Proverbs 12 introduces a theme that is set to recur throughout the book, namely the importance of our words. This picture made a big impression on me when I first saw it, for it reminded me that our words can either build people up, making them feel affirmed, secure and encouraged or they can hurt people, wounding them and leaving them feeling unwanted and insecure.

This is a theme that is dealt with in this chapter:
“The words of the wicked kill; the speech of the upright saves.” (Proverbs 12:6)

“Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.” (Proverbs 12:14)

“Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.” (Proverbs 12:18)

“Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.” (Proverbs 12:25)

The Bible constantly affirms the importance of our words. James tells us “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6). He reminds us “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9-10) Proverbs reminds us that we have a choice in how we use words and we should be careful what we say.

“Torah (law) is God’s words that hit the target of the human condition. The noun torah comes from a verb, yarah, that means to throw something, a javelin, say, so that it hits its mark. The word that hits its mark is torah. In living speech, words are javelins hurled from one mind into another. The javelin word goes out of one person and pierces another. Not all words are javelins; some are tin cans, carrying information from one place to another. But God’s word has this aimed, intentional, personal nature. When we are spoken to in this way, piercingly and penetratingly, we are not the same. These words get inside us and work their meaning in us.”
(Eugene Peterson, ‘Answering God’ P 25)

Living words – javelins soaked in truth,
Hurled forth from eternity by a loving God,
Stopping us dead in our tracks.
Piercing us with the tip of truth,
Reaching our inmost parts,
Dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.
These words cut like the surgeon’s scalpel,
Incisively, penetratingly,
Exposing the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Like a sword, they cut deep, bringing forth the
Jolt of pain and shock as blood spurts out.
Our instinctive reaction is to gasp, winded.
We try to staunch the flow of blood with sticking-plasters:
Well-meaning phrases of comfort designed to mask our true selves,
Aimed at placation, not restoration,
Failing to understand that the clotting agent of comfort is provided
Only by the Holy Spirit,
Not by our refusal to treat the problem wisely.
Winded, gasping, rigid with the pain of truth searing into our bloodstreams,
Our veneer of respectability stripped by the word of truth,
We stand naked, defenceless, cowering, quivering,
Anticipating the final blows of the triumphant warrior.
Instead, we find the gentle healing of the surgeon,
removing the cancer,
cleansing with hyssop,
sewing us together with practised skill.
How we need Your word!

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:12-13)

Still on the mixture of themes in these adages…. looking again at how we fit into society (and how right living really does make a difference to our society) and what really matters in life. Today’s thoughts come from Proverbs 11:

“A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst.” (Prov 11:4)

“Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.” (Prov 11:14)

“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.” (Prov 11:22)

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Prov 11:25)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he who wins souls is wise.” (Prov 11:30)

The general tenor of this chapter seems to be that how we live has a direct impact first of all on our own life and then ripples out to affect others. We can’t afford to build our lives on faulty foundations (such as wealth or fame) and need to be aware that we don’t have all the answers ourselves, so it helps to have wise counsel to follow as well as to give. Generosity and discretion are also highly prized. We need good direction to make our way in life and we also need to live according to God’s ways if we are to help others as well as ourselves. As we were reminded on Sunday, we have to have that spring of water welling up within ourselves before it can overflow and reach others.

Proverbs 10 marks a change in style, with this being the start of ‘the wise sayings of Solomon’. A proverb is ‘a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice’ and here we have a whole host of punchy sayings that convey simple truths.

Sometimes the proverbs have a common theme, such as how to live well, for example, or laziness or the ongoing theme of wisdom. It’s impossible to look at every verse in detail (well, if we want to make it through each chapter in one day, that is!), but these are the verses which really stood out for me today:

“The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin” (Prov 10:8)
This verse reminds me that we all live in submission to others and have to accept authority over us, something that can be hard to do. It also reminds me that the Bible teaches us to listen well before talking! (see James 1:19)

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” (Prov 10:9)
I like this continuing theme of paths and am reminded that there is nothing invisible which will not be made visible one day. God sees everything; nothing is hidden from Him.

“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” (Prov 10:12)
I’ve just finished reading 1 Peter which says “love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Pet 4:8), echoing this verse. It’s so easy to stir up conflict and to allow anger, bitterness and hatred to colour our relationships. God wants love and forgiveness to be the hallmark stamped on our characters.

“The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.” (Prov 10:29)
It’s a common style of proverbs to contrast two opposites. I suppose I find it reassuring to think of having a refuge, but equally this verse reminds us that there are only two ways in life. We either follow God’s way or we do evil.

The cinematic nature of Proverbs recurs in Proverbs 9, with Lady Wisdom seen inviting us to a wonderful banquet and Madame Whore (or Folly) also on the scene again. This chapter contains perhaps one of the most famous one-line proverbs in the whole book: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Prov 9:10) . If we wanted to sum up the whole of Proverbs, this verse would probably suffice!

Wisdom without God just doesn’t work, for God is the Creator of the universe and the Maker of everything. Our ultimate aim in life, though, should not simply be to be wise. We want to know God. Jesus said that “this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3) . That is our ultimate aim: to know God and to be like Him.

Sometimes in our modern society we think that life is very complicated. In actual fact, the Bible constantly reminds us that the choices we face are not really that complicated. We can either choose God’s ways or the devil’s. There are only two kingdoms. We are either ‘foreigners and strangers’ or ‘fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household’ (Eph 2:19). There is no middle way.

Since 1790, the US President has given a ‘State of the Union’ speech each year, usually in January. Last night, Dave gave us his ‘annual review’, looking again at Jeremiah 29:11-13. This is a passage God has repeatedly brought to mind over the past few years. He preached from it in April 2006, looking at the thought ‘when the time is right, God will fulfil His promises to us.’ Through that period of faithful waiting and praying, growth happened. In late 2007, the message he brought was ‘are we serving God in our own generation?’, looking at outreach into the local community. By 2009 the church had seen numerical growth, to the point where we were outgrowing the building in Beever Street.

God’s plans have indeed been to prosper us and not to harm us. We have a new building in a more central location and God provided the money to purchase and refurbish that building. We have known God’s prospering – the word ‘Shalom’ means peace, being safe, comfortable, happy, in a state of well-being. On 6 June 2010 the church held its first service in Market Street and throughoug 2011 we have seen ongoing work in the building (both main halls have been redecorated, with new windows and blinds purchased) and this past year the drains have been replaced and the car park resurfaced. The building on Beever Street was sold in late 2011. Community outreach has continued, with new groups being added (Slimming World, Alzheimer’s Society, a meeting for the autistic and Zumba classes are held in the community hall, in addition to the youth work, Mums & Toddlers and coffee mornings run by the church.) Moreover, the prophecy brought by Joan from Isaiah 43:5-8 has also started to be fulfilled, with families coming from different areas.

Nonetheless, Dave warned that there is danger for churches if they become too comfortable. Rev 3:15-16 remind us that there is great danger in being lukewarm and in taking our eyes off God. We are engaged in spiritual warfare and need to be vigilant to maintain our spiritual walk before the Lord, as Mark reminded us this morning. Our part is to seek the Lord: “you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13). The midweek prayer meetings and Bible studies are, in general, poorly attended, and we ought to realise the importance of these meetings. We should also be coveting spiritual gifts and the voice of God speaking clearly in our meetings. As William Carey said, our attitutde should be “expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.” We have a part to play in the work God is doing here and we need to be dedicated and committed to seeing His promises fulfilled in the local church.