Monthly Archives: July 2023

Daily Bible Study

July 21, 2023 Bible Study — Don’t Wait for Leaders Who Do the Right Thing

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Isaiah 1-4.

For the last few years when I come to this passage I note that, of the four kings who reigned while Isaiah prophesied, three were described as doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  Nevertheless, Isaiah prophesied God’s coming judgement upon the people of Judah for their sins.  Isaiah told them that God was tired of their sacrifices and holy assemblies because they did not do what was right.  Yes, Isaiah does condemn their rulers, but only after first saying that they themselves were wicked and did not do what was right.  Isaiah speaks to a people who live in a land filled with wealth and power, that is also filled with idolatry.  All too often, we blame the problems around us on those in government, and think that the solution to them is to get the right people to run things.  Isaiah tells us that we need to work on fixing the problems we see, and if we do, God will put the right people in charge.  Of course, if we do that we risk God making us the people in charge.  And most of us know that being the right person in charge is a lot of work, because the right person knows that godly leadership means seeking what is best for those you are leading, at your own expense.  So, let us defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, and plead the case of the widow!  However, do not make the mistake of doing this generically.  Find an oppressed person and defend them, or take up the cause of a fatherless person, or plead the case of a widow.  Doing what is right is hard work, but God will bless us if we do it.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 20, 2023 Bible Study — Lessons in Human Sexuality

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Song of Solomon 1-8.

Some people read the Song of Solomon as an allegory for Christ’s love for the Church.  Personally, that has never worked for me because I find the sexual inuendo too explicit for that.  I think that part of the reason people look for the Song of Solomon to be some kind of allegory is because the sensuality it describes makes them uncomfortable.  However, it seems to me that we should take the Song of Solomon at face value, as a love song between a man and a woman.  They appear to be deeply in love with each other, and they have strong sexual attraction for each other.  The Song of Solomon also contains some lessons about human sexuality to which we should pay heed.  As I said, the two lovers in this poem are besotted of each other, and they want to be with each other sexually.  The poem tells us that that relationship is exclusive.  The woman says ate one point, “My beloved is mine and I am his.”   The Song of Solomon also teaches that we should be patient.  We should wait to become sexually active until we find that one with whom we will spend the rest of our lives.  That has two parts, first you should want and desire to spend the rest of your life with them, but they must also want and desire to spend the rest of their life with you, and only with you.

We should not be embarrassed or uncomfortable with the sexuality expressed in the Song of Solomon. And we should pay attention to the guardrails it lays out for expressing our sexuality.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 19, 2023 Bible Study — Better to Go to a Funeral Than to a Party

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Ecclesiastes 7-12.

Solomon continues to write about the meaninglessness of life, while showing us that serving God gives it the only meaning possible.  He writes that it is better to go to a funeral than to a party because everyone is going to die and we need to face up to this fact.  If we recognize that nothing we do will keep us from dying at some point, he tells us that we will not over emphasize righteous and/or wise behavior nor will we become wicked and/or a fool.  Those who fear God will avoid extremes.  While we live, he writes, we should enjoy our lives, because the day will come when we will no longer be able to do so.  After discussing how everything is meaningless without God, Solomon concludes that we should remember our Creator, fear God, and keep His commandments.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 18, 2023 Bible Study — There is Nothing New Under the Sun

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Ecclesiastes 1-6.

The Book of Ecclesiastes begins with a statement with which I have struggled, but which helps us deal with many arguments made today.  The writer, who tells us that he is King Solomon (and I have no reason to doubt him), says that everything is meaningless.  Solomon explains that everything that happens today happened in the past.  No one remembers what was done by those who came before, even if we try to teach people to record what they have done, those who come after them will forget them.   Truly learning the truth that this passage teaches us allows us to deal with those who claim that biblical teachings no longer apply because things are different now.  However, if you spend some time studying history you quickly find that things are not as different as people would like to think.  In fact, things have not really changed all that much, if at all.

So, the fact that things do not really change all that much is an important thing to learn from this passage, but how do we deal with the existential depression which the writer expresses.  Solomon writes that nothing we do really makes a difference, nothing we do changes things.  Whether we act wisely or foolishly, we are all going to die at some point.  And if we work really hard to acquire great amounts of wealth and build great monuments, when we die we will hand them over to someone who may not work to maintain them.  Even if they do, what difference does it actually make?  I could continue to write on this, but Solomon tells us “the more the words the less the meaning.”  So, I will conclude with what Solomon says in Chapter 3.  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity.    There is nothing better than to be happy and do good while we live.  God made us for that and everything He has done will endure.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 17, 2023 Bible Study — Wait for Others To Give You Praise

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 29-31.

Today’s passage wraps up the Book of Proverbs with more single verse proverbs followed by the Sayings of Agur and the Sayings of King Lemuel, perhaps the last bit about a wife of noble character is part of the Sayings of King Lemuel, or perhaps it is a separate piece of its own.  Both the individual proverbs and the Sayings of Agur contain a warning against arrogance and pride.  While the passage gives general warnings that being proud will lead to your downfall, the passage also warns against bragging on yourself.  The writer tells us that we should not praise ourselves, rather we should let others honor us based on their own observations.  The writer contrasts the benefits of being humble against the dangers of being arrogant.

However, I was truly struck by this proverb for an explanation of our society today:

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

I think this refers more to acknowledging the revelations which God has already made than it does to receiving new revelations from God.  I believe we are seeing that around us today.  People refuse to acknowledge that God has revealed Himself, or refuse to accept what He has revealed about Himself, so that they can justify doing what they please.

 

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 16, 2023 Bible Study — Do Not Allow a Fool Set the Terms of Debate

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 25-28.

Today’s passage contains some of my favorite advice from Scripture.  In several different ways the writer tells us to avoid excess and instead do things in moderation.  Perhaps one of my favorite passages is Proverbs 26 verses 4 and 5

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.

These two verses seem to contradict one another, but with some thought they make sense.  Verse four tells us not to allow those we are arguing with to set the terms of the debate, while verse five tells us to take the fool’s argument to its logical conclusion in order to demonstrate its foolishness.  The writer also warns us against those who will misuse wise sayings to support foolish ideas or Scripture to support ungodly behavior.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 15, 2023 Bible Study — Avoid Imitating Those Who Model Ungodly Behavior

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 22-24.

Today’s passage continues the pattern of those from the last two days, starting out with each verse being a single stand alone proverb.  It then transitions into a series of more complex sayings which each take several verses.  Nevertheless there are several ideas which the writer refers to several times.  The writer repeatedly writes about the importance of disciplining children.  In particular, he points out the need for negative reinforcement to train children to avoid foolish behavior, and that corporal punishment is one of the most efficient forms of negative reinforcement.  On what I consider a related theme, the writer warns us against making friends with those who cannot control their tempers, or who engage in other foolish behavior.  He warns that such behavior might rub off on us.  I consider it related because it is a lesson which children often struggle to learn.  I also find this challenging because Jesus calls on us to associate with sinners in order to show them His love.  I believe that the contradiction between these two teachings (the proverb writer teaching us to avoid those who act in undesirable ways and Jesus teaching us to spend time with those who demonstrate a need for His love with their actions) can be resolved by thinking about the reason the proverb writer gives for his warning.  He warns us that such behavior might rub off on us.  We learn from this that the behaviors of those we spend time with will influence our behaviors.  Therefore, we must make sure that we spend large amounts of time around those who model the types of behavior which Christ encourages us to imitate, while not excluding those who fail to do so.

 

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 14, 2023 Bible Study — Haste Makes Waste

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 18-21.

Today’s passage continues the collection of short proverbs.  It continues to give examples of the importance of controlling both your temper and your tongue.  It also reiterates that we make plans, but only those plans which fit into God’s purpose will come to fruition.  Today’s passage contains several proverbs which speak to me.  He tells us that a good wife is a gift from God.  Every time I read this passage I am reminded to thank God for the wife He gave me.  For me, the writer’s exhortations for patience runs right into that, as it took me a long time to find my wife.  However, seeking a life mate is only one area where patience is essential.  The proverb writer warns that being hasty leads us to make poor decisions.  Seek counsel and patiently consider your options before making any important decision.  The proverbs in today’s passage cover many more subjects.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 13, 2023 Bible Study — Control Your Temper and Your Words

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 14-17.

I found today’s passage challenging to write on because it is composed entirely of some of the proverbs for which this book is named (I know, I write this every year).   For the most part, these proverbs do not have a theme and are all useful lessons in wisdom.  However, there are a few ideas which the writer comes back to again and again.  The writer tells us that wisdom teaches us to control our tempers and not allow ourselves to let anger, or other emotions, control our actions or our tongues.  For that matter, the writer reminds us that wisdom teaches us to choose our words carefully.  Throughout the Book of Proverbs, the writer uses the word “mocker” as a synonym for fool.  It is worth noting that other translations use the word “scoffer” where the NIV uses “mocker”.   In this particular passage, the writer tells us that those who mock others, or scoff at them, have trouble finding wisdom, but those who seriously listen to others gain knowledge and wisdom easily.

The writer tells us that while we may plan our course, God determines how things work out.  If we plot evil, we will find everything going astray.  On the other hand, if we plan to do good, good will come of what we do, even if our plans do not work out as we intended.  Throughout the Book of Proverbs the writer teaches us that we should seek wise counsel when making plans, but here he reminds us that the wisest counsel includes allowing for God to direct us down a different path than what we planned to take.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Daily Bible Study

July 12, 2023 Bible Study — We Must Choose Whether to Listen to Wisdom or Folly

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Proverbs 9-13.

Both Wisdom and Folly sit in places of prominence and call to every passerby, “Let all who are simple come to my house!”  So, since both advertise themselves and call to us, how do we tell the difference?  Well, the writer informs us that righteousness and wisdom go hand in hand: righteous acts display wisdom, wicked behavior displays folly.  Further, the wise accept instruction and correction, while the fool resents anyone who makes them aware of their mistakes.  Further, the writer says that Folly promotes dishonesty and deceit.  The writer goes on from there to list a bunch of proverbs which help us act both wisely and righteously.  He tells us that the wise choose their words with care and think before they speak, while the fool allows their emotions to control their mouth.  The writer reminds us that we find what we seek.  If we seek good we will find it, and if we seek evil that is what will come to us.

 

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.