2019 Mar 01 Proverbs 1, Psalms
2019 Mar 01 Proverbs 1, Psalms
Hello, wishing you a good day! Let’s conclude Proverbs 1 with verses 30-33:
“30 They refused my advice; They disrespected all my reproof. 31 So they will bear the consequences of their way, And they will be glutted with their own counsel. 32 For the waywardness of the inexperienced will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 But the one listening to me will dwell in security And be undisturbed by the dread of calamity.”
Prove 1:30 Verse 22 identifies vulnerable ones as “inexperienced,” “ridiculers,” and “foolish ones” who would refuse to listen to God’s appeals of advice and reproof. The inexperienced ones are “loving inexperience,” perhaps mistakenly believing that if they don’t know the truth, they are less responsible for their actions. But refusing to listen hardens them into a stubborn course of disobedience. Such ones need shrewdness, or foresighted prudence, to see ahead at the consequences of their actions and decisions, so as to hate the bad course in the respectful fear of Jehovah. Ridiculers are loving ridicule, finding fault with others which gives them a feeling of pride, that they are somehow better than them. In some cases, these ones may have low self-esteem, having been ridiculed by others themselves, and see their practice as the only way they can “feel better” about themselves. But this is mistaken as well. Self-exaltation is something God has hated. We shouldn’t make comparisons with others, often resulting in discouragement. We should do our own best, and seek to improve ourselves over time. We should maintain compassion, and “Rejoice with those who rejoice; Weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15). Thus, rather than finding fault with others, we should encourage and help them to succeed as well, trusting in God’s blessing on our own efforts to improve. Finally, “foolish ones” hate knowledge, and therefore need to learn to respectfully fear Jehovah, which is the beginning of divine knowledge and wisdom. (Prove 1:7; 9:10; 2:1-6).
Prove 1:31 Without making such adjustments in their thinking, they will bear the consequences of their way, and be overly satisfied with their own brand of “counsel.”
Prove 1:32 Inexperienced ones lack the shrewdness to see “the danger and” conceal oneself. Thus they “keep right on going and suffer the consequences.” Without a change, this will catch up to them. The fool’s “complacency” is a self-satisfaction accompanied by an unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. This, too, will catch up to foolish ones without a change in their attitude or behavior.
Prove 1:33 On the other hand, those listening to Jehovah will be blessed and rewarded for doing so, benefitting from Jehovah’s warnings, encouragement, and spiritual protections.
Psalm 106:47,48 make appeal to Jehovah in these words: “47 Save us, O Jehovah our God, And gather us from the nations So that we may give thanks to your holy name And exult in praising you. 48 May Jehovah, the God of Israel, be praised Throughout all eternity. And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise Jah!”
Those hoping to be restored to the Promised Land from other, even enemy, nations, such as Assyria and Babylon, had the right motive of wanting to have a thankful, grateful spirit, eager to praise Jehovah for His loyal love and power in doing so, and to support true worship.
Likewise, Psalm 107 (Book 5, 1st psalm) encourage ones to appreciate God’s loyal love and His wonderful works. Let’s start with verses 1-3:
“1 Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good; His loyal love endures forever. 2 Let those reclaimed by Jehovah say this, Those whom he reclaimed from the hand of the adversary, 3 Whom he gathered together from the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.”
Thus, Psalm 107 shows how grateful we can be that Jehovah “is good,” while having such great power. He regathered his people from far away lands, largely from the vast Assyrian Empire and Babylon. Thus He loyally upheld His purpose to restore true worship in the land of Israel, especially Jerusalem, among appreciative ones. May we likewise do all we can to support the advancement of true worship among humanity, leading to a truly peaceful, happy new world of righteousness!
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!
