2019 Jan 07 Proverbs 7, Psalms, Matthew 7
2019 Jan 07 Proverbs 7, Psalms, Matthew 7
Hello, and wishes for a pleasant day for you! Proverbs 7 contains a story between verses 6 and 27. Before continuing, you may wish to search "Nov 07" for the introduction to this set of scripture. "Dec 07" continued with verses 13-16. Let's recap verse 10, and pick up with verses 17-21.
"10 Then I saw a woman meet him, Dressed like a prostitute, with a cunning heart...17 I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us drink our fill of love until the morning; Let us enjoy passionate love together, 19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a distant journey. 20 He took a bag of money with him, And he will not return until the day of the full moon.” 21 She misleads him with great persuasiveness. She seduces him with smooth speech."
Prove 7:10 Here we see this woman "dressed like a prostitute, with a cunning heart." "Cunning" refers to deceptive craftiness and trickery. This deception is not only mental, but has reached to her heart, encompassing her very being and identity. She is married, and should be a faithful wife to her husband, who evidently works hard to provide for her.
Prove 7:17,18 The woman sprinkles her bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Myrrh is esteemed for its fragrance, and commonly used for this purpose. It might be noted, however, that the perfumes of myrrh and cinnamon were significant ingredients in the "holy anointing oil" that God directed to be mixed for holy use, at Exodus 30:23-25. In so doing, perhaps the woman tries to whitewash her behavior, fooling herself and this young man into believing that somehow what they are doing could be approved by God. Back in verse 14 she said: "I had to offer communion sacrifices. Today I paid my vows." She says so as if by doing these things she is now all right with God. With no regard for God or her marriage partner, she now invites this young man to "enjoy passionate love together." This move threatens both of their hopes of eternal life with loyal marriage partners--is this true love?
Prove 7:19,20 She convinces this young man that their actions will not be found out--that there is no chance that the husband will return to catch them in the act. She gives no thought to God, as if He doesn't see or care what is going on, as if He is not hurt by their unfaithful and disloyal actions.
Prove 7:21 Her "smooth" persuasive words cause this naïve young man to be misled and seduced. He gives no thought to the consequences of their behavior. If only he would trust God and prepare himself for a real marriage, trusting God to help him find a loyal partner, to satisfy any such desires with a lovely, trustworthy marriage partner! Too often people selfishly rush ahead of God, rather than realizing God has our best and lasting happiness at heart by His laws and standards. May we not take God's instructions for granted, and safeguard true loyalty in our relationships with God and others, treasuring purity of heart, true wisdom and love before God, finding the true happiness that God intends for us to enjoy forever!
Psalm 79 (Book 3, 7th psalm) focuses attention on the desolate condition of God's holy city Jerusalem, referring prophetically to New Jerusalem, which God would never allow to be completely ruined. Verse 4 says "We have become an object of reproach to our neighbors; Those around us ridicule and jeer us." Jehovah is incensed at such a situation, having great affection for His people. Verse 5 says "How long, O Jehovah, will you be furious? Forever? How long will your indignation burn just like fire?" Jehovah will certainly take action to restore the elevated condition of His holy city. Verses 9,10 appeals to God: "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the sake of your glorious name; Rescue us and forgive our sins for the sake of your name. Why should the nations say: "Where is their God?" Before our eyes may it become known among the nations that the shed blood of your servants has been avenged." Verse 13 concludes: "Then we, your people and the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; and we will declare your praise from generation to generation."
Matthew 7:12 reveals the Golden Rule, saying: "All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them. This, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean." The former Mosaic Law and the teaching of the Prophets were based on this treasured principle. Luke 6:31 words it this way: "...Just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them." How do we do this? We need to practice having compassion or empathy for others, putting ourselves in their place, or in their shoes, that we may comprehend their situation or circumstance. Then we can fathom how we would like to be treated if we were in their place. What would we like others to say to us, or to do for us? Can we say or do those things for this person? True compassion and love for others will make this possible. But what we need to understand perhaps most is that we should consider ourselves an extension of God's hand in what we do for others, to His glory and praise. Our motive should be clean and pure. Any gifts or talents we possess come from our loving God, and should be used for His honor and glory. Using compassion selfishly to seek attention, immoral affection, and glory for ourselves meets squarely with God's disapproval and disgrace. True compassion is a gift from God, motivated in harmony with true Christian love, to God's glory, to be exercised toward one another for the true and lasting happiness and satisfaction of each other! Who doesn't take delight in a kind word at the right time, or a gift from someone that meets a genuine need? All of this is possible if compassion is exercised in a godly way! May we treasure God's ways of purity, genuine love and compassion, realizing the truth stated by Jesus that there is "more happiness in giving than there is in receiving." (Acts 20:35).


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