Joy in Providence

Matthew 10:29 (KJV) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Today was one of those days where I started with an insight and looked for a scripture that at least partially expressed what I was thinking.  I am meditating on getting old.  I’m thinking about how long I might have and what I will do with the time.  Ultimately, I want to do what God wants me to do and be submissive to Him.

Much of that means that I have to trust in the providence of God.  He knows.  He acts.  He leads. My job is to follow that lead because only He knows where we are going.  What a joy that is to know that God is in charge and that He sees beyond horizons.  I can trust Him.  If His eye is on the sparrow, as the song says, I know He’s watching me.  And I know while watching, He is also providing for and planning for.

Again, what a joy.

So?  In the words of another song,

“Trust and obey.
For there’s no other Way,
To be happy in Jesus. 

Change the Sheets

Psalm 6:6 (KJV) I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

This is David writing.  This is the man whom God said, was a man after His own heart.  This is the man who slayed Goliath.  This is the man who played his harp to calm the turmoil in Saul.  This is the man who was chosen by God to lead Israel, and to be an ancestor of the Messiah.

And with all that he lays on his bed, weeping and groaning.

That should help you realize, if you haven’t already, the Bible goes full circle on life.  It not only talks about hope and joy and promise, but also talks about the struggles that we face.  They are very real.  Admit them, and as you admit them, reach out to the eternal God, in faith and confidence, knowing that He will hear you.

So?  Don’t be afraid of genuine emotions.  Don’t be afraid of your feelings.  At the same time, don’t let them control you.  Don’t let them negate the faith that you have in the loving kindness of God. 

God Communicates

John 14:18 (KJV) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

This is a case where I did not start at a verse and then seek a deeper understanding.  This was the case where I was thinking about God communicating with us, and this verse came to mind.  The reason it might help me understand is that the context of this verse deals with Jesus sending the Holy Spirit to be with us. That in itself is a wonderful concept.  My thinking, however, is more about understanding the word of God, and the will of God, rather than just rejoicing in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

In a roundabout way this reminds me that the Holy Spirit will help me to understand what I read.  I am no longer the general pagan, trying to understand spiritual concepts that are beyond me.  I am now the believer, who has a personal tutor to explain, and enlighten.

So?  God wants to communicate with His people.  He has given us His written word.  He has sent His Holy Spirit.  He will communicate if we will seek and listen. 

Legal meditation.

(Psa 119:97 KJV)  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

 (Proverbs 28 also read)

As I am sitting in the morning darkness, considering the word of God, the idea of meditation comes to mind.  First, realize that biblical meditation is not the same as the meditation of the eastern religions.  Biblical meditation has to do with taking a scripture or an attribute of God and focusing on it, thinking about it, plunging into the depths of its meaning.  It is not an emptying of your mind.  It is a filling of your mind.

So when we talk about meditating on the law, what does it look like?  If you’re taking the first commandment or what Jesus called the greatest commandments, it’s not too hard.  But I ask myself, “How would David meditate on obscure specific laws such as not plowing with two different types of animals?”  At first it seemed impossible.  But with a little bit of thought, I came up with some ideas.

One of the things that came up was comparing that law with the idea that we are not to be unequally yoked.  That would give me a start for thinking about many of my relationships in life and my priorities.  I would be meditating on the law and coming to a greater understanding of God and my relationship to Him, as well as my relationship to other people.

So?  Learn to meditate by looking deeper into meanings.  Sometimes that will take you on a tangent we would have never imagined, and those will be helpful in understanding what’s going on in life.  It may not make any sense to anyone else, but it may draw you closer to the eternal God of the Bible. 

Organized Prayer

(Psa 5:3 KJV)  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

In the past few years, I have developed something I call a “prayer map”.  It is nothing special.  You may do something like this, or not.  I found that I was having a hard time keeping track of the people in a Zoom group that I was in as I covenanted to pray for them.  I started developing groupings and specific orders that would help me to remember.  I found that this helped me to cover everything.  I added names organically instead of trying to remember a need mentioned.  If God brought something to mind and kept it there, I would add it; if not, I would pass on.  I think this is part of the idea of ordering or directing.

So? If you’re happy with how your prayer life is going then rejoice and enjoy.  If you’re struggling, then maybe take a little bit of time to organize it in a way in which you can remember the things that you want to cover.  Also, keep in mind that if you keep forgetting a name, God knows that person.  The children of some of my friends bear creative names because I either never heard the real one or don’t remember.  God knows whom I’m talking about.

