Welcome, wishing you a wonderful day in God's favor! I'm coming to you again as Joshua M. Campbell-Elanemy. I actually have two M's in my legal name, this one is Michael. Also, many of you attend a church service on Sunday, where you hopefully receive and look forward to much spiritual nourishment. (Hebre 10:24-25). If you haven't already found such a church, please consider looking for one genuinely respectful of God's word and it's truth, as you've been learning! For this reason, and due to expected time constraints on Sunday, I'm planning to begin having a single week-end blog post, for both Saturday and Sunday. Again, I would request prayers that God may use me in accord with His good will and purpose! Let's continue in Proverbs 4 with verses 24-27, then consider further Psalm 119 stanza 9B, verses 69-72.
Proverbs 4:24-27:
“24 Put crooked speech away from you, And keep devious talk far away from you. 25 Your eyes should look straight ahead, Yes, fix your gaze straight ahead of you. 26 Smooth out the course of your feet, And all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not incline to the right or the left. Turn your feet away from what is bad.”
"24 Put crooked speech away from you, And keep devious talk far away from you."
Prove 4:24 Crooked, or twisted, speech would not be entirely honest or straightforward—thus usually spoken with a hidden motive, such as wrong desire. The deception may not be as intentional and the degree can vary—for a young one it might be caused by that desired candy right before dinner that could ruin the appetite. This speech is to be put “away from” us, while “devious talk far away.” This speech also has wrong motive, but deviates from a right, lawful course, and is especially cunning, said with intention of hiding the truth. We should learn to hate all such speech, as trust is based on sincere honesty and straightforwardness. Parents should especially keep guard on their young one’s close associations, including TV personalities. Parents need to help their young ones appreciate trust and honesty, being willing to answer their questions honestly, though according to their age or development. As challenging as it may be, parents should not give the impression that the child should totally stop asking them questions—at certain times they may be especially inquisitive. Wouldn’t you rather be the one they turn to for answers, rather than someone else, who may not be truthful or have their best interests at heart? Still, parents might gradually help their child learn to discern the difference between important questions and lesser ones, as they continue to grow in their vital understanding of things.
"25 Your eyes should look straight ahead, Yes, fix your gaze straight ahead of you."
Prove 4:25 Yes, we should walk straightforwardly, and keep our eyes on the path ahead, avoiding the distractions that may appear to our left or right. We should be on the path leading us to eternal life in true peace and happiness. We will then practically be able to go anywhere and do anything in harmony with God’s right standards, finding such delight in company with our marriage partner and dear friends. Even the near future will bring enjoyable work, cooperating with friends and loved ones to clean up this earth and turn it into a veritable Paradise, ready for the return of those who have died, being able to welcome our ancestors and encourage them to remain for life everlasting. We have much to look forward to, so may we delight in the gifts of God we may enjoy daily while we endeavor to work at what is good now, doing God’s will to the extent possible, helping as many as we can to learn the truth of God, to turn from wrong ways and habits. In our personal lives, looking ahead will help equip us for challenges we may be soon be facing, or that our children will soon face...
"26 Smooth out the course of your feet, And all your ways will be sure."
Prove 4:26 Thus let’s help our children prepare for what lies ahead, assisting them to grow in divine knowledge and wisdom to learn how to make good decisions daily, keeping God in mind—decisions that parents can take delight in! By growing in such knowledge, and taking it to heart by pondering it’s application to our daily lives, we may make it easier to walk a straight path, and “smooth out the course of our feet.” To fully do this, we need to gain the qualities of divine wisdom, such as understanding, discernment, shrewdness or foresighted prudence, and the healthy fear of Jehovah, which “means the hating of bad.” As we grow in such qualities, and “trust in Jehovah with all” our heart, taking Him into account in all we do, then all our “ways will be sure.” (Prove 3:5-7).
"27 Do not incline to the right or the left. Turn your feet away from what is bad.”
Prove 4:27 In this world many distractions are dangled in front of us on a daily basis. Suggestions to pursue this or that, often with an emphasis on pleasure or material gain, are almost constantly before us. Sometimes we may receive a beneficial lead to something we truly need or that is of real value. But scams are commonplace. May we keep a focused eye on our family’s lasting happiness, and our sincere service to God. Especially should we avoid pursuit of “what is bad,” in the respectful fear of Jehovah. Let’s help our family to “hate what is bad,” seeing the rotten fruitage of badness—the problems, headaches, heartaches, and the like that it leads to, away from lasting happiness and eternal life. Help them keep God close in mind and heart, treasuring their relationship with Him. Psalm 97:10 says “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.”
