Tag: Truth

The Just vs The Wicked – Part 2

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Proverbs 10:6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 

The mouth of a righteous man produces blessing and life, but the mouth of sinners produces cursing and destruction (13:2-3; 1Pet. 3:10-11; Jas. 3:1-18). The control of the tongue is commanded by God (Jas. 1:26; 3:1-18). We have two eyes and two ears, suggesting we should see and hear more than we speak with the one tongue fenced with teeth.

Eighteenfold prosperity of the wicked: No bands (pangs) in death (Ps. 73:4). Their strength is firm. Not in trouble as other men (Ps. 73:5). Not plagued as other men. Pride compasses them about as a chain (or necklace, Ps. 73:6). Violence covers them as a garment.  Their eyes stand out with fatness (Ps. 73:7). They have more than their heart could wish. They are corrupt (Ps. 73:8). They speak wickedly about oppression. They speak loftily. Set their mouth against heaven – blaspheme God (Ps. 73:9). Their tongue walks through the earth – they find fault with everything. They cause men who have been converted from a life of covetousness to return to it, as in Psalms 73:2-3 (Ps. 73:10). Cause God’s people to covet the waters of a full cup (prosperity) to be wrung out to them. They say, How does God know (Ps. 73:11)? They say, Is there knowledge in the Most High to see these things? They increase in riches (Ps. 73:12).

‘Violence covers the mouth of the wicked.’ In Psalms 11:5 we read that the Lord’s soul hates the wicked and him that loves violence and in Psalms 140 we see David’s earnest prayer to be delivered and preserved from the evil violent man, thus giving us an example to believe that God will do the same for us if we adhere to the consecration laws as stated throughout Scripture (Ps. 1:1-6; 6:8; 26:4-5; Rom. 16:17; 1Cor. 5:9-13; 2Cor. 6:14 – 7:1; 2Tim. 3:2-5; 1Jn. 2Jn. 1:9-11 etc).

The Just vs The Wicked – Part 1

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Proverbs 10:6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 

‘Blessing are upon the head of the just.’ What is remembered about a righteous man is a blessing. Six examples of good remembrance: Elisha (2Kin. 13:21); Jehoiada (2Chr. 24:15-16); the woman who anointed Jesus (Mark 14:9); Mary, mother of Jesus (Luke 1:28, 48); Dorcas (Acts 9:36-39; cp. Pro. 22:1) and Antipas (Rev. 2:13).

Two blessings for godliness (Ps. 18:24): God has rewarded me for my righteousness. He has recompensed me for my clean living in His sight.

Two blessings for all believers (Matt. 13:15): Conversion, a change of direction, a new walk with God (Ps. 19:7; 51:13; Matt. 18:3; Luke 22:32; Acts 3:19; Jas. 5:19-20). Physical healing, a change of health, a new health in God (Ps. 91:1-16; 103:3; Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:1-12; Rom. 8:11; 1Pet. 2:24; 3Jn. 1:2; Jas. 5:14-16; Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16).

Seven equal blessings for Christians: All are children of God (Gal. 3:26). All are baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27). All have put on Christ. All are equal and one in Christ (Gal. 3:28). All belong to Christ (Gal. 3:29; 5:24). All are Abraham’s spiritual seed (Gal. 3:29). All are heirs by promise.

Three blessings for the righteous 1Pet. 3:12): God’s eyes are over them. God hears their prayers. God defeats their enemies.

To be continued…

A Slack Hand

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Proverbs 10:4-5 He becomes poor that deals with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He that gathers in summer is a wise son: but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame. 

