Proverbs 2:6-8 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; (7) He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; (8) He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.
These verses are pretty straight forward. They all talk about the fact that God is the giver of wisdom. This may be something simple to us and we may say " I knew that" but, do we accept it? A lot of us want to say that we gained the wisdom ourselves. Do we in every moment of wise choices thank God for the wisdom and understanding? I know that I do not always do this. We make a good choice and then pat ourselves on the back when we should turn to God with praise and thanks. I don't care who you are, God is the one who deserves the praise and thanks for every good work. We here in Guatemala have just finished doing medical outreaches this week and have no reason to praise ourselves! God did all the work through us! He gave us the wisdom to handle everything that came our way. Also, when I say "our" God is included in that because He is always with us. And there is no situation where He is not with us, no matter the complexity of it. If it is a small matter, He is there. If it is a great matter, He is there! If it is a dire matter, He is there! In all these things we should call out to Him for wisdom and understanding to be able to handle it the right way. Then we should turn to Him with praise and thanks regardless how the matter turned out, because God knows all and we don't. Have faith that He works all things for good.
I pray this has helped you all as it has helped me. I plan on turning to God for wisdom and understanding for all matters that come "our" way.
Praise be to God for His instruction, wisdom, and understanding.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Teasure Hunt
Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, (2) So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; (3) Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, (4) If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; (5) Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
God begins again by saying "my son". I know that king Solomon wrote most of the proverbs but, God is the one who lead him to do so. Just like any book of the bible, it is from God Himself.
Now, in verse one of chapter 2, we see that God wants us to take to heart His words and treasure them within us. This is pretty simple to understand what He is saying. He wants us to read His word and memorize it. Not to the point where we just have head knowledge but, He wants it in our hearts as well. Memorizing His word is great but, ineffective if it doesn't reach to our inmost being. We can memorize the entire bible but, miss His message to us without applying it to ourselves. An example of this would be that of a Pharisee. They were seen as the most religous people on earth but, they didn't apply all that they had learned. They used it to rule over the people and fuel their own pride.
The next verse is something that happens if you do the first. If you truly are seeking the Lord, you will incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding. To incline your ear to wisdom is to listen to it when it is talking. Wisdom has many forms too. God uses His word to give us wisdom but, He can also use people in our lives to guide us in the way of wisdom. We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we talk. The next part of this verse is pretty simple as well. To put in simpler words would be, to apply to yourself what is being said or to keep and open ear and heart or mind.
Verses three and four hold the same idea but, one is like poetry and the other isn't. If we are really serious about seeking after wisdom, who as we have learned is easy to find, we will ask for good judgment and understanding. We will be in the word more often and listen to what others have to say. Be a bookworm, not the best thing to motivate someone such as myself but, we need to be a bookworm! God's word is full of treasures to be found! Treasures that will give us a better way of living in this world. The physical sense is true of the spiritual sense. If you find diamonds and rubies we would become rich right? Well the same is true of God's word, which is still easy to find, if we search His word we will be spiritually rich. Which is acually better than being rich physically.
Verse five finally completes this by saying what happens if we do these things. By doing these things we understand what it means to respect and honor God. Also, we will come to know God. How amazing is that!
I am still excited to continue in proverbs and seeking out God's wisdom.
Praise be to God for His word which, again, we do not deserve.
God begins again by saying "my son". I know that king Solomon wrote most of the proverbs but, God is the one who lead him to do so. Just like any book of the bible, it is from God Himself.
Now, in verse one of chapter 2, we see that God wants us to take to heart His words and treasure them within us. This is pretty simple to understand what He is saying. He wants us to read His word and memorize it. Not to the point where we just have head knowledge but, He wants it in our hearts as well. Memorizing His word is great but, ineffective if it doesn't reach to our inmost being. We can memorize the entire bible but, miss His message to us without applying it to ourselves. An example of this would be that of a Pharisee. They were seen as the most religous people on earth but, they didn't apply all that they had learned. They used it to rule over the people and fuel their own pride.
The next verse is something that happens if you do the first. If you truly are seeking the Lord, you will incline your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding. To incline your ear to wisdom is to listen to it when it is talking. Wisdom has many forms too. God uses His word to give us wisdom but, He can also use people in our lives to guide us in the way of wisdom. We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we talk. The next part of this verse is pretty simple as well. To put in simpler words would be, to apply to yourself what is being said or to keep and open ear and heart or mind.
