The DOOR to WISDOM

 

PROVERBS CHAPTER 8

The Discourse of Wisdom

1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.
6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;
16 by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

The Eternity of Wisdom

22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
23 I was appointed from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.
24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

The Blessings of Wisdom

32 “Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.
36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”

GOD’S LIBRARY_OLD TESTAMENT_PART TWO

“MAN MUST LIVE, NOT ON BREAD ALONE,

BUT ON EVERY UTTERANCE COMING FORTH

THROUGH JEHOVAH’S MOUTH” (MATTHEW 4:4) – NWT

66 books of the BIBLE : ALL SCRIPTURES ARE INSPIRED BY GOD

PART TWO

LAMENTATIONS – A SEQUEL TO JEREMIAH’S PROPHECY WHOM

LAMENTED SORROWFULLY OVER THEIR RUINS OF THE HOLY CITY

AND THE SACRED TEMPLE WHICH HAD STOOD FOR OVER 400

YEARS. JEREMIAH WEPT IN SEPARATE POEMS IN LAMENTATIONS

REGARDING WHY GOD HAD PERMITTED THE FALL OF JERUSALEM.

IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE AND THEIR

REJECTION OF THE ONE TRUE GOD, JEHOVAH.

EZEKIEL – PROPHET EZEKIEL APPOINTED BY GOD TO PREACHED

CAREFULLY CONTRIVED PROPHECIES REGARDING DOWNFALL

OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM; JUDGMENTS UPON NATIONS WHO

SEEK TO DESTROY HIS PEOPLE; THE FINAL CALL AT THAT TIME

FOR THE REPENTANCE OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND LASTLY,

THE GLORIOUS RESTORATION OF ISRAEL.

DANIEL – DURING THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY OF THE JEWS,

DANIEL AND HIS 3 FRIENDS [Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego]

HAVE DISPLAYED THEIR FEARLESS LOYALTY TO THE ONE FAITH

IN ONE TRUE GOD, JEHOVAH, OF THEIR FOREFATHERS AND

ALSO THEIR ADVANCEMENT INTO THE REALMS OF ROYAL FAVOR.

DANIEL INTERPRETED KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM AND

THE SYMBOLIC VISIONS THAT PORTENDS THE FOUR SUCCESSIVE

EMPIRES OF THE WORLD : BABYLON, PERSIA, GREECE AND ROME.

THE LAST EMPIRE WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY THE COMING OF THE

KINGDOM OF GOD.

HOSEA – A PROPHET OF THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

CALLED REPENTANCE FROM THEM AS HE FORESAW THE DOOM

THAT WERE TO BEFALL THEM IF THEY CONTINUED IN THEIR

SINS. THE REBELLIOUSNESS OF THE CHOSEN ONES WITH

THEIR UNGRATEFULNESS SOUGHT HELP FROM THE ASSYRIANS

AND THE EGYPTIANS RATHER FROM THE ONE TRUE GOD,

JEHOVAH, WHO HAD BEEN SHOWING THEM HIS LOVING

KINDNESS AND MERCY TIME AND TIME AGAIN. HOSEA ALSO

FORETOLD ABOUT THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH, JESUS CHRIST,

700 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

JOEL – A SYMBOLIC VISION FROM JOEL AS HE WARNED JUDAH

AND ISRAEL REGARDING THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS AND SEVERE

FAMINE OF THE LAND IF THEY DO NOT REPENT.  JOEL PLEADED

WITH THEM TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES BEFORE THE GREAT LORD

GOD JEHOVAH AND TO ASKED FOR HIS FORGIVENESS THROUGH

FASTING AND PRAYERS.  JOEL WAS PROSNOSTICATING OF THE

COMING OF THE “DAY OF THE LORD” WHICH GOD WILL SMITE

ALL THOSE WITH A REBELLIOUS AND UNREPENTANT HEART AND

HIS JUDGMENT WILL BE HARSH AND SEVERE, THOROUGH AND

MOST CERTAIN!

