HE SETS US APART FOR HIMSELF

Psalms 4:3

But know that Adonai hath set apart him that is godly for himself: Adonai will hear when I call unto him.

Does following the Master daily cause loneliness to our hearts? Does it provoke us to forsake the past again and again? Does He at times take us on a limb and requires that we saw it off? Do you feel Him right now taking you to a lonely desert place to make a decision that can influence the rest of your life?

This is not a time to fear. Our Master honors those who, imitating Him, are willing to take on the new uncharted paths He sets for them. He honors those who desire to follow His name, His Name only, unafraid of flame or foe. This is the way of the Bridegroom; He calls and woos His Bride away from the cares, distractions and dependencies of this world. He uses situations that require great faith and dependence on Him, all for the purpose of separating His bride for the full service of His house. He likes to take her out of ’Egypt’ and into the desert, away from her comfort zone, to let her feel the strength of His love, as she basks in total dependence on Him.

The winds of His Holy Spirit blow here today, there tomorrow. May we be a Bride who knows how to follow the changing and purging winds of the Spirit of the Bridegroom; a bride who hears and who obeys when He takes and sets her apart; a bride who knows that wherever He chooses to take her, it is for her best regardless of the seeming outward conditions.

DO WE HEAR HIS CRY?

Psalms 4:2

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?

Selah.

In his flight from his traitorous son Absalom, David never ceases praying to God. His fight is fully borne in a spiritual manner. His cry unto God against the foolish vanity of the men who are stealing the kingdom away from him echoes Yeshua’s against this wicked and adulterated generation

(Matthew 16:4).

We, the people—humanity--are the glory of God. We are wonderfully and fearfully made in His powerful and likeness, nature and character. Yet our actions, attitudes and conduct blot the image of the glorious God who created us with their shame. Do we even hear Him cry from the Heavens begging us to reform? In the winds of the skies, and in the noise of high waters, He cries to stir our attention away from proud and vain thoughts, from our wicked ways; do we hear His cry? Do we listen?

How long, He screams, How long will you seek after ‘leasing’ , after lies, falsehood and pretenses in the carnal man. In these words we can hear the soul of the weeping prophet crying,

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Jeremiah 9:1

THE BEST GIFTS

Proverbs 18:16
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

It is fascinating how each realm has its own dynamics. Worldly business dynamics run by selfish interests and the solvency of numbers, but spiritual, godly business dynamics run by unselfish giving, obedience and trust in God’s plans.

A believer in the world has to, in some level, deal with business, but the way he deals with it will reveal who he is. We cannot say that we are believers and yet act like worldlings. We only deceive ourselves, sometimes we deceive others, but we certainly do not deceive God Who discern between matter and matter in our hearts.

This proverb could be translated as: ‘The ‘giving’ of a man makes room for him, and brings him before the great’. The wealth of a man is not defined by what he can hoard, as it is the financially uncertain pauper who hoards, but by what he gives, as only a rich man has the ability to give liberally. By doing so, a man naturally joins the ranks of the ‘great’, of those who have the ability to give.

Let us also remember that giving is not solely confined to the realm of money. Many would rather give their money than their precious time. Yeshua had no money, but He constantly gave of Himself. The apostles also said: ‘silver and gold have I not, but such as I have give I thee. Time, virtue, knowledge, sympathy, friendship, fellowship and sometimes, just a listening ear can constitute some of the best gifts ever given.

PRAY; HE ANSWERS.

Psalms 4:1

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Hear me when I call may sound like a strange statement, but many of us expect to be heard when we don’t even call. Of course the Father does know what we need even before we ask Him, so this ‘calling” to God is more for our benefit and for that of those around us. For our benefit because it is a conscious confession of our need which provokes humility; and for that of others, because it is a witness and a demonstration of God’s ability to helps His children in their time of distress.

In ancient times, to make a request from God, people had to go to a Levite, a Nazarite, or a Rabbi. They needed to bring a sacrificial offering and make their request in fear and trembling, whose blood would approach God in our behalf. These things teach us the parameters of prayers even for today. Yes, things have not changed. We go to Yeshua, our Nazarite priest and Rabbi and make our request with fear and trembling, and He presents His Own shed blood to the Father as our sacrifice to pay the price of approaching the Father for us. What a priviledge that we can call upon Him at any time and invoke His sacrifice as leverage for our request. May we not use it unworthily.

Oh that we would call unto God as unto a loving Father. So many of us who call Him “Our Father” act like orphans. Let’s call upon Him today, in the righteousness and mercy of Yeshua, the Messiah, and know that He will “enlarge” us when we are in distress; that He will have mercy and hear our prayers. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (Psalms 103:10). His gentleness has made us great, and He deals with us according to the righteousness and the mercies found in the blood of Yeshua the Messiah shed for us.

HE IS AT THE HELM

Psalms 3:8

Salvation belongeth unto Adonai: thy blessing is upon thy people.

Selah.

After trying to convince her that worry doesn’t pay, a woman jokingly exclaimed, “Oh yes, worry does pay; the things I worry about usually don’t happen!”

Here is the conclusion of the whole matter (Ecclesiastes 1;13). The end of all cares is the knowledge and the assurance that when all is said and done, the Father is in full control of our lives. “His hand is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me,” the old song goes.

Many things happen to us that don’t appear to be within God’s perfect control. It is easy to feel that life is composed of random events coming at us without rhyme nor reason. Looking at it, one could easily conclude that we as individual are a ship left adrift given to its own care and caprices of the wind; that no one is at the helm. But a careful analysis of a life dedicated to faith, prayer and serving God easily proves the contrary. It testifies that whatever happens to us is within God’s perfect control. Therefore, we can always call upon Him with the total assurance of the promise that He . . . . is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13.

Oh, think of how excited we get when a child in dire need of our help cries out with desperate expectancy and faith that we will rescue him! Even so, the Master is excited when, going head front to an inevitable catastrophe, we let go of control through the sails and wheel, lift up our hands and scream, “Master please save us”. He is elated when in the midst of seeming impossibility, we hold Him to His Word and in a voice of excited anticipation, we proclaim with King David, Salvation belongeth to Adonai. Beloved, that could be the highest illustration of the word: ‘worship’.

ADONAI; OUR JUSTICE.

Psalms 3:7

Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Absalom, David’s son had successfully led a coup against his father’s government. David could have led a civil war against his own son and win, but he followed the integrity that brought him the kingdom: in the same way that when David was anointed king by the prophet Samuel, he refused to kill king Saul who pursued him, and now David did not want to kill his own rebellious son who could be the possible next heir to the throne.

David also did not want to bring civil war and division in the people of Jerusalem, but the most beautiful part of his integrity was that he did not want to rely on the arm of his own strength for salvation. He wanted the Lord to be the one to vindicate him, to fulfill all justice and righteousness, so now he fled Jerusalem with Bath-Sheba his wife, and just a handful of loyal followers.

When we are pushed in a corner; when it seems that there is nothing we can do; that whatever way we turn, we loose, let us commit our cause onto the Lord. He brings us to these places for that very reason —for us to turn to Him.

God smites the enemies of our soul with a contemptuous slap that shames them without remedy; He breaks their devices of war! Let us remember His deeds of old, and be encouraged in the assurance that God never forgets us, and that in His perfect time, he always vindicates His people.
Psalms 27:12-14 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

HE IS BIGGER THAN GOLIATH

Psalms 3:6

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Does this statement by King David reflect willingly purposed ignorance of danger, boasting, or mere denial of reality based on therapeutic positive thinking? Is it the fruit of a strong faith in God based on the Word of truth? Boast ,or true faith? The answer to these questions lies in the end result. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Unless faith is in the end ‘mated’ with some sort of tangible manifestation, our declaration and profession of faith remains be a boast.

When Elishah’s servant asked the Shunamite about her son, Is it well with the child? She responded it is well. Was she in denial that her son had just died of a stroke? Or was she acting in full faith and supernatural assurance that God will give her her child back, which He did (2 Kings 4:26)!

