Proverbs 10; Acts 25

Proverbs 10
Proverbs 10 begins a section in which we are given seemingly random, yet practical, ways to choose the way of Wisdom over the way of Folly. It also deals with various truths about what happens to the wise and the foolish. As you read through this and the coming proverbs, notice how many of them follow this pattern of perfectly parallel sentences:  "The wise do this; the foolish do that." or "This is what happens to the wise, but that is what happens to the foolish."

v. 3 is a comforting promise, "The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,..." but also contains a stark warning, "...but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked."

Benjamin Franklin, as well as your mother, have given you versions of the one found in v. 4, "Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich."

Oh, and how about this one? v. 19 "Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut." I've wished I had heeded this advice more than once.


We all need to remember v. 25 when troubles come, "When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation."

Acts 25
Almost immediately upon taking on his new job as governor, Festus had to deal with the angry Jewish leaders and their accusations against Paul. Paul insisted on his innocence. When King Agrippa visited with Festus, he brought Paul's case before him. Festus did not seem to believe the Jewish leaders that Paul was a criminal. He explained to King Agrippa, "...it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive. I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things..."

We will read about Paul's defense before Agrippa in Acts. 26.