Cast Off but not forgotten!
(1 Clement chap. 20 paraphrased) G-d exhorts you to peach from the examples of the Holy Scriptures. Righteous people were cast off from the beginning of time.
They were persecuted,
They were cast into prison,
They were stoned,
And they were sacrifice.
Was Daniel cast into the den of lions, by men fearing G-d?
Ananias, Azarius, and Misael, were they cast into the fiery furnace by men, professing the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? G-d forbid!
The people abominable, full of all wickedness; who will incised to so great a degree, as to bring the godly into sufferings, who with a holy un-blamable purpose of mind worship G-d: not knowing that the most High is the protector and defender of all such as with a pure conscience serve His Holy Name; to whom He be glory for ever and ever.
But they who with a full persuasion have endured these things, are made partakers of glory and honor: and are exalted and lifted up by G-d in their memorial throughout all ages.
Wherefore it will behoove as also to follow such examples as these; for it is written, “hold fast to such as are holy; for they that do so shall be sanctified.”
Wherefore are these strife’s, and anger, and divisions, and schisms, and wars, among us?
Have we not all one G-d and one Messiah?
Is not one Spirit of mercy and grace poured out upon us all?
Have we not one calling in the Father?
Why then do we rend and tear in pieces the members of the body?
Why do we raise seditions against ones own body?
And are come to such a height of madness, as to forget that we were members one of another?
Your schism has perverted many, has discouraged many: it has caused diffidence in many, and grief in us all. And yet your sedition continues still.
Let us therefore with all haste put an end to this sedition; and let us fall down before the L-rd, and beseech Him with tears that He would be favourable reconciled to us, and restore us again to a seemly and holy course of brotherly/sisterly love.
This is the gate of Righteous of the L-rd, the righteous still enter into it.
Have you felt cast off?
Rejected?
Thrown aside?
Eaten up by the so called righteous?
History will repeat it’s self if we do not learn this lesson and hard times are heading our way once again.
Storehouse
Found 2 times in Scripture:
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 L-RD 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.
This strong word H214 for storehouse means:
1) treasure, storehouse
a) treasure (gold, silver, etc)
b) store, supplies of food or drink
c) treasure-house, treasury
1) treasure-house
2) storehouse, magazine
3) treasury
4) magazine of weapons (fig. of G-d's armoury)
5) storehouses (of God for rain, snow, hail, wind, sea)
Strong word H1004 for mine house is meaning:
1) house
a) house, dwelling habitation
b) shelter or abode of animals
c) human bodies (fig.)
d) of Sheol
e) of abode of light and darkness
f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
a) those belonging to the same household
b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
Bring in your tithes (gold, silver, food or drink, first fruits) to provide meat (food, prey, leaf) for G-d’s purpose.
Now which storehouse is the question for G-d has many camp grounds?
Let’s see what the Scriptures says:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah: for it is the power of G-d unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Gen. 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Num. 6:27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
We have all been taught to bring in our tithes to the local church, by the local church. If we like to be blessed we must bless Israel first. Take our offerings and alms to the church you choose to dwell in, for the advancement of the Kingdom to the Greeks and the Gentiles.
Lk. 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and G-d feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
This storehouse is G1004 meaning:
1) a storage chamber, storeroom
2) a chamber esp. an inner chamber
3) a secret room
This is saying G-d will provide for you even if you do not have a storehouse.
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 L-RD 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.
This strong word H214 for storehouse means:
1) treasure, storehouse
a) treasure (gold, silver, etc)
b) store, supplies of food or drink
c) treasure-house, treasury
1) treasure-house
2) storehouse, magazine
3) treasury
4) magazine of weapons (fig. of G-d's armoury)
5) storehouses (of God for rain, snow, hail, wind, sea)
Strong word H1004 for mine house is meaning:
1) house
a) house, dwelling habitation
b) shelter or abode of animals
c) human bodies (fig.)
d) of Sheol
e) of abode of light and darkness
f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
a) those belonging to the same household
b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
Bring in your tithes (gold, silver, food or drink, first fruits) to provide meat (food, prey, leaf) for G-d’s purpose.
Now which storehouse is the question for G-d has many camp grounds?
Let’s see what the Scriptures says:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah: for it is the power of G-d unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Gen. 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Num. 6:27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
We have all been taught to bring in our tithes to the local church, by the local church. If we like to be blessed we must bless Israel first. Take our offerings and alms to the church you choose to dwell in, for the advancement of the Kingdom to the Greeks and the Gentiles.
