Tag Archives: Psalm 130

Daily Bible Study

December 11, 2015 Bible Study — Does Our Church Make A Difference?

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 29:21-22

    Those who cannot control their temper start fights and get themselves into all kinds of other sins. Learn to control your temper if you desire to live a godly life. I have always striven to control my temper, but I am not always successful.

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Psalm 130

    God will hear and answer our call when we cry out from despair. No matter how desperate we are God can, and will, help us when we call on Him. Each and every one of us, if we are honest with ourselves, knows that we could not stand before God if He kept a record of our sins. It is only because He is willing to forgive us time and again that we can come before Him. The only reason we have the opportunity to learn to do right is because God will forgive us when we do wrong and keep no record of our failures. We can count on God and any hope we put in Him will be rewarded.

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Revelation 2:18-3:6

    The church at Thyatira was commended for their love, faith, service, and endurance. The only thing they were condemned for was allowing a false prophetess who promoted sexual immorality to teach among them. Rather than teach sexual purity, the church allowed this woman to remain among them teaching that it was not only OK, but spiritually beneficial to practice some sort of sexual immorality (the passage does not tell us what type, and it does not matter). The key here is that false teachers often use sexual immorality as a hook to lure people away from the true Gospel. We need to teach the importance of sexual purity in our churches. I will note that, even though the church here is condemned for allowing this “prophetess” to remain among them, those who refused to follow her teachings were praised and encouraged. Even though the church allowed her to be among them, there were still those (by my reading a significant number) who remained faithful. This gives me hope for those in churches which today are accepting, to an ever greater degree, teachings which say that various forms of sexual immorality are not sin.
    I have always though that the message to the church at Sardis was the one which should give us the greatest pause. The church at Sardis had a reputation for being a vibrant, active, faithful congregation, but the message to them was that they were dead. I am not sure what was going on here, but I can guess. They had the forms of an enthusiastic, faithful congregation. Their worship services were vibrant, with messages which hit all the right points. Those in attendance were filled with excitement and joy, but that was it. When the service was over, they left and went about their lives no different than the people around them who did not attend their services. This is such an easy trap to fall into. Our church can teach all the right things, but no one in it does anything which makes any difference in the world around them. Even here there were a few people who were faithful, which shows us that we cannot let ourselves off because we can point to others in our church who are doing the will of God. What are we doing to change the world around us for the better?

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Amos 4-6

    Amos relays God’s message that He had brought drought, famine, and plague, one after another. Yet the people refused to repent of their sins and worship God. They continued to oppress the poor and mistreat the needy. Amos warns them that God will bring judgment against them for their sins. A society which hates honest judges and despises those who tell the truth will soon face more troubles than any person can bear. God’s judgment will soon fall upon it.
    God’s judgment is coming upon all who fail to do good and flee from evil. However, God will be the helper and defender of those who hate evil, love good, and seek justice for the poor and powerless. Those who lounge in luxury while the poor suffer and starve will face God’s judgment.

Daily Bible Study

June 12, 2015 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 17:2-3

    We apply intense heat to silver and gold in order to purify them. When we go through difficult times, let us remember that God purifies our hearts in a similar manner.

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Psalm 130:1-8

    The psalmist reminds us that none of us are pure, that we have all sinned enough to deserve death. None of us are in a position to look down on others for their sin. God offers us forgiveness for our sins rather than judgement because otherwise we would never have a chance to learn to love and fear Him. I count on God’s forgiveness and love, but this does not mean that I do not strive to resist temptation and avoid sinning.

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Acts 8:14-40

    When Peter and John arrived in Samaria they prayed for the believers to receive the Holy Spirit and then laid their hands upon them. At which point the believers promptly received the Holy Spirit. This was obviously a very dramatic occurrence, because as soon as Simon the magician (well, technically no longer “the magician”) saw it he wanted the power to do it himself. He was so impressed with what happened that he offered Peter and John money if they would give him power to do it himself. Simon wanted the honor and glory that came with having that power. Peter recognized the selfishness in his request and soundly condemned him for it. Tradition has it that Simon the magician became an opponent of Christianity after this, or at least a promoter of heresies. While that is possible, his reaction to Peter’s condemnation is perfectly appropriate. This story warns us against those who seek to gain power in the Church for their own glory. It, also, warns us of the dangers of becoming proud when God works through us .

