Tag Archives: Faith

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways | P2-V15

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The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 

CROOKED PATHS

Wisdom delivers us from those whose paths are crooked, by faith.

What does that mean, by faith?

As we know from scripture, flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of heaven 1Co 15:50, and we are presently experiencing the knowledge of good and evil by consequence of disobedience that prevents us from entering the kingdom of heaven Rom 5:19. Why is that? The wages of sin is death Rom 6:23; God is: Life, Good, Holy, Wise, Just, Love, and Glory. We cannot serve two masters Luk 16:13; we are either serving disobedience, or obedience, but our faith determines which Rom 16:26. There is a very important distinction to make between those who are on a crooked path of sin, and those who are lost.

  • Those on the crooked path live to indulge their flesh even knowing Christ set them free from those desires.
  • Those on the lost path might look and act like those on the crooked path, but there is a genuine hope to being rescued.

DEVIOUS WAYS

Wisdom delivers us from those on the crooked path, and who are devious in their ways.

Those who’ve chosen to indulge in the pleasures of their sin in this world have developed a tactic, skills, and a strategy, like any enemy set out against their opponent; these people will invite and entice to engage in all sorts of experiences that illuminate the mind to knowledge that corrupts the heart for gain. These people will appear confident and worthy of your attention by what they know and understand about the sin of our flesh, and the chemistries’ it’s of. They speak with a double tongue to entice desires while convincing you by insertion of thoughts, “You’re missing out…” of something that you already know as on the crooked path. And they have become completely blind of it, unless they turn away from it themselves and receive sight.

Act 13:4 — So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, 10 and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 11 Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

RECOURCE

[BP]

Proverbs 2 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come  knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V15) Commentary
[4.] They are resolute in sin (v. 15): Their ways are crooked, a great many windings and turnings to escape the pursuit of their convictions and break the force of them; some sly excuse, some subtle evasion or other, their deceitful hearts furnish them with, for the strengthening of their hands in their wickedness; and in the crooked mazes of that labyrinth they secure themselves from the arrests of God’s word and their own consciences; for they are froward in their paths, that is, they are resolved to go on in them, whatever is said against it. Every wise man will shun the company of such as these.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things | P2-V12

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The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things;

WAY OF EVIL

Wisdom assures that disciples of the cross will be delivered from the way of evil, and people who speak perverse things.

What does this mean, that we’ll be delivered?

What is the way of evil to be delivered from?

I hope that I’m revealing the evidence of this in my own life (especially through my writing as the literature reflects the condition of my heart); I continue to practice preaching the gospel to fellow disciples that can discipline me with the Word of our God, and it’s only a matter of time before the iron is sharpened so sharp it will be time for battle, and then the process of sharpening starts over again for the next battle… before the war. I want to be ready if our Lord returns in the next moment, hour, day, year, but always at the ready.

Until then, there are souls lost out in the seas of this world that need saving, and what does it profit me if I’m physically fit for the storms of evil but not spiritually equipped with the gift of good news?

2Ti 3:5 — holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Jesus equips His disciples with power … even and especially today! So don’t fear the mention of the cross of Jesus Christ; because He’s the way, truth, and life!

Jhn 14:6 — Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The power of the cross is evident by how we conduct ourselves in a world that wants to kill, just as it was in the days of God in the flesh and blood of Jesus. When converting to Christian, we become aliens in this world … it’s obvious by how we’re treated, but God knows those who are being drawn to Jesus by the work of His Word in His Church yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Are we trusting the wisdom of this verse when we preach, confident that we’re delivered from the way of evil (those who’ve denied the power of godliness)?

PERVERSE THINGS

I think the apostle Paul informs us well about the man who speaks perverse things:

2Ti 3:1 — But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3  unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,  4  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate  weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,  7 always learning and never able to come to the  knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

Paul also testifies to the glorious work of this verse in his letter to Timothy:

10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11  persecutions,  and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

What say you?

  • Are you delivered from the way of evil?
  • From the man who speaks perverse things?
  • How do you experience this verse?
  • Are you preaching the gospel for the lost?

RECOURCE

[BP]

Proverbs 2 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come  knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V12) Commentary
2. More particularly, wisdom will preserve us,

  • (1.) From men of corrupt principles, atheistical profane men, who make it their business to debauch young men’s judgments, and instil into their minds prejudices against religion and arguments for vice: “It will deliver thee from the way of the evil man (v. 12), and a blessed deliverance it will be, as from the very jaws of death, from the way in which he walks, and in which he would persuade thee to walk.’ The enemy is spoken of as one (v. 12), an evil man, but afterwards as many (v. 13); there is a club, a gang of them, that are in confederacy against religion, and join hand in hand for the support of the devil’s kingdom and the interests of it.
    • [1.] They have a spirit of contradiction to that which is good: They speak froward things; they say all they can against religion, both to show their own enmity to it and to dissuade others from it. They are advocates for Satan; they plead for Baal, and pervert the right ways of the Lord. How peevishly will profane wits argue for sin, and with what frowardness will they carp at the word of God! Wisdom will keep us either from conversing with such men or at least from being ensnared by them.
God and Coffee

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity | P2-V7

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The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

SOUND WISDOM

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright

Job 1:1—There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

I’m curious… have you read the story of Job?

If you haven’t, stick around … because this book of the Bible is pressing on my heart to write my—I die daily devotions—on next. I digress.

If we didn’t know anything else about the man named Job other than what that first verse describes…

…what would you think?

Because it sounds like Job would be protected by God; he’s blameless, upright, and respects the power of His Holy God by turning away from evil.

So what could possibly go wrong?!

Well if we were to continue on, in the story, one might make the argument that God went wrong to be proud of Job, and that is exactly what Satan did; Satan made that argument, ultimately challenging the Word of God about Job, and was granted the permission to put his [Satan’s] challenge to the test.

What do you think happened to Job?

Do you think that Job remained blameless, upright, and fearing God?

If we, Christians today, think ourselves to be upright, how would it be determined?

Do we think that if we lived with knowledge of the scriptures, to practice them in faith by: prophesying, casting out demons, working miracles, etc.; that according to the evidence of that power through the scriptures, we must be upright?

The answer according to scripture is…

No.

Mat 7:21—“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

You see… there are quite a few fascinating insights and treasures we can gain by this story of Job regarding uprightness and integrity:

  1. Job was known by God.
  2. Satan challenged the integrity of God’s Word.
  3. Satan challenged the integrity of Job’s character.
  4. Job was put to the test.

Okay, now watch this…

  • We are known by God through Jesus Christ.
  • Satan is challenging the integrity of grace.
  • Satan is challenging the integrity of the cross.
  • We are being put to the test.

SHIELD

 He is a shield to those who walk in integrity

Jesus is our shield of faith as we breathe each breath, clap our hands, and stomp our feet! Thinking to myself:

“Shoot…

It’s time to feel that beat of the drum!

BUM-BUM-BUM!”

Let death come?

No!

Let change come!

1Co 15: — “… 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. …”

As we walk through the valley of this shadow of death, we’ll fear no evil.

Christ, by His Word, is the Holy Spirit that lives in us who are known by the Word of God; to be that shield to our integrity, that justice due our sin was paid on the cross of Jesus, and by our acceptance of that truth is an act of faith revealed at the confession of our behavior—Jesus is the name of the Lord.

AND WE SERVE HIM…

TO THE GLORY OF GOD…

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN!

Oh… the war is here… it’s already happening… can you feel it?

Satan is killing; people are dropping dead. Satan is taking; people are losing income. Satan is lying; people are cursing the day of their birth for want of understanding.

Can you hear?

The Whirlwind is here… do you hear?

Are we listening?

Job 38:1—Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?

I mean… who am I [Nathan] to say what’s next?

Is God to blame? No! God is not to blame for divine beings that have manipulated His [God’s] glory for the sake of their own, of which is not attainable, but Hell is their destiny… their choice, and regretfully so… .

We are but dust, a vapor in the wind, and yet…

LOVED!

  • As you examine your life, and think about Job, what do you experience and why?
  • How does our verse today inspire you?
  • What do you hear come from the whirlwind in your life right now, and what is your response?

RECOURCE

[BP]

Proverbs 2 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come  knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V7) Commentary
3. He has particularly provided that good men, who are sincerely disposed to do his will, shall have that knowledge and that understanding which are necessary for them, Jn. 7:17. Let them seek wisdom, and they shall find it; let them ask, and it shall be given them, v. 7, 8. Observe here,

  • (1.) Who those are that are thus favoured. They are the righteous, on whom the image of God is renewed, which consists in righteousness, and those who walk uprightly, who are honest in their dealings both with God and man and make conscience of doing their duty as far as they know it. They are his saints, devoted to his honour, and set apart for his service.
  • (2.) What it is that is provided for them.
    • [1.] Instruction. The means of wisdom are given to all, but wisdom itself, sound wisdom, is laid up for the righteous, laid up in Christ their head, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and who is made of God to us wisdom. The same that is the Spirit of revelation in the word is a Spirit of wisdom in the souls of those that are sanctified, that wisdom of the prudent which is to understand his way; and it is sound wisdom, its foundations firm, its principles solid, and its products of lasting advantage.
    • [2.] Satisfaction. Some read it, He lays up substance for the righteous,  not only substantial knowledge, but substantial happiness and comfort, Prov. 8:21. Riches are things that are not, and those that have them only fancy themselves happy; but what is laid up in the promises and in heaven for the righteous will make them truly, thoroughly, and eternally happy.
    • [3.] Protection. Even those who walk uprightly may be brought into danger for the trial of their faith, but God is, and will be, a buckler to them, so that nothing that happens to them shall do them any real hurt, or possess them with any terrific apprehensions; they are safe, and they shall think themselves so. Fear not, Abraham; I am thy shield. It is their way, the paths of judgment in which they walk, that the Lord knows, and owns, and takes care of.
    • [4.] Grace to persevere to the end. If we depend upon God, and seek to him for wisdom, he will uphold us in our integrity, will enable us to keep the paths of judgment, however we may be tempted to turn aside out of them; for he preserves the way of his saints, that it be not perverted, and so preserves them in it safe and blameless to his heavenly kingdom. The assurances God has given us of his grace, if duly improved, will excite and quicken our endeavours in doing our duty. Work out your salvation, for God works in you.
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

For if you cry for discernment | P2-V3

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The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;

DISCERNMENT

For if you cry for discernment… how amazing it is that our bodies can cry for something as though there is Someone else on the other side?

Well, and because … God is!

When these bodies, our human bodies—no more than vessels that consist of flesh and blood, innocent in and of themselves—are tested and tried by the forces of good and evil, principalities and powers that mean to destroy our lives, react to the spirits of those who possess them, will one day testify and reveal the true nature of the person he or she once was … on that great and terrible day of the Lord come (Joel 2:11,31).

So the eyes fill with tears, legs give way, knees crash to the ground, the human body … defeated.

But what is the language of our cry?

Is it a cry for discernment or a cry in hatred against God?

LIFT YOUR VOICE

Lift your voice for understanding… how amazing it is that our bodies are designed to speak. We have voices to inquire the knowledge of God, but how do we inquire? With respect—the fear of the Lord?

Our bodies are defeated in sin, the innocence of blood cries out! But the spirit says to God… “Am I my body’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:6-13) Yes! Or do we not know that our bodies are the temples of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19)?

So we need to lift up our voices for understanding:

“Help me, God, a sinner, have mercy on me; please Father, help me understand!”

Discipline is not meant to be soft, but to give understanding in righteousness. And to be righteous requires much discipline, even to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Are we carrying our crosses?

Our death was defeated at the cross of Christ, and the sin of the world was taken away by the blood of Christ.

Our soul and spirit are redeemed in Jesus Christ, so wipe your tears, strengthen your legs, and rise; praise God…

lets go!

No enemy has power over you, so don’t fear, don’t be afraid, and practice righteousness! God keeps His promises in the name of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Lift up your voice in faith and believe, then move on, we have souls to save!

Lets go Church!

Amen.

  • Why do you think its important we cry for discernment?
  • What do you learn as you talk to God about discernment (write down your inspirations).
  • When you lift up your voice for understanding, what is the condition of your heart when you do?
  • Where are you when you pray and ask for understanding (track the layers of understanding you mature upon by journaling)?

RECOURCE

[BP]

Proverbs 2 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V3) Commentary
2. We must be much in prayer, v. 3. We must cry after knowledge, as one that is ready to perish for hunger begs hard for bread. Faint desires will not prevail; we must be importunate, as those that know the worth of knowledge and our own want of it. We must cry, as new-born babes, after the sincere milk of the word. 1 Pt. 2:2. We must lift our voice for understanding lift it up to heaven; thence these good and perfect gifts must be expected, Jam. 1:17; Job 38:34. We must give our voice to understanding (so the word is), speak for it, vote for it, submit the tongue to the command of wisdom. We must consecrate our voice to it; having applied our heart to it, we must employ our voice in seeking for it. Solomon could write probatum est-a tried remedy, upon this method; he prayed for wisdom and so obtained it.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Incline your heart to understanding | P2-V2

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The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;

ATTENTIVE

How does one make their ear attentive to wisdom? I know I at least, can make the mistake of thinking that earthly wisdom is what this verse is suggesting to mean: thinking back when I was child, obey my parents; years later, drive the speed limit; beat the deadline, get the promotion. All good things, but these things of our present time only last for a short while. Our lives on earth are but a vapor in the wind; we’re here, and then we’re gone, but what will we leave behind as a testimony to us, and where are we going according to Who, and why?

We can thank God for designing our souls in a way that inspires a choice. How are we going to live our lives in respect of what this verse of ‘attentive wisdom’ and a ‘heart of understanding’ mean? Will we go on to live a lifestyle of sin according to the gospel after claiming the label as to be a Christian? And if we do so—having deliberately chosen that course of sin—then are our hearts truly inclined to understand the meaning of Wisdom?

INCLINE

There is a serious tone with this instruction—incline your hearts to understanding. Because the nature of good and evil that we presently experience is obvious, but we treat our situation like a joke. And that’s not intended to be taken as condemning … we can joke, but not in regards to our faith in salvation through Christ by God our Father according to the gospel. That is serious. Our salvation in Jesus Christ is serious because He is going to return, and our faith will reveal the true nature of our hearts position. Do we actually believe? Do we actually understand the power of Heaven on earth that took away the sin of the world?

If one says they have faith in that spiritual reality of the cross (Jesus)—being our redemption from sin—and we continue to be in our sin: sexually immoral, addicted to pornography, creating lustful fantasies of others while intimate with our spouse’s, or just lustful arousal stirred up at the sight of ‘his’ or ‘her’ attractive features, and I haven’t even touched on lying let alone anger, or any other sin. But if we continue in this behavior… then are we truly inclining our hearts to understand the meaning of our faith in Jesus and the cross? If any of these struggles have pricked at your conscience, and you’re still reading, wondering how it’s possible to inherit the Kingdom of God. The short answer is faith, but it’s important to be reminded that faith without works is as dead as our flesh and blood. And wisdom is instructing us to cry for discernment and to lift up our voice for understanding—coming in our devo tomorrow.

  • What does it mean for me to have an ear attentive to wisdom?
  • Is my heart inclined to understand, but still choose to sin?
  • Is there any sin in my lifestyle according to the gospel that needs the cross?
  • Do I take serious that my sin was taken away by the cross of Jesus Christ?

P.S. Please feel free to reach out to us authors of T4P if there are any questions and or are in need of prayer, but otherwise, seek a brother and or sister in the Body of Christ when necessary to be prayed over with spiritual hands… be cleansed, and healed, in Jesus name [Hebrews 10: 19-22, James 5: 13-16]. Amen.

