Effie Darlene Barba

All around us and from every side, we watch as the nations rage against Almighty God.  They mount their armies to battle against the only one who can save them from their bondage to sin.  Yet, the battle rages on.  He with great and mighty patience waits.  His desire to await the appointed time when all who are His have been called safely into the fold.  And as they rage war against Him, they rage war against all who are His.  They rage against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; but in doing so they rage against His bride, the church.  We sometimes fall into despair as it seems all is lost.  The battle is too hard, and we wish for a bigger army. 

There are moments we want to rage war using their evil tools against them.  But wait, God sees it all. God stands above it all and He laughs at their foolish plots against Him and His sheep. They appear like a rabid dog lurching forward only to find himself chained fast to an iron post. Each lunge casting them closer to their own death and destruction, while the cure is that thing they rage against.  And so the nations rage on, demanding their way and their will.

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
⁵ Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
⁶ “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2 (NKJV)

Jesus is the King set upon the holy hill of Zion.  His victory won through His death on the Cross.  Now He stands.  With one mighty breath He will disarm all the armies as the nations rage.

That Day, as The Nations Rage, Christ will Stand to Judge them All

“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

Psalm 2 (NKJV)

19 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,“Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, ² because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.” ³ And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises forever and ever.” ⁴ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”…. For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.  Revelations 19 (NASB)

He comes to bring judgement on all those who rage on.

¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. ¹³ He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵ From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”  Revelations 19 (NASB). 

The Nations Rage Against the Truth, Playing the Harlot

Both Amos and Hosea presented the truth to the nation of Israel.  They warned of the coming judgement.  Amos was called a conspirator against he King.  Hosea was asked to plead with the people and told them of God’s great love for them, though they were a harlot in their behavior toward Him.  They raged against His love, seeking other lovers as I did. 

There was a time I believed if God really loved me He would grant me my own desire, someone who would love me just as I am, fully and completely.  Little did I realize in truth He did just that by not letting me find that person on earth, or when I had, they were gone.  It was one day after I realized that Pete loved me that way that he took his life, and I was all alone.  Finally, my heart’s desire became reality and then like a vapor it was gone.  Sorrow followed me until one day, I read this in Hosea.

Hosea 2 (NASB)

Therefore, behold, I will obstruct her way with thorns,
And I will build a stone wall against her so that she cannot find her paths.
⁷ And she will pursue her lovers, but she will not reach them;
And she will seek them, but will not find them….

¹⁴ “Therefore, behold, I am going to persuade her,
Bring her into the wilderness,
And speak kindly to her.
¹⁵ Then I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope.
And she will respond there as in the days of her youth,…
¹⁶ And it will come about on that day,” declares the Lord,
“That you will call Me my husband….
¹⁹ I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,
In favor and in compassion,
²⁰ And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the Lord. 

Only God knew what would draw me closest to Him.  He knew my heart better than I ever could.  Now I know He gave me both and He gave me His best. 

The Nations Rage Against God Then and Now

Perhaps there really is nothing new under the sun as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes.  From the first day that Adam sinned until now, humanity tries to run from God or rage against Him.  After all, when God walked int the garden that day, Adam tried to hide from God.  As though he could.  Did he not realize the God who created it all was the only one who could save him from his sin; yet, he ran to hide.  Then he tried to accuse God for his own sin.  Sounds like all of us.  But what now?  How do we fight against the evil as the nations rage against God all around us?  Our only hope is to preach the word. 

Paul so beautifully outlined this sermon in the Book of Acts that tells the story of the nation of Israel.

“Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. ¹⁸ For a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. ¹⁹ When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about 450 years. ²⁰ After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. ²² After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.’ ²³ From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, ²⁴ after John had proclaimed, before His coming, a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

²⁶ “Brothers, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the declarations of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him. ²⁸ And though they found no grounds for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. ²⁹ When they had carried out everything that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. ³⁰ But God raised Him from the dead; ³¹ and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. ³² And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, ³³ that God has fulfilled this promise to those of us who are the descendants by raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have fathered You.’ ³⁴ As for the fact that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and faithful mercies of David.’ ³⁵ Therefore, He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’ ³⁶ For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, and was buried among his fathers and underwent decay; ³⁷ but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. ³⁸ Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

Acts 13 (NASB)

So, when nations rage against God, where is our refuge?

