"Verse of the Day" Bible Verses (KJV)

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Notes from Linda:

12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.

I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
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8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.

I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.

"Verse of the Day"
Bible Verses

Current Month

January 2026

JANUARY 28-31
Proverbs 28:24

Proverbs 28:24: "Whoso [whoever] robbeth [robs, steals from] his [or her] father or his [or her] mother [even though what they (the parents) have will probably belong to the child when they (the parents) die], and [then] saith [says], It is no transgression [crime, wrongdoing, sin]; the same [person (i.e., the one who is doing the 'robbing')] is the companion of a destroyer [which means that he (or she) is no better than a common thief--who destroys the victim's peace of mind, happiness, security, etc.]."

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Regarding today's verse, Pastor Delany of Salem Bible Church said:

"This young person commits a crime against his parents, but he doesn't see it that way. He says, 'I did nothing wrong. It is not a sin to take things from my own parents.'" That's because "[h]e may genuinely believe that whatever he takes from his parents he deserves or is entitled to… and therefore, taking it is not robbery."
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Pastor Delany's excellent commentary on Proverbs 28:24 gives specific examples of the many ways in which children intentionally and unintentionally rob their parents. The following excerpt is from the section entitled "His ACTIONS."

According to the commentary:

"5. There are many ways that robbery can occur.

"a. Robbery by actual theft (secretly).
"• A son could rob his parents by stealing money out of the draw[er] or taking his mother's jewelry or by cashing their [his parents'] checks.
"• Drug addicts often steal to support their habit. And their target of choice is usually their own parents. They figure, if I get caught, they [the parents] won't press charges.
"• They often steal their mother's jewelry, cash checks, etc.

"b. Robbery by wasting their [parents'] goods [possessions] and finances [money].
"• Spending money foolishly; and simple things like throwing away a ¼ of a toothpaste tube; eating half of an apple; wearing clothes a few times and trashing them; etc.)

"c. Robbery by fraud [deception]
"• A son could rob by lying about how much money they have [or 'he has'], or need, or how much something costs; etc.

"d. Robbery by running up a debt.
"• They [the children] might run up a bill on a credit card in their parent's name.

"e. Robbery by playing on their [the parents'] heartstrings [or trying to produce strong emotional reactions of sympathy, pity, or compassion in them]
"• They might tell some sob stories [or 'sentimental stories of distress'] to ooze [produce] some sympathy in order to get money from their parents.

"f. Robbery by borrowing without any intentions of paying it [the money] back.

"g. Robbery by spending their [the children's] inheritance like the prodigal son [did, in Luke 15:11-32].

"h. Robbery through sloth [laziness].
"• Prov. 18:9 -- They [the children] can commit robbery by not doing the chores or by not taking care of the property, thus, letting things fall into disrepair [meaning those things need to be fixed].
"• He's too lazy to harvest the crops at harvest time, so they rot and he impoverishes his parents [i.e., he makes them poor].
"• Through sloth they [the children] can slowly rob their parents a few pennies at a time… by leaving food on the counter to rot.
"• He [the child] can rob his parents by carelessly not putting oil in the lawnmower and allowing the engine to seize [become stuck or jammed]; by carelessly losing his clothes and other things; etc."

"6. He [the child] has virtually no concern for his parents at all.

"a. It doesn't dawn on him that all the things he wastes, his parents had to purchase. They had to work hard to earn the money to buy the goods that he wastes.

"b. He [the child] has no concept [understanding] of the value of money… or the value of hard work… he seems to think [that] money grows on trees.
"c. Of course if HE [the child] had to work many hours to purchase those items with his own toil and labor, he might see things differently.

"d. Telling this young man to turn off the lights to save electricity goes in one ear and out the other because he doesn't have to pay the light bill.

"e. If you tell him [the child] not to leave the hot water running or the AC [air conditioner] running all day he thinks you are weird and mean."
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If you want to read the rest of the commentary, including the section entitled "His ATTITUDE" and an explanation of why the child could be called a "destroyer," go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to 28:24."

JANUARY 27
Proverbs 27:10

The Value of Friendships

Proverbs 27:10: "Thine [your] own friend, and thy [your] father's friend, forsake not [in other words, don't abandon, desert, or forget about your close friends and your family friends, especially in a time of need]; neither go into thy brother's [or distant relative's] house in the day of thy calamity [tribulation, trouble]: for [or 'because'] better is a neighbour that is near than a brother [that is] far off [which means that in a crisis, when you need help right away, a friend or neighbor who lives nearby is better than a relative who lives far away]."

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It is commonly said that "A friend in need is a friend indeed." To fit the above verse, we could switch the words around and say, "A friend indeed (i.e., a true friend) helps a friend in need."

* * * * *

In his commentary on this verse, Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church said:

"5. Don't forsake [abandon] your friends; be a faithful, loyal friend.

"a. We have a responsibility to our friends.

"b. There ought to be a bond of loyalty that is not easily broken.

"c. This sense of responsibility is a two way street -- it is a give and take.

"d. Don't expect your friends to be loyal and always giving to you--unless you are loyal and giving to them. It is a two way street.

"e. If your friend needs help--then help him! If your father's friend needs help--help him too!"
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In addition, Pastor Delany said that in the second half of Proverbs 27:10, the phrase a brother far off can "… be applied not only to [some]one who is far away physically, but also one who is far off in the sense of being alienated [from his/her family in terms of affection (meaning the relatives no longer like or love that person or get along with him or her)]."
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If you want to read Pastor Delany's commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to 27:10/."

* * * * *

James Burton Coffman, another Bible commentator, explains the second half of today's verse like this:

"What is related here is a sad fact that brothers (or sisters) may sometimes be quite unwilling to aid [help] each other in times of misfortune or distress. [A person named] Cook revised the proverb here as follows: 'Better is the neighbor who is really "near" in heart and spirit than a brother who is "near" by blood but "far off" in brotherly feeling.'"

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/proverbs/27-10.html, "Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible")

JANUARY 25-26
Proverbs 25:21, 22

Be Kind to Your Enemies

This especially applies to people who are suffering from hunger, thirst, injury, etc.

