NT CHURCH GOVERNMENT #56--- ROLE OF WOMEN--- PASTOR #2

 

Women's Role in the Church #11

The Role of Pastor #2

Continued from previous page: The Protestant understanding of the representative role of the pastor differs from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox view. According to the latter, the priest does not merely represent, but actually "presents the priesthood of Jesus Christ to the rest of the community" 21 by reenacting through the eucharistic celebration the very sacrifice offered by Christ on the Cross. According to the Protestant tradition, however, the pastor does not present the priesthood and the sacrifice of Christ to the congregation, but rather represents Christ by serving symbolically as Christ's ambassador and shepherd to the congregation. We have shown earlier that the sacramental view of the priest is devoid of Biblical support. The role of the leader of the congregation (elder/overseer/pastor) is seen in the New Testament as being not an impersonification of Christ's priesthood and sacrifice, but a representation of Christ, the true Father, Shepherd, and Head of the church. Indications of Representative Role The representative role of the pastor is suggested, first of all, by Christ's calling, training, and commissioning of the twelve apostles to be His "witnesses" (Acts 1:8; Matt 28:18-20; Mark 3:14). As Christ is "the apostle and high priest of our confession" (Heb 3:1), that is, the one sent to represent the Father, so pastors are sent (apostello) to represent the Father and the Son to believers and unbelievers: "As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world" (John 17:18). Paul underscores the representative commission given to church leaders when he writes: "And he [God] has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:19-20, NIV). There is no question in Paul's mind that he was Christ's ambassador to believers and unbelievers. To the Galatians he wrote: "You welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself' (Gal 4:14). Representative Shepherd While every believer is Christ's ambassador and belongs to the "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9; Ex 19:6; Deut 26:19), the pastor fulfills in a special sense the role of Christ's representative, as the under-shepherd of Christ's flock. Christ describes Himself as "the good shepherd" and His mission as gathering the sheep that are not of His fold, so that "there shall be one flock, one shepherd" (John 10:11,14-16). To accomplish this mission, Christ commissioned Peter (and in a sense all those who function in the same role as church leaders) to feed the lambs and the sheep (John 21:15-17). Christ's commission to His disciples to be the under-shepherds of His flock represents the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the future appointment of faithful shepherds: "I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the Lord" (Jer 23:4). "And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jer 3:15; cf. Ezek 34:1-31). The promise of true shepherds to come who would faithfully tend God's flock (not as hirelings--John 10:13) is fulfilled through the ministry of the apostles, elders, and overseers who serve as shepherds of Christ's flock (Acts 20:17, 28). Peter clearly describes the function of elders as shepherds of God's flock, representing the chief Shepherd: So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory (1 Pet 5:1-4). Heavenly Worship In the worship service the pastor acts as representative not only of the congregation but also of Christ. As believers we hear the word, we are baptized and participate in the Lord's Supper, not in an abstract, impersonal way, but rather in a personal way as the pastor ministers to us in Christ's name. The vision of the heavenly worship in Revelation 4 and 5 reflects the inner reality of the worship of the church. In that vision the central position is occupied by the Father and the Lamb who are surrounded by twentyfour elders, representing the twelve patriarchs of ancient Israel and the twelve apostles of the new Israel. This imagery implies that the pastor, as the leader of the worshiping community on earth, fulfills a representative role similar to that of the twenty-four elders in the heavenly worship. The unique symbolic role a pastor is called to fulfill as representative of the heavenly Father, Shepherd, High Priest, and Head of the church cannot legitimately be fulfilled by a woman pastor, because her Scriptural role is not that of a father, shepherd, priest or head of the church. We have seen that these functional roles are associated in the Scriptures with the distinctive roles God has assigned men to fulfill. To appoint women to serve as elders/pastors means not only to violate a divine design, but also to adulterate the pastor's symbolic representation of God. Danger of Changing Symbols C. S. Lewis rightly warns that "We have no authority to take the living and seminal figures which God has painted on the canvas of our nature and shift them about as if they were mere geometrical figures." 22 The sexual role distinctions, Lewis notes, go beyond physical appearance. They serve "to symbolize the hidden things of God." 23 Lewis warns that when we are in the church, "we are dealing with male and female not merely as facts of nature but as the live and awful shadows of realities utterly beyond our control and largely beyond our direct knowledge" 24 What this means is that the male role of father in the home and of the pastor as spiritual father in the household of faith (1 Cor 4:15) points to a much greater reality, "largely beyond our direct knowledge," namely, to that of the heavenly Father, the original and ultimate "Father" of the home, the church, and the human family. Paul clearly expresses this connection in Ephesians 3:14-15: "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom all fatherhood (patria) in heaven and on earth derives its name"(NIV, margin). The text suggests that all earthly fathers, whether biological fathers in the home or spiritual fathers in the church, reflect the image of the heavenly "Father," albeit in a human, creaturely way. It is in no way derogatory to the female sex to affirm that an elder/pastor exercises fatherhood and not motherhood for God's family, because as E. L. Mascall observes, "his office is a participation in God's own relationship to his people and God is our Father in heaven and not our Mother." 25 The female sex has its own distinctive dignity and function, but it can hardly represent the Fatherhood of God to His people, a theme which is dominant in both the Old and the New Testaments. The reason is quite simple. The sexual and symbolic role of a woman is that of mother and not of father. To change the nature of the symbol means to distort the apprehension of the reality to which the symbol points. To put it simply, a woman who stands for motherhood cannot appropriately represent the Fatherhood of God in the home or in the extended family of faith, the church. To appreciate this point more fully, we need to consider the implications of the male imagery of God for the symbolic role of the pastor. 2. Male Imagery of the Godhead Male Imagery It is an accepted fact that God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures and through Jesus Christ predominantly in male terms and imagery. Obviously God transcends human sexual distinctions, yet He has chosen to reveal Himself predominantly and unmis- takable through male terms and imagery. God has revealed Himself as Father and not as Mother. He sent His Son and not His Daughter. Jesus spoke of the Fatherhood and not of the Motherhood of God. He appointed twelve men and not twelve women to act as His representatives. We pray "Our Father" and not "Our Mother" who art in heaven. Christ is the new Adam and not the new Eve. He is the Bridegroom and not the Bride of the Church. To these can be added other Biblical expressions which depict Christ as Lord (Acts 2:36; Phil 2:11), Head (Eph 5:23), King (Luke 19:38), Lamb (Rev 5:12), Judge (Rev 19:11), Servant (Luke 22:27), all of which are unmistakably masculine. The reason why God has chosen this predominantly male imagery to reveal Himself is presumably because, as discussed earlier, the male role within the family and the church best represents the role that God Himself sustains toward us. We found a fitting example in Ephesians 3:14-15 where Paul indicates that all forms of human fatherhood derive from and reflect the Fatherhood of God. Resymbolizations of Godhead Both liberal and evangelical feminists have long recognized the enormous significance of the correlation between the male imagery of the Godhead and the male role of the pastor/elder in the church, the latter being a reflection of the former. To them this correlation rightly constitutes a formidable stumbling block to the ordination of women. Consequently, with unshaken determination they are clamoring for a resymbolization of the Godhead, based on impersonal or feminine categories. This is seen as the first indispensable step to clear the path for a female priesthood. To bring about a resymbolization of the Godhead, feminist theologians are employing several methods. Some are proposing dropping the personal terms for God, adopting instead nonpersonal or suprapersonal ones, such as "Fire, Light, Almighty, Divine Providence, Heavenly Parent, Cosmic Benefactor, Source of Sustenance." Others advocate using terms denoting actions, such as "Savior, Creator, Comforter." Others recommend addressing God as "Mother" or "Father-Mother," and Christ as "Daughter" or "SonDaughter." 26 A growing number of feminists are urging that Christ be no longer thought of as "Son of the Father, but rather as "Child of God." 27 Moreover, as noted by Donald Bloesch, "They object to calling Christ 'Lord' and 'Master,' since these terms reflect a patriarchal vision. They offer instead the alternatives 'Companion' and 'Friend,' which denote a relationship of mutual fellowship and equality rather than superordination arid subordination." 28 Depersonalization of God The results of the resymbolizations of God are, unintentionally perhaps, leading in two directions. On the one hand, God is reduced to an impersonal abstraction, light-years removed in transcendence. On the other hand, God is made into an androgynous Being with male-female characteristics: God/Goddess, Creator/Creatrix, Father/Mother. The latter augurs a return to fertility worship. The ultimate results of such efforts is not merely switching labels on the same product, but rather introducing new labels for an entirely different product. Feminists who advocate changing the personal names of God from Father, King, and Lord, to impersonal abstractions as "Womb of Being," "Immanent Mother," "Life Force," "Divine Generatrix," or "Ground of Being," are ending up with a God who is a far cry from the Biblical, personal God. To characterize God with nonpersonal, abstract terms means not only to deny the personal aspect of the three members of the Trinity, (the three members of the "trinity" is a false doctrine that Dr.Sam help being as it is a SDA teaching - Keith Hunt) but also to destroy the basis for a meaningful, personal relationship between God and human beings. Martin Buber points out that: The great achievement of Israel is not to have taught the one true God, who is the only God, the source and end of all that is; it is to have shown that it was possible in reality to speak to Him, to say, "Thou" to Him, to stand upright before His face.... It was Israel who first understood and--much more--lived life as a dialogue between man and God. 29 Ultimately, the tendency of feminist theologians to reduce God to impersonal abstractions leads to a depersonalized image of God to whom it is impossible to pray personally. As Deborah Belonic states it, "To exchange a personal God for imagery of qualities of God leads to inadequate conceptions of God and depersonalization of both God and humanity." 30 In a discouraging report of the Evangelical Women's Caucus which met in Saratoga Springs, New York (June 1980), Deborah Barackman complains about the cavalier way the revealed names of God were treated in the desire to eliminate gender-specific language. There seemed little awareness that excision of titles such as "Father," "Son," and "King" does violence to his personal, Trinitarian, authoritative, and majestic nature. Though God "is spirit and not a man," to shift gender titles also confuses the relationships in such overarching scriptural metaphors as Israel as God's wife. 31 Feminization of God Equally dangerous is the effort of some feminist theologians to make God into a female deity or to exalt Mary to a creative and redemptive role. Elizabeth Stanton, an early feminist (1895), argues that "the first step in the elevation of woman to her true position is ... the recognition by the rising generation of an ideal Heavenly Mother, to whom their prayers should be addressed, as well as to a Father." 32 To achieve this objective Durwood Foster believe that Christians can receive much help from Eastern thought, specifically "from the mood and intuition of Sri Aurobindo Ghose in his meditation on God as the Mother." He continues saying, "It is still an open question as to whether the figure of Mary may not have a more exalted role in the Christian vision--not only as co-redemptivx but also as cocreatrix." 33 This unbiblical and heretical exaltation of Mary as co-redeemer and co-creator is developed more fully by Mary Daly in her book "Beyond God the Father." She views Mary's virginity as the symbol of woman's completeness and autonomy from man and favors Mary over Jesus as the redemptive symbol for women. 34 The desire to promote the sexual equality of women and their ordination to the priesthood leads Mary Daly to deny the deity of Christ and to offer a female counterpart in the person of Mary, both of which are heresy. Susan Foh correctly observes that authors such as Mary Daly (Stanton, Foster, Reuther, Soelle) "began with the presupposition that the Bible is an important but not the final authority and that women must be made equal to men in every respect, no matter what." 35 An Androgynous God? Equally alarming is the effort to make God into an androgynous Being, consisting of a male and a female counterpart or half male and half female (Father-Mother). This view is totally foreign to the revelation that God has given of Himself in Scripture. Elaine Pagel correctly points out that: "Unlike many of his contemporaries among the deities of the ancient Near East, the God of Israel shares his power with no female divinity, nor is he the divine Husband or Lover of any. He scarcely can be characterized in any but masculine epithets: King, Lord, Master, Judge, and Father. 36 Biblical faith envisions God not as the Mother Goddess of mythological religion or the Earth Mother of animistic cults but as the Sovereign Lord and Almighty Father who admits of no female counterpart. "The Judeo-Christian tradition," writes James R. Edwards, "knows nothing of an androgynous Godhead; that is, God does not need a female counterpart to complete his identity. When a female counterpart is present, fertility worship, or neo-Baalism, lurks beneath" 37 3. God as Father and Son God the Father In Scripture God is presented not only in male imagery, but also female. In a few Biblical passages, for example, God is pictured in maternal terms. 38 Perhaps the most moving passage of all is found in Isaiah 49:15: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you" (cf. Matt 23:37). The fact that in Scripture "God is like a father who pities his children (Ps 103:13) and a mother who cannot forget her sucking child (Is 49:15)" 39 has led some to conclude that God can be appropriately addressed as Father and/or Mother. 40 Paul Jewett is right in emphasizing that both paternal and maternal references to God are analogical in character, but is wrong in concluding that "both analogies are equally revelatory" of the inner being of God. 41 There is a difference between God's saying, "I am a father to Israel" (Jer 31:9) or Christ's saying, "call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven" (Matt 23:9) and God's saying, "I will cry out like a woman in travail" (Is 42:14) or "Can a woman forget her sucking child? ... yet I will not forget you" (Is 49:15). The first set of statements describes the person of God (God is our Father) while the second set of statements makes a comparison based on an action of God (God is like a crying or compassionate woman). The former identifies the person of God, the latter compares an action of God to an action performed by mothers. God is the Father The term "Father" is used in Scripture not only in a "figurative" sense to describe what God is like, but also in a "literal" sense to describe what God really is. As Hendrikus Berkhof points out, "God is not 'as it were' a Father; he is the Father from whom all fatherhood on earth is derived." 42 Similarly Karl Barth observes: No human father, but God alone, is properly, truly and primarily Father. No human father is the creator of his child, the controller of its destiny, or its savior from sin, guilt and death. No human father is by his word the source of its temporal and eternal life. In this proper, true and primary sense God--and He alone--is Father. 43 The self-revelation of God as Father stands out especially in the teaching of Jesus. Joachim Jeremias, in his massive study of the Aramaic "Abba" ("Father") used consistently by Christ, shows that there is no evidence in the extensive Jewish literature of the term "Father" being used by itself by an individual to address God 44 In startling contrast to the prevailing custom of avoiding whenever possible the name of God out of reverence, Jesus not only called God "Father" but "Abba" (Mark 14:36), an Aramaic diminutive equivalent to our "daddy." Such a familiarity with the Almighty and Holy One was sacrilegious for the Jews. "Jesus, however, not only addressed God with the warmth and security of a child addressing its father, but he taught his disciples to do the same (Gal 4:6)." 