(Proverbs of Character) None of us have the insight or understanding to judge someone else's purposes or motivations; but we can inspect the words and actions of others to determine whether we want to be influenced by them or not.
Good sense is worthy of praise, but stupidity is a curse. [Contemporary English Version]
A person who talks sense is honored; airheads are held in contempt. [The Message]
A person is praised for how wise they are. But people hate anyone who has a twisted mind. [New International Reader's Version]
A man shall be commended according to his Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God], but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition]
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prudence: sekel 7922 (Hebrew) insight, intelligence, wisdom, discretion; denotes sound judgment expressed in thoughtful action -- a fusion of moral insight, practical prudence, and successful execution. More than raw intelligence, it is understanding that aligns with God's revealed will and leads to favor, life, and blessing, having grown out of ethical obedience to the precepts of God in reverence to the Lord.
perverse: avah 5753 (Hebrew) to bend, twist, distort, do amiss; portrays a deliberate turning from what is straight, whether by moral defection, or the perversion of justice. Wisdom literature insists that inward crookedness devalues a person regardless of public acclaim. When deviation happens at the top levels of authority, social stability is threatened. Swift confession opens the door to divine restoration and renewed usefulness to God.
mind: leb 3820 (Hebrew) thought, emotion, will, heart, conscience, purpose, intent; invisible control center from which life's moral choices proceed; the residence of cognition, reflection, and memory; the fountain of ethical life requiring an undivided heart of fidelity which has been shaped by submission to loving discipline. Can bear a collective or even national nuance.
despised: buz 937 (Hebrew) contempt, scorn, shame, laughingstock; conveys the idea of contempt, scorn, or derision -- an attitude that belittles its object and sets the speaker above it. Scripture portrays such disdain both as a sin committed by an arrogant person and as a judgment God hands down on human pride. Though it is sinful when rooted in pride, it can also be society's verdict on perversity caused by prideful rulers who abuse power.
Lord, help me to live each day as though it was my last, but to live my life as though it were everlasting.
We have no promise of what will happen in this world.
There is no guarantee of what tomorrow will bring, or if there will even be a tomorrow. If there is, there will be evil expressing itself in places.
And God's grace and mercy will continue to be expressed through His love to all who are looking with hungry hearts, but the details of what will come our way will not be known until after they happen.
We only know that if we are part of God's family, He will be with us all the way, leading us, empowering us, providing for us.
If this were the last day of your life, would you change anything?
If so, there is no better time than now to turn to God for the grace and strength to make that change, for you have no assurance of any time beyond this moment.
If you knew your life would never end, would that bring you joy? Relief? Freedom from stress or worry?
For some people, the lifestyle they live is one of despair and unrelenting pain and misery of the soul and the mind, of a broken heart and regrets and emptiness.
A vista of unending days of sorrow and endless nights of unrest is not a desirable vision.
Cam you feel confident facing the last day of your life? Are you sure of your relationship with God, the final Judge? Do you have the sweet assurance that you have been pardoned from the punishment that otherwise would be yours?
If so, you are blessed with riches not available in this world.
Can you picture yourself journeying through an endless string of days without regret? Never being ashamed? Never feeling pain for wounds received or caused? Enjoying the divine fellowship of the Creator and Redeemer?
If true, then you are already living in eternity and knowing the blessedness of God's forgiveness, experiencing first-hand the presence of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
For those of us who are living and working and walking in daily fellowship with God and finding that the events of each day draw us closer to the God of heaven, we are discovering that our thoughts and our desires are less and less of ourselves and the things of the world.
Instead, we are becoming more intent on the thoughts of God, which give us life and hope and courage, and the desires of His heart, which direct us to consider others and be excited about what is happening in their lives, wanting the best for them and to bring their needs and situations to God.
This way of life makes it easier to let things fall away that would hold us back and weigh us down.
When there is less of ourselves that we think of, how can we feel hurt when someone slights us or is unkind to us?
When we accept the truth about ourselves, anything that someone else has to say about us is only half as bad as the truth. And it is that kind of a person that Jesus was willing to die for!
