Well Planned

Jeremiah 4:22 (KJV) For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

Most of us know in a general sense the difference between right and wrong.  We know good from evil.  So does the rest of the world, even if they don’t agree with us on all of the fine details.  What is frustrating is that people tend to choose to go the way of wrong and evil.  Not only is it a deliberate choice, but it is a choice that involves conscious effort.

That comes through in this verse.  These are the children of Israel.  They may not know every detail of the law, but they have a general idea of how their lives should be lived.  Instead of putting the effort into finding ways to honor God, they invest the strength they have into finding ways around Him.  The KJV says they are wise, the NASB says, shrewd.  In many ways, these are positive qualities yet not when used to pursue evil.

So?  You only have so much time and so much energy.  You have a mind God has given you and an understanding and education with which to use that in mind.  Use it for God’s glory, not to fight Him.  

Brainstorming

Proverbs 29:11 (KJV) A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Modern business models at one point had a technique called brainstorming.  I believe you would sit around and just say anything that came to mind.  There was no criticism.  There was no limitation.  There was no penalty for anything you said.  At least that was the theory.  I’m not sure it worked that well in real life.  One reason it didn’t work very well is people are really afraid to express their thoughts because they knew what their superiors wanted and as low level employees they weren’t about to risk their necks by being honest.

Psychology has similar ideas about sharing your inner feelings and opening up who you are and what you really want to say.  I’ve never been to any in-depth psychological counseling, but I picture people sitting around and sharing your thoughts.  Remember the Bob Newhart show and how he would have a group of crazies sitting in a circle and sharing.  This is just another one of those ideas of modern psychology that go against what God seems to really want.

So?  I’m sure there’s a time for sharing thoughts but the point here is that you should spend a bit of time meditating and clarifying you’re thinking before you just blurt things out.  It goes along with the idea of being quick to listen and slow to speak.  

Legal Revival

Psalms 119:159 (KJV) Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

(Proverbs 28 also read)

This whole section of Psalm 119 reflects the relationship between loving the law and God reaching out and restoring us.  It’s a constant conflict, especially for those of us who have been raised in the reformation ideas of grace and faith.  But notice here what happens in this verse.

First of all, the Psalmist writes about how he loves God’s law.  Here the synonym is “precepts”.  From there he asked God to “quicken” him.  I think a good way to think of this is that phrase that we often use “the quick and the dead”.  It means those who are alive and so here the Psalmist is calling upon God to make him alive.

The second point here is that he doesn’t say quicken me according to the law but according to God’s loving kindness.  This is that awesome Hebrew word chesed.  It speaks of mercy forgiveness and, yes, Grace.

So?  In the Old Testament you see the balance between the word of God and His standards and the love of God and His willingness to forgive.  I find that a great balance from my own life.  

Faint Praise

Proverbs 27:2 (KJV) Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

What do you do if no one ever praises you?  Most of us would admit that is a bit of an exaggeration, even though it often feels that way.  Very few people never get any praise.  The praise may not be sincere, it may not be deserved, but it still shows up somewhere in your life.  I remember in summer camp.  One of the boys was pinning over a young damsel, and we were giving him ideas about how to praise her.  My contribution was that he should tell her, “I like the way you hold your fork.”  I didn’t think it would work then and it probably wouldn’t work now, but it was my contribution.  You can see why people didn’t ask me for advice in the area of romance.

What if it doesn’t seem like anybody is praising you.  That could be for a very good reason, you don’t broadcast the wonderful things you do.  When it comes time to contribute to a special need at the church, you may slip your gift in quietly while others will make a show of it.  You may be the one who comes in in the middle of the week and scrubs the toilets and no one ever thinks about it.  It could also be because you never do anything worth praising. That is something to think about.

So?  Christian humility is a real thing.  It’s a matter of having a lack of pride and arrogance.  It’s a matter of putting others before yourself.  It’s a matter of turning the other cheek and going the extra mile.  Sometimes faint praise is the best kind of praise.  

Defensive Strategies

Psalms 140:5 (KJV) The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

How does God protect us from those who mean us evil?  Think of the words of the 23rd Psalm, “but deliver us from evil”.  There it could be interpreted as the evil one.  Either way, we are surrounded by forces that would drag us down.  Some are just the natural results of a creation that has been polluted by sin, and others are simply demonic.

