Effie Darlene Barba ⋆ Page 6 of 378 ⋆ Inspiring Joy in Lifes Toughest Moments

How to Await the Final Judgement of God with Joy not Fear

God stands up to open heaven’s court. He pronounces judgment on the judges. 2 How long will you judges refuse to listen to the evidence? How long will you shower special favors on the wicked? 3 Give fair judgment to the poor man, the afflicted, the fatherless, the destitute. 4 Rescue the poor and helpless from the grasp of evil men. 5 But you are so foolish and so ignorant! Because you are in darkness, all the foundations of society are shaken to the core. 6 I have called you all “gods” and “sons of the Most High.” 7 But in death you are mere men. You will fall as any prince—for all must die.

8 Stand up, O God, and judge the earth. For all of it belongs to you. All nations are in your hands. Psalm 82 (The Living Bible)1

Throughout scripture there are references to the The Day of the Lord with great anticipation. It is a day referring to the final judgement of this earth. For the Jewish nation it stands for a day when they are finally free from attack from other nations. They anticipate it with Joy, not fear; however, it involves their cleansing as well. It will be through the tribulation that they are ultimately cleansed and become a people who love the Lord with His laws written on their hearts. So, why in our studies do I bring this now? Well as we look at Obadiah, we recognize this truth. It is like looking through a progressive lens which sees near, mid-range, and distance. It is the same for nearly all of the prophets. They see near, a bit farther in the distance, and then in the far distance.

Joy, not fear because God has Ordained All that We See

It is glimpse into what Asaph saw in the distance as God judges all the rules and judges of this earth. Not much is known as to the time of the writing of Obadiah, but I tend to believe it was referring first to the battle between the Edomites and Judah. Furthermore, it does describe what will be the final judgement completed by Jesus Christ. None of this can complete the Jewish nation however without the seven years of tribulation occurring to as Daniel reports to us.

²⁴Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Daniel 9 (NKJV)

The tribulation is the final week of years to complete Israel preparing them that God will redeem them and write His laws upon their hearts.

Why the Edomites for final judgement?

Now the Edomites are the descendants of Esau. He was Jacob’s Older Twin Brother who nonchalantly sold his birthright for some red porridge. Then he was tricked out of the blessing by his brother Jacob. So, was Jacob a better person? No, except in this one thing—he worshipped God. On the other hand, Esau had no regard for God. He had gone off and married Hittite women to the dismay of his Isaac and Rebecca. Furthermore, it is believed by tradition that he worshipped idols. At any rate he had no regard for seeking God. Yet, it is noted then when the Israelite people were crossing the desert after their 400 years in Egypt the King of Edom would not allow them to cross his land. They were both nations descendants of Isaac.

We have an interesting turn of events when the Edomites join forces with Judah and Israel to defeat the Moabites in 2 Kings 3. The land of Edom was north of Israel where lay red mountain ranges. So, the story was that God told the Kings after assembling that they would win. He had them build large ditches in the valley. Then when the Moabites came for battle.

2 Kings 3 (NKJV)–Joy, Not Fear Because God IS

²⁰Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water.

²¹And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older were gathered; and they stood at the border. ²²Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. ²³And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”

²⁴So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered their land, killing the Moabites. ²⁵Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However the slingers surrounded and attacked it.

²⁶And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not. ²⁷Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. So they departed from him and returned to their own land.

So, why the judgement on Edom?

John McArthur wrote this in his Study Bible as part of the introduction to Obadiah

The date of writing is equally difficult to determine, though we know it is tied to the Edomite assault on Jerusalem described in vv. 10–14. Obadiah apparently wrote shortly after the attack. There were 4 significant invasions of Jerusalem in OT history: 1) by Shishak, king of Egypt, ca. 925 B.C. during the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kin. 14:25, 26; 2 Chr. 12); 2) by the Philistines and Arabians between 848–841 B.C. during the reign of Jehoram of Judah (2 Chr. 21:8–20); 3) by Jehoash, king of Israel, ca. 790 B.C. (2 Kin. 14; 2 Chr. 25); and 4) by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Of these 4, only the second and the fourth are possible fits with historical data. Number two is preferable, since Obadiah’s description does not indicate the total destruction of the city, which took place under Nebuchadnezzar’s attack. Also, although the Edomites were involved in Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem (Ps. 137; Lam. 4:21), it is significant that Obadiah does not mention the Babylonians by name (as with all the other prophets who wrote about Jerusalem’s fall), nor is there any reference to the destruction of the temple or the deportation of the people; in fact, the captives appear to have been taken to the SW, not E to Babylon (cf. v. 20).²

