Welcome, wishing you some pleasant times this day in God's favor! Let's begin consideration of Proverbs 8 with verses 1-5, then continue Psalm 119 with stanza 16B, verses 125-128. Then look below for an introduction to "COME TO CONSENSUS CORNER" [abbreviated "CTC Corner"]--a new segment I wish to begin Monday, seeking to provide a format for addressing some important or current issue facing our nation or the world, to encourage discussion and reflection on God's view of matters, or His eventual solution to the problem under His Kingdom. The information in this segment will usually not be changed much daily, but rather, may remain up for a week or so, possibly with an occasional news item of interest as well, which may or may not relate to the main issue under inspection.

Beginning a new Proverbs chapter, let's consider an important reminder that to truly benefit from examining spiritual matters even a brief prayer for God's blessing can go a long way in receiving His spirit and pondering properly to affect and safeguard our hearts before God with what we’re studying.

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PSALM 119 STANZA 16B

Stanza 16 Theme: PROVE A LOYAL SERVANT OF GOD, BY PRACTICING WHAT IS JUST AND RIGHT.

The 8 verses of this stanza show God looks after the welfare of His loyal servants, who practice what is just and righteous. How might understanding help us to know God’s reminders, and why should we highly value God’s commandments?

Stanza 16B:
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, So that I may know your reminders.
126 The time has come for Jehovah to act, For they have broken your law.
127 That is why I love your commandments More than gold, even fine gold.
128 Therefore, I consider every instruction from you to be right; I hate every false path.

125 I am your servant; give me understanding, So that I may know your reminders.

OBEYING GOD, PRAY FOR DIVINE UNDERSTANDING. Proving a loyal “servant” of Jehovah, by practicing what is just and right, with good judgment and discernment, he was therefore worthy of receiving from God the wise quality of understanding. This quality involves seeing the big picture of something, particularly regarding divine knowledge, along with all it’s pieces, and how they interrelate to make the whole of it. The psalmist considered this quality essential to knowing God’s reminders. God’s reminders can cover the entire scope of worshipping Him acceptably, keeping His law. Understanding true worship fully makes possible a deeper appreciation for God’s reminders, seeing the reasons for them.

126 The time has come for Jehovah to act, For they have broken your law.

JEHOVAH'S TIME TO ACT. When Jehovah considers it right to do so, He may act at any time to support or protect His faithful servants, or even the interests of all mankind. Of course, He, the Creator Jehovah, is motivated by deep love to do so, for His own creation of humanity, and also for His own reputation as a loving and just God, worthy of our devotion. 2Corinthians 3:17 says of this God: “17 Now Jehovah is the Spirit, and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom.” While Jehovah is a God of freedom, there must be law for the benefit of His servants, to make possible living peaceably and happily with respect to God and one another. God’s authority is above that of any other ruler, and His law should thus be appreciated and respected by such ones, as it involves the everlasting benefit of all. When the spiritual and eternal happiness of many humans are under severe threat, Jehovah may well step in to save His good and loving purpose for mankind.

127 That is why I love your commandments More than gold, even fine gold.

LOVING GOD'S COMMANDS MEAN LIFE. Thus we should, like the psalmist, highly value God’s commandments, for they contribute to the eternal welfare and happiness of all humans. While “gold” or money is necessary to get along in life, as this likely king or future king well understood, he placed the priority on God’s word, or spiritual matters. It is as stated at Ecclesiastes 7:12: “12 For wisdom is a protection just as money is a protection, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.” Jesus showed that God himself can provide materially for His servants, as they put God’s will first in life. In fact, he revealed that only one can be put first—either God or Riches. He said, at Matthew 6:24: “24 “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches.” The psalmist thus chose to love God and His law more than anything money could buy. Eternal life is not available for a monetary price. One must come to love God and others in a genuine way, in harmony with godly wisdom, in accord with God’s word and law, with faith, or deep trust in God and His Son, getting to know them well, to “get a firm hold on the real life”—the everlasting life God has prepared for those who “continue loving Him.” (John 17:3; 1Timo 6:19; James 1:12).

128 Therefore, I consider every instruction from you to be right; I hate every false path.

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COME TO CONSENSUS CORNER

(CTC Corner, not to be confused with the China or Canadian Car Touring Championship, both abbreviated CTCC)

As stated above, I intend this as "a new segment I wish to begin Monday, seeking to provide a format for addressing some important or current issue facing our nation or the world, to encourage discussion and reflection on God's view of matters, or His eventual solution to the problem under His Kingdom. The information in this segment will usually not be changed much daily, but rather, may remain up for a week or so, possibly with an occasional news item of interest as well, which may or may not relate to the main issue under inspection."

LET'S LOOK TO GOD'S WORD FOR REFRESHING UNITY. Many persons have cultivated a love for truth, even divine truth, and an associated sense of fairness and what is right. Yet we hear things on various issues that may present ideas or conclusions that may not be considering all the facts or God's view of matters. Some have opinions that may have been formed without sincerity or honesty, with a sense of values not yet attuned to God's word, or without seeing long-term consequences, or while many opinions may be made in harmony with their God-given consciences, these still need training by God's inspired word of truth (Hebrews 4:11-12; 2Timothy 3:16-17). God, of course, is the One who can know the complete story on a matter, and can truly know and decide what is in mankind's best long-term interests, contributing best to our eternal welfare and happiness. May we look forward to considering His view of matters, and how perhaps, as His loyal servants, we may gain more understanding, with empathy, as we discern His right ways and standards, trusting them always to be worth upholding and to be in harmony with what is truly right, fair, just, and honest. Gaining God's view makes possible a true and lasting unity that is not possible through man's efforts alone. Psalm 133 references refreshing unity, and the first high priest, Aaron, whose priestly services as a representative of God made possible great peace among Israel, foreshadowing Christ's priestly role, even as King (Hebrews 3:1; 4:15). As Psalm 133 states, entirely: "Look! How good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like fine oil poured on the head That runs down the beard, Aaron’s beard, And runs down onto the collar of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Herʹmon That descends on the mountains of Zion. That is where Jehovah decreed his blessing—Life everlasting."