Lk. 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and G-d feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
This storehouse is G1004 meaning:
1) a storage chamber, storeroom
2) a chamber esp. an inner chamber
3) a secret room
This is saying G-d will provide for you even if you do not have a storehouse.
Dead Flies in the Ointment
Studying with Rabbi Curt Landry
[Ecc. 10:1] Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Dead – flies attract live flies because they like the dung pile.
Flies – Matt. 10:25, 12:24, 27 represents evil thoughts, evil plans and evil desires, and brings guilt and shame. Fly eggs are evil thoughts that can lay dormant until it starts multiplying and becomes an distraction and making it unable to hear the voice of the Shepard.
Flies having a short life span can die landing in your anointment if you are not watching causing your prayers not to go straight up into the nostrils of your Maker.
The idol Beelzebub was the prince of the air and the lord of the flies.
Ointment – is applies to the head, beard and garment. Separating them for the purpose of G-d.
There was 11 spices mentioned in Scripture (Ex. 30:34) and the rest was passed down by oral tradition. It was mixed by the water gate on the South side; they used a herb that made the smoke rise straight up. Here is the Hebrew righting about that herb that grew by the dead sea:
“Our fathers passed on a tradition to us, that one day the Holy Temple will be destroyed. We did not want to teach our secret, so that it does not fall into the wrong hands, the hands of idolaters.”
The 11 spices represent 11 of the N.T. Prayers:
1. Confession of sins in 1 Jn. 1:9.
2. Confession of faults in James 5:16.
3. Agreement in Matt. 18:19.
4. Faith for healing of the sick in James 5:15.
5. Binding in Matt. 16:19.
6. Loosing in Matt. 16:19.
7. Praying in the Spirit in Eph. 6:18.
8. Praying with understanding in 1 Cor 14:15.
9. Thanksgiving in Philippians 5:16.
10. Intercession in 1 Tim. 2:1.
11. General Supplication in Philippians 4:6.
Apothecary – is the Cohen (Priest) that makes the ointment. Ex. 30:23-27.
Stinking savour - Ps. 23:5 Thou anointest my head with oil. The Shepard rubbed oil on the heads of his sheep. Because the flies would come and drop eggs on the heads of the sheep and also in the sheep’s noise. Then the sheep would butt heads with one another to try to get the fly eggs that agitated their minds and tormented their noses.
The Shepard would mix the oil with a tar like substance, then when the tar was put on the head or in the nose the flies would not land on it.
When insects bite into a olive leave it has a bitter taste so they can not take the leaves out and the olive tree can live forever.
A little folly - can spoil the work or the reputation of the wise as fast as flies can make an ointment give off and evil odor.
Light can become dim
Salt can loose its taste
Anointing can become stale
Do not be caught up with the cares of the world and get chokes out, becoming stale!
G-d’s Spirit and Word quickens.
You are to get the fly eggs off your head, because Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which is in Messiah Y’Shua.
Do you know any ministries that have dead flies in their ointment?
[Ecc. 10:1] Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Dead – flies attract live flies because they like the dung pile.
Flies – Matt. 10:25, 12:24, 27 represents evil thoughts, evil plans and evil desires, and brings guilt and shame. Fly eggs are evil thoughts that can lay dormant until it starts multiplying and becomes an distraction and making it unable to hear the voice of the Shepard.
Flies having a short life span can die landing in your anointment if you are not watching causing your prayers not to go straight up into the nostrils of your Maker.
The idol Beelzebub was the prince of the air and the lord of the flies.
Ointment – is applies to the head, beard and garment. Separating them for the purpose of G-d.
There was 11 spices mentioned in Scripture (Ex. 30:34) and the rest was passed down by oral tradition. It was mixed by the water gate on the South side; they used a herb that made the smoke rise straight up. Here is the Hebrew righting about that herb that grew by the dead sea:
“Our fathers passed on a tradition to us, that one day the Holy Temple will be destroyed. We did not want to teach our secret, so that it does not fall into the wrong hands, the hands of idolaters.”
