Notes from Linda:
12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
____________________
8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.
I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.
* * * * *
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
Notes from Linda:
12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
____________________
8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.
I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.
* * * * *
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
"Verse of the Day"
Bible Verse(s)
Bible Verse(s)
Today
October 12-14, 2024
Proverbs 12:26: "The righteous [person, referring to a born-again Christian who studies and obeys the Bible and is right with God] is more excellent than his [or her] neighbour [in this case, a person (friend, neighbor, companion, etc.) who is not saved, does not study and obey the Bible, and is not right with God]: but the way [lifestyle] of the wicked [people, who tend to love worldly pleasures more than they love God] seduceth them [seduces 'righteous' people, or tempts them to sin]."
"4. Examples of being seduced or led astray by the ways of the wicked…
"a. Prov. 7:25-27 -- sexually seducing…
"• There are those who seek to lure [attract, entice, tempt] believers [Christians] into a life of sin…
"• Hollywood movies and the pornography industry all lure men astray…
"• This sort of thing can be life dominating…
"• The way of the wicked is seductive--stay away!
"b. Ps. 95:10 -- erring in the heart… their hearts were seduced away from loving God wholeheartedly.
"• The ways of the wicked can be seductive in a physical sense, but can also be seductive to the inner man [referring to the heart and mind].
"• They can lead men, women, and children astray in the HEART…
"• It is possible to be led astray in our heart… in our thinking… our attitudes… our world views… our philosophy of life…
"• II Cor. 10:3-5 -- Don't allow your heart… your thoughts… your mind to be brought into captivity by the seduction of evil men!
"c. Col. 2:4 -- Seduced into false doctrine [beliefs] -- And this I say, lest any man should beguile [charm, entertain] you with enticing [exciting and intriguing] words.
"• Here Paul speaks of the seduction of false teachers…
"• They use enticing words of men's wisdom to lure aside those who are NOT willing to study for themselves… to think… to investigate into the Scriptures [or 'check the Bible'] for themselves…
"d. Prov. 14:15 -- seduced by gossip… The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
"• Gossips attempt to lure us into their evil tactics…
"• The wicked [people] love to tell juicy [interesting and exciting] stories… and there is something seductive about hearing such juicy stories about others.
"• It is the FOOL who believes every word of the gossiper.
"• The righteous man searches things out [or 'checks the facts' to determine the truth]."
If you want to read the rest of the commentary, here's the link: https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-index/proverbs-12-index/proverbs-12_26/.
"The difference between the religious and irreligious man
"Men without religion will sometimes ask, 'Do not all men sin--even the religious? And, if so, is not the whole difference between them ['the religious'] and ourselves ['men without religion'] that our offences [sins] are somewhat more numerous [greater in number] than theirs?' Now this must unquestionably be admitted. Still, whatever may be the resemblance upon this point, it is nevertheless true that men with and without religion differ in many other most important particulars [details].
"1. The first difference between the sins of the religious and the irreligious [not religious] man is, that the one does not allow himself [to remain] in his sins and the other does [allow himself to remain in his sins]. The real Christian never says, 'I know such an action to be wrong, but yet I will do it--I know such an action to be right, but yet I will neglect [fail] to do it.' But in the other class of men we shall be often struck with the contrary [opposite] line of conduct. Charge them with their neglect of God, and of their souls, and they say, perhaps, 'We confess [admit] it to be wrong.' Consider the case as between man and man. We may conceive the affectionate [loving] child surprised into an act of disobedience or unkindness to the parent whom it loves; but we cannot conceive that child, if truly affectionate, setting itself deliberately and knowingly to wound [hurt] that parent at the tenderest point. In the one case, an act of disobedience discovers a man in whom, though the flesh is weak, the spirit may be willing--in whom a momentary temptation has prevailed [triumphed, won out] over the settled purpose and desire of his heart. In the other you have a man whose settled purpose [intention] is to do wrong. The language of a true Christian must be that of his Master: 'I come to do Thy [your] will, O God.'
