A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
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#How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people? How has she become a widow? She was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how did she become a tributary? Lamentations 1:1
The Hebrew word for solitary is Badad; meaning isolation, separation, and desolate. Isaiah 10:17,18 And the Light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; And shall consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, both soul and body, and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth. Jeremiah notes how Jerusalem which was full of people before the captivity, has become isolated and lonely. Jehovah God has judged the daughter of Zion for sinning grievously. Jeremiah is the weeping prophet cause the judgment of God caused him to weep for Jerusalem the Capital city of the King of Israel. We must always weep when we preach a message of judgment. For God disciplines all those whom He loves. Jeremiah warned them of the coming judgment if they did not repent. Isaiah prophecized that they were calling evil good and good evil. We must be a watchman for if we warn the wicked and they turn from their sin, then God will not hold us accountable for their blood. But if we fail to warn the people and they perish in their sins, then God will hold us accountable for their blood. The Hebrew word for standard-bearer is Nasas; meaning to wane and be sick. This is why the people fainteth. The Psalmist said before I was afflicted I went astray, now I keep thy law. This is the blessing of affliction and therefore, why God sends it to us. The Hebrew word for tributary is Mas; meaning body of forced laborers, task workers For they had a tax burden causing them to faint. Taxation without representation. How we are seeing this same problem and people are fainting from working two or more jobs trying to pay their taxes. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
#But she is happier if she so abides, after my judgment and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 7:40
Our prayers go out for King Charles III with his cancer diagnosis we are wishing him the mercy of God and that Jehovah Rapha will heal him. The Greek word for judgment is Gnome; meaning purpose, opinion, consent, and decision. From Ginosko; cognition, i.e. (Subjective) advice, resolve (counsel, consent, etc) Philemon 1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. Paul is saying the woman who decides to stay single and not remarry will be happier since he has the Spirit of God Paul can make this kind of judgment just as he advised Philemon to willingly accept the runaway slave Onesimus who accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and became a brother in Christ. Nowhere in scripture does it say that it is not good for a woman to be alone. Only the Lord tells the man this, so we see why Paul judges this way. Lamentations 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed because His compassion fails not. I will start the book of Lamentations tomorrow and God willing we shall be blessed as we see how Jeremiah the weeping prophet mourned the passage of the 70 years of bondage by the Israelites in Babylon.
#The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives, but if her husband is dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:39
The Greek word for liberty is Eleutheros; it means free, not a slave, or not under restraint. Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all, and in all. Paul is using the free from slavery metaphor, as marriage can sometimes seem like slavery. Yet in Christ, we have been liberated from the law, and as long as the husband is dead, the spouse is free to be married to whom she chooses, but only that they must be a Christian.
#So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. 1 Corinthians 7:38
The Greek word for marriage is Ekgamizo; meaning to give in marriage. From Ek and a form of Gamisko; to marry off a daughter. Luke 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. To give away a daughter in marriage is a wonderful thing, as I had the opportunity to give away one daughter in marriage, and the other one did a destination marriage due to the pandemic and I could not give her away. So due to the destress of the present day, I agree it is better to not have to give a daughter away in marriage. For one thing it is very expensive, and with my wife and I being separated it is good the other daughter did the destination wedding. Marriage is wonderful, but when God is left out of it, then it is idolatry and that is what the people before the flood were doing, eating, drinking, and marrying wives and giving them away when the flood came and destroyed them all. My advice to future fathers is to advise your daughter of the blessing of marriage and a destination wedding. Then decide which is the best for everyone to have.
#Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity but hath power over his own will and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 1 Corinthians 7:37
The Greek word for steadfast is Hedraios; meaning settled, from a derivative of Hezomai (to sit) sedentary, i.e. immovable. Firm (Euripides, Plato, and others) in the N. T. metaphorically, of those who are fixed in purpose. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes why then should I think upon a maid? One must be like Job, who was determined not to look upon a virgin and that is what standing steadfast in heart is like. Then you will be able to do the will of the Lord and be unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord. It is not easy, for Paul told the young minister Timothy to flee youthful lust that wars against the soul.