There remained always God’s hope for the remnant even when the nations rage against God.  That was true to Israel, Judah, Babylon, Ninevah, the Persians, and all nations on earth.  If only mankind would lay down its sword and bow before the King upon the Hill.  Let us do just that.

Now then, you kings, use insight;
Let yourselves be instructed, you judges of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way,
For His wrath may be kindled quickly.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Psalm 2

So how do we wage this battle? 

We tell people about the King.  Much like when C.S.Lewis described Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia. 

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

“But God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). He can’t be tamed or kept in a pocket. What we must trust in is His goodness. Elsewhere in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, when the children finally meet Aslan in person, Lewis says this: “People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time.” But we know that God is both terrifying and good. He’s not a tame Lion. But He is good. The difficult thing about faith is having to trust that even though we can’t predict what He will do, and even though we may not understand or agree with it, He will always make the right choice—“The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!” (Psalm 92:15).”[1]

We find our refuge in Him.  He is all we need and our hope in this battle is to point others to Him.  If even one person lays down their sword and bows before His throne, we can rejoice that He has shared one tiny piece of Glory with us.  He does not need me to save a soul, oh but what a privilege if He chooses to use me or my story to bring someone to Him. 

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

The Lord God Almighty Roars Are You Ready to Meet the Lord?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed from AdobeStock

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[1] Rau, Hannah https://christianlife-waunakee.org/not-a-tame-lion/ accessed 7/1/2023

    Amos, a shepherd, and sycamore tree farmer from Tekoa, was called by God in visions to be the prophet to the Northern tribes of Israel.  Not an easy task if one considers the people of Israel had split from Judah.  Also, Amos was a simple farmer with no major credentials.  Certainly, his credentials were sufficient in that God called him; but those to whom he was sent did not realize that and chose not to believe.  Indeed, we see in Amos 7:10-13 that Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam II reporting Amos as a conspiracist against the King.  Yet Amos stood strong and told them that the Lord God Almighty Roars from heaven with one question, “Are you ready to meet the Lord?”

Time was running out.  Judgement already determined and on its way.  Therefore Amos and Hosea are the final call to the people.  God had sent droughts, famines, prophets, and miracles, all in an attempt to awaken the people.  He had displayed His power and His might on top of Mount Carmel when he defeated the priests of Baal with the prayerful acts of one prophet, Elijah.  No one listened for long.  A few would worship Him briefly then return to their idolatrous living.  He had most recently sent prosperity to the Northern Kingdom.  Perhaps, if all was well, the people would follow God.  Peace had even ensued, most likely due to the revival in Nineveh after Jonah had gone there.  But alas, the people honored God with phony worship that bore no heartfelt sincerity.  And the wealthy oppressed the poor relentlessly. 

Let us be reminded that Amos is as relevant today as his message was then.

The Lord God Almighty Roars—He is the Lion of Judah

We read in Revelation that only the Lion of Judah is worthy to open the seals of judgement.  Yet, it is the deed to earth wrapped inside those seven seals.  That is how deeds were in Roman times, they were sealed with seven seals.  As it is here, the deed is to the earth—where Jesus Christ promises, and covenant is to reign in Majesty one day over all of the earth.  The final promise to Israel is yet to be fulfilled.

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. ² And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” ³ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁴ Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵ And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”  Revelation 5: (NASB)

Whom of us do not weep as we look around us?  Do you not cry looking for the one who can bring judgement against the evils surrounding us?

The Lion is the Lamb

⁶ And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. ⁸ When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they *sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

¹⁰ You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Think of this:  The Lord God Almighty Roars in His judgement against all evil; yet, willingly humbled Himself as a lamb for slaughter to pay the just price each one of us deserved to pay.  Thereby, He is able to open the seven seals of judgement yet to be poured out against the world.  As shown in Revelations 6 and 7, each seal unleashes a new demonstration of God’s judgement on the earth yet to come during the tribulation period.    Only Jesus can unseal the final destiny of this world and His redeemed. 

 The Importance of Prayer

At one point, as God reveals to Amos a severe invasion of Locust leading to devastating starvation and then of severe draught with fire to destroy all the fields.  Each of these are followed by Amos’ prayer.

