2020 Feb 15-Feb 16 Proverbs 6, Psalm 119 Stanza 12A
2020 Feb 15-Feb 16 Proverbs 6, Psalm 119 Stanza 12A
Hello, wishing you happiness comes your way, with God’s blessing! Let’s begin Proverbs 6 with verses 1-5, also 6-11, then continue with Psalm 119 stanza 12A, verses 89-92.
"1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, If you have given your handshake to a stranger, 2 If you have been ensnared by your promise, Caught by the words of your mouth, 3 Do this, my son, and free yourself, For you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor: Go and humble yourself and urgently plead with your neighbor. 4 Do not allow your eyes to sleep, Nor your eyelids to slumber. 5 Free yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, Like a bird from the hand of the birdcatcher."
No one wants to be in such a situation. You've opened your mouth and made an obligation with someone, and something unexpected has come along to throw you off course, perhaps temporarily hindering you from meeting that agreement. No doubt you should go to Jehovah in prayer over the matter. Then, what wisdom not to delay, but humble yourself and "urgently plead with your neighbor." Do whatever you can to appease the other party, and perhaps get back on track with your obligation if it can be arranged. Jehovah can still bless your effort to keep your word to the extent possible.
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"6 Go to the ant, you lazy one; Observe its ways and become wise. 7 Although it has no commander, officer, or ruler, 8 It prepares its food in the summer, And it gathers its food supplies in the harvest. 9 How long, you lazy one, will you lie there? When will you rise up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumbering, A little folding of the hands to rest, 11 And your poverty will come like a bandit, And your want like an armed man."
"6 Go to the ant, you lazy one; Observe its ways and become wise.”
Prove 6:6 What wisdom God used in His astounding creative works! We're instructed to examine the ways of the ant, and become wise, industrious, rather than remaining lazy. It has been found that young persons have become lazy when they are praised for their knowledge, rather than for putting that knowledge to work for the benefit of others. That is where commendation is appropriate, when a youth uses knowledge, talents, and abilities to work good toward others. Also, "by knowledge the righteous are rescued." Sharing our knowledge with others to help them in some important way may also be commendable. But may such commendation not go to our head--it is God who gives us our talents and abilities, and helps us use them for the benefit of others. He is the One who "makes all his works cooperate together for the good of those who love God." (Romans 8:28). So may God receive our rightful praise and loving appreciation. Let's continue looking at the ant:
“7 Although it has no commander, officer, or ruler, 8 It prepares its food in the summer, And it gathers its food supplies in the harvest.”
Prove 6:7-8 The ant needs no one to constantly tell him what to do--he instinctively knows his job and purpose, and wisely proceeds to work for the benefit of the colony. Likewise, we should get to know what needs to be done--so that we needn't be told constantly what we need to do, or only work hard when someone is watching us--seek to please Jehovah--let Him watch us, as He can see and can help us have the wisdom we need to set proper goals and to use our time efficiently, working productively. Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as for Jehovah, and not for men."
“9 How long, you lazy one, will you lie there? When will you rise up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumbering, A little folding of the hands to rest, 11 And your poverty will come like a bandit, And your want like an armed man."
Prove 6:9-11 If we have no schedule, to-do list, or goals to achieve for the day, if we have not wisely looked ahead at planned activities and considered how long each activity should take and scheduled each one into our limited time for the day, we may not be motivated to accomplish the tasks we were wishing to get done. We may linger in bed, viewing some tasks as too daunting to accomplish. Perhaps at least the day or night before we should, not worry, but give thought to the important tasks for the next day we would like to achieve, determine how they are to be done, and the time they should take. Also, break up larger jobs into several smaller tasks. Schedule them into your day, plan a time for at least some of them--perhaps the most important ones. Become a planner--wisely looking ahead for the results of our decisions and activities. This is an aspect of divine wisdom called shrewdness, or foresighted prudence, looking ahead at consequences and wisely acting accordingly. (Prov 22:3).
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PSALM 119 STANZA 12A
The theme for stanza 12 is:
GOD’S WORD AND LAW PRESERVE SPIRITUAL AND ETERNAL LIFE.
Verses 89-92 read: "Forever, O Jehovah, Your word will remain in the heavens. 90 Your faithfulness is through all generations. You have firmly established the earth, so that it continues to stand.91 By your judgments they remain until today, For they are all your servants. 92 If I had not been fond of your law, I would have perished in my affliction."
89 Forever, O Jehovah, Your word will remain in the heavens.
GOD’S LASTING WORD. (89) Isaiah 40:8 says "The green grass dries up,The blossom withers, But the word of our God endures forever.” God's word supplies us the universal standards by which all should be governed throughout eternity--the way of genuine peace, happiness, and unity. The Bible has been compared to a loving letter from a Father to His children. It is ever the "elusive" instruction manual for humanity, and all those with ruling authority among mankind do well to consider it's wisdom in their governance.
90 Your faithfulness is through all generations. You have firmly established the earth, so that it continues to stand.
EARTH NOT SIMPLY “TESTING GROUND.” (90) Is planet Earth just a "testing ground" that will soon literally be burned up and destroyed so that all faithful ones can live in heaven with God? Would such an idea really make sense? Some are taking a few verses literally without considering the entirety of Scripture. This view is out of harmony with God's stated purpose for mankind and this earth. The term "earth" is used scripturally to refer, not only to the planet itself, but often exclusively to the people upon it, and their arrangement for living. And the heavens, at times, refer to rulership. For instance, Genesis 11:1 says "Now all the earth continued to be of one language and of one set of words." Thus, when 2Peter 3:5-13 speaks of the 'heavens passing away' and the 'elements being dissolved' this has reference to rulerships and unrighteous evildoers and arrangements. 2Peter 3:13 says "But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to His promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell." Jehovah spent way too much time creating the literal heavens and earth for mankind's happiness to bring it to such a ruin. While some humans will ultimately reject God's rulership, His faithfulness is leading mankind to turn from wrongdoing, as He "does not desire anyone to be destroyed, but desires all to attain to repentance." (2Peter 3:9).
91 By your judgments they remain until today, For they are all your servants.
OUR ULTIMATE BENEFIT. (91) "They" likely refers to the generations mentioned previously. God's righteous judgments have governed the lives of mankind. For instance, 2Peter 3:8 says "one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." The first man Adam died within the 1000 year day of his living, as God said "the day" he ate from the tree he would die, his life span being 930 years (Genes 5:5). Evidently, mankind's life span would gradually come to have a natural limit of 120 years, as God's judgment came after mankind had been "ruined" morally in Noah's day. (Genes 6:3). Of course, it also God's judgment that righteous ones come to have an endless lifespan! So God's judgments are ultimately for our everlasting benefit and happiness. The generations are "all [God's] servants" perhaps in the sense that all things should serve for His good purpose. Proverbs 16:4, for instance, says "Jehovah has made everything work for his purpose, Even the wicked for the day of disaster."
92 If I had not been fond of your law, I would have perished in my affliction.
NEED FOR GOD’S LOVING LAW. (92) Once again, the psalmist reminds us of the importance of loving God's law, appreciating it's value in our everyday life. He is convinced that, without it, he would not have made it through times of difficulty. Likewise today, many dangers exist in the world, both physically and spiritually. It is "spiritual death" that could cause one to lose out on eternal life. How we need God's loving law to help guide our steps safely through this world, into the "real life." (1Timo 6:19).
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!
