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 #7
Joh 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. . .”
What does peace mean?
One, quietness, rest, peace of mind, invocation of peace, a common Jewish farewell; to join, tie together as a whole, properly, wholeness, i.e., when all essential parts are joined together; God’s gift of wholeness. (Strongs)
Security, safety, prosperity, felicity (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous); the way that leads to peace; “the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) (emphasis added)
“Peace for the believer is not the absence of danger but is the presence of God. Peace rules your day when Christ (and His word) rules your mind.” (Preceptaustin.org)
Enemies to peace: greed, ambition, envy, anger, and pride (Petrarch)
Ponder: Fearing nothing from God. Why can I fear nothing from God? Because Jesus took everything “fearful” for me on the cross.
Not the absence of danger but is the presence of God. Why do I not stay in His presence? What makes me leave?
Enemies to peace. Why do I tolerate them?
Points to Ponder #8
Psalm 37:5 “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.”
Commit – roll, seek, trust, wallow
Way – road, course of life, mode of action, conversation, custom, journey, manner
Unto – upon, against, because of, beside, by (reason of), on, through, touching
Lord – the self-existent One, eternal, Jehovah
Trust – for refuge, be confident or sure, be bold, careless [without care], put confidence
In – upon, against, because of, beside, by (reason of), on, through, touching
He – only expressed [in Scripture] when emphatic or without a verb
Pass – accomplish, advance, appoint, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, certainly, have the charge of, commit, govern, grant, keep, maintain, be meet, be occupied, perform, prepare, procure, provide, requite, serve, work. (Strongs)
Ponder: Synonyms for wallow: flounder, stumble, lurch, stagger
I wallow; He works.
I roll; He requites.
I am bold because He governs.
I seek; He brings forth.
I take refuge; He bestows.
What wonder!
Points to Ponder #9
Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sin and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
Ponder:
I – supreme authority, master, God
Will be – definitive verb, future assertion
Merciful – cheerful, propitious (favorable, encouraging, promising, gracious, discerning, alert, wise), averting some calamity
Unrighteousness – injustice, moral wrongfulness, iniquity, unrighteousness
Sin – offence
Iniquities – illegality, violation of the law, transgression (wrongdoing, infraction, impropriety, misdeed) of the law
Remember – to bear in mind, to recollect, and by implication, to reward or punish
No more – double negative strengthening the denial, not at all, by no means