Solomon wrote proverbs –he’s David’s son; David was one of the symbolic precursors to Christ Jesus, before his arrival on earth–
a man after God’s own heart.
1 Samuel 13:14
“...but now your kingdom shall not continue:
The Lord has sought a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people– because you have not kept that which the Lord commanded you.”
When I read things like that (and more), and understand it is essentially God saying…
‘David was after MY HEART Janet, and not only that…he was a man led by ‘my heart,’ not his heart; when he was led by his own heart, will or self leadership, it did not go well, and he was quick to repent –and return to me’ …
Essentially…
I listen to what the Spirit is telling me, and showing me.
So when I started reading Proverbs 4 today (needing extra support today, so I headed to proverbs, and just dug in at chapter 4…)
I realized it would behoove me to “sort this and digest it,” with Holy Spirit, because I noticed some gems right away in it, namely: it was written by Solomon– his wisdom is incredible, and he is David’s son– which is incredible in it’s own right, being he was raised by ‘a man after God’s heart.’
Proverbs 4
“Hear– children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”
First off, right outta the gate, he tells us that
“The Father, in his role, is speaking to us, as his children,” I find that lovely…
And he says–
‘I am going to be giving you
Fatherly “instructions,”
and
I NEED YOU to
“attend to getting
the UNDERSTANDING.”
So, I stopped reading, regrouped and got the laptop out– so Father could teach me properly, with his ‘instructions to gain understanding.’
Essentially– to take it seriously and slow down to meditate, and digest him properly– with his intents, instructions, premises and points being made.
2 “For I give you good doctrine– forsake not my law.
Now, during the writing of this, proverbs, it was before Christ had come and laid down his Sacrifice of his Life, but…we still understand ‘Law’ means Law; back then it was a different ‘Law’ or COVENANT, it was Old Law or Old Covenant– NOW, we have the BETTER COVENANT, the New Covenant– Christ, his blood, his Life, his Sacrifice, his WAY.
We were to read (and still yet continue to read) the Old Scripture Law, or Way/Covenant, and LEARN from ‘why’ did God say, or have them do that, BUT NOW– we are not held to it, penalty wise if we break it; it’s why Christ said “I didn’t come to wreck or destroy the law– I came and lived it out perfectly; I fulfilled it!”
We are NOW, “in him,” and thereby are held to “his way,” or Conduct now, as he ONLY RE-PRESENTS himself the same way, time and time again– he changes not.
We are now held to ‘his way,’ his conduct, his attributes, his leadership, his image, his mission…you get it!
WE ARE HELD TO THE LAW of: Love and Truth and Justice and Mercy; he said so, when he said…
Galatians 5:14
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor– as yourself.”
The ‘word given’ is–
Love ‘the one next to you–’
like you would do for yourself,
as well as…
Matthew 22:36-40
“Master– which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said to him…
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.”
So, let’s recap that for a second, to ‘get the understanding’ Father is wanting…
(I have noted that whenever
he says ‘all,’ he means *ALL.)
We are to Love God with *ALL our heart, ALL our Soul– which is MIND…
(So we will be having
all our thoughts successfully
being caught–
and taken captive,
and overthrown in us–
when ‘anti Jesus’ thinking is present)...
our EMOTIONS…
(so, ALL of our emotions are allowed,
permitted or not permitted,
and under control of–
the Holy Spirit…
and we do not ‘entertain’
*unprofitable emotions offered up to us
in situations)...
and our ‘FREE WILL’...
(Our choices– based upon all the godly thoughts and emotional control we are engaging in,
being led of the Holy Spirit–
are now HIS CHOICES–
because we are operating outta
HIS THOUGHTS
and
HIS EMOTIONAL CONTROL (
(sound mind and heart)) now,
and therefore…
We are now LED BY GOD–
and he has now become–
our Lord/master/steering-wheel controller…)
And THAT’S…
The First Commandment.
