Some people blame their parents for everything that is wrong in their lives and refuse to credit them for anything that has gone right. These people are sure that they are pure as new fallen snow, when in fact they are as corrupt and venal as anyone. They proudly proclaim how much they have overcome, sure that they are much better than their parents. The truth is that they use others for their own gain, no matter what the cost to those others. No one is truly good until they recognize the debt they owe to others, especially their parents, and take responsibility for their own sins.
This is a great psalm to meditate on. I will indeed thank God with all of my heart. I will praise Him in the presence of those who think that they are gods. God is greater than all others, but He cares for the humble and lowly. His plans for my life will come out exactly as He planned. I will praise His name and thank Him for what He has done every day of my life.
John describes how next he saw an angel with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land. This angel held a small scroll, which he gives to John. However, before he did that something interesting happened. The “seven thunders” spoke something in response to the angel’s shout. What is interesting about this is that John was told not to record what they said. Everything else which John witnessed in this vision he was encouraged to write down for us, but not this.
When John was given the scroll he was told to eat it. He was also told that when he ate it, it would be sweet in his mouth but sour in his stomach. John tells us that he did eat it and it was indeed sweet in his mouth, but sour in his stomach. John was then told that he must prophecy concerning many peoples, nations, and kings. This makes me think that the small scroll represents the word of God which He gives to some among us to speak to our fellow man. It is often sweet to us when we speak it, because there is a certain pleasure and self-satisfaction which comes from speaking God’s word to others. However, when we really digest what we have been given, we get a sense of our own short comings and failings which we did not have before.
The core of this passage is in the beginning of chapter 2 when the prophet calls the people to gather together in repentance. I think the message here is similar to the one contained in the small scroll in Revelation. It is a call for us to gather in repentance of our sins. The call goes out to humbly seek God and follow His commands, to live righteously and humbly. We are not called to identify what sins others are committing. We are called to identify the sins which we are committing and to repent of those sins.
For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I am starting to feel better and, God willing, should experience steady improvement to full recovery in a little over a week. I thank those of you have been praying for me.
A friend is always loyal, but that does not mean that they will not tell you when you are wrong. I have three brothers and I can attest that they have been a help to me at various points in my life. This proverb is a good reminder that, since I am a brother, part of my purpose on this earth is to be a help to my siblings in their time of need, whenever that might be.
This psalm reminds me to give thanks to God for the many wonderful things He has done for me. His promises are backed by the honor of His name. When I pray He answers me immediately (although it usually takes me quite a bit of time to hear). Whenever I face trouble too great for me to bear, He provides me either the strength to bear up, or relief from my trouble. God has been good to me all of my life. I thank Him and praise Him every day (although not nearly as much as He deserves).
I decided to start today’s reading from Acts a couple of verses earlier than where One Year Bible Online does because otherwise my first thoughts don’t make sense. It was after Saul’s confrontation with Elymas that Luke began referring to him as Paul. In addition, it was at this point that Luke began listing them as “Paul and Barnabas” rather than “Barnabas and Saul”. From this point forward, Paul is the primary focus of most of the activities of these two men. Something happened to Paul in his confrontation with Elymas which changed him.
To follow up on this change it is Paul who stands up when he and Barnabas are asked to address the synagogue. His sermon is very similar to the one Stephen gave before the Sanhedrin, which led to his killing. It is interesting that one of the differences from Stephen’s message is the reference to John the Baptist. This suggests that the Jews of Cyprus were familiar with John the Baptist and his teachings. As Paul wraps up his message he offers an indirect invitation to his listeners to accept Jesus, followed by a direct warning not to ignore the Gospel which he had just preached.
King Ahab has been at peace with the Arameans for three years when King Jehoshaphat of Judah paid him a visit. This suggests there is more to Ahab’s decision to go to war than just, “Hey, that town belongs to us. We should go to war to get it back.” It suggests that something which Jehoshaphat said encouraged Ahab to decide to go to war. That being said, I find it much more interesting that when Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to consult God before going to war, Ahab summoned 400 prophets (the same number as the prophets of Baal at Mt.Carmel). Instead of accepting the prophecies of the prophets Ahab produced when he asked to consult God, Jehoshaphat asks if there isn’t a prophet who can consult God for them. Jehoshaphat does not consider the prophets whom Ahab produced to be prophets of God, although Ahab does.
From time to time I read about historians and others who say that the pre-Exile Israelites were not monotheistic, that monotheism was a later development. Reading passages like this reminds me that while they are not wrong, they are also not correct. Ahab was not a monotheist, and he probably thought that he worshiped God. However, Ahab also worshiped other gods and appears to have considered Baal and God to be the same. However, Jehoshaphat did not consider Baal to be the same as God, and appears to have only worshiped God. He was somewhat tolerant of those who worshiped other gods (after all he married his son to Ahab’s daughter). This suggests to me that while there were many Israelites, and probably members of the tribe of Judah, who worshiped multiple gods and thought of God as the Supreme God over a pantheon, there were also those who recognized that God alone was divine and the gods others worshiped were mere idols.