Edom was later controlled by Assyria and Babylon; and in the fifth century B.C. the Edomites were forced by the Nabateans to leave their territory. They moved to the area of southern Israel and became known as Idumeans. Herod the Great, an Idumean, became king of Judea under Rome in 37 B.C. In a sense, the enmity between Esau and Jacob was continued in Herod’s attempt to murder Jesus. The Idumeans participated in the rebellion of Jerusalem against Rome and were defeated along with the Jews by Titus in A.D. 70. Ironically, the Edomites applauded the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (cf. Ps. 137:7) but died trying to defend it in A.D. 70. After that time they were never heard of again.³

Obadiah Speaks of Final Judgement against EDOM

As Obadiah does speak of even a final coming judgement my guess is they are still around or at least their spirit. Perhaps that is part of the reason several nations around Israel hate them so much today. Whatever happens, we know that God is ruling Supreme. Therefore, we can face any storm with Joy, not fear.

¹The vision of Obadiah.

Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom
(We have heard a report from the Lord,
And a messenger has been sent among the nations, saying,
“Arise, and let us rise up against her for battle”):

²“Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
You shall be greatly despised.
³The pride of your heart has deceived you,
You who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
Whose habitation is high;
You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’
⁴Though you ascend as high as the eagle,
And though you set your nest among the stars,
From there I will bring you down,” says the Lord. Obadiah (NKJV)

He goes on to enumerate all the reasons for that judgement to come including their hatred of the brothers, their failure to help, and their mockery when Israel is defeated.

¹⁵“For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near;
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
¹⁶For as you drank on My holy mountain,
So shall all the nations drink continually;
Yes, they shall drink, and swallow,
And they shall be as though they had never been.

¹⁸“But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,
And there shall be holiness; Obadiah (NKJV)

At the final judgement, we will know Joy Not Fear

For all who are written in the Lamb’s book of life, we only know joy and not fear. We will be gone, raptured home, before the tribulation. This is a time to revive Israel as a people who truly know God and embrace their Savior. Then will come the time when Jesus judges all the nations. The final judgment is a time of joy, not fear as God establishes justice and destroys evil once and for all in the power of the risen Lamb.

Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
²Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute. Psalm 81 (NKJV)

³ IBID

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

How to Make the Right Choices to Honor God Always ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba (myglorytoglory.com)

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

Disclosure 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.

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

How to Make the Right Choices to Honor God Always

“Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6: 31-34 (NKJV)

As we saw in the case of King Solomon, he chose well at the beginning and was blessed with many riches, power, peace, and wisdom to rule the people. However, despite all this, he became complacent and allowed his devotion to God waiver. God did not abandon him, but the consequences of his actions were devastating. His sons split the nation into two parts, just as God told him they would. The did not make the right choices to Honor God always as the younger Solomon advised in Proverbs and the older broken-hearted Solomon concluded in Ecclesiastes. How much more powerful are our actions than our words?

To Make Right Choices: Be Careful of Your Counsel

When Rehoboam took over his father’s throne, many of the people from Israel traveled to Jerusalem to ask he be less of a task master concerning taxes than had King Solomon. He first consulted the elders who had surrounded his father.

⁷And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 1 Kings 12 (NKJV)

This was wise counsel, but he chose to reject it and then turned to the young men who had grown up around him. Growing up around Rehoboam, they too would have been accustomed to affluence. Thereby, they were among the elitists who could not understand the plight of the common people.

¹⁰Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! ¹¹And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’ ” I Kings 12 (NKJV)

His own arrogance allowed him to choose the unwise counsel, rather than that which could have held his kingdom. Furthermore, he chose the counsel of men and not God. We have a wise counselor indwelling us whom we may ask for guidance. Also, when we seek human counsel, we must seek those who have proven themselves tried and true in their faith.

To Make Right Choices—Listen Carefully to God’s Call

³⁰Then Ahijah ….³¹said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you ³²(but he shall have one tribe for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), I Kings 11

God then explains why this is so.

³³because they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David. ³⁴However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes.

Notice God in telling Jeroboam the reason for His actions, God is also providing a warning. Logically, if He would tear a part of the Kingdom from the whole, then certainly He can destroy those whom He has separated.

To Make Right Choices—Never Forget the Conditional Promises of God

There are both conditional and unconditional promises. This we must remember. Thank God for the unconditional promises of His Salvation for all those who by faith receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Also, I thank God that He has promised to transform my regenerate heart to one day look like HIS Son, Jesus. Which means, yes, I must walk through many refining fires and storms while being transformed. Yet, there are conditional promises as well. Below is an example of a conditional promise—the one God gave Jeroboam.

