1 Corinthians 3 - 8

A Church in Turmoil

Note - This covers the last three days of reading.

The Corinthian church was a church in turmoil with many problems and questions.  Paul starts in chapter 3 explaining that the Corinthians are an immature church, only able to digest the "milk" of the Word and not the "meat" of God's Word (3:1-2).  They are controlled by their sinful nature, still trapped in sexual sins, confused about worldly behavior, marriage and divorce, the type of food they should eat, and how to settle legal disputes among themselves.

The Corinthian church was in a dangerous position. In 4:8 Paul states, "You think you already have everything you need: you think you are already rich."  But they were living in self- deception.  Paul exhorts them to pattern their lives after Paul and Apollos and Timothy.  In fact, he sends Timothy (4:17) to instruct them in Godly living.

In chapter 5, Paul begins dealing with the litany of problems the Corinthian church faces.  There is a problem with a man in the church living immorally with his stepmother.  A condition the church allows and even boasts about.  Paul instructs them to turn the man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that the man's soul can be saved (5:5). He points the the greater problem of compromise and exhorts them to not associate with believers who flagrantly violate the precepts of adultery and immorality and then still call themselves believers. This type of overt sin cannot be tolerated in the church.

Chapter 6 deals with settling arguments and disputes through prayer instead of through the legal system.  A practice Paul find abhorrent. He reiterates that any sexual sins should not be tolerated.  In chapter 7 he deals with marriage and divorce.  Those who are married should remain married to each other.  They are bound by an oath until the other partner dies.  Those who are single are better off single.

Finally in chapter 8, Paul explains his position on consuming food offered to idols. This was a problem about which Paul's wisdom is magnificently displayed and is applicable to many situations.  If eating food offered to idols is offensive to some, then do not do this in their presence. There is nothing special about the food, and it is perfectly legal, in God's eyes, to eat it. But some folks will be offended, and thus the offense to others is worse than your establishing some pet doctrinal point.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

1 Corinthians 1 - 2

The Corinthians

Paul greets the Corinthians in his first epistle to them as "the called and holy people." (1:2).  This epistle is primarily a lesson on Christian conduct.  While the Corinthian church "had eloquent words" and "knowledge" (1:5) and "every spiritual gift" (1:7) they also had divisions and disputes among themselves (1:11-12) proclaiming that they "follow Paul" or "I am of Apollos" or "I only follow Christ." (1:12-13).  Thus a cult of personality had infiltrated their thinking and was drawing them away from true worship.

This condition is prevalent in the modern-day church. Often times, believers latch onto the latest, hottest, "most spiritual" preacher or televangelist and ignore the pastor and ministry the Lord has given to the local assembly. This leads to differences of opinion and grandstanding with people thinking their own private revelation is greater than everyone else's opinion.  Of course, the truth is that our opinions mean nothing to the Lord - he is only pleased by our faith in Him.

So while the Corinthians had begun to rely on human wisdom, Paul rebukes them in chapter 2 and reminds them that he, though qualified, did not preach to them an intellectual gospel, rather he preached the crucified Christ.   He did not use enticing words, but relied on the Holy Spirit to convict the believer and turn their faith back to Jesus Christ and not man's wisdom.

Romans 13 - 16

Strengthen the Weak

Note: This covers Saturday and Sunday's readings

Paul finishes Romans with several themes and exhortations.  First, he exhort the faithful to obey those in authority, secular and spiritual.  He states that Christians pay their taxes to the civil governments as a sign of respect and as a duty to their fellow citizens.

Christians are to manifest respect and love to all they encounter, so it only follows that believers are forgiving of other believers, especially those weak in the faith. Arguing and disputing instead of listening and encouraging does harm and does not build up the faith of those who are weak. Many times this is a form of self-righteousness when one believer denigrates another. 