45 Implications of God's Fatherhood  Why has God revealed Himself, especially through Jesus Christ, as our Father and not as our Mother? Some feminist theologians believe that the answer is to be found in the patriarchal culture of the time where the father was the head and ruler of the household. God would have adopted this culturally accepted analogy to reveal Himself. Since we no longer subscribe to such a patriarchal social structure and world-view, the analogy of God as "Mother," they claim would be equally appropriate today. This reasoning is not correct because although God has used the patriarchal imagery of a Father to reveal Himself, He transcends this imagery radically. As Karl Barth aptly puts it, "when Scripture calls God our Father, it adopts an analogy only to transcend it at once." 46 Jesus' revelation of God as "Abba" was not only counter-cultural, but also determinative for His self-understanding as the Son of God and for the self- understanding of His followers as sons and daughters of God. God has used the language of fatherhood to reveal Himself because such language contains an abiding truth about Himself which cannot lightly be dismissed. Fatherhood preserves the Biblical principle of headship and subordination. As our Father, God is the creator and controller of our lives and we are His subordinate children (James 1:17-18). If God were our Mother we would think of Her not as our Creator but as our Generatrix, that is, not as the one who created us out of nothing (ex nihilo), but as the one who generated us out of Herself. This shows, as Kallistos Ware states it, that "if we were to substitute a Mother Goddess for God the Father, we would not simply be altering a piece of incidental imagery, but we would be replacing Christianity with a new kind of religion." 47 It is important to remember that the symbol of the Fatherhood of God was not created by the prophets or apostles out of their patriarchal culture, but was revealed and given to us by God Himself. "God as Father is God's own witness to himself, not a mere human witness to God" 48 Headship Role To appreciate the implication of the Fatherhood of God, it is important to note the difference between fatherhood and motherhood. In Scripture both are similar in terms of compassion for his/her child (Is 49:15; Ps 103:13). The only difference is to be seen, as Susan Foh points out, in "their relationship to one another. The father is the head of the household; consequently, his wife must submit herself to him and reverence him (Eph 5:22-24,33). It is the husband's headship and the wife's submission that makes it necessary to address God as Father, not Mother." 49 The same principle applies, as we have shown, to the headship role that a pastor/elder fulfills in the extended family of God, the church. If one erases the Biblical distinction between the roles men and women are called to fulfill in the home and in the church, as many feminist theologians are seeking to do, then there is no longer any reason for maintaining the Fatherhood of God. Feminists have well understood the connection between the Fatherhood of God and the male headship role in the home and in the church. Consequently, it is not surprising that some of them are endeavoring to remove the Fatherhood of God, calling it a cultural vestige of a patriarchal age. To do so, however, means to reject not only the revelation which God has given of Himself, but also His creational design for harmonious human relation- ships. God the Son Why did God become a man rather than a woman? As in the case of the Fatherhood of God, some feminists seek to account for the maleness of Christ primarily on the basis of culturally conditioned reasons. Scanzoni and Hardesty, for example, argue: Given the setting of patriarchal Judaism, Jesus had to be male ... Jewish women were kept in subjection and sometimes even seclusion. A female Messiah would have had little scriptural knowledge (according to the Talmud, the Torah should rather be burned than transmitted to a woman), and would not have been allowed to teach publicly in the synagogue, or have been believed if she had. And with her monthly "uncleanness" making her ritually impure for a fourth of the time, a female Messiah would have taken at least an extra year to complete God's mission. 50 Paul Jewett expresses concisely the same view: "the incarnation in the form of male humanity, though historically and culturally necessary, was not theologically necessary." 51 Is this true? Was Christ's incarnation as a man determined primarily by cultural necessities? Would a female Christ have equally fulfilled the role of the second Adam, the head of the redeemed humanity (Rom 5:14; 1 Cor 15:22,45)? Would a female Christ have equally fulfilled such male messianic typologies as a prophet like Moses (Dent 18:15,18), a King like David (2 Sam 7:12,16), an Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Is 9:6), a suffering servant (Is 53), and a heavenly Son of Man (Dan 7:1314)? It is hard to see how a female Christ could have fulfilled these male messianic typologies and become the new Adam, head of the Redeemed humanity. Reasons for the Maleness of Christ The typological correspondence between Adam and Christ can help us understand a major theological reason for the maleness of the incarnate Christ. Both Adam and Christ stand in Scripture as representative of fallen and redeemed humanity respectively: "For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by one mans obedience many will be made righteous" (Rom 5:19). "Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven" (1 Cor 15:49). The reason why Adam rather than Eve functions as the head and representative of the human race is not because of any moral or spiritual superiority, but simply because, as we have seen, God by creating man first established him as the head of humanity (1 Tim 2:13; 1 Cor 11:8). The reason why God chose the man and not the woman to function as the head of humanity, of the home, and of the church, is not given in the Scriptures. We have argued repeatedly that it is not a question of superiority or inferiority but of com- lementary functional roles men and women have been equipped by God to fulfill. Man was created to serve as father and head of the family and woman was created to serve as mother and nurturer of the family. Being made a representative of humanity, Adam became "a type (typos) of the one who was to come" (Rom 5:14). Since God has assigned this representative, headship role to the male, Christ had to become incarnate as a man to be able to function as the representative and the head of the church (Eph 5:23). The male headship of Christ in the church becomes in turn the model for the headship of the husband in the home and the headship of male pastor/elder in the church. In a sense the incarnation of God as a man reveals the importance that God attaches to the creational role distinctions assigned to men and women. It is only by blurring or eliminating such distinctions that one can deny the necessity of the fatherhood of God and of the maleness of Christ. Susan Foh expresses the same conviction very clearly: Those who deny the theological necessity of God incarnate as a man also reject those passages which teach any differences between men and women as culturally determined. As in the case of the fatherhood of God, these theologians first eliminate the distinctions Scripture makes between men and women; then they say there is no ultimate reason Christ came to earth as a male. If one believes, "I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent" and its theological justification, "For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor" (1 Tim 2:12-14), to be true, then there is one obvious reason why Christ could not have been a woman. 52 In the light of the foregoing considerations we conclude that while God's mode of personal existence transcends male and female categories, through Jesus Christ He has revealed Himself supremely as Father, and He chose to incarnate Himself as a man. The male category used by God to reveal Himself as Father and as a male person through the incarnation of His Son, has great significance because it expresses the role that He sustains toward His creatures: Creator, Sustainer, and Savior. This role is the foundational analogy which serves as a model for the role men are called to fulfill as fathers in the home and as pastors/elders in the household of God: "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth derives its name" (Eph 3:14-15; NIV, margin). CONCLUSION This chapter has shown that the New Testament envisions the church as an extended family of believers in which the elder/pastor serves in dual representative roles: on the one hand as representative of the church members to God and on the other hand as God's representative to the church members. Women cannot legitimately serve in such dual representative roles, not because they are any less capable than men of piety, zeal, learning, leadership or other aptitudes required to serve as a pastor, but simply because such roles are perceived in Scripture as being those of a spiritual father and not of a spiritual mother. To blur or eliminate the role distinctions God assigned to men and women in the home and in the church, means not only to act contrary to His creational design, but also to accelerate the breakdown of the family and church structure. The pastor fulfills a unique symbolic role in the church as representative of the heavenly Father, Shepherd, High Priest, and Head of the church. A woman pastor cannot appropriately fulfill such a symbolic role because her Scriptural role is not that of a father, shepherd, priest or head of the church. Thus, to ordain women to serve as pastors/elders means not only to violate a divine design, but also to adulterate the pastor's symbolic representation of God. The efforts of liberal and evangelical feminists to clear the path for a female priesthood by revising the language of God through the introduction of impersonal or feminine names for God is a most dangerous trend which, if allowed to prevail, will result in a new religion widely at variance with the Christian faith. God has revealed Himself supremely as Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, who became a man and not a woman. We have seen that God's choice of these male categories to reveal Himself is most important. It tells us something about the role which He sustains toward us His children, namely, the role of an almighty, just, compassionate and caring Father. This role of the Heavenly Father functions as the foundational model for all forms of human fatherhood (Eph 3:14-15), whether it be that of the husband in the home or of the pastor in the church. Christian fulfillment in the home and in the church is to be found not by blurring, eliminating or reversing gender roles, but by willingly respecting the distinctive roles assigned by the Creator to men and women. Elizabeth Elliot's fitting expression of this conviction will serve as an apt conclusion of this chapter: Supreme authority in both the Church and the home has been divinely vested in the male as the representative of Christ, who is the Head of the Church. It is in willing and glad submission rather than grudging capitulation that the woman in the Church (whether married or single) and the wife in the home find their fulfillment. 53 ...... NOTES ON CHAPTER VII 1. Letha Scanzoni and Nancy Hardesty, All We're Meant to Be (Waco, Texas, 1975), p.177. 2. The Order of Priesthood. Nine Commentaries on the Vatican Decree Inter Insignores (Huntington, Indiana, 1978), p.12. 3. Pirqe Aboth 3,7. 4. This view is expressed by Hermann W. Beyer, "Episcopos," Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974), vol. 2, pp.616-617; see also Raymond Brown, Priest and Bishop, Biblical Reflections (New York, 1970), pp.77-78. 5. George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974), p.533. 6. Joachim Jeremias, "Poimen," Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Friedrich (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973), vol. 6, p.498. 7. Jerome D. Quinn, "Ordination in the Pastoral Epistles," Communio 8 (Winter 1981): 368. 8. B. W. Powers, "Patterns of New Testament Ministry--1. Elders," The Churchman 87, 3 (Autumn 1973): 175; see also Ed Glasscock, "'The Husband of One Wife' Requirements," Bibliotheca Sacra 140 (July-September 1983): 250. 9. See James B. Hurley, Man and Woman in Biblical Perspective (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1981), p. 229; Susan T. Foh, Women and the Word of God (Phillipsburg, New Jersey, 1979), p.128. 10. David P. Scaer, "C. S. Lewis on Women Priests," Concordia Theological Quarterly 44, 1 (January 1980): 58. 11. Rosemary Reuther, "The Other Side of Marriage," A. D. Magazine 8, 6 (June 1979): 8-9. 12. Donald G. Bloesch, Is the Bible Sexist? (Westchester, Illinois, 1982), p.56 13. Ibid. 14. Michael Novak, "Man and Woman He Made Them," Communio 8 (Spring 1981) 248. 15. Donald G. Bloesch (n. 12), p.56. 16. E. Margaret Howe, Women and Church Leadership (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982), p.205. 17. Ibid. 18. Ibid. 19. Bishop Kirk, Beauty and Bands (London, 1955), pp.179,186. 20. E. Margaret Howe (n. 16), p.201. 21. Deborah Belonick, "The Spirit of the Female Priesthood," in Women and the Priesthood, ed. Thomas Hopko (New York, 1983), p. 166. The author emphasizes that to be ordained a priest "means, by the mystery of the Spirit, to bear the presence of, not to represent, the priesthood of Jesus Christ at the altar and in all the sacraments of the Church" (Ibid.). 22. C. S. Lewis, "Priestesses in the Church," in God in the Dock, ed. Walter Hooper (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1970), p.238. 23. Ibid. 24. Cited in W. Andrew Hoffecker and John Timmerman, "Watchmen in the City: C. S. Lewis's View of Male and Female," The Cresset 41, 4 (February, 1978): 18. 25. E. L. Mascall, "Women and the Priesthood of the Church," in Why Not? Priesthood and the Ministry of Women, eds. Michael Bruce and G. E. Duffield (Appleford, England, 1972), pp.111-112. 26. For a discussion of the resymbolization of the Godhead, see, Mary Daly, Beyond God the Father: Toward the Philosophy of Women's Liberation (Boston, 1973), pp.69-70; Ruth Tiffany Bamhouse, "An Examination of the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood in Terms of the Symbolism of the Eucharist," in Women and Orders, ed. Robert J. Heyer (New York, 1974), pp.20-25 Alla BozartCampbell, Womanpriest : A Personal Odyssey (New York, 1978), pp. 214 ff.; Rosemary Radford Reuther, New Woman/New Earth: Sexist Ideologies and Human Liberation (New York, 1975), p.65; Letha Scanzoni and Nancy Hardesty (n. 1), p.21. The United Church of Christ has published a booklet recommending the adoption of alternative impersonal names for God, instead of the traditional trinitarian language. See Inclusive Language Guidelines for Use and Study in the United Church of Christ (St. Louis, 1980). For an incisive critique of feminist attempts to revise the language about God, see Erik Routley, "Sexist Language: A View from a Distance," Worship 53 (January 1979): 2-11; Donald G. Bloesch (n. 12), pp.61-83; also, Carol P. Christ, "The New Feminist Theology: A Review of the Literature," Religious Studies Review 3 (October 1977): 203ff. 212 27. A task-force report to the National Council of Churches recommends that Christ be called not "Son of God" but "Child of God." The same report urges avoiding the use of personal pronouns when referring to God. See Newsweek 95, 25 (June 23, 1980): 87; The Christian Century 97, 23 (July 2-9, 1980) 696. 28. Donald G. Bloesch (n. 12), p.62. 29. Cited in Vladimir Lossky, In the Image and Likeness of God (Crestwood, New York, 1974), p.129. 30. Deborah Belonick (n. 21), p.156. 31. Deborah H. Barackman, "Evangelical Women's Caucus: Joumeyings, Eternity 31,11 (December 1980): 35. 32. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, The Original Feminist Attack on the Bible (the Woman's Bible) (New York, 1974), part 1, p.14. 33. A. Durwood Foster, "God and Women: Some Theses on Theology, Ethics, and Women's Lib," Religion in Life 42, (1973): 56. 34. Mary Daly (n. 26), pp.69. 35. Susan T. Foh (n. 9), p.149. 36. Elaine H. Pagel, "What Became of God the Mother?" in Carol P. Christ and Judith Plaskow, eds., Womanspirit Rising (San Francisco, 1979), p.107. 37. James R. Edwards, "Does God Really Want to be Called 'Father'?" Christianity Today (February 21, 1986): 29. 38. See Deut 32:18; Is 42:14; 46:3; 49:15; 66:11-13; Ps. 131:2; Luke 15:810; Matt 23:37. 39. Paul K. Jewett, The Ordination of Women (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1980), p.41. 40. Letha Scanzoni and Nancy Hardesty (n. 1), p. 20; Virginia Mollenkott, "A Challenge to Male Interpretation: Women and the Bible," The Sojourners 5, 2 (February 1976): 23-25; Paul K. Jewett (n. 39), p. 41; also Paul K. Jewett, Man as Male and Female (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1975), p.167. 41. Paul K. Jewett (n. 39), p.41. 42. Hendrikus Berkhof, Christian Faith, tr. Sierd Woudstra (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1979), p.69. 43. Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics: Index Volume with Aids for Preachers, eds. G. W. Bromiley and T. F. Torrance (Edinburgh, 1977), p.495. 44. See discussion in Gottlob Schrenk, "eater," Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Friedrich (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1967), vol. 5, p.985. 45. James R. Edwards (n. 37), p.29. 46. Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics I, 1 (Edinburgh, 1963), p.447. 47. Kallistos Ware, "Man, Woman, and the Priesthood of Christ," in Peter Moore, ed., Man, Woman, and Priesthood (London, 1978), p.84. 1975), p.168. 48. Donald G. Bloesch (n. 12), p.77. 49. Susan T. Foh (n. 9), p.153. 50. Letha Scanzoni and Nancy Hardesty (n. 1), pp.55-56. 51. Paul K Jewett, Man as Male and Female (Grand Rapids, Michigan). 52. Susan T. Foh (n. 9), pp.158-159. 53. Elisabeth Elliot, "Why I Oppose the Ordination of Women," Christianity Today 19 (June 6, 1975): 14. ............................ To be continued