RECOURCE

[BP]

Proverbs 2 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P2-V2) Commentary
Job had asked, long before this, Where shall wisdom be found? Whence cometh wisdom? (Job 28:12, 20) and he had given this general answer (v. 23), God knoweth the place of it; but Solomon here goes further, and tells us both where we may find it and how we may get it. We are here told,

  • I. What means we must use that we may obtain wisdom.
    • 1. We must closely attend to the word of God, for that is the word of wisdom, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, v. 1, 2.
      • (1.) We must be convinced that the words of God are the fountain and standard of wisdom and understanding, and that we need not desire to be wiser than they will make us. We must incline our ear and apply our hearts to them, as to wisdom or understanding itself. Many wise things may be found in human compositions, but divine revelation, and true religion built upon it, are all wisdom.
      • (2.) We must, accordingly, receive the word of God with all readiness of mind, and bid it welcome, even the commandments as well as the promises, without murmuring or disputing. Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.
      • (3.) We must hide them with us, as we do our treasures, which we are afraid of being robbed of. We must not only receive, but retain, the word of God, and lodge it in our hearts, that it may be always ready to us.
      • (4.) We must incline our ear to them; we must lay hold on all opportunities of hearing the word of God, and listen to it with attention and seriousness, as those that are afraid of letting it slip.
      • (5.) We must apply our hearts to them, else inclining the ear to them will stand us in no stead.
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

My son, if you receive my words | P2-V1

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The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security

Proverbs 2; I die daily devotional.

1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you,

I love the language of promise this verse speaks; my son, if you will receive my words. I mean do you hear the confidence and truth by those words? The option is presented to us as we hear these words, and we can test them on family and friends to see how they respond. I think we’ll be surprised. I think we’ll learn by the attitude and behavior of those who hear this verse whether they’ve received these words or not, but I think the more challenging inquiry will be whether family and friends have treasured them; treasure my commandments within you.

RECEIVE AND TREASURE

Any one of us can say that, “Yah… I’ve received these words. I know the commandments by heart and believe Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.” But what if you know a person that will confess this and yet behave in a way contrary to the confession … it becomes a contradiction … no?

But see, whether the words have come to your ears through holy men or a broken vessel, the words themselves remain pure and true to that power they belong of—the Word of God.

So if we are going to receive these words, we must see past the human flesh to the Spirit of God; Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

We are in absence of the time when the apostles walked the earth with Christ to testify of the glory of the Kingdom at hand, and the glory to come, the Son of Man. But the words of which these same apostles that lived so long ago remain today, being heard from ear to ear, until all will hear.

But the option remains, if we receive, and that is something only you can answer and behave to reflect. When we behave as though we’ve received the glory of Christ’s coming by these words Wisdom speaks, then the treasure of the commandments within will become who we are (Eph 3:6, Jas 2:5, Rom 8:17, Tit 3:7) according to promise.

  • How does this verse speak to you?
  • What does it mean to receive these words of wisdom?
  • What is the greatest commandment?
  • Why should I treasure these commandments within me?

RECOURCE

[BP]

Proverbs 2 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

COMMENTARY

Chapter 2

Solomon, having foretold the destruction of those who are obstinate in their impiety, in this chapter applies himself to those who are willing to be taught; and,

  • I. He shows them that, if they would diligently use the means of knowledge and grace, they should obtain of God the knowledge and grace which they seek (v. 1-9).
  • II. He shows them of what unspeakable advantage it would be to them.
    • 1. It would preserve them from the snares of evil men (v. 10-15) and of evil women (v. 16-19).
    • 2. It would direct them into, and keep them in, the way of good men (v. 20-22).

So that in this chapter we are taught both how to get wisdom and how to use it when we have it, that we may neither seek it, nor receive it in vain.

Matthew Henry (P2-V1) Commentary
Job had asked, long before this, Where shall wisdom be found? Whence cometh wisdom? (Job 28:12, 20) and he had given this general answer (v. 23), God knoweth the place of it; but Solomon here goes further, and tells us both where we may find it and how we may get it. We are here told,

  • I. What means we must use that we may obtain wisdom.
    • 1. We must closely attend to the word of God, for that is the word of wisdom, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, v. 1, 2.
      • (1.) We must be convinced that the words of God are the fountain and standard of wisdom and understanding, and that we need not desire to be wiser than they will make us. We must incline our ear and apply our hearts to them, as to wisdom or understanding itself. Many wise things may be found in human compositions, but divine revelation, and true religion built upon it, are all wisdom.
      • (2.) We must, accordingly, receive the word of God with all readiness of mind, and bid it welcome, even the commandments as well as the promises, without murmuring or disputing. Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.
      • (3.) We must hide them with us, as we do our treasures, which we are afraid of being robbed of. We must not only receive, but retain, the word of God, and lodge it in our hearts, that it may be always ready to us.
      • (4.) We must incline our ear to them; we must lay hold on all opportunities of hearing the word of God, and listen to it with attention and seriousness, as those that are afraid of letting it slip.
      • (5.) We must apply our hearts to them, else inclining the ear to them will stand us in no stead.
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

But he who listens to me shall live securely | P1-V33

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Wisdom Warns 

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Finally… the climactic verse that quiets the soul after the storm of hard verses prior to receive, but necessary for an experience of discernment between good and evil nonetheless. It might prove wise to refresh yourself with the previous disciplining verses of this chapter to then experience a feeling of understanding by it. After all, as children of a Heavenly Father that loves us, means to teach us in a way that prepares us for eternity with Him. And because our Eternal Father is Holy, we experience the consequential nature of sin by the Spirit of Wisdom at work in the soul of death—that we would find life in Christ. This verse reflects on the secure life we have in Jesus Christ, and no evil can cause us to fear, but rather… we’re equipped with a profound confidence to press on into the maturity of eternity.

LIVE SECURELY

So if we listen to Wisdom as she reminds us like a mother teaching her children to behave; she reminds us of the wisdom gifted us through her presence and yet, in the same breath, warns us of those who choose otherwise. And even though her children of disobedience, our siblings in the flesh, are not listening; she will still respect us as adults to make our own decisions that will inevitably experience the consequences thereof.

Just as a human mother knows by instinct how to nurture and care for the wounds of the innocent and guilty children, so too does mother Wisdom know how to spiritually address each of us.

Just as a child might experience a swaddling by their earthly father by disobeying his instructions, so too does our Heavenly Father know how to save His Child from death by His Word. Wisdom of which is presently speaking in our souls the words of the gospel, is also gracing us with a conscience equipped to heal from the pain of what was once wrong.

Now, here we are, in a place of silence, we can bow our heads, close our eyes, and pray on; we’re now more learned children, more prepared to face the dread of evil.

And when we open our eyes to see the world of the dead, we’ll know more how to understand the nature of respect and honor, but most importantly… the LOVE of our Eternal Father in Jesus Christ.

  • After the refreshed memory of the previous verses, how does this verse affect you?
  • Is there any part of your life where you’re not wanting to receive the counsel of Wisdom on, and why?
  • How do you feel about seeking a trusted person (in Christ) as a means to practice listening to counsel?
  • Do you experience the dread of evil?
  • Will you pray for clarity of conscience, and as you are guided through the Word of God for that clarity, seek cleansing and confidence through the Holy Spirit alive in you?

RECOURCE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V33) Commentary
4. He concludes with an assurance of safety and happiness to all those that submit to the instructions of wisdom (v. 33): “Whoso hearkeneth unto me, and will be ruled by me, he shall,’

  • (1.) “Be safe; he shall dwell under the special protection of Heaven, so that nothing shall do him any real hurt.’
  • (2.) “He shall be easy, and have no disquieting apprehensions of danger; he shall not only be safe from evil, but quiet from the fear of it.’ Though the earth be removed, yet shall not they fear. Would we be safe from evil, and quiet from the fear of it? Let religion always rule us and the word of God be our counsellor. That is the way to dwell safely in this world, and to be quiet from the fear of evil in the other world.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way | P1-V31

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Wisdom Warns 

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.

2021 A.D. … is upon us! And with it… a fruit of opportunities. Happy New Year? We’ll see. If going into this new year with grand ideas of opportunities apart from Christ, well, according to His Word of salvation, we need to rethink our intentions and motives because no matter how bad or good the year can be, a person without knowledge of God is to our shame; 1 Corinth 15:34 Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. We have a responsibility to the ministry of our reconciliation to God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

FRUIT

The fruit of peace and prosperity might be on the forecast for the new year, but let’s not become in danger of deception by that fruit in thinking it means God is pleased when Christ is yet to be here with all His glory. I pray the fruit of our faith will not fail, and that those who are eating the fruit of their own way will stop. It is by grace that our Eternal Father draws all men to Christ, but their are those who have yet to respond to that draw, and remain in their choice of rejection. However, to those who have responded to the draw of God’s grace: I pray you’ll be blessed by the labor of your faith. The new year is already cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ! Jesus has already removed sin by the work of His cross, and I pray all will come to know His Name. When you look to the heavens this new year, be reminded that the fruit of Jesus Christ is eternal life. There is not a more valuable gift, nor a more important decision, than the confidence one receives through the Holy Spirit of God in the soul of the dead. Jesus Christ gave His life and assures it’s truth by the testimony of where He is today…

  • Do I know where Christ is today?
  • Do I know where Jesus is this new year?
  • Have I responded to the draw of my Eternal Father?
  • Have I answered the call to His ministry on earth?
  • Who is the Spirit of Grace?
  • What does faith mean?
  • Will I respond to grace? Will I answer in faith?
  • Do I have knowledge of God?

RECOURCE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V31) Commentary
[4.] Now they are eager upon their own way, and fond of their own devices; but then they will have enough of them (v. 31), according to the proverb, Let men drink as they brew; they shall eat the fruit of their own way; their wages shall be according to their work, and, as was their choice, so shall their doom be, Gal. 6:7, 8. Note,

  • First, There is a natural tendency in sin to destruction, Jam. 1:15. Sinners are certainly miserable if they do but eat the fruit of their own way.
  • Secondly, Those that perish must thank themselves, and can lay no blame upon any other. It is their own device; let them make their boast of it. God chooses their delusions, Isa. 66:4.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Because they hated knowledge | P1-V29

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Wisdom Warns 

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

When I think of the idea of hating knowledge, I think of the apostle Paul telling me… Galatians 6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. I was guilty of this wrong in the past for the comfort of myself, not wanting to share the gospel—to avoid the persecution of the cross—for the sake of my environment mixed with tempting desires to experience in this life, or what’s worse, to share the gospel with words of faith, but a heart filled with fear and want, not actually taking serious the power of the Word—my faith was in vain.

HATED KNOWLEDGE

When I think about my disobedience to God I think of what the bond-servant James says… James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. I ask the question, “Why do people choose not the fear of the Lord?” And then clarity comes, the answers’ so evident, so true; yet here I remain as a man regretful of who I once was… the man in the mirror, until … I looked intently upon the perfect law of liberty. However, there are still those present with us today that choose rather to hate the knowledge of the cross and don’t fear the Lord. Don’t lose hope, keep praying for these people, but remain faithful to respect the justice of God in Christ our Lord. Let’s not fear persecution and keep looking intently at the perfect law of liberty.

  • What do you, and I, think of to be “hated knowledge”?
  • Why do these people choose not the fear of the Lord?
  • Are you and I looking intently at the perfect law of liberty?
  • How can we serve those who hate knowledge?
  • What can we do about those who don’t fear the Lord?

RECOURCE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V29) Commentary
[4.] Now they are eager upon their own way, and fond of their own devices; but then they will have enough of them (v. 31), according to the proverb, Let men drink as they brew; they shall eat the fruit of their own way; their wages shall be according to their work, and, as was their choice, so shall their doom be, Gal. 6:7, 8. Note,

  • First, There is a natural tendency in sin to destruction, Jam. 1:15. Sinners are certainly miserable if they do but eat the fruit of their own way.
  • Secondly, Those that perish must thank themselves, and can lay no blame upon any other. It is their own device; let them make their boast of it. God chooses their delusions, Isa. 66:4.
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Wisdom shouts in the street | P1-V20

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Wisdom Warns 

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square;

We’ve just come out of some daily dying to the temptations sinners impress upon the innocent by the agent of evil—Satan. But now we enter into the severity of wisdoms call, and what it means when we don’t listen to the counsel of God.

WISDOM SHOUTS

I’ve never been Manhattan, but imagine you’re walking in the middle of time square of New York City. You’re walking and you begin to hear this voice coming from your conscience to “stop, watch, and listen”. So you do, and you observe as you feel this experience to your life being interrupted by this profound voice that compels you to stop, watch, and listen. This voice then begins to draw your attention to an interpretation of words that is not of this world, although personal to you. You begin to see your life stretched out in the course of time, and hear Wisdom lift her voice — this course satisfies a means to die. But listen to me, and you will live. Then you recall words spoken from long ago from men moved by the Holy Spirit of God. And there you are left in the square with a choice; “Do I follow this voice of Wisdom in my conscience, or do I suppress the motion into the darkness of ignorance and remain simple-minded on my present course?

  • Do I experience conviction?
  • Why am I convicted?
  • Why is there evil in the world?
  • Why is there good in the world?
  • What does death mean?
  • Do I listen to the voice of Wisdom?
  • Who are the men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God?

RECOURCE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V20) Commentary
Solomon, having shown how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of Satan, here shows how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God, which we shall for ever rue the neglect of. Observe,

  • I. By whom God calls to us-by wisdom. It is wisdom that crieth without. The word is plural-wisdoms, for, as there is infinite wisdom in God, so there is the manifold wisdom of God, Eph. 3:10. God speaks to the children of men by all the kinds of wisdom, and, as in every will, so in every word, of God there is a counsel.
    • 1. Human understanding is wisdom, the light and law of nature, the powers and faculties of reason, and the office of conscience, Job 38:36. By these God speaks to the children of men, and reasons with them. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord; and, wherever men go, they may hear a voice behind them, saying, This is the way; and the voice of conscience is the voice of God, and not always a still small voice, but sometimes it cries.
    • 2. Civil government is wisdom; it is God’s ordinance; magistrates are his vicegerents. God by David had said to the fools, Deal not foolishly, Ps. 75:4. In the opening of the gates, and in the places of concourse, where courts were kept, the judges, the wisdom of the nation, called to wicked people, in God’s name, to repent and reform.
    • 3. Divine revelation is wisdom; all its dictates, all its laws, are wise as wisdom itself. God does, by the written word, by the law of Moses, which sets before us the blessing and the curse, by the priests’ lips which keep knowledge, by his servants the prophets, and all the ministers of this word, declare his mind to sinners, and give them warning as plainly as that which is proclaimed in the streets or courts of judicature by the criers. God, in his word, not only opens the case, but argues it with the children of men. Come, now, and let us reason together, Isa. 1:18.
    • 4. Christ himself is Wisdom, is Wisdoms, for in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and he is the centre of all divine revelation, not only the essential Wisdom, but the eternal Word, by whom God speaks to us and to whom he has committed all judgment; he it is therefore who here both pleads with sinners and passes sentence on them. He calls himself Wisdom, Lu. 7:35.
belief-structure, Nathan Dooley, Personality, Therapy

Nathan’s Public Journal | IV

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Sunday, 12/20/2020

When the cleaning crew arrived, the majority are ladies, and they’re attractive.

As soon as I saw them come in to collect their keys for access; their bodies burned that red and fiery orange color that orbed around their physique, but there was something different; I could see a light brownish glow that came from their brain. This color was new, or… I didn’t recognize it before. And as they would get closer, and closer, to the security desk, that brownish color intensified to it’s darkest form.

After issuing them their keys, WarCof appears next to me and asks, “Why do you see that color?”

Ignoring WarCof, I escort them to the elevators of the second floor.

