“We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do”

(Pro 30:1-14)

[Study Aired June 4, 2026]

The introduction to this thirtieth chapter of proverbs (Pro 30:1-3) does not have a typical feel or style that most of the other Proverbs have.

Pro 30:1  The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Pro 30:2  Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
Pro 30:3  I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

A maturing spiritual mind can see how brutish their own fleshly condition is (Pro 30:2), and sets the stage for the rest of the proverbs that point to the solution to our brutishness being found in Christ who alone can lead us into all truth (Joh 16:13), ascending and descending in our heavens (Eph 4:10) to do this work of grace and faith in this age, in His body (Pro 30:4).

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Pro 30:4  Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

It is with that knowledge and conviction of who we are, that we will, Lord willing, continue to diligently examine ourselves against all the words of  God that we are to live by (Joh 9:41, Mat 4:4, Psa 119:160).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Psa 119:160  The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.

“The words of Agur the son of Jakeh” is a ‘Job-moment’ expressed in (Pro 30:1-2). His language parallels Job’s who puts his hand to his mouth after being greatly humbled in his flesh, and recognizes his nothingness in comparison to our great Creator who has been working all things according to the council of His own will, with the ultimate goal of sanctifying all of His creation in time (Pro 30:2, Job 40:4, Eph 1:11, 1Co 3:13, Joh 17:17).

Job 40:4  Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The biblical scholars debate regarding who this “Agur” is, but we know what is important is the message inspired, a  profitable word of God (2Ti 3:16) revealing that when we mature in the Lord, we will all come to the same conclusion that Agur did, as Job did, described by Christ toward his disciples in this verse (Luk 17:10):

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

With this thought in mind, we will look at the first half of the second to last chapter of the book of Proverbs.

Pro 30:1  The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
Pro 30:2  Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
Pro 30:3  I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
Pro 30:4  Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

These opening verses (Pro 30:1-4) parallel God’s comments to Job in (Job 40:1-24, Job 41:1-34) and then Job’s comments to God (Job 42:1-17) after he comes to see through the humbling experiences of his life just how little and insignificant he is (Luk 17:10).

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Agur’s^H94 name means “gathered” and the Lord is going to gather all the nations from the four corners of the world to bring judgement upon the flesh of mankind.

[Gog and Magog typifying how all flesh [4 corners], not just Gog and Magog but every one who has ever been in flesh, will be judged].

Agur’s now correct assessment of what flesh is and is in need of, is typical of mankind’s need for judgement that will come in the order that God has ordained (1Pe 4:17, Rev 20:8, 1Co 15:23). Agur typifies Christ whose Father is Jakeh^H3348 whose name means “blameless”.

Ithiel^H384 is a type of the elect, and his name means “God is with me” (Heb 13:5), and finally Ucal^H401, whose name means “devour”, represents the rest of the world who will be ‘meat’ for the elect at the supper of the Great God (Rev 19:17).

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Rev 19:17  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

There is symbolism in the order and names of these four names mentioned as well. Agur the son of Jakeh, Ithiel and Ucal. The subject has to do with man’s ignorance and inability to hear and see the things of God’s knowledge, and we are being told that this is true of the whole [4] of humanity (2Co 4:4).

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Our hope is in knowing the answers to these questions. It is Christ that “hath ascended up into heaven” and “descended” and “who hath gathered the wind in his fists” and “who hath bound the waters in a garment” and “who hath established all the ends of the earth”.  (Mat 8:27).

Mat 8:27  But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? We are blessed to believe that God will, within the body of Christ that is His workmanship, accomplish all this through Christ who has all power over heaven and earth (Mat 28:18, Eph 2:10, Php 2:12-13, Php 4:13).

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Php 2:12-13), which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [“walk in them” of Eph 2:10 above]
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Pro 30:5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Pro 30:6  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

God’s word is a shield unto us as long as we don’t add or take away from it (Deu 4:2, Rev 1:3,  Rev 22:19). Our former conversation has us doing just that until Christ comes into our lives to bind those evil spirits and give us victory over our past and present spiritual battles (Mar 3:27, Eph 6:12). So we are going be reproved and found out to be liars if God is working with us in this age, and if we endure that chastening of the Lord, we will be matured and received of God through it (Pro 16:4, Heb 12:6).

Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Mar 3:27  No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God,[Psa 119:160] that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Pro 30:7  Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
Pro 30:8  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

This is the cry that God’s humbled elect make every day. It is “two” because it is a witness of Christ who won’t “deny” (2Ti 2:13) himself within us (Col 1:27) of the purpose for which we have been ordained from the foundation of the world to accomplish (Eph 2:10), fulfilling the desires of our hearts that He puts there in this life if we are His elect. These desires and drives will happen “before I die” (Php 2:12-13) so that we can be raised in the blessed and holy first resurrection if this is God’s will (Rev 20:6).

What has to happen in the life of God’s little flock (Luk 12:32) is that “vanity and lies” have to be far removed from us, and we must not be spiritually impoverished by not growing in the grace and knowledge of our Savior (2Pe 3:18). We can only accomplish this by going without the camp with Christ (Heb 13:13, Joh 6:44) so that we can partake of the bullock, the strong meat of Jesus Christ who is represented by the “food convenient for me”. The negative connotation of poverty and riches, “give me neither poverty nor riches”, is defined with these verses (Mat 25:29, Rev 3:17).

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Pro 30:9  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

The conclusion of verses seven and eight is telling us that we need to ask God for what we need and don’t ask amiss (Jas 4:2-3). We can’t set our hearts on things that are temporal and passing, but rather must keep them fixed on those things which are eternal, as Christ did himself as our example (2Co 4:18, Heb 12:1-2).

Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Jas 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When we’re “full” in the flesh, eating and drinking and being merry all day long (1Co 15:32), we are not in the house of mourning where we can know the Lord and have His strength in our lives as a result of being baptized into his death (Rom 6:3), mortifying the deeds of the flesh, resulting in our being able to overcome this blinded Laodicean spirit (Rev 3:17-19) that says “Who is the LORD?”, or in other words, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

A spiritually poor soul is one who is robbing God by not presenting our whole lives a living sacrifice unto Him, symbolized by the tithe offering spoken of in Malachi (Mal 3:10). When we withhold our life from being a living sacrifice unto God, we are taking “the name of my God in vain”, or His words which are His name.

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 LORD 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.

Pro 30:10  Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
Pro 30:11  There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
Pro 30:12  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Pro 30:13  There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
Pro 30:14  There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

When we get into the second section of proverbs chapter thirty next week, it will be instructive to look back at these five proverbs (Pro 30:10-14) that set the stage for the rest of chapter thirty.

Christ is our master, and each of us are His servants, so this parable is telling us that we are to work together in unity, and cover each other’s sins and not go to Christ with this condemning attitude of others, lest Christ “curse thee, and thou be found guilty”. (Mat 18:22)

Christ is Christ, whether that is Christ in the “servant” or Jesus Christ our saviour. There is a time [dying daily] when we go to God and groan within ourselves things inexpressible regarding the behaviour of others and ourselves, and God is the judge in all instances through His spirit that works within us (Rom 13:4, in the same breath Rom 2:22).

Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Rom 2:22  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

We always need the Lord to help us to bear all things as love does (1Co 13:7, Gal 6:2), and trust that He already knows all the particulars of that person you may be struggling with, or your own personal struggle. In the final analysis God is able to make them stand or fall (Rom 14:4), and so from that perspective we must always be coming  before God with mercy and love, with the hope that we can reconcile any situation by God’s grace and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:16, Col 1:20, Mat 18:22).

Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Everything that follows verse 10 (Pro 30:10) is revealing the corrupt generation that we’re living in, which wants to pick up the stone and start throwing it at others (Joh 8:7), forgetting our own wretched condition (Rom 7:24, Rev 3:17). We all don’t bear the sword in vain (Rom 13:4), but we’re also told to be very circumspect in removing the beam from our own eyes before we consider it needful to go to another brother (Mat 7:5). In other words, there is a time to go (Mat 18:15), and there is a time to patiently let a situation unfold as God himself does with us, giving us time to repent (Rev 2:5).

With these things in mind we can see that “a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother” is speaking of Babylon that is not given to die daily today, to be judged, and as such negatively “curseth their father” as opposed to being cursed to be on a tree with Christ, which is the positive use of the word ‘curse’ (Deu 21:23, Gal 3:13, 1Jn 4:17, Gal 2:20).

The proverbs go on to show us that “a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness” is also cursed, reminding us of this verse in the book of Revelation, mentioned a couple of times now in this study (Rev 3:17-19).

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

This “generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness” is speaking of the self-righteous spirit within us that, by God’s grace, will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming daily into our heavens (Eze 33:13, Php 3:9, 2Th 2:3-5).

The next generation spoken of is “a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up”. Again this is speaking of God’s elect in their appointed time (Mat 24:34), but more specifically regarding the pride of life that blinds us to the reality that we are the chief of sinners, until we are given to see this truth (1Ti 1:15).

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

The last generation spoken of is “a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men”, speaking of the heart of man at the end of the ages when the sins of the Amorites are being fulfilled (Gen 15:16, 2Ti 3:1-5, Rev 20:8). As always, if we are brought to see that this is where everyman starts and believe we are being judged by the Lord in this age (1Pe 4:17), then these words will easily be understood as applying to our own former conversation that we are being dragged out of by the grace of God (Eph 2:1-3)

Gen 15:16  But in the fourth generation [notice there were 4 generations mentioned in Pro 30:11-14] they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [The sins of the Amorites being fulfilled at the end of this age before Christ returns]

Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [sins of the Amorites being fulfilled after the reign of Christ and his Christ]

Next week, Lord willing, will look at the last few verses of (Pro 30:15-33).

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son;
and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

(Pro 29:19-27)

[Study Aired May 28, 2026]

These proverbs are helpful in being able to show us the contrast of our journey in Christ from going from being babes to mature sons of God who by God’s power and might (Zec 4:6) are able to go without the camp becoming heirs of God through Christ (Heb 13:13-16).

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Heb 13:14  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Pro 29:19  A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

Pro 29:19  A servant will not be trained by words; for though the sense of the words is clear to him, he will not give attention. (BBE)

Pro 29:19  A servant won’t learn a lesson if you only talk to him. That servant may understand your words but he won’t obey. (ERV)

The servant who will not be corrected by words at first is each one of us, who are under tutors and governors (Gal 4:1-6). We understand the words but do not yet have the power to obey, “for though he understand he will not answer”, and this is all by God’s design to remind us that only Christ can open the seals that need to be opened in our lives to bring us unto maturity in Him (Luk 6:46 , Rev 5:5). It is only with that maturity which is a gift of God (1Co 3:6 , Eph 2:8) that we can find ourselves in that position to be in the blessed and holy first resurrection.

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Pro 29:20  Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

These are all conditions of the servant who is a son and an heir, but not yet mature enough to see the need to not be hasty with his words (Ecc 5:2). God is teaching the elect to be quick to hear and slow to speak (Jas 1:19), and this can only happen by suffering for a while, so that we can be perfected, stablished, strengthened, and settled in the Lord (1Pe 5:10).