39 “And the second is like it– You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
So, again, I slow down and I hear God say to me, when I read that…
“How many do you think ‘love themselves’ properly Janet; how many do you think are confident that they ‘know how to love themselves’ properly, and thereby feel confident in how to love others properly??”
Why do I hear him say this to me, because he’s been talking to me about how…
‘Folks don’t know how to love properly Janet,
because I AM LOVE,
and most do not know ‘me,’ sweetie;
they need to hear me and see me,
spiritually,
to even enter into Love,
and to know Love–Me.’
So, ‘we are to love our neighbor as ourselves’ he told us, but he has also pointed out that…
‘We do not know how to love ourselves properly;’ and he means to have godly discipline of character– by knowing him,
his way and how he conducts himself,
what he thinks, how he moves, what he does…
and then being subject to that way, him and
*his leadership.
Without knowing him, and being led by his ‘Spirit,’ we are hopeless to know ‘how to’ Love, or even ‘to know Love himself,’ at all; until then, we work out of a ‘worldly’ understanding of what ‘love is,’ and it is inferior in all ways to God holy, true and just, and his– TRUE LOVE.
40 “On these two commandments –hang all the law and –the prophets.”
The prophets are subject to this kind of living he says, for they live to serve the Lord himself, and that is done by being ‘in him,’ in conduct…
thoughts, heart motives, plans, words, etc…
They FULFILL the LAW to Love God– with ALL THEY GOT– ‘his way,’ and then…
They LOVE THE OTHERS (the brethren) like they LOVE GOD– dedicated with all they got, as if the people are– ‘God in need’ themselves.
3 “For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.”
Another ‘attribute’ the Father is noting here, of ‘his’ conduct: Tenderness; you will know them by their fruits (whether God’s fruits of his Spirit leading us, or another at the helm of the *relating–ship)
4 “He taught me, also, and said to me…
Let your heart retain my words:
keep my commandments– and live.”
Let– means we can resist, and need to NOT RESIST, but ‘let ourselves,’ or *MAKE OURSELVES–
RETAIN HIS WORD; and ‘keep,’ that means don’t let it go, or put it down, KEEP CLOSE TO YOU–
his commands, his ORDERS…do we know them??
Because he said, ‘if you want to live…’
We will have HEARTS (core selves) that will RETAIN HIS WORD in them, it will live in there, go ‘round and ‘round in there, breathe, multiply, prosper and spill out of our hearts…
and we will KEEP TO HIS COMMANDS, his ‘instructions,’ like here, in Proverbs 4…
pertaining to the ‘keeping the Law of Love’ now, unto ourselves, and then, unto our brethren; are we getting the ‘understanding’ he is asking of us?
5 “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”
Okay, another command– get wisdom, that means we ‘can’ go through life and NOT ask for wisdom, or not retain it…so we are to ‘go after wisdom’ –God’s wisdom, and it is found– in Spirit; and after we ask God for his wisdom, and receive and retain his wisdom– we are to ask for the understanding to come with it.
And after we get the wisdom, and the understanding of the wisdom– we are to NEVER FORGET IT,
nor TURN AWAY FROM THE WORDS COMING OUT HIS MOUTH– of the ‘instructions’ he is giving.
‘Do not decline them–’ the words, he is saying, as well as– the INSTRUCTION of *Wisdom and its *Understanding; in what again??
His WORD– it has Wisdom, and the Understanding of it– comes with HIS INSTRUCTIONS (commands, written therein), are we getting that??
I sure am; slowing down, and digesting what he is saying– is critical for me, for ALL OF US!
6 “Forsake her not…
(Wisdom– note– female designation mentioned, I believe ‘she’ is a spirit that serves our Lord, and he sends her with us– when we ask for ‘her’ –Wisdom)...
and she shall– preserve you: love her– and she shall keep you.”
I chose to love her long ago, that part of God is amazing and I couldn’t live without his thoughts, reasonings and conduct…with it, came his intentions, his feelings, his plans, his instruction, his commanding me, leading me into ALL TRUTH…along with his incredible insights and heart; I suggest we all ‘love her,’ and ASK GOD FOR HER: His Wisdom!
7 “Wisdom is the *Principal thing…
(principal thing– first in order of importance,
the HEAD; main–
a person for whom
another acts as an agent or representative…
HISTORICAL–
each of the combatants in a duel…
Middle English: via Old French from Latin principalis
‘first, original’, from princeps, princip- ‘first, chief’);
therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting–
get understanding.”
The Lord told me long ago…
“Janet, think of Principalities as entities that enforce people’s ‘Principles–’ what they believe, why they believe it, who they are behaving like, inside, who is leading them by their conduct and ‘way,’ and how it plays out…
This is how they infiltrate human lives.”
I hear things, or rather read them, here in scripture, since that conversation with him…
And when I read the ‘principal thing,’ I realize there is an entity on each side– God’s side and satan’s side, that enforces these ‘Principles’ by which we live: good or evil conduct and ‘ways,’ and the entities that ‘come with’ those principles; essentially, Principals…have Principles that are enforced, and become ‘doors’ that open to them: God’s doors, or to the gates of hell???
And so, I listen when he says things like…
“Hey kiddo– OUR WISDOM– ‘she’ is AWESOME and ‘she’ will KEEP YOU, ‘in the way’;” and I realize that Wisdom means what we all think–
God’s ways and reasonings…
BUT…
If what he told me is also accurate, and he has entities that carry out such orders, and are imbued with his attributes– like WISDOM, then…
I WANT TO BE SURE I’m ASKING Him FOR HER, GETTING HER, HONORING HIS WISDOM, because– She will KEEP ME; that’s ‘huge’ UNDERSTANDING FOR ME Father!
I can see why we need to ‘slow down,’ and digest what you are saying more fully; we have so much just having his scripture with us– to guide us.
Many argue,
“without a ‘church’ to be accountable to,
who are people accountable to??”
The Lord, it’s always been the Lord; before we had tablets of stone, or books to read, we had, and STILL HAVE: The Holy Spirit of God, available before the New Testament as ‘The Spirit of the Lord,’ outside of people’s vessels…
and then New Testament, The Holy Spirit, who can indwell us now, fully, bodily– as he chooses to.
For he said, in Acts 5:32…
“I give him to those that obey me;” he calls, he ordains, he saves, he leads, he is just, he is loyal, he is kind, he is powerful– he is God Almighty, holy, true and FILLED BY LOVE; and besides, are we really going to act like growing up outside organized religion is bad??
Pharisees killed and led many astray in the world church back then, and they were the HIGHEST LEARNED in the ‘religion’ of the day– THE SCRIPTURES OF THE TIME of Judaism.
(...which tells you, we can EASILY, HANDILY,
know the scriptures– cerebrally,
and yet– FAIL AT ATTAINING the Christ like conduct,
and APPLICATION we are supposed to.)
We have the same now.
“You can’t do that?!?
Where do you attend your indoctrination??
Who indoctrinates you??
Who are you loyal to??
Who do you OBEY??
Who are you ACCOUNTABLE TO?!?”
–The Lord Jesus Christ, his Father– God almighty, holy, true and loving– and their Holy Spirit.
That’s all fear based, and not scriptural ‘freaking out;’ Christ never told us to join the Pharisee clubs, meet with them on the corners, and be idle in–
the business of the Lord.
FEAR talks to us like that– not Holy Spirit; Holy Spirit says things to us like…
“Hey, do you see that person–
the church shunned them,
because they cannot see
how they ‘fit in,’
and have thereby judged them unjustly;
Will you go and welcome them,
tattoos,
nose rings, and a harsh look–
or not??”
FEAR says…
“Hey…
They are not accountable– to your leaders…
(wait– who’s leading them, truthfully– God or men??)
They could say or do something ‘unacceptable’
and that should scare you;
(wait–why?? Doesn't the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth??)
