Proverbs 28-29

 Scripture – Proverbs 28-29

Observation – 

A man who hardens his neck after much reproof

Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.

Hardening your neck means stiffening it up so that people can't move it. This shows a person who is stubborn and unwilling to give in. Reproof is rebuke and discipline. This man is stubborn and doesn't want to listen to the reproof, so he hardens his neck. In the next line, because the man hardens his neck, it is broken beyond remedy. This could be referring to a punishment from God if a man does not listen to reproof. It could also mean the consequences when you stiffen your neck to other people. (ie, others don't want to talk to you anymore. You lose friends and people to talk to because you're stubborn. 

This verse speaks to me because I stiffen my neck a lot. When someone suggests something I don't want to do, I become stubborn and sullen. I don't want to do what people want me to do. I sometimes don't take criticism the way I should. I stiffen my neck when people give me advice. I think my way is better and because of that, I stiffen my neck. I need to pray for a soft heart and a humble heart!

Proverbs 26-27

 Scripture – Proverbs 26-27

Observation – 

Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.

Iron sharpening iron, sharpen each other. It is not a one-way thing. Both of them benefit from each other and grow stronger because of each other. "Iron" is pictured as a man and another iron as another. These two men sharpen one another, growing by clashing against one another and making each other stronger.

When you clash iron against iron, you are:

sharpening it

strengthening it

and steadying it

When men sharpen each other, they are sharpening each other by getting the other ready for the hardships of life, or battles. They strengthen each other by giving the other verses from the bible to strengthen their mind. They steady each other by showing that they are there and by encouraging with their words. 

For myself, I have many people in my life who do these things for me, but I must be someone who sharpens them back. I can't be the knife and the other a sharpening stone. We both need to sharpen one another for both of us to benefit. 

Proverbs 24:13-25:28

 Scripture – Proverbs 24:13-25:28

Observation – 

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,

But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

These two sentences contrast the wicked and the righteous when they stumble in sin. One of them falls, but rises again. The other just stumbles without anything happening after. Whenever I say, think, or do something I shouldn't, I feel feelings of regret and shame. How can God forgive me for this? Especially since I've done it so many times now! I see now that even though you fall many times, God will forgive you and you will rise again. 

Proverbs 23-24:12

 Scripture – Proverbs 23-24:12

Observation – 

27For a harlot is a deep pit

And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.

28Surely she lurks as a robber,

And increases the faithless among men.

Observation:

We see that lust is a deep pit. Meaning that it is deep and hard to get out of.

We see that lust is a narrow well. Meaning that it you are stuck.

We see that lust lurks as a robber. Meaning that is sneaky and cunning.

We see that lust increases the faithless among men. Meaning that it is powerful in leading others away.

These two verses remind me of how dangerous lust is to me and others. It gives me the characteristics of lust and how important it is to fight against it. Once you are stuck in lust, it's hard to get out of. Your flesh wants more, and you just stay stuck in it. Lust also finds ways to stay in control. Your flesh finds ways to keep getting it even when you are trying to block it at the same time. Finally, lust is so powerful that it even leads people away from the faith. People get discouraged because they realize how weak they are or how hard it is to get out of lust. Others want it so much that they decide they want it more than Christ. Lust is a dangerous sin that is dangerous. It is cunning and can render you helpless, but I know that through Christ, you can conquer it and be free from lust and its clutches.

Lust is a sin that increases the faithless among men. It is cunning, deep, a trap, it is sneaky, and it is powerful. These two verses give me a perspective of what lust can do and what it is, and how important it is for me to fight against it. The last part of the verse, "and increases the faithless among men," tells me how urgent it is to flee from it. 

Proverbs 21-22

Scripture – Proverbs 21-22

Observation – 

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But victory belongs to the Lord.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle

• It is prepared with equipment
• A saddle is fitted on a horse's back for a rider
• The bridle is placed into the mouth.
• Its armor is put on its back
• It is prepared by taking care of it
• It has no injuries
• It is well taken care of 
• It is well-fed
• It is strengthened by training
• Its hair is brushed.
• It is prepared by training it well.
• It is trained to not run away in battle
• It knows how to obey its master.

This verse reminds me that no matter how prepared you are for anything, the Lord is still the one who will decide what happens. Even if I prepared for a permit test, it was still God who gave me the victory. This truth reminds me that I should praise God in whatever happens because he is the one who made it happen.

Proverbs 19-20

 Scripture – Proverbs 19-20

Observation – 

The glory of young men is their strength,

And the honor of old men is their gray hair.

This verse reminds me that strength is a God given gift. It reminds me that I need to use it to glorify God rather than use it for my own gain. Some instances of using my strength would be helping people move in, moving stuff for a wedding, and just helping people in general. The second part of the verse reminds me to aquire more and more wisdom as I get older. Strength and wisdom together is much better than just strength.

Proverbs 17-18

 Scripture – Proverbs 17-18

Observation – 

Proverbs 17:6 - Grandchildren are the crown of old men,

And the glory of sons is their fathers.

Proverbs 18:24 - A man of too many friends comes to ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Do I have a friend who sticks closer than a brother? I think I need to get deeper in a relationship with my friends at church. This verse reminds me to not only have friends that stick closer than a brother, but also be that friend that sticks close, in whatever the circumstance. 

Proverbs 16

Scripture – Proverbs 16

Observation – 

Proverbs 16:24 - Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

This verse reminds me how important words are. They do more than just convey your meaning. They are sweet to the soul and are healing to the bones. This is a reminder for me to be careful with my words and use them to be pleasant. To encourage and to love others rather than to insult others. 