Continuing this line of thinking in chapter 15, Paul exhorts us to live for others. We are to build them up in Christ.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Romans 11 - 12

The Grafted Branch

Paul closes his discussion of Israel in chapter 11, explaining that God has not rejected Israel, but has not shown them grace because they have hardened their heart (11:7).  Because of this, His grace is given to the Gentiles, yet Israel is still His chosen people.  A beautiful illustration is given in verses 17 - 24.  After declaring that he, Paul, is the apostle to the Gentiles (v. 13) by God's appointment, he explains that he endeavors to create a Godly jealousy in Israel by their observing the grace of God in the Gentiles.

Israel is the "olive tree" from which branches were broken so that some branches from the "wild olive tree," the Gentiles, can be grafted in (v. 17). This does not make the Gentiles special or superior, in fact it underscores the tenuous relationship the Gentiles have with God without the law. If God was willing to break off Israel, then what  would prevent Him from removing the grafted in branch of the wild olives?  Only by His amazing grace are we, the Christian believers, privileged to be a part of His family.

Chapter 12 returns to the theme of the Christian life.  Paul pleads with the Romans to make themselves a "living sacrifice" to God, to live holy and to worship Jesus Christ. He discusses the diverse gifts, prophecy, speaking faith, serving, teaching, encouragement, and generosity that exists in the body of believers and exhorts them to cherish and cultivate these gifts.  Above all, Paul warns the Romans to not be lazy, to not become puffed up, to not think of themselves as better than others.  He warns against pride, dissimulation, and a know-it-all attitude. Paul exhorts them to love one another.

Romans 9 - 10

Paul Prays For Israel

Chapter 9 begins with a lament from Paul for his Jewish brethren to see the light of Jesus Christ and be saved. His desire is that they be saved.  He knows that they are familiar with spiritual matters and are privilege by God with promises specifically for them.  He explains that not all of the descendants of Abraham are heirs to the promise, only those through Isaac. Paul uses this to illustrate the sovereign nature of God and His election.

Isaac was the son promised to Abraham and Sarah, and through Isaac and Rebekah came the twins Esau and Jacob.  Yet, before they were even born, God has chosen Jacob and rejected Esau (9:13).  This is not unfair because God is under no obligation to give any sinful man grace.  However, he is free to offer grace to whom he chooses.  Thus, Paul realizes and teaches that God choose both Jew and Gentile for His own pleasure and to fulfill His Word.  It is not based on Israel's attempt to keep the law, because it is not based on any man's or peoples' ability or efforts.  The gift of salvation is based on God's sovereign choice. He provided His Son, Jesus Christ to fulfill and satisfy the requirements of the law, that all people would have the opportunity to know and follow Him.

Chapter 10 continues the theme with Paul reiterating his desire "for the people of Israel to be saved." (10:2).  He knows they are zealous for the things of God, but that their zeal is focused or directed to the wrong thing.  They still have God in the law and not in Jesus Christ.  So even though a Jew would keep all the letter of the law, without Christ they would be lost.  And the Gentiles, who had no knowledge of the law to begin with are lost without Him, too.

This is where the preaching of the Word and the New Testament ministry comes into effect.  Jew and Gentile alike must hear the Truth of God's Word.  But how can be saved without knowing Him.  And how can they know withing hearing? And how can they hear unless someone is sent to them to preach?  And how can someone preach unless God calls him?  (10:14-15).  God anoints His angels lights in this day to bring the Word of Truth to us that we can hear and know Him and be saved.

Roman 7 - 8

Freedom From The Law

Paul continues his theme of contrasting the law with grace with a beautiful example at the beginning of chapter 7 discussing the legal binding of marriage.  If a person is married they cannot remarry or they commit adultery. They are only free from the bonds of marriage when the partner dies.  In the same way, we are free from the bondage of sin and the law, because we died in Christ and are risen again to new life married to Him.  We now are slaves to Christ and allow him to control our thoughts and actions.

Paul ends chapter 7 with a explanation of how the spirit of man is at odds with the spirit of God. He goes into the "I" sermon in 7:14 to 7:25 of how I want to do good, but I do evil. I want to shun evil, but find myself doing it. Then in chapter 8, he states, "There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."  So even though the "I" of our existence wants control, it is subjugated to His will through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.  In 8:2 he states,"And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."  The "I" spirit is freed from us and we now live with His spirit.