Mention Number One

Psalms 1:2 (KJV) But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Here, in the second verse of the first Psalm, we find the mention of the law.  As is typical of the book of Psalms, the mention is positive.  Unlike Paul, David does not just read the law but finds “delight in the law”.  And he wants to “meditate on that law”.

I think this desire to meditate helps us to focus in on what law David is talking about.  I doubt if it’s the part of the law that says not to plow with two different species of animals.  I doubt if it’s the law which says don’t boil a kid in its mothers milk.  No, I think this law he is referring to would be one that might be the first commandment.  It might have to do with loving your neighbor as yourself.  There are many laws which are worthy I was thinking about and asking how they apply to our lives.

So?  Don’t be afraid of the law.  Don’t use it to manipulate and find positions of power, but don’t be afraid of it.  Use it to understand who God is and what He wants from us.

It’s Personal

(Psa 139:3 KJV)  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

I could’ve picked almost any verse in this Psalm.  The entire passage rings with the reality of knowing the living God and the living God knowing us.  I picked it up in the first verse.  It was still there in the last.

When God said His name was Yahweh and let Moses know that means “I am”, He was pointing out to us that not only is He real but He is a person, and that person relates well with us.  He spoke as a friend with Moses.  He walks with us every day.  Notice how this verse indicates that God is with us at all times in all activities.

So?  I find that very comforting.  God is not just out there.  He is also right here and I greet Him with Joy.  I hope you do too. 

Known Without Knowing

(Psa 138:6 KJV)  Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Recently, our pastor took some new members into the church.  At one point he talked about now that they were members they had not only the responsibilities, but the privileges of the church.  I hear that kind of talk at times and I wonder just what privileges are they talking about?  The privilege of giving a 10th of my income?  The privilege of coming to work days?  The privilege of serving in the nursery when the attendant doesn’t show up?

Probably the greatest privilege that we know as Christians is knowing God.  It can be a very personal and fulfilling relationship.  What makes it so worthwhile is not just that we can know Him, but that He knows us.  This verse points that out in a kind of backhanded way.  He says that the proud, or arrogant, he knows from a far off.

So?  Do you know God close up?  Is He intimate with you?  If He is far off, if you can’t seem to reach Him, there’s a very good possibility that you are one of those that are called proud.  There are other words for that, such as puffed up, fill in the blank, but God is trying to reach you, as the song says “humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up”. 

Sing It

Psalms 137:4 (KJV) How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

I don’t think Psalms ever answers this question.  It’s a question that we might ask in a slightly different way.  We might ask “how can I sing when I feel so bad, or “how can I sing when things are going so poorly?

From another angle I would say that this is the standard situation of Christians today.  We do not have a land.  We tend to forget that as Americans.  We tend to think in some strange way that we have become the promised land.  I think it’s because God has blessed us so much, but keep in mind that this is still a strange land for believers.

So?  Some things never change.  Some answers never change.  It reminds me of a chorus that talks about having a song in my heart.  We can sing because Jesus loves us and has set up housekeeping inside of us.  What a joy. 

Foreclosure

(Pro 22:27 KJV)  If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

I have mixed feelings about this verse.  On the one side, it seems unfair to the person who loaned the money.  Are you not supposed to get your loan paid back?  It would seem that is the case.  This reflects the biblical view of borrowing money and going into debt.  It is really frowned upon.  Debt is equated with slavery.  There is a limit put on it in biblical thinking.

On the other hand, this seems like it could be the beginning of the concept of bankruptcy.  When a person cannot pay, you don’t throw them in jail.  You have standards and rules, which limit how much you can take away from someone.  I’m not an expert by any means on bankruptcy, but I think that you are allowed to keep certain assets such as maybe a home.  The creditors can only take so much.

I think part of what is going on here is that they are concerned about people that make bad loans.  Does the word “lone shark” mean anything to you?  There are people who loan money knowing that they probably won’t get it paid back.  They make their profit by confiscating what is offered as security.

So?  Keep in mind that the Bible is really down on being in debt . I did borrow for tuition one year, but that was in the day when you paid it back.  I had a home mortgage.  I borrowed money from my parents once when my car blew up.  Other than that I don’t think I have had experience in loans.  Everyone’s situation is different.  I would urge you to do everything you can to stay out of debt.

