Day 245 Traps and Threshers | Proverbs 20:25-26
Traps and Threshers
25
Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
and only later counting the cost.
26
A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
then runs his threshing wheel over them.
Verse 25
Judges 11:30-40 explains this. Jephthah promised to kill and to give to God, whatever greeted him first. He expected an animal to greet him. However, his daughter greeted him.
We should be careful about gifts and promises. It is better not to carry out a promise, than to do something evil. But you should not make a promise that you cannot carry out. See also Matthew 5:33-37.
Verse 26
A farmer drives a wheel over the wheat, to separate the grain from the straw. Then he scatters the grain, so that the wind blows away the straw.
A king attacks evil men. The king must protect his country, so his army fights against the evil men. This is like the farmer, who drives a wheel over the wheat to separate the straw from the grain. (Compare this verse with Amos 1:3.)
If the king does not kill the evil men, then he scatters them. If many evil men work together, then they are strong and dangerous. After the king scatters them, they are alone and weak.
God also does this. He punishes evil people and he scatters them (Psalm 2). God does this, so that God’s people are safe.
I've known people who, when facing serious health issues like cancer, make promises to God, such as attending church every Sunday or donating money to the church, if He helps them. However, if their situation improves and they forget their promises, it's better not to have made them at all. God expects all vows to be kept, and failing to do so makes someone a liar—a serious issue, since God detests lying.
Consider this: In times of great danger, like soldiers in foxholes, people often make urgent prayers to God for safety, known as “foxhole prayers.” There's a saying that there are no atheists in foxholes. The first proverb reminds us that God expects all promises made in such situations to be fulfilled. Have you ever made such a promise? Did you keep it? Can you still fulfill it?
Struggle to Standing. Available on Amazon. https://a.co/d/ev3YUqw
Website at https://www.wisdomfortheday.org
Support the show and Community Membership
I Love You!
See Ya!