IRTWBEY365 (I Read The Whole Bible Every Year Podcast)

Chapter 7 of the Book of Proverbs warns against the seductive power of an immoral woman.

Chapter 8 of the Book of Proverbs presents wisdom personified as a woman, calling out to humanity.

Chapter 9 of the Book of Proverbs contrasts the calls of wisdom and folly.

Overall, these chapters in the Book of Proverbs provide valuable lessons on guarding one's heart, avoiding temptation, seeking wisdom, embracing its benefits, making wise choices, and recognizing the importance of the fear of the Lord.

Book of Proverbs 4-6

Proverbs Chapter 4: The father had confidence in his instruction, no doubt because it was based on Scriptural wisdom. Confident that he spoke good doctrine, Solomon tenderly remembered the lessons his father taught him. This would be a special remembrance of any son with any father, but all the more so when we consider that Solomon’s father was King David, the greatest of Israel’s earthly kings. King David taught him well and Solomon received the lessons, valuing wisdom so much that he asked for it above all other things, Solomon continued in his remembrance of his father’s teaching to him. King David taught Solomon that if he remained on the path of wisdom, and loved wisdom, it would preserve him and keep him safe. King David communicated more than the facts of wisdom; he wanted Solomon to love and value and honor wisdom. We sense that Solomon received an appropriate satisfaction in fulfilling his duty to teach his son wisdom, even as his father taught him

To stay on the path of the just, one must give attention to what they speak. Deceitful and perverse words are used to cover deceitful and perverse actions and lead one further along the way of the wicked. If one could actually never speak in an impure or perverse way and determine to never do things that must be covered with a deceitful mouth, they would go a long way to avoiding the works of the wicked.In this regard, we appreciate something of the irony and tragedy of Solomon’s life.

Proverbs Chapter 5: This explains the reason why it was important for the son to hold on to discretion and knowledge – those things would be tested by the enticements of an immoral woman. Honey is sweet and oil is pleasant, and these represent the temptations of immorality. · If the sexual immorality is desired out of a perceived impulse of love, maturity and stability would say, “If I really loved this person I would not act against their interest and my own. I will reject this immorality because I do in fact love them and will express my love only in ways that would honor God and His people.” Solomon didn’t advise his son to stay in the immoral woman’s presence and test his ability to resist her seductions. The best defense was distance; to not even go near the door of her house. Adultery and sexual immorality ruin lives. God’s command that our sexual relationships remain only in the covenant of marriage was not given to take away from our life and enjoyment, but to add to it. Solomon reminded his son that God had provided his wife for his sexual needs. Instead of neglecting what God had given, he should renew his gratitude and focus upon what God has blessed. In conclusion be far from fornication and adultery.

Proverbs Chapter 6: Solomon warned his son against guaranteeing the debts of others, whether they were a friend or a stranger. This was the promise to pay the debts of the friend or stranger if they failed to pay. To promise to pay the debts of another person is to put yourself in a trap. It is a promise made with the words of your mouth but will affect and afflict your wallet or purse.

Solomon spoke wisdom to the sluggard – essentially, the lazy man or woman. That lazy person should learn from the ant, an insect proverbial for hard work. The ant is wise and worthy of imitation because she works hard without having to be told to work hard. The ethic of diligence comes from within and does not have to be imposed by a captain, overseer or ruler.

Solomon asked the lazy man to give account for his ways. The thought is, “You want to sleep – how long? There is life to be lived and work to be done.” Solomon imagined the lazy man saying this. He claimed that he only needed a little sleep, but actually he needed to work more. The lazy man will find that poverty and need come upon him quickly. The sluggard loves to procrastinate and think things can always be done later. The hard worker can look forward to later; for the lazy man it will come like a prowler.

Proverbs 1-3

Ch.1

Foolish people not requiring wisdom which comes from God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Summary: God wants us to come to him for wisdom. Seek him and the kingdom.

Ch. 2

For the Lord giveth wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Summary: God is our protector from our mistakes in our life. For us to have eternal life with God in the life to come.

Ch.3

Lean not to thine own understanding and in all our ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.

Summary: God wants us to trust him.

Ps 1-2

 Ps 1 starts off speaking of those who follow in God’s ways and those that do not.  It says blessed are those who delight in the law (ways) of the Lord and who meditate on his word day and night.  This reminds me of Joshua 1:8 where God instructs us to “meditate” on the word day and night, meaning you must read it more than once and as you read it, He begins to speak through His word to you directly on a personal level.   

 It also speaks about that person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whatever they do will prosper.  Take heed because as you meditate on his word, He will lead, guide and direct you. He will give you instructs and as you follow those instructs, it will yield good fruit. --- good result. Continues with a comparison of the righteous and the wicked.  For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads only to destruction.  Know that you cannot do anything evil or wicked and get good results. 

 

In Psalm 2, talks about the power and authority of the Lord and that the nations are God’s inheritance and that He will rule over them with justice and righteousness. It is actually a prayer for all nations, which we know in these days that’s definitely needed.  It ends with blessed are those who takes refuges in Him.

Job 40

God gave a thought provoking response to job. God was telling job how wrong he was to think He (God )was unjust in His judgement and to think he can put blames on Him .

“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?"...

God's greatness is incomparable. He is the creator of heaven and earth and all that are in it.