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PSALM 119 STANZA 9B
Recall our theme for stanza 9:
GOD’S DISCIPLINE IS GOOD FOR US, HELPING US TREASURE HIS PRICELESS LAW.
Verses 69-72 read like this: “69 The presumptuous smear me with lies, But I observe your orders with all my heart. 70 Their heart is insensitive, But I am fond of your law. 71 It is good that I have been afflicted, So that I may learn your regulations. 72 The law that you have proclaimed is good for me, More so than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.”
Verse 69: The presumptuous smear me with lies, But I observe your orders with all my heart.
RECOGNIZE GOD'S ORDERS.
Psalm 119:69 Recall the “presumptuous” arrogantly ignore due limits, presuming authority they have no right to. In this case, they brazenly commit the same sin that Satan used to bring misery to the human family in the Garden of Eden, the “Park of Pleasure” God wanted our first parents to oversee the spread of in the making of an earth-wide Paradise. Satan chose to slander God, smearing Him with lies. He spoke to Eve as if God was lying to her about the results of eating from the tree God warned them against. God always has good reason when warning humans against something, if we only trust Him. The “knowledge of good and evil” has not brought mankind the happiness Satan claimed it would, while time has shown that God’s way of truth, upholding what is good and right is truly the most beneficial course in life, as the psalmist recognizes. Despite the lies used against him, he whole-heartedly clings to God’s orders. May we appreciate especially God’s most serious and urgent commands, that we may maintain keen spiritual vision in spite of opposers.
Verse 70: Their heart is insensitive, But I am fond of your law.
HATING BADNESS, PURSUE GOOD.
Psalm 119:70 The heart of such presumptuous ones is callous, unfeeling toward others, largely void of compassion as to the feelings of those they hurt, or of God himself. Spurred on by wrong desire, such things as selfishness, greed, and jealousy foster little regard for others, and can lead to hateful actions, such as the slanderous attacks mentioned by the psalmist. They should be checking and assessing their wrong desires, in line with the principle stated in God’s word at Proverbs 10:2 “The treasures gained by wickedness will be of no benefit, But righteousness is what rescues from death.” Thus, all should learn to hate such badness, that brings no lasting benefit nor God’s blessing. Recall Proverbs 10:22 which says “It is the blessing of Jehovah that makes one rich, And He adds no pain with it.” How much better to look for the blessing of God on our activities, by pursuing right and good desires, benefitting others and ourselves, and to become truly “rich” with endless rewards. We can thus develop a fondness for God’s word and law, in harmony with His love, that encourages good traits, such as compassion, kindness, and mercy.
Verse 71: It is good that I have been afflicted, So that I may learn your [instructions].
GOD'S LAW A PROTECTION.
Psalm 119:71 Similar to verse 67, the psalmist looks back on times of difficulty, as disciplining him toward godly obedience. He came to recognize God’s law as a protection from the stain and pain of wrong conduct. He learned God’s regulations, or detailed guidance, that he might keep it, finding and maintaining God’s approval, favor, and blessing. Happily, Jehovah can forgive past error, even making such mistakes “white like snow.” (Isaiah 1:18). Still, there can be consequences that ones have to live with for serious transgressions, just as David suffered many family troubles for his sins. How much better to appreciate God’s goodness, accepting His loving correction to begin with, choosing to live in accord with His standards!
Verse 72: The law that you have proclaimed is good for me, More so than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
GOD'S LAW PRICELESS, LIFE-SUSTAINING.
Psalm 119:72 Here the stanza is summed up with an evaluation of God’s law—truly priceless! The psalmist has shown over several stanzas the benefits of keeping it whole-heartedly—remaining in a close relationship with God, and usually being respected by most God-fearing persons. He recognized God’s law as good, not just for others, but for him personally, moving him to value it more than money. Ecclesiastes 7:12 says “The advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.” Money, while necessary, cannot buy eternal life or true happiness, as God’s word clarifies. Therefore may we come to see what is of greatest value in life, and refuse to let others convince us otherwise!