Yes, that very Clause is in the Bible, the King James Version anyway … “He that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall.”

To put the observation in context, here’s the entire verse in which it appears: “The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.”

Sounds like the Lord removes His “restraining” Hand from the poor dupe who is being lured by the seductress!

God’s restraining Hand, you might ask?

Genesis 20:6, God speaking to an ancient king named Abimelech, concerning Sarah the wife of Abraham … “Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I WITHHELD THEE FROM SINNING against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.”

See it?

Jesus certainly knew what He was teaching when He instructed us to pray after this manner: “Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil.” Quoting both Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:4.

So I deduce … a man or woman is quite wise NOT to be “abhorred of the Lord!”

This verb “abhorred” translates “zaam” in Hebrew, a word occurring only 34 times in the entire Old Testament!

It first appearance, Numbers 23:7, our Bible says “to defy!” A lifestyle that defies the Lord God Almighty! (No wonder a prolonged state of such rebellion leads God to abhor that person, letting him or her fall into more and more sin, or into deeper and deeper perversion!

A further hint: study what God calls “abominable!” Meeting that infamous standard will sure invoke God’s abhorrence on an individual.

Learn what God loves and learn what God hates! (Of course, from the Bible.) Then you will know how to avoid the curse of our Text.

“He that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall.”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Much more could be written. You serious Bible students let the Holy Spirit take you further into this pattern of thought.

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At least I think that’s what Solomon means when he asks us to “write them upon the table of thine heart.” The King advised this in Proverbs chapter 7, verse 3 to be exact.

In the Old Testament the “heart” (in Hebrew the noun is spelled “leb,” meaning one’s “innermost being”) is the seat of one’s intellect, one’s thinking.

Hence I deduce that we are expected to memorize God’s Word, as much as possible anyway.

But isn’t this a lovely word picture? “Writing the very Words of God onto our hearts!”

And doing so deberately, with obvious effort, record (the verb here translated “write” is “kathyab,” meaning “to engrave, to inscribe”) God’s Word in your mind!

Another Proverb, concerning any human being … “For as he THINKETH in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

The Psalmist, in praise of God’s Word anyway, reminds us of one benefits of memorizing Scripture … “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11 (The verb “hide” means to treat Scripture as a “treasure!”)

Wow!

I suppose here I now should discuss methods of Bible memory. But for me anyway, though I have tried several procedures through the years, just studying the Word of God “day in” and “day out” familiarizes me with Blocks of Scripture. So much so that soon I have it in my mind (excuse me, heart) and can recall it when the Holy Spirit needs me to.

Any method will work, but do remember this adage … “Repetition is the mother of all learning.”

Getting that familiar with the Word!

Wow … 31,102 Verses in the Bible … what a challenge. What an honor to get to learn some of them.

Class, let’s get to “writing,” to “engraving” them into our hearts!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our world is infested with state supported Universities specializing in Black Studies, Women’s Studies, Anti-Colonialism Studies!

All of which really center on Self-Studies!

The ego, the id … “number one,” in other words!

Humans trying to discover more about themselves … their true identity! National identity (or is there such a thing any longer)! Sexual identity! Religious identity!

And the Bible addresses that issue, “self aggrandizement.” It might also be called “pride!”

Well, listen to Solomon …

“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. ” Proverbs 18:2

Let’s ponder our Verse.

No one is interested in God anymore! (What specific god or goddess they would now ask, for sure!)

No one is truly interested in helping others either! (Maybe using others, promising the moon to others … to get their votes in the next election!)

No one is interested anymore in family either! (Unless it’s in radically re-defining it, reworking it.)

But self-interest?

It abounds!

Psychology and psychiatry, often tainted with shades of false science, is at an all-time “high,” riding the coattails of this new “self discovery” cult!

Mercy!

Back to today’s verse … “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”

That noun, “fool,” in Hebrew means “dullard, simpleton,” frankly “stupid person.”

This person is not interested in “understanding,” godly understanding is clearly meant.

But Mr. Fool here sure is interested in one thing … “that his heart may discover itself!”

But, one might object, a man’s heart has to be interested in something, must focus on something!

Paul’s answer to that, his life-long passion, after his salvation of course … “That I may know Him.” And here the “Him” clearly is “JESUS!” I’ve just quoted part of Philippians 3:10.

Let me summarize …

Give your life to self-study … foolishness!

Give your life to knowing God better … WISDOM!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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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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