4 – 5 January 2024
For as the earth brings forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
In the above, Isaiah 61:11, what is “sown” and brings forth the bud is the “seed,” God’s enlightened people, spoken of earlier in verse 9. Their springing forth is heard in their (one coherent) voice of “praise,” in which the LORD’s righteousness is heard in and through them.
The word rendered “praise” is the fifty-seven times used word thillah, always rendered the same, meaning “from 1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn.” The word (1984) it’s derived from is halal (as in hallelujah, meaning praise Jah: Yahh, as in Jehovah or Jehovih), meaning (with my, the LORD’s in and through me, additions in brackets) “to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color [light rightly divided into the rainbow]); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast [of His presence]; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish [for Christ’s sake, manifesting Jah’s presence in our flesh, which is foolishness to the ignorant]; to rave [be zealous in His righteousness]; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify [the ignorant hearing it].”
These meanings are seen in the LORD’s example when He first speaks it to the ignorant gathered in the LORD’s name: God’s people who are unknowingly held thereby (in ignorance).
The passage below comes just after the LORD has overcome the world, the devil’s tempting Him to deny the Father’s presence in Him. As we know, the devil’s tempting Him ends with His quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, which refers to the events of Exodus 17:2 – 7, when water flowed from the Rock (the word of God in and through Christ).
Luke 4
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said [repeating what is heard from the mouth of the LORD, and written in Deuteronomy 6:16], You shall not tempt the LORD your God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation [trying to make His doubt the LORD was present in Him, evident by His word heard from Him], he departed from him for a season.
14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him [the rumor the LORD was alive in Him] through all the region round about.
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened [as in Isaiah 22:22 from the previous post, saying “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open”] the book, he found [as I did this day to Isaiah 61:11] the place [Isaiah 61:1 & 2] where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor [those without worldly power]; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted [whose minds have been broken, blinded, by the gods of this world], to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to [by this truth] set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the LORD.” [This verse is only the first half of Isaiah 61:2, which represent the abeyance, the time between then and now, when the book was then closed and is now opened again in these last days of darkness {‘achariyth}.]
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Deuteronomy 6
1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land [‘erets – the earth] whither you go to possess it:
2 That you might fear the LORD your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, you, and your son, and your son’s son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged.
3 Hear [sham’ – obey] therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey [this teaching by which men learn to choose good and refuse evil].
4 Hear [shama’ – obey], O Israel [My people who, by faith, not doubting, receive this promise]: The LORD our God is one LORD [Jesus the same, yesterday, today, and foever: Jehovah’s Salvation manifested in the flesh of His anointed: the perpetual son first, the head to bring forth His ONE BODY in which He, as One, dwells]:
5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
6 And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart:
7 And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lay down, and when you rise up.
8 And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets [in the forefront of you minds] between your eyes [by which your sight comes].
9 And you shall write them upon the posts of your house, and on your gates [repeating these same words everywhere to everyone].
10 And it shall be, when the LORD your God shall have brought you into the land [‘erets – this earth and this time] which he swore unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you great and goodly cities, which you built not [but are product of your forefather obeying My commandments],
11 And houses full of all good things, which you filled not, and wells digged, which you digged not, vineyards and olive trees, which you planted not; when you shall have eaten and be full;
12 Then beware lest you forget the LORD [Jehovah], which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
13 You shall fear the LORD your God, and serve him [obeying His commandments], and shall swear by his name.
14 You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you [whose ways and ideas are the way into death and hell];
15 (For the LORD your God is a jealous God [always] among you [only hidden in the ignorance produced by following the gods of this world onto blindness, a in 2 Corinthians 4:3 & 4, saying “But if our gospel {this good news of God always with us} be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not {doubting and deny His presence}, lest the light {understanding} of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”]) lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and destroy you from off the face of the earth.
16 You shall not tempt the LORD your God, as you tempted him in Massah [the “temptation” of Exodus 17:2 – 7].
17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies [this word from His mouth, written to be given as received, as hymns of praise in which His righteousness is revealed], and his statutes, which he has commanded you.
18 And you shall do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD [seeing as He sees, not a man sees with darkened, blinded, eyes]: that it may be well with you, and that you mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore unto your fathers.
