Proverbs 13 Chlld beating?

Proverbs 13

This chapter has one verse (24)  that I find extremely disturbing and unpleasant
"Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them."
Critics will pull this verse as "proof" that the church and God condone beating of children - we will get to this and see if the chapter can put this verse into some form of context.
I'm single with no children, so this probably is not going to apply first hand to myself, but I have to admit that this verse is troubling and can seem to condone child abuse.
Abuse is something I do not and will not condone for the record.

Let's look at the rest of the chapter shall we, and see what it actually says.

A wise son heeds his fathers instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes
From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

It seems to me that perhaps there is a positive for the children here - in training young children to consider words and actions? Advice a lot of adults could use too.

A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied
The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves obnoxious and bring shame on themselves

Perhaps there is a message here - in favour of hard work and diligence - that is not to say that if one is found in a situation where you have no job or money that there is a curse or lack of blessing from God, people find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own

One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing, another pretends to be poor yet has great wealth.
It is easy in today's consumer culture in the west to understand this - there are a large number of people who are keen to get their hands on your (and my) money, there are a lot of books explaining how rich people get and keep their money.
Again I would like to point out that not having money is not a sin, neither is having a lot of money. Pretending, or living, a lie is not that clever, be it money, possessions or anything else.

Let's skim the rest of the chapter and see if anything else jumps out

A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
The light of the righteous shines brightly,   but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.
Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.
All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,but fools expose their folly.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away.

As we saw before in Leviticus and the books of the law, there is a command to not abuse the widow and orphan along with a requirement to celebrate a sabbath year (where no planting or organised harvesting is carried out) to provide an opportunity for the poor to get some of the riches of the land, see also the book or Ruth 

Then we get our troubling verse - the chapter highlights the benefits of honesty and listening to advice - perhaps this is what the verse is getting at?

History has shown us that when there are no moral boundaries justice can become perverted and twisted. 
Also common law in the UK and the constitution in the USA set forth certain moral boundaries.
One only has to read the papers or watch TV or radio to hear some of the people who spectacularly fail to pass on morals and discipline and perhaps have failed their children.

Proverbs 12 discipline and knowledge

Proverbs 12

The last few chapters have been very much what I expect from proverbs.
There is apparently a Jewish tradition of poetry to compare and contrast rather than to rhyme.
This strikes me as making these chapters of proverbs as quite poetic in a non rhyming way.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid - quite an opener.

There are quite a few of these proverbs that should be right, but sometimes seem not to be corroborated by evidence such as 

Good people obtain favour from the LORD but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

I don't see that the favour and condemnation are immediate results all too often, and it seems many regimes have been established through anything but righteousness!

Verse 4 is an interesting one - "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones"
I've never been married, so no comment, I guess it works the other way round too!

There are some  gems in this chapter such as

Better to be a nobody and have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

The Righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel

An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies - well D'uh!

The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool's heart blurts out folly.

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

These are just the highlights, there are more in the chapter.

Proverbs 11 Pride, weights and measures

Proverbs 11

The Lord detests dishonest scales but accurate weights find favour with him - the chapter starts.

It seems a bit odd that God is interested in weights and measures, but when buying stuff it is important.
As an engineer, measurements and accuracy are very important in my job too.
There is a slight irony here that weight (OK to be accurate mass and gravity) is the only SI unit that is defined by a lump of metal (kept under tight security in a safe in France), all other measurements can be measured anywhere in the world, but truly scientific and accurate weights are actually rather hard to get.

The chapter continues, When pride comes, the comes disgrace but with humility comes wisdom.
Lucky for me I take such pride in my humility isn't it?

Other proverbs in the chapter that I think I like are - 
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death 
Though I am not sure about the second part, many righteous people have gone to their deaths.

For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. 
Seems that a lot of politicians need many and varied advisers?