KNOWING GOD #33--- THE PSALMS TELL US #9

 

KNOWING the True God #33

Salvation in the Psalms!

PSALM 139 The Eternal knows us, when we rise up or lay down, go here, go there, at work or at play, when we speak or when we think. David says there is no place to get away from God's spirit. It matters not if we are up on the moon or down in the depths of the sea. The Lord is and can be with us anywhere and any time. To God there is no such a thing as darkness, the night shines as does the day. The Lord is with us in the womb of our mother. And David knows that the creation of man/woman is a wonderfully made creation. God sees our forming and taking shape in the womb. And we are created to be able to have the thoughts and mind of God come within us. But David realizes that not all are mindful of the Almighty. The wicked do and speak wickedly. They will by the way they live and speak, only take God's name in vain. And in that sense they are the enemies of the children of God. David cries out for God to "Search me ... and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wickedness in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (verses 23-24). Truly, indeed we should have that attitude of mind, for such a mind-set is knowing that the our Father in heaven wants us to be teachable, open to be corrected and to be able to move in the way that is everlasting. This is also knowing the true God. PSALM 140 to 143 Here we see it is okay to realize the evil man is out there, and some of them are out to "get you" in certain ways, if they can. That is sometimes the reality of this life. It is fine to ask God to deliver you from such enemies. Sometimes you must even hand them over to the Lord to deal as He sees fit with them. Sometimes it is okay to ask that their own mischief rebound upon them. And in David's situation some of these evil ones ... well they needed to be as coals cast on the fire, put in a deep pit, and rise not up again. Pretty hard stuff - but sometimes needed. Twice in my life I've had two very real enemies. The first when I was in my 20s up to being 30 years old. This fellow in the same department was finally made department head, and then he was "out to get me and my religion." I finally left, and turned him over to God. I learned years later, he became a double amputee of both legs and died of cancer. Maybe just the way the dice rolled for him, but then maybe not, when you read this Psalm. The other fellow (a church brother) ... well I've related that story to you under the study "Watch how you pray" on this Website. It was a quick and sad end to him, that had to be more than just the roll of the dice. Those that follow righteousness will praise the Lord, and the upright shall dwell in His presence ( Psalm 140 verse 13). David wants to serve God, to be taught, corrected, led into the way of righteousness, and to be delivered from the enemies. He has a thirst for the pathway of the Lord, and desires to know the right way to walk. He wants God to teach him to do His will, and David also wants the enemy to be cut off. PSALM 144 Man is weak, his days are but a shadow that will fade away (in mortal death). But God does take knowledge of mankind, indeed so, as God created mankind for His purpose. You need to make sure you study my study called "A Christian's Destiny" on this Website. The Lord is mighty in works. His creation shows His might, beyond our finite minds. What they are discovering in outer space today just blows your mind, the human mind cannot really comprehend it. As Paul wrote, we look through a glass darkly, but one day we shall know even as we are known. David will sing a new song unto the Lord. He asks to be delivered from those who speak vanity and whose right hand speaks falsehood. He desires to see the next generation, our sons and daughter, in prosperity and happiness, whose God is the Lord. PSALM 145 One glorious Psalm of praise and thanksgiving, well worth quoting ever word: "I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy wonderous works. And people shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy Kingdom, and talk of thy power. To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom. Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all look unto thee (margin); and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever." Oh, so much of the truth of God, that we have seen throughout previous Psalms, but here it is all put in one Psalm, and what a glorious Psalm it makes. It is a Psalm of praise. It is a Psalm of the greatness of God. It is a Psalm of the righteousness, the goodness, the compassion, the mercy, the acts of God remembered. It is a Psalm of the Kingdom of God that shall reign over the universe for ever and ever. It is a Psalm showing that God cares for and upholds His people. It is a Psalm that tells us all good things come from God. It is a Psalm that tells us all the ways of the Lord are righteous and He is holy in all His works (sometimes we may not understand everything the way the Lord works, we look through a glass darkly). It is a Psalm that makes clear God is nigh unto them that call upon Him in truth (you don't have the love of the truth, He is not going to be nigh unto you, in the way He can be nigh unto you if you call upon Him in truth). It is a Psalm about the Lord fulfilling the desire of them that fear Him. Maybe not in this life, all the desires, but the important one - the desire to live for eternity with the Father - will for sure be fulfilled in God's own time. It is a Psalm about God hearing the cry (the sighing and crying - Ezekiel 9:4 - of His children) and will save them, for eternity for sure, and deliver them from evil in one way or another (remember Daniel's three friends and the fiery furnace). It is a Psalm about the Lord preserving - for eternal life - those that love Him (see 1 John 5:2-3 for a Bible definition of loving God). It is a Psalm about the wicked that will be destroyed - those that will not repent of sin, will die - the truth of Romans 6:23 is here proclaimed. It is a Psalm about giving praise and blessing to the Eternal God. A Psalm about salvation - forgiveness and mercy shown to those who will serve and worship God, as Jesus said, "In spirit and in truth" (John 4:23). It is to the poor in spirit, the humble of mind, the child like mind, the ones who will tremble at the word of God (Isaiah 66:2), that He will look at. Do you respect and give proper fear to the word of God, above anything else? You may like to read 2 Thessalonians 2 in conjunction with the phrase "love of the truth." As Jesus taught in the Gospels, you must be willing to give up, or place no thing or person between yourself and Him and the Father. Jesus also said that God's word was truth (John 17:17), and He also taught that you were to live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4). There are dozens of plain simple to understand verses in the Bible, that teach you the way to salvation. You do not need a PhD or 4 years in some "Theology school" to know how to find salvation with God. All you have to do is BELIEVE the clear verses and set your mind into the attitude the Lord wants, which you have been reading about throughout these Psalms - right from Psalm one. Yes, salvation, how you can have it, is found in the book of Psalms. I have a study called "Salvation in the Psalms." You may like to stop here and study that study. I encourage you to do so. ....................... To be continued

ISAIAH--- A PROPHET FOR TODAY #15

 