Proverbs 15

 Scripture – Proverbs 15

Observation – 

Proverbs 15:32 - He who neglects discipline despises himself,

But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

It's important to have discipline in your life. This is a reminder for me to practice discipline well. You gain understanding when you are disciplined. I need to view discipline as something helpful rather than a punishment.

Proverbs 14

 Scripture – Proverbs 14

Observation – 

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,

But the lips of the wise will protect them.

Sometimes I say things quickly and without thinking. This verse says that the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back. I need to be careful how I use my mouth because if I don't, it will hurt me later on. I should be quick to listen and slow to speak. I need to be careful how I use my mouth and know that it can hurt others and hurt myself.

Proverbs 11-13

 Scripture – Proverbs 11-13

Observation – 

Proverbs 11:14 - 14Where there is no guidance the people fall,

But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

This reminds me to have counselors. It is important to listen to those who have more experience than me. The only way to have more counselors is to look for them. I think the easiest way for me to look for counselors is just to ask for advice. Ask for advice in playing guitar, in children's ministry lessons, in how to relate to people, how to talk to people, how to play a specific sport and more! 

It's important to have counselors, but even more important to look for them. If you have counselors but don't do anything with the guidance given to you, you will still fall. But if you have counselors, there is victory.

Proverbs 9-10

Scripture – Proverbs 9-10

Observation –

• Proverbs 9:1-12 - The way of wisdom
• Proverbs 9:1-6 - Wisdom's generous invitation
• Proverbs 9:7-9 - Those who reject and receive wisdom
• Proverbs 9:10-12 - The benefits of wisdom
• Proverbs 9:13-18 - The way of folly
• Proverbs 9:13-15 - The seat of the foolish woman
• Proverbs 9:16-18 -  The call of the foolish woman

Proverbs 7-8

 Scripture – Proverbs 7-8

Observation – 

• Proverbs 7:1-5 - The importance of following wisdom
• Proverbs 7:1-4 - Keeping God's word and a father's word close
• Proverbs 7:5  - The benefit of God's word and a father's word 
• Proverbs 7:6-27 - The story of seduction
• Proverbs 7:6-9 - The young fool seeks the immoral woman
• Proverbs 7:10-12 - Meeting the immoral woman
• Proverbs 7:13-18 - The promises of the immoral woman
• Proverbs 7:19-21 - The successful seduction
• Proverbs 7:22-23 - The painful price of the immoral woman
• Proverbs 7:24-27 - Learning from the immoral woman
• Proverbs 8:1-11 - The call of wisdom
• Proverbs 8:1-3 - Wisdom cries out
• Proverbs 8:4-11 - The goodness that wisdom presents
• Proverbs 8:12-31 - Wisdom describes itself
• Proverbs 8:12-21 - What wisdom has and what wisdom gives
• Proverbs 8:22-31 - Wisdom's long history
• Proverbs 8:32-36 - Wisdom wants an audience
• Proverbs 8:32-33 - Asking for attention
• Proverbs 8:34-36 - Wisdom's reward and the cost of folly.

Do your work well and thoroughly because you will benefit from turning in good work. Your boss will be impressed when you give work that is thorough and well thought out. You will be liked and you will finish checking quicker. 

You should work hard because it glorifies God. It is your calling. God commands you to.

You should work hard because it's good for your character.

Proverbs 6

Scripture – Proverbs 6 

Observation – 

• Proverbs 6:1-5 - The foolishness of taking on debts
• Proverbs 6:1-2 - Taking debts of friends or strangers
• Proverbs 6:3-5 - What to do if you have taken debt of another
• Proverbs 6:6-19 - The honor of hard work
• Proverbs 6:6-8 - The example of the ant
• Proverbs 6:9-11 - Warning the lazy man
• Proverbs 6:12-15 - The destiny of the lazy man
• Proverbs 6:16-19 - Seven things God hates
• Proverbs 6:20-35 - The harm of the prostitute
• Proverbs 6:20-24 - God's word can keep you from the prostitute
• Proverbs 6:25-29 - The damage adultery does
• Proverbs 6:30-35 - The disgrace adultery brings

Proverbs 4-5

Scripture – Proverbs 4-5

Observation – 

• Proverbs 4:1-13 - A father teaches his children
• Proverbs 4:1-2 - A plea to listen to a father's wisdom
• Proverbs 4:3-5 - Acquire wisdom
• Proverbs 4:6-9 - The benefits of acquiring wisdom
• Proverbs 4:10-13 - Receive and take hold of wisdom and its lessons
• Proverbs 4:14-27 - Keep your heart from the way of the wicked
• Proverbs 4:14-15 - Avoid the wicked and their path
• Proverbs 4:16-19 - Why we should avoid it
• Proverbs 4:20-22 - A plea to the son
• Proverbs 4:23-27 - A plea to stay on the right path
• Proverbs 5:1-14 - The warning against adultery
• Proverbs 5:1-2 - The call for attention
• Proverbs 5:3 - The temptativeness of the immoral woman
• Proverbs 5:4-7 - The danger of the immoral woman
• Proverbs 5:8-14 - The danger of adultery
• Proverbs 5:15-23 - Find satisfaction in your own wife
• Proverbs 5:15-19 - God provides in marriage
• Proverbs 5:20-23 - The destiny of those who commit adultery