PSALM 23 VERSE 3

 POLITE   NOTICE. THIS WORK IS A DETAILED WORK FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS BIBLE STUDY. IT NEEDS A LOT OF EDITING’ BUT FOR HOME BIBLE STUDY I HOPE ITS OK. I WAS JUST FOLLOWING THE HOLY GHOST. IF YOU   FIND IT TOO LONG READ BIT BY BIT. READ WITH UNDERSTANDING. REMEMBER THESE STUDIES ARE MEANT TO BE THOROUGH SO AS TO TEACH YOU AND THOSE THAT ARE NEW IN THE FAITH. THAT IS WHY I POST SCRIPTURES NOT JUST REFERENCES. MY MANDATE FROM THE HOLY GHOST IS TO DO A THOROUGH JOB.ALSO THERE ARE SO MANY SCRIPTURES TO GET YOU GROUNDED IN THE WORD. I TRY AND EVERYTHING AS UNTO THE LORD, NO SHORTCUTS. BLESS YOU.

The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

SHALOM. BLESS THE LORD OH MY SOUL. Today we continue with verse 3. In the previous verses we have seen how GOD LEADS HIS PEOPLE AND WHY? It’s so amazing to see that in all we do God does things for our own benefit. We get to benefit. His word and His Spirit do an amazing job in caring for the believer. SO MANY BENEFITS. It is clear that GOD always leads His children to Himself. That way we are changed from GLORY TO GLORY BY THE RIVER OF LIFE (THE HOLY SPIRIT)... WE GIVE GOD THE GLORY. NOW…WE CONTINUE.

V3 has some important information as we continue with this study.

  He restores my soul; WE realise that it’s still GOD doing all the WORK... What does it mean to restore a soul?

1-      WHAT IS A SOUL? First we all know that THE body is in 3 parts. SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY.

2-      THE SPIRIT IS THE MAN THAT IS SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST JESUS. THAT MEANS AUTHORITY AND RULERSHIP, YOUR POSITION IN GOD. (IF YOU ARE SAVED.)

YOUR SOUL LIVES IN THE BODY (FLESH) WHICH YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE PHYSICAL WORLD WITH. THIS IS A HOUSE, CASKET, OR CONTAINER WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. IT’S WHERE YOUR SOUL AND SPIRIT RESIDE. HEBREW 4: SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE... Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  According to HEB 4:12 the SOUL AND SPIRIT ARE NOT THE SAME, THEY CAN BE DEVIDED ONLY BY THE WORD. THERE ARE OTHER SCRIPTURES THAT ACTUALLY SHOW THAT THEY ARE DIFFERENT. 1 Peter 1:9
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-10 (in Context) 1 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter) THIS SIMLPY MEANS FAITH LEADS TO SALVATION.

Anywhere these scriptures show that there are 3 parts to a man. When you are on earth The Holy Spirit deals mainly with your soul, so does the devil. All interaction with the spirit world happens to your soul and spirit. The way the SOUL responds to input from the spirit world affects both the flesh and the spirit. Eg if work well with the Holy Spirit and allow him to influence your soul, your character changes and you display the fruit of the spirit. THEN that elevates your SPIRIT positional in God. You draw closer to GOD. You begin to desire more of HIM, AND KEEP GROWING IN THE SPIRIT. IF YOU LET the devil influences your soul, your character changes and the manifestations of the flesh are Evil, and wickedness. The flesh on it’s on its powerless, it’s just like a house, what happens to it is determined by the soul. Sad to say it’s the one that receives all the abuse if the SOUL does not respond correctly to the leading, and influence of the Holy Spirit. This shows the Importance of the SOUL.

3-       WHAT THEN IS THIS SOUL?

The word soul in BOTH GREEK AND HEBREW means roughly the same things. In Hebrew the word is nephesh: a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, and emotion. IT is clear that it’s a word that is widely used in the bible with a variety of meanings, i.e.…at times when it’s used, it’s translated as defence, breathing creature, strength and some mentioned above in bold. It appears correct to say the soul is the human side of a person and its shape is derived from which spirit world influences it more than the other. In GREEK however, the word is...PSUCHE…used interchangeable to mean either soul or life. What we cannot run away from, in both nephesh, and psuche is the inherent meaning of life, the very essence of a person in both languages. It is clear in both bible languages, that what they mean by soul is what makes a person. Without it the person is pronounced dead. But also it’s clear that it’s a combination of different things which are not tangible, but are believed to make up the person. If the soul is used to denote will, emotions, defence, strength, life, desires, passion, appetite, mind, and heart…what is David telling us about, THE GOOD SHEPERD?.