Point of Prayer

(Psa 141:2 KJV)  Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

(Proverbs 21 also read)

One of the topics I contemplate is prayer.  What is prayer?  Why do we pray?  What should I focus on?  These are all real questions for me.  When I read different places in the Bible and come across a prayer, I look at it because I want to use the biblical models as examples of what I should be doing.

One of the things I notice about this chapter, which is a prayer, is that there is no list of things required or asked for.  The focus seems to be on David living a righteous life.  He’s not asking for things.  He’s not asking about his health.  He’s talking about being the kind of man that God wants him to be.

So?  My prayer focuses on fellowship with God.  I try to listen to see what He wants to say to me.  I have a basic assumption that He will meet my needs, so I don’t need to spend much more than just like Jesus did asking for His daily bread.  Prayer is a relationship not a shopping list. 

Can or Can’t

(Pro 20:9 KJV)  Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

In reading this first in the Legacy Standard Bible I find a difference that might be subtle, but it is very real.  You will notice that the KJV puts the cleansing power in the hands of the believer.  Since this is a rhetorical question, this statement comes across accurately that we cannot save ourselves.  Good theology.  Even the Old Testament reminds us that we are saved by God’s power, or grace, and not our own ability.  That is the point of this verse.  Now look at the LSB,

Proverbs 20:9 (LSB) Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure, I am clean from my sin”?

At first glance you might ask, “What is the difference?”  The LSB asked a question and thinks that the answer is “no” just as the question in the KJV expects a “no”, but the question is actually different.  The way the LSB states things, it is impossible for us to live upright and righteous lives.  That is repeatedly refuted in Proverbs and Psalms and many other places in the Bible. We are expected to live upright lives.

In comparing the two I find that the KJV, along with the NASB, as an accurate statement, and the LSB is a bit deceptive.

So?  Read with discernment.  Read with your mind.  God will give you the guidance you need.

The Flow

(Pro 19:27 KJV)  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

The Christian life is often referred to as a walk, and the path of righteousness is understood to be a way of living.  We also have the image of living water as opposed to stagnant pools.  This verse goes along a little bit with that second better than the first.  The spiritual walk requires constant, refreshing and renewal.  If you look at this, the idea of coming to a place of not listening anymore is dangerous.  If we stop reading, listening, contemplating, and generally paying attention to the ways in which God is communicating then the pool of spiritual power that we have begins to dry up.

This is expressed in “straying” (7686) from the “words” (561) of “knowledge” (1847).  Our memories are not perfect.  Our execution is often lacking in focus.  Much of that is because we are not constantly renewing and refreshing our minds in the Lord.

So?  Get with it.  Get back to listening.  I don’t think that just means turning on the radio and listening to radio preachers.  I think that means you accessing sources such as the written word and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you.  Happy growing. 

Fantasy Land

(Pro 18:11 KJV)  The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

I like the way the Legacy Standard reads here,

Proverbs 18:11 (LSB) A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own delusion.

We are living in an age where the wealthy are withdrawing again into their castles, and thinking that they are secure simply because of their wealth.  That’s based on the feeling that they are better than anyone else because of their wealth.  They think that they have the right to tell other people what to do because of their wealth.  According to the LSP, that means they are living in a world of “delusion” (4906).

It is hard for us who are living in their self-styled shadow to see how shallow this deception is.  So much of what we do is based on our income.  So much of our security is based on our bank balance or cash flow.  We tend to forget the important things that are not just identified by dollar signs.  We don’t see the miserable relationships.  We don’t feel the insecurity.  We don’t experience the self hatred that is so often a part of these lives.  Neither do they.

So?  Let them live in their fantasy world.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  Keep your priorities straight.  Take the long view and understand that we are building a life to prepare us for eternity not just to give us a seat at the current cool banquet.

Grading on a Curve

(Pro 17:3 KJV)  The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

While it is true that God does not tempt us, He does test us.  Keep in mind the difference in purpose.  Temptation is to drag someone down.  The test is to measure how far you’ve gone, how much progress you’ve made.

God tests hearts.  And when He judges our heart, keep in mind that He knows that heart.  He knows what our motives are, and our priorities, and whether Jesus has set up housekeeping or not.  So when God tests us He is, in a sense, grading on a curve.  When I was teaching one of the dreams that we had was to make up individual tests for individual students.  With modern technology, such a thing might be possible, but the human element would make it very subjective and unfair.

