2020 Jan 22-Jan 23 Proverbs 3, Psalm 119 Stanza 7A

J. Mark A. Campbell-Elanemy • January 22, 2020

2020 Jan 22-Jan 23 Proverbs 3, Psalm 119 Stanza 7A

Welcome, wishing you a lovely day! Let's continue in Proverbs 3, verses 27-30, then give attention to Psalm 119 Stanza 7A, verses 49-52.


Proverbs 3:27-30:
"27 Do not withhold good from those to whom you should give it If it is within your power to help. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go away; come back later! I will give it to you tomorrow, ”If you can give it now. 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor When he lives in a sense of security with you. 30 Do not quarrel with a man for no reason If he has done nothing bad to you."


"27 Do not withhold good from those to whom you should give it If it is within your power to help. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go away; come back later! I will give it to you tomorrow, ”If you can give it now."

Prove 3:27-28 Goodness is part of the "fruitage of the spirit" mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 which we can ask God for in prayer, in accord with Luke 11:13, Jesus saying if one knows "how to give good gifts to [his] children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking Him!" Therefore, practicing "goodness" would involved what's described in this verse 27. If we see someone in need that we discern or judge we should assist, then by all means render aid! God's word itself helps us to be "fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." (2Timo 3:17). And Galatians 6:10 encourages us, "as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith." Thus we do place a priority on our spiritual family, which hopefully includes our family of flesh! Husbands and fathers are mandated in Scripture to provide for the needs of their families, and by all means this would include caring for their spiritual needs, loving them, offering them loving guidance as needed to grow in true wisdom and their relationships with God and others. (1Timo 5:8). At the same time, we should also appreciate the worldwide Christian brotherhood that God and Christ are making, as Jesus described at Luke 8:21, saying "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." Therefore, may we help our family spiritually to find the path of life, not hold back in assisting our remaining spiritual family worldwide, and then "work what is good toward all."


"Do not plot harm against your neighbor When he lives in a sense of security with you."

Prove 3:29 True faith is going to be the foundation of God's new world--eventually all people will be true friends with each other, being able to truly trust one another! Imagine traveling the world, finding genuine friends everywhere you go! Some would have us keep the world as it is, full of suspicion, greed, selfishness and the like. How obscene to ignore God's wonderful purpose for mankind, God having the power to fix all of these problems! This verse contains an example of one really trusting another, living "in a sense of security with you." How could we violate that trust by plotting harm against him? We should be careful not to take advantage of one another's trust, always seeking the genuine benefit of each other, rather than looking to gain selfishly from each other. Those seeking to advance business interests can do so with proper motive, without coming across as merely seeking selfish gain, refusing to let competition drive them. Look to benefit others by what is available, while not putting undue pressure upon them.


"Do not quarrel with a man for no reason If he has done nothing bad to you."

Prove 3:30 Along the same lines, we should be careful to maintain a loving, appreciative spirit toward others, especially if they have done no wrong to us! The Scriptures warn us, at Ecclesiastes 7:9, "Do not be quick to take offense, for the taking of offense lodges in the bosom of fools." If we have a tendency to be easily offended by what others say, we may be quick to quarrel with them. Let's be careful: Proverbs 1:7 says "Only fools despise wisdom and discipline." Perhaps discipline has not always been administered in the loving, compassionate way that Jesus demonstrated toward his own "disciples", the word "discipline" coming from the same root word, involving correction out of love. Yet we should still try to appreciate the lessons needing to be learned from any discipline we may receive, and seek to grow in true wisdom. Try to appreciate correction offered by others to the extent possible, without much arguing with them. Sometimes, we really need it!

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PSALM 119 STANZA 7A

The theme for all of stanza 7 is: GOD'S LAW AND WORD OF PROMISE ARE RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY.

Verses 49-52 state this: "Remember your word to your servant, Through which you give me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For your saying has preserved me alive. 51 The presumptuous utterly scorn me, But I do not deviate from your law. 52 I remember your judgments from of old, O Jehovah, And I find comfort in them."


