Proverbs 23 – if you haven’t read my thoughts on the book of Proverbs yet, you’ll want to do so here. This isn’t a comprehensive look at each verse, but it is how God spoke to me through particular chapter of His Word at this particular chapter in my life. I encourage you to read the full chapter in your own Bible first so you can see how God wants to speak to you through this chapter, and so you don’t miss out on the verses I didn’t cover. I hope it can speak to you as well, and I hope you are encouraged to seek Him in His Word. And if you missed Proverbs 22, you should also check that out here.  Otherwise, on to Proverbs 23!

23:1-3 – While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; don’t desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you (NLT). When in the presence of leaders, take care to not be taken in by all the fancy item. Don’t be taken in with compliments and flattery. And most of all, be aware of yourself as a person. Evaluate your tendencies and your weakness so that you can put safeguards in place before you are in a situation where you might be tempted. Always be aware of yourself and aware of your surroundings. Prayer – God, show me my weaknesses and show me how to put measures in place to keep me from being deceived or from deceiving myself.

23:5 – In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle (NLT). Prayer – God, teach me to not trust in my own resources. Let me trust completely in you, and not in my own strength.

23:9 – Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words (CSB). Don’t waste your time trying to teach someone who doesn’t want to listen, but also, we should temper it with grace. Even when people do not want to listen to wisdom, she still calls out in the streets to any who will listen (Proverbs 1:20-23). Prayer – God, give me discernment for when I should hold my tongue and not waste my words or time, and when I should tip the scales toward grace and speak wisdom into someone’s life, even when they will not listen. Don’t let me give up on people who need to keep hearing and hearing and hearing your wisdom (Romans 10:17). Give me strength to persevere even when it seems I am watering and nurturing the seeds of your Word in someone’s life, but not seeing any growth, for you are the one who brings growth in people’s lives (1 Corinthians 3:16).

23:12 – Apply yourself to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge (CJB). Apply, not only listen, we have to listen, and then do. First listen, then act. Application of knowledge is not merely listening. Sometimes, we won’t even get it right. That’s called practice. And then the next time around, we are much better at the doing. Prayer – God help me to act and practice on what I learn! And not turn from things that are in my path to do, and to do well. Point me toward people who can speak wisdom into my life.

23:15 – My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right (NLT). God celebrates you and rejoices when you think wise thoughts and say what is right. That is such an encouraging thought to me to imagine God celebrating when I follow his Word.

23:19 – You, my son, listen, be wise, and set your mind on the right way (CJB). Set. We should set our minds on the way we want to go before we start. When we don’t set our mind on the way we want to go, then we will not stay on it later. It’s like going to the gym, for me anyway, when I decide the night before or the morning of that I will go to the gym in the evening, it is much easier to go when I get off work, because I already set my mind to it. Without fail, on the evenings where I say to myself, ‘well I’ll just decide if I’m going to the gym once I get off work,’ I never go to the gym those nights. Prayer – God, thank you for showing me the right way to go in your Word, help me to set my mind on your way each day so that I can commit to your path for me.

23:23 – Buy – and do not sell – truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding (CSB). Sometimes we have to spend money, real actual dollars, to gain knowledge. We should be willing to invest in our knowledge, and thus pay people their wages for the wisdom they have to impart. Prayer – God, show me what things to invest my money in to further my knowledge and wisdom and understanding.

23:27-28 – Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed (NLT). Not only should we not follow in the path of sinners, or do what sinners do, but God doesn’t even want us to envy them! And when we continue to fear the Lord, God’s promise is reward and hopes fulfilled. We should never give up hoping, because God promises that fear in him will never let us down.

23:26 – Oh my child, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways (NLT). Prayer – Yes! God, take my heart. I give it to you freely. Teach me how to not try and take it back from you. I always want to delight in following your ways. Show me every day how I can follow your path for me.

23:27-28 – A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well. She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make men more unfaithful (NLT). The image of the prostitute in Proverbs is referring to the ‘person’ of Sin. Sin isn’t just a thing we do. It is a force that is crouching and lurking at our door (Genesis 4:7), ready to take any opportunity to grab us by the throat and make us do its bidding. Sin as a character at play in our life wants to destroy every fiber of our being. This is what Proverbs is warning against. Proverbs is admonishing us to instead cling tightly to God’s Word because it is what give us power to resist Sin the character (James 4:7). Prayer – God, show me how to see Sin for what and who it is. Show me what it looks like to submit to you every day and give me the strength to resist Sin and the devil.

Friend, I have prayed these same prayers over you today. I pray you will grow in your relationship with God each day, and see the glorious hope to which he has called you. I pray you have the discernment to see the right choices God has before you, and the strength to continue in those choices.

Until next time,

– Just a girl pursuing her reflection in the mirror of God’s Word

Scripture quotations marked (CJB) are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, Copyright © 1998 and 2016 by David H. Stern. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are taken from the Christian Standard Bible® Copyright© 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.