Wise Up: Proverbs 6
Proverbs 6 (NIV)
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—
and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
12 A troublemaker and a villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
20 My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
but another man’s wife preys on your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense;
whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away.
34 For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
“The Lord despises…a person who stirs up conflict in a community.”
Lord, help me to be a peacemaker. I don’t wanna be stirring up conflict when I can instead pour out peace in my home and in my church. Help me to choose my words wisely and to hold my tongue often.
I was drawn to that one too. Being a peacemaker can go against our natural man, yet the Holy Spirit helps us to hold our tongue and give grace
Sometimes the bible can be hard to understand, but not Proverbs! I love that God gives us very blunt, practical instructions that will help us live in peace and freedom.
Because this chapter spoke about things the Lord hate, I felt compelled to follow up on the first one following verse 16. Also because I didn’t know what the word “Haughty” meant : )
16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 “HAUGHTY EYES”!
So the take away for me was to be mindful not only of the tongue, but my unspoken expressions and body language I can project. Specifically
Haughty Eyes =“arrogant, disdainful and setting oneself above others”; it is often set in contrast to being humble.
What a great explanation. Humbling for sure. Thank you Tony!
Thank you Tony for clarifying this verse. It speaks to me as something I fall into when my internal sinfulness shows itself in the outside. I need to keep my “natural man” in submission to my Lord.
We should take heed of the six things the Lord hates and seven that are detestable to him! We really need to avoid the sins mentioned if they are hated and detested by our God. I for one do not want to commit these sins and find my God in disfavor of me. I am so thankful Jesus has washed me clean.
What I have seen each day as I have read and meditated on each Proverb is how God is directing it to “my child” or my “son”. He adores us, His children. He wants what is best. This book of wisdom is really about a loving father that sets boundaries for his children. He wants to see them do well, excel in the world and in relationships. He wants them to feel safe and secure. He is concerned with guarding their hearts. He isn’t saying these things as a dictator or control freak but from love so we can understand his character, love him, and love others. I praise Him for loving me enough to guide me and keep me safe in His loving arms each day. May my love for Him overflow to others.
That has struck me too, Debi. I didn’t remember so many chapters beginning that way. Well said.
Lord, please make me more of an ant!
That’s a good point Michelle. I noticed that one too and need to heed the directive.
I agree as well. I do want to be more like an ant for Jesus!