[Originally
posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a daily reading update (reflection)
from each chapter of the Bible]
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟚𝟛:𝟞-𝟠
"Do not eat the bread of a
selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;
For as he thinks within himself, so
he is.
He says to you, "Eat and
drink!"
But his heart is not with you.
You will vomit up the morsel you
have eaten,
And waste your compliments."
When was the last time you
experienced this proverb? O were you that selfish man who set that table?
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟞
"For a righteous man falls
seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked will stumble in
calamity."
It does not say "the wicked
will fall but the righteous will stand" nor "the righteous will fall
sometimes and the wicked will prosper sometimes," it says the righteous
falls not twice or thrice but seven times. 7 as a symbol of completion,
meaning, he may fall, again and again, even more than the average person, but
God promises to uphold him. He shall not be utterly cast down (Ps.37:24)
Do not be surprised if the wicked
are prospering and the righteous are suffering now!
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟚𝟝:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚
"If your enemy is hungry, give
him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him
water to drink;
For you will heap burning coals on
his head,
And Yahweh will repay you."
It's a double win. First, you win
him by shaming him righteously. Second, you win the blessing of God. You win
his favor and the favor of God. And you shamed the devil! Winning by good deeds
last long while winning by strength brews up revenge. Have you ever done it? I
have!
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟟
"Like one who seizes a dog by
the ears
Is he who passes by and becomes
passionate about strife not belonging to him."
Is this not funny? 🤣
Try pulling the ears of a street
dog and see what happens? And end up in hospital with an anti-rabies injection!
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟜
"He who blesses his friend
with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be counted as a curse to
him."
Some people wake up very early.
Some people wake up a little later. If you are a very early guy, don't disturb
his sleep. Even words of blessing will sound like a curse. It has been, huh?
Like that blessing, untimely
exhortation and advice are not profitable nor appreciated. It also says
"loud voice" The way, manner what we do is also important, not just
when.
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟚𝟠:𝟠
"He who increases his wealth
by interest and usury
Gathers it for him who is gracious
to the lowly."
Be careful how you invest your
money!
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟚𝟡:𝟙
"A man who hardens his neck
after much reproof
Will suddenly be broken beyond
healing."
What a word picture! When clothes
are too dirty, mixed with dirt, they become rigid and easily torn.
A plastic bottle with water kept in
the freezer is easily broken when it got frozen!
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟛𝟘:𝟟-𝟡
"Two things I asked of You,
Do not withhold from me before I die:
Keep worthlessness and every false
word far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my
portion,
Lest I be full and deny You and
say, “Who is Yahweh?”
Or lest I be impoverished and
steal,
And profane the name of my
God."
One of the well-known passages in
the Proverbs, especially the second request. But, let's remember that's the
second request. The first request is being neglected. The first request is to
keep him away from falsehood and lying. Don't you agree with him? I do.
I don't want to be a liar. I feel
guilty (and rightly so) when I even tell a half-truth. Even when you praise
someone or something you could be lying about some facts. Every salesman is
guilty of sin the Apocrypha says @________ 😉
Also, I don't want to be lied to,
deceived, or cheated. That's why I hate shopping. I just don't like bargaining!
There's legitimate bargaining, but I think what's going on in India's market is
most probably not legitimate bargaining but fooling around.
Again, let the first request be the
first request!
ℙℝ𝕆𝕍𝔼ℝ𝔹𝕊
𝟛𝟙:𝟚
"What, O my son?
And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?"
A very genuine, serious, and
passionate word of counsel from a mother. Many times, we remember Proverbs 31
for the excellent wife, which is described in v10-31. What about looking at
v1-9.
I would say, be a disciplined man
of v1-9 to get an excellent wife. If you want a smart woman, be yourself smart.
If you want a godly woman, you, yourself, have to be godly.
The Rongmei proverb "Jouki
kangmei nruai tha mei puan e" itself reflects the exploitativeness of
a person. So don't even think of it. So, if you want an excellent woman of
Proverbs 31:10-31, might I suggest you be a disciplined man of Proverbs 31:1-9.
His mother was dead serious. He
must not run after girls (a womanizer) but be pure and committed. He must be
sensible, sober, and self-controlled. Wine takes away one's sense. He must be
righteous in his practice, well appreciated by all sorts of people, and stand
up for others.
And ladies, watch out for such men!
Don't be a gold digger!