³⁷So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. ³⁸Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. ³⁹And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’”

But alas, God kept His promise. Jeroboam failed to carry out the conditions for this to stand. God made Jeroboam King over the Northern 10 tribes of Israel. Yet, Jeroboam did not trust God fully, nor follow the conditions God had commanded. Instead, He feared the people would leave his rule if they traveled to Jerusalem to worship God as God desired. So, King Jeroboam built two Golden Calves to establish worship in Bethel. Guess he forgot the Golden Calf was a bad idea in the desert and a bad idea now. Hence, the Kings in Israel were evil and went against God throughout the years that Israel remained a separate state.

To Make Right Choices—You Must Be Willing to Stand Against Evil

As Kings of Israel came and went, the evilest of all was King Ahab, who married Jezebel.

³⁰Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. ³¹And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. ³²Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 1 Kings 16 (NKJV)

So, God sent Elijah to Confront the King.

And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” 1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV)

There is a lot to write about Elijah, but he was truly a man of God who stood up against evil. God provided for Elijah throughout the years of draught. He protected him while allowing so many miracles to touch others such as the Gentile widow whom he blessed with God’s provisions of food and restored the life of her son. This made Elijah one of the earliest missionaries to the gentiles. but I digress. Ultimately, Elijah returns to confront King Ahab who wanted him dead. It is then God displays His power to all of Israel on the top of Mount Carmal. I urge you to read I Kings 18: 20-40. It is a fascinating display of God’s power and His judgment.

And What About Us?

How do we fight evil? In the power of God, putting on the whole armor of God as outlined in Ephesians.

¹³Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, Ephesians 6 (NASB).

Make the Right Choices to Honor God—Seek God First

Although the Kings over Israel were all evil since King Jeroboam failed to keep God’s Command; the Kings of Judah were some good and some bad. This was because of God’s Unconditional promise that the true King and Messiah would come through the lineage of David. Therefore, the grace of God would carry on through Judah. That made the individuals no less responsible; but, it does speak of God’s amazing grace throughout the ages.

So, among those kings of Judah that honored God, Josiah stands out as one of the greatest.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king… ²And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

When he was 26 years old, he sent priests to secure the money and restore the temple.

⁴“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. ⁵And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house— ⁶to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.

Did he know the treasure they would find? Perhaps not. But he felt compelled to seek God through this act of service in repairing the hours of the Lord. Sometimes it is that way when one first seeks God, unaware of all the truths. Just drawn by a thought.

Make the Right Choices to Honor God—Know His Word

Well, that act led to the next.

Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. ⁹So Shaphan the scribe went to the king…. ¹⁰Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. ¹¹Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 2 Kings 22 (NKJV)

There before the truth of God’s righteousness, King Josiah knew the depth of his own unworthiness before a Holy God. Truly, he understood that all he and the nation deserved was God’s wrath for their wickedness. He knew he needed to fall before him in sorrow and repentance, that he might receive mercy and grace through the sacrifice of innocent animals. These being the portrait of the true Messiah to come: Jesus Christ.

Understand the Truth of Your Sin to make Right Choices

¹²Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, ¹³“Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 2 Kings 22 (NKJV)

So they went to Huldah the prophetess

¹⁵Then she said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, ¹⁶“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read— ¹⁷because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore, My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’” 2 Kings 22 (NKJV)

There is no atonement for sin unless one first understands the wrath of God against sin. Walking an aisle and praying a prayer does nothing without a heart of true repentance. Only when we like every Old Testament prophet fall Prostrate in utter despair before the feet of Jesus, we cannot be saved. Without the knowledge of sin, there is no way one can truly accept the gift of salvation.

What Do I Mean by that?

So often, the invitations are: “Do you want to be healed? Then come to the healer. Do you want your marriage to turn around? Come to Jesus who can restore your marriage.” All that is true, but too many come for the gifts then and not the Giver of the Gifts. Without a true knowledge of God’s wrath and the penalty of sin, salvation is impossible. Yet, King Josiah understood and hence this was the message to him

¹⁸But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— ¹⁹because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. ²⁰“Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.”’ So, they brought back word to the king. 2Kings 22 (NKJV)

Make the Right Choices: Remember Judgement is Coming

The Year of Our Lord is yet to come. He came to pay the price for sin to all who bow before Him in humble repentance for their sin. It is only through the precious blood of Christ that we can be redeemed when we acknowledge and repent of our sins, accepting His gift of salvation, knowing we cannot earn it ourselves.

³¹“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³²Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. ³⁴Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ….⁴¹“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25 (ESV)

Make the Right Choices to Honor God: Worship Him

Love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart. If you do this then you will always seek Him, pray unceasingly, read His Word, and desire to always please Him. When He becomes truly the Love of Your Life you will spend your time in His presence to worship Him always.

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

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

What Really Are the True Treasures of Joy One Can Find?

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

What Really Are the True Treasures of Joy One Can Find?

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”: Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NKJV)

King Solomon was blessed with great wisdom to judge his people. During his reign, God blessed him also with wealth, a peaceful kingdom, and all the treasures one could possess. His name was known everywhere. Even the Queen of Sheba came to see him, wanting to know if what she had heard was true. When she found it to be the case, she came to worship the one true God. But was it all the stuff that made up the true treasures of joy? Or was it God himself who is that treasure? This King Solomon knew, at least he did know at one time in his life. And although it faded for a time in his life, he returned to understanding this once again at the end of the day.

There are times when I too feel the weight of this world. The more I have seen, the more futile it all seems. This week alone, I have felt the sorrow of two dear friends’ loss as they watched their father pass away. A patient came who could barely walk, his neck twisted to the side, braces on his legs and arms. Racked with pain, he told me how he was the caregiver for his wife who was bedridden. Another patient with probable ovarian cancer, young and filled with so many traumas of life, from losing her babies shortly after birth to suffering rape. Fears surrounding her mind and life. Some having given so much to serve their country, filled with a mixture of sorrow and faith. Some clinging tight, hoping that grace is real and wondering if God could really love them despite all they have done.

True Treasures of Joy—Where are they now?

10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright words of truth. Ecclesiastes 12 (NKJV)

The book of Ecclesiastes portrayed one man’s search for meaning in life. Written in the later days of King Solomon’s life, he went back to tell of his search for meaning and truth. His conclusion took him back to the beginning, long before all the temptations of life had drawn him away from the only true treasure of joy. This is what he found.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12.

Two instruments used by any shepherd are the rod that goad the sheep into submission, driven away from danger and the nails driven into the fence to hedge them in. But for humanity there is only one Shepherd who can provide this as justly, righteously needed. That one Shepherd is no other than Jesus Christ, the very son of God. He will drive us who believe in Him to obedience and righteousness because he knows our truest treasure of joy is found only in a relationship with God our creator.

Prosperity Can Taint Even a King’s Heart to forsake the true treasures

King Solomon had let prosperity taint his heart for a time, but in the end, he realized how foolish this had been. He knew there were no treasures of joy to be found under the sun. Hence, he wrote Ecclesiastes as an honest depiction of the foolish of the world. He concluded his search with this.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12. (NKJV)

Can the true treasures of joy Be Found Under the Sun?

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.

Vanity of Vanities Where are the True Treasures

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. That is what all the treasures of this world are—fleeting breath. Joy for a moment, whisked away like a wind that falls into the depths of sorrows. The longer I live the more I realize how nothing here on this earth endures. King Solomon came to realize this only after he had allowed his heart to betray him. He drew away from God to worship other Gods. This after God had appeared to him twice, once in Gibeon when Solomon asked for wisdom and the second time after King Solomon had dedicated the temple to God. All this before King Solomon’s heart faded away. How did it happen? Had God not warned him?

Foolishness Can Cost One the True Treasures of Joy for a Time

²the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. ³And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea which you have offered before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built, by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there always. I Kings 9

This was the promise, but it was followed by this warning.

⁶if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have placed before you, but you go and serve other gods and worship them, ⁷then I will cut Israel off from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will expel from My sight. I Kings 9.

And we know that this is what happened. The kingdom was divided into two, torn asunder. Yet, both kingdoms waxed and waned in their worship of the Lord. Then, God sent the Babylonians to conquer Judah and destroy the temple.

Yet, amid all this, God continued to fulfill His promise to both Abraham and to King David. Each time, God showed grace upon a remnant of His people. Jesus was born from the line of David and Solomon to be the final forever, King. He also fulfilled His Promise to King David that His spirit would not leave Solomon. Hence why at the end of the day, King Solomon turned his heart back to God Alone, with great sorrow and repentance as displayed in this book.

So, What Happened?

In all his prosperity, power, wealth, and peace, King Solomon allowed his heart to become complacent. Since life was so easy and his fame so great, King Solomon became nonchalant about worshipping God. Instead, he busied himself with the things of this world. He strayed away from the very truth that had made him great, his humility and trust in God Alone. Then 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 his 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 vanities, 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 only comes from a proper view of God as supreme righteousness. It is seeing God through our brokenness and realizing that God Alone is Majesty and Righteousness.

It is learning as had David.

³When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon, and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
⁵For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8 (NKJV)

How could it be that God would love someone like me?

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

And, yet how often we fail in this very thing. Do we honor Him in all He has given us? Each day we choose today whether our hearts remain true to Him or do we chase after the things of this world. Do we love God with all our heart and soul? Are we willing to lay it all aside for the good of the kingdom and trust Him no matter what this world may bring?

⁹O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8 (NKJV)

True Treasures of Joy that Overcome the Sorrows of Life

In contrast we have Jeremiah whom God called to prophesy to the people of God. 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, and beaten, living in dire poverty. 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.
²He has led me and made me walk
In darkness and not in light.
³Surely, He has turned His hand against me
Time and time again throughout the day.

¹⁹Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
²⁰My soul still remembers
And sinks within me. Lamentations 3 (NKJV)

He felt the weight of sorrow and even more because no one listened to his pleas. He knew what would happen and felt all he did failed. How have you ever felt that way? I have. The task seems too great and my strength too little.

But that is when Jeremiah remembered the real Treasures of Joy

²¹This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

²²Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
²³They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3 (NKJV)

I too deserve nothing of His blessing, but He is faithful in pouring forth grace and mercy toward me.

²⁵The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
²⁶It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3 (NKJV)

So, what should we do?

³⁹Why should a living man complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins? Lamentations 3

Do I not deserve the chastisement of the Lord? Yet, He so mercifully has saved me. Therefore, let me never forget daily to seek Him and place Him upon the throne of my heart.

⁴⁰Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
⁴¹Let 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

¹³The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. ¹⁴For 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: “¹¹The 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

¹¹Now 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. ¹²His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

He is our true treasure of Joy I will ride behind Him clothed in the clean white linen of His Righteousness.

¹⁴And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. ¹⁵Now out of His mouth goes a 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. ¹⁶And 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?

Let Me Remain

How often Lord, my heart doth moan

I long to see You on Your Throne

This life so burdened with despair

I faint beneath the weight of care

And so, I come to you once more

To ask You guide this ship to shore

Though tossing raging winds surround

Your arms of love make joy abound

Within this heart so broken Lord

I trust Your hand to guide me toward

The way you wish my heart to go

And lay aside each evil foe

That draws my mind away from You

Oh, let me not vain thoughts pursue

I pray dear Lord, you guide my heart

That from your will I dare not part

Though hard the race I cannot lose

For you are all my heart doth choose

And you will bring me safely home

Because of Grace I cannot roam

Oh, pull me tight against your chest

Within your arms I find my rest

Let me remain faithful and true

Until that day I am with You

Give me Your strength that I might stand

A beacon of Your Love so Grand

That all of whom I chance to meet

Will come to bow before your feet

No greater gift have I to give

Than for you Lord, my life to live

In such a way I die to me

That You might shine, this is my plea

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

For Prayer or Comments

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

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Why Is a Healthy Heart Core to Finding Hope, Peace, and Joy?

How To Know Hope and Joy in Life Through Seeking Wisdom

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

Why Is a Healthy Heart Core to Finding Hope, Peace, and Joy?

The Lord is our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ Mark 12:29-30

Throughout scripture, the heart is spoken of. Physically, it is the heart that maintains life to all the cells of the body through the transportation of blood to every cell. Not only does it transport oxygen, it also removes the byproducts of carbon dioxide. Furthermore it cleanses the cells, destroys the invading cells, destroys cancerous cells before they can spread and maintains the life of the body. Any breakdown of the blood and heart affects every cell in the body. When plaque blocks the circulation to a cell, that cell dies. A healthy heart is very important to our physical well being Since the function of the heart is critical to physical life, it is no wonder God speaks also of the spiritual heart as critical to spiritual life.

We come to I Kings 8 with this in mind. In the life of Solomon, we see the transformation of a life from one of hope, peace, and joy to one of sorrow and despair. How did this happen? It was gradual, but that is the way with heart disease. It is gradual but can be deadly.

Healthy Heart—The Blood that Cleanses

Solomon built God’s temple as commissioned with such attention to every detail. He sought out the greatest craftsmen to build this magnificent structure. Yet, as beautiful as it was Solomon knew that it was nothing without God’s presence. So, then with great care the ark of the covenant was brought in.

All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. ⁴And they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and all the holy utensils which were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. ⁵And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were gathered together to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. I Kings 8 (NASB)

This was all being done in the 7^th month during the feast. Some believe this was the feast of booths which is the final feast referring to the kingdom. However, it also speaks of the people remaining for at least 14 days which means this may have begun with the feast of trumpets. The priests did begin with the trumpets blowing, include the feast of atonement and progressed on through the feast of tabernacles representing freedom. That would make sense as the sacrifices were presented along the passageway (every few feet) all the way to the temple where the ark was placed.

Healthy Heart- Right Priorities

When caring from one’s physical heart, there are priorities that must be followed. Those include proper diet, rest, and exercise. In the case of the ark that represented God’s presence, this was also true. The ark had to be carried in the manner God commanded. The priests had to be ceremonially cleansed.

⁶Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the house, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim. ⁷For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and it’s carrying poles from above. I kings 8

The grand beauty of the temple meant nothing without God’s presence. All the new furniture, gold, and architecture was meaningless without the solid foundation of God’s word to His people. Without God there was no life in the tabernacle.

¹¹And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: 2 Chronicles 5 KJV

After the atonement came the worship and joyous praise to God for His mercy and grace.

