THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When a fool pours forth his foolishness, it is often right to not answer them. Sometimes contending with a fool can make one just like the fool.
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”
Proverbs 26:4 (KJV)
Genesis 13
A difficult verse to understand
Genesis 13:1 (KJV), “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.”
In order for Abraham to get to Canaan, which is UP (north) from Egypt, he first had to travel “into the south” through the dessert (the green line) to get there
God gave Abraham all of the land required to eventually become Israel
Genesis 13:14-17 (KJV), “14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”
Habakkuk 3
The Prophet’s Prayer
2 Corinthians 11
Paul explains that it is quite easy for false teachers, prophets, and apostles to come across knowledgeable and, at the same time, deceitful because Satan also deceives as transforming himself into an angel of light
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV), “13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Proverbs 26
Proverbs 26:4-5 (KJV), “4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
When reading Proverbs 26:4 and then Proverbs 26:5, does it appear to you to be contradicting each other?
Proverbs 26:4 (KJV), “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”
When a fool pours forth his foolishness, it is often right to not answer them. Sometimes contending with a fool can make one just like the fool.
[1] “When he is incorrigible, or when he is inflamed with passion or wine, etc., or when it is not necessary, nor likely to do him good.” (Poole)
Proverbs 26:5 (KJV), “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
Other times the right thing is to answer a fool. Sometimes a wise answer to a fool will expose his folly and prevent him from becoming wise in his own eyes.
Those who think Proverbs 26:4 contradicts Proverbs 26:5 are unfamiliar with the nature of practical wisdom in life.
[2] “They are put together to show that human problems are often complicated and cannot always be solved by appealing to a single rule.” (Ross)
When David went out to slay Goliath, he placed a stone loosely in a sling so that when he whipped it around and threw it, the stone would easily be released or lifted from the sling and sail through the air. If David were to bind the stone in the sling, when he whipped the sling around and let it loose, the stone would not release from the sling, it would be stuck (bound) to it.
Proverbs 26:8 (KJV), “As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.”
So, as compared to giving honor to a fool, one would tie or bound (adhere, etc.) a stone to a sling before you would use it (the result is useless)
Romans 12
Living Sacrifices to God
Romans 12:1 (KJV), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1 (INTERLINEAR), “I exhort therefore you brothers through the compassion – of God to present the bodies of you a sacrifice living holy – to God well-pleasing which is [the] reasonable service of you”
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – 5. it combines the ideas of exhorting [advise] and comforting and encouraging.
This reminds us that Paul appeals to our will. God calls us to make a choice about the way that we live for Him. Paul begs Christians to live a certain way in light of what God did for them.
“Present your bodies” means that God wants you, not just your work. You may do all kinds of work for God, but never give Him your self.
“Holy, acceptable to God”: When we offer our body, God intends it to be a holy and acceptable sacrifice. The standard for sacrifices made to God under the New Covenant are not any less than the standard under the Old Covenant.
In the Old Testament, every sacrifice had to be holy and acceptable to God
Leviticus 1:10 (KJV), “And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.”
But if there is a defect in it, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God
Deuteronomy 15:21 (KJV), “And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the Lord thy God.”
Verse 2
Romans 12:2 (KJV), “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Conformed
Strong’s Lexicon (4964) – suschématizó: To conform, to fashion oneself according to. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – to another’s pattern (fashion oneself according to).
To this world
Strong’s Lexicon (165) – aión: Age, eternity, world, forever, everlasting.
In this context, the word ‘world’ actually means of the present times.
Paul tells us to abandon the chase for pleasure, possessions, and status—to stop living like everyone else
John 18:36 (KJV), “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values
John 17:14-15 (KJV), “14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
- We are not of the world because Satan is the ruler of this world [cosmos]
- John 12:31 (KJV), “Now is the judgment of this world [cosmos]: now shall the prince [ruler 758] of this world be cast out.”
- Strong’s Lexicon (758) – archón: Ruler, leader, prince, magistrate. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon – a ruler, commander, chief, leader.
- John 16:11 (KJV), “Of judgment, because the prince [ruler 758] of this world [cosmos] is judged.”
- 1 John 5:19 (KJV), “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world [cosmos] lieth in wickedness.”
What does it mean that we (Christians) are all one body in Christ?
Romans 12:5 (KJV), “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
1 Corinthians 12:12 (KJV), “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
Colossians 3:15 (KJV), “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
We, Christians, are all one body but we are all different and different parts of that body
Romans 12:4 (KJV), “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office.”
Heap coals of fire on his head
Romans 12:20 (KJV), “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
Paul takes quotes from Proverbs
Proverbs 25:21-22 (KJV), “21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.”
- Two possible understandings of this
- (I) Romans 12:21 (KJV), “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
- Nothing pricks the conscience of a hateful person like a soft, forgiving spirit in the one he has wronged
- Proverbs 15:1 (KJV), “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
- (II) Romans 12:19 (KJV), “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
- Proverbs 25:22 (KJV), “For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.”
Our right response to those who do us harm allows God’s own power and judgment to fall upon that person. We must “leave room for God’s wrath”
[1] Poole
[2] Ross
Grow in the Word of the Lord 