Proverbs 23  Here is some good advice:

v1-3   "When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you... do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food."   Self-control and discretion in any situation is important, especially in a place where the wrong move is a matter of life and death. 

v4-5  More good advice.. "Do not weary yourself to gain wealth.. when you set your eyes on it, it is gone."

v 6-8  This warning is about taking food from a "selfish man"..  it will come back at you.. and not in a good way!

Being just and honest and wise.. taking responsibility to raise your children well.. living in a right and reverent relationship with the Lord.. these are the things that will make your father and mother glad!

The last section, verses 29-35  are directed at the problem of drinking.. "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger over wine... " It "sparkles".. it "goes down smoothly;"  but.. "At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.. " It begins to dictate your life and negates any wisdom or understanding. 

Did Solomon experience this himself? Or did he see this happening to his son? It seems a very specific and personal warning. 

Everything we do, the Word tells us,  "whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." ( I Corinthians 10:31)  As James reminds ,  "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach and it will be given him.. " ( James 1:5)  And so we ask... 

Father in heaven, we pray for wisdom so that we can walk in the way of righteousness and truth .. to honor You and give You glory in everything we do and say.  Let Your will be done in us as we seek to obey Your word.  Oh how we need that holy wisdom from above which is  pure and peaceable, gentle and reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit.. unwavering and without hypocrisy!  Come Holy Spirit and fill us that we might "walk by the Spirit " and not "carry out the desire of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16) Let the fruit of the Spirit of God be multiplied in us we pray.. in the name of Jesus our Lord, amen. 

 Proverbs 22  Verses 17-21 "Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you. that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer to him who sent you?" 

These "words of truth"  are given to us through the book of Proverbs.. ( as well as the rest of God's word).. the Lord speaking so that we can know His ways and do what is pleasing to Him.  This chapter continues to point out the difference between a life lived in God's wisdom and grace.. and a life lived without Him.. 

God's people will value a "good name" more than riches of silver and gold. v1

Whether rich or poor.. we all have a "common bond" for .. "the Lord is the maker of them all". v2

If we follow Jesus we will flee from evil.. be humble.. guard ourselves from perverseness.. and train our children in righteousness.  We will not get ourselves into debt, becoming slaves to the lenders. We will  give generously, drive off scoffers and mockers.. and love with purity and speak graciously. 

People who know the Lord, who trust in Him and obey His Word.. will act in love and grace. They will not oppress the poor.. or take a life.. they will control their anger and  stay away from those who are "hot-tempered". They will act and speak with wisdom in all matters.. financial.. physical.. emotional.. and spiritual.  

Father  in heaven, help us to walk in Your ways today.. to make every choice according to Your teaching in wisdom and righteousness. Let Your Words fill our hearts and minds as we seek Your Presence and power in our lives for whatever lies ahead of us today.  I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Proverbs 21  Verse 1 "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes."    I believe this is a truth that we need to pray for those in leadership of our country. May God turn the hearts of our President, our Congressmen, our Judges... our Governors and any others who make important decisions that affect our country.. may He turn their hearts towards truth and justice and righteousness. 

"To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord rather than sacrifice." (v3)  Another good prayer.. for all people to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.  To do what is just.. to have mercy.. and to walk humbly with God.  "The execution of justice is joy for the righteous.." ( v15)  "He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor." (v21) 

Father, direct our hearts.. into Your love and into the steadfastness of Jesus Christ.  You weigh our hearts. You see all that it in us.  Remove the chaff.. remove the impurities.. refine us.. cleanse us.. that we might have Your heart.. to do Your will.  May we love You with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.  May we love our neighbors. May we honor You with our actions and words. May we be just and merciful.   On this "Good Friday".. may we wonder anew at the Perfect sacrifice of the Son of God.. who gave His life that we might be saved. How thankful that we have such a Wonderful Savior. Praise and honor and thanksgiving to God our Father and to the Son, Jesus Christ, and to the Spirit. Hallelujah! Amen. 

 Proverbs 20 The character of a man is determined by his choices.. does he choose to seek wisdom and understanding.. to fear God and to walk in righteousness according to God's word?  Only then will his character be honorable, noble, and pleasing to God.. for Christ will be exalted and His character will be formed in them.  

They will not be carried away with drinking and brawling.  They will not cause strife and violence. They will be trustworthy and loyal.. walking in integrity.  They will be a blessing to their families.. they will act justly and honestly. ( v1, 3, 7, 8, 10, and 23)

The Lord God sees and knows our hearts. He sees our actions and hears our words.  He searches our hearts and ordains our steps. 

"Wait for the Lord, and He will save you."( v22)  This is the promise of God's word.  So thankful!   This reminds me of a phrase from a song I heard recently that has resonated with me.. "... you will be found".  Just those words.. bring comfort and peace.. that no matter what.. no matter how I feel.. He will not let me go. I will wait on Him and He will save me.  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, you know me and care for me.  I am Your child.. the work of Your hands. I am seeking You and asking for Your wisdom and grace to fill me so that I can be the person that You want me to be. Fulfill Your purposes in me and through me.. so that the Name of Jesus is made known..  so that Your Kingdom will come and Your will be done.. in my life, my family, and my church. I lift up our country, the USA.. asking for the "evil of the wicked" to come to an end and that You would establish the righteous. ( Psalm 7:9)  In Jesus' name I ask these things. Amen. 

