It was certain to happen after years of going back and forth between words in the Strong's Concordance and Hebrew Lexicon. I am studying Hebrew. And, boom, I have LIFE now because I understand this one verse from the wisdom Scriptures that YHVH gave me to meditate on in 2010.
Proverbs 18:20 (KJV) A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
From studying Learn Biblical Hebrew, I learned that navi was the word for prophet, and it made me think that James Cameron, creator of the movie Avatar must be Jewish, but he claims no religion...sure...
My understanding is fruitful of this verse now because of the website Jew FAQ the page about the word navi shared this bit of information about a root word:
"The Hebrew word for a prophet, navi
(Nun-Beit-Yod-Alef) comes from the term niv
sefatayim meaning "fruit of the lips," which emphasizes the prophet's role as a
speaker."
Fruit of the lips? Where had I seen that phrase before? My mind went to Proverbs 18:20, which as not exact, but I see it again in other verses, and I am certain the intent was the same in Proverbs 18:20.
Proverbs 13:2 (NIV) From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
Proverbs 12:14 (NIV) From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.
Read the other translations of those verses; it's good food for the soul. I meditate on faithfulness because of Proverbs 13:2. Recently, I was listening to the audio series Spirit Driven Success by Dani Johnson again and she spoke of being unfaithful to one's business. The curse more is not being faithful to one's vision.
For: "Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint; but he who keeps Torah is happy." (Complete Jewish Bible, Proverbs 29:18)
Again: "Where there is no chazon (prophetic vision), the people cast off restaint [i.e., perish ungovernable], but he that is shomer over the torah, happy is he. (Orthodox Jewish Bible, Proverbs 29:18)
And, finally: "When
prophecy faileth, the people shall be destroyed; but he that keepeth
the law, is blessed (but he who obeyeth the Law, is blessed)." (Wycliffe Bible, Proverbs 29:18)
May the Word of the LORD sustain us. Made meditating on His Word be our delight that we may have abundant life.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Proverbs 18:20 - The Navi
Thursday, January 15, 2015
God and Mammon
So, God reveals that there is only the god of Mammon and the One True God. The God of Mammon is revealed in many deities we’ve invented as a means to satisfy our good pleasure. The God of the Universe, the Creator, Yahweh, is revealed in all things, especially our hearts. He is the essential producer. His ways endure forever. Money is an illusion and fleeting (Proverbs 23:5).
MAMMON
I remember being told by Rabbi Randi Lechner that serving mammon was choosing the same thing that Esau did when he traded his birthright for some soup. While the connection is not readily seen, it is tied to all forms of idolatry. Instead of serving God by keeping his commands about how to treat the land and what to eat and other things, we choose our own ways and perhaps end up infertile and sick. Then, we turn to pagan worship of trees of gods we make up to "bless us with fertility."
Mammon has been translated as money, but Rabbi Lechner called it "the god of our bellies."
THE TRUE GOD
I have to write about this subject because the Spirit has opened my eyes about this. Yahweh, the One True God, is High King of Heaven. We pray, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven, and we pretend that we are stewards in His Kingdom.
While sitting under the teachings of a rabbi during Rosh Hashanah a few months back, I learned that Rosh Hashanah, the biblical new yea,r had a special significance that I did not know of before. It is one of the Feasts of God to which the males were to bring special offerings. The rabbi shared that it is a type of coronation ceremony in which we as believers are to bring our offerings and let Him know that we choose Him for another year as our King.
It was through this teaching that I saw the correlation to tithing. As "loyal subjects" or stewards in the Kingdom of God, tithing is much like paying tribute to our Ruler. Now, for those that would rather not, and have certain claims such as sons and daughters of the King don't pay tribute, help yourself. All I know is, when I was ascribing to this teaching of "just give from your heart." My financial life was a mess.
But, now, that I have been obedient in love for my King by tithing and giving special offerings, He gives me wisdom on how to earn more; He blesses my businesses with increase, and, I prosper as I give. In short, if we follow the instructions He left for us, I mean just short of slaughtering animals and stoning people to death, we have complete and blessed lives. And, because we have demonstrated that we are truly trusting in Him as King, He puts a hedge of protection around everything we have and rebukes the devourer (of finances, friendships, sanity, health...).
Praise God.
