A Man Given to Appetite - Proverbs 23:2

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “when you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse two of Proverbs Solomon shared what to do, “if you be a man given to appetite” where we read,

And put a knife to your throat,

if you be a man given to appetite.

The verse begins, “And put a knife to your throat, ...” Solomon began with the words, “and put a knife” or “and place, set or direct a sharp pointed or edged knife” “to your throat” which means “toward your, the readers and listeners to Solomon's words', gullet or throat of the body” if the following is true. Solomon shared how the people reading and listening to his words were to place a sharpened knife to their physical “throat” if the following is true. 

The verse continues, “... if you be a man given to appetite.” Solomon added the words, “if you be a man” or “whether and in case you, readers and listeners to Solomon's words, exist as a person whether male or female” “given to appetite” which means “prone to desire, emotion and passion”. Solomon said his readers and listeners were to “put a knife to their throat” in case his readers and listeners were prone to desire.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how his readers and listeners were to be especially careful to consider what was put before them when they sit before rulers in case they were passionate about eating to the point of gluttony. God knows us, and He loves us. He wants to help us, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to suppress our appetites if we are prone to excessive eating and passionate desires.

Next time Solomon says, “be not desirous of his dainties”, 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".