jim Dobson’s permissive child training, or do you stick with the old paths of inspired Scripture (19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Jer 6:16)?

The book of Proverbs was inspired by God and written by Solomon to teach you wisdom. The rule of wisdom in this proverb is to be prudently cautious about everything you believe and do, lest you believe a lie or expose yourself to danger. Only fools press forward without critical and skeptical analysis. The Lord is offering safety from frauds and risk, if you will slow down and prove all things (I Thess 5:21). If you continue to let life happen to you without cautious inspection, you will be repeatedly punished.

The greatest danger you will ever face is the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, when He will examine everything you have done in this life (Eccl 12:13-14; Rom 14:10-12; II Cor 5:10-11; Heb 9:27). It is high time you woke out of your sleep and began living a holy life to hide from that day (Rom 13:11-14; Eph 5:3-7). Only a wicked fool eats, drinks, and makes merry without regard for the Day of Judgment that is fast approaching. Those that are obsessed with the foolish pleasures of this life will soon be punished for eternity.

Servant & Apostle

2 Peter 1:1-2 says: (KJV) ¹Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:  ²Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 

All too often we skip over the introductory verses of greeting in a Bible book, but many times these verses contain rich information. Such is the case in our Scripture for today.

We first notice the strange paradox in Peter’s identification of himself. He is both the authoritative “apostle,” the officially commissioned ambassador of Jesus Christ, as well as His “servant,” or bond-slave. Historically, we know that Peter was one of the inner circle of disciples in whom Christ placed great responsibility, but he was also the one who denied Christ at His trial. Christ had bought him with His blood as a slave would be bought, forgiven him much, and had sent him out on a life-lone mission.

The letter is written to those “that have obtained like precious faith,’” i.e., the same kind of precious faith possessed by the apostles, implying equal standing and privilege before God, obtained through His righeousness.

Peter uses two descriptive names for Christ, calling Him both “God and our Savior,” referring to His dual divine/human nature and role. Peter’s prayer for us (possessors of like precious faith) is moving. He desires the sanctifying and sustaining grace of God for us, the peace of God which brings joy even in the face of adversity, and that both would be multiplied. These traits would come “through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our Lord.” Much of the rest ot the book deals with false teachers and false knowledge, but Peter would have us grow into “full knowledge” (literal translation; see also vv. 3,8) of God, through the walk of grace and peace.

January 25

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.—John 13:17.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.—James 4:17.

MATTHEW ARNOLD.

Hurt not your conscience with any known sin.

S. RUTHERFORD.

Deep-rooted customs, though wrong, are not easily altered; but it is the duty of all to be firm in that which they certainly know is right for them.

JOHN WOOLMAN.

He often acts unjustly who does not do a certain thing; not only he who does a certain thing.

MARCUS ANTONINUS.

Every duty we omit obscures some truth we should have known.

JOHN RUSKIN.

—Daily Strength for Daily Needs

Proverbs 24:16

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

God has not promised a bed of roses for just men. In fact, to make a just man perfect, the good Lord often brings adversity into his life. When the wicked see all the problems, they presume he is down for the count; they gloat in their apparent success to devour him. But the Lord will raise up the just man again, and He will put down the wicked man, forever.

The context is important. Solomon defied wicked men to plan evil against the righteous. He said, “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place” (24:15). It is the ancient conflict between the wicked and the righteous. See the comments on 29:10. He plainly tells the wicked not even to think about doing anything to disturb the peace of just men. And our proverb gives the fearful reason why!

Though a just man may have afflictions in his life, the Lord will deliver him out of them all (Job 5:17-27; Ps 34:19). The righteous cry unto the Lord in their troubles, and He delivers them out of every one (Ps 34:6,17). He holds them by the hand, and He lifts them up from their troubles (Ps 37:24). But our proverb’s ellipsis – the missing words – declare that the wicked shall fall into mischief … and not be delivered or helped at all!

Joseph’s wicked brothers lay wait against him. They spoiled his rest by selling him as a slave into Egypt. They gloated in their triumph over him. They thought they had gotten rid of him forever. But the blessed Lord was rapidly raising him up again to the throne of Egypt, and they would bow before him in fear for their lives in just a few years! Glory!