There is nothing we can do to make Him love us more, but there is nothing about us that can make Him love us less.
We can't take any credit for overcoming the weaknesses that each of us have and struggle against in our lives, for every time that we try to stand against it in our own willpower, we lose the battle.
Once we lay down our pride, and surrender our strength, and give up our self-image of our abilities and admit we are helpless and ask God for help, we find the victory that we could never achieve on our own.
By His grace, He makes us overcomers, He makes us more than conquerors.
That leaves no place for boasting or pride -- we can only be grateful to God. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Psalm 49
v.12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
v.13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
v.15 But God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself.
Crooks walk down a road full of thorny traps. Stay away from there! [Contemporary English Version]
The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick; if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it. [The Message]
Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them]; He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer. [Amplified Bible]
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thorn: tsen 6791 (Hebrew) thorn, a cactus hedge; used only twice, it evokes ideas of dryness, barrenness, defensive entanglement, and painful obstruction, an apt picture warning of curse, danger, and consequence resulting from moral perversity, spiritual negligence or divine judgment.
perverse: iqqesh 6141 (Hebrew) crooked, distorted, obstinate, false; it consistently denotes moral crookedness, perversity, or distortion of the straight path established by God. Leadership that benefits the people demands intolerance of moral distortion; those who twist God's ways find them perplexing and severe, inviting ruin as they bend His ways to self-service.
guard: shamar 8104 (Hebrew) be circumspect, hedge about, ward off danger; obedient loyalty to revealed instruction; interior faithfulness, moral discipline, mental attentiveness and spiritual vigilance are linked together by this term. Equally, divine faithfulness and human responsibility are a reciprocal, and inseparable, pair.
soul: nephesh 5315 (Hebrew) life, self, mind, heart, person; a broad term with many uses, context determining how it is translated. It integrates body and breath as a living being, encompasses life, personhood, emotion, intellect, and desire. Death separates it from the body unless/until God restores it. Future resurrection secures everlasting life for every redeemed nephesh.
A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops. [New Heart English Bible]
The wicked who oppress the poor are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest. [The Message]
When someone poor takes over and mistreats the poor, it's like a heavy rain destroying the crops. [Contemporary English Version]
A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food. [Berean Study Bible]
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man: geber 1397 (Hebrew) boy, man, warrior; a male human being viewed through the lens of strength, vigor, and resolve, highlighting the capacities and responsibilities of masculinity before God. Each person is called to esteem God-given strength while confessing utter dependence on divine grace. True might is displayed not in self-assertion but in steadfast faith, righteous action, and humble service patterned after Jesus Christ.
oppress: ashaq 6231 (Hebrew) rob, extort, defraud, violate; the forceful taking of what belongs to another, whether wages, property, legal rights, or personal dignity through exploitation by power rather than by stealth. Scripture places the burden on those with economic and judicial power to protect, not exploit, the day-laborer, the resident alien, and the widow or orphan. National exile was provoked by oppression at both the individual and societal level, making it a self-defeating method for becoming rich.
poor: dal 1800 (Hebrew) needy, weak, lowly, insignificant; this portrays a condition of material poverty, social vulnerability, or physical weakness, and includes individuals who lack the resources or influence to secure their own welfare. Poverty is neither a virtue or evidence of divine disfavor; rather, it is a reality of a fallen world where inequality persists. It serves as a test case for how God's people treat the poor.
driving: sachaph 5502 (Hebrew) to scrape off, sweep away; the idea of being swept or washed away by a force that cannot be resisted, such as by floodwaters, a violent storm, or an invading army, metaphorically addressing the destructive consequences of oppression and misplaced confidence. As God's justice can arrive like a flood, sudden, sweeping, and sure, those who are wise cultivate humility, uphold the weak, and entrust their security to the Lord who alone cannot be swept away.
A tender answer turns away rage, but a prickly reply spikes anger. [The Voice]
A sensitive answer turns back wrath, but an offensive word stirs up anger. [Common English Bible]
A gentle answer makes anger disappear, but a rough answer makes it grow. [Easy-to-Read Version]
A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. [Amplified Bible]
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gentle: rak 7390 (Hebrew) tender, soft, delicate; when applied to the inward disposition, softness is portrayed as a strength of character, improbable in evil's embodiment, but capable of diffusing conflict, influencing authority, and contrasting with hostile powers. Tenderness in Scripture is not weakness but potential, useable material for God's shaping as He brings strength out of softness, creating a heart both gentle and courageous.
answer: maaneh 4617 (Hebrew) response, reply; in every setting it highlights the moral weight of speech. Inadequate speech can deepen suffering, while a gentle answer can be a calming force, turning peacemaking into a matter of choice and tone. A well-formed reply links verbal discernment with communal blessing. Wise people weigh every answer, seeking God for every reply.
harsh: etseb 6089 (Hebrew) sorrow, pain, grievous; the burdened exertion of body or spirit that results in pain, grief, or wearisome toil. Harsh speech amplifies the pain and sorrow in the community, spreading grief horizontally among families and nations.
wrath: chemah 2534 (Hebrew) fury, anger, heat, indignation, rage; burning heat expressed as wrath, rage, or jealousy, always conveying an intense, potentially destructive force.
We can trust Him to keep those promises, and do all that is necessary to bring those promises to pass.
He will move heaven and earth, He will raise up nations and depose rulers, He will use all the hosts of heaven to accomplish what He has determined and declared He will do.
He gave His Son, Jesus, whom He loves, knowing He would have to turn away from Him at the time of Jesus' greatest need, all for the sake of fulfilling His promise to us.
Lamentations 3:22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.
If we look around us and occasionally have difficulty seeing the evidence of those promises in the confusion of our daily schedule, it's okay.
God has not reneged on or forgotten about the plan He has purposed for us and dropped into our hearts to encourage us and give us hope.
His focus has not wavered an iota; He has not blinked.
Lamentations 3:24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him"
God's promise is not like a present given at a birthday party where all we do is tear open the wrapping and suddenly have a new toy or book or clothes ready to start using.
God's promises are eternal, and cannot be fully realized in the material existence we currently inhabit. That is why He promises eternal life as part of our salvation.
We have been spiritually dead and living through our carnal nature, our fleshly appetites, thinking only about things that perish, so God is hard at work in each of our lives, wooing us into the eternity He inhabits.
Lamentations 3:25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him;
His Word renews our minds and thoughts, His Spirit teaches us His eternal truth and transforms us into the image of God's Son, our Head and Redeemer.
His work in our lives enables us to be a fit vessel for God's name, His nature, to indwell us, that He may present to Himself a Bride without spot, wrinkle, or blemish.
When I look at myself, I see a lot I have yet to let go and leave behind; but I also see the Father who is fully capable of completing the job without straining His resources and without doing me harm.
Lamentations 3:26 It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Any training program that we embark on will stretch us and cause pain as muscles are used in new ways.
We will be worn out and exhausted from the additional energy we put into practicing what we are being taught.
We may give up favorite foods or miss a favorite tv or radio series because of the extra time needed to run more laps or practice playing the scales a few more times.
But the training and practice that we undergo at the hands of our tutor does not do us harm -- it builds us up, makes us stronger, more capable, more certain with what we are learning.
Lamentations 3:33 For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.
If we look at the chaos that appears to swirl around us, we don't have to worry about where God is. It is His hand beneath us, holding us up and sustaining us, in full control.
The tumult and turmoil is only at the surface -- move into the secret place inside yourself and meet with the Master, grow strong and calm and feel the assurance of His love.
He won't let you fall, He won't abandon you.
He will see you through. Simply rely on Him and trust Him to fulfill His promise to you, completely.
Psalm 102:27 But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
Hebrews 1:12…But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.
Loving and eternal Father, You are the Master Trainer.
You bring us into Your realm, and share Yourself with us.
You are not daunted by how far we have to go to be fit subjects in Your kingdom.
You are set for the long haul and have no intention of dropping us part way or growing bored or frustrated when we seem not to be making progress.
Your loving kindness is everlasting. We will not wear You out or discourage You or annoy You.
Give us the grace today to see a little further into Your plan, to look past the immediate circumstances and find Your hand of love surrounding us.
Thank You for Your promises.
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work. [Catholic Public Domain Version]
Don’t testify spitefully against an innocent neighbor. Why lie about him? Don’t say, “Now I can pay him back for all his meanness to me!” [Living Bible]
Don’t talk about your neighbors behind their backs— no slander or gossip, please. Don’t say to anyone, “I’ll get back at you for what you did to me. I’ll make you pay for what you did!” [The Message]
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do: asah 6213 (Hebrew) work, act, deed, perform, behave; intentional action by an individual, community, nation, or God. All mankind, individually and collectively, are evaluated by God by their deeds as well as their motives, with those in authority being held accountable for the far-reaching consequences of the acts they chose and whether it was done in obedience or rebellion to God.
done: poal 6467 (Hebrew) work, deed, act, labor; an accomplished deed or act, with the stress on the exertion or persistence that produced an observable result, which the Lord will repay justly and righteously at the appropriate time.
Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity. [Catholic Public Domain Version]
He that giveth to a poor man, shall not be needy; he that despiseth a poor man beseeching, shall suffer neediness. [Wycliffe Bible]
He who gives to the poor will never want, but many bad things will happen to the man who shuts his eyes to the poor. [New Life Version]
If you give things to poor people, you will still have enough for yourself. But everyone will curse you if you refuse to help poor people. [EasyEnglish Bible]
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poor: rush 7326 (Hebrew) in want, to lack, be needy, destitute; material destitution or felt lack. Poverty provides a proving ground for humility, integrity, justice, and faith; it neither thwarts divine purpose nor diminishes human worth. Rather, it becomes a stage upon which God displays justice, mercy, and redemptive power.
lack: machsor 4270 (Hebrew) need, want, poverty, penury; it designates material want, need, or poverty. Irresponsible laziness, of which greed is a type, courts poverty. Physical want often mirrors spiritual deficiency of wisdom, reverence, or justice, and confronting systems that enrich the powerful at the expense of the poor is legitimized. God delights to satisfy legitimate need yet uses lack to discipline complacency and expose injustice.
eyes: ayin 5869 (Hebrew) sight, look, presence, appearance; the primary meaning is the human or animal eye, but by extension it denotes attention, watchfulness, or favor. The eye as the interface to the heart guides daily obedience - uncontrolled, it fuels covetousness or moral and judicial blindness, while under intentional discipline, it brings vitality, wisdom, and favor with the Lord.
hide: alam 5956 (Hebrew) veil, conceal, be hidden, pay no attention; deliberate concealment of objects, facts, or motives, so they escape notice, but what man attempts to suppress will be known by the Lord and eventually surface to bring either repentance or divine judgment.
Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped. [Good News Translation]
Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. [Common English Bible]
The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped. [The Message]
It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself. [Living Bible]
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generous: berakah 1293 (Hebrew) gift, blessing, present, liberal, benefit; a spoken or enacted bestowal of favor that issues in tangible or spiritual benefit, sometimes linked to righteous living and generosity. Withholding charity forfeits blessing, while obedience attracts the generosity of God which can include successful commerce, fertile soil, and abundant offspring, though the greatest gifts pertain to spiritual, relational, and societal harmony flowing from divine favor.
prosper: dashen 1878 (Hebrew) anointed, made fat, sated; it gathers the ideas of rich fatness, luxuriant fertility, and fullness of soul, but warns that God's blessings, if unaccompanied by gratitude, becomes the seedbed of apostasy. Divine favor which brings true "fatness," superabundance that overflows to others, belongs not to the self-indulgent but to those who live by generosity, diligence, faith, and edifying speech.
refresh: ravah 7301 (Hebrews) fill, satisfy, slake thirst, drench, soak; a movement from lack to abundance, with the idea of thorough permeation. God encourages His people to express His nature of personal faithfulness and self-giving generosity by meeting the needs of others through the resources we receive from Him.
helped: yarah 3384 (Hebrew) send, cast, shoot, teach, inform, flow; portrays a deliberate, accurate projection of an arrow, a stream of water, a word of instruction, delivered with skill, precision, and intent, with the action moving straight from sender to target. In every instance, God is shown as One who sends His word and His works straight and sure, cleansing His people and guiding their steps.