Here we have a couple of suggestions.  It doesn’t come through very well in the KJV, but there are a couple of thoughts here.  First of all the idea that maybe God can guide us down paths where they won’t be waiting for us.  Very possible.  The weak spot in this is our reluctance to listen and pay attention.  Just think of all the problems we could miss with a little bit more wisdom in our decisions.

Another idea here is that God would somehow shield us from their traps.  That is the word “gins” in the KJV.  In the old English “gins” meant engines or elaborate schemes.  Maybe you could think of it as God transforming us into greased pigs.  I don’t know if you’ve ever seen that activity where a bunch of kids will chase a greased pig.  Greasy pigs are very hard to get a hold of.  So are people that are covered by the blanket of the Holy Spirit.

So?  David’s prayer should be yours, that God would shelter you and shield you from all of the evil gins of Satan and his minions.  

How Do You Know?

Proverbs 25:19 (KJV) Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

The question that is hard to answer here, to me anyway, is “How do you know someone is unfaithful?  Is there a standard test?”  I don’t think so.  Like so many other areas of a walk in faith, it requires discernment, reason, and willingness to look at truth as opposed to fantasy. 

And unfaithful man on one level is simply someone who’s not a believer, I guess.  It’s a person who has no faith.  I think that it goes beyond that.  There are times when we will have to rely on people who are not believers and we still need to make discerning decisions.  These are hard opinions to reach because they require us to do a bit of judging and evaluating.

Keep in mind that we don’t make up the rules.  If someone is a murderer, he is not a murderer because we decide he is but because God has called him that.  God is the one who decides what is right and what is wrong and if all we are doing is correctly applying those labels.  Weare not judging but simply responding with discernment.

So?  When you are evaluating whether someone is faithful or not, one of the ways in which you can make that judgment is on whether they follow the law of God.  Are they basically moral?  Can they be trusted when no one is watching?  Hard questions, but then life is not easy.  

Be Careful

Proverbs 24:17 (KJV) Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

As I write, we are digesting the knowledge that Joe Biden has cancer and is not long to be on this earth.  Many people have responded with traditional messages of condolence.  Others have been less dignified.  How should we respond to something like this?

There is no question to anyone has been paying attention that Joe Biden has been an evil force in our country.  He has been an enemy to Christianity and to the republic.  At the same time there is a very stern admonition here about how we are to respond when someone who is clearly an enemy falls.  Read it and weep if you must.  You must also not gloat and his misfortune.

This does not mean that we do not seek justice or enforce the law.  This is about our attitude as believers.  We are not of the world.  We are to be different.

So?  Be different.  If nothing else, pray that this last awakening call to Joe Biden before he goes into eternity will bring him to repentance.  

Landmarks

Proverbs 23:10 (KJV) Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

Before I spiritualize this and make an application, take a moment to consider what has gone before.  When Israel came into the promised land, it was divided up by tribes.  Within the tribes, it was divided up again and you ended up with people who were given land that was supposed to be theirs forever.  I believe the concept was that you could not sell it permanently, that, for instance, in the year of jubilee it would return to its original owners.

So the old landmarks were significant in saying who each family was, and how they fit into the nation of Israel.  They were not taken lightly.  They weren’t just some marks on the ground.  They were significant fixtures meant to be permanent.  They were the place which you begin to measure other things from.

Now let’s spiritualize just a little bit.  We have certain landmarks that are supposed to be permanent in our lives.  These are the rocks of truth that God gives us in His word.  They are not to be discarded or changed.  They are the starting point of everything else.

It’s easy to mistake landmarks with cultural points of reference.  In worship some people think that the hymns are the only spiritual music.  I confess I come close to that, but I don’t think I’m quite that closed minded.  But we have a scripture reference to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  It covers a lot of ground.

So?  Make sure that the basis of your decisions and your values are rooted in scripture not in culture.  Culture changes.  Traditions change.  Truth is a landmark that does not vary.  

Ouch!

Proverbs 22:10 (KJV) Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

At our Wednesday night service I spoke up when I heard some things that didn’t add up.  It became clear to me that the pastor had not done his homework.  It could’ve just been the fact that he’s been sick lately and his mind isn’t clear yet.  Either way what he said did not make sense.  All you had to do was a little digging yourself and you didn’t need any commentaries or any charts or graphs.  Things were clearly presented in scripture.

