“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1 (KJB)
stubborn
Messiah and His Words
To let the readers of Broken Pieces know… I have been doing mostly a reading and study of the gospels for the year of 2019. I read through and studied Matthew through John January through March, then I read and studied them again April through June, then the Acts through Jude; following that I read the Prophets Isaiah through Malachi.
For the month of December I am reading and doing a study in the gospels once again, but dealing mostly with the gospel of Luke from December 1 – 24. Here is what I did. I would read chapter 1 and 2 in Matthew on December 1, and chapter 1 of the gospel of Luke.
Now we are a day past Christmas, and my posts will be on the gospel of John, so I share with you all today the following…
“Then said some of them of Jerusalem, ‘Is not this He, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, He speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?’ ” John 7:25-26 (KJB)
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
The question was being asked by some of the people, “Do the rulers know indeed that this Jesus is the very Messiah?” I wonder that as well. Did they know? Were they just fearful of the change He would or could bring if He was indeed the Christ – the Messiah?
I pray everyone reading this today realizes that Jesus is the Messiah of Israel, and the only Savior and Lord God of the world, and of all the created order.
If they knew they were stubbornly being stiffnecked, hard headed people indeed. That was much like those who refused to hear the words of Moses and the Prophets of old.
Jesus makes it clear in John 8:47 that those who hear – meaning those who hear the word and take His words into their hearts and minds, doing them they are of God. Those who do not hear and do them (James 1:22) these are not of God; they are in fact enemies of God and have no hope.
Where do you fit in this word of the Messiah?
Detestation or Acceptation
“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
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 29:1-4 (KJB)
Some thoughts from Proverbs 29:1-27
- The ruin of stubborn, rebellious minds; and the value of the righteous (vv. 1-4; 16:12);
- The practices of evil, and evil men leads to their own ensnaring (vv. 5-6);
- The understanding of the righteous versus the evil; concerning the poor (v. 7; 28:50; Job 29:16; Psalm 41:1);
- A description of the rage, havoc, and folly that accompany evil practices (vv. 8-11);
- A wise king listens to good counsel (vv. 12-14);
- A good society and good culture begin with the parents at home in the discipline and teaching of their children; guiding them in their lives with vision (vv. 15-18);
- People in authority are wise to use words of positive and negative words with actions to discipline (vv. 19-22)
- The fall of the proud (16:18( and the honor of the humble (v. 23);
- The peril of the soul of a thief and his partner (v. 24);
- Fearing God and/or fearing man – the contrast (vv. 25-26);
- Righteousness and evil detest one another (v. 27),
“An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” Proverbs 29:27
This detestation of evil for righteousness, and righteousness for evil is quite visible in our society and culture of 2019.
There is only One Righteous One, and He will give, and has given His righteousness to all who will call on His name. He is Jesus the crucified, buried, and bodily risen One. If you detest; that is hate; the Righteous One, then you will perish.
Designs of Deception
Deception is prevalent in all of life. It is amazing how easily the human can be deceived. There are some people who set out for that purpose to deceive, and defraud others of what they have. What they have being things, money, or themselves even.
The book or Proverbs gives many warnings of these deceptive people and their practices…
“For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: and, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.” Proverbs 7:6-15 (KJV)
These verses, and on through verse 23 describes a young many for he is “Among the youths” and he is void of understanding; and the temptress presents herself to lure him into a life of detriment and pain.
These temptations do not only have to do with sexual temptations, but any other temptation as well. Most have to do with self-control, and according to Galations 5:22-23 “Temperance” is self-control one of the fruit of the Spirit of God.
There is much hypocrisy in the statement of this woman – the temptress. See Leviticus 7:11-18. “Peace offerings” were a part of the Hebrew worship. This is the way of evil. There is probably more evil within the churches of the USA than most of us would like to admit, or think. Hypocrisy is pretending to be something one is not. Whether it is a wolf acting as a sheep; or a sheep acting as a wolf it is hypocrisy.
“…Ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour…” 1 Thessalonians 4:2-4
There is a much greater danger than the husband returning home (vv. 19-20). There is first the offense of God; there is the offense to one’s self; there is the offense of one’s future spouse; and the offense of the offended spouse. There is also possible reference to disease in verse 23.
Let us who are of the Spirit of God, born again in Christ Jesus guard our hearts and minds; hiding the word of God in our heart that we might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).
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