⁵ Then I said,

“Lord God, please stop!
How can Jacob stand?
For he is small.”
⁶ The Lord relented of this.
“This too shall not be,” said the Lord God.  Amos 6 (NASB)

There are those moments as I look around at all that is happening in the world.  My response at times is, “God is Sovereign, so let it be.  Who am I to change or transform anything.”   I look in despair and long for His return, saying little in response.  Yet, God’s word says,

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.  James 5 (NKJV)

My understanding that God is Sovereign, knowing all that will happen does not negate my responsibility to pray for our nation, the world and the people around me. Throughout Scripture we are called to pray, to repent, and to plead for revival.  Do I have to understand why God commands such if He is omniscient?  No, it is not mine to fully understand, but it is my duty to obey.  Perhaps it is as C.S.Lewis wrote:

“I pray because I can’t help myself.  (And) I pray because I’m helpless.  (Ultimately) I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping.  It doesn’t change God.  It changes me.”[1]

C.S.Lewis

The Lord God Almighty Roars Judgement Will Come

Only after Amos had prayed to save them, did he come to understand why judgement must come. 

⁸ And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,

“Behold I am about to put a plumb line
In the midst of My people Israel.
I will not spare them any longer.
⁹ The high places of Isaac will become deserted,
And the sanctuaries of Israel will be in ruins.
Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” Amos 7: (NASB)

They had been weighed, measured, and found wanting.  Time was running out; but God would save His remnant.  If judgement did not occur there would be none left as evil overtook and overran everything.  Sometimes it feels that way now.  So hard to know what is true anymore.  That is why, I must cling to His word and plead He open my eyes to truth every day.   

The Lord God Almighty Roars:  Judgement is at Hand

9 I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said:

“Strike the doorposts, that the thresholds may shake,
And break them on the heads of them all.
I will slay the last of them with the sword.
He who flees from them shall not get away,
And he who escapes from them shall not be delivered.

² “Though they dig into hell,
From there My hand shall take them;
Though they climb up to heaven,
From there I will bring them down;
³ And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel,
From there I will search and take them;
Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea,
From there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them;
⁴ Though they go into captivity before their enemies,
From there I will command the sword,
And it shall slay them.
I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good.”

⁵ The Lord God of hosts,
He who touches the earth and it melts,
And all who dwell there mourn;
All of it shall swell like the River,
And subside like the River of Egypt.
⁶ He who builds His layers in the sky,
And has founded His strata in the earth;
Who calls for the waters of the sea,
And pours them out on the face of the earth—
The Lord is His name. Amos 9 (NKJV)

But As the Lord God Almighty Roars, Hope Remains Eternal

How sad it would be if judgement is the end of the story for Israel or for us. After all that is what we deserve. 

“Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom,
And I will destroy it from the face of the earth;
Yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,”
Says the Lord.

⁹ “For surely I will command,
And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
As grain is sifted in a sieve;
Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.
¹⁰ All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword,
Who say, ‘The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.’ Amos 9 (NKJV)

Furthermore, One Day, the Biggest Revival Ever will Come

¹¹ “On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,
And repair its damages;
I will raise up its ruins,
And rebuild it as in the days of old;
¹² That they may possess the remnant of Edom,
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,”
Says the Lord who does this thing.

¹³ “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,
“When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
And the treader of grapes him who sows seed;
The mountains shall drip with sweet wine,
And all the hills shall flow with it.
¹⁴ I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;
They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them;
Also, they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them;
They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them.
¹⁵ I will plant them in their land,
And no longer shall they be pulled up
From the land I have given them,”
Says the Lord your God.  Amos 9 (NKJV)

For all the days until then, let us pray for revival.  A revival in which the plowman overtakes the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed, let the mountains drip with sweet wine and all the hills flow with it.  Until then let us be inspired by some of the revivals in our own history and not lose heart.  Revival transformed hearts that transformed America as well. 

A History to Remember as the Lord God Almighty Roars

I do not know what day or hour Jesus will return, but until that day we are called to proclaim the truth of the Gospel to the nations.

Three major revivals are particularly noted in US history.  One was the Great Awakening that began with Johnathan Edwards began in December 1734 through 1943 spreading like wildfire.  But after it died down, people returned to drawing away from God until the second great awakening which came in 1800 at which time only about 1 in 15 of Americans belonged to an evangelical church.  Then James McGready began frontier camp meetings and revivals began to spread across America.  Along with these revivals came many moral and philanthropic reforms, including addressing the problems of alcoholism, the emancipation of women, and the founding of numerous colleges, seminaries, and missions. 