Proverbs 25:21: "If thine [your] enemy be hungry, give him [or her] bread [or 'food'] to eat; and if he [or she--the enemy] be thirsty, give him [or her] water to drink:"

Proverbs 25:22: "For [or 'because,' by giving your enemy 'bread to eat' and 'water to drink,'] thou shalt [you shall] heap [pile up] coals of fire [or 'hot coals'] upon his [or her--the enemy's] head [which can have more than one meaning--see note below*], and the LORD shall reward thee [or 'bless you'] [for your kindness to your enemy and your obedience to God]."

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We should try to be kind to everyone, including our enemies. In my opinion, being mean to people who already hate us only makes them hate us more.

* * * * *

*According to Pastor Delany of Salem Bible Church, the phrase thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head in Proverbs 25:22 can have several meanings, both good and bad (as listed in paragraph 2 of the "hot coals" section of his commentary):

"a. It could be understood as the third expression of agape [sacrificial] love and kindness shown to an enemy.

"b. Some [people] have also interpreted this [phrase] to mean that the deed of kindness may melt his heart [perhaps referring to feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment that the enemy might feel] and win over the heart of the enemy and make him a friend!

"c. It [the above-mentioned phrase] could also be understood as an expression of divine vengeance [i.e., God's righteous judgment and punishment of evil] on an enemy."
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In paragraph 3 of his commentary, Pastor Delany goes on to explain why heaping coals of fire upon someone's head could be considered "an expression of love and kindness":

"a. In the days before electric stoves, lights, and heaters, fires were used to heat a home and cook the food.

"b. Often the fires were kept going by preserving the hot coals.

"c. If a fire went out, it was considered a neighborly thing [to do] to give your neighbor some of your hot embers [or 'hot coals'].

"d. Those hot embers would be put in a metal dish and carried on the head as most things were.

"e. Many [people] believe that 'heaping coals of fire on your enemy's head' was the third expression of kindness--like giving him food and water… and hot coals to cook the food on or heat his home."
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In the last section of the commentary, on the subject of rewards, Pastor Delany explains a different meaning:

"B. Coals Upon the Head: As Divine Vengeance

"1. While it is possible that the coals of fire heaped upon the head of an enemy COULD refer to an act of kindness (as mentioned earlier), it is also possible that it refers to an act of divine [God's] wrath [anger] and vengeance [revenge] upon this enemy.

"2. If this is the case, then the proverb [i.e., Proverbs 25:21-22] is to be understood in this sense:

"a. Our responsibility is to give food and drink to a cruel and heartless enemy as an act of love.
"• We are not to take vengeance into our own hands, but to leave that to the Lord.
"• Prov. 24:29 -- We are not to 'pay back' those who have harmed us. We are to leave it to the Lord.

"b. God's responsibility will be twofold:
"• God will judge the enemy in His time and way. God will add heaps of burning coals to his [the enemy's] head--perhaps a reference to more severe judgment in the Lake of Fire.
"» Rom. 12:19-21 -- Paul [the apostle] quotes this proverb [Proverbs 25:21-22] and seems to link the heaping of coals to divine vengeance.
"» By showing an enemy deeds of kindness, you are actually increasing his [the enemy's] judgment and adding coals of judgment to his head, for he is now sinning against greater light… sinning against expressions of God's love through you!
"• And God will reward you for not taking vengeance into your own hands, but choosing to obey God and showing kindness even to an enemy!

"c. God will do all the 'paying back' for deeds done--both good deeds ([for which] He [God] rewards you) and evil deeds ([for which] He judges the enemy).
"• Thus, when we obey God and show kindness to our enemy, we can do so knowing that the enemy isn't getting away with anything. Justice will prevail [win] eventually.
"• It is not our job to do the judging. Our job is to do good to all men and leave the judgment and vengeance to the Lord.
"• Of course we should not do good to others HOPING that our deeds will cause them more pain and suffering in the afterlife [which, in this case, means hell and/or the lake of fire]. A vengeful spirit displeases the Lord.
"• We receive no reward for deeds done with the wrong attitude or evil motive [reason for action]."
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If you want to read more of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "25:21-22."

* * * * *

The GotQuestioins.org article about today's verse ("How should we treat our enemies according to Proverbs 25:21-22?") can be found here: https://www.gotquestions.org/treat-our-enemies.html.

JANUARY 24
James 1:22

James 1:22: "But be ye [be you, or 'you should be'] doers of the word [of God, as recorded in the Bible], and not hearers only, [because by assuming that obedience is not important to God (see note below*), you are] deceiving [fooling, misleading, lying to] your own selves."

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In other words, we should obey the Bible and not just read it and/or listen to preaching.

* * * * *

One Bible commentator summed up James' teaching with this:

"… Put into practice what you profess [claim] to believe …"

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/james/1-22.html, "Dr. Constable's Expository Notes")

* * * * *

*Obedience is important to God. For example, in Luke 6:46, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to his disciples (followers): "And why call ye me [or 'why do you call me'], Lord, Lord, and do not [do] the things which I say?"

* * * * *

The following GotQuestions.org article relates to today's verse: "What does it mean to be 'not hearers only' of the Word in James 1:22?" If you want to read it, click on this link: https://www.gotquestions.org/not-hearers-only.html.

JANUARY 20-23
Proverbs 20:18

Proverbs 20:18: "Every purpose [or 'intention or plan to do something'] is established [decided] by counsel [advice, guidance]: and with good advice make [or 'go to'] war."

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Salem Bible Church has an excellent commentary on this verse, including many examples of why we should always seek good advice and direction (from people, the Bible, and God himself), not only before going to war but before making any major (big, important) life decisions, such as moving, building an addition to the house, going back to school, changing careers (jobs), getting married, buying a home or a car, having surgery, etc.
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In the section of the commentary entitled "Every purpose is established by counsel," we are cautioned: "Be aware that sometimes friends with the best of intentions give BAD advice… and terrible counsel … Therefore, compare every word of advice you receive from men with the Word of God [i.e., the Bible]."
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We are also told that:

"c. Wise counsel from people who have expertise [expert skill or knowledge] in that area might mean the difference between success or failure. (established)

"d. It may be a good idea that you have [or 'you may have a good idea']:
"• But you may be using a wrong method to accomplish it.
"• It may be a good idea, but [it is] the wrong time… wrong place…
"• It may be a good idea, but [it] needs a few minor adjustments.
"• It may be a good idea but you're not the person to do it.
"• A counselor may have a much easier, more efficient, more cost effective way of accomplishing your goal.
"• A counselor may have some other idea to enhance [improve] your good idea and make it even better.
"• It may be a good idea, but you need to be warned about some potential pitfalls [or traps or difficulties].

