Prolong –

Isa38.15: 15 years added to Hezekiah’s life!

Gen30.22-24: Rachel named her son with a request for another son, note NASB margin, “add to me” — Joseph in Hebrew!

Ps71.14: NASB margin, “add upon all Your praise” — pile up “Praise”!

Acts2.41, 47; 5.14; 11.24: God “adds to” the church of Jesus! This is a key to the message of Acts!

Years –

Also used of character, way, or life period

Isa16.14; 21.16: years of a hired man — wearisome, dreadful, wearing down

Isa61.2: year of favor — salvation through the Messiah, cf Lev25.10-11, year of release; Lev25.13, year of Jubilee; Dt15.1; 31.10, year of remission

Shortened – be short, impatient, vexed, grieved, inadequate

e.g. — Num11.23; Isa50.2; 59.1 — “the Lord’s hand is not short,” i.e., inadequate, unable to accomplish what is intended, desired, needed!

References to consider:

Wicked

cf Pr10.2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 20, 24, 25 for past looks at this person. The most basic characteristic of the wicked is a craving for evil, 21.10, which they absorb, 4.17.

Righteous

The righteous/wise path begins with a right relationship and response to the Lord, Pr1.7.

They commit their conduct to the Lord, Pr16.3.

They keep from evil, Pr16.6, 17.

Life belongs to the Wise

cf Pr10.16-17; 11.19; 14.27; 16.22; 19.23; 22.4

Sharpening for my life today:

This gem from Proverbs touches on key truth for a trait to be practiced!

As some our examples above show, e.g., Isaiah and Rachel, it is essential to recognize the Lord as the Author and Sustainer of Life! The wise, fruitful, godly life both has knowledge of the Lord and responds to the Lord in and through their life.

Putting the Lord is His place in our lives is far more than lip service, getting our religious card punched on a regular basis, or jumping through some religious hoop! Check out the theme of Proverbs below and spend some time thinking on this great direction for life. Ask, “Am I skirting issues, paying attention to the particulars of the Lord’s Word and Ways,” actually putting the Lord is His proper place in my life?

If the fear of the Lord is the awesome, reverential, trustful, obedience

 . . . where am I in awe of the Lord?

 . . . where am I in reverence of the Lord?

 . . . where am I in trust of the Lord?

 . . . where am I in obedience to the Lord?