Proverbs 19:11:
11 Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.
"Good sense" is the Hebrew word, "sekel", which means: prudence, insight, understanding, good sense; prudence means: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason, shrewdness in the management of affairs, skill and good judgment in the use of resources, caution as to danger. That looks kind of like a prosperous person, doesn't it? Do you think that means that sometimes our prosperity may be hindered because we "fly off the handle" or refuse to forgive someone and to bless and pray for them the way the Word of God says to? I do! In fact, the rest of that verse say that to overlook (or pass over, or ignore) when someone sins against you, is to us a "glory", the Hebrew word, "tipharah", which means: beauty, splendor, glory, honor, rank, renown. You and I rise in the ranks of God's people when we obey God's Word, and verse 11 is one of those to obey! AMEN! YOU and I do NOT want God holding on to OUR sins, so let's release those who sin against us! What YOU make happen for others, God WILL make happen for you!
The Complete Jewish Bible says this:
11 People with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense.
The Message Bible says this:
11 Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.
There is NO good, and certainly NO Godly, reason to hang on to offenses and refuse to forgive, knowing that WHATEVER seeds a person sows, THAT is what WILL COME UP! Forgive, so YOU can be forgiven! AMEN!
Esther 3:1:
1 AFTER THESE things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were before him.
After reading through Esther you may be asking yourself, "Why in the world did God EVER allow Haman to be exalted to such a high position?" This may help, from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Haman probably fawned and flattered his way into this powerful new position because that's the kind of man he was. He was a proud man, and his purpose was to achieve authority and recognition. As we have seen, Ahasuerus was a weak and gullible man, susceptible to flattery and anxious to please people; so Haman's task wasn't a difficult one.
God permitted Haman to be appointed to this high office because He had purposes to fulfill through him. (See Rom 9:17.) God takes His promises seriously and will not break His covenant with His people. My friend used to say, "The Jew has attended the funeral of every one of the nations that tried to exterminate him"; and Haman was not to be an exception.
God ALWAYS works THROUGH people to bless us! He will work with someone for a long time to give them the opportunity to do the right thing and make the right choice! BUT, there WILL come a time, after someone has repeatedly closed off or hardened their heart, that GOD will harden it some more, and then use them to bless others! Don't let YOUR heart become hardened! Stay fresh and focused on God's glorious plan for YOUR life! It's the only one on THIS earth you have! Next is eternity and THAT is FOREVER! HALLELUJAH!
Shalom in Him!
