Dan Cooley's Blog, page 26

Old Faces Can't Play Poker

[image error]Have you ever noticed how people become more what they are like inside as they age? You can see their heart in their face if they live long enough. The bitter seem to look it - those who are gracious somehow look like grace.

Maybe that is what is meant by  Pr 27:19 (MSG) Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart.

No wonder old people play bingo instead of poker.

I wonder how we will look when we are old?

 

Fitting NM verse

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Pr 26:18 (MSG) People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, "I didn't mean it, I was only joking," 19 Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.

Which, we have learned again this summer, is really bad.

Bizarre Burning Coals Verse

[image error]Is this verse weird or what? Proverbs is fun.

Pr 25:21 (NIV) If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

So, do good to your enemies so that God will reward you and blast them? Is that what this is teaching?

I'd think it was just a misunderstood, obscure Old Testament passage, but then Paul quotes it in Romans 12:20.

I looked for explanations. One commentary said that giving coals was like giving food and water. That when a person's fire went out they would need to borrow some live coals and would carry them home "on his head," so it was a "neighborly, kind act; it made friends, not enemies."

Really?

I don't believe it.

You put coals in a pan and it is HOT! You don't then put it on your head! Besides, the passage says you are heaping "coals on his head," not heating his house.

Another explanation comes from an Egyptian ritual in which a guilty but repentant person wold carry a pan of burning coals on his head as a sign of repentance. The idea here is that treating an enemy kindly may cause him to repent. But, is this really what both the Israelite in 1000 BC and the Romas in 50 AD would have thought of when reading this verse?

Romans gives some context. Ro 12:19 (NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Could it be the passage means what it says? That if we take revenge, it removes room for God's wrath, but if we respond by doing good, God will respond as needed (heap burning coals in order to bring repentance?)

So, do good to your enemies so that God will reward you and blast them? Is that how we overcome evil by doing good? Is that what this is teaching?

Makes more sense to me than trying to make friends by sticking a hot pan of coals on your neighbors head.

Proverbs is fun, eh?

 

 

4 Things I’d like to ask God about Proverbs 21…

[image error]Is the best way to lead to get out of His way? If so, how do I do that? Pr 21:1 (MSG) Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

How do I know my motives? 2 We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives.

Will giving in the good times really help me get money when the hard times come? Pr 21:13 (NLT) Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. Pr 21:7 (MSG) The wicked get buried alive by their loot because they refuse to use it to help others. Pr 21:26 (MSG) Sinners are always wanting what they don't have; the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.

Did Solomon regret all those wives? Pr 21:9 (MSG) Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse. Pr 21:19 (MSG) Better to live in a tent in the wild than with a cross and petulant spouse.

Looking

[image error]Pr 20:24 (NIV) A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Looking ahead - it's worry and wonder and clouded understanding.

Looking back - it's encouragement and wonder and understanding grace.

 

Pv 19 for the 19th..

[image error]There are so many "Fear-of-God" verses. My translation (as Fear-of-God is rather hard to understand) is "Take God seriously." Somehow helps me to apply it: Pr 19:23 (MSG) Fear-of-God is life itself, a full life, and serene—no nasty surprises.

And a fun, "too-true" verse: Pr 19:3 (MSG) People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?

Fav 3 from Proverbs 18

[image error]Totally True In My Life: Pr 18:22 (MSG) Find a good spouse, you find a good life— and even more: the favor of God!

Reminds me of Terry: Pr 18:24 (MSG) Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

My favorite college verse, given to me by my Uncle Jules: Pr 18:10 (NLT) The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.

Political Proverb

[image error]It's hard to read this Proverb in an election year and not think about the upcoming campaign, ads, and debates.

Pr 17:7 (NLT) Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.

 

 

Pulling Out My Hair

[image error]Pr 16:31 (NLT) Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.

So... Why do I keep pulling it out?

It's a mini-picture of our culture. We worship youth and put up with old people. Not wanting to age (or not wanting others to know our age) we pull out our gray hair and pay for surgery to remove wrinkles.

But God says age should be a crown of glory.

Is something wrong with us?

Pr 16:20 (NLT) Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

Maybe we would be more joyful if we saw some of the effects of old age as a crown of glory? I say some. He mentions gray hair, not dementia.

 

Forever in Blue Jeans

[image error]Do you remember Neil Diamond's song Forever in Blue Jeans?

Think he read Proverbs?

Pr 15:17 (MSG) Better a bread crust shared in love than a slab of prime rib served in hate.