For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.—Psalm 149:4
As I read Psalm 149:4 this morning I thought how much more excellent and worthy and profitable it is to think on spiritual beauty rather than the worldly, quickly fading kind. To place my focus on Him rather than on my many flaws...imagined or otherwise in the unkind mirror of my fleshly mind. Today I will think on spiritual beauty...Christlikeness. I have been raised with Christ, I will set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. When the Lord makes me beautiful, I will be beautiful indeed...I will be beautiful FOREVER.
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.—1 Peter 3:4
Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you," says the Lord GOD.—Ezekiel 16:4
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.—Ephes 5:27
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.—1 Cor 15:49
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Cor 3:18
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.—1 John 3:2
to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3, ESV)
Monday, July 1, 2019
Thinking on His Word....
I really love the Proverbs, but I often have difficulty discerning their meaning. Part of the problem is that I am impatient. I WANT to understand it immediately. When I don’t, I usually move on or look up what Matthew Henry or Charles Spurgeon had to say about it. When I do this, I miss an opportunity to meditate on the Scriptures and allow the Spirit of God to teach me and speak to my heart about its meaning. Perhaps the Lord has a purpose for my denseness. Maybe He wants me to spend the day chewing on His Word. Maybe He is using my lack of understanding to teach me to make a practice of thinking on His word during the day. Praying that I will do this...praying that by His grace I will make a practice of meditating on His word during the day and in so doing allow the word of Christ dwell in me richly in all wisdom. There are many verses in Scripture that speak to this...
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 63:6 (NKJV)
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the [night] watches.
Psalm 77:12 (NKJV)
I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.
Psalm 119:27 (NKJV)
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Malachi 3:16 (NKJV)
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard [them;] So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
And here IS what the commentators had to say...
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.—Proverbs 18:4
From Matthew Henry...
The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed.
1. The well-spring of wisdom is as deep waters. An intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable. This is as deep waters, which make no noise, but never run dry.
2. The words of such a man's mouth are as a flowing brook. What he sees cause to speak flows naturally from him and with a great deal of ease, and freedom, and natural fluency; it is clean and fresh, it is cleansing and refreshing; from his deep waters there flows what there is occasion for, to water those about him, as the brooks do the low grounds.
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 63:6 (NKJV)
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the [night] watches.
Psalm 77:12 (NKJV)
I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.
Psalm 119:27 (NKJV)
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Malachi 3:16 (NKJV)
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard [them;] So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
And here IS what the commentators had to say...
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.—Proverbs 18:4
From Matthew Henry...
The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed.
1. The well-spring of wisdom is as deep waters. An intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable. This is as deep waters, which make no noise, but never run dry.
2. The words of such a man's mouth are as a flowing brook. What he sees cause to speak flows naturally from him and with a great deal of ease, and freedom, and natural fluency; it is clean and fresh, it is cleansing and refreshing; from his deep waters there flows what there is occasion for, to water those about him, as the brooks do the low grounds.
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