We are still in the book ofProverbs for today’s lesson. For those of you who have never taken the time to read Proverbs,maybe you should. It is filled with common sense wisdom and every day learning. Today we look at Proverbs 17:19-22 “He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exaltheth his gate seek destruction. He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
These few verses are so powerful in their wording. The message screams at anyone who will listen. Let us look at the first verse. “He loveth transgression that loveth strife.” Think about that for a moment. Those who love to trangress (if you don’t know the meaning of the word, look it up) so enjoy strife. The meaning of strife is bitter or violent conflict. Now doesn’t that ring a bell with the temperature of the country at the moment. Those two words go hand in hand. Because who ever loves to quarrel lives in sin and whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. Moving on to verse 20 – we are told that a person with forward heart finds no good. In other words, those folks whos heart is corrupt will never posper and if his tongue is perverse all he will do is fall into trouble where ever trouble happens to be. As I watch the things going on in the world today this is more and more prevalent. I really like the next verse it sheds light on the rioting and looting and total destruction of our towns. “He that begeth a fool doeth it to his sorrow and the father of a fool hath no joy.” I wonder what the parents of those children feel as they watch their children on national TV for all the world to see act so foolish. I wonder if it brings grief to their lives. The Bible tells us it does. These same children will one day have to explain to their children the cost of being so foolish , when their children do the same thing only worse. The last verse states that a merry heart is like a good medicine while a broken spirit dries up the bones. Oh my dears, how true this is. There is nothing but broken spritis running around like humans as their bones are dried up . These spirits would rather tear down as opposed to building up which is what a merry heart does. A merry heart gives the receiver the feeling of comfort and safety. Whereas, the broken spirit creates a void. Are we collectivly creating a void? Are we moving toward destruction? Are we not going to prosper as a nation because of what is going on around us? Our children are the product of their teachings both at home and school. These proverbs were true when they were written and they are true today. God sees all. As a nation we have become extremely foolish and spirits of dried bones . #proverbs,#god,#nation