Proverbs 17:1

Every day before diving into history, each of my classes examines a proverb. The point is to give biblical instruction from a book that was designed to aid those in their age group. We examine the proverb and then look for historical examples that prove its truth. I decided to post the proverbs from now on.

"Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it

Than a house full of feasting with strife."

Here is a proverb for those who cannot have their cake and eat it too. The reality is that we all want our cake (house of feasting) and we want peace (quietness). However, what would you pick if you were to have one or the other? The proverb addresses the natural tendency of man to assume that happiness will be achieved with wealth and abundance. Since money is the currency that buys all that the world desires (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life), we tend to make financial success the focus of our lives. Although we see abundant evidence in the world around us that money cannot buy true peace and happiness- we still tend to believe it. Consider the current frustrations and burdens you currently face in your life…have you assumed that more money will solve those issues?

I will be the first to admit that I do this all the time (ridiculously). For instance, Julie and I talk frequently about how we long for her to be able to stay home with Isaiah full time. More money would seem to solve the problem. The truth is that it certainly would solve the practical problem of her being able to stay home- but would that bring the quietness and peace we want? The answer is ultimately "no". Neither peace nor joy is dependent upon circumstances, but on our confidence and trust in God (Isaiah 26:3-4).

In 195 BC, Antiochus III (the father of the notorious Antiochus Epiphanes) had a clever idea to expand his kingdom and solidify his power. He decided to hook up his daughter (Cleopatra) with the much younger Ptolemy V- the son of his long time rival, and who was also only ten years old at the time. He imagined that she would persuade him through her charms and that Ptolemy would eventually submit to him. Moreover, Antiochus assumed that if an heir would be produced he would have sway over both kingdoms. Although the marriage did provide an increase in power and wealth, strife in the family distanced Cleopatra from her father. She became sympathetic to her husband, Ptolemy V, and began to support the Ptolemaic cause. She eventually had her son appointed Ptolemy VI which effectually destroyed the plans of his grandfather Antiochus III.

On a side note- all these events were prophesied hundreds of years before they happened in Daniel 11:14-19.