Ecc 5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Babylon is “hasty in his words”, in his words and not Christ’s. In the positive use of the word “fools”, we are fools for Christ as we mature in him (1Co 4:9-10), our hope of glory within who puts us in remembrance that we will be more than conquerors through him, enduring to the end by grace and faith of Christ (Eph 2:8 , Rom 8:16-18)

1Co 4:9  For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
1Co 4:10  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Pro 29:21  He that delicately bringeth up^H6445 his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.

H6445  pânaq  BDB Definition:
1) (Piel) to indulge, pamper, bring up, treat delicately
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

The sum of God’s word shows us that if we spare the rod we will spoil the child (Pro 13:24), so if we indulge our children and don’t correct them we won’t have them at the length spiritually.

On the other hand and in a positive context, God considers our life as being ‘indulged’ and ‘pampered’ when we are being bruised as Christ was, as He knows that this is the only way that we can be received of our Father in heaven (Isa 53:10 , 1Jn 4:17 , Heb 12:6 , Tit 2:12-13).

Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;(1Jn 4:17 , 2Ti 2:12) he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, [“shall have him become his son at the length”] and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Pro 29:22  An angry^H639 man stirreth up strife, and a furious^H2534 man aboundeth in transgression.

The fruit of an angry man is divisive and stirs up strife. Saul of Tarsus was a furious man that abounded in transgressions. His anger was unknowingly against Christ and his Christ as the nation’s anger is according to the council of God’s will (Act 4:27-28 , Eph 1:11).

Angry  H639  ‘aph  af – From H599; properly the nose or nostril; hence the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire: – anger (-gry), + before, countenance, face, + forbearing, forehead, + [long-] suffering, nose, nostril, snout, X worthy, wrath.  Total KJV occurrences: 276

Furious  H2534  chêmâh    chêmâ’  khay-maw’, khay-maw’  – From H3179; heat; figuratively anger, poison (from its fever): – anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious (-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath (-ful). See H2529. Total KJV occurrences: 124

There is righteous anger that God has against sin within us every day (Psa 7:11), and there is this carnal, out of control anger that tears down and does not build up, that proceeds from those who have this out of control anger that causes them to sin (Pro 29:22 , Eph 4:26-28).

At first we are Simeon and Levi while we are in Babylon, wanting to take vengeance on others and not able to love our enemies (Gen 34:25 , and Jacob is a type of Christ speaking to our old man Gen 34:30), until the man of perdition is destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Th 2:3) so that we can now through His power obey all of the ‘But I say unto you’ commandments’ of Christ (Mat 5:22).

Gen 34:25  And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

Gen 34:30  And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

Mat 5:22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

This proverb also reminds us that there is progression to sin. We go from angrily stirring up strife and then become furious, abounding in transgression (the progression in this story of (Gen 34:25-29) is seen in how Simeon and Levi kill first, and then the thief comes to steal (Joh 10:10). It is the opposite of what God has called the elect unto, where we read that we should be going from glory to glory, and being at peace with all men without which we will not see God (2Co 3:17-18 , Heb 12:14 , Jas 1:18-21).

Gen 34:25  And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
Gen 34:26  And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.
Gen 34:27  The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Gen 34:28  They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,
Gen 34:29  And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

The only anger we should have is against sin in our lives, as we beseech our Father to give us victory over the powers and principalities that we war against (Eph 4:26 , Psa 7:11 , 1Jn 4:17 , Pro 16:4 , 1Co 9:26-27).

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Psa 7:11  God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Pro 29:23  A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

We have to always approach our relationship with Christ and each other and everyone we meet with humility, and if we can’t do that God is assuring us in this proverb that He will abase His children so that we come to that point through His chastening grace (Rom 5:20-21). It is when we are humbled by His mighty hand that we will in due time be exalted to the glory of God (Mat 23:12 , 1Pe 5:6 , Php 2:12-13).

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. [“honour shall uphold the humble in spirit”]

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

A pride-filled spirit has nothing to offer anyone, and so God blesses us to become like a child who is humble and teachable in our spirits, “but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit”. Only Christ can bring us to that place of overcoming the sin of pride, and it will bring everyone low before we are ultimately delivered from it through Christ, “A man’s pride shall bring him low” (Rom 8:36-39).

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Pro 29:24  Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

Satan is the thief (Joh 10:10), and if we have partnered with him or someone who is one his children (Joh 8:44) we are in effect hating our own soul (2Co 6:14), being an empowered ‘joined unto’ beast, or son of the devil (Rev 12:9 , Rev 13:4).  This is the opposite of being of one mind with the body of Christ and nourished by every joint that supplies in love (Eph 4:15-16 , Eph 5:14-19).

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Eph 5:14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

The fruit of being joined unto a spirit such as this, “Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul”, is that he/we will “hear[s] the curse, but disclose[s] nothing” (ESV) (1Co 15:33). Our inability to do war against those who are an enemy of the cross is something that we need to constantly be on guard against, and Paul tells us our natural inclination is to not even recognize that there are those who are against us and in our midst (Act 20:28-31).

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves,(1Co 9:26-27) and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Pro 29:25  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

David had no fear of Goliath and the armies of that age, and as such God’s plan moved forward. David is a type of Christ and with God’s spirit within us (Col 1:27 , Rom 8:9) His plan is going to move forward despite ourselves (Mat 16:18 , Php 2:12-13). Christ put it this way in (Luk 12:5):

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. [“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe”]

This kind of fear of God delivers us from the snare of the devil, if God will permit (2Ti 2:24-26).

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (Heb 6:3)
2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, “The fear of man bringeth a snare” who are taken captive by him at his will.

We know that those who fear God are also those who “trust in the LORD [and] shall be safe”(Eph 1:12).

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

This idea of fearing God is key to our salvation (the beginning Pro 9:10 , the conclusion Ecc 12:13) and it is a gift of God that comes from having God’s spirit within us (Heb 5:7 , Eph 5:30).

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh (Eph 5:30), when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (1Jn 4:17)

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Pro 29:26  Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.

We are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” at first (2Ti 3:7) without the judgement that comes from God (1Pe 4:17). Until then we turn to “the ruler’s favour”, the earthly carnal counsel of man’s wisdom because we do not yet have the power of God and the faith of Christ to overcome the lies of the adversary (1Co 2:4-6 , 2Ti 1:7-9). The ruler’s favour is no favour at all (that is found in Babylon) where we are promised liberty and only become part of the blind leading the blind at that time in our lives, until we are called out of her, by God’s grace (2Pe 2:18-19 , Mat 15:14).

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Pro 29:27  An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Polarization! If we think of money or mammon as righteousness or self righteousness, like the rich young ruler parable demonstrates to us (Mat 19:16-26), we can then turn to this verse (Mat 6:24) that shows us that we are going to either serve one or the other, righteousness or self righteousness (Php 3:9), understanding that God has everyone where they are (Eph 1:11 , Rom 8:28 , Mar 10:21).

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

God willing, we will continue to lose our life and serve Christ faithfully to our last breath, going where our flesh does not want to go (Joh 21:18 , Gal 5:16), “no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”.

Joh 21:18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

“From whence come wars and fightings among you?”

(Pro 28:17-28)

[Study Aired May 8, 2026]

The answer to the question posed in the title is found in (Jas 4:1-10) and the accompanying proverbs we will look at in this last section of chapter 28 explains how we rob ourselves of a rich and abundant life in Christ by wanting the riches of this life at all costs, losing sight of the true riches which are incomparable to that which God has set before those who love him, and who are called according to His purpose (Php 3:8 , 1Co 2:9 , Rom 8:28).

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

As we go through these last proverbs of chapter 28 we’ll look at how they correlate with these commandments of Christ (Mat 5:44 , Luk 6:27 , Luk 6:35) that tell us to love our enemies. The world cannot reconcile these verses in their hearts, and a warring spirit, one that hates, is associated with one who is wanting and willing to do what it takes to get what we want. The result is war in our hearts, and whether we know it or not, this avarice is the breeding ground for the entire history of humanity’s warring ways.

Pro 28:17  A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

This proverb is true of everyone who has ever picked up a sword and thought that an eye for eye and a  tooth for a tooth was the way to go, whether you picked up a real physical sword or not (1Jn 3:15).

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

But this is what Christ commands us today: (Mat 5:38-42). Everything that follows (Mat 5:38) tells us what we must actively be doing to demonstrate by our actions that we love our enemies (Mat 5:39-42). Violence does not have to be physical violence, it can a violent act of neglect, or seeking vengeance in some way when God tells us that this belongs to him (Rom 12:19).

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Mat 5:42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

“let no man stay him” is just another way of saying “let the dead bury the dead” (Luk 9:60). We don’t try to shelter the guilty, not within the body of Christ or without, but we bury our own dead in Christ in the prescribed manner God has ordained found in (Mat 18:1-20) along with our own dying daily examination of whether we be in the faith or not (Rom 14:4).

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

The court measures itself (Rev 11:2), and as hard as it was for Cain to be a marked man, God did not shelter him from the punishment that was due for his actions of murder against his brother (Gen 4:12-14). The Corinthian fornicator was not sheltered from the punishment of being put out of the church, and neither was Paul or any of us exempt from being buffeted by “the messenger of Satan” as Paul was (1Co 5:5 , 2Co 12:7).

Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not;[Luk 9:60] for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Pro 28:18  Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

We are all perverse in our ways at first as we read in (Eph 2:1-3), and not able to walk “uprightly” in order to be saved. Only Christ can change our walk and wrestle our old man to the ground and leave us in a state for the rest of our lives (2Co 12:7-8) knowing that we can only be more than conquerors through Christ, as this story of Jacob typifies (Num 14:22 , Gen 32:24-25).

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Num 14:22  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Gen 32:25  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

It is a lifetime of overcoming that is required as we completely fall seven times (Pro 24:16) and by God’s grace get up and keep overcoming as we confess our iniquities to our merciful and forgiving Father who knows our frame and is cleansing us through Christ. This judgment and wrestling match that the elect have their whole lives (1Pe 4:17) is how our “life is preserved” (Lev 26:40 , Eph 4:22-26 , Lev 16:21 , Gen 32:30).

Gen 32:30  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Pro 28:19  He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

Howbeit in vain Christ said do they worship me (Mar 7:7), and that vanity spoken of in this verse, “but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough”, points to our labours in Babylon where there was no stay of bread and water (Isa 3:1), and we were in fact building our own houses, and bigger barns, as opposed to examining ourselves and being led unto true repentance which is what this statement is a shadow of, “He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread”.

The harvest comes after the hard work of tilling the land, which is a symbol of examining ourselves, and being prepared in heart to receive the word of God that our Father will give increase to in our lives as He wills “plenty of bread”. It is when we labour for the meat that does not perish (Joh 6:27), that we do so without vanity, as a result of presenting our lives to him as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-2 , Joh 6:44). This is what will give us “plenty of bread” and enrich our lives in Him.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Pro 28:20  A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

The “faithful man” represents the elect in this age who are blessed with Christ’s wisdom (1Co 1:29-30). It is the Lord who makes us as such so that we can provide our portion or be a joint that supplies in love in due season that which the body needs to the edifying of itself in love (Luk 12:42-43 , Eph 4:16).