"e. It may be a terrible idea.
"• It may be obvious to others that it won't work.
"• Sometimes people get crazy ideas in their heads… and they just have to be told!
"• Perhaps others have tried it before you and consistently failed miserably.
"• A good, honest counselor who is out for your best interest will tell you so--and in doing so, [will] save you a lot of time, grief [misery], and money!"
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And in regard to "making war," the commentary says:

"3. Note that he [King Solomon, the author of the this proverb] says to get 'good advice.'

"a. Prov. 24:6 -- There is safety in a multitude [large number] of counselors.
"• If you are considering war, safety ought to be paramount [most important] in your thinking.
"• Getting a multitude of counselors is what we would call getting a second opinion… and a third [one]!
"• You are unlikely to be called upon to make plans for a war, but we may have to make war plans in dealing with our health.
"• If one doctor gives you a diagnosis and suggests a serious operation, get another doctor's advice before you subject yourself to the knife!
"• What you want is not just advice, but GOOD advice.
"• Luke 14:31 -- This king needs to sit down and CONSULT with wise men… with his army leaders… to see if it is advisable to go to war…
"» Do I have enough troops to win?
"» Do we have enough weapons?
"» Do we have a winning strategy?
"» Will the people be behind us?
"» Is this the right time?
"» There are lots of things to consider before going to war.
"» And you NEED to consult with experts before engaging in such a BIG decision.
"» When it comes to making big decisions, don't act rashly [hastily, without thinking it over]!
"• Don't operate merely by impulse [a sudden urge or instinct to do something without much thought]… or go by gut feelings [referring to an emotional response].
"• When making big decisions, it's much wiser to use your ears and your head rather than relying on your gut [or 'trusting your instincts'].
"• Don't make ignorant assumptions. Get good advice.
"• Look before you leap [in other words, think carefully before taking any action]… get good advice before you leap.
"• Count the cost."
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If you want to read the rest of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "20:18."

JANUARY 18-19
Proverbs 18:19

Proverbs 18:19: "A brother [or other relative, close friend, associate, etc.] [who has been] offended [hurt, or sinned against] is harder to be won [won over, won back, reached] than a strong [walled-in, fortified] city [which is almost impossible to conquer]: and their [the offended people's] contentions [arguments, quarrels, disputes] are like the bars of a castle [or fort, military stronghold, etc.--meaning they're thick, strong, and impenetrable (impossible to pass through or enter)]."

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Offending people is easy to do, but it frequently causes resentment, which is very hard to overcome.

* * * * *

In paragraph 6 of his commentary on today's verse, Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church says, "It is EASY to offend a brother or a friend…" because it can occur:

"a. … through carelessness with our words…

"b. … through maliciousness [having a desire to harm someone] with our words…

"c. … as a misunderstanding…

"d. … by means of a third party [or 'additional person'] sticking their nose in someone else's business …

"e. … because we only heard one side of the story …

"f. … when the one offended is overly sensitive… [or] thin skinned…

"g. … when the one who offends is callous [heartless, unfeeling]… [or] insensitive…

"h. … because of something said in jest [or 'in fun']; it was a joke, but they took it seriously…

"i. … when you are obeying God and rebuking [sharply criticizing] sin…

"j. … when we say things in anger that we would never say otherwise …

"k. … when for one reason or another, the allegiance [loyalty] is no longer there… or the allegiance is given to someone or something else…"
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Regarding King Solomon's reference to a "strong city" in Proverbs 18:19, Pastor Delany says, in paragraph 8 of his commentary, that:

"c. An offended brother builds walls around himself to keep the offender OUT… when he feels attacked by the offender."

"e. Those walls are a kind of defense mechanism because the offended party doesn't want to be hurt again."

"g. Once those walls are built, they are extremely hard to penetrate [break through]."
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Fighting frequently occurs within families (as, for example, when husbands and wives don't communicate with one another and are separated by an invisible wall, or when parents go on for years not speaking to their children (and children not speaking to their parents) and even between families, friends, neighbors, etc. One example mentioned in the commentary is the well-known feud (prolonged quarrel or conflict) between two families (the Hatfields and McCoys), which began with a fight over a hog (pig).
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Pastor Delany says we should try our best to avoid offending people in the first place, but if it happens anyway, this is what we should do about it:

-- If we have offended someone, we should apologize to him or her, and also confess that sin to God.

-- If someone has offended us, we should tell the person that we feel hurt and should hope for an apology and reconciliation (restoration of friendly relations).
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The commentary (in paragraph 8c) ends with the following advice:

"Whichever side of those iron bars you find yourself… RESTORING the relationship ought to be paramount [most important].
"• A little bit of grace and humility goes a long way!
"• Solomon says that winning back that person is difficult.
"• But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Nothing is too hard for the Lord."
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If you want to read the rest of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "18:19."

JANUARY 17
Proverbs 17:12

Proverbs 17:12: "Let a bear robbed of her whelps [cubs] [or 'let a mother bear who is searching for her missing cubs'] meet [encounter] a man [or woman or child], rather than [let] a fool [who is engaged or involved] in his [or her] folly [criminal or bad behavior] [meet a man (or woman or child)]."

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According to Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church:

"The fool behaves less rationally than does a bear. That's the point of the proverb."
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In his commentary on Proverbs 17:12, the pastor goes on to say:

"You're better off meeting up with a wild animal than a fool in his folly! … You can predict how a bear will react. A fool--well, who knows what he'll do! Stay away!"
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Through research, Pastor Delany has learned some important facts about bears:

"4. The dangers of an encounter with angry bears.

"a. Actually, the situation [King] Solomon [the author of Proverbs] described is rare.

"b. Bears are not usually a threat to men.

