Sanctification

Fear Not… And Be Not Dismayed

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But fear not thou, O My servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
Fear thou not, O Jacob My servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

Jeremiah 46:27-28

A Fenced Brazen Wall

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Therefore thus saith the LORD, “If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before Me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.  And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.  And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.”

Jeremiah 15:19-21

The LORD Reigns

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No matter what is happening in the world, let’s keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ. He reigns forever more.

The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
The LORD is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people.  Let them praise Thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
Psalm 99:1-3

There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 20:15

The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. He is coming again, just as He told us.

Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe that God has raised Him from the dead, and you shall be saved.

The Trials, Battles and Faith of the Christian Life

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Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: on the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: but He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
My foot hath held His steps, His way have I kept, and not declined.  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:8-12

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and He in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
Psalm 144:1-2

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
Proverbs 29:2-4

Sowing Tears

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And Job answered and said,
“No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.  But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?  I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and He answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.  He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.  The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly…”
Job 12:1-6

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm 126:5-6

The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
Proverbs 26:10

Committed Works

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Thou, even Thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in Thy sight when once Thou art angry?  Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
Psalm 76:7-9

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.  Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. The LORD hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Proverbs 16:2-4

Kings; Loving Kindness; Death

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Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.  And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.  For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.  For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “The good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.”
And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
2 Chronicles 30:15-20

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest.
Psalm 51:1-4

The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
Proverbs 11:18-19

Encouragement For The LORD’S Righteous

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The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth.
Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: the portion of their cup.
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.
Psalm 11:5-7

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 3:25-26

Various Ways to Serve

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Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.  And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.  And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.  And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.  And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.  These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 9:29-34

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.  Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within thee.”
Psalm 122:6-8

A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
Proverbs 25:26

No Harm In The Pot

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And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, “Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.”  And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.  So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, “O thou man of God, there is death in the pot.” And they could not eat thereof.  But he said, “Then bring meal.” And he cast it into the pot; and he said, “Pour out for the people, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.
2 Kings 4:38-41

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength unto this generation, and Thy power to every one that is to come.
Psalm 71:18

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 15:33

Envy with Hatred: Evidence of Departure from GOD

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And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.  And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, “I will smite David even to the wall with it.” And David avoided out of his presence twice.  And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.  And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.  Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.  But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1 Samuel 18:10-16

They that trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
Psalm 125:1

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, and discover not a secret to another: lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Proverbs 25:9-10

Even When We Feel Inadequate

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Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:” but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.  Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.  So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.  And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:19-23

Thou art near, O LORD; and all Thy commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:151

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Proverbs 24:19-20

Even when we feel inadequate God is adequate to deliver. Our deliverer is the Lord Jesus Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Trust In The LORD

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“…Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.  But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”
1 Samuel12:23-25

O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.  Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.
Psalm 115:9-11

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: for their Redeemer is mighty; He shall plead their cause with thee.
Proverbs 23:10-11

The LORD Helped Us

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Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”
1 Samuel 7:12

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation; that I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance.
Psalm 106:4-5

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Proverbs 22:24-25

The Judgment of The LORD

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Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity.
Psalm 98:8-9

The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs 20:27

When GOD Is Not Heard, and Obeyed

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And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.  And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, “Whither goest thou, and whence comest thou?”  And he said unto him, “We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.  Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.”  And the old man said, “Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.”  So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.” And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, “Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.” But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, till it was light. And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. And he said unto her, “Up, and let us be going.” But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.
Judges 19:16-28

But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Psalm 81:11-12

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:15

The Consequences of Playing With Sin

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And she said unto him, “How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? Thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.” And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; that he told her all his heart, and said unto her, “There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”  And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.  And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.  And she said, “The Philistines be upon thee, Samson.” And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.” And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
Judges 16:15-20

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Psalm 78:5-8

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

The Cut Off, and The Exalted

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For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and He poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.  But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.  All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Psalm 75:8-10

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:2

Let All The People Praise The LORD

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God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah.  That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee.
Psalm 67:1-3

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
Proverbs 14:16-17

Righteousness and Wickedness

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Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
Psalm 55:1-3

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
Proverbs 11:4-6

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined

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The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.  He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.
“Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is judge Himself. Selah.
Psalm 50:1-6

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
Proverbs 10:27-28

GOD’S Loving Kindness and His Song

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Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8

THOUGHTS FROM WISDOM: “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.”
Proverbs 9:1-2

…He that trusts in the LORD…

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Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psalm 32:10-11

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.  Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Proverbs 7:1-2

Remember the Greatness, and Holiness of the LORD

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And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, “Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.” So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.  And the LORD said unto Joshua,
“Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”
Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
Joshua 10:6-11

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.  For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
Psalm 30:4-6

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19

Stones, Heart, and Words

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And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.  And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.  And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, “When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What mean these stones?’ Then ye shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land’; for the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which He dried up from before us, until we were gone over: that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.”
Joshua 4:19-24

Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Psalm 17:3

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:20-22