That itself is not the issue.  What I ask myself when I read verses like this is, “Should I just sit and be quiet when nonsense is spoken?”  I don’t really have an answer because I am wrong often enough that I can’t get too arrogant.  Would it be best if I “cast” (1644) myself out as a skeptic?  Would that really help the body to grow stronger?

So?  Someone once said if people are talking about the crazy member of the family and you don’t know anybody in your family that fits that bill then it’s possible that you are the crazy member of the family.  Apply that to scorners.  Self examination is very valuable.  

Assumptions

Proverbs 21:12 (KJV) The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

Proverbs 21:12 (NKJV) The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their  wickedness.

Look at these two translations.  If you are even semi-serious about your Bible study, you recognize the use of italics in the tradition of the KJV, and the NASB.  It indicates that the word in italics is not in the original language.  It’s interesting to me the difference in translation between these two versions of the King James.  In both cases, the keyword is in italics.  The change in how they interpret it makes a difference in how the verse is understood.  This difference is reflected in different translations.

I think the idea that God is the one who is righteous and who examines the house of the wicked is much more appropriate than putting a man in there.  This reminds us that God is not blind, and that He does not ignore evil.

So?  You are not going to overthrow the wicked next door.  Ultimately, that is God’s responsibility and if you have read Romans 13, He is giving the government the responsibility to bear the sword to punish evil.  So relax.  Let God be God.  You can count on that even if you can’t count on the government doing its job.  

Rewards

Proverbs 20:7 (KJV) The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Children and grandchildren are generally a joy.  For most people they are the greatest joy when they’re still in the diaper stage before they walk.  That is because they still seem to be innocent and their self-centeredness is disguised by their cuteness.  People sitting behind young parents will make faces at the babies as they look over your shoulder.  It’s a grand time.

But remember what Peter, Paul, and Mary sang, “A dragon lives forever but not so little boys.”  These wonderful “innocent” children grow up and begin to display a lot of characteristics that are not so wonderful . We still enjoy them.  We still think they are the best thing since sliced bread.

Eventually they grow up and start out on their own.  It is at that point that you begin to find out what kind of investment you’ve made.  What Solomon is saying here is that you don’t know until your children grow up what kind of an example you set for them.  I speak from my position of joy.  My father raised four boys.  They were all credit to him, family, and God.  My brother just died and I can say the same thing about his four children.  Their lives were lived in such a way that they invested in the next generation.

So?  If you have no children, then your contribution may be that of an uncle or a godfather, but you still have a contribution.  If you are a young parent, consider these words carefully.  If you’re an older parent, keep in mind that you continue to have input.  May God bless you and your children.  

Family Ties

Proverbs 19:26 (KJV) He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Recently, I visited my uncle.  He’s 93 and has made a decision to move from his two bedroom duplex into assisted-living.  It’s his decision.  He made it on his own.  He had some good reasons for doing so.  In the midst of this decision, I think there is an awareness as if it were necessary his children would find ways to take care of him.

This verse should remind us of a principle that God is established for the family.  When the children are young, adults take care of them.  The adults do a good job.  Then the children become independent and stand on their own two feet.  When the parents get too old to care for themselves the biblical standard is that the children will make sure that they are taken care of.  How that would work out and each individual family I don’t know.  We joke about if I were left penniless and no place to go, my son has a spare bedroom.  To his credit and my sense of satisfaction, he nods his head and says, “Sure.”

In many families, the animosity created by the parents, or the children would make this impossible.  In some families the elderly are so irascible that no one would have them.  To be honest many have earned that rejection.  It’s sad the way family breaks down, but there still is a biblical principle here.

So?  We never had to take our parents in, but we always made sure that they had a place to live and they were taken care of.  I trust that God will honor us in the same way with our children.  It’s a standard that needs to be reinforced. 

Be of Good Cheer

Proverbs 18:14 (KJV) The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

I think this verse stood out to me this morning as I was coughing and spitting and blowing, and all the other things that go along with one of these long-term congestions.  In spite of that, my spirits are high, because I know the Creator.  I know He put within me a system to fight disease and to attack invaders in my body.  That doesn’t make me cough less, but it certainly assures me that things are in good hands.

My ailments are minor in the scheme of things.  What is probably more encouraging than my knowledge that God is in charge is the spirit I’ve seen in others who are suffering from things that I would consider to be really serious.  All around me I see people who are going through possibly the last major illness they have, and they still exhibit a trust in the Lord.  Their joy at times may be a bit down, but the Joy is still there.

