TRUNEWS with Rick Wiles - Morning Manna - Nov 24, 2025 - Proverbs 16:30-33

Episode Date: November 24, 2025

Well, good morning. Welcome to Morning Manna, and I hope you like our new studio sets as we make some changes here at Faith and Values. So we are going to be finishing up our study of Chapter 16 in the Book of Proverbs. Today we're looking at verses 30 through 33. I'm going to pray, invite the Holy Spirit to lead this class, and then Doc is going to read the word. And then he and I are going to jump into these verses and dig out as many golden nuggets as we can find. Let's pray. Amen. Almighty God, our Father, thank you for this beautiful new day. We give

you glory and praise and honor. We're grateful to be alive and to be saved and be citizens of your kingdom because of what your son did for us at Calvary. We invite the Holy Spirit to lead this Bible study to bring forth wisdom and understanding and knowledge and revelation Father, give grace to all of us to receive from heaven the things that are in these scriptures in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen and amen. Welcome to morning, man. So glad to have you here, no matter where you are in the world today. We usually have folks checking in from a dozen or so different countries around the world each day

as we gather for this class. Today, we're going to continue our study in Proverbs chapter 16, Proverbs 16. Finishing up Proverbs chapter 16 today as we continue our study. We're picking back up on verse 30 and reading to the end of the chapter, verse 33. So read along with me, if you will. I'm reading from the King James this morning. Verse 30, He shutteth his eyes to devise forward things.

Moving his lips, he bringeth evil to pass. verse thirty one the hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city in verse thirty three the lot is cast into the lap but the whole disposing thereof as of the lord may god bless the reading of his word here on this monday edition of morning men Amen. We're going to start with verse 30. The King James translation, he shutteth his eyes to devise froward things. Well, let's begin with the first part of this verse. He shutteth his eyes, okay? Sheteth his eyes depicts a man or woman intentionally withdrawing his or her attention from what is right, as though he or she is closing their soul's shutters, their blinds, to keep out the light of God's moral truth. He shuts his eyes. The gesture signifies

a deliberate focus. This is not an involuntary blink. but it's it's a concentration on a scheme it's done on purpose it's bringing in the person's thinking right to concentrate inwardly on a scheme that is being devised in that man or woman's heart so it's no accident what's that doc I said it's no accident at all not an accident It's intentional. So in ancient Hebrew culture, eye gestures were associated with intention. They still are today in our culture.

The closing or the winking of an eye or eyes reveals an agenda. When somebody winked, whether it's maliciously or, or in jest and humor. They're signaling to other people around them. Watch this. I'm about to do something. So in this case, the man or woman shuts his eyes to devise

froward things. So the scripture is telling us that sin begins internally in the, in the hallways, in the rooms of the imagination, where no humans can see, where there's no one to interrupt, it's in private. The sinner chooses secrecy

because he or she must hide from the light in order to build and craft and devise the plan that cannot survive exposure in the light. Yes. Saddok, Go ahead. I was going to say, just looking a little bit more into this verse here, let's take a look at that word

devise there. The word devises from the Hebrew Aramak word of Hashab. And it means more than just, you know, just thinking out loud or casual thinking. It's the same word that she used to weave like craftsman, okay, to calculate like an engineer, to engrave like an artist. So the casualness of this thinking is out the window. This is a plan. This is a scheme that's taking place. So this reveals that sin, it's not just impulsive. It's carefully designed. The sinner becomes the architect of his

own moral perversion. And so just, you know, thinking about that and thinking about the plans and the schemes, it's that devising the planning out that takes place. Another key word here in this verse, Rick, is that focus on that phrase forward things. Basically, it means twisted, perverse. It could also mean justice, distorted. But it's the idea of goodness being redefined. according to yourself, your own selfish desire. And so this closing of the eyes here is reflecting the soul's own refusal to look at God's law. In other words, Rick, he has to ignore righteousness to invent wickedness.

He has to run away from righteousness and run to wickedness. And so this intent of the heart, this interior devising, is reflected in Psalm 364 where it says he devises mischief upon his bed. The guy is laying in bed at night planning and scheming and thinking of a way to do evil and to run away from righteousness, Rick. Yes. So the verse

is exposing the origin of wickedness. It's born in silent imagination long before it ever is birthed in the real world through action, through speech. Doc, this, God gave us our imagination. The imagination is a God-given gift, but it can be misused. You can imagine good things. imagine inventions, new things that have never been on earth. And you can create things. You can imagine a song. You can imagine a painting. You can imagine a new style of a house. There's all

kinds of things that you can do with your imagination. But you can also misuse it. And you can imagine evil thing. And that's what this is talking about. So just to be very blunt, this this verse is covering fantasy that when people fantasize about sin they are participating in this sin that's being described that you're fantasizing in your mind about a sin you wish you could commit you might be telling yourself oh I would never do it but I do like thinking about it this is telling us you're in dangerous territory so every outward sin began first as an inward imagination we meditated on the sin before we ever carried out the sin and the the eye gesture is simply the physical human body revealing what the heart is devising

and shaping and building. So the Lord watches, he watches all these micro expressions, our body language. He reads our body language. He knows what we're thinking. He sees the inward tilt of our soul that is tilting towards crookedness. That's what perverse means.

