Tag Archives: Psalm 37

Daily Bible Study

February 19, 2014 Bible Study — What Type of Soil Am I?

     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, or more. 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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Proverbs 10:5

     Those who are wise work when it is time and do not take their leisure when there is work to be done.

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Psalm 37:12-29

     God will turn the weapons and plots of the wicked against them. I would rather be godly and poor than evil and rich. In due time the wicked will suffer for their evil, but God will care for those who trust in Him. I will allow God to direct my steps because if I do, He will not allow me to fall.

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Mark 3:31-4:25

     Every time I read the parable of the sower, I fear that I am represented by the soil which has thorns. All too often I allow the worries of this life, and my desire for material things, distract me from following God. I know people who are like the footpath and will not give the Gospel message a second thought. That is clearly not me. I, also, know people who are like the rocky soil, when they first heard the Gospel they were enthusiastic, but soon they were subject to scorn because of it and went on to other things. That is, also, not me. Finally, I know people who have produced a wonderful crop of righteousness. I look at my life and do not see a similar crop. I can, however, see those times when the concerns for this life kept me too busy to do the Lord’s work. Oh God, please weed my heart so that I can produce a crop of righteousness for You to put into Your storehouses!

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Leviticus 7:28-9:6

     The passage describes the ceremony which Aaron and his sons went through in order to be ordained priests. It was a seven-day affair. As I was reading this I thought about the effort the people of Israel put out in order to make themselves right with God. Do we work that hard? Is it important enough to us to make things right with God to put out that kind of effort? We don’t need to follow those rituals, thanks to the sacrifice of Christ. I will strive to put that much effort into serving God, not in order to be made right with Him, but because I have been made right with Him.

Daily Bible Study

February 18, 2014 Bible Study — Do Not Worry About the Wicked

     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, or more. 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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Proverbs 10:3-4

     God will provide for the needs of those who follow His commands, but He will not satisfy the cravings of those who seek only their own pleasure. Laziness leads to poverty, hard work to financial security.

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Psalm 37:1-11

     The psalmist reminds us not to worry because there are wicked people in this world and not to be envious of those who do wrong. Rather let us focus on trusting the Lord and doing what is good. It is not my place to worry about what others are doing. I need to commit to do what God desires that I do. If I commit all of my actions to serving the Lord, He will help me. I will not worry about the actions of the wicked, nor get angry because they are doing wrong. I will remain in the Lord’s presence and wait for Him to act. God will bring about the downfall of the wicked in His time. It is my job to do what is right, not to punish the wicked.

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Mark 3:7-30

     Large crowds followed Jesus from all over the region. Out of those crowds Jesus called those He wished to be His disciples and out of those disciples He appointed twelve to accompany Him. He would from time to time send those twelve out to preach, giving them power to heal and cast out demons. I struggle with the message of this passage. Out of the many who desired to follow Jesus He only chose some to accompany Him. Mark does not tell us what led Jesus to choose some over the rest. Mark does not even tell us what led Jesus to choose the twelve out of the rest who He chose to follow Him. The important thing to remember is that we have been chosen. Some of us have been chosen for one role and others for another. Let us fulfill the role which Christ has chosen for us.

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Leviticus 6-7:27

     God instructed Moses that when someone sinned by in some manner depriving another of what was rightfully theirs the person who sinned needs to make restitution. Once they have made restitution to the person they have sinned against they must come before God and offer a sacrifice to make themselves right with God once more. In order to be right with God, we need to at least make the attempt to make things right with those we have sinned against (to the degree which that is possible).

Daily Bible Study

August 22, 2013 Bible Study — Stop Assuming My( or His/Her) Guilt

     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.

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Job 4-7:21

     The first of Job’s friends. Eliphaz responded to what he said. Eliphaz said some things to which I think we should pay attention, but we need to keep in mind that in the end God calls on Eliphaz to request Job’s forgiveness. Eliphaz asked the rhetorical question:

‘Can a mortal be innocent before God?
Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’

The obvious answer being, “No.” A little further on Eliphaz tells us that evil and trouble do not come from nature, rather both are the products of human action. Eliphaz gives Job one more piece of advice that we would all do well to heed. He tells Job:
If I were you, I would go to God
and present my case to him.

This is certainly sound advice. When we face trouble, let us take our case before God. Admit our errors and repent of our mistakes, throwing ourselves upon His mercy and accepting the consequences which He lays upon us.
     Job responded to Eliphaz and told him that his words were not helpful. Job complained that Eliphaz assumed his guilt. This is to me the most important part of this passage. We should not assume someone else’s guilt in a particular situation. In any situation where we are challenging someone for sinning, we need to be able to tell them specifically what they have done wrong. If we cannot tell them specifically what they have done wrong, we should not assume that they have done wrong.

