The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, But the poor hears no rebuke. Proverbs 13:8

We see the typical scene in movie after movie.  The wealthy man has someone in his family - even himself - taken captive.  The FBI is in the home awaiting the fateful phone call.  When it comes there comes with it the call for ransom.  They knew he was wealthy - and therefore he was their perfect target.  Now that they have his life in their hands - he must pay and pay handsomely if he wants to preserve his life or the life of a loved one.  Who would have thought that thousands of years ago God gave this wisdom to Solomon to warn the rich that due to the sinful, selfish tendencies of fallen man, they would at times have to realize that their riches would be the ransom for their life?

Here we have a proverb that simply states human nature.  Very seldom do we read of a poor man who is held ransom for his good name and his hard work ethic.  We don't see him held ransom for the simple way that he works and lives and loves his family.  There is no demand for the happiness of a poor family who is content with the little they have - because they have each other.  Men may covet such things when they realize that money really doesn't make a person happy, but seldom do they think that such basic joys can serve as a ransom for another's life. 

This is a problem for the rich and not the poor.  They have spent a great deal to get what they have.  But there are those who would take them captive, even threatening their lives, for the purpose of extracting as much money from them as they can.  Sin and rebellion to God make evil men think that they will be happy if they get enough money.  They think no matter how they get it - they will have it made once they escape.  Fascinating that the movies don't really follow these crooks to their fateful end.  They show us the really cool ways they do their crimes - and how clever they are as they get away.  They have the closing scene where they toast one another with champagne and talk of what they'll do with their loot.  They don't show us men and women who are hunted for life - and who are looking over the shoulder at every turn.  But then again, that wouldn't sell in a movie would it? 

The rich have much - but they also have the struggle to keep what they have.  Since their lives are bound up in their bottom line, they spend much of their lives protecting it any way they can.  They do all they can do to protect their money - and they also have to spend a pretty penney on security to protect their lives and their families.  When you look at all they do - and how they have to deal with fear of losing it all - you have to wonder, is it worthy it?

The poor man hears no such rebuke.  He does not live in fear of having his family, friends, or himself taken captive for ransom.  Now I am not against wealth or riches - because there are many who are very godly to whom God has given riches.  There are those who use their riches wisely - and to the glory of God.  But then again, we see them making wise choices and seeing wealth through the eyes of God.  They may have the money of the rich man - but they most likely have the values of the poor content man at their core.  They live for simple things even though they are wealthy.  In fact some of the most precious people I've ever known were wealthy - but did not come close to living like it.  Just about everyone they knew had no idea how wealthy they were - because they chose a very modest lifestyle.  Interestingly, they probably heard no rebuke either - since they did not flaunt their wealth.  Makes you think about how you are living.  It also makes you think in one more way as well.  Even though the rich may have their wealth to pay their ransom here on earth - it will do them no good at the end of the age.  Just a closing passage of Scripture that rings in my ears as I think about this proverb.  It is from the Psalms . . .

Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me, even those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches? No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of his soul is costly, and he should cease trying forever—that he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay. Psalm 49:5-9

There is NO ransom for a man's soul.  There is only ONE acceptable price paid for sin.  That price is what Jesus Christ paid with His blood at the cross.  The redemption of a man's soul is indeed infinitely costly.  Maybe money can buy "everything" here on earth according to sinful men - but the second a man passes from this life, he better not be deceived into thinking that his wealth can be the ransom for his eternal life.  Thinking like that can cost you . . . literally everything!

The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand. Proverbs 12:7

Men rise to power - reign for a period of time - are overthrown and within a generation are forgotten.  Only the most infamous of leaders is remembered after being destroyed - but their memory is like rottenness - a reminder of a horrific man who chose a wicked way to live.  They are remembered as a byword and a warning.  Don't become like such men - whose wickedness chased them down and destroyed them. 

There is an interesting thing about this particular proverb.  The wicked after being overthrown are no more.  First, their reigns are so odious to the people that they feel the need to rise up and destroy them.  Once they are destroyed no one wants to continue their ways.  This is because their ways were wicked.  The people want nothing more to do with them - thus they do all they can to forget them.  They leave no enduring house or legacy.  The only thing they leave is a cautionary tale of warning to those who would desire to be like them.  The very principles upon which they built their lives ensured their demise.  This is why wickedness will not stand or last forever.  The wicked and all their kingdoms will end up in the lake of fire in the last day - suffering everlasting torment for their godless, evil empires.  Their house will eternally be destroyed around them - and their testimony will only be that of agony and knashing of teeth as they suffer the worst of ignominies for their choice to live a wicked life in defiance of God and His principles and rule. 

