I was reading Proverbs 16 this morning, today being the 16th of the month of February. And this half-verse spoke to my heart, surprised me, thrilled me in a way.

“But the LORD weigheth the spirits.”

Now the whole verse, of which my “Text” today is the conclusion: “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.” Proverbs 16:2

“Spirits,” the common noun here, is obviously plural. Likely indicating a man’s “motives, drives, intentions, propulsions.” (This can be the word for Holy “Spirit” in the Old Testament, and most often is. But not here, it appears.)

And the verb “weigheth” is spelled “takan” (ta-kan’) in Hebrew, meaning “to measure, ponder, estimate,” and at times even “to test or prove.” It is a participle in the Text and thus indicates a continuous action on God’s Part. As in Proverbs 15:3 … “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

A sobering thought … God is evaluating my every motive!

Not just what I do for Him … but WHY I do it!

And this is not just a one-time Test He administers … but it is a Habit with him!

No wonder Paul wanted to bring “every thought” into subjection to Jesus! See 2 Corinthians 10:5 … “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” The verb “bringing into captivity” translates a Greek term meaning “at the point of a spear!”

Dear readers, remember today … your spirits are being weighed! Our spirits, I should say.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Verse today must be taken “in context.”

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive.” So Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:24.

The Apostle there is trying to teach us that needless fighting and bickering are “out of place.” Even in matters of theology! The previous verse cautions us against asking “foolish and unlearned questions.”

In the place of not striving over meaningless things … Paul recommends godly living. “Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

But now, that point being made …

We are to strive to be closer to Jesus!

To have control over our bodies!

And to strive to be faithful all our lives, a noble motivation indeed!

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12, wrestling and striving … not too far apart!

“Lord, help us to learn to rightly divide Thy Word of Truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Isaiah 44:22 is our Text today … “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.” God is speaking to His people!

The verb “blotted out” (in Hebrew “machah”) certainly means “to wipe out,” but in the sense of “exterminating” something! Additionally, in the King James Bible it is translated (6 different times) “to destroy!” Pretty strong testimony concerning the forgiveness that is to be found in our Gracious Lord, through the Death of Jesus on the Cross.

This is amazing!

Yet do notice we have two words used for “cloud” here, in Hebrew I mean. One is a thicker cloud, which God obviously can dispel with ease!

The other suggests more of a “mist,” a “fog,” which of course would be no trouble to God, dissipating such a thing.

Neither big sins, nor little sins (if one can make that distinction) are a problem to our great God.

He can forgive!

He can redeem!

I believe the proper response to today’s Verse is just to pause and thank the Lord. Offer Him praise! Even worship Him!

Have you asked Him, trusted Him, to forgive you?

Luke 18:13 … “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER.”

That’s all it took!

And God saved the publican’s (tax collector’s) soul!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Wow!

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It’s a bold Statement Jesus made, but undoubtedly accurate …

“The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” John 8:29

Two things impress me in this divinely inspired Quote.

First, the Communion, the Companionship Jesus constantly shared with His Father.

The Greek verb “hath left” is spelled “aphiemi,” fundamentally meaning “to send away.” (The only Time the Father ever “forsook” His Son, insofar as Scripture records, is on the Cross. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46)

Not only perfect harmony, but eternally so … now that the Cross of Calvary is “finished.”

And the second impressive thing?

Jesus ALWAYS pleasing His Father!

The adjective here, “pleasing,” has the seed idea of exciting the Father, making Him (so-to-speak) joyful and delighted!

What close Fellowship, what Unity!

So much so that Jesus one day could proclaim: “I and my Father are one.”

And that’s nearly the same relationship Jesus seeks with us, my Christian friends!

In John 17:23 Jesus preaches this: “I IN them.” (Yes, He is “in” us!) Then in Colossians 1:27 Paul writes: “Christ IN you, the hope of glory.”

Wow!

The question now remaining … do I please my Saviour? Do I please the Father?

Put a smile on His Face?

Excite Him as I live according to the Word of God?

Give Him pleasure and glory as a Christian?

After all, Jesus is our Example!

In 1 Peter 2:21 the Apostle reminds us of Jesus .. “leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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America has lost her ability to think clearly!

Even to the dangerous point of “reversing” nearly everything God says in His inspired Word!

I say dangerous because God places a curse on such thinking … “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

If this is true (and it is) America is on her way “down!” She will no longer be a world “leader” in any major, positive area. (A goal many politicians and educators have had for our Country for years now, including some Presidents.)

Tarnished, retarded … the United States of America.

And this self-imposed inferiority includes the area of “creative thinking!” (Other than inventing new ways to commit evil.) “They provoked the Lord to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.” Psalm 106:29

There is such a thing in Scripture, however as creative inventionsor helpful inventions. An area of life where America once excelled. Before she jettisoned the Wisdom of God from her schools, courthouses, assemblies … and the list goes on!

All this typing to lead up to today’s VERSE …

“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” Proverbs 8:12, a Bible fact indeed.

But in our Land …

Wisdom (nationally) is gone.

Prudence (nationally) is gone.

Knowledge (nationally, the Bible kind of knowledge) is gone.

And so of course … “witty inventions” are as well. The Hebrew expression here implies “God’s Ways, Thoughts, Plans, Purposes, Devices!”

We may be beyond help! God did say in Genesis 6:3, just before the Flood … “My spirit shall not always strive with man.”

One remaining prayer might be pertinent this morning …

“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work (of judgment) in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY.” Habakkuk 3:2

Those last four Words … “IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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