Once we are filled with His spirit we are his children and not fearful slaves. Our spirit resonates with His spirit and we cry, "Abba Father!" Our Daddy, our papa.  We are not just sons, but also heirs to all the good things of His kingdom.  And nothing separates us from that love and position in Him.

Roman 5 - 6

From Justification to Salvation

Chapters 5 and 6 of Romans are powerful and clear messages that not only did God justify us by faith, but he then saved us by His grace through Jesus Christ.  "We were utterly helpless" (5:6), but Jesus Christ came to die for us even though we were sinners.  Paul illustrates this tremendous grace of God by asking, would you die for a righteous man, or even a great man?  Jesus chose to die for us even when we were sinners, thus we should grow to live for Him.

Adam, the first son of God, introduced sin into the human race by disobeying the command of God to avoid and not partake of the tree of knowledge.  Adam, though still God's son, was unable to redeem the human race from its fallen condition because of sin.  Jesus, the Son of God, came without sin, through the virgin birth, to redeem all of us.  Where sin entered through the first man, Adam, grace and salvation came through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, who remained sinless.

Through His perfect sacrifice all the requirements of the law were met and the Grace of God was ushered in through a new covenant with God and man.  This provide freedom from the bondage of sin.  Paul entertains the rhetorical question, "Since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning?" (6:15).  No!  To be free from the bondage of sin through grace, gives us the privilege and responsibility to live for Him and display His salvation.  We are free!

Romans 3 - 4

The Faith Of Abraham

Paul continues his lesson to the Romans on faith and the law.  It is evident that there were Jewish believers who somehow felt that their Jewish heritage entitled them to a special standing before God as Christians.  Paul wisely and deftly handles this question at the beginning of chapter 3 explaining that while it is beneficial to be a Jewish Christian and to be circumcised, the benefit is not indicative of "status."  We are all sinners before God, both Jew and Gentile.  The benefit of being Jewish is the revelation of God was first entrusted to the Jews (3:2).  Thus, the concepts of God and faith and worship were already present in the Jewish believer.

However, sin was also present.  Paul deals with another misunderstanding as the chapter continues.  Some had the idea that by being sinners they served as a contrast to highlight the righteousness of God and His salvation.  Paul uniformly and unapologetically states that this is not true. Sin does not serve a "righteous purpose." (v.5).  To continue in sin is to bring on death and destruction.  A believer does not work their way out of sin, instead they accept the sacrifice of Jesus for their sin and seek the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their life to overcome sin.  The reflection of Jesus Christ in a believers life does serve a righteous purpose!

We are all guilty before God. The Law cannot save us, it could only put of the destruction of God, until the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ was made.  Once Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law, then faith in happy secures our salvation.  The salvation Christ offers is free, not earned or merited by anything we do. "So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law." (3:28).

Chapter four is a beautiful depiction of Abraham as the father of faith for all believers - Jew and Gentile.  He believed God and was circumcised - setting the example for the Jews.  His faith was accepted by God before his circumcision - setting the example for the Gentiles.  Thus, his faith is imputed to all believers through the sacrifice at Calvary.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Romans 1 - 2

Abandonment

Note: We begin 7 weeks of reading the New Testament Epistles, the majority of which were written by Paul. These form the basis of the teachings of the Christian religion, to the point that any variance from what Paul preaches must be condemned (Galatians 1).  As the first church age messenger, Paul was chosen by God Himself through a pillar of fire (see Acts 9:15) to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles and establish the Ephesian church.

This first epistle is our reading is one in which Paul explains that all (Jews and Gentiles) are sinners and  can only be justified by faith, not works, not adherence to the Law, but faith only. After greeting the believing Romans in chapter 1:1-7, and commending their faith (1:8), and expressing his continual prayer for them and a desire to see them in person (1:9-15), he explains that his purpose of the letter is to bring the Gospel of God (1:1) which is the saving power of Jesus Christ, His Son (1:16-17) to all who will believe on Jesus.