The questions asked by God and by Jesus in the Bible are both fascinating and troubling.
God asked Adam a series of questions in the garden of Eden after both Adam and Eve ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
God asked a single leading question of Cain after he killed his brother, Abel.
God asked Abraham, Moses and Job questions, some pointed, some comforting, some rebuking.
The answers were already known -- the questions were posed simply for the sake of revealing what was in the individual's heart, as well as our own.
Our answers show our nature, for good or bad, for doing God's work or learning God's lessons.
They allow us a fascinating glimpse into character studies of well-know individuals through the Bible and help us understand our own nature a bit better.
As we apply the lesson found in the question, it can prove troubling to realize how we are responding to the same question, and understand what God is requiring of us.
As an example, one question, not found in scriptures, that I heard posed recently asked, "Which would upset you the most: to lose a thousand dollars, or to offend a brother or sister in the Lord?"
There is no right or wrong answer to something like this -- it is not that kind of question.
Instead, questions of this sort serve as a measuring stick by which we can check our growth and spiritual progress.
Most of us have tucked back a few questions like this that we pull out once in a while and check to see if we are growing a little, improving in the spirit.
We don't need to tell anyone how we answer the questions. God already knows, and we are the only ones that need to acknowledge our own individual answers.
Isn't it exciting when we look back and compare some of our answers and can actually see change and growth and progress from how we responded in our hearts previously compared to what our reflexive response is today?
I had to laugh at myself one day when I came back around to a scripture I had read and been convicted about the previous year. This time when I read it, the earlier issue was taken care of and a different issue was being highlighted by the Spirit.
When I realized that, I got excited that God was convicting me about a new issue -- I counted that as progress. And I still do.
Treasure the questions that God puts in your heart.
Bind them up where you can find them and pull them out when needed, and feel welcome to rejoice any time you see that God has done a work in your life.
Sometimes it will come after a prolonged struggle on the issue, sometimes in the background while you were focusing on a different topic entirely.
The Spirit moves in ways we don't see or understand, and He loves to slip blessings in by the most unexpected ways.
Be ready to receive something from God when you least expect it.
Father, thank You for providing us a door-frame in which we can pencil in our own personal growth marks.
Thank You for the lessons that help us achieve that growth in such a way that we can take no personal pride in it, but can stay humble knowing that without Your convicting spirit and the power of Your word in our lives, that "city" wouldn't have been conquered for it had long been a thorn to us.
Thank You, loving Father, for Your patience that will see the job through in each of us.
It is easy to steal from the poor, but don’t do it. And don’t take advantage of them in court. [Easy-to-Read Version]
Do not abuse poor people because they are poor. And do not take away the rights of the needy in court. [International Children’s Bible]
Do not cheat poor people just because they are vulnerable or use shady tactics in court to crush those already suffering; [The Voice]
Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held], [Amplified Bible]
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rob: gazal 1497 (Hebrew) flay, strip, seize, plunder, snatch, take by force, pluck off; pictures forceful taking: robbery, plunder, seizure of people, property, or rights, conveying violence against people or social orders whether through open assault, covert fraud, or judicial corruption.
poor: dal 1800 (Hebrew) needy, weak, lowly, insignificant; this portrays a condition of material poverty, social vulnerability, or physical weakness, and includes individuals who lack the resources or influence to secure their own welfare. It serves as a barometer of covenant fidelity, a canvas for divine compassion, and a summons to redemptive action. Poverty is neither a virtue or evidence of divine disfavor; rather, it is a reality of a fallen world where inequality persists. It serves as a test case for how God's people treat the poor.