"c. One hiking source said the following about the danger: 'The reality is, you have a much greater chance of being flattened by a semi [i.e., a tractor-trailer] on the way to the trailhead [the place where the trail begins] than you do having a problem with a bear once you're on the trail. But, unlike the runaway semi, the bear danger is mostly controllable with education and common sense, so you have a responsibility to take sensible precautions and know how to respond to the danger if encountered…'

"d. Consider the advice given to those who encounter a bear protecting her whelps [cubs]:
"→ Avoid direct eye contact as bears may perceive [interpret, regard] this as a threat.
"→ Don't make any sudden movements, throw anything, or yell.
"→ If necessary, back away slowly to give the bear plenty of room to escape-- including the right-of-way on the trail.
"→ Bluff [false, pretend] charges: stand tall and they [the bears] usually retreat [withdraw, back off, go away]!

"e. If you follow those simple rules, you normally will avoid being mauled [torn apart, badly injured] by the bear.

"f. What should I do if I find myself around a mother bear with cubs? ([according to] NH [New Hampshire] Fish and Game)
"• Mother bears are rarely aggressive toward [or likely to attack] humans, but they are protective of their cubs.
"• A mother bear will usually give many warning signs (huffing or popping sounds, swatting the ground or even bluff charges) to let you know that you are too close.
"• Move away as described above… and even a bear protecting her cubs will not do you any harm.
"• Female Brown Bears though will fiercely protect the cubs even if it means [endangering or losing] her own life.
"• But a bear robbed of her cubs is LOOKING for her cubs. She doesn't want you.
"• Though rare, the most common type of bear attack is generally the result of a surprise encounter and almost always with a mother and her cubs. In nearly every mauling that has occurred in the past during a surprise encounter, once the hiker quit fighting and laid quiet [on the ground], the sow [mother bear] has grabbed her cubs and run or walked away."
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Regarding fools in their folly, Pastor Delany says:

5. HOW can a fool be MORE dangerous [than a mother bear looking for her cubs]?

"a. Lots of ways!
"• Try putting a knife in his hand.
"• Put him behind the wheel of a car with a carload of foolish teens.
"• Put a pair of skis under him.
"• Think of this fool full of a fifth [of a gallon, or a normal-size bottle,] of Jack Daniels [whiskey]
"• Think of this fool on crack cocaine [a highly addictive and powerful drug]
"• Think of this fool with a gun in his hand.
"• Even a bicycle! (Look ma, no hands!)
"• That's a fool engaged in his folly!
"• This is comparable in the analogy [comparison] to a bear ROBBED of her whelps.
"» A bear is not normally all that dangerous.
"» But while engaged in looking for her cubs, she is [dangerous]!
"» That's the WORST time to meet a bear [i.e., when she is looking for her cubs].
"» A fool may not normally be all that dangerous--except when engaged in his folly. (beer; car; gun)
"» We can't always AVOID being in the presence of foolish people. They are everywhere!
"» However, a fool IN their folly -- a fool engaged in his folly should be avoided like the plague!"
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If you want to read the rest of Pastor Delany's commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "17:12."

JANUARY 16
Proverbs 16:19

Proverbs 16:19: "Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly [people (financially speaking), referring to those who are poor], than to divide the spoil [or share the booty, or loot, referring to things that are stolen or taken forcibly from people or places or obtained through oppression, fraud (trickery, cheating, deception), war, etc.] with the proud [people; i.e., those who are proud and dishonest--and, usually, rich]."

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In other words, it's better to be poor and humble than rich and proud.

* * * * *

Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church has a good commentary on this verse. Here are some excerpts:

"Dividing the Spoil With the Proud":

"4c. [King] Solomon [the author of Proverbs] sees a connection between the two groups [i.e., (1) wealthy (rich) businessmen, nobles (i.e., people of high social rank), and land owners, and (2) thugs (bullies) and robbers]. They are doing the same sort of work… (oppression; dishonest gain; taking advantage of others; fraud [cheating]; robbery)…

"d. They have the same proud heart… The street thugs think they are smarter than the police (pride). The upper crust [referring to the group of people in the upper classes] thinks they are better than the peons [lower-class people, including unskilled workers] (pride).

"e. They both [i.e., the street thugs and upper crust] think that they can get away with their actions--and often [they] do… in this life.

"f. There really isn't much difference between them [the two groups mentioned above] except in the size or value of the spoil [or 'stolen goods']."

"5. Of course, this is NOT to say that all wealthy [rich] people are proud and dishonest.

"a. It is possible to be wealthy and humble… and poor and proud.

"b. But, Solomon did observe that the two traits [characteristics] of wealth and pride OFTEN went together."

"e. Being wealthy can MAKE you proud …

"f. Or, being proud can sometimes MAKE you wealthy--
"• IF you are willing to trample over others [or disregard their rights], use fraud [intentional deception], and dishonest gain to get to where you want to be."
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Section 19a:

"6. We are far better off being among the oppressed [referring to people who are treated unjustly] rather than the oppressors [i.e., people who treat others unjustly]… especially in the Day of Judgment [see note below*]."

"c. All throughout history there has been a great DIVIDE between the haves and the have nots.

"d. Medieval times -- the wealthy land owners and the serfs [servants or laborers who were connected to the land, meaning they went along with the land if it was sold].

"e. Colonial times -- the slave owners and the slaves.

"f. Today there are many poor countries that are actually RICH in natural resources, but they remain poor because the arrogant [conceited, stuck-up], wealthy class [in which the rich people are grouped together] has all the power and they live like royalty as the people [in the general population] suffer and starve.

"g. One day all men [or 'all people'] will stand before God and will have to give an account of their actions.

"h. In that day [of judgment], (if not before) it will be manifest [clearly shown, obvious] that it is better to have been of a humble spirit with the lowly… than to have been dividing the spoil with the proud."
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If you want to read the rest of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "16:19."

* * * * *

*"What is Judgment Day?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. To read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/Judgment-Day.html.

JANUARY 15
Proverbs 15:11

Proverbs 15:11: "Hell and destruction are before the LORD [which means that God knows everything that happens in hell, the realm (place) of the dead, where all unsaved people go when they die]: how much more then [are] the hearts of the children of men [referring to everything that people think, say, and do during their lives] [before the LORD]?"

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God is omniscient, which means that he sees, hears, and knows everything, including the things (thoughts, words, and deeds) that are hidden from view.

