What happened to the fear of the Lord

Praise for the Virtuous Woman

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Wisdom’s Praise for the Virtuous, Wise Woman

Book of Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10-31

Many things have been said throughout the Book of Proverbs about women of folly, foolish women, and wrong women, but the Holy Spirit would not finish this great book without telling us about the virtuous woman.

No matter who we are, as men, we all have a desire for a virtuous woman.

Virtuous means morally good, acting in conformity to moral law, practicing moral duties, and abstaining from vice.

Conforming to Divine Law.

How did a woman come about? Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Only one man can join with one woman and be One Flesh, and this by marriage.

The Lord Jesus said: Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

This is the definition of marriage, as defined by Almighty God.

These are the only two humans that God has created!

What does the Holy Spirit say about this virtuous woman?

*Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The most important decision we will ever make is what we will do with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are we going to believe Him and the Gospel, or are we going to ignore Him?

The Bible says we are to submit to Him in complete obedience.

We already know that submitting is far greater than just complying.

Once we have accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the truth of God, then the Holy Spirit will come to live in our hearts, and we can know what it is to “Fear the Lord”.

For most of us, the next great decision we will make is the choice of our spouse.

Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

We can understand from this question in verse ten that it may not be easy to find a virtuous woman.

What we see in this passage is the qualifications of an excellent wife.

What we see in this passage is the embodiment of all the wisdom instructions contained in the previous thirty chapters.

We have a portrait in words of an exceptionally wise woman who has the “Fear of the Lord”.

If we are a Christian male and fear the Lord, then if we are seeking a wife, we should seek a Christian female who also has the fear of the Lord.

We must understand that because family relationships are the most important relationships in life, the character of the wife and mother is of great importance.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

We may read these words as describing a perfect wife and a perfect marriage, and we know that none of us is perfect, so for the husband to find such a godly wife, then that husband must be a God-fearing man living as close as he can to the Word of God.

A virtuous woman is a woman who is noticed by many of God’s people because she has an excellent character, no matter where she is or what she is doing.

Rth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

A virtuous woman is a rare and precious treasure!

We may think that such a woman does not exist, but she does.

It is a fact that there may not be many of them.

Women would say the same thing about us men.

One thing is true to that man who has found a virtuous woman is richer than any king.

This woman of wisdom is certainly a gift from the Lord.

Pro 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.

*Pro 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Pro 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

One of the greatest qualities of this godly wife is the fact that her husband can trust her.

He knows that this woman is devoted first to the Lord, next to him, and then to the family.

He will not question her motives, and he will not question her words.

He understands that such a woman will draw the attention of other men, but he knows she will never betray him.

His heart is secure in her faithfulness!

She has enriched his life and meets his needs, and he has hers.

The one thing the Old Testament is good at is showing us examples.

It spends a lot of time on godly men and things that God will punish us for.

This passage is an example for godly women.

Here we see faithfulness and purity, and these are things God expects from all His children.

A good wife will commit that she will never act in a way that could cause her to lose the trust of her husband, and the husband must make this same commitment to the Lord.

The world we live in today is so full of immorality that any signal from a woman or a man can be seen as saying they are available.

The commandments of God do not even exist in modern society.

Wedding vows are not sacred.

Adultery is glorified and seen as normal behavior.

God’s Word is still the truth: 1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Our commitments to our spouses must be important, and they must be real!

In marriage, both spouses must be attentive to each other’s needs.

The primary need of women is still love and affection!

The primary need of the husband is reverence and respect.

We are to put the needs of our spouses before our own needs.

The husband-and-wife relationship must be a picture of our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

To gain His bride, the Lord Jesus gave up everything to become a man, so that he could give His life to purchase His bride.

We have no greater example of this for our own marriages!

He gave Himself for us!

Friendship with the world is committing Spiritual adultery.

We are completely secure in the love of our Savior!

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*Pro 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Pro 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Pro 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

This is a woman of good works: 1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

This home is founded on the commitment of a husband and wife and the love they share with their children.

Her first concern is for her family to be well-clothed.

She does not buy the clothes, nor does she buy the fabrics to make those clothes.

She gets the raw materials, wool and flax to make the fabrics herself, and takes the time to get the best materials she can find.

She works with her own hands.

Wool comes from sheep and keeps the body warm when it’s cold.

Flax comes from the land and is used to make linen, which is for warmer days.

In typology, the wool would indicate that the Church is to be a place of warm, loving interest in each member.

Linen would represent righteous deeds of the members: Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

She also provides food for her family, and she seeks out the best foods for them; she even brings it from afar.

She is compared to ships and not a single ship.

She eats the same food she prepares for all who live in her house.