So?  Whether it is your own inner assurance, or the outer assurance radiating from other believers, it is good to know that we are sustained by the spirit of “God is with us”.  

Laying the Groundwork

Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

There are a number of important issues that are addressed in this verse.  One is the issue of abortion.  When does life begin?  When are you killing a human child as opposed to what some like to call a lump of tissue?  I think some of that is pretty obvious here and it’s not what I want to address today anyway.

What strikes me here is the call of God on a life.  I am a big proponent of free will.  I believe that being created in the image of God makes us different than the animals and gives us the ability to make moral decisions.  The most important decision, of course, is whether we are going to trust in Jesus, or not.  It goes beyond that.  Here it is the question of what kind of precision God uses in molding some people in their personalities and attitudes.

Noticed that God says He is forming Jeremiah and that even before that He knew him.  He also says that He has ordained him as a prophet.  Does this mean Jeremiah had no choice in responding to God’s call?  Some would say so, but I don’t think so.  The issue is that God created in his heart not only the ability to be a prophet, but a desire to do God’s will.

I don’t think that God gets this detailed in everybody’s lives, but I do believe that there are some cases where He muddies the water to His advantage.

So?  Are you going to feel sorry for yourself that God has chosen you for a special role in life and has given you the abilities and gift to perform that?  Or are you just going to rejoice in the fact that God took the time to mold you into being something that He could clarify himself with. Your choice. 

So King Me

Proverbs 16:10 (KJV) A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

This verse begins a short segment that repeatedly refers to the king.  Being born in America, with a long history of challenging kings going back through England, we tend to think that kings are evil horses.  The Bible assumes that monarchy is the natural way things should be done.  Go ahead and look for the words, democracy or “federal republic” in the Bible.  In this case, I won’t bother to wait because I know they’re not there.

Does that make representative government evil?  No.  But it does remind us that the thing that makes America great and a country blessed by God is not the fact that we have elections instead of a king.  The difference is in the moral standards and principles behind the common culture of the country.  Unfortunately we seem to be abandoning those foundations even while we still have elections.

So?  We need to be more concerned about the moral fiber of our country than about cheating and elections.  If the moral fiber is strong the cheating is minimal.  If the moral fiber is decayed it won’t matter the way it’s done.  God is more concerned about the moral fiber.  How about you?  

A Case for Both/And

Proverbs 15:10 (KJV) Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

At first, I compared this in the KJV to the NKJV.  I saw a clear difference in how it was translated.  As I compare different translations, I saw two ways in which this was viewed.  The first was that for the person who forsakes the way of God correction will be hard to take and severe.  The other is that the person who forsakes of God will not respond well to discipline.

I am guessing that the different translations are more in the attitude of the translator them in the clarity of the text.  After a brief moment of trying to figure out which might be better I realize that this is a case where the Holy Spirit has caused the Bible to be translated in different ways, not showing that we would say either/or, but that we would say both/and.

Notice this is not just condemning the person who makes a mistake or gets a little casual.  This is the person who turns his back and walks away from God.  God is not amused.  Even more than that God realizes this person needs to be smacked hard if they’re going to be brought to the awareness of their need for repentance.

So?  Obviously, the first and most important thing is to be obedient and to serve God with all your heart mind, soul and strength.  I think it would be that if you ever do get smacked down to examine your life and find out if there is a growing belligerence or insensitivity, and you are directing your feet outside of his direction.  Grow in grace.  

Redefining

Proverbs 14:15 (NKJV) The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

I make a point of regularly pointing out the difference between a skeptic and a cynic.  Perhaps here is a better word to describe the role of the skeptic.  Skeptics do not deny truth they just ask for proof.

Maybe it would be better to consider myself prudent, rather than skeptical.  It sounds more noble for one thing, but it means much the same.  There is truth.  Biblical truth is relatively easy to find.  Political truth and current events truth is almost impossible.  That is why we need to start with the Bible and then move on with a smell test to see what the world tells us.

So?  Accept that there is truth to be found, and that God will help you find it but like many things in life if you don’t go looking, it will remain buried. 

The Payoff

Proverbs 13:22 (KJV) A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

I generally tend to start with financial issues when talking about inheritance.  I think that’s the general understanding of this verse, however it goes much further than that.  I just came from a week with my brothers family as we prepared for his funeral.  It was one glorious time.  I feel I know him better now than I did when he was alive because I was able to look into the hearts and minds of his children.  Even better, I was able to interact with his grandchildren, his children’s children, as it says in this verse.

