2020 May 15 Proverbs 14, Tenth (Envy) of the Ten, TWGA, weekly CTC
2020 May 15 Proverbs 14, Tenth (Envy) of the Ten, TWGA, weekly CTC
Prove 14:25 "Truthful lips will endure forever, but a lying tongue will last for only a moment." says Proverbs 12:19. The testimony of a true witness may more immediately save a life, but also encourages life by honest, truthful speech, and often sharing important truth with others. A deceitful witness, on the other hand, cannot be trusted to speak the truth, or to act in the best interests of others.
Prove 14:26 The "strong confidence" that comes with the fear of Jehovah is in Jehovah himself, rather than in oneself. As Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a help that is readily found in times of distress." Thus, having this healthy fear of displeasing God, and lovingly teaching it to one's children, will help the children to find this refuge as well.
Prove 14:27 As Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad." By seeing the ill consequences of badness, we may come to hate it, steering clear of "the snares of death," and remaining on the path to endless life. Having such fear moves us to share life-giving truth with others, proving this fear to be a "fountain of life." Regarding God's son, Isaiah 11:1,2 says "A twig will grow out of the stump of Jesʹse, And a sprout from his roots will bear fruit. 2 And the spirit of Jehovah will settle upon him, The spirit of wisdom and of understanding, The spirit of counsel and of mightiness, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah." In this, he sets an example for others, to grow in divine wisdom.
Prove 14:28 Proverbs 29:2 says: "When the righteous are many, the people rejoice, But when the wicked one rules, the people groan." Thus a king does well to pursue true wisdom and righteousness, with the favor and blessing of God, on himself and his people. Turning from righteousness would cause ruin to himself and a poor example to his people, who may thus fall into calamity.
Prove 14:29 To have patience with others, both insight and discernment are shown to prove beneficial. Discernment enables one to judge properly between things, such as right and wrong, true and false, and so on. This makes it possible to have compassionate insight, seeing the real reasons behind someone's speech, actions, and decisions. If someone gets rude to us just after spilling coffee on his new shirt, can we not understand and exercise more patience with the person? Being impatient often results in "foolishness," and does little to help the situation.
Prove 14:30 One who is patient contributes to calmness of heart, as well as one avoiding the ravages of jealousy. What is jealousy? It is a hatred toward another perhaps over something the person has or honor received, that may cause one to desire to cruelly interfere with their enjoying such things in some way. The scripture says it is "rottenness to the bones," or "to the core." We also read, at James 3:16, "For wherever there are jealousy and contentiousness, there will also be disorder and every vile thing." EVERY "VILE," or EVIL THING! Such jealousy does nothing to benefit humanity in any way. May we reject any such inclination, and rather, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15).
Week 10: ISSUE AFTER ISSUE ADDRESSED BY GOD’S KINGDOM: PROPER VIEW OF LAW
Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of Jehovah, And he reads His law in an undertone day and night.”
Joshua
1:8 “This book of the Law should not depart from your mouth, and you
must read it in an undertone day and night, in order to observe
carefully all that is written in it; for then your way will be
successful and then you will act wisely.”
Jeremiah 31:33 “For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days,” declares Jehovah. “I will put my law within them, and in
their heart I will write it. And I will become their God, and they will
become my people.”
NEED FOR LAW.
The need for some code of law became apparent with time in man’s
history. Before the advent of such laws, humans, closer to the
perfection originally present in our first parents, Adam and Eve,
generally lived by their consciences. Likely, discussions of right and
wrong actions were among the conversations our first parents had with
their children. It was possibly even before a law code existed that
Joseph fled from having an adulterous affair with his Egyptian owner’s
wife, saying “How could I commit this great badness and actually sin
against God?” In the oral history handed down, he knew God had brought
the first man and woman together in marriage, and at this, God’s word
says: “That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he
will stick to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24).
Thus respect for the covenant of marriage was engendered early on,
especially among God-fearing persons.
AN EARLY CODE.
One early law code was the code of Hammurabi. This was before the time
of Moses. Hammurabi’s code laid down some 282 laws, having been written
upon stone pillars within the kingdom of Babylon, so everyone would know
the law. Hammurabi is known as the sixth king of Babylon, and is
believed to have ruled between 1792 BCE and 1750 BCE. Hammurabi
evidently did not write these laws, but brought together and organized
existing laws. It became the standard of judgment throughout his empire.
Of course, there were some similarities and differences when comparing
his law to that of God’s law through Moses. Both codes stated, for
instance, that kidnapping a child would bring the death penalty.*
WHY SEVERE PENALTIES?
