BETTER TO BE ON GOD’S SIDE

Proverbs 17:11
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Rebellion is defined is respects to the Words of instruction given us by the Almighty Father. An evil man is therefore one who seeks that which is opposite to the Word. We have a promise that such person, may he be preacher politician or everyday citizen will receive its just retribution. God is the Rewarder of the obedient and the Retributor of the rebellious.

This principle is at work within and without the realm of God’s Children. We have seen how the Great Almighty destroyed the Egyptian realm from under its rebellious ruler. We have seen how a cruel messenger was sent to indiscriminately destroy the first-borns of that country. God may give His only begotten One to rescue His first-born (Israel), but a cruel messenger is also sent against Egypt’s first-born. God may have watched as the Egyptians gleefully threw Israel’s newborn males into the sea, but He had the last laugh as Egypt’s boy-soldiers drowned into the Red Sea. God had the last laugh also when in 1980 He took the fistborn of Madalyn Murray O’Hair (the founder of the American Atheists Foundation and the person who is responsible for to removal of prayer out of school) to be baptized and later to become a preacher. A cruel messenger was also sent against his Mom and she died of the most cruel death.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O'Hair

God is not mocked. History is a testament to His dealing against those who oppose His plans. Today’s politicians and policy-makers would do well to take a warning from it. Even in our own life we need to review our own loyalties and ask ourselves, ‘Whose side is God on?’ Loyalty is not a question of what we feel is right and just, but a question of obedience His Word whether we agree with it or not, whether it fits our plans or not.

If we put ourselves on His side, we avoid the cruel messenger.

OF THE FOOL AND THE WISE

Proverbs 17:10
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

A Jewish sage paraphrased this proverb saying, ‘With the wise, a sign does as much as with the fool a stick does.’

Wisdom and foolishness have nothing to do with knowledge, learning abilities or opportunities. The Hebraic meaning of wisdom and foolishness are solely related to our attitude towards the Torah: the Almighty’s Instructions for life. Both the foolish and the wise know about these Instructions; the wise decides to live by them, while the fool consciously chooses to ignore them.

When people consciously choose to live by their own theology rather than the Instructions given to us by our Maker, they are destined for trouble. It is absolutely useless to attempt straightening up their lives until they have made the decision to abide by the commandments of the Master. This is why even a hundred stripes on their back is useless.

On the other hand, the wise is one who has chosen to carefully heed the advice of the Almighty. He cherishes every Word of advice like desperately needed gold and light. Because of his meek condition and inclination, a simple reproof, sign or nudge sets him back up on the straight and narrow when he makes a mistake.

Which are we?

OF THE FOOL AND THE WISE

Proverbs 17:10
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

A Jewish sage paraphrased this proverb saying, ‘With the wise, a sign does as much as with the fool a stick does.’

Wisdom and foolishness have nothing to do with knowledge, learning abilities or opportunities. The Hebraic meaning of wisdom and foolishness are solely related to our attitude towards the Torah: the Almighty’s Instructions for life. Both the foolish and the wise know about these Instructions; the wise decides to live by them, while the fool consciously chooses to ignore them.

When people consciously choose to live by their own theology rather than the Instructions given to us by our Maker, they are destined for trouble. It is absolutely useless to attempt straightening up their lives until they have made the decision to abide by the commandments of the Master. This is why even a hundred stripes on their back is useless.

On the other hand, the wise is one who has chosen to carefully heed the advice of the Almighty. He cherishes every Word of advice like desperately needed gold and light. Because of his meek condition and inclination, a simple reproof, sign or nudge sets him back up on the straight and narrow when he makes a mistake.

Which are we?

TRUE COMFORT

Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Oh, how we hate it when we have been unjustly wounded; how we desire and even feel like the need for vindication. The best way we get this vindication is by loudly (so everyone hears) blowing a ‘foul’ whistle. It is only right after all; who would not; others have to know how unjustly we have been treated (sarcasm intended).

What kind of fruit does this blowing of the whistle produces? Is it a fruit that emanates from the Spirit of the Almighty? Does it promote unity, judgment and justice? Does it help promote love, joy, peace, longsuffering and all the rest of them? Does it even change the situation or correct the offender? Or does it just provide us for a way to lick our wounds; a reason to get some sympathy and attention in a world where we feel so often unnoticed? We certainly wouldn’t dream of being ignored at such times (sarcasm again intended). The problem is that when we do so, not only we don’t solve the problem, but we replicate it.