1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Luk 12:42  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Pro 28:21  To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

Christ is the one who has kept us thus far, and Christ is the one who will give us the power to endure until the end (Php 4:13), no one taking us out of the Father’s hand (Joh 10:28). If we contributed one iota to our salvation then perhaps we could “have respect of persons”. But God tells us in this proverb that glorying in men or the flesh of men is akin to this statement, “for for a piece of bread that man will transgress”. We do this at first when we are dragged to the body of Christ when we innately, because of our past making an idol of the beast (Rev 14:9-11), continue in this vein falling at the feet of John to worship him approach (Joh 6:44 , Rev 19:10 , Rev 22:9).

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

Pro 28:22  He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

An evil eye is an eye that is not single (Mat 6:22) and tries to serve both God and mammon (Mat 6:24). By doing this spiritual poverty is certain to “come upon him”.

Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Seeking the kingdom of God first (Mat 6:33), and laying down our lives for each other is what will bless us with peace that passes all understanding (Php 4:7), whether we have a little or a lot (Php 4:12).

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Pro 28:23  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Everyone that Christ rebuked will benefit from His correction, as God’s elect are today (Heb 10:26 , Pro 27:6). The many examples of Christ rebuking in the bible is for our sakes as scripture tells us “that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God” (2Co 4:15).

Below are some of the examples of Christ rebuking, and never flattering flesh, including His own flesh of which He told someone right after he explained that we must be as humble as a child to enter into the kingdom of God, “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”[in other words having a right perspective of what flesh is, including Christ’s flesh, is absolutely needful if we are going to “inherit eternal life”]

Christ rebuked the religious leaders (Mat 23:27-28), his disciples (Mat 16:23), again his disciples for a lack of faith (Mar 16:14), the sons of thunder were rebuked (Luk 9:55), he rebuked the crowd, the wicked and adulterous generation (Mat 12:39), He rebuked the corruption in worship (Mat 21:12-13), and the unrepentant cities mentioned in (Mat 11:20-24).

Pro 28:24  Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Wherein have we robbed you Lord? That was the question in the book of Malachi (Mal 3:7-9).

Mal 3:7  Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Mal 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.[the fig tree cursed Mar 11:14]

We have robbed God in tithes and offerings which represents the whole of our life (Rom 12:1). We naturally rob God of His glory when we don’t present our lives a living sacrifice and continue to conform to this world (Rom 12:2). And when we take glory unto ourselves by being found operating in our flesh, by our own righteousness, our companionship at that moment is with the devil who is called a destroyer, making us “the companion of a destroyer”(Rev 9:11).

Rev 9:11  And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon^G3, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon^G623.

G3 Abaddōn ab-ad-dohn’
Of Hebrew origin [H11]; a destroying angel: – Abaddon.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

G623Apolluōn ap-ol-loo’-ohn
Active participle of G622; a destroyer (that is, Satan): – Apollyon.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

It is our “father or his mother” we are robbing, who typify God the Father and Christ who is the head of the church, or we could say it is Christ and the church who we are robbing, when we don’t present our bodies a living sacrifice unto Him (Rom 12:1-2). The opposite effect of robbing Him is pronounced in these verses that proclaims that if we keep his commandments, his words, the Father and the Son will abide in us (Joh 14:20-23).

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Joh 14:21  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:22  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Pro 28:25  He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
Pro 28:26  He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

A proud heart is a heart that trusts in his own righteousness (Php 3:9). Pride comes before a fall, and what causes that fall is the inability to walk humbly with God and mankind (Mic 6:8 , Zec 4:6). God therefore humbles His children so that we can walk humbly with Him, no longer trusting in our hearts but yielded to His will (2Co 1:8-9 , Pro 3:5-6).

2Co 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When we don’t bind His laws around our hearts we are going to bring strife upon others and not know the way to peace (Deu 11:18 , Pro 3:3 , Pro 6:21 , Pro 7:3 , Isa 59:8). When we trust God emphatically it is because we have been going through fiery trials (1Pe 4:12) which create zeal within us so that we can bind God’s laws continually upon our hearts.

Pro 3:3  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Pro 6:21  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

Pro 7:3  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

It is a fool who trusts in his own heart (Jer 17:9-10), and it is a wise man who sees the need to examine himself and die daily (1Co 15:31) so that we can walk wisely and be delivered from our flesh (Pro 3:5-10).

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jer 17:10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;(Jer 17:9) and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Pro 28:27  He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

We are to do good unto all men, but especially unto the household of faith (Gal 6:10), and this is the way of life we’ve been called unto (Luk 6:38 , Pro 19:17).

Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Pro 19:17  He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

If we forsake this way of life it will bring “many a curse” on us (1Jn 3:17), but if we present our bodies a living sacrifice and give our entire life to God as a living scapegoat sacrifice, we “shall not lack” and will be blessed for helping the poor in spirit who Christ says the elect are (Mat 5:3).

We are poor because we truly see the impoverished state that flesh is in, and the need for continual deliverance, as opposed to those who we once were, thinking, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17 , Joh 9:41).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Pro 28:28  When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Another way of saying this part of the proverb, “but when they perish, the righteous increase”, is found in (Joh 3:30).

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.

The wicked within us must be made manifest, and those giants in the land may cause us to hide ourselves, but not in a negative sense but rather in the Lord who will do battle against those giants in our land, those powers and principalities that He is far higher than (Eph 6:12 , Eph 1:19-21).

Every battle in history is just a reminder for God’s elect that the main battlefield we are always to be identifying is within us, “From whence come wars and fightings among you?”(Jas 4:1-7).

This is where the battles are taking place and why Christ tells us not to worry, because the battle is of the Lord and we will be more than conquerors through Him (1Sa 17:47 , Mat 24:6 , Rom 8:37).

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [within the hearts and minds of His children]
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

1Sa 17:47  And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

“The Righteous are Bold as a Lion”

(Pro 28:1-11)

[Study Aired April 23, 2026]

Pro 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Pro 28:2  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
Pro 28:3  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
Pro 28:4  They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Pro 28:5  Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
Pro 28:6  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Pro 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
Pro 28:8  He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Pro 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Pro 28:10  Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
Pro 28:11  The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

In this section of (Pro 28:1-11), we’re shown a clear contrast between two ways of living. The righteous are “bold as a lion,” walking in integrity and understanding, while those who pursue wickedness or unjust gain ultimately bring harm—to others and to themselves, taking on a mindset of fearing men and not God, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth”.

Wealth, when pursued without righteousness, is shown to be unstable and even destructive as it draws us away from our Father. Putting our confidence in those things which are temporal is what will destroy our confidence in God, but if we are granted to look to, and believe and work toward attaining those things which are not temporal, and not seen (Heb 11:27), it will be by the grace and faith of Christ that this is accomplished (2Co 4:17-18, Eph 2:8).

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (Mar 10:29-31)
2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:(Mat 6:33) for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In (1Ti 6:6-13), where we’re reminded that “godliness with contentment is great gain,” and we are admonished that “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare.” Paul adds that “the love of money is the root of all evil,” and urges us to “flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” This aligns perfectly with what Jesus teaches in (Mat 6:33), “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Together, these passages remind us that the issue is not simply wealth, but what we are pursuing first. Are we chasing gain, or are we seeking God’s righteousness above all? This brings us to a most instructive parable that the world gives no regard to as far as what its spiritual meaning is, found in (Mar 10:17-27).

Mar 10:20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.(Mat 16:25)
Mar 10:22  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. (Php 3:9)
Mar 10:23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:24  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches (Php 3:9) to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,[the narrow way] than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:26  And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mar 10:27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

This really is where ‘the rubber meets the road’, as we say, and it was written for our admonition to remind us that this narrow way that leads to life can only be found with Christ’s righteousness, which happens as a result of our being miraculously dragged to Him in this age, so we can lose our life (Php 3:9, Joh 6:44, Mat 16:25).

Right after describing this parable to His disciples, Peter then says this, “Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee”. This journey God’s elect are on separates us from the rich young ruler, and brings us to eventually see the need to give our whole lives a living sacrifice to our Creator (Rom 12:1-2), going in a direction that He has ordained for the bride of Christ (Rev 14:4, Rev 19:7, Rom 8:14-16, 2Co 3:17). And what was Christ’s answer to Peter who represents us? (Mar 10:29-31). This answer of Christ is why the redeemed of  the Lord (Psa 107:2) ought to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice”(Php 4:4).

Mar 10:29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Pro 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

This faintness of heart, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth”, is a curse from God that comes upon us when we are not doing the right thing in His service (Lev 26:36).

Lev 26:36  And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies;[the enemy of unbelief within us] and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

It is possible to have Godly fear and boldness at the same time, which comes as a result of the Lion of the tribe of Judah abiding in us (Col 1:27, Rev 5:5), and when we labour for the meat that does not perish (Joh 6:27) our hearts are strengthened by that bread of life (Psa 104:15).

Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

When we don’t neglect so great a salvation by crying out to God, as Christ did with fear (Heb 2:3, Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30), those prayers will avail much and cause us to not faint and lose heart (Luk 18:1). If we seek God with all our heart he will be found (Jer 29:13, Heb 11:6), and the strength will be given to stand our spiritual ground, which is on His Word (Eph 6:13), not fleeing under any circumstance. “The wicked flee” but the righteousness of Christ makes us “bold as a lion”(Rev 2:10, Rev 5:5)

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Pro 28:2  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

Our bodies are likened unto the land, and the many princes represents power that yet rules over our bodies causing us to transgress. It is only with spiritual understanding that comes from Christ that we will be able to have lives that will be prolonged, as we’re given dominion over those powers and principalities that are likened unto princes (Eph 6:12). The “man of understanding” represents Christ in us and when we honour our olam Father Christ, and the church Jerusalem above, our days shall be prolonged by being in that blessed and holy first resurrection, which is what this first commandment of promise is all about (Eph 6:1-3, Rev 20:6).

Eph 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph 6:2  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Pro 28:3  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

This statement, “A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food”, is true both physically and spiritually. It’s the gentle consistent rain of God’s word, meat given in due season, that benefits the body of Christ, not a driving or sweeping rain that would make things worse, which is symbolic of the Nicolaitan spirit that wants to rule over the laity with its damaging rain that promises liberty but does not deliver (2Pe 2:18-19).

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

In Babylon there is a Nicolaitan spirit which rules over the laity with false doctrines, and those false doctrines are like “a sweeping rain which leaveth no food”. We were definitely poor in Babylon, with no stay of bread and water (Isa 3:1) and though our intentions were good, because of our blindness at that time we were the poor man who was oppressing the poor with a myriad of false doctrines that as we read is likened unto “a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.”

Pro 28:4  They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

This proverb is showing us that our response to evil reveals where we stand. If we drift from what is right, or leave our first estate as it is described in Jude (Jud 1:6), we would start to tolerate and even approve wrong doing as the blinded church of Corinth did, both physically and spiritually (1Co 5:1-3).

1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

It is by standing on the word of God that we can contend with that spirit that was in the Corinthian church of Paul’s day. It was the physical event of fornication that revealed the spiritual fornication that was in the hearts of the Corinthians who were tolerating not just a little leaven, but a lot in their midst (1Co 5:4-7).

1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Pro 28:5  Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

Our labours are not in vain in the Lord, and it is in the seeking of Him that we will “understand all” (Php 3:14-16, 1Jn 1:7-9). We won’t understand judgement if our actions are evil and we are relying on our own righteousness to deliver us in this life (Php 3:8-9).

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pro 28:6  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Being poor in spirit (Mat 5:3), whether your wealthy by the world’s standards or if you don’t have a lot in this life, is infinitely more valuable than a rich person who is perverse in his ways (Php 4:11-12). It is those who have the Kingdom of God within them (Luk 17:20-21) who have the true riches, that is to say the life of Christ within us (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9), which gives us the ability to “walketh in his uprightness”. The rich person who is “perverse in his ways” represents our time when we were the rich young ruler, confident in our Babylonian doctrines and confidence in our own flesh, our own righteousness (Joh 1:17, Luk 16:16, our last proverb Pro 28:11), which is where we all start until were given the power to come out of her my people and live by the faith of Christ (Gal 2:20).

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Pro 28:7  Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotousH2151 men shameth his father.
Pro 28:8  He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Pro 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Pro 28:10  Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

Keeping the law of Christ is a blessing (Psa 119:2), and the one who does not keep the law is considered riotous^H2151 in this proverb and is contrasted with the law-abiding “wise son”. The riotous man is described as a prodigal son, someone who is squandering his father’s inheritance in Babylon, which we all do at first. The parable of the prodigal is not about us being on the physical skids as a result of poor money choices, but rather about taking God’s fair jewels of my gold and of my silver [the inheritance from his father Luk 15:12] and wrapping it around the idols of our hearts which is what the prodigal son does, and we do when we are in Babylon (Eze 16:17). Consequently if God is working with us in this age, we are brought to our wits’ end and come to see by God’s grace that we are spiritually starving to death (Luk 15:11-32).

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

Riotous H2151 zâlal zaw-lal’
A primitive root (compare H2107); to shake (as in the wind), that is, to quake; figuratively to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal: – blow down, glutton, riotous (eater), vile.
Total KJV occurrences: 9

The “usury and unjust gain [that] increaseth our substance” represents our labour of building our own house that is all done in vain, and “he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor” means that even that which we think we have will be taken and given to those who were blessed to have the Lord build their spiritual house in this age (Psa 127:1, Mat 25:29).

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

The verse, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination”, is telling us that not everyone that says “Lord, Lord…” will be heard of God (Mat 7:21, Luk 6:46). If we turn from hearing the law of God we will reap what we sow, but as Paul said, ‘I am persuaded better things of the body of Christ (Heb 6:9) who God is causing to have a broken and contrite heart so that He looks to us and our prayers are heard, in that we fear Him’ (Isa 66:2, Rom 9:22-23, Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30, 1Jn 4:17).

Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

We all caused the righteous to go astray in an evil way when we were in Babylon, and consequently fell into our own pit of self-righteousness, thinking that we were right before God in our spiritually hedged state. It is only when that insidious spirit of self-righteousness is exposed from the pit of our being that we will cry out by the grace of God and be amongst the upright that “shall have good things in possession”, with the “good” being the life of Christ now abiding in us, who said ‘there is none good but one’ (Mar 10:18, Luk 17:10).

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Pro 28:11  The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

This last proverb we will look at is an admonition to not let knowledge puff us up and become conceited, as if we had attain anything of our own selves, “The rich man is wise in his own conceit”. This high-mindedness that we must avoid at all costs, is addressed in the book of Romans, (Rom 11:18-21), and “the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out” is symbollic of the poor and contrite spirit of our Lord who became poor for us (2Co 8:9) and with God’s spirit within us searches out all that conceit within us, or any root of bitterness (1Co 2:10, Pro 20:27), and destroys it so that it cannot gain victory over our lives in Him (Rom 8:37).

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

2Co 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (1Jn 4:17).

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Pro 20:27  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.(Rom 2:4)

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5), who, if He is dwelling within us, will cleanse this temple that we are (1Co 3:16), driving out everything that does not belong there our whole life (Joh 2:15) so that we can continue to worship our Father in spirit and truth (Joh 4:23), coming boldly before “the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16, Eph 1:16).

“Earnestly Contend For The Faith Which Was Once Delivered Unto The Saints”

(Pro 27:3-8)

[Study Aired March 26, 2026]

Pro 27:3  A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Pro 27:4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Pro 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Pro 27:7  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Pro 27:8  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

As we studied last week, boasting is excluded by the law of faith (Rom 3:27), and it is not the hearers of the law who are justified of God but the doers (Rom 2:13), and the doers are that little remnant who have God’s holy spirit within them (Rom 8:9) making it possible for us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). His good pleasure is to give us the kingdom which can only happen by our being given the power we need to lose our lives for this high calling in Christ, as we are dragged to Him (Joh 6:44) and given spiritual increase that only comes from God (Mat 25:4, 1Co 3:6), which will be needed to endure to the end (Mat 10:39, Rom 11:18-22, 1Co 3:6, Mat 24:13).

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake (Joh 6:68) shall find it. (Heb 10:38, Gal 2:12)

Heb 10:38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back^G5288, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back^G5289 unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Gal 2:12  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew^G5288 and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

G5288 hupostellō hoop-os-tel’-lo
From G5259 and G4724; to withhold under (out of sight), that is, (reflexively) to cower or shrink, (figuratively) to conceal (reserve): – draw (keep) back, shun, withdraw.
Total KJV occurrences: 4

G5289 hupostolē hoop-os-tol-ay’
From G5288; shrinkage (timidity), that is, (by implication) apostasy: – draw back.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

With the verses will look at this week, (Pro 27:3-16), there are some very close connecting thoughts found in the book of James that should help further explain the meaning of these proverbs and why there will always be a need for us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”.

Pro 27:3  A stone is heavy^H3514, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Pro 27:4  Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

The main point to be taken from these proverbs is that physical burdens can be grievous, but foolish anger is far more dangerous because it controls the heart (those who come to say my lord delays his coming, end up being angry and beating the menservants, not possessing their souls patiently as we must Luk 12:45). These two proverbs, (Pro 14:29-30, Pro 16:32), are closely related to the ones we’re looking at.

H3514 kôbed From H3513; weight, multitude, vehemence: – grievousness, heavy, great number.

Pro 14:29  He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Pro 14:30  A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Here are a couple of examples in God’s word that demonstrate the destructive power of wrath and envy (Jas 4:4-5), which can only be overcome through Christ (Gen 4:1-8, 1Sa 18:1-26).

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?[We have to overcome that spirit of man within that naturally wants to fit in and be friends with this world (2Co 6:17)]

Gen 4:5  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? (Eph 1:6) and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Gen 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.(Rev 20:8)

Cain who represents our old man did not have mastery over his anger, but it grew and led to murder. His anger was heavier than anything he could carry in other words, and is the point of this story, that without Christ through whom we are accepted we cannot overcome sin. It is only upon the burnt offering that represents Christ that we can be accepted of God (Eph 1:6). Cain was instructed, he knew to do well, but did not do well by not offering his offering upon a burnt offering as Abel did, who represents the elect. Not including the required burnt offering represents a self-righteous spirit that cannot yet acknowledge the continual need for Christ’s righteousness to be ruling and reigning in our hearts as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is Christ who is doing this work within us, “both to will and to do of his good pleasure”  (Php 2:12-13, Php 3:9).

These essential studies of “the law offerings” go into great detail regarding our acceptance of God through Jesus Christ.

iswasandwillbe.com/the-law-offerings introduction/

Pro 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Christ, exemplifies these proverbs perfectly. He often rebuked openly, out of love and a desire for repentance and growth. These things were written for our admonition upon whom the end of the ages are come (1Co 10:11, Heb 12:6).

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

In (Mat 23:27-28), Christ openly criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, saying they were like “whitewashed tombs” full of dead men’s bones. This rebuke was not secretive and demonstrated that “open rebuke is better than secret love.”

Likewise, Christ corrected His disciples when they misunderstood His teachings, as when Peter rebuked Jesus for speaking of His suffering, and Jesus responded openly, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mat 16:23). Here, the “faithful wounds” of correction were meant to protect and guide, contrasting sharply with deceitful praise that misleads.

The main point being that before the receiving of the holy spirit on Pentecost we cannot savour the things of God, and Peter as he often was, had preeminence in the negative sense, and so was corrected before the others. Peter typifies the church experiencing God’s judgement in this life first (1Pe 4:17).

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Pro 27:7  The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

This proverb is an admonition against avarice and the need for the miracle from God to continue to have a hunger and thirst for His righteousness (Mat 5:6). It is Christ’s words that are likened unto honey (Pro 25:16, Psa 119:103) and if we have a true hunger and thirst for righteousness in this life, even the bitter things, the admonition, the correction, will be sweet unto us knowing that those bitter stripes in our belly will bring healing spiritually to us (Pro 20:30, Psa 19:12).

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger [“to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet”] and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Pro 25:16  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Pro 20:30  The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Psa 19:12  Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Pro 27:8  As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

There are many positive and negative examples that can accompany this proverb, and all things work together for the good for those who love God and are the called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). All the promises in Christ are ‘yes’, and so when we look at what I call the negative examples, we should keep in mind that they are only negative for our flesh, but are working out a greater purpose for those who are being redeemed of the Lord in this age (Psa 107:2, 2Co 1:20).

Positive examples of leaving one’s place

Proverbs 27:8 warns that “as a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place”, highlighting the instability and vulnerability of those who leave their proper place or calling (Heb 10:25). Yet the Bible also shows positive examples of leaving one’s place when it is done in faith (Rom 14:23).

Ruth, for instance, left her homeland of Moab and chose to go with Naomi to Bethlehem (Rth 1:22). Though she physically wandered from her familiar home, her movement was intentional, guided by loyalty and faith in God. Ruth typifies the church who are led of the spirit of God through this life (Rom 8:14-16).

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Similarly, Lot, who had settled near Sodom, faced imminent danger when the city was condemned. When God commanded him to flee, his departure from Sodom preserved his life, demonstrating that leaving one’s place under God’s direction is a source of safety and protection rather than instability and death, even despite our resistance to obey.

Lot typifies the elect who by God’s grace and the faith of Christ will be dragged out of situations where God does not want us. He preserves the elect and delivers us from ourselves, all typified by the angels that came and took Lot out of the cities that would ultimately be destroyed by God. Those cities and nations represent our sins and the pulls of sin in this life that by little and by little we will overcome (Exo 23:30, Deu 7:22), and the messengers or the angels that we are to each other play a critical role in that deliverance (Gen 19:1-30, Pro 11:14, Pro 15:22, Pro 24:6, Luk 17:27-30, Luk 18:5-8).

Gen 19:1  And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war:(Gen 19:1) and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (Heb 11:7, Pro 22:3, Pro 27:12)
Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (1Pe 4:17-18)
Luk 17:30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Luk 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (We are to be that importunate widow for each other, learning of the forbearance and longsuffering of God (Rom 2:4))
Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Abraham provides another example: he left Ur of the Chaldees in response to God’s call, wandering into the unknown, yet faithfully following God’s guidance. His journey led to the establishment of God’s covenant, blessing and inheritance.

