One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.” A foolish path is paved by the arrogant person who refuses all counsel and help. The wise man, to the contrary, seeks out, listens to, and often heeds wise counsel. May we be found in the latter group.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:14, “A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him.” This proverb stands or falls on applications of true justice: each person will receive what they are due. In God’s kindness, he absorbs our due punishment and grants us life instead. May we seek to live justly, speak truthfully, and offer mercy to others.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:13, “The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble.”the one who transgresses in their speech is setting a trap for themselves later. They are also ensnaring themselves into bigger and bigger transgressions as time moves along. May it not be so with us, by the power of Christ’s Spirit working in us.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:12, “The wicked person desires a stronghold, but the righteous root endures.” Wicked people grasp at certainty by evil means, thus producing evil. The righteous have a firm root in Christ, and therefore they produce good fruit in season. May we be rooted in Christ.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:11, “The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.” We can dream big, but we should do so in the context of what God has set before us to work after for today. God help us.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:10, “The righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel.” The righteous person loves animals — but not for the animal’s sake alone. The righteous person shows compassion to all that God has made, humans especially, and leverages all the resources under his command in order to serve the humans around him.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:9, “Better is a person of humble standing who nevertheless has a servant, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.” Reality matters more than appearance. We should care less about our self-presentation, and more about actually pursuing success and walking (speaking) in wisdom. God help us.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:8, “A person is praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one who has a twisted mind is despised.” We should actually desire praise from others, but only in right relationship to God and in accord with praiseworthy wisdom. May God help us to acquire wisdom and to speak it at the right moments.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:7, “The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand.” The house built on the firm foundation of Christ — thinking thoughts of justice, speaking words uprightly, living in nobility and strength — will leave a lasting legacy. The wicked, on the contrary, will come to nothing in the end. May we be counted among the righteous.

This episode looks at Proverbs 12:6, “The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them.” The wicked kill with their words, but the upright are delivered — if not now, then certainly when God reveals all things. May we be found in the right with our speech.