It takes a lot of godliness in character to let offenses pass and not retaliate by talking to others. When we do, the Almighty He becomes our Judge and Confidant. He becomes the embodiment of the heavenly Psychologist Who applies on our ruffled heart the Gilead balm that truly heals our souls from the hurt and that, without the cost of creating more offenses.

We often pray this phrase Yeshua brought us from an ancient traditional Jewish prayer, Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven. May we take the good advice in our proverb today; it will help us bring a little more of his Kingdom on earth right now.

GOD IS HIS OWN ‘GIFT’.

Proverbs 17:8
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

This proverb expresses a fact of experience. The Hebrew word translated as ‘gift’ is the same as in Proverbs 17:23 and refers to ‘bribe’. Thus we are taught that possessing the price of a bribe is like possessing precious stones. We can use it our advantage to earn grace, favor, and even to pervert judgment.

In a certain sense, whether it be our body, our money or our strength, we all use what we have as a bribe. It is not necessarily a bad thing. Solomon says in another place, ‘A man’s gift makes room for him’. By this Solomon teaches that a gifted person with a gift belonging to either the physical, the spiritual or even the emotional realm, will more likely find employment or a place to live, because of the value of his gift. It’s a fact of life, but the whole difference between the ‘gift’ and the ‘bribe’ is in the way it is used. Is it used to take or to give?

God is His own ‘Gift’. The abilities God has given us belong to Him in the first place. We may have worked hard for it but they still belong to Him because He created them as well the ability for our body to exercise them. It is like a company giving you a laptop. The purpose of the laptop is for you to use for the company. If you use it to trade stocks on-line, shop or email, you are guilty of theft. The same goes for doing personal business on company paid time, cause the pay is the ‘gift’. The minute we use our God-given gift that He gave us for His returns for our own gain or self-promotion, we are guilty of theft.

The most beautiful gift we have been given is life. The problem is that it does not belong to us; it has been ransomed with a heavy price. The devil used God’s own rules and put a bribe on our head. He doesn’t care for our lives; he only cares for the bribe because Satan (cursed be his name) is a mercenary. Like Abraham with Eliezer of Damascus, Yeshua bought our lives from the slave-trader and set us free. Because of His Gift, our lives now belong to Him. Yeshua wills not that service to Him be forced, but it goes without saying that our lives belong to whoever saves it from death. Yeshua wills that our service to Him be solely motivated by gratitude. We breathe and able to operate by the sole miracle of His Spirit. Our redeemed lives belong to Him: let us not be guilty of theft by stealing ‘company time’.

MEN OF HONORABLE REBIRTH

Proverbs 17:7
Excellent speech becometh not a fool:
Much less do lying lips a prince.

Here is your typical Hebrew proverb drawing a concept by pitting opposites. Indeed how repulsive it is when a man of vulgar mind and of rude conduct, instead of keeping himself to himself, makes himself of importance, and weighty in a shameless, impudent manner. And even more, how shameful it is when a man in whom we are justified in expecting nobility of mind degrades himself by uttering deceitful words.

That a fool would use words to want to put on a coat of excellency in the eyes of others can almost be understood, but what is the point in the prince of honorable birth to degrade himself by speaking lies like the common thief? Lies are the result of fear, and fear is the result of sin.

Even so we, the children of the King of the Kingdom of Heaven are predestined to rule and reign with the King. We may not be of honorable birth, but we certainly are of honorable rebirth.

Let us then carry the Name the Almighty has set within us with pride and glory. Let us not sully It by indulging in the deceiving practices of fools, even when it seems for a good reason.

AN INHERITED COVENANT

Proverbs 17:6
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

There is an ancient promise,

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Malachie: 4:6.

As the post-Exodus second generation of the Children of Israel stood before Moses, he taught them all that God had done for their fathers. As he did, he brought them into covenant with God, just as he did their fathers. Bringing the reality of the Exodus into their generation, Moses said to them, Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:

Deuteronomy 29:14-15.

