If you refuse to follow God’s instructions, praying will not help you. There is actually more packed into that statement than is obvious. Often times, God’s answer to our prayer is revealed, sometimes even brought about, by our following His instructions.
I will seek God’s favor so that I can serve Him. The more we follow God’s instructions the more clearly we see and understand them. If we obey God despite those who scorn and insult us for doing so, God will force them to respect us. As we follow God’s commands we will discover that they were the wise course of action, even when it appeared otherwise at the time. The biggest challenge to obeying God is our tendency to lie to ourselves. If we are faithful, God will reveal those lies to us and show us how to be true to ourselves and others.
It is by God’s grace that we have received the faith which leads to His salvation. That salvation is waiting for us in heaven where it cannot be corrupted, nor can it decay. God’s power will protect us by supporting our faith, even in the face of suffering and persecution. The end will be wonderful joy in God’s presence. We will endure various trials and tests in this life that will test and purify our faith, showing that it is genuine. These trials will purify our faith in much the same way that fire purifies gold. They will cause the impurities in our lives to be exposed so that we can allow God to remove them from us. Therefore let us embrace these trials and tests so that God may further purify us.
I continue to struggle with the meaning for us today of Ezekiel’s detailed description and instructions for the new Temple which will be built after the Exile (is this the Temple described in Nehemiah? Herod’s Temple? Or one yet to come?). However, the instructions for the priests reminds us that those who are called to be spiritual leaders among us must be of the highest character. If you answer the call to be a spiritual leader, or even desire such an office, you must hold yourself to a higher moral standard than that to which you would hold anyone else. This actually makes a good rule for us to follow, even if we do not desire, or feel called to, a position of spiritual leadership. We should hold ourselves to a higher moral standard than the one to which we hold others.
Those who listen to criticism and allow it to guide improvements in their behavior will be welcomed among the wise. Those who ignore attempts to correct their behavior harm only themselves. I have seen this in action. People who were once viewed as a problem and whose opinion was not valued listened to correction. They are now valued and their opinion sought in the decision making process. Other people who were similarly viewed are still viewed as a problem and steps are under way to remove them from the organization.
The theme is continued in stanzas three and four, both discuss the value of God’s word, His laws, His instructions. Verse 18 reminds me that every day as I read the scripture and write this blog I need to ask God to open my eyes and show me the truths that are there. I know that when I write something which changes my life, or which touches someone who reads it, I have done so only because of the influence of the Holy Spirit. Those who are arrogant and refuse to follow God’s commands will suffer for it. I will not try to overcome their scorn for me. Instead I will ask God to remove it and show them His thoughts about me.
I hope that you will read the whole of today’s passage because there is more about the value of God’s instructions than I will write about today. I will conclude with my thoughts on the final verse. I strive to more faithfully follow what I understand to be God’s will for me because as I do so He reveals ever more to me. I have discovered that I do not gain greater understanding of God’s will for my life, no matter how hard I try, until I do the things He has already shown me that He desires me to do.
One of the “truths” we are asked to accept by our society is that there are many ways to God. There is some truth to that statement. The Scripture tells us again and again that those who seek God will find Him. So, those who are truly seeking God will find Him, no matter what path they choose when they begin their search. They do not have to go through the Church in order to approach God.
However, whatever path a person takes in their search for God, they must eventually come to Jesus if they want to get to God. All of those many paths eventually lead to Jesus, or they will lead us away from God. Ultimately, the true expression of God can only be seen after we have come to Jesus. The way we must follow goes through Him. Throughout the Gospel of John Jesus makes comments which tell us that we must listen to His teaching if we want to approach God. Here He says that outright.
I was going to write something about David’s reaction to the men who killed Ishbosheth, Saul’s last remaining son and David’s rival for the throne of Israel. However, as I read the passage I realized that I really wanted to write about Micah’s reaction to David’s dancing in the street. And really what I want to write about is what she reacted to, David’s dancing in the street. She thought that David made a fool of himself by the way he acted while the Ark was being brought into Jerusalem.
There are really two elements to this. First, we should allow ourselves to be caught up in worshiping God. There are times when we should allow ourselves to do whatever the Holy Spirit guides us to do without giving thought to what others think of us. I have heard others say that when talking about this passage. The second part I have rarely heard mentioned. Micah was not wrong because she did not join David dancing in the street. She was wrong because she looked down on him for doing so. Let us never make the mistake of thinking poorly of others because they get caught up in worshiping God. Let us never think that they should be ashamed for doing so. Let us emulate David in this story and not Micah.