As is the nature of humanity, the people again in the next generation began to walk away from God.  Then a businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier began a noonday prayer meeting in New York which led eventually to a worldwide revival.  In the US alone there were an estimated 1 million new coverts added to the church rolls and another 1,000,000 so called church who then came to personally know Christ as Savior. This began in 1857 during the great Bank Panic of 1857 and lasted through 1858.  Shortly after this revival.  It was then in 1861 that the Civil War broke out as the nation fought to free the slaves.   

If we want to change the direction of this nation, we must get serious about prayer for revival.  Then we must be ready to go where God says go and do what God says do. 

More lessons in Amos can be found at:

Every Heart Must Prepare to Meet the Lord God Almighty! Why? How?

The Lord Roars!  Let Righteousness Pour Down Like a Mighty River.  Then?

Where is our Hope and Joy? It is in Jesus Christ Our Lord.

When the World Seems So Dark

In the Dark of the Night

My heart filled with fright.

My one hope of light

Is Jesus

In a World filled with Lies

With Evil’s disguise

Truth is our prize.

In Jesus

When you feel all alone

When Sadness has grown

Come Bow at the Throne

Of Jesus

 He is the light, the truth, the way.

The One who yearns to save you today.

He died on the cross, then rose from the grave.

Only He has the strength and the power to save.

He is our Hope when all hope is gone.

From the darkest of night, He brings a new dawn.

Jesus, our Savior, the King of all Kings

All honor and Glory to Him my heart sings

So, let us all rise His Praise to impart.

To Him whose love will never depart

When the world seems so dark, we can’t see our way.

He is the light to guide us each day.

So, in the dark of the night

When my heart fills with fright

I’ll trust in the Light.

Of Jesus

So, I’ll fall on my knees.

Pour forth all my pleas.

Until all my heart sees

Is Jesus

Effie Darlene Barba

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[1] https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1005539-i-pray-because-i-can-t-help-myself-i-pray-because

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

What Really Is the Ultimate Command of Wisdom from God to the World?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed from AdobeStock

What is loving-kindness?  It is defined as the goodness, mercy, affection, loyalty, compassion, and tenderness of one to another.  It refers to the covenant commitment of God to mankind.  As such, if we truly understand all that we observe. Then in light of His Loving-kindness toward us; then we will be filled with hope and steadfast joy.  Not a frivolous joy; but rather a steadfast joy that does not get torn apart by the storms of life. 

All that we observe of this life, we can choose to understand through prisms of glass. Sometimes ones that dim our view of God.  Or we can see them through the prism of God’s Sovereignty in this Universe.  We either believe or we do not believe that all God does is because of His loving-kindness toward us.  Either “ALL things work together for our good” as indicated in Romans 8:28 or not.  So, how do we gain wisdom to observe life through understanding the loving-kindness of God. I do suggest there are 4 important areas we must explore to gain this kind of wisdom.

One is to look at history, both ours and that of the world.  Second, we must observe the core aspects of human nature.  Thirdly, we must individually look at the price God was willing to pay for our salvation. Fourthly, we must never lose sight of His Majesty, Power, and Righteousness as the Supreme Creator and Ruler of Everything. 

The books of the Kings demonstrate once more how a living God acts in the affairs of men and nations.   His righteousness, even in judgement, never thwarts His plan of salvation.  The loving-kindness of God displayed throughout the pages of history.

A Look at History to Understand the Loving-kindness of God

Every part of the history of mankind, needs to be viewed from the aspect of eternity. 

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart. Yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.   Ecclesiastes 3: (NIV).

Every step from the beginning of time, God displayed His Glory, His Righteousness, and His justice.  He promised there would be a Savior and that all who trusted Him would be saved.  That promise marched forward throughout all of History.  It was not thwarted by the evil days surrounding the flood. Nor by any of the evil acts that men and women perpetrated on this earth.  Instead, a beacon of hope marched onward as God chose a people to carry forth His plan. 

They, like every other person on earth, were filled with sinful hearts and desires. Hence, they sought after other gods to worship. Thereby forsaking the One True God.  Yet, He did not forsake them.  His promise to the nation of Israel remained then and still remains true until every promise is fulfilled.  So, as we review the books of I and II Kings, remember this.  The loving-kindness of God never fails to accomplish all that He has planned. 