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1 Kings 9-10:29

    When Solomon finished his dedication of the Temple God replied to his prayer. The promise which God gave Solomon in response to his prayer contains many elements which apply to any, and every, people. If people follow God with integrity and righteousness, God will establish them as a nation that will stand the test of time. However, if they abandon God and worship other gods, God will make them an object of mockery and scorn. If you love your nation and wish it to prosper, your best course of action is to honor and serve God. You will not make your nation godly by passing laws. Each and every person must decide for themselves if they will serve God.

Daily Bible Study

December 11, 2014 Bible Study — What Kind of Church Are We Part Of? (Part 2)

For today, One Year Bible Online links here. Christmas is coming soon. Let us remember what it is truly about, the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us strive to not be caught up in the commercialism which is what this season is about for many in our society today.

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Proverbs 29:21-22

    When I read this proverb I thought about controversial stories that have been in the news the last few years. When trying to judge what happened with limited information, we can know that the person with the history of poor anger management is more likely to be the one who started the fight. Those who have trouble controlling their temper are generally guilty of many other sins as well.

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Psalm 130:1-8

    No matter how deep our despair, nor how terrible our sins, God will listen to our prayers when we cry out to Him. God does not keep a record of our sins. It is we ourselves who do that. We could not survive if God made us pay the price of each and every one of our sins. God offers us forgiveness so that we can learn to serve Him. Will you serve Him today?

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Revelation 2:18-3:6

    Next John delivers a message for the church in Thyatira. He commends them for their deeds. They are doing the opposite of what he condemned the church in Ephesus for doing. Rather than lose their enthusiasm, the church in Thyatira was becoming more enthusiastic and loving. They were doing even more than they had done when they first came to know the Lord. However, they had a woman in their church who was teaching believers to commit sexual sins and eat food sacrificed to idols. This went beyond teaching tolerance of sinful behavior. In Thyatira they had someone in the church encouraging believers to sin. Those who followed such teaching would suffer the consequences of such behavior, but those who remained faithful will see that God is faithful in turn.
    Then comes the message for the church in Sardis. This is the message that should frighten us the most. The church in Sardis has a reputation for being a vibrant congregation, but the message John has for them says that they are dead. In how many of our churches are we gathering on Sunday to sing songs about how wonderful God is, but come Monday He has no role in our lives? God would rather see us bring glory to Him by what we do during the week, than see us “filled with the spirit” on Sunday morning.

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Amos 4-6:14

    Amos condemns those who brag about their charitable giving while oppressing the poor and crushing the needy. God brings hard times in order to remind us to turn to Him, but all too often we only dedicate ourselves even more thoroughly to the idols we serve. When hard times come, do we realize that we all need to pull together, or do we use our power and position to make sure that it is someone else who suffers. When hard times came upon the people of Israel, rather than aid the oppressed and seek justice, the people crushed the oppressed and sought special favors.
    God is calling us once more to do what is good and to run from what is evil. Too many people say that they hate evil and love good, but then they seek to overturn justice. All too often I see what Amos describes here, where people hate honest judges and despise those who speak the truth. Let that not be us.

Daily Bible Study

June 12, 2014 Bible Study — “Explain It To Me”

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 17:2-3

    The wise will gain wealth at the expense of those who act disgracefully, even if the former begin their lives in positions of subservience and the latter are children of privilege. In the same way that fire or extreme heat is used to purify silver and gold so will God purify our hearts. When we face difficult times, it is God seeking to purify us. Let His work proceed to clean and purify us so that we become clean and pure.

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Psalm 130:1-8

    Let us follow the psalmist’s example and cry out to God from the depths of our despair. No matter how desperate our situation may seem to us, God is ready and willing to listen to our cry. While our sins may overwhelm us, He is willing to forgive us. Let us put our hope in the Lord. Let us long for Him. God will redeem us from our sin, no matter how steeped in that sin we have become. All we need to do is cry out to Him and ask for His deliverance.