The 11 spices represent 11 of the N.T. Prayers:
1. Confession of sins in 1 Jn. 1:9.
2. Confession of faults in James 5:16.
3. Agreement in Matt. 18:19.
4. Faith for healing of the sick in James 5:15.
5. Binding in Matt. 16:19.
6. Loosing in Matt. 16:19.
7. Praying in the Spirit in Eph. 6:18.
8. Praying with understanding in 1 Cor 14:15.
9. Thanksgiving in Philippians 5:16.
10. Intercession in 1 Tim. 2:1.
11. General Supplication in Philippians 4:6.
Apothecary – is the Cohen (Priest) that makes the ointment. Ex. 30:23-27.
Stinking savour - Ps. 23:5 Thou anointest my head with oil. The Shepard rubbed oil on the heads of his sheep. Because the flies would come and drop eggs on the heads of the sheep and also in the sheep’s noise. Then the sheep would butt heads with one another to try to get the fly eggs that agitated their minds and tormented their noses.
The Shepard would mix the oil with a tar like substance, then when the tar was put on the head or in the nose the flies would not land on it.
When insects bite into a olive leave it has a bitter taste so they can not take the leaves out and the olive tree can live forever.
A little folly - can spoil the work or the reputation of the wise as fast as flies can make an ointment give off and evil odor.
Light can become dim
Salt can loose its taste
Anointing can become stale
Do not be caught up with the cares of the world and get chokes out, becoming stale!
G-d’s Spirit and Word quickens.
You are to get the fly eggs off your head, because Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which is in Messiah Y’Shua.
Do you know any ministries that have dead flies in their ointment?
Reality of Death
The second half of this book (Ecc.) begins with a series of proverbial observations that all have to do with the question what is good? In Hebrew ‘better’ is literally ‘more good than’. There are five sayings making observations about the reality of death and our reaction to it, laying down some great truths which seem irony to the unthinking part, that is, the far greatest part, of mankind.
[Ecc. 7:1] A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
The beginning of this verse agrees with Prov. 22:1 that a good reputation is of more value to its owner than the things money can buy. This is a good that will bring a more grateful pleasure to the mind, will give a man a larger opportunity of usefulness, and will go further, and last longer.
In Hebrew the saying is a play on similar sounding words, making it catchy to the ear as well as to the mind. The saying ends with a mysterious twist: and the day of death is better than the day of birth.
Used at a funeral, the saying could reflect on the fulfillment of a life’s potential. At the day of birth no one knows what a child will do or become under the sun.
But on the day of death, all that can be known is known.
A good name - And if what is known adds up to a good name, indicating a life well spent, then what is left behind is of more value than precious ointment.
The emphasis of the saying could also be placed on the length of time something last.
Being given a good name on the day of your birth is not worth much unless the rest of your life sustains it.
But if you have a good name on the day of your death, it will endure longer than even the most expensive perfume. That is, a name for wisdom and goodness with those that are wise and good - the memory of the just;
Precious Ointment - Good ointment is here put for all the profits of the earth (among the products of which oil was reckoned one of the most valuable), for all the delights of sense (for ointment and perfume which rejoice the heart, and it is called the oil of gladness).
Day of death - That, all things considered, our going out of the world is a great kindness to us than our coming into the world was.
The day of death is preferable to the birth-day; though, as to others, there was joy when a child was born into the world, and where there is death there is lamentation.
As to ourselves, if we have lived so as to merit a good name, the day of our death, which will put a period to our cares, and toils, and sorrows, and remove us to rest, and joy, and eternal satisfaction, is better than the day of our birth.
Being born ushered us into a world of so much sin and trouble, vanity and vexation.
We were born to uncertainty, but a good man does not die at uncertainty.
Day of one’s birth - The day of our birth clogged our souls with the burden of the flesh, but the day of our death will set them at liberty from that burden.
Death is mentioned 372 times in Scripture.
Ecc. 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war ….
Ps. 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
1 Cor. 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Death is not to be a scary thing for it is the time that the soul goes from which it came.
Out of the body is present with the Father!
REJOICE when one is returned home, it is party time!
One may morn for their lost one for three days, then life goes on to carry out their walk with G-d.
[Ecc. 7:1] A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
The beginning of this verse agrees with Prov. 22:1 that a good reputation is of more value to its owner than the things money can buy. This is a good that will bring a more grateful pleasure to the mind, will give a man a larger opportunity of usefulness, and will go further, and last longer.
In Hebrew the saying is a play on similar sounding words, making it catchy to the ear as well as to the mind. The saying ends with a mysterious twist: and the day of death is better than the day of birth.
Used at a funeral, the saying could reflect on the fulfillment of a life’s potential. At the day of birth no one knows what a child will do or become under the sun.
