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NASB | Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God's wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it. [Eph 6:4; 2 Tim 3:15] |
Bible Question: Mark - In your Post 183496, speaking of Proverbs, you said, There are many that are not exactly true in every instance." A few days ago in Post 183502 I asked you to name a few Proverbs and explain why they are not true. Two things bother me about this situation, Mark. The first thing is that the book of Proverbs is Scripture, and it troubles me to read on this Forum that any part of Scripture is viewed as being "not exactly true in every instance." The second thing that troubles me is that you have not responded to my request. Will you please do so at your earliest convenience? --Hank |
Bible Answer: Hi Hank, I apologize for a late response. Please understand that I do not check the forum as frequently as perhaps I once did, and I do not utilize the email notification service, as it tends to clutter up my mailbox. I simply did not notice your prior response. I don’t think that you would be able to name a single instance where I have failed to respond to a direct question on this forum. I hope that you know me well enough by now to understand that I hold an extremely high view of Scripture. I in no wise intend to diminsh its authority, or denigrate God’s Word in any way. I do believe that it is terribly important that we understand each portion as God intends it to be understood. I do not mean that these are not true proverbs. I do not mean that they are not divinely inspired Scripture. But I do not understand these to be promises, or descriptions of what happens unfailingly, in every instance. I do not think that they are intended to be read that way. I think that their very name of “proverbs” indicates that. Perhaps I am mistaken, and I am open to that possiblility, but I shall endeavor to comply with your request to provide examples of this. Proverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. In Acts 19, we read the story of Paul and his friends in Ephesus. The evangalization was going so well the idol-making guild was up in arms. They packed the amphitheater, and (vs. 29) “And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater.” This was not a city rejoicing at the success of Paul and his fellows, and what a success indeed! Many turning from sin, from idolatry, from witchcraft, turning to Jesus. But was the city rejoicing? Pro 12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. Hag 1:6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. There seems to be an additional component to reaping a satisfying harvest. Pro 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. While I lack specific Scriptural evidence on this one, even so it seems a clear example. But no matter, we can remove it from the list if you wish. Pro 13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. 2Co 11:27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Since this was said by Paul describing himself, I suppose even the righteous can go hungry. Pro 16:10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. Jer 37:18 Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, "What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison? Would it seem that perhaps this king transgressed in judgment? Pro 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. From Jesus to Stephen on down through the ages, every faithful martyr shows that this is not a guarantee that the righteous will never have conflict with others. Pro 16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right. 1Ki 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. I hope this is sufficient to demonstrate what I am saying. The proverb teaches us that “he that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread.” If you get out there and work, you’ll have food to eat. But that doesn’t mean that God can’t change that. You can till all you want, but unless God causes that crop to grow, all you’ll have is furrows. I understand this book to be a collection of wise saying, proverbs, that describe how things ordinarily work, how things ought to always work, all other parts being as they ought. These are things we should set ourselves to do. If you are a king, and a man speaks righteously, delight in him! If you are speaking to a king, speak righteously! If everything is working the way its supposed to, this is what will happen. But this isn’t to say that a king can’t be twisted, wicked, and not delighted even though he hears the words of righteousness. Again, please, let nothing I say be construed as speaking against the authority, accuracy, relevance, or supremecy of the Holy Scriptures. Love in Christ, Mark |