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Acts 8:14-40

    We have the continuation of the story of Simon the Sorcerer in today’s passage. When Peter and John came to Samaria from Jerusalem, they laid their hands upon people and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw the results, he offered Peter and John money for the ability to do the same thing. This tells us that when people received the Holy Spirit something very noteworthy took place. Something which a showman like Simon desired the ability to replicate. Peter rebuked Simon for thinking that he could purchase God’s gift. Simon accepted Peter’s rebuke and asked Peter to pray for him. I believe that Peter’s rebuke of Simon was justified. Simon wanted the ability to deliver the Holy Spirit in order to gain glory and prominence for himself. However, I also believe that Simon saw the benefits of people receiving the Holy Spirit and wanted to be able to help people by delivering the Holy Spirit to them. I believe that Simon’s repentance was sincere.
    Shortly after Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, Philip was led by the Spirit to travel south towards Gaza. On the road, he encountered the Ethiopian. The Ethiopian was reading from the prophet Isaiah. The Ethiopian did not understand what he was reading. Philip explained how the passage he was reading was a prophecy about Jesus. The Ethiopian was seeking God by reading Scripture, but he did not understand what he was reading. In the same way that the Spirit directed Philip to the Ethiopian the Spirit will direct us to those who are seeking. Let us be prepared to explain the Gospel, starting from where they are.

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1 Kings 9-10:29

    God accepted Solomon’s request. He agreed to set the Temple aside as Holy. He made it a place where His name would be honoured forever. The Temple is dear to God’s heart. While God is not limited to the physical location of the Temple and has chosen to act in this world through His Spirit living in the hearts of believers, He still maintains a presence in Jerusalem.

Daily Bible Study

December 11, 2013 Bible Study — Categories of Christian Groups (Part II)

     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.

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Amos 4-6:14

     Amos speaks of those who oppress the poor and crush the needy while living in the lap of luxury. They offer sacrifices to idols, then make offerings to the Lord. They brag about all of the various volunteer offerings they make to God, but do nothing to help those in need. God has brought trouble and misfortune upon them, but they refuse to turn to Him and follow His will. They twist justice, hating honest judges and despising those who tell the truth. They claim to desire to help the poor while at the same time trampling them and stealing their food with taxes and unfair rents. They oppress good people by taking bribes and prevent the poor from receiving justice in the courts. Because of all of this God is preparing to send His judgment upon them, but there is still time to turn to God by doing what is good and running from evil.
     I read this today and thought of our society. There are many today who proclaim all of the great things they are doing, yet if one looks closely one sees that all they are truly doing is satisfying their own desires at the expense of the poor and powerless. This passage is an indictment of many who claim to be Christian as well as others. Let us turn to God and seek justice for the poor. Rather than sacrifices for show, let us provide for those in need. God’s judgment will fall on those who continue to do evil.

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Revelation 2:18-3:6

     Today’s passage has the message to two more of the Churches, representing two more categories of Christian group. The next category is that of the Church in Thyatira. They have love and faith. They persevere in giving service. Not only have they maintained their love of the Lord and energy serving Him, they are doing even more than when they first believed. However, they tolerate teacher(s) who encourage sexual immorality and discrete worshiping of idols. Those who reject such teachings are commended and encouraged to hold onto what they have received. There is no secret teachings we need to learn, or hidden secrets of God to be revealed to us by special leaders. God’s Spirit is open and reveals God’s word to all who wish to see. Let us maintain our faith and reject those who seek “secret” knowledge and attempt to reveal to us things “never known” before.
     The fifth category of Christian group (or group of Christians is perhaps a better way to phrase it) is that of the Church in Sardis. This is a group that has a reputation for being active and alive, but is not truly so. They have lost their love for Christ and the life which comes from the Spirit. They are going on on past accomplishments. They once did the things which God desired, but now they think that they have done enough. They must repent and return to God, return to doing the things they had done to serve God in the past. Despite their lack of life and vibrancy in serving God there remain among them a few who still love and serve Him. Every time I read this passage I think of my congregation. I look back over its history and wonder if we are like the Church in Sardis. The congregation was founded as an outreach to the children in the community who had no other exposure to Christian teaching, yet now I see little in the way of ministry to children (other than to the children of those who regularly attend). I do not know that my perception is accurate, there are aspects of the congregation’s ministry with which I am unfamiliar.

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Psalm 130:1-8

     From the deepest depths of my despair I will cry to the Lord. I will wait for Him and put my hope in Him. My hope so placed will not be placed in vain. He will redeem me and save me from my troubles.

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Proverbs 29:21-22

     Those who are pampered in their youth will become insolent when asked to serve others. Those who cannot control their temper start fights and let their anger lead them into all kinds of sin. I will learn to control my temper and serve the Lord as He desires.

