Tag Archives: Proverbs 16:19-20

Daily Bible Study

June 04, 2015 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 16:19-20

    The lesson of this proverb is one that all too many people today will learn the hard way. It is better, you will be happier and the world will be a better place, if you are poor and humble than if you are proud and have ill-gotten wealth, wealth gained through dishonesty, fraud, and theft. Trust the Lord and be joyful, or spend your life pursuing goals which will never give you the fulfillment you desire.

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Psalm 122:1-9

    There are two parts of this psalm that resonate with me. They are not really connected, at least not for me, today. First, can I say verse one is true for me?

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

For me “go to the house of the Lord” means going to where God’s people are gathering, when they are gathering. When someone asks me if I am going to such and event, do I reply with a joyful, “Let’s do this thing!”, or do I reply, “I don’t feel like it today”? I pray that God’s Spirit will inspire me to the former.
    The second is in verse 6 where the psalmist asks us to pray for peace in Jerusalem. Every time I read this I am convicted that we should do this. I am not one of those whose actions and attitudes determines whether or not there will be peace in Jerusalem, but I can pray that God’s Spirit will influence those who are. I believe that peace will only come when all of those involved have a heartfelt desire for peace than for whatever else motivates their actions. This is not something which can be imposed from without. Each and everyone of the individuals involved must be transformed by God’s Spirit to desire peace.

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Acts 2:1-47

    On the day of Pentecost when Peter stepped forward to speak to the crowd, he quoted the prophet Joel. What struck me was that the prophecy Peter quoted said that God would pour out His Spirit upon all people in the last days. Peter was saying that the time of that prophecy had come. If those were already the last days, then today we are certainly living in the last days as well. Yet I see a lot of Christians living their lives not expecting the Spirit to be poured out upon them the way it was poured out on the disciples in the upper room on Pentecost.
    I struggle with the fact that we do not see Christians performing the kinds of miracles recounted in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. I struggle with the fact that I do not perform such miracles. Yet, I fear asking for such miracles because I know that hubris, pride in myself, is one of my weaknesses. If I performed the kinds of miracles which Jesus promised to His followers, and to which Peter refers here, I am afraid that I would become full of myself. Perhaps this is the problem, I do not have sufficient humility to allow God to work such wonders through me. Oh Lord, give me the humility which will allow Your Spirit to work through me.

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2 Samuel 22-23:23

    I love the image of God which is conveyed in David’s song recounted here. It is the image of what a father wishes he could do when his child is in danger. It is an image writers of heroic fiction attempt to convey of what their heroes do when confronted by evil. We wish we had the power to confront the dangers this way, but we do not. We need to humbly accept that we are dependent on God for salvation from many of the dangers we, or our loved ones, face in this world. However, read that song and remember that God is indeed capable of such a heroic rescue. When we cry out to God, He will come to our rescue and if it requires a heroic rescue, then a heroic rescue is what we will see.
    I have tried twice to recount stories which remind me of what this song says about God’s power and ability to come to our rescue and could not express the image which this song conveys to me. I mentioned God’s miraculous power in my commentary on Acts. The point of both of the stories was that the heroic, miraculous power which God uses to rescue us is not always obvious as heroic and miraculous. Sometimes, it is just people doing “what anybody would do in that situation.”

Daily Bible Study

June 4, 2014 Bible Study — Pray For Peace In Jerusalem

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 16:19-20

    It is better to live humbly with barely enough, than to live with great wealth among the proud. However, if you are willing to humbly listen to instruction you will not need to live in poverty for long. Trust in God and do as He commands and you will find joy.

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Psalm 122:1-9

    Do we share the psalmist’s joy at being invited to join others in worshiping and serving God? My first thought every time I read this psalm is about how much joy there is in joining others to serve God, or even just to worship God (which is a form of service). However, I feel a call to follow the psalmist’s request to pray for peace in Jerusalem. I am convinced that if God were to bring peace to Jerusalem in my lifetime, many would stand in awe of His power and worship Him. I will pray for peace in Jerusalem.

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Acts 2:1-47

    When the Holy Spirit came on the disciples on Pentecost, many of those who witnessed it thought they were drunk. Am I willing to let the Holy Spirit control my actions such that those around me think I am behaving foolishly (as if I am drunk)? Peter explained to the crowds what was actually happening and many came to follow the Lord. However, the first step was allowing the Holy Spirit to make all of them look foolish. So, once more, let us ask ourselves, are we willing to let the Holy Spirit make us look foolish so that we can reach those who have not yet met Jesus?
    As important as the story of the day of Pentecost is, Luke’s account of what the believers did following it is at least as important. The believers met together and shared their possessions with those in need. However, they did not meet in private. They met at the Temple. That is, they met in public where anyone could join them. Not only could anyone join them, their meetings were held where they would be witnessed by many who had not yet joined them. The believers did not act in secret. All could see what they taught, and said, and did. Let us live so openly.

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2 Samuel 22-23:23

    As I read David’s song of deliverance, my first thought was how wonderful to have such a great God to whom I can cry out for deliverance. When we cry out to God in our distress, He will come to our rescue. However, I also thought, I do not want to be one of the obstacles between God and those who have cried out to Him for deliverance. I want to be faithful so that God shows His faithfulness to me. I want to live with integrity so that God reveals His integrity to me. I want to be pure so that I can see God’s purity. I do not want to see the hostile face which God turns to the wicked.
    David begins his song by speaking of the protection which God offers us and the security within which He shelters us. However, David reminds us that God does not call for us to cower in His protection. No, God gives us the strength to crush the armies arrayed against us. He will give us the ability to scale the walls which stand in our way. God will give us the strength and the ability to overcome any obstacles that stand in the way of accomplishing the mission which He has given us.

Daily Bible Study

June 4, 2013 Bible Study — Was I Glad When They Said to Me, “Let Us Go to the House of the Lord?”

     I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. 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.

Rose bush begins to bloom
Rose bush begins to bloom

2 Samuel 22-23:23

     Today’s passage includes the song David sang when God rescued him from his enemies (it is not clear to me if this was a song David sang from time to time or one he composed and sang on one particular occasion). It reminds me of the song “I Will Call Upon the Lord” by Petra. The opening stanza gives us a basic statement of faith.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
the one who saves me from violence.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and he saved me from my enemies.

It is God who provides us with protection and shelter from the storms of this life. If we call on Him, He will save us from our enemies. We read here what happens when we trust in God to be our savior:
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
yes, I cried to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry reached his ears.

Then the earth quaked and trembled.


The song goes on to tell more of how all that exists is shaken to its core when God responds to the cries of His people, those who serve Him. We learn who gets this response from God:
For I have kept the ways of the Lord;
I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

As long as we follow God’s path and turn to Him rather than follow evil, He will come to our rescue when we are in distress. Even if in the past we have turned away from God, if we turn to Him today, He will hear our cry and deliver us. All too often I face trouble in this life because I have taken my eyes off of God and been seduced by something else. There is so much in this passage for us. God shows Himself faithful to those who are faithful and demonstrates His integrity to those who act with integrity. God will rescue the humble, but He will humiliate the proud. Towards the end of the song, David sang these words which lift my spirit and echo in my mind:
The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!

     The passage goes from this song to a description of David’s last words and then lists the mighty men whom God placed around David to help bring him to victory. David did not stand alone, God gave him some mighty warriors to stand by his side. These men became recognized because they did not turn from danger, but stood firm in the Lord. In this life we do not go it alone, God has sent us to be part of a team. If we are faithful and serve God, He will send mighty warriors to fight at our side (or perhaps we will be the mighty warriors He sends to fight at someone else’s side). Let us stand firm and not flee the battle because we are outnumbered. Let us look at those who were called the Three. One stood fast and defeated 800 men in one battle. Another stood firm when the rest of the army had fled and fought until his arm was too tired to lift his sword. The third did something similar, he held his ground when the rest of the army had fled and by doing so God brought about a great victory. Let us continue to fight God’s fight until we are too tired to continue. God promises that if we are truly fighting His battle that He will bring about a great victory.

More early rose bush blooms
More early rose bush blooms

Acts 2:1-47

     During the Jewish Festival of Weeks after Jesus death and resurrection, the disciples were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was the sound of a windstorm and what appeared to be fire distributed itself onto each one present. The people present began speaking in
different languages. The passage tells us that they spoke according to what the Holy Spirit moved them to say. The noise of what happened was so loud that people from all around came running to see what was happening (perhaps not running, but they gathered to see what was going on). At the time there were Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem. Those who gathered were amazed at what they heard when they got there. They heard these hicks from Galilee speaking in their native tongue. No matter what their native tongue was, one or more of the disciples was speaking it. Most of the crowd was amazed to hear the disciples, who were all from Galilee, speaking in their own tongues, telling of the wonderful things God had done. However, some of the crowd dismissed it, saying that the disciples were merely drunk.
     At this, Peter stood forward as the spokesman for the group (the Greek implies that he was put forward as the spokesman). Peter told the crowd that rather than the disciples being drunk, it was after all only nine in the morning, the crowd was witnessing the fulfillment of the prophecy from Joel. The prophet Joel said that God would pour out His Spirit on all people so that they will prophesy, see visions and dream dreams. God’s Spirit will perform wonders through all who will receive Him. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
     Peter told the crowd that God had endorsed Jesus by doing great wonders through Him, as the crowd was well aware. Jesus was betrayed and turned over to Gentile authorities to be killed, according to God’s foreknowledge and planning. Peter doesn’t pull any punches in this sermon. First he told the crowd that they were well aware of the miracles which Jesus had performed through the power of God. Then Peter told the crowd that THEY had nailed Him to the cross and killed Him. But, Peter told them, God was not finished yet. He did not abandon Jesus to the grave, nor allow His body to rot, just as David had written in Psalm 16. Rather God had raised Jesus from the dead and the disciples were witnesses to that resurrection. Peter concluded his sermon by telling the crowd that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was made Lord and Messiah by God.
     Peter’s words convicted many in the crowd so that they asked him, and the rest of the disciples, what they should do. Peter gave a series of steps to follow:

  1. Repent of your sinsTurn to God
  2. Be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins

    3. Once you have done these three things, you will receive the Holy Spirit. These three steps are steps for us to follow today, both for ourselves and when preaching salvation to others. The first step to salvation is that we must acknowledge that we have been sinful and done things which harm ourselves, our fellow man and our relationship with God. Then we must turn to God in the desire to have a relationship with Him. Finally, we must be baptized in the name of Jesus in order to receive the forgiveness of sins. Once we have completed these three steps, God will give us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter continued to preach calling on those listening to separate themselves from a crooked generation. A message that we should be preaching today. The passage tells us that 3,000 new believers were baptized that day.

    Rhododendron to be planted
    Rhododendron to be planted

    Psalm 122:1-9

         This psalm starts off with a great line for worship: I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” We no longer have to go to a specific location to join with others to worship God, but are we filled with joy when someone says to us, “Let us get together to worship the Lord.” Or are we “too busy?” Are we willing to put aside our other concerns in order to spend time with our brothers and sisters worshiping the Lord?

    Rhododendron just starting to bloom
    Rhododendron just starting to bloom

    Proverbs 16:19-20

         It is better to be humble and live in poverty than it is to be among the proud who divide plunder taken from others. If you are willing to take instruction, you will do well in this life and those who trust God will find true happiness.

Daily Bible Study

June 4, 2012 Bible Study

     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.

2 Samuel 22-23:23

     Today’s passage starts with a song that David’s song of victory. It is a song of praise to the Lord. David’s song of victory was a song of praise to God. He did not speak of how successful he was, or of his armies or his mighty men. He praised God and gave credit to God for the victory. This is something that we need to do, recognize that God is responsible for our successes and give Him praise for granting them to us.

“The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!”

All of my successes are from God. He is my rock and my refuge. When the trials of this life start to overwhelm me, I turn to Him and He provides me succor.

Acts 2:1-47

     I am actually studying this passage on Sunday, June 3rd. This is important because the sermon in our worship service this morning was partially on this passage from Acts. The preacher this morning pointed out that the Jewish holiday that we know as Pentecost was a celebration of Moses receiving the Law on Mt. Sinai. This made it a rather important Jewish holiday. In addition, he pointed out that at the end of the Gospel of Luke, Luke told us that the disciples spent all their time in the Temple praising God. This means that on Pentecost, the disciples would have been gathered in the Temple. Finally, the description Luke gives of what preceded the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit is very similar to the description of what happened at Mt. Sinai before Moses went up the mountain to receive the Law. With the Law, God lived first in His tent (the tabernacle) and then later in His house (the temple). With the coming of the Holy Spirit on this Pentecost that Luke describes, God is moving from the House of God to live within the people of God. When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples they were not huddled off someplace by themselves. They were out among the people as a group. We, also, should await the coming of the Holy Spirit in the public square. If we as Christians today were to do that, the Holy Spirit would come upon us in a manner which would cause those around us to be cut to the heart and ask us, “Brothers, what shall we do?” When we get that answer, our answer must be that of Peter, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” We must remember that repenting means that we change the behavior of which we are repenting.

Psalm 122:1-9

     This psalm begins with the psalmist saying that he will rejoice with those who say, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Now that God lives within His people, we should rejoice whenever we spend time with our fellow believers. There are two questions we need to ask ourselves. First, do we rejoice when we spend time with our fellow believers? Second, do our fellow believers rejoice when they spend time with us? If the answer to either of those questions is no, we need to do some serious soul searching.
     Later in this psalm the psalmist instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. He tells us to do so for the sake of the House of God. So, now that God resides within His people rather than within the Temple in Jerusalem, is this instruction still valid? Should we as Christians be praying for the peace of Jerusalem? I will say that many of the conflicts in this world today are connected to the strife over Jerusalem. In order for Jerusalem to have peace, most of the world’s conflicts would need to be resolved. I do not believe that most of those conflicts can be resolved by resolving the conflict over Jerusalem, but if those other conflicts were resolved, the conflict over Jerusalem would also be resolved. So, perhaps we should be praying for the peace of Jerusalem. I will certainly add that to my prayer list.

Proverbs 16:19-20/a>

     This proverb tells us that those who strive for power and wealth face difficulties that those who are willing to live simply with those with little material possessions never experience. This does not mean that all paths to wealth lead to unhappiness, just that sometimes people are willing to pay to high of a price for material possessions. The second of these two proverbs tells us that the path to success is to accept instruction rather than being prideful as the first points out that many who seek wealth are. Finally, it tells us that the path to joy is through trusting the lord. I will certainly attest to that. I experience the most joy when I put my fears and concerns in the Lord’s hands and allow Him to deal with them. His solutions bring me greater joy than any I could come up with on my own.