Verse 49: Remember your word to your servant, Through which you give me hope.

THE GOD OF HOPE. Psalm 119:49 This future king evidently received a word of promise from Jehovah, which helped to sustain him through difficult times. Of course, God's word the Bible is filled with hope-inspiring promises from God. Hope is vital to all, and God is eager for people to look to Him with hope in His blessing and salvation by seeking faithfulness to Him. In fact, a primary reason God's word the Bible has been provided to humans is that "we might have hope." Romans 15:4 says: "For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope." After Adam's sin, it took Jehovah almost no time at all to provide hope to the human family of a restoration of God's purpose, with the prophecy recorded in Genesis 3:15. Thus Jehovah is keenly aware of our need for this. May we likewise be quick to provide comfort to one lacking hope, if only they may turn to the God of hope, Jehovah. Psalm 146:5 says "Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob as his helper, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God."


Verse 50: This is my comfort in my affliction, For your saying has preserved me alive.

GOD'S TRUTH CAN PRESERVE LIFE. Psalm 119:50 Thus, God's reliable word of promise provides us with genuine comfort in difficult times, when we, like the psalmist, may suffer affliction in some form. Whatever "saying" he has reference to, it is nevertheless true that God's word and law protects us in many ways from harm as we heed it's instruction and guidance. Following God's word, for instance, preserved alive Noah and his family, and the human race, when Jehovah brought the promised deluge upon a violent, evil society of humans whom God said had "ruined it way" on planet Earth (Genes 6:11-12). Today, there is much to harm humans physically and spiritually, which may include our mental and emotional well-being. God warns us against much harm with wise counsel and His "saying," or word of truth, which may at times even 'preserve us alive' by our following it.


Verse 51: The presumptuous utterly scorn me, But I do not deviate from your law.

"WALK IN MODESTY." Psalm 119:51 Despite receiving reproach from those immodestly deviating from God's law, the psalmist refused to do so. Proverbs 11:2 says "When presumptuousness comes, dishonor will follow, But wisdom is with the modest ones." Summed up, modesty is humble and obedient, recognizing due limits and one's own limitations. It gives priority to spiritual matters, is able to be content with necessities, and is reluctant to boast. Modest ones humbly refuse to violate God's law or standard, or to seek authority that they have no right to. Micah 6:8, a favorite verse of many, outlines simply a course of life pleasing God, in saying this: " He has told you, O man, what is good. And what is Jehovah requiring of you? Only to exercise justice, to cherish loyalty, And to walk in modesty with your God!" We can remain modest despite reproach from presumptuous ones, praying for strength or fortitude from God, and by our steadfast example, hoping at least some may turn from a disobedient course to find God's favor and blessing of eternal life.


Verse 52: I remember your judgments from of old, O Jehovah, And I find comfort in them.

LOOK TO THE GOD OF JUSTICE. Psalm 119:52 The judgments of Jehovah, as recorded in His word, are written as a warning against serious wrongdoing. As 1Corinthians 10:1-11 mentions a few instances, which included such sins as idolatry, sexual immorality, putting God to the test, and murmuring against Him, it states: "Now these things became examples for us, in order for us not to desire injurious things, as they desired them...Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for a warning to us upon whom the ends of the systems of things have come." Of course, Jehovah also judged His faithful servants favorably, and protected many in various ways, saving them, such as Noah, Jonah, Jesus, and others. May we find comfort in the God of justice, looking to Him for protection more than money or any other person or thing. Those with money should likewise still be dependent on God. Proverbs 18:10 says "The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous one runs and receives protection." Conversely, verse 11 states: "The wealth of the rich is his fortified city; It is like a protective wall in his imagination." This may refer to either material or spiritual wealth--may we continually look to God and not depend on ourselves or any possession for our lasting happiness.

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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