My security desk is stationed on the second floor of my building of 4; my building is located on the west wing also know as West Tower-2 (WT2). There are 24 floors to each of these 4 buildings, and they’re built perpendicular to each other: North, South, East, and West.

They were built in this way for its main attraction, which is a globe that hangs in the middle connecting each of these towers at the 12th floor.

The elevators have two sets of doors; the first set grants access to visitors, tenants, and vendors to the Towers; the second set will open exclusively for authorized personal to the globe, but no tenants, vendors, or visitors have access—making my job that much more fun—not even the third party management company that answers directly to GE, or God’s Eye, we call it, has access without security, into the globe.

GE stands for Global Earth, which is the company name of very powerful people I have yet to meet in person, and to the best of my knowledge the globe functions as a meeting lab for Avengers. Okay, well, not exactly. But it gives off that feel … considering the secrecy and philanthropic vibe by research, and having observed the evolving change and activity from a distance for 7 years; it’s a mystery, and way way above my pay grade to care that much.

On the way to the elevators, the cleaning crew is in front of me, and the ladies have my attention whether they’d asked for it or not. They are talking in their native tongue, Spanish. Some are giggling while making subtle glances in my direction; young, early twenties, somewhat petite, but the worst part is…they’re desirable, and they know it.

My routine is rote which makes this part of my job very dangerous in that I’m human and experience what humans desire; which if not controlled, compromises the nature of my position to prevent liability, maintain integrity, and hold dear my vows to Laura; the vulnerability of the human condition is sensitive to the extreme, and for some odd reason the reproductive system of my body ignites this desire to be fruitful and multiply more children of wrath in this world.

These colors of light about these ladies is entrancing… How the deep dark red is pulsating to their hearts’ beat, their bodies lit a flame that orbs about them, and now, how the color of their minds are shifting shades of brown as I draw closer or further away. I stare more intently at the color of their mind and feel this urg—

“DING” – “SECOND FLOOR—GOING DOWN“

Distracted by the elevator’s artificial operator, I think to myself “Why do I see that color?”, and quickly come to my senses.

It’s afterhours and in the event there is any malfunction, especially an indicator of a technological glitch in the artificial intelligent geware; I must be ready to respond and immediately notify PM—Property Management—which technically is that third party management service aforementioned, so they can quickly report the issue and await further instruction. I’m more or less a backup system in the event of a cyber crisis, and the geware system need be shutdown; or basically, quite simply, the elevator doors, just…don’t open.

On the way back to the security desk I process the color activity between me and those attractive women, why did the color behave like that?

Then WarCof, still with me, said—”Nathan, you don’t see your own color for a reason, but as you’ve already witnessed: there is a blue to green light orb that describes the essence of men, so too, you have in like fashion as they. As both these colors between men and women collide, a language is revealed. A language of activity that has the power to reveal an active truth. And as those ladies drew nearer to you, the colors revealed the nature of your sin, your desire; humans have a chemical energy and radiance that influences the behavior in which you were experiencing. When the green orbs of men clashes with the orange orbs of women, information that is invisible to the human eye you now have access to see, and the brown color in the minds of those women—you found attractive—reveals a nature of sin that is in every human.”

Stunned, I didn’t know what to think. I went on autopilot and continued to process every word of what WarCof said… and in that state, I remained.

I arrive home, it’s late, Laura is already asleep, but there she lay in all her magnificence, with that beautiful deep red to fiery purple orb that lights up the dark just right, it’s perfect, and incredible. The light behaves in such a way that it brings peace as she sleeps, “pfffffffff…” then there’s this loudest fart that came out of nowhere vibrating the entire room, strong enough to disturb the colors of the orb. That was amazing and quite profound, I thought it would never end. She shuffles a little bit, unconsciously, like she was about to wake up, but nope. No matter.

I can’t help but to watch her sleep, like a creeper, and I have so many questions. Like… why does her mind not behave like that of the other women? I don’t see the brown glow in her mind? Is she attracted to me? Have I no attraction for her? Does she not have that sin as WarCof said? Was WarCof wrong? Can I trust what WarCof is telling me? Is something wrong…

THE TASTE OF IMMORTALITY

belief-structure, Nathan Dooley, Personality, Therapy

Nathan’s Public Journal | II

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Tuesday, 12/15/2020

Time 0140—In the morning of this brisk, silent, night. Well, “silent”… as in a feeling; my beautiful wife is breathing in a way that indicates REM sleep, and there is a sound of warm air blowing through the ventilation system—to fight off the cold in the night; awe of course, and the sound of the ‘k’ ‘e’ ‘y’ ‘s’ mashing against my keyboard as my fingers mean to type quietly. I don’t want to awaken the… Naura; ooooohhhh…I’m joking-I’m Joking! My wife (Laura), is the sweetest; even if she woke up, she’d probably unconsciously give me a hug and a kiss, then back to bed.

So after listening to the critique, well… honest advice, of my wife, on the original version to this journal entry (12/12-14/2020), decided on a different tactic for this post. I won’t bore you on the details because written well, it won’t matter.

Don’t mind skipping past the reference structure below. It’s my map.

  • Jesus Christ is my belief structure.
    1. What does that mean? (salvation).
      1. Human soul and God.
        1. Saved by grace through faith.
        2. How does faith work?
  • I love my wife—priority.
    1. She is the core/center of my responsibilities.
      1. I need structure.
        1. Public Journal/accountability
  • Job with hours to aid me on this trajectory.
    1. Not ideal, but blessed.
      1. I work nights and days.
      2. Best option at the moment.
        1. Aim for only nights if available.
        2. Or learn how to write, like, very good!
  • Psychology Professor—Jordan Peterson.
    1. Mentor/Maps of Meaning/(biblical skeptic?)
      1. I think Jordan’s strategy to understand ‘meaning’ is awesome!
  • My personality— understand and improve.
    1. 1 Peter 3:15 (but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;)
      1. There is a hope in the personality of a believer.
        1. My personality is wild; I want to understand it.
  • Skill/s to master:
    1. Writing.
    2. Videography.
  • Goal/s…
    • Is there more than one?
      • Where is the sacred ground?
        • What is this going to do?
          • How will this be effective?
            • What is the sacrifice?
              • Will the practice, preach?
                • What does it mean?
                  • When is it time to plant?
  • The seed is to sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart.

Time 0439—Just completed a couple scheduled devotionals (P1-V15 and P1-V16). Now that, that work is prepped; it frees me up to get creative with this public journal. The idea is to write in a way that tells a story, a true story, but with a twist. The reason this journal is public is to benefit both the writer, but more importantly, the reader. And I can’t have you bored out of your mind. So let me go get some more coffee real quick as I think about you in this story of ours.

Time 0519—I kid you not, as soon as I grabbed my coffee cup to head downstairs, Laura says to me, “Are you getting coffee?” Mind you, she has no idea what I’d just written, the room is dark (other than the candle next to me), and she couldn’t see that I’d grabbed my cup (because a black fabric blocks her view as it hangs from our ceiling nearly the length of our desk). This might be prophetic—said facetiously. I asked her how she knew I was going to get coffee, and she says “I don’t know.” I mean, that’s just providential!

Anyway, as I thought of you while getting coffee; I was inspired by the written word of God, to have a title for our story:

THE TASTE OF IMMORTALITY

Time 0911—We live in the realm of the eternal, this isn’t a fictional story. There are fictional names to real characters in mine and your stories, but our land of the eternal is very real—nonfictional (actually occurring) as we live today. There are enemies and friendlies that move all around and about us, so listen closely as we venture into the world of the eternal. And experience the taste of immortality.

Time 2111—There is a character by the name of WarCof, also known by his initials (WC). It’s getting late; I have less than 3 hours. The time is dark, evil is lurking. WarCof is an image-bearer of the Light, an eternal being known as the—Wonderful Counselor. The earth at this time of our lives, is also know as—the world of wrath. This world of wrath is presently an age of what feels like an eternal hell; these earthly beings are wearing face masks, carrying hand sanitizers and disinfectants, maintaining social distancing to prevent the spread of the inevitable consequence of sin—death.

Time 2145—Laura and I (Nathan), decided to go out into the world of wrath between the gap of 0911-2111; for nearly 6 hours, we were out at a shopping center called NorthPark; we exchanged clothing items that were the wrong fit for us at the H&M shop, and found a gift for a close relative. The shopping center was packed with people, and as Laura and I walked a couple laps, the strangest thing started to happen with my eyes.

At first, all I saw was gray, the color gray was everywhere; the shops, the people, the merchandise, everything with a physical form was gray. I blinked a few times, no change. I closed my eyes and rubbed each of them simultaneously with my hands, when they opened, I met WarCof. WarCof strangely appeared in this magnificent color of white/purple, his figure wasn’t that attractive, but built like a man. He was about my height (5’7″), but couldn’t figure his weight, it wouldn’t register in my brain. His voice made a sharp deep powerful sound, although, it felt gentle to my ears—a perfect tone.

“Look”, he said. And when I did, I saw everything perfectly still. Nothing moved, no sound was made, no air was felt, and the people and their children completely frozen in their place. I saw families in mid step, mouths unmoved although stuck open from mid conversation, a kid frozen in mid air from leaping off a bench. Police officers… well… nothing too unique there, they were already posed.

But here is where it gets interesting.

As I continued to look … two distinct colors began to emerge specific to their gender, male and female; the women have this color combination of red/orange giving off this beautiful fiery glow, their bodies are transparent as the color intensifies at their core, their heart burns an intense deep red; the color of the men glow an amazing blue/green, and a deep cold dark blue intensifies at the heart, exactly the same way the deep red does for the women. Then my eyes shift to gaze upon my wife, I nearly fall to the ground ducking; she has this froze pissed off face, it’s actually quite cute and funny.

Laura burns with a different color than the other women I see. Her heart burns with that same intense deep red, but where there is a fiery orange for the other women… Laura has a gorgeous purple similar to that of WarCof. “Why”, I say to WarCof, but then everything unfreezes. WarCof is disappeared, gone. Everything returned as though nothing happened, but something remained…

THE TASTE OF IMMORTALITY

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Find all kinds of precious wealth | P1-V13

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The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;

If you have not watched “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” and “THE HOBBIT” trilogies, it will be quite the adventure if you do. Let me give a little insight as to the relevance.

There is a character by the name of Smeagol, who finds a precious gold ring, and by it becomes possessed by this dark evil power. The evil ring “blesses” Smeagol with extraordinarily long life, but it consumes him. Smeagol was a normal person (or Hobbit), but the ring, over time, literally transformed him, his body, into an unidentifiable harmless creature. The person that was once Smeagol became… “Gollum”. Gollum crept his way into the deep darkness of the Misty Mountains, keeping hidden this ring of evil power he called, “my Precious”, until… well… you’ll have to watch the trilogies.

MY PRECIOUS

What happened to Smeagol, or rather, Gollum, at the end of the story is what happens to those who are described by our verse—We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil. Those who’ve placed their hope in precious pleasures to experience in this life forfeit their own soul, becoming possessed by an idea that deludes them into their fate of what it means to be evil. They become the outcome of the Ring-bearer, which ultimately, ends in death, despair, and alone to burn—forever.

  • What in this life describes for you, “my Precious?”
  • Are you enticing people away from the gospel?
  • Does your character reflect Jesus Christ?
  • Are you possessed by sin?
  • Will you let go of the “ring”?

RECOURSE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V13) Commentary
Here Solomon gives another general rule to young people, in order to their finding out, and keeping in, the paths of wisdom, and that is to take heed of the snare of bad company. David’s psalms begin with this caution, and so do Solomon’s proverbs; for nothing is more destructive, both to a lively devotion and to a regular conversation (v. 10): “My son, whom I love, and have a tender concern for, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.’ This is good advice for parents to give their children when they send them abroad into the world; it is the same that St. Peter gave to his new converts, (Acts 2:40), Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Observe,

  • 1. How industrious wicked people are to seduce others into the paths of the destroyer: they will entice. Sinners love company in sin; the angels that fell were tempters almost as soon as they were sinners. They do not threaten or argue, but entice with flattery and fair speech; with a bait they draw the unwary young man to the hook. But they mistake if they think that by bringing others to partake with them in their guilt, and to be bound, as it were, in the bond with them, they shall have the less to pay themselves; for they will have so much the more to answer for.
  • 2. How cautious young people should be that they be not seduced by them: “Consent thou not; and then, though they entice thee, they cannot force thee. Do not say as they say, nor do as they do or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them.’ To enforce this caution,
    • I. He represents the fallacious reasonings which sinners use in their enticements, and the arts of wheedling which they have for the beguiling of unstable souls. He specifies highwaymen, who do what they can to draw others into their gang, v. 11-14. See here what they would have the young man to do: “Come with us (v. 11); let us have thy company.’ At first they pretend to ask no more; but the courtship rises higher (v. 14): “Cast in thy lot among us; come in partner with us, join thy force to ours, and let us resolve to live and die together: thou shalt fare as we fare; and let us all have one purse, that what we get together we may spend merrily together,’ for that is it they aim at. Two unreasonable insatiable lusts they propose to themselves the gratification of, and therewith entice their pray into the snare:-
      • 1. Their cruelty. They thirst after blood, and hate those that are innocent and never gave them any provocation, because by their honesty and industry they shame and condemn them: “Let us therefore lay wait for their blood, and lurk privily for them; they are conscious to themselves of no crime and consequently apprehensive of no danger, but travel unarmed; therefore we shall make the more easy prey of them. And, O how sweet it will be to swallow them up alive!’ v. 12. These bloody men would do this as greedily as the hungry lion devours the lamb. If it be objected, “The remains of the murdered will betray the murderers;’ they answer, “No danger of that; we will swallow them whole as those that are buried.’ Who could imagine that human nature should degenerate so far that it should ever be a pleasure to one man to destroy another!
      • 2. Their covetousness. They hope to get a good booty by it (v. 13): “We shall find all precious substance by following this trade. What though we venture our necks by it? we shall fill our houses with spoil.’ See here,
        • (1.) The idea they have of worldly wealth. They call it precious substance; whereas it is neither substance nor precious; it is a shadow; it is vanity, especially that which is got by robbery, Ps. 62:10. It is as that which is not, which will give a man no solid satisfaction. It is cheap, it is common, yet, in their account, it is precious, and therefore they will hazard their lives, and perhaps their souls, in pursuit of it. It is the ruining mistake of thousands that they over-value the wealth of this world and look on it as precious substance.
        • (2.) The abundance of it which they promise themselves: We shall fill our houses with it. Those who trade with sin promise themselves mighty bargains, and that it will turn to a vast account (All this will I give thee, says the tempter); but they only dream that they eat; the housefuls dwindle into scarcely a handful, like the grass on the house-tops.
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Let us lie in wait for blood | P1-V11

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The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

The flesh—our human flesh—in and of itself, is not sin, but is the representation of a decision made long long ago.

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

We are born into this life innocent as infants, but there is an issue, we are not innocent. We are actually separated from that definition; because God is innocent, we are missing that component of true innocences, and are guilty as sin. But thankfully our God had a goal in mind whenever we broke covenant with Him long long ago.

Genesis 3:20 Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.

INNOCENT

In reading the above passage—The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them—from Genesis 3, what do you think God used to cloth Adam and his wife? The garments of skin that represent our flesh is innocent in and of itself because it functions exactly as a body is designed to function, unless we change its design—which is exactly what Adam and his wife attempted by making coverings using fig leaves. They realized that they were no longer innocent, but guilty, deserving of the death that God warned would happen. And so, now, here we are… dying; generation after generation experiences the significance of sin. We try and try to, literally, cover our own ass, by making up excuses to justify our wrong. But there is hope, God had a plan—Redemption!

Jesus is the innocent One, born without sin—meaning without the seed of Adam—from the virgin, Mary. Jesus was, is, and will always be, the plan for taking away the sin of the world (you and me), and redeeming us as reconciled to God. But how is this possible for human kind considering life has continued on as it has after Christ was crucified on the cross nearly 2000 years ago? It’s possible by believing that grace saves through faith, and we have a choice to believe that Jesus, is the grace, to our faith; that belief structure, intern, resurrects in us, a new creature—no longer bound by the guilt of sin in our soul. We are redeemed! Death will have its course until the day of Christ; faith in Jesus is our compass of confidence as we live through this death. And that is why we pray, Jesus, come. Amen

Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

  • Can you accept responsibility for sin?
  • Will you accept that you cannot pay off your sin with good deeds?
  • Do you accept the grace of God?
  • Is your faith in Jesus Christ for redemption from sin? (new creature—transformed mind)

RECOURSE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Romans 12: 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V11) Commentary
Here Solomon gives another general rule to young people, in order to their finding out, and keeping in, the paths of wisdom, and that is to take heed of the snare of bad company. David’s psalms begin with this caution, and so do Solomon’s proverbs; for nothing is more destructive, both to a lively devotion and to a regular conversation (v. 10): “My son, whom I love, and have a tender concern for, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.’ This is good advice for parents to give their children when they send them abroad into the world; it is the same that St. Peter gave to his new converts, (Acts 2:40), Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Observe,

  • 1. How industrious wicked people are to seduce others into the paths of the destroyer: they will entice. Sinners love company in sin; the angels that fell were tempters almost as soon as they were sinners. They do not threaten or argue, but entice with flattery and fair speech; with a bait they draw the unwary young man to the hook. But they mistake if they think that by bringing others to partake with them in their guilt, and to be bound, as it were, in the bond with them, they shall have the less to pay themselves; for they will have so much the more to answer for.
  • 2. How cautious young people should be that they be not seduced by them: “Consent thou not; and then, though they entice thee, they cannot force thee. Do not say as they say, nor do as they do or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them.’ To enforce this caution,
    • I. He represents the fallacious reasonings which sinners use in their enticements, and the arts of wheedling which they have for the beguiling of unstable souls. He specifies highwaymen, who do what they can to draw others into their gang, v. 11-14. See here what they would have the young man to do: “Come with us (v. 11); let us have thy company.’ At first they pretend to ask no more; but the courtship rises higher (v. 14): “Cast in thy lot among us; come in partner with us, join thy force to ours, and let us resolve to live and die together: thou shalt fare as we fare; and let us all have one purse, that what we get together we may spend merrily together,’ for that is it they aim at. Two unreasonable insatiable lusts they propose to themselves the gratification of, and therewith entice their pray into the snare:-
      • 1. Their cruelty. They thirst after blood, and hate those that are innocent and never gave them any provocation, because by their honesty and industry they shame and condemn them: “Let us therefore lay wait for their blood, and lurk privily for them; they are conscious to themselves of no crime and consequently apprehensive of no danger, but travel unarmed; therefore we shall make the more easy prey of them. And, O how sweet it will be to swallow them up alive!’ v. 12. These bloody men would do this as greedily as the hungry lion devours the lamb. If it be objected, “The remains of the murdered will betray the murderers;’ they answer, “No danger of that; we will swallow them whole as those that are buried.’ Who could imagine that human nature should degenerate so far that it should ever be a pleasure to one man to destroy another!
      • 2. Their covetousness. They hope to get a good booty by it (v. 13): “We shall find all precious substance by following this trade. What though we venture our necks by it? we shall fill our houses with spoil.’ See here,
        • (1.) The idea they have of worldly wealth. They call it precious substance; whereas it is neither substance nor precious; it is a shadow; it is vanity, especially that which is got by robbery, Ps. 62:10. It is as that which is not, which will give a man no solid satisfaction. It is cheap, it is common, yet, in their account, it is precious, and therefore they will hazard their lives, and perhaps their souls, in pursuit of it. It is the ruining mistake of thousands that they over-value the wealth of this world and look on it as precious substance.
        • (2.) The abundance of it which they promise themselves: We shall fill our houses with it. Those who trade with sin promise themselves mighty bargains, and that it will turn to a vast account (All this will I give thee, says the tempter); but they only dream that they eat; the housefuls dwindle into scarcely a handful, like the grass on the house-tops.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

If sinners entice you | P1-V10

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The Enticement of Sinners

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

This verse reminds me of when Jesus was enticed by the devil in the wilderness, but Jesus prevailed. This world represented by sinners, eagerly entices us away from our faith in Christ by its many indulgences; just one more drink; just one more social media post; one more opportunity to become somebody; one more sin; just one more [fill in the ______], but whatever it takes to ignore the conviction of truth heard from God.

The pleasantries of immediate satisfaction that sinners aim to have every moment is like Sirens to the hearts of men; there is pleasure in the heart of death, but pain in the salvation of the soul because of the truth about knowledge. Wisdom teaches us through the words and behavior of our Lord during the time of His temptation how faith is secure in Christ. Jesus faced the options to the concept of “just one more” temptation to prove the evidence of a KING, but did not accept. What did Jesus say?

Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” 11 Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Jesus rebuked Satan, and Satan went away. The power of darkness consumes us sinners to death, but God in His love and mercy blessed us with a faith to believe in Jesus—not forced, but given. We worship the Lord our God through faith by believing in Jesus Christ. To have Jesus means we have the Holy Spirit to help us discern good and evil, and to rebuke that which is evil in ourselves.

  • What temptation are you currently facing?
  • Is your faith secure in the promise of Christ?
  • Are you rebuking that which is evil?
  • Do you believe that Jesus is alive in you?

RECOURSE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V10) Commentary
Here Solomon gives another general rule to young people, in order to their finding out, and keeping in, the paths of wisdom, and that is to take heed of the snare of bad company. David’s psalms begin with this caution, and so do Solomon’s proverbs; for nothing is more destructive, both to a lively devotion and to a regular conversation (v. 10): “My son, whom I love, and have a tender concern for, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.’ This is good advice for parents to give their children when they send them abroad into the world; it is the same that St. Peter gave to his new converts, (Acts 2:40), Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Observe,

  • 1. How industrious wicked people are to seduce others into the paths of the destroyer: they will entice. Sinners love company in sin; the angels that fell were tempters almost as soon as they were sinners. They do not threaten or argue, but entice with flattery and fair speech; with a bait they draw the unwary young man to the hook. But they mistake if they think that by bringing others to partake with them in their guilt, and to be bound, as it were, in the bond with them, they shall have the less to pay themselves; for they will have so much the more to answer for.
  • 2. How cautious young people should be that they be not seduced by them: “Consent thou not; and then, though they entice thee, they cannot force thee. Do not say as they say, nor do as they do or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them.’ To enforce this caution,
    • I. He represents the fallacious reasonings which sinners use in their enticements, and the arts of wheedling which they have for the beguiling of unstable souls. He specifies highwaymen, who do what they can to draw others into their gang, v. 11-14. See here what they would have the young man to do: “Come with us (v. 11); let us have thy company.’ At first they pretend to ask no more; but the courtship rises higher (v. 14): “Cast in thy lot among us; come in partner with us, join thy force to ours, and let us resolve to live and die together: thou shalt fare as we fare; and let us all have one purse, that what we get together we may spend merrily together,’ for that is it they aim at. Two unreasonable insatiable lusts they propose to themselves the gratification of, and therewith entice their pray into the snare:-
      • 1. Their cruelty. They thirst after blood, and hate those that are innocent and never gave them any provocation, because by their honesty and industry they shame and condemn them: “Let us therefore lay wait for their blood, and lurk privily for them; they are conscious to themselves of no crime and consequently apprehensive of no danger, but travel unarmed; therefore we shall make the more easy prey of them. And, O how sweet it will be to swallow them up alive!’ v. 12. These bloody men would do this as greedily as the hungry lion devours the lamb. If it be objected, “The remains of the murdered will betray the murderers;’ they answer, “No danger of that; we will swallow them whole as those that are buried.’ Who could imagine that human nature should degenerate so far that it should ever be a pleasure to one man to destroy another!
      • 2. Their covetousness. They hope to get a good booty by it (v. 13): “We shall find all precious substance by following this trade. What though we venture our necks by it? we shall fill our houses with spoil.’ See here,
        • (1.) The idea they have of worldly wealth. They call it precious substance; whereas it is neither substance nor precious; it is a shadow; it is vanity, especially that which is got by robbery, Ps. 62:10. It is as that which is not, which will give a man no solid satisfaction. It is cheap, it is common, yet, in their account, it is precious, and therefore they will hazard their lives, and perhaps their souls, in pursuit of it. It is the ruining mistake of thousands that they over-value the wealth of this world and look on it as precious substance.
        • (2.) The abundance of it which they promise themselves: We shall fill our houses with it. Those who trade with sin promise themselves mighty bargains, and that it will turn to a vast account (All this will I give thee, says the tempter); but they only dream that they eat; the housefuls dwindle into scarcely a handful, like the grass on the house-tops.
belief-structure, Personality, Therapy

Nathan’s Public Journal | I

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Monday, 12/7/2020

Here I sit, cameras in view, the time for me to be off duty is fast approaching. It’s nearly 06:00 (military time) coming off of a 12hr deep night shift during the weekend. My occupation is as a level 2 Private Security Officer and my work schedule is not ideal, but it’s currently the closest to my preference considering the options; this schedule fits my focus at this duration of my life. That focus is … well, we’ll get to that, but right now I’m still getting over this cringe.

I didn’t realize just how, hmmm … damaged I was, until re-reading some of my material of old. I can see where my mind would get stuck in the trauma of my past; a lot of my first posts I’d published nearly 3 years ago are written in a language of which feels, irreconcilable. I think, needless to say, I’m thankful for the grace—to be ever learning through undeveloped skills—of inexperience; the mistakes are endless, and that’s frustrating (I learn hands-on). However, there is a story in my mess waiting to be written, just not yet. Alright—time to head home.

So… now I hope, is as good-a-time as any to welcome you to my journal. If you’ve followed along with me (I know those of you who have) until now, you know this about me. I’ve been thinking about this journal idea for too long now (like yesterday—that’s a joke); writing happens to be very therapeutic for me, so uh… thank you, Therapist, I guess. This idea is much-much more than a therapy session you get to sit in on to hear all about my life’s drama. It will be an empirical psychology, only it’s written to be watched through the lens of intuition and imagination that writing/reading ignites!

Psychology—according to wordnik—at its core; the study of the human soul. And there is where I’m going to learn how my salvation is alive! I don’t know about you, but I want to understand my soul. And more than that, I want to understand the relationship between salvation of the human soul and God. I want to learn about what my belief structure means; I found someone in the field of psychology, a mentor. I’m exercising (like working out in the gym or fitness center) the weight of the gospel in my conscience. So I thought, “Well, what if my ‘T4P’ people want to keep a watchful eye on this progress and quite possibly, discover something of their own by this as well?” A big part of this idea goes out to Dallas Fluegel (check em out on YouTube) because I really like how he has structured—is structuring—himself by his videos, and want to apply that to my life.

Tuesday, 12/8/2020

What if you could understand your personality?

Function the way that you do?

Feel the way that you feel?

Does that not sound absolutely terrifying, it’s so awesome! Anyway, there are reasons I behave the way I do as soon as I wake-up into this world of causality that provides insight into who Nathan is and why he is, the way he is. I want to tap into that meaning of myself, so… here it goes. *Let’s make this a page turner.

Pages: 1 2 3
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

The beginning of knowledge (Fear God) | P1-V7

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The Usefulness of Proverbs

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I tattooed “FEAR GOD” on my chest back in the day as a reminder to this rule, this principle, that teaches us youngsters in the faith—the beginning of knowledge. I don’t mean to encourage anyone getting a tattoo, but rather stress the importance of always to remember what the fear of the Lord means. The fear of the Lord at it’s core is a reverence of our Holy Father in Christ the Lord—Jesus.

FEAR

Fear in the context of a child in respect to their parents is how we ought to behave when addressed by God or when inquiring the affairs of God. That also includes everything about this moment of my writing and your reading. All of our present experience is inspired from the source of our cause, for example; the focus of this devotion is derived from that fear of the Lord as trust is established in God. There is no reason to fear that which is evil if our faith is truly to believe in the Person of Jesus Christ—the Word of God. God is good, and to accuse our good God of being evil, is evil.

And so when we as a rebellious people on this edge of contemplation about God are finally disciplined to one conclusion, there is a choice we must make: (a) Trust this good God at His Word as our heavenly Father by believing in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; or (b) deny the grace of which means to save your soul, and accept the consequence to your choice as an enemy to God—of which will be the judgement that claims your soul according to your sin. I pray you’ll choose the former, not because it hits the pride where it needs to, but because God is Someone we can trust by believing the Word of Jesus Christ—Truth.

FOOL

When engaging with the activities of this world, it’s so natural to be brought back to the reality of a fool. We become so drunk with time; always busy or despairing. Be mindful of our time here on earth, but don’t live like there’s no tomorrow or you’ll miss the eternity of today. Don’t worry about anything, fast from everything. Do not wish to, seek to, or love to save your soul in this life because whoever loses their soul for Jesus’ sake and the gospel’s will preserve their soul to life eternal.

RECOURSE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. The Enticement of Sinners 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it.

Luke 17:33 Whoever strives to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will keep it.

John 12:25 The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V7) Commentary
Solomon, having undertaken to teach a young man knowledge and discretion, here lays down two general rules to be observed in order thereunto, and those are, to fear God and honour his parents, which two fundamental laws of morality Pythagoras begins his golden verses with, but the former of them in a wretchedly corrupted state. Primum, deos immortales cole, parentesque honora-First worship the immortal gods, and honour your parents. To make young people such as they should be,

  • I. Let them have regard to God as their supreme.
    • 1. He lays down this truth, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (v. 7); it is the principal part of knowledge (so the margin); it is the head of knowledge; that is,
      • (1.) Of all things that are to be known this is most evident, that God is to be feared, to be reverenced, served, and worshipped; this is so the beginning of knowledge that those know nothing who do not know this.
      • (2.) In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by the instructions that are given us unless our minds be possessed with a holy reverence of God, and every thought within us be brought into obedience to him. If any man will do his will, he shall know of his doctrine, Jn. 7:17.
      • (3.) As all our knowledge must take rise from the fear of God, so it must tend to it as its perfection and centre. Those know enough who know how to fear God, who are careful in every thing to please him and fearful of offending him in any thing; this is the Alpha and Omega of knowledge.
    • 2. To confirm this truth, that an eye to God must both direct and quicken all our pursuits of knowledge, he observes, Fools (atheists, who have no regard to God) despise wisdom and instruction; having no dread at all of God’s wrath, nor any desire of his favour, they will not give you thanks for telling them what they may do to escape his wrath and obtain his favour. Those who say to the Almighty, Depart from us, who are so far from fearing him that they set him at defiance, can excite no surprise if they desire not the knowledge of his ways, but despise that instruction. Note, Those are fools who do not fear God and value the scriptures; and though they may pretend to be admirers of wit they are really strangers and enemies to wisdom.
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley, Salvational Engineering, Spiritual Insights

To understand the words of the wise | P1-V6

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The Usefulness of Proverbs

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.

It’s been nearly a month since I wrote of how the wisest person on the face of the planet received their wisdom—The proverbs of Solomon. And now here we are in the 21st century being fed of its milk and meat to understand the words of the wise and their riddles.

SPIRITUAL MILK AND MEAT

Take milk and meat as our example to a figure of spiritual speech: (a) milk is our figure of speech for those recently born into Jesus Christ by their awareness of good and evil, and (b) meat is for those grown to handle the many questions that newborns will have regarding this developing faith by their understanding to the meaning of the knowledge of good and evil.

