2018 Dec 10 Proverbs 10, Psalms
2018 Dec 10 Proverbs 10, Psalms
Hello to all, and best wishes for a good day! Let's consider Proverbs 10, verses 11-16:
"11 The mouth of the righteous one is a source of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12 Hatred is what stirs up contentions, But love covers over all transgressions. 13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning person, But the rod is for the back of one lacking good sense. 14 Those who are wise treasure up knowledge, But the mouth of the fool invites ruin. 15 The wealth of a rich man is his fortified city. The ruin of the poor is their poverty. 16 The activity of the righteous one leads to life; But the produce of the wicked one leads to sin."
Prov 10:11,12 The righteous one typically has true love as one's motive, keeping God's law out of love for Him, and with love for others. Such a person desires to share knowledge of God with others, helping them find and stay on the path of endless life. Psalm 37:30 says "The mouth of the righteous one imparts wisdom, and his tongue speaks about justice." However, hatred is in the heart of the wicked, therefore this one's mouth conceals the violence that is inside. Such a one needs to fear God, realizing His great power and purpose, and let hatred be replaced with love for God, experiencing His mercy, and love for others.
Prov 10:13 The discerning one has come to have a grasp on the truth in life, seeing the good, while hating the bad. Such a person is able to speak and share much in the way of wisdom. But one lacking good sense needs good discipline to find needed correction.
Prov 10:14 The wise ones treasure especially the right kind of knowledge. A foolish one often squanders time and may learn and speak of things that contribute little to a responsible, godly life.
Prov 10:15 A wealthy person often looks to money as his primary source of protection, as a "fortified city." Even a poor person may not be looking to God as a refuge. May both learn to rely upon God more than all else, seeking God's Kingdom and His righteousness first, as Christ instructed (Matt 6:33). Doing so, the necessities of life will be provided by God, while putting forth reasonable efforts to make a living as needed.
Prov 10:16 As Jesus also stated, a good tree produces fine fruit, righteous ones speaking and doing things leading themselves and others to life, while a rotten tree produces worthless fruit, wicked ones speaking and doing things that lead themselves and others into sinful practices, causing headaches, heartaches, heartbreaks, troubles, turmoil, grief, pain, and sadness, distancing ones from God and others, usually requiring intervention from parents, teachers, or spiritual shepherds to assist ones to get back on the path of eternal life. May we guard our associations from wicked ones promoting sinful practices, that we may "follow the way of good people, and stay on the paths of the righteous, For only the upright will reside in the earth, And the blameless will remain in it. 22 As for the wicked, they will be cut off from the earth, And the treacherous will be torn away from it." (Prov 2:20-22).
The next 8 verses of Psalm 119 all begin with the 10th letter of the Hebrew alphabet:
"73 Your hands made me and formed me. Give me understanding, So that I may learn your commandments. 74 Those who fear you see me and rejoice, For your word is my hope. 75 I know, O Jehovah, that your judgments are righteous And that you have afflicted me in your faithfulness. 76 May your loyal love please comfort me, According to the promise you made to your servant. 77 Show me mercy, so that I may keep living, For I am fond of your law. 78 May the presumptuous be put to shame, For they wrong me without cause. But I will ponder over your orders. 79 Let those who fear you return to me, Those who know your reminders. 80 May my heart be blameless in following your regulations, So that I may not be put to shame."
Verse 73 contains a valuable truth: The quality of godly understanding is needed to "learn [God's] commandments." We should help our young ones to grasp the big picture of the important laws of life, in various aspects, and help them see how individual laws relate to one another. Such understanding will help them comprehend and appreciate God's commandments. Verse 77 shows the need for genuine repentance from one who has strayed: "Show me mercy, so that I may keep living, for I am fond of your law." We must always be fond of God's law, determined not to stray from it.
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Between Winchester, Virginia, and hopefully, Washington D.C., having confidence that our thankful trust in God will not fail to inspire us to the peace He has purposed via His Kingdom!