Verses three and four hold the same idea but, one is like poetry and the other isn't. If we are really serious about seeking after wisdom, who as we have learned is easy to find, we will ask for good judgment and understanding. We will be in the word more often and listen to what others have to say. Be a bookworm, not the best thing to motivate someone such as myself but, we need to be a bookworm! God's word is full of treasures to be found! Treasures that will give us a better way of living in this world. The physical sense is true of the spiritual sense. If you find diamonds and rubies we would become rich right? Well the same is true of God's word, which is still easy to find, if we search His word we will be spiritually rich. Which is acually better than being rich physically.
Verse five finally completes this by saying what happens if we do these things. By doing these things we understand what it means to respect and honor God. Also, we will come to know God. How amazing is that!
I am still excited to continue in proverbs and seeking out God's wisdom.
Praise be to God for His word which, again, we do not deserve.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Shey crys out!
Proverbs 1:20-33 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her
voice in the open squares. (21) She cries out in the chief concourses, At
the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: (22) "How
long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their
scorning, And fools hate knowledge. (23) Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will
pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. (24)
Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and
no one regarded, (25) Because you disdained all my counsel, And would
have none of my rebuke, (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock
when your terror comes, (27) When your terror comes like a storm, And
your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come
upon you. (28) "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will
seek me diligently, but they will not find me. (29) Because they hated
knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) They would have
none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. (31) Therefore they
shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own
fancies. (32) For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the
complacency of fools will destroy them; (33) But whoever listens to me will
dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil."
Now I know that there are a lot of verses but, if you have read my
other posts. You can get through this one, so please stay with me as we
move forward. Ok, so in verse 20 we see that wisdom is calling out to
everyone in a typically busy place. Anybody who wants to be heard will go to
places where there are a lot of people. Wisdom wants to be heard by all
people! Not only is wisdom crying out in the open squares, but also at the
gates of the cities and in the concouses (a concourse is place were roads
and paths meet). And this means that wisdom isn't hard to find. In fact,
wisdom is seeking us out!
Now, lets look at what she says in verse 22 . How long, she says,
will you love being ignorant of your folly? How long will you make fun of
wisdom and hate knowledge? These are good questions to ask ourselves.
Do we love being ignorant of our folly? Do we make fun of wisdom? Do we
hate knowledge? I have learned that when reading the bible, I should put
myself in the shoes of those being talked about and really examine myself. I
will admit that I like being ignorant sometimes, I make fun of wisdom
sometimes, and I don't always like studying for more knowledge. I need to
listen to wisdom as much as anyone on this planet. Praise God that she is
easy to find.
Now in verse 23, moving right along. We see that wisdom wants
to earnestly tell us everything we need to know! She wants to save us from
our folly, Not to condemn us. She is for us and not against us. It's like we
are blind and walking towards a cliff and, like God, wisdom won't force her
ways on us. Then she tell us what will happen when if we keep going. She
will laugh at us and will mock us for not listening, now this kind of laughter is
not kind where it would be cruel, malicious, or indictive. It is more of the
ironic thing that happens when we laugh at wisdom and do not heed it, then
when our folly catches up to us. We find that the wisdom was right and it
doesn't sway or change what it was saying. Another way of looking at is not
that the Lord is laughing at us in a mean way but, at the attempt to go
against Him. It's like a father laughing at his child's attempt to bring him
down. It's funny when a little kid trys to bring down something big, even
when they are being very tanatious about it. So God doesn't laugh at us in a
malicious, cruel, or vindictive way.
Verse 27, disasters are coming! Strong winds are coming! They
happen to everyone in life, no one can get away from them. And because
we did not heed wisdom she will not come if we call. That is our own fault
too! Why should we deserve better than the way we treated her? If we
refuse to heed wisdom when she calls, it kills us! Don't do drugs! If you now
go out and do drugs, you probably won't see tomorrow, or maybe even
heaven. I looked up the word complacency and it is ugly! After reading what
it meant, it gave me a list of synonyms that defined it even better for me.
Here's the list. Pride, pridefulness, big head, conceit, conceitedness, ego,
egotism, pomposity, pompousness, self-admiration, self-assumption, self-
conceit, self-congratulation, self-esteem, self-glory, self-love, self-
importance, self-opinion, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled headedness,
vainglory, and vanity. The list is actually bigger but, I had to make it shorter
for you.
