FRI UPDATE (5:21 pm) Hi! SongWeekly for this latter week...We Are the World!

FRI UPDATE (10:46,55; 11:01 am; 9:33 pm EST) Hello, added SongWeekly! Specific One!

THU UPDATE (10:28 am) Hello! Added MLH[2], upholding true love and justice!

WED UPDATE (9:31, 10:53; 11:08 am) Hello! Adding (6) Eternal Express selection, EE[1].

________(5) Mosaic Law Highlights

CHRISTIAN STANDARD: PRINCIPLED LOVE ENSURES ORPHANS AND WIDOWS ARE CARED FOR.

Now let’s consider Exodus 22, verses 22-24, as God declares: “22 “You must not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict him at all, so that he cries out to me, I will unfailingly hear his outcry; 24 and my anger will blaze, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will become widows, and your children will be fatherless.”

GAIN INSIGHT INTO THEIR NEEDS. Does not Jeho'voe God want his servants to defend and look after the weak and vulnerable ones among them?! How seriously he shows that we should have compassion and insight into the needs of especially widows and orphans. Clearly, God shows this was a life or death matter for Israel, to compassionately comprehend what they’re going through. The widow, having been dependent upon her husband while alive, both spiritually and materially, now must materially rely upon whatever savings he may have accumulated until they run dry, or upon any of her own efforts to generate income, perhaps meager, or upon support from family members or perhaps some form of organized assistance. And what of spiritual and emotional support? How mature spiritual women can offer emotional support and encouragement that she may now be lacking from the husband's love, while she continues to receive spiritual instruction from God's word. And what if she has children? These are now fatherless. What a difficult time this may be for a dear child! How fine if other responsible, chaste, mature men and women, perhaps themselves married and parents, render any assistance they can in support of the widow’s caring for the spiritual needs of any such children. Especially may any boys benefit from good examples of men to encourage them and help them progress in divine wisdom, receiving any training that may be offered. The seriousness of this matter for Christians is underscored by the words of James 1:27, where he writes under inspiration: “27 The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.” Of course, those looking after orphans and widows should be exemplary, untarnished by the world’s moral degradation, rather seeking to honor God, upholding his uprightness with integrity, all this essentially the meaning of James' reference to spotless conduct.

RENDER CHASTE, WHOLESOME ASSISTANCE. Clearly, the primary principle is that God deeply cares for the weaker and vulnerable ones among even mankind, those perhaps deprived of what they are needing spiritually to maintain a good relationship with God and others, to grow in divine wisdom and uprightness. May we do what we can to develop these things ourselves, that we may be in a position to render chaste, wholesome assistance to any we find in need of encouragement and assistance, to the honor of our loving God and Father, Jeho'voe. Deuteronomy 10:16-19 says this to Israel: “16 You must now cleanse your hearts and stop being so stubborn. 17 For Jeho'voe your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the God great, mighty, and awe-inspiring, who treats none with partiality and does not accept a bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless child and the widow and loves the foreign resident, giving him food and clothing. 19 You too must love the foreign resident, for you became foreign residents in the land of Egypt.” Why couldn't most orphanages become "Family Centers," equipping such children morally and spiritually to fit in with a family looking to support God's arrangement of caring for such ones, and perhaps awaiting a resurrection of loved ones or parents either physically or spiritually, or both, under the Kingdom of God? As Paul was inspired to write, at Acts 24:15 "And I have hope toward God, which hope these men also look forward to, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the upright and the unworthy." With good spiritual instruction, each child can grow to become a grateful, respected member of any of many families, and perhaps ready to welcome back resurrected loved ones!  Also, perhaps such centers can be open to visitation in some carefully thought-out way, to allow such children to be visited and encouraged by friends or acquaintances and other upright families! Such children can perhaps in time get to know and love many families in the community. Such families in the community can be supportive in such a way, the orphaned children grateful for any such support, small or large, perhaps in time gaining another family to call hisr own!

CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE: TRUE LOVE FOR GOD AND NEIGHBOR ACTS WITH WISDOM IN HARMONY WITH DIVINE LAW AND STANDARDS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

Now let’s consider Exodus 23:6,7: “6 “You are not to pervert the judgment of the poor one among you in his legal case. 7 “Have nothing to do with a false accusation, and do not kill the innocent and the upright, for I will not declare the corrupt one upright.”

