Welcome, may your day be blessed by Jehovah! Let's move into Proverbs 7, with verses 1-5, then consider Psalm 119 Stanza 14B, verses 109-112.

"1 My son, keep my sayings, And treasure up my commandments. 2 Keep my commandments and live; Guard my instruction like the pupil of your eye. 3 Tie them around your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding “my relative,” 5 To guard you against the wayward woman, Against the immoral woman and her smooth words."

Verse 1-3: Clearly, we should "keep" and "treasure" the sayings of God and Christ, and their commands, as they mean life to us and others. While we have faith in Christ, this trust largely causes us to obey him carefully, and as Matthew 28:19-20 shows, Jesus says we are to teach others "to observe all the things I have commanded you." He says "you are my friends if you do what I am commanding you." (John 15:14). May we continually review God's reminders and commands, as if they were tied around our fingers. Let's God's words sink deep into us as we ponder the benefits, blessings, and rewards for doing as He instructs us. Then His words can be written on our hearts, as we in turn love God with all our heart, soul or life, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves, these being the two greatest commandments of the Law. "This is what the love of God means, that we observe His commandments. And yet his commandments are not burdensome."

"4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding “my relative,” 5 To guard you against the wayward woman, Against the immoral woman and her smooth words."

Verses 4-5:May we view godly wisdom (applying knowledge to success and God's honor) and understanding as near and dear as godly family members and relatives.God's wisdom should be close to our hearts, as we learn to successfully apply God's instructions to our daily life, thinking God's thoughts as we meet various situations each day.God's thoughts will protect us from being seduced by others to stray from God's commands. The fatherly counselor here specifically mentions the "wayward woman," one disregarding God's word or law. She speaks with "smooth words," attempting to cause another to likewise disregard God's standards and ways, and fall with her into the seductive trap of sexual immorality. Yet, marriage is God's gift for satisfying such desires, and is they way two can express genuine true and loyal love to one another, with God's blessing and approval! Why miss out on the "blessing of Jehovah that makes one rich", 'without added pain?' (Prove 10:22). The so-called "treasures gained by wickedness will be of no benefit, but righteousness is what rescues from death," a vital principle among the very first of the proverbial sayings beginning in chapter 10 (Prove 10:2). Let's honor God's lovely arrangement of marriage, promoting true, loyal love, among mankind!

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PSALM 119 STANZA 14B

STANZA 14 Theme: GOD CAN PRESERVE US THROUGH TIMES OF PERIL, WHILE HIS REMINDERS BRING JOY.

The 8 verses of stanza 14 include thoughts such as these: Like the psalmist, we may come to view God’s reminders with great joy. How does God’s word serve as a lamp and a light, how has God proven to be a Savior?
109 My life is in constant danger,But I have not forgotten your law.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me,But I have not strayed from your orders.
111 I take your reminders as my permanent possession,For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have resolved to obey your regulationsAt all times, down to the last.

109 My life is in constant danger, But I have not forgotten your law.

JEHOVAH KNOWS HOW. Jehovah, the Creator of mankind and this entire universe, certainly has tremendous power—has He used it to save His servants out of peril? Look at examples from history—such as God’s display of loyalty and power at the Red Sea, parting the waters for His people to escape! God lovingly ensured the safety of every one of them that He brought out of Egyptian bondage, as they journeyed over the seabed while Egypt’s army unwisely went in pursuit, God fighting against them, for example by removing wheels from their chariots. God’s people all safely reached the other side, before He released the waters to have them destroy the warriors who had witnessed His great power in Egypt. (Exodus 14). Do you see in the account any weaker ones who got left behind, who didn’t make it? Still, they needed to follow God’s instructions, as the psalmist did not forget God’s law. 2Peter 2 says: “9 So, then, Jehovah knows how to rescue people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people to be destroyed on the day of judgment.” May all work on cultivating a close relationship with God, as “9 Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.“

110 The wicked have set a trap for me, But I have not strayed from your orders.

OBEDIENCE TO GOD VITAL. The psalmist expresses the role of God’s orders in saving him from traps of evil ones. May we be ever determined to abide by Jehovah’s most serious and urgent commands, especially as revealed through Christ. The disciples of Jesus set an example in this, in the first century C.E. Jesus had commissioned them to share with others the divine knowledge about Christ and God’s Kingdom, as at Matthew 28:18-20. They were persecuted for doing so, being told not to speak about Jesus, after his impalement (and resurrection.) Acts 5:27-29 reports: “27 So they brought them and stood them before the Sanʹhe·drin. Then the high priest questioned them 28 and said: “We strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name, and yet look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.” 29 In answer Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” After debate, the account continues: “40 At this they took his advice, and they summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name, and let them go. 41 So they went out from before the Sanʹhe·drin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name. 42 And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.” May we trust God’s saving power, especially for our eternal life, as we obey God’s orders for true Christians.

111 I take your reminders as my permanent possession, For they are the joy of my heart.

APPRECIATE THEM DEEPLY. How we rejoice when we’ve recently been reminded of something that proved helpful to us in an important decision or situation we’ve faced! It is deeply satisfying to know what to do to please Jehovah as we face decisions each day. Growing in godly wisdom helps us to know and not fret over such decisions, and life becomes more and more delightful, handling things successfully. Paying attention to reminders from God, which may come by reading His word personally, attending meetings where God’s word is read or discussed, or by association with those of genuine faith, can help us maintain a healthy routine in life, seeking first both God’s kingdom and His righteousness, or integrity to Him. (Matth 6:33). As the psalmist, may we come to delight in God’s reminders, seeking to understand them more fully rather than viewing them as mundane. Let them come to be “the joy of [our] heart!”

112 I have resolved to obey your [instructions] At all times, down to the last.