Prescribing Proverbs – RX Twenty-One – August 21st
August 21st, 2021
A Proverb a day keeps Untruth away
Proverbs 1:1-6, ‘These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king—written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; a manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; to teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.’ (MSG)
Prescription (RX) Twenty-One: the Father
Proverbs 21:4-6, ‘Arrogance, superiority, and pride are the fruits of sin. Brilliant ideas pay off and bring you prosperity, but making hasty, impatient decisions will only lead to financial loss. You can make a fortune dishonestly, but your crime will hold you in the snares of death!’ (TPT)
(Continued, RX Twenty)
Day after day, he swatted flies and slopped the pigs. He stared longingly at the empty pods and the garbage he threw to the swine. If memories of his father and dread of being seen by his employer didn’t haunt him, he would have buried his own snout in the slime; he was so hungry. Night after night, he ached; his stomach inside of him swallowing itself. He lay awake on the coarse straw poking through his thin layer of clothing, reminding him how miserable he was.
Perhaps it was the heat or the starvation or the loss of his mind, but suddenly, as the day dawned, a vision floated through the boy’s mind. He suddenly could smell the luxury of his father’s home, the feel of the fine fabric against his skin, the aroma of delicacies wafting from the kitchen, and even the care with which his father treated his staff, the same staff that fed pigs now no different from himself. How foolish to be a slave to another man in a far country when he could do the same thing, alonside his father’s servant’s in a manner of repaying his father for the swindled life he had bartered. He must go at once! to his father’s house and help and at least there he will be treated as a human being. He thought, ‘I will go to him; I will apologize and ask forgiveness and beg him to give me the same fair chance he gives to his servants.’
“’So the young son set off for home. From a long distance away, his father saw him coming, dressed as a beggar, and great compassion swelled up in his heart for his son who was returning home. The father raced out to meet him, swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him over and over with tender love. Then the son said, ‘Father, I was wrong. I have sinned against you. I could never deserve to be called your son. Just let me be—’ The father interrupted and said, ‘Son, you’re home now!’ Turning to his servants, the father said, ‘Quick! Bring me the best robe, my very own robe, and I will place it on his shoulders. Bring the ring, the seal of sonship, and I will put it on his finger. And bring out the best shoes you can find for my son. Let’s prepare a great feast and celebrate. For my beloved son was once dead, but now he’s alive! Once he was lost, but now he is found!’ And everyone celebrated with overflowing joy.’” (Luke 15:20-24, TPT)