Prophets Sent as Display of the Loving-kindness of God

In spite of their rebellious hearts, God He sent prophets to warn them. He told them of the coming judgement. As I Kings ended, we saw Elijah stand up against 400 Baal prophets. He dramatically displayed the victory of God.  Droughts came, famine and illness presented at times. Yet, through it all the grace of God was displayed to all who trusted Him. By faith they were saved.  God’s loving kindness shone forth to the Gentile widow of Zarephath. Displayed by the miraculous preservation of food. And then in the resurrection of her son. Then after His magnificent display of God’s power on the Mountain, Elijah prayed seven times for rain. It rained.   God’s Sovereignty over the weather proven true.  Equally true then, in Jesus’ day, and now.

Elijah went to heaven on a fiery chariot. He did not die. The chariot descended from the clouds for him. What a beautiful picture of the rapture to come for us.  Then Elisha began to prophecy to Israel after him.  Although a bit less fiery than Elijah, his was a ministry of miraculous healing. His mission: helping the poor and downtrodden.  He also called upon God to resurrect a child from the dead.  I do think we need to study this deeper in our own quest to use the history to help us observe and understand the loving kindness of God.

The Shunammite Woman

⁸ Now a day came when Elisha went over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she urged him to eat food. And so it was, as often as he passed by, that he turned in there to eat food. ⁹ And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I am aware that this is a holy man of God passing by us repeatedly. ¹⁰ Please, let’s make a little walled upper room, and let’s set up a bed for him there, and a table, a chair, and a lampstand; then it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”

Asking and wanting nothing in return, she provided for God’s prophet; although she was barren, she did not ask for a son.  Yet, she felt overwhelming joy for her son. Born miraculously, a gift from God as foretold by Elisha.   Then one day while in the fields with his father, the boy developed a headache. He went home and died in his mother’s arms.  She laid him in the upper room on his bed and set out to speak to the man of God.  Her faith so great she told everyone on her way, that all was well. All will be ok.   Undeterred, she hastened her journey to fall down in great sorrow at the feet of Elisha. 

JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

Elisha accompanied her to her house. Her son resurrected miraculously by God lived once more.  Jesus is the resurrection life. We can go on in life with the same boldness of faith this woman had. Why? Because we know Jesus has the power to not only resurrect our dead bodies one day.  But He also has the power to resurrect our spirit from death to life in Him, here and now—to all who call on Him for salvation.

The Core Nature of Humanity

One thing that is clear to us throughout scripture is the nature of humanity.  Always bent on evil, striving for power, might and pleasure; the core nature of man, woman, and child is filled with sin.  Humanistic society has always believed that humanity can evolve into a perfect utopia if provided with the right environment to do so.  Unfortunately, we have watched that hope disappear generation after generation.   Today’s society is proof of that.  Bitterness, anger, power, greed, and self-preservation regardless of the devastation and cost to the rest of the people.

The same is recorded throughout I and II Kings.  God sent prophets and miracles; yet the people turned to worship false gods of their own making. Why?  Because the hearts of men and women are evil.    

²³ But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.’ ²⁴ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward. ²⁵ Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, sending them daily, again and again. ²⁶ Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers.  Jeremiah 7 (NASB).

Therefore,

¹² Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. ¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:12 (NKJV)

After considering history both of the human race and our own life, we can observe and begin to understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.  This is magnified if we truly consider the depth of depravity that is within our own heart, revealing the depth of grace given by God toward us. 

The Price of Calvary—God Steadfast Loving-kindness on Display

What magnificence of grace, that God’s only son came to earth to live the perfect life I could not live that He might pay the price that I justly deserved, bearing on the cross all the wrath of God against sin.

¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  Romans 3 (NKJV).

Fourth Point in Wisely Observing and Understanding the Loving-kindness of God.

In addition to reviewing history, understanding the core nature of man being evil, and the price Jesus paid for our salvation, we must also remember the Majesty and Sovereign power of God.  He with one breath created all the galaxies, the stars, the moon, and this little planet called earth.  His majesty, power and glory are beyond our wildest imagination.  Yet, He has created man in His image, that He might have a people on whom He may spend eternity showering with His love. 

