2020 Mar 14-Mar 15 Proverbs 8, Psalm 119 Stanza 19A, weekly CTC
2020 Mar 14-Mar 15 Proverbs 8, Psalm 119 Stanza 19A, weekly CTC
“32 And now, my sons, listen to me; Yes, happy are those who keep my ways. 33 Listen to discipline and become wise, And never neglect it. 34 Happy is the man who listens to me By coming early to my doors day by day, By waiting next to my doorposts; 35 For the one finding me will find life, And he receives approval from Jehovah. 36 But the one who ignores me harms himself, And those who hate me love death.””
Prove 8:32 Jesus says “listen to me.” God makes a similar plea at Isaiah 55:2, saying “2 Why do you keep paying out money for what is not bread, And why spend your earnings for what brings no satisfaction? Listen intently to me, and eat what is good, And you will find great delight in what is truly rich.” Yes, the words of God and His son bring great satisfaction and happiness to those who truly listen and heed them. Jesus also said “Pay attention to how you listen.” (Luke 8:18). We need godly discernment to make good judgments as to what we choose to ponder, that may affect our heart and actions. Certainly, though, we can trust the words of God and Christ to be reliable and truly beneficial. Do you ponder their thoughts, or read the Bible merely for head knowledge? May we take the time to appreciate God’s word, consider how we should apply it, and why it is so beneficial and worthy of appreciation, as it leads to our genuine happiness.
"33 Listen to discipline and become wise, And never neglect
it."
Prove 8:33 The words of God and Christ offer fine discipline leading to true wisdom. Recall that this word “discipline” comes from the same root as “disciple”—meaning loving correction, as Jesus aided his disciples. A child receiving such discipline should feel loved and appreciated, not dejected by constant punishment. May parents thus be proactive in lovingly helping and guiding their children, that they may be understanding what they need to do to make their parents, God and others happy. Proverbs 23:24 says “24 The father of a righteous one will surely be joyful; Whoever fathers a wise son will rejoice in him.” Try not to discourage all the questions of a child—providing age-appropriate answers as parents are able. How fine that they may look to loving parents for the guidance they need!
"34 Happy is the man
who listens to me By coming early to my doors day by day, By waiting next to my
doorposts;"
Prove 8:34 Some enjoy rising early to give consideration to God’s word and spiritual matters. Psalm 1:1-3 discusses the happiness found thereby: “1 Happy is the man who does not walk according to the advice of the wicked And does not stand on the path of sinners And does not sit in the seat of scoffers. 2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, And he reads His law in an undertone day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, A tree that produces fruit in its season, The foliage of which does not wither. And everything he does will succeed.” May we appreciate God’s instruction daily, especially the words of his Son that have explained God to us more clearly. (John 1:18). We needn’t view God’s word as overwhelming. Recall, for example, that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is contained in just three chapters of Matthew, Matthew 5-7, and has been said to comprise nearly a quarter of all that God requires of true Christians. Add the first 10 chapters of Proverbs for another sizable percentage of value.
"35 For the one finding me will find life, And he receives
approval from Jehovah. 36 But the one who ignores me harms himself, And
those who hate me love death.””
Prove 8:35-36 May we thus find Christ by being familiar with Jesus’ teachings and recognizing their value and application. Thus we may become true Christians, genuine followers, and find God’s approval. Jesus always gave attention to his Father, honoring Him. He has thus become “Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phili 2:11). While learning from Christ, it is ultimately God’s approval that he taught us to seek. Still, “...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to Father except through me,” he says. (John 14:6). We will therefore benefit greatly by earnestly studying and applying Jesus’ teachings. Ignoring his teachings brings harm to oneself, perhaps even leading one to actually hate him, blocking the way to God and eternal life.
________In the 8 verses of this stanza, we’re reminded that when we wholeheartedly call upon Jehovah He will hear and answer us. We must do so in faith, seeking integrity, and be persistent in our requests. How is knowledge of God to last forever?
Stanza 19A
145 I call with my whole heart. Answer me, O Jehovah. Your regulations I will observe.
146 I call on you; save me! I will keep your reminders.
147 I have been awake before dawn to cry for help, For your words are my hope.
148 My eyes open before the night watches, So that I can ponder over your saying.
TRUE, LIVING FAITH NOT MERE BELIEF. Clearly the psalmist loved receiving answers from Jehovah regarding his pleas, whole-heartedly calling upon Him. The psalmist makes known through several verses that doing so includes observing God’s instructions, seeking integrity to Him. He is flat out determined to obey God. Thus genuine faith in God is not mere belief, but is accompanied by actions that prove it’s sincerity. James writes: “14 Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? 15 If any brothers or sisters are lacking clothing and enough food for the day, 16 yet one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? 17 So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead.” Thus the good knowledge we take in must be pondered to examine how it should affect us, what actions or obedience it should inspire, thereby reaching our figurative heart.
