Episode 9 - How To Live As God's Temple and Have Hope

As God's Temple, His biggest desire for us is to trust Him. I really encourage you to read Psalm 3.

FOR I KNOW THE THOUGHTS (PURPOSE) THAT I THINK TOWARD YOU, SAYS THE LORD. THOUGHTS OF PEACE (SHALOM/HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPERITY, FRIENDLY) AND NOT OF EVIL, AND TO GIVE YOUR FUTURE HOPE. WHEN WE DO THIS, HERE IS THE PROMISE OF GOD: THEN YOU WILL CALL UPON ME AND GO AND PRAY TO ME AND I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. – Jeremiah 29 vs. 11 to 12

Verses 1-2: 2 Commands, 3 Blessings.

Commands: 

1. Forget not God’s Word (precept/statute). Read John 15:7. 
2. Keep (preserve) my Commandments. 

Blessings:

Blessing 1: Length of Days (life worth living). 

Blessing 2: Long Life.

Blessing 3: Peace (shalom/harmony/tranquility/prosperity).

Verses 3-4: 3 Commands, 2 Blessings.

Commands: 

1. Let not mercy and truth leave you (loving kindness). 
2. Bind (tie) around your neck (Proverbs 6:21, Proverbs 7:1-3). The Jewish culture of the day was such that they went to their morning prayer, the Jewish people would put these commands and blessings in a pouch and tie them around their neck. Lesson to be learned: Where our neck and head go we go.
3. Write them on your heart and only the Holy Spirit can do this (Colossians 3:1-17).

Blessings:

1. Find favor with God. 
2. Good understanding with God and Man. 

Verses 5 to 6: 3 Commands, 1 Blessing

Commands:

1. Trust in the Lord (confide/secure). Read Psalm 56 – Prayer of Trust.

2. Lean (rest) not on yourself.

3. In all your ways – not just some of your ways – acknowledge God (which means to declare/be diligent).

Blessing: He will direct (to make right/prosperous/straight) your paths. 

Verses 7 to 8: 3 Commands, 2 Blessings.

Commands:

1. Do not be wise (skillful or artful) in your own eyes. 
2. Fear the Lord (to revere or to reverence).
3. Depart from evil (to put away or turn away). 

Blessings:

1. Health to your navel (the navel is a symbol of nourishment. Mother to the unborn child).

2. Marrow to your bones (marrow keeps the bones moist and contains stem cells that carry oxygen to your body).

Verses 9-10: 2 Commands, 2 Blessings.

Commands:

1. Honour the Lord with your substance (this is a reference to material giving). 

2. First fruits (the first part of any increase). 

Blessings:

1. Your barns will be full (keep in mind that agriculture was the main industry of Solomon’s day).

2. Production of wine will increase (in the days of Solomon wine was a symbol of blessing and intimate love (Song of Solomon 1: 2: “But love is better than wine.”). Wine is used both in the positive and negative context. 

Verses 11 to 12: 2 Commands, 1 Blessing.

Commands:

1. Despise not God’s chastening (do not shrink from God’s instruction or discipline because He loves you (Job 5:17, Hebrews 12: 56)).
2. Do not become weary (anxious or distressed) of His correction (reasoning, rebuke). 

Blessing: Correction from the Lord is a blessing because, again, He loves us as parents love their children. 

Verses 13 to 18: Seek true happiness because this is the way God intended us to live (Proverbs 8:35, Proverbs 16:20, 3rd John verse 2).                                            

Happy is the man or woman who:

1. Finds wisdom
2. Finds understanding.
3. Why? Wisdom and understand are better than:
4. Silver
5. Rubies
6. Gold
7. Any other thing
8. Six blessings of wisdom and understanding. 
9. Length of days
10. Riches and honour
11. Pleasantness
12. Peace 
13. Tree of Life (Eternal Life)
14. Happiness 

Verses 19-21: Wisdom is the key to life when it is anchored in the Lord. 

King Solomon requested wisdom more than anything else and God gave it to Him (1st Kings 3:1-15). The Lord gives us the same opportunity with the same question – ask for wisdom (James 1:5-8). 

Verses 21-24: 2 Commands, 6 Blessings of Security                   7

Commands:

1. Do not depart from sound wisdom.
2. Keep discretion (intent and a plan) (Proverbs 1:4, Proverbs 2:11, Proverbs 5:2).

Blessings:

1. Life unto your soul. 
2. Grace to your neck.
3. Walk in safety.
4. Shall not stumble.
5. Not afraid to lie down.
6. Sleep will be sweet. 

Verses 25-26:  2 Commands, 2 Blessings. 

Commands: 

1. Do not be fearful. 
2. Do not worry (worry is a sin – trusting God is the antidote to fear and worry (Matthew 6:24-34)).

Blessings: 

1. The Lord is our confidence (hope).
2. The Lord will keep you (to watch over you). 

Verses 27-35: 6 Commands, 4 Blessings.                                                                        8

Commands: 

1. Do not withhold from others if you can pay now. 
2. Do not say no to a neighbour if you can help.
3. Do not contrive anything evil against anyone.
4. Do not strive (grapple or defend against another person without cause Romans 12:18).
5. Do not be envious (jealous) of others. 

Amplified Bible: “The person who has departed from the Lord is the detestable to the Lord, because God cannot tolerate sin, but His secret council is with those who follow Him. But remember. God is a God of love and is always willing to forgive and will forgive our sins and cast them away as far as the East is from the West and never to be remembered again."

Read Psalm 25. A prayer for guidance and protection. Key verse 14. 4
Blessings:

1. God blesses the home of the just. 
2. God gives grace to the lowly (James 4:6, 1st Peter 5:5).
3. The wise shall inherit glory.
4. His secrets are with the righteous. 

These are an incredible group of commands and blessings that are given to us especially when we understand THAT OUR BODIES ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. 

Download notes for this episode (PDF): CLICK HERE

Last episode: CLICK HERE