The Poor Man's Voice is Despised

"Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard" (Eccl. 9:16).


Prejudice ad hominem is the darkest blindfold; therefore, the elite scholars and Pharisees of the day could have no regard for the words of Jesus.

Dialectics of Defeat and Modern Anti-Society

“Modern capitalist society imposes loneliness upon men. In fact, this loneliness is a major theme of a lot of new writing and art. Modern society is anti-people.” ~ G.P. Deshpande (Dialectics of Defeat, p.8)


This is truer of those men who have been detached from their classical family structure in order to cope with the system engendered by modern industrialization and technological economics. Thus, those who are migrating to the cities are succumbing to increased tensions rising from social isolation, the so-called attempts to build up an organizational society failing despite all team outings and retreats. Modern capitalist society dehumanizes people by evaluating them commercially and treating them as parts of a machinery, parts that must be abandoned when they become useless to the machinery; in that case, capitalist society is similar to socialist society, excepting that in a socialist society the machinery is the State, while in the capitalist society the machinery is the money-minting organization. In that sense, Deshpande is right when he calls modern society "anti-people". This is particularly severe in towns and cities. Where brute mammon has taken on the reins of a society, spirituality is betrayed into the hands of utilitarianism, love is crucified on the wooden cross of self-promotion.

The Venom of Sin

"Surely oppression destroys a wise man's reason, and a bribe debases the heart" (Eccl.7:7, NKJV).

A whiff of sin is enough to deaden all sensitivity to truth and love - it's such a deadly venom. It alters the consciousness to suit a sinful lifestyle; therefore, the carnal mind is in rebellion against God.

Privileges of Being a Christian (Luke 10) - Part I

Message by Dr. Matthew K. Thomas, Sunday, June 27, 2010

Luke 10 shows us three scenes that tell us what we are in Christ:

Scene 1: Ambassadors - We represent God (vv. 1-23) - The 70 that were sent
Scene 2: Imitators - We imitate God (vv.25-37) - The Good Samaritan
Scene 3: Worshippers - We listen to God (vv.38-42) - Martha and Mary

------------------------

#1 AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST

1. The Ambassador is appointed by the King, not by any man or board
2. The Ambassador represents the King in a foreign land (we have a citizenship in heaven)
3. The Ambassador is sent with distinguished honor
4. The Ambassador has the trust of the King in him
5. The Ambassador will only do everything for the best interest of his King
6. The Ambassador personifies or embodies the King
7. The Ambassador cannot take citizenship in the foreign land
8. The Ambassador is fully protected by the country he is sent
9. The Ambassador has full access to the wealth of his country
10. The Ambassador cannot be recalled by anyone except the King
11. The Ambassador cannot give his opinion, but only convey the message
12. The Ambassador has to influence the territory he goes to for his King
13. The Ambassador can never take his mission lightly
14. The Ambassador makes sure to keep the honor of his King

© Dr. Matthew K. Thomas, 2010

Oppression and the Poor Ecclesiastes 4-5

"... look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter - on the side of their oppressors there is power, but they have no comforter" (Eccl. 4:1). Why?..?

"If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them" (Ecc 5:8). Oppression and violent widespread injustice are symptoms of a fatally sick political system - the whole body throbs in agony.

The Lightning or The River of Light

This lightning blue has the blues dispelled
From darkest heavens, with a peal of discord;
Then, shimmering while the crackles distill
It recoils to strike in rhythmic chord -
How variant are the lux and the buzz
Of tributaries branching from this river of light!

Socrates despises the beaming daylight
Where the value of light is distinctly nill;
Socrates delights in the thundering night
When the cries of the day are blatantly stilled -
The pride of man is quenched by a thud
Of this spark ignited by heavens dismayed.

We've looked in the dark eyes of this cultured maid
And have seen these watchers keep the time;
We've seen the blaze of God's sparkling blade
And have seen its angle never depart -
Oh Lord, how magnificent are Your works,
The dawn is Yours and so the dusk!

"The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about....
The lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook." (Psa 77:17,18)

"He covers His hands with lightning, and commands it to strike." (Job 36:32)

© Domenic Marbaniang, June 2010

Ecclesiastes 1:2,3: the Meaning of Vanity

"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun? (Eccl. 1:2,3).

The man who labors for his own profit has missed the mark of life's true meaning. He lives a life that is equal to that of a steam (Hb. "Hebel", vapor, vanity).

Vanity is nothing but man's attempt to pull himself up by pulling his bootstraps. Vanity means emptiness, ephemerality, transcience, and a useless striving which the Preacher rightly labels as "chasing after the wind". Only in self-giving love is true worth and meaning found, for worth and meaning lie outside of the self, in self-less sacrifice. Therefore, Jesus said, "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." (Mat. 10:39). Only when a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, does it realize its true worth.

The Key to Wisdom – Intro

During our walk through the course of this life
This one thing we often realize
That the world is made of fools and of the wise,
So opposed as darkness is to light;
Thus, also does Proverbs all people classify
As those who love truth and those who fact despise:
But, calamity and destruction are in folly so disguised
That only the wise can through wisdom them identify;
Yet, the key to wisdom is not hidden but is openly testified:
The fear of the Lord is wisdom summarized;
The irreverence of God is folly maximized.

© Domenic Marbaniang, June 20, 2010
On Proverbs 1

Manzil Teri Kareeb Hogi - Hindi Classic Gospel Song


Lyrics

Cover by Domenic Marbaniang

Manjil teri kareeb hogi
Jab dil mein usko bulayen
Fasle sab dur hogi (2)
Jab dil mein Khuda aa jaye
Manjil....

1. Gam se bhare zindagi mein
Na tera koyi saath dega (2)
Vo hein jahan ka malik Yeshu
Vo tujh ko apnayega
Vo tujh ko apnayega
Manjil teri
(In this life of sorrow, none will stand by you; but, He who is the Lord of the universe will make you His own)

2. Mujh ko mili zindagi ab
Masiha ke kadmon mein aakar
Uske hi nagme gawun har pal
Usko dil mein basakar (2)
Manjil...
(I got life when I came to the feet of the Savior; Now, shall I sing His praises, making this heart His home)

A Mother's Heart for Her Son - Proverbs 31

Chapter 31 of Proverbs is one of the only collections of motherly instructions recorded in history. Tradition regards King Lemuel (meaning "belonging to God)  as being King Solomon, in which case the mother would certainly be Bathsheba. However, some even think Lemuel might have been a King of a neighbouring kingdom called Massa. Whatever be the issues related to the background, the wisdom of this chapter is priceless, a final strike that puts the nail of Proverbs into its proper place for a man born to be a leader. Following is a gist of this treasure of wisdom from a mother's heart to her son:

Pro 31:2 What, my son?
        And what, son of my womb?
        And what, son of my vows? 



1. A MOTHER'S VISION
Lemuel's mother has a dream and a vision for her son. That is one reason why verse 1 records "the prophecy that his mother taught him". It is a prophetic instruction. It is possible that this prophetic instruction was given long before Lemuel actually became a king; in which case, her referring to Lemuel as a king may also be regarded as prophetic.

A godly mother dreams a godly and great future for her kids. She raises them in the fear of the Lord and brings them up as future and next generation leaders.

Pro 31:3 Do not give your strength to women, 
        Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. 
Pro 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, 
        It is not for kings to drink wine, 
        Nor for princes intoxicating drink...


2. THE DISCIPLINE OF THE MIND

A wise son keeps off from attractions, affections, interests, causes, and things that are destructive to the mind. 
Verses 4-9 lists why one must keep off from ungodly sexual behavior, drugs, and affairs of indulgence.
a. Wine and any thing of indulgence takes over the memory, so that one forgets the Law of God. 
Remember Gehazi who fell to greed and forgot that his master, Elisha, was a prophet who could tell what the king spoke in his chambers. The moment of indulgence is at the expense of the memory of the eternal.
b. Carnality perverts and distorts justice.
An indulgent person is not able to make a difference between good and evil. It is like a man who just ate a very sweet thing and so is unable to find a cup of tea sweet anymore.


3. THE MARKS OF A VIRTUOUS WIFE (verses 10-31)
a. A Man's Greatest Wealth is His Virtuous Wife. She is far precious than rubies (v10)
b. The heart of her husband safely trusts her. She only brings good in his life (v11, 12).
c. She is diligent in work not just of house keeping, but has the wisdom to make provision for the family (vv.13-22). Diligence, Discretion, Dauntlessness (Fearlessness), Generosity.... She doesn't waste her time over unproductive matters
d. Her husband has a strong reputation and has influence in society (v23)
e. She is known for her words of wisdom, for right and valuable instruction (Never is any kind of gossip or talebearing seen in her; she has no time for pleasure chats). Also, her words are kind and words that bring healing to lives (v26)
f. She cares for her family and works diligently. Idleness is a term that doesn't appear in her dictionary of life. She works day and night and turns every moment into something that blesses her family (v27)
g. Her children call her blessed and her husband praises her. They are her testimonials (v28)
h. She excels above all (v29)
i. She fears the Lord and is known for this (v30)

Government of the Poor

"The king who judges the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever" (Prov. 29:14).
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE POOR IS THE GOVERNMENT THAT'LL ENDURE.

The Government that protects the poor, fights for their cause, gives them justice (economic, social,and political) is the Government that is functioning right; the Government that is functioning right is the Government that is healthy; the Government that is healthy is the Government that lives and thrives on.

Download Hindi Bible Module for E-Sword 9x

This Hindi Bible Module for E-Sword 9x will be a great asset to your collection of Bibles. The module is well rendered except for a few typo errors. You'll need to install support for Asian scripts by going to 

Control Panel->Regional and Language Options->Languages.

Please download the zip file, unzip the Bible, and paste it into the E-Sword folder, usually at C:\Program Files\E-Sword.


RELATED SITES:
e-sword.net
e-sword-users.org

Each Stroke of Your Blood


Each stroke of Your blood wiped away a stain off my canvas,
Each stroke of Your blood wrote my history anew:
One stroke after the other fall over this surface,
And paint a picture thought by You!
Lord, help me live a life worthy of Your sacrifice
And shape me after Your choice !