Day 18, Proverbs Chapter 18

[musicalpilgrim]

This comes to mind as well. May God grant us wisdom, DISCERNMENT, and clarity to recognize those very tricky wolves in sheep's clothing, and may we never have or develop or turn a "blind eye" to them or get caught up in defending these wolves in sheep's clothing, amen?

love the picture! sly old wolf....

 

[brinny]

Proverbs 18:
Deception.

love the picture! sly old wolf....

Yes, deceptiveness, and even coming as an "angel of light" is Satan's oldest ploy. He even loves speaking the Bible, but doesn't believe a word of it. They're just "empty words" coming from that ol' snake. He's just an ol' slitherin' ssssssssssnake in the grass, God's and ours oldest enemy, amen?

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Yes, deceptiveness, and even coming as an "angel of light" is Satan's oldest ploy. He even loves speaking the Bible, but doesn't believe a word of it. They're just "empty words" coming from that ol' snake. He's just an ol' snake in the grass, God's and ours oldest enemy, amen?

so true...so real...

 

[brinny]

so true...so real...

Indeed. It's exactly as the Word of God says it is. And many are deceived, amen?

 

[brinny]

Proverbs 18:

Pride.
AKA: Flatterers
AKA: Smooth talkers
AKA: Frenemies

Pride. It is sometimes quite evident and visible. Sometimes not. Perhaps the most insidious form of it is the more "subtle" kind, that is known as "humble-bragging". This is perhaps the more nauseating form of "pride", because of the slyness of the attempt to "fish" for praise, accolades, and "compliments", and yes, even "flattery".

"Ad nauseam".

This is why one may so easily succumb to "flattery". It's akin to having "itching ears" for that flattery (and just lappin' it up like it's milk). It (flattery) is described in God's Word as a "weapon" of the enemy that is "treacherous" and "deadly".

"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." ~Rom 16:18

The enemy is a tricky ol' devil, ain't he? He knows man's weakness, because it is, and has been, his own Achilles Heel. It was the very sin that rose up in him as he attempted to de-throne God, and to be "as God" and to be worshiped.

The very same sin that was the fall of Adam and Eve, and thus the downfall of man. The very same sin that is the root of evil that ushered in the curse and death itself.

Pride.

It's a "killer".

Literally.

"Whoever hates, disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin." ~Pr 26:24-28

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Thank you Lord, I trust in you

 

[SeekerOfChrist94]

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

 

[brinny]

Proverbs 18:

Ignominy.
AKA "Oh the shame".

"When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach." ~Pr 18:3

"A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul." ~Pr 18:7

Ignominy = Great dishonor, shame, and/or public humiliation.

 

[brinny]

Proverbs 18:

Spouting off.

This is soooooo timely. It's a reminder of what i need to read, and hear, and adhere to. God needs to slow my roll, and i need to just sit and be quiet, and breeeeathe, and "listen" to what God has diligently been saying to and teaching me.

The "spouting off" needs to be extinguished. I know that, and God knows that. Thank God that He is so patient with me and sooooo very faithful to me in ALL of the many ways He is forging a serious and eternal change in my heart, mind, and spirit. A fer-ever n' ever change. Praise God for His inexplicable grace and mercy.

May my own "spouting off" cease.

Amen.

 

[brinny]

Proverbs 18:

Wickedness.

In the end, wickedness destroys the one who perpetuates it, as they and their name becomes a reproach and as they eventually fade into obscurity.

"When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach." ~Proverbs 18:3

Ignominy = Shameful or disgraceful action, conduct, or character.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Proverbs 18:

Spouting off.

This is soooooo timely. It's a reminder of what i need to read, and hear, and adhere to. God needs to slow my roll, and i need to just sit and be quiet, and breeeeathe, and "listen" to what God has diligently been saying to and teaching me.

The "spouting off" needs to be extinguished. I know that, and God knows that. Thank God that He is so patient with me and sooooo very faithful to me in ALL of the many ways He is forging a serious and eternal change in my heart, mind, and spirit. A fer-ever n' ever change. Praise God for His inexplicable grace and mercy.

