You Are Not the Only One

RELATIONSHIPS:

1. With People

Verses 1, 2, 17,18 and 28 speak of the same thing.

• 1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
• 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. [Both verses 1 and 2 are speaking about the same thing. When one is angry the only things that will come out of our mouths will be angry, maybe even putrid words. It is best to be silent and pray before one types and answers in anger or blurts out a response to cutting words.  Someone in the conversation needs to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through them. Then the situation will not escalate where a verbal battle ensues.]
• 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
• 18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
• 28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

Verses 12, 14, 20, and 22 speak to the same topic

• 12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. [An arrogant and deceitful person hates to be told that they are wrong or what they are doing is wrong.  They will never go to a person of good reputation who will be filled with wisdom knowledge, and understanding for advice. They will not hire people who have an opposite point of view to theirs.
• 14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. [A wise person will seek after understanding and knowledge. If they read something and they don’t understand it they will ask someone who can help them.]
• 20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
• 22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Verses 12 and 32 speak about the same type of relational attitude

• 12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. [An arrogant and deceitful person hates to be told that they are wrong or what they are doing is wrong.  They will never go to a person of good reputation who will be filled with wisdom knowledge, and understanding for advice. They will not hire people who have an opposite point of view to theirs.
• 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

ATTITUDE

• 5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. [Sometimes the instruction will not come from your personal Father. It may come from a leader or someone whom we know.  The whole point of going to church is to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives.  Transformation in a Christian is a  lifelong process. Every time we think we have mastered something God will reveal something else in our character that we need to work on.  Prayer prayers for transformation that include miraculous healing of our minds, attitudes and how we relate to others. Pray bold prayers – even when we don’t believe it – until God softens our hearts and shows us the cavernous void that exists between what He says is God, and righteous and what we believe is good and righteous.  What we believe is good and righteous will always present itself in how we speak to people even after we have been instructed about how we speak to people. We must be willing to speak it to ourselves until we become what we are speaking.  Wynn used to say “Speak it into existence!”]
• 7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
• 13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. [Happy people look and act happy. They are a joy to be around!”
• 21 Folly is a joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
• 19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
• 23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

2. Relationship With God

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. [Literally God sees everything at the same time; therefore, He sees what we are doing whether it is good or bad. This verse is talking about God being “omnipresent” – meaning He is everywhere at the same time. He is not looking out to “get” uus. It is who He is. Omnipresent!

Verses 4 and 24 speak about the same thing

• 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: [What is a wholesome tongue? It is a tongue that speaks life and love into its enemies life even when the enemy is getting on its last nerve. It is a tongue that will not look for the argument to support its thoughts about people who are wrong in every way. It will leave the “fixing of the problem” or the person to God and not to public opinion. We already know that NO human being can change the behavior of another human being. It takes the Holy Spirit to do that. Secondly, “the tree of life” is a metaphor that refers to spiritual rejuvenation!] but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
• 24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
• 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
• 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. [Just go back in the Bible to the story of Cain and Abel.****] Abel’s sacrifice to God was an “upright or righteous delight!” On the other hand, Cain’s sacrifice was not the best that he could offer to the Lord it was an abomination that resulted in the first recorded murder in the Bible.

Genesis 4:5-13 Story of Cain and Abel NIV

• 5. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
• ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
• ⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”^d]”>[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
• ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” [What a bad attitude?]
• ¹⁰ The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹ Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
• ¹³ Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear.
• ¹⁴ Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Jealousy led to murder. Our hearts will betray us!
• Prayer is special to God. It is a time when we communicate with Him in the same way that we communicate with our friends. Now if you happen to be a friend who does not communicate with your other friends on a regular basis this example will not mean much to you. But if you are a person who keeps in touch with their friends on a regular basis and values that time with them then you will begin to understand the value of spending time with God. He wants to hear the prayers of His righteous children. It is during these times of regular and consistent prayer with God, not necessarily asking him for something, but just talking to Him because we love Him, that we experience peace. He loves to hear from us!
• 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

Verses 10 and 32 speak about the same things

• 10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. God corrects the human mind by bringing to our remembrance our sins and the fact that they separate us from Him.  As we live our lives those reminders will be more frequent. We have a choice. Repent and be baptized for the remission of our sins, or experience eternal death and separation from Him.  There is no other option.
• 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Verses 11 and 26 are similar in interpretation.

• 11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?[God knows that hell and destruction exists. He also knows the hearts of human beings. The Bible says “the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked!” He does not want the children He created to end up in hell and experience destruction.
• 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

• 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. [A person who has a positive outlook on life because they know that they are loved by God feast on the joy that they receive from Him. That is why they are happy people!]
• 16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
• 25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
• 27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
• 29 The LORD is far from the wicked: [There is not relationship between God and the foul mouth person, or a person delights in doing wicked things.] but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
• 30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. [Jesus inside of us will show in our eyes as “lights” and that presence causes others to rejoice!]
• 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

We cannot function in this life with a fear of the Lord and acceptance of His instruction and reproof. We must accept it even if it is coming from someone whom we do not like or whom we disagree with. Living a transformational life that reflect Jesus’ attitude takes a heart that fears Him, listens to Him, and obeys Him.  That happens only by accepting wise counsel.

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