Category Archives: Parental Tools

Spiritfire Proverbs 24:30-34 “The Sluggard’s Redemption”

I went past the field of a sluggard,
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

The sluggard once again proves a truth.  One cannot be a sluggard and receive what only the farmer reaps: a harvest.  This is a truth that finds itself in the very order of the universe, fallen though it is.  Genesis 3:17-19 reveals how it became so.  Before the Fall, humankind walked with God in the Garden.  How can there be a Garden without a Gardener?  The “work” then was accomplished by God’s presence and it was through intimacy that the harvest was given.  Because of Adam’s disobedience, the Fall cursed man to instead earn his food by “painful toil” and “the sweat of ‘his’ brow”.  Is the core then of the sluggard’s folly ignoring the plight and punishment, the fate of humankind?  What does one expect when “Cursed is the ground because of you” and “It will produce thorns and thistles for you”?  It should be no surprise then as Proverbs 24:31 reveals the inheritance of the sluggard.
 
After my daughter reminded us of the comedy of folly in 22:13, we looked closer to answer ‘Where is Jesus?  How did He fulfill this proverb to make us into new creations?”  A restoration of intimacy with God was the goal, when His very presence – His holy order arranged and did the ‘work’ of the Garden.  It is of this intimacy that is spoken of in John chapter 3 as believers are ‘born again’ by their faith in Jesus.  Compare both Proverbs 24:30-34 with John 3:1-21.  It is because of Jesus and our faith in Him that gives us a mirror to see our true inheritance: eternal life.  He wore the thorns on His brow, Matthew 27:29.  He turns the weeds into blessings that give strength instead of stealing it from the soil, Hebrews 6. The stone wall that was once in ruins is built anew by Jesus’ blood.  He is the Repairer of the Breach (Isaiah 58:12), and is the Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-8) of the spiritual house of the people of God.
 
In the mirror, Jesus stands opposite of the sluggard. His work was in perfect obedience with God, Romans 5:18-19. Even the sluggard is made righteous along with the other inhabitants of Folly’s house should they choose to be made new. As many could see Jesus’ neighbor on the cross to be a sluggard as he chose his last living minute to ask Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom, Luke 23:40-43.

Spiritfire 24:28-29 “The Proverbial Doughnut, I mean Do Not”

“Do not testify against your neighbor without cause,

or use your lips to deceive.
Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me;
     I’ll pay that man back for what he has done.”

Here we have a pair of ‘doughnuts’, I mean ‘Do Nots’.  The proverbial ‘Do Nots’ always stand as warning signs along the pathway to Wisdom’s house.  Only those who wish to avoid the traps and be left for the “Do not” maker’s cart, heed them.  The “Do Not” maker looks familiarly like a doomsday Swedish chef from the Muppets.  If you happen to witness him as he goes about his work you will see that he pushes what looks like a large lopsided bakery cart.  His business is to retrieve the trapped foolish pilgrims that have fallen into the cages the signs warned to avoid.  He would then load them onto his cart.  He only has one stop after he picks up all his passengers, Folly’s house.  If you listen closely as he passes by you will first hear the odd song his cart plays as its wheels turn.  Then you will hear him boisterously sing to the music, repeating the sayings of past “Do not” warning signs.  “Do not lie in wait…”

As we read this pair, I offered that we should look at them separately to be used for two Spiritfires.  To me, they seemed to be speaking to separate audiences regarding two separate warnings along the path to Wisdom’s house.  My daughter disagreed.  Over the years, I have learned to listen to her as her thoughts are often sharper than my own.  “She has an ‘old soul,’” people would say who knew her.  They don’t know the half of it.  So, I stopped and looked at the proverbs again and saw how both could be applied to the same person as a complete thought.  In an offense/defense sort of play, or to keep with the doughnut metaphor, half of it has chocolate frosting, the other vanilla:  The first warning is what may have been done to you, the second what you may want to do in return.  This was demonstrated the most obviously in the answer to my favorite question, “How did Jesus fulfill this proverb to make us into new creations?”

At the end of Jesus’ days among us which culminated in His crucifixion, death and resurrection, there were those who testified against Him and made false accusations about Him.  They didn’t fulfill this proverb as much as fell into it by disobedience, Mark 14:55-59.  The music of the “Do Not” maker’s cart could be heard as Jesus’ accusers were stuck fast in the cage of the first proverb’s warning.  The “Do Not” maker then loaded them onto his cart bound for folly’s house.  As previously stated, their lies lead to Jesus’ crucifixion at which point the 2nd proverb found its fulfillment by obedience, Luke 23:34.  By offering His attackers forgiveness instead of retribution, we see the great love accomplished there for the salvation of those who repent and believe in Him, John 3:16.  The “Do Not” maker’s surprise was genuine as he looked over at the empty cage of the 2nd proverb.  At that moment, Jesus not only escaped the clutches of Folly’s house, where the dead lie, but He offered a new ride to a new House, one not made by human hands, 2 Corinthians 5:1.  

In another light, we find how these two Proverbs’ receive fulfilled reflections in the character of Jesus.  “Tell your neighbor, whom I love, use your lips for Truth,” John 4:39.  Or again, “I’ll do for him what he can’t do for himself; I’ll forgive him all his debts.”  In this way, we see how “An eye for an eye” – Leviticus 24:19-21, becomes the healing of both eyes and man, John 9:1-12.  Each of the “Do nots” become “Do’s” and are a foretaste of God’s Kingdom instead of traps headed for Folly’s House, that precursor of Hell.  We see the invitation given by the sharing of the Truth.  It opens them up to repentance and the redemption offered by Jesus’ blood on their behalf.  The “Do not” maker is given a new task.  Now he posts lights upon the way to God’s Kingdom as He sings of His amazing grace.

Spiritfire Proverbs 24:27 “The Master Plan”

Finish your outdoor work
     and get your fields ready;
     after that, build your house.
 
For a long time, the fulfillment of the wisdom of God was a concept I had not fully realized.  I believed Jesus was that fulfillment, but to see how He did so in such a practical manner when applied to the book of Proverbs is breathtaking.  The Gospel of Jesus has become even more vividly clear when seen through that book’s fulfillment.  I had only vaguely heard about such an OT appropriation from a seminarian professor who sarcastically told me about Origen’s comparison between the arks’ wooden floor boards and Jesus’ saving power.  I feel I must make something clear, I didn’t read ahead and prepare what we would talk about before our time together.  We would pray and invite the Holy Spirit to fill us and our home and open our eyes as we read.  It was a simple prayer, but has become filled with excitement as the Holy Spirit would show up and answer us every time.
 
Again, I didn’t research or prep myself in any way.  We would simply read the proverb, then I’d ask my kids what it meant.  We’d talk about it and Betsy and I would answer any questions, or look up stuff in case we couldn’t.  For this one, we looked at it from the perspective of farmers, which we are not.  The proverb showed that they have an order to their work, and we spoke about the wisdom of it.  If we finished our outdoor work, and got the fields ready, then built our house, the fields would grow as we would build.  Then harvest time and a finished house would converge!  If we did it the other way and built our house first before we got the fields ready we’d miss the window by not planting the crops in time.  It’s probably much more practical than this and is about money.  Sell the harvest then build because now you can afford it.
 
Then, I asked the question, “How did Jesus fulfill this proverb to make us into new creations?”  That is when this proverb got interesting.  My kids each took their turn seeing this as Jesus’ master plan.  “Finish your outdoor work” could be applied to His ministry among the disciples.  “Get your fields ready” could be applied in a similar way as Jesus’ statement in John 4:35, “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!  They are ripe for harvest.”, or as He said in Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”  His work of guiding His followers to a better way through his teachings by parables helped to clear the fields so they could receive His message. Miracles, signs, and wonders also helped to plant the seeds of His Kingdom.  “Build your house” could be seen as in John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”  And as said in 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”  Hebrews 13:14 also states, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”
 
As it is written in 1 Corinthians 1:24, “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God,” we see Jesus as the Master Gardener using this plan as recorded here as His plan for His ministry among us.  Growing us as His new crop, 2 Corinthians 5:17, clothing us in His righteousness, Galatians 3:27, and preparing for us a home in Heaven, Hebrews 11:16.

Spiritfire Proverbs 24:26 “The Honest Answer”

An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
 
When we looked into the window of this proverb to gaze upon the seed of wisdom it contained, we were met with a vision; a journey already begun, and we found ourselves looking deeper in to discover its mysteries. I looked to my kids and asked, “What do we need to have before we have an answer?” They thought it over for a second, then Caleb announced, “A question!” “Yes! Now we’re getting into the thick of it. And what is the question?” As I asked this my daughter made the curious whine of the Skeksis Chamberlain from the Dark Crystal. We spoke of the courtroom scene many of the proverbs find their meaning and application within. We discussed again briefly the previous verses 24:23-25 and my son Jack summarized by asking, “Are you guilty?”
 
We created a scenario of a father who stole bread for his starving family. Yes, he was guilty, but the answer he gave to the judge was an honest one and had a really good reason. Now it was the baker, honest or corrupt, who needed recompense. In that scenario, and in this proverb, we realized it wasn’t a ‘guilty’ or ‘innocent’ verdict that was desired but an honest one.
 
Then I asked, “Where is Jesus? How did he fulfill this proverb to make us into new creations?” We were eventually lead back to the question, “Are you guilty?” Romans 3:23 states clearly that no one is perfect, all are guilty. Jesus, then, is our honest answer. As in the preceding and following verses, Romans 3:21-26, Jesus is our righteousness through our faith in Him. We are justified not by our actions but by His, Romans 5:1. For it was by God’s wisdom that the earth was made, Jeremiah 10:12, and it was fulfilled in Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:24. Now, because of Jesus and what was accomplished through Him on the cross, we are made into new creations, 2 Corinthians 5:17. May His name be praised!

Spiritfire Proverbs 24:21 “Caleb’s Answer”

Fear the LORD and the king, my son,
and do not join with the rebellious,
for those two will send sudden
destruction upon them,
and who knows what calamities
they can bring.
 
We had company over the day we did this Spiritfire. After the intro’s and the declarations, we began exploring this Proverb through the lens of fear. What did it provide? A choice. We chose to obey rather than to rebel. Much like there are separate houses for the discerning and the fools, our obedience parted ways with the rebellious. If we were to join them to their destination, then their destruction and calamity would be ours as well. The deterrent would not be clear who it was for and justice would not be served. Fear kept us on a better path free from punishment and calamity.  Obedience aligns the kingdoms’ citizens with the will of their sovereign. When justly appropriated, then “justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
 
When I asked my kids and their friends where was Jesus? How does He fulfill this proverb to make us into new creations?  I heard many answers. A few said, “He is the LORD!” Some also said, “He is the King,” or “Jesus is the Son!” I heard them all, and nodded to each in turn.  When they had quieted down, I asked again, “Yes, but where is He?” Then my son Caleb, who is normally silent, said, “He is with the rebellious.” Everyone paused for a second and let the truth of that thought take flight like Noah’s dove. It is true, time and time again, we find Jesus, our LORD and King, the Son of God, with the sinners, the rebellious.  And the calamity of the cross was not evaded (Mark 15:21-41). The fulfillment of this proverb was acted out upon His flesh and a door was opened, the salvation of humankind.  And through that door flew in Noah’s dove with a leaf in her mouth (Genesis 8:6-12).  Jesus is the Living Water (John 4:14) which flows from the throne in Heaven (Revelation 22:1), giving life for all who believe in Him (John 3:16).

Spiritfire- Proverbs 24:11 “A Star Wars-ian Proverb”

“Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
 
This was a rather odd way to begin a proverb.  No mention of the houses, or even of the innocence of those “being led away to death.”  True, we have read many proverbs that would allow us to assume that “they” would require innocence before such aid would be given.  Would we or should we rescue the guilty from their justified fate?
 
Our journey to explore the depths of this proverb lead us to “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….”  For it was in the third episode of the book of Boba Fett that Boba rescued a gang of cyberpunk kids by paying off a portion of their debt to a local water vendor.  Since there was no work with which they could attempt to pay the vendor’s exorbitant fee, Boba Fett recruited the gang to work for him.  My kids got to witness first hand how Boba Fett used the wisdom in this proverb to secure members for his personal army.
 
When I asked them “Where is Jesus?” in this Star Wars-ian Proverb, the line between what Boba Fett did for the cyberpunks and what Jesus did for humankind couldn’t be clearer.  Again, Boba Fett paid a part of what was owed for the gang’s theft.  Jesus paid it all.  He was the One “being led away to death” – a death on the cross.  A death we deserved but of which He was innocent.  He was the One “staggering toward slaughter”.  No one rescued Him or held Him back and because of His sacrifice, a way was paid for us to become new creations adopted into His family.   Our thievery, our sins, though they be like scarlet were washed white as snow and now we are made blameless in His sight, Isaiah 1:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:3-10.

Spiritfire- Proverbs 22:14, “Deep Pit, Living Stone”

“The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
     he who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.”
 
Here, we have the preeminent member of folly’s household.  The adulteress is the eldest of their number for she garnered special attention for her notoriety in earlier chapters.  The development of Folly’s house throughout the book of Proverbs seems to have had its beginning at her corner, at the time of night and darkness.  The simple go there, those who ‘lack sense’, 7:7-9.  In verses 10-20 we heard a clear picture of what she wants and what happens to those who heed her call.  7:27 revealed the ultimate destination of those who enter ‘her house’, which becomes the end for all the members of Folly’s House.
 
After being exposed to the Adulteress’s wicked ways early on in chapter 2:16-19, it is easy to develop a hatred for her.  After all, “For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead.” 2:18.  The opposite belong to those who avoid her words, “Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble,” 3:23.  Other members of Folly’s house- the violent man, perverse man, and mocker, find their first mentioning after the adulteress at the end of Ch. 3; the sluggard in 6:6, scoundrel and villain v. 12, and the false witness/gossip v. 19.  No other member holds the seat most opposite of Wisdom.  This is most clearly seen when comparing chapters 4 and 5, 7 and 8.  “I guide you along the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths,” 4:11, resounds clearly against 5:5-6 and even in the previous verses of 2:13-15.  We are given the clearest definition possible of the adulteress along with instruction to avoid her at all costs.
 
Where do we find Jesus?  John 8:1-11 was the most dramatic response He was forced to give to the teachers of the law and to the Pharisees.  In verse 7, He summed up the state of mankind, for all will fall before the judgement seat, Romans 14:10.  The stones Jesus said to cast will be our only rescue as our sinful lives seek a covering- to be buried under mountains, Isaiah 2:19, Luke 23:30.  Unless we are made into new creations and washed in His blood, 1 John 1:7, we are bound to our previous lives, 2 Corinthians 5:17-18.
 
When we looked further, we even found Jesus among the ridiculous verse of Proverbs 5:16.  It summed up a good description of where we find Him and the blood He shed for all who believe in Him.  His streams of Living Water pour from His throne, Revelation 22:1, and are given to all who ask, John 4:10.  Come to Jesus today and receive the gift of eternal life, Romans 6:23.  For He is called the Living stone, 1 Peter 2:1, and instead of being cast on us for sins, He is the cornerstone and “the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame,” v. 6.
 
In a way, we saw how Jesus cast Himself into the pit and became the only stone high enough to lift out those trapped there.  As they stand on Him, they hear His parting words to the adulteress in John 8:11, “Then neither do I condemn you.  Go now, and leave your life of sin.”

Spiritfire- Proverbs 22:13, “The Sluggard’s Vaccine”

“The sluggard says, ‘There is a lion outside!’
     or, ‘I will be murdered in the streets!’”
 
For my family, the ‘sluggard’ has become the comic relief in the book of Proverbs.  This approach was first shown to me  by my Old Testament professor who enjoyed describing the sluggard’s inability to feed himself in Proverbs 19:24.  For this verse, my daughter took a turn at reading it in her most terrified voice.  We pictured him giving these excuses to be his justification as to why he shuts himself inside and refuses to work.
 
Today, we have COVID-19 and this lion is invisible.  It keeps many inside for fear of bringing it to susceptible loved ones.  For just like a lion, it often preys on the weak.  Though, unlike the sluggard whose ‘imaginary’ lion was a means to an end and was what kept him in bed, COVID-19 is a very real virus, and the fear is also very real.
 
I have spoken with people across the globe who are so afraid of the pandemic infecting loved ones that they have sealed themselves inside, and only leave when necessary.  Government restrictions, however oppressive, are nothing compared to their own self-inflicted ones.  The promise of the incoming vaccine is the only hope they hold onto for deliverance.
 