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.
There are those who curse their parents rather than thank them. They think they are better than everyone else, but are actually more thoroughly steeped in sin than most. They look down on everyone else as beneath them. Yet God will reserve a special judgement for them, one they will not appreciate.
I may not understand the answer, but God always answers my prayers.
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.
How different that is than how we tend to behave! All too often we think that ignoring the humble is a sign of greatness. When, in fact, it is caring for and spending time with the humble that is the true sign of greatness.
I am not sure what this passage is about. John describes a scene where he hears something which he is told to keep secret, or seal up. This is reminiscent of the same passage in Daniel that the scroll with seven seals imagery brings to mind. John ends this passage with imagery that brings to mind Ezekiel 3 when he describes being told to take and eat a scroll. Just as in Ezekiel the scroll was sweet in his mouth. I believe both of these connections are intentional. While I do not believe that Daniel or Ezekiel were prophesying about the same things as John is here, I do believe that Revelation is continuing the prophesies of Daniel and Ezekiel.
The prophet proclaims that God is about wipe out everything on the earth. He tells us that this is going to happen because of religious leaders who claim to follow the Lord, but also worship nature and Molech (a god whose worship involved sacrifice of children, which always reminds me of abortion). Further, he condemns those who once sought God’s blessing and guidance but now rely on other sources of guidance. On the day of God’s judgement our wealth will not save us, not even if we have as much wealth as Bill Gates.
Yet there is still time. If we act now to seek the Lord and follow His commands, He will protect us. God’s day of judgement is coming, but if we seek to do what is right and live humbly He may spare us.
A friend loves when times are good and when times are bad. If you count yourself someone’s friend you will not stop loving them no matter what they do. We were born to help our family members when they face hard times.
I will give thanks to God with all my heart. When I read verse 3, I thought of a friend of mine who recently experienced a tragedy in her life. She recently posted a poem on Facebook which contained the line:
I have unanswered prayers
It also contained the lines:
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands
Yet the psalmist tells us:
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.
How can these two sentiments both describe how we relate to God? The answer to that question is that God does indeed answer us as soon as we pray. However, we do not always see or understand His answer to our prayers. No matter how bad the troubles which surround us, God will protect us. He will reach out His hand and deliver us. I will give thanks to God, even when tragedy strikes.
Paul and Barnabas went to a Jewish worship service where they were asked to offer any words of encouragement they might have for the people there. Paul got up to speak. He recounted the story of God’s actions with the Israelites. Then Paul told them of how the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled with Jesus’ coming, death, and resurrection. He finished his sermon with a warning that applies to us as well. Let us be careful that we are not mockers who refuse to believe what God is doing in the world around us.
When Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to join him in battle, Jehoshaphat readily agreed. But he wanted to first ask for God’s counsel. Ahab responded by doing what many today do (and what many say was the view of most of that time). He called on his 400 prophets. The passage does not say so, but the similarity with the number of prophets of Baal which Elijah confronted at Mt Carmel seems striking. Ahab acted as if he believed, and perhaps he did, that Baal and God were the same. Jehoshaphat was having none of this. He asked once more for a prophet of God.
Ahab admitted that there was indeed a prophet of the Lord. However, Ahab did not want to speak to him, because he never told him what he wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat chided Ahab on his attitude. It is important for a leader to hear the thoughts and opinions of those who disagree with him.
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.
Zephaniah declares that the day of judgment is coming, when God will punish those who follow pagan customs. Those who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit will suffer God’s judgment. There are those who are complacent in their sins, sure that God will not act. The day of the Lord’s judgment will be a day of distress and anguish. You will not be saved by your wealth or political connections from ruin and desolation on the day of God’s judgment. The only hope on that day will be for those who repent now and humbly turn to the Lord, following His commands and doing what is right. There is still time, but it is running short. The proud and arrogant will receive God’s punishment. Only those who are lowly and humble, those who trust solely in the Lord, will be saved on the day of the Lord’s judgment. Oh Lord, I strive to be lowly and humble, relying solely on You for my salvation.
During the period between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpet an angel came down to the earth with a scroll, one that is smaller than the one with the seven seals. The angel gave a great shout and seven thunders replied. Once more we have an event that stymies those who wish to tie this prophecy to specific events, because John was instructed to not record what the seven thunders said. Once this had happened the angel declared that when the seventh trumpet is sounded God’s plan would be fulfilled. The angel then handed the small scroll to John and instructed him to eat it. John was told that the scroll would be sweet in his mouth but would turn his stomach once he had eaten it. John ate the scroll and it was as he had been told.
This passage is in part a reference to Ezekiel 3:3, where Ezekiel was also given a scroll to eat which was sweet in his mouth. However, it is also a recognition that while it is sweet to be given the task of speaking God’s word, as both John and Ezekiel were, some of the things which God gives us to say can be unpleasant to say (both for us and for our listeners). When God gives us a word to speak, we need to internalize it and let ourselves be changed by it. That change is often unpleasant, even though it makes us better people, people we would rather be than who we were before the change.
