Follow the advice of your father; respect your mother's teaching.

Proverbs 6                   January 6, 2013

Memory Verse: 6:20  “My son, keep thy father’s commandment and forsake not the law of thy mother.”

I will touch lightly on this chapter because it defines the seven things that God hates.  I am looking forward to studying one verse at a time but a broad overview of the entire chapter helps us see what is important. Even though we realize that these seven hated things are all mind games that Satan tells us to justify, I think we need to list what Solomon tells us in this chapter.

1)      Don’t vouch for strangers; there is much to learn about them

2)      Don’t trap yourself with loose, gossipy, or quick responses before you think

3)      Get away from these associations

4)       Don’t procrastinate; move quickly away

5)      Study the ways of the ant –take initiative, store up, stockpile at harvest

6)      Don’t be lazy; get up and out

7)      Taking life easy brings poverty

8)      Riffraff and rascals talk out both sides of their mouth; they are always cooking up something or stirring up trouble

9)      One like them will be ruined

10)  Seven things God hates: Pride, Falsehood, Cruelty, Scheming, Mischievous eagerness, Slander, Strife

11)  Follow your father’s advice; respect your mother’s teaching

12)  Wrap yourself in them

13)  They will guide, guard, and direct you properly

14)  Sound advice is a beacon, good teaching is your light, and moral discipline is your life path

15)  They will protect you from wanton women and smooth talk

16)  Don’t lustfully fantasize

17)  You can buy a prostitute, but a wanton woman can eat you alive

18)  Can you set a fire in your lap without setting your pants on fire?

19)  Can you walk on hot coals without blistering your feet?

20)  Touching your neighbor’s wife is the same; no excuses

21)  Hunger is no excuse for stealing

22)  If caught one must pay it back

23)  Adultery is brainless self destruction; expect a clack and bloody nose

24)  Your reputation will be ruined

25)  Jealousy detonates rage over adultery

26)  Nothing to say or pay will make it right; neither bribes nor reason will satisfy