We may not understand all the intricacies of how all of this plays into that final story; but, we can trust that He does know.  How do the storms in my life work together with everything else to one day help me understand the depth of His loving-kindness toward me? I do not know; but neither do I need to know.  The only thing I can do is see the tiny glimpses of His glory and love in the little things that happen each day.  One day I will see Him face to face and then I will know.  Until then, I pray He give me the wisdom to observe and understand at least in part the loving-kindness of God in all that comes my way. 

 23Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
²⁴ They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
²⁵ For He spoke and raised a stormy wind,
Which lifted the waves of the sea.
²⁶ They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like a drunken person,
And were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
²⁹ He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
³⁰ Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired harbor.
³¹ They shall give thanks to the Lord for His mercy,
And for His wonders to the sons of mankind!
³² They shall also exalt Him in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders…⁴³ Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord (Psalm 107  NKJV).

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. ² Let the redeemed of the Lord say so (Psalm 107:1-2 NKJV)

PSALM 107

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

What Really Is the Ultimate Command of Wisdom from God to the World?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed from AdobeStock

God blessed King Solomon with wisdom to judge his people rightly.  Additionally, God orchestrated a time of peace within the kingdom and with all the surrounding nations.  The nation of Israel was exalted and highly favored for their cultural, architectural, literary, and musical advancements.  King Solomon, blessed with bountiful riches and wisdom, was honored by the kings and queens of his day.   Having everything, one might think, King Solomon would without fail worship God perfectly.  At least. We want to believe that, because we want to believe that if God would give us everything we think we desire, then we would bow before Him always, obeying His every Command.  But that is not the case with human nature.  Sometimes the more we have, the more we think we deserve. 

King Solomon built the temple and assembled the people, just as a preacher would.  He prayed for them, acknowledging the weakness of the people, fearing they would sin against God.  Deep within, perhaps he knew that he also could sin too easily.  Overwhelmed by the grace of God he dedicated the temple with great humility and instruction.  He wrote over 3000 proverbs to guide the people toward righteousness and over 1000 worship songs of praise to God.

Yet, as the years passed, content with all he had; he slipped away from seeing God’s absolute righteousness. And when one forgets God’s absolute righteousness and His wrath against sin, the wonder of grace slips away.   What is then left behind is an empty vapor or whisper of truth. 

² “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”  Ecclesiastes 1 (NKJV)

Vanity is translated from the Hebrew word הָֽבֶל׃ hā·ḇel  meaning futile, a fleeting breath, like a vapor here and then gone.

A Stark Contrast of Two Men—Solomon and Jeremiah-the Command of God

I Kings 11 (NKJV)

But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— ² from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you.  Surely, they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. ³ And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 

⁴ For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. ⁵ For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. ⁶ Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. ⁷ Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. ⁸ And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

⁹ So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, ¹⁰ and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded. 

¹¹ Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. ¹² Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³ However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.”

The Response of Solomon to the Command of God

Solomon became restless, as we find in the book of Ecclesiastes.  This book is an autobiography of how he strayed away from the very truth that had made him great.  His journey led him into deep despair as he chased after the wind in this world.  He found that there was no peace or joy to be found in the pleasures of this world apart from God’s presence in them.  By breaching the command of God, he no longer felt the joy of God’s presence in life.  With God, we may enjoy all the beauties and pleasures of this world.  Yet, when we seek them apart from God, they are empty and futile—vanity of vanity, a vapor that quickly disappears leaving only sadness behind. 

This is the book of Ecclesiastes.  The teacher wants us to know the truths of true wisdom, comes from a proper view of God as supreme righteousness.  It is seeing God through our brokenness and realizing that He is Majesty and Righteousness.  It is learning as had David.

Psalm 8 (NKJV)

O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ^[b]ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit^[c] him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than ^[d]the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

A Command of God to Jeremiah

God called Jeremiah to speak his word to the people, when He did this is what God said to Jeremiah.

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”….

7“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.
⁸ Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord.

⁹ Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
¹⁰ See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to tear down,
Destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1 (NASB)

A Command that Seems too Hard to Follow

God told him no one would listen.  And even his family turned their backs on him for the message God gave him.

²⁷ “Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.  Jeremiah 7: (NKJV)

Furthermore, Jeremiah was forbidden to marry or to have children.  He was jailed, beaten, and very poor.  His was a message of judgement.  God’s wrath would be poured out upon the nation because they had forsaken the command of God to seek after other idols.  Yet, despite his seeing only despair around him, Jeremiah preached God’s word to the people.  And then what were his words?