This again typifies for God’s elect how the faith of Christ works in our lives today, and the need to possess our souls patiently after we have done the will of God (Heb 10:35-39). That faith-filled life of the elect will lead to an inheritance of being saviours of the world (Oba 1:21), which was typified by Abraham expressed in these promises to him in (Gen 22:17-18, Heb 11:8-10, Rev 14:4, Luk 14:26-28).

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Gen 22:17  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Mat 16:18)
Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.(Rom 8:14-16) These were redeemed from among men, (Psa 107:2) being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.(Eph 2:10, Psa 127:1)

Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28  For which of you, intending to build a tower,(Heb 11:10) sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Joseph, though forcibly removed from his home and sold into Egypt, remained faithful, and his displacement became the instrument through which God would save the nations from physical famine. God’s elect like Joseph are displaced and go where the Lord leads us as we are dragged to Him, so that we can be made ready and provide the spiritual food that Babylon does not possess (Isa 3:1, Joh 20:21, Joh 3:17, Oba 1:21).

Negative examples of leaving one’s place

The proverb “As a bird that leaves its nest, so is a man who leaves his home” is clearly shown many times in the Old Testament. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve left the place God had appointed them in the Garden of Eden by disobeying His command, becoming vulnerable and exposed, much like a bird away from its nest. Similarly, the nation of Israel in the wilderness wandered physically and spiritually when they distrusted God, abandoning the “place” of faith and dependence He had given them,(1Co 10:11) which brought trials and judgment (Psa 107:4-7).

On an individual level, King Saul strayed from his God-given role by disobeying God’s commands, resulting in the loss of God’s favor and ultimately the kingdom (1Sa 13:13-14, 1Sa 15:22-23). Likewise, the unfaithful leaders of Israel, including prophets and priests who neglected their responsibilities, abandoned their appointed “places” of care for the people, leaving them exposed and vulnerable, as described in (Jer 23:1-2) and Ezekiel 34. In each case, the Old Covenant illustrates that straying from one’s proper place leads to disorder, weakness, and judgment, just as a bird is endangered when it leaves its nest. One last example that comes to mind is (Jud 1:3-8).

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:8  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

In reflecting on (Pro 27:3-8) and the related scriptures, we see a clear call to faithfulness, discernment, and obedience. The weight of wrath and envy reminds us of the dangers of an uncontrolled heart, while faithful rebuke and correction exemplify the love and guidance God provides through Christ (Heb 12:6). True spiritual nourishment comes not from comfort alone, but from a hunger for righteousness, allowing even bitter lessons to bring growth and healing.

Finally, whether in stability or in displacement, our place is found in God’s purpose—wandering without Him leads to vulnerability, yet walking in faith, as Abraham, Ruth, and Joseph demonstrate, leads to blessing and fulfillment. Therefore, we are exhorted to earnestly contend for the faith delivered to the saints, trusting in God’s wisdom, mercy, and sustaining power to guide us, correct us, and strengthen us in every circumstance (Heb 10:36, Luk 21:19-22).

Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luk 21:20  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luk 21:21  Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains;(Psa 121:1, Heb 12:1-2) and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
Luk 21:22  For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Samuel 3:1–21 The Lord Calls Samuel

[Study Aired January 19, 2026]

The study for today highlights the call of Samuel by the Lord. It also touches on the Lord’s pronouncement of judgment on Eli’s house. Finally, it shows us how Samuel was growing spiritually as the Lord continues to reveal Himself to him through His word.

The Lord Calls Samuel

1Sa 3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 

As indicated in the previous study, Samuel ministering before Eli is the same as him ministering before the Lord. This is because whatever we do for any of the Lord’s elect, we have done it for the Lord. It implies that as we minister to one another, we are ministering to the Lord.

Mat 25:37  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 
Mat 25:38  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
Mat 25:39  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 
Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 

Samuel being referred to as a child means that he was not mature in the things of the Lord. In today’s jargon, we will say that Samuel was a baby in Christ. We may be ministering to the Lord and yet are babies. This is what it means to be babies in Christ:

Heb 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 
Heb 5:13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. (ESV)

In verse 1, we can see that Samuel’s immaturity in the Lord is because he had not been exposed so much to the word of the Lord since the Lord’s words were rare during Samuel’s early stages of life. In other words, there was famine of the word of the Lord. Samuel’s early walk with the Lord is the same as our early walk with Christ in the sense that we also experienced famine of the word of the Lord since the church system of this world or Babylon, with which we started our walk is starved of the word of the Lord. 

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 
Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. 
Amo 8:13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.  

Apart from the word of the Lord being rare in Samuel’s childhood days, there was also no open vision. According to Strong’s Dictionary, vision in this sense means revelation, and open here can mean to increase or grow. What this implies is that during our time in the churches of this world, there was no increase in revelation of Christ. In other words, what we knew about Christ when we entered Babylon had not increased. Actually, we became worse off due to the false doctrines which we imbibed. 

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 

If we are to grow in grace, then our knowledge of Christ or His words, must increase. Fortunately, in our time, knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom has increased tremendously as we get closer to the end of this age. This was prophesied by Daniel as follows:

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 

As indicated here in Daniel 12:4, this knowledge, which will increase at the time of the end, does not pertain only to the word of the Lord. In the field of science and other areas, there have been major breakthroughs in knowledge resulting in the use of artificial intelligence to solve many problems that we were grappling with for many centuries. All of these show us that the end of this age is almost here with us. Indeed, the time is at hand!!

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

1Sa 3:2  And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 
1Sa 3:3  And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 

The eyes of Eli becoming dim represent the fading glory of the law of Moses which makes it difficult for us to see the law of the spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin and death, when we were in Babylon. 

2Co 3:7  Now if the ministry of death (the law of Moses), carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end
2Co 3:8  will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 

2Co 3:12  Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 
2Co 3:13  not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 
2Co 3:14  But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 
2Co 3:15  Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 
2Co 3:16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 

As shown in verse 3, the lamp of the Lord had not yet gone out in the temple of the Lord as Samuel laid down to sleep. Samuel, in this case, represents the Lord’s elect during our time in the church system of this world. The lamp of God signifies the word of the Lord. 

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

Therefore, what verse 3 is suggesting is that even though we, as the Lord’s elect, were spiritually becoming more bankrupt (laid down to sleep), in our hearts and minds (the temple of God), the word of the Lord had not fully gone out of us. It is this word in our hearts and minds that makes us answer to the Lord’s call in our spiritually dead state.

Job 14:15  You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.

1Sa 3:4  That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. 
1Sa 3:5  And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 
1Sa 3:6  And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
1Sa 3:7  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.  

In verse 4, the Lord calling Samuel signifies the Lord coming to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness when we were in the church system of this world or Babylon. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

This coming of Christ to us during our time in Babylon is usually not something spectacular like what happened to Paul when He was going to Damascus to arrest the Lord’s elect. Usually, the Lord comes to us through His elect who speak to us the truth of the Lord’s word. However, just like Samuel, we mistake the voice of the Lord through His elect and think that it is the voice of our pastors of the churches of this world. If we are given to realize the voice of the shepherd through His elect, that is when we are given to say that blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Mat 23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 

As stated in verse 7, the reason we were not able to hear the voice of the Lord is because during our time in Babylon, we did not know the Lord yet because we have not yet been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. We were part of the multitude that came to hear Jesus but heard parables which we did not understand. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  

Most of us experienced the call of the Lord several times before we began to pay attention to Him. For example, Abraham, our father in faith, had to be called twice before he responded to the Lord’s call. The Lord appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia and also in Haran before Abraham moved to the promised land. Calling Abraham twice signifies that the Lord always leaves a witness of His relentless pursuit of His elect. As His elect, nothing shall separate us from the love of the Lord.

Act 7:1  Then said the high priest, Are these things so? 
Act 7:2  And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 
Act 7:3  And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 
Act 7:4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.   

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 

Gen 12:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Sa 3:8  And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 
1Sa 3:9  Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
1Sa 3:10  And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

The calling of Samuel three times by the Lord and Samuel still thinking that it was Eli calling is to show us that Samuel had not gone through the process of becoming spiritually mature through the Lord’s judgment (the significance of three). It means Samuel was still a baby in Christ. That was our situation when we were in the church system of this world before the Lord came to us to begin the process of our exit from Babylon.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

The fact that Eli, who represents the fading glory of the law of Moses, was able to instruct Samuel about how to engage the Lord in a conversation means that the law of Moses was needful at a certain point in our walk with Christ, when we were in the church system of this world.  

Gal 3:23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

It is through the law that we come to know that of our own, we can do nothing. It is this knowledge which serves as the basis of our relationship with Christ as we begin to walk by faith in Him or His word.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

In verse 4, Samuel finally answered the Lord’s call. It was at the fourth call by the Lord that Samuel was able to respond appropriately. The number four means the whole of the matter under discussion. Therefore, Samuel responding to the Lord’s fourth call implies that as His elect, the Lord will use the whole of His communication arsenal to get our attention at the right time. 

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 

This is what the Lord is doing in this age. He is standing at our door and knocking and it is only the Lord’s elect that are hearing Him, just like Samuel and not Eli, who also represents the leaders of the church system of this world. Therefore, the door is being opened to us to come and dine with the Lord. 

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

The Judgment of the House of Eli

1Sa 3:11  And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 
1Sa 3:12  In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.  

It is only the Lord’s elect who are aware that the church system of this world or Babylon shall be destroyed in the fullness of time. What the Lord will do, which will tingle the ears of the people of this world, is the destruction of Babylon. Babylon within each of us must be destroyed first before we can be set free to worship the Lord in truth and in spirit. In verses 11 and 12, the Lord was telling Samuel what He was going to do regarding the church system of this world. 

Rev 16:17  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 
Rev 16:18  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 
Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

On the other hand, there is also the physical or outward destruction of the church system of this world or Babylon through the judgment of the Lord in the fullness of time.  

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 
Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 

1Sa 3:14  And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever. 

According to Brown-Driver-Briggs Dictionary, the word “forever” in verse 14 means as far as, until, up to, etc. Therefore, it means that the iniquity of Eli’s house which represents the church system of this world or Babylon will not be cleansed by the sacrificial blood of Christ in this age. 

1Sa 3:15  And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. 
1Sa 3:16  Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. 
1Sa 3:17  And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 
1Sa 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. 

Samuel fearing to tell Eli the vision is to remind us that our communion with the Lord should not be proclaimed at the house-tops – it is private. Unlike Samuel, who represents the Lord’s elect, our brothers and sisters in the church system, especially their leaders will always talk about how the Lord is always communicating with them. Many times you will hear them saying, “the Lord told me …”, when the Lord has not said anything.

Eze 22:27  Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. 
Eze 22:28 And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. (ESV)

Jer 23:16  Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. 
Jer 23:17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” (ESV)

When the Lord wants us to share what He has shown us by way of vision, dream, etc., He will create the circumstance which will make us share what He has shown us, just like the case of Samuel. 

