Praying Proverbs 29

John Notehelfer sent this simple reflection in his "Sunday Musings" for this weekend and it's worth posting in its entirety.

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Greetings to all of you on the front lines of kingdom work abroad and at home.

I found myself wrestling with the immigration dilemma created by the new enforcement law that Arizona passed and is now causing yet another wave of bitter, angry responses and finger-pointing. It is so complex, and so much water has gone over the dam. The cry for action on so many fronts echoes throughout our country.

Here I was reading my chapter in Proverbs for the day (April 29), still looking at a clipping from the morning paper (dealing with the banking issues) – marked “Choice Words”: “Everything between the Book of Genesis and the deregulation of our banking sector proves that man, left alone, cannot regulate himself.”- Matt McLaughlin

Proverbs 29 has something to say about “Anger”

Verse 8 – “Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger”

“A gang of cynics can upset a while city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.” (The Message)

Verse 11 – “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control”

“A fool lets it all hang out; a sage quietly mulls it over.” (The Message)

Verse 22 – “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins”

“Angry people stir up a lot of discord; the intemperate stir up trouble.”(The Message)


Proverbs 29 has something to say about “Leadership and Justice”

Verse 4 – “By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it
down.”

“A leader of good judgment gives stability; an exploiting leader leaves a trail of waste.” (The Message)

Verse 12 – “If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.”

“When a leader listens to malicious gossip, all the workers are infected with evil.” (The Message)

Verse 14 – “If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.”

“Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.” (The Message)

Verse 26 – “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.”

“Everyone tries to get help from a leader, but only God will give us justice” (The Message)

Footnote

Verse 25 – “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe”

“The fear of human opinions disables; trusting in God protects you from that” (The Message)

I am praying for immigration reform that is both God-honoring and leads to law-abiding.

I am praying Proverbs 29.

Lovingly, John N