It means to be bent away from the truth, to be crooked, to be twisted. And so what it's telling us, this verse is telling us, is that each child of God, every disciple, has to maintain vigilance, not only over your actions, but over your imaginations, because your actions began in your imagination. That's what is telling us. Yes. You're not going to change your actions until you first take control of your imaginations. Well, in this verse also, of course, I'm big on body language and learning facial expressions and the way people act with their body. And this verse is perfect for this.

This verse is telling us that spiritual discernment is necessary, even when we're observing people in their body language. Oftentimes, your body language betrays your direction. You could be saying one thing, but your body language is saying something else. So that means that a crooked heart often sends out a signal itself before it even speaks. And there may even be an effort to hide those expressions. But the eyes reveal all. The schemer's eyes, they reveal that relationship to sin. He's not plotting in the abstract, but he's targeting an individual or an individual,

reputation or an individual's trust, there's a scheme, there's a plan that takes place. Now, if we are to compare the unrighteous person and they're scheming everything and how their eyes betray them, let's look at Christ. Let's look at Jesus. Christ stands in righteous contrast to this. His eyes, we read in Revelation, are a flame of fire. His eyes were always open toward compassion toward truth and toward healing. And as followers of Christ, we're also called to have honest eyes too, Rick. Eyes that welcome light that look straight ahead that reflect the integrity of Christ. He reflects our role model.

That's right. He's our role model. The next part of this verse is moving his lips, he brings evil to pass. Moving his lips, he brings evil to pass. The movement of the person's lips is, in this case, in this verse, is intentional. A tightening of the lips, a compressing that signals the transition from inward scheming to outward execution. Doc, again, yeah, I know. You know, we talk about you, you study body language. What do you see in signals in a person's body language involving their lips?

Well, you'll see them if they purse their lips, which means tighten their lips, that means they're restraining themselves. They're holding back. They have something to say, but they're making a conscious decision not to say it. And depending on the culture and everything, people use lips in a different way. For instance, you know, in the Philippines, Filipinos use lips to point. They'll purse their lips like a kiss and use it to point. Other cultures do that too.

But the lips reveal, I think it's fascinating that lips reveal more than the words spoken. Lips are also a mirror to what's going on in the heart as well. I think in this verse is telling us that the lips are revealing the, person's direction before the person has formed the words. Yes. That you're reading their lips. Okay, if you become a lip reader, you're watching the lips and they're telling you, they are ready to take action.

They've already decided what to do. And they know where they're going, where they're headed before their lips have spoken any words. So the lips are the doorways. of the heart. Whatever the heart has designed, the lips deliver. You're not entering the lips. The heart is exiting the lips.

Yes. And so thoughts enter the mind and go into the heart. What's in the heart comes out the lips. And so moving his lips, this is first says, marks the decisive point where that man or woman's imagination now becomes intention

and the intention to commit an act begins to move outward into the world that's where it leaves the heart there's a movement of a lips

and then the sin is in is in action. So there's a, the speech is, it's like a bridge between the planning of the sin and the performance of the sin. Amen. And it's the person's tongue that the schemer draws others

into his or her plot using their tongue to express the sin. Yes. I think it's interesting on Friday, on Faith Friday, Our focus was on Romans 10, 9, and 10, and where it says confession with the mouth leads to salvation. Well, confession with the mouth here in this case brings destruction. It says he bringeth evil to pass. And what that indicates is that that scheme and that plan have now come to completion.

The evil that he imagined is now taking on life. It's taking on shape and consequences. are the result of it. So the sinner, just as the saint confesses salvation, the sinner confesses in his ability to use words, lies, persuasion, manipulation, subtle hints, whatever is necessary to move his plan from the idea to action now with his lips. And so this reveals the biblical truth that evil doesn't sit alone. It's not solitary. Speech spreads it. Just as the gospel spread through the preaching of the word, evil is spread through the speaking of the lips. It recruits others into it and it magnifies its reach.

It amplifies it. So whether the lips are moving or whether they're pursed or compressed, it shows resolve. This individual here in this verse, Rick, is bracing himself for what he is about to. to say and do. His sin does not remain in an empty vacuum. It comes to life with his words, Rick. You're right. So the lips, once they become activated,

they lead to things like gossip, slander, false testimony, lies, coercion, seduction, seduction, subtle persuasion. The plot was hatched in the heart when the imagination, and the imagination chamber of the heart is where the sin, the scheme, the plot was hatched. It then is released through the lips.

