You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
4 In whose
eyes [`ayin] a vile person [ma'ac] is
contemned; [bazah] but he honoureth [kabad] them that fear [yare'] the
LORD. [Yahovah] He that sweareth [shaba] to his own hurt, [ra`a`]
and changeth [muwr] not. KJV-Interlinear
4 In whose
eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the Lord; He swears
to his own hurt, and does not change; NASB
Contemned, 'bazah,' means to despise, scorn, disdain. And this means to not pick and choose among people based on their status or wealth or position whether low or high, but to evaluate and make associations based on character.
Too often people are judged, socially, based on their outward appearance, on their possessions, on their popularity and so forth. The rich man is adored, the poor man is scorned, and everyone in the middle is treated as ho-hum, or are scrambling for a better position to get ahead in the social hierarchy.
The spiritually positive believer neither takes sides nor treats people with external bias, does not pursue advancement in his life at the expense of others, nor pursues worldly connections due to status.
The positive believer, regardless of social rank, is honored. The wicked apostate is rejected and not honored, regardless of social rank. Exceptions are never made just to get 'in' with someone with status or rank or wealth, or anything that suggests ones own advancement.
Swearing to ones own heart, is a contract with self. To abandon evil and to pursue righteousness. To be true to doctrine and thus to God. To maintain a relaxed mental attitude, to maintain poise, to avoid getting agitated over the simplest of things and even in the big things of life.
To change not, means just that. You do not change your attitude with the weather or with the company you keep. You remain consistent and true to truth.
You do not compromise Gods principles for the sake of convenience or advancement in this world.
You believe Gods word, because you have studied it and have learned it and therefore know it. You cannot know what you have not learned. You cannot learn what you have not studied or been taught.
And you subscribe to that which you believe. That simply means that you apply to your daily life the principles learned in the scriptures. You are not a hypocrite. You do not speak one thing and think or pursue another. You do not pick and choose between the principles presented and accept only those you agree with.
You learn, you believe, you apply, and you support and promote the views of God, without embarrassment or hesitation before people.
To receive notice of each days Bible Study, please go to my twitter page and sign up.