God on the other hand knows us very well and knows exactly how to test us.

So?  Keep a providential perspective.  Keep in mind that the trials you go through, the tests you face, are designed by Almighty God, or at least allowed by Him with an awareness of our limitations.  How reassuring. 

Providential Solutions

(Pro 16:9 KJV)  A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

This is at least the third time by this place in the chapter that we have this thought expressed.  We make our plans.  We think we know what we want.  Ultimately God is the one who brings things about, and He does it His way.

For some that’s a good thing, for some bad.  God‘s way of making it work is not necessarily the way you would want it to work.  God assumes, or hopes, the ultimate desire of your heart is that His will would be done.  If you don’t feel that way, then this is a terrible concept.  God will use you, work around you and ignore you.  If you want God‘s will in your life, then this is a glorious statement because He will make up for all of your shortcomings and failures and bring about His will.

So?  Which is it for you today?  Are you rejoicing in the providence of God?  Are you dragging your feet, scowling, and being a general negative influence?  Much of this depends on where our heart is.

Contact

(Exo 33:11 KJV)  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

I don’t expect to ever make contact with God face-to-face in this life.  I do meet with Him regularly.  How would I describe that?  I might describe it as meeting Him heart to heart, or mind to mind, or with creation in mind, I might consider it as image to Imager.  The important thing is we meet daily, or as daily as I can keep it.

It is also important to think of meeting Him as a friend to friend.  I do not want to be presumptuous, but that seems to be the terminologies used here.  I hope it’s never an arrogant assumption.

So? I find the words of that song come in my mind, which goes, “reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.”  You can count on it. 

Fret Not

(Psa 37:1 KJV)  A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

(Psalm 14 also read)

I was sitting and thinking about my blessings, and how quickly and easily they could evaporate.  What keeps me from stressing out about that possibility?  Providence.  Faith.  And the points made by this verse.  I am working on not fretting.

I once had a pastor who preached an annual sermon on this Psalm.  He called it the “Cycle of Victorious Living”.  It was very inspirational, and it was something that stuck with you.  As I have been looking at the issues going on in our political system, and all of the things we are worried about with elections and the economy and such, I have every reason to worry, in a secular sense.  The world is coming apart.  We are in that time, where there are wars and rumors of wars, disease, hunger, and whatever else you want to add to the list.  In spite of that I am not overly worried.

I don’t find myself worrying a lot.  Am I aware?  Yes.  Am I concerned?  Yes.  Am I preparing for possibilities?  Yes.  Do I worry?  I sometimes find myself falling into that trap, but then I remind myself that God is in charge, and that Providence will be able to take care of anything that comes up.  In a word, I have learned not to fret.

So?  I might be concerned.  I may fall into the trap of worrying.  I may allow the tension to get in me and have a hard time sleeping for a short period.  But overall, I am learning to fret not.  A good question to ask is, “What is the worst thing that can happen?”  Only God knows, and He is not telling.  He’s just saying, “Trust Me”. 

Synonyms

Proverbs 13:5 (KJV) A righteous [man] hateth lying: but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Take a moment to read these other translations.

Proverbs 13:5 (NASB95) A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully.

Proverbs 13:5 (LSB) A righteous man hates a lying word, But a wicked man acts odiously and is humiliated.

I am looking at the word that the KJV has as “loathsome” (887).  That is not a bad choice.  It is not a common word, but it is understood by most people.  I think the NASB is the weakest here because it uses a very common word that people throw around without thinking.  The one I like the most, though is in the LSB.  There it says “odiously”.  That I believe is really good.  I think many people would understand it.  Others might have to look it up.  But it gets your attention and drives you down into the depths of depravity that are possible in human activity.

So? Another reminder that evil exists.  A necessary reminder that evil is not pretty, no matter what the TV or movie screen says.  Evil is ugly, destructive, odious. 

Hope On

Psalms 131:3 (KJV) Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

Here, David, as king of Israel, is expressing a message of great hope to the people of Israel.  But keep in mind it doesn’t stop there.  Those who believe in Jesus Christ, who trust in Him, and His shed blood, and walk in obedience, have access to the promises of the Old Testament.  We are part of the family of God and this is a message of hope.