Those who accumulate wealth at the expense of the poor are merely accumulating it for someone else. God will ignore the prayers of those who ignore His laws. Those who lead people down a path to doing evil will be caught in the traps they set for others. While those who live upright, honest lives will thrive.
Be good to your servant,
that I may live and obey your word.
We request that God be good to us, not because we obey His commands but in order that we may obey His commands. Then the psalmist reminds us that we are foreigners in this land. We are not citizens of earth, rather we are citizens of God’s Kingdom. Let us tell God of our plans and ask His guidance on carrying them out. Let us listen to His answers and change our plans according to His instruction. I will beg God to keep me from lying to myself that my own desires are His will, when such is not the case. I have chosen to be faithful and will strive to follow God’s instructions.
Peter reminds us that it is through our faith that we are shielded by God’s power. He encourages us to rejoice and be glad, even though we suffer grief from the trials we face in this world. These trials come to prove the genuineness of our faith. It is not a matter of proving our faith to God, who knows whether or not our faith is genuine. Rather it is a matter of proving our faith to ourselves.
Our faith is of greater worth than gold. Peter tells us that our faith will bring us praise, glory, and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. I initially read that as meaning when Christ returns, and think that is probably primarily what Peter meant when he wrote this. However, I just realized that it means, in part, that every time Jesus Christ is revealed to someone who has seen our faith (and perhaps comes to see Jesus because of our faith), we will receive praise, glory, and honour.
We have not seen Jesus and we do not see Him now, but our faith should, nevertheless, fill us with glorious, inexpressible joy. I went with the NIV for this passage today because of what it says in verse nine. The NIV translates verse nine in the present tense. We are receiving the end result of our faith, which is the salvation of our souls. This is not just something which will happen to us in some nebulous future. It is happening right now as we live lives of faith in Jesus Christ. As I type these words, I am filled with that inexpressible, glorious joy to which Peter refers. I hope that reading the passage and thinking about what it means does the same for you.
Ezekiel continues his discussion of the Temple in the restored Jerusalem. It is not clear to me if this restored Jerusalem represents a place and time on earth, or the heavenly Temple, or is perhaps primarily symbolic. As a result, most of Ezekiel’s prophecy about it goes over my head. However, in today’s passage there a couple of things which connect for me.
Ezekiel discusses how the religious leaders of Israel failed to protect the rituals instituted by God by allowing those who did not worship God to partake in them. Rather than maintain the purity of their worship they invited those who scoffed at God to organize and run their worship. As I read this I think of groups and organizations today who try to find common ground of faith with those who do not honour Christ. We can not make those who have not surrendered themselves fully to the Lord members of the Body of Christ.
If you are unwilling to listen to constructive criticism you will be uncomfortable spending time around people of wisdom. Failure to take such advice will harm only you. On the other hand accepting and following that advice will increase your own wisdom.
Today the psalm continues the themes from yesterday. I will pray to God that He open my eyes to the truths contained in His instructions. I will gain wisdom and understanding by obeying His laws and meditating on His instructions. I know that I do not fully understand how God would have me live. But I know that as I strive to do those things I do understand that He wants I will gain the wisdom and insight to see more clearly what God wants from me. I am encouraged by meditating on God’s law.
Jesus told His disciples, and through them us, that they should love one another. He told them that people would know they were His disciples by their love for one another. As Jesus was giving His last sermon before His crucifixion to His disciples they still did not fully understand what He was teaching them. John makes this clear by recounting how three different disciples asked similar questions of what Jesus was saying. While Jesus chided them for having missed the point of things He had said, He did not condemn them. Rather He gently presented the ideas in yet another way.
The disciples wanted to know where Jesus was going and how they could join Him there. Jesus told them that He was going to be with the Father and the only way to get there was through Him. There are those who claim that there are many ways to heaven. Jesus makes it clear here that there is only one path to heaven and that path is through faith in Him. Those who have faith in Jesus will do the same works He did, healing the sick, helping the poor, forgiving the sinner, and proclaiming the kingdom of God.
After Abner’s death, Ishbosheth and those who looked to him as king became afraid of what would happen next. Two of Ishbosheth’s captains decided that his defeat was inevitable. So they decided to curry favor with David by killing Ishbosheth. When they brought evidence of Ishbosheth’s death to David, rather than reward them he had them executed. David chose not to encourage those who would turn traitor against his enemies.
When the Philistines learned that David had become king over all of Israel, they mustered their armies against him. He defeated them twice when they attacked his capitol. The first time, David defeated them by a frontal assault. The second time, when they deployed themselves to face such an attack, he defeated them by outflanking them.
Once he was secure in his position David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. As part of the celebration, David abandoned all of his dignity in praising God. David’s wife Micah, Saul’s daughter, was upset with him because she felt his lack of dignity reflected poorly on herself and on him. David responded that He was willing to look foolish in order to bring praise and glory to God. Let us never stand on our dignity when it comes time to praise God. We should be willing to look like fools in order that God may be glorified.
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.
As Ezekiel completed his description of his vision of the Temple, he describes the rules for the priests and the allotment of land after the people return from exile. He instructs that the ruler is to have land of his own near the Temple to support himself and the rest of the land is to be divided up among the rest of the people. The rulers are to stop robbing and cheating the people. They are to use standard weights and measures that are the same for every person. The rules are to be the same for everyone and no one is above the law.
Peter reminds us that we were chosen by God and made holy by His Spirit. God has caused us to be born again and given a new start through the resurrection of Jesus. God will protect us by His power through our faith in the salvation which He is giving us through Christ’s death and resurrection. Then Peter gets to the meat of his introduction. We can rejoice, not despite our trials, but because of our trials. The trials we face will test and refine our faith. Despite the fact that we have not seen Jesus, we love Him and even though we do not see Him, we believe in Him. This belief and faith fills us with joy. I will declare that I have that joy in my trials, although that is sometime difficult.
The psalmist asks God to open his eyes to see the truths contained within God’s instructions. I will ask the same of God, that He show me the wonderful things that come from following His law. These are not rewards, they are merely the natural consequence of living according to God’s commands. People may laugh, mock and hold me in contempt for doing so, but I will strive to be faithful to God’s commands. And here in the middle is a reminder of the source of so much of our sorrow and shame: we lie to ourselves. I will join the psalmist is asking God to keep me from lying to myself. The first step to pleasing God is to be honest with myself about my failures, neither minimizing them nor over-emphasizing them. I will cling to God’s laws and pursue His commands. As I do that God will increase my understanding.
If we do not listen to what God has to say to us, how can we hope to receive His answers to our prayers. Those who pray to God for aid, yet refuse to listen to and obey His instructions is a hypocrite and will never receive the answer they are looking for.
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.
After he heard about the death of Abner, Ishbosheth lost all confidence and the forces supporting him became paralyzed. Two brothers decided to ingratiate themselves to David by killing Ishbosheth. They cut off Ishbosheth’s head and took it to David. When they presented it to David, expecting him to honor them for eliminating his rival, he ordered them killed for killing Ishbosheth.
After the death of Ishbosheth the elders of Israel came to David and made him their king. David then set out to conquer Jerusalem and make it his capital. It is interesting that even though the account tells us that the elders of Israel came to David and made him their king immediately (or at least shortly) after the death of Ishbosheth, it also tells us that his reign was over all of Israel was not counted as starting until he moved his capital to Jerusalem. Once David took control of Jerusalem, the Philistines attacked him on two occasions. The first time David defeated them using a frontal attack. The second time, he launched a flanking attack. On both occasions, David gave credit to God for his victory.
After these victories David decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from Abinadab’s house, where it had been since it was returned by the Philistines. He gathered a force of 30,000 elite warriors to accompany the Ark (it is not made clear why he gathered such a large force for this). He had the Ark placed on a cart and began transporting it. The cart carrying the Ark was guided by Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah and Ahio. The event was a festival and a celebration worshiping God. However, the celebration was cut short when they got near to Jerusalem. The oxen pulling the cart stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark. Uzzah was struck dead because of this. David was angry and a little afraid because of this and left the Ark in the care of the person whose land they were crossing at the time. The account tells us that God blessed the household of the man in whose care David left the Ark of God.
After three months, when David heard about how much God had blessed the man he had left the Ark with, he decided to bring it the rest of the way to Jerusalem. Once more he began a celebration to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. This time, however, he had the Ark carried rather than transported on a cart. David threw himself fully into the celebration with no thought for his dignity. David’s wife Micah, Saul’s daughter, saw David’s behavior and was offended by it. She thought that David had failed to show the proper dignity of a king. She confronted David about his behavior. David replied that he was willing to be humiliated to worship and celebrate before God. Are we willing to face the contempt of others in order to worship God the way He calls us to do?
After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus told them that He would be with them only a short time longer and that where He was going, they would be unable to follow. In the meantime, they were to love one another in the same way and to the same degree that Jesus had loved them. Their love for one another would prove that they were His disciples. Peter than asked why He could not go with Jesus and stated that He was ready to die for Jesus. Jesus answered Peter that while he could not come with Jesus now, He would follow Him later. But as to being willing to die with Jesus, Jesus told Peter that he would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed the following morning.