And immediately the person, the man or woman, begins one of numerous types of verbal sinning, like I said, gossip and slander, lying. So just as a righteous person's speech releases blessing on others. Wicked speech releases poison into relationships, into families, into churches, communities, the workplace, even the nation. So, Doc, it's showing us that evil matures through stages. Yes. Right. It starts, it's conceived in thought, first of all, then it gets nourished in the imagination and then bird through speech and you know that verse comes to mind that we've got to bring every thought captive every single thought captive and the evil person brings it captive but captive for the purpose of evil and scheming so once spoken evil gains momentum like a snowball going down a hill words just words

can ignite conflict. It can destroy trust. Words can unleash violence, Rick, as we see in this world today. Jesus warned us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speak it. So Jesus put a high priority on what words come out of our mouth, what our lips are doing. And he made speech the moral thermometer of the soul. Doug, what does it mean to bring every thought kept it. In my thinking, Rick, it means that we're going to be held accountable for every thought, every thought that crosses our mental plate, if you will, and whether or not it's weighed against the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Amen. So what are we learning in this verse? We're learning the importance of. of guarding our lips before they set fire to relationships. We're learning to capture thoughts that arise in our heart and seek to be nourished in our heart, in the, let's call it imagination, the garden, our heart's garden. That's where thoughts are planted and raised and nourished and they grow up in our imagination garden.

So it's telling us to watch closely what is growing in your imagination garden. Because once it comes out of your mouth, that thing has legs of its own. And it's going to produce a harvest, either good or bad. so the wicked man's lips are instruments of harm and the lips of a righteous matterwoman are instruments of grace so we are again Jesus Christ is our role model and we are we are being taught to to pattern our lives after him

to form our speech like him to respond to people like he responded to people To deal with situations, the way he dealt with situations. Let's move on, Doc. It talks about the sequence. We've got the sequence of the eyes and the sequence of the lips. Okay. So there's a sequential process. The eyes and the lips, this is not a sudden explosion.

This isn't something that just blows up inside of us and the next thing you know, we've got to sin. Okay. It is a steady, unfolding story with predictable steps. And once you know the pattern, then you know if I continue down this path, here are the outcome, good or bad. This is what's going to happen.

So it begins with the eyes, closing, the man or woman is closing his or her eyes to imagine something again this includes fantasies they the person is imagining something that they desire then they move their lips signaling their intention to carry out the imagination and then it ends in the the full realization of the imagination it materializes in the physical world so we're being we're being taught that this this chain the sequence of actions always moves from the internal to the external that the heart the heart is the seed of your being your heart cannot help but to express what it treasures remember jesus said be careful about what what your heart treasures, for out of it flows the issues of life. This is telling us, whatever you're storing in your heart and you considered the treasure, it's going to bubble up, it's going to come out of your mouth, it's going to move into your hands and feet.

It's going to produce a harvest. It doesn't just appear, doesn't just magic. It doesn't show it without warning. The signals are there long before it. materializes in the in the physical world but here's what we need to know god is tracking the entire sequence he he sees the first wink he sees the first imagination he hears the first whisper and he sees the physical manifestation that's right your thought he sees this is all watching this is all happening sometimes very, very quickly, Rick, which is why we must always be watchful.

The speed of this transition from the eyes to the lips to the actual deed itself should be a warning to every believer, every disciple, just how quickly sin can mature when it's not dealt with immediately. We've got to deal with it early. And the earliest stage should be the easiest place to halt this progression of sin, breaking the chain at the level of the imagination. You know, there are things that we encounter with their eyes, but that doesn't mean that we have to dwell on them

and create imaginary scenarios with them. So if we can break that at the level of imagination, it can prevent a lot of destruction that takes place, not just in believers' lives, but lives in general. This sequence, Rick, also reveals that wickedness isn't something that accidentally happens. It's something learned. It's something

that's programmed. We program ourselves to do this and it's repeated. So the schemer becomes skilled through practice. It's not just some sort of accidental thing that he's doing. He's done this before

and will continue to do it again unless he has an encounter with Christ. And just like on a manufacturing line out, like on a factory line, every single stage in this process is contributing to that final product one just one tolerated thought Rick just one feeds one reckless word net word fuels one harmful act that's why we must take our imagination captive as soon as we possibly can amen dog I'm thinking about deputy sheriff

Barney Fife on Mayberry RFD. What would he say about imaginations in the heart? Nip it, nip it, nip it. Nip it in the bud. Nip it in the bud. That's where you get it.

You stop it there when it starts to just form in the imagination of your heart. Hey, Doc, I want to move down to the commentaries. Let's see. We'll see what some of the old commentators said about this verse. Why don't you start with Charles Bridges?

Sure. Charles Bridges said that sin begins in secret counsel. The closing of the eyes, hence at the inward workshop where mischief is framed. I just imagine a workshop in your brain. And some guy is in there scheming, making out a plan to do evil. It begins in secret, but it comes to the lips and then forms into deed. Yeah, one of my favorite Christian leaders of earlier times was Presbyterian Pastor Albert Barnes, Philadelphia.

It's so sad, Doc, his church that for several hundred years was just a bedrock of sound Christian doctrine. Today, it's a politically woke church. I could only imagine what Albert Barnes would say if he came back and saw it. But this is what he said. Evil is first devised in thought, then carried out by speech. The man's very countenance reveals his intention. And then Alexander.

Yeah, go ahead. I was going to say, Alexander McLaren had this to say about it as well. well, he said, the crouching inward glance and the compressed lips are signals of a soul-fashioned evil in secret. I like the way he said, the crouching inward glance and the compressed lips. You can just see the man scheming in his mind. Yeah, listen to what Charles Spurgeon said. His eyes shut to the light, his lips ready with mischief. here is a man who has studied sin like an art amen yes in other words there's nothing

accidental in this person's sinful behavior they deliberately crafted it they built it they studied it they created the sin that they desired it came from their heart Verse 31, the king James says, the hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. The hoary head, what's that, Rick? The hoary head. So the Septuagin says, old age is a crown of glory and it is found in the ways of righteousness. So, I don't know, Doc, am I at the hoary head stage of my life yet? I don't know.

I know I am right now. I got my hair cut last week and it was all white hair that came off. And so, but I have the promise to the Lord that it's a crown of glory. The hoary head. It means gray hair is what it means. Yeah, gray or white, gray or white hair. Okay. it is the mark of a long life

and the evidence of survival through many seasons if you reach your 80s and 90s and up to 100 you have gone through a lot of stuff you have survived a lot of things and this scripture is saying God gives you a crown of glory in that stage

of your life. Amen. It's, and a white head, a white head of hair should be considered beautiful and honorable because that's how God sees it. There you go, Doc. Amen. You've got it. I claim it.

You got it. So, and this, this scripture is not the only scripture where the Bible exalts old age. you can read about it another you know leviticus 19 verse 22 proverbs 20 verse 29 Job 12 verse 12 so you know I you can look at it as white hair or gray hair is is God's silver medal for finishing the race of faith

right and this is a crown here I'm going to cry your head. Right. And this is a crown that's earned, Rick. It's earned through decades of trials and forgiveness and perseverance and faithfulness. You know, a lot of people, and I was kind of this way too at one point. I didn't like the idea of getting older. But I've come to realize age is not a curse. But according to this scripture here, it's a trophy, especially when it shows God's sustaining grace in life. So that white head, that gray hair, the hoary head preaches even without words. It says, God is faithful. I am still here. And our culture today

is obsessed with youth. But unlike the youth-obsessed culture that we have today, Rick, the Bible says that true beauty, true honor increases with age. if righteousness is growing along with that of course and so the aged righteous person are living history books of God's dealings with his people so the older you get the the more your life should be a benediction a testimony to the church and that the church is richer because they're in it and because they've sustained a life of righteousness

even as the hair has gotten gray. Amen. White hair or gray hair. It's actually a sermon. It's a sermon that your life is preaching to the rest of the world. On your endurance, your victory, your success getting through many trials and tribulations,

and your fear of God. it's a crown and I don't think many people realize that their white hair is a crown. God calls it a crown. Yes. And it glorifies the giver of the crown because what it says is every one of these white hairs is proof that God has kept me. Right. God has kept me through many battles and storms and difficulties and good times and bad

the Lord has kept me. Look at my crown, my white hair. It's the evidence that the Lord has been good to me. So we're just, you know, we're told, Doc, in Revelation, the Lord itself has white hair. Yes, that's right. And we're going to have white hair too. So that white hair that we have now is actually prophetic. It's speaking about the future. It points to those days in the future when our resurrected bodies where we'll have white robes and we'll have white hair, just like Jesus did. Now, let's face it, youth has its strength. But I think we can also say that age has its splendor. Of course, that's assuming that when age has righteousness and better with it as well. There's some cranky old people out there too, Rick, okay? But there's also

people who are truly righteous. And I know you're thinking of maybe people in your own life in the past, maybe a grandparent, maybe an elder in the church or that Sunday school teacher, you know, the elderly Sunday school teacher that was faithful and the white hair that they've had, you know, it has its splendor. It has its glory. So this crown that we have, this crown of glory is communal as well. Children and grandchildren, the Bible says, rise and call the righteous elder blessed. Why? Because they recognize the testimony of that crown.

So the beauty of age isn't skin deep, as the world today says, but it's soul deep. It's character polished by time and trial situations. And so this gray hair that we have, Rick, this hoary head that this verse talks about, really is God's signature on our lives. And what does it say? Well done. You made it. Amen. Amen.

Now, this is my personal opinion. And I'm not saying this to offend anybody. You hurt your faith. It's my personal opinion for myself. I would not dye my hair. The older I get, the grayer I become, and I just wouldn't dye my hair. That's my personal preference for myself.

Because when I look at the scripture, it's telling me that gray hair, white hair, is God's halo. it's his halo on us on this earth and so why would I cover it up why would I say I'm embarrassed by this halo that's my personal opinion okay you don't have to agree with that

not trying to put any guilt on anybody or shame or anything like that's just my personal opinion and we mentioned a moment ago the book of Revelation Jesus Christ is described as the ancient of days we are told that he has hair white like wool so what is he wearing he's wearing the ultimate crown so if his hair is white like wool wool

and it is the ultimate crown for eternity then I'm okay with white hair right now because I'm identifying with my king now that's right but Rick there is a caveat in this verse. There's a big if right here. If it be found in the way of righteousness. Just being old isn't enough, is it? It's not. Your white hair has to be found in the way of righteousness. The crown is not automatic. It has to be verified by God. God has to verify and approve that you have lived

a righteous life doesn't mean that you haven't made mistakes doesn't mean you haven't stumbled from time to time but overall is the Lord leaves with your life so righteousness is

the gold that makes gray hair a crown so without righteousness old age is nothing but extended prolonged foolishness. Amen. I mean, how long do you want to live as a fool?

I mean, what's the point of living long if you're a fool? Just so you can be foolish at 90? Fulish at age 100. So there has to be righteousness with this white hair. God is always auditing our journey every year must be walked with him he crowns you with white hair

he says congratulations you've made it to old age I'm pleased with you okay so Doc you got a look at it as you know that and you have a lot of exposure to

to the Asian culture because Mia is Filipino and you've lived in South Korea as a missionary. But in a lot of cultures, elderly people are exalted. They are honored. They're treated with respect. That's right. What hadn't you seen? Go ahead. Well, in South Korean culture especially,

elders are greatly honored and the reason why rick is there's so few of them uh righteous elders are rare treasures the fact of the matter is very few finish well okay and that's just the way of life um the way of righteousness rick includes humility repentance mercy and the fear of god but not just a one-time event that takes place in our life. You can live a life of righteousness, and yet late sin will tarnish the crown that you're wearing. Think of Solomon. Solomon was given grace by God to ask for anything.

He asked for wisdom. But how did he use that wisdom? And what became of his life, where he finally comes to his senses and Ecclesiastes and says, you know what? I'm old now. And here's what I've observed. But in Ecclesiastes, he's expressing his regret at not living a righteous life. So there's a condition here in this verse, and that condition, the if, if you will, the condition glorifies the grace of God. God, it's God himself who sustains our righteousness and our

our walk all the way of the finish line. It's not something we can do anyway. And so the aging elder, the aging righteous, they silence the lie that no one can persevere. So we see an elder, a righteous elder, and I'm thinking of one individual in particular, early in my ministry career, his name was Pastor Donaldson, brother Donaldson.

when i when i was pastoring a church in northern missouri brother donelson was 88 years old he used to pastor that church that same church and now he was still going i learned so much from that man he had just heavenly white hair but his mind was as sharp as attack and there is no way you could say a bad word about brother donelson and all he was always self-spoken uh he had seen everything he had done everything any scenario in the church rick any scenario he had seen it he had seen it all and yet he still persevered and was still living righteously for christ pushing 90 years old still attending the same church that he pastored yes attending the same church that he pastored letting some year old a kid, pastor him.

Which says a lot about his patience and grace, didn't it? Yes, it does. Because he looked at you and said, well, that was me a long time ago. Yeah. And there was a pastor that sat in his church and watched him try to start. Talk, you know, obviously many people start to race, but not many people. finish the race well. Some years ago, I don't know, three or four years ago,

I mentioned this before, I was talking to the Lord about how certain people, you know, start out in life. They, you know, they just seem to have everything going for them. They came from well-to-do families. They were sent to good colleges. Nothing went wrong in their childhood, their teenage years. They went through, you know, they were just, you know,

they were the best Boy Scouts. They were, you know, everything just went well for them, okay? They graduated from college. They went straight into good jobs, their careers. And the Lord spoke to me, he said, Rick, don't worry about how you started in life. The only thing to be concerned about is how you'd finished. Because many people start life well and finish it poorly. And others start life poorly and finish it well.

How you finish life is the main thing, the goal, the destination, that we finish it well. So whatever stage of life you are in right now, you have time. You have the ability to correct your course. If you got off to a rough start, that's okay. But you don't have to stay on a rough start. And you don't have to let your rough start drag you down the rest of your life. That's true. Just say, okay, I had a, I had a poor beginning, but I'm not poor now.

And I'm in the kingdom and I'm learning his ways. And I'm going to finish this race well. I'm going to end out the right way. So one thing that we see here is that, This promise about the white hair, the crown of glory, it's for covenant people. We serve a covenant keeping God. He promises long life and honor to those who are obedient,

who keep the covenant. So once again, our gray hair, our white hair, are living sermons. our hair is preaching to the world to the world our god is faithful i have been faithful to my god and he's been faithful to me and and so don't let gray hair bother you right it's wear it as a crown and be be honored that god has has given it to you all right uh because dog what he's saying is you've passed a test. Right.