The righteous though have a house that will stand.  The very principles that they have chosen will last.  That is because they are principles that flow from the heart of God Himself.  That Word will stand forever - as well as what is built accordingly.  As an example of this consider the house and lineage of David.  He was a man after God's own heart.  He chose to follow the Lord - and even his greatest mistake (his adultery with Bathsheba) was an example for generations in its cost as well as David's example of repentance as he turned from his sin.  That house stands forever.  His writings in Psalms that record his conviction and repentance stand.  They bless every generation that reads them.  More than any of that - God's promise to build Him an everlasting legacy also stands as Christ Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise.  His house - founded upon Calvary's hill stands to this day - though kings, false prophets, and wicked men have tried to destroy it in every generation.  May we remember such things as we seek to build our house - not a structure made of rock, wood, and nails - but a life and family grounded on the solid rock of God's Word.  May we remember as we labor on that house day after day - week after week - and year after year - teaching and admonishing our children with all wisdom from God's Word.  May we remember as we sink deep foundations dug with time on our knees.  May we remember as we build not with wood, hay, and stubble - but with silver, gold, and costly jewels.  May we remember that our labor in the Lord is not in vain - but is used by the Lord to build an enduring house - one founded upon a rock - and that rock is Christ!

The righteous is delivered from trouble, But the wicked takes his place. Proverbs 11:8

God's ability to deliver out of trouble is nothing short of amazing.  If we only knew all the times that God has delivered us from situations and problems - we would fall and worship at His feet.  As it is we will have to wait for that day when we see Him and know as fully as we are known.  But thankfully the Lord has put some of His glorious history in the Bible from which we can glean the wonders of His power to arrange providence according to His will.

We read here that the righteous is delivered from trouble, but that the wicked takes his place.  The first thing we need to state here is that God does not promise to deliver the righteous from ALL trouble.  There are times when God's purpose is served by the death of His martyrs.  But for every martyr it seems that there are also those times when God does glorious deliverances among His people.  There are two that are amazing because they mirror exactly what is said here in this passage - that the wicked take the place of the one who was delivered. 

We read of Mordecai who would not give worship to the wicked Haman.  Haman decided to do more than just kill Mordecai.  He got authorization from the king to kill the entire people of Mordecai - going after the entire Jewish nation.  As the Jews prayed earnestly for deliverance, God was engineering a wonderful array of providence to provide deliverance for them.  Esther was queen so she had access to the king - and was willing to go even though she was not requested - thus risking her own life.  As Haman proceeded to build a gallows like none other upon which to hang Mordecai - God was having the king experience a sleepless night in which he had court records read to him.  He learned of Mordecai speaking of a plot to kill him - and desired to honor him.  That event led to a glorious change of circumstances - in which Mordecai was delivered from the gallows - yet Haman was hung on them instead.  Instead of Mordecai's family being killed - the family of Haman was hung along with him upon the gallows he built for Mordecai.  Ah, the glories of my God and King - Who can work miracles of providence to accomplish His own will in history.

The second piece of Bible history involves Daniel and a lion's den.  A group of wicked advisors to the king were jealous of Daniel - and thus sought a reason to accuse him before the king.  Darius the King was a vain man so he fell for the trap laid for Daniel.  The advisors had him sign a law that no man could pray to anyone except him for a day - with the penalty being death by lion's den if they disobeyed.  Once signed - these wicked advisors awaited Daniel's godly choice to pray to God three times a day.  When he bowed to pray to Jehovah, they were ready to pounce.  They dragged him before the king and had him pass sentence even though he was loathe to do so.  Thus Daniel found himself being lowered into a den of ravenous lions - a trouble that seemed destined to have him consumed as soon as he reached the floor of the den in which the lions awaited his arrival with salivating mouths.  But God shut those mouths and delivered Daniel until morning.  As he was raised out of the den - the lions did not have to worry about going hungry.  The king, furious with their deceitfulness, had the wicked advisors thrown into the pit with the lions who more than obliged his offer of a second meal - crushing them as soon as they hit the ground. 