¹²Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 2 Chronicles 5 KJV

A Healthy Heart is One that Overflows with Joy, Hope and Peace

Gratitude for all that God has done should cause one to overflow with praise, rejoicing for He is Worthy of all honor and praise.

That is when the tabernacle was suddenly filled with the presence of God.

¹³It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; ¹⁴So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. 2 Chronicles 5 KJV

Healthy Heart—in the Presence of God

When the clouds are so thick you cannot see to move, know this that God is present in that darkness.

the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

¹²Then Solomon said,

“The Lord has said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.
¹³I have truly built You a lofty house,
A place for Your dwelling forever.” I Kings 8

PRAYER OF PRAISE

Then Solomon prayed the longest prayer in the Bible. He began standing with his arms raised toward heaven and ended on his knees with arms still raised. All the people were present to watch him pray.

He began his prayer, praising God for doing all that He had promised. Were it not for the grace of God, none of this could have been. He was king only because of God’s grace at at this point in his life, King Solomon knew this.

²⁷“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!

Much like his father’s prayer, “who is man that you are mindful of him” in Psalm 8. But then he begins his plea for the people and himself. He prays for God’s presence and His forgiveness when they fail. If the people were exiled due to their rebellion, King Solomon prayed that God would forgive them when they cried out in repentance.

²⁸Nevertheless, turn Your attention to the prayer of Your servant and to his plea, Lord, my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today, ²⁹so that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant will pray toward this place. ³⁰And listen to the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive! I Kings 8 (NASB)

A Healthy Heart—Humbly Loving God Above All Else

After he finished praying, King Solomon rose from his knees and addressed the people

⁵⁶“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel in accordance with everything that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. I Kings 8 (NASB)

Remember His Promises, first and foremost. He always and forever keeps His promises to His People. Then comes his petition.

⁵⁷May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us nor forsake us, ⁵⁸so that He may guide our hearts toward Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. I Kings 8 (NASB)

If God does not Guide our Hearts, we have no hope

⁵⁹And may these words of mine, with which I have implored the favor of the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, so that He will maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, ⁶⁰so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no one else. ⁶¹Your hearts therefore shall be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” I Kings 8 (NASB)

A Healthy Heart that sees God’s Glory—Hope, Peace, and Joy

1When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the [Shekinah] glory and brilliance of the Lord filled the house. 2The priests could not enter the house of the Lord because the glory and brilliance of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. 3When all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and saw the glory and brilliance of the Lord upon the house, they bowed down on the stone pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.” 2 Chronicles 11 (AMP)

Take Care that You Do Not Fail to Hold Fast to a Healthy Heart

What began so well, went through a dark period in which Solomon failed to love God with all his heart, his mind and his strength.

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, ²from the nations of which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you; they will certainly turn your heart away ^[^c^]to follow their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. I Kings 11 NASB

Were it trials that turned him away, or an abundance of comforts? I daresay the later. Pride, power, and possession can turn the heart so quickly. It is the richest of foods that clog the arteries to our physical heart. Over indulgence in appetites can destroy our spiritual heart as well.

³He had seven hundred wives, who were princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned his heart away. ⁴For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of his father David had been.

Beware of What You Let Into Your Heart

And once you close your eyes to tolerate a lie; how, quickly one can indulge in the same. King Solomon first married women from areas God had forbidden. Then he allowed them to worship and teach his children to worship other gods. Finally, he too went to worship with them. What began as tolerance turned to King Solomon’s failure to worship God with all his heart.

⁵For Solomon became a follower of Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and of Milcom the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites. ⁶So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as his father David had done.

David had not been perfect in his walk, but never did he turn to idolotrous worship.

⁷Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abhorrent idol of Moab, on the mountain that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abhorrent idol of the sons of Ammon. ⁸He also did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

We Too Must Be Careful to Protect a Healthy Heart

¹³For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9 (NASB)

It is God who can cleanse our conscience. But to do so we must allow the blood to flow freely through our arteries. So how do we do that?

First, we recognize His promises

¹⁵For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9 (NASB)

Remember this

Therefore, there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Therefore, to keep a healthy heart, let us feast on His word, exercise our faith by living out our faith, trusting God in our darkest hours with steadfast faith and let us worship Him in joyous praise. Laughter does help to heal the heart. Let our laughter ring forth from the overflowing gratitude we have in our hearts for Jesus Christ.

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

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

How To Know Hope and Joy in Life Through Seeking Wisdom

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

How To Know Hope and Joy in Life Through Seeking Wisdom

12 Where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living….
23 God understands its way,
And He knows its place…
28 And to man He said,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

JOB 28 (NKJV)

Our study this week takes us to the book of Proverbs. Sometimes it is referred to as the book of wisdom. The dictionary defines wisdom as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.”¹ The Bible tells us that true wisdom comes from God. We are urged to seek wisdom. Yet, as we saw above, it is not found easily on earth.