But on the day of death, all that can be known is known.
A good name - And if what is known adds up to a good name, indicating a life well spent, then what is left behind is of more value than precious ointment.
The emphasis of the saying could also be placed on the length of time something last.
Being given a good name on the day of your birth is not worth much unless the rest of your life sustains it.
But if you have a good name on the day of your death, it will endure longer than even the most expensive perfume. That is, a name for wisdom and goodness with those that are wise and good - the memory of the just;
Precious Ointment - Good ointment is here put for all the profits of the earth (among the products of which oil was reckoned one of the most valuable), for all the delights of sense (for ointment and perfume which rejoice the heart, and it is called the oil of gladness).
Day of death - That, all things considered, our going out of the world is a great kindness to us than our coming into the world was.
The day of death is preferable to the birth-day; though, as to others, there was joy when a child was born into the world, and where there is death there is lamentation.
As to ourselves, if we have lived so as to merit a good name, the day of our death, which will put a period to our cares, and toils, and sorrows, and remove us to rest, and joy, and eternal satisfaction, is better than the day of our birth.
Being born ushered us into a world of so much sin and trouble, vanity and vexation.
We were born to uncertainty, but a good man does not die at uncertainty.
Day of one’s birth - The day of our birth clogged our souls with the burden of the flesh, but the day of our death will set them at liberty from that burden.
Death is mentioned 372 times in Scripture.
Ecc. 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war ….
Ps. 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
1 Cor. 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Death is not to be a scary thing for it is the time that the soul goes from which it came.
Out of the body is present with the Father!
REJOICE when one is returned home, it is party time!
One may morn for their lost one for three days, then life goes on to carry out their walk with G-d.
River of Tears
Lamentations 2: 18 O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.
v. 19 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the L-rd: lift up thy hands toward Him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
The wall is called on to weep for its own ruin and that of the city. May the hearts of mothers in their distress cry out, when they see the walls of the city and the government breaking down, they called unto the Father for help and protection. Some families are now without houses and inhabitants, only a broken wall standing, some remains and ruins in the lost of independence.
Incessantly, for the destruction and unhappiness made or intermission; but weeping continually for the way our society and family are heading. Pouring out tears is open and employed in beholding the miseries of the nation, and in deploring them, and for the wayward of our children.
Are we not affected by the desolations of the land; that we need to address the people, and urge them to plead with G-d day and night for their restoration. Our children are the apples of our eyes, let not your tears cease, for their salvation and guidance, calling on our Father to restore them to the fold.
The different watches of the night need to be covered with continual prayer. A day starts at 6 pm to 6 pm; there are 4 watches, broken down to three hours each.
1. 6 pm to 9 pm.
2. 9 pm to midnight
3. Midnight to 3 am.
4. 3 am to 6 am.
G-d visits the earth and brings a sudden revelation to those who are up praying and interceding.
You, watchmen on the walls (Isa. 62:6), “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the L-rd, keep not silence.”
This intimates:
1. That the calamities would be continuing, and the causes of grief would frequently recur, and fresh occasion would be given them every day and every night to bemoan themselves.
2. That they would be apt, by degrees, to grow insensible and stupid under the hand of G-d, and would need to be still called upon to afflict their souls yet more and more, till their proud and hard hearts were thoroughly humbled and softened.
Causes for lamentation are here assigned, and the calamities that are to be bewailed are very particularly and pathetically described.
1. Multitudes perish by famine.
2. Multitudes fall by the sword.
3. Their false prophets cheated them, seen vain and foolish things for you; they pretended to discover for you the mind and will of G-d, to see the visions of the Almighty and then to speak His words; but they were all vain and foolish things; their visions were all their own fancies. They themselves knew that the visions they pretended were counterfeit, and all a sham, and made use of only to colour that which they designedly imposed upon the people with, that they might make an interest in them for themselves. They are you prophets, not G-d's prophets; He never sent them, nor were they pastors after His heart, but the people set them up, told them what they should say, so that they were prophets after their hearts. It is surprising how many people believe false prophets.
4. Their neighbors laughed at them.
5. Their enemies triumphed over them.
“How long must we cry rivers of tears, L-rd?”
Thus saith the L-rd in Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to Me: seeing you have forgotten the Law of your G-d, I will also forget your children. Your river of tears is lacking compared to My River of tears.”
v. 19 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the L-rd: lift up thy hands toward Him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
The wall is called on to weep for its own ruin and that of the city. May the hearts of mothers in their distress cry out, when they see the walls of the city and the government breaking down, they called unto the Father for help and protection. Some families are now without houses and inhabitants, only a broken wall standing, some remains and ruins in the lost of independence.
