Omoluabi Podcast

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 011 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Bí ìdí ìkokò kò bá dá a lójú, kì í gbé egungun mì." INTERPRETATION: "If the wolf does not have faith in its anus, it does not swallow bones." In other words, the wolf wouldn't dare to eat the kind of thing it wouldn't be able to digest and pass out as excreta effortlessly.  MEANING: One should not attempt a thing whose repercussions one cannot withstand. There is wisdom in knowing ourselves and knowing our limitations lest we dabble into things for which we are not capable of withstanding the repercussions and consequences. So it's a proverb of caution regarding repercussions. BIBLICAL APPLICATION ✥ Romans 12:3 PHILLIPS — "Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all." ✥ Acts 19:11-16 PHILLIPS — "11-12 God gave most unusual demonstrations of power through Paul’s hands, so much so that people took to the sick any handkerchiefs or small-clothes which had been in contact with his body, and they were cured of their diseases and their evil spirits left them. 13-20 But there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus when dealing with those who had evil spirits. They would say, “I command you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Seven brothers, sons of a chief priest called Sceva, were engaged in this practice on one occasion, when the evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and I am acquainted with Paul, but who on earth are you?” And the man in whom the evil spirit was living sprang at them and over-powered them all with such violence that they rushed out of that house wounded, with their clothes torn off their backs." ✥ Philippians 4:13 NKJV — "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ✥ 1 Corinthians 6:12 PHILLIPS — "As a Christian I may do anything, but that does not mean that everything is good for me. I may do everything, but I must not be a slave of anything." ✥ 1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG — "Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims." ✥ Luke 14:28 NKJV — "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—" Summarily, we should know who we are in Christ as well as acknowledge our uniqueness in Him and our limitations as He leads us.

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 010 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Ká ròhìn ẹni ò tó ká bá ẹni bẹ́ẹ̀" INTERPRETATION: "To have people say good things about someone is nothing like getting to meet and know the person firsthand and find those secondary reports to be true." In other words, nothing beats getting to know someone on a firsthand basis. MEANING & BIBLICAL APPLICATION: We thought of this from both our human-to-human relationships and our relationship with God. Biblical examples given include:  1. Boaz. What Naomi said to Ruth about Boaz — about the kind of person Boaz was and that he was able to be their kinsman-redeemer — was found by Ruth to be much more than true! 2. Elisah. What the Jewish slave girl of Naaman's wife said to her mistress — "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy" — was found to be true when Naaman indeed explored that option and encountered Elisha. 3. Job. One of the most insightful statements about man's relationship with God came from the mouth of Job after all he went through and all the questions he had for God — and how God responded to them. He said in Job 42:5 (MSG), "I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!" May we be the kind of people who relate with people—and with God—based on our firsthand experience, and not merely by what others say about them.

PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Bí ebí bá kúrò nínú ìṣẹ́, ìṣẹ́ bùṣe" INTERPRETATION: "If hunger is removed from poverty, poverty comes to an end." In other words, whoever has food to eat is not poor. MEANING: A need for sustenance (through food) takes precedence over every other need we may have. As such, if we will take Jesus' invitation seriously to come and feed on Him (He being the "Bread of life"), we will have the sustenance we need to face every single day. TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: John 6:35; Psalm 23:1 ✰ John 6:35 New King James Version (NKJV) - "And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." ✰ John 6:35 The Passion Translation (TPT) - "Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry. Believe in me and you will never be thirsty." ✰ Psalm 23:1 Common English Bible (CEB) - "The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing."

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 008 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Ẹni tó mọ ẹtu ní ńkì í ní ‘‘òbèjé, ẹlẹ́sẹ̀ọwọ̀.’’" INTERPRETATION: "It is someone who knows the duiker intimately who can recite its praise, ‘‘spindle-legged duiker.’’" [A duiker is a small to medium-sized brown antelope native to sub-Saharan Africa, found in heavily wooded areas.] MEANING: Only those deeply knowledgeable about their profession (or about anything for that matter) are able to profoundly express their knowledge and appreciation for the profession (or thing). TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: Daniel 8:32b; Matthew 5:16 ✰ Daniel 8:32b New King James Version (NKJV) - "...the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." ✰ Matthew 5:16 New King James Version (NKJV) - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 007 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Ilé bo ilé lójú; òrùlé bo àjà mọ́lẹ̀; awọ fẹ́ẹ́rẹ́ bo inú kò jẹ́ká ríkùn aṣeni" INTERPRETATION: One house obscures another; the roof conceals the ceiling; a thin layer of skin covers the stomach, making it impossible to see through an evildoer.  MEANING: One cannot discern a person’s character, motives or intentions by simply looking on the outward appearance. TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Corinthians 12:10; Job 32:8 ✰ 1 Samuel 16:7 New King James Version (NKJV) - "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”" ✰ 1 Corinthians 12:10 New King James Version (NKJV) - "to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues." ✰ Job 32:8 King James Version (KJV) - "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 006 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Yànmù-yanmu là ń jọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀." INTERPRETATION: Bananas are eaten gracelessly. (Or 'Gracelessly is the way one eats bananas.) MEANING: Certain activities do not permit gracefulness. There is a time to be graceful and a time to not be. There are seasons when it's okay to be delicate and seasons when being delicate is a no-no. To be wise is to be able to discern what season you are in and what 'bananas' you may have to eat 'gracelessly' in that season. TEXT FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: Ecclesiastes 3:1,6-8 ✰ Ecclesiastes 3:1,6-8 — "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: . . . A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 005 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Akéde ò jẹ iyán gbígbóná" INTERPRETATION: The town crier does not eat steaming (hot) pounded yam. MEANING: One should be careful to avoid anything that can hinder him/her from functioning fully in his/her primary assignment. TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: 2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:22 ✰ 2 Corinthians 5:20 The Passion Translation (TPT) "We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.”" ✰ 1 Corinthians 6:18 The Passion Translation (TPT) "This is why you must keep running away from sexual immorality. For every other sin a person commits is external to the body, but immorality involves sinning against your own body." ✰ 2 Timothy 2:22 The Passion Translation (TPT) "Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts."

