I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Isaiah tells us that the day will come when we will be able to drink deeply from the fountain of salvation. That day is now.
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.(NIV)
“I will trust and not be afraid.” That is a statement of faith that I am determined to make my own. I will trust that God will provide for me when I do His will and I will not be afraid if what others will do or say about me doing God’s will.
Isaiah writes a warning to those who rely on their earthly might. He writes of the coming fall of Babylon, this at a time when Babylon is just rising in power to challenge Assyria. He tells Babylon, Assyria, and Philistia that God will cast them down because of the evil they have done (or will do) in their arrogant belief in their own power. Isaiah warns anyone who will listen that might does not make right. No matter how mighty any nation may be God is mightier yet. He will bring judgment against those who do evil.
Paul writes that he is about to make his third visit to Corinth. He had warned them about some sinful acts when he was there on his second visit. He is now warning them again in his absence. Some of the Corinthian believers had been demanding proof that Paul was speaking a message from God, if those in the church had not repented and turned from their sins, Paul promised to bring the proof they were looking for. However, he warns them that they will not proof a pleasant experience. Christ was crucified in weakness, yet He lives in the power of God. In the same way, Paul was weak, but God’s power would channel through him when next he visited the Corinthian Church.
Paul told the Corinthian believers that they should examine and test themselves. If they discover Jesus within themselves they have not failed the test. Paul has confidence that as they test themselves and what the Spirit is saying within them, they will realize that Paul also has not failed the test. He believes that God’s Spirit will show them that Paul’s teaching accurately reflects God’s instructions for us. He goes on to say that he is happy to come off as weak if by so doing the Corinthian believers are shown to be strong. He is praying that they will be fully restored and reconciled to God. He is writing to them so that when he is with them in person he will not need to tear into them and discipline them. Paul wants to be able to encourage them and show them how to grow in the Lord when he is with them.
Paul concludes his letter by calling on them to rejoice in the Lord. He asks them to encourage each other and to live in unity. We should seek to mature in the Lord as we love one another. He tells them to greet each other with a holy kiss. He then blesses them with the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
In the Church in America we do not often address Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians to greet each other with a holy kiss. It makes us uncomfortable. However, it contains an important lesson for us. Perhaps if we focused more on it it would help us address one of the greatest problems on our society. Our society has a tendency to view all physical contact between two humans as either violent or sexual. The Bible teaches that we as humans need physical contact and that not all non-violent physical contact is sexual. We need to be aware of the tendency of our sexuality to insert itself into all of our relationships. But we also need to emphasize the Biblical truth that not all non-violent physical contact is sexual in nature. We as human beings need to have physical contact with one another that is not about gratifying our sexual desires.
A psalm of praise that we should read in that spirit. It is also a psalm to remember when troubles seem to be all around us. Let us have faith in God and give glory to His name. His love and faithfulness will not fail. Our enemies may set traps for us and dig pits in our path, but, if we trust in God, it will be they who are caught in the traps they set. They will be the ones to fall into the pits they dig for us. I will be confident in God’s love and I will sing His praises. I will exalt God before all who live.
The first of these proverbs is one I need to take to heart. I need to spend less time arguing with those who will not listen to wise arguments. Of course, I, also, have to work to make sure that I am not the one being a fool.
Do not cheat others out of what is theirs just because you can. Do not ever make the mistake of thinking that someone is powerless and does not have protector, because God will be their defender and He will take up their cause.