Hello to all, warm wishes for a good day. Let's continue in Proverbs 15. For commentary on verses 1-10, search "Sept 15" and "Oct 15". For now, we'll look at Proverbs 15:11-14.

"11 The Grave and the place of destruction are in full view of Jehovah. How much more so the hearts of men! 12 The scoffer does not love the one correcting him. He will not consult the wise. 13 A joyful heart makes for a cheerful countenance, But heartache crushes the spirit. 14 The understanding heart seeks knowledge, But the mouth of the stupid feeds on foolishness."

Prov 15:11 How much more Jehovah is interested in our hearts--our spirituality, our knowledge and personality along with our affections, desires, and goals, the way we deal with others, and our relationships with friends and loved ones. Jehovah wants our hearts to be stirred by His great love for us, to love Him and others in return.

Prov 15:12 The scoffer disregards God's law, and truth which eminates from the "God of truth," Jehovah. John 3:20 says "For whoever practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be reproved." Such a fault-finder cannot be truly happy, viewing negatively many beautiful things from God. May they see the evidence of God's love in creation, and be moved to repent of their critical spirit.

Prov 15:13 Hopefully, we can maintain a joyful heart, appreciating spiritual things and God's love for us, having many reasons to love God and others as ourselves, following what Jesus called the two greatest commandments of the Mosaic Law. (Matt 22:37-39). If we must face heartache, however, may we rely on God, whom David says "will not reject" a heart "broken and crushed," and whom Paul called "the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trials so that we may be able to comfort others..." (Psal 51:17; 2Cor 1:3,4)

Prov 15:14 Understanding enables us to see how all the pieces fit together of something, to make the whole. When we have a heart of understanding, we are wise to seek an understanding of divine knowledge, to know well the course of spirituality. The morally stupid have not interest in such things, often ignoring what they know to be right. They feed on foolish things rather than spiritual truths.

Psalm 56 (Book 2, 15th psalm) shows David turning to God regarding those attacking him. Have you ever been in such a state? In David's case "All day long they keep fighting and oppressing me...Many arrogantly fight against me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Psal 56:1-3). May we turn to God each day, whether things are going well or not. May we approach him with both thanksgiving and supplication, for things we need, and after the Model Jesus gave at Matthew 6:9-13.

Galatians 5 shows we now seek righteousness by our trusting faith in God and Jesus, operating through Christian love. Gala 5:5 says "For our part, we are by spirit eaglerly waiting for the hope-for righteousness resulting from faith." As we grow in our faith in God and our faithfulness to Him each day, we need to continue absorbing Bible knowledge, reading God's word regularly. Let's not neglect Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) and other teachings, as well as the book of Proverbs, written "to give to a young man knowledge and thinking ability," among other purposes, which can benefit all desiring to "draw close to God" (Jame 4:8).