14 June 2019

A Few Thoughts on Proverbs 21:21

Proverbs 21:21 NKJV He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

Pursues (follows)
B1 The word pursue (follows) is רָדַף râdaph (Strong’s H7291). It means “to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by).”
B2 We need
C1 Desire
C2 Motivation
C3 Ability
C4 Strength
C5 Dedication
B3 God’s grace awakens the desire and need. God’s grace will give the ability and strength, and we have been delegated the motivation and dedication.

Righteousness
B1 Is doing God’s will in thoughts, desires, words and deeds.
B2 The Lord Jesus is our example: Hebrews 1:8-9 NIV But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

Mercy
B1 The foundation and motivation for mercy is love.
B2 Showing mercy does not mean forgive and forget.
B3 Mercy is a kindness.
B4 Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)
C1 Mercy because of love.
C2 Even though we deserved death, He gave us life when He raised Jesus from death. This is for us who believed and put our trust into Jesus.
C3 Without God’s grace to initiate salvation, we would have no salvation.

Find
B1 Something that was lost, hidden, not available.
B2 It implies our effort.
B3 God’s grace is necessarily.

Life
B1 We can best understand what life means when we consider what dead is.
B2 Starting human life is important, but the most important choice is eternal life or eternal death.
B3 We find eternal life after being awakened by God’s Spirit and place our trust in Jesus.
B4 The contrast shown; a choice to be made:
C1 Matthew 7:13-14 GNB Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. 14 But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.
C2 The choice between luke and fate (Gad and Meni) or Yahweh. Of the Jews, God said: Isaiah 65:11-12 GNB But it will be different for you that forsake me, who ignore Zion, my sacred hill, and worship Gad and Meni, the gods of luck and fate. 12 It will be your fate to die a violent death, because you did not answer when I called you or listen when I spoke. You chose to disobey me and do evil.

Righteousness as already mentioned

Honor
B1 To a lesser extent, it refers to honor and blessings in this life. To Israel God gave the blessings and curses (Deuteronomy 30:19), which are mainly to the things in this life.
B2 To a much greater extent, it refers to the honors and blessings we receive after death (if we are believers). 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

If God is our shepherd, then Psalm 23:1, 6 NIV The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ... Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

So let us pursue God and His ways.

John 14:15 NLT If you love me, obey my commandments.

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