meditations for an everyday relationship with Jesus

Proverbial sayings

Proverbs 10:2–6 Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death. The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the wicked what they crave.

Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.

The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Good practices bear plump juicy fruit while bad practices bear withered mushy fruit. One is appetizing while the other is disgusting.

Proverbial saying are often common cultural agreements meant to underpin the rule of law, and the awareness of said consequences. Every culture has these moral “one liners.”

Modern Western culture has, without a doubt, adopted much from the Biblical Wisdom Books. So much in fact that it is simple to trace our behavioral ethics and practical morality back to ancient Jewish Scripture, i.e. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in particular. As your hear or head those thing we call “proverbial” try to tie them back to Scripture. It is a good research technique, and ties our common understanding back to Biblical truth.

Daniel and his prophetic nature

Daniel 11:21–24 "In his place a despised person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come during a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

A flood of forces will be swept away before him; they will be shattered, as well as the covenant prince. After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully. He will rise to power with a small nation.

During a time of peace, he will come into the richest parts of the province and do what his fathers and predecessors never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will make plans against fortified cities, but only for a time.

A despised leader will inevitably arise, will make alliances and will attempt to do what he can by any means. He will seize the kingdom by intrigue rather than by a coup; and this will occur during a time of peace.

After an alliance is made he will be deceitful, exposing his true character. He will attempt to buy support by taking from the rich and giving to those who can be bought off.

This activity occurred under the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the timeframe of about 170 B.C. This intentionally foreshadows the reign of the antichrist, as well, with its desecration of the Temple and its use of intrigue to accomplish evil.