PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell” (Proverbs 30:4).

First a question: “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?” Answer: John chapter 3. In John chapter 3, Jesus Christ says in verse 13; “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”

Somebody says, “Well, Enoch ascended up into heaven.” Not by his own power. Elijah ascended up into heaven, but he went up in a chariot. Moses was evidently taken up there. He shows up with Christ in Matthew 17, but he didn't do it under his own power. There's only been one individual that ever ascended into heaven under his own power, and that was the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended [like He did in Acts chapter 1], what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things)” (Ephesians 4:8-10).

So, the question is answered. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

“. . . who hath gathered the wind in his fists?”

The answer is in psalm 135:7, “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” The Lord, of course, Jesus Christ is the Lord.

“. . . who hath bound the waters in a garment?” you'll find that garment in Hebrews chapter 1:11, “They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment.”

“. . . who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth?” Now, there's the creation. Well? Who created it? Somebody says, “Well, in the beginning, God created heaven.” Yes, but what part of the Godhead created it?

Well, the Bible said that the spirit of the Lord moved upon the face of the waters and so forth and so on. Yeah, but you gotta go to Colossians to find out who actually did it. That's a New Testament revelation, and here in the Old Testament, and Old Testament man asks, “Who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth?” Colossians chapter one. My Saviour did. Amen?

The Bible says, talking about Jesus Christ in verse 15, “Who is the image of the invisible God,” and it said, “No man hath seen God at any time” (John 1:18). Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the father” (John 14:9). That's all there is to it. Again, John wrote, “Who is the image,” referring to Jesus, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature.” That’s every spiritual creature. He is the first born of every spirit creature. The Bible talks about him being the first born among many brethren in Romans chapter 8. You see, if you take that passage to make it physical, you have Jesus Christ being born like the Jehovah’s Witness says, or the Calvinist’s say, in eternity. He wasn't born in eternity; he was born in time. When it comes to spiritual birth, he is the first born of every creature and you are a new creature in Christ when you're born again.

He said, “by him were all things created.” Talking about Jesus Christ, “that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, dominions, principalities, powers: all things were created by him and for him.”

So, “Who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name?” Well, the lord Jesus Christ is his name.

Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!

If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.

He wasn't born in eternity; he was born in time.....

Can you cure my ignorance by explaining the difference between born in eternity and born in time? I don't understand. Thanks.

Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity has existed forever in whatever form He was in. He “was” from before the beginning before the world was created. In fact, Colossians makes it clear that it was He that did the creating. Well, the whole Trinity was involved. He also appeared throughout the Old Testament in the form of an angel, called “the angel of the Lord,” in what are called “Christophanies.” However, he did not take upon Himself a human body until the time was absolutely right for His appearing (despite the lie of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’).

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4, 5).

When He came Rome had built roads that made travel possible, the Jews had established a monotheistic belief system, and Greek had become the lingua franca of the day (it is no longer true today as English is the new common language).

Thank you for once again adding to my knowledge.

You are one of those people who shows a smooth surface of a lake of facts and underneath there are great depths. I value that in people.

I thank you for your kind compliment, but you would be surprised at how much I DON’T know! God is good, though; all the time!