By Jason Tsaddiq
As I considered what to call these little snippets of ponderable truths, these ideas came to mind: “Bible Bites”; “Tiny Truths”; and “Verse Vittles.” None of those titles gave enough weight to the concept of meditating, thinking deeply upon, mentally digesting, and estimating the worth of. Then “Points to Ponder” struck. Pound, pond, and ponder all come from the same root word. Pound is a weight. Pond is an enclosed area, usually of water. Ponder is the verb form that means to give weight to, to think deeply of a particular idea or concept.
As a Christian ponders Bible truths, he is giving weight to an enclosed, exclusive area – truth. What else is worth pondering?! “For in His law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2) Strongs declares that this word meditate by implication means to ponder. According to Psalm 1:1, the blessed man delights and meditates in His law.
Who doesn’t want to be blessed? Let’s ponder.
(Sources include eSword/Strongs and various online dictionaries.)
Points to Ponder #4
Matthew 7:8 “For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Ponder: The verse does not detail what will be received or found or opened. Will I trust Him that what I receive or find or have opened will be the best for me?
The verse does not detail when the receiving, finding, and opening will happen. Will I trust Him in His timing?
Points to Ponder #5
Psalm 37:1-2 “Fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”
What does fret mean?
To glow or grow warm; to blaze up of anger, zeal, jealousy; be angry, burn, be displeased earnestly, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, be wroth. (Strongs)
What does evildoers mean?
To spoil (literally by breaking into pieces); figuratively, to make (to be) good for nothing, that is, bad (physically, socially, or morally) (Strongs)
What does iniquity mean?
To distort morally, evil, perverseness, unjust, unrighteousness, wicked (Strongs)
What does for mean?
Indicating causal relations (forasmuch, inasmuch, whereas, assuredly, certainly, doubtless) (Strongs)
What does wither mean?
To wilt, to fall away, faint, fail; figuratively, to be fooled or (morally) wicked; causatively to despise, disgrace.
Strongs concordance gives the impression that the word wither in Psalm 37: 2 is the root word of the name Nabal (I Samuel 25:3) (H5037) this word comes from the same root as (H5036) which means “stupid, wicked”; this word comes from the same root as (H5034) which means “to wilt; generally to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively to despise, disgrace: - disgrace, dishonour, lightly esteem, fade (away, -ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, X surely, make vile, wither.”
Ponder: Do I become angry because of people doing wrong, especially to me? Why am I wasting my mental, physical, and spiritual resources on that which is wicked, stupid, foolish, despise-worthy, dishonoring, lightly esteemed, fading away, coming to nought?
Points to Ponder #6
Philippians 4:19 “but my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Context: In a chapter about giving to those in need. (4:14, et al)
Ponder:
My – a personal pronoun, possessive
God – not me, not my job, not my family
Shall – a definite word, strong assertion or intention
Supply – transitive verb, demands a receiver of the action
All – not some, not most
Your – a personal pronoun, possessive
Need – not wants, though context implies quality (vs 18: “sweet,” “acceptable,” “well-pleasing”) and quantity (vs 16 “once and again”)
According to His riches – mercy, truth, power, grace, knowledge, forgiveness, justice, holiness, and more
In glory – “In God’s true nature” (Ellicott); “In a glorious manner” (John Gill); “To show Himself glorious and make His people so” (John Gill)
By Christ Jesus – the Mediator “for the sake of Christ Jesus” (John Gill)
God usually blesses those who give and those who will use the resources they have according to His purposes” (biblehub.com)
“Alexander the coppersmith” – if God rewards evil, shall He not reward good?