Paul starts with a dire and disturbing picture of the wickedness and sinfulness prevalent in the world (then and now) by describing three general categories of unbelief.  In 1:21 he discusses those who refuse to believe in a living God and instead chose to worship an idol of their own creation.  For this God abandons them to "every shameful thing their heart desires (v. 24).  This idolatry and consequent abandonment by God leads these people to sexual immorality and unnatural homosexuality.  For the second time Paul declares that God abandons these wicked ones to their shameful desires (v. 26). The idolatry and immorality leads the people to a line of thinking that overtly and stubbornly denies the very existence of God.  For this, God once again abandons them to a "reprobate mind" (v. 28) and turns them over to every type of wickedness and evil imaginable. There is nothing left for them but spiritual death and separation from God.

In chapter 2, Paul warns the believers not to get a self-righteous spirit, and not to think that they are above sin by their own merits.  The very things that Paul condemns, some of them are guilty of.  He warns that by not taking advantage of the Grace of God and the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, they are storing up great punishment for themselves (2:5).  So while he stated in 1:16 that salvation first came to the Jews, and then the Gentiles, after the Holy Ghost was given in Acts 2, that now for those who continue in evil, great calamity awaits for the Jew and the Gentile (2:9-11).

Now that Grace has replaced the Law, God no longer judges ones life by the Law rather He looks at the heart and at the faith of the believer and justifies according to their faith in His shed blood.  The covenant under which the Jews were covered and kept is now limited.  The believer keeps the Law because he knows it pleases God, not just because of some formality.  Because Christ dwells in the believer, he is able to keep the Law, but without the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to fulfill all the obligations of the old covenant.

At the end of chapter 2 (28-29) Paul describes the "true Jew" as one who is circumcised in their heart. One who has allowed the Holy Spirit to examine and change their life.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Song of Solomon 5 - 8

Note: Tonight completes the poetic section of our reading.  At this point we have read the Torah, the Gospels and Acts, the History, and the Poetry of the Bible.  There remains only two sections - the Epistles and the Prophets and Revelation.  We begin the Epistles tomorrow.


I do not have a commentary on Song of Solomon tonight - primarily for two reasons.  One, I know there is a message beyond the obvious one of love between and man and a woman and two, I did not get the inspirational insight that I expect, thus I do not feel qualified to comment at this point.


May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Song of Solomon 3 - 4

Seeking - Having

Today's reading has imagery and wording that describes the intimacy between a man and his wife.  The young woman in chapter 3 strongly desires to complete her union with her chosen man and seeks for him in Jerusalem, looking in all the streets and squares late at night.  Finally, exhausted, she finds him and takes her to bedroom.

Together and alone, he describes her beauty in chapter four(1-11). He tests her for her virginity in verse 12-15 and then she invites him to partake of her consummate their marriage.

The typology is indicative of us seeking Christ and finding him and desiring an intimate spiritual relationship with Him. Before this can happen, he must ascertain that we are pure.  By His grace and through the justification of His word and the sacrifice of His blood, the bride has made herself ready for Him.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Song of Solomon 1 - 2

Two Lovers

Note: Today we begin the last of the poetic books.

No book of scripture is as poetic as the Song of Solomon.  The sensuous imagery of a man and woman in love, the compliments and flowing descriptions of each other and the intimate allusions "for your love is sweeter than wine" all set the tone for a beautiful love story.  This book has been interpreted in many ways, two lovers, three lovers, a bride and groom, Christ and His bride, etc. I have always seen it as a typological representation of Christ and His bride.

In chapter 1, the two exchange intimate thoughts about their desire for each other.  The young woman is captured by the beauty of her lover and relishes his fame and good name, v.2 , "your name is like a spreading fragrance."  She speaks of her own beauty  and how her brothers have kept her busy in their vineyard and not allowed her to tend to her own vineyard.  She longs to escape and be with her man while he tends his sheep, asking how to find him (v. 7).  He replies to follow the trail of his flock and anticipates her beauty and presence.

