Command the Raven

Proverbs 29:7 [show/hide]Proverbs 29:7 [7]A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.

7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

It is a pity but that every one who sues sub formâ pauperis–as a pauper, should have an honest cause (they are of all others inexcusable if they have not), because the scripture has so well provided that it should have a fair hearing, and that the judge himself should be of counsel, as for the prisoner, so for the pauper.

1. It is here made the character of a righteous judge that he considers the cause of the poor. It is every man’s duty to consider the poor (Ps. xli. 1), but the judgment of the poor is to be considered by those that sit in judgment; they must take as much pains to find out the right in a poor man’s cause as in a rich man’s. Sense of justice must make both judge and advocate as solicitous and industrious in the poor man’s cause as if they hoped for the greatest advantage.

2. It is made the character of a wicked man that because it is a poor man’s cause, which there is nothing to be got by, he regards not to know it, in the true state of it, for he cares not which way it goes, right or wrong. See Job xxix. 16.

- Matthew Henry Commentary

Proverbs 24:27 [show/hide]Proverbs 24:27 [27]Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

This is a rule of prudence in the management of household affairs; for all good men should be good husbands, and manage with discretion, which would prevent a great deal of sin, and trouble, and disgrace to their profession.

1. We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not lay that out for show which should be expended for the support of the family. We must be contented with a mean cottage for a habitation, rather than want, or go in debt for, food convenient.

2. We must not think of building till we can afford it: “First apply thyself to thy work without in the field; let thy ground be put into good order; look after thy husbandry, for it is that by which thou must get; and, when thou hast got well by that, then, and not till then, thou mayest think of rebuilding and beautifying thy house, for that is it upon which, and in which, thou wilt have occasion to spend.” Many have ruined their estates and families by laying out money on that which brings nothing in, beginning to build when they were not able to finish. Some understand it as advice to young men not to marry (for by that the house is built) till they have set up in the world, and not wherewith to maintain a wife and children comfortably.

3. When we have any great design on foot it is wisdom to take it before us, and make the necessary preparations, before we fall to work, that, when it is begun, it may not stand still for want of materials. Solomon observed this rule himself in building the house of God; all was made ready before it was brought to the ground, 1 Kings vi. 7.

- Matthew Henry Commentary

Proverbs 19:20 [show/hide]Proverbs 19:20 [20]Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Note, 1. It is well with those that are wise in their latter end, wise for their latter end, for their future state, wise for another world, that are found wise when their latter end comes, wise virgins, wise builders, wise stewards, that are wise at length, and understand the things that belong to their peace, before they be hidden from their eyes. A carnal worldling at his end shall be a fool (Jer. xvii. 11), but godliness will prove wisdom at last.

2. Those that would be wise in their latter end must hear counsel and receive instruction, in their beginnings must be willing to be taught and ruled, willing to be advised and reproved, when they are young. Those that would be stored in winter must gather in summer.

- Matthew Henry Commentary

I shall Not Die, but Live

Psalm 118 [show/hide]Psalm 118 His Steadfast Love Endures Forever [118:1]Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! [2]Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." [3]Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." [4]Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." [5]Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. [6]The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? [7]The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. [8]It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. [9]It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. [10]All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! [11]They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! [12]They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! [13]I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. [14]The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. [15]Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, [16]the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!" [17]I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. [18]The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death. [19]Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. [20]This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. [21]I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. [22]The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. [23]This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. [24]This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. [25]Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! [26]Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. [27]The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar! [28]You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. [29]Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
: 17
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord.

David was confronted by imminent death many times, being constantly pursued by Saul and his armies, the giant Goliath and the battles he fought for the Lord. Death followed close in his footsteps and there remained the constant threat of impending doom shadowing him.

Nevertheless, he was a great strategist and a mighty warrior, a man of war who confronted every threat with personal bravery. For all this, he remained a king without a crown, reduced to fleeing from cave to cave and the surrounding countries, pretending at times to be insane to achieve his specific goals.

This great king knew that he was personally chosen by God, anointed by Samuel, the prophet and was then forced to commence with his Kingship by fleeing for his life.

He had strength of mind, strength of heart and strength of spirit, and he still found it necessary to pray this prayer, “I will not die, but live…”

He continues to pray, in the next verse; “The Lord has chastened me sorely, but He has not given me over to death.”

David was human and made mistakes as we do, therefore his transgression was of such a nature that the Lord chastened him sorely. We would do well to consider the condition of our own lives and pray this prayer too.

