A good friend from FitClub and his wife are reading through the Chronological Bible with us this year, and last week he said, “Boy, some of the proverbs are really off the wall.” That got me thinking about which proverbs might be thought of as “off the wall” and which should be put on the wall.
Some of the “off the wall” proverbs might be, “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion”, “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not even bring it back to his mouth”, “The leech has two daughters, ‘Give,’ ‘Give“, “The eye that mocks a father, and scorns a mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it”, and “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean.” The more you think about them, however, the more sense they all make. And I’m actually looking forward to a messy manger this week as our barn is filled with youthful oxen.
A quick read through Proverbs gives you more than enough to cover your fridge, or even your walls. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”, “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down”, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”, “A man of many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise”, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life”, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death”, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding”, and “The glory of young men is their strength, and the honor of old men is their gray hair.” The last one belongs on my bathroom mirror.
My friend also asked if everyone who took a free Bible from me was keeping up with their reading this year. If you are, the Proverbs I’ve shared are simply a reminder of what you read last week. If not, it’s time to catch up.
God Bless, Rick
Chatham Christian Church 