. Was David acting in youthful immature ignorance of danger when he went to challenge the giant Goliath with nothing but a sling and 5 smooth stones? For the armies of Israel, Goliath was too big to fight; for young full of faith David, Goliath was too big to miss (1 Samuel 17:45)! It is all a question of perspective, of what we are focusing on.

The man who has his eyes firmly focused on God still feels fear, experiences worries, sees large armies of enemies, anticipates storms and famines . But he also sees Yeshua who calms the storm, comforts the heart, puts ther sea at rest, feeds the hungry, and turns to flight the armies of the aliens (Hebrews 11:34). When Peter stopped looking at the Master he started drowning (Matthew 14:30). When the Children of Israel looked at the giants, they were discouraged and refused to conquer the Land.

May we learn to look straight in the face of the Master instead of at the “giants” in our lives.

May He then fill our hearts with the same faith He gave King David in front of Goliath.

May we learn in these uncertain days to possess an unwavering assurance of faith and an unshakeable peace in the midst of the coming storm.

THE GREAT HERDSMAN

Psalms 3:5

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for Adonai sustained me.


Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his concept of peace. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among far-off mountains. The second painted on his canvas a thundering waterfall during a raging storm with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam. At the fork of a branch, wet with the cataract's spray, a small bird sat on its nest, cheerfully singing. That is real peace.

How sad must The Father be when after all He does for us, we still sit there and worry. On the opposite, how elated must He be when, in full trust and confidence, we cease from our own fretting and trust Him to do the work of caring for us. When faced with the fiercest of hurricanes, we can still trust Him, because we know that no matter what the situation looks like, He keeps us In the hollow of His hands.

It is in the midst of trouble that faith is tested. When we allow something to worry or fret us, we have put limitations to God's omnipotence in our hearts. How offensive would that be if anyone did that to us. The Hebrew word for ‘herdsman’ is ‘Do’eg’, meaning: ‘worry-er’. He is our great ’Herdsman’; may we let Him do the worry of caring for us.

On another level of etymology, the Hebraic biblical concept of ‘sleep’ can also refer to death. As we can trust Him with the worries of our lives, we can also trust Him that as we lay ourselves to ‘sleep’, He will also sustain and revive us. Though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil' the psalmist affirmed.

Resurrection is His promise to us.

CALL UNTO HIM

Psalms 3:4

I cried unto Adonai with my voice, and he heard me out of His Holy hill. Selah.

Our Master Yeshua told us that in order to see His Kingdom we needed to become as little children. What baby cries and does not expect to be heard? And yet in our ‘growing up’ our assurance of getting answered when we ‘cry’ seems to decrease. The most simple act practiced by babies requires us ‘adults’ to own the understanding of great educated theological principles. And as the world goes on, we seem to become more and more ignorant of the basic principles of faith.

God hasn't changed. Whereas in our short-sightedness we think Him lenient or even absent, He is near, and not willing that any should perish.

In his repentant hour, even the most wicked Torah-breaking sinner can call unto His Creator, just like the baby does. The Father will be right there, even waiting at the top of the road where He has for years hoped for his return. Here he is, teary-eyed with great anticipation of that blessed moment, with His great desire to answer our prayer. During our time of purging, we can call on Him, Yeshua is right there with us all the way through it, a High-Priest able to empathize with us, ready to pour the atonement blood shed for our redemption and reconciliation.

What father enjoys seeing His children suffer? Yes, the Father takes responsibility for sometimes allowing us to reap the results of our foolishness but when we go through the fire, He is with us, and even through the waters, they do not overflow us. Even in exile, He has been with His people ready to answer their call of repentance and return to Him.

THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH

Psalms 3:3

But thou, O Adonai, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Even In the midst of betrayal from his blood relatives and from his people, this man, Kind David, went to His Lord in a spirit of victory.

How many of us, when faced with the daily problems and inconveniences of life allow ourselves to indulge, sometimes subconsciously, in a spirit of complaint, even of ‘righteous’ indignation against God saying, “How could You, after all be so cruel to me. I have confessed your name publicly; I am a devout believer. Afeter all, You should be careful; Your reputation could be smeared if You treat Your people so.” What a pity!

We mention His Name, and then forget the injunction of the apostle that says, all they that will live godly in Messiah-Yeshua shall suffer persecution (I Timothy 3:13). The Master Himself reminded us of the rabbinic injunction, The servant is not greater than his master, if they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). We need to remember, that even though He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7). In spite of all that may befall us, He seems to still be better to us than He was to Himself when He was on the earth.

Instead of complaining, may we look to our Master with the assurance of forgiveness, strength, support, love, vindication from enemies, and victory over our trials. May we rest upon Him. May our hearts own the perfect peace of those who believe by faith in His blessed Words, unmoved by the not by the sight of trouble around them. May we partake of the substance of things hoped for, of the evidence of things on t seen. Hebrews 11:1

NOTE:* “The Greek word for “substance” is huposthasis” meaning title deed. When we have the title deed for something, we Know we own it because of the deed on paper even though we haven’t seen it and do yet enjoy the full benefits of its use. In the same way, we are redeemed as the ‘contract’ says, but not yet restored.

WE ARE NOT ALONE

Psalms 3:2

Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. Selah.

These lamentations of King David about those who sought his life foreshadow those of the people who indifferently watched their Messiah dying on the tree saying, He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God (Matthew 27:43).

In his hour of distress, the child of God appears so lonesome, seemingly abandoned, even by God Himself. Satan is master at playing this distress in our mind. We listen to him and start believing that no one stands with us to support us, not even God.

Yeshua exemplified these sentiments when on the cross He exclaimed, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? . . . My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46). The prophet Elijah also thought he was alone against the multitude of the ungodly when he said, and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. At that moment God reassured him and said "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees of which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (1Kings 19:10,18). Elijah's servant was duly rebuked when one morning he awoke to the haunting sounds of the Syrian army on the lookout for his master. He thought they were alone to fight this great battle until God opened his eyes. He said, “Alas, my master! How shall we do?” And he (Elijah) answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17).

Dear Master, you may have been alone as no other could stand with you in your station, but we are not alone. In our hour of trouble dear Yeshua, help us to resist the enemy who tells us otherwise. Open our eyes that we may see that they which are with us, those of today, and those of yester-years, are more than they which are against us.

A BALANCED BALANCE

Proverbs 18:15

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

The English text lacks the subtlety of the Hebrew. A narration from the Hebrew version explains, ‘Understanding (prudence) will unable someone to derive knowledge on his own, but someone who lacks understanding (but who still has an ear for wisdom) , must rely on the wisdom he gathers from (prudent) others’. The idea taught here is that: to desire wisdom is a great thing, but without a prudent heart we must acquire this wisdom through the wise tutoring of others.

Knowledge can be a blessing or a curse. The universe’s laws of physics can be used to build or to destroy.. That is why our same wise author also advises us to not only get wisdom, but to also get understanding: Proverbs 4:7.

Because of our wicked hearts, even the knowledge of the liberating Word of God is often used to enslave and oppress. This is so sad. I think it is the highest form of blasphemy: to use the Word of God for despotic purposes. It is done by country leaders, by religious leaders and it is even done within the confines of people’s own homes, with over bearing parents imposing a somber legalistic view of religion.

Moses said that obedience to Torah, who calls Itself ‘Wisdom’ in Proverbs 8, is our Life. I would therefore advance the idea that any application of obedience to the Torah which does not produce life in its hearers, but instead produces oppression and bondage is erroneous. Within these parameters, we need to also acknowledge that either an over conservative or over liberal view of our obedience to Torah leads to oppression and bondage. The over conservative view leads to the bondage to man, the over liberal view leads to bondage to self or the devil. Within these parameters we therefore obtain the blessed wisdom of a ‘balanced balance’, which God loves since: A false balance is an abomination to God.

May we love to learn; may we desire wisdom; but Abba, grant us not to be so arrogant as to think we have to learn everything on our own. Give us the wisdom toe learn from those who ‘blazed the trail’ before us, that all our wisdom and learnings bring us life and freedom, not death and boundage.