Chapter 2 continues the dialog.  The descriptions they use for each other are captivating.  She is like a lily among thistle (2:2) delicate and lovely and he is like fine apple tree (v. 3), strong and fragrant, providing nourishment and shelter. He is like a gazelle, sleek and powerful, she is like a dove, peaceful.  Their love blossoms in spring, the winter is past, the flowers are springing forth, the birds are singing, the doves are cooing.

Think about this in terms of Christ beckoning his bride.  She was busy doing other things, yet she longed to be with Him.  He sees her as pure and beautiful by the Word of God, virtuous, His dove and calls to her gently to come to where His flock (His sheep) are grazing.  Overwhelmed by His beauty and grace, she quickly seeks Him to be with Him.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Ecclesiastes 11 - 12

Youth

Ecclesiastes closes with an impassioned plea to the young to  remember "Him" - God  - before youth escapes in time. Solomon warns the youth to enjoy every minute of their young lives, because the inevitability of age will capture us all.  More importantly, though, while enjoying the vitality of youth, one must remember God for everyone will have to give an account of their life. (11:9).

Chapter 12:1-7 is a beautiful prose poem that describes the slow but unavoidable devastation of age and exhorts the young man to "remember him before:"

• the sun and moon are darkened in your eyes
• your legs grow feeble
• your shoulders stoop
• your teeth no longer grind the grain of food
• your eyes grow dim
• the doors of opportunity close
• you lose your ability to work
• you lose your ability to rise up early
• you begin to fall and have to carefully choose your steps
• your hair turns white
• you have no energy
• you go to the grave

Remember Him, your creator and remember that, without Him, your life is meaningless and your youth is wasted.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Ecclesiastes 8 - 10

Guard Your Thoughts - Think Before Speaking

At the end of today's reading, there is written a wise exhortation (10:20):

Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don't make fun of the powerful, even in your bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.

There are several lesson contained in these wise words.  First guard your thoughts.  Even considering sarcastic ideas and abasement of those who are in a leadership position is folly with potentially dire consequences.  If we guard our thoughts, then we can control our speech, and ultimately make good choices about the actions we take.  Solomon further warns us to not make fun of the powerful even when we think no one is looking. Once the thought manifests in an action, then containment becomes the issue.

If one respects those in positions of authority and takes the proper routes to rapprochement when problems arise, then one is in a much better position to learn and grow from the experience.  Many times, though, we react first and think later (if ever). Powerful people are powerful for a reason.  They have the ability to make things happen or stalwart efforts if they do not want something to happen.  To make fun of these people is risky.

In the spiritual sense, we should be especially careful about our thoughts and words concerning the ministry. God has chosen and place men in the offices of pastor and leader because He has a purpose. To attack, or abase, or make fun of the ministry damages your reputation and leads to ruin.  As Solomon says, it is nearly impossible to hide these feelings or contain your mockery of words.  "A little bird," i.e. someone who overhears, or some little snide remark you make in passing, will invariably find its intended target and you will suffer the consequences.

What options do you have if you think the ministry is incorrect.  First, examine yourself and your motives.  Next, pray and listen for God to answer.  Seek His face and guidance.  If you are sincere and do not have an evil motive, then He will speak to you by His Holy Spirit and Word.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Ecclesiastes 5 - 7

Talk Is Cheap

In today's reading Solomon talks, in chapter 5, about one's approach to God in the Temple with a careful warning, "As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut."  The KJV reads (in part),"...and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools."  The lesson is that as believers we must be ready to listen, not itching to talk, when we enter the house of God.  While it is true that we can overhear the wrong thing, or expose ourselves to evil talk, it is rare to enter a church service where the Lord is directing the minister and not be blessed by God by hearing something edifying. It is also true that, for most of us, we simply talk too much!