In light of all of this, God always gives us hope. He ends this
chapter in a great way and I thank Him for that. Whoever listens will live
safely and without fear of evil. By listening to wisdom we escape the
consequences of being foolish. By not doing drugs, we escape the pain,
damage to our bodies, and possible death after them. Praise God? Yes!
I still am excited to continue in Proverbs and hope that all of us
have gotten at least a little wiser.
Praise be to God for being easy to find, and loving in His righteous
correction toward us.
voice in the open squares. (21) She cries out in the chief concourses, At
the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: (22) "How
long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their
scorning, And fools hate knowledge. (23) Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will
pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. (24)
Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and
no one regarded, (25) Because you disdained all my counsel, And would
have none of my rebuke, (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock
when your terror comes, (27) When your terror comes like a storm, And
your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come
upon you. (28) "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will
seek me diligently, but they will not find me. (29) Because they hated
knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) They would have
none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. (31) Therefore they
shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own
fancies. (32) For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the
complacency of fools will destroy them; (33) But whoever listens to me will
dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil."
Now I know that there are a lot of verses but, if you have read my
other posts. You can get through this one, so please stay with me as we
move forward. Ok, so in verse 20 we see that wisdom is calling out to
everyone in a typically busy place. Anybody who wants to be heard will go to
places where there are a lot of people. Wisdom wants to be heard by all
people! Not only is wisdom crying out in the open squares, but also at the
gates of the cities and in the concouses (a concourse is place were roads
and paths meet). And this means that wisdom isn't hard to find. In fact,
wisdom is seeking us out!
Now, lets look at what she says in verse 22 . How long, she says,
will you love being ignorant of your folly? How long will you make fun of
wisdom and hate knowledge? These are good questions to ask ourselves.
Do we love being ignorant of our folly? Do we make fun of wisdom? Do we
hate knowledge? I have learned that when reading the bible, I should put
myself in the shoes of those being talked about and really examine myself. I
will admit that I like being ignorant sometimes, I make fun of wisdom
sometimes, and I don't always like studying for more knowledge. I need to
listen to wisdom as much as anyone on this planet. Praise God that she is
easy to find.
Now in verse 23, moving right along. We see that wisdom wants
to earnestly tell us everything we need to know! She wants to save us from
our folly, Not to condemn us. She is for us and not against us. It's like we
are blind and walking towards a cliff and, like God, wisdom won't force her
ways on us. Then she tell us what will happen when if we keep going. She
will laugh at us and will mock us for not listening, now this kind of laughter is
not kind where it would be cruel, malicious, or indictive. It is more of the
ironic thing that happens when we laugh at wisdom and do not heed it, then
when our folly catches up to us. We find that the wisdom was right and it
doesn't sway or change what it was saying. Another way of looking at is not
that the Lord is laughing at us in a mean way but, at the attempt to go
against Him. It's like a father laughing at his child's attempt to bring him
down. It's funny when a little kid trys to bring down something big, even
when they are being very tanatious about it. So God doesn't laugh at us in a
malicious, cruel, or vindictive way.
Verse 27, disasters are coming! Strong winds are coming! They
happen to everyone in life, no one can get away from them. And because
we did not heed wisdom she will not come if we call. That is our own fault
too! Why should we deserve better than the way we treated her? If we
refuse to heed wisdom when she calls, it kills us! Don't do drugs! If you now
go out and do drugs, you probably won't see tomorrow, or maybe even
heaven. I looked up the word complacency and it is ugly! After reading what
it meant, it gave me a list of synonyms that defined it even better for me.
Here's the list. Pride, pridefulness, big head, conceit, conceitedness, ego,
egotism, pomposity, pompousness, self-admiration, self-assumption, self-
conceit, self-congratulation, self-esteem, self-glory, self-love, self-
importance, self-opinion, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled headedness,
vainglory, and vanity. The list is actually bigger but, I had to make it shorter
for you.
In light of all of this, God always gives us hope. He ends this
chapter in a great way and I thank Him for that. Whoever listens will live
safely and without fear of evil. By listening to wisdom we escape the
consequences of being foolish. By not doing drugs, we escape the pain,
damage to our bodies, and possible death after them. Praise God? Yes!
I still am excited to continue in Proverbs and hope that all of us
have gotten at least a little wiser.