Incessantly, for the destruction and unhappiness made or intermission; but weeping continually for the way our society and family are heading. Pouring out tears is open and employed in beholding the miseries of the nation, and in deploring them, and for the wayward of our children.
Are we not affected by the desolations of the land; that we need to address the people, and urge them to plead with G-d day and night for their restoration. Our children are the apples of our eyes, let not your tears cease, for their salvation and guidance, calling on our Father to restore them to the fold.
The different watches of the night need to be covered with continual prayer. A day starts at 6 pm to 6 pm; there are 4 watches, broken down to three hours each.
1. 6 pm to 9 pm.
2. 9 pm to midnight
3. Midnight to 3 am.
4. 3 am to 6 am.
G-d visits the earth and brings a sudden revelation to those who are up praying and interceding.
You, watchmen on the walls (Isa. 62:6), “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the L-rd, keep not silence.”
This intimates:
1. That the calamities would be continuing, and the causes of grief would frequently recur, and fresh occasion would be given them every day and every night to bemoan themselves.
2. That they would be apt, by degrees, to grow insensible and stupid under the hand of G-d, and would need to be still called upon to afflict their souls yet more and more, till their proud and hard hearts were thoroughly humbled and softened.
Causes for lamentation are here assigned, and the calamities that are to be bewailed are very particularly and pathetically described.
1. Multitudes perish by famine.
2. Multitudes fall by the sword.
3. Their false prophets cheated them, seen vain and foolish things for you; they pretended to discover for you the mind and will of G-d, to see the visions of the Almighty and then to speak His words; but they were all vain and foolish things; their visions were all their own fancies. They themselves knew that the visions they pretended were counterfeit, and all a sham, and made use of only to colour that which they designedly imposed upon the people with, that they might make an interest in them for themselves. They are you prophets, not G-d's prophets; He never sent them, nor were they pastors after His heart, but the people set them up, told them what they should say, so that they were prophets after their hearts. It is surprising how many people believe false prophets.
4. Their neighbors laughed at them.
5. Their enemies triumphed over them.
“How long must we cry rivers of tears, L-rd?”
Thus saith the L-rd in Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to Me: seeing you have forgotten the Law of your G-d, I will also forget your children. Your river of tears is lacking compared to My River of tears.”
Dusk to Dawn
From dusk to dawn, daydreamers can capture the moments
when time seems to stand still.
When those brief magic seconds of golden silence
is crossing the sky.
It is a quite time of reflecting on one’s day
as sunset disappears beyond the horizon.
The colors and the splendor are showing off G-d’s glory
as a new day begins, followed by a time
of resting in our Savior’s loving arms.
In this time for the daydreamers
is when dreams are planted and built into reality.
Foresight and discernment are brought to the surface.
Burdens are brushed off and conflicts are mended,
as the clouds are whispering by.
And before you know it the sun is peaking
over the land escape promising another adventure in His anointing.
It is a time to enjoy the beauty of His creation
and reflecting on His plans for our time.
We are to build intimacy with Him as we travel
through out our day.
Notice we started out the day in rest
and end in His service,
for all that we do is to be as onto the L-rd.
Our destiny is still with in our grasp because we started and ended
being in Him, as the Holy Spirit
guides us down life’s pathway
when time seems to stand still.
When those brief magic seconds of golden silence
is crossing the sky.
It is a quite time of reflecting on one’s day
as sunset disappears beyond the horizon.
The colors and the splendor are showing off G-d’s glory
as a new day begins, followed by a time
of resting in our Savior’s loving arms.
In this time for the daydreamers
is when dreams are planted and built into reality.
Foresight and discernment are brought to the surface.
Burdens are brushed off and conflicts are mended,
as the clouds are whispering by.
And before you know it the sun is peaking
over the land escape promising another adventure in His anointing.
It is a time to enjoy the beauty of His creation
and reflecting on His plans for our time.
We are to build intimacy with Him as we travel
through out our day.
Notice we started out the day in rest
and end in His service,
for all that we do is to be as onto the L-rd.
Our destiny is still with in our grasp because we started and ended
being in Him, as the Holy Spirit
guides us down life’s pathway
Sticks & Stones
[Ecc. 7:21] Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Since we all make mistakes from time to time, we ought to take what other people say about us with the recognizable grain of salt.
