Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
We have met with this idle fellow (vs.13) before (6:9-11). Early to bed, early to rise has been the maxim of many who attribute their success to the habit of early rising. “Early risers gain the dew of the day.” There is a warning in both proverbs, but we concentrate now on vs.14 because of its wide application today. Vs.14 applies, however, to both buyer and seller. One is bent on buying low, the other on selling high. The one vilifies unjustly; the other flatters untruly!
The inimitable John Bunyan wrote, “This famous town of Man-Soul had five gates in at which to come, out at which to go. The names of the gates were these: -Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate.” Of these, the Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye are the chief gateways for the human soul to receive knowledge from heaven or earth. They are two ways by which knowledge enters the mind, two ways of deciding truth and both are needed. One may say one thing and the other something else, but when they agree one has the evidence needed to determine the truth. Consider then:
Verses 20:10, 23 deal with crooked business practices that are an abomination to the Lord. Vs.11, however, indicates that God also has a special interest in children. Apart from Scripture, it is a lost truth that a child is known by his doings. As with Greek, Hebrew word order is important. Immediately after Even comes by his actions. This phrase is the focal point of the whole sentence!. Also the verb is reflexive and thus we have, Even by his actions he makes himself known, if his work be pure or right.
The question is: Who can say? Not Who does say? or Who will say? or Who dare say (Pr. 30:12)? It is an unqualified, direct assertion that no one is free from guilt. “The depravity of the human race is not here expressly asserted, but it is taken for granted, as an incontestable truth” (Lawson).
Marston wrote, “He’s a king, a true, right king, that dare do aught save wrong.” He is a type of The King that shall yet reign is righteousness.
There’s an old saying, “Promises may get friends, but only performances can keep them.” Promises should be given with caution, and kept with care.
Cowper makes the interesting distinction that knowledge is gained from the thoughts of other men, but wisdom is based on one’s own thoughts! Two interpretations are suggested for this Proverb. Counsel, is deep water, but understanding will draw it out. One view is that it refers to an inner source of wisdom in man that can be drawn out by another who has understanding. The second view is that it refers to a wise counsellor who is able to reveal the deepest intentions, good or evil, in human nature.
Here is a parable as well as a proverb. Solomon frequently reminds us of the sluggard and his tragic end. This is the evil of sacrificing duty for convenience. We are made for eternity, and all are inescapably moving to our destiny. The plowing of today is followed by the harvest of tomorrow. If we fail in the plowing, we will fail in the reaping.
Today, we consider how to deal with anger and fruitless arguments. It is a familiar theme, but its repetition is valid as well as vital. Ardent spirits are apt to be evil spirits. When you know where they are found, keep clear of their groundi