"2. A second distinction between a real Christian and one who is not a real Christian is this--the real Christian does not seek or find his happiness in sin. A man who is not really religious, if he wants amusement [entertainment] or indulgence [doing something that you enjoy, even if it has negative consequences], seeks [searches] for it, generally, either in the society [companionship] of men without religion or in practices which the Word of God [the Bible] condemns [or says is wrong]. He sins, and it gives him no pain. On the contrary, the real Christian finds no happiness in sin. His pleasure is in prayer, in communion [communication, speaking] with God. He seeks his happiness in the fields of his duties. 'O,' says he [the Christian], 'how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.' The state and character of any person may to a great extent be judged by the nature of his pleasures. Does he seek them in trifles [things of little value or importance]? [if so,] he is a trifling man; does he seek them in worldly pursuits? [then] he is a worldly man; does he seek them in vice [immoral or wicked behavior]? [then] he is a vicious man; does he seek them in God and Christ? [then, most likely,] he is a Christian.
"3. Thirdly, the habits of a real Christian are holy. Men are not to be judged by a few solitary actions of their lives. There is scarcely any life so dark as not to be lighted up by a few brighter actions--as a single star may glimmer [shine faintly] through the most cloudy atmosphere; and there is no life so bright as not to be darkened by many spots--as many small clouds are apt [likely] to chequer [checker] even the clearest sky. But then we determine the real state of the heavens not by the single star, in the one case, or by the few clouds in the other. We ask what is the general aspect, the prevalent [widespread] appearance: does night or day, does shade or sunshine, prevail? Thus also must we proceed in estimating the character of men. It is the habitual frame of the mind--it is what we may call the work-day character--it is the general, habitual, prevalent [usual] temper, conduct [behavior], conversation, in the family or the parish [church], in the shop or the farm, which are the only true tests of our condition. But let us bring the two classes to this standard, and we shall find that in the real Christian the habits are holy--in the insincere Christian they are unholy; that the one is habitually right and accidentally wrong, and the other habitually wrong and accidentally right. Such, then, is another highly important distinction between these classes.
"4. Fourthly, every act of sin in real Christians is followed by sincere repentance. No feature is more essentially characteristic of a holy mind than a feeling of deep penitence [sorrow or regret] for transgression. 'My sin,' said the 'man after God's own heart,' 'is ever [always] before me.'
"5. A fifth no less important feature by which the real Christian is distinguished is, that he anxiously seeks the pardon of his sins through Jesus Christ. Others too often seem to imagine their sins cancelled immediately upon their bare and cold acknowledgment of them. He [the Christian], on the contrary, knows that the hatred of sin and indignation at the sinner must be deeply lodged in a mind of infinite purity. And his consolation is this--not that he can save himself, but that 'he has an Advocate [someone to plead the case for him] with the Father [God], [and that person--that Advocate-- is] Jesus Christ the righteous.'
"6. The sixth and last point of distinction which I shall have time to notice between the real Christian and every other character is, that he [the Christian] alone seeks diligently [with conscientious and persistent effort] from God a power to abstain [voluntarily stay away] from sin in [the] future. If others even desire the pardon of their past sins, they are careless about future advancement in holiness. They, perhaps, persist in a course of sinning and repeating, through the whole stage of their lives. Heaven is every day mocked [ridiculed, made fun of] by the language of an unmeaning sorrow. No real hatred for the sin is felt. In the Christian a different feeling prevails. A deep abhorrence [disgust] of sin mingles [mixes together] with his regret for it. His are tears of hatred as well as grief. There is a substantial distinction between a real Christian and every other character: something more than a mere line or shadowy difference here. If we carefully observe the several points of distinction which I have noticed, we shall find that they imply in the two classes of characters, in each particular instance, a different state of heart or mind …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tbi/proverbs-12.html, "The Biblical Illustrator," "Verse 26")
_______________
Salem Bible Church has a good commentary on the above verse. Here's an excerpt from the section entitled "But the way of the wicked seduceth them":"4. Examples of being seduced or led astray by the ways of the wicked…
"a. Prov. 7:25-27 -- sexually seducing…
"• There are those who seek to lure [attract, entice, tempt] believers [Christians] into a life of sin…
"• Hollywood movies and the pornography industry all lure men astray…
"• This sort of thing can be life dominating…
"• The way of the wicked is seductive--stay away!