There are several proverbs about generosity and the benefits of a generous and outgoing nature.
Being a scrooge is basically discouraged, and don't rely on ghosts to set you straight (like the original in the Dickens book) 

There is a good quote about money "If you want to know what God thinks about money, just look at the people he gave it to" Dorothy Parker

Proverbs 10 Wisdom and folly

Proverbs 10

There are some of the proverbs in this chapter that I wish were really happening as fast as I would like, but things are rarely that cut and dried.
They are recorded as the proverbs of King Solomon - perhaps the richest and most prosperous king in the history of ancient Israel.

The chapter is a contrast between wisdom and folly, here are the ones I have some thoughts about, you can decide on the others if you read the chapter.

Lets start with the first 2 shall we?
A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Why should a mother not share in the fathers joy, and why should the father not share the mothers grief?

Ill gotten gains have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
I don't see this really in the history of martyrs and those who think that blowing themselves up in the name of Jihad or holy war, personally I don't think taking of lives is ever righteous.

These are 2 that I really would like to see more evidence of in the news!

Unfortunately one of the ones that really gets my goat is the next one - there are some forms of very unpleasant Christians who will point to this "The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked"
Some people, who I really don't agree with, would point to this verse to claim that those suffering starvation and want are under God's judgement.
"Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth" is another one
I don not believe that being in need or want is any justification to declare that somebody is under judgement from God.
I'm rather of the opinion that if we, who are not in want or need, and not poor, should spread the wealth and share what we have.
I'm not good at this, there is a lot more I could do, so perhaps I'm a bit hypocritical in that my actions don't follow my words as much as they should.

This chapter carries on with similar sentiments - for the good things are good, for the wicked things go badly - I wish this were the case always, hopefully in the long run this may well be the case.
The "prosperity Gospel" that I alluded to earlier that teaches that God blesses the righteous with whatever they want on earth, and if you have nothing it stands to reason it is because God is angry or upset with them.
The Jesus I follow said "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth can destroy and thieves steal, instead store up treasures in heaven."
The bible also says whoever gives even a glass of water to the thirsty will surely have a reward in heaven.

Read the chapter, see what you think, I'd like it to be true.

Proverbs 9 Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Proverbs 9

Have you ever seen the film "Lawrence of Arabia"? - it tells the story of one T E Lawrence, a British Army character from the first world war era.

Lawrence wrote a book whose title was inspired by this chapter of the Bible, so let's see what we find

Wisdom has built her house, she has set up its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servants and she calls from the highest point of the city.
"Let all who as simple come to my house!"
To those who have no sense she says "Come eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed"
Leave your simple ways and you will life; walk in the way of insight.

The invitation from Wisdom certainly is not high brow, nor is it unappealing is it? 
Come to wisdom and share food and wine - sounds like somebody I would like!

There is a bit of a downside being wise - I like the expression "I hate people who think they know it all - it really annoys those of us who do!", though in reality wise people know their limitations.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults, whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you.
Sounds a bit like some politicians really, doesn't it?

Rebuke the wise and they will love you, instruct the wise and they will be wiser still
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

We get another reprise of the old verse "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Again I'll say fear could almost be translated as respect here - One should treat things like fire and electricity and hazards with respect to avoid the danger associated with them.

Back to the chapter -
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you
If you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Folly is unruly, simple and knowing nothing 
(I'll leave out the bit here about the gender of folly - English is a bit unusual as a language in that we refer only to people and animate objects in terms of masculine and feminine, unlike French or German that have genders for pretty much anything!)

Like wisdom, folly sets up an invitation, but this time she offers water that is stolen, and food eaten in secret is delicious.

Little do her guests know that in effect they are eating in a morgue.

Proverbs 8 A party political manifesto from the Wisdom party

Proverbs 8

It has again been a while since my last post. The Prime minister (Like Voldamort, and Rumpole I call her "She who should not be named") called an unexpected snap election (well I hadn't expected it as she said she would not call one) - and lost her party's overall majority in the house of commons, Many see this as a huge own goal when the whole reason for the election was to give the government a strong mandate to say what they like to the rest of the EU.

