August 20, 2020, Acts cont....., Proverbs cont....

 Acts 19 cont..

The Riot in Ephesus

About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsman there. He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: You know, my friends, that we received a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are not gods at all. 

There is a danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty. 

When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting; Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.

The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!

The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. 

In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it. After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. 

Proverbs 

Wisdom's Call

Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

How awesome is it to know right from wrong; but what greater pleasure it is to understand why you should avoid something. The understanding keeps us grounded because we know why. If I give a list of commandments the person knows do not steal, do not commit adultery, but how great it is that wisdom wants us to understand how death enters a man's world. How lives can be destroyed through one bad action. Or a person's poor judgement. 

At the highest point along the way, 

where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city, 

at the entrance, she cries aloud:

To you, O people, I call out; 

I raise my voice to all mankind. 

You who are simple, gain prudence; 

you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. 

It does not say only to those with a religious backgrounds, if you come from a great family, to those who live in brick houses, to the black, to the white, to the Jew, to the male, to the female, wisdom is free and she calls out to all people. She calls to mankind. She delights in man.

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

My mouth speaks what is true, 

for my lips detest wickedness. 

All the words of my mouth are just; 

none of them is crooked or perverse. 

To the discerning all of them are right; 

they are upright to those who have found knowledge. 

Wisdom speaks what is right, true, and just. She calls for listening. She wants to speak and we get to apply them to our heart.

Choose my instructions instead of silver, 

knowledge rather than choice gold, 

for wisdom is more precious than rubies, 

and nothing you desire can compare with her. 

I, wisdom dwell together with prudence; 

I possess knowledge and discretion.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; 

I hate pride and arrogance, 

evil behavior and perverse speech.

Counsel and sound judgement are mine; 

I have insight, I have power. 

By me Kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; 

Wisdom characterizes the Lord. All through the book of Psalms we find statements about the wicked and blood thirsty. They will would not survive in the land.It also speaks about the righteous and their reign on the earth. After you have believed God, How do you live on this earth, or how can we keep ourselves from tragedies and pitfalls.

 This book was put together during a peaceful and prosperous time in Israel. 

The word proverb is translated to mean message.

It also means to taunt, or a parable. 

Wisdom is telling us knowledge we will feel blessed and taunted. 

When you are doing well; wisdom is needed to sustain you. 

It is a gift to Kings and Queens.

Wisdom will keep you graceful; it is not for a fool and matter of fact it states that some people will not accept wisdom nor instruction and this will be to their hurt. 

by me princes govern, 

and nobles-all who rule on earth.

I love those who love me, 

and those that seek me find me.

With me are riches and honor, 

enduring wealth and prosperity, 

My fruit is better than fine gold;

what I yield surpasses choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness, 

along the paths of justice, 

bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me

and making their treasures full. 

The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, 

before his deeds of old; 

I was formed long ages ago, 

at the very beginning, when the world came to be. 

Wisdom is old. I say that to mean she was in the beginning and one of God's first works.During prosperity we need wisdom; it is not so much ruling over people but a ruler over the things that God has given you, your family, business, career, or whatever.

When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, 

when the were no springs

overflowing with water; 

before the mountains were settled into place, 

before the hills, I was given birth, 

before he made the world or its fields of any of the dust of the earth.

long before the earth begin Wisdom was birthed? 

In the beginning was the word, and the word was God, and the word was with God, Wisdom consistently has God's characteristics. The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 

I was there when he set the heavens in place, 

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 

when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the 

fountains of the deep, 

when he gave the sea its boundary

so the waters would not overstep his command, 

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Then I was constantly at his side.

I was filled with delight day after day, 

rejoicing always in his presence, 

rejoicing in his whole world

and delighting in mankind. 

Now then, my children, listen to me;

blessed are those who keep my ways.

Listen to my instruction and be wise; 

do not disregard it.

Blessed are those who listen to me, 

watching daily at my doors, 

waiting at my doorway.

For those who find me find life

and receive favor from the Lord. 

But those who fail to find me harm themselves

all who hate me love death. 

Can you image a person who hate wisdom? 

I cannot image it. 

Or it refers to those who ignore it. 

I hope that we all find and gain great wisdom.

Have a great day!