You've reached that stage of life. You've passed a test and you're near the finish line. I want to go down to the commentators. Let's see here. Let's start with Matthew Henry. Okay. Matthew Henry said that the hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. When men grow old in the service of God and finish their course with joy, their gray hairs are a great honor to them.

I like that, Ray Barnes said, gray hairs are a crown when they are the sign of a righteous life. Otherwise, they are no ornament. Yes. And Alexander McLaren said, old age is a crown of glory when it's the outcome of a life of righteousness. then every wrinkle is a mark of honor well i've got a few of those too not just the gray hair but also the wrinkles too yeah and scotsman william or not said the hoary head is a crown of glory when the life has been spent in the way of righteousness then every gray hair is a jewel in the diadem amen verse 32 we've got two more verses he that is slow to anger

is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit that he that taketh a city slow to anger long-tempered patient patient under provocation

when do you need patience when you're being provoked yes you don't know if you have patience until you're being provoked if you can remain patient under provocation then God's working in your life right because that's the test

when somebody's provoking you, goading you, pushing you, pushing every tender button on your life say if I push this, would that make you mad? If I squeeze you here, will that make you angry? How can I get you to become angry? See, the slow to anger is a trait of God.

He is slow to anger. It's mentioned throughout the Bible. I think nine times the Bible says God is slow to anger. You know, I'm glad because, you know, God in his anger is merciful, but people are not. People are not merciful in their anger. that's so true they'll cut your fingers off but god even in his anger he's merciful

but he's slow to that angle and so this is what we're being taught that that's that the mighty it says it compares the person who's slow to anger as a mighty person a warrior a hero a conqueror better high accolades that you can give a person your might And so God is declaring the patient man and woman as superior, that they have an internal, an internal trait that has victory over the external circumstance. So what we're reading from scripture, Rick, is that, and this is revealed time and again is that anger is a fire. and but our slowness to anger is like cutting off the oxygen on a wood stove as you cut off that oxygen the flame goes down but if you feed that you know and get that air going back on that fire it suddenly explodes and so but that slowness of anger prevents destruction and arrives so this phrase can it even

rebukes those quick-tempered men. You know a few of them. I've, you know, in the past, I've been quick-tempered. But it's been the scripture that's challenged me and harnessed me and put a bridle on me to become slow to anger. The disciples were taught by Jesus that the true power is not in expressing your anger. Remember, we were told, well, you need to let it out. You need to express your anger, no. The scripture teaches that restraint is the rule of the day when it comes to anger. And so you've got to say no to anger in your life. So slowness to anger saves relationships. How many relationships have been destroyed, Rick, friendships, marriages, business partnerships, destroyed because someone got upset and spoke it out loud.

Rick, one rash word, just one can burn a lifetime bridge. Just one rash word can destroy a lifetime of relationships. That's why it's so important to understand how powerful our words are, especially as it relates to anger. Doc, you know which group of good people? people. I don't think of good people, righteous people, but there's a group of class of good, righteous people who are extremely vulnerable to an outburst of anger. It's good people who hate injustice. Yes. When they see a bully treating another person unjustly,

The good person, the anger builds up in them, and they want to step in and, you know, rescue the victim and, you know, turn out the lights on the bully and say, back off. But that's what happened to Moses in Egypt. His anger kept him out of the province land for 40 years. He saw an Egyptian soldier beating up a Hebrew man And Moses stepped in to stop the abuse And he hit the Egyptian soldier so hard He killed him Well, and then at the end of his life, Rick

He hit something else He hit a rock in anger He hit a rock And that kept him out of the promise man That kept him out of the promise land And then kept you out of the sandwich land. Yeah. So can we say, Doc, Moses had a problem with his anger?

Yeah. His whole testimony started with anger and really ended with anger, didn't it? It did. So Moses got to the end of his life, served the Lord with greatness, and still, the Lord said, Moses. You got angry. and you beat that rock with a stick and your anger. And he was 120 years old at that time. Yeah.

He should have known better, right? Yes, but he could beat you with a stick at 120. So, but look what happened. The first time when his anger exploded, he was banished by the Lord to the wilderness for 40 years. Then 80 years later, okay he's at the end of the wilderness he's staring he's on mount nebo yes you know doc and i've been there many of you have been there in jordan he's standing on top of mount nebo looking at the

promised land okay and he wasn't allowed to go in because shortly before he got angry about water not coming out of a rock and he beat to rock with a stick had he had an anger explosion and that disqualified him from going into the promised land. That ought to, man, that'll sober up all of us. His crown was tainted. So we're not born with patience. You don't come into this world with patience. Patience has learned and it comes slowly.

You've got to go through situations where you're being provoked. You have to be tested. You have to be humbled. You have to be crushed. You have to submit to the Holy Spirit. It just doesn't appear in your life. But the mighty people, warriors, and our society here in America, we, we lift up military warriors almost as demigods. I mean, we really exalt military leaders.

but God says the patient man or woman is mightier than the greatest soldier amen are more powerful and and so we have to again follow our role model Jesus Christ look at the way he stayed patient

when Pilate was questioning him Christ stood there silent didn't answer Pilots what's wrong with you you're going to answer me you know I have the ability to have you execute it but Jesus stood there quietly

so he's our role model so Doc you have any final words on this first before we move on no I'm just reminded where it says in scripture and it says Christ open not his map Remember that? He opened down and not his mouth. He could have. He could have easily called 10,000 angels down to judge Pilate, to judge the Jewish leaders to bring him down off the cross. His word, his very word. And yet Christ restrained his word on that day. He could have and had every right to. But he restrained himself. He opened not his mouth. And yet by opening not his word, mouth, conquered death, conquered sin. And we are in resurrected life now because he opened not his

mouth. If Christ restrained his lips when he had every right to, how much more us? Amen. This verse says, and he that ruleth his spirit and he that taketh a city. Yes. ruleeth his spirit means he has sovereign control over his passions, his desires, his impulses. The righteous man or woman rules his or her

spirit. They are the kings of their own inner being. They rule like a king over their spirit, over their hearts. So this is talking about the inner man, your heart,

the seat of your emotion, you will, your desires, your appetites, everything right there. It says to rule, rule your inner man like a king. Yes. You will rule, you are stronger. If you rule your spirit, you're stronger than a warrior who can conquer a city. I mean, that's amazing. Yes.

To say that getting your inner man under control is more difficult. than conquering a city, militarily. I mean, that's saying that the hardest fortress to storm and take down and conquer is your own heart. Yes. Now, how many people want to conquer your heart? Oh, I know. I deal with this all time. There are people, they want to conquer my heart.

I'll show you what's wrong with you, Rick. I'm going to conquer your heart and set you straight. No. your own heart. You go conquer your own heart. And then you told me, then you come and teach me how to you do it. Okay?

But you've got to conquer your own heart. And this is telling us that conquering your own heart is harder than a military conquest of a city. That's being defended with guns and weapons. So our soul is a king. And in that kingdom, the throne, what's on that throne must be self-control. Yes, amen. And self that is in submission to the Holy Spirit.

Yeah, and this phrase, Rick, means that the disciple has to recognize that God exalts those that allow themselves to be ruled by him. promotion comes from that mastery within where we realize we can't control us we can't do it we need christ so a ruled spirit contrast of being ruled by spirit it doesn't matter whether you're a slave or you're king you are still under subjection of this evil heart that we live with and so disciples are challenged today we need to conquer ourselves first and then we can lead others so this image here it rebukes the idea of a tyrant they may command nations but they don't command their temper okay i can think of politicians right now that you know have a difficult time controlling their temper and yet it's a reflection of their inner life with christ isn't so this phrase teaches that

this self-rule i would just say not self-rule but christ rule rule rule prevents self-destruction. And just like we saw in Moses' at the end of his life when he struck the rock, one outburst, Rick, just one outburst, and all can be lost in a moment. That's why we've got to bring every single thought into captivity, every single word that we speak in the captivity, because Rick won't outburst,

and her entire reputation could be lost in a moment. families destroyed marriages destroyed businesses cruffed churches split just by one outbursts of anger and temper that's how deadly it is and this is why we're being told to control that passion in you is more difficult than conquering a city with an army i want to go down to um uh See what our commentators said here. We got one more verse to go. Matthew Henry said, He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty because he has a greater conquest.

A conquest over himself, which is more honorable to conquest over others. Yes. John Gill had this to say. He said that he that rule with his own spirit is better than he who captures a city for the one is a conqueror of others. The other is a conqueror of himself. And Albert Barnes said,

He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh the city because the internal victory is harder and nobler. And also I've got here, Alexander McLaren, he said, the true hero is the man who conquers his own heart. Yes. G. Campbell Morgan said that he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, for he has a greater victory. Amen. I like that, Brother Morgan. Yeah, we have two more quotes, Terrell Spurgeon and William Arnon. Terrell Spurgeon says, a man slow to anger is better than the mighty, for he has

conquered a foe that the mighty cannot conquer himself. Amen. That's powerful, Doug. And then William are not. I like what he said here, here, Rick. He said, true greatness is in the government of the heart, not in conquering the city, but in conquering the heart. That's right in governing it. Okay, last verse. First 33, the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. This is an interesting one. it's describing the act of using law. Now, this gets, some Christians have difficulty with this, because we're talking about the equivalent of dice

or pulling straws as a method to make a decision. Right. of the lot in ancient times was a tool all right to to make decisions that the group couldn't nobody can you know arrive at the decision so they would cast lot okay right they would cast into the lamp which means it was thrown into a garment the lap was the garment and so you've got this deliberate action casting the lot into the garment and what we're learning here is that this practice was sanctioned by God when it was done in faith and in reverence to the Lord and this stock is where this becomes difficult for

modern Christians to understand because wait a minute It sounds like gambling, but it's not gambling. God was overseeing the entire process. It's when people said, we can't decide. It's like God decide. And that's what makes it acceptable because God gets involved in this process and makes the decision. Right. A perfect example of this.