ACCEPT GOD’S RECKONINGS

Psalms 3:1

LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.

Hear the heart cry of King David, a great and mighty soldier unto his God! Hear the cry of a meek one who; one who after winning numerous battles still, does not rely on his own arm of flesh to save him and to get him out of trouble. Hear the prayer of one who utterly leans on his God and who learns from Him.

Because of his sin with Bath-Sheba, King David was told that violence would not depart from his family. This song is the psalm that he wrote when he fled from his own son who slyly took the throne away from him. Couldn’t he have him killed? Couldn’t this great military hero have done away with his adversary, even with his own son? The people would have understood, his generals would have stood by him, and would have glorified him for being a king which was no respectful of persons in judgment, not even of his own blood. No. For David, this was not God’s way of doing things. Absalom had turned many people against his father, and to stand against him in military action could have involved civil war and the destruction of the city of God, of the beloved Jerusalem which David worked so hard to build. The most wonderful thing in David’s flight from Absalom is that David knew that what was happening to him this was the result of his own sins; therefore he was willing to eat humble pie in front of his God and in front of his people. The great lesson we can glean from these events is to not fight against God’s reckonings in our life!

Abba Father; help us to admit it when things happen to us that are simply the fruits and results of our disobediences to You and your Torah. Help us not fight your chastening for it. Help us to be able to eat humble pie and take your discipline bravely, just as we expect our children to do.

Hebrews 3 and 4 audio by Patrick Lumbroso

HE SEES YOU

Psalms 1:6

For the Adonai knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

We may sometimes feel that no one sees nor appreciates us for our true value. It may look to us that this cynical world misunderstands even the purest of our motives. By comparison, it may appear to us that those with ill motives and evil intentions succeed in their endeavors and that this world rewards them with credit and glory

What a comfort to know that Adonai Himself knows the way of the righteous, that nothing escapes His eyes. He is the ultimate Judge; ultimately, He is the only One we have to please and His reward lasts forever (Romans 11:29).

None can fool Him with pretense and false works. His spirit discerns between the sincere gift of our person to Him in pure and simple obedience, and egocentric self-glorifying, self-righteous religious works done in pride and dissenssion.

So let us not fear if today, the world doesn’t appreciates and values and our participation. Very soon another day is coming when the books will be opened and all things all will be revealed. In that day, every secret of every heart will be opened, every motivation revealed, and just recompense will be given to all.

May it come soon, even in our days!

Hebrews 2 audio by Patrick Lumbroso

Hebrews 1 audio by Patrick Lumbroso

STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF ADONAI

Psalms 1:5

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

This is a day we will all face--the day when the books are opened and a true account is given for everything we’ve done and said. No more hiding; playing games is done and over with. No more pretending, bribing, begging, whining, or cajoling. The time for justifying ourselves using our favorite rationalizations, excuses and alibis is over. This is the day of the great accounting when the borrowed and stolen is returned, when only what’s truly ours remains. And what’s more, is that for any of us the game can stop at any time; we cannot count on tomorrow.

In that day, those of us who have not had our priorities straight, who have not meditated on the Word, soaked our roots deeply in the moisture brought us by the River (Psalms 1:3), will not stand in the brightness of God’s presence.

Whereas those of us who have faithfully lived off the spiritual nutrients offered by the River of Life, those of us who regularly sat at Yeshua’s feet like Mary, we will be able to stand with Moses on the Mount of the congregation and hear the voice of the Master say, well done , thou good and faithful servant;. . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Matthew 25:21) .

We will enter without fear, with Yeshua through the veil, and into the Holy of Holies of the Presence.

We will enjoy the God whom we know has been with us day by day.

What a day that will be!

‘THE RAILWAY OF DEATH’

Proverbs 18:14

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

During W.W.2, 61,000 allied prisoners were forced to build a railroad from Thailand to Burma. Their Japanese captors were ruthless. They kept these POW’s living in abject conditions with every right of the Geneva convention denied. Hungry, beaten sick, humiliated, these prisoners had every reason to turn to the savage beast in each of them in order to survive. The price of that though, it is that if they did, they would reflect the image of the very devil that oppressed them.

One young Scottish officer who previous to the war was preparing to be a teacher recognized the issue at hand and determined to keep his dignity and pride as a human created by God, This officer started teaching and educating the other soldiers of his company away from the ‘beast’ in each of them that that demanded murderous vengeance. Using Greek classics, Shakespeare and the Bible, he revived hope and reason in the heart of those around him. He kept the ‘human’ from being overcome by the ‘beast’ in each of them. This victorious encounter of virtue against senseless brutality created ripples and waves that taught even their heathen captors about the power of God.

In the same way that the germs part of our biological structure wait for a moment of physical weakness to do their dirty work and make us sick, sin also permeates our personality. Lust, vengeance, anger, arrogance, pride, gluttony and senseless polemic are all waiting for our moment of spiritual weakness, a moment when the enemy has succeeded to break our spirit, in order to take us over and show their ugly head.

Thank God, that even though our spirit may be broken, we have His unbroken victorious Spirit to sustain us. His Spirit is the One of the Lamb Who voluntarily and meekly laid down His life, while praying for His enemies. He opened not His mouth in vengeful curses; He did not return hurt for hurt. His Spirit was stronger than the evil that oppressed Him, and therewith He conquered even death. This is the Spirit that we also own from God.

Let us who claim to be anointed by Him; let us who claim to know and hear the Voice of His Spirit; let us who declare that we have the Light of the knowledge of God, never blaspheme His Name by misrepresenting Him on earth no matter what are the conditions. Tall order? Yes. But better to die fighting to reflect His image to the world, than to submit d to the blasphemy of reflecting the image of His and our-arch-enemy: the devil.

THE LIGHT AND ORDER IN A GOD-LED LIFE.

Psalms 1:4

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

A young woman told me that she believed in God, that He was close to her and leading her life. She proclaimed though that she did not believe that Yeshua was the Messiah the Son of God, and that only through Him could God be addressed or approached. Curious to know more about the effects of this belief system on her life, I continued the conversation with this woman.

She then proceeded to tell me about her life; how she was so confused and did not understand the things that were happening to her. She also didn’t seem to have a clue of where she was at and even less of where she was going. After this discussion, I concluded that no matter how much she liked to believe that she was close to God and that He was leading her life, her own testimony proved otherwise.

God is not a spirit of confusion; a life led by the Spirit of the Lord is not confused. One who is truly led by God knows and understands by sight or faith where he is at and also where he is going. It is the ungodly and the one without God who is like the chaff driven away by every wind, thought, doctrine, or idea, with no order, beginning nor end.

The ungodly is the anti-thesis of one who is led by the spirit of the “wind” of God (John 3:8)’’ of the one who flies ‘upon the wings of the wind’ (Psalms 18:10).
For those of us who boast that our life is ordered and lead by the Lord of the universe, if it is truly so, Light, spiritual harmony and order emanates the silent, but screaming testimony and witness of the beauty of God.

THE RIVER

Psalms 1:3

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Oh what a picture! What a picture of the child of God’s perfect harmony of with His creator, the roots of his soul fully nurtured in the Spirit of his Maker. Near his God, he finds divine serenity, love of purpose, lush abundance, perpetual fruitfulness, true happiness: Eden returned in his heart. This is the reward of “not walking in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standing in the way of sinners, nor sitting in the seat of the scornful”; here is the perfect harmony created in the heart of the child of God having “his delight is in the law of the LORD.” (Psalms 1:1-2)

People of the world run to and fro the distance of the planet in order to find peace. Like the woman that had the issue of blood, they spend all their substance on physicians, doctors and psychologist, hoping for the peace of mind and spirit that can be obtained simply by touching the fringes of Yeshua’s garment; do they only know that this treasure they are looking for is not in heaven nor beyond the sea, but it is very close to them, in their mouth and n their heart. (Deuteronomy: 30:13-14).