In typology, this is Spiritual food, and it comes from afar because it comes from Heaven, where our Lord Jesus Christ is today.

It is the Lord Jesus who provides for the Church: Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

This is the food she prepares and puts upon the table.

For breakfast, she gets up before all others so the food will be ready when they awaken.

She does not call upon her maidens; she does these things herself.

She makes sure all those in her home start the day with a good breakfast.

She then plans the day’s work for her maidens.

In typology, the Church is to be full of believers who serve each other the food of the Word of God.

Each member has a purpose, and they are to do that task as well as they are able, but they need the nourishment of God’s Word, that Heavenly Manna from on high.

Each member receives their portion that is needed to perform the service God has given him or her.

After taking care of the needs of her family, she is free to do things that will increase the family budget.

She is also a good businesswoman who invests wisely.

She buys the things she needs without going into debt.

After she buys this field, she immediately plants a vineyard.

In typology, that field is an area outside the Church where we can do the work of God.

A vineyard speaks of joy in that work.

That field can represent the family of God because the Church is to be made up of families.

Every family in the Church that lives for God is a great joy to our Heavenly Father.

A strong Church is a blessing in the place where it is located.

*Pro 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Pro 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Pro 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

Laziness is one of those things that God hates, but the virtuous woman is never lazy.

We see her work begins before daylight and continues after all others are in bed.

She is a symbol of strength, and in typology, she represents the Church, which is also to be a symbol of strength.

Most of the churches in America are failing in this issue today, and attacks against the Church have increased because the Church appears to be so weak, and it is a shame.

The Word of God is being twisted and turned till the truth has been removed, and this is another reason God will first judge the Church, and He will accept no excuses!

The strength of the Church is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is no longer relevant in much of the Church of today.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

The Lord Jesus says: Rev_3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

We see this wise woman is always evaluating the work she has done, and it must be the same for the Church.

There is only one way that will work for the Church!

Jer_6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Much of the Church will no longer walk in the ways that work and have teamed up with the world in ways that are destroying much of the Church.

We see the candle of this wise woman does not go out at night, and her house is spared from the disasters of the wicked.

The Church must always be alert to the wickedness of the world and the wiles of the Devil.

This wise woman sees that her clothes are in demand from others, and she sells some of them along with her produce that she grows.

It is the same for the Church; the Gospel message is still in high demand from those who have never heard it, and the same Gospel that worked in the days of the Apostles will still work today.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Just as this wise woman will be blessed the Bride of Christ will be blessed if it remains diligent in the work the Lord has given us to do.

The Lord Jesus promises a reward for our labors!

We will all stand before the Lord and give an account for what we have done, good or bad.

1Co 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

*Pro 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

We have seen that this wise woman cares much for her family, but she does not forget those who are poor and needy.

She is compassionate and caring.

We must understand that the Church must never be seen as standoffish and must share with the less fortunate.

There are far too many people in our area who are spiritually poor and needy.

The Church should extend its hand and help with spiritual blessings.

There all always people who are in need, and there may be some inside the Church that we just have not noticed, but we should.

It is not just the poor but also those members who have become too old to get out and those who, through sickness, can no longer get out.

If we truly love the Lord, we will be compassionate and help others when we are able, and this includes the Church.

In fact, this should be a ministry of the Church.

Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

*Pro 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She does not just think of today, but she prepares for the future.

This cold, dead world does not bother her because she shows the warmth of love in her home.

No matter what is going on outside, she has prepared her family for it.

That word scarlet describes the quality of the things this wise woman has prepared for those times of uncertainty.

The Church, full of love and warmth, will attract those who are seeking a place of rest.

The Church must be prepared to face this cold and worsening world.

The Bible tells us that this world will never improve, but there will always be souls that need saving.

Life is far shorter than we realize, and we cannot predict the future except for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Psalms 22, which refers to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, He says: Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

That worm refers to a crimson worm that had to die to produce a dye used for the color scarlet.

*Pro 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

This noble wife takes great pride in her appearance and in being attractive and appealing to her husband.

She could buy anything she needed, but she prefers to make them herself.

She uses the skills God has given to her, and she lives according to the Word of God.

The Lord Jesus clothes His bride in the very best: Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The Bride of Christ is clothed in fine linen: Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

As husbands, we should provide nice things for our wives if we are to be like Jesus Christ.

*Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

This husband was known in the community, and part of the reason was that his wife was so diligent and supportive of Him.

A noble wife will help her husband, and many wives contribute to their husbands’ success.

It is the same for the Bride of Christ.

A diligent, hardworking Church will brag on the Lord Jesus.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The Church has a high calling: Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

He sits among the elders: Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

*Pro 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

This wise woman provides for her family.
She cares for the poor.
She encourages her husband and his position as head of the family.