Isaiah For Today #15

Chapters 61 to 66

Chapters 61 - 66 From the New-Living Translation CHAPTER 61 Good News for the Oppressed 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. 3 To all who mourn in Israel (Heb.Zion) he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. This was quoted by Christ at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 4:18) but He stopped as it is in the KJV with verse 1, for verse two begins the prophecy of the end time for this age. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities long ago destroyed. They will revive them, though they have been empty for many generations. 5 Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards. 6 You will be called priests of the LORD, ministers of our God. You will be fed with the treasures of the nations and will boast in their riches. 7 Instead of shame and dishonor, you will inherit a double portion of prosperity and everlasting joy. 8 "For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants will be known and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the LORD has blessed." This cannot be said about Israel/Judah/Zion/Jerusalem today. there may be a part fulfilment but it has not reached its final and forever accomplishment of reality. 10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. 11 The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, filled with young plants springing up everywhere. At the final end of this age and the restoration of Jerusalem and the peoples of Israel and Judah, truly these will be the words that will echo in the holy promised land. CHAPTER 62 Isaiah's Prayer for Jerusalem 1 Because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. 2 The nations will see your righteousness. Kings will be blinded by your glory. And the LORD will give you a new name. 3 The LORD will hold you in his hands for all to see - a splendid crown in the hands of God. 4 Never again will you be called the God-forsaken City or the Desolate Land. Your new name will be the City of God's Delight and the Bride of God, for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his own. 5 Your children will care for you with joy, O Jerusalem, just as a young man cares for his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. This has not yet taken place, but it will when the Messiah comes in glory to claim Jerusalem and Israel-Judah to dwell with them forever more. 6 0 Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray to the LORD day and night for the fulfilment of this promise. Take no rest all of you who pray. 7 Give the LORD no rest until he makes Jerusalem the object of praise throughout the earth. 8 The LORD has sworn to Jerusalem by his own strength: "I will never again hand you over to your enemies. Never again will foreign warriors come and take away your grain and wine. 9 You raised it, and you will keep it, praising the LORD. Within the courtyards of the Temple, you yourselves will drink the wine that you have pressed." Once more this cannot be said to have taken place in Jerusalem and the holy land. 10 Go out! Prepare the highway for my people to return! Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders; raise a flag for all the nations to see. 11 The LORD has sent this message to every land: "Tell the people of Israel (Heb. the daughters of Zion) 'Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.'" 12 They will be called the Holy People and the People Redeemed by the LORD. And Jerusalem will be known as the "Desirable Place" and the "City No Longer Forsaken." It is the coming of the Messiah Christ in power and glory; that is the whole context; He comes to free Jerusalem from the Beast power of Europe, and to set up the Kingdom of God on earth. CHAPTER 63 Judgment against the LORD's Enemies 1 Who is this who comes from Edom, from the city of Bozrah, with his clothing stained red? Who is this in royal robes, marching in the greatness of his strength? 2 Why are your clothes so red, as if you have been treading out grapes? 3 "I have trodden the winepress alone; no one was there to help me. In my anger I have trampled my enemies as if they were grapes. In my fury I have trampled my foes. It is their blood that has stained my clothes." This is the mighty power of Christ as He returns to earth as a warring King, to smash His enemies, to destroy those who are destroying the earth. The great battle of Armageddon from the plain about 70 miles north-west of Jerusalem to the south of that city down to the ancient land of Edom. A flowing river of blood it will be, as I have shown in other in-depth studies on this website concerning that mighty battle. 4 "For the time has come for me to avenge my people, to ransom them from their oppressors. 5 I looked, but no one came to help my people. I was amazed and appalled at what I saw. So I executed vengeance alone; unaided, I passed down judgment. 6 I crushed the nations in my anger and made them stagger and fall to the ground." Yes, with the angelic armies and the saints raised by a resurrection at the coming of Christ, Jesus will wage war on those who will fight against Him, the armies if the Europe Beast power and the armies of the kings of the East. It is the time to free the captives of Israel and Judah, to restore them to the Promised Land, to deliver them from their enemies. All I have explained in detail in other prophetic studies on this Website. Praise for Deliverance 7 I will tell of the LORD'S unfailing love. I will praise the LORD for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel, which he has granted according to his mercy and love. 8 He said, "They are my very own people. Surely they will not be false again." And he became their Savior. 9 In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. Yes, it will be a PERSONAL delivery He will do to restore and redeem the whole house of Israel (all 13 tribes). They will be false to Him no more. This cannot be said of the tribes of Israel today, but when this prophecy comes to pass it surely will be said of them that they will never again be false in any way to the Lord their God. The Almighty was not joyful in having to punish them, it grieved Him to do so, to allow their enemies to destroy them and take them captive, but it was needful to be done to bring them to deep and full REPENTANCE. Their God will personally come and rescue them from the lands of their enemies. 10 But they rebelled against him and grieved his Holy Spirit. That is why he became their enemy and fought against them. 11 Then they remembered those days of old when Moses led his people out of Egypt. They cried out, "Where is the one who brought Israel through the sea, with Moses as their shepherd? Where is the one who sent his Holy Spirit to be among his people? 12 Where is the one whose power divided the sea before them, when Moses lifted up his hand, establishing his reputation forever? 13 Where is the one who led them through the bottom of the sea? They were like fine stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling. 14 As with cattle going down into a peaceful valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led your people, LORD, and gained a magnificent reputation." At the time of the end of this age, when the Great Tribulation will be upon this earth, and the mighty Day of the Lord has come, Israel and Judah will be reminded of the super- natural deliverance of the Exodus under Moses. They will turn and cry out to the Lord to once more use His glorious power to deliver them from their enemies. He will hear and He will come to deliver them. Prayer for Mercy and Pardon 15 LORD, look down from heaven and see us from your holy, glorious home. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now? 16 Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob (Heb. Israel) would disown us, LORD, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past. 17 LORD, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants and your special possession. 18 How briefly your holy people possessed the holy place, and now our enemies have destroyed it. 19 LORD, why do you treat us as though we never belonged to you? Why do you act as though we had never been known as your people? The people of Israel and Judah will indeed for a time wonder why their God (though they did not follow or look to Him in their latter years) turned away from them. He delivered them from TWO World Wars, BUT the third one (yet to come at the close of this age) they found they were not delivered. They will question if their God still loves them. In the thought of it all they will come to realize their sins, their terrible sins, were the reason their God had to punish them. They will begin to walk the pathway of REPENTANCE. CHAPTER 64 1 Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence! 2 As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame! 3 When you came down long ago, you did awesome things beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked! 4 For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! 5 You welcome those who cheerfully do good, who follow godly ways. But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. How can people like us be saved? 6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. 7 Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins. Israel and Judah will remember the might of the true God. They will remember the Lord welcomes them that do good, who are willing to follow Him. They will remember all this punishment that has come on them is because of their sins. They will feel they deserve no mercy. They will realize that any good they had and did was as filthy rags. They will realize that for a time no persons (in the majority - only a very few) called on God with a true heart of turning from sin, and so they will come to understand why it seemed that their God had turned His back on them. For those in Israel today, who will read their Bibles and who will search for the commandments of the Lord, to them, it is obvious as to the many and grievous sins of our nations. To them it is clearly seen that we have no political leaders, no religious leaders, that will lead the people out of our sins and back to the pathway of the Holy One. So, we shall in the appointed time, be turned over to the penalty of sin, which is death and destruction. It is written only ONE in TEN of our people shall remain alive by the time of Christ's coming again to earth. 8 And yet, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand. 9 Oh, don't be so angry with us, LORD. Please don't remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities are destroyed; even Jerusalem is a desolate wilderness. 11 The holy, beautiful Temple where our ancestors praised you has been burned down, and all the things of beauty are destroyed. 12 After all this, LORD, must you still refuse to help us? Will you continue to be silent and punish us? Yes, for a while, it will seem there will be no hope for the children of Israel. Judgment and Final Salvation 1 The LORD says, "People who never before inquired about me are now asking about me. I am being found by people who were not looking for me. To them I have said, 'I am here!' 2 I opened my arms to my own people all day long, but they have rebelled. They follow their own evil paths and thoughts. 3 All day long they insult me to my face by worshipping idols in their sacred gardens. They burn incense on the rooftops of their homes. 4 At night they go out among the graves and secret places to worship evil spirits. They also eat pork and other forbidden foods. Yet they say to each other, 'Don't come too close or you will defile me! I am holier than you!' They are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away." Sometimes it is others who are not Israelites who are more ready to accept the pathway of the God of Israel. The Almighty has always had His servants proclaiming His truths and way of life to the people of Israel and Judah, but for the most part those people would not hear, they wanted to follow their own ways, they did not want God telling them how to live, even how to eat. They wanted to serve their own passions and desires in their religious life and in their physical life. They had their own self-righteous ideas and thought and just wanted to do their own thing their own way, the way that seemed right to them, which was the way of sin and death at the end of the road they wanted to walk. So great the sins they chose they became a STENCH in the nostrils of God, an ACRID SMELL that never goes away. 6 "Look, my decree is written out in front of me: I will not stand silent; I will repay them in full! Yes, I will repay them 7 both for their own sins and for those of their ancestors," says the LORD. "For they also burned incense on the mountains and insulted me on the hills. I will pay them back in full! 8 But I will not destroy them all," says the LORD. "For just as good grapes are found among a cluster of bad ones (and someone will say, 'Don't throw them all away - there are some good grapes there!'), so I will not destroy all Israel. For I still have true servants there. 9 I will preserve a remnant of the people of Israel and of Judah to possess my land. Those I choose will inherit it and serve me there. 10 For my people who have searched for me, the plain of Sharon will again be filled with flocks, and the valley of Achor will be a place to pasture herds." There it is. There is a REMNANT in Israel and Judah, a called out, a chosen group, by election and grace. There will be 144,000 as mentioned in the book of Revelation, that will REPENT and TURN to serve the true God, and they will be in the first resurrection at the coming of Christ. There will be others in Israel and Judah who will seem the errors of their ways and who will be spared. Utter destruction will not happen to the children Israel and Judah. A prophecy in another book of the prophets tells us ONE in TEN will be alive at the coming of the Messiah to rule the earth. Those will go into the new age to come as physical human beings to inherit the Holy Land, to re-build the towns and cities and to enjoy the blessings of the 1,000 year age of the Kingdom of God on earth under Jesus Christ and the now immortal saints of all ages. 11 "But because the rest of you have forsaken the LORD and his Temple and worship the gods of Fate and Destiny, 12 I will 'destine' you to the sword. All of you will bow before the executioner, for when I called, you did not answer. When I spoke, you did not listen. You deliberately sinned - before my very eyes - and chose to do what you know I despise." The true way, the true temple of the Lord, has been proclaimed to Israel and Judah. This is ONE of the world-wide websites devoted to proclaiming that truth. But though it is there, shouting out the righteousness of the Lord and showing the people their sins, calling out to REPENT and turn and be converted to the pathway of the most High and Holy God, it is sad to know it will ONLY BE A FEW that WILL REPENT and turn from their sins. God has His servants out there! They will be telling the people of Israel and Judah their sins and the way of salvation, but most have shut their eyes to truth, they will deliberately want to continue in the way that seems right to them, which is mainly what the Eternal God despises. 13 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "You will starve, but my servants will eat. You will be thirsty, but they will drink. You will be sad and ashamed, but they will rejoice. 14 You will cry in sorrow and despair, while my servants sing for joy. 15 Your name will be a curse word among my people, for the Sovereign LORD will destroy you and call his true servants by another name. 16 All who invoke a blessing or take an oath will do so by the God of truth. For I will put aside my anger and forget the evil of earlier days." Eventually the righteous will win the day. They will be vindicated, while the willful sinners shall meet destruction. Yet in the final end all who remain alive shall KNOW the true God and His true ways of life and blessing. The Lord will put away His anger and turn the evil days into good days for all people. 17 "Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth - so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore. 18 Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more. 20 No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only sinners will die that young! 21 In those days, people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. 22 It will not be like the past, when invaders took the houses and confiscated the vineyards. For my people will live as long as trees and will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. 23 They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the LORD, and their children, too, will be blessed. 24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! 25 The wolf and lamb will feed together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. Poisonous snakes will strike no more. In those days, no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the LORD, have spoken!" What a wonderful prophecy of the good to come on this earth and to the people of Israel. It will indeed be a new heaven and earth in that new age to come at the return of Christ the Messiah. People will live as long as trees, the nature of wild animals will be changed. We saw this already in chapter 11. There will be no more destruction in the Holy Land. The world will experience peace as never before in its history. Children in that age will not be doomed to the sorrow that many face today. The Lord will be so close to people that even before they ask He will answer them. All this has never happened before in the way it is given here. It is a prophecy for the age to come. CHAPTER 66 1 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that? Could you build a dwelling place for me? 2 My hands have made both heaven and earth, and they are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word." Ah, one of the key verses in the Bible to tell you how to be acceptable to God. You need to be HUMBLE (teachable, repentable, loving truth, willing to search and hunger for righteousness, correctable) and you need to FEAR the WORD of God. It is not the ways or ideas or opinions of men or women you need to fear, but it is the very word of God that you must fear. These two attitudes of the mind and heart are a MUST if you want to walk with the Eternal God, if you want to be the friend of God, if you want to be His son or daughter. 3 But those who choose their own ways, delighting in their sins, are cursed. Their offerings will not be accepted. When such people sacrifice an ox, it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice. When they sacrifice a lamb or bring an offering of grain, it is as bad as putting a dog or the blood of a pig on the altar! When they burn incense, it is as if they had blessed an idol. 4 I will send great troubles against them - all the things they feared. For when I called, they did not answer. When I spoke, they did not listen. They deliberately sinned - before my very eyes - and chose to do what they know I despise." It is very plain. God does not delight in those who decide to choose their own ways, to do their own thing. Many, most today, do not want to listen to the call of God. They shut Him out, they will not be corrected; they will not repent of sin; they want to serve the Lord in "their way" as they see fit, how they see fit, when they see fit. All this is an abomination to the Holy One. 5 Hear this message from the LORD, and tremble at his words: "Your close relatives hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name. 'Let the LORD be honored!' they scoff. 'Be joyful in him!' But they will be put to shame." 6 What is all the commotion in the city? What is that terrible noise from the Temple? It is the voice of the LORD taking vengeance against his enemies. 7 "Before the birth pains even begin, Jerusalem gives birth to a son. 8 Who has ever seen or heard of anything as strange as this? Has a nation ever been born in a single day? Has a country ever come forth in a mere moment? But by the time Jerusalem's (Heb. Zion's) birth pains begin, the baby will be born; the nation will come forth. 9 Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?" asks the LORD. "No! I would never keep this nation from being born," says your God. It will only be in a very short time frame that the good promised to Jerusalem/Zion will be accomplished, as a baby born before labor begins. 10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem! Be glad with her, all you who love her and mourn for her. 11 Delight in Jerusalem! Drink deeply of her glory even as an infant drinks at its mother's generous breasts. 12 Peace and prosperity will overflow Jerusalem like a river," says the LORD. "The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and treated with love. 13 I will comfort you there as a child is comforted by its mother." Yes, much good and blessings are promised to come upon the city of Jerusalem in the new age to come. 14 When you see these things, your heart will rejoice. Vigorous health will be yours! Everyone will see the good hand of the LORD on his people - and his anger against his enemies. 15 See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his swift chariots of destruction roar like a whirlwind. He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke. 16 The LORD will punish the world by fire and by his sword, and many will be killed by the LORD. There is promised GOOD to come on Jerusalem, but at the same time, there is promised DESTRUCTION on the enemies of the Lord. The end of this age is BITTER and SWEET. BITTER for those who desire to ignore the Lord and disregard His commandments and holy way of life, and SWEET to those who will REPENT of sin, who will humble themselves and who will fear the word of the God. 17 "Those who 'purify' themselves in a sacred garden, feasting on pork and rats and other forbidden meats, will come to a terrible end," says the LORD. 18 "I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory." This is a prophecy clearly for the end of this age, when God shall come in His GLORY! You will notice the Lord STILL has His laws of clean and unclean foods in action. They have never been "done away with" as false prophets like to tell you. 19 "I will perform a sign among them. And I will send those who survive to be messengers to the nations - to Tarshish, to the Libyans* (Heb. Pul) and Lydians (who are famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to all the lands beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations. 2 They will bring the remnant of your people back from every nation. They will bring them to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD. They will ride on horses in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels," says the LORD. 21 "And I will appoint some of those who return to be my priests and Levites. I, the LORD, have spoken!" Not all people on earth will be destroyed by the Lord when He comes again. Here we have Spain (Tarshish); Pul (West and Central Africa); Lud (North Africa); Tubal (North Russia); Javan (Japan); and other lands of the earth where Israel and Judah have been scattered, nations that for different reasons have not heard the fame and glory of the Lord, and those people will help bring back Israelites to the Holy Land. Those nations shall come to KNOW the true God, and they shall be part of the people who shall send missionaries to other nations of the earth to inform them of the God of Israel. There will be MUCH true education going forth to those who live into the 1,000 year age to come. It will take some time to bring the world under the rulership and way of life of the Messiah and the resurrected saints now with Him. It is the will of God that the Kingdom of God take a number of years to spread around the world and rule all nations with a righteous and holy rod of iron. 22 "As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be my people, with a name that will never disappear," says the LORD. 23 "All humanity will come to worship me from week to week and from month to month. The translation is poor here, the KJV gives a better translation of the Hebrew as it is, "from new moon to his new moon, and from sabbath to his sabbath." The weekly Sabbath and New month day have never been "abolished" - they were, they are, and they will be, at least till the new heaven and new earth of Revelation 21 comes into reality. 24 "And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me. For the worms that devour them will never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by will view them with utter horror. " 66:19a[Libya]; Hebrew reads Pul. 66:19b Hebrew Lud. 66:19c Hebrew Javan The last verse is sobering. God will one day judge the people of the earth. Those who rebel, who will not put themselves under His laws and way of living, shall be destroyed. There will be a fire even in that age to come, to devour the rebellious sinners. The Beast man and False prophet will be cast into it at the coming of the Messiah (Revelation 19). The worms that eat the dead bodies turn into flies, the worms die not, and the fire will not be put out till all is ended with the coming of the new earth and heaven as given in Revelation 21 and 22. All the plan of God will come to pass. The prophecies of old in the book of Isaiah concerning the FIRST coming of the Messiah were fulfilled exactly and literally as given in Isaiah. So all the prophecies concerning His SECOND coming in glory and power to rule over the nations of the earth for 1,000 years, will also come to pass, just as literal. A new age is to come. All you have read about in this book and prophecy of Isaiah is as sure to take place as the rising of the sun, nay even more sure. There is WARNING and there is PUNISHMENT for many nations of this earth, including the peoples of the House of Israel (most of the Western world) and Judah (the Jews in the Holy Land). But there is also GOOD NEWS of SALVATION and RESTORATION for Israel, Judah, and for all nations. There is to be a re-newing of the earth, a transformation of the earth, a changing even of the nature of the animals, so the lion will eat straw as like the ox. We have seen the HIGHS and the LOWS of what is yet to come on this earth, but the END of the matter is GLORIOUS and WONDERFUL - BEYOND what the human mind can imagine at this time. The picture we get from Isaiah is just a shadow of the reality of what it will one day be like on this planet we call earth. So we continue to pray, "Thy Kingdom COME, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." .................... The book of "Isaiah for Today" finished in August 2008.

