Proverbs 10 begins with the phrase: "The Proverbs of Solomon", just like Proverbs 1 did. This is actually beginning a new section of the Book of Proverbs. The first 9 chapters extolled the virtues of wisdom and admonished the reader to seek and cry out for wisdom. This section is a little more precise and to the point. We'll see two ideas in each verse comparing the results of righteousness and doing things God's way and the results of unrighteousness and doing things contrary to the Word of God. Some examples:
8The wise in heart will accept and obey commandments, but the foolish of lips will fall headlong.
11The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
14Wise men store up knowledge [in mind and heart], but the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
17He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.
27The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one's days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short.
The Truths in Proverbs are practical, powerful and have been proven true time after time after time!
John 20:17 says:
17Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me [do not hold Me], for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brethren and tell them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.
I LOVE it! The first person sent to preach that Good News that Jesus is risen was a woman! So much for ANY argument that women are not called to preach! Jesus cleared up THAT lie before it could even get started! If someone wants to know the Truth, they WILL! If they don't, then 1 Corinthians 14:38 may apply! I am very blessed to have a Pastor who knows and obeys God's Word and teaches it boldly, confidently, uncompromisingly, precisely and accurately, to the best of his ability! Thank You, Jesus!
John 20:22-23:
22And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! 23[Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained.
This is the actual beginning of the church. Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit to live inside. They could then be led by the Spirit of God. Their dead human spirits were recreated in the image of God and they were new creatures that never existed before! BUT, that was not enough, as we will see later on. He sends them to wait in Jerusalem until they were "endued with power from on high" by receiving the INFILLING of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This infilling was for EVERY believer from that time forth through the rest of the Church Age! It was not just the Apostles who were filled so they could be a witness until Christianity "caught on", it was EVERY believer in the room that day and every believer after that! It didn't stop until some decided it wasn't necessary to be filled, couldn't believe it was for them or any number of other excuses, but God NEVER said that! Some people like to say that 1 Corinthians 13 says tongues will cease, but it also says that knowledge will cease! The questions is WHEN will this happen? They will cease when we no longer need them! It will be when "that which is perfect is come", and HE hasn't returned yet! The perfect is referring to the Perfect One Himself, NOT the Word of God, because two verses later it says "for now we see through a glass darkly, but THEN face to face"! WHEN we see HIM face to face, THAT is when we no longer have need of these precious gifts! AMEN!
In 2 Samuel 7-8 we see how the Lord rewards David for his faithfulness and his commitment to honor the Lord. He reveals His plans for David through the prophet Nathan:
8So now say this to My servant David, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over My people Israel. 9And I was with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like [that] of the great men of the earth 10And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and be moved no more. And wicked men shall afflict them no more, as formerly 11And as from the time that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord declares to you that He will make for you a house: 12And when your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up after you your offspring who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He shall build a house for My Name [and My Presence], and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. When he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the sons of men. 15But My mercy and loving-kindness shall not depart from him, as I took [them] from Saul, whom I took away from before you. 16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before you; your throne shall be established forever.
David had been desiring to build a house for the Lord and, along with declaring this blessing over David and his descendants, He lets David know that his own son would be the one to build a house for the Lord. His promises are still in effect for the nation of Israel today, even though it may not always LOOK like it! Then David responds with this:
22Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for none is like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all [You have made] our ears to hear. 23What [other] one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be a people for Himself and to make for Himself a name? You have done great and terrible things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people, whom You redeemed and delivered for Yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods. 24And You have established for Yourself Your people Israel to be Your people forever, and You, Lord, became their God. 25Now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word You have given as to Your servant and his house; and do as You have said, 26And Your name [and presence] shall be magnified forever, saying, The Lord of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of Your servant David will be made firm before You.
David goes on in chapter 8 to do what he does best! He goes to battle and, with God's approval and assistance, defeats the enemies of Israel and takes the spoil to store up for the building of the Temple by his very own son! God is in the full-time business of blessing His people WHEN we do things the way He wants them done! We get our instructions on what we are to do from the Word of God and from the Holy Spirit so that we can be about the business of getting in position to RECEIVE those blessings! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