#But if any man thinks that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she passes the flower of her age and needs so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 1 Corinthians 7:36
The Greek word for flower is Hyperakmos; meaning past the bloom of youth. From Huper and the base of Akmen; beyond the ACME, i.e. Figuratively (of a daughter) past the bloom (prime) of her age. Paul is telling men if they do not have the gift of celibacy, then as long as the girl is past the proper age, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn in lust. Today there is a problem with same-gender marriage and when God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden He said it is not good for man to be alone. So He put Adam to sleep and took a rib from his chest and fashioned He a woman, meaning part man. If God intended for same-gender marriage He would have formed another man. God said let them be fruitful and multiply and this can only be done between a man and a woman. So let us thank God that He made us into the gender that He predestined us to be and to marry the opposite sex.
#And this I speak for your profit: not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 1 Corinthians 7:35
The Greek word for comely is Euschemon; From Eu and Schema; well-formed, decorous, noble, and honorable. Acts 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. Paul is speaking these words to our profit and not to snare us at the nobility of our Lord. The scripture tells us there was no beauty in Him that we should desire Him. Yet He was bruised for our transgressions and wounded for our sins. That is why we must attend to the Lord without distractions. Our spouse can become an idol, and thou shalt have no god before the Lord. My wife had a painting of her, and our two daughters, and she called it Timmy's Angels. My mother told me that was idolatry, and it took me a while to realize that it was so, and I took down the painting because it was a distraction to my worshipping God. Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and not have any distractions before our God.
#There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord. that she may be holy both in body and in spirit but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 1 Corinthians 7:34
The Greek word for husband is Aner; meaning a man. A primary word (compare Anthropos) is a man (properly as an individual male) human, and mankind, i.e. A human being. Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and unwilling to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. Mary as a Virgin was willing to be the handmaid of the Lord and that meant bearing the shame of being pregnant while she was espoused to Joseph her husband. Thus Joseph being a just man did not want to make a public example of her was going to divorce her privately. So being a virgin or unmarried woman is better for she can serve the Lord fully not worried about how she may please her husband. Joseph is the ideal husband who wanted to do the will of God and married the Virgin Mary after the Lord put him to sleep and showed him in a dream that the Babe was of the Holy Spirit. There are no more pregnant virgins, for this was the only time the Lord would use a virgin to bring His Son into the world. Next time He comes He will be riding a white horse as King of kings and Lord of Lords. Marriage is holy and we must preserve our bodies for our spouse and not live a promiscuous life.
#But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:33
The Greek word for married is Gameo; meaning to marry from Gamos; to wed (of either sex) to marry a wife. Matthew 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery and whoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. This is serious for Jesus said Moses suffered you to put away your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But I say unless she has committeth fornication, then you shall not put her away, for you will cause her to commit adultery. We marry to live a holy life committed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yet many marry the wrong person who is not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and this causes a schism in the marriage. Then adultery is caused when you divorce her for that. Paul said if the spouse leaves the marriage, you are at peace and should pray for one another while you are separated to get back to the Lord to save the marriage. If you divorce in this situation whoever marries the one who left the marriage is committing adultery and God will not bless a marriage based on adultery.
#But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:32
The Greek word for carefulness is Amerimnos; meaning freedom from care. To be secure. From (as a negative particle) and Merimna; not anxious; without care. Matthew 28:14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and secure you. Paul is saying God does not want us to be worried about the cares of the world, but only the cares of the Lord. The Jews put out a false rumor that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus out of the grave rather than believe that He had risen just as He said. So until this day, there is care about this lie that was told and God wants us to know the truth, for it is the truth that sets us free. For this reason that is why being unmarried is better for we are more concerned about the things that belong to the Lord, and how we can please Him.