Now we see she wants to serve her family with her abilities but charges a price for her services.

What she delivers is quality!

We see there is nothing in Scripture that says a woman cannot work to help provide for her family.

We know that her priority is for her family, and everything else is secondary to this first thing.

1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Tit 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

We know that there is a price to be paid to be a Christian.

We are to be Born Again into a godly life as much like Jesus Christ as we are able.

The truth must be bought: Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

Truth is not some doctrine, but it consists of wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

These things are more valuable in life than any material riches and are necessary to make life on earth have any value.

This value is eternal and is connected to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The purchase price is the time we invest in the Word of God.

Learning the truth of God takes time and effort, and the Holy Spirit.

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We know that a sinner cannot pay anything to be saved.

We can be saved only by grace: Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

*Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Pro 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Pro 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

We have already seen where this wise woman is adorned in elegance and modesty, but her true beauty is inside her.

1Ti 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Ti 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

She possesses strength, honor, and dignity.

She is esteemed and honored by others as a woman with a strong character.

This is a product of the wisdom of God, our Heavenly Father.

She is ready for her future and does not fear the unexpected.

She stands upon a firm foundation.

She has sown righteousness in her life and in her family, and God promises she will reap the same.

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Living in the fear of the Lord brings great benefits.

Psa_103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

The Church owes all strength and dignity to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Strength and dignity are the attributes of our Heavenly Father, and the Church should exhibit them.

The Church must always be the Lamb’s wife who has made herself ready, dressed in fine linen for the Bridegroom.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

She offers helpful and reliable counsel.

When she opens her mouth, only wisdom comes from it.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

She is always watchful for anything or anyone who would harm her family and never passive in this area.

Nothing escapes her attention!

Her children want the world to know how precious their mother is to them.

Today, not many children honor their parents, but they should know that there is nothing more precious than loving parents.

Her husband praises her and expresses great appreciation for the support she has always given him.

Her husband knows he could not have chosen a better spouse for himself and his family.

Her driving force has always been the “fear of the Lord”.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

It is no different for the Church!

Only through the reverence of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is it able to express itself in a way that will reap the praise of God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

*Pro 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Pro 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

This last passage should strike a note with us because the Lord Jesus said deceit is the main ingredient in these last days.

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

This wise woman does not focus on deception.

She knows that personality and popularity do not always reveal a person’s true character.

People are not always genuine.

Many people today are masters at deceit, trying to get what they want from others, and the world is full of them at this time.

She can stand her ground because of her relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is our fear of the Lord who will lead us in the right direction.

She has given her life to raising her family and being a good wife to her husband.

No reward in this world can be given for the work she has done, for there is no work more important than the work she has done every day.

It is the same for the Church that remains the Bride of Christ.

There is no more important work than that of the Church that remains with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

It is the “fear of the Lord” that is the secret to a successful, satisfying, and blessed life here and then the great rewards of our Heavenly Home.

The Church has one job, and it is to remain close to Jesus Christ and do the work He has given us to do.

There is no greater work than this!

Amen

The Rewards of Wisdom

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Rewards of Wisdom

Book of Proverbs Chapter 3

We know that the Book of Proverbs is a collection and compilation of true, divinely inspired, wise sayings, and they are unquestionably Scripture.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We should know that many of these Proverbs existed as a teaching tool long before King Solomon

Num 21:27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

1Sa 24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

We should understand that all genuine truth, regardless of its human origin or proclaimer, has God as its ultimate source.

Ecc 12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Ecc 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

We should understand that if God can speak through a donkey, He can cause some truths to come from a pagan human being, if He chooses.

2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

God still loves all His created beings but insists that they become believers. Who’s to say He did not put words of wisdom in their mouths?

It was the Holy Spirit who decided which proverbs would be included in the Scriptures, just as every other Word, Passage, and Book.

There are many other proverbs in this world, but the Holy Spirit decided these were important to the believer.

Most scholars have said it was Solomon who assembled this Book of Proverbs as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Solomon wrote: Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We have this verse of prophecy: Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

God also says this to all unbelievers: Pro 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Pro 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

If we seek true wisdom, then we will also find the Lord! Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

It is very hard to view these three chapters as one lesson, but this is the way of our lessons.

*Chapter 3 Verse 1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

We should clearly understand that God does not desire our compliance with all the Word of God, but God requires us to submit to all the Word of God.

Obedience without submission is compliance.

We must submit all the Word of God because we know it is the truth.

God is not some tyrant trying to force His ways upon us.

Just to be compliant because someone says so, shows we still have a rebellous spirit.