19 To cast out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has spoken.
20 And when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God has commanded you?
21 Then you shall say unto your son [all My children], We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
22 And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land [‘erets – this earth] which he swore unto our fathers.
24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
25 And it shall be our righteousness [heard in our praise], if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.
2 Corinthians 4
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 [understanding] to shine out of darkness [this time of ignorance], has shined in our hearts [enlightening our minds], to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face [presence] of Jesus Christ [Jehovah’s Salvation manifested in the flesh].
7 But we have this treasure [this understanding] in earthen vessels [our flesh], that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet [by our faith in His presence] not distressed; we are perplexed, but [by faith in His presence] not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but [by faith in His presence] not forsaken; cast down, but [by faith in His presence] 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 [present] in our [flesh] body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death [the necessary cross that comes with delivering His word and declaring His presence with us, in us] for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest [present] in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but [His] life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith [that He is present], according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken [in His name taken up His cross]; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the LORD Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace [this gift of these treasures] might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [unseen immortal] man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [in this resurrection];
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal [temporary]; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
When the LORD closed the book, recorded in Luke 4 above, when He laid down His life for us, is patterned in His ending His reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2.
John 10
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He has a devil, and is mad; why hear you him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that has a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek [who inherit the earth]; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
[And he closed the book as sat down at the right hand of the Father, until His enemies are made His footstool – which comes now: the day of the LORD’s vengeance: opening of the book again, in the uncovering: the apocalypse, when He is resurrected before the eyes of an ignorant world ended in self-ruin, upon which the new is built.]
and [today is] the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort [lead into full understanding] all that mourn [realizing man is dead in hell];
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy [the realization of the LORD’s presence with us, in us] for mourning, the garment of praise [thillah – putting on the engrafted word] for the spirit of heaviness [burdened without it]; that they might be called trees of [springing forth the LORD’s] righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers [those who haven’t known Me or My ways] shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But you shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God [administering this word as received]: you shall eat the riches of the Gentiles [those who, when ignorance covered the earth, didn’t know Me], and in their glory [when they awaken] shall you boast yourselves.
7 For your shame you shall have double; and for confusion [when they were dead and in darkness] they shall rejoice in their portion [this inheritance that has come upon them because it has come to us]: therefore in their land [‘erets – the earth they destroyed by the ignorance] they shall possess the double [blessing, theirs and ours]: everlasting joy [the LORD’s presence realized in His blessing all humanity] shall be unto them.
8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed [the upright I have planted as My elect remnant] shall be known among the Gentiles [the ignorant who haven’t known Me, and until now haven’t heard My mercy in this conversation], and their offspring [the children of My correction] among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom deck himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorn herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth her bud [this new life shooting forth], and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Matthew 24
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds [as the latter rain, returning full understand to the earth] of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels [messengers with this same message, as lightning giving light, as received] with a great sound of a trumpet [the voice of the LORD, announcing His presence and calling all to gather into His ONE BODY to hear His one message], and they shall gather together his elect [for whose sake He is speaking] from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree [He is planting in the earth]; When his branch is yet tender, and put forth leaves [new life], you know that summer [the time of greater light and heat, when all things grow] is nigh:
33 So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Truly I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day [spoken of in Genesis 7:13] that Noah entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken [as by the flood], and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken [as by the flood], and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your LORD does come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up [taken away, as by the flood].
44 Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his LORD has made ruler over his household, to give them meat [the deep understand that strengthens] in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his LORD when he comes shall find so doing [giving this deep understanding, as received, as the LORD commands].
47 Truly I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My LORD delays his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken [whose minds are stultified];
50 The LORD of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of [because they are stultified],
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth [sorrowing for what they had and lost through neglect].
The LORD, above in verse 38, tells us the day of His coming is in the pattern of the day Noah entered the ark, after he long suffered his generation.
Hebrews 11
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
1 Peter 3
12 For the eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the LORD is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good [this word from the mouth of God]?
14 But and if you suffer for [speaking this] righteousness’ sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled [by the flood that will take the evil speakers away];
15 But sanctify [declare holy] the LORD God in your hearts [minds]; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason [seeing the unseen] of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in [speaking in the name of] Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing [speaking His word], than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit [in us bringing us to life]:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison [the dead here in hell];
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism [the flood now upon the world] does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer [opening your mouths] of a good conscience [a corrected mind] toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ [bringing us from death into life by His rising with us, in us]:
22 Who is gone into heaven [this state of mind, full understanding, raising Him and us out of death and hell], and is on the right hand [with the full power and authority] of God; angels [messengers in His name] and authorities [all the institutions of government in church and state] and powers being made subject [hupotasso – obedient] unto him.