I will give praise to God, He answers my prayers, He provides for my needs. When I pray, He immediately encourages me and gives me the strength to wait for as He works out His plans for my life. I will trust in the Lord for His word is backed by the honour of His name.
There are those who curse their parents, giving them no thanks for all they have done for them. They are sure that they have done no wrong, even as they torture and murder the poor and needy. Let me not be one of them. Let me recognize what my parents have done for me and acknowledge when my faults contribute to estrangement from those I should love.
I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for over 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.
For three years there was peace between Aram and Israel. Then in the third year, King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit King Ahab of Israel. While Jehoshaphat was there Ahab decided to attempt to recover a city which Aram had taken from Israel. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to go with him in battle. Jehoshaphat said that he would be glad to assist, but that they should find out what God had to say first. So Ahab summoned 400 prophets and asked them if he should go to war or refrain. They all replied that the Lord said he should go.
Then we read something interesting. After hearing what the 400 prophets whom Ahab had summoned had to say, Jehoshaphat asks, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.” The passage does not tell us, but it appears that perhaps these prophets whom Ahab had summoned were prophets of Baal. What we know of Baal worship suggests that Baal worshipers did not make a distinction between Baal and God. Ahab responds that there is a prophet of the sort that Jehoshaphat is looking for, but Ahab hates him because he never tells Ahab what he wants to hear. Jehoshaphat tells Ahab that a king should not talk that way and asks to hear this prophet.
Ahab did as Jehoshaphat asked and summoned Micaiah, the prophet of God. When Ahab’s messengers found Micaiah they warned him that the other prophets had all prophesied victory and that he should do the same. When Micaiah arrived before Ahab he initially told Ahab that he should attack and God would give victory into his hands. There was something about the way Micaiah said this that told Ahab that he was not being truthful and Ahab demanded that Micaiah tell him what God had truly said. Micaiah replied that he had seen Israel scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Micaiah went on to say that God had sent a spirit to mislead Ahab’s prophets in order to entice Ahab into battle so that he could be killed. Ahab ordered Micaiah arrested and held on bread and water until he returned safely from battle. Micaiah responded that if Ahab returned safely from battle, God had not spoken through him.
Despite the prophecy of Micaiah, Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to war as planned. However, in an attempt to avoid the fate prophesied for him, Ahab convinced Jehoshaphat to go into battle in full royal regalia while Ahab disguised himself as a common soldier. The king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders to attack only the king of Israel. As a result when the battle began they went after Jehoshaphat. However, when Jehoshaphat cried out (whether to give an order or in fear we do not know) they realized that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him. While this was going on, an Aramean archer randomly shot at the Israelite troops and hit Ahab. Ahab realized he was seriously wounded and had his chariot driver get him out of the battle. Ahab remained propped up in his chariot for the rest of the day until evening when he died. At that word spread through his army to retreat and they did so. So for all of Ahab’s deception he was unable to avoid the end which God had prophesied for him.
Paul and Barnabas had left Cyprus and traveled to Antioch of Pisidia. They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, where they were invited to speak. At this invitation, Paul stood up and began speaking. He addressed both the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles who were listening to him. Paul gave a synopsis of Jewish history to David, who he referred to as a man after God’s own heart. He then told them that Jesus was a descendant of David and God’s promised savior of Israel. Paul told them about John the Baptist’s ministry and his statement that he was not the Messiah, but that the Messiah was coming soon.
Paul then reiterated that the message of salvation that he was bringing was for both the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles. Paul told them that the leaders of the people in Jerusalem did not recognize Jesus as the prophets had prophesied about. Instead they condemned Him and had Him crucified. However, God raised Jesus from the dead and, over a period of many days He appeared to those who had been His disciples. Those disciples were now His witnesses to the people of Israel. Paul told them that the Gospel message was that through Jesus everyone can have forgiveness of sins. He concluded by warning them not to be scoffers who wondered at God’s power and perished because they refused to believe.
Once again today’s psalm is a psalm which lifts my spirit. It is a short psalm, so I will encourage you to read it for yourself. However, I will pull out a few bits that spoke to me as I read them:
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will sing your praises before the gods.
I will praise God with all of my heart. I will praise God more than anything else which I might be inclined to praise.
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.
God does answer prayers. When I don’t hear His answers it is usually because they are not answers that I want to hear. Nevertheless, He encourages me by giving me the strength to face my trials. The psalmist reminds us that for all of His greatness, God prefers the company of the humble to that of the proud. I took the title of today’s blog from the NIV:
The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever
Yet, in many ways I prefer the New Living Translation:
The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
God has plans for my life and those plans will come to fruition. God’s plans are formed out of His love for me, so I can be sure that they will bring me joy.
Azalea in bloom
If you are someone’s friend, you will always be loyal to them and if you are someone’s brother (or sister), you were born to give them aid when they are in need. This does not mean that you will not see when your friend is wrong. It means that you will always encourage them to do what will be best for them, and it is always best to do what is right.
You should only guarantee the debt of someone for whom you are willing to pay it if they fail to do so.