146 I call on you; save me! I will keep your reminders.
LIFE OWED TO GOD. Romans 10:13 quotes Joel 2:32 in saying: “13 For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” To be saved by God, should not this calling be as in the previous verse—whole-heartedly? The psalmist thus again expresses his determination to obey God, saying he will keep God’s reminders. He realizes that we owe God our life, and thus our obedience, and he does not want his salvation to somehow be in vain. As expressed in a later verse (v.152), God has established His reminders to last forever—thus may we be in the habit of calling on Jehovah, seeking His guidance and expressing appreciation for the reminders He gives us regularly, for our eternal happiness and benefit!
147 I have been awake before dawn to cry for help, For your words are my hope.
FAITH AND PERSISTENCE FOR SUPPORT. If we face distress or hardship like the psalmist, may we supplicate Jehovah for help as needed. He clearly found strength and comfort from God’s word of promise to him. Waking early gave him a quiet time to prayerfully reflect on God’s words, and remember the hope they have inspired within him. By enduring hardship with integrity, such hope becomes ever stronger in the promises God has made to us. He does promise support, but we must, like the psalmist, put our faith, or deep trust, in Him and His words. We must also be persistent in our requests. Jesus gave illustrations highlighting the need for such persistence. His lesson: “9 So I say to you, keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened.” May we likewise seek God’s help, hoping in God’s words of wisdom and promise.
148 My eyes open before the night watches, So that I can ponder over your saying.
LET GOD BE GREAT AGAIN! (Reserved as a chosen platform, GOD willing)
[GOD, meaning the Creator, the God of the Bible, the God who “IS LOVE” (1John 4:8,16)]
ALWAYS GREAT! To be clear, in actuality this GOD has always been “GREAT,” but appreciation and reverence for Him has diminished in recent years, for a variety of reasons. We can consider a few main reasons, but also some evidence--we need the facts! It is thus in the minds and hearts of humans that God’s greatness may need to be restored!
MISINFORMED ABOUT A LOVING FATHER? Is it possible that some have been misinformed about the true nature of God, and therefore have sadly wanted to believe that there is no God, in some cases because they believe they could then make up their own rules and have no One to tell them right from wrong? But consider, this God is called by Jesus many times the endearing term “Father.” Would it be reasonable for a child to dismiss belief in his or her parents, who have expressed much love for the child, most often the ones protecting him or her from harm during the especially vulnerable early years of growth? Would not much evidence exist for the parents who conceived and gave birth to the child, and then proceeded likely with much love to feed and care for him or her over much time? So with God—most who are familiar with His word the Bible have come to see Him as a loving Father, who cares deeply for the human family of His making!
FAMILY “RULES”? And just as any loving father of a household, this God has established rules for the lasting happiness and benefit of all who would abide by them in His household. These rules for instance would help the entire human family to treat one another with respect, dignity, and kindness, as they associate with one another, and seek to enjoy life as God intended. I’m using the term “rules” loosely here, as God’s rules are different from the rules that humans sometimes come up with on their own. Often such “rules” have been inflexible, lacking consideration for varying circumstances, causing us to begrudge the very idea of “rules” sometimes. Still, the Bible, with proof of divine inspiration, contains God’s reasonable laws and standards, that are truly in our lasting best interests, and that reveal loving compassion for practically all humans.
Notice PSALM 103:8-14: "Jehovah [GOD's personal name, three-syllables, together meaning: "He who causes to become." Many Bible manuscripts replaced it with the title "LORD," as have many Bibles, but the earliest original manuscripts retain "JEHOVAH"] is merciful and compassionate, Slow to anger and abundant in loyal love. 9 He will not always find fault, Nor will he stay resentful forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor has he repaid us what our errors deserve. 11 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So great is his loyal love toward those who fear him. 12 As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, So far off from us he has put our transgressions. 13 As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those who fear him. 14 For he well knows how we are formed, Remembering that we are dust."
EVIDENCE? BUT FAITH—IS IT BLIND? Still, what is some of the evidence of God’s existence and His loving interest in the affairs of mankind on planet Earth? But some may object, how can we speak of “evidence”—is not faith blind? There is hardly a more grievous lie than the idea that faith is belief in something for which there is no proof. That is not faith, but rather another term—credulity. Instead, faith as defined in the Bible is a deep trust that is built on solid evidence. It is actually defined in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1 as “the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” Air, for instance, though not easily seen by itself, can be felt, and it’s effects can be seen, for instance, as the wind blows through a leafy tree. Thus evidence reveals the reality of air, despite our inability to see it directly. So it is with God, and other persons or things requiring faith to believe in. That faith is also literally defined in that same verse as “the title deed of the things hoped for.” You may not be standing on the land you purchased, but with the title deed in your hand, you may begin the process of building on that land the home of your dreams. Such is the case with God’s promises in His word, the Bible. Thus the Bible makes mention of “seeing” even God—not literally, but with eyes of faith. The righteous man Job, for instance, after God spoke to him and provided evidence of His creative hand in the making of the earth, humans, and animals, for instance, as revealed in Job 38-41 (an excellent read) states in Job 42:5: “5 My ears have heard about you, But now I do see you with my eyes.”