I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
² He has led me and made me walk
In darkness and not in light.
³ Surely He has turned His hand against me
Time and time again throughout the day.

¹⁹ Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the ^[g]gall.
²⁰ My soul still remembers
And ^[h]sinks within me.
²¹ This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

²² Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
²³ They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
²⁶ It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

³⁹ Why should a living man complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins?

⁴⁰ Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
⁴¹ Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.  Lamentations 3 (NKJV)

And so it was that Jeremiah saw God’s goodness amid all the sorrows that surrounded him. He understood that God’s grace far exceeded what anyone deserves. Why should a living man every complain, knowing what our sin truly deserves is God’s wrath? When we keep a right view of God’s righteousness, then we keep a truer view of grace.

In A World of Futility, Let Us Seek to Follow the Command of God

¹³ The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. ¹⁴ For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.  Ecclesiastes 12: (NKJV)

Concluding Thoughts

We sometimes think that we know what would make us happy but do we.  Many want to preach a gospel that has no brokenness, a feel-good prosperity gospel that does not really address our sin.  We whitewash it all with God’s mercy and grace.  Oh, yes were it not for His mercy and grace, I would have no hope.  It is that if I forget His goodness despite my sin.  I wish I could forget the brokenness of my life, forget the sins of my past.  But to do so would cause me not to see the magnificence of His grace that has carried me thus far. 

So, this is what Solomon meant by these words:    “¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.”  One Shepherd who truly bore the nails of wrath from God that I deserved.  The words remind me of my own failures, but also of His magnificent grace toward me.  His mercies are new every morning.  And one day, He will return to set every justice right and I shall ride beside Him on that day, not because of my own righteousness, but His.  That is what Solomon had learned in the end of His days.  God’s spirit never departed from Him, even during the dark days in which his own life led him to utter despair.   

Jesus is Coming Again to Righteously Judge–Never Forget

¹¹ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He ^[a]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 

¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in ^[b]fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵ Now out of His mouth goes a ^[c]sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

Are you ready for His return?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Previously

How To Absolutely Know Joy in Life by Choosing Wisdom from God

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed from AdobeStock

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  This week we study the book of Proverbs.  This book is among the books of the Bible referred to as wisdom books.  It is not law, prophecy, nor history.  Along with Job, Ecclesiastes, and Psalms, it holds a special study discipline known as wisdom literature.  Therefore, we must approach its study with that distinction in mind.  Yet, the book of Proverbs is very practical to our daily routines of life.  Its theme is about choosing wisdom over foolishness. Broken into tiny nuggets of knowledge, it exhorts us to live a life of morality and justice.  It is a guide of how-to live-in relationship to God, to others, and within our own being.   If we have any hope to absolutely know joy in this life, we are encouraged to do so by choosing wisdom from God.  

All too often, Proverbs is quoted in a manner that we should try harder, do better, and thereby gain the rewards noted.  However, the book of proverbs is not based on the law.  Nor is it the guide to reaching God’s favor by works.  An in-depth study of Proverbs would lead us to recognize that we again, of our own volition would fail to meet up to any of the practical standards laid out for us.  Most of the Proverbs deal with making wise choices, obeying our parents, guarding our tongues, and working hard (Do not be lazy).   In fact, last Sunday I listened to an audio version of Proverbs as I cleaned my room.  It was not long before I realized that I had heard, “do not be lazy” repeatedly throughout.  In fact, out of 31 chapters the reference to lazy in the NLT is 20 times.

Choosing Wisdom

So, what is the importance of studying the book of Proverbs.  It is like a roadmap to help us discover the right choices that honor God.  After all, Jesus is the perfect son spoken of.  He holds all the treasures of both wisdom and knowledge.  As we learn of wisdom, we learn of Him. Is that not fully reason enough to desire to study this book? Just to know Him more!

A Guide to Study

The Book of Proverbs is broken down differently than any other book.  It begins with a basic instruction guide as to why it is important and what we are to glean from studying it.