Why do such laws of man and even God, even today, have severe
punishments associated with certain wrong actions? If everyone is aware
of the law code, and know how severe the penalty would be for a specific
harmful, criminal act, this should serve as a powerful deterrent from
engaging in such conduct, thus enabling a peaceful existence to be
maintained in society. Just as violating a law of physics, such as
gravity, you know could mean your death, so serious moral laws should
never be violated either. God reveals at 2Peter 3:9 that He “...is
patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but
desires all to attain to repentance.” Thus, He wants everyone to
understand and respect His laws, which promote genuine peace and
happiness among society. Hammurabi’s code even included death for
robbery, while God’s law through Moses generally only required returning
the item stolen, if possible, and added compensation, totaling up to
four or even seven times the amount, depending on what it was. Thus,
God’s law was more reasonable in this case, while the penalty still
serves to deter the crime. Also, God’s law promoted fairness and
equality, whereas Hammurabi’s law considered a crime less serious if it
was committed by one with higher social status. More than a crime
against man, God’s law made it clear that crimes such as robbery were
also being committed against God—who loves His human creation, and wants
the peace and happiness of all. They thus were sins against God,
requiring forgiveness by Him.
OTHER PURPOSES OF LAW.
We’ve seen that laws can be set as a deterrent from bad actions. But
laws can also promote and accentuate good practices and standards. It
can be used to set certain payments for government, legal and business
services, for instance. It can outline fair practices between entities,
whether governmental, commercial, or personal. It can outline a path to
help various peoples overcome some disappointing or failing
circumstances, to regain their peace, security, prosperity, freedom
and/or happiness after some disaster or unfortunate occurrence(s). Laws
can thus be used for much good, and contribute to the above-mentioned
conditions that human hearts long to experience and maintain. And
contrary to the notion that laws are only restrictive, in truth law can
even protect various freedoms that promote such happiness among
humanity. God’s word reveals that “where the spirit of Jehovah is, there
is freedom!” (2Cori 3:17). And James speaks of God’s law as a “perfect
law that belongs to freedom.” He writes: “But the one who peers into the
perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not
a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in
what he does.” (James 1:25). Thus, God’s law can promote wise and good
conduct, and help those who adhere to it act with greater wisdom, and
find greater happiness. Psalm 19:7-8 says: “7 The law of Jehovah is
perfect, restoring strength. The reminder of Jehovah is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced one wise. 8 The orders from Jehovah are
righteous, causing the heart to rejoice; The commandment of Jehovah is
clean, making the eyes shine [“enlightening the eyes”, AMP].” Therefore,
God’s commands support truth and true worship in a way that enables
obedient ones to find wisdom and joy, to see more clearly where they are
on the path of life, and where they are going.
WHAT OF THE RANSOM?
Therefore, the ransom of Christ, while a merciful gift of God, does not
do away with law, but rather establishes it. It is having faith, or deep
trust, in that merciful provision for forgiveness that enables ones to
gradually grow to greater adherence to the law of God. With a deep faith
in God and His word and law, we are moved to respond to God’s love by
loving Him in return. And 1John 5:3 explains: “3 For this is what the
love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his
commandments are not burdensome.” Thus by such faith in God’s love,
seeing God’s law as a way to know how to love Him in return, true
righteousness is made possible, even a complete obedience of the heart
of a person. This was not always understood. Some Jews felt that their
own circumcision of the flesh itself gave them divine favor. Romans
3:23-24, 29-31 says: “23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God, 24 and it is as a free gift that they are being declared
righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom
paid by Christ Jesus...29 Or is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not
also the God of people of the nations? Yes, also of people of the
nations. 30 Since God is one, he will declare circumcised people
righteous as a result of faith and uncircumcised people righteous by
means of their faith. 31 Do we, then, abolish law by means of our faith?
Not at all! On the contrary, we uphold law.” Likewise, for true
Christians, baptism itself is not an automatic sign of divine favor, but
it is a “request made to God for a good conscience.” (1Peter 3:21).
Holding a good conscience, that is eagerly trained by God’s word, with
an obedient and loyal heart, brings divine approval, not as something we
earn, but as a free gift, by God’s kindness, through the ransom of
Christ.
CONCLUSION
FAITH IN GOD AND HIS LAW.
Jesus when on earth taught many principles of divine truth, that aid one
to understand God and His ways better, so as to WANT to live by them.
Christ’s teachings help us to address our loyalty and faithfulness to
God in a heartfelt way, becoming obedient from the heart to God’s
standards and laws, promoting true peace, righteousness, and happiness.
May we therefore come to delight in the law of God, as others throughout
history, and look forward to God’s favored blessings and rewards. This
requires faith, or deep trust, in Him, as explained at Hebrews 11:6: “6
Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever
approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder
of those earnestly seeking him.” God’s Kingdom will thus help people
to comprehend God’s law in a way that they can understand and live by
it, seeing it’s wisdom and value in their life.
Perhaps books will be published, with the aim of addressing a certain
aspect or topic of God’s law, revealing insight into how it functions to
contribute to earth-wide or even universal peace, security, prosperity,
freedom, and happiness. They can be written with warmth and
understanding, in “plain English” so-to-speak, in a way that may bring
delight and satisfaction. May we continue learning of God’s perfect law,
that we may live by it, respecting His law and His Son’s teachings,
thus honoring our loving God and Father, Jehovah, as the rightful
Sovereign of the Universe.
* WORLD HISTORY for Christian Schools, 1984 ed. pp. 24-25


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