crush: daka 1792 (Hebrews) break, beat, bruise, smite, oppress, destroy; a force that presses down until the object is broken, shattered, or pulverized, whether literally or figuratively, from cracked walls to crushed spirits, addressing the plight of the oppressed and the certainty of divine judgment. Leaders are to protect the children of the needy rather than grind the faces of the poor. Oppressors will be broken either by righteous rulers, or by the Lord Himself if that responsibility is abrogated by those in power.
afflicted: ani 6041 (Hebrew) humble, lowly, needy, oppressed, victim, wretched; the downtrodden are both the object of divine concern and the community responsibility; they are to be protected by social ethics covering predatory loans, fair courts, and charitable support to prevent generational destitution; honoring the poor brings favor while mocking them insults their Maker; advocacy for the marginalized is non-negotiable kingdom work.
court: shaar 8179 (Hebrew) door, port, gate, city; designates an entrance, used literally, symbolically, and theologically. Gates of a walled city doubled as the civic forum where justice and policy were dispensed by elders, judges, and rulers. Corruption in such civic and social environs is condemned because malfeasance here compromises the entire community. As a symbol of the threshold of the community, practical governance and communal integrity depend on faithful leaders to establish justice and guard purity.
A wicked person has no future--nothing to look forward to. [Good News Translation]
They will soon be gone like the flame of a lamp that burns out. [Contemporary English Version]
for the evil man shall not come to a good end; the fire of the wicked shall be put out. [Jubilee Bible 2000]
Because there is no posterity to the evil ones and the lamp of the evil will be extinguished. [Peshitta Holy Bible Translated]
Don’t bother your head with braggarts or wish you could succeed like the wicked. Those people have no future at all; they’re headed down a dead-end street. [The Message]
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bad: rasha 7563 (Hebrew) guilty, ungodly, evil, condemned, criminal; morally wrong, actively hostile to God's standards, including religious hypocrisy, national corruption, and individual accountability for the rebellion and oppression seen in the neglect of the needy, deceitful speech, unjust gain, and prideful self-reliance.
prospect: acharith 319 (Hebrew) future, reward, outcome, posterity; in context the "after-part" can point to the moral or practical result of a chosen path. Folly may seem sweet, "but in the end she is bitter as wormwood." Present choices and circumstances are set against their divinely governed conclusion throughout Scripture.
wicked: ra 7451 (Hebrew) godless, evil conduct, hurtful speech, harmful intent; it embraces moral evil, wicked conduct, malignant character, and the concrete outworking of such evil in disaster, calamity, or misery. Systemic injustice will be exposed, and cleansing is promised.
quench: daak 1846 (Hebrew) crush, oppress, extinguish, vanish; it pictures a flame or life-source suddenly snuffed out. In the culture of the Scriptures, a lamp signified vitality, guidance, and prosperity; its going out was a sign of calamity. It dramatizes the decisive end of self-reliance, wickedness, and opposition to God when every apparent advantage of the ungodly can be quenched in an instant.
Meanness gets you nowhere, but goodness is rewarded. [Contemporary English Version]
The evil man gets rich for the moment, but the good man’s reward lasts forever. [Living Bible]
The wicked earn a living by deception, but the one who plants righteousness gathers a true harvest. [The Voice]
The impious does work with inconstancy. But for the sower of justice, there is the reward of faithfulness. [Catholic Public Domain Version]
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wicked: rasha 7563 (Hebrew) guilty, ungodly, evil, condemned, criminal; morally wrong, actively hostile to God's standards, including religious hypocrisy, national corruption, and individual accountability for the rebellion and oppression seen in the neglect of the needy, deceitful speech, unjust gain, and prideful self-reliance.
