2019 Feb 08 Proverbs 8, Psalms, Romans 8
2019 Feb 08 Proverbs 8, Psalms, Romans 8
Welcome, wishing you a lovely day! In Proverbs 8, wisdom is "personified," spoken of as a person, and with today's verses, it becomes astoundingly clear it is the person of God's son Jesus. Notice how he is described, as we consider Proverbs 8, verses 22-31:
"22 Jehovah produced me as the beginning of his way, The earliest of his achievements of long ago. 23 From ancient times I was installed, From the start, from times earlier than the earth. 24 When there were no deep waters, I was brought forth, When there were no springs overflowing with water. 25 Before the mountains were set in place, Before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 When he had not yet made the earth and its fields Or the first clods of earth’s soil. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there; When he marked out the horizon on the surface of the waters, 28 When he established the clouds above, When he founded the fountains of the deep, 29 When he set a decree for the sea That its waters should not pass beyond his order, When he established the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside him as a master worker. I was the one he was especially fond of day by day; I rejoiced before him all the time; 31 I rejoiced over his habitable earth, And I was especially fond of the sons of men."
Prove 8:22,23: In Colossians 1, the apostle Paul mentions
God's "beloved Son" in verse 13, referring to Jesus, mentions his
ransom sacrifice in verse 14, then says in verse 15: "He is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Clearly and reasonably,
Jesus was the first creature made by God as a companion, and as we learn in
verse 30 and later in Colossians 1, he assisted God in the making of other
angels and the universe, including this planet. However, it should be noted that the Scriptures reveal, as they occasionally do, another name, a heavenly name, Michael, appropriately meaning "Who is like God?" Really, would God require that his Son, when born as a human, be given the same name as he had previously in heaven? "Michael," a fitting name as the pre-human and resurrected name of Christ, accordingly upholds the rightfulness of God's sovereign rulership of His universe, that no one should rival God for that right. Mentioned a few times in the Scriptures, there is enough proof that the name "Michael" refers to Jesus in his heavenly station. When God spoke to Daniel in Babylon, in Daniel 12, God mentions "Michael...the great prince who is standing in behalf of [Daniel's] people." In Jude 9, Michael is called "the archangel," who disputed with the Devil. The term "archangel" means "chief of angels," and Hebrews 1:6 says, "when [God] again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: "And let all of God's angels do obeisance to him."" It is God's firstborn Son that all the angels are to respect, the archangel, Michael, the resurrected Christ.Jesus is the one prophesied in Scripture to take the lead in righteous warfare (Psalm 45; Revel 6:1,2; 20:1-3)This same one is spoken of in Revelation, with the name "Michael," as waging war with his angels against Satan the Devil and the demons, hurling them to earth as among his first acts as King as God's Kingdom (Revel 12:7-10). It was the Seed of God's woman, in the first Bible prophecy of Genesis 3:15, that was foretold to eventually "crush [the serpent Satan]'s head." After all that time spent
together, Michael, or Jesus, came to know God's personality so well, and replicate it, that
he is called "the image of the invisible God." How appropriate that
he be the one sent by God to explain Him to mankind. As John 1:18 puts it,
"No man has seen God at any time; the only-begotten god who is at the
Father's side is the one who has explained Him." He is called a
"god" here, not to rival Jehovah, or be declared a part of the
Trinity, but rather, in the sense the scriptures speak of gods as powerful
beings. (Psalm 82:1). Jehovah made Michael to be such, a mighty one, however he
uses whatever power he has to glorify God and fulfill prophecy concerning
himself. He proves himself "Lord to the glory of God the Father."
(Phili 2:11; John 7:18).
Prove 8:24-29 Jesus describes some of the things of earth that he helped God prepare, such as the "deep waters," overflowing springs, mountains, hills, the fields and earth's soil. Do we not appreciate such gifts of God that went into making the earth such as beautiful and wonderful place to live? There is symbolism here as well, with the deep waters, or sea, being referred to in Revelation, and explained in Isaiah, as restless humanity, before true peace is brought to calm it. (Isaiah 57:20,21) Revelation makes clear the sea is symbolic, for instance, in Revelation 12:12, when the Devil, as God's enemy, was hurled out of heaven, and the pronouncement was made: "Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time." This verse explains why we have seen such upheaval among humans over the last century or so, during the time of the "last days." (Matthew 24, 2Timo 3:1-5). There was to be woe for both earth and the sea. The "earth" represents in Revelation the framework of society, whereas the sea refers to restless mankind in general.Nevertheless, as 1John 3:8 shows, "...For this purpose the Son of God was made manifest, to break up the works of the Devil." May we rejoice to be or become squarely on the side of God's son Jesus, seeing an end to the sinful ways that have brought such suffering to humans throughout history.
Prove 8:30-31 Jesus became a "master worker" alongside Jehovah. Going back to Colossians 1, after referring to Jesus as the "firstborn of all creation," verses 16,17 say "16 because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist." Notice that while he might have enjoyed the science God used in making our planet, it was the "sons of men" that Jesus was "especially fond of." He wasn't sidetracked by vain selfish interests, but looked forward to helping humanity to love and serve God, as revealed in his ministry on earth.
Psalm 97 (Book 4, 8th psalm) Notice again Jehovah's interest in ruling mankind, rather than just leaving it to humans to find their way on their own, without His help. Verse 1 declares: "Jehovah has become King! Let the earth be joyful. Let the many islands rejoice." Verse 2 adds "...Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne." Verses 9,10 continue: "9 For you, O Jehovah, are the Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all other gods. 10 O you who love Jehovah, hate what is bad. He is guarding the lives of his loyal ones; He rescues them from the hand of the wicked." May we appreciate God's loving intervention in man's affairs, and support the rulership of His coming Kingdom through his son.
Romans 8:9-11 follows Paul's differentiation between caving to the sinful flesh, and treasuring God's ways, living in accord with His spirit, appreciating Him as the source of every "good gift." We can ask God for his spirit to be with us, which he gladly provides for those "asking Him" and those "obeying Him as ruler." (Luke 11:13; Acts 5:32). This spirit helps us cultivate qualities such as true love, happiness, and peace. (Galat 5:22,23). This spirit of God is reflected in the spirit that Christ demonstrated in his life and ministry on earth. Living in accord with this spirit, Christ may be in union with us, as we reject sinful ways to happily pursue the will of God, in harmony with God's righteousness. While the resurrection is coming for those who have died, as those in Paul's day would, we are nearing the time when many "will never die at all," as those living near the time of the established Kingdom of God. (John 11:25,26; 1Thes 4:13). Let's consider our verses 9-11: "9 However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in union with you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If, now, the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you."


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