When someone comes sharing their hearts and their problems, spare them the empty psychology and wisdom of man; rather bring them to the ‘river’. There is no other therapy, no other solution, and no other medicine. All the wisdom in the world will fail; only the ‘River’ will do.

DID YOU HEAR ME?

Proverbs 18:13

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

How many problems would be solved with proper communication ethics. How many wars would be avoided, how maybe households would find peace, how many marriages would be redeemed and work relationship saved. Maybe it would even help our politicians to bring back ‘civility’ in their debates on hot issues.

I had a conflict with my teenage son the other night. I gave him a command which he wanted to argue. I had to let him know with no uncertain terms that whatever he had to say, disobedience was not acceptable. When he later complained later to his Mom that I was not listening, she explained to him that the best way for one in authority over you to listen to you, is to first indulge them in their command; they will then be more willing to hear your position.

What does it mean to answer a matter before we hear it? The Hebrew verb for ‘hear’, is ‘shamah’, from where we get the word ‘Shema’ in the staple prayer of Judaism. Shema means more than to passively listen. It means to listen, accept, obey and act upon what was spoken. When God tells Israel to ‘shema’, He in fact tells us to hear, listen, subject our spirit to His command and do what He says.

Jewish sages actually taught that the best time to lay your requests at God’s altar is when in the midst or performing an act of obedience. The idea is that when we obey God doing His will, He is happy with us, and it is then a good time to say, “By the way, God, could You please…?” That is why Jewish people always pray for their children during the Sabbath prayer on Friday night. They know that God is pleased to see them obey in sanctifying the Sabbath, so they use that time of favor to pray for their most precious possessions: their kids.

Effective communications require humility, and the apostolic Scriptures do advise us to ‘subject one to another’. May we subject ourselves to each other, by indulging each other’s reasonable request. By listening more, we may find ourselves more heard.

SACRIFICE OR PRIVILEDGE?

Psalms 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

It is no sacrifice for the child of God to not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful as was stated in the preceding verse (Psalms 1:1). The child of God does it willingly because his delight is of a higher calling. The child of God doesn’t feel that he ‘has’ to dedicate himself to the study of the Word; he rather feels that he ’gets ’ to; for him, it is a blessing and a reward from the Almighty.

Today the world offers us many distractions that compete for our attention. Some seem, good, most are bad and even dangerous. We need to realize though that whatever comes in conflict with our dedication to the treasures of the Kingdom should be considered negative influences in our lives. Sometimes, even the ’good’; the ‘good’ that we settle for, is the worst enemy of the ‘best’!

It takes a total change of mind and spirit--a regeneration of the soul to be able to be sincere in saying, “Yes, my delight is in the Law of Adonai, and I love to meditate on His words day and night, I consider it my highest blessing, reward and privilege!”

“Dear Yeshua, let our appetites and desires be rewired. Let us be able to truly concur with David, ‘My delight is in the Law of the LORD’, and truly estimate meditation on your Word an incomparable treasure, an immeasurable reward, and the greatest of all honors and priviledges.”

FREE THE BOUND

Psalms 1:1

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

In today's world, so much is about conformity; it may not be bad, but does this conformity to accepted attitudes lead us to becoming the creatures God has ordained us to be? Even the concept of individuality has become an alibi that we use when we only claim to exercise the freedom to choose to which bondage we will conform to.

Satan, the enemy of our soul uses the grip of the vice of conformity to the world and its ways to keep our soul prisoner to his ways. He wants us to stand for him, walk in his counsel, and seat in fellowship with his people. He, terrorizes us into submission to his concepts with stories of gloom that cause us to fear lest we escape; lest we become free again, living under the sole dependence of God. What lies does he not concoct to keep us from escaping. His hope is for us to form bounds of affinity with him, so like an abused woman, we get familiar with him and accept the situation as ‘normal’.

But like the wind, the freedom of our soul solely lies in its ability to yield to God in all His ways, without controls, without the obstructions of those who would wish it to conform to their ungodly ways. Our spirit only finds fullness of freedom when we give it permission to follow God, its Creator as He leads. One word of consent on our part towards Yeshua The Redeemer, and we can free ourselves from the terrorizing grip of our abuser, the devil.

May we never be fooled by the enemy’s lies into conforming to the ways of the world. May we never listen to him to the detriment and freedom of our soul. While it is called ‘Today’, let us call on Yeshua The Messiah; let us stand with Him; let us walk in His ways and be blessed with His freedom from bondage as we seat in fellowship with the people of God.

WHAT GOES UP . . ..

Proverbs 18:12 KJV
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
And before honour is humility.

This proverb also link with the previous one. It is haughtiness and pride that makes a man trust in his own wealth for refuge. Self-sufficiency provides for and feeds our inner wicked need for control and independence.

Evidence abounds that testifies to the building of man’s character while in time of need. The present recession has caused many to change their lifestyle. People pool resources together, barter, save, learn to repair, humble themselves by asking for help, rearrange priorities and have to be nicer to each other simply because they need each other more. Need has a strange way of bringing out the human being in us.

On the other hand, one who is self-sufficient feels that he can afford to be proud arrogant, haughty, judgmental and independent. Little does he know that like gravity, which ordains that whatever goes up must come down, his attitude has a natural bent for destruction. It is like the old saying about the whale: it is when she ‘blows’ that she harpooned!

We as humans are people of community. We need each other. May we learn to recognize when we have come to a point in our life when we’ve attained such s level of independence and self-sufficiency that we feel we can afford to be proud and arrogant with others.

By the way, these same principles that define godliness as people individually, also apply corporately for nations.

THE COMPASSIONATE INTERCESSOR

Proverbs 18:11 KJV
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

This proverb works in contrast with the preceding one thus we have the following statement: The Name of Adonai is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

When God wanted to destroy Israel His people because of the sin of the golden calf, Moses relied on God’s Name for mercy. God’s Name is defined by His merciful and compassionate nature and character as read in Exodus 34:5-7:

And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

This passage is commonly referred to as the Thirteen Attributes of God. Later, when God is again wroth against his people, Moses reminds God of these attributes and thus again averts catastrophe. As we see, the Name of Adonai is certainly a strong tower of mercy and compassion where the righteous can run into The ‘righteous’ spoken of here is Moses pleading and interceding for his people, and upon whose merits God repented from the evil He wanted to do to Israel. What a marvelous foreshadow picture of the Messiah Himself upon whose merit and Name we obtain mercy.

By contrast, a man who is rich not of God’s Name, but of his own natural doings, sees his personal wealth and abilities as his refuge. He trusts in his own personal merit to protect him from the wrath to come upon the entire world. What a sad sight!

No matter how far we have gone, let us trust in The Righteous, the Son of God Himself Who ever lives to make intercession for us.

Hebrews 7:25.

THE NAME OF ADONAI

Proverbs 18:10 KJV
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Much is made about the ‘Name’ of the Lord and again our western Greek philosophical mind lures our understanding to erroneous fields of interpretation. The Greek mind is concerned about things, about definitions, nouns, and descriptions. The Hebrew mind looks for actions, verbs and functions. Some study groups are intent on a Greek literal interpretation of the ‘Name’ referring to a particular ‘sound bite’ to which someone responds. They proclaim that God does not respond if we don’t say it the right way, and that He may even mistake us for calling unto idols if we say it wrong.

The Hebrew word ‘shem’ refers to someone’s personal nature and character. It can even speak of ‘authority’ as when we speak in the name of someone. That is why we pray to the Father in the Name of Yeshua, because Yeshua’s sinless nature and atoning character is the sole authority whereby we may approach the Father. He is the sacrifice that allows us to interact with the Almighty God. The author of the Book of Hebrews defines the nature of Yeshua as being the brightness of His (God’s) glory, and the express image of His (God’s) person; Hebrews 1:3.

Jews have long contemplated about this notion of the ‘Name’ of Adonai as is written in our Proverb, and an ancient writing called the Midrash Tillim refers to the ‘Name of Adonai as the very Messiah Himself. This notion is pervasive throughout talmudic studies.

