For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    Those who listen to criticism and allow it to guide improvements in their behavior will be welcomed among the wise. Those who ignore attempts to correct their behavior harm only themselves. I have seen this in action. People who were once viewed as a problem and whose opinion was not valued listened to correction. They are now valued and their opinion sought in the decision making process. Other people who were similarly viewed are still viewed as a problem and steps are under way to remove them from the organization.

    The theme is continued in stanzas three and four, both discuss the value of God’s word, His laws, His instructions. Verse 18 reminds me that every day as I read the scripture and write this blog I need to ask God to open my eyes and show me the truths that are there. I know that when I write something which changes my life, or which touches someone who reads it, I have done so only because of the influence of the Holy Spirit. Those who are arrogant and refuse to follow God’s commands will suffer for it. I will not try to overcome their scorn for me. Instead I will ask God to remove it and show them His thoughts about me.
    I hope that you will read the whole of today’s passage because there is more about the value of God’s instructions than I will write about today. I will conclude with my thoughts on the final verse. I strive to more faithfully follow what I understand to be God’s will for me because as I do so He reveals ever more to me. I have discovered that I do not gain greater understanding of God’s will for my life, no matter how hard I try, until I do the things He has already shown me that He desires me to do.

    One of the “truths” we are asked to accept by our society is that there are many ways to God. There is some truth to that statement. The Scripture tells us again and again that those who seek God will find Him. So, those who are truly seeking God will find Him, no matter what path they choose when they begin their search. They do not have to go through the Church in order to approach God.
    However, whatever path a person takes in their search for God, they must eventually come to Jesus if they want to get to God. All of those many paths eventually lead to Jesus, or they will lead us away from God. Ultimately, the true expression of God can only be seen after we have come to Jesus. The way we must follow goes through Him. Throughout the Gospel of John Jesus makes comments which tell us that we must listen to His teaching if we want to approach God. Here He says that outright.

    I was going to write something about David’s reaction to the men who killed Ishbosheth, Saul’s last remaining son and David’s rival for the throne of Israel. However, as I read the passage I realized that I really wanted to write about Micah’s reaction to David’s dancing in the street. And really what I want to write about is what she reacted to, David’s dancing in the street. She thought that David made a fool of himself by the way he acted while the Ark was being brought into Jerusalem.
    There are really two elements to this. First, we should allow ourselves to be caught up in worshiping God. There are times when we should allow ourselves to do whatever the Holy Spirit guides us to do without giving thought to what others think of us. I have heard others say that when talking about this passage. The second part I have rarely heard mentioned. Micah was not wrong because she did not join David dancing in the street. She was wrong because she looked down on him for doing so. Let us never make the mistake of thinking poorly of others because they get caught up in worshiping God. Let us never think that they should be ashamed for doing so. Let us emulate David in this story and not Micah.