AMOS – A SHEPHERD FROM TEKOA, A SMALL TOWN FROM JUDEA;

WHOSE NAME MEANT “BURDEN BEARER” WAS CALLED BY LORD

GOD WITH A MISSION TO SEND THE MESSAGE OF DOOM UPON

ISRAEL AND THE SURROUNDING NATIONS. THEIR PRACTICES

OF IDOLATRY, PAGAN WORSHIPS, GREED, OPPRESSION OF THE

NEEDY AND ALSO THEIR CONTINUAL NEGLECT OF GOD’S

WORDS IGNITED GOD’S WRATH UPON OTHER NATIONS AND

JUDAH BUT ISRAEL SUFFERED THE HARSHEST OF PUNISHMENTS;

MORE SEVERE BECAUSE OF THEIR DEPTH OF THEIR SINS. AMOS’S

CHASTISEMENTS  WENT UNHEEDED AND SO ISRAEL WERE

EXILED INTO CAPTIVITY.

OBADIAH – HIS NAME LITERALLY MEANS “SERVANT OF JEHOVAH”.

THIS BOOK IS THE SHORTEST OF PROPHETICAL WRITINGS IN

JUST ONE CHAPTER WHICH FORETOLD ON THE DOOM OF EDOM,

WHO ARE DESCENDANTS OF ESAU AND THE PROMISE OF

DELIVERANCE FOR ZION, JERUSALEM.

JONAH – A LIFE OF PERIL LIVED FOR THE RELUCTANT RUNAWAY

PROPHET FROM DUTY ORDAINED BY JEHOVAH GOD. HIS MISSION

WAS TO DELIVER A MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF

NINEVEH FROM DESTRUCTION IN FORTY DAYS.

MICAH – HIS NAME INJECTS A MIGHTY STATEMENT “WHO IS

LIKE JEHOVAH”. HE FORESAW THE INVASION FROM FOREIGNERS,

THE DISPERSION OF THE ISRAELITES FOR THEIR SINS AND THE

INEVITABLE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BUT THE MOST

SIGNIFICANT OF ALL IS THAT HE IS THE ONLY PROPHET WHO

FORETOLD ABOUT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN BETHLEHEM [5:2]

NAHUM – A NATIVE OF GALILEE WITH A NAME “COMFORTER”

TO HIS CREDIT.  NAHUM’S PROPHECY WAS UNLIKE JONAH

WHICH WAS THE CERTAINTY OF DOOM FOR THE CORRUPT

PEOPLE OF NINEVEH WHOM HAD RETURNED TO THEIR SINFUL

WAYS. APART FROM NINEVEH, HE FORESAW JUDAH’S FUTURE

DELIVERANCE.

HABAKKUK – A PROPHET WHOSE NAME GOES BY “ONE WHO

EMBRACES” LIVED 600 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST IN TIMES

WHERE THE CHALDEANS CONQUERED NINEVEH OF THE

ASSYRIAN EMPIRE. THE “WHY” PROPHET WITH HIS

EXPECTANT  REPLY FROM HIS SINCERE PRAYER TO

JEHOVAH; LEARNT THAT WE NEEDED TO TRUST IN GOD

IMPLICITLY AND ALSO THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY

HIS OWN FAITH IN THE ONE TRUE GOD JEHOVAH.

ZEPHANIAH – HE PROPHESIED DURING THE REIGN OF KING

JOSIAH AND WHOSE NAME MEANS ‘DEFENDED BY JEHOVAH”.

HE FORETOLD OF UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT AND DIVINE WRATH

TO FALL UPON ALL NATIONS INCLUDING JUDAH TOO IF ALL

DEFY GOD’S LAW. ZEPHANIAH PLACED EMPHASIS ON SPIRITUAL

WORSHIP AND PREACHED THAT WORSHIP TOWARDS GOD NEED

NOT BE A PHYSICAL SANCTITY BUT IN THE QUIET SOLITUDE

OF OUR HEARTS. HE FURTHER STRESSED ON GOD’S SALVATION

AND JUDGMENT FOR MANKIND, AND ALSO THE PROMISES OF

NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH.

HAGGAI – THOUGH HE PROPHESIED FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME;

HAGGAI WHOSE NAME MEANS “MY FEAST” WAS THE FIRST

VOICE TO BE HEARD AFTER THE EXILE; HE RICOCHETED STERN

REPROOFS TO THE RESTORED PEOPLE OF GOD. HE TOLD THEM

OF THEIR DUTY TO RESTORE AND REBUILD GOD’S HOUSE OF

WORSHIP, THE TEMPLE, WHICH WAS BUILT BY KING SOLOMON

AND DESTROYED BY INVADERS. ZERUBBABEL, GOVERNOR OF

JERUSALEM AND JOSHUA, THE HIGH PRIEST AND THE PEOPLE

SET UPON THAT ENORMOUS TASK BUT WAS DISCOURAGED

EASILY. HAGGAI PIPED IN AND ENCOURAGED THEM THAT

GOD WAS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND JEHOVAH

WILL BLESS JERUSALEM WITH A MUCH GREATER TEMPLE

ARRAYED SPLENDOR AND GLORY.

