I like reading both the NLT and the NIV for this passage. When I read the translation notes on the NLT it made me realize why there is such a wide difference between the first part of the NLT and the first part of the NIV. My interpretation of this proverb is that the righteous carefully choose friends who will give them good advice because they realize that the wicked will lead their friends astray. Of course, we can look at this from the other side, do we give good advice to our friends? Or does our advice lead them astray? The answer to those two questions tells us a lot about what type of people we are.
This psalm is a reminder that acknowledging God is not, in and of itself enough to guarantee God’s favor. His wrath will fall on those who do not faithfully serve Him, even if they acknowledge Him.
When Jesus is asked if only a few will be saved, He responds by saying that we should work hard to enter through the narrow door. Following the path of least resistance will not get us into heaven. There are many people who claim to know God about whom God will say, “Get away from me, I never knew you.” In some ways this lesson leads right into the account of Jesus healing on the Sabbath. It is never wrong to do good to help another.
God granted Moses a vision of all of the Promised Land just before his death. By doing so, God showed Moses that the effort Moses had put into leading the children of Israel was not in vain. Despite the many struggles Moses had throughout his life, at the end God showed him what he had truly accomplished.
Rahab made a great statement of faith, both by what she said and what she did. It was Rahab’s faith which saved her from the fate which the rest of the people of Jericho suffered. However, Rahab did not stop with just having faith. She acted on that faith. Paul was thinking of faith like Rahab’s when he said that we were saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by our works. However, if we have the sort of faith which goes along with saving grace, that faith will result in us doing good works.
The godly choose their friends with care because wicked friends will lead them astray. That is not quite what the proverb says, but I think that is part of its message. Another way to look at it is that godly friends will give you advice which will help you lead a godly life, while wicked friends will give you advice that encourages you to act wickedly.
Reading this psalm reminds me of our society today, where those who reject God mock those who try to follow His commands. They do more than that, they subject them to scorn and disparagement. They attempt to force them to give up their faith in God. Let us cry out to God for vindication. As a first step to receiving that vindication from God we must confess our sins and repent of them. If we dedicate ourselves to turning once more to God and serving Him, He will show His power. God will pay back those who have heaped scorn upon His servants. They will see that He is indeed God, the Creator of the universe.
Jesus was asked whether only a few would be saved. He answered by telling us to work hard to enter by the narrow door. Many will attempt to do so, but will fail. Jesus tells us that we have a narrow window of opportunity to accept God’s offer of salvation, once the door is closed it will be too late to change our minds. It is not enough to call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ. If we do not have a personal relationship with Christ, He will tell us that He does not know us. I just realized that Jesus is telling us that many of those who appear to have the inside track will fail to be admitted, but who are seen as unwelcome in the Kingdom of Heaven will be granted entry. Some of those whom we look down upon will be granted great honour by God, and some of those we view as worthy of great honour will receive none from God.
God had told Moses that he would not enter into the land which God had promised to the people of Israel. However, He led Moses up onto a mountaintop overlooking the plains of Jericho and gave Moses a vision of the entire land. After seeing the vision which God gave him, Moses died at the age of 120. At the time which the editor of this compilation wrote, no prophet like Moses had arisen in Israel. The editor tells us that Moses spoke with God face to face. As followers of Christ, we have that opportunity.
After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua and promised to be with him for his entire life. We may embrace the promise which God made to Joshua as our own. If we are careful to obey the instructions which God has given us, He will be with us throughout our lives. If we obey His instructions with strength and courage, we will succeed in all that we do and God will be with us wherever we go.
Joshua sent spies into Jericho to scout it out for him. While they were there they entered into the house of Rahab the prostitute, who hid them from the men of the King of Jericho. Rahab made a great statement of faith and asked the spies to promise safety for herself and he family when they conquered Jericho. Rahab demonstrated great faith in her actions to hide and then help the spies. She took great risks. If the King of Jericho had discovered her actions, she would have suffered dire consequences. Do we have the faith to do God’s will, even when those around us will cause us to suffer for doing so? Rahab chose to be on the side of the Israelites, God’s side. Which side will we choose?