Eli’s response did not show any remorse, after Samuel told him everything about the evil the Lord would bring to his house. Compare this with the behavior of the people of Nineveh when they realized that the Lord would destroy them in forty days. They put on sackcloth and repented of their evil ways. The Lord therefore did not destroy them. As indicated earlier, Eli’s house will not be given the opportunity to repent and be cleansed by the blood of Christ. This means that the church system of this world will not repent in this age and therefore will not be cleansed in this age by the blood of Christ.

Jon 3:4  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 
Jon 3:5  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
Jon 3:6  For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 
Jon 3:7  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water: 
Jon 3:8  But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 
Jon 3:9  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 
Jon 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. 

Samuel Continued to Grow in the Lord

1Sa 3:19  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 
1Sa 3:20  And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 
1Sa 3:21 And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD. 

Just like Samuel, the Lord is with us, and therefore we must feed on the word of the Lord to grow. It is very instructive to note that the Lord did not let any of His words fall to the ground. This means that the Lord will surely fulfill every promise He has made to us. 

Psa 138:8  The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. 

The Lord establishing Samuel as a prophet of the Lord in the eyes of the people of Israel in verse 20 is to let us know that the unbelief of the house of Eli or the church system of this world or Babylon has resulted in the Lord showing mercy to His elect in this age. This implies that in the fullness of time, through the mercy we have obtained, the whole of humanity shall also obtain mercy.  

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

As we are aware, Samuel later became like a ruler to the Lord’s people as He was consulted in all key issues pertaining to Israel. For example, when the people of Israel wanted a king, it was to Samuel they referred the matter. This is all to show us that our obedience to the Lord is preparing us to rule over the kingdoms of this world at the end of this age when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. 

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

It is important to note in verse 21 that the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. Our eyes being opened to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven is the same as the Lord revealing Himself to us, just like the case of Samuel. It is therefore not through signs and wonders that we perform or the size of our followers that authenticate the fact that we know Christ. 

We cannot therefore thank the Lord enough for favoring us in this age to know Him through His word. May His name be praised. Amen!

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” Part 4

(Pro 21:16-31)

[Study Aired November 20, 2025]

Pro 21:16  The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Pro 21:17  He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Pro 21:18  The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Pro 21:19  It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Pro 21:20  There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Pro 21:21  He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Pro 21:22  A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Pro 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Pro 21:24  Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
Pro 21:25  The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Pro 21:26  He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Pro 21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Pro 21:28  A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
Pro 21:29  A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
Pro 21:30  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Pro 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

In this last part of proverbs chapter twenty one, there will be a strong emphasis on how to hold fast to the crown of life that God has called us unto (Rev 3:3, Rev 3:11).

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

We can negatively or positively hold fast to even the words of God, and so it is by God’s grace in the end that we will be found holding fast to the crown of righteousness which is Christ’s life in us (Col 1:27), as opposed to our own righteousnesses, which can even understand all mysteries and yet still be glorying in that which God is doing through us as though we had not received what we have from the Lord (Php 3:9, 1Co 4:7).

The Lord must take us through much tribulation (Act 14:22) along this river of life that He is taking us, and in doing that we will become persuaded, in time (Rom 8:38), that nothing can separate us from His hand that has the heart of the elect within it, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Joh 10:28).

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Pro 21:16  The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and no man can come unto Him unless the Father draws us to him (Joh 6:44). Verse 16 is an admonition and a reminder to God’s people that we are where we are by the grace of God. The way of understanding is not given to Babylon today, and God’s elect have been called out of “the congregation of the dead”, those who are spiritually dead because there is no stay of bread or water to keep us spiritually alive when we are in the church systems of this world, which have been purposely blinded by the parables that Christ spoke and reveals to the elect (Isa 3:1, Mat 13:10-12).

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Pro 21:17  He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

True riches are to know God and His Son Jesus Christ, the pearl of great price (Joh 17:3). Loving pleasure requires that we love the things of this world, and God’s love does not abide in someone who has their heart set on the things of the earth, and not the things of the heaven (1Jn 2:15-17, Col 3:2).

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

What we are being shown is that “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man” spiritually, however if we are granted to see that he “that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”, then we can expect to live the rest of our lives being taught by God to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust, so that we can fulfill His will and His good pleasure, which is to give us the kingdom of God (Tit 2:11-13, Mat 6:33-34, Luk 12:32).

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Wine and oil, are symbols of God’s word, and in this proverb the wine and oil represent those earthy idols wrapped around His rich Word that draw us away from the true riches of knowing God and Christ. If God grants us to seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness (Mat 6:33), putting Him before all things, we can then learn to be obedient to those rich words of Life, whether we have a little or a lot (1Pe 1:13-14, 1Ti 6:8, Heb 13:5, 1Ti 6:17).

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:[the wine and oil pleasures of this world] for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (God has made a way for us to esteem the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures in Egypt Eph 2:8)
Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? [we have forsaken all, and followed you in this manner Mat 16:24-26]
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting^G166 life.
Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Pro 21:18  The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

When we recognize the wickedness within us in the day of evil (Pro 16:4), and our life that transgresses against the Lord, it will be because we are now making war against that wickedness through the righteous and upright spirit of God that is given to God’s elect (Rev 17:14). We overcome the ransom^H3724 (figuratively a redemption price: – bribe) of the wicked and the transgressor through Christ (1Co 6:20, 1Co 7:23, Rom 8:37).

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1Co 7:23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Pro 21:19  It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

John the baptist typifies the elect who are in transition in the wilderness of this world and ‘coming out of her my people’. The cry of John is to point to the saviour, and to denounce the woman, the church in the wilderness that God’s elect come out of. Christ then tells us that, with God’s spirit within us, the least is greater than John, seeing John does not have the earnest of the inheritance within him (Mat 11:11, Mat 10:31, Eph 1:14).

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 10:31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The “angry woman”  is a symbol of the church in the wilderness that is governed by the law for the lawless (1Ti 1:9). This church in the wilderness symbolizes Babylon of today that have that same spirit of anger against God and His “but I say unto you” elevated commandments, preferring rather to embrace the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth approach of the unconverted sons of thunder (Mat 5:44-45, Luk 9:54-55).

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Luk 9:54  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luk 9:55  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Pro 21:20  There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth^{H1104 [H8762]}. it up.

The “treasure” that we desire is the mind of Christ, His refined word on our hearts that is likened unto gold and oil (Zec 4:2-6). God’s word is a spiritual commodity that we partake of daily, by dying daily. If we don’t die daily and pick up our cross, and deny ourselves and follow Christ, then we will be as a foolish man that squanders it all, not growing unto maturity as this parable of the wise and foolish virgins brings out (Mat 25:8-13) as well as the parable of the prodigal son (Luk 15:11-32). God is the one who determines who will heed His counsel, that will have us buying gold that is tried in the fire, meaning we are being crushed under the stone (Luk 20:18) with trials that will refine God’s word in our hearts (Mat 24:13, 1Pe 1:6-7).

H1104 Spendeth  bâla‛ baw-lah’
( [H8762] = Piel)
1. to swallow
2. to swallow up, engulf
3. squandering (fig.)

Mat 25:8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. [Rev 3:18]
Mat 25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Luk 15:12  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luk 15:13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luk 15:14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Pro 21:21  He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

If we are granted by God’s grace to follow after righteousness, we will find His life, His righteousness, and the honour that God has promised to bestow upon those who suffer in this life for the gospel of the kingdom of God. If God has written this in our books then Christ will accomplish this through His body, by grace through faith (2Ti 2:12-13, Php 2:12-13, Eph 2:8, Luk 22:32-34, Mat 16:25, Pro 8:35).

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Pro 8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Pro 21:22  A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

Christ in us scales the “city of the mighty”, representing the powers and principalities that we war against in our heavens (Eph 6:12), as he gives us the strength to overcome (Eph 1:20-23), “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”(2Co 10:5).

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.(Col 1:24)

Pro 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

“Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” is what God is able to accomplish in His workmanship, the elect. It is an ongoing process of examining our hearts that keeps our souls from troubles, and God knows how to deliver us from all of our troubles (Psa 34:19).

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Pro 21:24  Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

This proverb is a good description of the beast that comes out the sea and blasphemes the name of God (Rev 13:6), being given power over all the nations within us at first (Rev 13:7-10) until Christ begins to destroy this haughty scorner with the brightness of his coming into our heavens (2Th 2:8). To have this haughty and proud spirit burnt out of us we will need the patience and faith of the saints given to us, so that we can hold fast to the crown of life we’ve been called unto.

Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Pro 21:25  The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

The slothful person’s desire is to do nothing and that is what kills us spiritually and gives life to the beast. By God’s grace and the faith of Christ, we can be permitted to do battle against these spirits that “refuse to labour”. (Joh 6:27, Joh 6:63, Mat 11:28, Col 1:27-29, Heb 4:11-12).

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Pro 21:26  He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

God’s elect are called unto a way of life that is generous, doing good unto all men, especially unto the household of faith “but the righteous giveth and spareth not” (Gal 6:10, Joh 12:3).

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Joh 12:3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Mary represents the church, and her sacrifice of this costly ointment on Christ’s feet typifies the holy spirit that each joint supplies in love on Christ’s feet, representing our foundational walk in Him (Joh 13:10, Eph 2:20). Her tears and hair that are used to wash his feet remind us that we need to be washed by the word through the church (1Co 11:15), and that when we are broken and contrite as Mary was, we will take actions that demonstrate the fruit of our repentance causing the house, the church, to be filled with the odour of the ointment.

Joh 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

1Co 11:15  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Pro 21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Pro 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abhorrence; How much more so when such a one brings it with scheming. (CLV)

Cain did not do well, and neither do any of us until we are given to acknowledge that the only sacrifice that is accepted by God is the one that is understood to be given by Christ working in us (Php 2:12-13, Eph 1:6).

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

When we do well it is because Christ our hope of glory is within us doing well, both to will and to do, and as a result we are accepted of God, unlike Cain whose sacrifice had all the components of this proverb, “The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?” (Gen 4:3-7, 1Jn 3:11-12).

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

1Jn 3:11  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1Jn 3:12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one (first Adam), and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (last Adam).

Pro 21:28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

Pro 21:28  A false witness shall perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak unchallenged.(AFV)

If we are blessed to continue in the truth, the truth will set us free (Joh 8:31-32), and God will make our words like fire (Jer 5:14). It is those fiery words of God that cannot be challenged, and will save us and those who hear those words, which devours our Adamic nature (1Ti 4:16).

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Pro 21:29  A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

It is Christ who directs our ways, and gives us power over the hardened heart that gives us a hardened face. When our hearts our softened then we can truly be directed by God and led by the spirit of God (Rom 8:14-16), which is where there will be liberty in our lives (Pro 3:5-8, 2Co 3:17).  Again, we are reminded that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”, so it is true that “the upright, he directeth his way”, but this must be understood in the context of (Php 2:12-13).

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Pro 21:30  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

These following verses give confirmation to this proverb.