ZECHARIAH – “JEHOVAH REMEMBERS” IS THE MEANING OF

HIS GIVEN NAME. HE JOINED HAGGAI IN AROUSING AND

ENCOURAGING THE RETURNED CAPTIVES IN BUILDING

THE SANCTUARY OF JEHOVAH GOD. THE TEMPLE WAS

FINALLY BUILT IN FOUR YEARS AND DEDICATED TO GOD.

HIS PROPHESIES LOOKED FAR BEYOND INTO THE FUTURE,

TO THE COMING OF OUR MESSIAH AND THE DAWN OF A

BETTER AND BRIGHTER TOMORROW.

MALACHI – THE LAST MINOR PROPHET OF THE OLD

TESTAMENT AND HIS NAME BEARS “MY MESSENGER”.

HE REBUKES THE SINS AND FOLLIES OF THE JEWS. HE

PREDICTED THE PREPARATION OF HIS WAY [MESSIAH]

BY JOHN THE BAPTIST. HE ALSO REPROVED NEGLECTFUL

PRIESTS AND WARNS STERNLY ABOUT THE JUDGMENT

TO COME UPON THE NATION THAT HAD TURNED BACK TO

SINFUL WAYS AFTER BEING PROVIDENTIALLY RETURNED

FROM EXILED IN CAPTIVITY.

*keziah boey*

The Hunger of Expectation

Today you are hungry…

…along comes a man that gives you food to eat,
but tomorrow your hunger arises yet again,
demanding to be fed.
Along comes another man who feeds your Eternal-Self,
thus freeing you from the hunger of illusion.
Which of these two men brings forth the greater gift
to all mankind?

As we give forth our gifts to our brother and sister souls,
we must do so without any expectation;
rather that we take a lesson in giving from the trees,
bearing fruit for all to eat…
from the time they are born until the day that they die,
their only desire is to give forth the sweetness of Life
to all who pass their way.

forever giving fruit tree

When we attach any sort of expectation to even our kindest
thought, it ceases to be a gift and becomes instead, a debt
to pay…no longer a blessing but rather a burden to bear.
Is this not the reason so many human relationships fail?

If our own expectations are attached to our emotions
then the gift of love becomes only the tie that bind…
‘I love you.’ then exists as a contract to honor or to break
‘Because I love you, I expect you to act accordingly.
I expect this for that.’

When our loved ones fail to live up to our own expectations,
the relationship tends to suffer.
Expectation is the food which gives rise to yet a more demanding hunger.
Unconditional Love is the sweetness of Life that feeds your Eternal-Self.

♣ Daniel J. Miller ♣

IF …

Jesus our Shepherd and Savior

♣

If Satan had not desired to be on equal status and wanted to be God; Jesus would not have to be the atonement for mankind’s sin.

If Eve had not been tempted and Adam being influenced; mankind would not have to toil and toil and spin and spin.

If one third of the angels have not followed the Devil and mated with humans; magic and sorcery would not have emerged.

If humans have listened to the words of God; He would not have wanted humans purged.

If God wasn’t a merciful and full of loving-kindness God; He would not have kept Noah and his family safe from the Big Flood.

If the scribes and Pharisees weren’t eager for man’s glory and Judas’s blatant greed, Jesus our Lord would not have to spill His precious blood.

If not for the power and miracle work of God; Israel would not have birthed in 1948, as prophesied, as a nation again.

If time of the end is upon us soon and humans do not feel the need to repent of their sins, Jesus’ sacrifice in death would have been pointless and in vain.

If God and Jesus have not fought and battled hard with the Devil for our souls, we humans would have ceased in our own raging wars and sins.

If this present wicked violent world ends, it would be Jesus and His armies from the heavens having conquered the Devil and on that note, God wins.

Ω

© Keziah Boey January 16 2008

Ω

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