The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.  Proverbs 17:3

In order to purify sliver it is put into a crucible or refining pot and heated to very high temperatures so that the dross can be scraped off the top.  What is left is highly purified silver.  Gold is similar in that the higher the purity the higher the value.  Thus gold is put into a furnace to accomplish the same process.  What this proverb says is that what the pot is to the silver and the furnace is to gold, God is to the hearts of men.

We read in the New Testament of Peter's comments in this same vein.  "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  (1 Peter 1:6-7) James also tells us of the blessing of testing and trial in our lives when he writes, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4).  So according to both this proverb of God and the New Testament, the purifying process that God uses to test our hearts is a blessing.  Why then do we have entire doctrinal systems in Christianity that disdain this process and only want health, wealth, and prosperity to be our lot?

The answer to this is a lack of teaching that involves the entire counsel of God.  Another reason for this also may be our affluent and oppulent lives in our world today.  We seek to insulate ourselves from any bad thing happening to us - or any kind of negative setback.  We have insurance and government protection to keep us from having the negative affect us too much.  The problem is that God is absolutely committed to our hearts being refined so that we will be holy and godly men and women.  What that means in the long run is that God is also committed to bankrupting our entire system if that is what is requires to eventually get to our hearts.  There is a scary scenario - yet one that I fear is getting closer every day.

God tells us in Romans that all things do work together for good for those who love the Lord and who live according to His ways and purposes.  What many don't do is read the next several verses where God says that His purpose is that we are conformed to the image of His Son - that we become holy men and women whose character reflects that of Jesus Christ Himself.  For fallen men and women that means testing. 

If we could hear silver and gold as it is put into the pot and the furnace - my guess is that they do not particularly enjoy the entire process - even though in the end they are refined and far more valuable.  Neither do we find that process of trial and testing all that fun either.  It is hard - and often it is stressful.  It is a difficult thing to encounter - and many times it reveals rather embarassing sins in our lives.  Yet as the dross is lifted off our hearts in this process - there comes out something that God can mightily use. 

Am I volunteering for trials and testings . . . no, but I know that if I want to draw nearer to the Lord and be further conformed into the image of His beloved Son, they are coming.  It is just a comforting reminder that in this process the Lord does not have it our for me.  To the contrary, this is done out of His utmost love and desire for me to know Him better and relect the heart of His son.  Remember this next time you find yourself in the refining pot.  He loves you through it all - and more than anything else, all this is working to show forth the glorious perfections of His Son within you.
 
 
The LORD has made everything for His own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. Proverbs 16:4

Well, here is a proverb that many would rather leave alone.  But the good thing about disciplining yourself to walk through the Scriptures is that you have to deal with verses like this one.  So . . . let's take a few moments to consider this little bit of wisdom.

The first thing we run into is the fact that God made all things.  The simplest sense of the Hebrew word "made" is that God is the maker of all things.  This comes as a shock to those who hold to evolutionary theory.  Yet even their theory does not explain where all things came from - because their theory never explains why matter itself existed.  Their theory, whether they realize it or not, has far more to do with their own pride and unwillingness to submit to a god - any god, than it has to do with valid science.  The proverb gives the reason why this is so.

God has made everything for His purpose!  The evolutionist and the atheist chaffe at this statement.  They reject God so it is only consistent with their beliefs that they also reject His purposes.  Yet, God HAS made everything for His purpose.  This world - even as it rebels against God - is fulfilling His ultimate purpose.  Oh how angry this makes them.  Yet we see at the close of this proverb the most brazen statement yet.  Even the wicked are fulfilling God's ultimate purposes when the day of evil comes.  This presents to some a very real problem with God.

God makes the wicked for the day of evil?  That is what this passage says.  So the question arises, "Does God make wicked people - is He responsible for wickedness?"  The answer to this question is a resounding NO.  God is incapable of doing wickedness or evil.  He will not - in fact, He cannot sin.  Thus this speaks of those who have descended from Adam - who were made after his image and likeness.  It refers to God working in spite of the fall of man to accomplish His eternal counsel and plans.  He does so in spite of man's wickedness.  He is not responsible for it - but He will indeed judge it.  Thus even the wicked God works into His purposes.  