ONE WHO HAD BECOME POOR. Verse 6 A person among God’s people who has been or becomes poor for some reason, as considered recently in God’s law to Israel, was to be supported and helped, until he gets back on his feet. He should never be considered to be destined to remain in such a state forever, as some would have us believe, as if that one is fated to remain in a certain socioeconomic “class.” Gaining in divine wisdom, such a person should be able to better himself in his financial matters and recover. The Scriptures reveal that “time and unexpected events” [or, “chance”] befall us all (Eccle 9:11). Regarding God’s son, in Psalm 72, it is foretold that “12 he will rescue the poor who cry for help, Also the lowly one and whoever has no helper. 13 He will have pity on the lowly and the poor, And the lives of the poor he will save. 14 From oppression and from violence he will rescue them, And their blood will be precious in his eyes.” Thus, the judgment of the “poor one among you” was not to be perverted. That one’s legal case was to be handled according to upright judgment by the Law, just as everyone else’s. Therefore, impartiality in judgment is seen as a hallmark of God’s dealings with mankind. (Acts 10:34,35). God is fair and just, and those representing Him as judges should thus deal fairly and justly in their judgments.

JUDGES TO DEAL IMPARTIALLY. Verse 7 Accordingly, such judges should often be able to see through a “false accusation.” Such ones were not to waste time with such, which may perhaps serve to accomplish the aims of those encouraging such a thing. Also, trust in God was to be maintained in that, regardless of it’s resulting perceptions to the public, one truly innocent or upright in the judgment was not to be unfairly condemned, for God “will not declare the corrupt one upright.” Judges were clearly to deal impartially, with fairness and true justice, and trust God to bless the outcome of holding to truth and uprightness, in accord with His Law. How fine for Israel to have had the Law of Jehovoe God to judge by! And was not Jesus likewise a fine impartial judge, whose teachings and ways, such as found in his Sermon on the Mount, are recognized to be superior among humans? He fulfilled scores of prophecies, never violating God’s law to Israel, proving himself a worthy judge of mankind, having God’s blessing. And he himself said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Thus, appreciating his role in God’s purpose involves the life and happiness of all humans! Certainly many have benefitted greatly from true Christian principles and standards! As Deuteronomy 32:4 says of Jehovah: “4 The Rock, perfect is his activity, For all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness who is never unjust; Upright and honest is he.” How happy a people can be when true justice can prevail in their lives, when wrongdoers can truly repent of their evil, and truly innocent ones can be proven innocent, and exonerated. Who would not want God’s influence, at least among His people, on such judgments? Eventually, ones will not be permitted to cause "any harm." How? "They will not cause any harm Or any ruin in all my holy mountain, Because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovoe As the waters cover the sea." Divine knowledge, wisdom, and true love of God and neighbor will make such possible (Matth 22:37-39). Lies and other harmful practices will no longer hold mankind hostage. May we look forward to the rulership of God’s kingdom in the hands of Christ, to at last fully restore true uprightness and justice to the new world of God’s making! (2Peter 3:13).

________(6) Eternal Express

CHRISTIAN SMALL LETTER PRIMARY REVIEW

%:AVOID JEALOUSLY SEEKING TO OUTSHINE OTHERS. Let's look at a scripture from Galatians 6. Actually James highlights why we should be careful not to be so competitive in our dealings with others, although it is a common spirit in this world. Many are jealous of others, and become contentious in wanting to outdo, or outshine, others. Here's the problem, in the words of James 3:16: "For wherever there are jealousy and contentiousness, there will also be disorder and every vile thing." Is that what we want? Disorder, and every vile or worthless thing? This does not bring genuine joy or happiness to our life. Rather, the counsel of Galatians 6:4 comes to our aid here. We read: "But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person." We're to be seeking to improve day by day, in our life or our business or our hobby, but not comparing our work to others. Rather, try to become better than you were last week, or last month, or last year at this same time, examining your own activity, comparing your previous records to what you're doing now. I like also how the Amplified Version puts this verse: "But let each person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor." %:RATHER, SCRUTINIZE YOURSELF & YOUR WORK, FINDING JOY IN YOUR OWN MERIT & GRADUAL IMPROVEMENTS.

________(7) SongWeekly

One of the Noteworthy Traits highlighted in the remarks during the opening Olympic ceremony involved Strength--becoming Stronger together. Therefore the chosen SongWeekly this time is:

Both opening ceremony speeches highlighted the unity encouraged by the Olympic spirit. When we all live by the same rules, remarkable peace is possible!

All of us just need to recognize that our Creator, God knows precisely the "rules" we all need in order to promote the peace, unity, harmony, and prosperity that He has made possible in the way He made man, woman and this universe and globe!

Speaking of peace, love and harmony, many should recall this one, as the next SongWeekly--let's give it another go!: