The wicked will rot

Broken tombstone for Eliza Reed, 1802-1847, with a speech bubble saying 'A dirty resting place...'

“. . .the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverb 10:7)

King Solomon had a way with words. So did his father, King David.

This part of the proverb contrasts the memory of the righteous with the memory of the wicked.

While the memory of the righteous is a blessing to us, the memory of the wicked should fade away into the silence of oblivion. Should. It seems it doesn’t always do that. “Hollywood” dramatizes wickedness. I suppose the argument could be made that it has a cathartic effect, like the Greek tragedies. It seems to me it simply encourages people to think they can make a name for themselves through evil.

It also jades the thinking of immature Christians; they forget that the path of the wicked leads to the compost pile, while the righteous in Messiah will have eternal life in Messiah.

Our lack of forgiveness for the hurts, trespasses, perpetrated against us also prevents the bad memories from fading away. We are tormented from their grave by our memories. We keep them alive when they should simply decompose, fade away, be remembered no more. If I don’t forgive, I allow that which has hurt me in the past to define me in the present, and in the future. My life is the rotting life.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

May his memory. . .

“The memory of the righteous is for a blessing. . .” Proverb 10:7

“May his memory be a blessing,” or “of blessed memory,” are ways to acknowledge the dead when the person’s name is mentioned.

I’d not actually seen it in The Scripture before my recent read through Proverbs. But there it is.

“The memory of the righteous is for a blessing. . .” is the way the Hebrew is translated in the Berean Literal Bible. The verse continues: “. . . and the name of the wicked will rot.”

Graphic!

When I remember a friend, now fallen asleep [1 Corinthians 15:18-20], I don’t often recall anything of his or her faults; I remember how we enjoyed various activities or events together.

I also remember what I learned from the person that comes to my mind. I often tell others, usually family, about someone, what I knew of the person, what I learned. Seems to me it’s a great way to honor those that have lived and are now remain a memory.

There’s another side to “may his memory be a blessing.” From the other side. What will someone remember of me? Will one say I was a blessing?

Thinking about people I’ve not personally known, relatives or people I’ve only read about, I find appreciation in biographies and autobiographies, and even short articles that are published on some occasion pertinent to the lives of “Dead Poets” and others.

King Solomon, in an hand full of words, reaches through time to stir my mind to think.

May our LORD grant us the wisdom to remember the goodness of those now asleep. We can appreciate their contributions and blessings and smile at their quirks and foibles.

As for the wicked, let them rot!

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Simchat Torah Story

Here’s a snippet to entice you to read this wonderful story.

“Yes, it makes you feel good,” I said, trying to keep up the conversation. I felt that if the gentleman would only continue to speak, it would be worth listening to.

“Good!” exclaimed my neighbor. “Young man, do you know what ‘good’ is? Have you ever felt so gratefully happy that you wept for joy?”

“Well . . .”

“Ah! Let me tell you of those hakafot many years ago, and you will know what I mean…”

https://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/5357/jewish/Hakafot-Under-Fire.htm

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Blessed is Another Word for. . .

ESV uses the word Bless. “Blessed is the man. . .” The Hebrew word is generally translated fortunate.

“One who is fortunate,” has the traits* we read in the Psalm:
Fears GOD; Delights in GOD’s commandments; Has mighty offspring; Is among a blessed generation; Is wealthy; Has an enduring righteousness; Light dawns in the darkness; Is gracious, merciful, and righteous; Deals generously and lends; Conducts affairs justly; Is never be moved; Will be remembered forever; Is not afraid of bad news; Has a firm heart; Trusts in LORD; Has a Steady heart; Has no fear; Triumphs over adversaries; Distributes freely in giving to the poor; Is exalted in honor.

Traits makes me thing of something we are born with, like blue eyes or blond hair. But as I thought about it, perhaps we ARE born with traits that enable us to fear GOD and at least somewhat fulfill the list. Or perhaps we inherit those traits when we come to Fear GOD.

A Gentile Believer, coming to know Jesus, is born again. Perhaps then those traits are inherited—granted.

Just a Thought.

Then maybe being blessed is just another word for: Saved and being Sanctified.

We are blessed by GOD’s freely-given salvation. A salvation not earned, not merited, but given by blood sacrifice.

We turn from our old lives, turn to GOD: repentance. We are delivered from ourselves, to start over for GOD: born again. We’re given new traits, and we start a life-long journey learning to use them for the esteem of GOD—that GOD may be held in esteem throughout this world.

I pray we can walk exhibiting all those traits, generously, in the strength and power of GOD Spirit.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon and though you all.

* Traits is the word used in a commentary on iTorah.com.