Also - Do not strictly search into them, nor listen to hear them.
Take no heed to all words that are spoken - set not your heart to them. Vex not yourself at men's peevish reflections upon you, or suspicions of you, but be as a deaf man that hears not, Ps. 38:13-14.
Be not concerned or inquisitive to know what people say of you; if they speak well of you, it will feed your pride, if ill; it will stir up your passion.
See therefore that you approve yourself to G-d and your own conscience, and then heed not what men say of you.
So wisdom teaches us not to be quick sighted, or quick scented, in apprehending and resenting affronts, but to wink at many of the injuries that are done us, and act as if we did not see them.
Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee - Hearkeners, we say, seldom hear good of themselves; if you heed every word that is spoken, perhaps you wilt hear your own servant curse you when he thinks you do not hear him; you will be told that he does, and perhaps told falsely, if you have your ear open to tale-bearers, Prov. 29:12.
Or, perhaps you may stand behind the curtain and hear it for yourself, may hear yourself not only blamed and despised, but cursed, the worst evil said of you and wished to you, and that by a servant, one of the meanest rank, of the hopeless, nay, by your own servant, who should be an supporter for you, and protect your good name as well as your other interests.
Perhaps it is a servant you have been kind to, and yet he requites you thus ill, and this will vex you; you would have been better if you not have heard it.
Perhaps it is a servant you have wronged and dealt unjustly with, and, though he dares not tell you so, he tells others so, and tells G-d so, and then your own conscience will join with him in the reproach, which will make it much more uneasy.
The good names of the greatest lie are much at the mercy even of the meanest. And perhaps there is a great deal more evil said of us than we think there is, and by those from whom we little expected it.
We do not consult our own repose, no, nor our credit, though we pretend to be jealous of it, if we take notice of every word that is spoken diminishingly of us; it is easier to pass by twenty such affronts than to avenge one.
As therefore you being far from perfectly "just" yourself, hast much to be forgiven by G-d, do not take too strict account, as the self-righteous do (in verse 16; Lk. 18:9, 11), and thereby shorten their lives (verse 15-16), of words spoken against you by others, for example, your servant: You are their "fellow servant" before G-d (Matt. 18:32-35).
[22] For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Wisdom puts us in mind of our own faults: "Be not enraged at those that speak ill of you, or wish ill to you, for oftentimes, in that case, if you retire into yourself, your own conscience will tell your that you yourself has cursed others, spoken ill of them and wished ill to them, and you reap what you have sown.
When any affront or injury is done t0 us it is seasonable to examine our consciences whether we have not done the same, or as bad, to others; and if, upon reflection, we find we have, we must take that occasion to renew our repentance for it, must justify G-d, and make use of it to qualify our own resentments.
If we be truly angry with ourselves, as we ought to be, for backbiting and censuring others, we shall be the less angry with others for backbiting and censuring us.
We must show all meekness towards all men, for we ourselves were sometimes foolish, Matt. 7: 1- 2; James 3:1-2.
O, who is free from evil speaking, from uncharitable speaking; from detailing their neighbour's faults, from whispering, tale bearing, and backbiting? Do not wonder if G-d, in His justice, permit you to be calumniated, seeing you have so frequently calumniated others.
Ps. 15:1-5The scope of this short but excellent psalm is to show us the way to heaven, and to convince us that, if we would be happy, we must be holy and honest. By the question in verse 1 we are directed and excited to enquire for the way. By the answer to that question, in the rest of the psalm, we are directed to walk in that way.
1. L-RD, who shall abide in Thy Tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.
4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoured them that fear the L-RD. And he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5. He that putt not out his money to usury, nor takes reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Every true living member of G-d’s body, like the place of worship itself, is built upon a rock, which the gates of hell cannot prevail against: He that dos these things shall never be moved; shall not be moved for ever, so the word is. The mercy of G-d shall always be sufficient for them, to preserve them safe and blameless to the heavenly kingdom. Temptations shall not overcome them, troubles shall not overwhelm them, and nothing shall rob them of neither their present peace nor their future bliss.
In singing this psalm we must teach and admonish ourselves, and one another, to answer the characters here given of the citizen of Heaven, that we may never be moved from G-d’s Tabernacle on earth, and may arrive, at last, at that Holy Hill where we shall be for ever out of the reach of temptation and danger.