Let us thereby follow David the psalmist, his injunction and example and proclaim the Name of Adonai by making mention of the works Messiah. And let us not proclaim His Name in words only, but in works and deeds, in the Manner of a Godly lifestyle powered by His Spirit.

TO BE FAITHFUL

Proverbs 18:9 KJV
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

‘Slothful’ has the connotation of ‘lax’, ‘negligent’.

If our life belongs to Yeshua, He is our master and our work is to do His commandments. The Commandments are spiritual, including charity works, but they also include the mundane such as good stewardship over our families and households. A Mom running after the kids all day long works for God as much as the priest in the temple. A man fighting traffic to get to his work or having his hands in the dirt of his fields works for God as much as the missionary in a far-flung field, or he who volunteers at the local orphanage. All these things being parts of God’s Commandments become God’s work as we, His people, do them.

In this passage, the Hebrew word for ‘work’ is the same as the one used for the word ‘creation’ in the beginning of the Bible. In the same way that God’s creation is His witness to us of His glory and majesty, our ‘works’ in His Name (since we carry His Name in us) are the witness of His greatness to those who don’t know Him. We need to realize though that His ‘work’ through us is reflected in several ways. It is reflected in our diligence to properly manage every aspect our households; to faithfully execute His Commandments to the best of our abilities; and also in our general attitude, especially in times of crisis. People who see the “work” of Yeshua’s people are supposed to see Yeshua. If instead these people see hypocrisy, selfishness, laziness and pride, our witness will be flawed; we will be responsible for their lost soul and become brother to Satan (cursed be his name), the faith-destroyer.

This is a tall order as all of us fail in many ways; that is why we need His atonement. Let us try to take sample though from a man who received a great commendation from the Father: Moses, of whom it was said that he was faithful in all His house.

CRITICISM CONTROL

June 18

Proverbs 18:8
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

A very sharp warning reiterated in Proverbs 26:22. Also, Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Proverbs 26:20.

The Hebrew word translated as ‘talebearer’ has imbedded in itself the idea of whispering, of whispering complaints and slander about someone to third party. As a result, some translations use the word ‘complainer’. This slandering of others usually makes both talebearer and hearer feel better about themselves so some translations also use the word flatterer. The truth is that all these translations are right. We are talking about a person who elevates him or herself in their own eyes by telling negative stories about a third party to others, thus elevating them in their own eyes also, while at the same time hypocritically portraying an image of true concern about the people they are slandering. Ugh!

It is very hard to resist hitting back those who displease us with negative publicity; and to think that this is the principle behind political campaigns.

A sergeant was asked for his opinion about a certain soldier considered for a promotion. The sergeant gave a glowing report to which another soldier replied, ‘Are you aware that the private you just honored with such a positive report constantly criticises your leadership to others?’ To which the sergeant answered, ‘I was not asked his opinion of me as a sergeant, but my opinion of him as a soldier’.

THE FOOL AND HIS MOUTH

Proverbs 18:7 KJV
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

Proverbs 18:1-7 seem to weave on a similar theme: The Fool and his Mouth.

In verse one, lusting after ungodly concepts, the fool is a meddlesome separatist. In verse two he desperately wants to be acknowledged at his true value. In verse three, his unbridled mouth bring ignominy and reproach wherever he goes, and the whole thing is contrasted with verse four in the difference with the quiet un-meddlesome mouth of the wise. In verse five we are warned not to favor the fool over the wise while verses six and seven, as if to instruct us, reveal the self-destructive nature of the fool’s mouth. Like the old saying, ‘Give the devil enough rope and he’ll hang himself’.

May God grant us not let our mouth be our own destruction.

LETS MIND OUR OWN BUSINESS

Proverbs 18:6 KJV
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

The Bible teaches to be active members of society. It expects us to be involved, to be concerned by the events we witness. The problem is that today, we can become aware of so many situations, both near and far, that we can end up involved in too many things. Somehow, our sense of indispensability makes us feel that we need to oversee every needy situation. The result becomes a very stressful life where we have our hands in so many pies that eventually all burn for lack of proper oversight. The worst, is that while we are busy with the good, we often neglect the best. We save the world somewhere else, while we leave our own household in dysfunction.

It can also happens that as we get involved in battles that are not our own, we become the recipients of hurtful blows. We may console ourselves with the idea that we are victims of our own goodness, martyrs for righteousness sake, but maybe we were just fools entering into other people’s business. Our lips entered a contention and as a result, our mouth called for strokes.

May we learn to actively stay away from fights that are not our own. It could be that by getting involved, we keep God from doing His work in people’s lives. It could be that the reason we witness things is only to get actively involved in prayer, in prayer leaving people in God’s perfect will (as opposed to those prayers that portend to tell God what to do).

Here is a good verse about this:
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Proverbs 26:17

THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED

Proverbs 18:5 KJV
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

I hate to be political on these daily devotionals, but this proverb today is loaded with significance.

Many of us today can attest that we live in important times, even possibly the times described by Yeshua in these terms, Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. Matthew 13:17. The expression of this statement belongs to the followers of Yeshua of then as much as to those of today.

Sin, wickedness, righteousness and holiness are not defined by our quantum of virtues; they are solely defined by our level of harmony with God and His will. In all of history, the fate of nations has always been determined by their reaction towards God’s will. It is the same today.

As we watch and assess the culmination of world events, it is important that we react intelligently looking to our prophetic blue prints in order to determine the ‘righteous’, (what is according to God’s will) and the wicked (what is against God’s will).

The Word clearly makes mention of the rebirth of the displaced country of Israel in the endtimes. It tells us of the return of the Jewish people in their homeland, where they will live peacefully. This return is key to our future millennial reality. This prophecy has been fulfilled in troublous times and even now as we speak the issues are culminating. Many, in Israel and out of Israel, have different ideas on how this should be achieved. Some believe in the virtue of sacrificing land for peace, others believe that it is wrong. Time and history will tell (or maybe it has already ‘told’?). One thing is sure though, it is that God seems to always have a way to surprise us on how He fulfills His will.

With our understanding of the ‘righteous’ and of the ‘wicked’, may we remember In all of our dealings and opinionating, that,: It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. In the wise words of Rabbi Gamaliel:… lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts 5:39.

OF SPEAKERS AND TEACHERS

Proverbs 18:4 KJV
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

There are two kinds of speakers and teachers: the emotional motivator and the one who speaks as the oracles of God. The first is moved by his internal emotional charisma, the second by the external substantial power of God.

The first uses all the psychological tricks in his Carnegie arsenal. He is everywhere on the stage, emotional, agitated and agitating. He is tiring just to look at. He relies on the energy and the emotional factor to touch and move people with his message. They are all excited and moved while he is around, but only very small substantial fruits remain of the event after the speaker/teacher is gone. The people have remained speaker dependant.

The second seems usually quiet and unemotional, but he draws his strength from an external pool connected to his heart. He is quiet on the surface, but his heart is connected to God’s Springs and it bubbles inside of him like there is no tomorrow. As result, this speaker reaches people in the deepest place of their heart. They are not only moved but they are changed; not only in his presence but also after he is gone. The people have become God dependant.

We can only reach people’s heart if we speak from our heart. When we have failed to reach their heart, it is because we do not speak from ours.

Here is true story I found in an anecdote book:
"Some years ago a great actor was asked at a drawing-room function to recite for the pleasure of his fellow-guests. He consented and asked if there was anything they specially wanted to hear. After a minute's pause an old minister of the Gospel asked for Psalm 23. A strange look came over the actor's face; he paused for a moment, then said, 'I will, on one condition--that after I have recited it, you, my friend, will do the same.'
'I!' said the preacher, in surprise, 'I am not an elocutionist, but, if you wish it, I shall do so.'
Impressively the actor began the Psalm. His voice and intonation were perfect. He held his audience spellbound, and, as he finished, a great burst of applause broke from his guests. As it died away, the old man rose and began to declaim the same Psalm. His voice was not remarkable: his tone was not faultless; but, when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room.
The actor rose and his voice quivered as he said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears: he has reached your hearts. The difference is just this: I know the Psalm but he knows the Shepherd.'"

