What a Drag

(Pro 7:21 KJV)  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

There are many forces trying to drag us down.  When Jesus asked the demon possessing a man what his name was, the reply was, “Legion”.  That means thousands.  If there could be that many demons in one man then imagine how many there are all around us.  They can be obvious or totally hidden.  They can be up front or disguised.  They are there.

The good news is that God provides a way out of all attacks.  Take guardian angels.  I don’t know if they outnumber the demons or just have so much power that the evil is neutralized.  The point is that the protection is there.  It is expressed many ways.  John said,

(1Jn 4:4 KJV)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

In the Old Testament we get a great picture.

(2Ki 6:17 KJV)  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

So?  Trust and obey.  Stand strong and overcome the attacks of life.

No Foul, No Harm

(Pro 12:21 KJV)  There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

To understand this verse we need to take a look at the word “evil" (harm NASB) (205).  The most common translation of this in both the NASB and KJV is “iniquity.”  That should give a better insight into what is going on.  This might well be a promise that those who are walking in righteousness do not need to fear the destructive power of sin.  Think of this promise:

(1 John 4:4 KJV)  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

When we walk upright lives the power of God shields us from overwhelming evil, empowers us to resist and overcome and helps us shed sin like water off a duck.  Does it mean that we will never have a flat tire?  No.  It means that God will pick the timing and give us the equipment to change it.  My favorite equipment is the AAA guy.

So?  We do not need to live in fear but notice the qualifier:  Being righteous.  That is the work of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace with a willing heart.  It kind of reverses the sports mantra to “No foul, no harm.”

In Box, Out Box

(Proverbs 20:28 KJV) Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

In this verse the KJV is much more accurate than the NASB.  “Mercy” (loyalty, righteousness NASB) (2617a) is used twice in the KJV.  This is because it is the same word in Hebrew.  For some stylistic reason the NASB uses two different words.

This word in Hebrew is chesed.  To me it is the OT equivalent of the Greek agape.  I think the best translation is “lovingkindness.”  It is at the heart of how God deals with us but notice that it is not clear who is extending this quality.  Is this a case of God extending mercy to preserve or the king being preserved because he is merciful?

I think this is another case of both/and not either/or.  It starts with God.  He is the source.  He is the example.  He is the demander. 

(1 John 4:19 KJV)  We love him, because he first loved us.

He supplies, we apply.  He gives, we pass on.

So?  Be a channel that God can use.  Pass it on.