When the first person in a disagreement makes their case, they will sound like they have right on their side. However, that often does not last once those who disagree with them gets the chance to make their case. Always wait until you have heard both sides of a story before you choose a side in a disagreement.
Sometimes the only way to choose between two options is by chance such as flipping a coin. Sometimes we cannot tell which choice is the better. When such is the case, our best bet is to allow God to decide by using a random event to decide.
God will answer us when we call on Him. We should only be concerned as to whether or not He declares us innocent. If God declares us innocent the condemnation of mere men is of no consequence. There is a corollary to that statement. If God declares someone else innocent our condemnation of them is of no consequence. Therefore, we must no allow our anger to cause us to sin. Instead, when we are angry we should remain silent and think about our anger overnight.
I have never been able to see how the last insight in this psalm connects with the rest. However, the psalmist tells us that many people spend their lives seeking someone, or something, that will give them even more pleasure. Yet, if they would just be satisfied with the joy provided by God they would discover it to be greater than the pleasure brought by any amount of material wealth.
When the representatives of the Sanhedrin brought their case against Paul before the Roman governor, Paul was able to quickly, and easily, counter their claims. Paul then pointed out that those who had actually started the trouble were not even present. It was not convenient for those prosecuting Paul to have the people who started the riot present at his trial. They did not truly have a case against Paul, so they tried to build one out of rumour and innuendo. This is a tactic that is often tried against Christians. Paul did two things which we need to imitate when we are in similar positions. First, he did not allow the rumour and innuendo to stand. He flat out denied their accusations and demanded that they provide evidence to support those accusations. He could do this because the accusations were indeed false. Second, he used the opportunity to preach the Gospel.
Once more the Old Testament passage for today is a genealogy. I did not see anything in these genealogies that stood out to me today. However, I believe that God has a reason for them being here. It is why reading through the Bible every year is valuable. If I did not discipline myself to do so, I would not read these genealogies. For that matter if I was not looking for something to write in this blog, I would probably not read through these genealogies any way.
Those who are generous will find that sometimes that generosity opens doors to opportunities that would otherwise be closed. A freely given gift may allow someone to gain access to the movers and shakers.
The second proverb reminds us of the importance of waiting until we hear both sides of the story before reaching a conclusion. The first person who tells us their side of the story will almost always sound right, but we often will discover that the answer is not so clear-cut when we hear how those on the other side of the dispute describe things. It is important to remember that it is possible that both sides of a dispute may have genuinely acted with the best intentions…based on information of which the other side was unaware (or because they were unaware of information available to the other side).
Let us call upon God to answer the charges against us when we are falsely accused of wrongdoing. God will vindicate us when people make up baseless slanders against us because we serve Him. He will expose their lies for the entire world to see. In the meantime we need to control our anger rather than allowing it to control us. When we become angry we should remain silent and sleep on what caused our anger before we speak or act.
Let us trust in God and offer sacrifices to Him in the right spirit. Always remember that doing God’s will brings greater joy than anything which can be purchased with wealth.
When Paul was on trial before Felix, the Jewish Council made a case against him that seemed fairly damning. However, Paul was able to show that the accusations they made against him were based on hearsay and innuendo and that the only people who might be able to actually make the case were not present. This case is a perfect illustration of our proverb from today.
Later, when Paul talked with Felix and his wife in private he discussed the connection between righteousness, self-control, and the coming day of judgement. Paul was apparently more convincing than Felix expected because he cut the discussion short. Luke’s description of what Paul said to Felix and his wife in private presents us with a different take on the Gospel message than we normally think of. The Gospel message, according to this passage, is about how righteousness and self-control are related to being prepared for God’s coming day of judgement. Are we prepared to talk to the unbelievers we know about the relationship between these three things?
This passage is one of the reasons I am doing this blog. This genealogy list is extremely dry reading and I have trouble reading through it. Today I will be perfectly honest that I was unable to discern any meanings from it that apply to my life. However, I did find it interesting that the account contained a list of descendants of the king of Judah taken into Babylonian exile.
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.
Today’s passage includes more genealogy, something that I always struggle to read. The passage includes a list of David’s sons and a list of those who succeeded him on the throne. It also lists some of David’s descendants who were born during the Babylonian Exile. As I read this, I realized that while I was not seeing anything in it today this passage may shed new light on the interactions told elsewhere. Some of the people listed are mentioned in other accounts in the Old Testament and knowing how they are related will help understand why they did what they did.
Five days after Paul arrived in Caesarea, the high priest came down with other Jewish elders and a lawyer named Tertullus to present the case against Paul. Tertullus started by buttering up Felix. He then declared that the Sanhedrin had found Paul to be a troublemaker who stirred up riots among Jews all over the world. Further he claimed that Paul was a leader of the Nazarene sect and was trying to desecrate the Temple when they arrested him. Tertullus concluded by saying that Felix could confirm their story by questioning Paul.
Felix indicated that Paul should speak at this point. Paul started out by acknowledging that Tertullus was in essence correct in what he said when he buttered up Felix. However, he claimed that the Jewish leaders could not prove any of the accusations they were making against him. He told Felix that he had arrived in Jerusalem a mere twelve days before the current date. His accusers had not found him, at any point since his arrival, arguing in the Temple or stirring up a riot in the city.
