Spiritual Nuggets
To Ponder (07-13-08)
76. In Proverbs 2:12-22 we read, in part, the benefits of godly wisdom:
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life. Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
The second listed benefit of godly wisdom is that it will save one from the divorcee also called an adulteress here. Does wisdom save a young man from marrying her or just having sexual contact outside of marriage with her?
Based on the words none who go to her return or attain the paths of life it seems to suggest marriage in the world’s eyes but not in God’s eyes. That is why she is an adulteress. David and others who died spiritually through adultery were afterwards forgiven and saved again, which is different than what happens here.
Prov. 2:12-22 not only proves that sexual immorality will cause loss of salvation, but also shows how hard it is for one to get saved who enters an illegitimate marriage—one not recognized by God as an actual marriage.
Single people take warning! Marriage is until the death of the spouse:
So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. (Rom 7:3)
A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. (1 Cor 7:39)
77. Proverbs mentions and often describes over two dozen types of people: wise, discerning, fool, sinner, mockers, simple ones, upright, just, faithful ones, wicked, unfaithful, righteous, violent, perverse, sluggard, scoundrel, villain, adulteress, cruel, ruthless, gossip, trustworthy, generous, prudent, poor, rich, patient, hot-tempered, greedy, proud, stingy, quarrelsome and the man of integrity. Which types best describe you?
78. The very beginning of knowledge is fearing God:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Prov 1:7)
Any person, regardless how much education he has and how sharp his mind is, who doesn’t fear God, has no real knowledge. That is because God and eternity (and not just this temporal life) are the most important things to know (have knowledge) about.
79. Fearing God is a choice for each of us to make:
Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; (Prov 1:29-32)
To reject the fear of God will damn you.
80. Better than health food for the physical body is this:
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Prov 3:7,8)
Ponder also what Paul wrote:
For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Tim. 4:8, NASB)
All of that says, among other things, that one’s soul is what needs to be protected and fed, even above one’s physical health and well being.
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