WISDOM FOR THE WEEK #8

 THE  BOOK  OF  PROVERBS 

CHAPTER 9-13

CHAPTER 9

Wisdom's Invitation

Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; 

2 She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. 

3 She has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, 

4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!  As for him who lacks understanding,  she says to him, 

5 Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 

6 Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.

7 He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only 

harms himself. 

8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;  rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

VERSE  7  AND  8  HAVE  TO  BE  UNDERSTOOD  AS  “GENERAL”  STATEMENTS;  THERE  CAN  BE  A  TIME,  THE  RIGHT  TIME [HENCE  WISDOM]  THAT  A  SCOFFER  AND  WICKED  PERSON  NEED  TO  BE  REBUKED.  THEN  OTHER  TIMES  A  SCOFFER  AND  A  WICKED  PERSON  WILL  BRING  HARM  TO  YOU.  THE  WISE  PERSON  WILL  WANT  TO  BE  CORRECTED  WHEN  WRONG,  AND  THEY  WILL  LOVE  THOSE  WHO  CORRECT  -  Keith Hunt

9 Give Instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself [it will be good to you - Keith Hunt] and if you scoff, you will bear it alone [ general statement - if you scoff when in the utter wrong, at those who are correct, you will be all alone to bear the ignominy (shame, disgrace) - Keith Hunt]

13 A foolish woman is clamorous [boisterous - mrg.]  She is simple, and knows nothing. 

14 For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city, 

15 To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way: 

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here"; and as for him who lacks understanding,  

she says to him, 

17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." 

18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell 

[or Sheol, which is death - Keith Hunt].

……

From  the  New  KJV  Study  Bible

9:1-18 These verses treat three themes with equal balance. Verses 1-6 describe the appeal of the good woman, wisdom. Verses 7-12 show the response of a wise man and a fool to wisdom. Verses 13-18 picture the call of folly, personified in the foolish immoral woman. 

9:1 Wisdom's house is sound and well built. Seven represents perfection. It will not fall (see Matt. 7:24-27).

9:3 Both wisdom and folly make'a public call from the highest places (see vv. 14,15). But there is no deception or secretiveness behind the call from wisdom (see vv. 17, 18 and note).

9:4-6 Wisdom and folly issue similar calls (see vv. 14-16). Both profess to help a young person "grow up." But wisdom brings maturity while folly deteriorates life. The one calls for open commitment; the other offers secret pleasures at no cost (v. 17).

9:7-9 The scoffer mocks the very principles of morality. He cannot be instructed and hurls his shame back upon the one who would correct him. The wise man accepts correction and grows wiser.

9:10,11 The fear of the Lord: Living in the light of God's commands is health; it prolongs the lives of many. See note on 3:16 and "The Fear of the Lord" at Gen. 20:11.

9:12 As folly destroys its follower, so wisdom benefits the wise: you are wise for your own profit.

9:13-16 To choose folly is to accept the seduction of a foolish (immoral) woman (7:5). Like wisdom, she too offers to teach the simple (see v. 4).

9:17,18 The seductress operates in secret ways and in dishonesty. Her guests die (v. 18); wisdom's guests live.

(v. 6).

……

CHAPTER 10

The Value of Wisdom

The proverbs of Solomon:

1 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

WISE  ALSO  MAKES  GLAD  THE  MOTHER;  FOOLISH  GRIEVE  THE  FATHER  ALSO.  THIS  IS  IN  THE  CONTEXT  OF  FATHER  AND  MOTHER  WALKING  IN  THE  WAY  OF  THE  LORD  -  Keith Hunt

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

IN  THE  LONG  TERM  OF  ETERNITY  WICKEDNESS  WILL  NOT  PROFIT;  RIGHTEOUSNESS  WILL  DELIVER  FROM  THE  SECOND  DEATH.  SO  IT  IS  THE  LONG  TERM  OF  THINGS  THAT  COUNTS,  FOR  WICKEDNESS  CAN  PROFIT  IN  THE  PHYSICAL  LIFE  AT  TIMES,  AND  SOMETIMES  THE  RIGHTEOUS  HAVE  BEEN  PUT  TO  DEATH  IN  PERSECUTION  -  Keith Hunt

3 The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.

GENERAL  STATEMENTS - THE  RIGHTEOUS  DO  AT  TIMES  HAVE  BAD  TIMES  IN  THE  PHYSICAL [SEE  HEBREWS  11],  AND  SOMETIMES  THE  DESIRE  OF  THE  WICKED  DOES  COME  TO  PASS - Keith Hunt

4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

USUALLY  THE  SLACK  HANDED  PERSON  DOES  NOT  GAIN  WEALTH [UNLESS  THEY  WIN  THE  LOTTERY  OR  INHERIT  SOME  FORTUNE],  AND  THE  HAND  OF  THE  DILIGENT  MAKES  RICH,  IN  THE  SENSE  OF  LIVING  A  DECENT  PHYSICAL  LIFE,  MEETING  THE  PAYMENT  OF  BILLS  ETC.  GOD  IS  NOT  SAYING  TEACHING  HERE  THE  “PROSPERITY  GOSPEL”  THAT  SOME  TEACH;  BEING  “RICH”  IS  A  SEMANTIC  WORD  -  PAUL,  PETER,  JOHN,  NEVER  BECAME  ‘RICH’  IN  THE  PHYSICAL  WAY  MANY  WANT  TO  INTERPRET  THIS  WORD  -Keith Hunt

5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

IT  IS  WISE  TO  SAVE  WHEN  TIMES  ARE  GOOD;  IT’S  UNWISE  TO  BE  SLEEPING  IN  YOUR  PHYSICAL  LIFE,  WHEN  THE  HARVEST  IS  GOOD  TO  BE  WISE  WITH  PHYSICAL  THINGS,  WHEN “TIMES  ARE  GOOD”  -  BE  WISE  WITH  YOUR  PHYSICAL  LIFE.  GOD  EXPECTS  HIS  CHILDREN  TO  BE  WISE  IN  USING  THE  PHYSICAL  THINGS  YOU  HAVE,  WHEN  TIMES  ARE  GOOD  -  Keith Hunt

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

GENERALLY,  WHEN  LIVING  THE  RIGHT  GODLY  WAY,  YOU  WILL  HAVE  MANY  BLESSINGS;  BUT  THE  WICKED  TEND  TO  SAY  WICKED  THINGS,  AND  SO  OFTEN  VIOLENCE  COMES  THEIR  WAY  -  Keith Hunt

7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

MOST  ENJOY  HEARING  ABOUT  “GOOD”  PEOPLE,  PEOPLE  MENTORS  FOR  OTHERS.  BUT  THE  WICKED  MOST  OF  THE  TIME,  ARE  FORGOTTEN  AND  NOT  REMEMBERED.  YOU  HAVE  TO  HAVE  A  NAME  LIKE  ADOLPH  HITER  TO  BE  REMEMBERED  -  Keith Hunt

8 The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall.

IF  YOU  ARE  WISE  AND  RECEIVING  GOD’S  COMMANDMENTS.  YOU  ARE  INDEED  ON  THE  CORRECT  PATHWAY;  BUT  FOOLS  TEND  TO  PAY  NO  ATTENTION,  AND  WALK,  ON  TO  FALL  IN  THE  BRAMBLE  BUSH.

Keith Hunt

9 He who walks with integrity walks securely [sure keeps you out of a lot of troubles, that many who do not walk with integrity find coming their way - Keith Hunt]. 