BIOMIMETICS. Has not mankind benefitted by examining the intelligent design manifest in living things, so as to improve upon their own designs in electronics and machinery, for instance? Could such intelligent design possibly just come about by chance, without someone causing it? Is it really logical that some mindless evolutionary process acheived such intelligent accomplishments? And is it really fair to God to ignore His amazing accomplishments, and attribute them to blind chance? Is this reasonable? Some such persons may even practice badness, as if God does not see. Should they treat God with such disrespect? How would you feel, for all your life's loving labor to be attributed to blind chance? Let God speak, as His word states at Psalm 94:6-9: "They kill the widow and the foreign resident, And they murder the fatherless children. 7 They say: “Jah does not see; The God of Jacob does not take notice of it.” 8 Understand this, you who are unreasoning; You foolish ones, when will you ever show [empathy]? The One who made the ear, can he not hear? The One who formed the eye, can he not see?" Yes, God does see and takes note, yet as described earlier, God is nevertheless very lovingly patient with mankind, wanting as many as possible to gain His reward of eternal life in true peace and happiness.
Let's consider more evidence of God's handiwork with two excerpts, one from an article elsewhere on this website, another from commentary of the 119th Psalm.
EXCERPT, THE BASICS, par. 8
TECHNOLOGY! It should be abundantly clear that God made the earth with much modern scientific technology in mind. Why can this be said? Take computers, for example. It would not be possible to have these portable machines if Jehovah did not create the elements, whether metals or semiconductors, like the silicon in sand, with certain capabilities and properties to allow computer chips and other components to be made. Silicon, as abundant and available as sand, is a perfect material for computer chips, even allowing for a mixture of other materials to modify its function and performance. God made all of this possible by the materials and their properties in earth's available bounty. How loving and wise is our Creator Jehovah, so evident in the incredible way He made us and had in mind human creativity and our eternal happiness. "O the depth of God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and beyond tracing out his ways are! 34 For "who has come to know Jehovah's mind, or who has become his advisor?...Because from him and by him and for him are all things..." (Romans 11:33-36).
EXCERPT, Psalm 119 Commentary, verse 68: "You are good and your works are good. Teach me your [instructions]."
EVIDENCE OF GOD'S LOVE. Thus, Jehovah’s works are in harmony with His personality—they are a manifestation of His great love, wisdom, power, and sense of justice. His primary quality, according to His word, is love. While God HAS the other qualities, it is only love that He IS. (1John 4:8,16). Therefore, we can expect His works, past, present, and future to primarily manifest this quality. Can we not see this in God’s works of creation? The way humans have been made ‘in God’s image,’ to be able to think, reason, draw conclusions, work with our hands, move with our feet, laugh, and enjoy living—can we not appreciate our Great Designer? How much work would teams of scientists and engineers have to do to design and create a robot that could do all the things humans are capable of doing? Could it really just come about by chance? What about all that went into the animal creation, with the delightful experiences of watching kittens or puppies at play, seeing squirrels or other acrobatic creatures amaze us with their feats of skill, witnessing a bird’s talented flight or listening to birdsong? What about the sights and aromas of beautiful flowers or blossoming trees in springtime? Then being able to share such times with friends and loved ones, delighting in conversation over meals and other enjoyable activities—can our appreciation and love for God not continue to grow as we contemplate His uncountably numerous kindnesses manifested toward the human family? Yes, Jehovah is good and His works are good! Like the psalmist, may we thus be moved to willingly learn from God even His detailed guidance for us, that we may know how to live and support the doing of His will and good purpose.
CONCLUSION:
EVERY REASON--IT'S HIS UNIVERSE! Thus, while people may have a reason here or there for diminishing respect for God in their minds or hearts, we really have every reason to appreciate and highly esteem God for His wonderful works toward mankind! Psalm 40:5 states, for instance: "How many things you have done, O Jehovah my God, Your wonderful works and your thoughts toward us. None can compare to you;If I were to try to tell and speak of them,They would be too numerous to recount!" How should this motivate us? We should be moved to listen to God's good guidance, as we find Him truly worthy of being the Sovereign Ruler of His own Universe! As acknowledged at Revelation 4:11, "“You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.” The forefathers of this nation, the United States, largely appreciated GOD's blessing on their efforts to initiate a way of government that could truly care for it's citizens and allow for genuine freedoms including the freedom to worship God together. It can truly be said that without GOD's favor, help and blessing, this nation would never have gotten off the ground! May we likewise today look for GOD's blessing on His perfecting a Kingdom government by which He may accomplish His loving will regarding humans, to usher in genuine peace and happiness, showering His approval on mankind!


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