Oh, there are some who are truly knowledgeable or skilled in various crafts. But even then, if they or we do not recognize that even this is a gift of God’s grace, we fall short of true wisdom. Today it is my prayer that we delve into these scriptures from Proverbs exegetically and hermeneutically. (Delving deep into truth-not opinion and allowing scripture to interpret scripture.) Our Hope and Joy rests in The Word of God which is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

For that reason, my greatest desire is that you see Jesus Christ in every part of the Bible. For the entire book is about him. It is His Story and Redemptive Plan for all to see. He is the perfection of every attribute of God, including wisdom.

Jesus is the Wisdom of God To Every Believer

Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²²For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles: foolishness, ²⁴but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind. I Corinthians 1 (NASB)

Speaking of the Laodiceans, Paul wrote

²My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2 (NET)

Wisdom An Attribute of God Wanting to be Heard

Proverbs 7 speaks of the harlot calling forth to draw men to sin. Chapter 6 names pride, laziness, and bad friends drawing one away from true wisdom. Meanwhile God tells us that wisdom is calling to us to turn to He who possesses the ultimate, perfect wisdom- Jesus.

Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
²She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
³She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
⁴“To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
⁵O you simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fool, be of an understanding heart.

All the world wants to make “wise decisions”. Even the most pagan of mothers desire their children learn to make wise decisions in their career choices and in their finances. But the truth is:

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV).

Hearken to Wisdom

⁶Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
⁷For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
⁹They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. Proverbs 8 (NKJV)

Wisdom as Representative of Christ

As we move into the next section, I feel it necessary for a little explanation as so many have misrepresented or misused these verses. They represent the attributes of Jesus Christ. Since He always existed and was a part of creation, these verses refer to the fact that wisdom as an attribute of God always existed. Some however in describing this try to say it is proof that Jesus and God are female since wisdom is called she.

But the truth is both Greek and Hebrew are gendered languages as are the Latin languages. Example in Spanish we have El Sol and La Luna—El being masculine and La feminine. That does not make the Sun male nor the moon female—it is the structure of the language. The same is true for the Greek word for wisdom and the Hebraic word for wisdom. Furthermore, here wisdom is an attribute of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect wisdom of God. God’s wisdom existed for all the same years as God has. In other words, always and forever.

¹²“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
¹³The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
¹⁴Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
¹⁵By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
¹⁶By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth. Proverbs 8 (NKJV)

No judges, prince, president, nor king rules unless God in His wisdom has ordained so and will bring about His purpose. He will accomplish all that He has planned, even when we do not understand nor see how.

Grace Shown by God in Granting Wisdom

¹⁷I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
¹⁸Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches, and righteousness.
¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
²⁰I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
²¹That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries. Proverbs 8 (NKJV)

This is a wealth far beyond what the richest person on earth can offer. It is a wealth of life, hope, joy, and love. Our hope is not in the vain things of this world. Our hope and joy lie in knowing Jesus Christ and the anticipation of spending eternity in His presence. There is no love, no joy to compare with that. My hope relies on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. His blood to cleanse me so that I might wear His cloak of righteousness and be filled with His Wisdom forever. What a wise and wondrous God He is.

Wisdom inherent to Jesus Christ

²²“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
²³I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
²⁴When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
²⁵Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
²⁶While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world. Proverbs 8

Everything done. All of creation was an outpouring of the wisdom of God. He never did anything out of foolishness or just because.

Furthermore

²⁷When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
²⁹When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth, Proverbs 8 (NKJV)

Some believe this next verse refers to the absolute delight of Jesus with the Father in the Creation within their attribute of wisdom. Imagine the celebration with music and dances of joy. Delighting in you and me, knowing we would be His bride one day.

³⁰Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
³¹Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men. Proverbs 8 (NKJV)

And So, take Heed to listen to Wisdoms Message

³²“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
³⁴Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
³⁵For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
³⁶But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8 (NKJV)

Look How Wonderfully the Bible Confirms the Bible

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶For byhim all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians 1(ESV)

How to We Learn Hope and Joy by Seeking Wisdom

Let us turn to another Proverb to help with this.

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:

²Surely I am more stupid than any man,

And do not have the understanding of a man.
³I neither learned wisdom
Nor have knowledge of the Holy One. Proverbs 30 (NKJV)

A teacher of doctrine declares that with the Torah, the Chronicles, and the book of Judges, he still did not really know God. He knew of God but did not know God. Why did he feel so apart from God? He gives us a clue in the next verse.

⁴Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,
If you know?

