“If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.”

There are all kinds of parents in this world. Some care too much for their children, some care too little, and still, others are variations of the two. For the ‘too much’, this Proverb stands and condemns the ungrateful. For the ’too little’, it warns the unwary. For the vain, this proverb is the ‘get away free’ card. For the abusive, it is a gateway of doom. If this is what awaits the victim before a righteous God, then what is in store for the abuser?

Ephesians 6:4 helps us to gain a fuller view of the parent/child picture:

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

When we looked at Jesus, we saw Him in the garden praying a prayer that wasn’t going to get answered. His reply, as told in Luke 22:42, was not to curse God, but was in submission to Him:

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

We kept our eyes on Jesus and saw Him on the cross. Again, He didn’t curse God. He didn’t follow the advice from Job’s wife in Job 2:9, to “curse God and die.” He didn’t sing “Good Good Father”, by Chris Tomlin, either. He said, in Matthew 27:46,

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Whatever peace filled David when he wrote Psalm 27:10,

“Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close,”

was turned on its head as in Psalm 22. Even so, Jesus did not curse His heavenly Father. Because of that, not only did Jesus not get snuffed out, He is the Light of the world, John 8:12.

More than the coming New Year, and clearer than your glasses, Jesus fulfilled Proverbs 20:20 for the salvation of us all.

“A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.”

Avoidance, the way of wisdom. It is written to protect the traveler, to bring one through their journey to Wisdom’s house unscathed. We will meet many kinds of people during our days, and trust is a valuable commodity that leads straight to our treasure rooms. The gossip, one of the 5 members of Folly’s house, will betray those who seek passage through the lands of this life. They will betray that trust, your confidence, and leave your treasures to the birds who will rob you blind. This proverb stands as another warning sign to passersby, much like a deer crossing sign, or a falling rocks sign on the road, but with a bit more prejudice. Watch out! Don’t trust them! Protect yourself!

This way of wisdom explains so much of our philosophy of success. It is much like a protective father to his daughter who is of marrying age. He wants her to find a man who will love, cherish, and protect her all the days of her life. Or like advice from a leadership manual which teaches people who to allow on your team and who to not. Or even a health coach on which foods to eat and which to avoid. A business owner/entrepreneur on what is a good or poor investment. The road to Wisdom’s house is the road to success emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually. And its fulfillment reveals the power of the Gospel.

When we thought of how Jesus fulfilled this proverb, our philosophy of success, we saw how Jesus invaded Folly’s house. We looked at who He ministered to and those He allowed on His team. Peter fit the bill of the gossip/talebearer, one who talked too much and betrayed Jesus. He could also be seen as the violent man, but I think that role belonged to Barabbas.  Judas Iscariot, the perverse man, who let his greed guide his actions and betrayed Jesus. Nathanael, the sluggard, who was found lying beneath a fig tree but not found later beneath the cross. Levi and other tax collectors, the scoundrel.  Prostitutes, lepers, and the demon-possessed finish out the inhabitants of Folly’s house and others of whom it was taught to avoid.

Jesus’ life consequentially doesn’t fit our understanding of success, but He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John 14:6. When we read of what happened to those He discipled and how they suffered after Jesus’ resurrection we witness the power of His redemption, His Kingdom, Hebrews 11:35-38. 1 & 2 Peter tell us of the impact Jesus had on a gossip, even a violent man. The path to Wisdom’s House that Jesus fulfilled opened the way for those at Folly’s House to be redeemed, healed, and made into new creations, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for invading Folly’s house and setting the captives free! Thank You for Your death and resurrection which gives us new life free from the wages of sin and death! Thank You for coming again to bring us to the Father! Come, Lord Jesus, come! Revelation 22:20.

“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”

This was a proverb that again opened the door to the suffering of the world. Like with 20:1, we get a window view into the lives of those who live at Folly’s house. It’s meal time, and they’ve gathered around the table to eat bread gained from fraud. Every bite is a reminder. The very source to sustain life has been gained by illegitimate means. The short victory of gaining food in this way rots the insides of those who consume it. They know it may extend their days here, but at what cost? In this proverb, the food turns to gravel, but Proverbs 9:17-18 reveals who it is who are at the table, the dead.