Satan lay wait against Job. He begged God for permission to disturb his peaceful life. And God gave him permission. Satan successively took Job’s assets, income, real estate holdings, family, and then his health. But the Lord still held Job’s hand, and He sent Elihu to correct his wrong thinking. The Lord raised him up again and gave him double!

Poor Hannah had no children. Her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, gloated over her and persecuted her for a barren womb. This wicked woman tormented Hannah and caused her to fret. It appeared Hannah was down for good. But the Lord raised her up again and gave her Samuel – the great judge and prophet ofIsrael … and five other children as well!

David sinned horribly! He alone was responsible! His enemies lay wait against him, even his sons Absalom and Adonijah. Shimei cursed him publicly for being a bloody man. But the Lord forgave David, raised him up again, and destroyed all his enemies without any mercy. He blessed David to oversee the coronation of Solomon and peace on Israel Daniel’s enemies lay wait against him. They searched for any dirt they could find in his professional and personal conduct: they found none. They seduced Darius to make a law against Daniel’s religion. Daniel broke the law and was cast to the lions. They celebrated and gloated. But God raised him up again and threw them down in horrific destruction.

Ah, Christian reader! Is there any reason for you to fret or worry about your present circumstances? Do you know of enemies laying wait against you? Possibly gloating over your troubles? If you are walking uprightly, the blessed Lord will deliver you from your afflictions and troubles as surely as he delivered the several examples you just read about.

David was the man after God’s own heart – the figure of the Lord Jesus Christ; but he had more adversity and setbacks – fell more times – than any other man in the Old Testament. Yet the Lord raised him up again and again, many more times than seven! You may read of his great confidence in the Lord (Ps 3:1-8; 27:1-14; 46:1-11; 118:1-18).

Paul was the greatest apostle of Christ, but had more tribulations and persecutions – fell more times – than any other man in the New Testament. But God raised him up again, even from the dead (Acts 14:19-22)! Yet he was never in distress or despair (II Cor 4:8-9). He had a list of sufferings that are difficult even to read, but he rejoiced in them all (II Cor 11:23 – 12:10)! Read of his great confidence in God (II Tim 4:16-18; Heb 13:5-6)!

Satan, the Jews, the Romans, Herod, and Pilate lay wait against our blessed Lord. They condemned him at law. They crucified Him. They confirmed His death by a centurion. They watched Him get buried. They posted a guard at His tomb. It appeared He had fallen to never recover. They celebrated and gloated together at ridding themselves of this Man, Who had exposed their hypocrisy and destroyed their religious and political sham.

But the blessed God “raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph 1:20-21). Satan and his angels are not relishing at all their appointed day of torment!

The Jews were utterly destroyed by the Romans in 70AD, and the Romans were overrun by the Goths in 476AD. Herod and Pilate’s bodies are rotting in the earth, and their souls are suffering in hell. They have fallen into horrific and permanent mischief, and there is no deliverance! And they shall soon bow their knees and confess that Jesus is Lord of all!

Let the wicked beware! There is hell to pay for messing with the righteous! Though the just man may fall from time to time, the High King of Heaven will raise him up again!

Let the righteous rejoice! There is no reason to fret or worry, even when you have fallen to adversity or sin. Put your trust in the Lord, for He will lift you up in due time!

Proverbs 23:19

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

Here is the cry of a wise and loving father to his son. Here is the cry of a wise and loving God to His children. There are three steps to success and prosperity that please natural fathers and the Father in heaven. You must hear the instruction of truth and knowledge; you must choose that wisdom as your own; and you must direct your affections and choices accordingly. If you never had such an earthly father, you do have a heavenly!

You must first hear truth and wisdom. You arrived in life foolish, helpless, ignorant, irresponsible, and rebellious. You needed an incredible amount of instruction to learn the simplest facts and perform the most elementary functions. Your potential in life was and is totally dependent on the amount of instruction available to you. Most men remain very ignorant of basic knowledge and understanding. They had or have no teachers.

However, if you are reading this proverb and commentary, then God has given you teachers before this moment and one at this moment. Your future is in the balance. What will you do with the instruction? Will you skim these words in a few seconds and forget them? Or will you consider them? The proverb requests that you hear what is said. God has not left you without teachers, for He has sent preachers to teach you wisdom, just as He promised (Ps 68:11,18; Eccl 12:9-11; Jer 3:15; Eph 4:8-15; Rom 10:13-17).