"b. Ps. 95:10 -- erring in the heart… their hearts were seduced away from loving God wholeheartedly.
"• The ways of the wicked can be seductive in a physical sense, but can also be seductive to the inner man [referring to the heart and mind].
"• They can lead men, women, and children astray in the HEART…
"• It is possible to be led astray in our heart… in our thinking… our attitudes… our world views… our philosophy of life…
"• II Cor. 10:3-5 -- Don't allow your heart… your thoughts… your mind to be brought into captivity by the seduction of evil men!
"c. Col. 2:4 -- Seduced into false doctrine [beliefs] -- And this I say, lest any man should beguile [charm, entertain] you with enticing [exciting and intriguing] words.
"• Here Paul speaks of the seduction of false teachers…
"• They use enticing words of men's wisdom to lure aside those who are NOT willing to study for themselves… to think… to investigate into the Scriptures [or 'check the Bible'] for themselves…
"d. Prov. 14:15 -- seduced by gossip… The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
"• Gossips attempt to lure us into their evil tactics…
"• The wicked [people] love to tell juicy [interesting and exciting] stories… and there is something seductive about hearing such juicy stories about others.
"• It is the FOOL who believes every word of the gossiper.
"• The righteous man searches things out [or 'checks the facts' to determine the truth]."
If you want to read the rest of the commentary, here's the link: https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-index/proverbs-12-index/proverbs-12_26/.
* * * * *
In "The Biblical Illustrator," one of the commentaries on Proverbs 12:26 included this very interesting comparison between Christians and non-Christians:"The difference between the religious and irreligious man
"Men without religion will sometimes ask, 'Do not all men sin--even the religious? And, if so, is not the whole difference between them ['the religious'] and ourselves ['men without religion'] that our offences [sins] are somewhat more numerous [greater in number] than theirs?' Now this must unquestionably be admitted. Still, whatever may be the resemblance upon this point, it is nevertheless true that men with and without religion differ in many other most important particulars [details].
"1. The first difference between the sins of the religious and the irreligious [not religious] man is, that the one does not allow himself [to remain] in his sins and the other does [allow himself to remain in his sins]. The real Christian never says, 'I know such an action to be wrong, but yet I will do it--I know such an action to be right, but yet I will neglect [fail] to do it.' But in the other class of men we shall be often struck with the contrary [opposite] line of conduct. Charge them with their neglect of God, and of their souls, and they say, perhaps, 'We confess [admit] it to be wrong.' Consider the case as between man and man. We may conceive the affectionate [loving] child surprised into an act of disobedience or unkindness to the parent whom it loves; but we cannot conceive that child, if truly affectionate, setting itself deliberately and knowingly to wound [hurt] that parent at the tenderest point. In the one case, an act of disobedience discovers a man in whom, though the flesh is weak, the spirit may be willing--in whom a momentary temptation has prevailed [triumphed, won out] over the settled purpose and desire of his heart. In the other you have a man whose settled purpose [intention] is to do wrong. The language of a true Christian must be that of his Master: 'I come to do Thy [your] will, O God.'
"2. A second distinction between a real Christian and one who is not a real Christian is this--the real Christian does not seek or find his happiness in sin. A man who is not really religious, if he wants amusement [entertainment] or indulgence [doing something that you enjoy, even if it has negative consequences], seeks [searches] for it, generally, either in the society [companionship] of men without religion or in practices which the Word of God [the Bible] condemns [or says is wrong]. He sins, and it gives him no pain. On the contrary, the real Christian finds no happiness in sin. His pleasure is in prayer, in communion [communication, speaking] with God. He seeks his happiness in the fields of his duties. 'O,' says he [the Christian], 'how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.' The state and character of any person may to a great extent be judged by the nature of his pleasures. Does he seek them in trifles [things of little value or importance]? [if so,] he is a trifling man; does he seek them in worldly pursuits? [then] he is a worldly man; does he seek them in vice [immoral or wicked behavior]? [then] he is a vicious man; does he seek them in God and Christ? [then, most likely,] he is a Christian.