God is able to deliver to the uttermost.  We need to know that and trust Him to deliver us when we face trouble because we confess His name.  We also need to know that He is also able to bring the wicked to a most horrific end as well - even having them take our place as He delivers us.  Trust Him at all times, dear saints of God.  He is good and will do what is good in our lives.  Whether He offers an earthly deliverance or not - remember this one thing.  The most glorious deliverance that He offers is that which is bought and paid for with the blood of His own Son at Calvary's cross.  There He delivered us from His own wrath and judgment - not at the cost of the wicked - but at the cost of His own beloved Son.  May that ultimate deliverance from trouble drop us to our knees daily in worship, adoration, and praise!

He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out. Proverbs 10:9

Those who walk in integrity in their ways do not have to look over their sholders as they live their lives.  That is becasue a walk of integrity doesn't have anything to hide.  That is the lesson that we can learn from today's proverb.

The one who walks in integrity is very secure.  The word integrity means to walk in a completeness.  It has the idea of a clear conscience - or doing what you do with no hidden motives.  Abimelech stated that it was with a clear conscience that he took Sarah as a wife.  The problem in that relationship arose because of Abraham's lie that she was his sister.  Abraham would have argued that this was a half truth - but since it landed his wife in a foreign king's harem - it was nothing more than a cowardly lie.  But Abimelech was an honest man in this situation - and God warned him so he would not sin.  That is the protection offered to us by walking in integrity.  It guards us and protects us from willful rebellion against God.  We are told that integrity is not only a way to walk secure - but the psalmist says in Psalm 25:21 that it is a way to be protected as well.  Truth is always an ally to whoever walks in it.  That is the peace that integrity provides.

The man who walks in perversity has no such promise.  This man perverts his ways.  Note the emphasis here on personal responsibility.  He perverts his own ways - it is due to his own choice to do so.  There is no way to blame everyone else for his own choices to pervert his ways.  The word pervert means to twist or to make uneven.  It refers to a moral and ethical choice to pervert and twist what is right - and once again what is right is what is laid out in Scripture.  The sentence for such actions is that they will not remain secret.  He will be found out.  We can try to hide our sin - but the problem with this is that we will be found out in the end.  For many they are found out before they die - which honestly is the more merciful choice.  That is because when this is the case the man has a chance to repent and turn from his sin - finding mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. 

Some use a passage like this to make it seem that God wants to humiliate them.  The fact is that God knows our sin the moment we commit it - and honestly - even before with his knowledge of all things past, present, and future.  But God would prefer that we be found out by the convicting work of His Holy Spirit.  When we respond to that conviction, we can come to Him and find grace and forgiveness.  We choose to reveal our sin ourselves.  It is only the man who consistently tries to hide his sin that faces being found out in the more embarassing ways.  The Psalmist tells us that the man who hides his transgressions will not prosper - but the one who confesses and forsakes them will receive compassion.  So, if you read this proverb and were convicted - but the devil and your own flesh is seeking to convince you to continue to hide your sin - don't!  Turn to the Lord and confess and forsake it!  That is the wise thing to do.  Expose it yourself to the Lord - and if it is a persistant, besetting sin, turn to a brother or sister who can help hold you accountable as you deal with it over time.  You don't have to face complete humiliation before men.  Admit your sins to the Lord - and follow James' advice to confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed!  That is the way to turn from walking in perversity to a life of integrity once again.

She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home; Proverbs 7:11

What kind of lady do you want to be drawn to in life?  For the women who are reading this - What kind of woman do you want to be - or do you want your daughters to become?  Hopefully, this passage in Proverbs 7 will have a little bit of wisdom for you today.

The woman described here in this verse is the one mentioned in verse 10.  This is the adulteress - the woman who dresses as a harlot - and who has her sights set on a very foolish young man who has decided to stray into her web.

She is described in three ways in this passage - and I would dare say that these are traits that woman would do well to avoid.  First of all we read that she is boisterous.  The word for boisterous means to growl, roar, or howl.  It means someone who is loud - who is very tumultuous.  This is interesting to read because Peter encourages the women in the New Testament to be women whose beauty if from the "inner man of their hearts" (a reference to the fullness of Christ within them) - and adds - a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth to God.  (from 1 Peter 3:4)  This woman is not either of these things.  She is neither quiet or gentle.  Her boisterousness manifests itself by the fact that she is out confronting young men - initiating to them.  She is out seeking sex and as she does - she is loud and bold in her actions and words. 

