Proverbs 18

PROVERBS 18


"A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment."
(vs 1)

No man is an island in the body of Christ. All of us have a part to play that is essential. The twelfth chapter of 1st Corinthians says that we are "all the members of the body" and that "to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." When any one of us goes against wise judgment, seeking our own desires and separating ourselves from the body, we suffer, and so does the rest of the body. The Book of Acts in speaking about a unified body of believers, the first Christian church, states -

"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." - Acts 2:42

Fellowship with one another is vital. When we isolate ourselves for any length of time from our brothers & sisters in the Lord, we make ourselves vulnerable to the enemy of our souls. The Apostles warn us to remain in fellowship, using our gifts, strengthening and encouraging one another, lest we fall prey.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Pet 5:8

"Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." - Heb 10:24-25


Another Proverb full of an incredible amount of meat and Truth, along with another busy week at work, leaves much to be studied in the coming months. Just a quick look at a couple more verses...

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe."
(vs 10)

Those who are obedient to the Lord, and act righteously, will suffer persecution in this world. For them that choose to live according to the flesh often attack, when conviction comes, those who trust in, and fear, the Name of the Lord.

"They gather together against the life of the righteous,
And condemn innocent blood.
But the LORD has been my defense,
And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought on them their own iniquity,
And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
The LORD our God shall cut them off."- Psalm 94:21-23

We know that the "the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." (James 1:20). So rather than lash out in our flesh, and commit iniquity, we are to run to, and trust in that Rock, our Lord Jesus Christ, our deliverer. our salvation.

"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence."- 2 Sam 22:2-3


And this one last verse...

Now, myself, I’ve never been married (yet), but I’ve heard from many others their thoughts and opinions on marriage, both positive and negative. Some have even ’encouraged’ me to remain single... Yet my Bible says here in this Proverb -

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the LORD."
(vs 22)

I have several friends who have been married for decades and you can clearly see the hand of God upon their lives. Of these men and their wives, I can see the reality of another verse from Proverbs which we read last week -

"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband." (Prov 12:4a)

These men found a good thing. And the Lord has blessed them. God designed and intended marriage to be a good thing from the very beginning, when He said - "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." (Gen 2:18) "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Gen 2:24).

Yes, friends. Much meat. Much Truth. May we inquire of the Lord always what He would say to us as we read theses verses.

God bless you and grant you understanding,

Michael


The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
(vs 15)