November 7, 2026
Starting this writing at 4:44 a.m., I’ve enjoyed a blessed time of prayer before getting out of bed. You and many others were prayed for early this morning. What a great way to start a day!
The weather is a cold 23 degrees, moving on up to 55 for a projected high. With plenty of sunshine, the Lord will warm this part of His creation, and I pray that He will warm the hearts of His people also. May we each be used by Him, for His glory and for someone else’s good this very day!
Proverbs 2:11-19 We concluded yesterday with verse 10, “For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;” Now we enter into a portion that explains why such wisdom is necessary – “Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you.” (v.11) We Americans tend to be very independent, sometimes too much so; we all need someone to “watch over” us, whether we recognize it or not. When we allow God’s wisdom to fill our hearts, we then have a Guide who guards and protects us.
Often, I pause to thank my Heavenly Father for His provision, protection and power. All three elements are understood to be a blessing that God gives to His wisdom ruled children according to this portion of Scripture.
Verse 12, “To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things.” You see friends, God cares much about the way we talk. Often within the Bible, we are told that as Christ followers we are not to talk like those around us. The word rendered “perverse” here, literally means “to turn away from.” As Christ followers, we are to turn away from the perverse ugly, nasty, ungodly words that unbelievers speak and turni toward speaking kindly, softly and truthfully. At least, that’s the way it is supposed to be.
As His children, we are to speak as our Father would speak and not copy the “perverse” words of our culture. In Ephesians 5:3-5 we read this warning: “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”
I encourage each of us to listen to the things we say. Do our words “give thanks” to God, or are our words “perverse”? It really bugs me how filthy the mouth of our culture has become. Listen to the “filthiness” spoken around you each day and you will quickly be able to discern the darkness of our culture, and of those who endorse its language.
Ephesians 5:5 concludes this thought, “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
Proverbs 2:14 continues this thought with these words, speaking of the “unrighteous”, “Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil.” We must break God’s loving heart with our cursing and ranting as if He doesn’t hear our filthy talk? Scripture tells us that we are to use words that will “encourage” and “build up one another.”
In 2:16 our author changes from “perverse” people in general to speaking of the tempting of a “strange woman” who uses “words” to draw us away from God and His wisdom. Such a woman is an “adulteress” who “forgets the covenant of her God” to share her filth with all of those around her. Connected to such sinful language is the tearing down of home and family, a lifestyle that is very difficult to break away from (v.19).
The positive of verses 1-10 and the negative of verses 11-19 stand in opposition to one another. Which camp are you pitching your tent in? Remember the wisdom, “Be careful little mouth what you say,” for with our words we either tear-down or we build-up!!!
Desiring to speak words of wisdom with you, Neal
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