The covenants signed in the desert were made with the contemporary generation as well as with the future generation of believers. The covenant made with the first generation of the Children of Israel who actually witnessed God’s works against the Egyptians was incumbent upon their children who did not see these miracles. In the very manner, this covenant is incumbent upon us today. The fathers rejoiced at the multitude of their children who would enter the covenant that was signed with them in the desert. We today are their reward; they see us as the fulfillment of the promises made unto them.

Sad to say though, we today as their children do not look at our Israelite ‘parents’ with the awe and wonder that we should. We are an ungrateful generation who wants to forget the beautiful commandments given to them by the Mt. We think they are old fashioned; non-applicable, obsolete. We have replaced them with the golden calf of a new theology that frees us from their rigid demands. It is very sad indeed.

In the meantime though, the truth is that the very covenant that was made with them is incumbent upon us today. We are the crown of our fathers; they are our glory whether we like it or not. May we, as the fathers turn their hearts towards us, also turn our hearts towards them.

WHEN IT IS WRONG TO REJOICE

Proverbs 17:5
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker:
And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

The first clause is a variation of Proverbs 14:31. The second clause adds to it with a prophetic advice. It is absolutely against the instructions of Torah to rejoice over someone’s demise, even (and especially if) they are enemies. Yeshua reinforced Moses’ words when He advised to pray for enemies.

Each year, Passover is celebrated around a festive meal organized around 4 glasses of wine. This is called the Seder. Wine is supposed to represent joy. The second glass of wine of the Seder represents the promise of deliverance from Egypt. Because this deliverance of the Hebrews came at the expensive cost of many of their enemies’ lives, ten times, during the recitation of the plagues, we dip our finger into our wine glass and shake a few drops of wine on the plate. This has the purpose of lessening our joy (by lessening our wine) in remembrance of the costly price of our deliverance. This practice also reminds us not to joy over our enemy’s demise.

One great reminder of this principle is the prophet Obadiah. He wrote of the destruction of Edom because it helped Jerusalem’s Babylonians enemy and later plundered the city, gloating over Judah’s demise. Edom was a great successful civilization. All we have left of it, as a silent memorial to Obadiah’s words is the rock city of Petra.

Ezekiel speaks of a day when all nations will stand against Israel. Will they reap the same fate as Edom? Read it.

LEAVEN IN LISTENING

Proverbs 17:4
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

The old adage ‘ a man is known by the company he keeps’ could define this proverb. Whereas ‘we are what we eat’, we seem to also be what we listen to.

The pure can only listen to pure speech; the impure doesn’t mind reveling in lies and corruption. This may apply to our listening habits of all sorts. Like children, we are all guilty of selective hearing; we hear certain things better than others. Our mental taste buds have also been affected by this ‘selectivism’; we actually enjoy to listen to certain things better than others.

Are we as quick t hear and believe the positive about people as we are the negative? Do we tune in quicker to the sirens of Babylon than to good healthy listening? Do we enjoy nice juicy gossips? Can this proverb be the touchstone of our media intake diet? What is the general composition of our daily reading, TV watching, music intake, movie types, magazine rack, discussion with friends or even types of friends? And what about our inner speech? Sometimes we can be our own bad company.

After this Passover, we can make all the resolutions we can about changing from an ungodly Egyptian culture to a Godly one, but if we do not put feet to this resolution by reviewing what we do on a daily basis, we are fooling ourselves. Unless we improve our environment and habits, Egypt stays with us. Sad to say it is easier to take the man out of Egypt, than to take Egypt out of the man.

Let us rid ourselves of Egypt by ‘cleaning our ears’, physical, inner and spiritual. After this week of unleavened, we have all now been baptized in the Red Sea crossing, so, Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1 Corinthians 5:7

THE GREAT REFINER

Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

The word for ‘fining pot’ is ‘mats’raf’: meaning ‘to change’, ‘to melt’, to refine’. The word for ‘furnace is ‘koor’: ‘to round’, ‘to destroy’. These are the words our author uses to define the Lord’s role in our hearts. What the pot is to the silver and what the furnace is to the gold, Adonai is to our hearts.

If we claim then to have given our hearts over to the Lord, our hearts will surely be seen to experience change, melting, refining, even rounding or destruction. It will not stay the same. By logical deduction then, if our hearts does not experience these things, if we study the Word and fellowship with believers but do not experience these changing elements in our lives, somehow we either are boasting of a condition which does not exist, or we are resisting its demands. Let us not do so.