How often have we been guilty of confessing death over ourselves and possibly over our loved ones without realizing the dangerous position we place ourselves in? The words slip out so easily, “I wish I was dead, or whoever offends us at the time, or the most often heard, “I want to go home” etc. etc.

This is tantamount to a self-invoked curse or self-destructive confessions, giving legal authority for our lives to be taken. In the light of this, we must consider, with urgency, to bind and disannul these negative confessions that we have made.

If you read Psalm 91 [show/hide]Psalm 91 My Refuge and My Fortress [91:1]He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. [2]I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." [3]For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. [4]He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. [5]You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, [6]nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. [7]A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. [8]You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. [9]Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge-- [10]no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. [11]For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. [12]On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. [13]You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. [14]"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. [15]When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. [16]With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
: 14 to 16, it may give a deeper insight to God’s thoughts on the subject of life, i.e. “Because he has set his love upon Me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My Name (has a personal knowledge of My Mercy, love and kindness, trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no never. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver and honour him. WITH LONG LIFE I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”

God surely knows the brevity of our life span, and frankly, I am of the opinion that we, ourselves determine the prolongation thereof by our conduct, in meeting His terms and conditions or not. Anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and jealousy appear to be the greatest hindrances that we impose upon ourselves.
One of the rare moments that believers or unbelievers alike even think upon the prospect of death as being a reality is when attending a funeral. The stark, naked reality of the departed person momentarily forces one to confront the fact that death is inevitable.

To a reborn believer, death is not finality, but the profound knowledge that we live and die in Christ with confidence that as He was resurrected from the dead, we too, will be.

Proclaim to the ends of the earth, that you will not die, but live, and declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of God.
Cease from procrastination, right all the wrongs and pour out your heart like water before God, for He hears and answers every prayer, take hold of the STRENGTH OF HIM, WHOSE STRENGTH FAILS NOT, and live…..

Judges 6:14 [show/hide]Judges 6:14 [14]And the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?" (ESV)

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go…have not I sent thee?
2 Timothy 1:9 [show/hide]2 Timothy 1:9 [9]who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, (ESV)

Who hath…called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.

God has a definite life-plan for every human person, girding him visibly or invisibly, for some exact thing which it will be the true significance and glory of his life to have accomplished. Many persons never even think of any such thing. They suppose that, for most men, life is a necessarily stale and common affair. What it means for them they do not know. They complain, venting heavy sighs, that, while some few are set forward by God to do great works and fill important places, they are not allowed to believe that there is any particular object in their existence.

What do the Scriptures show us, but that God has a particular care for every man, a personal interest in him and a sympathy with him and his trials. God watches for the use of his one talent as attentively and kindly, and approves him as heartily, in the right employment of it, as if He had given him ten. - Horace Bushnell

Thou cam’st not to thy place by accident,
It is the very place God meant for thee;
And shouldst thou then small scope for action see.
Do not for this give room to discontent;
Nor let the time thou owest to God be spent
In idly dreaming how thou mightest be,
In what concerns thy spiritual life more free
From outward hindrance or impediment. – R.C. Trench.

Tell me that I have received my ministry from man, and I shall take one view of the difficulties which may beset it. But tell me that that ministry has been imposed upon me from heaven, and that I am called and the elect of God to do a certain work; and whatever may be the impediments round about me, there shall be sunshine in my heart, there shall be deep, inexplicable peace in my soul; I shall regard the difficulties of the present occasion as but momentary, and the strength upon which I rest shall be nothing less than the omnipotence of God.

Whose servants are we, then? Who has called us to this Christian work? We are called of God, we are not called of men; and we must take our orders from heaven, and not from earth. – Joseph Parker.
- The Christian’s Daily Challenge – E.F. & L.. Harvey

Malachi 4:4-6 [show/hide]Malachi 4:4-6 [4]"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. [5]"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. [6]And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." (ESV)

4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

This is doubtless intended for a solemn conclusion, not only of this prophecy, but of the canon of the Old Testament, and is a plain information that they were not to expect any more sayings nor writing by divine inspiration, any more of the dictates of the Spirit of prophecy, till the beginning of the gospel of the Messiah, which sets aside the Apocrypha as no part of holy writ, and which therefore the Jews never received.

Now that prophecy ceases, and is about to be sealed up, there are two things required of the people of God, that lived then:–

I. They must keep up an obedient veneration for the law of Moses (v. 4): Remember the law of Moses my servant, and observe to do according to it, even that law which I commanded unto him in Horeb, that fiery law which was intended for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments, not only the law of the ten commandments, but all the other appointments, ceremonial and judicial, then and there given. Observe here,

1. The honourable mention that is made of Moses, the first writer of the Old Testament, in Malachi, the last writer. God by him calls him Moses my servant; for the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. See how the penmen of scripture, though they lived in several ages at a great distance from each other (it was above 1200 years from Moses to Malachi), all concurred in the same thing, and supported one another, being all actuated and guided by one and the same Spirit.

2. The honourable mention that is made of the law of Moses; it was what God himself commanded; he owns it for his law, and he commanded it for all Israel, as the municipal law of their kingdom. Thus will God magnify his law and make it honourable. Note, We are concerned to keep the law because God has commanded it and commanded it for us, for we are the spiritual Israel; and, if we expect the benefit of the covenant with Israel (Heb. viii. 10), we must observe the commands given to Israel, those of them that were intended to be of perpetual obligation.

3. The summary of our duty, with reference to the law. We must remember it. Forgetfulness of the law is at the bottom of all our transgressions of it; if we would rightly remember it, we could not but conform to it. We should remember it when we have occasion to use it, remember both the commands themselves and the sanctions wherewith they are enforced. The office of conscience is to bid us remember the law. But how does this charge to remember the law of Moses come in here?

(1.) This prophet had reproved them for many gross corruptions and irregularities both in worship and conversation, and now, for the reforming and amending of what was amiss, he only charges them to remember the law of Moses: “Keep to that rule, and you will do all you should do.” He will lay upon them no other burden than what they have received; hold that fast, Rev. ii. 24, 25. Note, Corrupt churches are to be reformed by the written word, and reduced into order by being reduced to the standard of the law and the testimony, see 1 Cor. xi. 23.

(2.) The church had long enjoyed the benefit of prophets, extraordinary messengers from God, and now they had a whole book of their prophecies put together, and it was a finished piece; but they must not think that hereby the law of Moses was superseded, and had become as an almanac out of date, as if now they were advanced to a higher form and might forget that. No; the prophets do but confirm and apply the law, and press the observance of that; and therefore still Remember the law. Note, Even when we have made considerable advances in knowledge we must still retain the first principles of practical religion and resolve to abide by them. Those that study the writings of the prophets, and the apocalypse, must still remember the law of Moses and the four gospels.

(3.) Prophecy was now to cease in the church for some ages, and the Spirit of prophecy not to return till the beginning of the gospel, and now they are told to remember the law of Moses; let them live by the rules of that, and live upon the promises of that. Note, We need not complain for want of visions and revelations as long as we have the written word, and the canon of scripture complete, to be our guide; for that is the most sure word of prophecy, and the touchstone by which we are to try the spirits. Though we have not prophets, yet, as long as we have Bibles, we may keep our communion with God, and keep ourselves in his way.

(4.) They were to expect the coming of the Messiah, the preaching of his gospel, and the setting up of his kingdom, and in that expectation they must remember the law of Moses, and live in obedience to that, and then they might expect the comforts that the Messiah would bring to the willing and obedient. Let them observe the law of Moses, and live up to the light which that gave them, and then they might expect the benefit of the gospel of Christ, for to him that has, and uses what he has well, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance.

II. They must keep up a believing expectation of the gospel of Christ, and must look for the beginning of it in the appearing of Elijah the prophet (v. 5, 6): “Behold, I send you Elijah the prophet. Though the Spirit of prophecy cease for a time, and you will have only the law to consult, yet it shall revive again in one that shall be sent in the spirit and power of Elias,” Luke i. 17. The law and the prophets were until John (Luke xvi. 16); they continued to be the only lights of the church till that morning-star appeared. Note, As God never left himself without witness in the world, so neither in the church, but, as there was occasion, carried the light of divine revelation further and further to the perfect day. They had now Moses and the prophets, and might hear them; but God will go further: he will send them Elijah. Observe,