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Salem Bible Church has a good commentary on this verse. Here are some excerpts:

Section 11a, paragraph 2:

"l. Men commit suicide as an escape from their guilt and pain. However, it [suicide] brings no relief whatsoever. It is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire for the lost [people--unbelievers, unsaved sinners, those who have not been born again]."
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Section 11b, paragraph 3a:

"• A man, woman, or child who is corrected or reproved has an option….
"• He [or 'they'] can either RECEIVE the correction and repent…
"• OR he [or 'they'] can REJECT the correction or reproof as in vs. [verse] 9 [i.e., Proverbs 15:9].
"• OR he [or 'they'] can only PRETEND to receive the correction… and let it go in one ear and out the other.
"» Solomon's warning: God knows. You can fool your boss, your teacher, your parents, the policeman, but not the Lord.
"• You can try to HIDE your real feelings… HIDE your real attitude behind the words you know they want to hear--even if you don't mean it.
"• But you can never HIDE anything from God.
"• He [God] knows what's going on in Hades [the realm (place) of the dead--see note below*]! He surely knows what's going on in our hearts in the land of the Living!"
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Section 11b, paragraph 4e:

"• If you are WRONGLY corrected or reproved… and are forced to suffer the consequences for something you DIDN'T do… take heart [or 'be encouraged'].
"• God sees all [things]! He knows your heart when it is guilty. He also knows your heart when it is innocent!
"• The Judge of all the earth [i.e., God] does what is RIGHT.
"• He condemns the guilty [people] and He justifies the innocent [ones]!"
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If you want to read more of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "15:11."

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*The following articles are about hades and hell:

-- "What is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham's bosom?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/sheol-hades-hell.html)

-- "Do unbelievers immediately go to hell when they die?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/immediately-go-to-hell.html)

-- "What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/never-heard.html)

JANUARY 14
Proverbs 14:8

Proverbs 14:8: "The wisdom of the prudent [person, referring to someone who is sensible and shows good judgment,] is to understand his [or her] way [of life] [i.e., how to behave toward others, make wise decisions, etc.]: but the folly [foolish behavior, resulting from a lack of morals and/or common sense,] of fools is deceit [deception, because fools try to convince themselves--and others--that their way (although wrong) is right]."

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In his commentary on the above verse, Pastor Jim Delany, of Salem Bible Church, says that, due to pride and a "know it all" attitude, fools think that their way is right, and they refuse to be corrected.
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Here are some excerpts from the pastor's commentary:

From the first section (paragraph 4):

"d. The way speaks of our walk--both in the sense of where we are headed… and HOW we live along the way.

"e. The direction our life is taking is far more than cold, calculated, shrewd [intelligent] business decisions.

"f. The direction our life is taking also (and more importantly!) involves how we live… how we treat others… whether we are KIND… forgiving… gracious… humble…honest… fair… just… holy. (That's one [person's] walk.)

"g. Another person's walk might be characterized by cruelty, selfishness, deception, greed, bitterness, impulse, lust.

"h. That's no way to walk… that's not a good road to be headed down."
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From the second section of the commentary:

"7. The fool doesn't care about his 'manner of life.'

"a. Perhaps he is cruel--and will not admit it.

"b. Perhaps he treats others with no kindness… no compassion.

"c. Perhaps he is driven by greed and selfishness…

"d. Perhaps he is motivated by a love of pleasure and fun, fun, fun…

"e. But if he THINKS his way is right… there is no helping such a person. He will have to learn the hard way. He's a fool."
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If you want to read more of the pastor's commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "14:8."

* * * * *

Regarding Proverbs 14:8, Albert Barnes said:

"'… The most extreme folly is self-deceit [i.e., hiding the truth from yourself].' The word 'deceit' may, however, involve fraud [trickery] practiced upon others. The folly of fools shows itself then in their [the fools'] ceaseless [never-ending] effort to deceive [mislead] [others, or cause them to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage]."

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/proverbs-14.html, "Verse 8")

JANUARY 11-13
Mark 5:24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34

Jesus Heals the Woman With the "Issue of Blood"

Mark 5:24: "And Jesus went with him [Jairus (one of the rulers of the Jewish synagogue in Capernaum)--to heal his young (approximately 12-year-old) daughter, who was dying]; and much [or 'many'] people followed him [Jesus], and thronged [crowded around] him [so they could watch him perform a miracle]."

Mark 5:25-26: "And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood [or 'a hemorrhage' (i.e., a continuous, abnormal flow of blood, probably coming from her uterus, or womb)] [for] twelve years [for example, her monthly period may have flowed continuously during that entire time], And [who, referring to the woman with the 'issue of blood,'] had suffered many things of many physicians [because she took medicine that the doctors prescribed, and tried remedies and treatments that they suggested (some of which probably had painful side effects), in an attempt to control the bleeding], and [who] had spent all [of the money] that she had [or 'had spent all of her money'] [on doctors, medicine, and treatments], and was nothing bettered [or 'was not any better'], but rather grew worse,"

Mark 5:27-28,29: "When she [the woman] had heard of Jesus, [she] came in the press [the crowd] behind [him--Jesus], and touched his garment. For she said [to herself], If I may touch [nothing] but his [Jesus'] clothes, I shall be whole [or 'healed']. And straightway [immediately, after she touched Jesus' garment] the fountain of her blood was dried up [which means the bleeding stopped]; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague [or, in this case, 'severe affliction']."

Mark 5:30-31: "And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue [healing power] had gone out of him, turned him about [or 'turned around'] in the press [or 'in the crowd'], and said, Who touched my clothes [meaning intentionally, or on purpose]? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest [you see] the multitude [or 'the crowd'] thronging thee [or 'pressing against you'], and sayest thou [you say], Who touched me?"

Mark 5:32-33: "And he [Jesus] looked round about [or 'looked around'] to see her [the woman] that had done this thing [i.e., touched his garment]. But the woman[,] fearing [or 'afraid'] and trembling [shaking], knowing what was done [or 'what had occurred'] in her [body], came [to Jesus] and fell down before him [meaning she stretched out with her face on the ground in front of him--respectfully, in worship], and told him all [of] the truth [about what had happened]."

