The Strand Study Bible

PROVERBS

956

PROVERBS

& 20:22 & 24:17-18,29). You will never learn to love right until you can learn to love the unlovely, which includes the poor (Prov 17:5). 4. give right … live longer peaceful lives than those who do not (Prov 3:9-10). Sound like a better life? Giving right means:

*working to give (Prov 21:25-26 and Eph 4:28) *giving the tithe and offerings (Mal 3:8-11) *giving to give, not giving to get (Lk 6:35 and I Tim 6:5-10) *avoiding unwise generosity (Prov 6:1-3 & 11:15 & 17:18 & 22:26-27)

4th benefit of wisdom – Favor with God and man (Prov 3:3-4 and Lk 2:52)

Like a graceful ornament (bind them about thy neck), we are to wear the Word of God (mercy and truth) proudly, openly, and unashamedly. Those who “choose” to wear the commandments of God upon their hearts gain the favor of both God and man (vs 4). Why? Because the commandments of God deal with how to treat God (moral, ceremonial, personal, and separational laws) and how to treat man (civil laws), but not how to treat self ( Mt 22: 34- 39 ); and people who reap the benefit of our obedience are grateful indeed for that obedience. NOTE – All five parts of the OT Law deal with how we love God (moral, ceremonial, personal, and separational laws) and how we love our neighbor (civil laws), not how we love ourselves ( Gen 3: 6- 8 ). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Christianity isn’t about us; it’s about everybody around us According toDr. Harold L.Willmington inWillmington’s Guide to the Bible, there are 613 commandments found in the Old Testament,1 which, if obeyed, bless either God or man. No wonder obeying the moral and civil laws of God gain the favor of both God and man. For example: 1. People appreciate their lost property being returned to them (Exo 23:4 and Deut 22:1-3). 2. God’s ministers appreciate those who obey God’s Word and tithe (Num 18:6,20-21 and I Cor 9:1-14). 3. God appreciates your thanks and praise of Him after the meal ( Deut 8:10 ). God appreciates people who give Him thanks before the meal (I Thess 5:18) and praise (bless) Him after the meal. Learning to thank and praise God for everything does not lead to a peaceful life, but to a life of peace (Phil 4:6-7). 4. God appreciates people who emphasize the sacrifice of CHRIST ( Num 8:12 & 28 Subject Head ). The type and number of sacrifices that had be offered each day of the year by the priests for the nation of Israel as a whole are presented here in Numbers 28 and 29. This list is the minimum of sacrifices that could be offered in a year; sacrifices initiated by laymen due to vows, freewill offerings, sin, or any other reason were additional (Num 29:39). The sacrifices were arranged according to their frequency: *daily offerings (28:2-8) – 365 days x 2 (morning and evening sacrifices) = 730 sacrifices a yr -additional offerings (musaf ) were to be offered during Passover week (Lev 23:36) – 8 sacrifices a year -additional offerings were to be offered during Shavuot (First Fruits – Num 28:26-27) – 10 sacrifices a year -additional offerings were to be offered during Rosh HaShanah (c. Oct 1st – Num 29:1-2) – 9 sacrifices a year -additional offerings were to be offered on the Day of Atonement (c. Oct 10th – Num 29:7-8) – 9 sacrifices a year -additional offerings were also to be offered on the Day of Atonement (avodah – Lev 16) – 4 sacrifices a year -additional offerings were to be offered during the festival of Sukkot (c. Oct 15th – Num 29:12-13) – 30 sacrifices the first day; 29 the second; 28 the third; 27 the fourth; 26 the fifth; 25 the sixth; 24 the seventh = 189 sacrifices a year -additional offerings were also to be offered on the eighth day (c. Oct 22nd – Num 29:36) – 9 sacrifices a year (For a total of 1,222 sacrifices a year) NOTE – Of the 613 laws found in the Old Testament, over 50 of them deal with sacrificing. This word ( direct ) means “ to straighten .” Give God the last say in your life ( In all thy ways acknowledge him ) and He will “straighten” your path. The fastest way to get where you need to be is to travel in a straight line. One of the great benefits of wisdom is direction. Direction enables you to get where you need to be quicker than you would have gotten there. Verse six could read: “ Give God the last say in your life and He Himself will straighten your paths, removing all obstacles out of the way.” Less obstruction means you can get to where you need to be much faster. How many of you aren’t where you need to be spiritually? Want to get there faster? Then get wisdom from the only One who is wise ( Rom 16:27 , I Cor 1:24, Colo 2:2-3, I Tim 1:17, Jude 25 and Isa 11:2 ); for one of the great benefits of wisdom is direction (the straightening of your paths). Those that put themselves under a divine guidance *weekly (Sabbath) offerings (28:9-10) – 52 weeks x 2 = 104 sacrifices a yr *monthly offerings (28:11-15) – 12 months x 10 = 120 sacrifices a year *annual offerings (28:16–29:38):

5th benefit of wisdom – Direction (Prov 3:5-6)