deception: sheqer 8267 (Hebrews) falsehood, lie, deceit; it is contrasted in Scripture with the immutable truthfulness of Yahweh, showing that falsehood is always a denial of His nature. It breaks trust and community at a personal level, wounding relationships, creating fear, and ruining reputations. Judges and leaders are to uphold truth and condemn lying testimony, with the Scriptural record highlighting the travesty when they do not. Nationally, falsely sworn oaths, violated treaties, and misused standards all betray God's statutes and invite judgment since social falsehood cannot coexist with divine blessing.
righteousness: tsedaqah 6666 (Hebrew) honesty, merits, moral virtue; contains the ideas of rightness, equity, faithful conformity to a norm, charitable deeds, legal vindication, and covenant loyalty, embracing both character and conduct, the inward standard and the outward act.
true: emeth 571 (Hebrew) faithfulness, reliability, stability, firmness, certainty; While the English word truth suggests bare factual accuracy, the Hebrew word embraces integrity and is used for the very character of God, the ethical standard for His people, and relational reliability -- love that can be trusted. Leaders are expected to rule in truth, righteousness, and uprightness because violation of truth dissolves covenant security; success without truth is hollow.
Humility can come from the outside or from the inside.
If we choose to yield the throne in our hearts, the pride in our thoughts, to the Spirit of God, if we abdicate the seat at the center of our universe to the One who created the universe, then He can lift us up when we are prepared, trained, matured and able to walk and live in His authority without dishonoring His name.
If we choose not to give up control and mastery of our own lives, God is well able and fully prepared to arrange circumstances that will remove all outward basis for any pride or self-satisfaction.
He does so, always, with the loving intent of drawing us to Him, by removing the prickly, thorny defenses we erect out of fear of loss, out of fear of being diminished to nothing and having our identity vanish as a drop of water in the ocean, meaningless and insignificant.
It is our choice whether we let down our defenses and open the gate from the inside, or whether our walls are breached and our defenses go up in flames.
Either way God, in His mercy, removes us from the position of control and power that was causing our lives to careen without true direction.
Only then can we see that by bowing our knees to God and giving up our claim over our lives, do we receive much more value and worth in God's eyes than we could ever achieve through our own efforts.
True humility is an inward work that reaches outward.
It allows us to realize that in Christ we can do and be so much more than we can on our own.
As a result, we give acknowledgement to the Son of God as Lord of our lives and obediently follow the Spirit of God.
By His leading, we are shown the steps to take so we can turn from our own wants and cares to the needs and the rescue of others in distress.
We soon learn that if our heart is right, our world will be right.
It is not what happens to us that matters; rather, it is how we take it that affects us.
No matter how straitened or restricted our circumstances may be, how little financial freedom we may have, we can always turn inward and let God show us what needs to be made right.
As that inward work is accomplished, we will always find the outward has improved as well.
The power and authority that we wield in Jesus' name within ourselves will be released through our obedience and will change our outward life, too.
Walking in humility allows God's love to flow out through us.
We are able to see others as God's children, and express His love freely to them through action by serving.
Love means no severe judging, no resentments, no malicious gossip, or destructive criticism.
It means patience, understanding, compassion, and helpfulness.
It means, as Jesus did, living our lives for others as the Father shows us to do.
Loving God, the One who watches us always, ready to rescue, willingly giving all He has to meet every need we face, the great Lord and God who is servant to all, as a Father is to His children, whether playing on the floor with us, or bandaging a wound for us, always doing what we cannot do for ourselves because You are big enough, great enough, powerful enough, confident enough, wise enough to know that bending down to serve does not diminish Who You are, when it is done in love,
You are our example, and we follow Your lead today with those You bring to us.
Thank You, Father! Be glorified this day!
