July 27, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 27
Click above for full KJV Online

Today's Pathway:previous - - - - - - - - - - - - next
Click above to go directly to TP
Following Scripture Verses

1. Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3. A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
4. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
5. Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7. The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8. As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
10. Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11. My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
14. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15. A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
17. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18. Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19. As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20. Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21. As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so a man to his praise.
22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
24. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25. The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Today's Pathway:
You may click on verses for Scripture

"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished." - Proverbs 27:12

In todays' verse Solomon contrasts the behavior of prudent and simple men. There are two differences in their behavior that he points out. First, he states that the wise man foresees evil. He is looking ahead to see what awaits him down the road of life. He is not only thinking about today; he is thinking about his long range goals and the long-range ramifications of the decisions that he is making. He thinks about where he will wind up in the years to come if he continues going in his current direction. The simpleton does not do this. His focus is only on the immediate, particularly his immediate gratification. He does not consider the consequences of his actions. He isn't interested in what will happen in the future; all he thinks about is now.

The second difference is that when the prudent man sees a potential problem, he immediately takes steps to avoid it. If he sees that his path is leading him towards sin, he changes his direction. Once he realizes that his current friends are going to mess up his life, he chooses new ones. He is wise enough to see evil off in the distance and prudent enough to take the steps necessary to insure that it does not affect him. The simpleton probably never sees the evil at all, but if he does, he continues on his merry way, assured in himself that he can handle anything that comes up. Of course, the end result is that he falls into sin and God is forced to punish him for it.

Do you look ahead to see what awaits you, or are you only concerned about today? When you foresee wickedness, do you have the wisdom to change directions or do you blunder on ahead? Your answers will indicate whether or not you are a prudent individual.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery