IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Know the Condition of Your Flock

Date: Jun. 18, 2017

Passage

Proverbs 27:11-27  (ESV)

11   Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
    that I may answer him who reproaches me.
12   The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
13   Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.
14   Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,
    rising early in the morning,
    will be counted as cursing.
15   A continual dripping on a rainy day
    and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
16   to restrain her is to restrain the wind
    or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.
17   Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another.
18   Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and he who guards his master will be honored.
19   As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.
20   Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
    and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
21   The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    and a man is tested by his praise.
22   Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
    along with crushed grain,
    yet his folly will not depart from him.
23   Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and give attention to your herds,
24   for riches do not last forever;
    and does a crown endure to all generations?
25   When the grass is gone and the new growth appears
    and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
26   the lambs will provide your clothing,
    and the goats the price of a field.
27   There will be enough goats’ milk for your food,
    for the food of your household
    and maintenance for your girls.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 27:23

  Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and give attention to your herds,

1. The wise and the fool (11-16)

A wise son brings joy to his father's heart. The wise foresee danger, but the fool goes blindly. A fool puts up security for a stranger. Blessing others with no heart will be taken as a curse. A quarrelsome wife makes her husband leave home.

2. As iron sharpens iron (17-22)

A friend sharpens a friend as iron sharpens iron. As one who cares for a fig tree and eats its fruits, so the one who cares for his master's interest will be rewarded. Just as death and destruction are never satisfied, neither are our desires. Man is tested by the praise he receives. If he becomes proud, he is a fool.

3. Give careful attention to your herds (23-27)

A good shepherd must pay attention to his flock and know their conditions-like how many are among them, whether they are sick or not, if they are hungry or thirsty. The flocks are their crown, for the lambs provide their clothing and the goats their milk.

Prayer: Lord, as iron sharpens iron, your word sharpens me. Let me be a good shepherd.

One Word: Jesus, our good shepherd

Daily Bread

In the End, Have Faith in God

Genesis 49:29-50:26

Key Verse: 49:50:24

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Intro Daily

Today's Question

What benefits in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

See answer and references