Proverbs 17: King James Bible

A Dry Morsel – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter seventeen, Verse 1

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1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

Daily Inspiration from These Verses – A Dry Morsel

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This simple verse can be taken to all kinds of diverse depths in meaning. This is a call to another verse that we touched on in Proverbs 16, which spoke about it being better to to have a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.

Very similar, but this isn’t about what we have or don’t have like the aforementioned verse does. This (in my view) is centered around peace of mind.

There is a lot to be said about having peace of mind, as well as a clear conscience. Though similar, these two items are not the same. To say that a dry morsel is better in peace than a feast with strife is quite an understatement.

The verse on its face, gives you the thought of a house full of feasting, and everyone in the house is quarreling and going nuts at each other. That’s the picture I get anyways.

In a situation like that, how can you enjoy what it is that you’re eating, regardless of the quality of the food? How can you be peaceful or content, when you’re on guard, or constantly looking over your shoulder? You can’t.

But when you’re in a more peaceful setting, you can let your guard down, and pay attention to what you’re doing (or eating) without extra stresses being involved. On the surface of this verse, that is what I get out of it.

Now, as I said above, this verse can go much deeper into our lives, and be used for a variety of situations. Such as:

• Being still and knowing God is God, rather than being too busy minded to pay attention to the Lord.
• Doing what is right with a clear conscience, rather than doing things that cause for you to harbor a guilty conscience.
• Having your house in order, rather than it being in a shambles.
• Being diligent to do right, rather than complacency building up to come back and bite you.

I think you get the idea with those four examples. We can attribute this verse to how we do things, how we take things emotionally, how we operate around others, and how we are with the Father.

Though I’ve found through the years, that when we apply a verse from any book of the Bible at a spiritual level, it makes an impact in our lives on a physical level. Funny how that works.

But I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention, that wickedness works in just the opposite manner. Wickedness comes from the outside in, which is how it can rob us of our peace.

Quiet is better, particularly when with the Lord.

 

Related New Testament Scripture

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1 Thessalonians 4: King James Bible

11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Philippians 2: King James Bible

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Timothy 2: King James Bible

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Hebrews 9: King James Bible

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

James 3: King James Bible

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Prayer

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Father,

Thank you as always, for your Word and your Holy Spirit to guide us as we venture through it. For those of us who lack peace, please shed upon us you peace, that surpasses all understanding. Give us you peace, as we weather out the storms that come in and out of our lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen

Question

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Wouldn’t you trade a steak dinner with your nerves tied in a knot, for a dry morsel with peace of mind?

Similar Posts:

• Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 10 P.98 – A Sure Step
• Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 13 P.146 – Truth in Righteousness
• Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 20 P. 296 – Spirit of Man
• Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 21 P. 304 – Your Peace of Mind
• Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 16 P. 213 – Little with Righteousness