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It just so happens that my pastor is going through the fruits of the spirit on Sunday mornings.  Well, my study on righteousness has brought me today to Ezekiel 18, which “coincidentally” discusses the fruits of righteousness:
 5 “Suppose there is a righteous man
       who does what is just and right.

 6 He does not eat at the mountain shrines
       or look to the idols of the house of Israel.
       He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
       or lie with a woman during her period.

 7 He does not oppress anyone,
       but returns what he took in pledge for a loan.
       He does not commit robbery
       but gives his food to the hungry
       and …

 1 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great …

 1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I …

Recall Ecc. 7:3, where it talks about the refining value of sorrow.  Well, eventually our sorrow will end, for we will be refined and in His presence… 

17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,
       and silver in place of iron.
       Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
       and iron in place of stones.
       I will make peace your governor
       and righteousness your ruler.

 18 No longer will violence be heard in your land,
       nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
       but you will call your walls Salvation
       and your gates Praise.

 19 The sun will no more be your light by day,
       nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
       for …

Obama Should Listen to Leviticus: Don’t Confuse Justice and Charity

Isaiah 5 tells a parable of a vineyard that was created with hard work and sweat, but for some reason produced only sour grapes.  In this parable, God is the owner of the vineyard…
 7 The vineyard of the LORD Almighty
       is the house of Israel,
       and the men of Judah
       are the garden of his delight.
       And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
       for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
The interesting thing is that God of all the ingredients of righteousness, He wasn’t looking for belief or obedience.  He wasn’t looking for purity in relationship.  He wasn’t looking for any of the things that make one righteous.  No, He was looking for the characteristics that demonstrate that …

 3 Sorrow is better than laughter,
       because a sad face is good for the heart.
Okay. In verses 1 and 2, we saw the author saying death is better than life, but in death we go to Heaven.  He said it’s better to go to funerals than parties, but funerals are where you celebrate someone else’s entry to Heaven.  But then in verse, he says sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart.  Now that one’s weird.

I looked up sorrow and found the following definition in webster:
deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved.
Not very helpful to be honest.  But then I found this other definion …

 3 A man cannot be established through wickedness,
       but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

 5 The plans of the righteous are just,
       but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

 7 Wicked men are overthrown and are no more,
       but the house of the righteous stands firm.

 10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
       but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

 12 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
       but the root of the righteous flourishes.

 13 An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
       but a righteous man escapes trouble.

 21 No harm befalls the righteous,
       but the wicked have their fill of …

 Proverbs 12
11 He who works his land will have abundant food,
       but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
I laughed this morning when I saw this verse that accurately describes my perspective on a significant portion of Democrats vs. Republicans… or more accurately, Liberals vs. Conservatives.  Please note that I am not talking about the majority of left-leaning people I know, who are simply trying to pick the most compassionate perspective they can, or are justifiably outraged at historical misjudgements of the right, but I am talking about liberals who do not realize how their policies and approaches create the very conditions of social inequity and economic hardship they seek (or purport) to prevent… policies that come from emotion-based …

In Proverbs 8, Jesus has the following to say about righteousness: 
 20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
       along the paths of justice,

 21 bestowing wealth on those who love me
       and making their treasuries full.
But then, in Proverbs 11, Solomon writes the following wisdom about righteousness:
 4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
       but righteousness delivers from death.

 5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them,
       but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

 6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
       but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
At first glance, verse 4 appears to conflict with Jesus’ words in Proverbs 8.  Assuming a righteous person …