But he who perverts his ways will become known [yes it usually comes out and people know and pass  it  on  -  Keith Hunt]

10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble, but a prating fool will fall [obviously this is the wrong winking with the eye, the intent of the heart is bad.  A fool is one step further, their whole  life  is  foolishness  that  usually  find  them  falling  on  their  nose  -  Keith Hunt[

11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked [as  the  mind  is  so  speaks  the  mouth,  the  righteous (Psalm 119:172) bring forth good  words;  the  wicked  in  heart, the  opposite  of  righteousness,  can  often  end  up  in  in  physical  violence;  they  speak  and  act  in  the  context  that  can  end  in  violence  -  Keith Hunt]

  

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins [we  are  witness  to  what  hatred  does,  on  the  news  each  day…..strife  and  often  killings.  Love  knows  when  to  not  broadcast  sins;  there  is  a  time  that  sins  must  be  declared,  but  at  other  times  love  must  cover  them  over.  Wisdom  and  God’s  word  tells  you  when  and  how.  My  study  “Church  Disfellowshipping”  under  my  section  Church  Government,  shows  you  how  to  apply  love  and  sin  -  Keith Hunt]

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding [wisdom  in  living  with  the  correct  mind  and  voice,  is  truly  understanding  how  to  live;  but  those  who  do  not  have  it,  can  get  into  troubles  where  physical  penalties  are  handed  out.  Singapore  has  laws  that  if  you  break  you  can  literally  get  the  cane  -  Keith Hunt]

14 Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction [using  wisdom  correctly  knowledge  will  come  with  it,  you  learn  more  how  to  handle  things by  being  wise;  the  mouth  speaks  as  the  mind  is, and  so  foolishness  is  not  far  from  the  destruction  of  many  aspects  of  life.  How  many  times  have  you  heard  people  saying  “I  ended  up  in  this  mess  because  I  was  so  foolish”  -  Keith Hunt]

15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty [the  physical  rich  can  lord  it  over  their  subjects  or  employees;  they  do  not  realize  or  contemplate  it  is  largely  to  do  with  their  common  workers  that  helped  them  get  rich;  so  if  the  relatively  poor  and/or  average  worker  is  not  there,  the  ones  who  got  rich  on  their  back,  they  themselves  will  see  poverty  -  Keith Hunt]

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin [living in,  working  in  righteousness  will  usually  bring  forth  a  good  life,  certain  in  the  long  run  it  will  be  life  instead  of  death.  Not  that  we  can  use  good  works  to  inherit  eternal  life,  but  God  will  not  give  eternal  life  through  grace  and  faith  to  those  who  work/live  wickedly,  for  all  they  bring  forth  is  sin,  and  Paul  said,  the  wages  of  sin  is  death (Romans 6:23)  - Keith Hunt]

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray [God  can  only  give eternal  life  to  those  who  can  be  led  to  keep  instruction.  God  instructs  that  repentance  is  needed  to  have  eternal  life;  but  those  that  refuse  to  be  instructed  are  on  the  wrong  path,  and  can  not  have  life  eternal.  Even  in  this  physical  life  willing  to  be  instructed  and  follow  the  right  way,  gives  a  better  life  than  those  who  will  not  be  instructed  to  their  own  folly  -  Keith Hunt]

18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool [if  you  are  going  to  hide  your  hatred  from  people,  sooner  or  later  you  will  have  to  lie;  spreading  untruths  about  people  will  come  back  on  you,  for  what  your  doing  people  will  discern  eventually,  and  you  end  up  with  people  against  you,  thinking  your  a  very  foolish  person;  you  will  have  very  few  friends,  if  any  -  Keith Hunt]

……

From  the  New  KJV  Study  Bible

10:1—22:16 The value and the practice of wisdom are encouraged throughout these chapters. No organization of the material under specific themes is apparent.

10:1—15:33 This section of the book is characterized by proverbs which contrast wise and foolish behavior. There is a recurring use of the word but to set the one against the other.

10:1 proverbs of Solomon: See note on 1:1-7 and Introduction: Author.

10:2 Treasures of wickedness are acquired by unjust or immoral means. Righteousness is our security against the ultimate threat of death.

10:4,5 Hard work and diligence produce both material gain and moral character.

10:6, 7 Violence fills the speech of an evil person (see v. 11); therefore, the memory of him will be an unpleasant thing.

10:8 A prating fool talks big, but eventually comes to shame.

10:9 will become known: as Moses warned Israel about breaking God's command, "Be sure your sins will find you out" (Num. 32:23).

10:10 winks with the eye: A sign of insincerity (see 16:30).

10:12 Love soothes and calms differences; it does not stress them. The result is reconciliation and peace. See  1 Cor. 13:4-7.

10:13 Force sometimes awakens the fool and results in understanding.

10:14 mouth ... near destruction: In contrast to the wise man, the foolish talk before they understand.

10:15 Wealth cannot satisfy every need, but poverty often encourages crime and destruction of persons.

……

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise [Paul condemned the busybody, always talking, to no good  end, there’s  a  time  to  refrain  from  talking  too  much,  it  often  ends  up  sliding  down  into  sin. James  chapter  two  expounds  on this  proverb  -  Keith Hunt]

 

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little [a contrast  between  goodness  and  wickedness  -  Keith Hunt]

21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom [the  righteous  know  how  to  help  others;  the  fools  have  no  such  discernment,  for  lack  of  wisdom  -  Keith Hunt]

22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [certainly  a  general  statement  -  for  the  fact  is  some  Christians  do  not  become  “rich”  in  the  physical  life,  and  they  can  have  sorrow.  But  the  Lord  blesses  in  the  spiritual,  and  so  is  rich;  the  sorrow  that  comes  is  bearable  -  Keith Hunt] 

23 To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom [the  wise  person  knows  the  end  result  of  evil  is  not  good;  but  the  foolish  think  of  it  as  a  sport  to  do  evil,  their  mind  lacks  even  common  sense  -  Keith Hunt]

24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted [often  but  not  always,  the  wicked  get  what  they  know  can  come  their  way  from  the  authorities;  if  they  reject  salvation  they  will  know  the  second  death  awaits  them.  The  desire  of  those  living  within  God’s  law,  living  by  God’s  every  word,  the  righteous,  will  have  their  desire  of  eternal  life.  Their  desire  in  the  here  and  now  may  be  granted   as  the  NT  says,  if  we  ask  according  to  His  will.  For  both  the  wicked  and  the  righteous  in  the  now,  has  to  be  understood  as  a  general  statement  -  Keith Hunt]

25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation [in  the  here  and  now,  in  the  physical,  this  is  also  a  general  statement;  in  the  spiritual  end  result,  the  wicked  will  be  no  more,  and  the  righteous  will  have  the  foundation  of  eternal  life  -  Keith Hunt]

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him [it  is  not  a  good  thing  for  the  hirer  to  have  a  lazy  man  working  for  him;  and  it  is  not  good  for  the  sender,  to  hire  out  a  lazy  man;  your  business  will  not  last  long  if  your  hired  out  hands  are  lazy….a  bad  reputation  flies  around  like  a  house  on  fire  -  Keith Hunt]

27 The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened [a very  general  statement,  for  we  know  not  all  of  God’s  children  do  not  live  long  lives;  and  the  years  of  the  wicked  are  not  always  shortened.  This  is  certainly  a  proverb  that  shows  the  Bible  uses  “general  statements”  -  actually  many  of  the  proverbs  are  in  the  general  statement  category  -  Keith Hunt]

28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish [once  more  the  end  result  in  the  long  term  will  be  such;  it  does  not  always  work  this  way  in  this  physical  life.  We  should  not  think  all  Christians  will  have  a  “charmed  life”  -  gladness  and  a  big  party  all  the  time;  what  the  wicked  hope  for  some  do  see  it  happen  -  Keith Hunt]

29 The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the  workers of iniquity [again  in  the  long  term  at  the  end  of  it  all,  the  upright  will  be  eternally  strong,  the  workers  of  iniquity  shall  be  destroyed  in  the  second  death  -  Keith Hunt]

30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth [this  is  most  definitely  looking  at  the  end  result  of  the  plan  of  God  for  mankind  on  this  earth;  and  note  the  truth  that  it  is  this  earth  that  the  righteous  inherit,  as  proved  by  many  studies  on  this  website  -  Keith Hunt]

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,  but the perverse tongue will be cut out  [a  way  of  saying  the  righteous  and  their  wise  tongue  will  prevail  over  the  perverse  tongue,  not  always  in  this  life,  but  at  the  end  of  it  all,  when  the  Eternal’s  plan  for  mankind  is  complete  the  righteous  tongue  will  prevail  over  the  perverse  tongue  -  Keith Hunt]

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse  [as  the  mind  so  the  mouth  speaks;  the  righteous  know  what  righteousness  is (Psalm 119: 172),  so  what  is  acceptable  to  God;  the  mind  and  mouth  of  the  wicked  is  twisted  and  perverse  -  Keith Hunt]

……

CHAPTER 11

Wickedness Is Folly

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight [honest businesses are God’s delight - Keith Hunt]

2 When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom [many  a  person  has  fallen  into  sin  and  shame  from  getting  a  big  head  through  human  proudness;  the  ones  who  stay  humble  are  using  wisdom  -  Keith Hunt]

3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them [keeping  integrity  and  humbleness  in  serving  the  Lord  will  guide  and  keep  them  in  the  right  path;  but  the  unfaithful in  God’s  ways  will  in  the  end  destroy  them  -  Keith Hunt]

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death [when  the  day  of  God’s  wrath  comes  to  earth  all  the  physical  riches  will  not  profit;  the  righteous (Ps. 119: 172)  who  have  Jesus  as  personal  Saviour,  and  obey  the  commandments  of  God  will  be  delivered  from  the  second  death,  for  the  righteous  are  not  always  in  this  life  delivered  from  death  from  persecution  etc.  Keith Hunt]

5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his

own wickedness [ walking  with  God  in  righteousness  will  lead  to  walking aright;  the  wicked  often  fall  by  their  wickedness  in  this  life,  and  staying  wicked  will  in  the  end  pay  them  the  ultimate  fall  into  the  second  death  -  Keith Hunt]

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust [being  righteous  now  does  not  always  deliver  you (Hebrews  11)  from  hardships  and/or  persecution  even  unto  death  -  in  the  end  they  will  be  delivered  from  eternal  death;  the  unrepentant  unfaithful  with  their  lusts  will  be  caught  in  the  end,  and  suffer  destruction  for  all  eternity  -  Keith Hunt]

……

From  the  New  KJV  Study  Bible

10:19-21 Three proverbs which meditate on the connection between the lips and the heart (see center-column note on v. 21). The words of the righteous are beneficial to others because they come from a heart that has wisdom. 

10:22 The Lord gives riches that bring no regrets., 

10:23 He is a fool who gets his enjoyment from doing evil. 10:24, 25 God is on the side of the righteous. The wicked who do not repent must finally perish. See vv. 27-30; Ps. 1:6

10:26 The lazy man is trouble, not help, to those who would employ him.

10:30 never be removed ... not inhabit: On this contrast see 2:21, 22 and note.

10:31, 32 Living righteous lives helps develop straight thinking and consequently acceptable speech.

11:1 Dishonest scales did not show true weight. This social and economic abuse is condemned throughout the OT (see Mic. 6:11 and note). God is a God of truth.

11:4 Righteousness delivers from death because righteousness pleases God; riches do not endear one to Him.

