Righteous: further thoughts

And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

Philippians 3:9

Apostle Paul has described all the reasons he could boast in who he is: all his Earthly attainments, in meeting the requirements of the Torah, in his righteousness under the Law. He then confesses, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (v.8)

Here’s scriptures that encourage us in living in the Righteousness of Messiah–notes made while sitting on the deck, as this Blessed Georgia Springtime becomes a Blessed Summertime.

God’s rule over the universe is grounded in justice and righteousness (Psalm 89:14).

Because God is just, He demands that mankind, created in His image, also display justice (Micah 6:8).

Scripture is full of commands that humans act justly. This includes acting on behalf of those whose rights are being denied and those who are powerless to defend themselves:

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17, ESV).

“Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place” (Jeremiah 22:3, ESV).

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3–4).

“I can do all things through the Messiah who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13; Eph. 3:16)

Yeshua said, “Without Me you can do nothing…” (John 15:5).

Note: The image is suppose to be crossed sword and pen, representing The Word and Writing. Contrary to conventional wisdom, our pens are not mightier than His Sword.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine

Righteous

Older man sitting by roadside with dog holding sign for travel and vet fund

To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3.

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

It seems to me it’s easy to think of modern heroes as somehow being righteous. Theres the sports figures who spend time helping with a kids’ sports program. There are doctors and other medical professionals that volunteer overseas. Currently in the news an ebola outbreak has infected some of the health works.

There are many more righteous and just acts than seen on “TV.” There are a lot more righteous deeds done by unseen folks just doing the right thing. Theres a mother that teaches a hobo to sharpen her knives on the cement steps at the back door. She makes him a sandwich to eat when he’s done. That was in the early 1950s and the woman was my Mom.

Christians are call to perform righteous acts and be just. I imagine most Christians do far more than they actually know that they do. That may be that Christians are always a work in progress, and never on their own righteous or just enough.

The thing is, that’s okay. Jesus IS! We are not going to save our own souls. Jesus has, is, and will.

The second proverb was noted as a reminder to me that it’s not going to do anyone any good, especially me, to yield to evil. In my mind, it’s more than yielding to temptation; it is also yielding to the worldly views. Those worldly views are brought directly by “evil principalities”. (see Ephesians 6:10-20).

Thanks for following along with me as I take a look at some Proverbs. And thanks so much, Tom, for the “likes.” I appreciate you very much.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Listen to counsel

An older man holding a Bible and explaining Isaiah 40:31 to a young man sitting in a chair

“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.” Proverb 19:20.

This proverb was added to the my note taking simply because I thought I ought to reconsider advice.

I rarely seek advice from people. In the past I’ve shared thoughts with friends, and they’ve been quite eager to tell me what I should do.

There are times when people seem to just find me and tell me what they would do. I’ve felt like a magnet, attracting all sorts of possibly well-meaning folks.

Does King Solomon say we must take advice? “Listen to advice and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.” Listen! Elsewhere we are advised to seek out many counselors. Listening to advice. Seeking out alternative viewpoints. Decisions are ours to make. We listen to counselors for alternatives, cautions that another “set of eyes” may see, differing viewpoints. Seeking out counsel is good. Of course it is, GOD through King Solomon says so.

But wait, there’s more. Before we go charging out, sit back down, we’re not done yet.

In the very next proverb, King Solomon declares “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Seems to me the decision is mine, and having a variety of opinions and alternatives to choose from is GODLY. Then I take my thoughts to our LORD in prayer, my decision to our LORD that His will is done, for His “purposes will stand.”

Next time it’d be good for me to take a quick glance at Discipline,
another touchy subject.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

The diligent are satisfied

Man and woman placing sandbags in floodwater near a house

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied” (Proverbs 13:4)

The Hebrew root for “diligent” (חָרוּץ, ^charuts^) implies sharpness or decisiveness, indicating a person who is industrious and proactive.

This is my third note from a recent read through Proverbs. It seems to me it’s good to remember that there are consequences for slacking. The image displays the urgency of the task, the need for completion, and the consequences of giving up because “It’s just too much work.”

Another form of diligence is described by the authors of “Got Questions”: We are told in Proverbs 4:23 to guard our hearts with diligence because everything we do flows from the heart. If we are not diligent to guard against falsehood, evil thoughts, and lustful desires, our enemy Satan is standing by to take advantage. Diligence implies an intentional action of guarding our hearts, rather than a passive acceptance of everything that enters. Second Corinthians 10:5–6 gives an example of how to guard our hearts by “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” As a sentry is diligent in guarding a fortress, so must we be diligent in guarding our hearts and minds.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Dishonest scales

Medieval merchant Barnaby using rigged scales to cheat customer Elara in market dispute

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. Proverb 11:1.

Scales and weights aren’t generally in use in America these days. The principle King Solomon conveys is that “Integrity in business and humility in spirit safeguard a person, while crookedness and pride invite ruin.” From Berean Bible Commentary.

It’s easy to see that “dishonest scales” applies beyond business affairs. King Solomon warns of dishonesty and deception in all forms of human relations.

Deception!

It’s not a new tactic. I was quite active in The Garden, as related in Genesis.

Joshua was taken it, too. Chapter 9 recounts the Gibeonites who, fearing Israel’s conquest, use deception to secure a treaty with the Israelites. While this chapter highlights the necessity of seeking God’s guidance in decision making and the implications of rash decisions based on human judgement, it also demonstrates just how easy we can be deceived.

And such deception is an abomination to our GOD.

NOTE: Since 2019, the world has been blasted with relentless cycles of deception in various forms. I hope you, reader of this blog, will pray that your eyes see deception before you fall into its trap. I pray that we, who are followers of Jesus Yeshua Messiah, watch with wide eyes, listen always to Spirit, and act resolutely, standing fast in The Faith according the Gospel we have received. AMEIN.

LORD Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

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. . .

Notes from Proverbs

First Thought on Psalm 112

1 a 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.