NEW BELIEVER

If you believed in the gospel last month, your faith is in dire need of milk (the Word of God) provided through the sustenance of our Church Body (your local christian church). The Word of God has revealed to you your condition of death that separates you from God; in other words you’ve reached a state of awareness [enlightenment] to the nature of your condition—spiritual condition—of which condemns you to death because of sin. At this stage of development the soul hungers for the pure milk of the Word because eternal life is a promised result upon believing, but it takes time to grow.

The Helper (Holy Spirit) is that established energy and power of wisdom and truth; Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. You will go through a process of being born while aware of the experience, not like being born as a human baby of which we don’t recall; because a soul that is condemned to death ignores the wrath of God which is directed at the sin, not the person, that person has made a conscious choice to accept the wrath of God rather than repent of their sin by faith in Christ. So there is an experience of deep mourning or spiritual grieving by the separating of loved ones during this process of faith development; they are not accepting this truth when we are, and it’s a very painful spiritual endurance, but this experience is very necessary because it intimate-izes our relationship to God.

TEENAGE BELIEVER

At this stage of our faith development there are worldly experiences that will test us, train us, and much pain (healthy pain); think of it as becoming a super saiyan—dragon ball z style! Any of you readers familiar? Okay, well, the point is that our personality transforms into the calling of God; the ministry of reconciliation is taking shape in our psychology, and our faith is developing into a responsibility. Our frame of reference is shifting from an earthly temperial perspective to an immortally eternal perspective; so there will be much discipline from your parents (another figure of speech) whom—if is in Christ—will raise you up in that discipline of our heavenly Father. Expect much correction with edification as your soul is resurrecting to life from the dead (even though you’re awake to witness it).

Remember, it took 3 days before our Lord was resurrected from the dead and many more days later before ascending into heaven to be at the right hand of God our Father; so don’t let anyone try and tell you that this process of conversion happens simply in the day of which you believe, it takes time in respect of salvation. And as we continue to devote ourselves to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will teach us the meaning of Truth; we will learn how to see through the facade of the deceiver, and discern good and evil.

RECOURSE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

Hebrews 5:11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Luke 3:16 John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer  for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one  according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,  19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

COMMENTARY

Matthew Henry (P1-V6) Commentary
2. As an interpreter (v. 6)-to understand a proverb. Solomon was himself famous for expounding riddles and resolving hard questions, which was of old the celebrated entertainment of the eastern princes, witness the solutions he gave to the enquiries with which the queen of Sheba thought to puzzle him. Now here he undertakes to furnish his readers with that talent, as far as would be serviceable to the best purposes. “They shall understand a proverb, even the interpretation, without which the proverb is a nut uncracked; when they hear a wise saying, though it be figurative, they shall take the sense of it, and know how to make use of it.’ The words of the wise are sometimes dark sayings. In St. Paul’s epistles there is that which is hard to be understood; but to those who, being well-versed in the scriptures, know how to compare spiritual things with spiritual, they will be easy and safe; so that, if you ask them, Have you understood all these things? they may answer, Yea, Lord. Note, It is a credit to religion when men of honesty are men of sense; all good people therefore should aim to be intelligent, and run to and fro, take pains in the use of means, that their knowledge may be increased.

OUTLINE

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

To give prudence, knowledge, and discretion | P1-V4

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The Usefulness of Proverbs

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion,

Scott has no idea who I am, but I was curious as to how long it takes for a seed to germinate and grow? The research brought me to his YouTube channel that is very… fitting, I think—for lack of a better word—considering yesterdays devo. In his video Scott has two avocado seeds; one seed germinated in a couple days whereas the other took about eleven months (11 months!) to germinate.

It’s unknown the reason for the 11 month old seed to have finally germinated, but it goes to show that even in right conditions the seed might not be ready—for the day of Christ—until hanging on the cross.

Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

PRUDENCE

There is a metaphor in these two avocado seeds; Jesus being the first fruits raised from the dead, and after that those who are Christ’s at His coming. Wisdom is giving us prudence by explaining the right environment (that we are currently in) to germinate and grow, but we must be honest and truthful about this environment. If we are not, then we are in danger of choosing to be naïve likely to grow as chaff and burned in unquenchable fire, rather than wheat put into a barn.

  • What about me is the Holy Spirit convicting me of?
  • What is the condition of my faith in Jesus?
  • Am I growing as wheat or chaff?
  • What chaff needs to be removed?

However, if you’re young having tasted what sin is might not be naïve, but suffering. You might be suffering because you haven’t tasted of the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come. You might be in need of discipline that reveals knowledge and produces discretion by what you understand as having been truly separated from God; the consequence, and responsibility, of living as a free agent experiencing the elemental nature of our ‘good and evil’ existence.

  • Are you suffering?
  • Do you blame God?
  • Have you accepted forgiveness?
  • Have you extended forgiveness?

It’s important that our encompassing field is an environment of faith for our heart to grow in the good Word of God. And as we continue to devote ourselves to the instruction of Wisdom throughout our day, we’ll germinate in a field of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

RECOURSE

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. The Enticement of Sinners 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Matthew Henry (P1-V2) Commentary
III. For whose use they were written, v. 4. They are of use to all, but are designed especially,

  • 1. For the simple, to give subtlety to them. The instructions here given are plain and easy, and level to the meanest capacity, the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein; and those are likely to receive benefit by them who are sensible of their own ignorance and their need to be taught, and are therefore desirous to receive instruction; and those who receive these instructions in their light and power, though they be simple, will hereby be made subtle, graciously crafty to know the sin they should avoid and the duty they should do, and to escape the tempter’s wiles. He that is harmless as the dove by observing Solomon’s rules may become wise as the serpent; and he that has been sinfully foolish when he begins to govern himself by the word of God becomes graciously wise.
  • 2. For young people, to give them knowledge and discretion. Youth is the learning age, catches at instructions, receives impressions, and retains what is then received; it is therefore of great consequence that the mind be then seasoned well, nor can it receive a better tincture than from Solomon’s proverbs. Youth is rash, and heady, and inconsiderate; man is born like the wild ass’s colt, and therefore needs to be broken by the restraints and managed by the rules we find here. And, if young people will but take heed to their ways according to Solomon’s proverbs, they will soon gain the knowledge and discretion of the ancients. Solomon had an eye to posterity in writing this book, hoping by it to season the minds of the rising generation with the generous principles of wisdom and virtue.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,  24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 

Matthew 3:12 “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Hebrews 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

OUTLINE

-Holy Spirit (Wisdom)
-Discipline of the Holy Spirit
-Love of a Holy God—Father
-Consequence and Responsibility

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

The proverbs of Solomon | P1-V1

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The Usefulness of Proverbs

Proverbs 1; I die daily devotional.

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

Okay! There are 33 verses in this chapter which will take us into the new year—2021 and beyond! But here’s the thing. As I continue on this trajectory (a verse at a time through the book of proverbs) the 14th chapter of proverbs will bring us into the year 2022. So by the looks of it we won’t finish every verse in the book of proverbs until sometime in 2023, and that’s ok. The important thing is devoting ourselves to the Word of God and building our “house” [personality] of wisdom.

PROVERBS

These proverbs produced in Solomon are the words of God expressed in the human flesh of Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God. When we learn and apply these proverbs with the parables of our Lord Jesus Christ, a knew flavor to the fruit of our Spirit is experienced, and the taste is heaven. These words of wisdom are the tools we need to build her house, she has hewn her seven pillars. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. There is nothing about our world of sin that has any part in the kingdom of God, that is why our gift of God is a relationship between the value of God’s grace and the value of faith in His Word to resurrect us to Himself through Jesus Christ; or does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice? We are the Church, the Bride of Christ, and we represent the Kingdom of God here on earth until our Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Recourse

Proverbs 1 (NASB)—blueletterbible.org
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. The Enticement of Sinners 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23  “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naïve will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Matthew Henry (P1-V1) Commentary
We have here an introduction to this book, which some think was prefixed by the collector and publisher, as Ezra; but it is rather supposed to have been penned by Solomon himself, who, in the beginning of his book, proposes his end in writing it, that he might keep to his business, and closely pursue that end. We are here told,

  • I. Who wrote these wise sayings, v. 1. They are the proverbs of Solomon.
    • 1. His name signifies peaceable, and the character both of his spirit and of his reign answered to it; both were peaceable. David, whose life was full of troubles, wrote a book of devotion; for is any afflicted? let him pray. Solomon, who lived quietly, wrote a book of instruction; for when the churches had rest they were edified. In times of peace we should learn ourselves, and teach others, that which in troublous times both they and we must practise.
    • 2. He was the son of David; it was his honour to stand related to that good man, and he reckoned it so with good reason, for he fared the better for it, 1 Ki. 11:12. He had been blessed with a good education, and many a good prayer had been put up for him (Ps. 72:1), the effect of both which appeared in his wisdom and usefulness. The generation of the upright are sometimes thus blessed, that they are made blessings, eminent blessings, in their day. Christ is often called the Son of David, and Solomon was a type of him in this, as in other things, that he opened his mouth in parables or proverbs.
    • 3. He was king of Israel-a king, and yet it was no disparagement to him to be an instructor of the ignorant, and a teacher of babes-king of Israel, that people among whom God was known and his name was great; among them he learned wisdom, and to them he communicated it. All the earth sought to Solomon to hear his wisdom, which excelled all men’s (1 Ki. 4:30; 10:24); it was an honour to Israel that their king was such a dictator, such an oracle. Solomon was famous for apophthegms; every word he said had weight in it, and something that was surprising and edifying. His servants who attended him, and heard his wisdom, had, among them, collected 3000 proverbs of his which they wrote in their day-books; but these were of his own writing, and do not amount to nearly a thousand. In these he was divinely inspired. Some think that out of those other proverbs of his, which were not so inspired, the apocryphal books of Ecclesiasticus and the Wisdom of Solomon were compiled, in which are many excellent sayings, and of great use; but, take altogether, they are far short of this book. The Roman emperors had each of them his symbol or motto, as many now have with their coat of arms. But Solomon had many weighty sayings, not as theirs, borrowed from others, but all the product of that extraordinary wisdom which God had endued him with.

OUTLINE

-Meditate and Pray
-Verse by verse structure of chapter 1
-Start with the first verse

-[Nathan’s] personal insight
-Resources
-Outline
-Prepare to publish, then publish

-Prepare for tomorrow (Lord willing)

LORD WILLING

-Meditate and Pray
-Build V.2 devotional
-Apply the same procedure from V.1

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Bold as a lion

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Warnings and Instructions

Proverbs 28; I die daily devotional.

1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

After reading the commentary for this verse provided in our resource, I appreciated the connection between the wicked flee when no one is pursuing, and guilt.

"Guilt in the conscience makes men a terror to themselves, so that they are ready to flee when none pursues; like one that absconds for debt, who thinks every one he meets a bailiff."—Matthew Henry

As I meditate on this verse and commentary, think to myself, “how does it apply to me.” In my head this exercise works, but now, how to articulate it into writing where it makes sense? That’s quite the psychological exercise because it’s no longer about me, but the relationships between: God, the author to this proverb, Matthew Henry (17th/18th century biblical commentator), myself, and you. However, I’ve already hinted at the focus, “How does this apply to us?” And a deluded paranoia comes over me by the thought that I’ve done something so terribly wrong that it’s impossible for me to be forgiven and reconciled to a holy God.

“Why is that—” I ask myself, and then remember my guilt. I remember how I was sexually abused. I remember how I was physically abused; psychologically abused; spiritually abused. But then I also remember how all that abuse—much like a virus invading cells—invaded to reprogram my psyche, and a lot of what happened to me convinced me of a different identity. I’d become the virus. I’m guilty! So now that the virus has successfully reprogrammed me, I flee. I make excuse after excuse to avoid the truth because the truth is pursuing me. … Is it?

BOLD AS A LION

It’s time to face the virus. I won’t forget my wife Laura in agreement to the encouragement of our friends, “go to this ‘re:generation‘ program” that my church provides, which is basically like going to A.A. meetings, but on steroids—so I thought. Okay maybe not steroids, but I think you get the point. I also won’t forget how Laura decided to go along with me as though she didn’t need it, and well—I’ll let her tell you that story—because that woman was dead wrong up-in-dis-house. As soon as we arrived at our first meeting, we’re separated (women with women and men with men), it felt sketchy the first couple of sessions, but it was a safe place. After I’d “graduated” the first six weeks, I was given a dedicated group of other adult men with issues all across the spectrum. It came about after 5 months in, all that testosterone was like a bomb going off and we all killed each other! I’m ghostwriting you right now… Are you paying attention? These guys dumped all their heavy weight of sin on the floor to watch it burn—because nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

“Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

To continue in our guilt is to continue in our very … insecurely … wicked behavior, that virus of sin—that does separate us from God. This is why the Word of God is preached and the gospel available to believe because it’s a miracle. You are a miracle! Yes, you could give me reasons to prove against that fact; it only makes sense, when we feel convicted by whatever sin separates us from God. And you might say to me, “But Nathan, you don’t understand what I’ve done! You don’t know the skeletons in my closet!” and you’d be right, but I can tell you this! Nor-do-you-mine! And if I’m here preaching a victory over my sin to you, do you dare challenge the validity of the Lion in me? Because shoot… bear with me another mile, and let me tell about this gospel!

It wasn’t a Lion that conquered the sin in you, but a Lamb. The Lamb of God—given as the sacrifice to atone for not only the “virus” of your enemies if their faith reveal it so, but for you, your sin. And if God were to have it be that your enemies be turned back to Him even after the injustice done against you, who are you oh man to talk back to the Lion of God—Jesus Christ. Is it not righteous to hope for those guilty of injustice to experience remorse, a conscience convicted, and forgiveness extended being reconciled to God? Is that not what it means to be as bold as a lion?

Don’t be afraid or a coward to confess the nature of what is hidden deep within you. If you believe in God through Jesus Christ then you have a Lion inside you, willing to help clean up all your mess. Find someone you know in the Lord, someone you can trust with all your soul, and let them pray over you—be healed.

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Resources

Proverbs 28 (NASB)—blueletterbible
1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion. 2 By the transgression of a land many are its princes, But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures. 3 A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain which leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all things. 6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich. 7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. 8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. 9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. 10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good. 11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding sees through him. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. 13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. 14 How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. 15 Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. 17 A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him. 18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is crooked will fall all at once. 19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress. 22 A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him. 23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue. 24 He who robs his father or his mother And says, “It is not a transgression,” Is the companion of a man who destroys. 25 An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. 26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered. 27 He who gives to the poor will never want, But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses. 28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

See here, (28:1—Matthew Henry Commentary)
1. What continual frights those are subject to that go on in wicked ways. Guilt in the conscience makes men a terror to themselves, so that they are ready to flee when none pursues; like one that absconds for debt, who thinks every one he meets a bailiff. Though they pretend to be easy, there are secret fears which haunt them wherever they go, so that they fear where no present or imminent danger is, Ps. 53:5. Those that have made God their enemy, and know it, cannot but see the whole creation at war with them, and therefore can have no true enjoyment of themselves, no confidence, no courage, but a fearful looking for of judgment. Sin makes men cowards.

Degeneres animos timor arguit-
Fear argues a degenerate soul.—Virgil

Quos diri conscia facti mens habet attonitos-
The consciousness of atrocious crimes astonishes and confounds.—Juvenal

If they flee when none pursues, what will they do when they shall see God himself pursuing them with his armies? Job 20:24; 15:24. See Deu. 28:25; Lev. 26:36.