David says THE LORD RESTORES his soul. WHAT IS TO RESTORE? In HEBREW THE WORD IS- shub: to turn back, return. 1. (v. t.) To bring back to its former state; to bring back from a state of ruin, decay, disease, or the like; to repair; to renew; to recover.

2. (v. t.) To give or bring back, as that which has been lost. or taken away; to bring back to the owner; to replace.

3. (v. t.) To renew; to re-establish; as, to restore harmony among those who are variance.

4. (v. t.) To give in place of, or as satisfaction for.

5. (v. t.) To make good; to make amends for.

6. (v. t.) To bring back from a state of injury or decay, or from a changed condition; as, to restore a painting, statue, etc.

7. (v. t.) To form a picture or model of, as of something lost or mutilated; as, to restore a ruined building, city, or the like.

8. (n.) Restoration.

NB. THE FOLOWING TABLE CONTAINS WORDS THAT ARE USED IN CONNECTION WITH RESTORE, EITHER TO EXPLAIN IT OR EXPAND MEANING. I WILL ASK YOU TO SPEND TIME READING THEM. THEY GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT GOD DOES WHEN HE RESTORES YOUR SOUL. EG...BRING, BACK, REPLENISH, TURN BACK, and SEND AWAY, RESTRAIN, RECOMPENSE, and BRING BACK AGAIN….TURN HIS WAY,

