The last time we looked at Proverbs 24 we looked at verse 3 that says that a life, a home and a family are built on the solid foundation of skillful and Godly Wisdom! today we will look at verse 5:
5 A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.
"Wise" is the Hebrew word "chakam", which means: wise, skillful, practical. I found an interesting note on this in Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words. It says this:
chakam OT:2450, "wise; skillful; practical." This word plus the noun chakemah and the verb "to be wise" signify an important element of the Old Testament religious point of view. Religious experience was not a routine, a ritual, or faith experience. It was viewed as a mastery of the art of living in accordance with God's expectations. In their definition, the words "mastery" and "art" signify that wisdom was a process of attainment and not an accomplishment.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
How do you NOT have small strength, power, force and ability? You continue to be a person of knowledge so that you can continue to be bold, courageous, strong, solid, determined, secure and alert in your pursuit of GOD'S strength, force, power and ability! Do you remember what John 8:31-32 says?
31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.
32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.
THAT is where strength and freedom come from - knowledge of God's Word! Old Testament or New, it has always come down to God's Word! AMEN!
Ephesians 2:5-10:
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, he made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation). 6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory for himself.] 10 For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), created in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
There you have it! The answer to any question at all concerning WHO can be saved! Jesus died ONCE FOR ALL! The ONLY thing between any person on earth and Heaven as their home when they leave here is the question: What have you done with Jesus? PREACH IT!
Ezra 9-10 shows how Ezra and the men of Israel handled the discovery that many of the men had taken foreign wives. The root cause of all of the wickedness that sent Israel into captivity in the first place was the sin of Solomon in taking so many foreign wives. They eventually led Solomon away from the LORD and the TRUTH. Now, free at last, the men had begun the sin all over again! It was no light thing that they were dealing with! God had commanded and He expected to be obeyed! he had to preserve a people unto Himself so that there would be the right environment for Messiah to come to earth! They made the changes that were necessary. Are YOU ready to do the same when HE reveals things to you? Make obeying (being a doer of ) God's Word your #1 priority!
Shalom in Him!
