Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "consecration"
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 1
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 2
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
We paused in our last lesson by noting that v.4 and v.5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of v.4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of v.4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establishes who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We paused in our last lesson by noting that v.4 and v.5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of v.4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of v.4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establishes who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 1
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 2
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
We paused in our last lesson by noting that v.4 and v.5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of v.4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of v.4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establishes who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
We paused in our last lesson by noting that v.4 and v.5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of v.4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of v.4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establishes who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 1
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
There is an old expression, an aphorism if you would, which states, “That’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face!” Indeed. Sometimes when things we don’t like are so irksome, we go to extremes to be rid of them…even to our own detriment.
Such is not the case with the spiritual truth taught us in the Bible verses quoted at the start of this study. In fact the exact opposite is the case. It isn’t our nose we should cut off and remove from our presence, in order to be rid of troubling circumstances. It’s the troublemakers and instigators who need to be sent packing. And that’s a good thing.
The first verse quoted makes reference to metallurgy. The silversmith takes the precious silver ore and melts it in his furnace. The molten metal collects at the bottom of the furnace in a crucible. Floating on top the molten metal is the impure residue that is lighter than the pure metal, which is why it floats on top. This residue is known as “dross”.
In order to work with a purer form of silver, the silversmith must scrape off this top layer of dross. This leaves the pure silver for making jewelry and other assorted silver items. Without the dross the silver is much more valuable, and accordingly so are the silver items made from the pure silver.
Such items even have a noticeably more appealing appearance. No one would buy “silver” jewelry made from silver with the dross not removed, if it was placed side-by-side with silver jewelry made from pure silver. Ugh! The dross is disgusting!
This was the point the writer wanted to make, when he penned Proverbs 25. Verses 4 and 5 employ the Biblical Hebrew poetic form of synonymous parallelism. Let me define this technical term for you.
Today we tend to rhyme words at the end of two lines and identify the result as “poetry”. The Hebrews of the Bible didn’t rhyme words at the end of lines for their poetry. They rhymed ideas between lines to create poetry.
When the ideas were of things which were comparable, then the parallel ideas received the jargon synonymous parallelism. When the ideas presented a contrast between things, the parallel ideas were labeled antonymous parallelism.
The hour is late and the shadows are fast overtaking us. We will pause and refresh ourselves in the presence of the Lord at this time, and take up this topic tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Silver Jewelry and Missing Noses – Part 2
Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith. Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness [Proverbs 25:4-5].
We paused in our last lesson by noting that verse 4 and verse 5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of verse 4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of verse 4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establish who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
We paused in our last lesson by noting that verse 4 and verse 5 of Proverbs 25 were written in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s continue in that vein now.
The two verses of Proverbs with which we have to do in this study present comparable things, so they are in the form of synonymous parallelism. Let’s diagram the two verses for clarity’s sake.
A. take away the dross from the silver
B. and there comes out a vessel for the smith
A. take away the wicked before the king
B. and his throne will be established in righteousness
Notice the letters “A” and “B” which precede each line. The first “A” and “B” diagram verse 4, while the second “A” and “B” do the same for verse 5. The phrases which are preceded by “A” are parallel, and that by way of comparability (i.e., synonymously). The phrases preceded by “B” are also comparable. Let’s vet this issue now.
The “dross” of verse 4 is comparable to the “wicked” of verse 5, while the “silver” of verse 4 is comparable to the “king” of verse 5. By the same manner silver is purified and made fit to serve its purpose (i.e., for jewelry products, etc.), in this way is a king made fit to serve his purpose of ruling his subjects righteously.
Silver is purified by removing the dross, and a king’s rule is purified (i.e., made righteous) by removing the wicked (i.e., the unrighteous) from his presence. When the wicked are dispatched out of the king’s presence, they cannot influence him to rule in an unrighteous manner.
This teaching is a reaffirmation of the Biblical doctrine of separation. You’ve heard the expression, “What we eat is what we are.” It is equally true that those with whom we choose to associate establish who we are. Bad company corrupts good morals (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:33).
In order not to be duped into living for self and the world and the devil, the Word of God calls for us to come out from their presence and live apart from them (i.e., separation). I direct you to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a straightforward presentation of this spiritual truth.
This leaves us standing at a crossroads, dear friends. Now that we’ve been confronted with the Word of God about separation from the world and its ways, what response will we make to what He just taught us? Will we say “Amen, Lord!” and make necessary changes in our lifestyle? Or will we leave it in the church building or the prayer closet and continue on as before?
What say ye? Shall it be living for self or shall we live for the Lord in accordance with the Bible? Only one way is right, as Proverbs 25:4-5 taught us today. I trust you will make the right choice.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
