Life Lesson (Ecclesiastes 7:24)

How we love others is directly correlated in how we perceive the love of the Father.

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

• El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) – occurs 7 times
• El Elyon (The Most High God) – occurs 28 times
• Adonai (Lord, Master) – occurs 434 times
• Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah) – occurs 6,519 times 
• Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner) – occurs 1 time 
• Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) – occurs 1 time
• Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness) – occurs 2 times 
• Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There) – occurs 1 time
• Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You) – occurs 2 times
• El Olam (The Everlasting God) – occurs 1 time
• Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) – occurs 6 times
• Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace) – occurs 1 time
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) – occurs 1 time
• Elohim (God) – occurs over 2,700 times
• Raah (Shepherd) – occurs 63 times

• El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) – no
• El Elyon (The Most High God) – no
• Adonai (Lord, Master) - no
• Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah) – no
• Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner) - no
• Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) – no .
• Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness) – no
• Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There) – no
• Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You) – no
• El Olam (The Everlasting God) – no
• Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) – no
• Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace) – no
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) – no
• Elohim (God) – YES, 35 times
• Raah (The Lord My Shepherd) – yes, one time

"a transcendent being who exercises extraordinary control". It specifically refers to the monotheistic God of Israel. It is in plural context. Refers to God as Creator.

Means "shepherd" in Hebrew. A shepherd is one who feeds or leads his flock to pasture. An extended translation of this word, rea', is "friend" or "companion." This indicates the intimacy God desires between Himself and His people.

The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

When the two words are combined - Jehovah Raah - it can be translated as "The Lord my Friend or The Lord my Shepherd".

1 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.
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

18 It is good that you take hold of one thing (righteousness) and also not let go of the other (wisdom); for the one who fears and worships God [with awe-filled reverence] will come forth with both of them. 19 Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 32 If you [only] love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend [money] to those from whom you expect to receive [it back], what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to receive back the same amount. 35 But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful.

I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, “I will be wise [independently of God],” but true wisdom was far from me.

For there is not a just man on earth who does good
And does not sin.

“One of the saddest ironies of fallen pride is that successive generations of human beings commit the same sins, repeat the same big blunders, fall prey to the same ensnaring stupidities, and suffer the same agonizing disillusionment, as those who have lived and died before them; all because they will not take to heart the testimony of Solomon.” – J. Sidlow Baxter