A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
In the previous post, we discussed the LORD’s words, from Matthew 9, first quoting Hosea 6:6 speaking of His not wanting any material offering, instead desiring our minds to be filled with the understanding He freely gives, which we saw is His mercy. We saw Jonah’s words from Jonah 2, when he is in the belly of hell and looks to the LORD, who then brings him out by showing him this same mercy, and Jonah responds, “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.”
The time in belly of the fish, which we know is the hell created by winds of false doctrine (corrupt ideas) that come after the LORD has sown His good word in the earth. In Matthew 9:8 & 9 we saw the LORD describing the sowing as when His children are joined with Him and are enjoying the provision of His presence. He then speaks of the time when His presence is not known, when His disciples will (or should) fast; elsewhere, in Matthew 12:40, saying it is when He will be in the belly of the earth, as Jonah was in the belly of the fish.
The title is Proverbs 27:12 and speaks of this same time, when the LORD has hidden Himself, His knowledge and truth personified, and the wicked who have corrupted it pass on and blindly continue into punishment, not seeing (understanding) His presence because of self-inflicted ignorance and their pride in it.
The word in the title rendered “hides” is the Hebrew word cathar, the same word used before and after the title passage to tell us of the revelation, the uncovering, that reveals what has been hidden in minds blinded by the gods of this world.
2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced [the things that hide the LORD’s presence from men] the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light [understanding] of the glorious gospel of Christ [the LORD in us], who is the image [the apparent presence] of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the LORD; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the LORD Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. [see 1 Corinthians 15:54 – when the mortal puts on immortality.]
We are told in Proverbs 25:2 it is the glory of the LORD, to conceal (cathar – hide) a matter, so that the one He has anointed as king can search it, in order and lawfully, as his coronation (crowning). This is what Paul instructs Timothy (me) to do, in 2 Timothy 2, and says in 1 Corinthians 11:19, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved [by the LORD God] may be made manifest among you.”
Proverbs 25
2 It is the glory of God to conceal [cathar] a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart [the mind] of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver [separate the corruption from what is of value], and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness [as God’s truth is raised to reign].
2 Timothy 2
3 You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him [the LORD God] who has chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the LORD give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the LORD that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers [as have the words of the false prophets and false teachers among us].
15 Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness [as it has in those, all, who have not shunned them].
The Hebrew word translated “unsearchable,” in Proverbs 25:3 above, is the twelve times used word cheqer, which speaks of the knowledge of God that can only be given by His uncovering.
The first “unsearchable” thoughts are found it the first appearance of the word cheqer, in Judges 5:16, where it tells us to “behold the son.” It comes in the song sung by Deborah [the orderly arrangement of Jehovah] and Barak [as a flash of enlightening/understanding], as they are called to awaken to this purpose, and lead captivity captive. We know this last aspect is spoken of by Paul in Ephesians 4:8 as he tells of when the LORD (as now) ascends on high.
Ephesians 4
8 Wherefore he says, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Judges 5
12 Awake, awake, Deborah [ideas ordered by Jehovah from the foundation of the earth]: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak [understand as a flash of lightning], and lead your captivity captive, you son of Abinoam [who is his Father’s delight].
13 Then he made him that remains [those who have not departed from their God] have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.
14 Out of Ephraim [this latter generation] was there a root of them against Amalek [those that agitated all the world, by the winds of false doctrine]; after you, Benjamin [sons in power, God’s right hand], among your people; out of Machir [who sold God’s people into captivity] came down governors, and out of Zebulun [those who exalted themselves above God’s truth] they that handle the pen of the writer.
15 And the princes of Issachar [who were the LORD’s response] were with Deborah [found in the ordered understanding of Jehovah]; even Issachar [even His reward], and also Barak [His understanding as light]: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions [for the rightly diving of the word of God] of Reuben [which says, “Behold the son, My first born from the dead”] there were great thoughts of heart.
16 Why abode you among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleating [the piercing scorn] of the flocks? For the divisions [rightly understanding God’s word] of Reuben [beholding the son] there were great searchings [cheqer] of heart [of the foundations of the mind].
17 Gilead [this mountain of testimony] abode beyond Jordan [on the other side of the descent into death, and was the life of man]: and why did Dan [judgment] remain in ships [closed in vessels above the waters]? Asher continues [happiness was ambushed] on the sea shore [among the people without the word of God], and abode in his breaches [held at the river’s mouth – where the word flowed to the sea, from the mouth of God].
18 Zebulun [those who exalted themselves] and Naphtali [who ignorantly wrestled with the word of God to their own destruction] were a people that jeopardized their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan [who were humiliated] in Taanach [in their own deceptions and misuse of God’s word] by the waters of Megiddo [the place of the rendezvous – this set time of God, only known by Him]; they took no gain of money. [Isaiah 45:13, “he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, says the LORD of hosts {the armies of heaven}.”]
20 They fought from heaven; the stars [the son of God] in their courses fought against Sisera [those who arrayed themselves against them in battle].