What a beautiful prophecy amid this wisdom literature. To know God intimately you must know His Son’s name. This is what was missing in the Old Testament. Oh, yes they knew God, but they did not yet know the name of Jesus. All the prophets spoke of His coming and how that would transform the covenant but they did not yet know Him,

Another Example is in Judges 13-Oh the exceeding wisdom of God

Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

²Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. ³And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Judges 13 (NKJV)

Amazing, but who is the Angel of the Lord?

⁶So the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A Man of God came to me, and His countenance^[was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name. ⁷And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son.

⁸Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.” Judges 13 (NKJV)

But it did not end there

⁹And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her. ¹⁰Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, “Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!”

¹¹So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, “Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?”

And He said, “I am.”

So, The Angel of the Lord repeated all the instructions to Manoah who offered Him food and asked He stay.

¹⁶And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Though you detain Me, I will not eat your food. But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know He was the Angel of the Lord.)

¹⁷Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?”

¹⁸And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”

Wow! Almost the same question, what is the name of God’s Son, for surely this was the preincarnate Jesus. His name is wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).

Furthermore: God promised There will be a new covenant

³⁴No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34

Agur realized there was no teaching that help us know God better unless we know the name of His Son. Only with an intimate relationship with Jesus can we truly know wisdom and know God.

Then Agur proclaimed:

⁵Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
⁶Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

⁷Two things I request of You
(Deprive me not before I die):
⁸Remove falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
⁹Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30 (NKJV)

Yet, for us the mystery has been unveiled.

“ it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ⁷of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. Ephesians 3 (NKJV)

And What Wondrous Mystery Revealed in the Name of Jesus

⁸To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; ¹⁰to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. ¹³Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

In the Name of Jesus, the Veil is Torn

Beyond that, He has promised to transform my heart so I may be transformed to His image.

¹⁵But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3 (NKJV)

Hallelujah! The law could never transform my heart: but the name of Jesus can and will. He is the wisdom that I seek. What about you?

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

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My Beloved Comes Over the Mountain His Banner Over Me is Love

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

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Joy, not fear because God has Ordained All that We See

Why the Edomites for final judgement?

2 Kings 3 (NKJV)–Joy, Not Fear Because God IS

So, why the judgement on Edom?

Obadiah Speaks of Final Judgement against EDOM

At the final judgement, we will know Joy Not Fear

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

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To Make Right Choices: Be Careful of Your Counsel

To Make Right Choices—Listen Carefully to God’s Call

To Make Right Choices—Never Forget the Conditional Promises of God

To Make Right Choices—You Must Be Willing to Stand Against Evil

So, God sent Elijah to Confront the King.

And What About Us?

Make the Right Choices to Honor God—Seek God First

Make the Right Choices to Honor God—Know His Word

Understand the Truth of Your Sin to make Right Choices

What Do I Mean by that?

Make the Right Choices: Remember Judgement is Coming

Make the Right Choices to Honor God: Worship 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.

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True Treasures of Joy—Where are they now?

Prosperity Can Taint Even a King’s Heart to forsake the true treasures

Can the true treasures of joy Be Found Under the Sun? ￼

Vanity of Vanities Where are the True Treasures

Foolishness Can Cost One the True Treasures of Joy for a Time

So, What Happened?

How could it be that God would love someone like me?

True Treasures of Joy that Overcome the Sorrows of Life

But that is when Jeremiah remembered the real Treasures of Joy

So, what should we do?

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

Concluding Thoughts

Jesus is Coming Again to Righteously Judge–Never Forget

Let Me Remain

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

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Healthy Heart—The Blood that Cleanses

Healthy Heart- Right Priorities

A Healthy Heart is One that Overflows with Joy, Hope and Peace

Healthy Heart—in the Presence of God

PRAYER OF PRAISE

A Healthy Heart—Humbly Loving God Above All Else

A Healthy Heart that sees God’s Glory—Hope, Peace, and Joy

Take Care that You Do Not Fail to Hold Fast to a Healthy Heart

Beware of What You Let Into Your Heart

We Too Must Be Careful to Protect a Healthy Heart

Remember this

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

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Jesus is the Wisdom of God To Every Believer

Wisdom An Attribute of God Wanting to be Heard

Hearken to Wisdom

Wisdom as Representative of Christ

Grace Shown by God in Granting Wisdom

Wisdom inherent to Jesus Christ

Furthermore

And So, take Heed to listen to Wisdoms Message

Look How Wonderfully the Bible Confirms the Bible

Another Example is in Judges 13-Oh the exceeding wisdom of God

Amazing, but who is the Angel of the Lord?

But it did not end there

Furthermore: God promised There will be a new covenant

And What Wondrous Mystery Revealed in the Name of Jesus

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

For Prayer or Comments

PREVIOUS

Can the true treasures of joy Be Found Under the Sun?