Here we come to an interesting thought.  God desires women to be the gentler sex.  He sees great worth in a quiet and gentle spirit in a woman.  We are not stating that women should never speak - that is a over statement of this principle.  It also does not mean a woman cannot laugh or enjoy herself - but that she must be stoic and quiet as a mouse.  The passage here and in 1 Peter is saying that a woman ought to have a tranquil heart - and not have to be the center of attention and the life of the party.  There is another thing we need to see here.  She is not just boisterous - but boisterous and rebellious.  Her loudness comes packaged with a rebellious heart as well.  She doesn't want to submit to her husband -or to the proper way to carry herself in public.  This is evident by the fact that she is seeking an adulterous partner in the streets at night.  Most of all she is not willing to submit her life to God and His Word.  She desires to run her own life - do her own thing - and say and act however she wants.  Men, such a woman is NOT a good woman to marry.  Ladies, such a character is NOT wise for you to adopt - and neither is it wise to allow your daughters to be influenced by such women.

The third and final description of the adulteress in this verse is that "her feet do not remain at home."  This is literal first of all as we watch her leave home and seek out a sexual partner other than her husband.  But it is also evident in other aspects of her life.  Titus speaks of having the older women teach the younger women to be "workers at home."  I'm sure I'll hear about this - but I do not think it is the wisest choice to have women out in the workplace.  That will most likely be received as a statement made from the dark ages - but actually it is made from Scripture.  The more women have been liberated from this Scriptural principle - the more they have actually been enslaved to the problems that come from it.  Women's liberation movements have tried to tell us that a woman should abandon her maternal instincts and leave home to do what men do.  The results of this social experimentation have been nothing short of disastrous.  As women have embraced being like men - they have also encountered the sins of men as well.  It has helped to disintigrate the family and the institution of marriage.  When a woman's feet do not remain at home - the protection the Scripture speaks of will be lost to them. 

I know that I've said some pretty controversial things today.  Most likely I'll get some pretty negative comments from this posting.  But the facts of Scripture are the facts.  Boisterousness, rebelliousness, and women who leave home to pursue their own agenda are not those who are held up and honored in Scripture.  I'm not saying that all women who are this way will end up in adultery.  But I am saying that the wise woman reads such a passage and leans heavily to the opposite of such things.  May God grant to all those who read this His wisdom to see the role that He has for women in this world.  Contrary to what the NOW and other feminist organizations will say, such a role is not demeaning to women.  It exalts them to the place of their greatest effectiveness and power.  Women who have lived out such lives know this.  They know that being a women of godly character, graciousness, and sacrificial love - will bless them - and will bless the many generations that will know the love of a godly mother - a godly wife - a godly woman.  May God multiply their number in the church once again in our day!

"She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty." Proverbs 4:9

Wisdom is showing us with wonderful gifts as we learn to value her highly.  The last two gifts are mentioned in this third verse.  Wisdom will put a garland of grace on our heads - as well as a crown of beauty. 

The garland of grace refers to a woven circular branch or vine that was worn on the head.  It was used as a symbol of honor and victory.  This garland is refered to as a garland of "grace."  Grace is the Hebrew word "hen" and it means favor, acceptance and was the primary word used to refer to the unmerited favor of God.  When we fully embrace wisdom and the practical way of carrying it out in understanding - God's favor and blessing will be seen upon our lives.  Over the years I've had the priviledge of knowing a number of very wise men - and can testify that you see the grace of God upon their lives and their works.  You want to be around them because of it - and because of the last thing wisdom promises.

She will present you with a crown of beauty.  A crown was a sign of royalty and honor.  The crown that wisdom places upon our heads is one of beauty.  The idea here is not that we will look hot if we gain wisdom - but rather that a spiritual beauty will be given to our lives.  Think about the fruit of the Spirit for just a moment in this context.  Wisdom will lead us to be filled with God's Spirit - which in turn will mean that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will be evident in our lives.  If you have ever known someone who sweetly manifested the fruit of God's Spirit in their lives consistently, you know that they have an amazing beauty that radiates from their hearts.  I've known young women whose outward beauty was far outshined by the beauty of Christ that shone from their hearts.  Even though they were not stikingly beautiful outwardly - those around them saw them that way - because of the beauty of Christ that radiated in their lives.  When we embrace wisdom and highly honor her in our lives - we receive a spiritual makeover that brings a level of beauty to our lives that no spa could ever match. 