But will you hear them? Will you read with attention and respect for the instruction? It is not in your nature to do so. You believe you are smarter than your teachers. You esteem your opinions above those of others. You do not like to be corrected. Solomon warned in other places that men foolishly presume they are right and reject the instruction of their teachers to their own ruin (16:2,25; 21:2; 26:12). Sons! Listen to your father and Father!

There are many voices to distract you. CNN, MTV, NBC, BBC, NEA, and others want to be heard – vain and profane babblings. The Internet confirms the information explosion of the information generation, but there is no truth (II Tim 3:6-7). Compromising and worldly Christians have heaped up teachers to scratch the lusts of your itching ears (II Tim 4:3-4). But there is only one source for pure truth and wisdom – the inspired words of God in the Bible (II Tim 3:14-17; 4:1-2). You must seek them and hear them!

You must then accept instruction. Knowledge must enter your mind and soul, and it does this when you receive what is spoken and adopt it as your own (2:10; 24:14; Acts 17:11). Most love to talk about their foolish thoughts rather than hear the words of wisdom (18:1-2). They would rather teach than be taught. They have a burden in their lips, when it should be in their ears! Though they have two ears, their one mouth dominates! When you have adopted wise counsel and instruction as your own, when you have committed yourself to the knowledge you were given through your ears, you will be wise. You have a mind, soul, and spirit that understand and know the truth of the universe, your role in it, and what you ought to do in most situations. You have acquired prudence and understanding, but you have not yet reached your objective.

You must direct your heart – your affections, emotions, and preferences – to the things of truth and wisdom. Love is not a power outside your mind or body that influences you. Cupid shooting arrows of desire into your heart is both pagan and stupid; such desires are only the lusts of fools. True love is the intention of your heart for some thing, and your mind must direct your love to what is wise and good, as loving God your Father.

God has defined the way you should live in the Bible (Ps 119:128). He has described the extreme importance of heaven and things above (Eccl 12:13-14; II Cor 4:18). Wisdom in your mind must direct your heart to love God, heaven, and the way He has chosen for you (Col 3:2; Ps 119:36,112; Rom 12:1-2; I John 2:15; Jude 1:21). This is the true God, the true religion, and true wisdom. And it all begins with hearing! What will you do?

Find yourself a teacher who will give you the certain words of truth, by which you can acquire wisdom (22:17-21; I Pet 2:1-3). Hear him! Accept and adopt as your own the wisdom he gives you from God’s word! Then direct your affections and preferences away from foolishness and this world and toward godliness and heaven. You will please your Father and avoid all the things ready to ruin you outside His way (23:15-18,20-35).

Proverbs 22:19

That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Are you thankful for words? The smallest part of language that conveys meaning? The certain words of truth, bringing wisdom and knowledge, are necessary to know and believe God. They communicate the excellent things He has prepared for His elect (I Cor 2:1-16). God had taught Solomon the importance of words, so he reminded his readers to consider the great gift he gave them – the certain words of truth (22:17-21).

Specific words are also necessary to properly answer questions (22:17-21). Christians are to give a reasonable answer for their hope in God to those who ask, and a reason requires an intelligent and logical use of words (I Pet 3:15; I Sam 12:7; Is 41:21; Acts 24:25). Luke wrote two treatises of many words to a noble Greek man named Theophilus to prove the facts about Jesus Christ and his apostles (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-4).

God chose to communicate to His elect children by words. He could have created music videos, an elaborate picture book with heartwarming scenes, warm and fuzzy feelings by dramatizations, chanting in Arabic, mumbling in Hindi, Charismatic tongues, or a special food to convey truth. But He chose the teaching of His inspired words (Deut 4:1-19; 6:4-9; 8:3; 11:18-21; 12:28-32; 17:18-20; 18:18-19; 27:1-3,8,26; 28:14; 29:19-20,29).