Daily Bible Study

June 12, 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.

1 Kings 9-10:29

     The passage tells us that the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as He had the first. The first time was in a dream, so I figure that this was probably in a dream as well. The Lord tells Solomon that He will establish the Temple as holy, that the site of the Temple will be honored forever. God goes on to tell Solomon that if the people of Israel worship other gods, He will uproot them from the land and make them an object of ridicule to the world.
     When Solomon finished both the Temple and his palace, he gave twenty towns to Hiram, king of Tyre. The passage says that Hiram called the area Solomon gave him worthless, but still paid Solomon in gold that would be worth over $204 million today. The passage then tells us about some of Solomon’s other accomplishments, including building a trading fleet that sailed into the Indian Ocean. It tells us that this fleet brought back gold that would be worth more than $816 million today.
     The passage then tells us that word of Solomon’s wisdom had spread so that the Queen of Sheba came to see him and challenge his wisdom. It is not clear from the text whether she came with her hard questions because she wanted to test whether he really was as wise as she had heard or if it was because she had questions to which she desired/needed answers. In either case, she was impressed by his wisdom and praises God because of it.
     The passage then goes on to describe Solomon’s wealth. It tells us that he received each year an amount of gold that would be worth over $1 billion today. It then tells us about his other wealth including a trading fleet that went on three year trading voyages and brought back large amounts of wealth and exotic goods. Finally the passage tells us about the sizable military force that he put together. All in all, this passage tells us that Solomon used his wisdom to make himself king over a sizable and wealthy trading empire.

Acts 8:14-40

     In yesterday’s passage we read how Philip preached and performed miracles in Samaria so that many came to believe. In particular the passage tells us that Simon the sorcerer came to believe and be baptized. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard about the many people coming to believe in Samaria they sent Peter and John. When they arrived, Peter and John prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. They then laid their hands on the people and they received the Holy Spirit. Something very extraordinary must have happened when Peter and John laid their hands on people because Simon the former sorcerer offered them money to give him the same power. Peter sternly rebuked him for thinking that the gift of God could be bought with money. Simon’s response is abject repentance and a request for the apostles’ prayer. There are two important pieces to this passage. The first is that when people receive the Holy Spirit it is an noteworthy event. The second is that the Holy Spirit and other gifts from God cannot be purchased. I think the failure of the Church in the U.S. to experience miracles and signs to a greater degree indicates a lack of full faith in God among to many of us. The New Testament account suggests to me that we should see signs and miracles all around Christians, yet we do not. I know that when I think about the fact that I believe that I should exhibit the power of the Holy Spirit through signs and wonders, it scares me. I am scared for two reasons. The first is, what if I call for a miracle and it doesn’t happen? The second is, to what degree will I be opened up for ridicule for believing such things are possible?
     After the Peter and John leave Samaria, the Spirit calls Philip to go down the road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza. When he gets there he sees a eunuch of consequence from Ethiopia returning to Ethiopia from Jerusalem. The eunuch was reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. When Philip approached him and heard what he was reading he asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch replied that he needed someone to explain it to him and invited Philip to ride with him and do so. Philip starts with the passage the eunuch was reading and preached the Good News about Jesus to him. After a while they came upon some water and the eunuch requested that Philip baptize him, which Philip did immediately. There are two things about this passage that I think are noteworthy. First, Philip starts preaching the Good News by answering the questions that the eunuch already has. Second, Philip baptizes the eunuch as soon as the eunuch recognizes his need for it and asks for it. There is an immediacy and urgency to the evangelism of the New testament, that I too often today do not share. We need to recapture the urgency that the early Church felt for evangelism.

Psalm 130:1-8

     The psalmist here tells us that we would have no hope if God kept a record of our sins. It is only through God’s forgiveness that we can survive. If we cry to the Lord and throw ourselves on His mercy, He will save us. He will forgive us and rescue us from our troubles. If we rest our hopes for our future in anything other than God we will suffer disappointment, but if we put our hopes in God they will be exceeded.

Proverbs 17:2-3

     Today’s proverb tells us that a servant who serves faithfully and with prudence will be rewarded. The second of the proverbs today tells us that just as the metal smith purifies silver and gold using fire, so will God test us. He will put us through trials that will feel like passing through fire in order to purify us and make us into something much more valuable. We should learn to praise God for the trials He puts us through because they are for our benefit to make us better and purer.