Here (following) is the moment Noah entered the ark; the pattern of end reached when faith and obedience are fulfilled, condemning the old and wholly corrupt world.
Genesis 6
8 But Noah found grace [correction into righteousness] in the eyes of the LORD.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just [tsiddiyq] man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked [in accord, as commanded] with God.
22 Thus did Noah [not just hearing but also doing, making the ark over these many years, as a fool for the LORD’s sake]; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Genesis 7
1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous [tsiddiyq] before me [paniym – clothing you by My manifested presence] in this generation.
The word “ark” in Genesis is the word tebah, which is said to perhaps be of foreign derivation, meaning a box. It is a shortened form of the words tabuwn (tbuwnah or towbunah) meaning an intelligent argument, and tbuwcah, meaning “treading down, i.e. ruin.” These words describe what the LORD was building through Noah over many years, by which he (and seven others of God’s saved family) entered (the LORD’s presence) the place of sanctuary, by which they were saved from the flood that took all others away (as the LORD tells us in Matthew 24 above, now happens to many).
The only time tbuwcah appears, it tells of the “destruction” of Ahaziah, meaning those Jehovah has seized (taken away). This tbuwcah is said to “come” (from the word bow, the same used to tell of Noah and his family “entering” the ark) from God by Joram (Jehovah exalted – His word above all others in the minds of those He thereby saves).
Isaiah 8
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face [presence] from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits [the voices of the known dead, speaking the ways of death], and unto wizards [the “experts” of this corrupt world] that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? [Should they be looking] for the living to the dead?
20 [Or should they be looking] To the law and to the testimony [these treasures?]: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light [understanding] in them.
Job 35
1 Elihu [God unknown] spoke moreover, and said,
2 Think you this to be right, that you said, My righteousness is more than God’s?
3 For you said, What advantage will it be unto you? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin [your wrong ways you claim are correct while rejecting the LORD’s correction]?
4 I will answer you, and your companions with you.
5 Look unto the heavens, and see [understand]; and behold the clouds [where the LORD has reserved these treasures for Himself] which are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you against him? or if your transgressions be multiplied, what do you unto him?
7 If you be righteous, what give you him? or what receives he of your hand?
8 Your wickedness may [does] hurt a man as you are; and your righteousness [if you were corrected and receive My Righteousness] may profit the son[s] of man.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm [the work of oppression] of the mighty.
10 But none says, “Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night [this word in the time of ignorance];
11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven?”
12 There they [the oppressed] cry, but none gives answer [speaking these words and declaring the LORD is present], because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God will not hear [shama’ – obey the requests] vanity [shav’ – of those who speak their own incorrect words in His name – if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light or life in them], neither will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although you [right now] say you shall not see him, yet judgment is before him [manifesting His presence, which you deny]; therefore, trust you in him.
15 But now, because it is not so [because of your unbelief], he has visited [paqad – come as the Chief Overseer of the earth] in his anger; yet he knows it not in great extremity:
16 Therefore does Job [continue to] open his mouth in vain [with worthless words]; he multiplies words without knowledge.
2 Peter 1
11 For so an entrance [eisodos – into the kingdom of God] shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our LORD Jesus Christ has shown me.
15 Moreover I will endeavor that you may be able after my decease [exodos – after leaving the old body {come to remembrance and out of the old body, which shall not remain}] to have these things always in remembrance.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased [HEAR Him].
18 And this voice which came from heaven [when we received full understanding] we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star [phosphoros] arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [the LORD in them, unknown to the world and working all things toward this moment of awakening by His righteous interpretation].
2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily [secretly, from their own imaginations, create lies] shall bring in damnable [apoleia – that cause them and those who follow their ways to perish] heresies, even denying the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction [apoleia – perdition].
2 And many shall follow their pernicious [aploeia – the ways that lead to their own destruction] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of [as it is this day].
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned [fraudulent] words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation [apoleia – perishing, perdition] slumbers not [because they are awakened “to shame and everlasting contempt”].