‘Poor’ [Hebrew: ruwsh] – eight Hebrew words translated as “poor” and “poverty” in Proverbs: [1] Reysh, lack, need, want. Translated as “poverty” (6:11; 10:15; 13:18; 24:34; 28:19; 30:8; 31:7). [2] Ruwsh, in want of necessities of life. Translated as “poor” (10:4; 13:7, 8, 23; 14:20; 17:5; 18:23; 19:1, 7, 22; 22:2, 7; 28:3, 6, 27; 29:13). [3] Dal, impoverished; reduced to poverty. Translated as “poor” (10:15; 14:31; 19:4, 17; 21:13; 22:9, 16, 22; 28:3, 8, 11, 15; 29:7, 14). [4] Machcowr, to be in want (6:11; 21:5; 22:16). Translated as “poor” (21:17); and “poverty” (11:24). [5] ‛Aniy, wretched. Translated as “poor” (14:21; 30:14; 31:9, 20). [6] ’Ebyown, destitute; helpless. Translated as “poor” (14:31). [7] Yarash, dispossessed. Translated as “poor” (30:9); and “poverty” (20:13; 23:21). [8] Checer, poverty or want. Translated as “poverty” (28:22).

‘Slack hand’ – Deceitful hand, as in Proverbs 12:24; Psalms 52:2; 120:2; Hosea 7:16 and Micah 6:12. All dishonesty, deceitfulness, and unrighteousness are abominable to God; all unrighteousness is sin (1Jn. 5:17; Jas. 4:17). The arms of the wicked refer to the instruments of his wickedness and the means of his power (Ps. 10:15; 37:17; 1Sam. 2:31).

‘Gathers in summer.’ Two examples of gathering in summer are Isaac (Gen. 26:12) and Joseph (Gen. 41:1-57).

‘But he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame.’ God has ordered in the course of providence that he who will not work shall not eat (2Thess. 3:10) and He always blesses the man who is not lazy. See Proverbs 6:6-11; 24:30-34; 30:25.

Will Not Suffer

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Proverbs 10:3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casts away the substance of the wicked. 

‘Will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish.’ Examples are Elijah (1Kin. 17:1-24) and David (2Sam. 17:1-29).

Elijah is considered one of the greatest of the prophets. He is not called a writing prophet because he didn’t leave a book like the ones from Isaiah to Malachi, but he did write four verses (2Chr. 21:12-15). No prophet has been more vividly described as he has been, nor have any been so counterfeited. Many throughout the ages have claimed to be Elijah since he is clearly predicted to return to the earth to help restore Israel just before the second coming of Christ (Mal. 4:5-6; Rev. 11:3-12). Elijah is also revealed as one of two anointed men who now stand before God, symbolized by two olive trees and two candlesticks (Zech. 14:11-14; Rev. 11:3-12). He is the only prophet whom people tried to identify with John the Baptist (Matt. 16:14; Mark 6:15; 8:28; John 1:21-25), and the only one whom John the Baptist imitated in spirit, power, and ministry (Matt. 11:14; 17:11-12; Mark 9:12-13; Luke 1:17).

Three times Elijah was miraculously fed: By ravens – many meals, twice daily for several days (1Kin. 17:4-7) – an amazing miracle for creatures of limited intelligence who are afraid of man and have no obvious means of providing food. By a widow (1Kin. 17:9-16). By an angel (1Kin. 19:5-6).

David was provided for – fourteen kinds of supplies – by others (2Sam. 17:28-29) through God’s provision when he hid from Absalom in Mahanaim.

‘Casts away the substance of the wicked.’ Four examples of destroying goods of the wicked: Israel (Jdg. 6:1-4); Samaria (1Kin. 18:2; 2Kin. 6:25); Jerusalem (Lam. 5:10; Zeph. 1:18); Chaldeans (Hab. 2:8).

Wickedness vs Righteousness – Part 2

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Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death. 

Three chief characteristics of the godly: They trust in God. They love God and His name. They are righteous (Ps. 5:12).

Twelve characteristics of the righteous: They walk uprightly – without blame. They work righteousness. They speak truth inwardly. They are free from backbiting (Ps. 15:3). They do no evil to neighbours. They receive no reproach about neighbours. They hold vile people condemned (Ps. 15:4). They honour them that fear the Lord. They keep their word even to own hurt. They take no advantage of one in need to increase riches (Ps. 15:5). They refuse bribes. They protect the innocent.