Original Word: שׁוּב

shub: to turn back, return Original Word: שׁוּב Transliteration: shub Phonetic Spelling: (shoob) Short Definition: return Word Origin a prim. root Definition to turn back, return NASB Word Usage (5), answered (5), averted (1), back (7), back again (2), bring (1), bring her back (1), bring him back (2), bring it back (1), bring me back (2), bring the back (1), bring them again (1), bring them back (14), bring you back (5), bring back (14), bring presents (1), bring...back (4), bringing (1), bringing the back (1), brought (2), brought him again (2), brought him back (3), brought it back (3), brought me back (4), brought the again (1), brought them back (2), brought us back (1), brought again (1), brought back (17), brought...back (1), call (1), came again (1), came back (1), cause (1), certainly bring (1), certainly bring them back (1), come back (10), converted (1), deluded (1), desist (2), draw and turning (1), draw it back (1), drawn (1), drew back (1), drives (1), ever go back (1), fro (1), forth (1), gave...return (1), get (1), get it back ( (1), indeed (1), indeed bring (1), indeed bring me back (1), indeed return (2), indeed turn away (1), keeps (2), make them return (1), make restitution (1), paid (2), pass your again (1), pass away (1), pay (1), pays us back in full (2), punishing (1), put (3), put his back (1), put the back (1), put back (1), rebuilt* (2), recall (2), recalls* (1), receded (1), recompense (1), recompense* (1), recompensed (4), recovered (4), refreshes (1), refund (3), refuse (4), refute (1), regain (1), remade* (1), render (8), repaid (1), repay (5), repeatedly (2), repeats (1), repel (1), repent (6), repent and turn away (2), repentant (1), repented (1), replace (1), reply (6), reply* (1), reported (1), reported* (1), repulse* (2), rescue (1), respond (1), restitution may be made (1), restitution which is made (1), restore (58), restored (17), restorer (2), restores (7), restoring (1), restrain (2), restrained (2), retire (1), retreat (1), return (261), return and take back (1), return* (1), returned (151), returned* (1), returning (2), returns (9), reverse (1), revived (1), revoke (10), revoked (1), sent back (1), set (1), spent (1), still (3), subsides (2), surely return (4), take (4), take it back (1), take me back (1), take my back (2), take your back (1), take back (2), there (1), took back (2), turn (49), turn and and withdraw (1), turn her away (1), turn his away (1), turn it back (1), turn me into again (1), turn them back (1), turn to you again (1), turn you about (1), turn you around (1), turn you back (2), turn your away (1), turn again (1), turn aside (1), turn away (24), turn away and not repent (1), turn back (20), turn...back (1), turned (16), turned them back (1), turned around (1), turned away (9), turned back (16), turned...back (1), turning (2), turning away (1), turns (7), turns again (1), turns away (5), unleash (1), went back (5), went* (1), withdraw (4), withdrew (1). NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries Copyright © 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation All rights reserved Lockman.org break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, , feed, lay down, A primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again -- ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer (+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, + continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back, fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, + say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, X surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. NB: PLIZ DO A SHORT EXERCISE…THE LORD ………….MY SOUL CAN YOU SUBSTITUTE THE WORD, RESTORE WITH WORDS FROM THE TABLE IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE LORD RESTORES YOUR SOUL. IT’S QUITE REFRESHING AND EXCITING.  I LIKE TO SUBSTITUTE RESTORE WITH (...SAY NAY). I CAN IMAGINE GOD SAYING NAY TO THINGS THAT THE ENEMY HAS ATTACHED TO MY SOUL THAT ARE NOT FROM GOD…EG BAD HABBITS, SICKNESS AND DISEASES, LAZINESS, LACK OF SELF CONTROL, TEMPER…ETC. IT SEEMS A LOT OF WORK HAPPENS IN THE RESTORATION PROCESS. ANOTHER MEANING OF RESTORE IS –BRING BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, FETCH HOME AGAIN, RETRIEVE, TO DIG, TO CIRCUMSIZE. GOD DOES CIRCUMCICE THE SINFUL NATURE OUT OF OUR SOULS IF WE KEEP GOING BACK TO THE GREEN PASTEURS. I believe if you spend time reading these words you will get an idea of how important it is to let GOD BE YOUR SHEPERED, BY CONTINOULLY LEADING YOU TO GREEN PASTEURS AND LEADING YOU TO THE RIVER OF LIFE. AMEN. NEXT LINE. He leads me in the paths of righteousness. PLEASE, NEVER FORGET IT’S THE GOOD SHEPERED WORKING HERE. David says AFTER RESTORATION….GOD THEN LEADS HIM IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. WHY? 1- ITS ONLY GOD WHO CAN LEAD SOMEONE IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTOUSNESS. WE ALL KNOW THAT GOD IS THE ONLY ONE RIGHTOUS AND THEREFORE HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS THE PATHS OF RIGHTOUSNESS. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”[a] YOU have to understand the importance of the connection between wisdom and righteousness. You cannot understand the righteousness of GOD without wisdom. It is His wisdom that leads you in the paths of righteousness. The word says, - Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. New Living Translation (©2007) Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. English Standard Version (©2001) The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. New American Standard Bible (©1995) "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Aramaic Bible in Plain English.