May my own "spouting off" cease.

Amen.

....yes... I remember my mother saying to me when I was young...'have the grace to listen' ...so often I would interrupt my mom when I thought I knew what she was going to say...

 

[brinny]

....yes... I remember my mother saying to me when I was young...'have the grace to listen' ...so often I would interrupt my mom when I thought I knew what she was going to say...

i agree. Unless what you have heard clarifies from someone's own mouth that they have no problem stabbing a "friend" in the back, for the sake of evil and defending it.

Clarity is a GOOD thing, amen?

Clarity = seeing "clearly".

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them." ~Maya Angelou

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Clarity is a GOOD thing, amen?

Clarity = seeing "clearly".

...yes...with me being young it was eagerness to get a word in...

 

[brinny]

...yes...with me being young it was eagerness to get a word in...

I was speaking of adults.

 

[brinny]

Proverbs 18:
(This bears repeating.)
Pride.
AKA: Flatterers
AKA: Smooth talkers
AKA: Frenemies

Pride. It is sometimes quite evident and visible. Sometimes not. Perhaps the most insidious form of it is the more "subtle" kind, that is known as "humble-bragging". This is perhaps the more nauseating form of "pride", because of the slyness of the attempt to "fish" for praise, accolades, and "compliments", and yes, even "flattery".

"Ad nauseam".

This is why one may so easily succumb to "flattery". It's akin to having "itching ears" for that flattery (and just lappin' it up like it's milk). It (flattery) is described in God's Word as a "weapon" of the enemy that is "treacherous" and "deadly".

"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." ~Rom 16:18

The enemy is a tricky ol' devil, ain't he? He knows man's weakness, because it is, and has been, his own Achilles Heel. It was the very sin that rose up in him as he attempted to de-throne God, and to be "as God" and to be worshiped.

The very same sin that was the fall of Adam and Eve, and thus the downfall of man. The very same sin that is the root of evil that ushered in the curse and death itself.

Pride.

It's a "killer".

Literally.

"Whoever hates, disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin." ~Pr 26:24-28

 

[SWIll]

Pr 18:24
A man of many companions come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother........ESV

I always thought of this verse in human terms, but I guess this could foreshadow Christ as well. FWIW.

 

[brinny]

Pr 18:24
A man of many companions come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother........ESV

I always thought of this verse in human terms, but I guess this could foreshadow Christ as well. FWIW.

i think of it in human terms as well......in digging deeper, yes, it would apply to Christ as well.

Amen.

 

[SWIll]

Pr 18:14
"He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him." NKJV

Important, especially if you manage others. God, grant me wisdom......

 

[brinny]

Proverbs 18:

Our words.
AKA: Stop the yammering.

We DO speak life and death, and blessing and cursing, don't we? Sometimes it is better to just remain silent until God gives us the unction to speak. Because then at least we know that it is God's own Holy Spirit Who will be guiding our words, because He has already worked in our hearts and minds to speak what He would have us say.

Sometimes we should just be "still".

"in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:" ~Isa 30:15

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Pro 18:24 KJV).

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged-Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness-Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee-Thou wilt find a solace there.​

-Joseph Scriven, written 1855

Joseph Scriven knew heartache and devastation first hand. As a young man his hopes and dreams vanished on the day before his wedding when he watched in horror as the lifeless body of his beloved was pulled from the water where she had drowned. Sorrow overwhelmed him, yet in the months and years that followed, Scriven turned repeatedly to the only Friend who would never leave him. Although he battled loneliness and depression for the rest of his life, he never let go of the hand of his Savior. Scriven knew that Jesus cared and that He was acquainted with loneliness and sorrow. This man knew that he could take his grief to Jesus and find strength and peace that no one else could give. Years later Scriven took what he had learned through his pain and put it into the words of a poem that we now sing as "What A Friend We Have In Jesus."

Lord, I have had friends in the past that have led me far from Your purpose and will for my life, but I thank You that You have become my personal friend and have led me into all riches and honour and grace through You. You gave all You had in order to give me all that I have, and I thank You. Amen.