Since we all make mistakes from time to time, we ought to take what other people say about us with the recognizable grain of salt.
Also - Do not strictly search into them, nor listen to hear them.
Take no heed to all words that are spoken - set not your heart to them. Vex not yourself at men's peevish reflections upon you, or suspicions of you, but be as a deaf man that hears not, Ps. 38:13-14.
Be not concerned or inquisitive to know what people say of you; if they speak well of you, it will feed your pride, if ill; it will stir up your passion.
See therefore that you approve yourself to G-d and your own conscience, and then heed not what men say of you.
So wisdom teaches us not to be quick sighted, or quick scented, in apprehending and resenting affronts, but to wink at many of the injuries that are done us, and act as if we did not see them.
Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee - Hearkeners, we say, seldom hear good of themselves; if you heed every word that is spoken, perhaps you wilt hear your own servant curse you when he thinks you do not hear him; you will be told that he does, and perhaps told falsely, if you have your ear open to tale-bearers, Prov. 29:12.
Or, perhaps you may stand behind the curtain and hear it for yourself, may hear yourself not only blamed and despised, but cursed, the worst evil said of you and wished to you, and that by a servant, one of the meanest rank, of the hopeless, nay, by your own servant, who should be an supporter for you, and protect your good name as well as your other interests.
Perhaps it is a servant you have been kind to, and yet he requites you thus ill, and this will vex you; you would have been better if you not have heard it.
Perhaps it is a servant you have wronged and dealt unjustly with, and, though he dares not tell you so, he tells others so, and tells G-d so, and then your own conscience will join with him in the reproach, which will make it much more uneasy.
The good names of the greatest lie are much at the mercy even of the meanest. And perhaps there is a great deal more evil said of us than we think there is, and by those from whom we little expected it.
We do not consult our own repose, no, nor our credit, though we pretend to be jealous of it, if we take notice of every word that is spoken diminishingly of us; it is easier to pass by twenty such affronts than to avenge one.
As therefore you being far from perfectly "just" yourself, hast much to be forgiven by G-d, do not take too strict account, as the self-righteous do (in verse 16; Lk. 18:9, 11), and thereby shorten their lives (verse 15-16), of words spoken against you by others, for example, your servant: You are their "fellow servant" before G-d (Matt. 18:32-35).
[22] For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Wisdom puts us in mind of our own faults: "Be not enraged at those that speak ill of you, or wish ill to you, for oftentimes, in that case, if you retire into yourself, your own conscience will tell your that you yourself has cursed others, spoken ill of them and wished ill to them, and you reap what you have sown.
When any affront or injury is done t0 us it is seasonable to examine our consciences whether we have not done the same, or as bad, to others; and if, upon reflection, we find we have, we must take that occasion to renew our repentance for it, must justify G-d, and make use of it to qualify our own resentments.
If we be truly angry with ourselves, as we ought to be, for backbiting and censuring others, we shall be the less angry with others for backbiting and censuring us.
We must show all meekness towards all men, for we ourselves were sometimes foolish, Matt. 7: 1- 2; James 3:1-2.
O, who is free from evil speaking, from uncharitable speaking; from detailing their neighbour's faults, from whispering, tale bearing, and backbiting? Do not wonder if G-d, in His justice, permit you to be calumniated, seeing you have so frequently calumniated others.
Ps. 15:1-5The scope of this short but excellent psalm is to show us the way to heaven, and to convince us that, if we would be happy, we must be holy and honest. By the question in verse 1 we are directed and excited to enquire for the way. By the answer to that question, in the rest of the psalm, we are directed to walk in that way.
1. L-RD, who shall abide in Thy Tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.
4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoured them that fear the L-RD. And he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5. He that putt not out his money to usury, nor takes reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Every true living member of G-d’s body, like the place of worship itself, is built upon a rock, which the gates of hell cannot prevail against: He that dos these things shall never be moved; shall not be moved for ever, so the word is. The mercy of G-d shall always be sufficient for them, to preserve them safe and blameless to the heavenly kingdom. Temptations shall not overcome them, troubles shall not overwhelm them, and nothing shall rob them of neither their present peace nor their future bliss.
In singing this psalm we must teach and admonish ourselves, and one another, to answer the characters here given of the citizen of Heaven, that we may never be moved from G-d’s Tabernacle on earth, and may arrive, at last, at that Holy Hill where we shall be for ever out of the reach of temptation and danger.
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