For today, One Year Bible Online links here. We are approaching the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. Let us seek to serve God in all that we do in the New Year.

Proverbs 31:10-24

    A wife of noble character is worth more than any amount of money or precious gems. I wish I had taken this proverb to heart when I was single. It would have made my dating life much simpler. Fortunately, God was gracious to me and gave me such a wife anyway. I will tell all the young men of my acquaintance to seek after a woman as described in this passage.
    Young women, I encourage you to model yourself after the woman described in this passage and avoid men who are not looking for these things in a wife.

Psalm 149:1-9

    Yet another psalm which reminds us to praise God with all the strength that we have. This psalm reminds us of the importance of praising God in the presence of those who faithfully serve Him. There are times in everyone’s life when they need a reminder that God does great and wonderful things. Let us be the person who provides that spark to our fellow believers.
    There is more to this psalm. It reminds us to praise God with enthusiasm, with dancing, and tambourine, and harp. There are times when we need to get excited about praising God. We yell and scream when we go to sporting events, or concerts, even sometimes to movies. Let us show the same enthusiasm as we worship God.

Revelation 21:1-27

    The description from John’s vision which we read today goes so well with today’s psalm. The universe as we know it, the universe which has been corrupted by mankind’s sin and rebellion will be completely wiped away. God will create a new heaven and new earth. God will live among His people. He will wipe away every tear that we have ever experienced. Yes, we have that to look forward to, the day when there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain. No one will suffer ever again. This is why the psalmist calls us to so exuberantly praise God.
    There will be no need for a temple in the City of God because God Himself will be there and we will worship directly in His presence. There will be no need for sun or moon, or any other source of light because God will radiate all of the light we will need to see clearly. There will be no evil in that place because evil is the absence of good, just as darkness is the absence of light. As I read this, I am filled with joy. The psalm leads right into this reminding us of the joy that comes from worshiping God and being in His presence.

Malachi 1-2:17

    As I read this passage it reminded me of the other side of the joy of praising God, the pain when He rejects our worship. Why would God reject our worship? This passage tells us clearly, because we substitute inferior goods for what we promised to give. Instead of giving of our time when we are fresh and enthusiastic, we put in time when we are tired and worn down. Instead of offering new clothes, or other goods to those in need, we give the clothes we have worn out, or won’t wear because they aren’t stylish.
    However, these are only minor compared to an even more serious infraction. Are we faithful to our spouse? Our society has many ills, all of which generate from this one source.

“For I hate divorce!”[h] says the Lord, the God of Israel.
Can it be any more clear than that?
    There is one more thing for which God condemns us. When we say that those who do evil are good in God’s sight and that He is pleased with them. Then we turn around and wonder where the God of Justice is. If we want to please God, and have Him accept our worship, let us be faithful to our spouse and refuse to call good the actions of those who do evil.

     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.

Malachi 1-2:17

     Malachi (which may not be the prophet’s actual name, since it translates as “my messenger”) confronts the people of Israel for failing to honor and respect God. He tells them that they show their lack of respect by offering animals that are crippled and/or diseased as sacrifices and by bringing detestable food as offerings to God. They dishonor God by their actions. Malachi tells them that God will not accept such sacrifices. God would rather they closed the Temple rather than continue such unacceptable offerings. People from other nations offer (or will offer) acceptable sacrifices. They honor (or will honor) God in ways which the people of Israel are no longer doing. People from other nations recognize how great and wonderful God is, why won’t the Israelites?
     The prophet goes on to condemn the priests and Levites for not teaching the people to live good and righteous lives. They failed the people to live such lives and failed to live such lives themselves. He warned them that if they did not change their ways and begin honoring God, God would curse them. Priests should preserve knowledge of God and people should be able to come to them for instruction on doing God’s will. Instead they have left God’s path and their instruction has caused people to stumble into sin. As a result, people hold the office of priest in contempt. This same prophecy applies to Christian pastors who behave similarly. We cannot dismiss this passage because it refers to practices and offices which we became obsolete with Christ’s death and resurrection.
     The prophet continues by condemning the people for their unfaithfulness. They betrayed each other, even though they were all children of the same Heavenly Father. They marry those who worship idols rather than God and they fail to remain faithful to their first wives. The prophet warns us against wearying God by saying that those who do evil are good.
     There is a lot in this passage for us today. When we make offerings to God, let us not make them from what is left over. Those who claim to teach others about following God’s commands should follow those commands themselves and relay those commands accurately. Everyone who claims to be a child of God should not bind themselves to those who do not worship God and once they have married they should remain faithful to the one they have married. Finally, we must not pretend that those who do evil are good people who are merely misunderstood (or perhaps not even that).

Revelation 21:1-27

     After destroying the current heaven and earth, God will create a new heaven and earth. In this new creation God will make His home among the people. He will comfort them and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain. All things will be made new and God will live among us as our Father. However, those who refuse to believe, who refuse to turn from their sins, will be cast into the lake of fire in what John calls the second death. There will be no Temple in God’s new creation for God will live among the people and they will be able to meet with Him and worship Him directly.

Psalm 149:1-9

     Let us praise the Lord with singing and dancing and instruments. Let us use all of the skills which God has given us to praise His name. He will delight in those who He has made His people. He will give victory to the humble. Let us praise God as He executes judgment against those who continue to do evil. I will praise the Lord.

Proverbs 31:10-24

     Finding a good wife is a challenge, but it is worth the effort. A good and virtuous wife will make her husband a happy man and together they will be a successful team who will serve the Lord in all they do.