Daily Challenges Archive
“If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!”
Solomon sees a person anticipating that they are about to open their mouth to offer praise for themselves. Before the bragging begins he is advising them to cover their mouth and resist the urge. If you plan to say something negative it is also a ...
“I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:”
It’s easy to walk by what the Lord is doing around us and miss out on what He has for us to learn. The specific lesson learned in this verse was about how foolish and what a waste awaited lazy and slothful behavior. Solomon, as wise as he was, sti...
“A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good.”
The last phrase in this verse literally means ‘that is very sinful’. Solomon left no doubt what this person was up to and where they wanted to drag others. I live in a neighborhood with a loose HOA. Thankfully most of us tend to look out for each ...
“The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Realizing that God is everywhere this verse is clearly about spiritual intimacy. When the wicked speak to God, if they speak to Him, their prayers are empty. When His followers speak with Him their conversation is about Him. Seeking His interventi...
“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”
Take a deep breath. How often have we heard this said in encouraging someone to calm down. That expression is from a very practical place as well as a literal one in this verse. The actual translation of patience in this passage is ‘long in nostri...
“In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.”
I hate snakes. I’ve been told some are actually good to have around. I don’t care, I still would rather they not exist. Let’s all agree they were banished to crawl on their belly in the dust by God. Solomon is not putting forth a great picture of ...
“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”
That is not me. Before you judge I know enough of you to know that it is not many of you as well. I confess that our society, as well as some great historic movies, have me wanting to be the warrior taking cities. The patient, self controlled role...
“Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.”
In college I was in ‘Inherit the Wind. which is a play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. The main theme was about freedom of thought and was intended to make the case against McCarthyism. The phrase Inherit only wind in this verse symbolize...
“The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.”
In the past day I’ve been in conversation with two friends who are leaders in their industries and under attack for doing right. That’s correct, for doing the right thing. As I listen to what they did with an outside, neutral ear I’m a bit amazed ...
“Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.”
I have 5 men who speak boldly into my life. Most of the time I like it however every so often I’m not thrilled with what I hear. Those times change me and I walk away a little more like Christ. I have friends going through hard things. Divorce, ba...
“when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.”
This sounds like a Marvel or DC comics super hero. Maybe a Greek god. In reality Solomon is describing the creation at the hand of the one true God. I know I’ve referenced the lyrics to Nicole C. Mullins song “My Redeemer” before. This song reflec...
“When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.”
As some of you read this, I will be sitting in a memorial service for one of the most godly men I ever knew. This verse means that a righteous man goes with comfort and confidence into death. What a beautiful picture. That fits this man’s life. Th...
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