Isa 40:13  Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Isa 40:14  With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? (“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD”)
Isa 40:15  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD”)
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.(1Co 8:6, 1Co 2:16)

Pro 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Mankind’s way is against God, and it is a vain thing to trust in the arm of man, or a horse that is “prepared against the day of battle”. The rider and the horse ‘are one’, like the harlot on the beast of (Rev 17:3), and they will both be destroyed within us and all of humanity in time (Exo 15:1-3, Psa 37:16-18).

Exo 15:1  Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exo 15:2  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Exo 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Psa 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psa 37:17  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
Psa 37:18  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

“Safety is of the LORD”, and the whole world will learn this great lesson when Satan is loosed for a little season and comes up against the camp of the saints, and the Lamb will overcome them (Rev 20:7-8, Rev 17:13-14).

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD” because, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will”, and what He wills, will in His perfect time be accomplished (1Ti 2:4, Job 23:13-14).

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? (“he turneth it whithersoever he will”) and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand” Part III (Pro 14:21-26)

(Aired on June 12, 2025)

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Pro 14:22  Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
Pro 14:23  In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
Pro 14:24  The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
Pro 14:25  A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
Pro 14:26  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

In this third part of chapter fourteen we will look at how we can protect that which God has given the elect to preserve in this life. The only way we can become a stronger undivided house is by keeping the commandments of God, doing what he tells us to do (Mat 7:22-27).

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [strong delusion = prophesying in God’s name, casting out devils, casting out false doctrines, and yet still not converted (Heb 6:1-3)]
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Rev 1:3)
Mat 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. (Mat 16:18)

What is always at the heart of our dying daily struggles is self-righteousness described as “ye that work iniquity” (Eze 33:18, Php 3:9, Eze 18:24) that wants to rule over our heavens and declare to God, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”(Rom 3:27, Luk 14:27, Gal 2:20, 1Jn 5:4).

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness “ye that work iniquity”, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross (Gal 2:20), and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Paul told the body of Christ that he did not consider himself to have obtained (Php 3:12), and cautioned the church to always remember that our dying daily victory must be understood as something that is granted to us by God through Christ, and therefore we must always examine our hearts and not be high-minded thinking we are anything of ourselves, when our sufficiency is solely in Christ whose faith we are given in order to be saved (Php 3:12-15, 2Co 3:5, Joh 3:27, Gal 6:3-5, 1Co 8:2).

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [overcoming self-righteousness by looking to the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:1-2)]
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. [“but our sufficiency is of God”]

We are blessed when we are brought into remembrance how poor we are spiritually unless the Lord gives us eyes to see and ears to hear (Rev 3:17-18). It is because of the promises of God’s mercy in our lives that we will be apprehended of the Lord and given great hope by which we will be saved (Rom 8:24-25).

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [Rom 7:24]
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Heb 11:1)
Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not [hoping that we will be as Christ praying for each other to have the faith of Christ so that we are not sifted by Satan (1Jn 4:17, Luk 22:32)], then do we with patience wait for it.

Despite our marred-in-the hand-of-the Potter condition, despite our wretched state in sinful flesh, despite ourselves, we can become more than conquerors through Jesus Christ who loves us, and hold each other up through the storms of this life, as we commit our lives unto God for each other in prayer and fasting often. We are familiar with these following verses but as a reminder of our need for continual prayer I’ll read them before we begin the main part of our study (2Pe 1:12).

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1Ti 5:5  Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

2Ti 1:3  I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Phm 1:4  I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;(Eph 5:30)

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Who is poor? We are all poor spiritually as scripture declares, even Christ was poor in that sense because He was in a marred vessel of clay and told his disciples ‘don’t call any man good, there is one who is good, and that is God’ (Mar 10:18).

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

When we despise the poor we are showing God by those actions that we think we’re better than them. When we show mercy to the poor we will be blessed with the joy that comes to those who give and expect nothing back (Gal 6:10, Joh 12:3-7), demonstrating what it is to be a true neighbour (Luk 10:36, Act 20:35, Luk 6:35, Mat 10:42).

When we see that we are guilty of all, represented by the beam in our own eye, then we can only ever want to have mercy and compassion upon all of mankind as Christ declared from the cross. The cross is most effective when it is seen as the beam in our own eyes, the potential for all the sin of the world within us, which Christ understood was true of His own flesh, and yet never sinned as our spotless saviour (Mat 7:5, Luk 22:34).

Pro 14:22  Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

If we are not about our Father’s business as Christ who was always devising good (Luk 2:49, 1Jn 4:17), then that void of service will be filled with evil devices. ‘An idle mind is the workshop of the devil’ is not a bad adage.

Luk 2:49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [not idle but about our Father’s business]

It does take a miracle of faith (Rom 3:27) in our lives to remain stedfast in our service toward Him (Joh 6:44). We are striving toward that goal of being stedfast, and if in any way we come short of this, our Lord has promised to cleanse us of our sins and bring us to a point where we can more readily and continually bringing every thought into subjection unto God as we are led by God’s spirit. God’s spirit bears witness that we are His sons and daughters who are in this dragging process (Joh 6:44), which has us apprehended of the Lord (Php 3:14-16, 2Co 10:5, Rom 8:14-16).

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Pro 14:23  In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

We will find God if we are granted to search for Him with a diligent heart, and so our labour will not be in vain, but profitable “In all labour there is profit” (1Co 15:57-58, Heb 11:6, Pro 8:17).

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.[“In all labour there is profit”]

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Pro 8:17  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

On the other hand if we are not doers of the word and only hearers, we will deceive our own selves and end up being spiritually poor, lacking and impoverished, “but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penuryH4270” (Jas 1:22-25).

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

H4270 Penury machsôr  machsôr  makh-sore’, makh-sore’
From H2637; deficiency; hence impoverishment: – lack, need, penury, poor, poverty, want.

Pro 14:24  The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

Christ is our wisdom, and He is the one who holds all the “riches”, the words of eternal life. Christ’s righteousness in us is likened unto a crown, and it is the elect who are given a crown of life that is cast back to Christ (Rev 4:10-11) who took the once foolish souls we were in our folly thinking we were rich as the rich young ruler, in our own righteousness (Eph 2:2-3), and makes us wise in Him (1Co 1:27, Psa 19:7).

Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things [including these crowns], and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Pro 14:25  A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

Christ is the true witness, and if His life is in us we will be discerning the words of eternal life and God willing continuing in them so that we can be set free or delivered by them (Joh 8:31-32, 1Ti 4:16).

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

1Ti 4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them (Joh 8:31-32): for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

It is through that deliverance, that the mercy shown to us in this age will prepare us to be “A true witness [that] delivereth souls” (Rom 11:30-31)

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

The deceitful heart of mankind within and without, “a deceitful witness speaketh lies”, has to be conquered through Christ in order to overcome the lies of the devil, and only Christ can make war with that beast that gets his power from the dragon (Rev 13:4).

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Pro 14:26  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

When we fear God our prayers are heard (Heb 5:7, 1Jn 4:17), and it is when our prayers our heard that we gain strong confidence in the one in whom we are committing our lives unto through those prayers (1Pe 4:19). Our refuge and strong tower is in the Lord and found in fervent prayer that avails much, and reassures us in our time of need (Pro 18:10).

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

We are to pray always and not lose heart (Luk 18:1), as this is our time of need in these earthen vessels that are in constant need of our Lord’s protection and leading. He is our refuge and stronghold in this life who keeps us from being a house divided (Psa 91:2).

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Psa 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

The Spiritual Journey Through the Mountains of Scripture

[Study Aired April 1, 2025]

Throughout God’s Word, mountains stand as powerful symbols of spiritual truth, far beyond mere geographical landmarks. They become sacred places where God reveals Himself, establishes covenants, receives worship, and transforms His people. When we study these mountains in the order they first appear in Scripture, they reveal the spiritual process by which God brings His people from judgment through salvation to unity and maturity in Christ.

“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12)

The physical mountains God carefully placed in His creation reveal profound spiritual truths. As David declared, “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep” (Psalm 36:6), showing how these majestic landmarks display aspects of God’s character and work. Jesus taught that “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63), indicating that the mountains mentioned in Scripture have spiritual significance beyond their natural features.

These mountains mark the pathway of our spiritual growth. Just as God told Israel, “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward” (Deuteronomy 2:3), He leads us from one spiritual experience to another, never allowing us to remain stationary. Each mountain in Scripture reveals an essential stage in our transformation as we “ press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

Mount Ararat – New Beginnings Through Judgment

“And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.” (Genesis 8:4)

The first named mountain in Scripture is Ararat, where Noah’s ark came to rest after the flood. This mountain represents the starting point of our spiritual journey – salvation through judgment. The flood was God’s judgment on a corrupt world, yet through this judgment came rest and new beginnings.

This pattern is central to our spiritual experience. Just as the old world perished in the flood and a new world emerged, so our old nature must begin dying for our new life to begin. Peter connected this truth to our salvation: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21)

Ararat teaches that resurrection life only follows the flood of judgment. As Paul declared, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed(ing) away; behold, all things are become(ing) new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Mount Moriah – Sacrifice and Obedience

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Genesis 22:2)

Mount Moriah, where Abraham was commanded to offer Isaac, represents sacrifice and obedience. This profound event typifies God offering His own Son. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son demonstrated his complete surrender to God.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Hebrews 11:17-19)

At Moriah, God provided another sacrifice, pointing to Christ as the ultimate provision. “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.” (Genesis 22:14)

Moriah teaches that our faith is proven not through mere words but through actions of obedience. It reveals the cost of discipleship – surrendering what we love most to God. Yet it also demonstrates that God Himself provides what He requires, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

Mount Sinai (Horeb) – The Law and the Fear of God

“And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” (Exodus 19:18)

Mount Sinai represents our encounter with God’s holiness through the law. Here God gave the Ten Commandments amid thunder, lightning, smoke, and fire. The people trembled and stood at a distance, revealing the separation between holy God and sinful man.

“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more… And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.” (Hebrews 12:18-19, 21)

Paul contrasted Sinai with Zion, explaining: “For these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.” (Galatians 4:24)

Sinai reveals our need for a Savior. The Law, though holy and good, exposes sin without providing the power to overcome it. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)

Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal – Blessing and Cursing

“And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.” (Deuteronomy 11:29)

These twin mountains near Shechem represented the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. Joshua positioned six tribes on each mountain to declare these truths: “And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites… half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.” (Joshua 8:33)

These mountains represent spiritual discernment – learning to distinguish good from evil. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)

As we mature spiritually, we stand between blessing and cursing, taught by the Spirit to choose life. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Mount Nebo – Vision Without Possession

“And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan.” (Deuteronomy 34:1)

Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death, represents vision without full possession. Moses could see the promise but could not enter because of his disobedience at Meribah. “And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo… and behold the land of Canaan… And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people… Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh.” (Deuteronomy 32:48-51)

Only Joshua (whose name means “Jehovah saves” – the Hebrew equivalent of “Jesus”) could lead Israel into the land. This reveals that the law (represented by Moses) can show us God’s promises but cannot bring us into them. Only grace through faith in Christ brings true rest.