Let us be soft metal in the hands of our Maker, in the hands of the great Refiner of our souls. May we allow His loving hands to crush, scour, purge, separate, mold and form our hearts to His Image. May we not resist the catalysts of change He brings to our lives. May we be found to be soft clay.

THE GREAT REFINER

Proverbs 17:3
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

The word for ‘fining pot’ is ‘mats’raf’: meaning ‘to change’, ‘to melt’, to refine’. The word for ‘furnace is ‘koor’: ‘to round’, ‘to destroy’. These are the words our author uses to define the Lord’s role in our hearts. What the pot is to the silver and what the furnace is to the gold, Adonai is to our hearts.

If we claim then to have given our hearts over to the Lord, our hearts will surely be seen to experience change, melting, refining, even rounding or destruction. It will not stay the same. By logical deduction then, if our hearts does not experience these things, if we study the Word and fellowship with believers but do not experience these changing elements in our lives, somehow we either are boasting of a condition which does not exist, or we are resisting its demands. Let us not do so.

Let us be soft metal in the hands of our Maker, in the hands of the great Refiner of our souls. May we allow His loving hands to crush, scour, purge, separate, mold and form our hearts to His Image. May we not resist the catalysts of change He brings to our lives. May we be found to be soft clay.

THAT HE MAY HAVE MERCY UPON ALL

Proverbs 17:2
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

Who is the son that causeth shame? Here our author answers the question: Proverbs 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Whoever they are though, God is the Rewarder of those who do well our same author proclaims. He says, The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame. Proverbs 14:35

Rabbi Salomon Jarchi comments on this proverb saying: "a proselyte of righteousness is better than a wicked native; and in time to come he shall divide the spoil and the inheritance in the midst of the children of Israel.” As proof text he quotes Ezekiel 47:23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord God.
Paul concurs the idea by saying: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Ephesians 3:6

These all represent beautiful promises telling us that the gentiles are included in the covenantal promises God made to Abraham but as it is with all divine promises, they are conditional. The apostle Paul brings the idea in a beautiful analogy as he tries to explain the concept to the mixed congregation of Rome. He says:

Romans 11:17-32 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (18) Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. (19) Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. (20) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. (22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. (24) For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

Paul qualifies his analogy in the following manner:

(25) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (28) As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. (29) For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (30) For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: (31) Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. (32) For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

THE TRUE PEACE OFFERING.

Proverbs 17:1
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

This proverb, which has an obvious literal surface meaning, is loaded with cultural and theological concepts. The keys to its contrast values are found in the words ‘dry’ and ‘sacrifice’.

To understand, we must be familiar with the ethical and cultural habits that evolved through Israel’s sacrificial system. Meal offerings were always offered with oil, so that a dry morsel represents the piece of bread that someone eats quietly at home by himself. The house full of sacrifices tells us of the leftovers of peace offering sumptuous feasts someone would take home with them.

Peace offerings were extravagant feasts. They were not for the sake of guilt or sin, but were the culmination of all the other sacrifices. Peace offerings represented final fellowship with God. Yeshua has been coined to be our ‘peace-offering’. The peace offering is the only offering were everyone partakes of the food brought to the Temple. God gets a share, the priests get a share and the ‘offerer’ gets a share. They all sit and eat together in a sumptuous party atmosphere in the Temple court. It is supposed to represent fellowship with God.

Peace offerings sometimes became lewd parties with merriment and excitement that bordered intoxication. It ended sometimes in quarrel and strife. Solomon uses the degenerating religious practices adopted by some in these celebrations in Proverbs 7 as he talks of a woman with the attire of harlot who goes out to the streets in ‘search’ for the ‘simple’ to lure him into sin. She says I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

This proverb reeks of comparative theology. It leaves us with the idea that the man who worships God in his own home and in a simple manner is better in the sight of God than one, who in spite of all the pretences and wealth found in his religiosity, lives a life that denotes of spiritual conceited gluttony, disobedience, and selfishness. This ‘dry morsel’ eaten quietly at home in a quiet spirit looked to God more like a true peace offering than all the sumptuous feast offered at the Temple.

May we learn from it.

DOES GOD PLAY DICE WITH HUMANITY?

Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

The use of lots to determine difficult decisions is permitted in the Bible. The Hebrew word for ‘lot’ is ‘goral’, referring to small rough colored stones used for lot purposes (the original dice?).

The Bible tells us of very anointed rulings made by lots, such as the story of Achan’s wedge. Lots were never to be used lightly or for personal purposes. They were for the purpose of determining the will of God in ambiguous matters or to settle a dispute. Lots were used for the distribution of the Land unto the tribes. A form of lot with the Ummim and Thummim was used to determine God’s will via the High Priest as well as another form was used to determine if a woman was guilty of adultery.

This proverb tells us that God is sovereign even in the use of lots. Some people wonder if God plays dice with humanity. How does He, even in a society that wants to play God in the matters of life and death, decides who lives or dies? We can immediately be reminded of the story of Moses that we have recently read in our Passover festivities. How does He decide who is sick or healthy? We can also turn to the story of the man who was blind from birth so that the Messiah could one day come and heal him. How does God decide between the pauper and the well to do? Does He choose who should win the elections? Elections or the choosing of a king is kind of done by lots also. We establish a system by which to make that decision and we take what comes.

A careful study of history confirms that God has been behind this cosmic ‘lot-ery’ called history. It is actually not as random as it looks. It is only random when we look at it from our human perspective. As we turn our eyes and look at it from the His perspective, we suddenly see the beautiful planning of the picture. It is like looking at and embroidered work from the wrong side.

Let us then look at our lives from the right side, and know that tough it seems sometimes that God plays dice to determine our destiny, His dice are ‘weighed’ to fall towards our greater good, as well as that of all humanity.

THE REAL ENNEMY

Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty
And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

What a difference a little patience brings. What alternative destinies could restrained words offer.

Many whose biography is crowned with conquests have omitted to overcome the strongest enemy of all; bringing kings and nations to their knees, they remain puny servants to the master of all men: self.

I used to have a control problem. I was not happy when things didn’t go my way. I desperately tried to control my environment to fit my wishes, desires and likings and very quickly found myself at war against a 7.000.000.000 people world, and loosing. So, more out of logical reasoning than out of true yieldedness, I capitulated.

When we can get our way, our last resort is anger. It’s a form of manipulative intimidation of others. It is also a sign of weakness. Once someone has succeeded to make us angry, they won. It is a very poor sample of leadership and parenthood. Even Moses, who was said to be the humblest of all men, didn’t get away with it.

This war against our passion is a difficult one. It seems that even the apostle Paul fought it all his life. Self is an opponent that can look as big as Goliath, and as David proved, can only be overcome with help of God. The Master Himself was the prime example of restraint under extreme injustice.

He that wins the war against himself conquers more than an empire. He that is able to bring his passion under control has discovered the secret of true virtue.

THE HONOR OF OLD AGE

Proverbs 16:31
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Leviticus 19:32 also commands us: Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
In the Name of God, we are to honor righteous (Word obedient) older folks. We are to honor them and acknowledge their presence by rising from our seats when they walk in a room just like we would do for dignitaries.

Old age found in righteousness has no shame in it. It does not feel the need to change its qualification to ‘senior’ or other attributes to avoid saying ‘old’. I study the Word everyday; I therefore grow spiritually everyday. It stands to reason that the more days I have to study the Word, the wiser I will get. This is why older folks are so revered: their advanced age brings with it assumed advanced knowledge of the things of God. It is strange how today young people assume they know more than their elders.

Today there is a sentiment of shame in acknowledging old age. This is so sad. In a perfect world, old age is immediately seen as the result of the blessing of God, and even in this world, old age while living a righteous life is certainly still a sign of the Almighty’s blessing. Why is it that our world has so corrupted everything (I think I know the answer to that question)?

In Asian societies, older folks are revered as ancients and elders of their communities. It is common concluding staple of Indian movies that after a series of complicated personal problems, a person would go up to the upstairs bedroom of the house to confide in the lone meditative grand-father or grandmother who would then give them an experienced word of advice. It is strange though that as a result, these societies who do not have a negative attitude towards old age do not experience mid-life crisis.

May our old age bring with it the wisdom of ages. May it bring with it the respect and honor given to kings. May we be worthy of that honor.

EXPOSED

Proverbs 16:29-30
A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

These are the last two verses relating to evil works executed by one who is: ungodly, froward and violent.

We have identified the executor of these actions as satan (cursed be his name), the antagonist who opposes our soul, and here he is again at work. The point of this proverb is not necessarily the action of enticing. The idea is that the violent man, who is also the ungodly and froward person, leads his neighbor to a place where to execute evil on him. These four last proverbs represent a warning; a warning not to follow ungodly, froward and violent people, as it will bring evil upon us.

Now if we could see the devil coming to us fully dressed in red pajamas, equipped with horns, serpent tail and pitchfork in hand, we would certainly identify him and be aware. The problem is that he doesn’t come to us in that way. He comes to us imitating the Messiah. He presents himself to us emulating the peaceful godly nature and character of our Master so he can deceive even the very elects.

We have to therefore use wisdom in our endorsements. We need to ask ourselves: who are the people that we endorse as people who will lead us in a way that is good? Who are those from our own entourage, the political scene or media personalities whom we believe will not bring evil to pass on us personally or corporately? The way to know is to look at their records and mirror their lives with the Word.

THE CHIEF BACKSLIDER

Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife:
And a whisperer separateth chief friends.

We have here a cause and effect proverb. The froward man, being the opposite of the forward man, is a man who goes backward. He goes backward from where or more precisely from whom? Backward from the Father; and how do we go backward from the Father? By disobeying His Word and not keeping His commandment.

The Father hates seeing the back o His Children. In the old days, a soldier leaving the field of battle because of fear or any other reason was to be executed on the spot so other soldiers would not follow him. One who goes backwards from the Father knows in his heart that he is wrong, so he works himself away from the conviction that eats him by trying to get others to come with him; the more the better. To accomplish that, he ‘whispers’ divisive words of doubt, murmur and complaint in the ears of his companions.

The first to act in such a manner, to follow up his backsliding by trying to convince others to follow him was Satan (cursed be his name!). He came to Eve the Mother of all Living, in a subtle way and sowed seeds of doubt in her heart asking, Hath God really said . . .? This sort of question should always send a red flag to our spirit.

This backslider who is the devil, the father of all lies and backsliders, still uses the same tricks. From the early times when the apostolic Scriptures were lived and written, he has divided the people of God dropping the same question in their mind, Hath God really said . . . to keep the Sabbath; the Passover; the dietary and financial instructions given us in His Words? Are these to be kept by the Children of the Almighty in all their generations? Or are we living under a new ‘dispensation’? Is the Father solely concerned about the good intentions of our hearts, or does He also look at the physical application of our faith? Are words of repentance enough, or are we supposed to also produce ‘fruit’ meet for repentance?

Throughout history the battle of believer’s application of faith has raged hot, and it continues in our days. It sometimes separate families and friends; Yeshua warned us of it. The sad thing here is that over the centuries, the casualty has been obedience; it has been renamed as: legalism. The question is, should obedience be sacrificed as a scapegoat for the one who is really to blame for all this: the devil?

THE MAN OF BELIAL WITHIN

Proverbs 16:27
An ungodly man diggeth up evil:
And in his lips there is as a burning fire.

The Hebrew says, The man of ‘Belial’ diggeth up evil.This refers to a man who lives outside of the parameters of Torah.

From his own heart the man of Belial digs up evil for others. He digs up a pit for others, but like Haman of old, he himself will fall in it. The man of Belial always digs a pit in view of the fall of the righteous, and his ‘digging’ tool of choice is the tongue.

Such is the man of Belial, one who lives without God’s Instructions: from his heart, evil regurgitates to his mouth and his lips become like burning bile. The righteous needs to watch out for such person coming from without, but even more from within himself.

Sometimes we can be so aware of the ungodly ‘Egyptian’ without, or of the ‘Babylonian’, or the ‘Roman’, that we forget the man of Belial that lies within us; the ‘old man’ who tries to take us back into the pit of our former ways. Can that happen?

Forsaking the Almighty’s Instructions of Torah and falling in the pit dug by disobedience has happened to the worst of people, and to the best. Again, the favorite tool of our digging is the tongue. As the apostle James so beautifully taught in his epistle, our tongue is like the rudder of a ship: it determines the direction of our walk.

Let us therefore diligently watch for the ‘man of Belial’ within us. Let us also be aware of him within our inner conversations. Let us constantly put our soul through the Torah mirror test and ask ourselves: are my thoughts and my words a reflection of Torah? Am I really reflecting the Master?