Ignore poor

Ignore the poor, and you’ll be ignored

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This chapter 21 begins with a much quoted but misunderstood proverb and is often used in conjunction with misguided uses of 2 Chron. 7.

The proverb says,
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; He turns it wherever He wants.”  

Of course translations vary with some rendering the passage far better than others, but the sad take away for many is completely out of step with the rest of scripture. So we spent time examining this passage and studying some of the often assumed implications using Pharaoh King of Egypt and Cyrus the Great as key examples.

The second verse which really stood out from the rest was a sobering warning regarding the treatment of the poor. The scriptures have much to say about the poor and the blessings to those who give them aid. Here however, is a passage of warning regarding those who shut their ears to their cries for help. We learn that our Maker will treat us in kind when we cry out for help.

“The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.”  – Proverbs 21:13.

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Face against glass

Living with our face pressed against the Glass

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This morning I did not preach from notes, but simply started off by offering an explanation of what we were covering and why. Then I read and provided teaching and commentary on the text – drawing out that which I felt was immediately relevant to us by the Spirit’s leading.

I knew I could go several places this morning and still be on topic, but honestly most of those places would have certainly been more correctional than encouraging.
So we began a small series within a series, exploring what Paul said by way of encouragement to the saints of Ephesus, Philippi and Colossae.

We began with Ephesians where Paul mentions two things – their continuing faith in the LORD Jesus and love for the brethren. He mentions this as the BASIS for his prayers for them in all three of the letters I mentioned above.

WHAT he petitioned God for was wisdom, understanding and enlightenment regarding Who God is, who they are destined to be and God’s power to bring it to pass!

To illustrate the need for such a prayer I mentioned Paul’s words to the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 13:12. That all of us, on our best and most spiritually clear days, are looking through a glass dimly. That has a large bearing upon the ‘what’ and ‘why’ behind Paul’s prayers.

I go into some detail about what the “glass” actually was (meaning the metaphor Paul used to illustrate this truth) and that “dimly” essentially meant an enigma, a riddle, something obscure to the understanding.

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Human spirit candle illuminate lamp

The human spirit ILLUMINATES the soul

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Chapter 20 contains much that is practical.

⦁ Drawing the counsel out of your heart through wisdom and prudence.
⦁ Encouragement to press through difficult situations in view of a future harvest.
⦁ That ending a quarrel is honorable.
⦁ That too much drink mocks the drinker and leads them off the right path.
⦁ That no amount of self improvement can erase your past – for that one needs a Savior.
⦁ That age is no cloak for vice. That even a child is known by what they do – no exceptions!
⦁ That dishonesty and deception are hated by God and therefore by those who are truly righteous.
⦁ That speaking against those in authority (esp. one’s father and mother) will place them in deep spiritual darkness!
⦁ To lay hold of an inheritance before the appropriate time will not go unpunished.

But perhaps the greatest proverb is in the title of this message. It teaches us of our tri-part being. That we ARE a spirit which was breathed out the mouth of God, that we possess an inward soul by which we think, desire and feel and that we live in a temporal, physical body. As such, God so created our true selves – our spirit – in such a was a to provide an inner compass for our souls. It is in fact the voice of our conscience, which was initially created by God. Though it can be darkened through rejection of Him and His word, it can still be influenced again by His Spirit through grace to the humble.

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Face intimacy

Face to Face

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Today’s message was all about entering into and seeking out times of intimate communion with God. These times of communion will always result in Jesus being further revealed to us. This in turn deeps both our reverence and love for Him. The results, if ongoing and regular will produce hearts of happy obedience to Him and a business in regard to kingdom work.

Seeking God. Seeking His face. Face to face and even calling up the name of the Lord are ways the scriptures refer to drawing near to God, in order to have Him revealed to us. This is often done in times of genuine distress, but CAN be done ANYTIME!

We have this promise from Him, that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us in return. That if we seek, we will find. If we knock, the door will be opened to us and if we ask we will receive.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.”

And when Jesus had words for the lukewarm church of Laodicea, Jesus took it upon Himself to do the knocking with the promise that if anyone will open the door and LET HIM IN, He would come in to them and eat supper, the principal social meal which denoting intimacy and friendship. So it is no stretching of the text to say that this is an invitation to face-to-face intimacy with our Lord, Savior & Friend!

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