Praise be to God for being easy to find, and loving in His righteous
correction toward us.
What not to do
Proverbs 1:10-19 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
(11) If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk
secretly for the innocent without cause; (12) Let us swallow them alive like
Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; (13) We shall find all
kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; (14)
Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse"-- (15) My son, do not
walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; (16) For their
feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. (17) Surely, in vain the
net is spread In the sight of any bird; (18) But they lie in wait for their own
blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. (19) So are the ways of
everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
Now, God is going to gives us some advice for life and it's
troubles. Again, I love the "my son" that He says. That is always an
encouragement for me, and I hope it is for you as well. Ok, so first we see a
clear direction from God in verse 10. Also we see the first step in falling into
sin. Some might say that it's not the young man's fault but, it's because he
got in with the wrong crowd. However, it was his choice to be there and he
consented to do what they want to do, so it his fault. No one can make us
sin. The choice is always up to us wether we sin or not. We need to not
consent to sinners! We need to have some backbone and just say "NAY! I
will not do this evil in the sight of my God!" It may not even be someone who
is enticing you to sin but, you yourself. Do not be deceived, all of us have a
sinful mind and think things that we should not. It is then that we should take
every evil thought captive to the obedience of Christ. That means that when
we think something evil, which will happen, we need to say the same thing
to ourselves that we say to sinners who entice us, "Nay! I will not do this evil
in the sight of my God!" You might have to say it more than once, your
enemy doesn't listen very well and if you are like me, I am my own worst
enemy. So, for me, I must say this to myself a whole lot each day. The
enticement doesn't simply go away either. That guy will come back again
and again until we are finally called home to be with the Lord. However, do
not lose heart, for the Lord our God is with us every second of everyday. He
will neither leave nor forsake those who are in Him.
Verses 11-14 speak of the things that sinners will entice you with.
They lure you with riches, with the thrill or doing bad and getting away with
it, and with the friendship of having one purse. For some, it will be easy to
say no, or nay, to these things. However, there are a lot more things that
they can, or you yourself can, lure you with. We have a threefold enemy!
Their names are the flesh, the world, and satan. The flesh is yours and my
first enemy. The one that is always there to give his opinion on what to do
but, never is a good opinion. The world is anything in this world that turns
you from God's ways and Himself. And we all know who satan is, he is the
one who tries so hard to turn every believer from God to himself. The only
good thing about him is that if he is after you then you know you are where
you should be. Because he doesn't need to touch those who are not doing
God's will.
Now verses 15-19, I believe is God directly telling us the
consquences of following such evil ways. Again, I love and say it is from
God because of the "my son" in the beginning. He is saying clearly not to do
it, and without yelling I might add. God love us so much to tell us the reason
why we shouldn't comit sin. He says that these people wait for their own
blood! They set a trap but, they are the ones who fall in it! The price of
greed is the life of the one being greedy! So, God our Father, says to stay
far from them and not go the way they go. Again, we are as much a sinner
as these people but, we have been freed from sins power over us through
the blood of Jesus Christ! We are still going to sin day by day but, we have
the choice to sin or not, while those who don't have Christ haven't that
choice. And when we do sin, we can run back to Jesus and ask for
forgiveness but, that doesn't mean we can keep on doing the same thing
over and over because He will forgive us. No! We need also to repent of
that sin and never do it again. This is, of course, easier said than done but,
God through Jesus Christ gives us the power to do so.
I am so excited to continue in God's word and will for my life and
hope that you are as well. There is no better life than that of being in God's
family!
Praise be to God for His love and warning to us all.
