2018 Dec 22 Proverbs 22, Psalms, 1Peter 2
2018 Dec 22 Proverbs 22, Psalms, 1Peter 2
Hello, and a warm welcome! Let's continue in Proverbs 22, verses 16-21:
"16 The one defrauding the poor to increase his wealth And the one giving gifts to the rich Will end up in poverty. 17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, In order to apply your heart to my knowledge, 18 For it is pleasant to keep them deep within you, So that all of them may constantly be on your lips. 19 For your confidence to be in Jehovah, I am giving you knowledge today. 20 Have I not already written you, Imparting advice and knowledge, 21 To teach you true and reliable words, So that you can return with an accurate report to the one who sent you?"
Upon consideration, it has been decided to begin using a 5-character abbreviation for Bible books, which works well for all but a few books having 3 and 4 letters. The 5-character abbreviation comes across as more recognizable than some 4-character ones, and compares better to other language versions world-wide. When appearing in written text, however, the entire name of the Bible book will usually be used.
Prove 22:16 Clearly, God wants us to be willing to assist the poor and afflicted ones among us, realizing that a similar plight could come us or our family or friends. We are to "love [our] neighbor as ourselves." The Scriptures encourage us to set aside a little of our money regularly to assist such ones. Of course, we would not give freely to those who aren't truly needy, as we need to use good judgment to discern the difference. Some need only to learn of community programs for their benefit, places of shelter, or assistance to find employment. Let's pray and be reasonable in assisting such ones if we're in a position to help. Such consideration should extend into the business world, with refusal to take advantage of their plight, to charge them exorbitant interest because of their desperation. Rather, see how some fast-food restaurants offer a "Dollar Menu" to present affordable options. How many have benefitted by such kindnesses! Also, one bribing the rich with gifts, seeking merely material benefit, will not have God's blessing on their efforts.
Prove 22:17,18 We want the "words of the wise" to be constantly on our lips, as we listen to such wisdom, discerning the truth of each spiritual gem, and treasuring such sayings that they might reach our heart and be applied to our lives. We often talk about the things we prize in our hearts, as Jesus said: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matth 12:34).
Prove 22:19 Such true wisdom is based on a confident trust in Jehovah, as He "gives [wisdom] generously to all and without reproaching" to those who keep asking Him for it in faith, not doubting his desire to do so for us personally. (James 1:5,6). We need to build this confident trust in God and His refined word, as Jesus said in prayer: "Your word is truth." (John 17:17). The Psalms also are full of expressions of confidence in God's loyal support by King David and other faithful psalmists. (Psalm 3:3-5).
Prove 22:20,21 May we treasure the truth coming from God and other trustworthy ones, who rely on the "God of truth" Jehovah. Remember that God is One who "cannot lie," and faithful men and women imitate Him, hating lies, realizing that it only takes one lie to cause great harm to one or more people. (Titus 1:2). Thus we can choose to find the "delightful words" and "accurate words of truth" to speak and share with others, able to make "an accurate report" when called upon to do so. (Eccle 12:10).
The last 8 verses of Psalm 119 each begin with the final 22nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet:
"169 May my cry for help reach you, O Jehovah. According to your word, make me understand. 170 May my request for favor come before you. Save me, as you have promised. 171 May my lips overflow with praise, For you teach me your regulations. 172 May my tongue sing about your saying, For all your commandments are righteous. 173 May your hand be ready to help me, Because I choose to obey your orders. 174 I long for your salvation, O Jehovah, And I am fond of your law. 175 Let me live so that I may praise you; May your judgments be my help. 176 I have strayed like a lost sheep. Search for your servant, For I have not forgotten your commandments.
Accordingly, all of God's commandments are fair, reasonable, righteous, and by choosing to comply with them, obeying God in faith, we can expect His "hand [to] be ready to help" us. What a joy and privilege to have the help and blessing of our loving Creator! We should thus be "fond of [God's] law," and seek to praise Him more than all others, to see that He receives due respect, glory, and honor. As Jehovah declared, at 1Samuel 2:30: "Those honoring me I will honor, but those despising me will be treated with contempt." If we have "strayed like a lost sheep," may be remember God's commandments and keep them, praying for God to "search for [His] servant," to find us and nurture us to spiritual health and happiness.
1Pete 2:1-3 exhorts all: "1 So rid yourselves of all badness and deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all backbiting. 2 As newborn infants, form a longing for the unadulterated milk of the word, so that by means of it you may grow to salvation, 3 provided you have tasted that the Lord is kind." Therefore, all should experience God's kindness, His loyal love for mankind, including for us and our loved ones individually, that we may come to comprehend the love of God and gain such a proper heart motive ourselves, inclined to unselfish wisdom and righteousness. Any who do not have this view of God should pray for this earnestly and urgently. Thus may we grow to love the word of God and His inspiring promises, including those regarding an everlasting satisfying future, that we may learn at first the basics of true Christianity, "the unadulterated milk of the word," providing the basis for continued spiritual growth to Christian soundness, or maturity, and genuine peace and happiness.


2025 5C/8C (7Hul-8Lsg2) Find Life and See (7-9) Proverbs B (8) CTC Corner and WGA-B (9) Godlove Home