 Proverbs 19 Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are of much more value than wealth or fame.. over and over Solomon has made this point.. yet it was not enough for him to stay faithful to the Lord all of his days.  Nor did his son, Rehoboam, gain from the wisdom of his father.. for his first act as king of Israel was foolish.. rejecting the counsel of the elders and choosing the bad counsel of his friends.  It is somewhat ironic and so sad that they forsook the wisdom of God and lost all that He would have given them. 

Nevertheless, we can learn from these truths and gain knowledge and understanding that will help us live in ways that please God. " He who gains wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good." (v8) And so, we continue to have "ears to hear" the Word of the Lord.. earnestly seeking wisdom.. earnestly following Jesus Christ who is the Wisdom of God.. who came in the flesh to live out these truths.. "something greater than Solomon is here" Jesus taught.. ( Matthew 12:42)  It is Christ Jesus who is our "way"; our "truth".. and our "life".. Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

Proverbs 19 admonishes us to gain knowledge (v2) .. to have discretion (v11).. to be gracious to the poor..(v17) to" listen to counsel and accept discipline.." (v20);  and to "fear the Lord" which "leads to life".  (V23) To "cease listening.. to discipline"  will cause us to "stray from the words of knowledge". (v27)

It is important to know that "discipline" is more than just correction.. it means instruction, doctrine, restraint.. it is a check on wrong behavior and a training in right living.  Sometimes that can be a simple adjustment.. like when you are teaching a child to tie his shoe and you show him a step that he is missing.. Sometimes it is a major correction, like when a father stops his child from being unkind.. from being a bully.. from causing harm to another.  It is not just punishment.. although that is necessary at times.  Discipline includes all that the Word of the Lord teaches.. how to love and forgive.. to be kind and generous.. to do good and not evil. When we follow Jesus we listen to His training - all of His Words... accepting His discipline and counsel.. and it is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Father in heaven, may our ears be ears that hear.. that heed Your Word and accept Your discipline, that we might gain knowledge and have wisdom and understanding.  Thank You for the Spirit of wisdom who writes Your Words on our hearts and in our minds.  Fill us Spirit of God!  We ask this in Jesus' name. amen.

 Proverbs 18  The first 9 verses of this chapter describe a foolish man.. who seeks his own desires, "quarrels against sound wisdom";  does not "delight in understanding"; comes in contempt and dishonor;  shows partiality to the wicked; causes strife; and is lazy.  

In contrast to that.. the Wise one says.. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." 

Run into the safety of our Lord's Name.. stronger than any city; stronger than any man; stronger than any thing on this earth. 

In His name.. we find refuge and strength. We find wisdom and understanding. We find life and hope and satisfaction.  He is "a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  He is the Living Word.. Who has the power of life and death in His hands. 

This is the truth to live by today and every day.  The Word of God is our daily Bread.  So, for today, let us partake of this wisdom.. run into the Name of the Lord.. and find safety that will not fail. 

Father in heaven, it is Your Name that is holy and set on high.. may it be hallowed and honored above any other name.  May Your Kingdom, the Kingdom of Light and Love.. the Kingdom that has no end.. come!  We pray for Your will to be done on earth as it  is in heaven.  We pray for daily bread.. and thank You for the Word that feeds our souls as well as the food that fuels our bodies.  We pray that You will lead us away from temptation and into all righteousness.. for Your Name's sake.  We pray that You would forgive us every sin.. every trespass.. every debt.. and  help us to forgive others who have sinned against us.  Your's is the kingdom and the power and the glory! Thank You that we can come to You in the wonderful, powerful Name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

 Proverbs 17  This chapter focuses more on the wicked than the righteous, although it is still contrasting the difference.. From it we learn that:

The wicked may have more feasting.. but also more strife.
A wise servant will do better than a shameful son. 
Someone who listens to "wicked lips" will end up doing evil. 
Liars pay more attention to "destructive tongues". 
Mocking the poor is a reproach to God.. rejoicing over someone else's pain will bring trouble.
Fools talk too much.. 
A lying "prince" is unfitting for his office.  
Telling rumors or secrets will destroy friendships.
Fools do not learn from their errors.
The rebel is seeking evil.. and will find it. 
A "fool in his folly" is worse than a "bear robbed of her cubs."
To return evil for good will result in nothing but more evil in your house. 

And much more... 

What is most important to remember is found in verse 3 "... But the Lord tests hearts.."  As David wrote, "O Lord, Thou hast searched me and know me.. " ( Psalm 139:1)  He knows everything about us.. has known it since before we were even created in our mothers' wombs.  He thinks of us.. He holds us.. He sees us.  May our prayer be like David's .. " Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way."

Father in heaven, help us to choose wisdom.. to choose Your Word.. in humble obedience and surrender to Your Spirit's leading. We do not want to walk in folly and wickedness.. but in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.. our Wonderful Counselor and Risen King. Direct our paths today we pray, in His name. Amen.