They could be ‘walking in’ heresy…”
(wait– aren’t you and the Holy Spirit supposed to KNOW if they are or not–
with extensive scripture referencing
living in our hearts, and OVERFLOWING FROM IT NOW,
by the new law of Love in Christ,
and we should thereby KNOW if Heresy is happening??)
All the while…this fearful person ‘thinking’ all that, with the help of the evil spirit behind the thoughts…
NEVER REALIZES that they are ‘walking in fear,’ or rather– ‘walking WITH the spirit of FEAR’ leading them, right then– and not Holy Spirit.
Worse, they WOULD NOT BE SAYING THOSE THINGS AT ALL…
if…
They, themselves, ‘could,’ in DEEDS– hear and see the Holy Spirit speaking to them (fear leaves when you are with God– quite literally)...
because to those that can hear him…
be convicted of who’s with him…
by their fruits…
Do not NEED THE SECURITY OF A ‘human’ and their ‘approvals,’ to KNOW WHO IS FAMILY WITH’in’ OUR LORD– The ‘Body’ of Jesus’.
Because we KNOW, and SEE and HEAR what he is giving, showing and telling us.
He lets us KNOW WHO IS WITH HIM, and he doesn’t need man’s approval to ordain, or to anoint to do his Father’s work.
Man’s insecurities, or rather, demonic attributes still playing out of them, speak such ‘scared’ things– not Christ, not his Father or his Spirit, for his Spirit only ‘reps’ them, not himself in any way, shape or form right now– and he is not fearful at all; he knows who is his.
And those that have ‘him in them,’ are not fearful of ‘who is with God,’ and who is not; he is faithful to lead us into ALL TRUTH.
We should run with the same confidence, and if we cannot– we are blessed with this ‘understanding,’ and that is…
We need to ‘hear,’ and ‘see’ what Father is saying and doing better; and that begins with burying one’s self in the scriptures, his ways, his thoughts, his heart in pages of words….
Until it BECOMES US…
‘More words– than we have ever heard’ truly reside in those glorious pages…
What we ‘do,’ or ‘do not do,’ WITH what he has freely, and DEEPLY given to us– is about us, and our condition within, our loyalty and determination to ‘do him right–’ and give back to him.
If we have ‘dead churches’ today…
(having an ‘image’ that resembles something of Christ and his way, BUT…is denying the power thereof TO CHANGE MAN and REFORM VESSELS and CHURCHES, and kick demons, and their operations– OUT!)...
It’s because we had DEAD CHURCHES THEN, run by humans with religion, and ‘death spirits’ in operation– operating out of them– their fruits stunk.
We have ‘dead spirits’ still in the pulpits and the pews today, exemplifying this pattern once again– living accordingly.
We NEED CHRIST’S HELP to give us Christ centered teaching locations, where we can gather together, and with like minded brethren to meet with.
But right now– the ‘local church’ is IN NEED of reparations, new foundations, demolishing old schemes and agendas…and to be built upon the Rock, for real.
Right now we got churches afraid to build upon the Rock, or rather– those running with him, that look like John the Baptist, a bit rugged, audacious in God, not appearing like the cookie cutter image running with Pharisees– and in fact, is GOING UP AGAINST THOSE OLD GOATS, or worse– ‘wolves,’ in many cases…
that are coming for the ‘flocks–’ the pew sitters, BECAUSE…
They will not accept and welcome in God’s weirdos, his ‘peculiar’ people, as he called them.
1 Peter 2:9-10
“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth (that means display)– the praises of him who has called you out of darkness– into
his marvelous light;
10 Which in time passed– were not a people (before being ‘in’ Christ– to unite us), but are now–
‘The People of God:’ which had not obtained mercy– but now have obtained mercy.”
We ought to ‘walk in’ mercy then– and give it out, like Christ Jesus does; he doesn’t sit around condemning us to ‘what we have done wrong,’ NO– he comes around with his forgiveness, and
‘his mercies are NEW every morning.’