……

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of the unjust perishes [most  wicked  persons  know  there  is  no  good  reward  for  them  as  their  life  comes  to  an  end  -  Keith Hunt]

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead [ certainly  a  general  statement  here;  the  righteous  are  not  always  delivered  from  troubles,  the  apostle  Paul  surely  was  not;  and  trouble  does  not  always  come  to  the  wicked,  so  a  general  statement  -  Keith Hunt]

9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered [ the  hypocrite  in  many  ways  can  destroy  those  near  to  him;  those  who  are  righteous  in  life  and  have  knowledge  will  so  have  wisdom,  which  can  often  deliver  them  from  many  troubles  -  a  general  statement  for  the  righteous  are  not  always  delivered…..if  the  apostle  Paul  was  here  he  would  surely  tell  you  so,  from  experience  -  Keith Hunt]

10 When it goes well with the righteous the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation [ if  a  city  was  to  follow  God  in  all  ways,  truly  there  would  be  rejoicing;  as  the  wicked  would  become  less  and  less,  people  would  be  in  jubilation  -  Keith Hunt]

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked

[if  the  wicked  increase  in  the  city; if  by  word  of  mouth  the  wicked  increase,  and  evil  is  passed  on  from  one  to  another,  the  one  time  exalted  in  uprightness  city,  will  be  overcome  by  the  wicked  -  Keith Hunt]

12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace [is  takes  wisdom  at  times  to  get  along  with  neighbours,  to  know  when  it  is  better  to  hold  your  peace  and  not  try  to  win  every  situation  -  Keith Hunt]

13 A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter [ not  every  personal  thing,  or  known  thing  about  this  or  that  person  needs  to  be  revealed  and  made  public  -  wisdom  knows  when  to  keep  a  matter  concealed  -  Keith Hunt]

14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety [being  too  independent  can  bring  troubles;  it  is  good  to  have  a  mind-set  that  realizes  some  matters  need  to  have  many  counsellors  involved.  This  also  teaches  us  to  be  humble,  and  to  know  you  are  not  skilled  in  everything  -  Keith Hunt]

15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer, but one who hates being surety is secure [we  have  already  covered  this  wise  proverb,  regarding  signing  as  a  co-signature  that  involves  physical  things  or  debt-money.  Here  it  is  doubly  wrong  if  you  hardly  know  the  person.  This  is  twice  given  as  a  double  emphasis  not  to  be  a  co-signer  for  anyone  -  Keith Hunt]

16 A gracious woman retains honor, but ruthless men retain riches [ you  may  loose  some  physical  whatevers….but retain honor;  you  can  be  like  the  ruthless  people  who  are  only  concerned  with  physical  riches  and  to  hell  with  everything  else  -  Keith Hunt]

17 The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh [it can be therapeutic  to  the  life  to  show  mercy; being  a  curial  person  will  as  they  say,  eat  away  at  you..... there  are  literal  chemical  released  in  either  good  or  bad  emotions  -  Keith Hunt]

18 The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward [many  wicked  people  can  be  deceptive  in  their  working  life;  sowing  the  commandments (righteousness - Ps. 119:172) of  God  will  bring  a  good  reward;  as  the  saying  goes,  what  you  sow  you  reap  -  Keith Hunt]

19 As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death [the  Bible  teaches  over  and  over,  that  serving  God  will  lead  to  eternal  life;  living  in  evil  will  lead  to  eternal  death  -  Keith Hunt]  

20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight [ those  who  are,  in  God’s  sight  perverse  are  they  who  will  not  REPENT  OF  SINS!  Those  classified  as  blameless  are  worshipping  the  Father  in  Spirit  and  in  Truth.  Under  the  grace  of  God,  forgiven,  and  Jesus  as  intercessor  when  they  do  fall  and  slip,  we  are  kept  under  the  grace  of  God  -  Keith Hunt]

21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered [has  to  be  a  “general”  statement,  for  some  wicked  do  not  always  get  punished;  and  some  of  the  righteous  do  not  get  delivered (see  Hebrews 11) - Keith Hunt]

22 As a ring of gold  in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lack discretion [they  two  just  do  not  match;  God  created  beauty  in  the  female,  but  if  it  goes  no  further  you  know  what  they  say,  “Beauty  is  only  skin  deep.”  Truly  a  woman  who  is  beautiful  on  the  inside  as  well  as  the  outside,  is  truly  blessed,  and  blesses  all  who  know  her  -  Keith Hunt]

23 The  desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath [the  right  mind-set  following  God’s  righteousness,  has  goodness  in  view  as  a  way  of  life;  the  wicked  know  deep  down  they  are  in  the  wrong  before  man  and  God;  they  can  only  expect  wrath  to  catch  up  to  them  for  living  wickedly  -  Keith Hunt]

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty [“There  are  those  who (generously) scatter abroad, and yet increase more; there are those who withhold more than is fitting, or what is justly due, but it results only in want” - Amplified Bible.  This is a general statement as we know it does not always work out to be so in every individual case. Nevertheless  we  should  be  on  the  giving  side;  to  give  to  others  is  a  blessing;  we  give  what  we  can  and  how  we  can  and  when  we  can  -  Keith Hunt]

25 The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself [if  thinking  only  in  the  physical  riches,  it  is  a  general  statement,  as  not  all  giving  people  will  become  rich  in  the  physical.  But  a  person  who  is  of  a  giving  nature  will  be  blessed  in  other  ways  than  physical  riches. As  it  is  written  “It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive”  -  Keith Hunt]

26 The people will curse him who withholds grain, but blessing will he on the head of him who sells it [“The people curse him who hold back grain (when the public needs it), but a blessing (from God and man) is upon the head of him who sells it” -  Amplified Bible. In the long run of things the greedy and spiteful person will find he has few friends, and do himself harm, in not doing what is right and proper. The  man  who  sells  when  he  clearly  sees  the  need  to  do  so  to  help  others,  will  find a blessing, even if only having people love and respect  him - Keith Hunt]

……

From  the  New  KJV  Study  Bible

11:7 The wicked place their hope in things that will not last beyond this lifetime (see Matt. 6:19, 20).

11:8 The righteous do not escape all trouble, but they miss the misery that comes because of wickedness.

11:9 Knowledge serves as a defense against the malicious words of the godless hypocrite, helping the righteous know how to cope with such evil.

11:11 The prosperity of a city comes because God is pleased with the upright. Sodom is an example of a city overthrown because of the wicked (Gen. 18:20, 21; 19:24,25).

11:13 A talebearer deliberately betrays others. Joseph, a faithful man, dealt justly with Mary; he did not reveal her supposed problem (Matt. 1:19).

11:15 See 6:1-5 and note.

11:17 troubles his own flesh: Our violent and unjust acts are ultimately against ourselves. See 1:18, 19 and note.

11:19 life ... death: See 8:32-36 and note.

11:24-26 The more we give of ourselves to others, the more we receive: In contrast, one who does not share with others finds that others will not share with him.

……

27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

WHAT  WE  SOW  WE  SHALL  REAP  -  Keith Hunt

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

RICHES  ARE  NOIT  WRONG;  BUT  TRUSTING  IN  THEM…..EVENTUALLY  THEY  WILL  FAIR  US;  THE  RIGHTEOUS  WILL  FLOURISH,  MAYBE  NOT  SO  MUCH  IN  THIS  LIFE  BUT  IN  ETERNITY…..WHO  CAN  COMPARE  -  Keith Hunt

29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

BEING  THE  TROUBLE  MAKER  IN  YOUR  OWN  FAMILY,  WILL  IN  TIME,  INHERIT  WHAT  THE  WIND  CAN  CRUSH  AND  BLOW  AWAY;  IT  WILL  BE  YOUR  RUIN.  FOOLS  IN  THE  WAY  THEY  LIVE  USUALLY  END  UP  SERVING  THE  WISE  -  Keith Hunt

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

YOU  CAN  WIN  THEM  IN  MANY  WAYS.  AS  PAUL  SAID,  “AS  MUCH  AS  LIES  WITHIN  YOU,  LIVE  PEACEABLY  WITH  ALL  MEN.”  DOING  THE  RIGHTEOUSNESS  OF  GOD  DOES  BEAR  FRUIT,  IN  THIS  LIFE  IT  WILL  KEEP  YOU  FROM  MANY  MISTAKES  AND  SINS  WHICH  COULD  HAVE  DIRE  RESULTS.  JESUS  GAVE  A  PARABLE  ON  HAVING  FRIENDS  OF  MOMMON  OR  THE  UNCONVERTED. MANY OF THE UNCONVERTED  ARE  NICE  PEOPLE,  WHO  CAN  HELP  YOU  IN  VARIOUS  WAYS  WHEN  HELP  IS  NEEDED  -  Keith Hunt

31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.

IN  THE  END  THERE  IS  A  TIME  OF  RECKONING   FOR  BOTH   THE  RIGHTEOUS  AND  THE  UNREPENTANT  SINNER  -  Keith Hunt

……

From  the  New  JKV  Study  Bible

11:30 He who wins souls is one who persuades or wins men and women to wisdom. Christ is the wisdom of God for the Christian (see 1 Cor. 1:24, 30).

11:31 The sinner certainly cannot escape punishment because even the righteous must face the consequences of their activities (see 1 Pet. 4:18). on the earth: The OT people did not have a clear understanding of rewards and punishment beyond this lifetime, but there are intimations of such (see Ps. 49:19 and note).

……

THE  “JUDGEMENT  DAY”  FOR  THE  RIGHTEOUS,  IS  NOT  GOING  TO  BE  AS  MANY  TEACHERS  HAVE  DESCRIBED,  STANDING  BEFORE  GOD  AND  HAVING  ALL  YOUR  “GOOD”  AND  “BAD”  WORDS  AND  DEEDS  THROWN  UP  ON  A  SCREEN,  THEN  REWARDED [BEING  SAVED  IS  BY  GRACE;  REWARDS  ARE  BY  WORKS]  ON  YOUR  MERITS.  I  HAVE  ON  THIS  WEBSITE  A  FULL  STUDY  CALLED  “JUDGEMENT  DAY”  -  YOU  NEED  TO  STUDY  IT  AND  LEARN  THE  TRUTH  -  Keith Hunt

CHAPTER 12 

Righteousness Is Wise

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid […..but he who hates reproof  is  like  a  brute  beast,  stupid  and  indiscriminating - Amplified Bible.  Pretty  well  says  it  all  if  you  do  not  like  correction  -  Keith Hunt]

2 A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

3 A man is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous cannot be moved [in the long run of it all  the righteous  will  win,  the  wicked  only  for  a  while  -  Keith Hunt]

4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones [they  say  behind  every  good  man  there  is  a  woman; if  a  woman  causes  shame,  it  is  like  the  man’s  bones  are  slowly  decaying  -  Keith Hunt]  

5 The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful [the thoughts and purposes of the (consistently) righteous are honest and reliable, but the counsels and designs of the wicked are treacherous - Amplified Bible. Not all the wicked are so, but the consistently righteous will never be counsels of treacherousness - Keith Hunt]

6 The words of the wicked are, "Lie in wait for blood,"  but the mouth of the upright will deliver them […..but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them and the innocent ones (thus entangled) - Amplified Bible.  There  is  hope  with  the  upright  when  things  look  bad;  the  words  of  the  wicked  only  bring  hardship  and  even  blood  -  Keith Hunt]

7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand [a  general  statement  for  this  age,  as  sometimes  the  wicked  are  not  overthrown,  and  troubles  can  come  on  the  righteous;  in  the  end  of  it  all,  this  proverb  will  stand  as  written  -  Keith Hunt]

8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised [a man shall be commended according to his Wisdom (godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God). but he who is of perverse heart shall be despised - Amplified Bible.  Most people like someone who has good wisdom in how to live, in actions and speech; the crooked and perverse in attitude and life will be despised by most people - Keith Hunt] 

9 Better is the one who is flighted but has a servant, than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

[Better is he who is lightly esteemed but works for his own support, than he who assumes honor for himself and lacks bread - Amplified Bible. Better  to  have  people  look  down  on  you (for whatever reason)  and  have  work  to  support  yourself,  than  he  who  has  self-deception  in  honoring  himself,  but  does  not  have  enough  to  eat,  by  being  lazy  -  Keith Hunt]

10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

[A (consistently) righteous man regards the life of his beast, but even the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel (Deut. 25:4) - Amplified Bible.  The Lord makes it clear here that those who do not give much honor or respect to the life of their animal, are simply wicked  -  their  mind-set is such that even if they had some tender mercies in their brain, even that would still be in the cruel category as far as God is concerned  -  Keith Hunt]

11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding [the  one  who  values  a  work  ethic  will  have  his  physical  needs;  he  who  wants  to  party  all  the  time  will  find  his  needs  are  hard  to  come  by,  unless  he’s  got  inheritance  money,  or  won  the  lottery  -  Keith Hunt]

12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men, but the root of the righteous yields fruit [those  who  want  easy  money  through  evil  deeds  are  in  the  group  of  “the  wicked”;  the  ones  doing  righteousness  will  yield  good  fruit  that  will  be  pleasing  to  mankind  and  to  God  - Keith Hunt]

13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will come through trouble [usually  those  who  are  doing  wickedly  will  often  be  snared  by  their  every  own  words;  the  righteous  will  come  through  troubles,  yet  not  always  right  away  -  Keith Hunt]

14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him [what  you  say,  speak,  and  work  at  in  life,  will  pay  you  back,  either  good  fruit  or  bad  fruit.  Our  words  and  actions  do  come  back  on  us  in  the  end,  sometimes  sooner,  sometimes  later,  but  we  do  reap  what  we  sow  -  Keith Hunt]

……

From  the  New  JKV  Study  Bible

12:2 Intentions are the basis of God's judgments. See

I Sam. 16:7.

12:4 An excellent wife in Hebrew thought is one who is industrious, morally upright, strong, and productive (see 31:10-31).

12:6 Lie in wait: Their words are an ambush for their victims.

12:9 slighted: Receives no attention. It is better to say too little about yourself than too much.