2. What a holy security and serenity of mind those enjoy who keep conscience void of offence and so keep themselves in the love of God: The righteous are bold as a lion, as a young lion; in the greatest dangers they have a God of almighty power to trust to. Therefore will not we fear though the earth be removed. Whatever difficulties they meet with in the way of their duty, they are not daunted by them. None of those things move me.

Hie murus aheneus esto, nil conscire sibi-
Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence,
Still to preserve thy conscious innocence.—Hor.

OUTLINE

-One verse at a time.
-Provide commentary.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

A Good Name

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On Life and Conduct

Proverbs 22; I die daily devotional.

1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.

There is so much content with these proverbs that I think I bit off more than I can chew doing them a chapter at a time. So I’m going to spice it up a little differently for the remainder of our proverbs. Although, I will say that this exercise has expanded my horizon for the future because I do hope to have devotionals/commentary of each chapter of every book in the bible—Lord willing.

A GOOD NAME

What does a good name look like to you, I wonder? What is wisdom telling us here—A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. I’ve noticed that wisdom compares the value of character to wealth, not just in this verse, but throughout proverbs; that how we develop our character is where our true value is, not in how much stock we have. What do you think of as favor? And how is it better than silver or gold? Favor is extended as … well … this is where I’d like to search out the science, but it’s an expression extended upon someone that meets the eye. It’s relational, it has everything to do with a person to person relationship; this type of transaction between people is not something that is bought. We are loved by a Good Name, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Some questions to think about:

  • Where are the qualities that make for a good name supplied?
  • How are these qualities obtained for character development?
  • What about me do people favor?
  • What about me do people disfavor, and is there something to be done about it?

Resource

Proverbs 22 (NASB)—blueletterbible.com

2 The rich and the poor have a common bond, The LORD is the maker of them all. 3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,But the naive go on, and are punished for it. 4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. 8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish. 9 He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease. 11 He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend. 12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man. 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside; I will be killed in the streets!” 14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it. 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. 16 He who oppresses the poor to make more for himself Or who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. 17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; 18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. 19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you. 20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, 21 To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you? 22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them. 24 Do not associate with a man given to anger; Or go with a hot-tempered man, 25 Or you will learn his ways And find a snare for yourself. 26 Do not be among those who give pledges, Among those who become guarantors for debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take your bed from under you? 28 Do not move the ancient boundary Which your fathers have set. 29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Proverbs 20; Wine is a mocker…

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On Life and Conduct

Proverbs 20; I die daily devotional.

When I think, metaphorically, of wine and hard drink. I think of vices specific to influence the mind—not just alcohol—such as: prescription drugs, marijuana, caffeine, pornography, etc. (any substance that deals directly with the psyche). It’s not that we should feel guilty when enjoying a beverage, but that we understand the consequences of its intoxication. Wisdom teaches us what we don’t have to experience. That means we don’t have to get our kids drunk in order for them to learn the consequences of too much alcohol. So don’t go and find your favorite flavor of sin, become intoxicated and say, “OohHhaA that’s what wisdom meant”. No, don’t do that, avoid the substance of stupid.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of
a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits
his own life.
3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a
man, But any fool will quarrel.
4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn,
So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.

Yessss… Jesus turned water into wine, but that wine is symbolic to the blood of the new covenant, His blood. And if we are reading the Word of God, then we are drinking all the wine we need!

6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But
who can find a trustworthy man?
7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
How blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of justice
Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am
pure from my sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the LORD.

If you and I are inspired by the Holy Spirit, then you and I live as archetypal kings that sits on thrones of justice to disperse all evil from our eyes! If we believe in Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God), we can say that we’ve cleansed our hearts, and in faith, are pure from our sin.

11 It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes
himself If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The
LORD has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become
poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied
with food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, But
when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious
thing.

Our deeds distinguish us by how we conduct ourselves. Are you pure and right? I would like to know whether I am, but my wife reminds me without my asking (perks of marriage); you don’t have to be married, intimate friends in Christ will do the same (perks of what marriage means). As for now, I can tell you that I (personally) have much work to do, but stick with me and watch the Holy Spirit work to the glory of Jesus Christ.

16 Take his garment when he becomes surety
for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him
in pledge.
17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to
a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled
with gravel.
18 Prepare plans by consultation, And make
war by wise guidance.
19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
20 He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.

We are at war with spiritual wickedness that manifests through us when we choose to sin rather than repent. So let’s go to war with the sin that so eagerly desires to devour our souls and the souls of our loved ones. Don’t fear what it is evil, fear the Lord who casts out evil. Perfect love casts out fear.

21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the
beginning Will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; Wait for the
LORD, and He will save you.
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the
LORD, And a false scale is not good.
24 Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And after the vows to make inquiry.

I find it easy for me to compare myself to people who seem to have it all together; they’re structured, they have the right job, the right family, the perfect score! I also find it easy for me to compare myself to people who don’t have it all together; they’re crazy, free to explore, fun friends, revolving jobs, the perfect adventure! The worst part about this comparison issue is how I judge to determine the value of someone else’s life; Person 6’s’ life is what I want, but Person 5 … definitely not. Why does this happen? For me, I think of it as another kind of “substance” abuse; I don’t even have to do drugs or get drunk for this issue. Insecurities have a way of destabilizing me in ways that destroy my character and relationships; when I “drink” that “kool-aid” it looks like delirium, but don’t let that fool you, it’s insecurities that affect everyone. It’s a hard cycle to bend until it’s broken, but with discipline I’ll learn by these proverbs of Wisdom. If you’re with me on that struggle of insecurity, and on this journey with me … I feel you.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked, And drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the innermost parts of his being.
28 Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he
upholds his throne by righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Stripes that wound scour away evil, And strokes reach the innermost parts.

Let’s be KINGS!

Resources

Proverbs 20 (NASB)—Is what I’m using for these devotionals, but personally study with multiple versions.

OUTLINE

  • I have the chapter provided and broken in sections for me to write throughout as you read the chapter at your convenience.
God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it

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Proverbs chapter 17; I die daily devotional.

1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of feasting with strife.

A “dry morsel”, what?! … Okay, after uh-little digging was able to make sense of it.

I think back before I was married, a bachelor in the small city of Wichita Falls Tx, sitting in my living room on the couch with a dry morsel of popcorn watching the movie 2012; …turns out the Mayans were off about 8 years, they must’ve meant 2020, not 2012! And they didn’t even warn us to wear masks; murderers (being facetious)! But there I was… all alone… beside myself. The point is I was at peace in the quietness of my life at that time, living the American dream. And then I got married…

2 A servant who acts wisely will rule
over a son who acts shamefully, And will share
in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace
for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker;
He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

UNEXPECTED

While that was supposed to be funny, there’s truth to the negative connotation because… well… the proverb says—a house full of feasting with strife.

You know, a manual doesn’t come with your spouse at marriage. I mean, look! I tried finding an SOP once I was committed, and not even the Bible was helping me figure out how to work this thing. It was crazy, I’m telling yuh, don’t do it! “Run! Run away!” That’s actually what the SOP said! The apostle Paul does give a fair warning, but what the heck… How was I supposed to know that sex wasn’t all there was to it, that there’s actually a WHOLE LOT MORE to marriage than the sex part? “I wanna redo, that’s not fair!” No, not really, of course, but the sad reality did hit us hard at the first few years of our marriage. I enjoyed alcohol; Laura did not. I wanted to eat whenever and wherever as a family; Laura wanted to eat as a family at the kitchen table at a specific time. I wanted sex everyday; Laura wanted quality time everyday.

The challenges of marriage go on into eternity and the information is a mountain to explore, but once the mystery of marriage is learned, prepared, and decided… There are no words to describe the value and ecstasy of such a gift as marriage!

6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are lying lips to a prince.
8 A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter
separates intimate friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who
has understanding Than a hundred
blows into a fool.

As I dug into the scriptures, I also found an excellent commentary, (I thought) by Matthew Henry:

1. Those that live in unity and quietness, not only free from jealousies and animosities, but vying in mutual endearments, and obliging to one another, live very comfortably, though they are low in the world, work hard and fare hard, though they have but each of them a morsel, and that a dry morsel. There may be peace and quietness where there are not three meals a day, provided there by a joint satisfaction in God’s providence and a mutual satisfaction in each other’s prudence. Holy love may be found in a cottage.

2. Those that live in contention, that are always jarring and brawling, and reflecting upon one another, though they have plenty of dainties, a house full of sacrifices, live uncomfortably; they cannot expect the blessing of God upon them and what they have, nor can they have any true relish of their enjoyments, much less any peace in their own consciences. Love will sweeten a dry morsel, but strife will sour and embitter a house full of sacrifices. A little of the leaven of malice will leaven all the enjoyments.

And I couldn’t help but feel bias, and connected to it because of what the meaning of the word providence means for me personally, but in the commentary I found—”There may be peace and quietness where there are not three meals a day, provided there by a joint satisfaction in God’s providence and a mutual satisfaction in each other’s prudence. Holy love may be found in a cottage.“

11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He who returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he
who condemns the righteous, Both of them
alike are an abomination to the LORD.

ABANDON THE QUARREL

Learning how to abandon the quarrel in marriage and or all-in-encompassing relationships is quite the reward—not that we abandon people or discussions—because information is invaluable to the relationships we mean to build.

Although… Don’t get me wrong; there are people of ‘family and friends’ that you don’t need to be in a relationship with; for instance, the devil. Laura and I watched this movie, “22 July”—based on a true story—where a right-wing extremist in Norway murders 77 people in 2011; planted a bomb that killed 8 just outside the office of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in Regjeringskvartalet in central Oslo; then shooting 69 people (mostly teens) at a youth camp on the island of Utoya, 25 miles northwest of Oslo.

(A link is provided at the end of this blog under Resources [not that you’re stupid or anything] to read up on the story in more detail. Hmmm… Hey! That actually gives me some ideas and ways to develop my posts! Anyway—*sorry*)

The question is why, why did Anders Behring Breivik murder 77 people?

According to the resource provided in this blog, a section of it tells us that Ander believed himself to be a “savior of Christianity”:

“Hours before the attacks, Breivik e-mailed a 1,500-page manifesto to 5,700 people, titled 2083 – A European Declaration of Independence. In the document, Breivik attacks multiculturalism and the “threat” of Muslim immigration to Norway, as well as Marxism and the Norwegian Labor Party. Breivik copied large sections of the Unabomber manifesto. Breivik writes that he is a “savior of Christianity,” and claims to be part of an order called the “Knight’s Templar.” Breivik was active on anti-Muslim websites.”

16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool
to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking in sense pledges
And becomes guarantor in the
presence of his neighbor.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife;
He who raises his door seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his
language falls into evil.

crooked mind

Now if that information is accurate about Ander—considering his belief—might be thought of as brother in the faith (a family member of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior). But is he?! And is he someone to build a relationship with? Well of course “…No!”, and “…No”—would be my answer—for reasons that the apostle Paul teaches the (1st) Corinthians in chapters 5 and 6, “…5:12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. …” .

The severity of Anders’ punishment is yet to be experienced; being convicted for “life” (21 years) in a jail cell is not punishment for the devil, it’s his home. However, there is a punishment that God describes as His vengeance (Romans 12:18, Hebrews 10:30) that Ander will experience. Ander made himself out to be a god in opposition against God by giving himself over to do the devil’s work—filled with the heart of Cain, who killed his innocent brother Able (Gen 4)—possessed by an eternal outcome of punishment according to Jude and Matthew 25:

Jude 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

Matthew 25:46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

21 He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe from
the bosom To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one
who has understanding, But the eyes of a
fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
And bitterness to her who bore him.

ways of justice

If we are a people of Christianity that behave as these proverbs contrasts’ the wicked from the good, are we then not testing God at His Word by our wicked behavior? As I write these final words… I think and examine my life …how is my faith discerned and judged by my fellow believers in Christ Jesus? What darkness might be about me that need be exposed—that hasn’t been exposed already? I ask myself the most deepest question I can fathom…

26 It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit
is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent,
is considered wise; When he closes his lips,
he is considered prudent.

“Is jail my home?“

Resources

Anders Behring Breivik (the devil at work)
https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/anders-behring-breivik

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

The plans of the heart belong to man

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Proverbs chapter 16; I die daily devotional.

1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

PLANS

I feel like a got hit so hard I woke up tomorrow, and I nearly did. Laura and I both worked the graveyard shift last night, but had plans for today because we’re off. During the night last night we had planned to prepare a little video for today’s chapter once we were off the clock heading home; because on our way home the colors of the sky change as night turns into day, and as the sky changes, the colors complement the Dallas Tx skyscrapers in a way that inspires you to marvel in awe and wonder! So our schedule was a productive one to start the day today. But uhhh… That obviously didn’t happen! As soon as we made it home, it was lights-out, figuratively and literally! And it was only about an hour ago (6p) that I officially rolled out of bed. Needless to say… today’s proverbs is appropriate for me.

2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight,
But the LORD weighs the motives.
3 Commit your works to the LORD
And your plans will be established.
4 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to
the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

It wasn’t long after waking up, realizing the time, that thoughts began to race through my mind along with the feelings that accompanied them; confusion, guilt, shame, anxiety, sadness, depression, anger, etc. . All of that complexity in myself causes me to pause especially now, while writing this out, praying without even realizing that I’m praying—distracted by so many questions that flood my system—but then that reminder of yesterdays post comes to mind, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”. Except replace Elijah’s name with yours: “What are you doing here, [NAME]?”. And so here I am, applying my faith to that question:

“What are you doing here, [Nathan]?”

6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income with injustice.
9 The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
10 A divine decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not err in judgment.

7:45pm CST

In the wake of my human storm of logic and emotions clashing with my present circumstances, I knew one thing for certain! I’ve committed to devote dying daily for the sake of—Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33 and John 12:25—which is the greatest reward of faith to an eternal life while here on earth!

What is that reward?

11 A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wicked acts,
For a throne is established on righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.
14 The fury of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.

LOVE AND TRUTH

1 Timothy 2:3- This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The greatest reward to experience here on earth is that desire; LOVE! Love—is instilled in every true believer that was saved. But saved from what? If the emotion and logic of love did not have meaning or purpose, the experience of love would render null and void—chaotic in nature, fire without limitations or boundaries, meaningless—to be completely random for ultimate destruction; forgotten to the memorial place of hell.

1 Timothy 2:3- This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

But the reality of my experience to desire, is purposed with structure—even randomness—because of the knowledge of the truth. What is the knowledge of the truth? 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. Our warning to keeping this truth is different that the warning that was given in Genesis—2:16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who watches his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

WARNING

Revelations 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

I’m curious as to what that warning means to you, Reader? For me, I hear what I’m not ready to understand yet—all the while, also—what motivates me to lose my soul. That may sound morbid, but actually, it might be selfish; because I believe in what it means for the reward at achieving it, which is eternal life, but more than that; for all to achieve the reward at losing their soul for the reason of God’s desire. I hope and pray for every man to be like King David in that he was a man after God’s own heart—Acts 13:22 After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’

21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

Especially because our Lord said, 16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”—that He is the root and descendant of David! Jesus is narratively, figuratively, and literally the heart of God! I hope for every man to be found with those words of that testimony:

A MAN AFTER MY HEART

26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.
27 A worthless man digs up evil,
While his words are like scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

So what are your plans?

What are you hungry for? (Not talking about food).

Do our plans work together?

What is the tongue of the Lord saying to our plans?

31 A gray head is a crown of glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.

I plan to read the next chapter of proverbs, possibly have some more coffee since I’ve slept my day away. If the Lord will, I’ll eat, read, think, write, and plan more tonight with the Lord. I pray we will all rule our spirits as v.32 advises.

Until the morning…

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

A gentle answer turns away wrath

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Proverbs chapter 15; I die daily devotional.

