the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 5 of 5
Proverbs 20:1-14
Wine, which typifies communion with the pleasures of the world, leads to mockery (v. 1; read Isaiah 28:7; Isaiah 28:14).
How many people there are who keep proclaiming their own goodness (v. 6) and their morality (v. 9; cf. 1 John 1:8; 1 John 1:10), only proving that they do not really know their natural heart. Only the new man (the righteous man) can please God by walking in faith and integrity (v. 7). Let us compare v. 10 with Deuteronomy 25:13-16 : "Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small . . . thou shalt have a perfect and just weight". In practical terms this corresponds to the example of not judging one’s own faults indulgently and those of others severely.
This brings us to v. 11. However young a Christian is, he is called to make himself known for what he is – not so much by his words than by his behaviour. This should be both pure and right, putting away all doubtful and unwholesome attitudes and every kind of dishonesty. Such conduct will be noticed because it contrasts strongly with the dubious or dishonest behaviour of many of his friends. May the Lord help us all to render a courageous testimony to Him by taking as our example the faithfulness which He alone has perfectly displayed (end of v. 6).
