Proverbs 10

READ CHAPTER 10 OF PROVERBS ON YOUR OWN,

OR FOLLOW THE LINK HERE TO READ IT ONLINE!

 

PASSAGE TO MEMORIZE THIS WEEK: 

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

PROVERBS 6:16-19 

 

 

I just want to say how much I have enjoyed this Bible Study so far!  I would like to say a great big “Thank You” to everyone who has taken the time to be a part of this by studying along or writing for the blog.  I have also enjoyed reading the comments.  They have been very insightful and helpful!  I have learned so much in the last 9 days, I can not wait to see where this journey will take us!   

We have completed the study of the first part of Proverbs (chapters 1-9) which is a call to wisdom and instruction through narration and poetry.  The second part of Proverbs begins here in Chapter 10 and goes through Chapter 22. It consists of 375 individual proverbs.  Each proverb gives a practical choice between the way of Wisdom and the way of foolishness. 

Today, instead of breaking down each individual proverb, I want to focus on one verse in Chapter 10 that really jumped out at me and took root in my mind as I studied.   

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,

but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Proverbs 10:5

Matthew Henry’s 1706 Commentary on verse 5 says this: He who sleeps, loves his ease, idles away his time, and neglects his work, especially who sleeps in harvest, when he should be laying in for winter, who lets slip the season of furnishing himself with that which he will have occasion for, is a son that causes shame; for he is a foolish son; he prepares shame for himself when winter comes, and reflects shame upon all his friends.

 

I know that when Proverbs was written, farming was how the people lived.  When it came time for the harvest to be gathered, there was usually a very short door of opportunity before the crops would go bad.  From young to old, every person was needed to labor in the harvesting.  So literally, Solomon was giving instruction about a lazy son who wouldn’t help in the harvest, but nothing in The Word happens coincidentally.  What other person full of wisdom also spoke of the harvest in the New Testament? 

The greatest, wisest teacher that ever lived - JESUS!   He spoke of the harvest in Matthew 9:37-38.  Then he said to His disciples, “THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL BUT THE WORKERS (or laborers) ARE FEW.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

 

 

I believe that Proverbs 10:5 also declares a valuable warning to New Testament believers!  We can be so busy with “attaining things” or “church work” that we can sleep right through the harvest.  A great majority of the Church idles away their time with things that will not matter in the end, when on the Day of Judgment, people we know will be punished to an eternity of torment in Hell.  We can be so lazy that we begin to expect only those with the gift of evangelism to work in the fields.  The Great Commission was given to all.  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

 

We should heed the warning of Proverbs 10:5.  Let us not be a disgraceful son or daughter.   (I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. 6:18) 

As I read Proverbs 10:5 over and over again, I just keep being reminded of a sermon that my pastor, Bro. Shannon Kilpatrick, preached on June 3, 2012.  It so impacted my life that not only do I have a C.D. of it in my car, but I kept my sermon notes and reread them from time to time.  He spoke of Paul, Noah, and Moses’ doors of opportunity to be used by God.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:9, “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”  Each 'Giant of the Faith' we studied had a chance to be used and do something great for the Kingdom of God or choose to not walk through the door He opened for them.  Bro. Shannon’s  words still ring in my ears, “NOW IS OUR TIME!”  

The excuse Christians use the most for not witnessing or talking to others about Christ is that we don't know what to say.  As much as I hate to admit it, I'm pretty sure I have said it myself.  Proverbs 10 would say otherwise!

-vs. 11  The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life
-vs. 13  Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning
-vs. 21  The lips of the righteous nourish many
-vs. 31  From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom
-vs. 32  The lips of the righteous know what finds favor 

It is our time to hear the call, to be obedient, and to be laborers.  The great and effective door of opportunity is open to you and to me to share the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let us bring the harvest in before our season is over!

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

 

 

 

 

My dear people, do you good folks understand what revival means?  Do you have a conception of what it means to see God working?  The God of miracles, Sovereign supernatural, moving in the midst of men and HUNDREDS swept into the Kingdom!  Oh that we might see it, that we might see it!                                  

                                                                    -Duncan Campbell, Hebridean Revival 1949

Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.

                                                               – William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army

I believe that in each generation God has called enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!

                                                               - Isobel Kuhn, missionary to China and Thailand

You have one business on earth – to save souls.

                                                               - John Wesley

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tera Kilpatrick is the wife of 14 years to Billy Joe, and homeschooling mother of four daughters.  Billy Joe serves as Worship Pastor, and Tera leads with him at Freedom Fellowship in Silsbee, Texas.  She is also the Assistant Director of Freedom Fellowship Home School Co-op.