Proverbs 2:12: Deliver

To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, Proverbs 2:12

Deliver: rescue, recover, take away

Way of: course of life, moral action and character bad

Evil: unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery, displeasing

Speaks: says, boasts, speak one with another

Perverse things: a perversity or fraud, fraudulent

Proverbs 2:12 is a continuation of what Wisdom will do—Deliver, rescue, take away. 

From what will Wisdom recuse me? 

1. A course of life that includes unpleasantness and misery, and most importantly—displeasing to God. 

2. The man who speaks fraudulently. 

Most of us can agree that #1 is important. We do need direction and wisdom to stay moral and true. But what is wrong with hearing fraudulent or perverse speech? 

Ever hear the old saying, "What goes in, comes out?" What we allow to enter our minds, will change the course of our thoughts. And our thoughts will rule our hearts and actions. 

There is also a danger to hearing fraudulent speech, for the more we listen to it, the less sensitized we become. I remember the TV shows I watched back in the early 1970's. They were "good clean shows". Meaning that was no sex, no profanity, no gruesome realistic murder scenes. Yet, over the years, all of those things have been added. Making them passé. We've become desensitized to the horrors of sin. 

I now have a TV in my bedroom. I'm not much of a TV watcher. And I did not want the blank screen tempting me to watch, just for the sake of watching. So, I wanted to cover the screen. As I thought about WHY I didn't like watching TV, my answer was simple—I did not like the sin portrayed on most of the shows. 

So, to help me evaluate what I would watch, I printed a verse and taped it on the TV. 

[Finally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful [lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things. Philippians 4:8 (EXB)

If my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then Wisdom will deliver, direct me away from a life of sinful morality and fraudulent speech. And if I really respect and fear God, I'll not enjoy the sinful and perverse speech. 

Deliver. Wisdom is ready to do just that. But am I willing to "be delivered"? Or will I choose to stay in the company of those whose character and speech is perverse and ungodly? 

Do I really value God’s Word?

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 19. Here is what I learned.

The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb. Psalm 19:10 (NLV)

They are ·worth [desired; coveted] more than gold, even ·the purest [fine] gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the ·finest honey [droppings of the honeycomb]. Psalm 19:10 (EXB)

Desired: greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, great delight, desire, lust, precious (thing).

Gold: gold as wealth.

Fine Gold: refined, pure gold.

Much: in abundance, enough, exceedingly, full, greatly.

Sweeter: sweet, sweetness.

Honey: honey, made by bees.

Dripping: flowing honey, honey from the comb, the purest honey. 

Honeycomb: the bees natural storage for the honey.

God’s Word. Do I value it? Do I give it the respect it deserves? 

If I do value God’s Word, then there should be a desire.... an overwhelming desire... to hear what God has to say. Then that desire would translate what I read into action. 

Wealth: abundance, affluence, assets, belongings, bounty, capital, cash, commodities, cornucopia, dough, estate, fortune, funds, gold, goods, holdings, lap of luxury, long green, lucre, luxuriance, luxury, plenitude, plenty, possessions, profusion, property, prosperity, prosperousness, revenue, riches, richness, security, stocks and bonds, substantiality, treasure, worth.

Gold, the purest gold. Far better than the purest gold. Highly valued. 

How do I know if I really value God’s Word?

First, do I take time to read it? Am I satisfied with 10 minutes of reading a few verses? How much time do I spend doing other things that have no real value... like watching TV? How often do I rearrange my schedule so that I can watch a certain TV show? And then consider the morals that show taught. So many of the TV shows on today, are filled with examples of sin—yet, I sit and watch them for hours.  I’d say , if I have time to watch (and fill my mind with ‘trash’) than I have time to study God’s Word. So, the question remains.. “Do I really value God’s Word?” 

Secondly, do I obey God’s Word? If I value something, I cherish it. Reading God’s Word is a great place to begin, but if I really value God’s Word, I’ll want to make it part of my life and allow it to change me into the person God wants me to be. 

And lastly, do I share God’s Word with others? Remember those TV shows that I rearrange my schedule to watch? I talk about those with others... and they have no eternal value. If really think that God’s Word is worth more than pure gold, shouldn't I want to share my “riches’ with others? 

The only true way to create a positive day is to make sure that I really value the richness of God’s Word.

Max Makes Me Laugh

When I returned from the laundry room today, I found Max enjoying a TV program! It made me laugh! He was so focused on the show.

I am so thankful when God sends those "you can't help but laugh" moments my way. Laughter is good medicine!

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter

and your lips with shouts of joy."

Job 8:21

It's those unexpected moments

that make us laugh

that help create a positive day!

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Max watching a TV program.

Max very focused on the show.

He didn't want to miss a minute of the show!