Sensible words are better than gold or jewels. [Contemporary English Version]
Good sense is far more valuable than gold or precious jewels. [Living Bible]
Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies. [New Living Translation]
If you know what you are talking about, you have something more valuable than gold or jewels. [Good News Translation]
Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems. [The Message]
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precious: yeqar 3366 (Hebrew) honor, value, glory, splendor, dignity; it conveys the ideas of honor, preciousness, dignity, and costly splendor. Whether applied to material riches, or to personal reputation, it points to that which is weighty, valuable, and deserving of esteem. Moral and intellectual integrity are proven to be the real yeqar, while abuse of power desecrates what should be honorable.
lips: saphah 8193 (Hebrew) language, talk, babble, shore, edge; the word describes boundaries as well as speech. Fidelity in words reflect fidelity to God as personal holiness is expressed through speech which aligns with God's revealed standards.
knowledge: daath 1847 (Hebrew) truth, skill, aware, concern; an experiential, covenantal grasp of truth that unites correct information with relational loyalty, encompassing God's perfect understanding, His insight imparted to His people, and practical discernment that guides daily living to produce ordered, fruitful lives.
Intelligent people talk sense, but stupid people need to be punished. [Good News Translation]
Wisdom lives where insightful words are spoken, but harsh punishment awaits the senseless. [The Voice]
Intelligent people speak words of wisdom, but fools must be punished before they learn their lesson. [Easy-to-Read Version]
People who understand what is right speak wise words. But silly people receive the punishment that they deserve. [EasyEnglish Bible]
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lips: saphah 8193 (Hebrew) language, talk, babble, shore, edge; the word describes boundaries as well as speech. Fidelity in words reflect fidelity to God, whereas deceitful lips invite divine displeasure, requiring leaders to model truthful lips, avoiding slander, deceit, and wickedness in speech.
understand: bin 995 (Hebrew) discern, perceive, consider, distinguish; mental perception, moral discrimination, and spiritual insight with context determining the focus to be cognitive, judicial, or relational. Sin is framed chiefly as a failure of discernment, not mere ignorance, and leaders' fortunes rise or fall with their capacity for sound discernment granted by God since one cannot possess understanding without moral awe of the Lord.
wisdom: chokmah 2451 (Hebrew) the comprehensive, God-centered quality of mind & life that discerns what is truly right & acts accordingly, encompassing the fear of the Lord, righteous living, & Spirit-guided leadership. It equips rulers for just judgments, but causes the nation to suffer when leaders forsake it.
lacking: chaser 2638 (Hebrew) deficient, without, in need, destitute; unfailingly points to something missing, whether material provision or moral and mental soundness. It urges humble dependence on the Lord even as it exposes the vacuum sin creates in a heart empty of respectful awe and unassuming obedience towards the Lord.
sense: leb 3820 (Hebrew) will, conscience, purpose, intent; invisible control center from which life's moral choices proceed; the residence of cognition, reflection, and memory; the source of ethical life requiring an undivided heart of fidelity which has been shaped by submission to loving discipline. It can bear a collective or even national nuance.
The one who stays on the job has food on the table; the witless chase whims and fancies. [The Message]
A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense. [New Living Translation]
He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he who follows vain pursuits lacks understanding. [Lamsa Bible]
Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat, but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense. [GOD'S WORD® Translation]
A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat, but it is stupid to waste time on useless projects. [Good News Translation]
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frivolity: req 7386 (Hebrew) empty, worthless, vain; consistently conveys the notion of emptiness or worthlessness in describing empty containers, people without moral substance, or fruitless pursuits. Whether involving a retinue of "empty" men drawn to a leader devoid of honorable purposes, or an individual lacking judgment as he chases worthless pursuits, each one who makes empty promises will be "shaken out of the lap" unless they repent and turn to God to be filled with His grace.
lacking: chaser 2638 (Hebrew) deficient, without, in need, destitute; unfailingly points to something missing, whether material provision, physical wholeness, or moral and mental soundness, exposing the gap between human resources and God's sufficiency. It urges humble dependence on the Lord even as it exposes the vacuum sin creates in a heart empty of submissive obedience and respectful awe towards the Lord.
understanding: leb 3820 (Hebrew) thought, emotion, will, conscience, purpose, intent; invisible control center from which life's moral choices proceed; the residence of cognition, reflection, and memory; the fountain of ethical life requiring an undivided heart of fidelity which has been shaped by submission to loving discipline. It can bear a collective or even national nuance.
