THE MORE I KNOW, THE MORE I KNOW THAT I DON’T KNOW

Proverbs 17:16
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

FOOL: Biblical definition: one who knows the Word of Life and does not obey it.

Why is there money in the hand of the fool to purchase wisdom, though he does not have an understanding heart? A fool may have money in hand to hire a teacher, but it will be to no avail if he lacks will and appreciation of the importance of knowledge.

My wife is a grade school teacher. One time she was correcting a child’s wrongly spelled word when to her amazement he replied, 'oh no Ma’m’, this is how I spell it.’ We may find the young child amuzing, but sad to say, we as adult d have a tendency to act this way. This proud attitude may be bad enough in the academic field, but it becomes a tragedy in the realm of religion. It is easy to convince someone they do not as know as much as we do about the details of a particular trade or academic field, but when it comes to hermeneutics, it feels sometimes that everyone wants to be their own rule book. Every one wants to feel free to interpret and define doctrine according to their own limited knowledge and experience.

Mathematics, physics and astronomy for examples have foundation rules that do not, and cannot change. Two and two always make four; what goes up always comes down and the constellations always show the same story. But when it comes to Bible hermeneutics, it seems to be a free for all. Even though the text it self tells us that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, we have myriads of interpretations. Even though the apostle tells us that there is one faith, one baptism and one doctrine, we are plagued by deep differences. The answer can only be that we, instead of thoroughly searching for The Answers, have allowed ourselves to be taught by other men who did not know the answers either but pulled answers out of their magic hat and called it divine inspiration or even worse ‘new revelation’. My personal motto is: let the Book answer the Book within its own cultural and historical context, and that without any stretch of personal interpretation. No man has the right to come between us and the defined interpretation of Scripture. We need to make sure that our understanding is Scripturally inspired and divinely downloaded, not interpreted.

Let us now ask ourselves: are we a generation of fools? Are we a generation who prides itself in the number of teachers we can hire for ourselves? Teachers who become blind guides of the blind? Are we blinded by our arrogant lack of desire and appreciation for true knowledge? The apostle described our generation in these sobering words: Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7

SOMEBODY PAYS

Proverbs 17:15
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

I like to chock my students or congregants by exclaiming, “I do not believe in salvation by grace; the Bible does not support such a doctrine”. After all, salvation by grace means that our sins are wiped away. It means that we, the guilty party, guilty of murder, adulteries and idolatries, get to walk free without any punishment for our sins. And we call that justice? What if a judge decided to have ‘mercy’, and as a result freed rapists and child murderers? Would we call that judge ‘good’?

The wicked (us) cannot be made righteous on his own merits. It is an abomination to God to justify the wicked. A price has to be paid for the covering of his sins. The full price of our sin is un-payable by us; that is why Yeshua pays it for us and we are saved (reconciled with the Father) based on the merits of the Father’s favor to wards Him. And even though the Son has the favor of the Father, the Son still has to pay an excruciating price for the covering atonement of our sins. So actually, salvation is not free: Somebody pays.

On the other hand, and this is a theological ‘catch 22’, because the price of the Son’s payment is required for our reconciliation with God, by our sins, we automatically condemn the Just. The Just One who had not sin has become sin so He could pay the price/ransom of our regeneration. This knowledge should make us careful and less flippant about our daily behavior. Sometimes we can get familiar and live like, ‘Oh, my sins are forgiven; He understand that I am just human and make mistakes.’ Our sins are forgiven, yes, but not for free. Somebody pays for them. Yeshua pays for them.

A Mom wanted to teach a lesson of obedience to her son. She decided to change technique. Instead of swatting her child’s behind when he misbehaved, she decided that every time the child would disobey, he would have to slap his Mom’s hand. She child, not wanting hurt his Mom anymore quickly changed his behavior.

We cannot be perfect and our sin is with us from birth. Can we try our best to not be flippant about it and try to change our general behavior so we stop slapping, spitting on, lashing, pricking, mocking, humiliating, hurting crucifying and killing the Son of Man? Remember: it is an abomination to condemn the Just.

DRAMA FREE ZONE

Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

The idea is of a man who makes a little hole in the bank of a river. Cutting a small passage he lets water in an adjoining field. The force of the water itself widens the passage flowing in great abundance to the overflow and prejudice of the filed. Lo and behold: It cannot be stopped. So a single word spoken in anger in a way of contradiction is the beginning if a great strife and contention.

What is the wise thing to do? Before the conversation amplifies to such an uncontrollable degree, leave off the subject; let things cool off. This is good advice for partners, colleagues and spouses. Do we want to win the fight or the argument at the cost of the relationship? No. It only yields an empty victory where we really are the loosers.

WERE WE WORTH SAVING?

Proverbs 17:13
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Nabal is the Biblical example of what happens to someone who rewards evil for good. David acted with favor with Nabal. When David could have let his men help themselves of Nabal’s sheep, David made sure that nothing was missing of Nabal’s properties. In return, when David’s army needed sustenance, Nabal refused to help and was even mean and arrogant about it. Nabal ended up with the spite of his wife. He died suddenly during the night, after the which Abigail went to join and marry David. All of Nabal’s goods ended up in David’s hand. 1 Samuel 25.

It is easy though to use goodness as a means to an end. It is common for people today use ‘good works’ in order to win political or social favor, or even with the intent of claiming a favor in return. This was not what David was doing. He was anointed King of Israel, and he was doing his job as King which was to protect the people and act with the dignity of King of Israel. He must have felt indignant to see his virtue wasted on such a piggish person as Nabal.

Bringing this notion home, let us look at ourselves. Yeshua the Son of David also guards over us. It is said that He that keeps Israel never slumbers nor sleeps (Ps 121) The question is: are we worth the protection of the Son of David? Are we worth His efforts? Probably not, but do we try our best, or do we act like Nabal?

A man saw a young boy struggling with the current in a river. Right away the man jumped and rescued the drowning boy. ‘Thank you for saving me’ said the boy. ‘Make sure you were worth saving’ replied the man.