Five blessings of the righteous: They have a refuge (trust) in God. They are joyful in God. They have security in God. They are blessed by God. They have God’s favour or grace (Ps. 5:12).

Two comparisons between the righteous and the wicked: The righteous are like a tree planted, cultivated, and well-watered; not like one growing wild in the field (Ps. 1:3) and the wicked are like chaff that blows away and soon perishes (Ps. 1:4; cp. Ps. 35:5).

Wickedness vs Righteousness – Part 1

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Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death. 

‘Wickedness’ [Hebrew: resha‛] lawlessness. All classes of the wicked are like the troubled sea that cannot be still and constantly stirs up the mire and dirt of sin and corruption. They have no peace (Isa. 57:20-21), no calmness of soul or spirit; their passions and appetites keep them in continual turmoil seeking something satisfying; the wealth, business, pleasure, pride, pomp, flattery, and unrest of the world only keep them dissatisfied; and strong undercurrents of malice, jealousy, lust, revenge, strife, and ambitions to outdo others keep them at war with God and fellowmen. The guilt of a past life and the burning memories of wrongdoing agitate the sinner day and night to cover up his evil, but he cannot escape the fear of hell and future reaping.

‘Profit nothing’ – Three examples of no profit to such gain: Rehoboam (2Chr. 12:1-4, 9); Gehazi (2Kin. 5:20-27; Pro. 21:6) and the rich fool (Luke 12:20; Pro. 11:28).

‘Righteousness delivers from death.’ Three examples of righteousness delivering: Noah (Gen. 7:1; Heb. 11:7); Daniel (Dan. 6:1-28) and the three Hebrew children (Dan. 3:1-30)

To be continued…

A Wise Son… A Foolish Son

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Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

‘Proverbs of Solomon.’ This title also covers the first 9 chapters (1:1). Here there are 288 individually contrasted persons and things (10:1-19:19). These sayings were all composed by Solomon who spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs (1Kin. 4:32). All the proverbs in this section are composed of 2 statements, except Proverbs 19:7. They are miscellaneous and generally not connected in thought. For some that are thought connected see Proverbs 10:2-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-21, 22-25, 27-30; etc.

‘A wise son makes a glad father.’ A good example was Joseph (Gen. 47:12; cp. Gen. 48:2). What a joy to any parent – a wise child!

‘A foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.’ A good example was Esau (Gen. 26:34-35; 27:45-46). Any foolish child – no matter what age – causes his parents and family grief. A fool who has no sense of responsibility is a shame to his parents (17:25) because he brings troubles, calamities and ruin (19:13).

The Giants – Part 2

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Proverbs 9:18 But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. 

Rephaim is translated “giant” in Deuteronomy 2:11, 20; 3:11, 13; Joshua 12:4; 13:12; 15:8; 18:16; 2Samuel 21:16, 18, 20, 22; 1Chronicles 20:4, 6, 8. The phrase “remnant of the giants” in Deuteronomy 3:11 and Joshua 12:4; 13:12 should be “remnant of the Rephaims,” because there were many nations of giants other than the Rephaims who filled the whole country trying to contest God’s claim on the promised land. They are listed as Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaims, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, Jebusites, Hivites, Anakims, Emims, Horims, Avims, Zamzummims, Caphtorims, and Nephilims (Gen. 6:4; 14:5-6; 15:19-21; Ex. 3:8, 17; 23:23; Deut. 2:10-12, 20-23; 3:11-13; 7:1; 20:17; Jos. 12:4-8; 13:3; 15:8; 17:15; 18:16). Og was of the remnant of Rephaims, not the remnant of all other giant nations (Deut. 3:11; Jos. 12:4; 13:12).