The ‘church’ wants to shut up, dictate, muzzle, not approve or receive…the ‘different sheep;’ the sheep ‘of the other fold’ Jesus said he had.
Why can we not see they are with him, and he is bringing them to us, or us to them– TO INCLUDE THEM INTO OUR FLOCK; why do we shun them and turn a cold shoulder– out of fear??
Who gave us that leadership spirit; ‘God did not give us a spirit of fear– but one of Love, Power and ‘a disciplined mind–’ Soundness.
Not because these brethren are dangerous, or mean, or foul– are they ‘feared’…
but because they were not ‘of us, and so– we do not associate with them, and are in deeds– fearful of them.’
Why do I say that??
How many times were God’s people shunned…
… including Christ himself by the religious, high minded and stiff necked, hard hearted of the day…
THEY KILLED HIM, and SUCCESSFULLY the prophets and evangelists before him… and after.
I do not care what ‘church’ denominations think of me, or if they approve of me, OR YOU; I care what Father and Christ say about you and me– period.
We can be led by Father, Jesus and their Holy Spirit, here, now…
and KNOW we need not man's approval…
but only to *stay under the Lord, his leadership…
obeying what we see him telling us…
showing us…
and am IN DEEDS– serving him and his humans– IN and OUT OF: Love, Truth and Justice and Mercy.
He will align all the rest, as we are to seek The Father, through Christ Jesus and his Spirit, his RIGHTEOUS WAY, and HIS KINGDOM RULE and ORDER…and THE REST…he will add to us, as he sees fit, and when; seems easy enough to gain in that ‘understanding.’
8 “Exalt her (God’s Wisdom)-- and she shall promote you– she shall bring you –to honor, when you do embrace her.”
So, David is telling Solomon (or God, whichever way you want to go) to get Wisdom, and when she comes, she will Exalt those that Exalt her– she will PROMOTE us (she is a leveling up– facilitating, promotion entity) and then she will bring us to her comrade– God’s Honor.
I believe we all need her, and those she runs with, like God’s Honor: God’s Wisdom and Honor.
9 “She shall give to your head– an ornament of grace– a crown of glory –she shall deliver to you.”
Okay so she is bringing us to Honor, Promotions, Understanding and now, WISDOM– decorates us with a Crown of God’s Glory, AND…
she will DELIVER US!
What?!
I mean it makes sense, the ‘getting’ of the Truth– sets us free, receiving the truth– and to ‘get the truth,’ you need his Spirit and his WISDOM; why??
To receive THE UNDERSTANDING, it was one of her first principles– Wisdom: God’s understanding or reasonings.
We could ALL USE HER and her mates– and DELIVERANCE!
10 “Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings– and the years of your life shall be many.”
Longevity of Life is in getting his instructions down, his Wisdom and Understanding–via what route??
His WORD– his ‘sayings;’ scripture is FULL of God.
11 “I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in– right paths.
12 When you go– your steps shall not be strait-ended; when you run– you shall not stumble.”
And ‘you will RUN’...
13 “Take fast hold of instruction; do not let her go: keep her– for she is your life.”
So, ‘your life,’ is in your ability to ‘follow God’s instructions,’ his COMMANDS…
commands of what??
God’s Wisdom and Reasonings, Scripture, his attributes, points and premises– are we???
14 “Enter not into the path of the wicked, go not in the way of evil men.”
That’s ‘how they live their lives,’ their lifestyles, things they say, do, places they go, people they frequent and the fruits they leave behind– results.
15 “Avoid it– pass not by it…
TURN FROM IT…(that way)
and pass away (from it).
(Don’t stop there– PASS ON BY that!)
16 “For they sleep not– except they have done mischief; their sleep is taken away– unless they cause some to fall.”
This passage states that ‘evil people’ SLEEP TERRIBLY– except when they are doing mischief, folly, shadiness…and their SLEEP IS TAKEN AWAY (who wants that) except when–
they are CAUSING OTHERS TO ‘fall down–’ wrecking lives– causes them to sleep like a baby.
Odd indeed, and evil for sure; Sleep is for God’s people, ‘he gives his beloved REST, but there is NO REST FOR THE WICKED.’
17 “For they eat the bread of wickedness– and drink the wine of violence.”
So, there is a ‘food,’ that results in WICKEDNESS, and the ‘evil folk–’ are EATING THE WRONG THINGS, taking into themselves–
‘the RECOMPENSE OF THEIR WAY.’
And…
There is a way we can ‘drink in violence,’ and the wicked– KNOW THIS WAY.
What are we feeding on, and drinking into ourselves on a daily basis– Christ and his WORDS and CONDUCT, or ‘other??’
18 “The path of the just– is as the shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked– is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.”
Why do they not know at what they stumble, as they stumble through life??
Because they are ESTRANGED from God holy, true and Loving, and are inundated by ‘wickedness,’ that does not bring his WISDOM or HONOR– nor sets us free through DELIVERANCE.
20 “My son– attend to my words; incline your ear –to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.”
This tells us that the Father is wanting us to ATTEND TO (take care for and with, APPLY) his *WORD– Christ Jesus– incline yourself TO HIM, and his TENANTS and STATUTES…
Do not allow your EYES to depart from them, that means he is expecting his WORD…
WILL BE EVER BEFORE YOUR EYES– reading; and when doing that–
you will KEEP God– in the MIDST OF YOUR HEART.
22 “For ‘they’ (God’s Words) are life –to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
God’s Word– points, premises, attributes and conduct– must be ‘FOUND,’ not all will….
His Word– that’s where we learn of his Spirit person– Holy Spirit; and when we do THAT–
When we bond with the Holy Spirit, Father and Christ, by LEARNING HIS WORD, with him teaching us, leading us…
IT IS LIFE TO US!!!
…and LIFE to–
“*ALL our FLESH” y’all!!!
Who ‘doesn’t need’ THAT!?
23 “Keep your heart with all diligence– for out of it (the heart)-- are the issues of life.”
He is warning us here to keep our hearts steadfast upon what the word of God says about God and us, because our hearts can be wicked and led astray easily, handily…
By any emotion blowing by, or any thought not taken captive, sent by the devil to lead us into ‘fear and doubt,’ and thereby, delay our answers and victories from God.
24 “Put away from you– a froward mouth, and perverse lips –put far from you.”
Definition Froward– difficult to deal with; contrary, divisive.
Late Old English frāward ‘leading away from, away,’ based on Old Norse frá.
Definition Perverse– showing a deliberate, obstinate desire –to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable– often in spite of the consequences, contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice, against the weight of evidence or the direction of the judge– on a point of the law.
Late Middle English (in the sense ‘turned away from what is right or good’): from Old French pervers(e ), from Latin perversus ‘turned about’, from the verb pervertere.
DON’T GET TURNED ABOUT:
Perverse.
25 “Let your eyes look right on, let your eyelids look straight before you (ahead).
26 Ponder the path of your feet (think deeply upon, analyze), and let all your ways be established.”
Established in what??
The ‘way,’ Christ Jesus’ way: He is the WAY, the TRUTH and LIFE itself.
27 “Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.”
Again, seems pretty easily understood, but are we doing it; are we applying all he is, and all he said, and all he commanded: in his WORD??
Are we ‘walking out’ the scriptures– the Word, with the Word of God himself: Christ Jesus??
The bible, the holy scriptures are a ‘to do’ application book, as much as it is Christ and his attributes, it is one of two stories at all times: when God’s people obeyed him– it resulted in THIS KIND OF LIVING FOR THE PEOPLE OF HIS, and when his people disobeyed him– THIS happened to his people.
We will see which side we have been on, as ‘fruits thereof’ always show up and out– eventually.
We will be seeing who is running with God, and better yet– whom God is running with, and whom his Wisdom and Honor are running with–
because there, with them and him…
WILL BE DELIVERANCE--- captives will be set free– for his Wisdom– is the bringer there of.
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