EXPOSE THE WICKED

Proverbs 18:3 KJV
When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

Is there contempt? Is there scorn? Their source lie with the ignominy of the wicked. Remove the wicked and his ignominy, contempt and scorn will vanish away.

Who is the wicked? The Hebrew word used by our kingly author here is ‘rashah’, a word meaning ‘evildoer, condemned, guilty, ungodly, that did wrong’.

If we are to find peace and unity with our Father, we must resist, refute and rid ourselves of iniquity and sin in our hearts. The apostolic Scriptures teach us that after we have recognized and accepted our Messiah, we must ‘work our Salvation with fear and trembling’. By the same token, if we are to be and stay united together as congregational units, we cannot accept fellowship with the ungodly, at least not from within our congregations. If we do not know how to resist these within the realm of our own persona and congregations, how will we find the guts to resist that wicked man of sin, the evildoer, the guilty, the condemned and ungodly one who will one day come on the world’s scene to test all mankind, especially the ‘very elect’, those of the House of God.

It is imperative that we recognize these devious works within us. If anyone through inflammatory words or deeds is the source of contempt, reproach, and disunity within the Assembly of the people of God, he must be exposed and shunned. May we learn to recognize such wolves in sheep’s clothing who like Satan, know how to use even the Word of Father in order to bring confusion.

THE ARROGANCE OF THE FOOL

Proverbs 18:2 KJV
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Our kingly author reveals to us here is another property of the ‘fool’; of the person who, according to the definition of the Master, knowing the Word of Instruction does not obey it.

A more contemporary literal translation of this proverb may say: ‘The heart of the fool is not inclined to understanding; only that the understanding which he thinks he possesses may be revealed. Ralbag, the 14th century Rabbi, talmudist, mathematician and astronomer comments on this verse saying, ‘Only when he is shown up publicly does he wish he were a wise man, but then he reverts to his former way of life.’

‘Empty pots make the most noise’ the old adage says. It is true that while also making noise, full pots resound less; they are more discreet. The person who is wise has the intelligence which consists in the knowledge of one’s own deficiency, and of that which necessary to meet it. This acknowledgment keeps him humble and free from arrogance. The ‘noisy’ arrogance of the fool causes him to also always be full of advice for other people; it makes him feel important and needed. It gives him the appearance of intelligence, but without the wisdom thereof.

Let us learn from watching the ‘fool’. Let us learn to assess ourselves and leave others to God. Let us learn to first realize how little we know, how little we understand. It keeps us more discreet, humble, and easier to live with.

LUST EXPOSED

Proverbs 18:1 KJV
Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

The proverbs continue their exposition of foolish behavior by presenting the position of the separatist. What is inferred in the Hebrew word used here for ‘separatist’ is the idea of one who separates himself from his Torah congregation, the Word study group that provides him accountability in order to pursue his own lusts.

We are all individualists. There is nothing wrong with that as long we are not that way with God and His program in our lives. The apostle Paul puts it in very good words. He says that we not to be conformed to this world, but that we are to be conformed to God’s will. This seemingly generic wording leaves of course a door wide open for each one of us to yield, and eventually become slaves and subjects to our own prideful independence.

We are told here about the person who leaves the safe accountable environment of his Word study group in order to follow his own lust. These ‘lusts can either be carnal, emotional or spiritual. One may want to ‘play’ with the world for awhile; he may have an overcoming desire for independence, or feels that he knows everything better than everyone else. We are taught in this proverb that one yields to such behavior to separate himself seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. The Hebrew actually says that he, ‘will be exposed’ as in ‘his folly will eventually be exposed to all his congregant friends’.

The idea is not of a person who leaves because their study group because their path takes them to a deeper place and they need to associate themselves with another study group that reflects that deepening of faith in their lives. The idea is of someone who leaves because they have yielded to their lusts. Of course, when we leave, we never say, ‘I am tired of the Word; it convicts and confines my spirit too much. I now want to go do my own thing’. We usually find an excuse through faultfinding or spiritualize issues in order to justify ourselves.

In the end though, like the proverb says, we are exposed.

OUR HEART: THE BANK OF OUR MOUTH.

Proverbs 17:28 KJV
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise:
And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

This is the second proverb in row that relates to wisdom incurred through careful use of the mouth. In Hebraism, a word or a repeated sentence denotes of extra emphasis. It seems that this King had much to say about the mouth, as was concurred by his apostolic successors such as Paul and James. Yeshua also gave much advice on right and wrong speech.

In his rendition of the Gospels, Matthew relates the following words from Yeshua as addressed to the religious leaders who opposed Him,

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:34.

In essence, the treasury of the heart funds the currency that comes out of our mouth.

It is good to properly prepare what we have to say; to assess our choice of words, the tone and spirit in which we are. The heart though, is filled through the conduits of the eyes and the ears, through what we watch and listen to.

So, since the only currency that can come out of the bank of our heart through our mouth is the one that we have put in, it is logical to deduct that f the bank of our heart is filled with a good and godly treasure, through what we watch and listen to, we don’t have to worry so much about the currency that comes out of our mouth.

THE EARMARKS OF KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 17:27 KJV

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

The idea here is that a man who has knowledge doesn’t feel the need to validate his own self through endless rumblings. He is generous with his knowledge at the right, at the right place, in the right way and with the right people, but he is neither boastful nor arrogant. He actually seems pretty humble about himself, which is a proof of his knowledge acquisition. Someone who knows has realized how little he knows, or even how little man can achieve to know compared to all there is to know.

The Hebrew wording for the second clause is, ‘and the cool of temper is a man of understanding’. What is there to understand that gives a man ‘coolness’ of temper, even in the midst of controversy (as controversy is the time when temper is tested)?

These two clauses may seem unrelated, but here is an idea. Someone of a cool temper spares his words because he has understanding due to his knowledge. In ‘English’, what I mean to express is that: A man who owns a true knowledge of Yeshua Hamashiach His Savior, doesn’t need to talk much to prove himself because his life style, his ‘conversation in this world’ as the apostle called it, is the testimony of the knowledge of his heart. This understanding of the ways of Messiah in return gives him an excellent spirit.

This proverb is very useful in teaching how to recognize knowledge versus pseudo-knowledge. Many people talk about many things these days, but the earmarks of true knowledge are found in a person that is sparing, careful and humble with his words. A true person of knowledge is also ‘excellent’ in spirit, excellency being of course measured by the standards of the One who admonished us with the following words:

‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect’.

Matthew 5:48

TO PUNISH THE RIGHTEOUS

Proverbs 17:26 KJV
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

The Stone edition version of the Book of Proverbs renders this verse from the Hebrew as: One who is not good will punish even the righteous, and will smite generous people for integrity.

The Apostle Paul teaches in agreement with the pre-Yeshua Scriptures that, all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV). In essence, we are not good, at least not good enough to enter into the presence of the Almighty. As it was before Yeshua’s manifestation on earth, so it is now: we can only come into the Presence of the Almighty through the mediation of atonement. The Almighty has placed everything about Him in Yeshua, only through Whom He restores His relationship with us. That is only because we are not good and Yeshau has the merit necessary to bring us into the Presence. We are not good, but we enter the Presence by the merits of Yeshua. Yeshua, Who had no sin took our punishment so He can serve as an atonement. We, who are not good, ‘punish’ the Just, the Righteous and Generous Prince as the price of our entering the Presence.

Let’s pay attention here. This ‘punishing’ of the Righteous is not referred to as an act done in ignorance. It is an act done in full consciousness of the fact. I am Jewish and a common derogatory name for Jews throughout history has been: Christ-killers. When accused of the fact I raise my hand and plead guilty. Since the days of Moses, it was the job of a Jewish High-Priest to kill the Passover Lamb. If we, the Jews, through the Jewish priesthood of the day hadn’t had participation in the murder of the Righteous, this man on the cross was not the Messiah but an imposter. Our ‘job description’, and that of everyone who endorses His atoning powers is to: ‘punish’ the Righteous, the Just and the Generous prince.