Embrace wisdom - hold her in the highest esteem and honor.  Consider her worth more than gold and silver, rubies and diamonds, stocks and bonds - consider wisdom worth more than any other thing in your life!  This is the way to be blessed and beautified by God's grace.  So remember this - get wisdom - and as you are expending great energy and effort to do so - get the understanding to practically live that wisdom out in the world around you.  Based on the clear teaching of God's Word I can guarantee you that if you do this - you will never regret it!

Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. Proverbs 4:8

As we are getting wisdom and understanding it would benefit us to know why we should prize it so highly.  That is what this wise father does next as he is seeking to teach his childern.  He does so by personifying wisdom as a lady who will begin showing those who value her with wonderful things.  There are several things he tells his son in this way - pictures that he will not forget.

Prize her . . . this is the first thing he is told to do.  The idea here is that this young man should lift up and exalt wisdom.  He should give wisdom and understanding a marvelous reputation and worth.  A smart man highly values and exalts the wisdom of God in his life.  He puts a premium upon it - and makes obtaining it a priority.  The son is told that if he does this - Wisdom will exalt him.  Wisdom will lift you up - will grow you - will promote you and cause you to be raised up in position and in your place in life.  Here is a wonderful benefit of wisdom.  People might not value a person of wisdom initially - but in time wisdom reveals itself in what it does and how it blesses.  When a man has wisdom to see the right thing to do - and understanding so that he can practically carry out what needs to be done in order to secure the blessings - he becomes incredibly valuable to those who are around him.  Far too many bad things happen in life because people follow the advice of fools.  So when a man truly wise and understanding comes around - he is noticed and he is desired. 

Embrace her . . . this is the next attitude we need to have toward wisdom and understanding.  When you embrace someone you are showing affection and affirmation.  To embrace wisdom means not having it at an arm's distance.  We pull wisdom and understanding close.  We want it and we love it.  When we do this wisdom, we are told, will honor us.  The word for honor here means to be heavy and the idea behind the word is something that carries weight.  This is the same word that elsewhere is used for the glory of God.  If we will embrace wisdom, she will honor us.  She will give our words and ideas weight to those around us.  To use a modern phrase - we won't be lightweights in the world of ideas.

"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is not something that "just happens" in our lives.  If we want to be wise we will have to make a decision to pursue wisdom and acquire it.  That is what Solomon tells us today in Proverbs.  The beginning of wisdom is . . . acquire wisdom! 

Wisdom is something you can gather - much like a person goes out and gathers crops at harvest time.  God's Word sits on most people's shelves or on a bedside or coffee table absolutely brimming with wisdom.  The wisdom is there for the acquiring.  The word aquire here means to buy something to acquire it and possess it.  The word is used to describe how God redeemed His people by buying them back.  It is a very common word used for gaining possessions and acquiring just about anything a person needs.  So what we are counselled to do by Scripture is to get wisdom. 

What does this look like . . . this gathering of wisdom?  For the believer it can take several forms.  First and foremost we need to fellowship with God - to get into the presence of the ultimate Wise One of the universe.  What is amazing about this first way of gaining wisdom is the access God grants us to His presence.  In our world we have very wise men called consultants.  They are usually men and women who have learned their field so extensively that they are able to go into a business and look at it and offer very wise counsel to help it out.  They don't come cheap - and their time is very valuable.  Their time is also limited - so often people have to pay a premium to get them.  When they do come you are paying a large per hour amount to have them - so businesses limit their time with consultants to only what they absolutely need.  God knows no such limitations!  He is available to us every hour of every day.  He offers His divine expertise to us for free - as long as we are willing to hear Him and obey what He says. 

Other ways to gather and acquire wisdom is by hanging out with wise people.  We can do this by being in their presence - or by reading books which they have written.  We can listen to teaching by wise men and women of God.  And before I completely overlook what may be one of the best places for wisdom let me say that fathers, mothers, grandparents are excellent sources of wisdom.

Scripture tells us that as we are gathering wisdom there is something else we should be wanting as well.  We are told that with all our acquiring of wisdom, we shoudl get understanding.  Here is where we often get off the track.  God wants us to fill our minds with His wisdom - with seeing the world as He sees it.  (I heard one brother put it this way in prayer, "Father, teach me to love what You love and to hate what You hate."  That my friends is wisdom!)  But as we fill our minds with wisdom God also wants us to be able to use it practically in every day living.  That is what is meant by the phrase, "get understanding."  Getting understanding means using God's wisdom to discern what is going on in our lives.  Using discernment to distinguish between two choices in our lives - and knowing which one is best.  It means seeing things from the perspective that we might even choose what might be a little painful at first - because of the long-term benefits of the decision.  When we begin doing this - we are gaining wisdom and understanding. 

Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. Proverbs 2:9

How do you know when you are doing the right thing or going in the right direction in life?  Here is a question that everyone would love to be able to answer.  The fact is that God says that we can know this.  The way that we know it though is definitely outside of the mainstream of ideas that exist today.  Let's take a look today at how we can know whether we are on course or not.

Solomon tells us here that there is a time when we will be able to discern some very important things.  The first in his fourfold list is righteousness.  Before we jump into those four things, we should see that discernment is involved.  The word discern means that we are able to look at things and distinguish between them.  We see differences between two or more things - and use that knowledge to understand them from God's vantage point.  Here is our first very important lesson - things differ - and you can tell the difference.  Most would agree with you on this truth - until you begin stating what you can distinguish between.  The last thing we should address before we go into our list is that Solomon is stating what he does in verse 9 as a conclusion to all he has said before.  What is it that allows us to have this discernment?  It is the Word of God.  All through this chapter he is calling for us to receive the Word, store up the Word in our hearts, cry out for God's work in teaching it to us, and to seek for the Word as one would buried treasure.  The discernment of which we speak here is a discernment that comes only because of the way the Word works in our hearts.

As I said earlier, the first in his fourold list if righteousness.  We will be able to discern when something is right or not.  Now is the moment when the postmodern among us throw up their red flags.  They assert someone might know right and wrong for themselves - but consider it the height of arrogance to think or state that anyone might be able to discern right and wrong for everyone.  But that is exactly what Proverbs asserts here - and more by the time we finish with the four things Solomon says can be discerned.

The second in our list of four is justice.  Our society cries out for justice - but unfortunately the justice they want ignores the Word of God.  It ignores what God calls just in many cases - and completely ignores the problem of how we can be just before Him.  Whereas the world cries for social justice - God offers absolute justice.  These are not always opposed to one another - but - God ultimately wants us to be able to stand before Him just and righteous - and that requires the person and the work of Jesus Christ to happen.

The third thing we will be able to discern is equity.  Here, my friends is a loaded word.  "Meysar" is the word the Hebrews used to describe equity.  It means rightness, correctness, and fairness.  The word meant something smooth and level.  Communism is man's way of trying to make everything equitable.  Pure communism takes from everyone and then redistributes it so everyone gets an equal share.  It does not take into account work ethic or whether someone has truly earned their share with hard work.  And since pure communism would require pure hearts to work - we see that in practical communism - the ruling class takes and redistributes so everyone is equally as poor - while they live in the lap of luxury and take care of those who most honor and support their rule.  When God speaks of equity He is speaking of how a state should judge fairly and honorably.  He is speaking of how His promises are available to all.  To "discern" equity we need to see things as God does - for fairness and correctness begins with what is fair and right in God's eyes.  When we bring God into this equation - we have serious trouble for mankind.  Man is sinful and rebellious - and what is fair for him is God's wrath and judgment.  What we should find amazing about God's equity is that He chose to pay the price of equity for us - and instead of giving us what is fair, He gave us grace instead.

Finally, through the Word, we can discern every good course.  We will know the right ways to walk - and God will indicate to us wrongs ones as well.  This right and wrong will correspond to what He says in His Word.  Thus we have the ultimate aggravation to the modernist.  We assert that through God's Word we have an "absolute standard" upon which all things in life is to be measured.  If actions and choices and lifestyles do not measure up to what God calls good, right, just, and equitable - they are wrong.  And thus begins the clash of worldviews.  True Judaism and Christianity will always find themselves at odds with the rest of the worldviews that come from men.  They end up at odds because they have the audacity of claiming that God's Word is a revelation of THE truth.  For those who reject this claim - the world is a mish-mash of conflicting morals and ideas.  We all get along by ultimately stating that both everything is right, as well as everything is wrong.  It might be right for us while at the same time being wrong for others.  The resulting public moral quicksand creates a world in which all things are to be tolerated except the arrogance of Judaism and Christianity who assert that their worldview is absolute.  That view - that view that states that there is absolute truth and it is found in God's Word - is the one that absolutely cannot be tolerated.  Too bad though - because it is the only worldview that creates the stability of actually knowing whether the path you are taking will ultimately lead to blessing or destruction.