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 004 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Aṣọ à-fọ̀-fún kò jẹ́ká mọ olówó." INTERPRETATION: Clothes washed clean make identifying the rich person impossible. In other words, there is a way a 'poor' person can wash his/her clothes and take good care of it such that in public, he/she appears to be rich. MEANING: You can manage the little you have so well that people will reckon with you as they would someone who has much more than you currently do. Based on an understanding of your identity an Ọmọlúàbí (a chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation, peculiar person - 1 Peter 2:9), you can manifest such excellence in and with the little you currently possess. TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: Proverbs 23:7a; 27:8 Philippians 2:12-13 Proverbs 23:7a The Passion Translation (TPT): "For as he thinks within himself, so is he." Proverbs 27:8 The Passion Translation (TPT): "When even a fool bites his tongue he’s considered wise. So shut your mouth when you are provoked—it will make you look smart." Philippians 2:12-13 New International Version (NIV): "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 003 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Ẹ̀gún ò bẹ́sẹ̀rẹ́." INTERPRETATION: Thorns and the soles of one's feet do not reconcile; they are not 'friends'. MEANING: Certain people are, by virtue of their nature or make-up, incompatible with others. Likewise, certain actions are unsuitable for certain situations. TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: 1 Corinthians 15:33 and 2 Corinthians 6:14 1 Corinthians 15:33 The Passion Translation (TPT) - "So stop fooling yourselves! Evil companions will corrupt good morals and character." 2 Corinthians 6:14 The Living Bible (TLB) - "Don’t be teamed with those who do not love the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people of sin? How can light live with darkness?"

ỌMỌLÚÀBÍ PODCAST | EPISODE 002 PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Òòjọ́là ńṣu imí àgbagbà."  INTERPRETATION: The shit (faeces) that comes from eating a plantain meal comes on the same day. In other words, on the same day you eat plantain meal, expect to visit the loo. MEANING: The consequences of certain actions are virtually immediate. Moreover, by implication, all our actions, ultimately have consequences. TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: Acts 12:20-23 and Proverbs 18:20-21 Acts 12:20-23 The Passion Translation (TPT) 20 Now, during those days, Herod was engaged in a violent dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a united delegation to Caesarea to appeal to him and reconcile their differences with the king, for Herod controlled their food supply. First they enlisted the support of his trusted personal assistant, Blastus, who secured them an appointment with the king. 21 On the chosen day, Herod came before them, arrayed in his regal robes. Sitting on his elevated throne, he delivered a stirring public address to the people. 22 At its conclusion the people gave him a round of applause. The crowd shouted, “These are the words of a god, not a man!” 23 Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, an infestation of worms, because he accepted the people’s worship and didn’t give the glory to God, and he died. Proverbs 18:20-21 Good News Translation (GNT) 20 You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. 21 What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.

PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Òòjọ́là ńṣu imí àgbagbà."  INTERPRETATION: The shit (faeces) that comes from eating a plantain meal comes on the same day. In other words, on the same day you eat plantain meal, expect to visit the loo. MEANING: The consequences for certain actions are virtually immediate. Moreover, by implication, all our actions, ultimately have consequences. TEXTS FOR SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION: Acts 12:20-23 and Proverbs 18:20-21 Acts 12:20-23 The Passion Translation (TPT)  20 Now, during those days, Herod was engaged in a violent dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a united delegation to Caesarea to appeal to him and reconcile their differences with the king, for Herod controlled their food supply. First they enlisted the support of his trusted personal assistant, Blastus, who secured them an appointment with the king. 21 On the chosen day, Herod came before them, arrayed in his regal robes. Sitting on his elevated throne, he delivered a stirring public address to the people. 22 At its conclusion the people gave him a round of applause. The crowd shouted, “These are the words of a god, not a man!” 23 Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, an infestation of worms, because he accepted the people’s worship and didn’t give the glory to God, and he died. Proverbs 18:20-21 Good News Translation (GNT) 20 You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. 21 What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.

In this episode, we introduce this podcast. This is the podcast where African Proverbs and Biblical Wisdom converge. In the podcast series, we will be gleaning from nuggets of timeless wisdom captured in African proverbs. Each episode focuses on a Yorùbá proverb which is then reflected upon in the light of scriptures. The podcast aims both to showcase a rich collection of African proverbs and offer such indigenous wisdom to young adults of African descent and, indeed, anyone!