2018 Sep 28 Sept 28 Proverbs 28, Psalms, 2Timothy 2
2018 Sep 28 Sept 28 Proverbs 28, Psalms, 2Timothy 2
Hi, hope all is well! Let's continue with Proverbs 28:1-5:
"1 The wicked flee when no one pursues them, But the righteous are as confident as a lion. 2 When there is transgression in the land, it will have one prince after another, But with the help of a man of discernment and knowledge, a prince will long endure. 3 A poor man who defrauds the lowly Is like a rain that sweeps away all the food. 4 Those who abandon the law praise the wicked one, But those who observe the law are indignant with them. 5 Evil men cannot understand justice, But those who seek Jehovah can understand everything."
Verse 1: The wicked ones, knowing they are doing wrong, may be more given to fear, while the righteous trust in Jehovah by doing what pleases Him, confident in His blessing on their efforts, aiming for perfect or complete love, which "casts fear out." (1John 4:18) "There is no fear in love."
Verse 2: A man of discernment is able to tell the difference between things, such as right from wrong, good from bad, true from false, and more important matters of law from lesser matters though still required. The man mentioned also would have an abundant store of knowledge no doubt in many areas of life, useful to a ruler. Genuine wisdom and love is what all persons should strive after as "the most important thing" (Proverbs 4:7). "Acquire wisdom...And acquire understanding"
Verse 3: A poor man should be relying heavily upon Jehovah to provide for his needs. How unfitting for such a one to defraud the lowly! In no way should he be abandoning God's law.
Verse 4: Those observing the law are indignant with lawbreakers, or those abandoning the law. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." So lawbreakers praise a wicked one, as they're not appreciating God's law in their heart. Psalm 119 is full of encouragement to appreciate God's laws, commands, reminders and the like. God's righteousness is the framework for a happy and successful life, both now and into the future, everlastingly. It is not something too difficult for us, it is acheivable. As Psalm 119:1,3,4 says: "Happy are those who are blameless in their way, who walk in the law of Jehovah...They practice no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways. You have commanded that your orders be carefully kept." By exercising faith in Christ's ransom sacrifice, our mistakes can be forgiven as we aim to please God in true love for Him and others.
Verse 5: Paul contrasted a physical man and a spiritual man, saying "a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually. However, the spiritual man examines all things." The physical man cannot understand God's justice, or righteousness, while the spiritual man can understand everything about it, and basically all useful things in life, with God's blessing.
Psalm 69 (Book 2, psalm 28) contains prophetic statements regarding Jesus, events nearing his death. v.7: "I suffer reproach on your account; Humiliation covers my face." v.21: "But for food they gave me poison, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." Mark 15:23 says "they tried to give him wine drugged with myrrh, but he would not take it." and later, Mark 15:36 reports "Then someone ran, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying: "Let him be! Let us see whether Elijah comes to take him down."
2Timothy 2:22-26 Paul encourages faithful Timothy to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace along with those calling on the Lord out of a clean heart. Further, reject foolish and ignorant debates, knowing they produce fights. For a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, showing restraint when wronged, instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him to do his will."
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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!