God also spoke of the huge beast Behemoth how He had created it to be a great animal .

Lessons

In life we could find ourselves a similar situation as Job. We could find ourselves questioning God. Asking if He has been fair at all. But we should always remember that His plans are not to bring us to destruction but to build us and shape us for His glory. He will definitely save us.

Job 41

In this chapter God continues in his response to Job. He spoke about the Leviathan . According to Wikipedia, the Leviathan is a huge sea serpent. God spoke of the immense strength and the greatness of this creature.

“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope? Can you put a cord through its nose or pierce its jaw with a hook?..."

The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. Iron it treats like straw and bronze like rotten wood. Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones are like chaff to it. A club seems to it but a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance. .."

Job 42

Job gave his reply to God . “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted..." Job said he was hearing the voice of God before but now he has seen God . He then repented covering himself with ashes and dusts.

Meanwhile "After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has . They were asked to take seven bulls and seven rams and bring them to Job so he could pray for them.

So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

He had seven sons and three daughters. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.

Lessons

God's thoughts for are not of evil but good. No matter what we might be facing today we will come out with celebration at last.

God replies to Job’s suffering

Chapter 35

Defending God's Inaction

neither will the Almighty [regard/take notice of] it. So, Elihu asserts that God refuses to hear the cry of people who are in distress – but in that distress they don't seek after God and don't seek his help and don't recognize him as the one who gives joy and wisdom.

Lesson

Although thou sayest thou shall not see him

God is indeed invisible in his nature and essence, but is to be seen in his works of creation and providence; which Job was acquainted with, and in which he had seen somewhat of the glory of God, and of his divine perfections in them

Chapter 36

Elihu argues that Job's suffering is an opportunity for Job to hear God speaking to him, turn from wickedness, and find God's deliverance. He warns Job that if Job keeps worrying about the fate of the wicked, Job might venture too far down the path of wickedness himself and miss God's deliverance altogether.

Lesson

the value of patience, perseverance, and the importance of holding our tongue, not to mention God's faithfulness, restorative power, and goodness.

Chapter 37

we come to the end of Elihu's response to Job. Elihu began his speech by addressing Job's friends, telling them that they were speaking from their own understanding, Elihu, however, states that he has received understanding from God and gives glory to God alone.

lesson

believe and trust in God

In these chapters Jobs friends continue to uphold the traditional understanding of divine retribution, suggesting that Job’s suffering is a direct consequence of his sins. Job, on the other hand, maintains his innocence, and six answers from God. The debate between Joe and his friends intensifies as he grapple with the fundamental questions of suffering, justice, and the nature of God.

Job Chapter 29

Job longed not only for the days before he lost his children and health and wealth; he especially longed for the days before he lost his sense of God’s closeness, there was a time when he felt that God watched over him, and those days were gone. Job fondly remembered the days when it seemed that God was for him rather than against him. Job painted a beautiful picture of his former happy life. He genuinely felt that he was in fellowship with God and the blessing flowed in to every area of his life. Job described how his reputation for wisdom and goodness was deserved. He was a man full of good and noble works, especially to the poor and disadvantaged. Job is also a tremendous example of how a wealthy and powerful man should live his life; not in selfish indulgence, but in care and concern for the less fortunate.

Job Chapter 30

Job was tortured by the irony of it all. The sons of men whom Job would not even put with the dogs of his flock were now his mockers and critics. Job again described his present crisis. He described the persistent, gnawing pains that were ever with him; but for him it was first a crisis of the soul. This was the worst aspect of Job’s suffering, the sense that God had forsaken him. He undeniably felt that God was against him. Indeed, Job felt that God wanted to and would destroy him.

Job felt, “God, you are more merciful than this. You would not afflict a pitiful heap of ruins if only it would cry out to You.” Job wondered why God did not respond to his cries. Job wondered why God did not treat him with the same kindness he had often shown to others. Perhaps Job tried to just take it easy and not get so troubled over his problems, but for him it was impossible. His physical and spiritual agony was more than it seemed he could bear, or his friends could relate to.

Job Chapter 31

This whole chapter is occupied with Job’s solemn oath of innocence. It was his final and explicit answer to the line of argument. In defending his righteous life, Job began with explaining that he was a morally pure man who did not look upon a young woman in impure and inappropriate ways.

Job 24-28

Ch. 24

The Oppressed

It highlights on the poor and needy people being abused by wicked people. The people went into hiding in the desert from the wicked people. Job’s friends think that Job is wicked and being punished. Thieves, cruelty and fearful. God allows the wicked people to go unpunished for a while but are destroyed later.

Summary: How we judge people when God doesn’t punish them. Vengeance is mine says the Lord.

Ch. 25

The Greatness of God

Summary: God has shown his people how great he is and his power. We need to surrender.

Ch. 26

Job responding to his friend Bildad

Summary: We can agree to disagree and still love one another. Truth should always be told.

Ch. 27

Job teaches his friends about Gods power

They all agree in time that the wicked/unrighteous people will be punished for there wrong /sins against him and others.

Summary: God will deal with our sins in his timing and not our timing.

Ch.28

Job remains faithful to God

Where can we find wisdom

Summary: God reveals only what he wants us to know in the right time. If we walk in righteousness he will reveal some of his secrets that he has for us. We got to seek/ ask him.