(©2010) Wisdom is the summit; get wisdom, and with all your possessions purchase understanding. Read these translations to get an idea of what the word says about wisdom. WITHOUT WISDOM YOU CANT EVEN UNDERSTAND GOD, OR YOUR SALVATION OR THE CROSS. PAUL SAYS THE WAYS OF ARE GOD ARE FOOLISHNESS TO THE CANAL MIND. YOU NEED THE WISDOM OF GOD TO UNDERSTAND THEM. THE SCRIPTURE ABOVE ALSO SHOWS THAT WISDOM IS JESUS CHRIST. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:30. ALSO CONSIDER THIS… By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; New Living Translation (©2007) By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. English Standard Version (©2001) The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; New American Standard Bible (©1995) The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010) Lord Jehovah in his wisdom laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens were established by his understanding; GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) I hope I’ve stressed the need for wisdom in your life and that its GOD’S WISDOM to lead you to the paths of righteousness and that you need this. You need what GOD USED TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH AND WHAT HE USED TO CREATE THE HEAVENS. Also when you come to understand righteousness, you will see why you need wisdom in your life to be able follow in the paths of righteousness.  THESE ARE PATHS OF WISDOM AS WILL BE SHOWN LATTER. WHO UNDERSTANDS WISDOM? WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY? JOB. 12:13 To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. JOB 28:12-28.  12 “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13 Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living. 14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ 15 It cannot be purchased for gold, Nor can silver be weighed for its price. 16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire. 17 Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewellery of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies. 19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold. 20 “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? 21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air. 22 Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’ 23 God understands its way, And He knows its place. 24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the w hole heavens, 25 To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure. 26 When He made a law for the rain, And a path for the thunderbolt, 27 Then He saw wisdom[b] and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out. 28 And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’”   NB.YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WISDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. WHAT DOES RIGHTEOUSNESS MEAN? THE WORD RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS DIFFERENT MEANINGS IN BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT. In Hebrew there are a number of words translated as righteousness. If l were to explain all of them this would be an extremely long study. But however  a few guidelines will be given .1- YASHA denotes the straight and smooth way. Here are verses where the word is used. (Prov 9:15, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 15:21, Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course. Isaiah 26:7. NewInternationalVersion(©1984) The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. ALSO what is agreeable or pleasing to GOD because it is right. Deut 12:15, 28. NewInternationalVersion(©1984) Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you, so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God.  According to the Bible anyone who does such deeds that are pleasing to God and follows God’s instructions is called UPRIGHT. JOB 1:1. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2- MISHPAT translated as JUSTICE, is another word that also conveys righteousness. God is a God of justice. ISAIAH 30:18. Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you .For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. GOD deals justly with man and requires that man deals justly with each other. ISAIAH 1:17. 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor;[a]Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. ISAIAH 56:1, 56 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed.2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.” MICAH 6:8. He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? SEDEQ, - What is just, right, or normal. Also used concerning weights and measures! (you will be surprised how many fall short on this one, even though the world has provided so many ways of measuring accurately!.). 15 You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. Psalm 9:4  (NKJV)4 For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. 3-       DAQA- RIGHTEOUSNESS-( NOUN).  