The word Law in this verse can also mean teaching, which to me is even more thought provoking. I actually used this verse to developer the first chapter of the book. Good post.
18 Without a revelation a people becomes ungovernable;
But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Regarding the importance of this proverb for estimating the relation of the Chokma to prophecy, vid., vol. i. p. 41. חזון is, according to the sense, equivalent to נבוּאה, the prophetic revelation in itself, and as the contents of that which is proclaimed. Without spiritual preaching, proceeding from spiritual experience, a people is unrestrained (יפּרע, vid., regarding the punctuation at Proverbs 28:25, and regarding the fundamental meaning, at Proverbs 1:25); it becomes פּרע, disorderly, Exodus 32:25; wild und wüst, as Luther translates. But in the second line, according to the unity of the antithesis, the words are spoken of the people, not of individuals. It is therefore not to be explained, with Hitzig: but whoever, in such a time, nevertheless holds to the law, it is well with him! Without doubt this proverb was coined at a time when the preaching of the prophets was in vogue; and therefore this, “but whoever, notwithstanding,” is untenable; such a thought at that time could not at all arise; and besides this, תורה is in the Book of Proverbs a moveable conception, which is covered at least by the law in contradistinction to prophecy. (Tôra) denotes divine teaching, the word of God; whether that of the Sinaitic or that of the prophetic law (2 Chronicles 15:3, cf. e.g., Isaiah 1:10). While, on the one hand, a people is in a dissolute condition when the voice of the preacher, speaking from divine revelation, and enlightening their actions and sufferings by God’s word, is silent amongst them (Psalm 74:9, cf. Amos 8:12); on the other hand, that same people are to be praised as happy when they show due reverence and fidelity to the word of God, both as written and as preached. That the word of God is preached among a people belongs to their condition of life; and they are only truly happy when they earnestly and willingly subordinate themselves to the word of God which they possess and have the opportunity of hearing. אשׁרהוּ (defective for אשׁריהוּ) is the older, and here the poetic kindred form to אשׁריו, Proverbs 14:21; Proverbs 16:20.
That the word of God is preached among a people belongs to their condition of life; and they are only truly happy when they earnestly and willingly subordinate themselves to the word of God which they possess and have the opportunity of hearing.
This can be somewhat daunting. Today man is even more than ever without excuse. We of all men are most blessed with the word of God, but we are also most overrun with interpretation of that word. Too many voices. I find that the word itself best interprets itself, when one is actually seeking for God’s interpretation.
Jerry, true! But we can seek for understanding of God’s Word, a certain passage, and gain understanding from another brother.
Great was the company of the preachers. This is only a bad thing when those preachers teach error, or worse, heresy.
Yes Maria, but even Paul commended the Berean’s for checking him out with the scriptures. So the scripture is the only source of ones error or heresy. And since there are so many interpretations of even one passage today then perhaps the prayerful study of scripture itself ones best source.
When we get a check in our spirit it is always best to do some digging. When at Liberty U. I frequently followed up a Spirit red flag with questions and then further study.
Psalm 119:24
24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
And other believers are our counselors:
Proverbs 24:6
6 For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Acts 18 is a good example of the Body of Christ working together, learning from one another.
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
The office of teacher is from God, but we are responsible before the Lord to check what they teach us exactly as the Bereans checked the Apostle Paul’s teaching. This office and responsibility are important, no matter how difficult the times in which we live. For, as Ephesians 4:11 says,
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
1 Thessalonians 1
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
The word Law in this verse can also mean teaching, which to me is even more thought provoking. I actually used this verse to developer the first chapter of the book. Good post.
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Brother, so this would be, “happy is he who keeps the teaching.” Didn’t the Lord say, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”?
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Amen, sister.
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Amen! That is becoming more and more obvious…
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True, my sister!
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Good word
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Amen, Wally!
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For information and insight, Hebrew study for Hebrew geeks and us:
Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Proverbs 29
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/kdo/proverbs-29.html
Verse 18
18 Without a revelation a people becomes ungovernable;
But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Regarding the importance of this proverb for estimating the relation of the Chokma to prophecy, vid., vol. i. p. 41. חזון is, according to the sense, equivalent to נבוּאה, the prophetic revelation in itself, and as the contents of that which is proclaimed. Without spiritual preaching, proceeding from spiritual experience, a people is unrestrained (יפּרע, vid., regarding the punctuation at Proverbs 28:25, and regarding the fundamental meaning, at Proverbs 1:25); it becomes פּרע, disorderly, Exodus 32:25; wild und wüst, as Luther translates. But in the second line, according to the unity of the antithesis, the words are spoken of the people, not of individuals. It is therefore not to be explained, with Hitzig: but whoever, in such a time, nevertheless holds to the law, it is well with him! Without doubt this proverb was coined at a time when the preaching of the prophets was in vogue; and therefore this, “but whoever, notwithstanding,” is untenable; such a thought at that time could not at all arise; and besides this, תורה is in the Book of Proverbs a moveable conception, which is covered at least by the law in contradistinction to prophecy. (Tôra) denotes divine teaching, the word of God; whether that of the Sinaitic or that of the prophetic law (2 Chronicles 15:3, cf. e.g., Isaiah 1:10). While, on the one hand, a people is in a dissolute condition when the voice of the preacher, speaking from divine revelation, and enlightening their actions and sufferings by God’s word, is silent amongst them (Psalm 74:9, cf. Amos 8:12); on the other hand, that same people are to be praised as happy when they show due reverence and fidelity to the word of God, both as written and as preached. That the word of God is preached among a people belongs to their condition of life; and they are only truly happy when they earnestly and willingly subordinate themselves to the word of God which they possess and have the opportunity of hearing. אשׁרהוּ (defective for אשׁריהוּ) is the older, and here the poetic kindred form to אשׁריו, Proverbs 14:21; Proverbs 16:20.
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That the word of God is preached among a people belongs to their condition of life; and they are only truly happy when they earnestly and willingly subordinate themselves to the word of God which they possess and have the opportunity of hearing.
This can be somewhat daunting. Today man is even more than ever without excuse. We of all men are most blessed with the word of God, but we are also most overrun with interpretation of that word. Too many voices. I find that the word itself best interprets itself, when one is actually seeking for God’s interpretation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jerry, true! But we can seek for understanding of God’s Word, a certain passage, and gain understanding from another brother.
Great was the company of the preachers. This is only a bad thing when those preachers teach error, or worse, heresy.
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Yes Maria, but even Paul commended the Berean’s for checking him out with the scriptures. So the scripture is the only source of ones error or heresy. And since there are so many interpretations of even one passage today then perhaps the prayerful study of scripture itself ones best source.
When we get a check in our spirit it is always best to do some digging. When at Liberty U. I frequently followed up a Spirit red flag with questions and then further study.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brother Jerry,
The Lord is our Counselor:
Psalm 119:24
24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
And other believers are our counselors:
Proverbs 24:6
6 For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Acts 18 is a good example of the Body of Christ working together, learning from one another.
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
The office of teacher is from God, but we are responsible before the Lord to check what they teach us exactly as the Bereans checked the Apostle Paul’s teaching. This office and responsibility are important, no matter how difficult the times in which we live. For, as Ephesians 4:11 says,
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
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Amen, you have it right. Keep up the good work, and the good words.
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Thank you! You too, Jerry!
1 Thessalonians 1
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
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We’d love to have you join us on our journey through the wisdom of Proverbs!
DailyWisdom.blog
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