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1 Corinthians 14:18-40

     Paul continues his discussion on spiritual gifts by saying that while he talks in other languages more than any of his readers, he would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a language that no one present understands. He then says something that confuses me. First he says that speaking in other languages is a sign for unbelievers, not for believers and that prophesy is for believers, not for unbelievers. So far so good.
     However, next Paul tells us that if the Church is gathered and everyone is speaking in other languages, when someone seeking to learn about the Gospel, or an unbeliever, comes in to the meeting, they will think we are all crazy. On the other hand if the everyone at the meeting is prophesying, the seeker, or unbeliever, who comes in will be convicted that God is present among the believers by the words of God being spoken.
     Paul then addresses how this all applies in worship services. He says that the services should be orderly with only one person talking at a time. Only a few people should speak in other languages and then only if there is someone there to interpret. If there is no one there to interpret, they should speak silently to God in those other languages. He gives other examples of the way that the service should be orderly with only one person speaking at a time. He tells the Corinthians to remember that the word of God did not originate with them and that they are not the only ones who have heard it. As a result, they should acknowledge that what he is writing is God’s command.

***

     One thing Paul says in the section on orderly worship troubles me. He says that women should be silent during the service. He follows this up by saying that if they have a question, they should ask their husbands at home. That suggests that he is thinking that the only thing they would have to say are questions. Which would be consistent with the fact that at that time women were generally not given as much of an education as men. However, it occurs to me that there is an additional interpretation of what Paul is saying. Perhaps he is suggesting that a husband and wife should be sure to have the same understanding of spiritual matters. All in all, this is a passage that I am not sure what to do with, especially since there are other passages written by Paul that seem to take a different perspective on this. Perhaps this passage was only meant for the situation as it existed in Corinth? There are elements of the passage which suggest that (the focus on the fact that the word of God did not originate in Corinth).

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Psalm 37:30-40

     The godly offer good counsel and teach right from wrong. The wicked on the other hand wait in ambush for the godly, seeking an excuse to kill them. But God will not allow the wicked to succeed. Put your trust in God and you will see the wicked destroyed. It may seem like the wicked are prospering like a tree planted in good, well-watered soil, but no sooner will you think they are here to stay then they are gone to be found no more. Look rather at the honest and good, they have a wonderful future awaiting them. Live a righteous life and God will rescue you when trouble looms.

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Proverbs 21:27

     Sacrifices will not suffice to offset continued wicked behavior and those who think that they can bribe God will discover they are mistaken.

***

Daily Bible Study

August 21, 2013 Bible Study — The Lord Gives And the Lord Takes Away

     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.

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Job 1-3:26

     The book of Job begins by telling us that Job was a wealthy man with sons and daughters. He worshiped and feared God. We are told that one day Satan, the Accuser, came before God, along with all of the members of the heavenly courts. God asked him where he had been and he replied that he had been out patrolling the earth. God asked him if he had observed Job, a man of complete integrity who feared God? Satan replied that of course he feared God. God had made him wealthy and protected him. But if God took away everything he had he would curse God. God told Satan that he could test Job by taking all of his possessions, but was not allowed to harm him physically. >br?
     In quick succession, Job lost all of his possessions and his children died in a tragedy. This was Job’s response:

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”

When Satan went before God once more. God asked him if he had observed Job, who had maintained his integrity despite the fact that he had lost his possessions. Satan responded that of course he did, people will sacrifice much to save their life, but if God would but take away Job’s good health, Job would curse Him. God told Satan, “Go ahead, try it, but you may not take his life.”
     Job became very ill, unable to relieve his discomfort. His wife told him that things were so bad, he should just curse God and die. Job responded that he would accept the good and the bad from the hand of God. He refused to curse God and maintained his integrity. Three of Job’s friends heard of his suffering and came to visit him. They wordlessly expressed their grief at his suffering when they arrived and sat with him for a full week, making no effort during that time to ease his grief with empty words. After seven days Job finally spoke. He cursed the day he was born. He expressed the desire that he had never been born. If he had died upon birth, he would not be experiencing his current suffering. Yet, through all of that, he did not blame God.

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1 Corinthians 14:1-17

     Having just completed a lesson on what love is and its importance, Paul tells us that we should follow the way of love and desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. If the Spirit gives me the gift of speaking in a language other than that spoken by those around me, I can only speak to God in that language. On the other hand, if the Spirit gives me the gift of prophecy, I can strengthen, encourage, and comfort the people around me. While Paul would like if everyone could speak in other languages, he would rather that they prophecy. Someone who speaks in other languages is strengthened personally, but those who prophecy strengthen the whole congregation.
     Paul continues to expound on this point at some length. He sums it up by saying that when we pray in another language our spirit is praying, but our mind does not understand what is going on. Paul concludes that it is better to pray so that both the spirit and the mind can be enlightened. The Spirit should fill us and our spirits should worship God, but our minds should be involved as well. If we praise God in the spirit using unknown languages, how can those around us join in our praise, since they do not know who, what, or why we are praising. In addition, if we are praising God in unknown languages, how can those who have come to learn of the Gospel be drawn to it if they cannot understand what we are saying?

