What a difference the little word ‘BUT’ makes!
Proverbs often brings out the Contrasting position between the upright and the rebellious, by the use of the word ‘But’.
2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS DELIVERS FROM DEATH.
3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
BUT HE THWARTS THE CRAVING OF THE WICKED.
4 Lazy hands make for poverty,
BUT DILIGENT HANDS BRING WEALTH.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6 BLESSINGS CROWN THE HEAD OF THE RIGHTEOUS, (Amen)
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 THE WISE IN HEART ACCEPT COMMANDS,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9 WHOEVER WALKS IN INTEGRITY WALKS SECURELY,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Proverbs10
’But’ is usually a negative, really saying I don’t agree! Beware people who say ‘But’ a lot, they may see Obstacles more often than Solutions. Positive people want to get on board and help work things out.
‘But’ can also signal a change in thinking or position! We see this often in David’s psalms where his position overwhelms him, But then he ‘encourages himself in the Lord’. 1 Samuel 30:6-8
9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak. Psalm 38
David often voices how overwhelmed he feels in lengthy bouts of discouragement. He and his men were fleeing for their lives on many occasions, even from their own countrymen. Then his perspective changes and HE SEES GOD’S HAND HELPING AND SUSTAINING HIM THROUGH ALL HIS TRIALS.
14 BUT I TRUST IN YOU, O Lord;
I SAY, “YOU ARE MY GOD.” (Trusting and Declaring/Speaking out God’s Goodness and Faithfulness is best way to rise above difficult circumstances!)
15 MY TIMES ARE IN YOUR HANDS;
DELIVER ME from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 LET YOUR FACE SHINE ON YOUR SERVANT;
SAVE ME IN YOUR UNFAILING LOVE.
17 Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
for I have cried out to you;
BUT let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent in the realm of the dead. Psalm 31
Forgive me/us Lord for having too many ‘BUTS’, help us to walk in a greater level of TRUST. You’re a good God who always wants the best for His Children.
The Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, He is with us.