1. Who this prophet is that shall be sent; it is Elijah. The Jewish doctors will have it to be the same Elijah that prophesied in Israel in the days of Ahab–that he shall come again to be the forerunner of the Messiah; yet others of them say not the same person, but another of the same spirit. It should seem, those different sentiments they had when they asked John, “Art thou Elias, or that prophet that should bear his name?” John i. 19-21. But we Christians know very well that John Baptist was the Elias that was to come, Matt. xvii. 10-13; and very expressly, Matt. xi. 14, This is Elias that was to come; and v. 10, the same of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger, ch. iii. 1. Elijah was a man of great austerity and mortification, zealous for God, bold in reproving sin, and active to reduce an apostate people to God and their duty; John Baptist was animated by the same spirit and power, and preached repentance and reformation, as Elias had done; and all held him for a prophet, as they did Elijah in his day, and that his baptism was from heaven, and not of men. Note, When God has such work to do as was formerly to be done he can raise up such men to do it as he formerly raised up, and can put into a John Baptist the spirit of an Elias.

2. When he shall be sent–before the appearing of the Messiah, which, because it was the judgment of this world, and introduced the ruin of the Jewish church and nation, is here called the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. John Baptist gave them fair warning of this when he told them of the wrath to come (that wrath to the uttermost which was hastening upon them) and put them into a way of escape from it, and when he told them of the fan in Christ’s hand, with which Christ would thoroughly purge his floor; see Matt. iii. 7, 10, 12. That day of Christ, when he came first, was as that day will be when he comes again–though a great and joyful day to those that embrace him, yet a great and dreadful day to those that oppose him. John Baptist was sent before the coming of this day, to give people notice of it, that they might get ready for it, and go forth to meet it.

3. On what errand he shall be sent: He shall turn the heart of the fathers to their children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; that is, “he shall be employed in this work; he shall attempt it; his doctrine and baptism shall have a direct tendency to it, and with many shall be successful: he shall be an instrument in God’s hand of turning many to righteousness, to the Lord their God, and so making ready a people prepared for him,” Luke i. 16, 17. Note, The turning of souls to God and their duty is the best preparation of them for the great and dreadful day of the Lord. It is promised concerning John,

(1.) That he shall give a turn to things, shall make a bold stand against the strong torrent of sin and impiety which he found in full force among the children of his people, and beating down all before it. This is called his coming to restore all things (Matt. xvii. 11), to set them to rights, that they may again go in the right channel.

(2.) That he shall preach a doctrine that shall reach men’s hearts, and have an influence upon them, and work a change in them. God’s word, in his mouth, shall be quick and powerful, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Many had their consciences awakened by his ministry who yet were not thoroughly wrought upon, such a spirit and power was there in it.

(3.) That he shall turn the hearts of the fathers with the children, and of the children with the fathers (for so some read it), to God and to their duty. He shall call upon young and old to repent, and shall not labour in vain, for many of the fathers that are going off, and many of the children that are growing up, shall be wrought upon by his ministry.

(4.) That thus he shall be an instrument to revive and confirm love and unity among relations, and shall bring them closer and bind them faster to each other, by bringing and binding them all to their God. He shall prepare the way for that kingdom of heaven which will make all its faithful subjects of one heart and one soul (Acts iv. 32), which will be a kingdom of love, and will slay all enmities.

4. With what view he shall be sent on this errand: Lest I come and smite the earth, that is, the land of Israel, the body of the Jewish nation (that were of the earth earthy), with a curse. They by their impiety and impenitence in it had laid themselves open to the curse of God, which is a separation to all evil. God was ready to smite them with that curse, to bring utter ruin upon them, to strike home, to strike dead, with the curse; but he will yet once more try them, whether they will repent and return, and so prevent it; and therefore he sends John Baptist to preach repentance to them, that their conversion might prevent their confusion; so unwilling is God that any should perish, so willing to have his anger turned away. Had they universally repented and reformed, their repentance would have had this desired effect; but, they generally rejecting the counsel of God in John’s baptism, it proved against themselves (Luke vii. 30) and their land was smitten with the curse which both it and they lie under to this day. Note, Those must expect to be smitten with a sword, with a curse, who turn not to him that smites them with a rod, with a cross, Isa. ix. 13. Now the axe is laid to the root of the tree, says John Baptist, and it is ready to be smitten, to be cut down, with a curse; therefore bring forth fruit meet for repentance. Some observe that the last word of the Old Testament is a curse, which threatens the earth (Zech. v. 3), our desert of which we must be made sensible of, that we may bid Christ welcome, who comes with a blessing; and it is with a blessing, with the choicest of blessings, that the New Testament ends, and with it let us arm ourselves, or rather let God arm us, against this curse. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen.
- Matthew Henry Commentary