2020 Jan 12 Proverbs 2, Psalm 119 Stanza 4B
J. Mark A. Campbell-Elanemy • January 12, 2020
2020 Jan 12 Proverbs 2, Psalm 119 Stanza 4B
Hello and welcome, wishing you a delightful day! Let's continue in Proverbs 2, verses 10-13, then give consideration to Psalm 119, Stanza 4B, verses 29-32. In the next blog post, we'll review stanzas 1-4.
"10 When wisdom enters your heart And knowledge becomes pleasant to your soul, 11 Thinking ability will keep watch over you, And discernment will safeguard you, 12 To save you from the bad course, From the man speaking perverse things, 13 From those leaving the upright paths To walk in the ways of darkness,"
"10 When wisdom enters your heart And knowledge becomes pleasant to your soul, 11 Thinking ability will keep watch over you, And discernment will safeguard you"
Prov 2:10-11 True wisdom needs to reach our heart for it to do much good, affecting our actions or behavior, not just our speech. Abundant knowledge may do little good if it is not guided by a properly motivated heart. Knowledge should become pleasant to us, and having a wise heart will allow thinking ability and discernment to safeguard us. We should certainly develop and practice thinking ability or logical thinking. Anyone having trouble with important thinking and logic skills should pray about the issue, and find assistance to correct matters. Certainly Jehovah wants all lovers of Him to acquire "thinking ability!" Christians are instructed to use their "power of reason" in serving God effectively (Romans 12:1). Of course, any deficiencies now can be fully corrected under the rule of God's Kingdom. Also, recall that discernment is the ability to see the difference between true and false, right and wrong, good and bad, wise and unwise, as well as serious matters of the law and lesser matters, though still required. This discernment safeguards us, helping us walk uprightly despite potential hazards and traps that we may be exposed to.
"12 To save you from the bad course, From the man speaking perverse things, 13 From those leaving the upright paths To walk in the ways of darkness,"
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PSALM 119
Continuing our theme of this stanza, that we can be faithful in spite of difficult trials, notice the psalmists words: "29 Remove from me the way of deception, And favor me with your law. 30 The way of faithfulness I have chosen. I recognize that your judgments are right. 31 I cling to your reminders. O Jehovah, do not let me be disappointed. 32 I will eagerly pursue the way of your commandments Because you make room for it in my heart."
Psalm 119:29 Remove from me the way of deception, And favor me with your law.
TRUST NECESSARY FOR GENUINE PEACE.
Living with falsehood or deceit is quite opposed to God's way of the truth. Genuine peace is not possible without being able to have faith, or deep trust, in God and in one another. Ephesians 6:23 says: "May the brothers have peace and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Micah 6:11-12 says of God's own people in times past: "Can I be morally clean with wicked scales,With a bag of fraudulent stone weights? 12 For her rich men are full of violence, And her inhabitants speak lies; Their tongue is deceitful in their mouth." (see also Zepha 3:13). Thus Psalm 120:2-3 says: "O Jehovah, rescue me from lying lips And from the deceitful tongue. 3 What will He do to you, and how will He punish you, You deceitful tongue?" The psalmist thus chooses faithfulness to God, wanting to honestly know God's law and hold to it. Keeping God's law protects us from many dangers, both spiritually and physically.
Psalm 119:30 The way of faithfulness I have chosen. I recognize that your judgments are right.
GOD IS RIGHT, JUST, AND FAIR.
The psalmist recognizes that God is right, just, and fair when He judges, always impartially, upholding truth. (Deute 32:4). How happy we can be to serve such a God! What a joy and a privilege to be able to learn the right course, the right way to think, from such a God of justice! And to know that He will intervene, through His Son, under the rule of His Kingdom, to setting matters right among mankind! By choosing faithfulness to God, we give Him every reason to lovingly guide, protect, and save us from any lasting harm.
Psalm 119:31 I cling to your reminders. O Jehovah, do not let me be disappointed.
REMINDED OF WHAT WE NEED TO LIVE BY
. Regularly going where God's word is read and discussed, and reading in God's law or word daily, even Bible-based publications that uphold divine truth, should bring to mind Christian commands and principles we need to live by. Jesus said we should make disciples, "teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." (Matth 28:19-20). Thus, of course, we would need to know "all the things" ourselves. This needn't be too difficult. Recall that in just 3 chapters of the Bible, Matthew 5-7, containing Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we find as much as a fourth of all that God requires of true Christians. Also, how many appreciate all of the Ten Commandments as we should? (Exodus 20). Adding Proverbs 1-10, we may have well over a third of God's requirements! What other chapters in the Gospels or Christian letters can you find that contain valuable guidance and instruction? As we follow such counsel, may we find God's approval and blessing, and the hope which "does not lead to disappointment." (Romans 5:5).
Psalm 119:32 I will eagerly pursue the way of your commandments Because you make room for it in my heart.
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!
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