Entries by David Cook

The Blessings Of Poverty

Comparison is a common literary device in Proverbs; the writers use it to stress the value of an object or quality by comparing it with another. They often compare material and spiritual wealth, or internal and external values, showing that one is far more valuable than the other. Let’s take another look at several ″Better . . . than . . .″ examples in Proverbs 15 and 16.

God Is Not Fooled

One of the characteristics of God’s Word, which tells us all we need to know in order to be saved and to live the Christian life, is its clarity. God is a keen communicator, and He spoke in order to be understood. Under the oversight of His Spirit, the authors of the Bible were keen to communicate clearly as well.

A Discipline That’s Motivated By Love

Spare the rod and spoil the child. Despite common belief, this familiar saying does not come from the Bible, but from 17th-century English poet Samuel Butler. It is likely, however, that the poet may have been thinking of Proverbs 13:24 when he coined the maxim: ″Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.″