Will Yeshua receive positive returns for His investment in us? Were we worth saving?

THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS

Proverbs 17:12
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Of the nature of beasts there is none more fierce than a she bear, when she has lost her whelps, or wants food. And yet, as terrible and as dangerous as it is, it is safer and more eligible to meet an enraged bear in those circumstances than a fool in his folly. The fool knows the injunctions of the Word but he has consciously rationalized that they are not applicable to him so he does not obey the. Doing so, he builds his house upon the sand the Master teaches us. A fool then, having rejected the Torah is left in unrestrained subjection to human passions, to the heat of their lust. He pursues them and there is no stopping him, or turning him from them. His heat and anger exceeds that of a bear, and is not so easily avoided.

There are many references to enraged bears in the bible. The Assyrian Empire who cruelly conquered and deported the ten tribes is compared to a bear having lost its young. Rome who brutally subjected the world to its rule has the feet of a bear. A she-bear appears and kills 42 young people who were mocking a prophet because he was bald. On the other hand, as a youth, David kills a bear who was after his father’s flocks. The bear often appears in the Bible as a symbol of punishment and/or attacks on God’s children from the North. At the end of this age, there will be a final attack on Israel from the ‘bearish’ North. At that time, Yeshua, the Son of David will appear and deliver His father’s flocks from this angry bear and thereby bring His people to full repentance.

Understanding the meaning of the Biblical imagery of the bear gives us a more complete vision of the comparative imagery of this proverb. It is more dangerous to our lives to meet with a fool, one who has consciously rejected the Word, than to meet with such a creature as the she-bear deprived of her young.

Maybe something is to be said about our circle of friends, media and cyber encounters.

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?

OF THE MOUTH AND THE SOUL

Proverbs 16:26
He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

Hunger is the greatest driving force in the world. If men didn’t need to eat, he would just sit and take his ease. Hunger forces him to get up and toil at some field so he can harvest and feed himself and his family. We glorify the laboring man, and it is good, but what glory should he receive from his natural labor? He knows that if he doesn’t somehow work, he will not eat. The pangs of hunger and our insatiable constant need for food are actually the real driving forces of forward motion. Man works, and he feeds himself.

Man also has the choice to feed himself healthy food to his strengthening and edification, or to eat sweet fatty and easily palatable junk food to his weakening and eventual death. He can use his innate notion of labor to strengthen, or to kill himself.

Behold now the great spiritual lesson that should be learned from this natural observation. As it is in the carnal, so it is in the spiritual. Our soul’s craving for spiritual food is not unlike that of our mouth for physical nourishment. The inquisitive soul hungers for the things of God. It wants to return to its original state, in the presence of the Almighty. He who is attuned to his soul feels its constant tugging at the door of the spirit; its searching and laboring in an uncontrollable hunger for more of the spiritual truth that it so depends on. The Master taught us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled and so, the hungry soul will be rewarded.

In the spiritual realm though, man also has the choice as to what he eats and feeds his soul. He can use the inquisitiveness of his heart to feed himself the healthy direct Words of Life from God Himself, or just tease his soul with the sweet, fatty and easily palatable junk food given by those who pastorize, and process the Word of God into dead doctrines of man. His can direct his spiritual hunger to eternal life, or to spiritual death.

OF THE MOUTH AND THE SOUL

Proverbs 16:26
He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.

Hunger is the greatest driving force in the world. If men didn’t need to eat, he would just sit and take his ease. Hunger forces him to get up and toil at some field so he can harvest and feed himself and his family. We glorify the laboring man, and it is good, but what glory should he receive from his natural labor? He knows that if he doesn’t somehow work, he will not eat. The pangs of hunger and our insatiable constant need for food are actually the real driving forces of forward motion. Man works, and he feeds himself.

Man also has the choice to feed himself healthy food to his strengthening and edification, or to eat sweet fatty and easily palatable junk food to his weakening and eventual death. He can use his innate notion of labor to strengthen, or to kill himself.

Behold now the great spiritual lesson that should be learned from this natural observation. As it is in the carnal, so it is in the spiritual. Our soul’s craving for spiritual food is not unlike that of our mouth for physical nourishment. The inquisitive soul hungers for the things of God. It wants to return to its original state, in the presence of the Almighty. He who is attuned to his soul feels its constant tugging at the door of the spirit; its searching and laboring in an uncontrollable hunger for more of the spiritual truth that it so depends on. The Master taught us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled and so, the hungry soul will be rewarded.

In the spiritual realm though, man also has the choice as to what he eats and feeds his soul. He can use the inquisitiveness of his heart to feed himself the healthy direct Words of Life from God Himself, or just tease his soul with the sweet, fatty and easily palatable junk food given by those who pastorize, and process the Word of God into dead doctrines of man. His can direct his spiritual hunger to eternal life, or to spiritual death.

THE BENEFITS OF OPPOSITE ADVICE

Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

This same verse in the same wording is found twice in the Book of Proverbs. The sages taught that when God mentions something twice in His Word, it is because the saying is of utmost importance.

This proverb is about the idea that we can be wrong in our judgment or opinion even when in our heart of heart we feel absolutely right about it. This teaches us that we are very vulnerable to error. This verse also outlines the utmost importance that we surround ourselves with honest and sincere people that feel they can tell us their opinion about issues. A sound opinion is one that has been balanced by opposite views. It should work in politics too, but the problem with politics is ‘politics’.

A man is an executive type of being. That could be one of the main reason why the Almighty said that it is not good for man to be alone, I will make him a helpmeet to be ‘against him’, the Hebrew says. A woman will lose her marriage if she constantly opposes her husband, but she should be able to balance him, as we all need sound advice and balance. One might argue and say, ‘Yea, so god gave man a woman and you see what happened?’. Yes I see what happened. The Jewish sages taught (whether the facts are authentique or not I know not but the principle is nevertheless scriptural) that when Adam saw Eve eat of the fruit, he knew she was going to be rejected from Eden. The sages teach that Adam loved her so much that he did not want to be separate from her until the redemptive promised time, so he ate the fruit so he could stay with her. The ‘First couple’ (from the Garden of Eden, not the White House) gives us in this spirit a good lesson on what makes a good marriage.