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

GENTLE ANSWER

But don’t get it twisted because the truth when ‘spoken gently’, might effect to reveal the wrath of God in someone. For instance, the sadducees and pharisees; in both Matthew and Luke chapter 3 verse 7 it says, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?“. I mean, if I were in their shoes at that time, “ouch!”. That would hurt and might provoke me to anger if I were NOT honestly seeking forgiveness from what John was exposing. The sin condition to look for is—defensiveness and justification (John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”).

2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline,
But he who regards reproof is sensible.

CODEPENDENCY

A lot of the times, the issue we face as a people of relations is codependency. We depend upon family telling us who we are or friends giving us the help we think we need, but there is only One Person Who has the authority over—the course, and outcome—of all life! These proverbs will help train and guide us out of the sin of codependency!

6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination
to the LORD, But the prayer of the
upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination
to the LORD, But He loves one
who pursues righteousness.
10 Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes
the way; He who hates reproof will die.

Without knowing it (possibly); you Reader, have a tremendous power that these proverbs emphasize. 2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable and 4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life! Our tongues’ possesses the power to affect a person’s condition just as the tongue that wrote these proverbs are affecting us right now. Me and my wife had talked about codependency today and she said something remarkable! “God is who brings value to a person and gives them their identity”—Laura Dooley. I told my wife that I was going to tweak that quote uh-bit, to read, “God breathes value [soul] in a person and gives them their identity [born to be a child of God]”. What I didn’t tell my wife was that… I’m going to steal it and use it in this post (hope that’s okay honey haha’ *as author pulls’ neck collar* and *eh em* clears throat; moving on!)

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD,
How much more the hearts of men!
12 A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful face,
But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
14 The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

TRANSFORMATION

When we use our faith to workout the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:45…“The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.—we experience a process of transformation from the death of our soul to a life-giving spirit! It starts from within our hearts. And from our hearts to our minds—Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.
18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the slow to anger calms a dispute.
19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

LET THIS CUP PASS

Codependency is especially seen in parents to their children and vice-versa; the love there, is so strong, that the nature of it is possessive. And without wisdom, becomes destructive. Because not even God our Father took the cup away from His only Son when it came time for Jesus to be crucified—“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”! If there were some other way—let this cup pass from Me—Jesus pleaded with His Father; yet Jesus, trusting His Father, drank that cup so we could be saved and made alive to an eternal life in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father. You might think you love your child or children, but can you provide your child salvation from death and make them alive to an eternal life? Then respectfully and gently I say… God loves your child infinitely more than your capacity to fathom that depth of love God is for you and your children in Jesus Christ.

21 Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,
But a man of understanding walks straight.
22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they succeed.
23 A man has joy in an apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely word!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise
That he may keep away from Sheol below.
25 The LORD will tear down the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

I pray and ask Lord for understanding, and thank you for a path that leads straight because of your name, Jesus. Lord please help us to find our counselors for success, and thank you for the joy we get to experience upon the purpose you give us to do while here on this earth. Lord, please bless us with wisdom as we exercise our faith, and thank you for tongues that speak a language of your truth and salvation. Please forgive us our sin, tear down our pride and establish our boundaries. In your name, Jesus. Amen.

26 Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.
28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news puts fat on the bones.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Being human in all our complexity can be quite difficult to work with at times. Our emotions are very informative when we pay close attention to what we are experiencing and why. When the brains and hearts of people are not in sync it’s definitely noticeable, but the question is how to engineer a fix to a broken human system? The answer: kill em! That was a joke, but in a weird-kinda-way that’s happening to us already—so that method is taken. What’s next!? Well… the next thing would be to reeallyyy listen, pray, and process, until it’s time to speak or do something. That practice is especially useful with an inquisitive heart because you’ll want to be ready to ask questions for more insight into the condition that person is facing/experiencing. Navigate what people are experiencing with internal questions first, then trust how the Holy Spirit will use you in that situation—which could be that you’re presence is enough. Don’t force or expect healthy change that is not dependant or contingent on you, but the work and will of God in that person. Committing these insights to memory for practice when the time comes will prove a heavenly treasure. That’s been my experience anyway.

31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will dwell among the wise.
32 He who neglects discipline despises himself,
But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,
And before honor comes humility.

1 Kings 19:11- So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

The wise woman builds her house

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Proverbs chapter 14; I die daily devotional.

1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise will protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness utters lies.

Remember the 9th of this month? “Wisdom has built her house”. This chapter starts out similar: The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands. Upon hearing the gospel we find it very… ‘well, male. The biblical narrative is predominantly male for reasons that inspire me to understand the significance of the cross. Remember? The Lamb of God is where the house of Wisdom resides—on the throne. …(I’m going to stay on this train of thought as we read through our sections of this chapter of proverbs—that way I’m not all over the place—to exercise our faith).

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
Or you will not discern words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

Marriage according to God is when a man leaves his father and mother, to be joined to his wife; a male and female soul united as one being (Gen 2:24). And because Jesus is the male property of His female counterpart, Wisdom; there is a complete house—if you will—built in that relationship. Love describes the distinct qualities between male and female in the mystery and context of marriage. Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God, died willingly and obediently for us; His bride (Eph 5, Rev 19:7). It’s no coincidence that the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary (the mother of Jesus) because; The wise woman builds her house. And no one can go into her house, but through Jesus (John 14:6); the Lamb of God.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.
15 The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.

The resources to build our house are described in the book of Revelation. To believe in Jesus Christ is to receive the spiritual material necessary to function as an eternal being in a life that experiences the condemnation of death. I love how the female narrative describes our faith; faith that grants access and consists of an abundance to heavenly material. And since we believe, we have the “tools” available to “construct” our soul; not with human hands, but with hands of faith. That is the responsibility we have to our gift of salvation; it’s a work of faith, not of human will or understanding—but the will of God (Rom 12:2, 2Pet 1:21).

16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated.
18 The naive inherit foolishness,
But the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.

When we hold the testimony about Jesus in faith, we’re equipped with the spirit of prophecy (Rev 19:10). The spirit of prophecy is the book of Revelation. It’s important to pay attention to the book in its entirety, do NOT take away from it and do NOT add to it (Rev 22:18-19). That looks to me like a warning of a different kind of severity than when God warned the man not to eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins,
But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.
22 Will they not go astray who devise evil?
But kindness and truth will be to those who
devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.

Now look at this!

Rev 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” When you read through the last chapters of Revelation you’ll see how a wise woman builds her house, the house of Wisdom! Those of us who believe have the seal of the Holy Spirit and promise of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In faith our conscience is washed clean, we are free! Look at the new heaven and new earth! Look at the bride, the wife of the Lamb—New Jerusalem! Now just try and tell me you don’t get excited when exercising your faith in the Kingdom of God, but I don’t care who you are… THIS IS EXCITING!

26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
30 A tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is rottenness to the bones.

When we look at eternity through the lens of the gospel, we don’t fear death. We have strong confidence with the fear of the Lord because we experience His fountain of life; His Words are True! Now with our faith, let’s built our house. Yes?! Rev 21:27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Rev 22:10 And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.”

We have work to do!

31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,
But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, But in the hearts of fools it is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,
But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.—I don’t know about you, but my soul still needs washing. Thank God He’s provided us His Lamb, and the wife of the Lamb for a house to wash our robes. We can not wash our robes without going to God in the name of Jesus Christ. So come on… come with me…

Let’s go!

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

A scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

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Proverbs chapter 13; I die daily devotional!

1 A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 A righteous man hates falsehood,
But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.
6 Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness subverts the sinner.

Wisdom speaks in a language that is always directed at the heart and soul of a person. When wisdom encourages a wise son to accept his father’s discipline (v.1), how does that language inspire you? As for me; I don’t only think of how my dad disciplined me as a boy, but how I’m being disciplined as an adult with a spiritual nature of a child. Because even though I’m an adult, I’m not entitled. Jesus—who is the Child of God—is still teaching me what that means in Luke 18:17 (“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”). And I don’t want to see anyone miss out on receiving the kingdom of God because of a (wicked) entitlement issue.

A scoffer…

Does not listen to rebuke. Now this is a hard lesson for me! Because sometimes it’s difficult to discern the nature of that condition. The spiritual condition of a scoffer; I myself have been guilty of this because it’s easy to put my ego before my ears. I mean, it doesn’t exactly feel nice when being told how jacked-up I am. Not that that gave me an excuse. It was natural for me to scoff at someone (like my wife) when my flaws were exposed. So there is a choice on how to respond:

  • Ignore, (react internally) get angry (use abusive language or worse) and suppress it (magnify the issue narcissistic-ally) as though it never happened.
  • Or shut-up, listen, and reason the issue for an appropriate adjustment/correction.

The former is noticed by people arguing politics on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Etc), and especially now during this election debacle (voter ballot malpractice, undermining voter confidence) whatever; without guarding your heart to be blameless will result in being overthrown to a wicked cause or as the proverb says, subverted (v.6).

“How do we guard against that?”

Wisdom

7 There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 Through insolence comes nothing but strife,
But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
11 Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But the one who gathers by labor increases it.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 The one who despises the word will be in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.

The one who pretends to be rich has nothing to do with money, but whether you have a spirit of wisdom. You might be someone who is literally rich—I’m talking millionaire status—and thinks “I must be wise”. But in-fact, is poor! Because the wealth of our proverb means to buy and sell (or exchange) wisdom; not ecommerce.

Numbers…

Will give definitive answers about the condition of our lives and predictions depending on the trajectory that our spiritual condition reveals. Don’t get confused by what numbers mean from a worldly perspective because the ruler of this world devises deception. When the proverb (8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke.) talks about ransom of life; the ransom is symbolic to your soul. Your soul is your wealth, not money.

But get this,

Your soul is condemned to die because of sin; which means that every human soul is needing a remedy or vaccine to be saved from their debt of sin that we each owe, but can not pay. That is why we are cursed to die. We were never meant to experience the consequence of this knowledge through disobedience; as the saying goes, “knowledge is power”. Since we ate the fruit of knowledge (Gen 3), we now experience the ramifications of that disobedience and are responsible for not trusting a HOLY GOD at His Word!

God said,

“…you will surely die…”

And I’m very confident that our God is a Person of His Word considering the emphasis on…

“…you shall not eat…”

All in that same verse of Genesis chapter 2 verse 17! It says it all! It’s not like we’re experiencing life and death for the hell of it… literally… the hell of it!

15 Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool displays folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into adversity,
But a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline,
But he who regards reproof will be honored.
19 Desire realized is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Adversity pursues sinners,
But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

“…for in the day that you eat from it…”

Yah, I better shut-up or this will be the longest post yet!

Okay

Verse (20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.) is awesome because that is what I hope for the future of everyone, wisdom that prevents harm. Don’t be a stupid idiot and built-up your environment with foolish people! Or you’ll suffer through the way of escape. Whenever we dig in the dirt using our hands, our fingernails will feel the harm from the dirt compressed between the finger and the nail. That is what it feels like when you surround yourself with unbelief being a believer; believers with the Helper [Holy Spirit] in them are the shovel for your hands!

Now we all experience the fruit of the Helper in different ways and at different times; for example—you might be experiencing a flavor of clarity to a person who is experiencing confusion. The fruit of the Spirit is the same for all believers, but the flavors are different for specific purposes. If I’m confused about my finances, someone who is skilled in that area of expertise might perk up because of that Helper inspired to be of service for me.

You know what…

…let’s get a little…

…Personal!

My wife has a discipline of self-control in an area where I am desperate for that help; that’s what makes us interwoven. But she’s weird, you know! She does not experience a lust for the flesh; that makes no sense to me! That is my weakness. A wickedness that will subvert the sinner, me! So the counsel from her Helper (the Holy Spirit of her soul) is what I crave and desire more fervently than my desire for sexual sin. We have the same “fruit” (Spirit). But see without counsel, I’d be addicted to Pornography to relieve my appetite, or some other form of distraction; rather than accepting the truth of my condition and reason through it for the sake of…

My Wife!

Because she is…

…My…

…Wisdom!

23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who withholds his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
But the stomach of the wicked is in need.

Do you have abundant food? You might check your heart to see if you need some counsel, because if you don’t find it you’ll be swept away by the injustice incurred by wicked influences.

Go to church!

Or bring church home to you, but don’t neglect the life-giving spirit that the apostle Paul tells the Corinthians (So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.).

LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT…

That is in you!

in Chapter 15 verse 46… Don’t neglect the last Adam [Jesus Christ] by denying the truth of the Helper that saves you, blesses you with your spouse [Wisdom], and gives you life [God], by the promise of the Holy Spirit [Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation]!

If you’re hungry, don’t worry; the righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite in Jesus Christ! Bread is not sufficient to satisfy an appetite for wisdom, but the Word of God is!

Believing in Jesus Christ by way of the gospel is what it means to be wise and to not ever worry about surviving death! Rather; accept the logical conclusion about death and survive the lie of the devil, “The serpent said to the woman,

“You surely will not die!”

Yes

You

WILL

YOU WILL DIE!

The glory of holiness does not mix with the sin of wickedness, so accept the discipline of a heavenly Father throughout your life even until death! Because our heavenly Father loves us too much to behave wickedly!

“God is Love”

God and Coffee, I die daily devotionals, Nathan Dooley

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge

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But he who hates reproof is stupid.

Because chapter 12 on the 12th says so!

Proverbs 12!

HEREEEE…

WEEEE…

GO!

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge; which sounds a lot like I should get into a whole lot uh trouble for a whole lot uh discipline to get a whole lot uh knowledge, but that’s also why anyone …who hates reproof is stupid.

Actively dying everyday for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ and the gospel is what this love of discipline and knowledge means.

Writing an “I die daily devotional” through Proverbs requires discipline each and every day. I could have the best plan laid out for these devotionals to be published, but as we all might know—plans will change rapidly and immediately—I have to adapt or die. Or actually…

I have to die to adapt!

Discipline will produce the skills for development, and knowledge will improve the ingenuity of those skills that will hopefully result in content that brings life to the soul in each and every published post.

And that…

was just verse 1!

2 A good man will obtain favor from the LORD,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
3 A man will not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous will not be moved.
4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

These proverbs are so rich in content that we can write novels upon novels of how they prove accurate when applied to our daily lives.

There is soooo much I want to get into with this chapter, but can already tell you that won’t happen.

And that’s okay!

Who knows what treasure tomorrow will bring with our heart set on learning and applying these Proverbs to our lives.

Where are your thoughts?

When you’re seeking counsel, who do you turn to and why?

Discern between the wicked and the righteous in your life; counsel is very important. If you believe and have faith in the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth, you’ll recognize the nature of the Holy Spirit inside and outside of others in your sphere of influence.

13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,
And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Gawwww!

As I read how an evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips and the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, I cringe with conviction because I know where I’ve made my mistakes today. That’s a part of learning though!

Speaking of, get this…

I had commented on a politically bias Facebook post where this particular person was bashing on Trump supporters, and I called out the bias of the post and my comments then started to disappear until finally I was “thrust out” of that thread. Not because I defended Trump radicals, but because I called out the same behavior of this person by the content of their post that bashed on Trump supporters.

I could’ve just left it well alone, but that’s the point; I will always be learning and practicing how to be wise about my language when, or if, it’s time to use it.

And thank God for grace and mercy to make mistakes that we can learn from, but not to willingly engage in for the perverted pleasure of it.

7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse mind will be despised.

Dang it!

Hit the deadline!

Devotional, God and Coffee, Nathan Dooley

What Is The Ministry Of Reconciliation?

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Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

2 Corinthians 5:11

This is a personal decision and it might be that you have yet to experience what that decision means? I would say that I am still presently experiencing my decision to this ministry. Now… I’m going about this devotion a bit differently. You will see a video with this devotional.