Paul goes on to say that he was indeed a follower of the Way, which the Jewish leaders called a sect. He went on to say that he believed everything that was in accordance with the Law and the prophets and that he shared with those accusing him a belief in the resurrection of the dead. Paul then tells Felix that he was in the Temple completing purification rites when the incident began. He was not surrounded by a crowd, nor was there any disturbance. There were however some Jews from Asia there at the time who should be present to bring charges, if they had any which would stand up in court. Paul then stated that his accusers who were present should state what crime they had found him guilty of when he was before the Sanhedrin.
At this point, Felix adjourned the hearing, saying that he would issue a ruling when the Roman commander from Jerusalem came and testified. In the meantime he kept Paul under a sort of house arrest. A few days later, Felix summoned Paul to speak with him and his wife, who was Jewish. As Paul spoke with them about righteousness, self-control, and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened and ended the audience. Felix hoped that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent often to speak with Paul. After two years of this, Felix was replaced as governor. In order to gain some favor with the Jewish leaders, Felix left Paul in prison (actually a kind of house arrest).
The psalmist calls on God to hear him and free him from his troubles. He tells us that God declares him innocent. God does declare us innocent, not because we have committed no sins, but because God has forgiven us for those sins. If God has declared us innocent, who is there with the authority to hold us guilty?
I prefer the way that the New American Standard Version starts the next stanza:
O sons of men, how long will my [d]honor become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?
There are those who think I should be ashamed to believe in God and Christ and to hold to Christian principles. I find that those who think this wish me to give up these beliefs in favor of beliefs which I have found through experience to be worthless.
For the next verse, I like the NLT:
You can be sure of this:
…
The Lord will answer when I call to him.
Yes indeed, the Lord will answer when I call Him. And He will answer when you call Him as well.
The psalmist then gives us a sound piece of advice:
Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent.
We will get angry from time to time, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, we should not let anger control our actions. When we are tempted to act in anger, we should pause and then let some time pass before we take action. We should sleep on it and plan our actions with a cooler head.
The final phrase from this psalm I want to emphasize comes from the NIV translation:
Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
Yes, Lord help me to be happy when others prosper. I want to always feel joy over the good fortune of others and never jealousy or anger.
This psalm is why I so love being able to study the Bible online. I got so much more out of it by looking at the different ways that the different translations chose to render the different phrases in this psalm. Comparing different translations is much harder without the ability to just call them up side-by-side on the screen.
Tomatoes on the vine
Being generous can lead one to be honored by the great and powerful.
Do not render judgment on an issue until you have heard both sides of the story, no matter how convincing the first argument you hear sounds.
Sometimes the best way to settle a dispute is to choose between the sides by flipping a coin or some other method that leaves the outcome to Divine intervention.
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.
Today, the passage is again a list of genealogies, who is descended from whom. Yesterday’s passage ended with the lineage leading to David. Today’s passage begins with a list of some of the other descendants of one of his ancestors. The passage goes on to list the sons David had by his wives, explicitly leaving out the sons born to his concubines. Next we have a list of descendants of Solomon, which for the most part lists only those who sat on the throne. The passage then wraps up its listing of descendants of David by listing the descendants of Jehoiachin (who was the last pre-exile king of Judah to have descendants, all of the sons of his uncle who succeeded him were killed). Finally, the passage lists other descendants of Judah.
After Paul was in Caesarea for five days, the high priest and some other Jewish leaders arrived to present their case before the governor. They claimed that Paul was stirring up riots among Jews all over the world and that he was trying to desecrate the Temple when they arrested him. They also mention that he is a leader of a cult. The governor then indicates for Paul to present his defense. Paul starts off by pointing out that the Jewish leaders did not find him arguing with anyone and can point to no trouble he stirred up in Jerusalem. Paul openly admits to being a follower of the Way, but states that he firmly believes the Law and the prophets. Paul goes on to point out that this whole thing was started by some Jews from Asia who were not present to make a case against him. Paul concludes his defense by asking Felix to ask the Jewish leaders what crime the Sanhedrin had found him guilty of. At this point Governor Felix adjourned the hearing.
A few days later, Felix summons Paul to speak with him and his wife. Paul spoke with them about righteousness, self-control and the coming day of judgement. Felix became frightened by what Paul was saying and sent Paul away. Felix kept hoping Paul would offer him a bribe, so he brought him before him frequently. After two years with Paul in a kind of house arrest, Felix is replaced as governor. In order to maintain good will with the Jewish leaders, Felix leaves Paul in prison.
I find it interesting to note what Paul spoke about with Governor Felix. He discussed righteousness, that is he talked about what is morality and how can we know what is moral. He discussed self-control, that is he discussed the question of whether or not we can live up to a true moral code. Finally, he discussed the fact that at some point we will be held accountable for our success or failure to live up to what is moral. I think this gives us a guideline we can follow when we attempt to witness to unbelievers.
The psalmist here calls on us to trust God and declares that God gives him more joy than that possessed by those who have all of the worldly possessions they could desire. We are told to not let anger control us, that we should sleep on it before we act after someone angers us. Further we are told to present ourselves to God with the right spirit, not one of selfishness. Finally, the psalmist tells us that he can sleep peacefully because God, and God alone, will keep him safe.
The first of today’s proverbs tells us that by being generous we will have more opportunities. The second one tells us that the first person to present their case will sound reasonable and right, at least until we hear the other side. We should not take sides in a dispute until both sides have had a chance to present their side of things. The final proverb tells us that sometimes the best way to resolve a dispute is to select some random method (such as flipping a coin) to decide whose wish gets followed.