And notice that last thought, “for ever”.  That means that God will be keeping us looking upward and rejoicing, and filled with that awesome trait of anticipation all through eternity.  Our hope is not just now.  We don’t just have a hope and a future for now.  We will spend eternity on the cutting edge of anticipating what God has for us.

So?  Time to get on the hope train.  Time to align yourself with that positive, expanding, growing, exciting, eternal future that God has for us. 

OT Plan

(Psa 130:3 KJV)  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

(Proverbs 11 also read)

If this were the only verse that you were allowed to use, life would definitely be gloomy.  It is a prophecy, a statement of truth, that all men are fallen.  If all God looked at where our mistakes, our failures, our shortcomings, and a summation our sins, we would be of all creatures, the most miserable.

But keep reading.  The next verse is good, but there’s an even better summation toward the end of the chapter,

(Psa 130:7 KJV)  Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

That makes the package complete.  It marches down to history right next to Paul, saying in one breath, "all have sinned", and in the next breath saying that we are saved by grace through faith.

So?  God had a plan from the beginning.  The important part of that plan for us is that He offers forgiveness and redemption.  Something to rejoice about.

Good

(Psa 125:4 KJV)  Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.

(Proverbs 10 also read)

When you read a verse like this, it should raise some questions in your mind.  Who are these “good” that are being talked about?  How can anyone be good?  A lot of people like to quote Paul, who is quoting David.  An example is,

(Psa 14:3 KJV)  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

How can you have it both ways?  With a little thinking there are solutions.  Basically we are incapable on our own of being good.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do good.  And we can also be good because of the cleansing and filling of the Holy Spirit.

So?  How are you going to live your life?  Are you going to continue denying the power of God and the desire He has for you?  Or are you going to reach out to Him and allow Him to empower you and live an upright and righteous existence?  The choice is yours.

Jealous

(Exo 20:5 KJV)  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

(Proverbs 9 also read)

While meditating on the attributes of God, the idea of God being jealous came to mind.  You see that here first and several other places.  The idea is that God demands being our only God.  He is not content sitting down with competition.  You worship him only.

Then I thought about this verse,

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NASB95) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,

I started thinking about possible contradictions in scripture.  How can something be OK for God and yet not for His creatures?  It is a legitimate question.  Then I thought about something else that would go along the same lines where we are told not to judge in Matthew seven, and yet we know that God will judge the world.

So?  Sin is the corruption something that is righteous or neutral in itself.  When we take on attributes which are reserved for God and His holiness and purity, we do nothing but corrupted and drag it down.  We are not God.  Some things He can do perfectly we cannot even touch without destroying. 

Attributes

(Psa 121:4 KJV)  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

When I think of the attributes of God, this is one that never occurred to me.  God does not sleep.  I don’t know if this is just figurative speech, or whether it is literal, but it seems to say that God does not need sleep like we do.  We talked about being created in His image, evidently that doesn’t mean sleep.

God doesn’t need refreshment.  God doesn’t need downtime.  God does not need rest.  He’s on the job all the time, not because He’s an employee but because He is God.

So? He’s watching you and He is watching out for you. I hope that is a comfort. 

Emptying Law

(Pro 7:14 KJV)  I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

This verse is part of a passage which gives us an example of why the law itself is not adequate for salvation.  You notice the phrase, “peace offerings”, and then she talks about paying her “vows” (5088).  This is referring to passages in the book of Leviticus that talk about the different sacrifices involved in the law.  There are many different types of sacrifices and many different offerings you can make.  They are even related to atonement.

Yes, the Old Testament seems to say that the sacrificial system can provide atonement.  Where Christians missed the point is in thinking that going through the ritual is what it’s supposed to be making the difference.  Not so.  The attitude of the heart is key.  Faith and belief are important.  In this verse we have a woman who has paid her vows and is then on our way out, seeking to commit adultery.  I can guarantee you the final verses in the chapter are not happy.

So? Keep in mind that the Bible is consistent.  We are saved in reality, because God says so, thus by grace.  God does not say so, as an empty response to us punching a button, but to seeing our hearts, and knowing how what we believe relates to what we do.  Our faith is in the living God, not in ritual.