Jesus then told all of His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled by His departure. They believed and trusted in God, they should do the same regarding Jesus. Jesus told them that there was plenty of room in His Father’s house and He was going to prepare a place for them. He would return and take them there when all was ready. Besides which, they knew the way.
Thomas replied for all of the disciples by asking how they could know the way when they did not even know where He was going? Jesus answered Thomas’ question by telling the disciples that He was the way, the Truth and the Life. He continued by telling them that He was the only way to the Father. By knowing Jesus we know the Father. Philip then asked Jesus to show them the Father. To which Jesus answered, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Jesus told the disciples that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him. If nothing else, they should believe because of the work they have seen Him do. Jesus went on to tell them that those who believe in Him will do the same works that He has done, not only that, they will do even greater works.
Jesus told the disciples that He did the works He did because He was in the Father and the Father was in Him. In addition, He told them that because of this, they could see the Father by looking at Him. Elsewhere the scripture tells us that if we are His disciples, He will be in us. So my question is, do I live my life so that when people look at me they can see Jesus?
Today’s psalm speaks of the value of listening to and following God’s law.
Your laws please me;
they give me wise advice.
The psalmist makes a couple of requests of God that I strive to echo. I will ask God to help me understand the meaning of His commandments. I will also ask God to keep me from lying to myself. And finally I will determine to live by the following:
I have chosen to be faithful;
I have determined to live by your regulations.
Today’s proverbs give advice that is timeless. Listen to constructive criticism, accept the correction that others give you. This is the path to wisdom and being comfortable among the wise. If I reject discipline, I hurt myself more than any others. On the other hand, if I listen to correction, I will grow in wisdom.
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.
Ezekiel continued to describe the vision he had of a new Temple and its rituals. He condemned the people of Israel for hiring foreigners to oversee the Temple in the time before the exile. He told them that in the new Temple no one who has not surrendered themselves completely to the Lord will be allowed into the sanctuary of the Temple. When I read this I think of the professional pastors I have met who are not sure that they believe in the Resurrection, yet are still employed as pastors in various churches, or the seminary professors who say that it would in no way damage their faith to learn that Jesus had never actually lived.
Ezekiel described more of the rituals and rules concerning the rebuilt Temple and who could serve there. Then he gave rules for princes. He told them that they should not cheat people out of their homes. They should use honest weights and measures. The same standard of weights and measures should be used by everyone and used for every customer. I believe there are two, not exactly the same lessons here. First, units of measure should be standard so that people know what they are getting for their money. Second merchants should apply true measures of that standard. This is related to yesterday’s lesson on honesty and integrity. I would take it further to say that a merchant should have one price for everyone although that is going a bit beyond what this particular passage says. A price that is clearly stated for all to see. I am not saying that I have a problem with volume discounts. What I am talking about is a different price for Sally than for Joe when in all other ways the purchases are the same.
Today I begin reading Peter’s first letter. We have an inheritance that is beyond price that we have received through God’s great mercy by way of Jesus death and resurrection. It is being kept for us in heaven beyond the reach of change and decay. Unlike Social Security, or our retirement funds, we know that it will be there in its full amount when we get there. Social Security and our retirement funds are guaranteed by mere humans and are no more reliable than any other human promise. Our heavenly inheritance is guaranteed by God and can be relied upon to be as He promises.
So even though we have to face many trials in this life, we should be glad. Those trials merely test and purify our faith as fire tests and purifies gold. We love Christ even though we have never seen Him. We trust Him even though we cannot see Him. We will receive the salvation of our souls as a reward for our trust. Peter wrote of the joy we get from exercising this trust and I must say that it is true. I have experienced a great joy when in the face of difficult times I have been able to fully put my trust in God. We have received the Good News through the agency of those who have preached it in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do we allow the Spirit to move in us so as to preach the Good News to those around us? Do we allow the power of the Holy Spirit to move through us? Do we seek for the Holy Spirit to move through us to preach the Good News to those we meet?
The psalmist asks the Lord to be good to him so that he can obey the Lord’s commands. I strive to desire good so that I may serve the Lord. Help me Lord to overcome my tendency to use the good you give me for my own pleasures rather than in service to You. Please Lord let the desire to obey Your commands overwhelm me. Renew my determination to meditate on Your words. Remind me of the wisdom of following Your instruction.
Like the psalmist I will strive to lay my plans out before the Lord and wait for Him to offer corrections to them. I do not wish to make plans that do not have God’s approval. I will test my plans by meditating on God’s words and actions. I will call on the Lord to keep me from lying to myself and show me how to keep His commands. I have chosen to be faithful, but I am human and fail. Help me Lord to cling to your laws and commands. As I pursue following the Lord’s commands, He grants me new understanding.