The Bible is the words of God, preserved nearly 4000 years (Ps 12:6-7; Is 30:8;Matt 5:18; I Cor 2:13; 14:19; I Tim 4:6; 6:3; II Tim 1:13). Each word is necessary for man to live the life of faith (Deut 8:3; Luke 4:4). Jesus and Paul argued from single words (Matt 22:32,43; John 8:58; 10:35; Gal 3:16; 4:9; Heb8:13). God will judge the publishers and readers of modern versions that alter, delete, and add words (Pr 30:5-6; Rev 22:18-19).

Bible preaching is plainly described in the Bible, and it is nothing like the feel-good, rah-rah pep talks of seeker sensitive pastors (Neh 8:8). There are three steps: read the words, explain the words, and apply the words. You do not need intermittent chords from the organ, flannel graph figures on a board, an interpretive dance, a WWJD bracelet, or a chalk drawing. Preach the word, Paul charged (II Tim 4:1-2)! How? By preaching words!

God’s elect love such preaching! The Holy Spirit praised the Bereans for being nobler than the Thessalonians. Why? Because they received such preaching with a ready mind (Acts 17:11)! Jesus told His apostles they were blessed for hearing His words (Matt 13:16-17). So they in turn taught the words of truth to others (Acts 5:20; 10:22; 13:42; 26:25). Are you thankful for sound Bible preaching of words? Not many are (II Tim 4:3-4)! It is a good day and a great blessing when the words of truth are made known to you.

Proverbs 21:3

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Christian, do you want wisdom of pure gold? Learn this proverb, and don’t forget it.

You will have easy answers for situations that others think are impossibly hard. You will

find mercy and liberty for your own soul and those of others. Thank you, Lord.

Pharisees cannot grasp this principle, so Jesus used it to close their mouths more than

once (Matt 9:13; 12:7). Though they had read it, memorized it, counted its letters,

strapped it to their foreheads, and kissed its ink marks on scrolls (Matt 23:5; John 5:39;

Rom 2:17), they never came close to learning the spirit of this rule from the heart of God.

“Justice and judgment” are doing what is right toward God and men. Toward God, it is a

pure heart without hypocrisy or sin (I Sam 15:22-23; Ps 51:16-17). Toward men, it is

being fair, merciful, equitable, and kind (Ex 18:21-22; Deut 1:16-17; 16:18-19; II Sam

8:15; 15:4; Ps 82:1-4; Eccl 5:8; Is 59:4,14; Jer 22:15-16; Ezek 45:9; John 7:24). It is

keeping the two great commandments, which are greater than any sacrifice (Mark 12:33).

“Sacrifice” is ceremonial religion, even if Jehovah gave the ceremonies. It is obeying the

letter of God’s worship while ignoring its spirit or personal mercy. It demands Sabbath

obedience to man’s harm, though the Sabbath was given to rest and help man (Ex 23:12).

This outward religion is easier than doing “justice and judgment” with a pure heart.

And here is the wisdom: doing what is merciful, good, and right to others pleases God

more than perfectly keeping His external worship and commandments. A pure heart and

sincere love and duty to others is more important than details of formal worship. We

reject the heresy that attending Mass will cover your soul regardless of how you live.

We do not minimize formal worship by this rule, as Solomon was the grandest example

in all the Bible of sacrifice (I Kings 3:4; 8:64-66; II Chron 7:5). True worshippers will do

both (Matt 23:23). But when we face a conflict, we choose the morally right thing to do

by mercy and compassion; we never exalt ceremony or letter over mercy and spirit. We

never make these choices by presumption or whim, but only when facing a contradiction.

Our proverb is not the only voice for this rule in the Old Testament. It is found in other

places as well (Is 1:10-17; Mic 6:6-8). The one quoted by our Lord is from Hosea 6:6,

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more

than burnt offerings.

Let us illustrate the rule with Bible examples. Jesus blasted the Jews for thinking more

highly of circumcision and the Sabbath than healing a man (John 7:21-24; 5:1-16). It is

true “justice and judgment” to heal a man, even if it broke the Sabbath law! To leave the

man impotent, even for one more day, to keep the Sabbath, was wicked “sacrifice.”

These unmerciful devils would cut a man (circumcision) on the Sabbath, but they would

not allow Jesus to heal a man on the Sabbath after lying impotent on a bed for 38 years!

