READING FOR AUGUST 6, 2025: PROVERBS 17, LUKE 2, PSALM 77:10-20 PROVERBS 17 The first three verses express truths that seem counterintuitive and certainly countercultural: 1) a poor but peaceful home is better than a wealthy strifeful one; 2) a faithful servant has better prospects than an irresponsible son; and 3) just as fire refines gold and silver so our loving God will bring difficulties us to test our faith. Knowing these truths now will help us set the right priorities and deal more effectively with life’s expected situations.
Verse 4 asks us to consider where we obtain our information. If it is from a person or media source known for distorting the truth to fit a certain preconceived narrative, then it marks us who welcome that information as evil doers. Verse 5 once again explains what we are really doing when we make fun of the poor: we are taunting God, their maker. Related to this, if we are happy to see others experience disaster, we can know for certain that we will be punished. On the other hand, we can all look forward to the day we have grandchildren (or close rela- tives who are much younger). It is God’s desire that they be like crowns to us during our later years. In turn, the younger generation should find joy in revering these older family members.
It is not credible for an evil person to speak wise words. Nor is it a good idea for a leader to be a liar. (Are all leaders listening?) In the short run and due to our fallen world, bribes do achieve their objective of gaining an unfair advantage. Remember, though, God sees this (Prob. 15:3) and will eventually judge this (Rom. 2:6). Verses 9-12 give guidance for personal relationships. If a friend shares a fault about himself in confidence, it is loving to not tell others. If we do, that friendship will likely dissolve. If we see a fault in a trusted friend, we can let him/her know if we believe that they are wise enough to handle that information. It might do no good if they aren’t. In fact, a person who has demonstrated to be foolish is best avoided altogether.
Verses 13-15 provides practical tips for those of us involved in spiritual warfare against evil, which includes all Christians:
- Never repay good with evil; Romans 12:21 commands the opposite: “overcome evil with good.”
- If a dispute is about to break out, it is best just to leave the discussion or change the subject.
- At the same time, we should never “justify” evil, pretending a sin committed wasn’t really a sin.
Verse 16 suggests that sometimes we can’t understand why situations are the way they are, such as a fool with lots of money. Verses 17-21 tell what to do and not do: do stick with a friend in trouble; don’t promise to pay someone’s debts, enjoy wrongdoing, or only look for the bad in life. Verse 22 is free medical advice: if we feel bad physically or emotionally, we should find legitimate reasons to be joyful—such as rejoicing in the Lord (Phil. 3:1). Finally verse 28 reminds Americans of a humorous saying attributed to President Abraham Lincoln: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt."
READING FOR AUGUST 6, 2025 CONTINUED: LUKE 2, PSALM 77:10-20 LUKE 2 Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of Rome, easily the most powerful person, humanly speaking, on earth. Yet God orchestrated his desire to hold a worldwide census as the means to move Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered so Jesus could fulfill the ancient prophecy: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5: 2). Notice Mary was betrothed and pregnant. No doubt being still unmarried in a small town where people could see her and count to 9 would have created difficulties for Mary and Jesus socially. Augustus’s census took away that embarrassment. Finally, notice Jesus was called Mary’s firstborn, not only child as held by Catholic theology.
Once again, heavenly beings encountered working men, shepherds, doing their jobs. (Want to meet frightening angels? Do some hard work.) What was this good news (or Gospel) that brought such great joy to all people? The Lord, the Christ (Messiah), the Savior came to earth as a baby. This baby would eventually grow up, die, and rise again to atone for our sins, making the burnt sacrifices in Leviticus obsolete. Instead of giving angels the task to share this more complete good news, JESUS TOLD US TO DO IT. It’s clear from the details they gave, the angels expected the shepherds to leave immediately to see Jesus. They did and told others!
The rest of the chapter provides intriguing glimpses into Jesus’s childhood. Mary and Joseph were faithful in facilitating Jesus meeting His circumcision, purification, and yearly Passover commitments. The family’s sacrifice of birds indicates they were poor (Lev.12:8). The family was rich, though, in the many friends and family who traveled the 80 miles with them to Passover each year. (Sounds fun). We see an elderly widow and elderly man who both had a passion for God and prayer, which was rewarded by seeing God the Son in person. They serve as a model for many of us, as do Mary and Joseph for young parents, as does Jesus for children through His obedience and interest in spirituality. Let’s engage kids more deeply in the Bible.
PSALM 77:10-20 Verse 1 reads it is only in Asaph’s perception while grieving that God’s attribute of faithfulness has changed—not the reality. To give himself more perspective he consciously recalls the larger record of God, going back seemingly to the Exodus. He doesn’t review history in a merely academic way, but with thanksgiving for what it confirms about God’s character. Notice he asserts no God is like Israel’s God. How would he know that without some knowledge of other belief systems? Confidence in the truth of Christianity is strengthened by honestly comparing it to other views. Notice how graphically Asaph’s recollection is of the Exodus. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to enhance our recollection of God’s work beyond bare data to give ourselves a renewed sense of God’s faithfulness for today.
