Daily Readings in Proverbs - 2

Today we are looking at Proverbs 20. (As a side not I want to say that the new online bible youversion.com is awesome and you should use it. They even have a mobile version: m.youversion.com)


10 Differing weights and differing measures— the Lord detests them both.
23 The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

Notice that idea occurs twice in this chapter. That is a good sign that it is important. The Proverbs are written in a poetic fashion. Often in Hebrew poetry key ideas are repeated. One of the reasons that poetry is used in the proverbs is that it makes them easier to remember. Just think about some of the proverbs is American culture: "A stitch in time saves nine." Now, I know what it is saying, i.e. doing something in a timely manner saves you in the long haul. How this relates to sewing I have no idea, but this little rhyme reminds us of the truth it hold. It rhymes and is sing-songy and easily gets stuck in our heads. Notice that in verses 10 and 23 of our Proverb that when the idea is repeated in verse 23 the sentence is written backwards. Go ahead and look at it, I'll wait...Good, did you notice it? Kind of makes it stick in your head a bit.
What do weights and measures have to do with us today? For most of us, unless we step on the bathroom scale every day, not too much. The point of the proverb has to do with honesty. When you are the guy running the scale, the person you are doing business with is at your mercy, they are trusting that your scale is accurate and true. Thus the point of the proverb is to be trustworthy and honest in all of our interactions.
You can take this in many directions: how I conduct myself at work, in relationships, on the basketball court, at the grocery store. You name it. Our lives provide us with constant opportunity to grow in trustworthiness and honesty. Choosing to grow in these areas of our lives reveals true wisdom. It means that we are living out our faith in who God is and what He says.
- Pastor Pete