Posts by Josh Moody

Nehemiah 6, Proverbs 11:1-15, Luke 17:1-10, 2 Timothy 2:1-13  Proverbs 11:1-15:   More “wise advice”—pithy and to the point!   “The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him” (11:1). When weighing of goods or food was done with physical weights, it was possible to use a variation in the weights or the scales to gain…

Nehemiah 4-5, Proverbs 10:17-32, Luke 16:19-31, 2 Timothy 1   Proverbs 10:17-32:   Each of these proverbs is like a Tardis: small on the outside but massive on the inside. We cannot do justice to them in totality but can only comment briefly on each in turn:   “Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction…

Nehemiah 3, Proverbs 10:1-16, Luke 16:10-18, 1 Timothy 6:11-21   Proverbs 10:1-16:   Now we come to a section of Proverbs where each verse is focused on a particular proverbial statement. Sometimes it is possible to detect larger themes, but often the overall larger theme is wisdom: the fear of the Lord being the beginning of wisdom. Sometimes the Proverbs…

Nehemiah 1-2, Proverbs 9, Luke 16:1-9, 1 Timothy 6:1-10   Proverbs 9:   With such warm praise of wisdom as the book of Proverbs has given us so far, it is natural to ask what could be the appeal of its opposite, that is folly? What is the way that wisdom invites us to follow its path, and what is…

Ezra 10, Proverbs 8, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Timothy 5:16-25     Proverbs 8:   Occasionally, people give the impression that wisdom is something only attainable to a select few. It is hidden. You cannot see it. You cannot find it. Wisdom can be said to be something esoteric, or belonging only to the clever, or the highly privileged.   But…

Ezra 9, Proverbs 7, Luke 15:1-10, 1 Timothy 5:1-15    Proverbs 7:   A great struggle for many people is maintaining fidelity to biblical norms regarding sexuality. How is this to be achieved? Many people assume that such fidelity to biblical norms is for all practical purposes impossible. But should we conclude this, we who have the Spirit of God…

Ezra 8, Proverbs 6, Luke 14:25-35, 1 Timothy 4   Proverbs 6:   This chapter is filled with wise advice. We cannot parse out every aspect of it in this devotion. I will pick out the core themes of the thoughts which are particularly central.   Verses 1-5 urge us to extract ourselves from a deal which leaves us stuck…

Ezra 7, Proverbs 5, Luke 14:15-24, 1 Timothy 3:11-18   Proverbs 5:   Perhaps one of the most important chapters in the Bible today. We are told today—subtly, implicitly, overtly, and explicitly—that sexual liaisons, of various and many kinds, without the boundaries of a committed life-long marriage of a man to a woman, is healthy and beneficial. Adultery, fornication, sexuality…

Ezra 6, Proverbs 4, Luke 14:1-14, 1 Timothy 3:1-10   Proverbs 4:   Once again, this chapter of Proverbs urges the reader to listen to the Word. There is no doubt that in normal circumstances, in normal situations, your own father will give you wise advice to which it is wise to listen. He wants what is best for you,…

Ezra 4-5, Proverbs 3, Luke 13:22-35, 1 Timothy 2   Proverbs 3:   This chapter begins with an exhortation to not forget the teaching of God’s Word. They will “bring you peace and prosperity” (3:1). The question that immediately follows that proposition is naturally, “Why should I not forget?” or “What particular benefit does holding onto God’s Word give?”  …