But what is His purpose for them?  That is a sobering reality as we see it revealed in Scripture.  God's ultimate purposes for those who sin - and then who reject His grace in Jesus Christ - is that they are reserved for the day of evil.  This "day of evil" could be just an ordinary day when the just desserts of wickedness are served.  But when we consider this view we run into problems because even with the righteous there are days when "bad" things happen to them.  This day of evil I believe refers ultimately to the day when God's judgment falls upon them.  They rejected God all their lives.  They rejected Him with their sinful choices and desires.  When God offers forgiveness and grace they reject Him again.  They continue rejecting Christ until the day of their death - thus culminating a lifelong wickedness.  What remains for them is the day of evil.  The day when God brings the ultimate punishment and "bad day" that will last forever. 

This my dear friend is wisdom.  Wisdom is acknowledging God as Creator of all that there is.  Wisdom is then realizing that everything He made - though originally made good - is truly messed up due to sin.  Wisdom is seeing that sin is not just some ethereal concept - it is a choice.  Wisdom is seeing that sin is personal - you've committed it every day of your life by disobeying God's laws and commandments.  Wisdom is then realizing God's ultimate purpose by embracing Jesus Christ as His way of paying for sin and providing salvation.  Wisdom is receiving the conviction of the Holy Spirit and rejoicing when you are granted repentance and faith!  Wisdom is then turning from your sins and trusting Jesus Christ to pay for them with His work on the cross and resurrection!  Wisdom is then living for God's purposes all the remaining days of your life - embracing His glory as your ultimate pursuit! 

Interesting isn't it - how a proverb that seems like a can of worms can wind up being a gracious gift from God?  If we will only learn the wisdom of seeing God as the Ultimate - then living for His ultimate purpose and plan. That will be the day when we truly embrace what is wise!
 
 
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly. Proverbs 15:2

We come to another passage dealing with the abuse of the tongue - or the abuse of how we speak to others.  It is an interesting fact that the Bible says much more about the abuse of the tongue than it does the abuse of alcohol or drugs.  By saying this I am not condoning either of those two things, because they are very destructive.  But I would venture to say that the abuse of the tongue and how it damages people every day dwarfs the evils of these other two things easily.  And whereas we have many speaking of the evil of the other two things - very few are crusading for people to use their tongues to build others up rather than tear them down.

The proverb instructs us that the tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable.  What a loaded statement this is.  Sometimes people reject the knowledge that is shared not because the knowledge itself is offensive - but because the way it is shared is offensive.  There are also those who can share pretty offensive things - yet are received well because of the wisdom with which they share them.  When we come to people with a know-it-all attitude or a holier-than-thou spirit they will reject anything we have to say.  That is why wisdom not only gives us knowledge itself - but also will counsel us on how to share it. 

Two other proverbs come to mind to illustrate this.  One says that more flies are caught with honey than with vinegar.  This proverb tells us that if we come with a sweet spirit we will catch more people with what we say.  No one that I know is interested in drinking a cup of vinegar.  In a similar way people will not listen to us if our spirit is bitter like vinegar.  The second proverb that instructs us is actually wisdom Solomon shares in Ecclesiastes.  Solomon tells us that there is a time and a season for everything.  Among these seasons is the time to speak and the time to be quiet.  Sometimes the best wisdom for our knowledge we want to share is to wait for a more opportune moment. 

The second half of this proverb lets us know that the mouth of fools spout folly.  Whereas the wise are wanting to know the most profitable way to share knowledge - the fool has no such concern.  That is because the fool is too busy spouting out his folly.  The word folly means perversity, foolishness, silliness, and moral deficiency.  The Word comes from either a word that means to be thick-brained or stupid.  Rather than sharing knowledge with others, the fool is speaking the silliness of his own thinking.  He is morally deficient and thus his tongue is only uttering disgusting and perverse statements.  Hang around him long enough and you will be as filled with stupid and senseless knowledge as he is.  That is why over and over again we are counselled to leave the presence of a fool - and that is especially the case when he is running his mouth.  It is much better to spend our time considering how best to share beneficial knowledge with others than in the company of folly-spouting fools. 
 
 
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. Proverbs 14:4

This is an interesting proverb for those of us who have little or no knowledge of farming or animal husbandry.  There is the first and most obvious meaning - which is that when you don't have an oxen you don't have the mess.  There is no need to have a manger filled with hay for them to eat.  No oxen means no work to take care of them.  But - no oxen also means no real revenue.  You can work by yourself in the fields - but with an ox or two, you can plow several times the amount of land you do alone.  The result is that you have more crops - and more crops means more revenue!  This proverb carries over to applications outside of the agricultural world.  If you don't have any employees - don't have any labor-saving machines - you don't have the problems of taking care of them.  You don't have to deal with people issues - with the cost of insurance - with benefits - with repairs.  But . . . if you don't have them - you also don't have the revenue and the profits that they can help generate.  The proverb has great application to the business world as you can see.

