"A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind....The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:2 & 10, NASB)
Basically, "A fool does not delight in," listening. Have you ever noticed in "fellowship" how some people cannot wait until you are finished to, "reveal[] his own mind." Or, when you are telling something about yourself, your family, your "ministry," they are tapping their fingers, really not interested, just being "polite" until it's time for, "revealing his own mind." There was a Pentecostal lady I knew back in the 60s who once said, "I listen to everything every child of God has to say." Great attitude; may we all be such. To obtain, "understanding," in any sphere on any subject, one must listen.
And then what commentary would be worth its salt if it did not consider verse 10? "The Name of the Lord...." Jesus is the Name of the Lord. Again, there is not an Old Testament, "name of the Lord," and a New Testament, "name of the Lord." The truth of Scripture is, "....yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, through whom are all things, and through whom we live." We should read the text, "The Name of the Lord Jesus is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it (Him) and is safe, literally, "set on high." We run into Jesus, not to. This is not as, "I ran into so and so and so the other day." It is literally, "into," as in, "in Christ," and He in me. I repeat over and over, I know, but the great reality of life in the Godhead is, "into," not "to." Jesus, "Christ in you (the Church), [is] the hope of Glory." We ran, "into," Father, Son Jesus and Holy Spirit when we received Him as our Lord and Savior. We ran, "into," the Living Triune God when we were baptized in the Holy Spirit. And every time I read the "God-Breathed" Words, I run into the Word of God Himself, Jesus the Christ.
One better: You and I live, "into," Jesus today. He is not outside the office, and I have to run "out" to Him. "What a fellowship, what a joy Divine, leaning on the Everlasting Arms," yes. But even greater, living in "the Everlasting Arms."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my exceeding, "Strong Tower." Amen.
Basically, "A fool does not delight in," listening. Have you ever noticed in "fellowship" how some people cannot wait until you are finished to, "reveal[] his own mind." Or, when you are telling something about yourself, your family, your "ministry," they are tapping their fingers, really not interested, just being "polite" until it's time for, "revealing his own mind." There was a Pentecostal lady I knew back in the 60s who once said, "I listen to everything every child of God has to say." Great attitude; may we all be such. To obtain, "understanding," in any sphere on any subject, one must listen.
And then what commentary would be worth its salt if it did not consider verse 10? "The Name of the Lord...." Jesus is the Name of the Lord. Again, there is not an Old Testament, "name of the Lord," and a New Testament, "name of the Lord." The truth of Scripture is, "....yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, through whom are all things, and through whom we live." We should read the text, "The Name of the Lord Jesus is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it (Him) and is safe, literally, "set on high." We run into Jesus, not to. This is not as, "I ran into so and so and so the other day." It is literally, "into," as in, "in Christ," and He in me. I repeat over and over, I know, but the great reality of life in the Godhead is, "into," not "to." Jesus, "Christ in you (the Church), [is] the hope of Glory." We ran, "into," Father, Son Jesus and Holy Spirit when we received Him as our Lord and Savior. We ran, "into," the Living Triune God when we were baptized in the Holy Spirit. And every time I read the "God-Breathed" Words, I run into the Word of God Himself, Jesus the Christ.
One better: You and I live, "into," Jesus today. He is not outside the office, and I have to run "out" to Him. "What a fellowship, what a joy Divine, leaning on the Everlasting Arms," yes. But even greater, living in "the Everlasting Arms."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my exceeding, "Strong Tower." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