In 5:3 we read, "Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool."  We can talk away all of our victory. We think we are doing ourselves a favor by speaking and explaining, ad infinitum, about a subject, even a religious subject, but too much talk makes one appear a fool.  Especially if this is not tempered with listening.

Listening is quickly becoming a declining skill in our fast-paced society. We are expected to have an opinion and to voice that opinion. Many times people are less interested in what you have to say, and more interested in using your speech as a starting point for their own oration. When I think of the great people with whom I have interacted, it was the person who listened first and did not immediately proffer an answer that I most respect. It is a skill I covet and cultivate in my own life.

In Stephen Covey's outstanding book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (published 1989, Simon and Schuster) his fifth habit is Seek First to Understand then to be Understood. This habit is one he defines in the public arena, i.e. our interactions with others.  It is a major paradigm shift from what we typically encounter and from what we typically project.  If we have a problem, our first approach it to try to get the other person to see our side.  For Covey, the approach should always be to understand the other person first, then seek to be understood.  This blog is not the place for a complete explanation and I highly recommend this book for an in depth study on this and the other six habits. Suffice it to say that if we took this approach consistently, our lives and the lives of those around us would be greatly enriched.

Think about your relationship to Jesus Christ.  We do not have to make Him understand us.  Our prayers are not informative to him.  He knows more about us and our problems than we do.  Thus, effective communication with Him through prayer and meditation forces us to "seek first to understand."  We must understand Him and His will!

This takes us back to the exhortation of Solomon about entering the house of God.  We enter to hear, we enter to learn, to receive from Him.

Ecclesiastes 3 - 4

A Time And Season

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (3:1).

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 are some of the more well known verses of scripture. Poetic and poignant, they discuss the idea that everything has a time and season.  This is not a declaration of determinism, per se, but is an indication of the cyclical nature of life on Earth and existence in time. We all exists in overlapping cycles: circadian rhythms (day and night) dominate and define our daily existence, as do weeks, and years, and seasons.  Yet within the cycles of our life, we also have the arrow of time continuously progressing from birth to death. Some events we have no control over, i.e. our birth and our death, and other events are rife with choice, i.e. planting and reaping, searching, etc.

The progression that Solomon delineates is these verses describe the complexity of events and the levels of control intrinsic to some.  First we have birth and death - the beginning and ending boundaries of all the other events and activities he lists.

There are three areas that Solomon discusses.  First is our relationship to the world and our community. There is a season for planting and harvesting - a type of birth and death, but one we decide. Even if we are not actual farmers, we still plant and reap.  We plant our education and reap it rewards. We plant our friendships, investments, etc. and reap their rewards or suffer their consequences. Next is killing and healing and tearing down and building up. Again, this is not necessarily literal but is applicable in relationships and ideas.  Some ideas we kill, others we rehabilitate. There are people from whom we estrange ourselves and there are people who, when offended, we take pains to repair the relationship. Next he moves to the emotional realm and discusses crying and laughter, grieving and dancing (expressing joy physically).

The second area is our personal and intimate relationships. Solomon then discusses our efforts to reach out: gathering stones and strewing stones, embracing and pushing away, searching and not searching, retaining and throwing away.  All of these involve external objects or people or valuables about which we must decide to gather or release.

Finally, Solomon has us look inward-our relationship to ourselves.  We tear and we mend. We are quiet and we speak. We love and we hate.

He concludes with a time for war and a time for peace.  This is the ultimate choice for all of us individually and as a community.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Ecclesiastes 1 - 2

A Meaningless Life Under The Sun

Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes and starts the book with a nihilistic declaration: "Life is meaningless!"  The Hebrew word hebel is used by Solomon and is translated as vapor, vanity, or meaningless depending on the version of the Bible being used.  Life is a vapor - short-lived, indefinable, unable to be contained.  Solomon also employs the idiom "under the sun" meaning "here on Earth" or "in this world."