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

² To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
³ To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
⁴ To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
⁵ A wise person will hear and increase in learning,
And a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
⁶ To understand a proverb and a saying,
The words of the wise and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

So, the purpose of the book of proverbs is to truly know wisdom. And this is more than a head knowledge of wisdom. We are to internalize the instructions of God’s blueprint for life, providing us discernment in every detail and choice of our life.  It provides us instruction on how to behave wisely, demonstrating righteousness, justice, and integrity with all that we do.  Prudence means good judgement, astute common sense.  Therefore, the proverbs within this book are to teach even the naïve how to make good, right choices.  But above all else, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge while fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

It proceeds on through Chapter 9 with this detailed layout as to all the reasons why it would be prudent to study this while still a youth.  Thereby laying out a solid foundation from which one can further make choices in life.  Also, these are excellent for us to use as parents and grandparents.

Secondary Guide to Choosing Wisdom from God

After the first 9 chapters in which Solomon keeps addressing, my son.  The next group of Proverbs is addressed to everyone regardless of age or status.  Proverbs 10:1-22:16 are from Solomon and 22:17-24:34 are chosen from various wise men and recorded by Solomon.  Then 25:1-29:27 is a collection that Hezekiah made of Solomon’s proverbs.  We are told in I Kings 4:32 that Solomon “spoke 3000 proverbs and his songs were 1005.  Of these we are only given a few comparatively.  In fact, we only have two of his songs recorded in Psalm 72 and 127.  However, what we do know with certainty is that all scripture is inspired by God and preserved for His set purpose of bringing forth the glorious truth of Jesus Christ and God’s plan of salvation. 

That indeed is the purpose of the book of Proverbs as well.  It is not, as often used, a book to give praise to the self-righteous, promising a prosperity gospel to all who pull themselves up and live what they believe to be a righteous life.  It is rather a guide to show us the way we should respond and live; but, knowing we cannot do it without the perfect son who did live the perfect righteous life for us.  The one who died in our place.  Never forget this truth as you study the book of Proverbs.

Choosing wisdom to the Glory of God in Jesus Christ

The word of God is to equip us, not to promise us some pie in the sky fantasy of everything perfect while in this broken world.  As Paul wrote to Timothy,

¹⁰ Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! ¹² Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³ But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

¹⁴ You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3 (NASB)

The basic principles of justice, righteousness, and walking with God laid out in Proverbs are what we are to aspire to.  To be like Jesus in all that we do.  So, yes, the basics are right; but, we can only accomplish these by His mercy and grace.  All that being said, we must aspire to these with His power to help us.

What are the main themes addressed?

1.  Relationship with God
2. Trusting God
3. Humility before Him
4. Reverence to God—a proper based fear or desire to please
5. Righteousness
6. Obedience
7. Blessings
8. Sin
9. When facing death
10. Facing Test
11. Rewards
12.  Relationship to Self
13. Character
14. Wisdom
15. Foolishness
16. Speech—control the tongue (only honor God)
17. Self-Control
18. Kindness
19. Money matters
20. Pride
21. Anger
22. Laziness
23.  Relationship to others
24.  Love
25. Friends
26. Enemies
27. Truthfulness
28. DO NOT GOSSIP, DO NOT LIE
29. Relationship as a father
30. Being a mother
31. As Children
32. Education of children
33. Disciplining of children

When Choosing Wisdom not Folly

One of the greatest themes in the book of Proverbs is choosing wisdom and not folly.  But if we are honest, who are those who are foolish?  Is it not you and I.   Look at this:

There are six things that the Lord hates,
Seven that are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who declares lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.  Proverbs 6

Have you ever told a lie or beamed with self-pride?  Did you ever stop to plot a means to pay back someone you thought had hurt you?  Ever run to evil or falsely whisper about someone else?  Or did you ever spread strife among supposed friends?  Yes, even the old testament book of Proverbs points us to Jesus Christ, the perfect righteousness of God who covers us with His righteousness.

 ²¹ But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ²² but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.  Romans 3: (NASB).

So, how can we absolutely know joy by choosing wisdom from God?

We study His word, writing it in our hearts.  I suggest you add one Proverb daily to your Bible study.  That act will help you to grasp these tidbits of God’s righteousness to guide you in each choice you make. 

Thank God for His mercy and grace which He so richly poured out on you.

Never forget, in Him you are a new creation, created for good works. 

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.

⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.

¹¹ In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, ¹² to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

¹³ In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, ¹⁴ who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe.

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Previously

How To Really Trust God While Mountains Quake in A Broken World

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2023Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

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