For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
It is nice to have someone who is enthusiastic about what they are doing. However, if they do not actually know what they are doing, that enthusiasm will generally do more harm than good (note: if the enthusiastic person is aware that they do not know what they are doing and seeks guidance from someone who does, this proverb does not necessarily apply). The next proverb is something I have often observed. All too many people blame God for the suffering which they caused themselves.
The first two verses of this psalm fill me with joy.
I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
In addition to filling me with joy, they make me want to praise God and tell others about Him. Since this psalm was written with the intention of inspiring the reader to do that, the fact that it does so indicates how well it was written.
When Paul arrived in Rome, he met with the local Jewish leaders. He gave his side of the story about why he was brought to Rome as a prisoner. The Jewish leaders responded that they had received no communication regarding Paul’s arrest and trial, nor had anyone conveyed negative rumours about him to them. However, they wanted to hear what he believed because all they had heard about Christianity was that it was condemned everywhere. How much that sounds like today, all that many people know about Christianity is that the “sophisticated” people (however they define “sophisticated”) denounce it.
Paul and the Jewish leaders set a time for Paul to tell them about what he believed. When the time came, a large number of Jews came to Paul’s residence to hear him speak. Paul attempted to convince them to believe using the Torah (the Law of Moses) and the writings of the prophets. Some of those who listened to Paul that day believed his message, others did not. The two groups argued among themselves about whether or not to believe Paul’s message. Based on Paul’s final word to them, it appears that those who listened to Paul that day reached a consensus to not believe him. It is important for us to remember that there are those who have hardened their hearts and will not believe, no matter what evidence you show them.
and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and let me heal them.
I was reading through this feeling completely uninspired by the accounts of the acts of David’s mighty men when I came across the statement “These are the leaders of David’s mighty warriors….they decided to make David their king,…” This tells us something about the mindset of David’s men. They followed him because, for various reasons, they wanted him to be king.