A Brother Offended - Proverbs 18:19

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “the lot causes contentions to cease, and parts between the mighty”, and in chapter eighteen and verse nineteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “a brother offended is harder to be won” where we read,

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city:

and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

The verse begins, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city:” Solomon began with the words, “a brother offended” or “a male sibling who is transgressed, apostatized and violated” “is harder to be won” which means “exists as unyielding and more difficult to reach” “than a strong city” or “compared to a mighty and powerful building or town”. Solomon shared how a male sibling who have been violated and transgressed exists as more difficult to reach than a powerful town or village.

The verse continues, “and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.” Solomon added the words, “and their contentions” or “and the strife, brawling and quarrels” “are like the bars” which means “exists similar and in likeness to the tribulations, fortresses and spear-shafts” “of a castle” or “belonging to a citadel, palace and fortress”. Solomon said the strife and quarrels between the brothers exist like fortresses upon a palace or citadel.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how difficult it is to restore relationships between people who have violated and offended one another. Jesus said, “it is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!” (See Luke 17:1), and because of this, Jesus was sent by His Father God to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us through His Holy Spirit how to commit all “contentions” to Him even as He does when people have contentions with Him.

Next time Solomon says, “a man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".