Proverbs 25 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 25.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/pro/25/1/s_653001

Meditate on verses 26-28.

Like a trampled spring and a polluted well

is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

It is not good to eat much honey,

 nor is it good to search out one’s own glory.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls

is a man who has no control over his spirit

In the three meditation verses, the heroes of Proverbs (Righteousness, Discipline, and Wisdom) are missing.

The righteous man who falls away is like a polluted well or a trampled spring. The one who was a source of life for others has lost his integrity.

Without discipline, situations in one’s life quickly deteriorate to being sickening. Lack of control will rob a person of their virtue and good reputation as if they were an unprotected city.

A person seeking their own glory is recognized as small and selfish. There is no wisdom in such behavior. As a child of the King, seek for Christ to be glorified in your life. As Christ increases and you decrease, your need for compliments and recognition will decrease. There is freedom in performing only for the sake of God and His Kingdom.

A wise person will learn from these scenarios. Your righteous behavior is a well of encouragement to others. Do not pollute it for momentary sinful pleasure. You control what goes into your mouth. You should be hungrier for God’s Word than for physically driven desires. As a Christian, you have the fruit of the Spirit which includes self-control. Ask God to help you keep your defenses up, so you will be a well-fortified city.

Ask God to make Righteousness, Discipline, and Wisdom governors in your life and the lives of others.

Pray Proverbs 25:26-28 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let ________ and me not be like a trampled spring and a polluted well;

do not let us give way before the wicked.

Let us enjoy the gifts You give and eat the right amount of honey.

Do not let us search out our own glory,

nor be like a city that is broken into and without walls.

Let us be people who have control over our own spirits.

 For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 24 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 24.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/pro/24/1/s_652001

Meditate on verses 3-4.

By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

and by knowledge the rooms are filled,

with all precious and pleasant riches.

There are instructions in Proverbs 24 about applying wisdom. Applied wisdom is behavior that comes as a result of seeing things the way God does. For example, God cares about those in need; rescue the helpless and don’t make excuses not to help (vs. 11-12). It is displeasing to God when you rejoice in your heart over others stumbling; do not rejoice when your enemy falls (vs. 17-18). God loves justice; judge righteously, so the world can rejoice in proper decisions (vs. 23-24). Reflect on things you observe; you will acquire even more of God’s wisdom and be able to apply it (vs. 30-32).

A house is built and established when it is constructed using God’s plans. Do you apply the wisdom of God in such a way that His Son, Spirit, and Word are the foundation of your life and the governing current of your life’s flow. When people look at your life, do they see a wavering person or do they see granite? It does not matter where you live physically, if your spiritual house is established in God, you are occupying incredibly valuable spiritual real estate, purchased with the blood of Christ and built up in Him.

Pray Proverbs 24:3-4 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let _______ and me build our house by Your wisdom.

Establish it by Your understanding.

By Your knowledge, fill the rooms with all precious and pleasant riches.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 23 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 23.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/pro/23/1/s_651001

Meditate on verses 10-11.

Do not move the ancient boundary

or go into the fields of the fatherless,

for their Redeemer is strong;

He will plead their case against you.

In this passage of Scripture, there are real estate laws that go back to Leviticus 25. In the land of Israel, the ancient boundary markers were similar to survey markers, today. Where you build your fence should be on your own property.

Add to the complexity that in Israel, tribes and clans within the tribes determined these properties. Israeli family land had been marked for 400 years at the time these proverbs were written. It was the inheritance.

In Proverbs 23:10-11, God is the one looking out for the orphan and those being cheated. He opposes cheaters and people so selfish they would take advantage of an orphan.

Do you know people who are being cheated by others seeking their own interests? The LORD knows this is happening. Do you know someone who takes advantage of others? Pray for them to repent and return what they have stolen.

Pray Proverbs 23:10-11 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7) for those who are victims and for those who are selfish.

“LORD, please stop _________ from moving the ancient boundary.

Stop them from going into the fields of _________.

You are their strong Redeemer.

Plead their case, LORD!

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 22 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 22.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/pro/22/1/s_650001

Meditate on verses 1 and 6.

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth;

favor is better than silver and gold.

Train up a child in the way he should go,

even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

In today’s society, being honorable is often not as important as getting ahead at any cost. In Proverbs 22, God emphasizes the importance of creating and defending a good name for yourself and your family.

Ron’s father was an Infantry and Aviation Officer in the U.S. Army. He would say, “Son, it takes a lifetime to make a good name. It only takes a moment to lose it.”

Do you desire being honorable more than you desire great riches? Is God’s favor on your life more important than silver or gold? Or is your character for sale? How are your choices affecting your children?

“Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6a). Train your children! This requires work. Parenting is constant. Children will follow in the footsteps of their mother and father. You may be a grandparent; your adult children and grandchildren are learning from you how to behave when they are your age. If you are struggling with a sin, stop it! You can break that sin cycle. For the sake of your children and their children, live righteous, honorable lives. Be a model of Godliness for them. Then the blessings of the fathers will be upon your children to the thousandth generation (Exodus 20:6).

Pray Proverbs 22:1 and 6 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ________ and I desire a good name more than great wealth.

Let us want Your favor more than silver and gold.

Help me train up __________ in the way they should go.

When they are old, do not let them depart from it.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 21 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 21.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/pro/21/1/s_649001

Meditate on verses 1 and 31.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;

He turns it wherever He wishes.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but victory belongs to the LORD.

Good governance is an important goal for countries. It benefits the population if the laws are fair and justly applied, if trade is allowed to flourish, and if there are human freedoms for people to direct their own lives.

In 1 Timothy 2:2, Paul called believers to pray for their leaders. Pray “for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all Godliness and dignity.“

Christians need to be praying for the LORD’s intervention in so many places around the world. He is more powerful than any country or any ruler. Ask Him to make the hearts of the rulers of your nation like His heart. Ask His blessings on rulers who are just and trying to serve the people under their care or authority.

One may have the most powerful military in the region, but victory is for the LORD to decide.

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray Proverbs 21:1, 31, and 1 Timothy 2:2 over your leaders.

“LORD, the heart of _________ is like a channel of water in Your hand.

Turn their heart the way You wish. 

Their horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to You.

Let us lead a tranquil and quiet life in all Godliness and dignity.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 20 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 20.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/pro/20/1/s_648001

Meditate on verses 5, 7, 24, and 27.

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,

but a man of understanding draws it out.

A righteous man who walks in his integrity—

how blessed are his sons after him.

Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD.

How then can man understand his way?

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,

searching all the innermost parts of his being.

How do you orient your life as a person of God and understand His plans for your life? If you are a Christian, your spirit is resurrected, and the LORD lives in you as His new temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). You live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). You can set your mind on the Spirit and have the desires of the Spirit. The Spirit Himself testifies with your spirit that you are God’s children, and you can cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:14- 17, 26-27). God reveals Himself and His ways through the Holy Spirit and the Word.

The verses in Proverbs 20 are great foundation stones for you to build upon.

1.  Your spirit is in communion with the LORD searching out the depths of your life (v. 27).

2.  God is the one who orchestrates the steps of your life and wants you to understand the way He has planned for you (v. 24).

3.  The plans deep within you, if Godly, can be realized with God’s understanding and drawn out like a person at a well bringing up water (v. 5).

4.  Walking with God in integrity has generational blessings (v. 7).

Pray Proverbs 20:5, 7, and 24 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, give _______ and me the understanding

to draw out the deep plans You have placed in our hearts. 

Let us walk in integrity, so our children will be blessed. 

Ordain our steps, LORD.  Let us understand Your way.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Proverbs 19 - Praying God's Word

Please read Proverbs 19.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/pro/19/1/s_647001

Meditate on verses 1, 17, and 22.

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,

and He will repay him for his good deed.

What is desirable in a man is his kindness,

and it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

Poor people, management of wealth, and holiness are issues you deal with. You may know people who are destitute and also people who are relatively wealthy in the eyes of the world. Some are thankful for a job that pays the equivalent of a U.S. dollar a day. Some leave their homes and move to other countries where they can make a little more. Millions are displaced by war and natural disasters every year. Many of you are serving them—thank you! You may be in a refugee camp with this book and nothing else but the clothes on your back and God on Your side. He is your hope.

God looks at your heart and establishes a higher standard of life than wealth. It is Godliness. Being poor or rich is not the measure of favor; it is integrity, kindness, truth, compassion, and generosity. There is no difference in the eyes of God between a poor person and a wealthy person. Each will be held accountable for how they live and use their sphere of influence to do good and follow His will for their life. When God calls you to change your community for righteousness, no matter where it is, do it.

If you have relative abundance, there are growth areas for you. If you have extra shoes, what does God want you to do with them? If you have money, use it for missions. Sell things you do not use and support a homeless shelter. If you have breath left in you, serve others!

Pray Proverbs 19:1, 17, and 22 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help ______ and me to be people of integrity.

Do not let us be fools with perverse speech.

Let us be gracious to the poor remembering we are really giving to You, LORD.

Thank You, for telling us You will repay us for our good deeds.

You desire kindness; help us, LORD.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell