Last week, I wrote about David boldly declaring, “You are my God!” Today, allow me to share prerequisites or premises that David had learned.
Solomon, his son, wrote teachings that may have been passed on to him by his father. Proverbs is full of it. Solomon writes, “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him; and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.”1
Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right for my mouth will utter truth, wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous, there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.2
The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.3 Blessed is everyone who fears the LOD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.4
Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. You shall not do as they do . . . You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them; I am the LORD.5 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you.6
Behold the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant . . . not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand . . . , my covenant that they broke, . . . . For this is the covenant that I will make . . . . I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, . . . . For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”7
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you sent.8
By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.9
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.10
Notes:
1. Proverbs 5:21-23
2. Proverbs 8:6-11
3. Proverbs 8:13
4. Psalms 128:1-2
5. Leviticus 18:2-5
6. Leviticus 20:7-8
7. Jeremiah 31:31-34
8. John 17:3
9. Proverbs 8:15-16, 19
10. Hebrews 13:20-21
