27:2 - Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
27:5 - Better is open rebuke than hidden love. - Proper rebuke saves. hidden love lets someone go to destruction because we are more concerned with ourselves than we are with them. When we confront for the sake of the other person's soul we show a tremendous love. A love that would put itself in an uncomfortable spot for the sake of someone else. Sounds like a description of the Cross to me.
27:10 - Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative's house when disaster strikes you - better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away. - When my parents were killed by a drunk driver I ran to my family. There was nothing wrong with that. The problem was I never let the people I was ministering to in Bayfield minister to me. I stayed hidden with my family for a month and then decided to simply stay there. The good people of Bayfield never got a chance to minister to me and my family and it hurt them. It was wrong of me to do that. As hard is it may seem, there is tremendous truth in this passage.
27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
27:18 - Those who guard a fig tree will eat its fruit, and those who protect their masters will be honored. - The timing of this verse is really interesting to me. My wife just ordered a book on praying for your leaders. I take this verse to mean that when protect our leaders through prayer (and other ways) we benefit from it. When we do the hard work of lifting them up to god everybody, including us, benefits.
27:12b - ...but people are tested by their praise. - True. I have seen this play out many times.
27:23-27 - For elders.
28:1b - ...the righteous are as bold as a lion. - I have times when I am and times when I'm not. My boldness because of Jesus is a great witness. I need to work hard to stay bold in my asking and living so it honors Him.
28:9 - If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. - This is not taught much any more. Most places and most Christians teach that God listens to every prayer. The truth that I have found in the Bible is that God listens to the righteous and God listens to the prayer of confession from a sinner turning back to Him. God does not listen to those who do not submit to Him in relationship.
28:13 - Those who conceal their sins do not prosper, but those who confess and renounce them find mercy.
28:14 - Blessed are those who always tremble before God, but those who harden their hearts fall into trouble. - WOW! Love this verse. I see a total application to worship. If the thought of God causes us reverent fear and passionate worship we are good, but if we can sing without being affected by God than we are on our way to trouble.
28:19 - Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. - There have been times in ministry when I have chased fantasies rather than working the land and it has indeed led to spiritual poverty for individuals, the church and ministry poverty for me. Always do the work that will produce fruit. never stop to do some other "good work." If you can't disciple and... than don't do the and. If you can't share Christ regularly and... than don't do the and. If you can't grow as a follower of Jesus and... than don't do the and.
28:26 - Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
28:27a - Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,... - I am more and more convinced that this is a principle we need to keep in front of us. If we would make it our passion to love god and take care of the poor and those in real need, I believe god would continue to pour provision on us.
Love, Michael
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