As the wisest man to ever live, Solomon was blessed with great material wealth and prosperity. However, as he surveyed his life and wisdom he realized that in his self-expression his life was meaningless. He tried every kind of pleasure. Laughter, wine, building large homes, and planting lush gardens did nothing to assuage the emptiness of life.  He acquired slave, herds, flocks, a massive wealth.  He had hundreds of wives and concubines and every entertainer money could buy, yet Solomon could find know lasting meaning in all of this.  To him, it was a vapor, a pointless vanity and totally meaningless.

In his disgust, he realizes that a life without God is meaningless.  He realized that there is nothing new under the sun, that the "new morality" is just the old immorality. That his wealth will be someone else's when he dies and that all his labor has no lasting effect.  He, as a wise man, will die just like the foolish man.

Verse 24 of chapter 2 reads, "Then I realized that these pleasures are from God. For who can ear or enjoy anything apart from him?" Paul makes a similar statement in 1 Corinthians 15:19, "And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world."  Thus a life without Christ is meaningless.

Proverbs 30 - 31

Two Kings

The last two chapters of Proverbs are the sayings of two kings, Agur and Lemuel, who are unknown and unmentioned in the Bible except for here.

Agur takes a self-deprecating view of himself, likening himself to one with no common sense (v. 2). Yet, he knows God and even speaks prophetically of Jesus in verse 4.  Additionally verse 6, "Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar." parallels Revelation 22:18 and verse 20 recalls Eve's adulterous act in Genesis 3 and her attempt to cover it up.

Lemuel recalls the proverbs of his mother (31:1) and starts out with a familiar warning of staying away from wicked and enticing women. Most of the chapter deals with the blessings of a man who finds "a virtuous and capable wife." (v.10).  Outside of salvation, this is the greatest gift a man can have.

Today's reading ends Proverbs. Tomorrow's begins another book ascribed to Solomon, Ecclesiastes.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Proverbs 28 - 29

Fall of a Nation

Note: This covers Tuesday's and Wednesday's readings.

There are two notable verses in these chapters:
28:2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.
29:12 If a ruler pays attention to liars, all his advisers will be wicked.

Both of these are ominous, but the first ends with hope, while the second ends with despair. As we say the moral decay of our nation, we can only pray for a wise leader to temporarily stave off the judgment of God this nation so duly deserves.  Presently we do not have that leader.  A case can be made that the nation has not had a leader of great moral standing since Abraham Lincoln, the apotheosis of that esteemed office.  Yes, there was Eisenhower and Reagan in recent memory, but neither had the relationship with God and the spiritual fiber to lead our nation out of the immoral state to which it has fallen.

Our present administration can barely lead themselves to any moral standing, much less this great nation.  Obama has surrounded himself with liars. He has appointed czars of dubious character, answerable to no one, and only interested in the promulgation of their own political and social agendas, to be his advisors. The government is in turmoil and reactive only to the whims of the next poll and the interests of the Left and godless special interest groups.

At this point, it is futile to pray for America.  We must pray instead that those who are lost will find Christ.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Proverbs 26 - 27

Friends

There are several proverbs in 26 and 27 that speak of friends:

26:18-19 Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, "I was only joking."

27:5-6 An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

27:9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

27:10 Never abandon a friend-either yours or your father's.

27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.


We all need friends and enjoy a happier and more fulfilling life when we are friendly and have friends. In these proverbs the dynamics of relationship betweens friends are explored.  In 26:18-19, the proverb discusses lying to a friend. If the person telling the lie is really a friend to the other person, then one is correct in questioning their friendship.  Friends do not lie to friends. In a pathetic attempt to make the lie go away, the person states they were only joking.  But is it a "joke" when we lie.  God hates liars and lying.

In 27:5-6 the proverb deals with the opposite of lying, i.e. telling a friend the truth, even if it is painful.  In the long run this is a much better display of friendship and love.  In 27:17 we see that being truthful and honest with a friend makes the friend "sharper." The friendship is strengthened and the individuals are strengthened.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Proverbs 25

Baskets of Silver

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (KJV)
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (NIV)
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. (NASB)
Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket. (NLT)
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (HNB)


This is one of my favorite scripture verses.  It serves as a paradigm of the small Bible verse rife with great meaning.