There is a second level of meaning in this proverb though - one that goes past the agricultural or business application.  The New Testament uses the ox to speak of how the man of God, who teaches in the church, should be treated.  Paul does this in 1 Corinthians 9:9 and 1 Timothy 5:18.  Both passages have to do with those who minister the Word - especially in teaching and preaching.  Paul is saying in both passages that the man of God who labors hard at teaching and preaching can be financially provided for in the church.  Now let's look at what Proverbs says to us about the ox and apply it this way.  Where there are no oxen the manger is clean.  When you decide not to take care of the man of God who teaches the Word - there is less expense to the church.  This is very true - it usually is one of the highest costs in any church.  But when God gives a fellowship a man of God who truly labors to teach and present God's Word - there is also great benefit.  Much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.  There is much benefit to having a pastor or a teacher who labors hard in the Word.  There is the growth that happens in individual believers - there are those who come to Christ because the gospel is taught and presented.  There is the blessing of God that comes through the ministry of having a Word-based church.  There a tremendous benefits to feeding the ox and having him around.  So, next time you are tempted to think that it's not financially worth having your ox around (apology to all pastors and teachers for this parallel) just think of the benefit that comes from the labor he puts into bringing you the Word of God. 
 
 
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3

Loose lips sink ships.  This was a saying used during WWII to speak of the need to be careful of what someone said - because if the enemy were to gain knowledge - it might result in the sinking of one of our vessels as it was in the European theater of the war.  This saying could be changed to "loose lips, sink lives," according to the proverb today.  Let's take a closer look and see why this is so.

The one who is "guarding" his lips is the one who watches over what comes out of them.  He keeps himself from speaking outside of what God wants to be said.  He sets a guard over his lips so that he does what Joshua was told in the first chapter of the book using his name.  Do not let the book of the law depart from your mouth.  The wise man in guarding his mouth - also is guarding and preseving his very life.  There are so many ways that our mouths can get us in trouble.  Think about the number of times we've seen public figures not watch their mouths and pay for it dearly when things were said that ruined them.  Remember Jesus said that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.  So what comes out of our mouths reflects what truly is in our hearts.  That is why it is so vital that we guard what actually comes out of them.

The proverb also deals with the person who says that they can say whatever they want.  This is true, but there is a cost for this kind of attitude.  That cost is ruin.  The word means to be destroyed, to be ruined.  It also has the idea of terror and fear.  We may think we can say anything we want - but the fact is that when truly stupid statements are made - the devastation they render can be terrifying.  You can watch someone fall from tremendous heights of power and public opinion in a matter of hours when their mouths are not guarded in what they say. 

The guarded mouth is the wise mouth.  We all have things we want to say - but we know that such things often are better left unsaid - and honestly - repented of in our hearts.  To leave our mouths without any kind of guard or watch is like leaving a post in battle unguarded.  It will lead to ruin. 
 
 
A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved. Proverbs 12:3

This very proverb has a wonderful parallel in the New Testament in the sermon on the mount.  The parable of the foundations deals with how the man who built his house on the sand, having no foundation except on sand, had his house fall.  The man who rooted his house on the rock, Jesus Christ, stood against all the storms and winds that beat upon it. 

The man who seeks to be established on wickedness is kidding himself.  He won't know any kind of firmness or rooting.  The word here means to be firm or fixed, to be steadfast and deeply founded.  The picture is of a house that has deep moorings into the ground and as a result is very stable and strong.  There is no promise of this for the man who wants to dig his roots into wickedness.  He won't know stability - he won't have strength that will last.  When troubles and trials, storms and winds come upon his life - he will fall flat. 

"Shoresh" is the Hebrew word used to speak of the root of the righteous.  It is a word that means a deeply rooted plant that goes far down into the ground.  It refers in Scripture to things like the root and base of a mountain - the roots of large trees - and even the origins of someone or something, speaking of their roots.  These are righteous roots though.  This man roots himself in what is right.  But where can we learn what is right in every circumstance?  Jesus tells us that this is when we hear His words and do them.  This is the place to find what is right - but more than that - to be rooted in what is right.  We are promised that this kind of root won't be moved.  Just as Jesus said, this house - this life - will have the winds come down - the rain come down - the storms rise against it and beat on it.  But they will not prevail - and that house and life will not fall. 

In a time when the world around us seems to be shaking at its very roots - men are scouring their minds trying to think of something or find something that will give them stability - it is interesting that we know there is a root that cannot be moved.  Oh, that men would turn to this root and find the stability for which they long.
 
