Proverbs Chapter 21  
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
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Introduction: The section of verse 1 began in the previous chapter and continues—warnings and instruction for God’s people. Contained herein is further godly wisdom for the Christian life.
 
 

1.  Kings Heart in in God’s Hand

 
Pro 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 
Pro 21:2  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 
 
Verse 1 verse speaks of the providential working of God in the affairs of men. God uses men, especially those in leadership, to guide human affairs for His sovereign will.   For example, God used men such as David to fulfill His purposes. He also used ungodly kings such as Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His will.
 
The greater point is that God can turn a man’s heart when He chooses to do so. We ought to pray for those who are lost that God will work in their hearts.
 
Sinful mankind is inherently self-righteous as verse 2 points out..  

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Proverbs Chapter 20 
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
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Introduction:   The format of the book of Proverbs now changes slightly from proverbs contrasting wisdom and folly to those of warning and instruction.
 
 

1. Wine is a Mocker

 
Pro 20:1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 
Pro 20:2  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. 
 
Alcoholic beverages cause men to mock and rage. Foolish men drink intoxicants, thinking to float but sink instead.   The world advertises alcohol as a great way to enjoy, loosen up, and get a buzz. The truth is, alcohol is a great deceiver. In place of its short ‘high’ comes nothing but trouble and destruction.
 
Many churches today teach that there is nothing wrong with a few social drinks taken in moderation.  The only thing wrong with that is that it is a lie from Satan.
Truly, alcoholic beverages are demons in a bottle. Few things in the history of humanity have been more destructive to life, happiness, and family than alcohol.
​
Those who drink are not wise. 

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Proverbs Chapter 19
 
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
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Introduction:  Proverbs Chapter 19 continues the contrast between wisdom and folly.
 
I.  Better is Poor that Walks in His Integrity
 
Pro 19:1  Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 
Pro 19:2  Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 
 
The thought is simple. It is better to be poor and honest than to be a slick talker and a fool. The word translated as perverse (vqe ‘iqqesh) literally refers to being ‘twisted,’ ‘distorted,’ or ‘crooked.’  The idea here is of a slick talker who is less than honest. The Bible calls such a one a fool.
 
Two separate thoughts are at hand in verse 2.   The word translated as knowledge (tedda‘ath) refers to ‘discernment,’ ‘understanding,’ or ‘wisdom.’  For one to be without discernment or wisdom is not good.  One who hastens with his feet is one who is impulsive and undisciplined. Impulsive people are prone to folly and sin.
 
They don’t pause and think through their impulse. Unfortunately, it often leads to sin.
The impulsiveness of Peter was not a virtue. It got him into trouble frequently. 

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Proverbs Chapter 18
 
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
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Introduction:  Proverbs Chapter continues the contrast between wisdom and folly. The verses often are parallelisms and there are few related thoughts. This chapter is basically a list of various proverbial truths.
 
 

1. Fools Have No Delight in Understanding

(Pro 18:1)  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
(Pro 18:2)  A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
 
Though somewhat oblique in its presentation, the thought is essentially this. One who desires wisdom will separate himself from the frivolities of life to seek wisdom wherever he can find it.  Learning and the development of Godly wisdom often means making significant decisions in life.  
 
Many are influenced to attend institutions that teach erroneous doctrine. There are those who seek counsel and  join hard to a solid local New Testament Church. 
 
In contrast to the thought of verse 1, fools are uninterested in true understanding. They are more concerned about being seen and noticed by others.   How often the world’s crowd is most interested in outward appearance and popularity but have no real interest in wisdom, truth, or understanding. Such are fools, and the world is full of them. 

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Proverbs Chapter 14
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
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Introduction:  In Proverbs Chapter 14 the contrast between wisdom and folly continues. However, there is a slight shift in the nuance of the theme. Where the contrast in recent chapters has been between the wisdom of righteousness and the folly of wickedness, now the thought pattern seems to focus upon the wisdom of goodness versus the foolishness of wrongdoing.
 
 

1. Wise Women Build their House

 
Pro 14:1  Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. 
 
