2019 Jan 02 Proverbs 2, Psalms, 1Corinthians 2
2019 Jan 02 Proverbs 2, Psalms, 1Corinthians 2
Hello, with warm wishes for a fine day! For this one, we're picking up in the middle of an important dissertation in Proverbs 2. Therefore, could you review the blog for last month, by searching "Dec 02"? We'll still review verses 10,11, then we can continue with verses 14-15:
"10 When wisdom enters your heart And knowledge becomes pleasant to your soul, 11 Thinking ability will keep watch over you, And discernment will safeguard you,...14 From those who rejoice in wrongdoing, Who find joy in the perverseness of evil, 15 Those whose paths are crooked And whose entire course is devious."
Prove 2:10,11 Wisdom is the successful application of knowledge, and thus knowledge should, with the gaining of understanding to see the big picture and all it's pieces, come "easily" and become pleasant to oneself. (Prove 14:6). Then, thinking ability and discernment will serve to protect one from many destructive traps.
Prove 2:14 Those rejoicing in wrongdoing are not acting in harmony with true love, which "does not rejoice over unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth." (1Cori 13:6). They are finding joy in lies, corruption and evil, their values becoming twisted as they are likely feeding their minds and hearts on foolish, corrupt or violent entertainment. Some comedies are providing laughing tracks, or sounds of laughter, over whatever is imagined should be funny, including wrongful speech and actions, at times harmfully twisting the values of the eventual audience. Wise ones are not misled into regularly feeding on such distorted ideas.
Prove 2:15 Thinking ability and discernment may protect us from those rejoicing in wrongdoing who are following "crooked" paths--distorted from the path of righteousness leading to life--their deceptive course, riddled with spiritual snares and fallacies, troubled by hurtfulness and sorrow, leads only to death, or destruction.
Psalm 74 (Book 3, psalm 2 of 17) appeals to God, pleading with Him not to turn his back on His people. However, God had given warning to the nation of fleshly Israel, that for them to maintain divine favor, they needed to carefully listen and obey His law and guidance. In Exodus 19:5,6 Jehovah tells Moses what he is to say to the Israelites: "Now if you will strictly obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will certainly become my special property out of all peoples, for the whole earth belongs to me. 6 You will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”" It was God's desire that the anointed associates of Christ, the limited number of Kingdom rulers, would all come from the nation of Israel, Abraham's descendants through Isaac. However, that was not to be, as Israel time and again deviated from true worship, falling to idolatry and worship of false gods, often persecuting the true prophets who sought to lead Israel back to God. Thus they were not ready to accept the Messiah, Christ, when he came. Jesus thus finally said, as recorded at Matthew 23:37,38: "“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent to her—how often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you did not want it. 38 Look! Your house is abandoned to you."
Thus true Christianity, which eventually became available to Gentiles, or non-Israelites, became the "Israel of God," that the apostle Paul was inspired to write about, at Galatians 6:16: "As for all those who walk orderly by this rule of conduct, peace and mercy be upon them, yes, upon the Israel of God." As explained in Romans 2:28,29: "For he is not a Jew who is one on the outside, nor is circumcision something on the outside, on the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and his circumcision is that of the heart by spirit and not by a written code. That person’s praise comes from God, not from people." Yet, as in Psalm 74, even true Christianity seemed to be abandoned sometime after the last of the apostles, John, died sometime after the writing of his gospel and letters, being written about 98 C.E. God was not blessing any attempt to mix pagan worship with Christian truth, as began to occur in the centuries to follow. True Christians were those who would remain untarnished by the ungodly world, and thus over time would become mixed with weedlike false Christians (2Cori 6:14-18; Matth 13:24-30, 36-43; John 17:14-16; James 1:27). Nevertheless, true worship would be restored during the "harvest" or the time of the "conclusion of the system of things." (Isai 2:2-4). Psalm 74:10-12 says: "How long, O God, will the adversary keep taunting? Will the enemy treat your name with disrespect forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Draw it out of your bosom and put an end to them. 12 But God is my King from long ago, The one performing acts of salvation on the earth."
1Corinthians 2:7-10 "But we speak God’s wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained before the systems of things for our glory. 8 It is this wisdom that none of the rulers of this system of things came to know, for if they had known it, they would not have executed the glorious Lord. 9 But just as it is written: “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”10 For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God." The apostle Paul was inspired to reveal much in the way of divine wisdom regarding the Christ, and the value of the ransom sacrifice, opening the way to eternal life. It is not the wisdom of the world that makes such life possible, but rather the attaining of godly wisdom through Christ. Notice the reward of those gaining such wisdom and love for God and neighbor. How many delights and blessings God has in store for those loving Him. God reveals divine wisdom through His spirit, as James makes known God's willingness to give wisdom freely to those asking Him, praying to Him for such, and searching the Scriptures to attain and live by such. As James 1:5,6 says: "So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him. 6 But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about." Thus may we "keep asking" persistently, consistently for divine wisdom, and working in harmony with our confident prayers to God, by regularly feeding on God's word and instruction. (Psalm 1:1-3).
Find Life and See
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!
