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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”
Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively. Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior. Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This webpage could be periodically updated. If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated. Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.
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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.
When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:
“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Note: The heart refers to the mind.
It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:
“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”
It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”
A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned. In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher. Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:
If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship: whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.
Note: Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites. Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM]. The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges. The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity. The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness. In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human. When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god. Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.
The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind. In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession. Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.
The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:
Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. Also, it is still much more evident: that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life. Indeed, it is attested: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Note: The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah. Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body. The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.
Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest. In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family. Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:
However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE. You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Note: Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people. In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people. The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23. In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.
Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Put succinctly: itʼs the message rather than the messenger. In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
*Note: The word says is in the Greek historical present tense. By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.
Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated. That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.
Note: The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”
Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday. The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies. Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies. It is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur. The Feast of Trumpets was one of the seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year under the regulations of the Mosaic Law. The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites. Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law. The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.
While it is possible that the Rapture will occur during the time when the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh] would occur—which is referenced as a single day in Leviticus 23:24–25 and Numbers 29:1–6 and which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2027, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur during a time other than the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur during the time of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, one can be prepared for that time because of already being in the habit of being prepared. Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life. Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.
Whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah in 2027 is during August, September, or October depends on whether barley crop in Israel in 2027 is first in a status known as abib [ah-BEEB] (also known as aviv [ah-VEEV]) in February, March, or April. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would start depends on the time of the last sunset over Jerusalem before the first sliver of a crescent new moon after that sunset. The crescent new moon is the illumination of a sliver of the waxing moon. The moon is waxing when it is becoming more and more illuminated after what some people refer to as the astronomical new moon, the time when there is an absence of illumination of the moon—in other words, when there is an absence of reflection of light from the moon. On which day and at what time in August, September, or October the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah would end depends on whether the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah lasts one day or two days and whether the time of day of the end of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah is at sunset, at the end of civil twilight, at the end of nautical twilight, or at the end of astronomical twilight.
Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation. The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic. In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober. Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Note: In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent. In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context. Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!” In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness. The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture. In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation. Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity. After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored. The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1. Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30. In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit. Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer. After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.
The verse of the day for October 24th is Proverbs 9:10. The full name of the book Proverbs is “The Proverbs.” Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Proverbs 9:7–12. The content of those verses involves related subject matter.
Proverbs 9:7
He who corrects/reproves a scoffer receives shame/disgrace/dishonor/ignominy/contempt/reproach for himself, and he who rebukes/reproves/corrects a wicked man—a blemish/blot for himself.
Note: While absent from the content of verses 7 and 8 are any references to females, the content of those verses is applicable to both males and females. The content of those verses is also applicable to all age levels of people. Also, while the Proverbs were written in the context of a male-oriented society, the principles found in the Proverbs are also applicable to females. Why is there a focus on males and a resultant absence of focus on females? Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can expect to find out in Heaven. One possibility is to show the angels that God the Father greatly blesses the humble, non-attention-getting, helping-others, servant-minded believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Such believers, while frequently unnoticed by much of the other people in the world, can be noticed by the angels, and such believers are certainly noticed by the Trinity. Worth noticing about such believers is their contrast with the characteristics of Satan, who is arrogant, seeks approbation, cares nothing about others, and is self-serving.
The end part of this verse is elliptical in that a verb has been omitted. In that regard, there is an em dash near the end of the verse. Due to the context provided by the first part of the verse, the verb that has been omitted is the verb receives.
In this verse, the Hebrew verb translated as “corrects” or “reproves” is יֹסֵר [pronounced yoh-SAYR and can be transliterated as yocer]. (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.) That verb is an inflected form of the root word יָסַר [pronounced yah-SAHR and can be transliterated as yacar]. Regarding the usage of yocer in this verse, the context is such that that usage could refer to either correcting or reproving. In that regard, the verb reprove has a connotation of disapproval, and the verb correct can have a connotation without disapproval involved. Because either the verb corrects or the verb reproves could fit the context of this verse, it is best for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to refrain from correcting a scoffer and to refrain from reproving a scoffer. The reason for such refraining is because what a scoffer typically does in return.
Regarding what a scoffer typically does in return, the Proverbs indicate what occurs in general. Therefore, there can be occasions on which a scoffer behaves atypically. However, counting on a scoffer to behave atypically is foolish. Consequently, it is prudent to heed the advice that is shared in this verse.
In this verse, the Hebrew noun translated as “shame,” “disgrace,” “dishonor,” “ignominy,” “contempt,” or “reproach” is קָלוֹן [pronounced kah-LOHN and can be transliterated as qalown]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word קָלוֹן [pronounced kah-LOHN and can be transliterated as qalown]. Regarding the usage of the noun qalown in this verse, a person who corrects/reproves a scoffer invites trouble for himself or herself. That trouble will involve a harsh reaction from the scoffer. Also, it is possible that the person who corrects/reproves a scoffer will suffer some sort of disgrace as a result of the reaction of the scoffer.
As if correcting/reproving a scoffer is bad enough, rebuking/reproving/correcting a wicked man is even worse. In this verse, the Hebrew verb translated as “rebukes,” “reproves,” or “corrects” is מוֹכִיחַ [pronounced moh-KEE-ahkh and can be transliterated as mokiach]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word יָכַח [pronounced yah-KAHKH and can be transliterated as yakach].
Regarding what a wicked man typically does in reaction to rebuking/reproving/correcting, what is referenced in this verse might be metaphorical or literal. In that regard, this verse indicates that what a wicked man typically does when someone rebukes/reproves/corrects him results in a blemish/blot for the person who does the rebuking/reproving/correcting. In this verse, the Hebrew noun translated as “blemish” or “blot” is מוּמ [pronounced MOOM and can be transliterated as muwm]. That noun is an inflected form of the root word מְאוּם [pronounced MOOM and can be transliterated as m'uwm]. If muwm is used literally in this verse, then that usage of muwm indicates that the rebuking/reproving/correcting of a wicked man typically results in something physical occurring to the one doing the rebuking/reproving/correcting. A similar cause and effect is described in the English expression “cruising for a bruising” and the similar expression “cruisinʼ for a bruisinʼ.” In that regard, a person who rebukes/reproves/corrects a wicked man can end up with a black ring around an eye (“a black eye”), a bloody nose, or a fat lip, for example.
A scoffer and a wicked man are both narcissists. The wicked man is more narcissistic. A believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should be careful around both of those types of people. In that regard, a believer should be alert for clues as to whether a person is narcissistic such that that believer is ready to do pattern-matching for indicators of selfishness. In addition, a believer needs to be alert with regard to how that believer behaves around such a person. With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors. The mindset color code describes states of awareness. Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.
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Condition White: |
Unaware and unprepared, one is totally oblivious to what is going on. |
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Condition Yellow: |
Relaxed alert—no specific threat is detected, but one is “taking in” surrounding info—the mindset in which one is aware that one might have to deal with danger today. |
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Condition Orange: |
Specific alert—something is not quite right and has oneʼs attention. It might be something having to be dealt with right now. One gets mentally prepared to act, just in case. |
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Condition Red: |
The potential danger of Condition Orange is determined to be a real danger. It is definitely something having to be dealt with right now. One acts immediately. |
Proverbs 9:8
Do not rebuke/reprove/correct a scoffer, or he hates you. Rebuke/Reprove/Correct a wise man, and he loves you.
Note: The uses of a present tense in the phrases he hates and he loves are references to what typically results from the rebuking/reproving/correcting referenced in this verse. Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect. In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to what typically results can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine what typically results as though the reader or hearer is watching those results as they occur.
In this verse, the Hebrew verb translated as “rebuke,” “reprove,” or “correct” is תּוֹכַח [pronounced toh-KAHKH and can be transliterated as tokach]. That verb is an inflected form of the root word יָכַח [pronounced yah-KAHKH and can be transliterated as yakach]. In verse 7, an inflected form of the verb yacar was used in reference to a scoffer. In verse 8, the verb of which an inflected form is used in reference to a scoffer is yakach, which is the same verb of which an inflected form was used in reference to a wicked man in verse 7. The use of an inflected form of yacar in reference to a scoffer in verse 7 and an inflected form of yakach in reference to a scoffer in verse 8 might be wordplay to grab the attention of the reader or hearer, or it might be varying degrees of severity exhibited toward the scoffer—or it might be both wordplay and varying degrees of severity. Regardless of whether those two verses involve wordplay, varying degrees of severity, or both wordplay and varying degrees of severity, the content of verse 8 calls attention to the fact that rebuking/reproving/correcting a scoffer typically results in hatred from that scoffer. Being around such a person is like trying to tiptoe through broken glass. In that regard, a believer needs to be alert for indicators that a person is a scoffer, and a believer needs to be alert with regard to how that believer behaves around such a person.
In contrast to the typical reaction of a scoffer towards rebuking/reproving/correcting, the typical response of a wise man towards rebuking/reproving/correcting is an expression of appreciation for the person doing the rebuking/reproving/correcting. Absent from this verse is anything indicating that a believer must rebuke/reprove/correct a wise person. In that regard, a believer should refrain from being a spiritual bully. A spiritual bully has crusader lust. Such a person has a “holier-than-thou” attitude, which is an attitude of self-righteous arrogance—he or she believes that he or she is more righteous than others. With regard to the crusader lust, the spiritual bullyʼs self-righteous arrogance can manifest in the form of crusader arrogance—he or she conducts a personal crusade in which he or she attempts to “whitewash” the devilʼs world by trying to force other people to be as righteous as he or she perceives himself or herself to be. In that regard, the spiritual bully disrespects the free will of each person over whom the spiritual bully lords himself or herself.