These are so-called believers who, though the outward action is present, rebellion is still in their hearts, and their prayer life will never amount to anything fruitful.

Chastisement may drive the child of God to compliance, but it takes love to drive the child of God to submission without rebellion.

The Lord Jesus Christ is treated as the Son of God as a member of the Holy Trinity. Not three Gods but the three persons in the One God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

As adopted into the family of God, He is our Heavenly Father. This is why He speaks to us as His dear children!

If the God of all creation sees us as His dear children, then why in the world would we rebel against Him?

We talk a lot about the Ten Commandments, and we know that the Jews were given 613 commandments in all, but the truth is that all the Word of God is commandments written to us in love.

Our Heavenly Father will never force us to recognize Him as our Father, but it is the wise thing to do.

The Laws of the Father are the same laws of the Son.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Joh 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Our life span upon this earth is really not very long. As I grow older, I feel the call of my Heavenly home, but as I have reached the age to see my Great Grand Children and the things going on in this world, I know they need me as long as the Lord leaves me here. I think most of us feel the same way.

To be honest, we have not left such a great world for our grandchildren and certainly not our great-grandchildren.

I am already experiencing verse two and have been at peace for a while now. I’m certain I’ll end up in New Heaven and am prepared to go whenever the time comes.

This is why submitting to the Lord is far better than trying to keep up with a bunch of laws.

My God, my Heavenly Father has promised mercy because of His great love, and mercy means I will never see His wrath upon me.

Mercy means I will not receive the punishment for my sin that I deserve but will receive the “Grace” of God instead.

*Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Listen as our Heavenly Father teaches us.

“Mercy without truth is like a great rain in a desert place that is not a blessing because there are no plants that need its nourishment”.

When we receive the mercy of God, it means we are not getting what we deserve, eternity in Hell, which is a real place.

For those who believe in Heaven but doubt a place called Hell means they have rejected the truth. Both places are mentioned in the Word of God.

Our Heavenly Father exhorts each of us to grab hold of His mercy and His truth and never let go.

That mercy and that truth came to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Truth means things we can rely on, and we can rely on the truth of the Gospel!

God has proven He loves us as He has made a way for us to miss out on His wrath.

Our obedience to His Word proves we love Him!

The obedience of the Christian is the outward behavior of each Christian’s inner devotion to our Heavenly Father.

The terms binding and loosing to the Jew mean permitting or forbidding or declaring anything to be forbidden or permitted.

What are the benefits of being obedient to the Word of God?

We will find favor and understanding with our Heavenly Father.

The favor of God is God’s “Grace,” which means His good will, His acceptance, and the many benefits that come from these things.

When we devote ourselves to the Lord, we will remain true and faithful to Him.

Love and faithfulness are to be worn like precious jewels in a necklace.

To the Jew, the throat is the life of every person. Mercy and truth are tied to the throat, so mercy and truth are to become a part of our every breath.

We bind them to our neck and then we write them in our heart!

This means that we know that the Word of God is to become a major part of our lives.

Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Even as a child of twelve, our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated these rewards in His life.

Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

We can do none of these things until we have submitted ourselves to God!

God wants to see our love for Him with His own eyes!

God wants us to demonstrate our love for Him by being obedient to Him!

1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Without this faith in Him, we can never please our Heavenly Father.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

*Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Today, most people trust in their own understanding, even though most of that understanding comes from media sources that have forgotten the truth and have allowed politics to dictate their beliefs, much of which comes from hatred.

Just look at Microsoft News, and ninety percent of it is distorted news who do everything it can to go against our duly elected President.

People do not get to learn on their own understanding because all we get is a distorted worldview.

The truth of the Word of God is so easily seen as it teaches us how to live in a mind at peace with this world, because we are no longer a part of this world.

When we acknowledge our Heavenly Father, He knows it.
When we love our Heavenly Father, He knows it.
When we trust our Heavenly Father, He knows it.
When we accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, He starts a building program in the New Heaven.

This applies to every minute of our lives, at home, at work, at church, and in everything we do.

The enemies of Israel came against King Asa and Asa called upon the Lord: 2Ch 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Every day we go out to battle in this world, we need to say, “Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest upon thee and in thy name, we go out into this lost and dying world with the Gospel”.

We can do this if we are devoted to Him and His Word!

Our path is the same path that our Lord Jesus walked.

Our understanding will be darkened by our sinful nature if we depend upon our own understanding.

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

We can walk in the darkness, or we can walk in the Light of Life.

Jhn_8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

*Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Self-confidence can be a good thing, but when we put our own confidence above the truth of the Word of God, then we will fail.