Why start with this?
Well when I read this chapter it reads a bit like a manifesto, a call to action from none other than wisdom herself (or himself?)

So what does wisdom say, and how does she say it?

"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet she takes her stand, beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance she cries aloud"

"To you, O people, I call out, I raise my voice to all humanity
You who are simple gain prudence, you who are foolish, set your hearts on it"

I understand the the word foolish has lost some of it's strength since Biblical times - a fool used to be one with little or no moral compass rather than one who is a bit of a twit.

Wisdom does not really mince words here "Listen for I have trustworthy things to say , I open my lips to speak what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
All the words or my mouth are just, none of them is wicked or perverse."

"To the discerning all of them are right, they are upright to those who have found knowledge"

The chapter continues with some interesting things that perhaps the politicians have taken somewhat too much to heart when it comes to funding education?

"Choose my instructions instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her"

Education is incredibly valuable - any graduate will probably tell you this, but it is also expensive and I hope we, who have the benefit of a good education treasure what we have studied and gain value, wisdom and understanding (Except Laplace Transforms, I NEVER go the point of them, but I digress!)

Wisdom seems to share a house with prudence, possessing knowledge and discretion.
We have another of these Fear the LORD sentences, again I think the English word "Respect" or "Honour" are better than "To be afraid of"

"To Fear the LORD is to hate evil"
"I (Wisdom) hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech"
I've not read Pride and Prejudice, but it is probably not the same as pride and arrogance?

Wisdom has friends in high places and is the power behind the throne -
"Counsel and sound judgement are mine, I have insight, I have power, by me kings reign, and rulers issue decrees that are just, by me princes govern, and nobles - all who rule on earth"

I think those in power and their advisers need all the wisdom they can get, and I hope they find wisdom for their people' s and countries sake
Wisdom makes several promises -
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me, find me"

One thing I am very sceptical about is what is called "the prosperity Gospel" - where if you follow their teachings and send money, you will be blessed with riches and if you don't, well it is your fault for not believing enough. 

However the Bible does promise riches to those who seek wisdom and understanding.
"With me are riches and honour, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than gold, what I yield surpasses choice silver" 
"I walk in the way of righteousness along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full"

Like this post, the chapter is actually pretty long - Wisdom is not a new-fangled invention, wisdom is in the very creation of the planet, close to and rejoicing in the presence of the creator

To be honest, if Wisdom stood for parliament - I think she would get my vote.

"Those who find me, find life.
"But those who fail to find me harm themselves, all who hate me love death"
We've seen too many examples of people failing to find wisdom, I think to be complacent about not looking good and hard.

Proverbs 7 Another chapter on adultery!

Proverbs 7

If the book of Proverbs was written by the wise king Solomon it seems that the pot is advising the pot to be less black than the kettle!

Solomon is recorded as having no less than 700 brides and 300 concubines - yet he advises strongly against adultery!

From a 21st century point of view this chapter is somwhat sexist and misogynistic, here the man in the foolish party while the wicked woman schemes behind her husbands back.

I have no intention of attempting to justify the language of this chapter, but perhaps there is some wisdom to be extracted.from this passage.

Number 1 - Verse 4, treat wisdom and insight as close relatives,

Number 2 - Respect the sanctity of marriage,
It may be rather an unpoular view these days, but I do think the church teaching on marriage has some merit, I cannot help feeling that the scourge of sexually transmitted disease might be dramatically reduced if promiscuity were a more unusual occurrence than it seems to be.

Ok I'm a single person and not in a relationship, so its easy for me to preach?
Well, firstly my relationship status and choices are mine, but that does not say that temptations don't occur? - trust me, sometimes they do,.

The good news is that even if we do let ourselves and others down, reconciliation and forgiveness are very real possibilities.

I think that's all I have to day on this subject.