From the Word: Proverbs 23:23

Oct

From the Word: Proverbs 23:23

Posted on October 17th, 2007 in From the Word by Fred McKinnon

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Hey Ya’ll,

OK … I’m not trying to be cute or funny here … I mean, seriously … this puzzles me:

“Buy the truth, and do not sell it”. (Prov 23:23)

How do you buy something that is not for sale? The first command is to “buy the truth”. The second command is “don’t sell it”. So if everyone obeys the second command, how can anyone who comes after us follow the first command?

What does this Scripture mean to you?

http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

Posted by “yshwa4life” @ IndieHeaven.Com:
http://www.indieheaven.com/artist_main.php?id=4680

“Whatever it takes to gain it…do it…but give it away when you get it.”
http://www.thetoneguru.com Jay Sellers

I like how clear the Geneva Study Bible is:
Spare no cost for truth’s sake, neither depart from it for any gain.

Our lives are a pursuit of truth, not necessarily a pursuit of profit. He proves to be a bad example in spiritual sense, but look at the enigma of someone like Donald Trump: you would be hard pressed to find someone that has filed bankruptcy more times, but he continues to rebuild his wealth every time he loses it. I’m interchanging business acumen with truth, which isn’t “true,” but it’s too early for me to think of another example.
http://4whatitsworth.wordpress.com/ Shannon Lewis

I think I’m with Jay. The metaphor of truth as a commodity is being played out here: the core of it is to “pursue the Truth at any cost”. Now, still playing on that image, we’re not to ‘sell’ truth just because if we sold it to someone else, we’d no longer have it. Not to be taken literally, of course, but the point is that once you have ‘the Truth’, we shouldn’t even consider parting from it.

Interesting verse, indeed. Hope to see you at Noon!
Robert McKinnon

Sounds like the answer is already given. Obtain truth at all costs, but never sell out. Let the truth gain “interest” in the kingdom of God.

However, if I may throw a wrench in here, isn’t it sad that so many of us only “give truth away” when it doesn’t cost us anything? Jesus IS truth. Greater love has no man than he who lays his life down for a friend.

I think it should cost us something. It means to “invest”.
http://www.chrismoncus.com/ Chris Moncus

It seems that in my life I buy truth by getting up early to read and pray. That problem is that I seem to loose it. It’s not on my mind as often as it should be.

I misplace the truth.

On the other hand, I’ll give truth away to any who want it. Being able to freely give what has been given to me is a blessing and I hope that I may be able to more and more.

But then again, do I sell it as in trading it for something else? Do I sell the truth for the price of a bit of pleasure?

Father, keep us from selling, trading, or losing your truth. Keep us faithful. Thank you for truth.
http://betterthanblank.org alex mclean

I immediately thought of all the “old guard” who make their money off selling all their church teaching & ideas and artwork and “secrets”. Open source is close to Godliness?
http://ordinary-radical.blogspot.com russ

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Matthew 4:7)

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;
the ears of the wise seek it out. (Proverbs 18:15)

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Matthew 13:44)
http://billychia.com Billy Chia

“qanah” means to “purchase” or “acquire”
http://net.bible.org/strong.php?id=07069

“makar” means to “sell” or “surrender”
http://net.bible.org/strong.php?id=04376

so a translations that makes more idiomatic sense in English might by:
“Aquire the Truth, don’t surrender it.”

I don’t think the poet wasn’t using “sell” in the same we we would. Alex is right, he must’ve been referring to open source.
http://www.RaisingUpWorshipLeaders.com Peter Park

I believe this is in reference to what the whole book is about, which is to acquire the wisdom of the Lord. This above all is most important. Also I wanted to put down the whole verse:

Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.
http://www.richkirkpatrick.com Rich Kirkpatrick

Fred, everyone here knows more Bible than you and I …it is a puzzle, but I love the thread there guys!

FredMcKinnon.Com

From the Word: Proverbs 23:23

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