Do You Need an Umbrella Today?

Proverbs 28:3 (KJV) A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Rain is good.  Too much rain is destructive.  A very light rain is useless.  So much of life depends upon the quantity of product that is needed compared to what we receive.  Here the image is rain.

The weatherman loves to get us excited about rain.  My wife is constantly telling me not to go out driving because there are going to be flash floods that will wash me away.  As I drive across the road that goes east and west above our home, it has numerous dips through which at one time or another water channels.  The one that amuses me the most is the one that is called the Dry Comal Creek.  We have had some real gully washers since we’ve been in Texas.  We have a metal roof and the sound can be very dramatic as it pounds down.  We can watch the water running down the driveway and down the roads.  I have yet to see it come over any dips on that road.

On the other end we have forecasts of rain that keep getting moved back a day at a time until they disappear.  I don’t know if it’s a vain hope or just needing to hype up peoples’ enthusiasm so they keep watching, but the rain doesn’t come.

We don’t have any control over the rain, but we do have control over many areas of our life.  We can decide whether to eat too much or practice moderation.  We can decide to drink too much and need a designated driver, or we can practice moderation.  We can spend money on gifts using our credit cards and shake our head in despair when the bills come in, or we can practice moderation.

So?  I guess it should be obvious.  Practice, moderation, but you knew that. 

Not a Coward

Proverbs 27:12 (KJV) A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Americans tend to channel John Wayne.  We tend to take things head-on and think that our courage, honor and bravery will triumph.  Sometimes that’s the way to go, other times it is better to be “prudent.”  And what does prudent mean in this situation?  It means hiding.  I don’t think that means actually going into a closet, huddling down and covering ourselves with a blanket.  It could simply be a matter of not walking through the door.  It could be a matter of not reading a certain book or magazine article.  It definitely could be avoiding certain movies or entertainments. It is the prudent thing to do.

The hard part is knowing when we should stride forward with confidence that God will protect us, and when we are supposed to avoid the “evil.”  That is where discernment, knowing our scriptures, listening to the Holy Spirit and being willing to be obedient are so crucial.

So?  The place to start is in reading the scripture but we do that with an awareness that the Holy Spirit is going to try and speak to us.  The value in scripture is not how many verses we read, but carefully listening to what they might want to say to us. 

Worship Proliferation

(Psa 26:8 KJV)  LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

Originally, in scripture you have the Garden of Eden identified as the place where God met humanity.  After the expulsion, there was more evidence of meeting God wherever you were.  Then we come to the law, and the tabernacle and later of the temple.  During these time periods, the emphasis on meeting God was in coming to the place where the Ark of the Covenant resided.  I think that is what David has in mind as he is sharing here.  As I was looking into the different temples, one of the commentators said that the only temple that does not have a statement about the glory of God filling it was the one built by Nehemiah and Ezra.  That doesn’t mean God wasn’t there, but the others have a specific reference to God‘s glory.

Since I was meeting God in my bedroom, Israel is the other side of the world and there is no temple, my mind started wondering why I can meet with God here?  And my mind went back to where Jesus said that He had to leave so that the Holy Spirit could come to us and how on Pentecost He came in power.

So?  We can meet with God just about anywhere.  His glory in a sense now resides in us and not a building.  Rejoice and worship. 

An Open Secret

Psalms 25:14 (KJV) The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

When I see something that is supposed to be a “secret”, I think of private information that we don’t want shared with anyone else.  That’s not the emphasis here.  The word has the idea of a council meeting where only the members can join the discussion.  That doesn’t mean they can’t share it with others.  It might even be more like board meetings at my church.  They say they’re open to anyone who wants to come.  You can’t vote but you can listen.  I don’t know if you can speak, but you can listen.

We are admitted to the council of God when we have the right attitude towards him.  The word here is fear.  Keep in mind the biblical concept of fear is more awe and reverence than phobia.  It is an attitude that does not make us want to run away, but convinces us to listen.

So? God's counsel is available. Are you listening? 

Pick a Metaphor

(Psa 18:2 KJV)  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

(Proverbs 24 also read)

David is waxing strong on his figures of speech.  I hope you realize that you’re not supposed to take everything here literally.  David is expressing the joy in the glory of God that he’s feeling and trying to come up with a way to convey that to you.  What would you come up with today? 401k?  Shields up?  Iron dome?

The actual figure of speech is not important.  What is key is to realize the glory of God, the power of God, the love of God, the holiest of God.  All of these are beyond our comprehension and yet we can grasp them enough to sense how awesome they are.

So?  Spend some time, perhaps meditating on the biblical pictures, trying to describe God and then spend some time looking for your own metaphor and similes. 

The Five Month Reminder

Proverbs 23:1 (KJV) When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

Every five months because of my routine of Bible reading, I have this verse in Proverbs 23, which comes before me at the same time as this verse in Psalm 23,

Psalms 23:5 (KJV) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

We have the picture of someone supplying us with a wonderful repast.  In both cases, we have the idea that our wants and needs are being supplied.  The difference is the attitude of the person doing the supplying.  In Proverbs, we are warned about the person who is called a ruler.  As you read on you find out that this ruler has a definite agenda, which is not to your benefit.

In Psalms it’s a totally different picture.  There you have a benevolent God who is laying out before you a benevolent feast.  There is no fear.  There is no concern about coming back to haunt you.  There will be no food poisoning in this banquet.

So?  Consider the source.  The supplies in our daily lives.  We have many people who give us gifts but they all come with strings attached.  The gifts that God gives us for our benefit and our eternal joy.  Bon appétit. 

Favor

(Pro 22:1 KJV)  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

I don’t know if I have covered this before.  Even if I have, I’m going to look at it again.  I am referring of course to that word “favor.”  This is the word which the King James Bible usually translates “grace.”  It is the Hebrew word which is looked at as the Old Testament equivalent of the New Testament concept of grace.  It is the word that is used of Noah finding grace.

It jumps out at me because I have been discussing the place of Israel in the salvation message.  The person I was talking to was insisting that all Israel will be saved as it tells us in Romans 11.  I was telling him that for such an understanding as he had of that verse it had to involve what Calvin called “irresistible grace”.  Since he claims to not be a Calvinist, he didn’t like that.

Either way, grace is very evident in the Old Testament.  It talks about having God’s favor, and God, moving in benevolent and beneficial ways in the lives of those He extends His grace to.

So? That means that God has extended his grace even to you. I trust you have accepted the offer. 

Breaking Arms

Psalms 10:15 (KJV) Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

(Proverbs 21 also read)

The title given this section of scripture by the editors is “Prayer for the overthrow of the wicked.”  I understand that is not in the actual text, but just a summary offered by some mysterious editor.  But it does summarize the Psalm pretty well.  When you get down to verse 15 you get this interesting request.

While it’s true that we are not supposed to wish tragedy on our enemies, that advice, which is given other places in Psalms and Proverbs, seems to be overlooked.  I would guess that this means that it’s OK for us to pray for heaps of coal to be dumped on the heads of the wicked.

So?  Don’t let this get you to walk away from living a righteous life, or examining your own self, but as you pray and you see people that are obviously wicked and living in defiance of God, it would seem to be OK to call upon God to deal with them in physical ways. 

Passing the Buck

Proverbs 20:7 (KJV) The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Often when we read a verse like this, we think that there are certain promises made that are not really there.  In my first reading, and probably my fourth or fifth reading, this says that if I walk in “integrity” that my children will walk also in that integrity.  We take it as a promise, that if we follow God that our children will follow God.

That is not what it says.

It says that if we are faithful, our children will be blessed.  What that blessing means moves on to the next generation and depends on how they respond to the blessing.  I believe in free will.  Most people even if they are five point Calvinist, believe in some type of free will.  That means that no matter how much of a blessing we are to our children the question is, how will they respond.

I will concede that us walking in integrity gives them a better chance, a better foundation, understandings that others might not have, but it’s still up to them what they do with that blessing.  I can take my child out with a 22 rifle and teach him to shoot well.  He can take that skill and use it for recreation, or feeding his family, or for committing murder.

So?  Walk in integrity.  Lay the groundwork.  Set the example.  Pray that God would lead your children to follow in those footsteps.  Your responsibility is to give the blessing theirs is to respond to it. 

Such Enthusiasm

Psalms 7:1 (KJV) [[Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.]] O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

(Proverbs 19 also read)

The footnotes and interpretations that are often offered by the editors of our translation can either make me want to punch them or laugh along with them at their creativity.  The NASB here has a footnote by the word “Shiggaion”.  Part of what it says is “wild passionate song.”  At this one I’m afraid I am left a little bit wondering about their interpretation.