21 The river of Kishon [word of God set as a snare] swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon [that which should have been for their welfare, and now become a trap]. O my soul, you have trodden down strength.
The word cheqer next appears seven times in Job, all of which are in witnessing to the points made above, and telling of How God raises the lowly, as only He can, when He decides, by His unsearchable things.
Job 5
8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9 Which does great things and unsearchable [cheqer]; marvelous things without number:
10 Who gives rain upon the earth, and sends waters upon the fields [see Judges 5:18 above]:
11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
12 He disappoints the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward [those who twist truth – twist the word of God] is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness [ignorance and confusion] in the day time, and [blindly] grope in the noonday as in the night.
15 But he saves the poor from the sword, from their [the deceiver’s] mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor have hope, and iniquity stops her mouth.
17 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not you the chastening of the Almighty:
18 For he makes sore, and binds up: he wounds, and his hands make whole.
19 He shall deliver you in six troubles [tribulations]: yea, in seven [the last] there shall no evil touch you.
20 In famine [for hearing the true word of God] he shall redeem you from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
The last use of cheqer in Job comes in Job 38:16 as the LORD is asking Job where he was when He created this order, when the sons of God saw it and rose as the stars of heaven, when He set this time as the boundary beyond which man’s ignorance would not pass.
Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkened [gave ignorant] counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness [ignorance and confusion] a swaddling-band [a protective cover] for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hereto shall you come, but no further: and here shall your proud waves [swelling pride in your own ignorance] be stayed?
12 Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light [understanding] is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search [cheqer] of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.
19 Where is the way where light [understanding] dwells? and as for darkness [ignorance, of which you are also ignorant], where is the place thereof,
20 That you should take it to the bound [boundary] thereof, and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Know you it, because you were then born? or because the number of your days is great?
22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail [the word of God, frozen in heaven],
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted [understanding divided], which scatters the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder [understanding and its voice];
26 To cause it to rain on the earth [to cause the word of God to be heard on the earth], where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Can you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons? [can you bring forth God’s children as lights in heaven – Daniel 12: 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.]
33 Knows you the ordinances [the arranged order] of heaven? can you set the dominion thereof in [and make them rule over] the earth?
34 Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send lightnings [understanding, that says, “behold the son”], that they may go and say unto you, Here we are?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles [stop the word of God being poured out] of heaven,
38 When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? [when the TRUE word of God is not heard or found anywhere]
39 Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provides for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of [this] meat.
The word cheqer next appears in Psalms 145:3, there telling of the “unsearchable” greatness of the LORD, and the praise deserved for His mercy, which is shown in His marvels.
Psalms 145
1 I will extol you, my God, O king; and I will bless your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day will I bless you; and I will praise your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable [cheqer].
4 One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 I will speak of the glorious honor of your majesty, and of your wondrous works.
6 And men shall speak of the might of your terrible acts: and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10 All your works shall praise you, O LORD; and your saints shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk of your power;
12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The LORD upholds all that fall, and raises up all those that be bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon you; and you give them their [this] meat in due season.
16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserves all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Cheqer then appears in Proverbs 25:3 above, followed by a second appearance in verse 27 of the same chapter. It comes in a passage again telling of the LORD’s mercy, the word describing the good He is doing, even to those who have sought their own exaltation and searched for it, instead of waiting for the LORD to appear, in His time, giving understanding.
Proverbs 25
21 If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward you.
23 The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman [church] and in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search [cheqer] their own glory is not glory.
28 He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Before going on to the twelfth appearance of cheqer in Isaiah 40:28, back to the word cathar in the title verse, and the revelation found in its next and last appearance in Proverbs; Proverbs 28:28.
Proverbs 28
1 The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
3 A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.
4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walks in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoso keeps the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shames his father.
8 He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
10 Whoso cause the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that has understanding searches him out.
12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.
14 Happy is the man that fears always: but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
16 The prince that wants understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.
17 A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoso walks uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19 He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
22 He that hastes to be rich has an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him.
23 He that rebukes a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoso robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife: but he that puts his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
26 He that trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He that gives unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide [cathar] themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Isaiah 40
9 O Zion, that brings good tidings, get you up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that brings good tidings, lift up your voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10 Behold, the LORD God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor has taught him?
14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
18 To whom then will you liken God? or what likeness will you compare unto him?
19 The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he has no oblation chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
21 Have you not known? have you not heard? has it not been told you from the beginning? have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he that sits upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in:
23 That brings the princes to nothing; he makes the judges of the earth as vanity.
24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
25 To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, that brings out their host by number: he calls them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one fails.
27 Why say you, O Jacob, and speaks, O Israel, My way is hid [cathar – Don’t you know, nothing is hidden from Him?] from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
28 Have you not known? have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching [cheqer] of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalms 146
1 Praise you the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keeps truth for ever:
7 Which executes judgment for the oppressed: which gives food to the hungry. The LORD looses the prisoners:
8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind: the LORD raises them that are bowed down: the LORD loves the righteous:
9 The LORD preserves the strangers; he relieves the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even your God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise you the LORD [Hallelujah].
