S – The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. 

Proverbs 17:3 ESV

O – Commentary:

As silver and … gold are purified under intense heat (cf. 27:21), so a believer’s heart is purified by the heat of trials which the Lord brings (James 1:2–3; 1 Peter 1:7).

Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 942.

A – The Lord tests us and allows trials.  They reveal the “cracks” in the foundation of our lives – our hearts.  In these trials, we find out what our true convictions are that we live by each day.  We also see the depth of our strength.  What we learn in a test allows us to expand our maturity and wisdom.  The key question is “Do we love God in the trial and have more faith and love for him after?”  If we do that, we are maturing in our relationship with Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  No one enjoys times of testing and trials.  Yet, we want to grow in our relationship with you.  Empower and strengthen us to meet our challenges and challengers with a deep faith and love for you.  Refine our love so we can be more like you in our hearts and convictions.

S – Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 

Proverbs 16:18 ESV

O – Commentary:

The pride of those who resist God and stubbornly rely on their own strength (16:5) is self-destructive and foolish because, apart from God’s help, no one has the resources required for life.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Pr 16:18.

A – No one says they aspire to be prideful or haughty.  Yet, it has been the battle since the garden of Eden.  Simply put – “My way is better than God’s way.”  We want to pursue our own will and purpose and use our own gifts and talents to do it.  And, we will succeed to the level and results all of those will support.  With God, there is so much more including His wisdom, power, presence and the elevation of all that he has already given us naturally.  We need to eliminate the pride and humbly invite him for more.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.  You have given us gifts, talents and abilities to accomplish your purpose for our lives.  Empower us to pursue this humbly and reliant on you.  We want to see true victory that comes from a growing relationship with you.

S – Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man! 
Proverbs 15: 11

O -Death (še’ôl) and destruction (’ăḇaddôn, from ’āḇaḏ, “to perish or die”) may be synonyms of the grave and of the dead in it (cf. 27:20; Job 26:6; “destruction” [ ’ăḇaddôn] is also used in Job 28:22; 31:12; Ps. 88:11). Since God can see the dead in their graves, surely He can see living people’s hearts (cf. Prov. 15:3), that is, their motives, thoughts, and desires (cf. Ps. 38:9a). Man’s heart deceives him but God knows it
 
Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” (https://ref.ly/logosres/bkc?ref=Bible.Pr15.11&off=7&ctx=15%3a11.+~Death+(s%CC%8Ce%E2%80%99o%CC%82l)+and+destruction+() in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 937.

A – God knows all.  He is omniscient.  We can imagine that as a “Good” God, he would not have anything to do with the enemy’s ways.  God is the Creator of all things so he knows of death and destruction and the heart of each person.  He knows each of us with full knowledge.  We can share our hearts in good and bad times because He is there to help us navigate all we face.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator of all. Empower us today to share our hearts with your openly.  You already know our challenges and joys.  Meet us there today and help us to grow our hearts to be more like yours.

S – A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. 

Proverbs  14:17 ESV

O – Commentary:

Quick-tempered connects this verse with the preceding one. Such a person does foolish things (cf. v. 29; 15:18). “Flying off the handle”—not controlling one’s temper—causes a person to do and say ridiculous things, which he may later regret and be unable to undo. Even more difficult to live or work with is a person who is crafty (cf. 12:2) or scheming (mezimmâh; see comments on 1:4). A person who schemes and works underhandedly to get his way and to oppose others is hated by others because he is untrustworthy. He goes astray

 Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 935.

A – It is interesting that both the quick temper and evil devices erode trust with that individual.  You cannot trust a person if you are unsure of the ability to handle a situation.  Same with a scheming person – you will always wonder “what is their angle or purpose?”  Great wisdom for us to evaluate ourselves and those in our inner circle.  Both qualities are detrimental to building trust with others.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Help us to grow in our ability to be trusted.  We want to be slow to anger like you are and honest in our plans.  Empower us to eliminate any traces of this in our lives.  Also, help us to recognize it in others and love them enough to share it with them honestly.

S – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. 

Proverbs 13:12 ESV

O – Commentary:

It is good for a person to have hope, but if it is not fulfilled for a long time (deferred means “put off or long drawn out”) then he experiences disappointment (his heart becomes sick). But when a hope is fulfilled (cf. vv. 4, 19), a person is refreshed. The gratification of hope gives encouragement like a tree that gives life 

 Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 933.

A – This proverb has gravity to it.  The principle is foundational and simple but living it out is challenging.  None of us like to wait.  Patience and trusting in God’s timing is tough because it rarely aligns with our timing.  When our expectation is answered, it is amazing how fulfilling and good it feels.  The tension between waiting and fulfillment is real and one of our greatest growing areas as a Christian.

R – Heavenly Father, you are good and your timing is perfect.  It isn’t easy to wait but we choose to put our faith and trust that your timing is what we need. Empower us to grow in our patience so we can honor you authentically in this area.

S – An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones

Proverbs 12:4 ESV

O – Commentary:

A wife of noble character (cf. 31:10; Ruth 3:11) is like a crown on her husband’s head, that is, her strength of character (ḥayil is lit., “strength”) makes her husband proud and honored. She adds dignity to him. Conversely a disgraceful wife (one who is not noble or strong morally) decays his bones (cf. comments on Prov. 3:8); her shame gives him inner pain

Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 930.

A – There is quite a gap between dignity and shame.  A spouse can bring either one to their marriage.  We need to be aware that our thoughts, words and actions can be powerful and influential in causing either in our marriage.  When we move towards God, we invite the strength of character this verse is unpacking.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Holy.  Empower us today to bring our best towards you and our spouse in our integrity, character and heart.  In doing so, bless us with unity and peace in our marriage.   Thank you for our spouses – they are amazing!  We are proud of them and love them.

S – One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want; Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 

Proverbs 11:24 -25 ESV

O – Commentary:

These verses encourage generosity. By giving freely a person has plenty, a seeming paradox (cf. 2 Cor. 9:6). Conversely a person who is miserly, failing to help others in obvious need, will himself always be in need (cf. 28:22). By being generous (Prov. 11:25) a person prospers and is in turn helped

 Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 930.

A – It seems paradoxical that by giving more, you will receive more.  Yet, this the counter intuitive way that God works.  He will either provide more funds to give or the giver will receive the inner satisfaction or fulfillment.  When we give, we are opening the door for God to provide in His own way.  When we are stingy, we are saying “I am in control of my resources.”

R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.  Thank you for your generosity – you bless us often and provide for our daily needs.  Empower us to bless others and give freely of all that you have provided for us.

S – What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 

Proverbs 10:24 ESV

O – Commentary:

By stressing repeatedly in Proverbs that disaster comes to the wicked and various rewards are for the righteous, Solomon sought to convince the uninitiated and naive that the long-range, not the immediate, fruits of wisdom and folly should be kept in view. Many wicked people dread calamity and they receive it! And the righteous often receive what they want, namely, blessing. God is the ultimate Source of both

Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 927.

A – God is the source for both the wicked and the righteous.  Furthermore, he loves the both equally.  The difference is how he treats both of them.  The wicked are removed from his covering. He allows things to happen to them like a parent allows a child to experience pain – under their watchful eye but not preventing the life learning lesson.  The righteous ones he covers but also provides all of His resources as blessings for them to access – wisdom, understanding, knowledge and peace.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are righteous and true.  Thank you for the blessings and covering you provide for us Lord.  Help us to not just access your attributes but to develop them in our own lives.  Give us the discipline to move towards your righteousness today.

S – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

O – Commentary:

Fear of the Lord recognizes total dependence on God for everything, including knowledge and wisdom (9:10). It is not just a mental attitude but involves service, love, and obeying God’s laws (see Deut 10:12–13). Fear of the Lord is the basis of all knowledge. How can we understand life without knowing the most fundamental truth about it—that it is God’s creation

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Pr 1:7.

A – The fear of the Lord is founded in reverance and awe.  It actually causes us to want to step toward God because it is a respect and wonder that draws us into something more magnificent than ourselves.  This is a great foundation for seeking wisdom.  We approach God who created everything, has no limits, and is not held by time, place or matter.  We desire the wisdom that comes from Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Limitless and have no rival.  With all that you are, you desire relationship with us.  We our relationship with you to grow today.  We revere and respect you.  We desire to know you better and to grow in your wisdom and knowledge.

S – The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. ²³  Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 

Proverbs 8:22–23 ESV

O – Commentary:

Before creating the universe, God appointed (or “installed,” as trans. in Ps. 2:6) wisdom. Proverbs 8:23 refers to wisdom existing before God created the world (cf. Gen. 1:1–5), before the waters were separated, making clouds and oceans (on the second day of Creation, Gen. 1:6–8), and before the dry land appeared (on the third day of Creation, Gen. 1:9–10). Wisdom is pictured as having been born (Prov. 8:24–25

 Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 922.

A – Proverbs teaches a lot about wisdom in the early chapters.  It is fascinating to note that God created wisdom before he created the earth and man.  It must be an outflow of God’s character and nature and does not exist without God.  As we ask for wisdom, we are asking for another expression of who God is to be active in our daily lives.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator of all.  We ask for your wisdom today to lead and guide us.  As it does, allow us to obtain more of your character and heart.  We want more of you today.