Mark 5:34: "And he [Jesus] said unto her, Daughter [a word that expressed his tenderness and affection], thy faith hath made thee whole [or 'your faith has made you whole,' which meant that it was because of her faith in Jesus and his healing power that she had been restored to good health]; go [home] in peace, and be whole [or 'continue to remain cured'] of thy plague [your affliction, or suffering]."

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The woman with the "issue of blood" had many problems besides poor health. In his commentary on Mark 5:27-29, Pastor Chuck Smith wrote this:

"… According to Jewish law, her husband could not touch her as long as she was hemorrhaging. According to Jewish law, everything she touched was unclean. Whoever touched her would be unclean. Whoever would touch anything she touched would be unclean. Therefore, she could not continue to live with her family, to prepare [for] them food and all, to do [or 'wash'] their clothes. Finally, according to Jewish law, she could not enter the place of worship as long as she was hemorrhaging. She was ceremonially unclean …"

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/mark/5-25.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")

* * * * *

In a different commentary, while discussing Mark 5:31, Matthew Henry notes that:

"… As [are] secret acts of sin, so secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are under his eye. If believers [born-again Christians] derive [obtain] virtue from [Jesus] Christ ever so closely, he knows it, and is pleased with it."

(Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/mark/5.html, "Verses 21-34," "(v. 31)")

* * * * *

GotQuestions.org wrote about this miraculous healing in their article entitled "What is the meaning of the story of the woman with the issue of blood?" It can be found here: https://www.gotquestions.org/woman-issue-blood.html.

JANUARY 10
Proverbs 10:22

Proverbs 10:22 "The blessing of the LORD [in this case, probably referring to the earthly (physical) blessings, such as riches, material possessions, etc., rather than spiritual blessings, that come from God], it maketh [makes] [a person] rich, and he [God] addeth [adds] no sorrow [unhappiness] with it."

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According to today's verse, God's blessings (especially when accompanied by hard work on our part) come without worries or regrets. Consequently, we should appreciate and enjoy the good things that we have, and we should thank God for them.

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Salem Bible Church has two commentaries on this verse. If you want to read one or both of them, here are the links:

-- "The Blessing of the Lord Maketh Rich"
(Go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "10:22A")

-- "Blessings without Sorrow"
(Go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "10:22B")

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The following are excerpts from the first commentary (listed above) showing how some people try to get rich (and usually fail to do so) without God's help:

"6. Some men seek for riches without diligence [hard work]…

"a. Gambling and casino betting is all based on this aspect [part] of human nature--[the desire to] get rich quick!"

"7. Others seek riches by diligence [persistent effort or hard work] … and ignore GOD as the source of blessing."

"c. Ecc. 9:10 -- Work your hardest and do your best! (man's responsibility)
"• vs. [verse] 11 [i.e., Ecclesiastes 9:11] -- but don't ever ignore the sovereignty [supreme power and authority] of God!
"• The race is not always to [or 'won by'] the fastest runner! (He could have a cold that day; trip over his shoestrings; the sole of his sneaker could come apart;
"• A ski racer--he could be the best--but he could always hit a patch of ice…
"• The battle isn't always to [or 'won by'] the biggest, best equipped and best trained soldiers either! Consider Israel against Egypt [in the Old Testament]! How could the Egyptians ever have imagined that they would be defeated? Who could have imagined the Red Sea opening!?
"• Bread [or, in this case, money] is not always [given] to the wise! You may make the wisest investments humanly possible on Wall Street--and the unthinkable could occur… war could break out… a new technology could render [make] your investment obsolete [outdated]…
"• A farmer could work his hardest planting his crops--and the Lord may hold back on the rain…
"• Robert Burns put it this way: The best-laid schemes [plans] of mice and men gang aft agley (often go astray)!"
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The second commentary (listed above) basically focuses on (1) rich people and poor people who love, and lust [or have an intense desire] for, money and (2) what happens when they get it or don't get it.
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According to Jim Delany, pastor of Salem Bible Church, "When we do our best… put in diligent effort… work in dependence upon the Lord… and do so gladly and cheerfully… THEN, when God blesses the finished product ([for example:] building a church; building a business; or building a family)… there is no sorrow in it!"

* * * * *

Regarding today's verse (Proverbs 10:22), Matthew Henry said:

(Note: The following quote was one long paragraph,
so I split it up into smaller sections to make it easier to read.)

"Worldly wealth is that which most men have their hearts very much [set] upon, but they generally mistake both in the nature of the thing they desire and in the way by which they hope to obtain it; we are therefore told here,

"1. What that wealth is which is indeed desirable, not having abundance [a large quantity] only, but having it and no sorrow with it, no disquieting [anxious or uneasy] care to get and keep it, no vexation of spirit [i.e., no frustration, annoyance, exasperation] in the enjoyment of it, no tormenting grief for the loss of it, no guilt contracted by the abuse of it--to have it [wealth, riches, money] and to have a heart to take the comfort of it, to do good with it and to serve God with joyfulness and gladness of heart in the use of it.

"2. Whence [from where] this desirable wealth is to be expected, not by making ourselves drudges [slaves] to the world … but by the blessing of God …"

(Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/proverbs/10.html, "Verse 22")

* * * * *

The GotQuestions.org article about today's verse is entitled "What does it mean that the blessing of the Lord brings wealth (Proverbs 10:22)?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/blessing-of-the-Lord-brings-wealth.html.

JANUARY 9
Proverbs 9:8

Proverbs 9:8: "Reprove not [don't criticize or correct] a scorner [someone who mocks (ridicules, makes fun of) God, truth, holiness, and/or righteousness], lest he hate thee [or else he (or she) might hate you]: rebuke [correct] a wise man [or 'person'], and he [or she] will love thee."

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Salem Bible Church's commentary on this verse is combined with verses 7 and 9.
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In Proverbs 9:8, according to Pastor Jim Delany, "It does not appear that [King] Solomon is forbidding the reproof of a fool. Rather, he seems to be saying that such reproofs are wasted--they accomplish nothing because the fool doesn't respond properly."

* * * * *

Here is an excerpt from the first section of the above-mentioned commentary:

"3. Three results of reproving a scorner or a wicked man:

"a. [Result #1:] Shame: shame, disgrace, and dishonor.
"• The one [or 'the person'] who ignores this truth, and seeks to reprove foolish men anyway should expect to receive dishonor in return.
"• Ex[ample]: If we are constantly reproving a smoker for smoking; a drinker for drinking; a curser for cursing; or a tardy person for being tardy [late]--we very well may be provoking an argument… stirring up trouble unnecessarily…
"• As a result, we may bring shame to ourselves… and to the Lord we represent.