May we never be so arrogant that we cannot take an opposite advice. Even Moses with His personal ‘face to face’ communication with God, is recorded as being the humblest of all men, and is often seen as taking advice, when of course, it was not motivated by ‘politics’.

TORAH, THE HONEYCOMB

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

How pleasant are the Words spoken from Mt Sinai: Words of tender espousals; Words of love; Words of passion. Let us indulge in an analogy this morning. If these Words are like honey, let us make the Torah the honeycomb. As a honeycomb is squeezed in order to deliver its sweet life-giving substance, so everyone involved in the giving of the Torah was squeezed, pressed and taken with passion.

The people of Israel were squeezed with a rebuke that changed their life. It taught them to compare the life-giving principles of true faith with the death inflicting fiery darts of a ‘golden-calf’ man-made religion. As an ungrateful bride, Israel learned the value of staying close to her Husband.

Moses was squeezed into the role of mediator. He interceded, even put his life on the block in order to save wayward Israel from its adulterous and idolatrous unrestrained passions.

Finally, God was squeezed, pressed by Moses into repenting from the evil he wanted to do to Israel. The torah truly is Words sweet as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Even messiah; the One Who is called: the Word; the Torah incarnate; the Wisdom of creation (Proverbs 8; John 1); the quintessential representation of the Words of God suffered the same fate as this broken Torah.

As Moses came down from visiting the throne of the Almighty on the mountain, Yeshua came down from His Father’s throne.

As Moses breaks the Torah when he sees Israel in sin, so Messiah’s body is broken by our sinful lives.

As Moses mediates and successfully intercedes for Israel, returns in the cloud on the mountain for God to re-write the former Words on 2 new tables carved by Moses own hands, so Yeshua goes up in a cloud (Acts 1). He returns to His Father in a resurrected body in order to mediate and intercede on our behalf.

As Moses brings down from the mountain two new tables with the former Words written in them, so Messiah will return. He will bring back with Him the sweet Words of the marriage contract God has made with His people.

As the face of Moses shone so with the glory of the Almighty, so Yeshua will come back in power and glory, and for a thousand years teach us how to benefit from the sweetness and health of these Heavenly Words. May He come soon, even in our days.

THE STOCK THAT NEVER FAILS

Proverbs 16:23
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

James in the Messianic Scripture advises us to be . . .. Swift to hear, slow to speak, . . .. The apostle probably remembers the following wise proverb by our author, A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

This sounds like good advice for many of us. We have a tendency to thoughtlessly ‘utter’ all our mind assuming that our feelings are our ‘inspiration’. Very often it seems though, that this inspiration comes from us, not from the Almighty. Many arguments, divorces, and even perhaps wars would be avoided if we would at least learn to pause (and listen to each other) before we speak.

We must remember that our heart is fed through our eyes and our ears. The problem is that very often we fill this heart of ours with the things of the world such as come through TV, radio, and worldly reading material. If these are the only, or the majority of deposits that we make into our heart, these also will be the only things we will be able to withdraw when comes time to speak. Godly learning then will not be placed on our lips; only the things that we have put into our heart.

Therefore first, we need to fill our hearts with godly material, with material which emanates from the Word, not the world. Better to turn off the TV, shut off the radio; and allow some ‘air time’ to God in our mind. We must also control our ‘inner talk’; make sure we do like king David and command our soul to praise God instead of brooding in our misery.

If we do so, we will be able to withdraw from Godly deposits. These will teach our mouth and add learning to our lips. It’s a ‘stock’ that never fails; never goes bankrupt, never needs to be bailed out.

LIFE OR FOLLY?

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it:
But the instruction of fools is folly.

It is like the Master said, For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. The good that knowledge and understanding can do is dependant on our personal predisposition.

When knowledge and understanding is given to those of a ‘good and honest heart’, it becomes a wellspring to them. The Hebraic idea of the term ‘wellspring’, ‘makor’, is that of a heart from which all vessels, tissues and organs of a body are nurtured and edified. May we all be granted from the Father of all grants the gift of such a disposition.

On the other hand, if the disposition of a man is that of contention, dispute and schism, knowledge and understanding will only fuel his foolish pride to create more falsities in order to promoite himself.

The Torah is the most beautiful legal, social, and spiritual document ever given to man. It is meant for life. An intelligent attempt to live by Its social principles would solve our urban problems. Following its financial advice would solve our economy, our rural issues; benefit ecology and solve animal abuse. It is the saddest thing to me I see this beautiful intricate Treatise of life granted us from the mouth of the Creator on Mt Sinai used in ways to provoke dissensions divisions, and death.

The question we are left to ask ourselves is: Are we like those for whom understanding is a wellspring of life, or are we like the fool to whom knowledge is just another avenue for folly?

BLESS THE OMNISCIENT GOD

Proverbs 16:21
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

The biblical definition of wisdom is to apply and obey the knowledge of the Word that we have been given. This principle is very well illustrated in Yeshua’s parable of the wise and foolish men building their house. The wise built his house upon the rock, and it withstood the storms. Yeshua tells us that such a man is one who hears the Word of Truth and lives/obeys it. A wise man is called ‘prudent’. Both these words refer to obedience of the Word.

While knowledge of the Word and its application are great virtues, the apostle Paul also tells us that knowledge ‘puffeth up’, or causes us to sin by becoming proud and vain. In this case it is no the acquisition of knowledge which is wrong (and of course I am referring to knowledge of the things of God), but rather our proud human-like reaction to it. In our weak human state, knowledge tends to make us reactionary, self-righteous, unbending, proud and lifted up towards those who don’t seem to know as much. Very often this attitude spills over on those who are closest to us such as our immediate families.

Our proverb today points out to the virtues of knowledge, but in a progressive tone, also tells that the sweet exposition of this knowledge to others causes us to increase in knowledge. In perfect comparative Semitic contrast, this also means that the inability to impart our knowledge in a sweet and humble way may actually decrease it. This shows us that the acquisition of the true knowledge of God carries in itself a spirit of humility because the more we know, the more we should realize that we don’t know.

May we learn like Moses and Yeshua to come down from our lofty positions and impart what has been entrusted unto us in the Spirit of His love and humility. May all of us who are called to expound the Word unto others bless and honor the Omniscient God by representing His Knowledge in a sweet and humble way.

COSTLY ENDEAVORS

Proverbs 16:20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

In the Hebrew text, the word for ‘matter’ is the word: ‘Davar’, meaning ‘thing’, ‘subject’ or ‘matter’, but also ‘The Word’.

One wonders about the connection between the two clauses in this Proverb. Let us remember the two preceding Proverbs about pride and humility, rich and poor. Following in the vein of pride and humility connected with rich and poor, the Renaissance Jewish commentator Rashi paraphrases this Proverb in the following words:
‘If one’s analysis of a subject (Davar) shows that performance of a particular commandment may involve danger or financial loss, yet he trusts in God and does it, he is praiseworthy.”

The Master indeed has advised us to be wise in all our dealings, and to ‘count the cost’ of our endeavors. Yet, the grim realistic possible outcome of obedience to God should not deter us from it. Wise realization should only lead us to greater desperation.

As believers, we should never be lured into thinking that our entrance into the covenant of Israel through Yeshua means the end of our problems. Indeed, it could be the beginning of very great distresses, trials and tribulations.

Yet, in this very realization, let us take wholeheartedly endorse every endeavor He has for us for the sake of the world, just as he wholeheartedly endorsed the costly endeavor of our redemption.

GOD’S ECONOMIC SOLUTION

Proverbs 16:19
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

The Hebrew translates that, “It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than…’

Didn’t the Master say, Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . Blessed are the meek? Didn’t the apostle James honor those of our congregation with lesser means by mentioning their faith wealth?

Success in the eyes of the Master is not always measured in dollars and cents. Wealth is not an indicator of God’s blessing, just as poverty doesn’t prove His faithlessness towards us. The faithful apostle even says that he has learned to be content in whatever state he is, whether he abounds or whether he is in lack. Elijah, the great prophet of Israel honored the poorest of the poor, a starving widow who was not even from Israel, and came to rest his blessing on her household. In a way, that’s were God chose to rest; he came hang out and share what He had with the poor.

Of course, God also promised to supply all of our needs, and we do need to have faith to have enough. The problem is that in the Western industrialized world, the notion of ‘enough’ and of basic living requirements have become out of proportion. A trip to some of our poorer neighbor countries always sets us back into proper perspectives. The Master really only offered us food and clothing. He Himself did not have a place to live, but of course, He also didn’t raise a family of small children, which definitely requires a ‘nest’.

The idea of the proverb today is really not about rich or poor. It is about our spirit’s natural tendency to bigotry. Even as affluent people, we should not feel uncomfortable to ‘hang’ around those of lower means.

The Master exemplified our day’s proverb very well. Just as Moses left the Pharaoh’s palace to go be with his brethren, the slaves, from the Mighty domains of the Father’s Kingdom, Yeshua came to hang with us.

The apostle puts it in the following words, For ye know the grace of our Master, Yeshua haMashiach, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich ( 2 Corinthians 8:9).

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

This proverb is placed at the very center of the book of proverbs and is followed by one on the virtues of humility.

When a man carries his head high, his tendency is to look upward and not to be careful about where he is going. Not noticing what he may stumble against (and the people he walks upon), he falls. As they say, ‘The bigger they are, the harder they fall’. The bigger a person or thing is, the greater they fall.

We see today all those great financial institutions and magnates who in their pride and arrogance thought that they were above the retributive system of God. For it is not man’s policing who caught them, it is God’s retributive system; the system which declares that what a man saws he will also reap; the established principle that our judgment is meted to us in the same way we judge others; that our plate ends up being composed of what we dished to others.

Here is the heart of he who is ripe for the destructive fall of those who walk in pride: like the unrepentant king Saul, he walks head and shoulder above his brethren. He challenges the commandment of God trough the prophet; he is justified in his disobedience; he deserves forgiveness: (1 Samuel 15). God has established life’s retributive systems, and we are judged the way we judge others. We are also forgiven as we forgive others. Others, and even God at times, are with us the way we are with them. Pride challenges and wants to be above these principles.

May we live our lives as open books. May we open ourselves to Him. May we realize the pride of our way when yet small; the fall will be more bearable. It is humility which helps us hear the soft warnings He sends our way.

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

Proverbs 16:17
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:
He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

Once we have been told the way, like in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim, it is our responsibility to stay in the way. Once we have been shown the Light, it is our part to follow that Light, keep It straight before us; to follow It through whatever It takes us.

Oh, but the way of the Light is not always paved with ease; so we try shortcuts. Somehow though, these shortcuts always seem to take us through ‘evil’: through what is not approved of God. We need to trust that He knows why the Light leads where it leads, and not try to tell the Father that another way would be better or more efficient to His purposes. We see these shortcuts when we don’t keep our eyes focused on the central Light. This Light does not blind us, but it can blind all around us. This helps us walk in ‘ignorance’ of the tempting options around us, keeping us on our main highway.

This is the way to preserve our soul; to depart from evil: to keep that Light in front of us. This is the strongest light we’ll ever see; yet it doesn’t blind. The hottest fire; yet it doesn’t consume. Yeshua haMashiach, the Image of the Almighty Everlasting Father come in the flesh to bring us the Presence of God in a way our mortal flesh can process.

Oh, that we may learn to preserve our souls; that we may learn to forever keep that Light of the World in the central point of our focus.

That we may always stay on His straight and narrow road, avoiding the pitfalls that lead to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and therefore to perdition.

PRIORITIES

Proverbs 16:16
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Herein we are taught a sense of priorities. The gain of worldly wealth may sometimes be the blessing of the Almighty on our lives, but not if it required the neglecting of His priorities.

Wisdom in the Bible is described as a Person, not a virtue. In Proverbs eight, our author introduces us to Wisdom. In fact, in the writing of the book, the person of Wisdom speaks to us in the first person. This Wisdom tells us how He was with the Creator from the beginning of times when He established foundations on the seas and the mountains. He also tells how all things were made through Him. In this person of Wisdom, we recognize John’s ‘Word’, which the Targum (an Aramaic narration of the pre-messianic Scriptures) calls the ‘Mimrah’: Yeshua haMashiach Himself.

How much more is obtaining a close relationship with this ‘Mimrah’ better than all the gold of the world. Our author should know. He was blessed with all the riches of the world because when the Father met him to make him an offer of whatever he wanted, King Solomon simply asked for the wisdom and understanding to do a good job as king of Israel.

May we take sample after King Solomon. May we above all, desire this relationship with the ‘Mimrah’, Yeshua haMashiach Himself. As we do, let us have the assurance that He will bless us with the wisdom and understanding to accomplish our mission in life, which is much better than all the gold and silver in the world. And who knows, we may even get some of that too!

BLESSED RAINS

Proverbs 16:15
In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

What better pleasure can we desire than a light of approval on the face of our King. To hear His Well done thou good and faithful servant: enter into the joy of thy Lord. These words are life to our spirit and water to our soul.

The clouds of the later rain represent Israel’s spring rains. They are mentioned as opposed to the early rains of fall. The early rains represent the plowing and seeding of the fields while the later rain represent the beginning of the summer harvest until fall. These are also related to the first and second coming of Messiah.

Yeshua was born at or around the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall; at the time of the early rain. He also started His ministry on jubilee year at the time of Yom Kippur, just before the early rains of fall. He did his spiritual plowing of the land for three and half years and started His harvest of resurrected souls at the time of the later rains of Passover. In His rendition of the Gospel, Matthew tells us how at the time Yeshua died, the spirits of departed patriarchs appeared in the city of Jerusalem. According to Scripture, His flesh could not see corruption, so He must have resurrected right away provoking the resurrection of these saints. Peter tells us that until that time when Yeshua was seen again on earth in His resurrected body, He went to preach to the disobedient spirits in hell.

Since then, Yeshua has been gathering his harvest. The final harvest happens in the fall. This is the time Ruth and Boaz committed to each other. Boaz represented Messiah; Ruth, the nations of the world.

Messiah also returns in the fall, at the end of the harvest. There He meets with His Bride made up of all nations who endorse His Torah. He returns on the Day of Trumpets/Yom Kippur when He finally establishes his kingdom on earth, just before the time of the early rain for a new harvest.

May we be in the Favor of His enlightened contenance.

ATONING FOR THE ‘KING’S’ ANGER

Proverbs 16:14
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death:
But a wise man will pacify it.

The Hebrew word used in the place of ‘pacify’ has a much deeper meaning. It is the word ‘kaphahr’, coming from its lexical root: atonement. This word is also used when Jacob, returning from exile at Laban’s house prepares to enter the Promised Land. Jacob knows that Esau his brother waits for him to kill him. Jacob then wisely decides to send his kingly brother caravans of gifts in order to appease or ‘atone’ for his anger. Jacob succeeds.

The idea is also illustrated as David confronts Saul. Saul desires David’s death. Saul pursues David with an army in hopes to catch and kill him. During the night, David sneaks in Saul’s camp, but instead of killing him, he takes a token of his nocturnal presence. The next day, David displays these tokens to Saul on a nearby hill; and Saul sees David a more merciful man than he, he is convicted and goes home.

We need to recognize the ‘kings’ in our lives: those who are in authority over us. Such are government offices, and even people to whom we have to be subjects in business or social ventures. Retailers say, ‘The customer is king’, and this policy, motivated of course by profit, provokes wise retailers to serve all customers well and wisely in spite of their sometimes-capricious anger.

When challenged by authority, to challenge that authority is not wise. In such cases, wisdom dictates to bring resolution by finding a way to atone for that challenge. May we, like Jacob and David of old, be wise. Though we may not agree with the ‘kings’ in our lives, may we at least recognize them as God’s pattern for us, and find the wisdom to address them with kingly respect. May we offer the gifts of atonement that provoke love instead of anger, peace instead of war, life instead of death.

RIGHTEOUS ENDORSEMENTS

Proverbs 16:13
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

A man is his endorsements. It is a sad thing that too many times we endorse what we please to hear. We have forgotten that God’s rule of law is absolute and unchangeable. That it doesn’t adapt to culture, times and situation. That it is the same yesterday, today and forever. We also have forgotten that God’s idea of justice is not relative to our way of thinking nor to how we feel about it, but that it is singular in its dogma. That it is the straight trainer stick to which our seedling is attached so we grow straight.

Those of us in the world who carry some form of responsibility towards others; those of us who are parents, teachers, religious and community leaders, we are types of kings. It is imperative therefore that we learn to endorse righteousness according to God’s Book. We have to delight in those who speak the truth and righteousness of God; we have to love, endorse and encourage those who speak the truth of God in His spirit of wisdom.

Our King Yeshua pleases in those who have righteous lips and who speak right. Let us therefore be found ‘guilty’ of righteous lips speaking right. Let us endorse King Yeshua so He in turn can also endorse us before men and before His Father.

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS TO COME

Proverbs 16:12
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness:
For the throne is established by righteousness.

As the old saying goes, “Others may, but you can’t!” From older sibling to king, any form of leadership demands the same. ‘Others’ may indulge in vengeance, retaliation, selfishness, self-pity, pride, self-vindication, anger and all the likes, but leaders, especially those who are supposed to and even claim to represent God, can’t. Their example must remain steady, sometimes almost cold and unshakable. Such things were required of Biblical kings and priests, and are still required of those who claim to follow Messiah. We are to be a ‘nation of ‘priests’ as was promised us at Mt Sinai.

Each, priest, each king, each lawyer of the Word in the pre-messianic Scriptures of the Bible was to foreshadow Messiah. King David, who exercised the three messianic functions of Priest, King and Lawyer, was the quintessential type of the Savior to come.

Even now, messiah establishes His throne on earth. He establishes it by righteousness; not by man’s righteousness, but by the Righteousness of God. He presently exercises the righteousness of Priest by atoning for our sins in front of the throne of the Creator of heaven and earth. He will in a little time return as a conquering King, snatching the controls of the world from the ‘ungodlies’ and from the ‘ungodly’. Then for 1,000 years, he will exercise, as the greatest Lawyer the world has ever known restoring justice to every man woman, child and ethnic group. This will be a time when He will vindicate the righteous, punish the wicked, and wipe all our tears away.

May He come quickly, even in our time.

RIGHT SCALES AND BALANCES

Proverbs 16:11
A just weight and balance are the LORD'S:
All the weights of the bag are his work.

A literal translation would read: ‘A scale and just balances are Gods’; His deeds are like weights in a pouch’.

Here is Rashi’s reflection on this proverb: ‘Just as each item weighed on a balance sale offsets a different combination of weight, depending on its mass, so God deals with everyone individually, depending on their deeds.’

How beautiful is the Creator’s sense of justice. There one Commandment, one Torah and one rule of law for all men, but yet, He knows how to apply it on a personal basis according to our individual parameters. Only the God who has created and personally knows each one of us could do that. It is so easy to resort to the uniform ‘cookie-maker’ type of justice, and it certainly simplifies things. Actually, our author was known for his extreme wisdom in judging matters between people.

We have a God of love, a God of peace, harmony, truth, as well as of justice mixed with mercy. The end of all matters should rest in these virtues if they are to be found in Him. But only He has the right weights that belong to each person; we as humans are poor judges and need to rely on His determinations.

In our judgments and determinations, may we borrow from God’s scales; may we let His spirit weight on our hearts to influence us so we can judge not by the seeing of the eye, nor by the hearing of the ears, but judge righteous judgments.

KEEP QUIET AND LET GO

Proverbs 16:10
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

Oh for the beauty of God’s Word; for the infallibility of His judgments, truth and justice on earth. Soon, by His grace, they will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.

This proverb has often been interpreted as describing a King or Pope’s infallibility when in the judgment seat. Religious leaders also borrow from it to claim authority on their pulpit declarations. History though, testifies to the fallibility of humankind, even when in office. This verse therefore can only be testifying of the infallibility in judgment of the great King of kings Agent of creation, who will soon come and restore all things to their original state: Yeshua Hamashiach. Hebrew doesn’t have capital letters, but the English should have probably been written as ‘. . . the lips of the King;’

The Messiah/King of the universe is the only One whose lips are clean because He is the only One whose heart is sinless. Our human state would love to emulate that spiritual cleanliness but we seem to always be bound to the sins of our lips. The apostle James actually states that only the perfectly pure in heart doesn’t sin with his lips. Most of the time on this earth, we are left with reaping the results of our blabbering mouth, getting ourselves deeper and deeper into the sinking sands of verbal offense even as we try to keep control of seemingly runaway situations around us. And the more responsibility we have the worse it gets. Most of the time the best policy for us human beings is to ‘keep quiet and let go’. Sad to say, we often come to that wise realization after the damage is done.

May we learn to speak like and by the King. May we learn to let the only One who doesn’t sin be the mover of our lips through the clean motions of His heart within us. Like the Ark of old, let the space of our hearts be filled with the Table of the Testimony, so it can emanate its quiet verbal powers unto the people.

HE’S AT THE CONTROLS

Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

How many times do we plan for thus and thus; we are sure of what’s best but things seem never work out the way we planned them. Things do work out, but differently, and on a different timetable. It can certainly lead to frustration when the best of our laid plans seem to be shelved in favor of another’s: God’s.

We calculate how we will carry out this or that but it seems that our shortsightedness leaves out much in view, which God sees. Our calculations do not always include many contingencies which the Almighty disposes but that we cannot foresee. Also, in God’s world, the shortest way from A to B is not always a straight shot.

The results and issues of any given plan are thus from God. In all our deliberations, we should give ourselves, and without self-confidence and arrogance, to the guidance of the Father. We should do our duty in our preliminary planning, but leave the rest, trust the executing of the purpose, to God with humility and confidence.

Oh, what peace is found once we have surrendered the futile exercise of control and domination. Oh, what joy is obtained when we’ve laid foremanship at the feet of the Chief Laborer.

Oh, what joy is regained once we’ve yielded ourselves in the very Words of the Master and said: Not my will, but thine be done.

THE ‘LITTLE’ FROM THE KING

Proverbs 16:8
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Better be the Church in the wilderness, of low-esteem, poor, not having a place where to lay its head, but gently lead by Messiah, than having a crystal cathedral in the midst of the richest country on earth, and be without the closeness of His Presence.

If sin and disobedience separated us from the Almighty, it goes without saying that obedience brings us back in His Presence. But to find Him, we have to leave rich Egypt behind; we have to leave our comfort zone, the place of our establishment, our ‘father’s’ house He said to Abraham. We have to let Him take us by the hand to an unknown place, giving Him all the controls in total trust and confidence.

The Ark of the Covenant symbols each one of us. It was kept away from the rest of the camp in total seclusion. It sat alone with God in the Holy of Holies. It had to be ready to move and fulfill Its purpose at all times so Its carrying poles were to never be taken out. So our soul should constantly sit secluded in the Presence of the Almighty, always be ready to leave our special place in order to fulfill our mission, but never to settle in the world. We are always to leave behind the world and its glitter and come back to the simple solitude of His Presence.

There with him, He strips us from our outer garments of pride and pretence. He cleans from us this world’s sinful stench. He then dresses us in a robe of simplicity and humility, and brings us to Him.

After we have let go of everything, after we have taken the ‘little’ He offers, we realize that even His ‘little’, is more than this world’s seeming abundance.

PEACE THROUGH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

When the ways of a man harmonizes with the Spirit of the Creator, the music is heard in the heart of all who surround him. They may not know it; they may not realize it; but a transcendent appeasing force emanates from such a man. It flows as a quiet strength, a silent authority, a commanding reverence. This person doesn’t need to make great references to his spirituality as if to impress people. This person doesn’t need bumper stickers or T-shirts to proclaim his reverence. This person doesn’t need theological formulas, jargon or ‘Name-dropping’ from the throne to prove their status. It flows straight from their being, and everyone knows it. Even their enemies are ‘disarmed at their presence.

It was Yeshua’s destiny to be delivered to the justice of man and to be executed in the lot of common outlaws, but because He was the Righteous and Just Man, neither the Jewish leaders of His day nor Pilate had the ‘guts’ to want to face full responsibility for His execution. They kept ‘passing the buck’ to each other.

Sin, initiated in Eden and accomplished at Calvary, proclaims us enemies of God (Romans 5:10). From Eden, our sin estranged us from the Presence of the almighty. This estrangement and enmity find reversal and the beginning of a healing process 2600 years ago during a banquet between God and the leaders of the newborn nation of Israel on a lonely mountain of Saudi Arabia. Representatives of the world will soon emulate this desert banquet. At the return of Yeshua, God will set a table in the presence of us, His enemies, also brought to peace and reconciliation Psalms 23:5).

As estranged and banished children, we were enemies to God. But the ways of Yeshua the Righteous and Just One pleased the Father so He made peace between Him (Yeshua) and His enemies (us) and brought reconciliation. Come to think of it; should also our righteousness (which is only through Yeshua) bring peace between us and our enemies?

THE PERSON OF TRUTH AND MERCY

Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:
And by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

The English in this proverb leaves some ambiguity. Can virtues, such as mercy and truth purge iniquity? This ambiguity has led some to draw either one of the two following conclusions: someone’s iniquities can be purged by first facing them with the truth of the Word, and then giving them the benefits of mercy; or like Catholics interpret it, that by being truthful and merciful, one can atone for his own iniquities.

I would like now to turn your eyes towards a Hebrew understanding of a literal translation of this verse: ‘By Mercy and Truth, He shall atone for iniquity’ (capitalization mine).

When Pilate asked Yeshua, ‘What is the truth?’ Yeshua did not reply. Is it because Yeshua was ignorant of the answer? Why would He be? He had already made His speech to His disciples about the nature of Truth when He said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’. Truth is not ‘something’; it is ‘Somebody’. The same goes with mercy and other virtues. Writings reveal that the ancient Hebrews did not see the virtues of the Almighty as abstract concepts (as is brought us from Greek civilization), but as living entities such as angelic beings. Texts tell us about the angel of mercy who approached God at the creation of man, and in Proverbs eight, Wisdom speaks as a person.

Also, the Hebrew text of the Proverb does not tell us about iniquities purged by virtues, but of iniquities ‘atoned’ by the Person of Mercy and Truth. We now get a much different image. Instead of telling us about virtuous works purging our iniquity, the King teaches us in this proverb about His King, the Messiah, as the only One who can atone for it. Through their sacrificial system, Jews have always believed that it is the Messiah that purges iniquities, not works.

Yeshua is both Truth and Mercy. Let us not be afraid to go to Him.

He is our Covering Atonement.

PEACE IN HIS WILL

Proverbs 16:5
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord:
Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Who is the proud one but he who measures himself against God?

Who is he that joins hands in a coalition against the Almighty?

After the big flood, God commanded the people of the earth to scatter all over the world. Much of human kind did not want to do it. King Nimrod also did not like God having such control in the world that he could drown it at will. So he gathered the people in one place in Mesopotamia where they joined hands to build a tower that will defy God. Nimrod’s reasoning was to build a tower so high that he could take refuge in it in case God decided to do His ‘water trick’ again.

It is in the nature of mankind to be proud. We want to establish that which is right and true according to our own parameters; we naturally want to be our own god. Whereas we need to stand in the world as a light that shines in darkness, unmovable and unshakable; never caving to the demands of man’s society, when it comes to our relationship with God we are to be as malleable as clay yielding to the gentle pressures of our Maker.

It is true that just yielding to the flow of God in our lives may make us vulnerable. It is also true that such parameters bring a certain level of uncertainty; that probably, life will not go according to our plans. But what certainty is there in our own planning and resisting? All that does not originate from the Almighty will not stand in the big Day of Restoration. It will crumble and remains ruins testifying of the end result of man’s rebellion. When He comes, He needs to see our lives reflect what He had created it for, not our own doings.

May we have enough faith to yield to the plan He has decided for our lives.

May we live it without complaints.

May we work it with joy and assertive certainty.

May we humble ourselves to His Divine will;

never trying to dodge its temporary unpleasant demands.

In the Name of Yeshua haMashiach.

THE PURPOSE OF ALL THINGS

Proverbs 16:4
The Lord hath made all things for himself:
Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Being invisible to our eyes, The Father created each element of the universe for the purpose of revealing His greatness to our senses. Sounds ring at their destined time and place adding to His magnificent symphony. Colors and shades bring each other’s glory in the ocular feast that is His creation.

As each sound in a symphony, as each color in a painting, none are wasted. Each are calculated to bring the desired effect. In this case, the effect is to bring out God’s glory, to tell us of His Majesty.

We could argue that some of the things God created are ugly and vile; that some of the people who inhabit our planet are repulsive. How could the Mighty One create such people as the ancient Pharaoh of Moses, Hitler, or all the people who are oblivious to the suffering of others as long as they further their own agendas? But as light is glorified by darkness, beauty and virtue are glorified by that which is ugly and vile. Even in life, the measure of our times of happiness and joy only contrasts with our times of descent to the abysses of trials and affliction. The arrow only flies as high as the archer pressurizes it below.

Time is ticking towards the ‘World to Come’. By God’s grace, He will soon establish His kingdom on earth. This will be a time of ultimate joy and happiness that will contrast the horrors unleashed by the preceding Antichrist that is also to come. Even though this may sound like poor consolation, we can glory that this wicked man was created for the day of retribution, only to help us appreciate more the millennial beauty and virtue the ‘World to Come’ has to offer us. May we keep our eyes, mind and spirit on this goal.

WORKING IN HARMONY WITH THE ALMIGHTY

Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

A beautiful conclusion to the two previous proverbs. As our heart meditates what we deem to be pure thoughts, Elohim weights our response. The conclusion is therefore that it is imperative that our thoughts, being the source of our responses, should be established by God.

Our same author tells us somewhere else, As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. James the apostle adds that a double-minded man cannot receive anything from the Almighty. When our thoughts are not established, we live in constant uncertainty and confusion and separated from the orderly beauty Elohim has for us.

We are told that for our thoughts to be established, our works need to be committed unto God. The Hebrew word for ‘commit’ is also ‘turn’; ‘roll over’. We are to turn our works towards Him. We are to roll over our business, our daily occupation towards Him for our thought to be certain in themselves, which in itself creates faith.

As we think of our coming day, let us commit it to Him. Let us ask: Is what I do a response to His commandments? Yeshua based the commandments of Torah on two statements from the Old Testament: to love Elohim with all of our heart mind and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our love for Elohim is shown by following His commandments and by representing His love to those made in His image. How do we do that? To most of us adults that means to be responsible faithful parents working hard to supply for our families; to be responsible members of our communities; to study His Words and do our best to obey them and teach them to our children by beiang a good sample of them. For younger folks, that would mean to be obedient and helpful in their homes, thereby showing gratitude for their parents’ efforts; to prepare themselves for their future responsibilities of parenthood by applying themselves to their schooling; and to keep away the garbage that is hurled on them daily by the media.

If we harmonize all our works with His command, our thoughts become aligned, and therefore established with His divine will.

LEAN ON THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE OF ALL THINGS

Proverbs 16:2
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits.

Man, being what he is, lies victim to relativism. At any given time, consciously or subconsciously we measure and judge the various elements of our life in a manner solely relating to our own influenced sense of goodness and justice. No matter how hard we try not too, we cannot help but act as the god of our own sphere of influence. We claim to be able to be the judges and juries of life around us.

That is why we need to thank our Heavenly Father for these times when we are faced with issues that are bigger than us. If we truly have our eyes opened and are completely honest with ourselves, we see that most of the time, life demands of us decisions that are bigger than ourselves. Whether they are domestic, political, emotional or spiritual, life’s demands on us dwarf us.

Our natural pride doesn’t like to feel dwarfed, so at such times we may rely on psychological crutches that help us cope and not feel so small. But whatever we do, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, the facts of our smallness still remain.

We may be small; we may only be able to see life solely from our time-bound, earth-bound perspective; but in spite of it, let us remember that we have a big God Who righteous and uninfluenced by man. He is able to weigh all things right, and even to help us see things from His pure undefiled perspective. In our world of uncertainty, may we fully lean on Him and trust. May we make sure to learn to be able to judge with His unlimited eternal perspective which sees-all and knows-all.

HE RULES MAN’S TONGUE

Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

A famous Jewish luminary expressed this proverb in the following words: “Man has ideas, but God gives speech which will either cause him to stumble with his words or speak eloquently”. Rashi.

There was one man in the Bible; his name was Herod. He gave an eloquent speech but did not give glory to God. We are told that because of it, at the end of his speech he gave up the ghost and that he was eaten by worms.

Acts 12:21-23.

When it comes to politicians and leaders, we need to realize that God ultimately remains sovereign over history. He decides who reigns, governs and rules each country. He also decides each country’s sphere of influence in the world at any given times of history. All the eloquent rhetoric in the world will not promote a leader in the eyes of its people, or a nation in the eyes of the world if God wills it not. On the other hand, no one can contain the growing influence of a leader or of a nation if God has a plan for it, be it good or evil.

The most eloquent of speeches can be prepared but in the end, the answer from the tongue comes from God. When a speaker successfully convinces his audience, with good or with bad, ultimately God is responsible for inspiring him or allowed his influence to be spread.

What is true of world leaders and politics is also true on a personal and domestic level. Teachers, counselors, parents and pastors need to prayerfully prepare their notes on what they need to convey to their audiences, but in the end, once they have done their best, they need to acknowledge and realize that the ultimate results belong to God.

In a certain sense, with the knowledge of this principle, we can see the signs of the times. A careful study of current moral and political influences give us and idea of which direction God is allowing the world to take, and therefore a window into the future.

Let us then be smart. Let us rely on the Almighty Spirit of God for the delivery of our own speeches, and may we have discernment about the growing influences around us.

MOLDED BY HARD KNOCKS

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

The Hebrew word used for instruction is ‘musar’: discipline; thus reading in is Hebrew text: “The fear of the Adonai is the discipline of wisdom”.

Many look for wisdom just like many honor the virtue of humility, but these two each require going through a particular path.

When the natural man studies wisdom but doesn’t own within himself a healthy ‘fear’ and reverence for God, His Instruction (Torah) and His retribution system, wisdom and knowledge will only serve to inflate this man’s ego. It will only be used to promote his personal agenda and will do more damage than good. Ancient Greeks just about worshipped wisdom, but it was the wisdom of man through which they could not even find the knowledge of God. Their kind of wisdom did much damage to mankind and is still the cornerstone philosophy of humanist secularism in the western world today; a philosophy diametrically opposite to the Hebraic Judean culture from whence our faith birthed.

It is the same thing with honor. If a man receives honor before he has been humbled through life’s school of ‘hard knocks’, he becomes proud, arrogant, demanding and dictatorial, wherefrom stems the wise comparison.

Let us therefore not put the cart before the horses. Before we honor someone’s wisdom, let us make sure he has gone through the ‘whole course’. We must ask ourselves, ‘Has that person’s character only been molded by wise rhetoric, or has it gone through the humbling hard knocks that shape the character of a man?