Dating

(Psa 126:1 KJV)  A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

(Proverbs 6 also read)

Let me throw in a word about interpreting scripture based on when it was written.  I think there are still a lot of people who default to David as the author of the Psalms.  Sometimes that is obvious because the Bible says in verse 1 that it was written by David.  Other times it should be obvious that David did not write it because another author is listed in the text.  Here there is no author given, but we know that David is not the one.

How can we say that?  If you don’t see it, read it again.  Notice that it’s talking about the captivity.  What captivity is that?  Did David ever experience any captivity?  Not that I know of.  It seems obvious to me that this is talking about hundreds of years after David when Israel was returned from captivity in Babylon or whatever group was in power then.

So? Don’t forget to remind yourself to keep thinking as you read.  Don’t always make assumptions.  Sometimes it might be necessary, but other times it’s more important to keep our minds engaged.  It’s hard to have a conversation with God when we are not really listening.

Drunk Walkers

(Pro 5:23 KJV)  He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

The Legacy Standard Bible has an interesting read on this verse.  That last phrase “shall go astray”, comes across as being intoxicated.  This made me look up the actual Hebrew, and one of the possible translations of this word has to do with being intoxicated or drunk and weaving as you walk or proceed down the road.

The picture here is of a person who doesn’t know if they’re going right or left, up or down, or what their destination is.  Last year I went to visit some friends and I forgot to get their address before I left.  I had their telephone number and I was able to get in the general area but they weren’t answering their phone.  I ended up wandering around, turning up the wrong street, running into cul-de-sacs and generally driving without a destination.  Eventually, I figured out where they lived.  That’s the way our lives are sometimes.

So?  If you’re satisfied with living that way, then keep on meandering.  If you’re not satisfied, then maybe it’s time to start actually reading the Word, listening to what God has to say, and becoming a disciple, instead of just a spectator.  God is waiting and his instructions are ready. 

So That

Psalms 119:146 (KJV) I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

For those of you who live in the world that divides the Old Testament from the New, take a look at the order here of grace and works.  Even in the days of David, you see a call first to be saved, and then the keeping of the law.  This comes through more clearly in the KJV.  Both are required.  Neither is optional.  But we first must be touched by the grace and power of God.  Only then, our actions is counted as righteousness.

There is no division in God’s eyes.  Like someone said:  Without Him we cannot, and without us, He will not.

So?  Live under grace and live in obedience. 

Sharing

(Pro 3:27 KJV)  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

It might be good for us to pause a moment and consider the context of this verse.  If you look back two verses, you’ll find it talking about living in a time of turmoil and struggle.  It talks about living in a time where there’s a lot of wars and a lot of insecurity.  It is in the midst of that that we are told to share.

I know we don’t like that idea.  We want to prepare and be ready to take care of our family.  That is good and that is a priority.  At the same time we are called to obedience and trust.  We are calling to look through our neighbors and our community.  It is part of who we are as believers.

So?  Find the right balance.  We tend to extremes of either/or when God wants us to go for both/and. 

Creativity

(Pro 2:19 KJV)  None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

As I said, I am reading proverbs in the Legacy Standard Bible this month.  One of the benefits of reading different translations is it makes you more alert for little differences.  So I’m looking for how this translation is different from others, and I noticed that it started off with the statement of “all” who go, instead of “none” that go.  I noticed this because I read it on my iPad and I have two translations side-by-side.  That difference made me go to a listing of all the translations.  Every other translation, I have has the word “none".  Only the Legacy version goes with “all".

I guess I could stretch the idea of all to mean that everyone does not return, but when you read the whole paragraph, it has more of the idea that only some don’t return when it says all.

So?  Read with discernment.  God wants to speak to you.  Sometimes He can speak to you by jarring your mind and making you think because of conflict with controversies. 

Old Name, New Translation

(Pro 1:7 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This month I am reading in a new translation I have come across.  It is called the Legacy Standard Bible.  This of course brings up the question, “Do we need another translation?”  Not really.  I will point out though that it does something I have wanted to see.  It transliterated the name of the Lord, Yahweh, instead of using LORD like the NASB and KJV do.

It is good because it makes us stop and think a bit, or it should.  Some of us are very resistant to thinking.  When we consider the name Yahweh it should make us stop and wonder what it means when God says “My name is I Am”.  I can spend a good bit of time just thinking about the fact that He is a god who actually exists.

So?  Sometimes a name says a lot.  Remember you are a child of the Great I Am.