May we never be flippant about sins. They are the lashes that ‘punish’ the Righteous who stands in our place before God as one of these lambs killed at the altar of sacrifice by the altar.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE

Proverbs 17:25 KJV
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Let us now explore the mind of this 10th century B.C.E. king, King Solomon. Let us try to mine for the natural social, theological and eschatological stones that would prompt his recorded statement.

In the mind of the Israelite, contrary to the mind of the Greek, there are no purely ethereal concepts. From the creation of man to the building of the Temple, everything God put on earth is small model and a temporal replica of a greater eternal reality in the Heavenlies.

While this proverb warns a child of the grief his foolishness (foolishness: living in conscious disobedience of the Word of God) would cause to his parents, it also teaches a spiritual reality.

The mind of the Israelite equates ‘Father’ with God, and ‘Mother’ with Israel, Israel not just as a country, but as the body of the people of God. Jewish sages refer to the events as Mt Sinai as a marriage between God and the people of Israel. The son then, is the ‘fruit’ of God’s interactions with Israel.

Here is a biblical example of an Israelite son of Israel typifying this proverb. Commentators speak of Jeroboam as the dandy bad example of a foolish son who caused grief to his ‘Father’: God, and bitterness to his ‘Mother: Israel. Jeroboam is the man from the tribe of Dan who having started as Solomon’s right hand man, later took ten of the tribes and started the Northern Kingdom. Jeroboam is also the man who initiated an idolatrous counterfeit Judaism religion which provoked God’s anger. The ten tribes ended up dispersed until this day.

In Revelations chapter twelve we see another imagery of our proverb. John the disciple of Yeshua, sees a vision of Israel as a woman giving birth to a child who would become brother to many. In the vision, the devil persecutes the woman ‘Israel’, but when he sees that God secured her somewhere, he persecutes the ‘remnants of her seed’. The child is of course Yeshua who was physically born from the nation of Israel, and who would be the firstfruit of many, ‘the remnant of her seed’.

This makes everyone who is grafted unto God through Yeshua, sons (and daughters) of God our Father and of Israel our Mother. Sin is disobedience to Torah; foolishness is to know the Word of Torah while not doing It (Matthew 7:26).

Let us now pause our theological rambling for a moment and reflect. Let us take the time to meditate on the history of the grief and bitterness our conscious and purposed disobedience to Torah caused to our Father (God), and to our Mother (Israel).

NOTE: Biologically, a woman does not have ‘seed’. The text in Revelations 12 is made to make us equate Israel, the woman in the vision, with another woman in the Bible whom God referred to as having seed: Eve. Also Miriam, the biological mother of Yeshua also gave birth having God’s ‘Seed’ implanted in her through the Holy Spirit.

THE WISE AND UNDERSTANDING HEART

Proverbs 17:24 KJV
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Solomon was an adept student of the Torah. He had a working understanding of Its basic principles. Solomon understood that the Torah is not a difficult thing for him who had acquired understanding. Moses elaborated on that in the following teaching:

For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
(Deuteronomy 30:11-14 KJV),

‘Understanding’ is not necessarily inborn. Even Solomon the king didn’t have it. It is recorded in the historical Book of 1 Kings that Solomon had to pray for it. When God appeared to him in Gibeon and told him, Ask; what shall I give thee, Solomon asked for understanding to discern the good and the bad so that he could do a good job in his responsibility to lead Israel. God answered Solomon and granted him a wise and understanding heart. As a result, as it is said that wisdom is near to him that has understanding, Solomon became the wisest person who ever lived on this earth. The understanding to discern good and bad that God gave Solomon put wisdom before him.

Today, distinctions between good and bad are blurry. Good is called bad and bad is called good. Idolatry is acceptable while Yeshua gets a bad reputation. More than ever today we need to pray Solomon’s prayer for God to grant us a wise and understanding heart.

The Torah is called our Wisdom in front of the nations (Deuteronomy 4:6).

Yeshua is also called Wisdom (Proverbs 8:22,23).

The spirit of Yeshua the Messiah in us is the Wise and Understanding heart that puts the Wisdom of the commandment of Torah near us.

May it soon fill the earth like waters fill the seas.

THE RULES OF BUSINESS

Proverbs 17:23
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

Bribery has existed since the beginning of times. Our judgment is easily altered by the idea of, “What do I get, or lose out of this’, and that makes us wicked in the sight of God.

Money has a way of making strange bedfellows. It is amazing to see how the world of money is very different from the world of political rhetoric. People who are ideological enemies find ground for friendship around a business deal where everyone gains. We cannot expect better from worldlings, but should we expect more integrity from God’s children? One of my sons one day told his Mom, ‘But Mom, it is so difficult today to be a godly successful businessman. There are sharks out there and if you don’t act like a shark you get eaten.’ And that is so true. Don’t get me wrong: business is not wrong. The Bible tells us of many business transactions, but the Word of God also regulates the spirit in which business is conducted. One of the biggest biblical principles in godly business is: integrity comes before profit.

Bribery does not have to only refer to money. We may alter our judgment to preserve a friendship, a job, or a relationship with a fellowship, a Church or a company.

Since we live in the world, we have to do business with the world. If in our business methodology we stick to the admonitions in God’s Word, people will consider us wise. Here is God’s advice on these things, Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. (Deuteronomy 4:6).

In all our dealings with the world, and especially when we bind ourselves by any contract or ‘ covenant’ with people, we need to remember that we are ourselves bound to God by a more excellent and all-encompassing covenant. About our dealings and transactions with the world, we need to always ask ourselves,

“Is there anything in this new deal that is injurious to my covenant with God?”

THE GREAT HEALER

Proverb 17:22
A rejoicing heart causes good healing,
But a stricken spirit dries the bones.

It is inevitable that accidents and sickness will happen, but our recovery is dependable on the condition of our heart. The heart is the center of our being. Its condition affects our every circumference. A healthy heart is therefore imperative for good healing.

What is a healthy heart? I am speaking of spiritual health because even the physical health of our heart depends of our spiritual condition.

First of all of course, a healthy spiritual heart is full of the presence of Yeshua. This Presence of course contributes to fullness of the Word and of the Spirit of His Shechina. Whether an individual is blessed with this Presence or not is easy to spot: it is seen in the attitude of the individual. A bottle full of perfume cannot emit one single drop of full odor, no matter how hard it shaken, even if it is thrown on the ground and broken. We can therefore prove the Presence in someone by their attitude in trials, tribulations and adversity. We can see how they inter act with their spouses and with their children. How the little aggravations of daily life affect them. Of course, this is to be assessed over a certain period of time, not a single event.

Sicknesses related to an unhealthy heart plague our society. From depression to heart failure going through every psychosomatic disease in the book, they are all related to fear, lack of faith, lack of love, lack of trusting God and living unhealthy lifestyles in our flesh and in our mind. They are all related to sin in our lives. The most pathetic thing of all is that in our present day mind frame, any pill the doctor prescribes is better than going back to the Father in a spirit of repentance. Just like the doctor, the Father may prescribe the bitter pill of a change in lifestyle, eating habits and even thought patterns, but we do not want to do that. We prefer to go to the doctor and take his pill which gives us a form of symptomatic healing while we are able to continue, and even excuse ourselves for our unhealthy physical and spiritual habits.

Only the Father through the healing presence of Yeshua can give us the right heart to heal us from the negative effects of our natural sinfulness. May we not only acknowledge Him in mind, but also may we let Him direct every step in our lives. Our heart is filled by through our eyes and our ears. May we contribute to our healing by letting Him direct every fiber of our being, screening everything we see, hear and yes, even everything we eat by the standard of his Words.

WRATH VS SORROW

Proverbs 17:21
He who brings forth a fool has sorrow for it, and the father of a fool has no joy.

Again, let us be reminded of the biblical definition of a ‘fool’:

One who knowledgeably and consciously refuses to obey the Torah.