was choosing the replacement for Judas in the book of Acts, the very first chapter of Book of Acts. They had to choose between Barsabas and Matthias. By all accounts, they were equally qualified to replace Judas and to take his seat. But they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. It doesn't mean that Barsarbus had anything negative against him or anything like that at all. just wasn't God's plan. It wasn't God's purpose. His purpose was Matthias. That's a tough thing for people to come to terms with, Rick, because we have to realize that sometimes the things that

we encounter in life, the randomness of life, the serendipity of life, we think it's just casting us about. But actually, God is pulling the strengths. He's still sovereign. He's still in charge. And that's what we get in the second part of this first. But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Right. The phrase the whole disposing, it means every single decision without exception is of the Lord. There's no luck, no fate, no magic, chance.

There's not chance. No chance. This isn't the lottery. God is deciding. how the law will be cast. He's deciding the outcome. And so we're being taught that there's no such thing as chance in a God-governed universe. That even, and this again, this becomes challenging for modern Christian.

It's saying that the smallest roll of the dye, okay, you know, we roll dynes, okay? that the fall of a sparrow everything is under God's eyes it's under his sovereign control everything and the more I study this no more I meditate on it the more peace it brings to me

that nothing is going to happen to me outside of his will I don't worry and even painful outcomes yes I don't worry I don't worry anymore about in having to go through painful experiences. My attitude now is,

if that's your will, I'll do it. Amen. I'll bite the bullet. You know, in the old days, you know, they didn't have any say, hey, bite the bullet. I grit down on this bullet, okay? Sink your teeth into this bullet, because this is going to hurt.

If that's what the law, Lord has for me, so be it. I'll do it. Okay. I've come to the place where I realized nothing is going to happen to my life that he has not permitted. When you think that way, we can understand the assassination of Charlie Kirk. There was a good young man and God allowed him to be murdered. on the surface it doesn't make sense but it was the Lord's plan because I think Charlie Kirk's death and funeral

brought more people into the kingdom than had he lived to be a hundred it's the Lord's sovereign plan and he he said to Charlie Kirk you're done I'm bringing home okay so then you can accept does it justify no no he was murdered god's got to deal with the murderer okay but he allowed it to happen he allowed it to happen we have to accept that even

meaningful outcomes serve his will serve his purpose right and that's humbling doc you had is and it humbles human preference in the sense that we think we have control we really do uh but we propose he disposes and so you know often on trips rick when we pray for if we're going somewhere especially out of the country we pray for uh i pray specifically for divine appointments and divine conversations and why do i say that because because oftentimes our planned conversations and our plan appointments often pale into comparison to the appointments and conversations that God has set up. And we often come back from these events with information or a new relationship that was

divinely ordained, right? How many times does that happen, Rick? A divine conversation. That's right. Or we attend a session. not knowing what we're going to hear. And then we hear one phrase in there that changes the direction of our ministry. We know when we go back, we've got something.

We've heard something that's going to change this ministry. So we're being led by the Holy Spirit. So what is telling us here is that, you know, God is overseeing the selections that men and women make, in elections and choices. that are made, God's sovereign plan is being played out, okay? And so we need to be at peace. Those who do evil, they're going to answer to the Lord someday. He doesn't set them up to do evil, but he allows them to do evil. That's the hard part to understand. He doesn't create them to be evil, but he allows them to be evil.

And that's no excuse to be evil. It's not an excuse to be evil. You can't do it like that. I want to go down, Doc, the commentators, before we wrap it up here. Let's see what Charles Bridges had to say. Well, Charles Bridges says that what appears the decision of chance is under the control of heavenly wisdom. Providence rules the smallest of circumstances. we make choices Rick we we make decisions and I pray you know whenever I have a decision to make and

everything I ask the Lord Lord help me to make the best decision but once that decision is made I leave it up to him I just got to leave it with him I can't fret about it I can't worry about it I say here it is Lord let let's work with what we've got and don't second guess yourself right second guessing is yes second guessing is being double-minded yes make the decision and go with it and even if you made the wrong decision the lord will somehow fix it i said i don't know how he does it but somehow he does albert barn said there is no such thing as chance god guides even the most apparently random occurrences i say amen to that yes And Alexander McLaren said, the lot that drops from a man's hand is shaped in its fall by the hand of God.

One more at Charles Pergin. Providence leaves nothing to chance. He who governs all things determines even the casting of a lot. Yes. All right. Well, hey, that is our lesson for today. Thank you so much for a few minutes over, about 15 minutes or so over our time limit of one hour. Thank you for watching Morning Manna today. Hope this has been a blessing to you. Doc and I will be back here tomorrow.

Invite someone to join us in Morning Manner. God bless. See you tomorrow. See you on the Tuesday edition of Morning Manner.