The thought shifts now to the distinction between a wise woman and a foolish one.  A wise woman will build up her house. The thought refers to one’s family. Accordingly, a wise woman will strengthen and build up her family.  The word translated as plucketh it down (orhharac) in its simplest sense means to ‘break down’ or to ‘tear down.’
 
A wise woman will encourage and strengthen her family while a foolish woman will criticize and tear them down. Though the thought is of doing so with her hands, that may be a metaphor. The likely thought is of tearing down one’s family by criticism and nagging.
 
Pro 14:2  He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. 
Pro 14:3  In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. 
 
The word translated as uprightness (rvy yosher) refers to upright living. It is the practical outworking of the principle of righteousness. The point is that he who walks uprightly (in righteousness) demonstrates a fear of the Lord. A direct link between the fear of the Lord and righteousness is set forth.
 
Doing what is right manifests the fear of the Lord. In contrast, he who is perverse (crooked) has no regard for the Lord. The converse is true as well. When one has little regard for the Lord, he very well may become crooked. 
 
In Verse 3, we find that fools are often proud and it shows in what they say.
The idea of a “rod of pride” in the mouth of a fool simply means that fools in pride use their tongue like a whip or rod on others. In contrast, the mouth of a wise man will protect and preserve himself.  The fact is how that fools are proud and sharp with their tongue. Wise men keep their mouths shut and it preserves them. 

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Proverbs Chapter 12  
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
Website: http://www.kjvbiblestudies.net
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Introduction:   In this chapter, the contrast between the wisdom of righteousness and the folly of sin is continued. 
 
I.  Love Instruction, Love Knowledge
 
Pro 12:1  Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. 
               
The thought is here relatively simple. One who will kindly receive correction delights in learning to be better. But one who hates being corrected shields themselves from such.  The question is: how do we receive criticism or correction?  
 
Pro 12:2  A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. 
Pro 12:3  A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 
 
The principle is essentially, how that God will bless a good man.  The word translated good (bwj towb) refers to moral and ethical goodness and is very close to the thought of one who is ‘righteous.’  In contrast, one given to wickedness will be judged. God blesses righteousness and judges sin. It is that simple. 

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 Six Things to Think On

Our minds are focused on something all day long.   We may start out in a heavenly mindset but quickly be drawn to things of the world   I want us to think about six things found in one verse of the bible that God wants us to think on.  In the bible, we all have special chapters and verses that really speak to me.   My favorite verse in the bible is II Pet 3:9.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

Hebrews Chapter 11 on Faith is a wonderful book.   Psalms 23 is a great comfort and guide to our daily lives.   But I don’t think there is a chapter in the bible that speaks to me more than Philippians Chapter 4.  It tells us how to think, and how to view life, and how to get the right mindset to serve God on a daily basis.
 
Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 
Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 
Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 
Php 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 
 
Php 4:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 
Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 
 
Having the right mindset is crucial to thinking right in life.   The world wants us to think like they do, but we need to be more heavenly focused than that. We need to strive to think like Christ and have the mind of Christ.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

I am a member of Grace Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas.  Brother Danny Taylor, our pastor, and Jordan Lindsey, our Associate Pastor, have both been pointing out the importance of really understanding the words written in the Bible.  

To do this, you need to go back to the Noah Webster 1828 dictionary that is available for free online or as an app on your phone and look at that original meaning.  I used it for reference to look up the words as originally penned to study and expound upon.

Paul told those at the church in Philippi to THINK ON THESE THINGS.   So lets reread the verse with what we should be thinking on which is verse 8.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

The first 3 things are:  True, Honest, Just.
 
whatsoever things are true

TRUE, adjective

1. Conformable to fact; being in accordance with the actual state of things; as a true relation or narration; a true history. A declaration is true when it states the facts. In this sense, true is opposed to false.
2. Genuine; pure; real; not counterfeit, adulterated or false; as true balsam; the true bark; true love of country; a true christian.
--The true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:9.
3. Faithful; steady in adhering to friends, to promises, to a prince or to the state; loyal; not false, fickle or perfidious; as a true friend; a true lover; a man true to his king, true to his country, true to his word; a husband true to his wife; a wife true to her husband; a servant true to his master; an officer true to his charge.
4. Free from falsehood; as a true witness.
5. Honest; not fraudulent; as good men and true

See how much more focus the definition is tied to the Word of God.  Back in the early days of America, faithful men established this nation.   And Christians thought like Christians.   We need to be TRUE in our lives.    GENUINE, PURE, REAL, not Counterfeit as the definition explains.

whatsoever things are honest

HONEST, adjective on'est. [Latin honestus, from honos, honor.]

1. Upright; just; fair in dealing with others; free from trickishness and fraud; acting and having the disposition to act at all times according to justice or correct moral principles; applied to persons.
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
An honest physician leaves his patient, when he can contribute no farther to his health.
2. Fair; just; equitable; free from fraud; as an honest transaction; an honest transfer of property.
3. Frank; sincere; unreserved; according to truth; as an honest confession.
4. Sincere; proceeding from pure or just principles, or directed to a good object; as an honest inquiry after truth; an honest endeavor; honest views or motives.
5. Fair; good; unimpeached.
Seek seven men of honest report. Acts 6:3.
6. Decent; honorable; or suitable.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Romans 12:17.
7. Chaste; faithful.

Do we not all desire to work and associate with HONEST men and women.   We should never be dishonest in our daily dealings.    Paul urges them to fair, just, free from fraud.   Have just principles and go about being fair, good, decent and honorable.
 
Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 
 
whatsoever things are just
 
JUST, adjective [Latin justus. The primary sense is probably straight or close, from the sense of setting, erecting, or extending.]
1. Regular; orderly; due; suitable.
When all
The war shall stand ranged in its just array.
2. Exactly proportioned; proper.
Pleaseth your lordship
To meet his grace, just distance 'tween our armies?
3. Full; complete to the common standard.
He was a comely personage, a little above just stature.
4. Full; true; a sense allied to the preceding, or the same.
--So that once the skirmish was like to have come to a just battle.
5. In a moral sense, upright; honest; having principles of rectitude; or conforming exactly to the laws, and to principles of rectitude in social conduct; equitable in the distribution of justice; as a just judge.
6. In an evangelical sense, righteous; religious; influenced by a regard to the laws of God; or living in exact conformity to the divine will.
There is not a just man on earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecclesiastes 7:15.
7. Conformed to rules of justice; doing equal justice.
JUST balances, just weights, a just ephah and a just hin shall ye have. Leviticus 19:36.
8.  Conformed to truth; exact; proper; accurate; as just thoughts; just expressions; just images or representations; a just description; a just inference.
9. True; founded in truth and fact; as a just charge or accusation.
10. Innocent; blameless; without guilt.
How should man be just with God? Job 9:2.
11. Equitable; due; merited; as a just recompense or reward.
--Whose damnation is just Romans 3:8.
12. True to promises; faithful; as just to one's word or engagements.
13. Impartial; allowing what is due; giving fair representation of character, merit or demerit.

I never realized how closely Just and Justice are in meaning. The Lord wants just balances, just weights.   In other words be exact, truthful and accurate.   Found always to be innocent and blameless.   Be fair in all of our dealings.

When we do these things, we glorify the Lord and our lights really shine forth.   That is God’s design to pull the lost towards Jesus Christ.    
 
Here are the last set of 3 things to think on.