Any wisdom against the wisdom of God is wrong, and it is sin.

Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

We should always seek the direction of God in everything we do!

We are also able to see that our moral condition and our physical self are closely linked together!

Godliness is profitable for all things.

1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

When we have a reverent fear of the Lord, it builds our relationship with Him, and we can see His promise, we will live healthier lives here on earth and in eternal life when we reach His home in New Heaven.

Godliness means we hate evil and the evil ways of man.

To be self-sufficient is to be arrogant and self-righteous.

If we wish to conquer the challenges of this life, we have to cry out to the Lord God for His help and His wisdom.

Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Every command that God gives us is for our well-being in every dimension of this life we live now.

Sin will rob us of time we can spend with our families and enjoy this life as we prepare for that eternal life.

That word naval actually means the neural chord we were attached to when we were in the womb of our mothers.

If we belong to the Lord God, our Creator, our naval chord is now attached to Jehovah God and He will moisten the marrow of our bones.

Psa 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

We can say all these things and do all these things, but there is a way we can prove to the Lord, we love Him.

We can bless Him as He has blessed us.

It’s called self-sacrificing.

*Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

This means more than just tithing, which we are all called to do.

Our first fruits are to be presented to the Lord in gratitude and thankfulness to Jehovah.
Our first fruits are to be the best we have.

Trusting the Lord with all our hearts includes our wealth and our substance.

Fearing the Lord extends to His commands about finances and material things.

These things honor God because they show our submission to Him.

When we give our best instead of our leftovers, it glorifies our Creator.

Many leftovers of our meals go out to feed animals, so we do not have to wonder how God feels when we try to give Him our leftovers.

Our first fruit must be a token of our gratitude to the Lord for the blessings that He has already given to us.

When we are willing to give God the best that we have, which includes our time, it is really just a trial of our faith.

Ask Abraham how he felt when God told him to give up his son?

God says to prove Him: Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Can I say I have received a gift from God that was not special, and a thing I needed?

God will do for us what only He can do!

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2Co 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

We could say that giving to the Lord is our supreme act of faith.

We must also know that we are only human, and humans are made from dirt, and we will fall under Satan’s temptation on occasion.

We cannot make excuses but own up to our failures and ask or sometimes beg for forgiveness.

*Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

None of us likes any sort of punishment.

No child of God can love pain or loss.

None of us looks forward to the knife of the surgeon.

We must completely understand that God not only rewards His children and prefers to do so, but He is also a loving Father who will discipline us. It is called chastisement.

As long as we remain in this sack of flesh that we wear, we will make mistakes, and we will need discipline.

If we are or were parents, we understand this clearly.

If we are being disciplined by the Lord, we must understand it is because He loves us.

None of us enjoys discipline, but we are to submit obediently to God’s hand of discipline.

As we travel that narrow path to Heaven, we will need His guidance, and we already know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the door to the entrance into the glory world.

He is not the doorway but the door.

Jehovah God never gets angry with His children; He corrects us!

Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Job 5:18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

As God is our Heavenly Father, we are part of His family, so it is discipline of a family and not like as school or prison.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

We can understand the word “bastard” as those born of the world and have Satan as their father.

2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

We show our trust in the Lord by just believing what He says.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

*Pro 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Pro 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Pro 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Pro 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Pro 3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

We should know that just like precious metals and precious jewels, wisdom is to be found.

We must diligently seek God’s wisdom!

We can see that God’s wisdom will bring happiness.

Happiness is the result of being in God’s favor!

God’s wisdom has much more value than silver. Silver is used to make musical instruments in Heaven.

God’s wisdom is much more valuable than gold. Gold is nothing but paving material in Heaven.

God’s wisdom is much more valuable than jewels. Jewels are used as wall decorations in Heaven.

Out of everything we might ever desire, wisdom will make us richer than any money ever will!

Instead of seeking some magic potion for long life, the only potion that will work is the wisdom of God.

God’s wisdom can bring honor.
God’s wisdom can bring happiness and peace to our lives.
God’s wisdom is truly the tree of life here on earth and will lead us to our new home in the New Heaven.

Wisdom is truly the source of life!

Wisdom brings happiness to God’s people.

Amen

Our Desires Are Not Always What We Need

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The People’s Desire

Book of 1 Samuel Chapters 7 and 8

The one message we see in these Books of Samuel and throughout all the Bible is that only when we are obedient to the Lord can we expect God’s blessings. Not before!

God has the power to control human events in this world. Sometimes He intervenes but most of the time He allows our mistakes to take place so we can learn from them.

Which we rarely do learn from our mistakes.

There is even a push today to remove the evidence of our mistakes from history, so that we can forget them, which will never work. Even if it did work, a new way cannot be made using corruption and wickedness.

The only new way that works is the same old way and it is by a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

When the sons of Eli removed the Ark from the Tabernacle located in Shiloh, it would never return to that Tabernacle, which showed the glory of the Lord no longer shined upon Israel at that time.

The Ark remained in the possession of the Philistines for seven months and we could say that God showed out until the Philistines had enough and they sent the Ark back to Israel but not back to the Tabernacle, which they had destroyed.

Some few of the Israelites celebrated the return of the Ark, but a few violated the Holiness of God by opening the Ark and looked into the Ark and immediately they were struck with death.

Some seventy men died that day because they showed irreverence to the things of God.

These same things can happen today, and they probably do.

This certainly put the fear of God into the hearts of these Israelites.

The Ark was sent to Kirjathjearim into the house of Abinadab and Eleazar his son to care for the Ark and it remained there until the time of David, some eighty years.

It seems that the Lord was silent for twenty years before He spoke again to Samuel.

When the Lord is silent, those things He was already given to us are still in effect and He expects obedience to those things!

We should clearly understand that there are certain ways to approach God and He gives us those ways.

Any other way that is attempted will result in death and eternal damnation.

*1Sa 7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
1Sa 7:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

The men of Kirjathjearim came and by God’s Law undertook the caring to the Ark and no further calamity occurred at this time.

They placed the Ark in the house of Abinadab which is later said to be Gibeah.

2Sa 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

It is likely that Abinadab was a Levite, and his son Eleazar was ordained and sanctified to care for the Ark.

Because this house was located on a hill and easy to defend, it was actually used as a place of worship.

We should consider that the Tabernacle at Shiloh had been destroyed.

Jer_7:12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

We do not have to ask why God would allow such a thing to happen, because God the Holy Spirit said to Jeremiah that it was because of wickedness.

For twenty years, God was silent for His glory was removed from Israel and the Philistines ransacked most of Israel.

All these years Samuel was working behind the scenes going from place to place teaching the Word of God and insisting that Israel repent.

Without repentance, Israel would remain in the hands of the Philistines as slaves.

This same thing could happen to America unless America repents and returns to the Lord.

We can say that to lament, as used here, would mean to mourn for the Lord who remained silent for these twenty years.

This was the first time that Israel was missing the presence of the Lord and gradually a change of heart came over these people.

It is a good thing that God looks into the heart for our outside actions reflect what our heart dictates.

The Philistines were like tyrants at this time, and they also took away Israel’s means to make weapons to defend themselves.

Sounds increasingly like America all the time, as our own nation tries to take away our weapons to defend ourselves from the tyranny of government.

I do not know if we have twenty more years to come to repentance before the Lord.

Samuel began reaching out to the leaders of Israel.

*1Sa 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
1Sa 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

Repentance is a complete change of mind from a sinful, wicked state and a complete submission to the Lord.

Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

What is the sign of the end just before the return of Jesus Christ?

Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The main purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ to leave Heaven and come to this earth was to call for repentance!

Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

If Israel would repent God would save them from the tyranny of the Philistines.

In fact, there was no other way to defeat the Philistines without the Divine Power of our Holy God!

Repentance can only come from a believer!

The unbeliever must first answer the call of God and then the Holy Spirit will move in to begin His work that leads to repentance.

There must be a whole-hearted return to the Lord!

We must put away the idols of the soul!

The help which brings deliverance comes through a covenant sealed with blood!

It was that same covenant with Abraham that brought deliverance to Israel if they would repent.

It is also true that for anyone to be delivered from the bondage of Satan, then it is through the covenant of Grace that is sealed with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and the joyful acceptance by a sin-oppressed soul.

This help for deliverance comes by prayer and prayers must be heard in Heaven.

It is that repenting soul whose prayers are heard in Heaven.

This was the message of Samuel to Israel.

This is the message of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Most of Israel then put away their false idols and their hearts returned to Jehovah.

This is what America needs to do today!

The Philistines were defeated by Israel because of answered prayer that had come through repentance.

And time moves on.

*1Sa 8:1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
1Sa 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
1Sa 8:3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

After a revival in Israel and the fact that Jehovah had allowed Israel to defeat the Philistines, Israel was quiet for the time of Samuel which was about eighty years

Samuel would be the last human Judge of Israel.

As Samuel got to be an old man, he had his sons to help him, and his own sons proved to be unjust and corrupt, and the people demanded that Samuel change the way Israel was governed.

Israel wanted to be like the other nations around them that had kings to rule them. How foolish.

They had their reasons:

1) They never had enough qualified judges to lead them. Even Moses found this to be true.
Their biggest problem was that they refused to follow the Word of God and crime ran rampant just as we see today.

2) Israel had suffered greatly from the Philistines and marauders from other nations, especially during harvest time.
Again this was because Israel refused to obey the Word of God.

3) They suffered Spiritually because they failed to lead righteous lives. They had separated themselves from God many times. They lived sinful and wicked lives departing from the truth of God!

Israel decided they needed a king. They felt a king would solve all their problems. They were wrong again!

This was just another rebellion from the truth of God!

****1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

Israel admitted that they wanted a king to be like the other nations around them and this is not a particularly good reason.

In fa ‘ct, it is not a good reason at all.

God had allowed Israel to be given the land and homes of these nations because of the wickedness of those nations.

They should have never had the desire to be like them.

We are to be like the Lord Jesus Christ and this should be our goal.

We are wronging ourselves and our families when we want to be like the world!

All Israel had to do was to be obedient to the Law of God and they would become a great nation.

Samuel, like we all do, had gotten old and he no longer had the strength to do all the things he knew he needed to do.

His sons had been of no help to him because they just took advantage of their position and became corrupt.

We see that corrupt governments have always been a major problem in this world, and I never thought our own nation would get caught up in corruption, but it has.

Israel had corrupt leaders and corrupt judges just as we see in America today and we can be sure it is probably the same in all nations that reject the truth of God!

The sons of Samuel accepted bribes and perverted justice.

They ruled in favor of those who were lawless. Those that did what was right in their own eyes.

We see these same things today.

Solomon wrote that there is nothing new under the Sun.

Ecc_1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

These words of wisdom have held true in every Age so far.

Humans do not want to live righteously because we all have that sin nature!

It is in our nature to sin against God, but this is no excuse.

Today in America we want new leadership and a righteous leadership just as Israel wanted in the time of Samuel.

Is this even possible? Not in any nation that rejects the truth of God!

Not under capitalism, not under socialism, not under communism, and certainly not under some monarchy!

Israel wanted a king like those nations around them, they did not want a king “after God’s own heart”!

Just speaking for myself, I do not see a leader of any nation that I think is truly suitable, and I certainly do not like the leadership of America today.

Jehovah is noticeably clear on these things!

Deu 27:19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Why did Israel spend so many years in captivity?

Mic 3:10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
Mic 3:11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
Mic 3:12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

Is America so bold to think that God will not allow similar things to happen here?

Of course Samuel was displeased.

We should also be displeased and vote for a better government and insist that there be no corruption in it!

As the people we have this power today but this power is slowly being taken from us.

We do not need to be like Europe or any other nation.

People seem to forget it took a war to separate us from the ways of Europe.

We must avoid the ways of the world.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We must not become a part of this world!

*1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Samuel had done his best to lead Israel according to the Word of God all the days since he was a young man.

He had always judged according to the Word of God.

Samuel would have been broken-hearted because he had spent his entire life doing what was right in the eyes of God.

At first Samuel was surprised at God’s answer when He said give them a king.

God also told Samuel to tell them all the things that a king would require from them.

When we forsake our Holy and Righteous God we are just asking for severe trouble.

People will do what they think is right in their own eyes, just as we see in our own nation today.

When we reject the providence of God, then we also reject the Divine favor of God!

If the Lord Jesus Christ is not everything in our lives, then He is nothing in our lives!

One day soon the Lord Jesus will be the true King of all this world!

If our desire to be like someone else and that person is not Jesus, then we have failed our own self and have chosen wickedness.

God cannot look upon evil.

God will have nothing to do with the sinful, wicked ways of this world.

When we claim the Lord Jesus, then we claim to be obedient to all the Word of God.

If we reject any part of the Word of God, then we have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords!

Deu 28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

Psa 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
Psa 81:12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Psa 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
Psa 81:14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

*1Sa 8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
1Sa 8:9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Keep in mind that Israel did not want to develop their own government and perfect the judicial system, they looked at other nations and wanted to do as they did.

Today, I hear many politicians say we need to be like Europe when in fact, we need to stop the corruption of our own government and make our judicial system as perfect as we can and that will never happen until we remove the politics from the court.

We must remove politics from the DOJ, the FBI, and the CIA and write righteous laws and enforce without politics.

Our government must be for the people and the people must never be seen as the enemy of government by the goverment as we see today.

We cannot claim that we accept God’s Law and then, begin removing the parts with which we do not agree.

Many churches are doing this today.

A nation governed by God is a Theocracy.

Israel was rejecting a theocratic government and demanding a monarchy.

This was a sad step downward in the History of Israel, when they rejected Jehovah God.

Why was this true? Because the Priests and the Leaders of Israel did not teach the truth of God.

Israel claimed God, but they did not really know Him! This is the same for them today!

The same things happen in the Church today!

Those men behind the pulpits do not teach the truth of God, knowing that God does not change His ways.

What is the truth about kings?

*1Sa 8:10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
1Sa 8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

What is the job of all Priests, Preachers, Pastors, Evangelists, and Elders? To tell the truth of the Word of God to the people in the pews.

My question is, why are so many not obedient to God and just give their own thoughts to the people when God has said not to do that.

2Pe_1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Moses was instructed to make the Tabernacle after the pattern shown to him in the Holy Mount.

Jeremiah was told to go to all to which He was sent.

God said: If any man speaks, let him speak the oracles of God.

God said to Peter: It is required of stewards that a man be found faithful.

God expects His chosen men to be faithful to the Word of God which never changes!

Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people.

God’s chosen men must not allow the fear of the people, nor the fear of government, to alter the Doctrine of the Lord.

God’s love for us does not make allowances for sin!

God still has that same call to repentance.

If we remain what we were after salvation, then we have not repented.

Every preacher is to declare all the council of God!

The Lord said to Samuel to tell the people what a king would do, not what a king should do because the Lord would take care of this in His Word and a king should never deviate from the Word of God. This includes all leaders of all nations!

Samuel explained to Israel that there would be consequences if Israel was to be ruled by a king!

1) They would lose many if not all of their liberties.

A king would require a professionally trained standing army to defend his nation.

A king might lead a nation to war, but those dead bodies as a result of war would be their own children.

Other men would be needed to care for all the things that an army would need.

Israel was male dominated society, with the man providing the income for his family and working the animals and the food supply for the family.

There would be many widows because of this king.

The sons of these families would have to serve in the military when it was the son that these widows would need to remain in their homes and survive.

2) Under a king there would be many who would be demanded to serve at the whim of a king.

Laborers would work in the fields of the king rather than their own fields.

Weapons of war would have to be massed produced.

3) A king would also require the women and the daughters of the nation to be cooks and bakers instead of cooking for their own families.

4) A king would confiscate property. He would take the best fields, the best vineyards, the best groves, to supply his own needs and the needs of those who would work for him and for the military.

5) A king would have a system of taxation to take from the meager people to supply the needs of the government and those that supported his government.

6) A king would take the best animals, the best crops as taxes.

7) A king would raise taxes as needed or as he decided.

8) In reality under a king, the nation of Israel would become a nation of slaves.

This is what socialism is all about, and so many Americans think socialism is so great, it is not great and has failed in almost every place it has been used to govern.

Under a king, a day would come when the people would rebel, seeking deliverance from all these things.

Oppression, lawlessness, and the violent ways of the world, would become embedded in the king and his subjects.

This is the same under socialism.
This is the same under communism.

This is the goal of the Democrats to make people totally submit to the whims of government.

What would be God’s response? God would not answer because the people chose this rather than the truth of God.

Notice we see these things in America today.

God said you cannot escape the consequences of your actions!

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The message to the Christian is to hold on and not be weary.

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

What happened after the people were told all these things?

We might ask, what happened to common sense?

*1Sa 8:19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
1Sa 8:20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

Notice these people did not believe anything Samuel said and America does not believe in common sense today.

The desire to be like other nations, nations that were wicked and evil nations with false gods, overcame common sense.

Israel demanded a king!

How can progressive ideology believe any nation could afford all the things they ask for? Who could pay for all those things?

**Israel wanted a king that would be their savior and deliverer.

There is no such human being who can do all these things.

The power of kings is in their nation.

The power of any nation is in its people, if those people can believe the truth and have common sense.

No government will continue to take care of its people as the people wish because it is unsustainable!

**Israel wanted a protector and a provider.

No king, or ruler possesses the ability to do these things!

Again, the power of any king or ruler is in its people even when they are tyrants.

No people will live in fear of its government forever!

Today hardly any true American wants to be in the military because of the politics of this government.

This military may fail when it is needed!

Samuel did all he could to tell Israel how foolish they were, but they would not be denied.

Again, this sounds a whole lot like the America we are seeing today.

God said:

*1Sa 8:21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
1Sa 8:22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

God gave us a thing called choice and God will not ever force His will on any of us!

God presents His truth, and it is up to us to believe or to not believe what God says.

I am a believer of the truth of God!

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

If we choose the truth of the Lord Jesus, we will never die and spend eternity with Him in Heaven, no matter what happens upon this earth.

If we choose to not believe the truth of God, we will die and spend eternity in Hell and the desires of this world are meaningless to a righteous God.

Amen