12:10 A righteous man considers others, even animals. The wicked are so heartless, that even their kindness is cruel.

12:12 That which is off limits always attracts the wicked.

12:14 The mouth and hands are our most productive  members; success or failure depends on their proper use.

……

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

PRETTY  WELL  EXPANDS  ITSELF  -  Keith Hunt

16 A fool's wrath is known at once, but a prudent man covers shame [A fools wrath is quickly and openly known, but a prudent man ignores an insult - Amplified Bible]

17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit [He who breathes out truth shows forth righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), but a false witness utters deceit - Amplified Bible. The Bible definition of righteousness is found in Ps. 119:172 - Keith Hunt]

18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health [There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise bring healing - Amplified Bible.  The wise know when to speak and how to speak in any given situation  -  Keith Hunt]

19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment [Truthful lips shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is (credited) but for a moment - Amplified Bible. The NT says no liar shall enter God’s Kingdom. You can lie in many ways, certainly by word of mouth, but there is a lying of life, some call it being a hypocrite - the ultimate of would be saying you are a Christian but living a life that does not emulate Christ at all  -  Keith Hunt]

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy [Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but for the counsellors of peace there is joy - Amplified Bible. Paul was inspired to say, “If it be possible, as much as lies in you live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18) - Keith Hunt]

21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil [certainly a “general statement” here; trouble can come upon the righteous - the apostle Paul is an example, even to loosing your life as he did. The wicked at times seem to prosper, often evil does catch them in their wickedness. Overall the righteous being wise are kept from many troubles, the wicked tend to find trouble; the wicked drug gangs often kill each other and etc. Keith Hunt]

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight [pretty straightforward here, it means what it says - Keith Hunt]

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness [A prudent man is reluctant to reveal knowledge, but the heart of (self-confident) fools proclaim their folly (Isa. 32:6) - Amplified Bible. The wise and prudent person knows when to speak knowledge and when not to. As Jesus said do not cast your pears before swine  -  Keith Hunt

24 The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor [it tends to be so, at least in the business world; the hard working get promoted while the lazy stay put like being in forced labor camp;  you reap what you sow  -  Keith Hunt]

25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad [worries, and being stressed out over this or that can lead to mental depression;  someone coming along and speaking a good and helpful word makes the heart glad - Keith Hunt]

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray [oh so true; mix with the wrong people and all kinds of evil can come your way. “Evil communication corrupts good manners” - 1 Cor. 15:33  - Keith Hunt]

27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man's precious possession [some are not totally lazy; some will hunt but then too lazy to skin and cook. So even “part lazy” is not here given a good word. Not following through on things you do in life can give you bad results  -  Keith Hunt]

28  In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.

THOSE  SERVING  GOD  AND  CHRIST  IN  THE  CORRECT  MIND-SET,  REPENTANCE,  HUMILITY,  WILLING  TO  BE  CORRECTED,  GROWING  IN  GRACE  AND  KNOWLEDGE,  DOING  THE  WILL  OF  GOD,  WILL  NEVER  SEE  THE  SECOND  DEATH,  BUT  ARE  UNDER  GRACE  AND  WILL  FIND  ETERNAL  LIFE  -  Keith Hunt

……

From  the  New  KJV  Study  Bible

12:16 covers shame: Unlike the fool whose temper is uncontrolled, the prudent person - does not react quickly, either to the shame of an insult or perhaps in ways which would lead to later shame.

12:18 Blurting out all we know is not always necessary or helpful.

12:19 Truth can stand the test of time. Lies cannot: 

12:20 Only deceit can find lodging in the hearts of those who plot violence and aggression;  

12:21 Those who seek peace with their neighbors will find roon for joy. See Matt. 5:9. 

12:22 an abomination: See 6:16-19 and note. He who does not deal truthfully cannot delight the Lord.

12:25 A verse to be memorized and remembered when encountering those who are discouraged by life's trials. A good word is a word of encouragement, faith, or hope.

12:28 Righteousness always makes life better. In following God's way there is no permanent loss. The one who rejects righteousness rejects life itself (see 8:36; 11:19).

……

CHAPTER 13 

Wisdom Loves Righteousness

A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

AS  SONS  OF  GOD  WE  MUST  BE  WILLING  TO  LISTEN  TO  HIM;  LISTEN  TO  HIM  IS  MAINLY  BY  READING  HIS  WORD  -  HE  TALKS  TO  US  THROUGH  HIS  WORD;  THE  MIND-SET  OF  THE  SCOFFER  IS  NOT  WILLING  TO  BE  CORRECTED  -  Keith Hunt

2 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. 

BY  OUR  MOUTH  THE  HEART  AND  MIND  SPEAK. THE  TONGUE  CAN  GIVE  US  GOOD  FRUIT  OR  BAD  FRUIT  -  SEE  JAMES  CHAPTER  3.  THOSE  NOT  IN  TUNE  TO  GOD  CAN  BRING  FORTH  VARIOUS  TYPES  OF  VIOLENCE.  FOR  VIOLENCE  DOES  NOT  ALWAYS  HAVE  TO  BE  PHYSICAL  -  Keith Hunt

3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

ONCE  MORE  THE  MOUTH  IS  A  LITTLE  MEMBER  OF  OUR  BODY  BUT  CAN  HAVE  HUGE  IMPLICATIONS  EITHER  GOOD  OR  BAD.  THINKING  BEFORE  SPEAKING SHOULD  BE  OUR  AIM.  THOSE  WHO  TEND  TO  BE  ALWAYS  TALKING  WILL  USUALLY  NOT  BE  GUARDING  THEIR  TONGUE,  SO  THEY  GET  THEMSELVES  INTO  A  DESTRUCTIVE  LIFE  PATTERN  -  Keith Hunt

4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

THE  LIFE  OF  THE  LAZY  WILL  FIND  THEY  HAVE  LITTLE  TO  SHOW  FOR  IT  AS  WE  SAY.  THE  LIFE-STYLE  OF  THE  DILIGENT  WORKER  GIVES  GOOD  PHYSICAL  REWARD  -  Keith Hunt

5 A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

IT  IS  A  NATURAL  PART  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  TO  HATE  LYING;  THE  ONE  WHO  DOES  NOT  IS  HERE  CLASSIFIED  AS  WICKED,  AND  WILL  IN  TIME  BE  BROUGHT  TO  SHAME……VERY  FEW  LIARS  EVER  GO  THROUGH  LIFE  UNDETECTED,  AND  WHEN  THEIR  LIES  ARE  BROUGHT  FORTH,  THEY  END  IN  SHAME  BEFORE  OTHERS  -  Keith Hunt

6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

IT’S  A  WAY  OF  SAYING  YOUR  SINS  WILL  FIND  YOU  OUT.  DOING  RIGHTEOUSNESS  GUARDS  PEOPLE  FROM  SIN  AND  ERROR;  WICKEDNESS  IS  SIN  AND  SIN  IS  WICKEDNESS,  BEING  EITHER  WILL  BRING  YOU  DOWN  SOONER  OR  LATER  -  Keith Hunt

7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches [One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing (to keep permanently); another considers himself poor, yet has great (and indestructible) riches (Prov.12:9; Luke 12: 20, 21) - Amplified Bible. It can all depend on the attitude of mind; one may not have many physical riches but what he has that is free, makes him feel rich. Another may have great riches, but he uses it all to serve others, so making himself less physically rich every day, and he does not put too much importance on his riches as he makes himself poorer. Many years ago a retired man sold a piece of land in the Vancouver area of Canada; he found himself with 20 million dollars. He was already well off, so were his children. He asked them if they would mind that he wanted to give 95 percent of it away to good charity causes. They said it was fine with them. He was rich but made himself poor as he started to give away the 20 million dollars. In serving others he made himself poor but had the truly great riches - Keith Hunt]

8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor does not hear rebuke [A rich man can buy his way out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats (from the envious) - Amplified Bible. When you have no great riches your not going to have to be concerned about someone holding you or your loved one for ransom. More stress can be on the one with great riches, the poor do not have to be stressed out by someone rebuking in a ransom act - Keith Hunt]

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,  but the lamp of the wicked will be put out [The light of the (uncompromisingly) righteous (is within him - it grows brighter and) rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked (furnishes only a derived , temporary light and) shall be put out shortly - Amplified Bible. Sooner or later the wicked and whatever light they shine, will come to an end and be no more; the light of the righteous will go on forever in the eternity of it all - Daniel 12:3 - Keith Hunt]

10 By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom [human pride and vanity, often leads to strife with all the people the proud one is in contact with; human ego tends to rub people the wrong way. Those who put away vanity and pride, will usually seek wisdom in their dealings with others - Keith Hunt]

11 Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase [those who use dishonest ways to gain their wealth often come crashing down in the end, others around them will often use dishonest ways to bring them down; what goes around comes around. Those who work honestly will have few if any enemies, and will have a steady bank account - Keith Hunt]

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life [when a kid I wanted a bicycle for two years, in that part of my heart I was unhappy, but when I got it two years later….wow….it was like winning the million dollar jackpot  -  Keith Hunt]

13 He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded [another way of saying, whoever is willing to live by every word of God as Jesus taught (Mat.4:4) will, with Jesus as your Saviour, find life eternal; those who do not will be destroyed in the second death (Rev. 20) - Keith Hunt

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death [we have seen the virtues of having wisdom, it will keep you out of much trouble, pain, and sorrow - Keith Hunt]

15 Good understanding gains favor,  but the way of the unfaithful is hard [most people like some one who is wise and prudent in life; those who are not wise, unfaithful in wisdom are difficult people to be around, and they themselves have a hard life in worldly matter - Keith Hunt

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly [if you are wise there is really no need to be going around showing it; the fool tends to be easily know by the way he acts and talks - Keith Hunt]

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful ambassador brings health [a wicked messenger will get into trouble by those sending him; and depending on what he says may also get into trouble with the ones the message getting the message  - Keith Hunt]

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored [in the working world, those who will be taught and take help will get ahead, but those who will not, do not get promotions, and may loose their job - Keith Hunt]

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, but it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil 

[the good finished work is sweet to those wanting to do good work of different sorts; but for the sinful mind-set, it would be an abomination to depart from the sin they enjoy - Keith Hunt

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise but the companion of fools will be destroyed [pretty well speaks for itself here; those you rub shoulders with, have as friends....you will be like them in time. And the foolish will be destroyed from off the earth in God's time plan - Keith Hunt]

21 Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid [in general being a sinner, leading a life of habitual sin, then you have all kinds of trouble following you; but the righteous usually find good surrounds their way of life - Keith Hunt ]

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous [the man leading the good life often has something to pass on to his offspring; the sinner often finds his possessions going to more righteous people - Keith Hunt]

23 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, and for lack of justice there is waste [the first is easy to understand - if the poor find they have land, you bet they will make good use of it; then there are many times when the wealthy with lots of land, food is plentiful, but there is waste - all from there not being a just mind that appreciates using all foods for all people. North America is guilty of much food waste  -  Keith Hunt]

24 He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly [some kids just [need  the  rod, it maybe the only way to get them to think more soberly. On the other hand some just need a sharp rebuke and they are in tears - Keith Hunt]

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his life, but the stomach of the wicked shall be in want [the righteous will have work, they will like to work as much as is possible, they will not be people wanting handouts, and they will have food to the satisfying of life; the wicked are often those who do not want to work, are looking for handouts, and/or looking to steal from others - because of this life style they often do not know when another meal is coming - Keith Hunt]

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From  the  New  KJV  Study  Bible

13:1 A scoffer is an egotist who has a strong hatred for correction (see 9:7, 8). The Lord has no delight in such pride (3:34).

13:7 poor, yet... great riches: Jesus applied this same reversal of values to the life of Christian discipleship (see Matt. 10:38, 39 and note).

13:8 Riches have their benefits, but poverty also has some. The poor man does not face rebuke, perhaps because he is not a prominent person.

13:10 See 28:25, 26 and note.

13:11 See 21:6 and note.

13:12 A wise person will do his best not to raise impossible hopes in others, and to see that those which are possible, come to quick fruition.

13:13,14 word: The word of God. The law: Instruction or counsel.

13:18 Can I accept criticism and improve as a result?

13:19 The fulfillment of a worthwhile goal results in worthy satisfaction, but the pursuit of evil brings bondage.

13:22 An important contrast to remember when we see the wicked seeming to prosper.

13:23 Injustice drives people into poverty where the contributions they might have made to society are lost.

13:24 It is not an act of love to withhold discipline, including physical punishment for wrongdoing (see Eph. 6:4). Lack of discipline can result in destruction for the child (see 19:18; 23:13, 14 and notes). A disciplined child can bring honor to a family; but an undisciplined child, shame (see 29:15,

17 and note).

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