The first Hebrew word used for ‘fool’ in this Hebrew text has the connotation of ‘silly; stupid’. The second word used has the sense of ‘vile; wicked’.

Many parents have experienced the frustration of child raising. A child is born into the world and its destiny is in our hands. We take all the good resolutions and put our best forward. We raise the child with great hopes and expectancy of a bright future which we have often prepared and saved for, but something happens around the early teens. The child all of a sudden metamorphoses into this willful independent being, and we don’t know if common sense will ever exist again into these brains of his. Sometimes, children never recovers from that turbulent period of their life. It is often at such times that family dynamics take a nosedive and fragmentation rules until the eventual birth of grandchildren. Sounds familiar?

During this defining period when everyone tries to assert their authority, issues big and small become shouting matches between the teen and the father. The mother on the other hand is often found crying on the kitchen table. Frustration brings out our worst. We feel that nothing will work and that the world is blame for wrecking our lives.

Maybe the solution is to put life in its proper perspective.

We also as adults have a Heavenly Father. Our Father felt the same way at our creation as we parents did about our brand new child. From birth the Father cared for us through His angel having great expectancy about our future which was also planned from the beginning. When we self-righteously react to our frustration with our teens, maybe we should try to have a reality check about our standing with our own Father. We need to remember that to Him, we are creatures of sin. If we carefully listen, we may hear Him cry those tears of frustration as He sees us reaping the results of our disobediences when He tried so hard all along to teach us to live a more Godly life but we wouldn’t listen. We would realize then the patience He has for us in His sorrow is an attitude which should exemplify ours.

So before we are ready to fly off the handle with our children, those in and those out of the nest, let us set our frazzled emotions into perspective by checking ourselves with our own Father. The wrath of man doesn’t accomplish the righteousness of God, the apostle said. Sorrow on the other hand, may work the perfect work of experience and conviction.

THE CAUSE OF THE CURSE.

Proverbs 17:20
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good:
And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

The Hebrew vocabulary in this proverb leads the understanding in Semitic syntactic contrast and parallelism. The Hebrew wording contrasts ‘good’ in the first clause with ‘bad’ (instead of perverse) in the second clause. The ‘froward heart’ is identified in parallels with the ‘perverse tongue’ because of another Proverb, To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Proverbs 2:12. The Hebrew word used for ‘perverse’ means to ‘twist and turn’ alluding to the turning back of the froward (contrary to ‘forward’) of heart.

This Proverb teaches us about cause and effect. One who only finds ‘no good’ in his life, who actually falls into mischief, is revealed as one who has turned against God. You may argue with me with the fact that many loyal to the Father finds themselves in bad situations, but the difference is that they do not ‘fall’. The one who is dressed in righteousness, truth, peace and the Gospel is able to stand in spite of all the devil can throw at him. He does not fall.

Another proverb from our same author teaches that ‘the curse causeless shall not come. The cause can be varied but it is always present, and it is always related to sin. Job argued with his ‘comforters’ (who were more like his accusers) saying that his troubles were unjustified while his friends accused him of the sin of presumption. In the end, God rebukes Job’s friends and restores Job to his former state, and more. The case of Job is a teaching foreshadowing the work of Yeshua: He that had no sin was afflicted like a common criminal. In the case of Yeshua, the cause was also sin: our sin.

The story of Job is also a microcosm paralleling the story, and history, of Israel and of the Jewish people. First beloved, abounding in blessings; then in long terrible affliction, while despised and accused by others. The Book of revelations tells us that in the end, Israel’s ‘accusers’ get a ‘rebuke’ from God, while Israel is restored to its former glory, and more, just like Job. In this case, Paul also teaches us that as a cause, the demise and blindness of the Jewish people and of Israel originated from God in order to usher the ‘time of the gentiles’. This theme runs through the whole Bible and goes back to Abraham. Abraham was also tempted to the limits, and the Jewish nation owes its blessings to him. This story has its roots with the Father Whose Son, the Mashiach, was designated from the foundations of the world as the innocent suffering Lamb to redeem us from sinfulness.

Let us remember, there is always a cause to every curse.

THE ELEVATED GATES

Proverbs 17:19
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

This proverb leads us again to a Hebrew idiom. Hebraism often compares the mouth to ‘gates’. We find this kind of expression in Micah 7:5: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom: The expression ‘elevate his gates’, or as it is found in other translations: ‘elevate his mouth’, refers to someone who speaks in a proud and arrogant manner.

Some find it a virtue to be strife-driven. Our text is clear though that he who loves strife loves transgression. Debates and discussion are all right, as they are the means by which we learn, but strife is an element of transgression and sin.

Our author/King (and I purposely remind the reader of the elevated status of our author) spent hours judging people listening to case after case. When we are in such a position of having to listen to people’s issues with each other, we start finding patterns. There certainly are cases with legitimate issues and problems, but in many cases, issues are created because of the arrogance of one party, or even of both. Another proverb of our same author mentions that strife disappears once the proud is taken out of the picture.

Sometimes I am reminded of radio talk-show hosts who speak in such a strife-driven way. After you listen to them for five minute you feel all riled up about something that didn’t even cross our mind before, or didn’t even know. Through these, we are not informed, educated, nor even led to positive action and attitude. We are simply and solely exposed to someone’s spirit of frustration and anger. We are made to partake of somebody else’s hot air, confusion and spirit of strife. Issues in the world need to be exposed and addressed, but in a sprit of wisdom, prayer and trust in God’s overall Plan. The Antichrist is the ultimate one who will be known to ‘elevate his gate’ in a very arrogant mouth

Let us not be guilty of such attitude. Let us not exalt our mouth through arrogance and pride provoking strife and destruction. Before uttering any word, especially about things that are sensitive to us, let us always pray: please God, put a guard over my mouth.

LENDING:THE RECIPE FOR SOCIAL CATASTROPHE

Proverbs 17:18
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

The idea here is that your friend cannot get a loan. Creditors do not trust him or his credit (same thing). Your friend then banks of your friendship, as well as good ‘credit rating’ and reputation to co-sign, a loan with him.

Common sense should tell me that if my friend cannot get a loan, it could be that he is a risky investment. For me to co-sign a loan with him could take me, and my whole family down. Only a person ‘void of understanding’ would agree to such a thing. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Proverbs 6:1-5

The preceding proverb tells us that a friend loves at all times, but this may be a case when the person showing love should be the person in need, by not asking his ‘friend’ to guaranty for him.

The insanity of the lending system is played out in front of our eyes in our generation today. People and banks loan to each other; they ‘strike hands’ in guaranty to each other for ‘toxic loans’. The taxpayers are now bailing these financial institutions out and as unfair as it seems, it brings the payment back to the original people: the loaners.

The Word teaches us to give to him that asks of us; not loan. That is because the borrower is servant to the lender and we do not want this sort of owing relationship between brethren. It is the recipe to social catastrophe.

May Yeshua return quickly to deliver us from the insanity of man and put us back in God’s financial system as described, and prescribed in His Words.

YESHUA THE FRIEND/BROTHER

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Yeshua, the atoning Messiah ordained by the Father from the foundation of the earth, came to tabernacle with us. As the very image of the Almighty, He looked upon us as His servants.

Shortly before being offered as the ultimate offering of all offerings in order to reestablish our relationship with the Father he said, Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
The knowledge from the Father that Yeshua imparted elevated the disciples from the status of servants to the level of friends. This refers to covenantal friendship, which in early Semitic cultures was as binding as marriage. The steps of this covenant making are found in Genesis 15 when the Father revels His Plan to Abraham as He makes an eternally binding covenant with him. Yeshua also acted the steps in this covenant making with us.

As He becomes our friend, Yeshua also becomes our brother, the Firstfruit among many brethren. A friend may love at all times, but the quality of a brother, or of a sister for that matter, are especially found in times of adversity. This is usually when kinsfolks finally get closer, during a family tragedy.

Soon tragedy will happen in the world of believers, and we can count on our Friend/Brother to be there for us. He was born for that very purpose.

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.