Proverbs 9:10-11:
10 The reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding. 11 For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
In order for a person to even begin to operate in godly Wisdom, there must be a reverent and worshipful fear (awe, respect and reverence) of the Lord! We see this in Psalm 11:10, Proverbs 1:7 and here! Do you get the idea that our attitude in the presence of God is vitally important to our well-being in this life? The promised reward is to lead a long and prosperous life! That sounds like a win-win situation to me!
John 19:1-3:
SO THEN Pilate took Jesus and scourge (flogged, whipped) Him. 2 And the soldiers, having twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and threw a purple cloak around Him. 3 And they kept coming to Him and saying, Hail, King of the Jews! [Good health to you! Peace to you! Long life to you, King of the Jews!] And they struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Pilate was the one who sent Jesus to be scourged. Why would he do that, and then say this? Verse 4:
4 Then Pilate went out again and said to them, See, I bring Him out to you, so that you may know that I find no fault (crime, cause for accusation) in Him.
So do you think he ALWAYS scourged someone that he found no fault in? Verse 5 says this:
5 So Jesus came out wearing the thorny crown and purple cloak, and Pilate said to them, See, [here is] the Man!
I have posted this before, but you may not have seen it! Here is a picture of the actual type of thorns that were used in this. Not your everyday tiny thorn from a rose!
So if there was no fault in Him, why did Pilate allow them to do this to Jesus, and then send Him to be crucified? It was ALL part of God's glorious plan for OUR salvation! Thank YOU, Jesus! Listen to this song from Hillsong United called "You Saw Me" and pay special attention to the lyrics!
His blood washed over me, once for all, then washes over me continually (1 John 1:7) as I confess sin (1 John 1:9)! Thank You, again, Jesus!
In 2 Samuel 5-6 we see David reigning as King over ALL of Israel and Judah! Do you know what is really interesting about all of this? Look at 2 Samuel 5:4-5:
4 David was thirty years old when he began his forty-year reign. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
David was just a young boy when Samuel anointed him to be the next king (1 Samuel 16)! He was thirty-seven when he began to reign over all of Israel! How long have YOU stood on God's Word for something you haven't seen yet? Don't EVER give up or quit! God's timing is ALWAYS best! He is rarely early, but He is NEVER late! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