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     Do I seek spiritual gifts as I ought? Or am I afraid of them because that would mean I am called to something outside of my comfort zone? I will pray to God that He makes me receptive to His gifts and desirous of them; even desirous of being taken out of my comfort zone to fulfill His will.

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Psalm 37:12-29

     How appropriately today’s psalm follows the passage from 1 Corinthians. I finished up my thoughts on that by talking of my fear of standing out if I exhibit the gifts of the Spirit and the psalm begins with:

The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
…
The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.

Which certainly explains why I have that fear. However, the psalmist tells me why I should not fear the snarls of the wicked:
But their swords will stab their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

I will take heart from this psalm and pray to God to give me the gifts of the Spirit He desires me to have, and the courage to use them in His service. I will follow the psalmist’s advice. I will turn from evil and do good.

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Proverbs 21:25-26

     The lazy desire much, but are unwilling to work for any of it. Many people are greedy for everything they can get from others, while the godly are eager to give whatever they can.

Daily Bible Study

August 20, 2013 Bible Study — Love Never Fails

     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.

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Esther 8-10:3

     King Xerxes took Haman’s property and gave it to Queen Esther. In addition, he appointed Mordecai to the office that had been held by Haman. Then Esther approached the king in order to request that the plot to slaughter the Jews throughout the Empire be stopped. The king told Esther and Mordecai to send out an edict in his name to do just that, but to remember that any previous edict sealed with his seal cannot be revoked. Mordecai composed an edict authorizing the Jews in every city to band together to defend themselves and to attack their enemies on the same day that the the edict Haman had sent out was to take effect. When Mordecai’s edict was received in the cities of the Empire, the Jews rejoiced and many people converted to Judaism. When the day that the two edicts were to take effect, the officials of the Empire sided with the Jews because they were afraid of Mordecai, who was now the most powerful man in the Empire, after the king. After this had all transpired, Mordecai sent out a letter to all of the Jews in the Empire proposing that they celebrate an annual festival to commemorate this event. The Jews agreed to institute this celebration and celebrate their gaining relief from their enemies.

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1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13

     Paul continues his discussion of spiritual gifts by pointing out the different roles that different people have in the Church. He points out that some are called to be apostles, some are called to be prophets, some to be teachers, others to perform miracles, still others to heal the sick, and yet others to speak in other languages, but only some of us are called to do any one of these things. We are not all called to do all of these things. He then tells us that we should desire and request of God the greater gifts.
     Having just told us that we should desire and seek the greater gifts, Paul says that he will tell us the best way. He tells us that no matter how wonderful, and powerful the spiritual gifts which we demonstrate, if we do not have love, they are worthless. Paul then describes the characteristics of love. It is such a concise and comprehensive summation of love that I will just quote it here from the NIV:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

     Paul then continues by telling us that all of the spiritual gifts will cease at some point, that the time will come when there will be no more prophecies, there will be no more talking in various languages, when the knowledge we have now will not count as knowledge. It is like we are looking through fogged glass, we can sort of make out what is on the other side of the glass. But the day is coming when we will not be looking through fogged glass, then we will see God’s glory clearly and will not need the understanding we got by looking through the glass.
     Paul concludes this section by telling us that three things are eternal: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of those three is love.

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     The 13th chapter of First Corinthians is often used in weddings and in sermons about marriage. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, marriage is something which needs love in order to prosper. However, as a result we often miss two things about this passage. The first is that Paul is not talking about the love tied to our sexuality that is part of marriage (although the love that Paul is talking about is also part of a successful marriage). The second is that all of our actions are to be informed by love.
     I was going to talk further about how people misunderstand this passage, but that is not where I feel led to go. Rather, I want to point out that this chapter on love was written by the same man, in the same letter, as the passage about women covering their heads when they pray and prophesy. This was written by the same man who a few chapters earlier said that those who live their lives in sexual immorality and other sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. What does that tell us about confronting people over their sins? It tells us that if we love someone we will not gloss over the ways in which they are damaging themselves by not following God’s instructions for living. IF we love someone we will try to get them to do things that will lead to true happiness. The only path to true happiness is through following God’s commands.

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Psalm 37:1-11

     Today’s psalm gives us great advice that is hard to follow. It tells us not to worry about the wicked, nor to be envious of those who do wrong. In the long run everything they attempt will come to nothing. Do not get angry over the acts of the wicked. Letting your anger over evil control you will only lead to harm. The wicked will disappear and those who have trusted the Lord will possess all that the wicked thought was theirs.
     This is another one of those psalms that needs to be read. It goes so well with 1 Corinthians 13. The psalmist tells us to commit everything we do to the Lord. Paul told us to do everything in love. If we follow those two principles, we cannot go wrong. I will strive to commit everything I do to the Lord and to do it all in love.

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Proverbs 21:23-24

     And today’s proverb tells us something I can do that will go a long way towards fulfilling what I just said I would strive to do. If I learn to watch what I say and keep my mouth shut until I can say only that which is loving, I will have accomplished most of what I am striving to do. If I remember not to be proud and haughty, mocking those with whom I disagree, I will be even further.