Daily Manna 21 April
KEY VERSE: “These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” – (Proverbs 25:1,2)
READ: Proverbs 25:1-25 (KJV)
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
“If I have seen further,” Isaac Newton wrote in a 1675 letter to fellow scientist Robert Hooke, “it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” According to Wikipedia, standing on the shoulders of giantsis a metaphor which means “Using the understanding gained by major thinkers who have gone before in order to make intellectual progress”. What Isaac Newton inferred in his quotation above is what researchers take advantage of in their works. Progress becomes easier when we learn from the lives of achievers and people who lived before us.
Such was the experience of King Hezekiah in our passage. His men copied the works of Solomon, who had left a reputation for unparalleled wisdom. Even though this is the only reference in the Bible where the men of Hezekiah copied out the works of Solomon, that the latter generation imbibed lessons from the former instructs us to widen our notions and correct the follies of prevalent customs.
The passage copied covered sundry topics. It states the duties of kings as willingness to learn, discern and investigate matters to be able to ensure fairness and uprightness in administration of justice. We must shun pride and accept to be held accountable for our actions. This will help us do proper consultations before taking decisions. We must not feel too big to learn from others, and be positively influenced to do the right things.
It is as you stand on the shoulders of giants, you will be able to see more, understand their shortcomings and learn from their strengths. Are you like Hezekiah, who was willing to learn from the life of King Solomon? Or you pose as Mr Know-all who does not learn even from the life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Learn from others but focus on Christ, the Source of all blessings.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You do not have to re-invent the wheel!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Romans 1-3
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Standing on the Shoulders of Giants – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 21 April 2021