"3. Thirdly, the habits of a real Christian are holy. Men are not to be judged by a few solitary actions of their lives. There is scarcely any life so dark as not to be lighted up by a few brighter actions--as a single star may glimmer [shine faintly] through the most cloudy atmosphere; and there is no life so bright as not to be darkened by many spots--as many small clouds are apt [likely] to chequer [checker] even the clearest sky. But then we determine the real state of the heavens not by the single star, in the one case, or by the few clouds in the other. We ask what is the general aspect, the prevalent [widespread] appearance: does night or day, does shade or sunshine, prevail? Thus also must we proceed in estimating the character of men. It is the habitual frame of the mind--it is what we may call the work-day character--it is the general, habitual, prevalent [usual] temper, conduct [behavior], conversation, in the family or the parish [church], in the shop or the farm, which are the only true tests of our condition. But let us bring the two classes to this standard, and we shall find that in the real Christian the habits are holy--in the insincere Christian they are unholy; that the one is habitually right and accidentally wrong, and the other habitually wrong and accidentally right. Such, then, is another highly important distinction between these classes.
"4. Fourthly, every act of sin in real Christians is followed by sincere repentance. No feature is more essentially characteristic of a holy mind than a feeling of deep penitence [sorrow or regret] for transgression. 'My sin,' said the 'man after God's own heart,' 'is ever [always] before me.'
"5. A fifth no less important feature by which the real Christian is distinguished is, that he anxiously seeks the pardon of his sins through Jesus Christ. Others too often seem to imagine their sins cancelled immediately upon their bare and cold acknowledgment of them. He [the Christian], on the contrary, knows that the hatred of sin and indignation at the sinner must be deeply lodged in a mind of infinite purity. And his consolation is this--not that he can save himself, but that 'he has an Advocate [someone to plead the case for him] with the Father [God], [and that person--that Advocate-- is] Jesus Christ the righteous.'
"6. The sixth and last point of distinction which I shall have time to notice between the real Christian and every other character is, that he [the Christian] alone seeks diligently [with conscientious and persistent effort] from God a power to abstain [voluntarily stay away] from sin in [the] future. If others even desire the pardon of their past sins, they are careless about future advancement in holiness. They, perhaps, persist in a course of sinning and repeating, through the whole stage of their lives. Heaven is every day mocked [ridiculed, made fun of] by the language of an unmeaning sorrow. No real hatred for the sin is felt. In the Christian a different feeling prevails. A deep abhorrence [disgust] of sin mingles [mixes together] with his regret for it. His are tears of hatred as well as grief. There is a substantial distinction between a real Christian and every other character: something more than a mere line or shadowy difference here. If we carefully observe the several points of distinction which I have noticed, we shall find that they imply in the two classes of characters, in each particular instance, a different state of heart or mind …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tbi/proverbs-12.html, "The Biblical Illustrator," "Verse 26")
In case you're wondering, before adding my comments
in brackets to the above verse(s), I usually refer to Bible
commentaries by Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, John Gill,
and others (which can be found online) and try to summarize
what they say. For verses from Proverbs, I also refer to the
Bible study notes written by Jim Delany, pastor of Salem
Bible Church. Word definitions are taken from online
dictionaries (including Bible dictionaries).
* * * * *
Note: The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and is full of wisdom.
It's been suggested in the past that Christians should get in the habit
of reading one chapter from Proverbs each day, corresponding to
the date of the month. I think it's a great idea and have decided
to follow that advice. The chapter for today is posted below:
Proverbs Chapter 12
1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.in brackets to the above verse(s), I usually refer to Bible
commentaries by Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, John Gill,
and others (which can be found online) and try to summarize
what they say. For verses from Proverbs, I also refer to the
Bible study notes written by Jim Delany, pastor of Salem
Bible Church. Word definitions are taken from online
dictionaries (including Bible dictionaries).
* * * * *
Note: The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and is full of wisdom.
It's been suggested in the past that Christians should get in the habit
of reading one chapter from Proverbs each day, corresponding to
the date of the month. I think it's a great idea and have decided
to follow that advice. The chapter for today is posted below:
Proverbs Chapter 12
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.