Safety is of the Lord...the Wayfarer 11/2/16

Safety is of the Lord
 11/2/16

Proverbs 21:31 KJV

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

Safety… a comforting word that brings with it pictures of a place that is unassailable by any outside force, impenetrable by any trouble that may exist outside the walls of a fortress whose defense is so formidable that none may come against it with expectation of success.

With safety comes peace, cessation of strife, cessation of concern for need, that need being supplied within the walls of that fortress.

With safety comes trust, trust that that safety is absolute, inviolable, and recognition as well that there remains outside those walls of safety those who would destroy those walls, if possible, to attain what is enclosed within them.

The verse used in opening begins with, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle”.

That preparation is made to defend the safety of those securely ensconced behind those walls of safety, a measure deemed necessary by a fallible creature called man who has yet to recognize and accept the second half of the verse at the end of this voluminously rich chapter taken from proverbs proven true over the millennia.

This particular chapter flows with reference to that fallibility from beginning to end, each verse leading to the next as the things that assail that very safety promised at its end  are addressed.

 Proverbs 21:1-2 King James Version (KJV)

21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

The first two verses of this proverb are reminder that no matter the intent of the rulers, chosen or forced upon men by strength of MEN, the lives of those rulers, and the events they inspire remain in God’s hands for the purpose of accomplishing GOD’s intention rather than their own… and that God is the One to determine what is right and correct within humanity no matter the opinion of man who may be able to deceive men, yet remain unable to deceive God or thwart His purpose.

Proverbs 21:3-8

³ To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴ An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

⁵ The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

⁶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

⁷ The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

⁸ The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

Judgment and justice will always be administered by God alone, that judgment and justice accomplished through, not by, men.

The pride of those who attain power over others of their kind leads to corruption, that corruption to their eventual downfall, as they continue on in their pursual of want rather than need, the want in question always being their own as the need of those around them is magnified by the greed exhibited by them, until their own robbery exposes and destroys them.

The 8^th verse again reminds us that man’s way is froward, and strange, outside the intent of the Creator, and the work done by HIM through men is pure, and right, work that leads to the intended safety provided rather than away from it.

Proverbs 21:9-13

⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

¹¹ When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

¹² The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

¹³ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Wisdom, and peace are much to be desired, it is both wisdom and peace that lead to safety.

Consideration must be given to the desires of others, those desires cannot remain hidden, whether for good or for evil intent.

Each exposure to the truth of that intent is a means of attaining yet more wisdom, yet more knowledge to be used in the consideration of what is truly just and right as determined by GOD, whose justice WILL be imparted on one and all.

God hears the cries of the afflicted and impoverished, sees the cause of that impoverishment and makes the decisions required for its correction… men hear those same cries and either choose willingly to make correction on their own, with His assistance, or to ignore the needs in pursuit of their wants, eventually to face a greater need themselves that may only be supplied by the Father who rewards in accordance with judgment and justice, the same judgment and justice required of those refusing to  recognize their own poverty.

Proverbs 21:14-28

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

¹⁵ It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

¹⁷ He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

¹⁹ It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

²⁰ There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

²¹ He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

²² A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

²³ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

²⁴ Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

²⁵ The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

²⁶ He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

²⁸ A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

These verses show the weaknesses that develop, only if allowed within the walls of the fortresses sought out in the leadership and knowledge of men, fortresses doomed to destruction from within by bringing the dangers from without that allow for no safety, no preparedness for battles to be fought outside walls that already fiercely rage with the battles contained within them, often unnoticed until the walls themselves have fallen.

The 28^th verse is reminder that truth will always come to the fore, and with that truth comes the destruction of those who have so long suppressed it, hiding motives from all remaining naïve enough to accept the lies substituted for the truth.

Proverbs 21:29-31

²⁹ A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

³⁰ There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

These verses remind us of the tenacity of those who cling to their lies rather than the truth demanded by both the Father and the Son, continually and continuously refusing to right their direction by the simple means of repentance, admitting the righteousness of God and their own unrighteousness.

They also remind us that the ability to make that righting of course is available and will be chosen by the upright in God’s sight, and that there is NO wisdom, understanding, nor counsel that may be taken against the LORD that can ever prevail against his intent for us!

Yes, the horse is prepared against the day of battle, a battle that is preordained, a battle not to be feared by those who rely on the safety provided by GOD… that safety given us through Christ Jesus alone, Victor of the battle over death and hell themselves. Though our battle remains to be fought, that victory is assured, our safety is an inviolable safety that no man may provide, and no man can take from us.

John 14King James Version (KJV)

14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Safety, and all the connotation of that word, so desired, are of God, and is delivered through Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer