Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Each heart knows its own bitterness,
    and no one else can share its joy.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
    but the tent of the upright will flourish.
There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.
The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
    and the good rewarded for theirs.
The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.
The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,
    but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

• Proverbs 14:10-18

Proverbs 14:10 ”People are microcosms, or little worlds—each person has his distinct sphere, wherein he dwells. We are so many worlds and no one world of a person exactly overlaps another. You cannot completely know your neighbor. All that you know concerning your fellows—and there is much which we can know—leaves a great deal as unknown to us as the fixed stars. There is a bitterness which each person feels alone and a sweetness with which none can understand. Every person is, in a measure, self-contained. His being is detached from other beings in certain matters. Alone are we born, one by one; alone do we die, one by one. Though we shall stand with the great multitude before the throne of God, yet that judgment will be of individuals and the sentence will be passed upon us one by one.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from his sermon notes

Whether on one end of the emotional scale or the other, there are some experiences that we enjoy or endure.  And as Rev. Spurgeon wrote, we were born individually, we will die individually, and we will stand in judgment on our own.

The first half of these proverbs share in a general theme that the wicked may seem to prosper, but in the end, they do not.  Their house will be destroyed.  Their ways end in death.  Even when they find some earthly happiness or joy, it is fleeting.

Proverbs 14:15 shifts slightly in that those who are simple minded will believe anything, while the wise think it through.  In reading this verse, I feel like making it the motto of this blogsite.  I want people to think it through.  Odd how the secular world has painted the Christian as the one with a dull mind.  Yet, it is the Christian that has thought things through and has seen God on the other side.  Proverbs 14:18 has a similar theme in that the one who thinks things through gains knowledge.

Proverbs 14:16-17 are a slightly different theme.  The hot-headed, quick to temper, are not well liked.  Their evil schemes end up with no good.  I remember an audio line, narration, in a Spike Jones sketch from the 1940s or 50s. “She had an even temper … always mad.”  People with that reputation have few friends.  I had a boss one time who exploded.  He would always look grumpy when he got to work.  Everyone that worked for him would argue over who was going to be the one to enter the boss’ office to say something.  Even in saying “Hello”, you could get something thrown at you if he was in one of his moods.  But if he had a good night’s sleep and no bad news at home, he might be at least in a business mood.  Friendly?  Hardly ever and those rare moments caused everyone to fear when the other shoe would drop.

And now let us sing.

The following song is Slow to Anger.  It is sung by Joshua Miller.

“Surely goodness, and Your mercy
Will follow me forever
Your loving kindness, sweet forgiveness
Are new with every day

You are slow to anger, rich in love
Your kindness is pursuing us

You won’t condemn us, or discard us
Even when we’ve gone astray
Your loving kindness, sweet forgiveness
Are new with every day
You are slow to anger, rich in love
Your kindness is pursuing us
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, You’re pursuing us”

• Geno Olison, Tina Colón Williams, Anabeth Morgan, Slow to Anger

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  I need your slowness to anger.  Even when I hold it in, some people can see it in my eyes.  And sadly, the biggest reason that my emotions emerge is that people fail to think.  Most of the time, it is not a lack of knowledge.  They just did not think it through.  And help us to love our neighbor and avoid any questionable schemes.  And when we falter, forgive us.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.