 
The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. Proverbs 11:3

Integrity is always a good choice - especially when it it biblical integrity.  That is what we learn from today's proverb.  It is the integrity of the upright that will guide them.  The word integrity here in the Hebrew has a strong emphasis on moral integrity.  As always, when we read of morals we need to remember the moral law of God as the path that is set before us.  These godly morals will "guide" us.  The word used here is "nahah" and it means to be led or guided in the right direction or the proper path. 

Think about the moral law of God.  If we were to follow the 10 commandments in our everyday lives - not just the outward sins involved - but even the inward thinking Jesus exposes in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) - how often would we be guided into the very decision that was right and best.  Not all of these decisions would be easy.  Some would be painfully difficult at first - but all of them would be right - and would take us in the right direction in life. 

The treacherous have no such guarantee.  These are the peopl who act as traitors, they are unfaithful and betray others.  The key relationships where this word is used is in regard to God's covenant (which includes the moral law) and in regard to marriage.  These are people who make promises - but do not keep them.  They enter into contracts but look for the loophole.  We are warned that it is the crookedness of these people that will destroy them.  Crookedness refers to the perversions and deceitfulness that governs their actions.  They are distorted and perverse in their character and thinking - and that is why they are treacherous in their dealings.  What is so dangerous for us in this is that the treacherous seem to do well for themselves initially.  They seem to prosper and have pleasure and fun at the start of their crooked choices.  But wait and be patient.  The best friend of truth is time.  Eventually you will watch the house of cards the treacherous build come crashing to the ground.  They are caught in their adultery.  They are exposed in their perverse dealings.  Their ponzi schemes implode.  Their crooked financial dealings come to light.  Then you see the wisdom of this proverb.  Indeed the crookedness of these people destroy them - and all the while the upright, guided by their integrity and moral uprightness - are guided safely through. 
 
 
The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will reject the craving of the wicked. Proverbs 10:3

There are two level's of meaning to this particular proverb.  They are both a blessing to those who read it, understand it, and who look to the Lord for their subsistence.

Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous to hunger.  That is what this passage says.  It refers on the surface level to the simple fact that God is going to provide basics for believers.  David said, "I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."  What a comfort to us this should be.  God promises to make provision for us.  Often our problem is that we want way more than provision.  God promises food and raiment (clothing) and with these we should be content.  Yet in our culture we have come to call too many things "necessities."  In fact there are entire theological systems based upon us getting whatever we claim from God - no matter how blatent the greed becomes.  Hopefully we see through the ruse of selfish and fleshly greed and rejoice when we are able to eat and clothe ourselves each day.  But there is more to this proverb - a deeper level.  God will not allow the SOUL of the righteous to hunger.  If we desire the Lord - if we hunger for God - our soul will be satisfied!  Blessed are the hungry, for they shall be filled!  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled!  God promises to us a fullness that can never be defined by food and drink alone.  It is the fullness of the Spirit.  It is a fullness that describes how God Himself comes to fill us to the deepest levels of our hearts and souls with Himself.  This, even more than just a promise of food, should fill our hearts with joy unspeakable, and full of glory!

There is a comparison here though.  We read that the craving of the wicked will be thrust away.  The craving of the wicked is the desires and lusts that they have without limits and without bounds.  The wicked will always seek to push the limits of what is allowed.  They will always seek to push the laws of the land to where they can pursue greater and greater godlessness.  Because it is the desire of the wicked - these desires and wants are ungodly ones - desires that are clearly outside of the scope of God's will and desires.  The Lord promises to thrust away these things.  When I read this I think of that horrific final day when God's judgments on all things, all choices, all lifestyles is made clear.  In that all important day those who lived for wickedness will hear those eternally aweful words, depart from me, you wicked, into everlasting fire - I never knew you!  In that moment every desire of the wicked - every lifestyle that is outside God's purposes will be thrust away. 

There is one thing though that I think we need to grasp to see this proverb clearly.  We usually see words like "wicked" and think of only the most heinous of sinners.  The wicked are those outside of God's grace and salvation in Christ.  The "wicked" might look to us like the model citizen, the good ole boy, the nice girl, the sweet couple.  Yet, if they reject their sinfulness in God's sight and the only remedy which is Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected from the dead - they are indeed wicked.  Even their 'nice' lifestyles and 'decent-looking' lives will be thrust away.  When our desires run contrary to those of the Lord - we place ourselves firmly in the place and the choices of the wicked.  Their lives may look full and meaningful from the outside - but inwardly they are empty.  Their desires will be thrust away.  Yet the righteous - their soul will be satisfied as with fatness.  They have Christ Jesus as an everlasting portion.  Their hungers and desires in Him will be fulfilled!
 
 
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. Proverbs 9:9

Ever wonder why we should continue to be taught in a church setting all the days of our lives?  One would think that after a while we would have heard everything we could possibly hear about the Bible or about God.  Proverbs gives us an answer to this question.

First of all there is no way anyone could ever exhaust all there is to know about the Word of God.  Beyond this God Himself is an infinite and eternal being.  By definition, these aspects of God's attributes defy the ability of someone to ever truly exhaust them educationally.  But there is more to this proverb than just learning something, there is a truth about humility and true wisdom. 

True wisdom realizes and readily admits that there is always room to learn more.  The only truly ignorant person in the world is the one who thinks he or she has nothing more to learn.  At that moment ignorance abounds and continues to abound in that person until humility and a teachable heart is recovered.  Solomon tells us that when you give instruction to a wise man - he becomes even wiser.  The wise man lives by the truth that you can learn something from anyone if you will open your heart and mind to be taught. 

This proverb also instructs us that when a righteous man is taught he will increase his learning.  No one will ever come within sight of perfect knowledge.  When you think of all the libraries filled with books - of all the subjects that have not been exhausted with study - of all the recesses of the universe which we haven't even seen yet - it is the height of arrogance and pride to think that we've arrived at a point where we cannot increase our learning.  What is fascinating to me about this second part is that it says a "righteous man" is the one who will be taught and increase his learning.  It is the ungodly that will not look at science and what it says about evolutionary theory.  It is the liberal who no longer will listen when philosophy asks questions of their theories that reveal their weaknesses and hopelessness.  The righteous man - the truly godly man wants to learn.  He submits all his learning to the wisdom of God who is the only One who knows all.  But his thirst to know more and to grasp more only sends him further into the arms of the One Who has made all there is. 


 
 
"Listen, for I will speak noble things; And the opening of my lips will reveal right things. Proverbs 8:6

Why should we listen to the voice of wisdom when the Holy Spirit speaks to us?  It is because unlike anything else in this world - when He speaks wisdom to us - it is a noble and a right thing we will hear - and hopefully receive. 

Our society is devolving every day.  This is true because of the 2nd law of thermodynamics.  But it is also true morally.  Due to the fall and our propensity to sin - we gravitate to things that are not noble or right.  Consider for a few moments the direction of the movie and television industries.  When these mediums came out - the programming was primarily good and wholesome.  But as time progressed writers and directors wanted to "push the envelope."  what is interesting is that by pushing the envelope, they did not mean challenging people with godly morals and values.  They meant that they were wanting to use foul language.  What began as one curse word at the end of "Gone With the Wind" became movies so filled with profanity that we had to devise a rating system to protect our children from it.  When started as moving a married couple into the same bed in the early sixties - has run headlong into every kind of heterosexual and homosexual immorality with a thirst for more.  What started as allowing a little violence has descended into the most gruesome and disgusting ways of using special effects to depict the bloodiest butchery.  We don't gravitate toward what is noble and good.  Sure, we have the occasional movie where we see nobility and goodness - but they are definitely the exception and not the rule.

When the Holy Spirit speaks God's wisdom to us - we will hear Him speak noble things.  The word noble (nagiyd) means just what it says - nobility, a ruler, a prince or a king.  It refers to the most noble of statements.  We are not going to hear gutter language from the Holy Spirit - we will hear the most noble of statements.  These will be things that will call us higher into the very nobility of God's character and ways.  The Holy Spirit will lead us into noble action that will glorify God and do what is best for His creation.  This is especially true for what we will do for each other. 

The other thing we will hear when God speaks His wisdom to us is "right things."  It is interesting that the passage says that He will "reveal" right things to us.  The "right" way is not natural to us.  There are those who in their ignorance tell people to just follow their hearts.  The problem with this counsel is that our hearts are deceitful and desperately sick.  They are given to doing that which does not please God - or doing the supposed right thing with the wrong set of motives.  We need God's wisdom - which will reveal to us the "right things" that we should do.  We need revelation in order to get wisdom.  We won't get it searching within our own hearts.  But if we will listen to the Lord.  If we will go to God's Word and read and study it with the help of God's Spirit - we will know the right thing to do.  Oh, one other wonderful thing about this is that we will also be able to DO the right thing too. 

When God wants to give you wisdom - Listen!  It is the best way to fill your mind and heart with noble thoughts - and with right actions.