"b. [Result #2:] A blot: blemish, spot, defect;
"• The man who disregards Solomon's advice, and continually rebukes wicked men for their wickedness may get a blemish or a blot.
"• That person is damaging his own [Christian] testimony.
"• Our constant nagging will be perceived [viewed, understood, interpreted] as a defect in our character--especially if our reproof is done in public!
"• Solomon warns us against such behavior. It is a waste of time… and worse--it will bring a blemish to our reputation.

"c. [Result #3:] Hatred: hatred; enmity
"• Again, the one who disregards Solomon's advice here is stirring up hatred… unnecessarily…
"• And even if the evil we are pointing out is real, we are not serving God in doing so--not if we violate [fail to comply with] this Scripture [or 'Bible verse']!
"• Some believers might attempt to point out all the evil ways of evil men and do so with a sense of self-righteousness… or believing they are doing God's will. But that is not the case if they are disregarding this [Bible] passage [i.e., Proverbs 9:8]!
"• Prov. 15:12 -- a scorner loveth not one that reproveth him.
"• Prov. 23:9 -- he will hate your words! Don't do it!
"• Reproving fools only stirs up anger and hatred.
"• Apply this passage while driving on the highway. Some "fool" cuts you off. Should you yell a word of rebuke to him? Scold his behavior with a pointed finger? You may be stirring up road rage!
"• You get a blot on your reputation--by having your picture on the front page of the [news]paper for inciting [stirring up] road rage.
"• You might end up quite ashamed… shame… blot… and hatred--all from reproving a wicked man."
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If you want to read more of this commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to 9:7-9."

JANUARY 8
Proverbs 8:13

"Lady Wisdom," or God's wisdom personified (speaking like a person), says:

Proverbs 8:13: "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil [see explanation below*]: pride, and arrogancy [arrogance, conceit, egotism (believing that you are better, smarter, and/or more important than other people)], and the evil way [e.g., sinning, doing bad things], and the froward [unmanageable, uncontrollable] mouth [especially when it says mean and hurtful things], do I [Lady Wisdom--and God!] hate."

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*In the above verse, The fear of the LORD is to hate evil means that a wise person (someone with 'the fear of the LORD,' or a fear of displeasing God) will hate all evil things, including bad thoughts, bad words, bad actions, bad company (or friends), bad forms of worship, and bad doctrines (or beliefs).

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Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church has a good commentary on Proverbs 8:13, which is combined with his explanation of verse 14. Here are some excerpts:

Section 13a, paragraph 2:

"a. One of the reasons we commit sin and do evil is because we don't hate it [sin] enough.

"b. If your son was killed by a drunk driver, wouldn't you hate drunk driving? God's son was killed because of our sin. He [God] HATES sin. He hated sin BEFORE [Jesus died on] the cross too."

"d. How much do you hate sin? Enough to stop? How much do you fear displeasing God? Enough to change?"

Section 13b, paragraphs 2 and 10:

"2. Pride and arrogance think they don't need Lady Wisdom's advice. They can handle life on their own… or so they think."

"10. The proud man THINKS he is safe; thinks he is secure; able to stand; invincible [too powerful to be defeated]; yet, he is deceived [fooled]!

"a. This [proud] man will listen to no one… why should he? He knows it all already!

"b. It is this kind of pride that LEADS to every evil way.

"c. That evil way then leads to shame. (Prov. 11:2 -- When pride cometh, then cometh shame.")

"d. That is why Lady Wisdom warns of pride and arrogance--because of where it leads… its END."
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If you want to read more of the commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "8:13-14."

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"What does the Bible say about pride?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org by the same name. To read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/pride-Bible.html.

JANUARY 6-7
Matthew 15:7, 8

Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees (the religious leaders of his day):

Matthew 15:7-8: "Ye [you] hypocrites [pretenders], well [rightly, correctly] did Esaias [Isaiah] prophesy of you [in the Old Testament--Isaiah 29:13], saying [that the Lord said], This people [referring to the Jewish nation] draweth nigh unto [or 'draw nigh (near) unto' or 'come close to'] me [God] with their mouth, and honoureth [honor (worship and praise)] me with their lips; but their heart [and mind, which should have a true love for God,] is far [away] from me."

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There were hypocrites in Bible times, and there are many hypocrites in the world today. That being the case, we should all ask ourselves: When we praise God and say that we love him, do we really mean it?

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The GotQuestions.org article that relates to today's verse is entitled "What does it mean that 'these people honor me with their lips' (Matthew 15:8)?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/these-people-honor-me-with-their-lips.html.

JANUARY 4-5
Proverbs 4:14, 15, 16, 17

Stay Away From Bad People

In these verses, King Solomon was teaching his son (and us) some of the do's and don'ts of life:

Proverbs 4:14-15: "Enter not into [or 'don't enter'] the path of the wicked, and go not [or 'do not go'] in the way of evil men [and women and children] [i.e., don't do what they do]. Avoid it [the 'path of the wicked'], pass not by it, turn [aside] from it, and pass away [from it]."

Proverbs 4:16: [Why we should stay away from bad, or evil, people:] "For they [the evil people] sleep not [or 'cannot sleep'], except [unless] they have done mischief [or 'caused harm to others']; and their sleep is taken away [from them, meaning they can't sleep], unless they cause some [people] to fall [into sin]."

Proverbs 4:17: [Evil people 'do mischief' and 'cause some to fall':] "For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence." [And according to Pastor Delany of Salem Bible Church, 'A steady diet of violence, immorality, perversion, and vice {wrongdoing} creates an appetite for even more…'--see note below (*) for a link to the pastor's commentary.]

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King Solomon's advice: Don't associate or have anything to do with bad people--don't be their friends, don't join gangs, etc. That's the best way to stay out of trouble.

* * * * *

*Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church has a good commentary on today's verses. In the introduction, he wrote:

"1. In this section, [King] Solomon likens [compares] life to a pathway… a road with many turns and twists.