Those who profit from mistreating the poor will find their fortunes in the hands of those more caring. Those who petition God in prayer must respect the laws and orderly behavior. Those who deceive good people into following evil plans will suffer from the results of those plans.
I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or my understanding of them, please leave comments.
After the death of Abner those parts of Israel that looked to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, as king became disheartened. Two of Ishbosheth’s captains killed him and took his head to David, thinking that David would be grateful to them for doing so. They were wrong. David had them executed for killing Ishbosheth. After the death of Ishbosheth the leaders of the tribes of Israel (besides Judah, over which David was already king) come to David and request that he become their king. I noticed reading through this time that David only made one overture to become the king of all Israel and that was after the death of Saul and before Ishbosheth was made king. After that it was others who took the initiative. Once he has control over all of Israel, David begins taking control over the surrounding peoples. He starts by taking Jerusalem from the Jebusites. As David is consolidating his power he receives a gift of friendship from the king of Tyre. During this same time the Philistines muster their armies to attack David. David defeats them twice.
David then brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from where it had been since its recovery from the Philistines at the beginning of Samuel’s Judgeship. David makes this a major celebration which is cut short just as they get near to Jerusalem when one of the men guiding the cart carrying the Ark is struck dead when he touches the Ark to steady it. David was angered by the death of this man. We are not told why the man was struck down. However, in the Law God gave the Israelites instructions on how the Ark should be transported. He told them that it should be carried using poles put through the rings put on it for that purpose. In this passage, David was transporting the Ark on a cart. When three months later David had the Ark taken the rest of the way into Jerusalem, that is how he had it moved. Again the Bible tells us that David made this move a great celebration. He had a sacrifice made and gave gifts of food to all of those present. The passage tells us that David danced before the Lord with all of his might. David threw himself into his worship and made no attempt to guard his dignity. When confronted by his wife Michal, King Saul’s daughter, over his lack of dignity, David expresses a willingness to look foolish even to the point of being humiliated in his own eyes in order to worship and celebrate before God. We need to have the same attitude. We must be willing to abandon our dignity in order to worship God. David did not let anything distract him from his worship of God, neither should we.
Jesus tells the disciples that He is going somewhere that they cannot follow. He continues by telling them that they should love each other as He had loved them, that the world will know that they are His disciples by their love for each other. Peter wants to know why he can’t come with Jesus, since he is ready to die for Him, so he says. Jesus tells Peter that not only is he not ready to die for Him, but that Peter will deny that he even knows Him before the rooster crows the following morning. Jesus immediately follows this by telling them not to let their hearts be troubled. He tells them that He will return for them and besides that they know the way to where He is going. Thomas and then Philip ask questions which demonstrate that the disciples do not yet understand what Jesus has been teaching them. Jesus explains to Thomas that He is the way and that there is no other way to the Father. Then Jesus tells Philip that anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father. Jesus continues by telling the disciples that those who believe in Him will do the same works and even greater works than He has done.
This is a very powerful passage. It tells us that Jesus is the only way to the Father. There are no other paths that lead to God. One cannot be a Christian and believe that people can find other ways to God. It also tells us that we can ask anything in Jesus name and He will do it. I do not fully understand this because it does not seem to actually work out that way. However, I think it is like my understanding of the passage where Jesus says that if we have faith like a mustard seed we can say tell a mountain to move and it will move. I believe that the reason that works is because if we truly believe that it is God’s will that a mountain be moved from where it is to somewhere else, we will grab a shovel and start filling a wheelbarrow. I think that is the key to understanding how prayer and faith work together. If we believe that a certain result is in God’s will for this world we will start taking action to accomplish that result, even if we know there is no way that we can accomplish the end we seek. If we ask for something in Jesus name it means that we believe that something is in service to God. If we believe that some end is in the service of God, we will take action to make that end occur, even if we are well aware that our actions are entirely insufficient to accomplish that end. I believe that as we work to accomplish Godly ends, others will join us and the power of God will move until those ends are accomplished.
God’s instructions are wonderful truths. They will encourage us when we are experiencing sorrow. If we strive to learn and obey God’s commands our wisdom and understanding will grow. Yesterday’s two stanzas each ended with thoughts that I made my prayer, today’s end with thoughts that I wish to make the center of my thinking today:
“Your laws please me;
they give me wise advice.”
“I will pursue your commands,
for you expand my understanding.”
Listening to criticism is the only way that we can grow and become wise. Refusing to listen when others tell us that we have done something wrong, or less well than we could have, hurts no one but ourselves. When we listen to correction we can improve ourselves. These lessons in these proverbs seem obvious, yet how often do we fail to heed them?