The fear of the Lord convicts us of the consequence for sin, which is His wrath that remains on those who decide not to believe in Jesus Christ. But thank God our Father who has provided this ministry of reconciliation. That wrath is passed over because Jesus Christ the Son of the living God died on the cross to give you and I the blood transfusion of the Lamb. We are saved from the condemnation of sin through a work of faith in the Holy Spirit of God in us. Therefore we are reconciled to God.

Nathan Dooley, Spiritual Insights

Spiritual Insight | #1

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I mean… Alright, this will somehow be an hysterical rhetoric considering this to be the first of many posts written to myself, but publishing for, well, you to read, and, whatever.

How is it I fathom spirit as a biological being to gain insight about that which is not fathomable…or is it? I can make sense of how I exist by scientific data in relation to my philosophical system, but to make sense of how I can make sense of that is…well…you tell me. If it wasn’t for the help of technology to access real time knowledge and data, well, I’d probably be thinking something like, what the hell is going on right now? At a loss to reason this idea that is seemingly wasting my time because I’m being fed information beyond my capacity to experience, so—what the hell is going on right now?

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labelled by “labellers”

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Encouragement to believers labelled by “Labellers”

As I travel through the land of the internet in the work of an Evangelist… I’ve come across some very disturbing insights. There are certain believers within group discussions on Facebook regarding soteriology (“doctrine of salvation”) such as Calvinism and Arminianism which quickly become destructive in nature because of a spiritual condition known as “ego”.

Now… I’m picking on “Calvi’s” and “Armini’s” for the sake of exposing the spiritual issue (ego), if you’re reading this and happen to identify with either of these please know that I’m not telling you ‘it’s wrong to identify as a calvinist or arminianist’. I believe there to be a spiritual discourse between predestination and freewill out of genuine concern for correct teaching on the doctrine of God—based on my observations.

However, it’s come to my attention by associating myself in these two groups—

  • Soteriology 101 Discussion

  • Soteriology 201

—That there is also a “label calling” issue. I’m guilty of this as well, but am learning more and more the sin that is involved. An example would be something like this …

Nathan: Richard, that view of scripture classifies you under  __________ and that is where you’re in error, because  __________ is false doctrine and if you continue in that view you’re continuing in unrepentant sin.

Richard: Nathan, that’s unfair for you to “classify” or label me as __________ when I didn’t claim such and such _________. Just because you hold to  __________ and _________ view does not mean that view is superior to my understanding which according to you is a continuation of “unrepentant sin”… (meaning….not truly saved?).

And let the arguing begin. This arguing did not occur because of the creation of the group, it’s an issue of the heart… a condition of sin that needs looking into because it’s a cancer that influences the mind, “ego”. We need to stop doing this, there is a wise and constructive way to handle our language to edify the Body of Christ (individual members of the same faith in Jesus).

I pray this message finds you well and with peace. If you happen to be a part of the two group discussions listed above (on Facebook), please don’t leave the group… on the contrary, join the group and love on people with the example of Jesus Christ. And if you’re just learning about these groups, I encourage you to join in on the discussions.

If the environment to the discussion groups you’re part of is too toxic, then I encourage you to join this group Soteriology | Salvational Engineering! And if you’re young or old in the christian faith, even of a different faith, or don’t have a faith , you’re invited to that group! Let’s discuss and debate our belief systems in a healthy constructive manner.

In love,

Nathan Dooley

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SIN

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It’s funny, the featured photo represents the theme well. If you look closely you’ll see little unintended “dots” where I was trying to edit the photo using the “Markup” tool on my iPhone proving that I was “missing the mark” in finalizing the photo. According to the Greek, I “sinned“. Okay, not technically because we’re not dealing with a simple mistake.

It is so much more difficult to try an communicate this understanding on camera than it is to write. But I enjoy the practice, ever learning.

Laying the foundation of spiritual understanding is the practice of putting the desires of your flesh (your life) to death. Because we need to be born again for a new life that will not die. When Adam and Eve “missed the mark” by eating the fruit God commanded them not to eat, they fell short of the glory they once had by not eating that fruit; so they were given over to their choice, which was to die, but that’s not the end.

Adam and Eve were convicted upon hearing the sound of the Lord God among the trees of the garden and hid themselves because they were afraid. Why is that? I believe it’s because they recognized their shame due to enlightenment that fruit possessed. However, they both responded to God’s call. You are also being called. “Where are you?”.

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Freewill is an interesting aspect of our reality and topic controversial. Why do we have a ‘will’ that’s “free” if grounded by gravity? I experience limitation and vulnerability. I’m taught and educated by a system that seems built on captivity, not freedom, but by the spiritual illness of greed and selfishness. Freedom…is perverted.

Speaking from experience. I lived a life where my will to be free was perverted. I idolized people and myself, and God. I’ve heard a true message or teaching from a false prophet or preacher. How can that be? The human heart is desperately wicked because of what it desires, it desires the will to be God. And so the human race works hard for this goal because of a teaching that dates back to the beginning of unrighteousness (Ezekiel 28:15).

When reality is so noisy it’s very easy to hear what gives you attention and fall prey to an evil deception. Preachers are as human as the humans receiving what is preached, but don’t be mistaken, false teachers will not go unpunished.

“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” James 3:1

If you come to recognize that you are in a bad spiritual environment, know there is hope, keep your faith. Truth is in the power of the Holy Spirit if you believe in Jesus Christ to understand salvation and the kingdom of God.

Semantics

Divided

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Divided

It’s sad to reach a point in life when the thought of hell seems much more appealing than to remain in the skin of your flesh. When the thought of escape is your only option, but are petrified. When a call for help is not meant for saving.

I don’t hate my life. But that unreliable feeling of hate sure is poking and prodding. What I hate is being divided by the questions and doubts of people that presume to know me when they don’t have a clue; there is just not enough time in the world to be completely free with people that choose not to believe they can trust you unless you adhere to their “divine” perception for you, then they might believe. As long as you stay within their realm of interpretation and perception.

It’s incredible the amount of attention you will draw to demons when living for your faith “Jesus as Lord” by recognizing sin for what it is and how I’m in desperate need of salvation. It’s incredible the sirens and temptations in place just for you. It’s a constant crouching (Genesis 4:7):

“Those people see you as a tyrant. That woman wants you. That man desires you. Do this to get rich. Say that to make a difference. You’re a sexy beast, well endowed, who can resist. It feels good to be right. It feels good to have power. You’re a liar. You’re a fraud, poser, fake, and the list goes on because you’re unworthy. Don’t waste my time. You have our undivided attention. Look at him, he is better than you in every way. You’re smart and beautiful, but ugly and stupid too. I feel depressed. You’re unstable, unfit, unqualified. Here is your kingdom of heaven! No, there it is!”

I ask myself, “why is this happening?” But it only makes sense. Because…demons are taking the time the world does not have to get to know you and me. Whether the world or I want to believe that or not, the truth sets us free. I hate this spiritual war that divides my soul and blood into pieces as bread for demons and wine for their minions. If you are a believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ, you’ll understand this war, but if not then I hope this will prick at your conscience because you’re held captive thinking you’re free.

They are clever. The devil and his demons … but I see them. And they know that I see them. “It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). I’m in hell learning the tips and tricks of insanity navigating my way through the crowd in hope to save some if not all, “have you heard…“.

It’s sad…

Nathan Dooley

Semantics

I’ll Brow Kick You In The Face

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I’ll Brow Kick You In The Face

Yeah, that’s right, you heard me…

I'll Brow Kick You In The Face

Right in the face. Marky Mark taught me that.

Man…wow, I let myself go there; It’s like, clean up your face or something before you just brow beat up the online world!

I’m learning a lot about this blog stuff. It’s important to stay consistent on posting. So here is one on why we need to be mindful of our facial expressions and upkeep. I mean look at that! I disgust myself! Although it is proving useful for some humor!

I have a time limit, so here we go!

Sometimes we can get so caught up in our emotions that we don’t even realize how our faces look to the outside world. You might be going into work right now without a care in the world, but let’s brow beat about that because you should care. If you’re a discontent person, don’t think that it’s disguised behind the veil of your fake face. It’s not hard to figure out if your a mean stupid idiot or not.

I won’t forget about the time going into work as a maintenance engineer (said lightly because there was still so much for me to learn) of a 14-story, five star, class AA office tower building (flex) to talk with the site supervising security officer at the time about life.

The officer was telling me about a circumstance in life that greatly concerned me because of the compromise of integrity and character that not only harmed himself, but had the potential to deteriorate the health of his family. So needless to say the conversation became serious enough that the officer said, “lets brow beat outside”. Once the conversation concluded, much respect was developed for each other by our ability to agree and disagree without compromising the relationship.

Now unfortunately that is not always the case. But the point is that our facial expressions have just as much power if not more, to deliver a message, as our words do.

So what message are you sending to yourself and the world today?

If you’re not content. Why aren’t you? Maybe this will help…

It’s funny! No idea my wife was recording me laugh at what I still thought was so funny, but probably even more funny that my wife has this confused look (again those facial expressions) why I find some things so funny that are not funny to her at all. I think that makes the situation more hilarious!

Anyway … I’ve crossed my deadline getting this published before the work day began. I hope it finds you with joy and if not, will put you in a joyful mood. I know it’s hard sometimes especially when in a state of depression.

In love.

Nathan Dooley

Semantics

The “Bridge” Illustration (Part 1)|The Heart Of Lucifer|Self-Sustainability Self-Sufficiency

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Featured photo: Ben Jacobi www.bdjphoto.com (Natural Bridge)

The “Bridge” Illustration (Part 1)

The Heart Of Lucifer

I’m speaking to those of you who have heard and are still hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, yet not believing.

I’m not speaking to those who claim they’ve not heard the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I think the lot of you not believing in this gospel is grounded on a profound question:

“Does that mean those who have not heard are going to Hell?”

My quick opinionated answer is “way above my pay grade” and a strong “depends” (potential future post) because wherever they are in their respective regions of the world are entirely entrusted to the providential care of God. (Romans 1:18-32) (Romans 2:12-16)

I need you only narrow your gaze in retrospect of your personal belief system. But widen your gaze in respect of what we are about to discover in the Bible together.

We are going to discover some spiritual clarity by this satellite view of the gospel.

BP1

You’ll find the same photo presented above in the previous (Introduction) post. But thisBefore the Beginning of Man time our view is not so disoriented as in the previous photo, because we could not perceive whether we’re looking skyward at the clouds, or a fog, maybe dense smoke in the wind?

But we now have some clarity. We have a satellite view of the Earth looking at clouds over the Indian Ocean with Indonesia and Malaysia to the east. 

If you are a person that does not believe in the God of the Bible, the testimony of Jesus Christ. Then my confrontation is that you have a disorienting view of your future that threatens the condition of your soul and place in eternity.

That confrontation has the potential to come across judgmental—as though the answer of my hypothetical is the gavel to your freedom. I’ll assure you that that is not the case.

I lived in a thought that I believed, but didn’t truly understand what that meant until realizing more and more, day after day, the process of sanctification. Mind you, it is still in process. So lets widen our gaze.

BP1.

The gospel instructs me to make disciples; the bible is my instruction manual, and the Spirit of God is bearing witness to all that is being written by me and read by you; it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God, so although humorous at times, do not take this lightly; my soul and spirit are distressed at the concern for those who can honestly say from within that they’ve heard the gospel, but are scared to trust in the message and or have turned away from the faith altogether.

Don’t be afraid. Come trust in this gospel of Jesus Christ. You’re being recruited for war against the evil oppressor of your soul and the souls of all nations.

The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.

Stick with me! Because in case you didn’t notice by the plethora of distractions, we‘re on the verge of a misconception.

* self-sustainability *

How that ties, comes together, is actually the start of our revelation to the “bridge” illustration. It begins at the heart of Lucifer revealed in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Genesis, the 14th chapter of Isaiah, 28th chapter of Ezekiel, and the 12th/13th chapters of Revelation.

Don’t misinterpret or misunderstand the use of the video above. I’m not “knocking it”. Technology is a useful tool when maintained in biblical context. That video is only meant to describe and enlighten how advanced we are and to alert the christian children growing up in this age to an inevitable prophecy. Don’t freak out!

Oh yeah. Time for some coffee!

053D4F5B-A5CA-4576-9639-8B5BFBEC6E05

[Part 2 is well on it’s way, “The Fall Of Unrighteousness To The Rise Of Satan”]

Semantics

Chronological Bible Study-The Beginning of Beginnings

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img_4762-1.jpg
The Baker Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines

Join me on Mt. Sinai with God and Moses to discover the beginning of our beginning. This is a very exhausting study but well worth the time and effort. In my Bible I learn that Moses is the author of the first five books also known as the Pentateuch. These books were more than likely written during the 40-year period of Israel’s wanderings in the desert: 1446—1406 BC

Note: the “BC” given after the calendar year (1446—1406 BC) means “Before Christ” but if you see “BCE” (nowadays), don’t be alarmed, it just means “Before Common Era“. (According to my research). The reasons surround appeasing those not Christian and an arguably inaccurate calculation of  Jesus’ birth. It’s believed that Jesus Christ was born around 6—4 BC, which is why these labels (BCE/CE) “CE” for “Common Era” are being used today by many publications rather than (BC/AD) “AD” meaning “the year of the Lord” as it references a Latin phrase: anno domini (“the year of the Lord”—after Jesus was born.)

So why Moses? “God… Why Moses?”—A prayer guiding me through a lot of scripture to uncover the context of that time. Moses was beautiful in the sight of his mother and lovely in the sight of God. God heard the outcry of the sons of Israel at the time of their oppression in Egypt and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s time to organize the sons of Israel as God’s covenant people and Moses is the man God will be with to do it. It all points to Jesus Christ.

Semantics

Coffee At Midnight In The Giant City

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Featured photo: Ben Jacobi www.bdjphoto.com 

Have you ever discovered the moment you’re awake at midnight with some coffee looking at a photo that is talking to you? That is where I’m at. When I first encountered this photo the word “maze” came to mind describing my immediate perception, but learned that this maze is called “Giant City” in Illinois. But aside from that information. This photo that speaks is, actually, not the one talking.

The very Person in my mind I think about when looking into this photo is Jesus Christ. But I don’t claim to see an image of a person I’ve never seen, nor do I claim to hear His voice having never heard what it sounds like. I claim to perceive Him. There are a number of different ways this photo is interpreted for bearing meaning in my life, but there is only one that will make a difference. The meaning of Jesus Christ. When I look at this photo I experience a walk with the Holy Spirit of God teaching me the truth about myself within the maze of this world. No matter the path this world has to offer, it is a path to death just as you see the paths presented in the photo, but there is a path you won’t see unless you perceive it. That path, is a path of faith.

To experience faith is to place your confidence in a promise that someone gives you.

I promise you, follow me and we’ll get out of this maze.

The question is whether you’ll believe in the promise even if the person that promised dies. That is what Jesus Christ—being the image of God as the Son of God—promised. He promised that He would be raised from the dead and resurrected to the right hand of God. That is recorded to have happened in history past, but is still a living promise today. The promise is for those that believe to be resurrected with Him right now, having been baptized with Christ as a symbol of obedience by repentance. You’ve chosen to acknowledge that all born from the seed of Adam are guilty of sin (lust, idolatry, and pride) and so convicted to the point of death that you place your trust in the promise of God. The grace of God is given through that promise of faith, you have mercy, not wrath. But if you do not believe in that promise, you have His wrath, not mercy.

So my purpose in the maze of this world is to plant a seed, a seed of promise. The promise that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Everyone is born into this life by the design of God, a design that was good corrupted by evil. So every person has had, has, and will have the opportunity to believe, ask the thief on the cross that died with Christ.