(11) If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk
secretly for the innocent without cause; (12) Let us swallow them alive like
Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; (13) We shall find all
kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; (14)
Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse"-- (15) My son, do not
walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; (16) For their
feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. (17) Surely, in vain the
net is spread In the sight of any bird; (18) But they lie in wait for their own
blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. (19) So are the ways of
everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
Now, God is going to gives us some advice for life and it's
troubles. Again, I love the "my son" that He says. That is always an
encouragement for me, and I hope it is for you as well. Ok, so first we see a
clear direction from God in verse 10. Also we see the first step in falling into
sin. Some might say that it's not the young man's fault but, it's because he
got in with the wrong crowd. However, it was his choice to be there and he
consented to do what they want to do, so it his fault. No one can make us
sin. The choice is always up to us wether we sin or not. We need to not
consent to sinners! We need to have some backbone and just say "NAY! I
will not do this evil in the sight of my God!" It may not even be someone who
is enticing you to sin but, you yourself. Do not be deceived, all of us have a
sinful mind and think things that we should not. It is then that we should take
every evil thought captive to the obedience of Christ. That means that when
we think something evil, which will happen, we need to say the same thing
to ourselves that we say to sinners who entice us, "Nay! I will not do this evil
in the sight of my God!" You might have to say it more than once, your
enemy doesn't listen very well and if you are like me, I am my own worst
enemy. So, for me, I must say this to myself a whole lot each day. The
enticement doesn't simply go away either. That guy will come back again
and again until we are finally called home to be with the Lord. However, do
not lose heart, for the Lord our God is with us every second of everyday. He
will neither leave nor forsake those who are in Him.
Verses 11-14 speak of the things that sinners will entice you with.
They lure you with riches, with the thrill or doing bad and getting away with
it, and with the friendship of having one purse. For some, it will be easy to
say no, or nay, to these things. However, there are a lot more things that
they can, or you yourself can, lure you with. We have a threefold enemy!
Their names are the flesh, the world, and satan. The flesh is yours and my
first enemy. The one that is always there to give his opinion on what to do
but, never is a good opinion. The world is anything in this world that turns
you from God's ways and Himself. And we all know who satan is, he is the
one who tries so hard to turn every believer from God to himself. The only
good thing about him is that if he is after you then you know you are where
you should be. Because he doesn't need to touch those who are not doing
God's will.
Now verses 15-19, I believe is God directly telling us the
consquences of following such evil ways. Again, I love and say it is from
God because of the "my son" in the beginning. He is saying clearly not to do
it, and without yelling I might add. God love us so much to tell us the reason
why we shouldn't comit sin. He says that these people wait for their own
blood! They set a trap but, they are the ones who fall in it! The price of
greed is the life of the one being greedy! So, God our Father, says to stay
far from them and not go the way they go. Again, we are as much a sinner
as these people but, we have been freed from sins power over us through
the blood of Jesus Christ! We are still going to sin day by day but, we have
the choice to sin or not, while those who don't have Christ haven't that
choice. And when we do sin, we can run back to Jesus and ask for
forgiveness but, that doesn't mean we can keep on doing the same thing
over and over because He will forgive us. No! We need also to repent of
that sin and never do it again. This is, of course, easier said than done but,
God through Jesus Christ gives us the power to do so.
I am so excited to continue in God's word and will for my life and
hope that you are as well. There is no better life than that of being in God's
family!
Praise be to God for His love and warning to us all.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Parental Guidance
(Proverbs 1:8) My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: (Proverbs 1:9) For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
I know that not everybody has had great parents to teach them right and wrong. However, we all have the Lord God Almighty and He wrote the bible. So, all these Proverbs are from Him to us as His parental guidance for us. As a father who loves His children, He gives us instruction on how to live. I love two words that He uses, "my son". Those two words always send me into the thought of His love. Even though I mess up, fail Him, and betray Him. He still loves me and wants me. there is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love.
Now on to the text. The first verse is pretty easy to understand. Listen to your mother and father. Now like before, I said not everybody has great or christian parents but, we need to listen to them. So, long as they don't contradict what God would have you do. An example would be like if your unbelieving, or even your believing parents, told you to jump off a cliff or kill yourself! Obviously this is not of God's plan for you. However, if they tell you to look both ways before crossing the street, that is good guidance and God has just used them to teach you. I can't tell you everything that is from God, for I am not in your position and I'm still learning all that is from God. So, in order to know what is from God, we must all read the bible to learn. Because it is His instruction manuel on life and His parental guidance to us.
Now the next verse tells us in a poetic way what happens when we listen to the wisdom of our parents (God is included in that of our parents). The verse is saying that by heeding the wise counsel and teachings of our parents (again, God is included in that of our parents). By being obedient, we bring honor and moral beauty to our lives and it shines to those around us. The chaplet on our head is like a crown and the chains about our neck is like a beautiful neckless. These things are flashy but, are not the kind that says "I'm so much better than you!" No, things are a good kind of flashy things that can ultimately point people to Jesus and lead them to His saving grace. So, by being wise and listening to our parents (you know who is included in that). We can be a better witness for God. People always know if a child acts bad that his parents aren't doing a good job. So, good behavior reflects "All" of our parents.