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. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.
After giving his final instructions to the people of Israel, Moses went up to the top of Mount Nebo. From there God allowed him to see the entire land that He was giving the people of Israel. Moses died there and was buried. The passage tells us that no one today knows where Moses body was buried. The Hebrew is unclear as to who buried Moses body. Many have interpreted it to mean that God buried Moses’ body, thus explaining why no one knew where he was buried, but the literal translation is “He buried him in Moab” or “He was buried in Moab.” The passage tells us that even though Moses was 120 years old, his eyesight was still good and his body strong at the time if his death.
The Spirit of God rested on Joshua and he took over leading the people of Israel after Moses’ death.
When the time of morning for Moses was complete, God spoke to Joshua. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and to study the Book of Instruction which Moses had written, which contained God’s commands for the people of Israel. God told Joshua that if he followed those commands he would be prosperous and successful in all that he did. If we follow God’s commands, we will prosper and be successful in all that we do.
Joshua then commanded the leaders of the people of Israel to prepare to begin the invasion of the land which God would give them. He went to the tribes which had been given land to the east of the Jordan River and reminded them of their promise to help the other tribes conquer the lands on the other side of the Jordan River. Those tribes reaffirmed their commitment and promised to obey Joshua’s commands.
Joshua secretly sent two spies to investigate the land around Jericho. They went and stayed at the house of Rahab, a prostitute. The king of Jericho found out about them and sent to Rahab ordering her to bring them forth. Rahab told the king’s men that the spies had left just before the gates closed at dusk. In the meantime, she had hidden the two spies. The king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies. Rahab then went to the spies and requested that they promise to spare her life and that of her family. They made such a promise and instructed her to tie a scarlet cord out the window through which she let them out of the city. In addition, they told her to make sure that all of her family stayed in her house when the Israelites invaded. If she followed these instructions, they promised to preserve the life of her and her family. Rahab let the two spies down outside the walls and tied the scarlet cord to the window. The spies hid out for three days and then returned to Joshua.
While Jesus was teaching someone asked Him if only a few would be saved. He answered that we should make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many would try but few would be able. The time will come when it will be too late to enter. After that many will come and knock on the door crying out for the door to be opened, but will be told that He does not know them. There will be those who took their admittance for granted, who assumed that they would get in because of who they were, or who their parents were. But because they did not take action and enter when the door was open to them, their place in God’s kingdom will be taken by others. Jesus goes on to say that many who seem unimportant now will prove to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and many who seem important now, will prove to be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. We should act to be acknowledged by God, not by our fellow-man.
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and warned Him that He should go into hiding because Herod wanted to kill Him. Jesus responded that He would continue His ministry until it was complete and that He would be killed in Jerusalem. He continues to say that He longed to gather Jerusalem under His protection, but the people were not willing.
One Sabbath when Jesus was eating in the house of a prominent Pharisee there was a very sick man present. Jesus turned to the Pharisees and teachers of the law that were present and asked them if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. They did not answer His question (probably being aware of His previous teachings on this subject and afraid of looking bad in front of others for being unable to present a good argument against Him, but not being willing to agree either). Jesus then turned to the man and healed him, telling the Pharisees that if a child or a cow fell into a pit on the Sabbath, they would get it out.
The psalmist cries out to God for salvation. He acknowledges that they are suffering as a result of the sins of their ancestors. He acknowledges that he has sinned and asks God for forgiveness. He asks God for help, not because of his own worthiness but in order to bring glory to God’s name. I will call out to God to act in my life so as to bring glory and honor to His name. I will seek to order my life so that those around me will see that the good that comes to me is a credit to the glory and honor of God. When I experience good things I will praise God and honor His name.
I really like the NIV translation of this proverb:
The righteous choose their friends carefully,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
It is important to choose our friends wisely because godly friends will help us to live godly lives, while if all of our friends are wicked they will lead us astray. But more than that, I will strive to be a godly friend who gives my friends advice that leads to righteousness.