All these giant nations came from a union of the sons of God (fallen angels) and daughters of men after the flood. Beings of great stature, some of them even had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot and carried spears weighing from 4,5 to 11 kilogrammes (2Sam. 21:16-22; 1Chr. 20:4-8). Goliath, whom David slew, wore a coat of armour weighing 89 kilogrammes and was 3 metres tall (1Sam. 17:4-6). The pyramids of Egypt, the giant cities of Bashan and other huge monuments of construction may remain a mystery until they are accepted as the result of the labour and skill of giants.

The revelation of giants in Scripture gives us a true picture of what Greek mythology tries vainly to give. Mythology is but the outgrowth of traditions, memories, and legends telling of the acts of supernatural fathers and their giant offspring – the perversion and corruption in the transmission of actual facts concerning these mighty beings. The fact that giants were partly of supernatural origin made it easy for humans to regard them as gods.

The Giants – Part 1

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Proverbs 9:18 But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. 

“Dead’ [Hebrew: rapha’] Rephaim, a proper name of one of the races of the giants, identifies the wickedness of the giants as sexual sins (Gen. 6:1-4). The fact that giants have lived on earth is clearly stated in Scripture. The Hebrew word nephil means “giant” or “tyrant” (Gen. 6:4; Num. 13:33). The men of Israel were grasshoppers compared to them (Num. 13:33). The Hebrew word gibbowr is also translated as “giant,” meaning powerful, giant, mighty, or strong man (Job 16:14).

The Anakims were a great and tall people (Deut. 1:28; 2:10-11, 21; 9:2; Jos. 11:21-22; 14:12-14). Anak himself was a giant (Num. 13:33). If all Anakims were as big, we can be assured other giants were also. The land of Ammon was “a land of giants,” for “giants dwelt therein in old time” (Deut. 2:19-20). The Emims were also “great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims” (Deut. 2:10-11). The same was said of the Zamzummims who formerly inhabited the land of Ammon (Deut. 2:19-21). Og, king of Bashan, is described as a giant whose iron bedstead was thirteen and a half feet long, and six feet wide. This is not a measurement of wickedness, but of a material bed for a giant body measuring nearly thirteen feet tall (Deut. 3:11; Jos. 12:4; 13:12). Bashan is called “the land of the giants” (Deut. 3:13).

A “valley of the giants” is mentioned in Joshua 15:8; 18:16. This is the valley of Rephaim, the name of another branch of the giant races mentioned in Scripture (Gen. 14:5; 15:20; 2Sam. 5:18, 22; 23:13; 1Chr. 11:15; 14:9; Isa. 17:5). The Rephaims were well-known giants, but unfortunately, instead of retaining their proper name in Scripture, the translators used dead (Job 26:5; Ps. 88:10; Pro. 2:18; 9:18; 21:16; Isa. 14:8; 26:19); and deceased (Isa. 26:14). It should have been a proper name in all these places, as it is ten times otherwise.

To be continued…

The Beginning of Wisdom

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Proverbs 9:10-12 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shall be wise for thyself: but if thou scorn, thou alone shall bear it. 

‘The fear of the LORD’ – to have a whole reverence for God. We are warned to be in the fear of God all day long (23:17-18). The fear of the LORD is: to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth (8:13); the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding (9:10); prolonged days, whereas the years of the wicked shall be shortened (10:27); there is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge (14:26); it is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death (14:27); is the instruction of wisdom (15:33); men depart from evil (16:6); it tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil (19:23); by humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life (22:4).

‘For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.’ Vice shortens life; righteousness has the promise of long life (Ps. 91:1-16).

‘If thou be wise, thou shall be wise for thyself.’ A wise man may profit himself, but not God; the same was true of a righteous man (Job 22:2-3). The sin of man cannot affect God’s plan or conduct; it only affects man’s destiny (Job 35:6).

‘But if thou scorn, thou alone shall bear it.’ Rebels seek wisdom but don’t find it because they reject God, the source of wisdom (1:7; 9:10).