"2. There are many cut offs and forks in the road, and the pilgrim [or traveler, especially someone who travels to foreign lands] must make choices all along the way.

"3. John Bunyan's Pilgrim Progress has this as its theme… pilgrims journeying through life on their way to the Celestial city [i.e., heaven]--with many evil men and seducers trying to cause them to swerve off the straight and narrow way.

"4. Bunyan alludes [refers] to many passages [in the Bible] from the book of Proverbs.

"5. Solomon wanted his son to view life that way--a long journey down a road. This journey requires wisdom, discernment [good judgment], and the ability to make good choices."
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Here are some excerpts from the rest of the commentary:

"• Crime is a game for the criminal… an evil game."

"b. Many criminals are extremely intelligent--consider the hackers on the web [referring to the World Wide Web on the computer]… they have the FBI and CIA confounded [confused]!"

"d. Criminals get a sort of morbid [macabre, gruesome] pleasure from hurting and stealing… it isn't just for the money, it is often for the thrill of it! The web hackers didn't get any money--just the pleasure of causing trouble!"

"b. They [criminals and other bad people] plot ways to obtain the wealth of others…"

"a. Just like some men go to college and study engineering or math, these men study violence…"
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"a. This is the gang life--criminals who get pleasure from inflicting pain and injury on others.

"b. Ex[ample]: an older couple took a wrong turn in Los Angeles a few years ago, into the territory of a notorious [i.e., a famous or well-known] gang. The gang members blocked off the road with barrels so the car could not escape--and they then beat the couple to death--just for the fun of it.

"c. A steady diet of violence, immorality, perversion, and vice [wickedness] creates an appetite for even more…"
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"a. Evil men might come to an inexperienced young man and hope to capture him… make him their victim… infect him with their evil ways.

"b. They may begin by speaking filthy language… to see how he responds. They may continue by showing him some dirty pictures… and eventually lead him to the prostitute…

"c. They may entice [tempt, lure] him with promises of easy money …

"d. They may entice him with strong drink [i.e., alcoholic beverages] or drugs…

"e. Of course, they [the evil men] always begin on a small scale… then on to bigger and better things… more evil… more violence."
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"• You can't walk [or hang around or associate] with evil men and expect that it will not have an effect on you! It will!
"• It will have an evil effect! You will be contaminated.
"• First the evil company is enjoyed; then the evil OF the company is enjoyed."
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If you want to read more of the above-mentioned commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "4:14-17."

JANUARY 3
Proverbs 3:7, 8

A Biblical Way to Stay Strong and Healthy

Proverbs 3:7: "Be not wise in thine [your] own eyes [in other words, don't be a know-it-all (someone who is filled with pride and is overly confident in himself or herself)]: fear the LORD [have reverence (love, honor, and respect) for God, and a fear of disobeying and offending him], and depart from evil [thoughts and deeds, which means that you should try not to have bad feelings, such as anxiety (worry), fear, depression, hatred, anger, envy, resentment, guilt, etc., and that you shouldn't hold grudges, and that you should stop doing bad things (like abusing alcohol and/or drugs, committing adultery and/or fornication (i.e., having sexual relations with someone you are not married to), lying, stealing, etc.)]."

Proverbs 3:8: "It [i.e., fearing God and departing from evil, as stated in Proverbs 3:7] shall be [or will result in] health [healing] to thy [your] navel [or 'throughout your body,' similar to the way in which a baby receives nourishment through the umbilical cord while in its mother's womb], and [will also result in] marrow [strength] to thy bones."

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If you want to be healthy--physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally--fear God, and don't do bad things.

* * * * *

In paragraph 2 near the end of his commentary on the above verses, Pastor Delany of Salem Bible Church says:

"c. It [i.e., the phrase health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones in Proverbs 3:8] seems to point to a physical health as well as health to the soul. Spiritual health and physical health are related.
"• Fear, worry, envy, hatred, anger, depression, resentment, guilt--are NOT good for you physically!
"• If we don't depart from these evils--they could kill us!"

"d. This is God's wellness program [i.e., one that promotes good health]. You don't have to buy any expensive herbs or join a club. Fear God and depart from evil. THAT will result in wellness [good health] in your body and soul!
"• To a certain extent, our outer man, our body IS affected by our inner man.
"• Rather than trust in the Lord, we sometimes worry and that can [cause an ulcer and sometimes] burn a hole in our stomach… bring up our blood pressure…
"• The believer [born-again Christian] that has rejected God's wisdom and is walking in his own wisdom has every right to be anxious… worried about the future.
"• God RESISTS the proud [person]. It is an unsettling feeling to know that someone with infinite power [i.e., God] is resisting you!
"• When the believer walks in the wisdom of the world--he has made himself an enemy of God. He has good reason to worry about chastisement [punishment]! Friendship with the world is enmity with [or being an enemy of] God.

"e. BUT, the believer who walks humbly with God--fears God--does NOT trust in his own understanding, nor is wise in his own eyes--that believer can have REST in his soul. He has health to his navel--deep down in his gut--there is peace and rest, knowing God is on his side."
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If you want to read more of the pastor's commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "3:7-8."

(Please note: This verse on the Salem Baptist Church website currently shows the wrong commentary, but it should be fixed soon. Sorry!)

JANUARY 1-2

Proverbs 1:7: "The fear of the LORD [which means not only actually being afraid of Almighty God (because of who he is and what he can do if we disobey, displease, or offend him in any way), but also having great respect, admiration, and love for him] is the beginning of knowledge: but fools [people who do not fear God] despise [hate] wisdom and instruction."

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In his commentary on Proverbs 1:7, Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church explains the meaning of the phrase fear of the LORD and tells why fearing God is the principal (most important) part of knowledge.
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According to Pastor Delany, having the fear of God will help us know where to look for the answers to many things, including: (1) how to avoid marital (marriage) problems, (2) why we are here (on earth), (3) where the sun and moon came from, (4) how we can get to heaven, (5) how to deal with the problem of self-control (over things like alcohol, drugs, lust, sexual sins, greed, anger, etc.), and (6) the right way to bring up our children. As you may have guessed, all of these things are discussed in God's word (i.e., the Bible).
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If you want to read the pastor's commentary, go to https://www.salembible.org/proverbs/ and scroll down to "1:7."