Nebo teaches us that knowledge alone is insufficient; we need transformation through Christ. Many see spiritual truths without experiencing them, as the writer of Hebrews noted: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13)

Mount Carmel – Confrontation and Refining Fire

“Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.” (1 Kings 18:19)

Mount Carmel was the scene of Elijah’s dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal. This mountain represents spiritual warfare – the battlefield where truth confronts error and decisions must be made. Elijah challenged the people: “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21)

The fire from heaven that consumed Elijah’s sacrifice demonstrated God’s power and reality. This fire represents the refining process that purifies our faith: “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Carmel teaches us that spiritual growth requires confrontation with falsehood. God’s fire burns away what is false and establishes His truth in our hearts.

Mount Bashan – The Pride of the Flesh Challenged

“The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan. Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it forever.” (Psalm 68:15-16)

Mount Bashan was known for its impressive height and grandeur, yet in this psalm, we see that God passed over such imposing mountains and instead chose Mount Zion as His dwelling place. The psalmist pictures the lofty hills of Bashan as envious, asking why they “leap” (or look with envy) at the smaller hill God has chosen for His habitation.

This divine choice reveals a profound spiritual principle: God does not select what appears mighty in human estimation. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

Bashan symbolizes religious pride and fleshly strength – impressive in appearance but ultimately rejected as God’s dwelling place. The contrast between the majestic Bashan and the relatively modest Zion teaches us that God deliberately chooses what seems less significant to human eyes, confounding worldly wisdom.

This pattern appears throughout Scripture, where God consistently chooses the unlikely: Jacob over Esau, David over his brothers, and ultimately the cross itself – “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Bashan reveals how God’s ways directly contradict human reasoning. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

While man looks at outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

He deliberately chooses to dwell with the humble: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)

As we grow in Christ, we too must learn to recognize and reject the “high hills” of fleshly strength and religious pride, embracing instead the humility of Zion where God’s presence truly dwells. “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.” (Psalm 132:13-14)

Mount Hermon – Anointed Unity from Above

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” (Psalm 133:1-3)

Mount Hermon, the tallest mountain in the region, was known for its abundant dew. Psalm 133 uses this dew as a symbol of unity among God’s people. Unlike manufactured harmony, this unity descends from above, like dew, nourishing all it touches.

Hermon represents the unity of the Spirit that comes as we mature in Christ. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)

This unity cannot be produced by our effort but comes from above as a gift: “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) The dew of Hermon teaches us that true spiritual unity is divine in origin, refreshing in effect, and brings abundant life.

Mount of Olives – Watchfulness, Suffering, and Return

“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” (Zechariah 14:4) “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3)

The Mount of Olives is deeply intertwined with Jesus’ ministry, suffering, and promised return. Here He taught His disciples about the end times, sitting on the mountainside overlooking Jerusalem. It was from this vantage point that “he beheld the city, and wept over it” (Luke 19:41), foreseeing its coming destruction. In the garden of Gethsemane on this mount, He experienced profound agony in prayer: “And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him… And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed” (Luke 22:39, 41). After His resurrection, this same mountain became the site of His ascension, as recorded in Acts: “Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey” (Acts 1:12).

The name comes from the olive trees that covered it, whose fruit was pressed to produce oil – a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This pressing process reminds us of Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane (which means “oil press”) and our own trials that produce spiritual growth.

The Mount of Olives teaches watchfulness and readiness. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36)

It also speaks of Christ’s return, when “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Mount Zion – The Dwelling of God with His People

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:22-24)

Mount Zion represents the fullness of God’s purpose – mature sons dwelling in perfect union with Christ. While Sinai represents the law with its terror and separation, Zion represents grace, access, and communion.

Physically, Zion was where David established his throne and Solomon built the temple. Spiritually, it represents God’s presence with His people. “The LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.” (Psalm 132:13-14)

Revelation shows the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with the 144,000 who had “his Father’s name written in their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). This reveals Zion as the place of completion and victory.

Zion teaches that our spiritual journey culminates in perfect communion with God. What begins with judgment at Ararat finds fulfillment in the glory of Zion – God dwelling with His perfected people.

Conclusion

The mountains of Scripture reveal the progressive work of God in transforming His people. From judgment and salvation at Ararat to the mature reign with Christ on Mount Zion, each mountain teaches us a vital spiritual truth.

This journey is not merely historical but personal. Each believer experiences these spiritual realities as God works to conform us to Christ’s image. As we navigate the landscapes of our own lives, these mountain landmarks guide us, revealing where we are and where God is taking us.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)

The God who led Abraham to Moriah, Moses to Sinai, Elijah to Carmel, and Jesus to Olivet is leading us also – mountain by mountain, glory to glory – until we arrive at Mount Zion, the city of the living God, where we shall dwell with Him forever.

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah 2:2)

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7)

“Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.” (Psalm 36:6)

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:3-5)

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” (Revelation 14:1)

Oba 1:17 But on mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness,
And shall possess the house of Jacob their possessions

[Study Aired September 11, 2024]

Oba 1:17  But upon mountH2022 ZionH6726 shall beH1961 deliverance,H6413 and there shall beH1961 holiness;H6944 and the houseH1004 of JacobH3290 shall possessH3423 (H8804 Qal)(H853) their possessions.H4180 

H2022 – Har, hill, mountain, hill country, mount, a shortened form of H2042, Harar, mountain, hill, hill country, mount, from an unused root meaning to loom up

H6726 – Tseeyone, Zion = parched place, the same (regularly) as H6725, Tseeyoon, signpost, monument, market, (Used three times in OT) from the same as H6723, Tsiyah, dryness, drought, desert, from an unused root meaning to parch

H1961 – Hayah, to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out, to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come into being, to arise, appear, come, become like, to be instituted, be established, be in existence, abide, remain, continue, to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated, to accompany, be with, be done, be brought about, be finished, be gone, a primitive root

H6413 – Peleytah, escape, deliverance, escaped remnant, from H6412, Paleet, refugee, fugitive, escaped one, from a primitive root H6403, Palat, to escape, save, deliver, slip away, bring into security, cause to escape, cast forth, be delivered, bring to safety

H1961 – see above

H6944 – Kodesh, apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness, set-apartness, separateness, from a primitive root H6942, Kadash, to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, be set apart, be consecrated, be hallowed, consecrated, tabooed, show oneself sacred or majestic, be honoured, be treated as sacred, set apart as sacred, dedicate, observe as holy, keep sacred, honour as sacred, hallow, set apart, devote, regard/treat as sacred/hallowed, keep oneself apart/separate, cause himself to be hallowed (of God), be observed as holy, consecrate oneself

H1004 – Bayith, house, dwelling habitation, shelter or abode, place, receptacle, home, household, family, family of descendants, household affairs, inwards, temple, on the inside, within, probably from a primitive root H1129, Banah, to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue, build a house (ie, establish a family), to be built/rebuilt, established

H3290 – Ya`akob, Jacob = heel holder or supplanter, from a primitive root H6117, Aqab, to supplant, circumvent, take by the heel, follow at the heel, assail insidiously, overreach, overreach, attack at the heel, hold back

H3423 – Yarash, (Qal) to take possession of, inherit, impoverish, be an heir, come to poverty, be poor, a primitive root

H853 – Ayth, sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative, contracted from H226, Oth, sign, signal, distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, omen, warning, token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof, probably from a primitive root H225, Ooth, to consent, agree (Used four times in OT)

H4180 – Mowrash, possession, (Used 3 times in OT) from a primitive root H3423, Yarash, to seize, dispossess, take possession of, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir, come to poverty, be poor, be dispossessed, be impoverished, devour, cause to possess or inherit, cause others to possess or inherit, destroy, bring to ruin

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Oba 1:17  But on mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness, And shall possess the house of Jacob their possessions (Interlinear version)

In this study we will look at the two Hebrew words [Zion and Deliverance] and how they are used in the New Testament

[1] Zion H6726 and the corresponding Greek word G4622 Sion

[2] Deliverance H6413 and the corresponding Greek word G859 Forgiveness

Zion H6726 means a mountain of Jerusalem and the corresponding Greek word is Sion G4622.

Here is how it appears first in the New Testament

Mat 21:4  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of a beast of burden

This prophecy spoken of is linked to Zechariah 9:9 and also referenced in Isaiah

Zec 9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass

Isa 12:5  Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
Isa 12:6  Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

The words of Jesus Christ are then said to be a stone of stumbling in Zion, to the outward Jews. This is true even today because to the orthodox Jew, the New Testament is not considered Holy Scripture.

Rom 9:32  wherefore? because—not by faith, but as by works of law; for they did stumble at the stone of stumbling,
Rom 9:33  according as it hath been written, ‘Lo, I place in Sion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; and every one who is believing thereon shall not be ashamed.

A few chapters later Paul writes about the mystery of Israel’s salvation:

Rom 11:25  Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Rom 11:26  And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob

The Deliverer who will “come from Zion” is Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world:

1Jn 4:14  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son [Jesus Christ] to be the Savior of the world.

Deliverance H6413 Peletah, is from the root word H6403 paw-lat meaning “to escape”.

The corresponding Greek word is G859 aphesis meaning freedom, to pardon, or deliverance. It comes from the root word G575 meaning “off” or separation, departure.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from/separation [G575] their sins.

The same word for deliverance used in Obadiah 1:17 is the same word used by Joseph. We are given to see there is only one truly sovereign will: the will of God the Father.

Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:6  For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
Gen 45:7  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance [H6413].
Gen 45:8  So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Spiritually, deliverance means forgiveness. Here are the words of Christ, who went into the synagogue on sabbath and stood up and read from Isaiah 61:1

Luk 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised

The holy spirit of God the Father is on Jesus Christ, his son, and we are witnesses to this truth, when we preach the good news of the gospel of Christ, the one true saviour and redeemer of our sins

Luk 24:47  And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name [JESUS CHRIST] among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

It is the blood of Christ that is the new testament

Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus Christ was the rock of offence, the stumbling block in Zion, because he was crucified

Act 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit [of God the Father], whom God hath given to them that obey him.

The only thing that distinguishes us from the [Jews that seeked to kill him] is obedience. When we are obedient to the word of God, we are able to say not my will be done, but your will be done:

1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1Pe 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him [JESUS CHRIST] who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Because of Jesus Christ’s excellent example (the love he had for his Father), we understand that love means to be obedient

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we obey his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Finally, Mount Zion appears twice more in the New Testament where it is referred to as the heavenly Jerusalem, a kingdom which cannot be moved

Heb 12:22  But ye are come to mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels

Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb [Jesus Christ our Saviour] stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

When we have our Father’s name written on our forehead  we simply follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God

Following the Lamb wherever he goes enables us to became able ministers of the new covenant (written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God) knowing that we are not sufficient to think any thing of ourselves.  This is how we are delivered from the many lies and false doctrines of Babylon.

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

1Co 4:6   that ye might learn in us not to think above that which is written

2Co 12:5  Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
2Co 12:6  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ [the son], which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God [the Spirit of God the Father].
Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

Following the Lamb wherever he goes means our hope is firmly placed in His words, not our own:

2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away [The Mosaic Law] was glorious, much more that which remaineth [The mind of Christ] is glorious.
2Co 3:12  Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ

We use great plainness of speech when we speak the words of Christ. Amen