I have great parents who love the Lord and have taught me the same. I praise God for them and my entire family, not just by blood but, through Jesus Christ as well. We all have the greatest Father in the universe who loves every single one of us! This is very encouraging to me and I hope it is to you too.
Proverbs is, in my opinion, God's parental guidance to all of His children on the planet earth that He created! I will continue to read and learn from that of my Heavenly Father who loves all His children.
Praise be to God for parents and the way He uses them for our benefit and theirs.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Fear
(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
This verse is known as the key verse for the whole book of Proverbs. First we looked at the way in which we can understand a proverb and the words of the wise but, now we are going to look at a contrast between those who revere the Lord and those who do not. It is very important to think about where you stand in all of this as well.
First and foremost we are going to look at what it means by the "fear" of the Lord. This word fear is very interesting that it doesn't mean to be afraid. This kind of fear that it is talking about is reverent fear. An example for me would be the "fear" or reverence I have for my parents. In as much that I turn to them when I need advice. This reverence is also a kind of love and dependency on the one or ones being revered. I'll be the first to admit that I have not revered God as I should. I am learning more and more what it means to revere Him. And so we come to the first question. Are you revering God like you should, think about that for a moment. Do you fear God more than you fear man? These are simple questions but, none the less important to be asked from time to time. Just to stop and think about your standing with your Creator. I've been thinking of this question for a while now and fell to my knees in repentance for the way I'd been acting in His Holy presence. The experience was very humbling but, I want to remember it and move forward with God than without Him. I could actually just turn from His rebuke and walk away but, that would be folly!
Now lets talk about that, folly. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. first of all, the word fool means, lacks wisdom also, The word despise is not a pretty word, and it is an intense word. It doesn't mean, does not like wisdom and instruction. No, it means hates, rejects, and refuses wisdom and instruction. Hate in itself is a strong word. Jesus said that if you hate someone, it's the same as killing them. One who lacks wisdom, you would think, would want to gain wisdom. That isn't always the case though. Some people would rather live in sin and not want to hear people tell them the truth. They are satisfied with the lie. So much so that they even attack the truth and group up with those who are like them, and this gives them a feeling of being right. Now the question is, do you hate it when people tell you the truth? Even when they are being sincere when they are telling you that you are doing something wrong? Maybe that you need to change? I don't always like it myself but, God has taught me through my parents and being here in Guatemala to listen to rebuke or wise counsel when it comes, and it will come. Trust me.
I hope you have learned something from this and I sincerely hope you will think on what I asked you. Because I asked God, before I wrote this to tell me what to write and I believe He did. So in affect it wasn't me asking you those questions but, God Himself. That is a cool thing to think about when reading the WORD OF GOD! That it is from Him to us!
My plan is to keep on reading through Proverbs to gain more of God's wisdom and I pray that He gives it to me for He is the giver of wisdom.
Praise be to God for His word and love in that He sent it down to a people who don't deserve it.
This verse is known as the key verse for the whole book of Proverbs. First we looked at the way in which we can understand a proverb and the words of the wise but, now we are going to look at a contrast between those who revere the Lord and those who do not. It is very important to think about where you stand in all of this as well.
First and foremost we are going to look at what it means by the "fear" of the Lord. This word fear is very interesting that it doesn't mean to be afraid. This kind of fear that it is talking about is reverent fear. An example for me would be the "fear" or reverence I have for my parents. In as much that I turn to them when I need advice. This reverence is also a kind of love and dependency on the one or ones being revered. I'll be the first to admit that I have not revered God as I should. I am learning more and more what it means to revere Him. And so we come to the first question. Are you revering God like you should, think about that for a moment. Do you fear God more than you fear man? These are simple questions but, none the less important to be asked from time to time. Just to stop and think about your standing with your Creator. I've been thinking of this question for a while now and fell to my knees in repentance for the way I'd been acting in His Holy presence. The experience was very humbling but, I want to remember it and move forward with God than without Him. I could actually just turn from His rebuke and walk away but, that would be folly!
