2018 Sep 29 Sept 29 Proverbs 29, Psalms, 2Timothy 3
2018 Sep 29 Sept 29 Proverbs 29, Psalms, 2Timothy 3
Hello! Let's begin by looking at Proverbs 29:1-5:
A man who stiffens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond healing. 2 When the righteous are many, the people rejoice, But when the wicked one rules, the people groan. 3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, But the one who keeps company with prostitutes squanders his wealth. 4 By justice a king brings stability to a land, But a man seeking bribes brings it to ruin. 5 A man who flatters his neighbor Spreads out a net for his feet.
Verse 1: May we never take for granted the discipline we receive that may be coming from our Creator and Father. May we humble ourselves under his reproof and correction, and be submissive to His guidance in our life. We all need correction from time to time--let's be thankful and accept it humbly! We need to set an example, that all persons appreciate God's guidance and direction in their life, having faith in God, looking to Him for help, protection, and salvation, that people can live before God, and not pridefully 'take offense' and continue to reject God's efforts to correct them, and suddenly find themselves "broken beyond healing." How sad!
Verse 2: Righteousness is the framework for a happy and successful life, both now and long into the future, everlastingly. We need to recognize God's laws and standards, that we may keep God's way, finding true happiness ourselves, and setting a good example to help others do the same. Thus many will rejoice! Psalm 37:34 says: "Hope in Jehovah and follow his way, And he will exalt you to take possession of the earth. When the wicked are done away with, you will see it."
Verse 3: We should love and take delight in God's wisdom, which is "the most important thing" besides genuine Christian love. True wisdom enables us to show love properly. If we don't know what a person truly needs spiritually, we cannot love them properly. Being kind to someone, while beneficial, is not all there is to truly loving them. We need understanding and true wisdom to know what they are needing, and we obtain this by a regular intake of spiritual instruction from God's word. We begin to grow spiritually, learning what we need, and becoming better able to offer to others what they need. Sometime, review the ESSENTIALS article on this website, that helps us see what's needed for our own spiritual growth.
Verse 4: By justice, or righteousness, a land or nation may have "stability." When a land comes to fear God properly, truly "hating what's bad" in God's eyes, and coming to love what is good, what a happy people this can bring! A king, setting an example in learning God's righteousness, would want to avoid being motivated by "love of money" more than setting an example in honest integrity, and having soundness of mind, having a proper sense of priorities before his subjects. May such a king live long and prosper!
Verse 5: Flattery is insincere praise, but is still praise, that can cause someone to get a big head if they have not learned how to maintain a proper humble view of themselves. If we want to commend someone, commend not their knowledge, but their efforts to use their knowledge to benefit others. Thus we can offer, not flattery, but sincere, specific commendation. The receiver should acknowledge God's power in their life to do good, giving Him glory and praise, and remaining humble in His sight.
Psalm 70 (Book 2, 29th psalm) says to God: "Let those who are seeking you exult and rejoice in you. May those who love your acts of salvation always say: "May God be magnified!" It is God whom we should seek to honor--should not His reputation be far above our own? Who is far greater? Let us live for God's name and reputation, and let Him take care of ours. "O God, act quickly in my behalf. You are my helper and my rescuer; O Jehovah, do not delay."
2Timothy 3:1-5 reads like a newspaper, of the attitudes of people that would become prominent in "the last days" during "critical times hard to deal with." These would include men that would be "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty,...having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power." We are to guard our associations with such persons, while still loving them and seeking to help them spiritually. Jesus said the greatest commandment of the Law was to love God with our whole heart, soul (life), mind, and strength, and then our neighbor as ourselves. (Matthew 22:36-40) We should love God first, who can supply us things we need and even things we enjoy, but especially the things that enable us to serve Him effectively, and communicate with our loved ones, friends, and neighbors, to do His will. God wants us to enjoy life, but not to love money or possessions more than Him.
2Timothy 3:16,17 says "All Scripture is inspired of God
and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for
disciplining in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be fully
competent, completely equipped for every good work."
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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!