First Thought on Psalm 112

1a Praise the LORD!

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,

who greatly delights in his commandments!

2His offspring will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness endures forever.

4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;

he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

5It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;

who conducts his affairs with justice.

6For the righteous will never be moved;

he will be remembered forever.

7He is not afraid of bad news;

his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

8His heart is steady;b he will not be afraid,

until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

9He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever;

his horn is exalted in honor.

10The wicked man sees it and is angry;

he gnashes his teeth and melts away;

the desire of the wicked will perish!

What does it mean to be blessed? Occasionally, I’ll hear someone say something like “Have a blessed day!” Or when asked casually ”How are you?” might respond “Blessed!” While it’s nice, it might just be a sort of automated response, without a lot of thought given to it, or an expectation of a response or a reaction.

I wonder what would happen if I looked closely into the person’s eyes and asked “What would be a blessed day for me?” I would not, though. It might not go well. It might inhibit the person from ever blessing another person, a person craving some Word to come into his or her life and soul.

I remember Cindy, whom I met while working on a wildfire. She shared with me that she was in a horrible situation, trapped, desperate. Yet she simply didn’t believe she was worth helping out of it. Cindy told me an older woman approached her one day and said “GOD loves you!” Nothing more. Nothing more needed. Cindy’s soul was pierced that day. It wasn’t long before our LORD rescued her, getting her into a Christian shelter. She gave her soul to Jesus.

No, it is a lovely thing for GOD’s True Believers to bless brethren and the Worldly with a Word. Just one is enough if Spirit pierces the armor of the soul. 

But my question persists. What does it mean to be Blessed?

Stay Tuned! Lord willin’ I’ll be allowed a part two.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine . . . And give you His Word to pass on to a lost and quietly desperate generation.

Trust: A Steep Learning Curve

Thinking about a million Israelis approaching the Red Sea. They were heading home to the land of their fathers. They had to be excited. Kids saying, “When are we going to be there?”

A little problem. Pharaoh on their tail. The people’s excitement turned into a great fear when they saw what was coming. They accused GOD of bringing them into the desert to die.

Ahead uncrossable water. No place to flee, up or down the coast. A raging army rapidly approaching.

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.’ ”

They crossed the Red Sea. The Pharaoh and his army drown. And the people of Israel made it through that lesson. Ahead would come many more lessons, costly lessons.

Trust rides a steep learning curve.

In Whom Do You Trust?

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.

—Proverbs 22:17—19 NKJV

A question to self: “Do I trust in GOD?” As a younger man I would have said, “Yes, I trust in GOD!”

I’ve stumbled along this Christian journey. I look in Life’s rearview mirror. I admit I’ve not always trusted GOD. Maybe I could say, “I trust You, LORD; help me overcome my distrust.” But that’s a mask GOD sees through.

“LORD, I want to trust in You.” Now that’s better. That’s getting closer to honesty in self-examination.

Monday Memories: In Memory of Lidia

I’m haunted by Lidia’s face. Is it her gentle, shy smile? Is it her lovely dark eyes framed by perfect eyebrows?

LIDIA LEBOWITZ. Born in Sarospatak, Hungary, in 1933.

The younger of two sisters, Lidia was born to Jewish parents living in Sarospatak, a small town in northeastern Hungary. Lidia’s parents owned a successful dry goods business. At the time, ready-made clothes were still rare in the countryside. Townspeople and local farmers would purchase fabric at the Lebowitz store and then take it to their tailor or seamstress to be sewn into clothes.

1933-39: Lidia was 2 when her Aunt Sadie, who had immigrated to the United States many years earlier, came to visit with her two children, Arthur and Lillian. All the cousins had a good time playing together on their grandparents’ farm. On the trip over from America, Lidia’s aunt’s ship had docked in Hamburg, Germany, and Aunt Sadie had seen Nazis marching in the streets. Aunt Sadie was worried about what could happen to her family in Sarospatak.

1940-44: In 1944 German forces occupied Hungary. A month after the invasion, Hungarian gendarmes, acting under Nazi orders, evicted Lidia and her parents from their home. The Lebowitzes spent three days crowded into the local synagogue with hundreds of other Jewish citizens. Then they were all transferred to the nearby town of Satoraljaujhely, where some 15,000 Jews were squeezed into a ghetto set up in the gypsy section of town. The ghetto residents had a hard time getting enough food to eat.

The ghetto was liquidated in May and June of 1944. All the Jews were deported in sealed freight cars to Auschwitz. Lidia and her parents were never heard from again.

Note: This information was obtained from
the United States Holocaust Museum
Washington, D.C.