For my family, regarding our devotion time, we asked ourselves “Where is Jesus?”  We saw the lion as Caiaphas, the high-priest, and we saw Jesus being led to Pilate for his inevitable execution.  After being witness to the book of Proverbs and the teachings handed down for generations from Moses to Solomon that were originally from God, we saw the wave of religious fervor that fashioned the cup Jesus prayed to be spared from, Matthew 26:39, but it could be no other way.
 
Because of Adam and Eve’s original sin, Genesis 3, humankind’s approach to the Divine had to always be behind a covering.  The Law and the temple’s veil were both such coverings and were given to us because of sin.  It could be seen then that Jesus’ death was to free us from our desperate need for a covering, and was the price that needed to be paid for that freedom- the tearing of the temple’s veil.  
 
Jesus bravely went to the sluggard’s lion and was indeed ‘murdered in the streets’.  He paid that price to free us from fear.  Jesus is the only vaccine we will ever need.

Spiritfire- Proverbs 22:12, “The Eyes of the LORD”

“The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
     but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.”
 
Here, the picture of the LORD keeping watch is reminiscent of a father keeping guard over his son.  He does this by frustrating the foolish words of the unfaithful.  Knowledge is then protected and the path to Wisdom’s house is secure.
 
If the words of the unfaithful were true and contained in them the blessings and benefits of Wisdom’s house or led to another house altogether which claimed to be greater because the reverential awe and fear of God isn’t there, then the entire matrix of the houses would be broken by folly.  Discernment, which stands as the sign differentiating between the houses, would be meaningless.  And the doom of Folly’s house would reign supreme.
 
But it is the LORD who keeps watch over knowledge, and He does not sleep, Psalm 121:1.  The words of the faithful pour forth from a pure heart.  The LORD allows them knowledge and gives them access to its hallowed halls.  It is faith that is the key, Hebrews 11:6.
 
We then spoke of Jesus, who is the Father’s Son.  It is said that God spoke 3 times regarding Jesus: Matthew 3:17- after Jesus’ baptism, Mark 9:7- during His transfiguration, and John 12:28- before His crucifixion.  2 times God spoke directly about how proud He was of His Son.  God’s eyes were fixed on Jesus, His eyes were finally upon the One who would obey Him, 2 Chronicles 16:9.
 
Jesus went to the cross and was obedient to death, (Philippians 2:8), so that all who believe in Him might be saved.  His death and resurrection fulfilled the houses, the Law and the Prophets.  He brought hope to Qoheleth, the author of Ecclesiastes, who denounced the point and purpose of discernment, Ecclesiastes 2:12-16.  He fulfilled knowledge and wisdom providing the way for us to become new creations by our faith in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:17.  He opened the way for us to gain eternal life, John 3:16.
 

Spiritfire- Proverbs 22:11, “My friend, the King”

“He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious
     will have the king for his friend.”
 
We live in a “Who Do You Know?” kind of world.  The proper connections can open doors to places that would have been closed before.  Gaining entry to such places sometimes requires a bribe, or a secret password.  Nepotism, the right clothes, and the right ethnic background can also gain you access.  For this proverb, we must go straight to the heart.  It must be pure, not fettered with selfishness, nor boastful and filled with brash arrogance.  Having a ‘pure heart’ is mentioned many times throughout Scripture as being one who loves self-sacrificially, 1 Timothy 1:5, and it is a necessity to gain the blessings of God, Psalm 24:4-5.
 
Having gracious speech is not always easy on the road or behind the wheel.  We are more prone to speak out of anger there for the price of foolish driving is too high.  Filling our mouths with wholesome words even for the foolish so that we may be regarded as obedient to Him is an area beyond the ability of many, save One.
 
When I asked my kids “Where is Jesus?”, they said, “He has the purest of hearts and the most kind of words.”  We considered Him who, on the cross, gave us the utmost definition of sacrificial love, and when He could have called down judgement on those who had crucified Him, He beseeched God to forgive them, Luke 23:34.  Jesus fulfilled all of this so that we may take on His righteousness and be made among His friends, the King of kings, John 15:15.