If you think such wicked and hateful men are gone, you are wrong. They still exist.

They have little minds, and even smaller hearts. You would rather meet a bear robbed of

her whelps than one of these self-righteous, arrogant fools. Their ugly hearts are revealed

when repentant sinners are celebrated or mercy is sought for anyone but themselves. We

can rejoice in the way in which our Lord despised, ridiculed, ignored, and defeated them.

When David was hungry, he ate shewbread that was lawful only for priests to eat (I Sam

21:1-6). And Jesus absolutely justified him for doing so (Matt 12:3-4). How did David

have the confidence to eat the priests’ bread? Surely he remembered what happened to

Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1-2), Moses (Num 20:7-13), and Saul (I Sam 13:8-14). How

did David know God accepted his breaking of the law for hunger? By this proverb!

When our Lord’s disciples picked some corn and ate it on the Sabbath Day, the Pharisees

condemned them for breaking the law (Matt 12:1-2). But Jesus reminded these religious

legalists about David’s case and the priests (Matt 12:3-5). Then He wisely applied this

principle of mercy to totally exonerate His disciples, and He rebuked the Pharisees for

being so ignorant of their own Scriptures (Matt 12:3,5,7).

Pharisees would easily exalt Corban – their faith-promise gift of assets to the temple –

over taking care of their parents in need (Matt 15:3-6; Mark 7:9-13). They made

“sacrifice” more important doing “justice and judgment” to their very own parents!

Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath, who had been bowed together with a spirit of

infirmity 18 years. The ruler of the synagogue rebuked Him before the people and said

healing should take place on the other days of the week! Jesus called him a hypocrite,

told everyone present he would help his ox on the Sabbath, and then justified breaking

the Sabbath for the woman’s sake (Luke 13:10-17). The result? His enemies were

ashamed, and the people rejoiced at His glorious works of mercy!

When Naaman returned to Syria after being cleansed of leprosy, his duties included

escorting the king to pagan worship. The custom required him to bow with his master

before the pagan idol Rimmon. What advice did Elisha give to this conscientious

believer in Jehovah, who would have to engage in pagan idolatry as part of his job (II

Kings 5:18-19)? Go in peace! Don’t worry about it! Pharisees would have turned blue

and choked to death on such merciful wisdom, because they never learned our proverb.

How can we apply it? Divorce and remarriage is likely the hardest issue facing

Christians today. If Scripture expressly allows only fornication and desertion as grounds

for divorce and remarriage (Matt 5:32; 19:9; I Cor 7:12-16,27-28), then we have an

opportunity to practice our principle. There will be cases short of adultery or desertion,

but similar or worse in effect, where divorce is justified by this rule alone. Are you timid

to apply this rule by faith? Not if you are like the man after God’s own heart! Shake free

from the unmerciful bondage of Pharisaism and find the liberty of Jesus Christ!

If you are weak in faith and need extra courage, our Blessed Lord gave further support to

such applications of mercy, when He said in the very same context as David’s example,

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:23-28). And we may

as readily conclude, marriage was made for man, not man for marriage. Why would we

force a marriage to stay together, when the purpose for it had been irreparably destroyed?

The only reason we would do so is to exalt “sacrifice” over “justice and judgment,”

which is the violation of our proverb and shows the Pharisee lurking in our hearts.

Can we apply it further? If a man’s business, health, or vacation calls him away from

assemblies, we accept this priority of mercy by our proverb, even though we emphasize

attendance more than most (Heb 10:25). We do not condemn him for being less of a

Christian; we encourage him for being a merciful wise man! And we do not object to this

principle being applied personally to one’s self (11:17).

We do not use this proverb to flagrantly break God’s commandments. For we know what

happened to the man who picked up sticks on the Sabbath (Num 15:30-36); we esteem all

God’s precepts to be right (Ps 119:128); and we know what Jesus taught about those

breaking the least commandments of the law (Matt 5:19). But we are not timid to

override ceremony and external laws to show love and personal mercy in painful

situations.

Jesus taught mercy as never before seen in Israel. He taught love of enemies (Matt 5:43-

48), joy over repenting sinners (Luke 15:1-32), and the superabundant blessing of mercy

to those who show it (Luke 6:37-38). But the rule had been given in our proverb here