2018 Dec 18 Proverbs 18, Psalms, Colossians 2
2018 Dec 18 Proverbs 18, Psalms, Colossians 2
Hello to all, wishing you a fine day! Let's continue with Proverbs 18, verses 13-16:
"13 When anyone replies to a matter before he hears the facts, It is foolish and humiliating. 14 A person’s spirit can sustain him through illness, But who can bear a crushed spirit? 15 The heart of the understanding one acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks to find knowledge. 16 A man’s gift opens the way for him; It gives him access to great people."
Prov 18:13 We need to have a discerning ear, to recognize the truth or a lie, and ask the right questions to get to the truth of a matter. We need an understanding ear, to see the big picture, and to see each piece in it's place, to piece together the truth of a matter. Then might we be able to reply to the matter with a proper perspective, and avoid appearing foolish, and being humiliated.
Prov 18:14 In this unrighteous system, we may still become ill while having a positive, upbuilding spirit, which can sustain us as we recover. A thoroughly depressed or crushed spirit, however, is difficult to bear. Such a person especially needs to look to God to recover, ensuring the having of genuine hope, and finding the right assistance as needed to deal with the causes of the broken spirit.
Prov 18:15 Gaining the quality of understanding enables one to fit new pieces of knowledge into the bigger picture. Proverbs 14:6 says "knowledge comes easily to the person with understanding." Such a person's ear is attuned to picking up new facts and learning from them.
Prov 18:16 We should be in the practice of heartfelt giving, and realize the effect of an appropriate gift on the receiver.
The next 8 verses of Psalm 119 each begin with the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet:
"137 You are righteous, O Jehovah, And your judgments are fair. 138 The reminders you give are righteous And completely reliable. 139 My zeal consumes me, Because my adversaries have forgotten your words. 140 Your saying is thoroughly refined, And your servant loves it. 141 I am insignificant and despised; Yet, I have not forgotten your orders. 142 Your righteousness is an eternal righteousness, And your law is truth. 143 Though distress and difficulty come upon me, I remain fond of your commandments. 144 The righteousness of your reminders is eternal. Give me understanding, so that I may keep living."
God's word is "completely reliable," and His sayings are "thoroughly refined." We can thus count on Jehovah personally and His word to guide our steps each day, and help us handle various situations that arise in our life, with integrity to God. God's righteousness "is an eternal righteousness," so as we're learning the truth about God, we don't have to worry about all the rules changing in the future, and having to re-learn the way of eternal life. The psalmist, however, recognizes the need for godly understanding, to be able to properly receive and live by God's law and reminders.
Colossians 2:2b,3,8 Regarding these verses, let us look to the truth of God and Christ's teachings as our source of divine knowledge, not to the worldly wise philosophers, propounding their own ideas without regard for God's reliable word. Colossians says this: The apostle Paul was struggling, that the congregations "may be harmoniously joined together in love and may have all the riches that result from the full assurance of their understanding, in order to gain an accurate knowledge of the sacred secret of God, namely, Christ. 3 Carefully concealed in him are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge...Look out that no one takes you captive by means of the philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ."
Find Life and See
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!