I went and looked at the Hebrew in my software and the first thing it said is that the meaning is not really clear.  The word is only used twice in the Bible and neither one has a great explanation.  If you go back to the root word, it means to go astray, or to wander.  I guess I can see where they would take a shot in the dark at the meaning but it would be a little more honest just to share that we don’t know.

So?  Be careful when you read editorial comments about the scripture.  One caution has to do with the fact that every editor has his theological bias.  Be aware of what it is.  Compensate for it.  The other is that they don’t want to admit often that they don’t know.  As much as possible, let the scripture speak for itself. 

Words Matter

Proverbs 18:8 (KJV) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Remember as a child how we used to chant, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  That can be very reassuring as a defensive tool.  It helps us to realize that words themselves cannot physically damage, but it also opens us up to the danger of infection.

It’s not so much the bacteria that comes into your body, but whether your body can throw it off and defend itself.  We are surrounded by bacteria and viruses.  Pollution literally floats in the air.  Our bodies are under constant attack.  Just saying that these attacks have no danger is to ignore potential destruction.  So we take common habits as preventatives, is the fancy word prophylactics?  We wash our hands….

(An interlude, which was recorded as I stopped to respond to the cat.  “What’s the matter?  What’s the matter with you?  What are you doing, huh?  Are you doing OK?  You need to snap a hand no… Back to business)

Even more important for a spiritual lives is the awareness that our words can become the damaging infection in someone else’s life.

So?  We need to be less sensitive to the comments of others, and more aware of what our mouths do. 

Buried Non-Treasure

Proverbs 17:9 (KJV) He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

As I read this today, it came to mind how certain people in my life tend to keep bringing up past failures, or imagined past failures.

It’s bad enough when the things that get thrown at you from the past are true.  I think we all know we have failed.  We know that we have not had perfect lives.  There comes a time when we need to get beyond that and move on.  Throwing our old failures at us doesn’t help us at all.

How about when the mud being thrown at you just doesn’t stick to the wall?  I think we all go through this to where we are accused of things that we did not do, attitudes we did not have or thoughts that we didn’t think.  What do we do then?  I guess that puts us in a position where we should be the one seeking love.  Maybe a better way of saying it is expressing love.  Keep in mind that the first word describing love in first Corinthians is patience or long-suffering.

So?  Be the one that demonstrates that kind of behavior God wants.  Sure there will be people that like to throw them out at you, but your place in God’s economy is not to return the favor but to let it lie and move on.

A Word for the Afterlife

Psalms 6:5 (KJV) For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

(Proverbs 16 also read)

One of the books I have been reading had a discussion about hell.  It was rather interesting, even if the topic is one that I do not enjoy.  One of the topics looked at was the word that is used here for “grave”.  Many of the more modern translations transliterate the word as Sheol.

Some Bible scholars are of the belief that the ancient Hebrews did not have a concept of heaven and hell like we do.  The opinion was they went along with the general pagan idea of Hades, where the dead go to live in darkness and gloom.  Often they say there is no difference between the resting place of the righteous or the wicked.

This verse would seem to go along with that if it were the only witness we have in the Bible.  This would seem to say that once you’re buried, there’s no awareness or way that you can be praising or thanking God.  If this was the only place we had we could make that conclusion.  Fortunately, there are many other places where a different view is given, including the place where Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be in paradise with Him that day.

So?  Be careful who’s opinion you listen to.  Do some reading on your own.  You’d be surprised at what you can find. 

What You See Is Not What You Get

Proverbs 15:8 (KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

I think it is natural for human beings to be impressed by what they see.  We see a shiny new car and we were impressed with the beauty and the power.  We might be impressed with the finances of the person owning it.  That’s our first reaction, or usually our first reaction.  My first reaction tends to be rather short, because my second thought is, “I wonder what his payment is?”

Recently, I was in a conversation where someone was talking about a person who made habitual bad choices.  Because of bad choices he had bought a new car, had it destroyed by someone with no insurance, and was now making $800 a month payments on a car that was junked.  At that point just about anyone would cease to be impressed.

The emphasis here is not on the outward expression, but on the condition of the heart.  On one side, you have the “wicked”.  On the other side, you have the “upright”.  Since this is the Old Testament, it is very possible that the upright was also giving a sacrifice, and the wicked might’ve added a few prayers.  The thing is that God looks at the heart of the person and not just the action.

So?  Is your heart right?  Is your motive right?  Your neighbors may not know the difference, but God does. 

Opinions Often Don’t Matter

Psalm 3:2 (KJV) Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

We are supposed to be open to counsel.  Wisdom means that we learn to take advice, and that we listen to other people who might be speaking the words that God wants us to hear.  That’s true, but not always true.

Here David hears what I was just saying.  I’m sure that if David were in one of his bad times, it would be easy for him to take these words seriously.  He tells us what everyone is saying.  I would guess that we have been there.  We’ve had people who question our motives and our whole spiritual demeanor.  Our first responsibility is to listen with an open heart.  Keep in mind when I say open heart I don’t mean the word that is used for simple or naïve.  It also means open. Your heart is not open in the sense that it’s so open everything will fall out and anything can come in.  Your heart is to be filled with the things of God and with His word.

Then when someone has something to say, you can filter it through the wisdom that you have stored up because you’ve been spending time with Him.  It may be that you need to hear what they’re saying.  It may be that you need to hear it and ignore it.  Only you know the answer to that.

So? Listen, but listen with the Holy Spirit guiding your heart in mind.  Hear what you need to hear.  Ignore the rest. 

An Earful

Proverbs 13:1 (KJV) A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

In comparing translations, we are reminded of the difference between hearing and listening.  In one sense they are the same but the conflict that comes out is that one produces an awareness and the other is simply a sensitivity to sound.

Think of the times where you have become aware of a sound that has been going on for a while.  Recently our heating system stopped working.  The house was getting colder, but still manageable.  There was nothing to freak out about.  The repairman were coming.  Suddenly I was aware that I was hearing the sound of the fan working.  It intruded in my consciousness, and I started listening, and I realize that the heater was on.  Once my attention was gained, I realized a few minutes later than it is stopped again.

The point is that my ears were capable of hearing.  They were working.  They just weren’t connected to my conscious brain.  Think about this in terms of spiritual truth.  We are surrounded by truth.  It appears in different ways and in different formats, but it is available.  Some people see it, some don’t.  The point that Proverbs is getting to is that it makes a difference in our lives if we’re paying attention or not.

So?  What is God trying to say to you?  Are you listening?  Are you not hearing simply because you don’t like with the message is?  Your choice. 

We Should All Be Pentecostals

Psalm 150:4 (KJV) Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

I may have touched on this before.  I won’t know until I look a little deeper into what I’ve written, but for now, as I look at this chapter in Psalms, I see a form of worship that I personally am uncomfortable with.  I see what I would consider a wild and crazy Pentecostal experience.  I picked this verse because in the translation I was reading it had tambourines and dancing.  I have seen Pentecostal services that have this as part of their worship.  I tend to stick my nose up at this and make note of how dignified I am.

Maybe I need to get over that.  This chapter illustrates the joy and enthusiasm that worship needs.  I tend to be more of a Presbyterian when it comes to my worship style.  I’m not sure that’s what God wants all the time, if ever.

So?  Feel free.  Feel free to worship.  Feel free to worship with enthusiasm, adoration and energy.  Based on this Psalm God seems to like that. 

Rejecting the Perfect

Proverbs 11:5 (KJV) The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

If it weren’t for serious blindness, I would laugh at people who get all uptight at the word “perfect” (8549).  We see it being used in the KJV on a regular basis.  It even shows up in other translations.  The problem comes because we take a word in the English language, apply modern philosophy and sociology to it, say it is impossible, and reject what God’s word says.

A lot of the modern translations that I have on my software substitute the word “blameless”.  In reality, that’s just kicking the can down the road and refusing to look the issue in the eye.  The point that Solomon is making here, and that the rest of scripture makes, is that there are two basic attitudes towards life.  You have those who desire to live the way God wants him to live, and those who reject that.  The Bible is consistent with the teaching that we are expected to live righteous lives.  You may to find it different ways, but the demand is there.

If the Bible says we are to do it, then there must be a way to do it.  You can then get into conversations about the grace of God and the power of the spirit.  You cannot reject the expectation.

So?  The difference is there.  The expectation is real.  If you aren’t on board already, maybe it’s time to look a little closer. 

Spare Me the Paraphrase

Proverbs 10:2 (KJV) Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

One reason I like the word for word translation philosophy is because it allows the Holy Spirit to stimulate my mind to greater understanding.  I don’t like translators deciding how to interpret God‘s word for me.  I accept the fact that there are times when that may be necessary because of the multiple meanings of a word, but here we have a simple, literal phrase “treasures of wickedness” which the NASB has decided to paraphrase as “ill-gotten gains”.  While it’s true, that that is the meaning it is not what it says.

I like the turn of phrase in the KJV.  It makes me think more than the modern phrase in the NASB.

So?  Opinions may vary.  I’m sure they do.  I still have this belief that God said things the way He did because He wanted them to be said that way.  I don’t think He was confused.

Hidden in Hebrew

Psalm 149:4 (KJV) For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

What got me looking at this verse?  A little nudge was the NIV translation that substituted “victory” for the more common translation of “salvation” (3444).  There’s a difference between victory and salvation.  One is temporal and the other is eternal.  So I looked up the Hebrew behind the word for “salvation”.  I thought it and it’s transliteration looked familiar and, sure enough it is the Hebrew word for Joshua, or Jesus.  When the angel appeared to Mary and said he will save his people from their sins this was a word play on the name, Jesus.

So here hidden in the Psalms, we see the name of Jesus.  The KJV says that He will “beautify” (6286) the “meek” (6035).  Think of that in terms of the statement of Jesus where He said “blessed are the meek.”

So?  Jesus was named Jesus for a reason.  He was to be a savior.  We see this concept buried even in the book of Psalms.  Something to rejoice about. 

Indicators

Proverbs 8:7 (KJV) For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

How do you know wisdom when it’s right in front of you?  There are several indications in this chapter and this verse has one of them.  This is a personification with wisdom, speaking and wisdom says, “my mouth….”

Notice that one of the elements of wisdom is truth.  That would seem to mean that people who do not tell the truth do not have wisdom.  That is a simple and obvious conclusion.  What may not be clear is that “wickedness” is not tied to wisdom.  And when wisdom speaks wickedness, it becomes an abomination, or not wisdom.

So?  You may not know everything.  Welcome to the human race.  But generally you know when something is true or you will find out soon whether it’s true, and you can know that if someone is pushing something that is not true, then they by definition are wicked.  Be on the side of righteousness.

Take the Antidote

Proverbs 7:21 (KJV) With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

If you just read the second half of this chapter, you might have sympathy for this poor young man, who was seduced by the unfaithful wife.  She seems to have all the ammunition.  She seems to have the initiative.  He seems to be that which I like to call, “a helpless pawn in the hands of fate."

His failure is a choice, not predestination.  If you go back and look at the advice, at the beginning, it talks about taking wisdom, and making it a part of your heart.  It talks about the pupil of your eye, or the apple of your eye, being the place where God‘s commandments and laws should pass through, and then make your way into you.  There’s repeated reminders to spend time, knowing what God has told us to be into.  Obviously, this young man has chosen to ignore that advice.

So?  The problem wasn’t that she had such deep satisfying positions or arguments.  The problem is that he didn’t have the foundation that has been offered to him.  We can resist the wiles of the devil.  We can walk the path of truth.  But it only happens if we make the choices that lay the foundation.  Make this a day of wisdom. 

Priority Excuses

(Pro 6:16 KJV)  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

As you continue down in this chapter of Proverbs, you see the seven abominations that are listed.  Have you ever wondered if they are in order of priority or are they just listed as they came to Solomon’s mind?  When I see a list, I sometimes wonder about this.  For instance, when I look at the Love Chapter and it’s definition of love, I ask myself, “Is patience the most important thing because it’s listed first?”  And I say the same things when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit.

It is an interesting question, but the more important question is, “Why are you asking?”  Is there a desire in your heart to vindicate yourself over someone else because you’re less a sinner than they are?  Is there an awareness of multiple weaknesses in your life and you want to start working on one and perhaps are looking for the easiest to deal with?  Or is it just idle curiosity?

So?  It makes a difference what your motivation is.  If your life is controlled by sin, there is a sense in which it doesn’t matter which is the most important or most grievous.  What is needed is freedom from sin and forgiveness for the sins of the past.  Fortunately, both are offered by Jesus. That’s why He went to the cross. 

Star Praise

Psalm 148:3 (KJV) Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

I can read this two ways.  The first way is obviously just read it with an attitude of worship and acceptance and glorifying God.

The second way is to have my skeptic hat on and ask myself, “How does the sun praise God?”  I can then go on, and substitute the moon and the stars.  In reality, those are just skeptical questions.  They are also questions asking for insight.  We can read in just an attitude of worship, and God will meet us.  We can read with a desire for deeper understanding, with skepticism, and God will also meet us.

So the question still stands:  “How do the celestial objects praise God?”

I don’t for a minute to think that the sun is an entity that is aware.  So, in the sense of conscious praise, it is impossible.  It’s possible that the answer to this is that we praise God, simply by being what He has made us to be.  That works for the sun, the moon, and the stars.  It’s harder for us to see in ourselves.

So?  Maybe we could start by just thanking God that He made us the way we are with our attributes in our personality.  Quit thinking we need to be like other people and just rejoice and what God has given us to do and be.  If nothing else think about it as star praise.

Watch the Drift

Proverbs 4:5 (KJV) Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

My first inclination to stop and look at this verse came from the word in the KJV of “decline” (5186) (turn away, NASB).  How do you decline from the words of God?  That is a good question.  When I looked at the definition of the word and some of the early uses in Genesis I came across the idea of spreading out your attempt or pitching your tent.  At one point it seemed to talk about letting down your bucket deep for water.

What does this say about how we study the word?  We talk about digging.  We talk about searching and meditating.  Those are good concepts, and can probably be verified in scripture.  The problem we have is when we are so desperate for a great insights that we start wandering away from the central truth.  A nuance can be very beneficial, but when we are out looking for just that which is new and exciting, we tend to get into trouble.

So?  Start with the basics and as far as possible, stay with the basics.  We don’t need any exotic theology.  As I’ve said, and I possibly stole it from someone else, we don’t need something new until we get to the point where we are using what we have.  We don’t need new contemporary worship songs when we have hymnals full of songs we are not singing.  We don’t need new methods of outreach when we’re not witnessing or sharing. You get the idea. 

Considering Examples

Psalm 143:12 (KJV) And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

One of the words that brings the most joy to my reading is chesed (2617).  My favorite translation of this is “loving kindness.”  Here the KJV has “mercy”.  It’s such a broad word, and has such deep meaning that it warms my heart and put a new shine on the day.

Then I read it in a context like this, and David seems to feel that God’s mercy is going to “cut off” (6789) his “enemies”.  That seems a bit violent and I would assume rightfully so.  How does destroying and cutting off reflect loving kindness?

One of the answers would be, that God has a different attitude towards those who follow him as opposed to those who resist him.  You have God’s people on one side and the rebels on the other.  Just because we talk of Yahweh, as “God is love”, does not mean that love is stupid or unprincipled.

So?  Yes, God is love.  He is also holy, righteous, light, and a God of wrath.  Make a decision, which side of God do you want directed toward you?  Remember, Jesus died on the cross to save sinners, but there will be no mercy for those who die unrepentant. 

One of Those Days

Psalm 142:6 (KJV) Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

(Proverbs 2 also read)

There are times when I am aware of the saying “This too shall pass.”  I’m having one of those days when I’m feeling like the world is against me.  And this whole chapter kind of speaks to me.  It reminds me that this is nothing new.  I’ve had these days before.  I will have them again.

Much of the being brought low is in my mind.  Most of it is because I have been accosted in such a way that I tend to forget that the Lord is there watching and listening.  This reminds me.

As David, I will call upon the Lord and be reminded that He is there.   He never left.  I just got focused a little too much on me.  Of course they’re stronger than me . That’s the way life is.

So?  Refocus.  Remember.  Repent.  And, of course, rejoice. 

A Simple Intersection

Proverbs 1:4 (KJV) To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

There is a time in life when being “simple” (6612a) is natural and not a sin.  There is another time in life were being simple is equated with rejecting the depth of God’s love and His plan for you.  The Christian walk is a journey not just a place to stand.

Proverbs begins with giving an explanation of the purpose of wisdom.  It’s trying to explain how it works and how you achieve it.  Here it says that it is to give “subtlety” (6195) according to the KJV.  The NASB uses “prudence”.  The idea is that God’s wisdom, if we embrace it, will take our innocence and give us the tools with which to live life productively.

As I have pointed out before one of the nuances of the word “simple” is open minded.  That is not a good place to be.

So?  It is time to stop resting on your laurels and get moving.  Make some progress even if it’s small.  Start closing your mind to the vapid values of your contemporaries and build strong walls based on the foundations of God’s word, and what He’s done for you in Jesus.