2 Peter 3
3 Knowing this first, that there shall [have] come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God [this same word of God] the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition [apoleia] of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheion – the corrupt foundational ideas and ways of men] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements [stoicheion] shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our LORD is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrestle, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction [apoleia – perdition].
Psalms 88
1 O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you:
2 Let my prayer come before you: incline your ear unto my cry;
3 For my [immortal] soul is full of troubles [saba’ ra’ – has had enough of this evil]: and my life draws nigh unto the grave [Sheol – I Am alive among the dead here in hell].
4 I Am counted with them that go down into the pit [as if held in the prison of men’s mire: the ignorance in which they continually wallow]: I Am [to them] as a man that has no strength [understanding]:
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom you rememberest no more: and they are cut off from your hand [Your power].
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit [the deepest part of men’s bottomless pit], in darkness [among complete ignorance], in the deeps [when men have no concept or comprehension of your ways or presence].
7 Your wrath [as planned] lies hard upon me [as I long-suffer in Your name], and you have afflicted me with all your waves [of the proud men who refuse Your correction, the foils against which Your good is revealed]. Selah.
8 You have put away my acquaintance far from me; you have made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up [by their darkness], and I cannot come forth.
9 My eye mourns by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon you, I have stretched out my hands unto you.
10 Will you show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise you? Selah.
11 Shall your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or your faithfulness in destruction [‘abaddown]?
12 Shall your wonders be known in the dark [among the ignorant]? and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness [of those who’ve forgotten You]?
13 But unto you have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning [in this new day come] shall my prayer [this conversation] prevent you [come into Your presence].
14 LORD, why [mah – what is it that is] cast you off my soul [causing My ONE BODY to reject me]? why hide you your face from [which hides Your presence in] me?
15 I Am afflicted and ready to die [for Your righteous cause] from my youth up: while I [long] suffer your terrors [to teach men the fear of God] I Am distracted [puwn – turned way by those perplexed by Your word].
16 Your fierce wrath [this word sent against those who refuse it] goes [‘abar] over me [Passes me Over the words of the dead]; your terrors [the fear of God] have cut me off [from the dead].
17 They [the dead] came round about me daily like water [the words of those ignorant of Your presence]; they compassed [attack] me about together.
18 Lover and friend have you put far [rachaq – with their evil decrees] from me, and my acquaintance into darkness [ignorance of me].
The word tabuwn, the intelligent argument that brings the old world to ruin, describes qualities only the LORD possesses.
Psalms 136
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the LORD of lords: for his mercy endures forever.
4 To him who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures forever.
5 To him that by wisdom [tabuwn] made the heavens: for his mercy endures forever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures forever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endures forever:
Proverbs 21
20 There is treasure [this understand that comes from the LORD alone] to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.
21 He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Whoso keeps his mouth and his tongue keep is soul from troubles.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.
25 The desire of the slothful [refusing to do the work] kills him; for his hands refuse to labor.
26 He covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives [this word the world needs] and spares 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 hears [shama’ – obeys] speaks constantly.
29 A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he [the LORD] directs his way.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding [tabuwn] nor counsel against the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared against [to strengthen a man position in] the day of battle: but safety [sanctuary] is of the LORD.
Isaiah 40
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 says you, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hid 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 of his understanding [tabuwn].
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 [rising into heaven with full understanding]; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 43
21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise [thillah – these songs I’ve written to be repeated as received].
22 But you have not called upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel.
23 You have not brought me the small cattle of your burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with an offering, nor wearied you with incense.
24 You have bought me no sweet cane with money, neither have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices: but you have made me to serve with your sins, you have wearied me with your iniquities.
25 I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.
26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare you, that you mayest be justified.
27 Your first father has sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproach.
Psalms 56
1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me.
2 My enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O you Most High.
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in you.
4 In God I will praise [halal – repeat as received] his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrestle [with] my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in your anger cast down the people, O God.
8 You tell my wanderings: put you my tears into your bottle: are they not in your book?
9 When I cry unto you, then shall my enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise [halal – repeat] his word: in the LORD will I praise [halal – repeat] his word.
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 Your vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death: will not you deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before [paniym – in the presence of] God in the light [understanding] of the living?
