Proverbs 23
Those may seem strange words, but it is not a real knife that is meant. If you were at a feast where there was much nice food, and you ate a large portion of all you liked, afterward you would be very uncomfortable and perhaps ill. That is why we need to check, or “put a knife”, to our appetites when at a table with much fine food.
This is true of other things, as well as dainty foods, even exercise which is neeul, yet if much time is given to it or to pleasures, we will not have time, or energy, or wish to do things for the Lord or to learn His Word. The finest things of this world can last only for a time, but what is done for the Lord and what is learned of Him will last forever. Let us each think if there is not something we could do without, and instead, do somhing for the Lord.
When the people of Israel went into Canaan, they had shares of the land as God directed, and the boundaries were marked. If a father died, his children were to have his share. The people were told not to change the boundary marks, nor to take from the fatherless (Joshua 18:1010And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions. (Joshua 18:10); Num. 27:88And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. (Numbers 27:8); Deut. 19:1414Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it. (Deuteronomy 19:14)). Dishonest men sometimes moved the stones which marked the fields, and took from the fatherless. This proverb was needed:
This shows it is never right to be dishonest, or to take froth those who are poor and helpless.
There is another lesson for us to learn in this proverb: instead of land, God has now given His people the complete Scriptures; there are men who would change the truths, as the men moved the boundary marks; or keep God’s Words from people, as those who took from the fatherless.
But the Lord is a Mighty Redeemer, and His children, although poor, can trust Him.
One proverb tells of some things ‘to buy, but never to sell:
It costs something (though perhaps not money) to always tell and believe what is true, so you see we really “buy” the truth. If we tell or willingly believe what is untrue to gain something for ourselves, or because that is the easiest way, we really are “selling” the truth. It also costs care and work to get wisdom, instruction, and understanding. And we are not to give these up, or “sell” them, but to learn more. Here are five questions with one answer:
“Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow Who hath contentions? Who haft wounds without cause? Who ha.h redness of eyes?” This is the answer,
“They that tarry long at the wine: ‘they that go to seek mixed wine.” “At last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.” Prov, 23:29-32.
An adder is a very poisonous serpent, and the effects of wine and strong drinks to a person are as dreadful as the bites of serpents.
ML 03/16/1941