Proverbs 9:9
Give to a wise man, and he is wiser still. Teach a righteous man, and he increases learning.
Note: Regarding the giving referenced in this verse, the context provided by the content of the previous verse is such that that giving involves rebuking/reproving/correcting. As with the content of the previous verse, absent from this verse is anything indicating that a believer must rebuke/reprove/correct a wise person. While there might be an occasion or occasions on which a less wise person might be able to rebuke/reprove/correct a wise person, it would be presumptuous for a person who is less wise than a wise person to assume that the less wise person is qualified to rebuke/reprove/correct the wiser person. Therefore, before a believer rebukes/reproves/corrects someone, that believer should consider whether that believer is qualified to rebuke/reprove/correct the other person. In that regard, if there is sufficient time to pray to God the Father about that matter, a believer should ask God the Father to have God the Holy Spirit help that believer have a clear understanding about what would be appropriate to do in that situation. Regarding sufficient time to pray, if there is very little time to make a decision, it might be possible to pray something like the following: “Father, please have God the Holy Spirit help me.”
In this verse, the phrase wiser still means “even wiser.” Also, the uses of a present tense in the phrases he is and he increases are references to what typically results from the giving referenced in this verse. As mentioned in the notes for verse 8, using a verb in a present tense to refer to what typically results can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine what typically results as though the reader or hearer is watching those results as they occur.
Proverbs 9:10
The yir'ah [yeer-AH] / יִרְאָה / fear / respect / reverence of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of holy things is understanding.
Note: A believerʼs growth in wisdom after the moment of salvation needs to start with that believer having fear / respect / reverence towards God the Father. Such a believer has an attitude of reverential awe towards God the Father. Without having an attitude of reverential awe towards God the Father, a believer is unable to grow in wisdom.
In this verse, the Hebrew adjective translated as “holy things” is קְדֹשִׁים [pronounced keh-doh-SHEEM and can be transliterated as qedowshiym]. That adjective is an inflected form of the root word קָדוֹשׁ [pronounced kah-DOHSH and can be transliterated as qadowsh]. The inflected form of that adjective in this verse is a plural form. That plural inflected form qedowshiym could be literally translated as “holies.” Because there is an absence of a noun in association with the adjective qedowshiym in this verse, what is referenced by that adjective must be determined from the context of this verse and any surrounding verses that have contextual information. In that regard, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is any reference to more than one Member of the Trinity. Also, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is any reference to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is any reference to elect angels [good angels]. What is referenced in this verse and the next verse is wisdom, and there are various pieces of information that collectively compose wisdom. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the plural adjective qedowshiym as used in this verse refers to multiple holy things in the context of wisdom. In that regard, it is logical to conclude that the plural adjective qedowshiym as used in this verse refers to Bible doctrines—in other words, principles of the Word of God. Regarding the foregoing, knowledge of principles of the Word of God results in understanding.
Proverbs 9:11
Certainly, by me your days are multiplied, and years of life are added to you.
Note: In this verse, wisdom is personified. In that regard, the pronoun me in this verse refers to wisdom. Also, the phrases your days are multiplied and years of life are added to you both refer to an increased amount of time before a believer experiences physical death. Regarding those references to an increased amount of time before a believer experiences physical death, it must be remembered that the Proverbs indicate what occurs in general. In that regard, God the Fatherʼs plan for a believer can involve a short lifespan for that believer even if that believer regularly learns and obeys the Word of God. What this verse is indicating is that a believer who regularly learns and obeys the Word of God will avoid a timing of physical death that is sooner than that person otherwise would have if that person had regularly obeyed the Word of God.
Proverbs 9:12
If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, and if you have scoffed, you alone bear.
Note: Each believer has to do his or her homework of learning the Word of God such that that believer is able to regularly apply the Word of God to that believerʼs life. While a believer can periodically give another believer encouragement, a believer must refrain from metaphorically leaning on another believer like a crutch. In that regard, rather than depending on another believer to function like an encyclopedia that can be referenced every time there is a challenge in life, each believer needs to have the Word of God in that believerʼs own thinking.
Also, a believer who has a negative attitude toward the Word of God experiences the consequences of having that negative attitude. In that regard, absent from this verse is a noun after the verb translated as “bear.” That absence of a noun causes attention to be focused on the verb translated as “bear.” In that regard, each believer is responsible for his or her bad decisions.
Sincerely,
John