whatsoever things are pure

Pure is defined with 12 meanings, and all tie back to being very good and without defilement.
PURE, adjective [Latin purus.]
1. Separate from all heterogeneous or extraneous matter; clear; free from mixture; as pure water; pure clay; pure sand; pure air; pure silver of gold. pure wine is very scare.
2. Free from moral defilement; without spot; not sullied or tarnished; incorrupt; undebased by moral turpitude; holy.
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil. Habakkuk 1:13. Proverbs 20:9.
3. Genuine; real; true; incorrupt; unadulterated; as pure religion. James 1:27.
4. Unmixed; separate from any other subject or from every thing foreign; as pure mathematics.
5. Free from guilt; guiltless; innocent.
No hand of strife is pure but that which wins.
6. Not vitiated with improper or corrupt words or phrases; as a pure style of discourse or composition.
7. Disinterested; as pure benevolence.
8. Chaste; as a pure virgin.
9. Free from vice or moral turpitude. Titus 1:15.
10. Ceremonially clean; unpolluted. Ezra 6:20.
11. Free from any thing improper; as, his motives are pure
12. Mere; absolute; that and that only; unconnected with any thing else; as a pure villain. He did that from pure compassion, or pure good nature.
 
Surprisingly, lovely only has one definition compared to 12 on Pure.

whatsoever things are lovely,

LOVELY, adjective luv'ly. Amiable; that may excite love; possessing qualities which may invite affection.
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives - 2 Samuel 1:23.
 
We will have to put two definitions together to make up our minds what Good Report means.

whatsoever things are of good report
 
GOOD, adjective

1. Valid; legally firm; not weak or defective; having strength adequate to its support; as a good title; a good deed; a good claim.
2. Valid; sound; not weak, false or fallacious; as a good argument.
3. Complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind; having the physical qualities best adapted to its design and use; opposed to bad, imperfect, corrupted, impaired. We say, good timber, good cloth, a good soil, a good color.
And God saw every thing that he had made, and
behold, it was very good Genesis 1:4.
4. Having moral qualities best adapted to its design and use, or the qualities which God's law requires; virtuous; pious; religious; applied to persons, and opposed to bad, vitious, wicked, evil.
Yet peradventure for a good man some would
even dare to die. Romans 5:7.
5. Conformable to the moral law; virtuous; applied to actions.
In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works.
Titus 2:3.
6. Proper; fit; convenient; seasonable; well adapted to the end. It was a good time to commence operations. He arrived in good time.
7. Convenient; useful; expedient; conducive to happiness.
It is not good that the man should be alone. Genesis 2:9.
 
Report

REPORT, verb transitive [Latin reporto, to carry back; re and porto, to bear.]

1. To bear or bring back an answer, or to relate what has been discovered by a person sent to examine, explore or investigate; as, a messenger reports to his employer what he has seen or ascertained. The committee reported the whole number of votes.
2. To give an account of; to relate; to tell.
They reported his good deeds before me. Nehemiah 6:13. Acts 4:23.
3. To tell or relate from one to another; to circulate publicly, as a story; as in the common phrase, it is reported.
It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel. Nehemiah 6:13.
In this form of expression, it refers to the subsequent clause of the sentence; 'that thou and the Jews think to rebel, is reported.'
4. To give an official account or statement; as, the secretary of the treasury reports to congress annually the amount of revenue and expenditure.
5. To give an account or statement of cases and decisions in a court of law or chancery.
6. To return, as sound; to give back

So looking at this, we can put those together and it would mean to think on things that can be official and right in God’s sight.  What is official and right?  God’s Word is perfect.   It is the answer to all of our questions and needs for guidance on how to live.   God is the giver of all good things, and we should be thinking on those reports given that are good.
 
Let’s all make a point to think about these six things.    True, Honest, Just, Pure, Lovely,  and Good Report.  Our minds think all day long.   Are we thinking good Godly thoughts or is our mind tied to the things of this world?   

When we ponder on these six things, I believe our minds will be renewed by the Holy Spirit and we will have a much closer relationship with the Lord. 

Proverbs Chapter 11 
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
Website: http://www.kjvbiblestudies.net
Email:      [email protected]
 
Introduction:  The contrast between righteousness and sin continues. Again, the point is that righteousness is wise and sin is reckless.
 
 
I.God Loves a Just Weight
 
Pro 11:1  A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 
 
A balance is a scale which in times past was a basic means of weighing commodities in the market place.   The issue at hand is honesty. A crooked merchant would manipulate his scale to cheat customers by falsifying the weights used to weigh the commodity being sold. The fact is that dishonesty is an abomination to the Lord, but honesty is His delight. 

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