"A word fitly spoken" to me refers to one person sharing the Word of God with another person when the other person is in need of spiritual guidance.  It is possible to share human thoughts and words, but these will fail.  Only God's Word will endure forever, thus it can only be God's Word that is "aptly" or "fitly" spoken.


The translation "...apples of gold in settings of silver"  best captures the intent of the proverb.  The Hebrew word maskiyth (pronounced mas-keth) is the word translated as "settings" or "pictures" or "baskets" and is indicative of finely worked sterling with interlaced or decorative silver work.  It indicates that an artisan took time to carefully design the pattern. This word is the key to understanding this verse.

There are three main subjects in the verse: the word, the golden apples, and the silver settings.  The word is God's Word, the Bible, or a Word from the Lord. The golden apples represent the Holy Spirit, the purity of God.  The silver settings represent us, the believer.

When we speak a Word from the Lord, we are delivering gold wrapped in finely worked silver.  The observer sees the silver, the fine work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  When he/she hears the Word, they begin to look at the silver setting and through the pattern they see the golden apples - God!  We hide and contain the the Gold of God in the silver of our lives.  As we repeat and rehearse the apt Word of God to those in need, they begin to see the gold of God's word in our lives.

The apple in the Bible is almost always representative of something that God loves.  Israel is the apple of His eye. The Song of Solomon uses apples as a metaphor for something to be desired, a comforting fruit, a blessing.  Thus, by extension, the apples of gold that Solomon speaks of in this verse are the comforting and desirable Word of God.

As Christians, it is imperative that we share the apt Word of God to those in need.

Proverbs 23 - 24

Work

Proverbs 24: 30-34

I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson:
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.


We must work and tend to our business in our natural life or we shall be lacking in material goods.  Even in this age of government largess, those who strive for a better education, those who perfect their trade, and amass knowledge and experience, position themselves to do well in the workforce and financially.

Notice that the one walking sees three conditions of the vineyard:
1. Overgrown with nettles - These are invasive shrubs that have fine hair-like structures that irritate and sting.  Where the vineyard was intended to produce grapes for wine making, it now produces plants that are an irritant.
2. Covered with weeds - Unwanted plants that make the vineyard unsightly and diminish it capabilities in producing fruitful plants.
3. Broken down walls - This allows animals and humans to trod on and tear down the grape vines.

When ruminating on the pathetic condition of the vineyard the walker speaks of three causes:
1. Little extra sleep - while the lazy person slept, the nettles gained a foothold.
2. Little more slumber - while the lazy person slumbered, the weeds increased.
3. Little more folding of the hands to rest - while doing nothing the walls crumble exposing the vineyard.

While this is tragic in the natural sense, it is even more tragic in the spiritual sense.  We have the vineyard of our spiritual life for which we are responsible.  Our wasting of time when we should be reading the Bible, or praying, or attending church turns our vineyard into nettles. Instead of producing fruit and wine we produce stickers and toxins.  Our hebetude allows the weeds of sin to spring up and choke out any chance for spiritual growth.  We become unsightly in God's and our fellow believer's eyes.  A well tended vineyard is a place of beauty and life, producing fruit to be used to create wine, but when nettles and weeds choke out that life our vineyard is repulsive and good only for burning and starting over.

Finally, we rest our hands - symbolic of the good that we can do: witness, visit the sick, uplift the downtrodden, be a help to others, financially support the church, etc.  Instead, while we rest, the walls of protection, i.e. our faith, our confession, our rebuking of the devil, crumbles and every evil spirit comes waltzing in to destroy our vineyard.

Let us wake from our sleep, shake off the slumber, and put our hands to work for the Lord.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.

Proverbs 19 - 22

More Verses of Inspiration

Note: This covers Wednesday to Friday

Chapter 19:
3. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.
11. Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
19. Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

Chapter 20:
5. Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.
29. The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

Chapter 21:
2. People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines the heart.
31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Chapter 22:
2. The rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord made them both.