It’s a term for approved ethical conduct. A RIGHTEOUS PERSON IS THE ONE WHO IS ABLE TO EXERCUTE AND FULFILL THE DEMANDS LAID UPON HIM BY THE RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH HE STANDS... THE Righteous person is one who  executes justice, fairness and does what is right or necessary, to uphold harmonious relationships within his family and community!. OH DEAR, GO AND REPENT NOW, I NEED GOD ON THIS ONE (and all others)…HOW WE FALL SHORT! The best example is the story of JUDAH AND TAMAR….New King James Version (NKJV)26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. HOW can JUDAH say a daughter in law who has just tricked him into sleeping with him is righteous?. You can see clearly it’s in connection with fulfilment of a demand placed by their relationship. Judah was supposed to give her a husband. BUT he didn’t after Tamar had waited for all that long. Tamar was righteous because she didn’t look for another man while JUDAH was unrighteous because he didn’t fulfil the demands of a father in law. Another example was SAUL and DAVID. Saul said David was righteous because he didn’t kill him. GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) He told David, "You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly. Saul calls David righteous, but in the very next Chapter David was on his way to go and kill Nabal’s entire household for cursing him. David had kept his side of the covenant and not harmed GOD’S anointed even though Saul wanted to kill him. New International Version (©1984) "You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. He said to David, NASB…"You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you”. These two scriptures show that here righteousness was in connection with actions, relationships, behaviour, and expectations. ALSO from other scriptures we discover that righteousness is closely associated with concern for the poor. Proverbs 31:8-9 8“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” 4- Righteousness is closely linked with giving to the poor. Psalm 112:9He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honour. 2 Corinthians 9:9-10. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. New International Version (©1984) The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. AFTER THIS BIBLE STUDY I REALISED WHY IT’S THE LORD WHO LEADS YOU IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS? I HONESTLY THINK ON MY OWN I WOULD NOT KNOW RIGHTEOSNESS OR EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME. THAT IS WHERE THE WISDOM OF GOD COMES IN.YOU NEED WISDOM TO EXERCUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS. BUT WHERE CAN WE FIND THE WISDOM OF GOD. THE SCRIPTURE ABOVE SAYS NO-ONE KNOWS WHERE IT’S FOUND OR ITS WAY. JOB 28:12-17. V20 ASKS THE QUESTION: 20 “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air. That is a very startling question, also the following statement… IT is hidden from the eyes of the all living and concealed from the birds of the air. What I would like you to realise is that wisdom is hidden from all man, and also from the birds of the air. Why THE birds of the air? THEY are usually thought to be wise. The bible has a number of scriptures that show that they are fascinating creatures. Jesus says they neither sow nor reap but they are fed. (MATT 6:26. The Eagle can sport prey and also an enemy from afar; also it is the only bird that gets excited when it sees a storm. The reason is the EAGLE uses the strong currents of the storm to carry it further. It uses the storm for its transport. The storm is its servant it becomes the MASTER in the storm (what does that tell you? BE AN EAGLE CHRISTIAN!). Well as wise as all birds and men are they don’t know wisdom. WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS? ECCLESIASTES 7:20 NIV. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. ROMANS 3:10.  (NIV)10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; Now both these scriptures show you that no-one understands righteousness. It’s only God who can lead you in the PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WHAT RIGHEOUSNESS IS, WHAT IT MEANS. IF YOU FALL SHORT WE REALISED THAT HE TRAINS YOU BY LEADING YOU THERE. HE DOESN’T SAY GO…HE SAYS LETS GO TO THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOLLOW ME, I WILL LEAD YOU THERE. GLORY TO GOD. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON MEN?   I LOVE THIS, THANK YOU LORD. Isaiah 32:15-20 (NKJV)15 Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, And the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, And the fruitful field is counted as a forest.16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, And righteousness remain in the fruitful field.17 The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,19 Though hail comes down on the forest, And the city is brought low in humiliation.20 Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey. NB.WHEN WE WERE IN PSALM 23: 2 WE SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE ABOVE VERSE SAYS RIGHTEOUNESS IS THE RESULT OF HAVING THE SPIRIT POURED FROM GOD, WHICH LEADS TO PEACE AND SECURITY FOR EVER. WHEN YOU SOW BESIDE THE ALL WATERS. AMEN. FOR HIS NAME SAKE. (PSALM 23:3B) WOW WHY? FOR HIS NAME SAKE... WHY HIS NAME? WELL….GOD IS UNKNOWABLE. HE HAS REVEALED HIMSELF THRU HIS WORD, BY HIS NAME. THE NAMES OF GOD TELL US WHO HE IS. We all know that God’s name tell us His NATURE AND CHARACTER. JEHOVA JIREY, PROVIDER  Genesis 22:13-14 "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind <him> a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. {14} And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said <to> this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen." Principal of Jireh is fulfilled in the New Testament for any need Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."JEHOVA RAPHA, HEALER   Exodus 15:26 "And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I <am> the LORD that healeth thee." Psalms 103:3 "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;" Psalms 107:20 "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered <them> from their destructions." Isaiah 53:4-5 "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. {5} But he <was> wounded for our transgressions, <he was> bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace <was> upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Jehovah - Roi The LORD my shepherd. Psalms 23:1 "A Psalm of David. The LORD<is> my shepherd; I shall not want." Principal of Roi is fulfilled in the New Testament as shepherd: Mark 6:34 "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." Hebrews 13:20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"  Jehovah - Shalom The LORD our Peace. Judges 6:24 "Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah shalom: unto this day it <is> yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites." Principal of Shalom is fulfilled in the New Testament for peace: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jesus's peace.  Jehovah – Shammah THE LORD IS PRESENT. Ezekiel 48:35 "<It was> round about eighteen thousand <measures>: and the name of the city from <that> day <shall be>, The LORD <is> there."  El - Gmulot The God of recompense. Jeremiah 51:56 "Because the spoiler is come upon her, <even> upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompenses shall surely requite." Jehovah - El Singular form - LORD God. Psalms 31:5 "Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."  EL - Elyon Most high God. To be elevated. It emphasizes God as the exalted, sovereign one. Psalms 21:7 "For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved." Jehovah - Elyon ALSO THE MOST HIGH GOD. Psalms 7:17 "I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high."  Jehovah – Saboath The LORD of hosts (angelic armies). 1 Samuel 1:3 "And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, <were> there." James 5:4 "Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth."  Jehovah - Tsidkenu The LORD our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6 "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this <is> his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 33:16 "In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this <is the name> wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness." Principal of Tsidkenu fulfilled in New Testament righteousness: 1 Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"  El - Olam Everlasting God. (Olam means age, or hidden.) Isaiah 40:28 "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, <that> the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? <there is> no searching of his understanding."  El - Roi The God of sight - who keeps watch. Genesis 16:13 "And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?"  El - Shaddai God Almighty. Two roots for the word: 1) to be powerful; and 2) breast, nourisher, sustainer. Genesis 17:1 "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I <am> the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."   Jehovah - Nissi. The LORD my banner or ensign. Exodus 17:10-12 "So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. {11} And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. {12} But Moses' hands <were> heavy; and they took a stone, and put <it> under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." Exodus 17:14-15 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this <for> a memorial in a book, and rehearse <it> in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. {15} And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:"  Jehovah - Mekaddishkem The LORD our sanctifier Leviticus 20:7-8 "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I <am> the LORD your God. {8} And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I <am> the LORD which sanctify you." Exodus 31:13 "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it <is> a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that <ye> may know that I <am> the LORD that doth sanctify you." The LORD my banner or ensign. Jehovah - Makeh The LORD smites, punishes sin. Ezekiel 7:9 "And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations <that> are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I <am> the LORD that smiteth."  Jehovah - Elohim Uni-Plural form (3-in-1) - LORD Gods; Strong or mighty and object of fear. The compound emphasizes God as: creator, governing and redeeming man. Also God's direct connection with the nation of Israel. Genesis 2:4 "These <are> the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens," Numbers 23:22 "God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn."  YHVH LORD. Used with Adonai Lord in Exodus 4:10 Exodus 4:10 "And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I <am> not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I <am> slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." Jehovah - Adon (singular); Jehovah - Adonai (plural) LORD of lords. To judge or rule. Includes meaning of master of owner as well as lord. Emphasizes God as almighty ruler and covenant- keeper. Nehemiah 10:29 "They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes" Psalms 109:21 "But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy <is> good, deliver thou me."  Jah/Yah LORD or Kurios in Greek Psalms 68:4 "Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him." Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God <is> my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH <is> my strength and <my> song; he also is become my salvation." Isaiah 26:4 "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH <is> everlasting strength:"  Jehovah/Yahweh/Yahway or YHVH/YHWH LORD, meaning: He will be, eternal, to be, to exist, and always is. Unchangeable. This name is unique to God alone. The covenant-keeping God. (El Shaddai shows God as covenant maker.) Exodus 3:13-14 "And Moses said unto God, Behold, <when> I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What <is> his name? What shall I say unto them? {14} And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 6:3 "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by <the name of> God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. WOW! I LOVE TO BE AMAZED AT THE WONDERS OF GOD. I LOVE TO MARVEL AT HIS GREATNESS. READING THE NAMES OF GOD, IS QUITE REFRESHING AND GIVES HOPE. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU TOOK GOD SERIOUSLY AND HE REVEALED HIMSELF TO YOU THROUGH HIS NAMES? BACK TO OUR SCRIPTYURE! FOR HIS NAME SAKE. WHY? AGAIN WHY?  BECAUSE GOD DOES NOT CHANGE HIS CHARACTER BUT HE MAY CHANGE HIS STRATEGY. NB. GET THIS, DON’T LET THE ENEMY STEAL YOUR TRUST IN GOD. LISTEN! GOD IS A FATHER, WARRIOR, PROTECTOR, GENERAL, COMMANDER, SOURSE,  GUIDER ETC. NOW DON’T YOU THINK A KING WITH ALL THESE DUTIES AND MANY MORE WOULDN’T BE CLEVER AND WISE  ENOUGH TO CHANGE HIS STRATEGY?. SOME OF YOU NEED TO TRUST HIM CONCERNING YOUR LIFE CHANGE STRATEGIES EVERYDAY. IF GOD WAS LEADING YOU ON A PATH...AND YOU REFUSED TO MOVE AND SAT DOWN WHAT DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO DO? TO KEEP ON MOVING WIYHOUT YOU BECAUSE HE DOESN’T CHANGE OR TO CHANGE HIS STRATEGY FOR HIS NAME SAKE? EG. GOD GIVES YOU A JOB. BEFORE YOU START THE DEVIL PLANTS HIS AGENT THERE TO PERSECUTE YOU, WHAT SHOULD GOD DO? CHANGE STRATEGY OR SAY HE HAS TO GO THERE AND IM SURE HE CAN PRAY HIS WAY TO SAFETY. BE WISE. GOD WILL CHANGE HIS STRATEGY FOR YOUR SAKE. WHAT ABOUT THE MOST COMMON ONE FOR PEOPLE? I WANTED TO MARRY SO AND SO BUT HE/SHE LEFT ME OR REFUSED ME. WHY DID GOD ALLOW IT? BECAUSE OF HIS NAME SAKE. HAD GOD LET THAT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE YOU WOULDN’T HAVE COPED. HIS/HER MOOD SWINGS. TONGUE, TANTRUMS, LAZYNESS, CARELESSNESS, AND PERSONALITY WOULD HAVE TOMENTED YOU. THEN YOU WOULD HAVE BLAMED GOD FOR IT. NEVERTHELESS SOME OF US WRESTLE WITH GOD TILL WE GET WHAT WE WANT. WE USE ISRAEL’S SCRIPTURE TO WRESTLE WITH GOD AND WIN. WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HAVE GOT A WILL. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR WAYS TO LEARN IN THIS LIFE, BY OBEDIENCE OR CORRECTIONS. SOME OF US WE ARE ON THE CORRECTIONS PAGE, TRYING TO SORT OUT THE THINGS THAT GOD SAID NO BUT WE DID IT ANYWHERE. THE GRACE IS STILL THERE. HE WILL STILL BE WITH YOU AS YOU MAKE YOUR CORRECTIONS. HE IS MERCIFUL.ALL THIS WAS SAID TO WARN YOU TO KNOW THAT GOD IS SERIOUS ABOUT BEING YOUR SHEPERD. HE WILL LEAD YOU IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME SAKE. IF ANY OF HIS NAMES IS AT STAKE, HE INTERVINES WITH AN APPROPRIATE ACTION. YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT. IF YOU SPENT TIME BY THE STILL WATERS AND GOT REFRESHED, HEALED, RESTORED, PROTECTED, PROVIDED FOR THEN NONE OF HIS NAMES IT AT STAKE. THE FOLOWING SCRIPTURES EXPLAIN THIS. Numbers 14:11-20 New King James Version (NKJV) Moses Intercedes for the People 11 Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.” 13 And Moses said to the Lord: “Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, 14 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, Lord, are among these people; that You, Lord, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 16 ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, 18 ‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’[a] 19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word;  EXODUS 32:7-14 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10 Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” 11 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’”[a] 14 So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.   I  would like you to see what was happening here. Israel had sinned against God and had made GOD angry, so that He wanted to destroy them. Moses interceded for the PEOPLE, REMINDING GOD THAT THE EGYPTIANS WOULD HEAR IT AND SAY BECAUSE YOU FAILED IN YOUR JOB TO DELIVER THEM. IT APPEARS THAT REMINDER OF WHAT THE EGYPTIANS MIGHT SAY AND THINK CHANGED GOD’S MIND. THIS CLEARLY SHOWS GOD CARES ABOUT PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF HIM. WHEN GOD REVEALS HIMSELF HE GIVES A NAME. TO SOME HE IS THE DELIVERER, TO SOME PROVIDER, TO SOME HEALER. THAT IS WHY HE SAID TO MOSES IAM WHO IAM. MEANING, I WILL BE EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT ME TO BE. TO MOSES HE HAD TO BE EVERY THING AS YOU KNOW THAT IN THE DESERT, FOR THOSE 40 YRS, HE WAS THEIR HEALER, PROVIDER, COMMANDER, GUIDER, WARRIOR. EXODUS 15:3. (NKJV)3 The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. Exodus 15:3-4. New International Version (NIV) 3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea.[a] Now read these verses! ." Exodus 6:3 "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by <the name of> God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.  (NKJV) IN EXODUS 6:1-8." 6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord[a] I was not known to them. 4 I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’ Here the LORD speaks to MOSES clearly in terms of NAMES. HE EXPLAINS THAT, TO THE PATRIACHS HE APPEARED TO THEM UNDER A DIFFERENT, NAME. TO THEM HE WAS GOD ALMIGHTY, THAT’S WHAT THEY NEEDED. BUT TO MOSES, HE IS USING THE NAME JEHOVA, OH LORD BECAUSE BOTH THESE NAME SHOW THAT HE IS SUPREME, HE IS IN CHARGE. SOME SCHOLARS ARGUE THAT JEHOVA IS A FIGHTING NAME. NOW…IF HE HAD TOLD MOSES ALL THESE PROMISES, AND NOW WAS READY TO DESTROY ISRAEL, WHAT WERE THE EGYPTIANS GOING TO SAY? OR INDEED THE REST OF THE NATIONS WHO HEAR THAT HE DIDN’T FULFILL HIS PROMISES. WHEN GOD GIVES A PROMISE HE WANTS TO FULFILL THAT PROMISE AND KEEP HIS NAME PURE.  READ THIS SCRIPTURE!  ISAIAH 52:4-6. 4 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. 5 "And now what do I have here?" declares the LORD. "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,” declares the LORD. "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I." THIS VERSE SHOWS THAT WHEN YOU ARE OPPRESSED BY WHATEVER, AS A CHILD OF GOD, HIS NAME IS PROFANED, MOCKED, OR BLASPHEMED. AND THIS DISPLEASES GOD WHEN PEOPLE MOCK HIS NAME.  PSALM 42: 2-3, 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? PSALM 42: 9-11 9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. AFTER GOD had faithfully brought ISRAEL into the promised land. They continued to cling to IDOL WORSHIP AND GRIEVED GOD. BUT HE SAYS HE CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR THEM FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME. EVEN THOUGH HE WASN’T HAPPY WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING FOR HIS NAME SAKE, HE DELIVERED AND RESTORED THEM. Ezekiel 36:21-23 (NKJV) 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went. 22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. Ezekiel 20:14 (NKJV)  But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I ha1d brought them out. Ezekiel 20:9 (NKJV) 9 But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. CHILD OF GOD IM SURE BY NOW YOU GET THE IDEAR THAT GOD WILL DO THINGS FOR YOU FOR HIS NAME SAKE LEST IT’S BLASPHEMED, OR MOCKED AMOUNG YOUR PEOPLE. NB THAT IS WHY GOD LEADS YOU TO THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, RESTORES YOU, TAKES TO GREEN PASTURES, AND LEADS YOU BESIDE THE STILL WATERS. WHEN HE HAS DONE ALL THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH HIM, AND PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT. THEN HIS NAME IS NOT PROFANED, MOCKED, OR BLASPHEMED AMOUNG THE NATIONS. PLEASE WORK WITH GOD. FOR HIS NAME SAKE AND FOR YOUR BLESSINGS. And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.ISAIAH 58:11. Douay-Rheims Bible But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for evermore. Darby Bible Translation The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell therein for ever. But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for evermore. Darby Bible Translation The righteous shall possess the land, and dwell therein for ever. English Revised Version The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. PROVERBS 13. 5 A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. 6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner. 9 The light of the righteous rejoices, But the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. 25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want. PROVERBS 11:4-11.  The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death. 5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct[a] his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. 7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes. 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead. 9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. PSALM 92: 12-15.  12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, 15 To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him CONCLUSION. AFTER THESE SCRIPTURES DO YOU REALISE WHY YOU NEED GOD TO LEAD YOU IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS? WE NEED GOD, WE NEED RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE NEED RESTORATION, WE NEED THE GREEN PASTURES, AND WE NEED REFRESHING BY THE STREAMS OF LIVING WATER.  FATHER WE NEED YOU! HELP US TO CO-OPERATE WITH YOU AS YOU DO A THOROUGH WORK IN US. WE NEED YOUR INTERVENTION IN OUR LIVES.AS WE READ THIS IT BECOMES CLEAR LORD THAT IF WE FORSAKE WALKING AND FOLOWING YOU, WE FORSAKE OUR HELP. IF WE REFUSE TO BE LED WE FORFEIT OUR BLESSINGS THAT COME WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHO YOU ARE. HELP US OH LORD. WE NEED YOU FATHER. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE IN JESUS NAME. HOLY SPIRIT WE SURRENDER TO YOU. WE GIVE YOU THE PRAISE FATHER. WE WORSHIP AND ADORE YOU KING OF KINGS. GLORY TO THE LIVING GOD. AMEN. WE SURRENDER LORD TO YOUR LEADING HELP US WITH OBEDIENCE SO THAT WE MAY WALK WITH YOU, WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS OUR MESSIAH. AMEN .31/03/2012 11:31