Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:

Proverbs 19:19-20(KJV):
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Proverbs 19:19-20(NIV):
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer the penalty, for if you deliver him (from the consequences), he will (feel free to) cause you to do it again.
20 Hear counsel, receive instruction and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come.

Thoughts for the Day:

Timely advice is given in these verses from the book of Proverbs. They state that wisdom is gained by the instruction and counsel of the Lord. In verse 19, advice is given  for those who would try to help those who have unruly tempers. We are told that trying to help a person who has great wrath is a futile attempt.  Anyone who is habitually angry will repeat his offenses and one would have to repeat the process of delivering him.  Until a person is ready to change his ways and repent of his anger, he can never be free from an ingrained bad temper.  Only the Lord can help a man like that. We have seen this with parents who pay the fines of an angry, rebellious son, who end up in jail for some misdeed caused by his anger. Unless they discipline and correct him, they will usually face the same problem again. 

I remember a time when a young girl, who was a friend of ours, called us in desperation.  She wanted us to help her boyfriend who had just been jailed for lack of paying his traffic fines. It only took $75.00 to get him out of jail and since we cared for her, we went down to the jail to facilitate his release.  We paid his fine and waited for the jailer to bring him out, so we could give him a ride home since he would not be able to drive for a season.  We were absolutely shocked when the jailer brought him to meet us, as he began cursing the policemen, the jailer and the system.   He did not bother to slow down his rebellious speech and even thank us for helping him.  He was just set on cursing the system.  We immediately took him by the arm and told him to be quiet as we dragged him quickly out of there before they arrested him again.

We learned something, just from observing his behavior.  Anger and rebellion are in the heart of a man and just because you try to help him and be kind to him does not mean he will change his behavior.  He must be willing to change before you can help him, just as this verse says, if you deliver an angry man, you will have to do it again.  It was not long until this same person was back in jail, this time for violating his driving restrictions. The only way we tried to help him the next time was to pray for him to come to the end of his rebellion so he truly could be helped.

Verse 20 tells us the way to change is to listen to counsel and receive instruction.  If we do that we will be wise in the time to come.  Biblical instruction will keep us from destruction and error if we heed it. The keeping of God's Word will bring great reward.  God's laws and commandments are given so that we might live a good life in this earth.

Psalm 19:7-11:
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you that You have given us the Bible so that we might receive godly wisdom and learn how to live by it.  Lord, we know that by following Your advice, we will be saved from much heartache in this world.  Help us to walk in the Spirit so that we will have Your discernment as to the things we should, and should not do.  Guide us by Your Holy Spirit in all of our affairs.  Help us to overcome any tendencies toward anger, as we do not want to become angry men and women.  Let us be gentle and forgiving in our dealings with others.  We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.