For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
I love all three of today’s proverbs. The first tells us that it is better to be poor and honest than it is to be a dishonest fool (the implication being that it is foolish to be dishonest). The second tells us that enthusiasm is no substitute for knowing what you are doing. Those who rush into a task before taking the time to understand what they need to do will make mistakes that will cost more than any delay would have. The final proverb warns about people who ruin their own lives by acting foolishly and then angrily blame God for what went wrong.
Let us follow the psalmist’s example and praise the Lord for the marvelous things He has done. He judges with fairness and will destroy the wicked, indeed, He has done so throughout history. The wicked rise and God brings them down into the dust. He avenges murder and cares for the helpless. He responds to the cries of those who suffer. It is because of God that I am filled with joy.
When Paul arrived in Rome, the first thing he did was invite the leaders of the Jewish community to come and discuss the charges against him. They came and talked with him, telling him that they had received no information regarding anything he might have done. They had heard denunciations against Christians but did not know anything about its teachings. Paul attempted to persuade them that the Jewish Scripture foretold Jesus’ coming and His actions (including His death and resurrection). Some were convinced, but others rejected Paul’s teaching. The Jewish leaders argued among themselves over what Paul had told them as they were leaving.
What Paul told these Jewish leaders is true of many people today (and in every time). They hear what is said about God but refuse to actually listen. They see what God has done but refuse to comprehend its meaning. Many people insist that the problems caused by their own sin are God’s fault rather than repenting of their sins and turning to God.
The passage tells us of the mighty warriors who followed David from the time he was on the run from Saul. It describes these men who were his closest companions while he was honing the skills which would later make him king. Among the men listed as part of David’s elite companions is Uriah the Hittite. This is the same Uriah who was married to Bathsheba and whom David had sent to his death in battle. We often overlook how great was the magnitude of David’s sin with Bathsheba. He allowed his sexual desires to cause him to betray one of his closest companions.