2018 Dec 14 Proverbs 14, Psalms, Ephesians 4
2018 Dec 14 Proverbs 14, Psalms, Ephesians 4
Hello and welcome to all, wishing you well! Let's continue in Proverbs 14:13-18.
"13 Even in laughter the heart may feel pain, And rejoicing may end in grief. 14 The one wayward at heart will reap the results of his ways, But the good man reaps the reward of his dealings. 15 The naive person believes every word, But the shrewd one ponders each step. 16 The wise one is cautious and turns away from evil, But the stupid one is reckless and overconfident. 17 The one who is quick to anger acts foolishly, But the man who thinks things out is hated. 18 The naive will inherit foolishness, But the shrewd are crowned with knowledge."
Prov 14:13 Laughter and rejoicing may not always stem from the heart, or may be half-hearted, and not indicative of true inner joy, part of the fruitage of God's holy spirit. For example, some laughter may be out of harmony with God's love, which "does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth." (1Cor 13:6). True joy is a deep-seated satisfaction in one's life, not simply displayed by occasional laughing.
Prov 14:14 If we would stray from God's direction, we will likely suffer the consequences of the wayward course. God is loving and warns us against the things that could cause us harm--it is foolish to ignore divine counsel. A good man even goes beyond what is right, to benefit others, and will be rewarded for his acts of kindness.
Prov 14:15 One of the most vital proverbs, a child must eventually learn to examine what he hears, to test whether he is hearing the truth. The shrewd one is foresighted, and ponders the end results of doing or believing something, which may avert disaster. May we overcome any tendency to be naïve.
Prov 14:16 Such shrewd pondering mentioned in verse 15 will enable us to be cautious and reject an evil path, "hating what is bad." The morally stupid one, however, doesn't ponder the right course. Such a person ignores danger, and pridefully trusts in himself more than God, bringing much trouble upon himself and others.
Prov 14:17 "Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger." (Jame 1:19). Seeking to compassionately understand the other's point of view or situation can slow down any rising anger, and we should quickly channel any energy into finding a solution to the problem, or seeking the best way to cope with it.
Prov 14:18 Believing every word, as in verse 15, causes one to act foolishly, while gaining foresighted shrewdness helps us acquire beneficial knowledge to thwart disaster.
The next 8 verses of Psalm 119 each begin with the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet:
"105 Your word is a lamp to my foot, And a light for my path. 106 I have sworn an oath, and I will carry it out, To observe your righteous judgments. 107 I have been greatly afflicted. O Jehovah, preserve me alive according to your word. 108 Please take pleasure in my voluntary offerings of praise, O Jehovah, And teach me your judgments. 109 My life is in constant danger, But I have not forgotten your law. 110 The wicked have set a trap for me, But I have not strayed from your orders. 111 I take your reminders as my permanent possession, For they are the joy of my heart. 112 I have resolved to obey your regulations At all times, down to the last."
In verse 105, God's word is both a lamp to our foot, giving us guidance to direct the steps we take each day, and also a light for our path, enabling us to see down the road, as we gain wisdom to look ahead and avert danger. In verses 109 and 110, heeding God's law and orders is a protection from traps and even "constant danger." The reminders of God may bring great joy to us to contemplate and appreciate.
Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, appeal to you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all humility and mildness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, 3 earnestly endeavoring to maintain the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace."
The apostle Paul thus encourages the Christians to walk worthily of their calling, seeking God's righteousness on the basis of true faith in God and Christ. He underscores qualities that bring Christian peace and unity. Maintaining genuine humility before God and others averts strife-ridden arrogance and promotes peace. Christian mildness, with patience, or loyalty, also encourage us to treat one another gently, with tenderness, while loyally "putting up with one another in love," seeking to kindly help one another in God-approved ways. These qualities contribute to true unity among Christians earth-wide, as we all learn to speak the "pure language" of Bible truth, serving God "shoulder to shoulder" without prejudice or other peace-destroying attitudes. (Zeph 3:9).


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