2019 Jan 05 Proverbs 5, Psalms, Matthew 5
2019 Jan 05 Proverbs 5, Psalms, Matthew 5
Wishing you a pleasant day with a hearty hello! Let's start with Proverbs 5, verses 3,4,15-17:
"3 For the lips of a wayward woman drip like a honeycomb, And her mouth is smoother than oil. 4 But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood And as sharp as a two-edged sword...15 Drink water from your own cistern And flowing water from your own well. 16 Should your springs be dispersed outside, Your streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be for you alone, And not for strangers with you."
Prove 5:3,4 The inspired fatherly counsel of Proverbs exhorts caution against succumbing to persuasions from ungodly women, who may allure with sexual enticements, but are not obedient to God's word or Christian standards. Even if eventually married, such a woman may still prove "bitter as wormwood," as one straying from God's righteousness and perhaps even marital fidelity.
Prove 5:15-17 For one married to a godly woman, how fine to appreciate the gift provided in the marriage partner God may have helped you find! She may have some flaws, as you do, but if she loves God, your true, tender and loyal love may move her to overcome such things, as you both improve in your relationship with God and each other. The reference to water is evidently referring to your proper source of intimacy that should be exclusive to your marriage partner, not only sexual but also emotional intimacy, to remain within the marriage bond. In no way should one seek such satisfaction outside, in the public squares, with strangers! Seeking such intimacy elsewhere could reveal a lack of appreciation for God's lovely arrangement of marriage. If one is not married, may he or she look to God and His word, parents and other responsible ones to prepare oneself properly for this privilege, then to have God's help to find one that loves God and Christ as you do. God loves you, and is happy to help you find a cherished partner, as you loyally remain faithful to God, patiently waiting for the proper time and way to reach your goal! Violating God's standards will not serve to prepare you for a happy, loyal marriage that can endure the test of time, but will threaten hopes of eternal happiness. Be faithful to God and your future companion!
Psalm 77 (Book 3, 5th psalm) verses 11-15 can cause us to give thought to God's activity and dealings. We read: "11 I will remember the works of Jah; I will remember your marvelous deeds of long ago. 12 And I will meditate on all your activity And ponder over your dealings. 13 O God, your ways are holy. What god is as great as you, O God? 14 You are the true God, who does marvelous things. You have revealed your strength to the peoples. 15 With your power you have rescued your people, The sons of Jacob and of Joseph. (Selah)"
God's saving acts likely include many each and every day who look to Him for their hope and guidance, who find themselves threatened in some way. May we appreciate Jehovah's intervention in our lives, especially as He protects our spirituality, and relationships with Him and others.
Matthew 5:5 contains one of the Nine Happinesses, or Be Attitudes. We read: "“Happy are the mild-tempered, since they will inherit the earth." Mildness is a treasured virtue among true Christians, which is a part of a set of virtues which, along with self-control, serve to safeguard the spirit of each member. Not only shown when anger threatens, this virtue is an overriding gentleness that should pervade one's life from day to day, in handling various situations and in dealing with others. When irritation does occur, however, one should quickly seek to find the cause and a solution to the problem, or at least see how to cope with it properly, not allowing anger to escalate and cause hurt feelings or other unkind speech and actions. Such anger hinders clear thinking ability and has proven to wreak havoc on relationships and have health implications, among other detriments. May we treasure gentle mildness, part of the fruitage of God's spirit that contributes to godly joy and contentment among God's servants.
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!
