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. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
After the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah had prophecies for the countries and peoples who had been rooting for its destruction. He told them that now destruction would be coming for them. Their celebration of the fall of Jerusalem was short-sighted because their own destruction would surely follow.
As I read this passage it struck me that these prophecies apply today. First, they apply to modern Israel’s neighbors who are rooting for her destruction. They fail to see that whatever power succeeds in destroying Israel will roll over them and bring destruction and tragedy to their own lands. Second, it applies to those people and nations who are rooting for the United States to lose its preeminent status in the world. Most of them fail to see that the suffering and hardship that follows will not be confined to the United States, but will indeed effect the entire world. Finally, it applies to those who wish to see the Christian Church lose its standing as a moral authority and to see Christians forced to suffer for taking a stand for morality. In all of these cases, if the people rooting for suffering to come upon others get their way, the suffering will not be limited to those whom they wish to see suffer.
Paul told Timothy that the day would come when people would not be willing to listen to sound teaching. They will seek out teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, rather than teach them the truth. We are living in that day. All too many people do not want to hear the truth, whether it be about sexual morality, or greed, or selfishness, or some other sin. They explain that if the Church wants to grow it must make its teachings “relevant”. I will tell you that the word of God is always relevant. While the Church may need to change how it teaches God’s word so that people will hear it, it cannot change the message which it has been given.
It is important to seek out those who will tell us the things which we do not want to hear. We all have a tendency to try to limit our exposure to those who tell us things we do not want to hear. However, we are all human and need to remember that sometimes (in my case, often) God has a message for us that we do not want to hear. We do not want to change, but we need to change those places where we fall short of living according to the glory of God.
What a great psalm (actually, two great psalms). The first calls on us to bow down and worship God because He is our creator and He watches over us. It contains a plea for us to listen to His voice today. I will listen to His voice and plead with those I know to do the same. Oh how much better your life will be if only you will listen to what God has to say to You!
If you listen to what God has to say to you, you will do as Psalm 96 advises. Those who listen to God will sing to the Lord because they will be full of joy. I cannot help myself. I have no choice but sing His praises. Following His instructions make me want everyone to know the joy which I experience. The Lord reigns! He will judge everyone with justice.
A fool who knows a wise saying, a proverb, is as likely to apply it inappropriately as a drunk is to hit unintended targets when he swings a branch at his opponents. A fool will make the same mistakes over and over. However, as bad as being a fool is, there is more hope for someone who recognizes their foolishness than for someone who thinks they are wise.