World hunger is a problem that continues after every mouthful. There are many who fight against the tide but it is like fighting the waves of the ocean. Its constant unending reminder of wave after wave reveals the depth of the suffering experienced by many of the world’s poorest. If an extension of life is gained what does it matter how food is obtained? This proverb points at the problem but reveals no answer but judgment.

Jesus came as the Bread of Life, John 6:25-59. He came as the new bread from heaven, the manna the Israelites ate in the book of Exodus chapter 16. The Gospel of John reveals the problem and the answer in 6:58, “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Jesus is the Bread of Life this world needs. He is the only bread that gives eternal life to those who consume Him. Come gather at His table and eat.  For while food gained by fraud becomes gravel, food gained by faith grants eternal life.

“Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.”

As we happened upon this signpost on the road to Wisdom’s house, I read a brief description of the Proverb and it confirmed my suspicions. This was a, “Don’t do this!” proverb; a stop sign, if you will. It was basically saying to not trust someone that puts their trust in a stranger. Be ready to be disappointed. Then hold them in even stricter distrust if they put theirs in a foreigner. This spoke to me of a common logic: If you don’t know them, don’t trust them, or people who do. A saying I grew up hearing that sounds similar is, “Don’t talk to strangers,” even though most abuses I’ve heard about don’t come from strangers but family members.

When we began to unpack this proverb in light of Jesus, I was left in wonder. First, my older translation read: “a wayward woman,” instead of the more updated, “an outsider”. We looked at Jesus and found again, like in 19:26, that He had fulfilled it in a most peculiar way. The Gospel of John displays a great retracing of this, beginning with John 8:1-11. Jesus clearly interceded for a wayward woman. His clothes, like in the proverb, were taken as it is written in John 19:22-23 as a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18.

Only Jesus could walk this path. Only He could accomplish and fulfill the road to Wisdom’s house. He paid the price for the wayward. He paid it for me and for you. Again, like in 19:26, this proverb exposed the building blocks of the Kingdom of God. May we follow in His footsteps.

“Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.”

As soon as we read this verse, my daughter cheered for her treasure room. She knew that this rare jewel was one she wanted! Gold and rubies are commonplace next to this jewel, especially in this time and place. Here was a Coin Proverb that didn’t contrast the plight of the wicked with the blessings of the righteous, but the form was used to display value.

When we thought of Jesus’ fulfillment, we recognized that the knowledge He came to give opened the door to our salvation, the rarest of jewels given to all who believe. Like the Pearl of Great Price in Matthew 13:45, it is worth more than all we have. Even as a child, it was written in the Gospel of Luke 2:52, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Again, God’s favor was on Jesus and on Him was placed the burden of our sins, 1Peter 2:24, that He might open the Way for us to be free from its price.

Now normally I would finish here, but my time among the charismatics revealed another understanding of this verse in regards to ‘words of knowledge’, 1 Corinthians 12:8. My limited understanding of this is that the Holy Spirit gives us words to bless others and encourage their faith. May these words do the same.

“Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.”

At first, we were reminded of the sluggard and the farmer who ‘doesn’t plow in season’, 20:4.  We spent some time talking about the ways we love sleep.  My youngest is a big fan and usually is the last one up in the morning.  Specifically, we focused on ways that bring no increase to our lives.  Even though we need the rest sleep gives, in the light of other proverbs about the sluggard, we understood this idea of the love of sleep as bringing nothing beneficial to our lives.  My kids brought up video games which absorb hours of life with nothing to show for it.  Besides being entertained for the time invested, I couldn’t really argue.  Their point was valid.  We live in a culture addicted to entertainment, some good and helpful, but most not.  My kids already talk about looking back on their past and wanting to see more than a list of video games that they beat.

Then we focused on how Jesus fulfilled this proverb and we were immediately swept up in the imagery of sleep from the prophets of old, the mouthpieces of God.  Isaiah 60:1 speaks to a despondent nation due to their disobedience to the laws of God.  A Hope is given, one that comes to fulfill what the hearts of man cannot,

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

The apostle Paul speaks again of this in the complete fulfillment of God’s plan, Ephesians 5.  Jesus comes to bring light to our darkened lives, a light fulfilled by the Holy One of God.

“But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Sometimes, like my son, we need help to wake up.  Praise be to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who alone is the Light that wakes us from our sleep.  May we awaken to the vast treasures that “can never perish, spoil, or fade”, 1 Peter 1:4, kept in heaven for us.