June 3, 2020

The book of Proverbs is a collection of short sayings in the Old Testament meant to instill wisdom in God’s people. As we read, it is important to remember that a proverb is a statement which is generally true in principle, not a universally true promise. Let’s dig into the Word together and allow the Lord to shape our hearts, our minds, and our lives in his wisdom over the next month!

Proverbs 17 explores a variety of topics and brings God’s wisdom to bear on them. One such topic is the issue of holding grudges. Verse 9 says “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” The author is saying part of living a wise life is to be a forgiving person and not repeatedly dig up old relational wounds!

We see this principle at work in Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant; those who have been forgiven much should, in turn, also forgive others much! This means that, as followers of Jesus, we mustshow the same mercy we have been shown in Christ. We cover over the offenses of others in order to demonstrate the love that God has shown in covering over ours!

On the other hand, when we refuse to show mercy, we actually demonstrate that we do not esteem the mercy God has shown us (see Matthew 18:32-33). Let’s celebrate the forgiveness of God towards us by refusing to hold grudges against others, by freely forgiving as we have been freely forgiven!

Proverbs 17

17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
    and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    and the Lord tests hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
    he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
    still less is false speech to a prince.
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone returns evil for good,
    evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.
18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
    to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
    and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Family Discussion Question:

  • How does it demonstrate wisdom to show mercy towards those who have wronged us?

31 thoughts on “Daily Devotional-June 3”

  4. Lord I love Your Word❤️ It is a lamp onto my feet and a light onto my path. Have mercy on us as we have mercy on others. More then anything, at this time of unrest, give us eyes and love for all people no matter their status or color. Give us wisdom and compassion. Let us not speak out of fear and one sidedness. Let us be united in Christ and stand for truth and justice no matter what. There is no division in Christ ❤️?

    4. Lord please guide me to learn to forgive. I have been wronged in the past. Sometimes it’s hard to forgive. I truly understand the scripture that I read today. I will forgive those that hurt me in my life. Christ Jesus thank you for being in my life so that I can follow your path. Amen

  5. Dear Lord, at this current time, let me see people the way you do with love and compassion. We are all your creation.

  7. Dear Heavenly Father,
    I woke up this morning in a pool of tears. This past year has been so full of stress, discord , death and disease within the world. The toll has weighed deeply on my soul. That’s why I cling to “the old rugged cross”. I know that someday all of this will be gone from our sight and we will be with You in heaven to live forever. Until then we have to be Your soldiers, the bearers of the Truth. You so loved us that we were forgiven of our sins, so as Your faithful servants, we should rightly follow Your example and forgive others. It says so in “The Lords Prayer”, “forgive others who trespass against us”. Please help us go through each day being like a candle…burning bright and giving light and warmth to others. And please put out the flames of wrath and hatred that is raging so wildly out of control. It is an abomination to You, Oh Lord, I know. It makes me so sad to see our beautiful country like this. Please help us bring peace once again. In the name which is above every name, in Jesus. I pray. Amen

  8. Good morning Lord! Remind me to take the log out of my own eye before I start ranting about the speck in my brother or sister’s eye.
    “Love … is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. ….” 1 Corinthians 4-7

  9. I will abandon a quarrel before it starts. And love at all times. I will have a joyful heart and a cool spirit.

  10. Dear Heavenly Father, glory and honor to your name. In these troubling times, I pray for wisdom, knowledge and discernment. May I never justify the wicked nor condemn the righteous. May I be a light for the lost and an encourager to the downtrodden. Help me this day, dear LORD, to spread hope. And thank you so much for our fifteen grandkids…. Amen

  11. “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)

    Jesus’ forgiveness for our sins spells L*O*V*E. We are called to LOVE one another just as Christ loved us.

    Dear Lord,

    Help me to reach out and love and forgive the way You have taught me in Your Word:

    “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV)

    That’s the kind of love I want to give and live out in my life, Lord.
    Fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit today to love and forgive the way Your Word teaches.

    In Your name I pray.

    Amen

  13. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
    Heavenly Father,
    Thank you for another day. Although, things look hard and terrible from the human perspective , we know that we have a Heavenly Father that loves us and will never leave us. Help us to remember that as we want your love and forgiveness, we have to first love and forgive others. We also know that in this world we will have trials and tribulations but helps us to look up and remember the cross as we will never experienced anything worse than what you went through when you died on the cross for the world (that is all people). Thank you for never showing favoritism and help us all to be more like you. Remove the scales from our eyes and give us all pure hearts to see your plan and purpose at work. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen

  14. I am always grateful for the reminder to remember the mercy that God has shown me … I am in no position to withhold forgiveness from anyone.

  15. A message to the rioters and looters if today. Verse 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
        and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
    12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
        rather than a fool in his folly.
    13 If anyone returns evil for good,
        evil will not depart from his house.
    14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
        so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
    15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
        are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

  16. Lord Jesus I cried out for peace and You brought it. Teach me once again the Samaritan story and forgive me when I am not like their examples. Keep filling me with your living waters so I can go comfort those who have been beaten and are hurting. In Your Name I pray Amen.

  17. Dear Father, oh how can we forgive when so many are bent on destroying this nation you have blessed…this light on a hill? We hear and see what You must have as You walked, crawled and struggled Your way to the cross…and yet, You did it for them…because You loved them more.

    Luke 23:34. Dear Lord, please help me to love them more.

    Amen

  18. Lord I thank you for showing me how to forgive others whom have badly hurt me in the past. The Holy Spirit has thought me in order for me to have peace in my life even though they have hurt me I must let it go and move on. When I did this after several times the peace of God was with me. I now know that we must do as Jesus says in the scriptures turn your cheek when someone says something or does something to hurt you.

  19. In times of strife we and others need Jesus’ Mercy and Grace more than ever! To give these things to one another continually demonstrates what He teaches us, honors Him and heals our wounds! “LORD JESUS help us to live our lives immersed in the practice of Mercy and Grace, to the measure YOU have forgiven us! Amen.”

  20. We know the Bible is the Living Word, and in these times the Proverbs seems to be literally coming alive as I read them. Thank you God for sharing your holy wisdom with us…no matter the age or circumstances Your Word brings life!

  22. Lord, help me be forgiving, not to hold on to grudges. Those that I know, that may be offended, bitter, unforgiving and/or hurt, help me have ears to hear them, eyes to see them, and as I understand better, that you would bring healing to them through me.

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