David says here God told him how he was to rule over the people. As the Christian in our home, we must remember this in dealing with our family. Our spouse, our children. We need to have his word in our hearts and let it govern our lives.

David knew his life and his house were bearing the discipline of God over his secret sin with Bathsheba, oh the consequences it wrought. Let us take it for an example, and with godly fear, refuse, by the power of the Holy Spirit to indulge in sin. But David knew God could restore order and his hope was in God. He knew God was the only real help he had or needed.

Nehemiah is talking about when Israel returned out of captivity to rebuild the city walls around Jerusalem, things were so bad, and the people began to be oppressed by those in charge, heavily taxed. And when they were unable to pay the taxes, they had to give their children in lieu of taxes. Those in authority were acting out of greed for gain. When Nehemiah was made the governor, he did not do this, he set things right, after prayer, and asking God to intervene. And God changed things. Nehemiah had a relationship with God, and knew God hated oppression, and he feared the Lord, so he did not treat the people evil. Nor did he require of the people that which he would not do himself. Nehemiah was merciful, and compassionate. Just like God.

The only way people sin is because they have no fear of God, they are full of unbelief. Unbelief is the root of all sin. For if you truly and sincerely out of your heart believe in God, and you know he means what he says, you can not sin, and take it lightly. You will be heavy with remorse and guilt, crying out to God for forgiveness and mercy, and cleansing. But those who reject a belief in God, or don't take his word seriously, will not fear him.

You can't just claim the promises of the Bible, and freely indulge in sin, saying, "where sin did abound much more did the grace of God abound".

G5401 Fear

phobos (Greek Word)

Knowing we have such precious and exceedingly great promises, this should move us to love and obedience. The Lord wants us to know him, for in knowing him for ourselves, that knowledge will bring peace and joy to our hearts and lives. And that is our strength. He gave us these promises so we could possess them and be part of him, to partake of his nature, which is Holy and Divine.

The word of the Lord, the convicting power of the Holy Ghost calls all men away from sin to righteousness. He offers to give us his Spirit, and open his word to us, increasing our understanding. But if we refuse to heed the call, preferring to go our own way, we will pay a heavy price. The wages of sin are death. Sin is deceitful, so deceitful. It will lie to you, attempt to justify itself, and harden your heart which is a very dangerous condition. Here Proverbs is describing the effect of both rejecting and accepting the wisdom of God, which Christ is made unto us.

Accepting and heeding the wisdom and Word of God brings safety, security, and peace.

This is not something you easily get, so you cannot take it forgranted. You must seek and hunger after it, and the Lord said "Ask and ye shall receive........."

Examine these verses: the word apply in verse 2:

apply:

to stretch or spread out; by implication to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of applications: - + afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.

And if you look at this way: when you apply a coat of paint, you are covering, or putting something on something, to protect it from the weather, and rust, correct? When we apply the wisdom of God to our hearts, asking the Holy Spirit to help us not forget it, to seal it up in our hearts, like David who said "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee" Ps. 119:11, the power of that word, and the fear of the Lord will keep us from doing evil. Paul said "The Love of Christ constraineth us..." it restrains us from doing that which we know will grieve our Lord. (2 Cor 5:14).

Jesus said if we love him, we will keep his commandments (John 14:15), and 1 John 5:4 (They are not grievous). Now what about the word "seekest" in verse 4? If you seek wisdom, in the Hebrew Dictionary, here is what is says:

baw-kash' (Hebrew Word)

A primitive root; to search out (by any method; specifically in worship or prayer); by implication to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).

You have to make the effort, in sincerity. You can't just take it forgranted.

If you fear God you won't indulge in reckless living that is hazardous to your health. And if you keep yourself in the love and word of God, the wicked one can't touch you. ( 1 Joh 5:18)