Now lets talk about that, folly. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. first of all, the word fool means, lacks wisdom also, The word despise is not a pretty word, and it is an intense word. It doesn't mean, does not like wisdom and instruction. No, it means hates, rejects, and refuses wisdom and instruction. Hate in itself is a strong word. Jesus said that if you hate someone, it's the same as killing them. One who lacks wisdom, you would think, would want to gain wisdom. That isn't always the case though. Some people would rather live in sin and not want to hear people tell them the truth. They are satisfied with the lie. So much so that they even attack the truth and group up with those who are like them, and this gives them a feeling of being right. Now the question is, do you hate it when people tell you the truth? Even when they are being sincere when they are telling you that you are doing something wrong? Maybe that you need to change? I don't always like it myself but, God has taught me through my parents and being here in Guatemala to listen to rebuke or wise counsel when it comes, and it will come. Trust me.
I hope you have learned something from this and I sincerely hope you will think on what I asked you. Because I asked God, before I wrote this to tell me what to write and I believe He did. So in affect it wasn't me asking you those questions but, God Himself. That is a cool thing to think about when reading the WORD OF GOD! That it is from Him to us!
My plan is to keep on reading through Proverbs to gain more of God's wisdom and I pray that He gives it to me for He is the giver of wisdom.
Praise be to God for His word and love in that He sent it down to a people who don't deserve it.
Friday, January 3, 2014
The Know How
Proverbs 1:1-6
1 The poverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, Judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion-
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a poverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.
The first verse is just to let you know where these proverbs are coming from and there are coming from king Solomon. King Solomon was one of the wisest men in the world. God gave Solomon a choice between riches or wisdom and Solomon chose wisdom. Therefore these proverbs are ultimatly from God since He is the giver of wisdom.
The next four verses tie into the last one. To do all these things is how you understand a poverb and an enigma, also the words of the wise and their riddles. Lets start with the second verse. Do we know wisdom and instruction when we hear it? Do we understand the words spoken to us by not only God but, those He puts in our path to help correct or guide us? I acually suggest getting a dictionary and learn a new word everyday. This is how you will perceive words of understanding. Simple as that.
Number three, Do we receive the instructions given to us well? Do we know what Justice, Judgment and equity are? Justice is what is right, Judgment is deciding what is right, and equity, is giving every decision the same value. Therefore, after you decide what is right, do what is right, and give everything your full attention.
Number four, give prudence, knowledge, and discretion to the young and the simple. This verse pretty much explains itself. Tell the young and simple what is right and everything they need to know. Notice though that it doesn't say only the young. There are plenty of people who need to know what is right that aren't young. Then in five you find out if the person you are telling what is right is wise. A wise man listens, something everyone should do. Keep an open mind in what is being said to you. You have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk.
Verses two to five tie into six. So, in short, you must listen to wise people, learn new words, know what is right, and then, and only then, you can teach the same to the young and simple. I myself plan on doing all of this and I should if I expect to understand all the proverbs in this book.
Praise God for wisdom and instruction.
1 The poverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, Judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion-
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a poverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.
The first verse is just to let you know where these proverbs are coming from and there are coming from king Solomon. King Solomon was one of the wisest men in the world. God gave Solomon a choice between riches or wisdom and Solomon chose wisdom. Therefore these proverbs are ultimatly from God since He is the giver of wisdom.
The next four verses tie into the last one. To do all these things is how you understand a poverb and an enigma, also the words of the wise and their riddles. Lets start with the second verse. Do we know wisdom and instruction when we hear it? Do we understand the words spoken to us by not only God but, those He puts in our path to help correct or guide us? I acually suggest getting a dictionary and learn a new word everyday. This is how you will perceive words of understanding. Simple as that.
Number three, Do we receive the instructions given to us well? Do we know what Justice, Judgment and equity are? Justice is what is right, Judgment is deciding what is right, and equity, is giving every decision the same value. Therefore, after you decide what is right, do what is right, and give everything your full attention.
Number four, give prudence, knowledge, and discretion to the young and the simple. This verse pretty much explains itself. Tell the young and simple what is right and everything they need to know. Notice though that it doesn't say only the young. There are plenty of people who need to know what is right that aren't young. Then in five you find out if the person you are telling what is right is wise. A wise man listens, something everyone should do. Keep an open mind in what is being said to you. You have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk.
Verses two to five tie into six. So, in short, you must listen to wise people, learn new words, know what is right, and then, and only then, you can teach the same to the young and simple. I myself plan on doing all of this and I should if I expect to understand all the proverbs in this book.
Praise God for wisdom and instruction.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)