What a delightful bunch of kids.  What a joy to be around.  What an inheritance.  I know that my brother faced the end in peace and assurance.  Much of that was based on his personal faith with the Lord.  In addition, there was the evidence that not only were his children on the right path but his grandchildren are following up.

So?  Are you making good investments?  The most important ones will not be found online as you review your portfolio.  Stop on the way by a bedroom.  Look in.  See the young souls being molded.  Rejoice. 

Root Resources

Proverbs 12:12 (KJV) The wicked desireth the net of evil I men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

One of the differences that I see in comparing the wicked and the righteous is the source of what they are looking for.  One looks inward and one looks outward.

The wicked is looking at what other people are bringing in and is hoping that he can gain from what he sees.  Here he seems to focus on those that are called evil.  I don’t know if you would call this birds of a feather or nuts falling from the tree.  Either way the resources available are destructive.

On the other hand at this point, at least, the righteous are going down to their roots.  We are looking inside.  I would have to conclude that we are talking about the way in which the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit living within us and having that fountain of living water.

So?  Which will it be?  Will you look at the lower level inputs around you or will you stick to the voice of God that is speaking to you from your heart.  And of course I would assume that you have been feeding that inner voice by a regular diet of His word. 

Still Creating

Psalms 139:14 (KJV) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

In this Psalm David is talking about how God individually molded who he was going to be.  You can look at the previous verse for more insight into that.  What struck me with this is one of the attributes of God, or what I consider His attribute, is being creative.  We, except in the beginning of the Bible where it tells us God created the heavens and the Earth, leave that behind.  Many sometimes think that He went on vacation after that.  We accuse the Deists of thinking this way.  In reality, I think many of us believe it’s kind of like a hands-off God.

Not so fast.  While it’s possible, the God of the extremes of the universe is still creating new galaxies and whatever else He has up there, here in our hometown we forget to apply that.  We know He is busy if we just pause think about how each human being is created in the womb, unique, one of a kind, in the image of God.

What I believe that means is that when we are conceived, we are given all of the attributes we need in order to live a holy and righteous life.  We are given everything we need in order to follow where God wants to go.  We have moral choice.  This is where it gets to a level that is beyond me.  How can that first fertilized egg have the ability to make moral choices?  I don’t have a clue.  But I know that God made that individual with the ability to achieve eternity with Him.

So?  What are you doing with your uniqueness?  Are you using it for the glory of God or just to have a rich life now? 

No Verses

Romans 1:9 (KJV) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Romans 1:9 (NASB95) For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you,

(Proverbs 10 also read)

Take a moment to look at this verse in both translations.  You may notice that the KJV talks about making mention of them in their prayers but you don’t see that in the NASB.  This is one of those cases where you need to be reminded that the original manuscripts did not have the divisions in verses and chapters.  It was one continuous manuscript and later translators made the divisions.

If you have your Bible in front of you, you’ll notice that the phrase about prayer is included in the NASB, but in the next verse.  The translators had to make a decision whether they were going to make this a part of the previous verse or the start of the next verse.

Again, I think this is one of those cases where we don’t have to make a decision of either/or but the Holy Spirit is directing us to both/and.

So?  Look for things that you think might be discrepancies, put on your thinking cap, open your mind to the leader ship of the Spirit, and grow in grace and wisdom.

Cross Culture

Jeremiah 2:13 (KJV) For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

In this chapter, Jeremiah goes into a long recounting of the unfaithfulness of the nation of Israel.  He goes all the way back to Egypt.  He points out that once again after all this time they are going to trust in Egypt instead of their God.  There’s a lot of creative writing, figures of speech, historical references, and so forth.

But here’s a verse that should stand out in your mind if it doesn’t sound familiar already.  We have often strayed away.  This is something that is not just a problem for Israel.  It is a problem for everyone.  We substitute an artificial construction for the living God.  Building a cistern is not a bad idea if the source of water is unreliable.  That’s not the picture here.  What we have is a picture of a very dependable source of water, which has never failed.  And they decide to build a cistern.

And it’s a crummy cistern.  It leaks.  I can just see the mold crawling across the bottom.  It probably has green scum everywhere.  That would be bad enough but it seems that instead of using the living water on a daily basis, they use the cistern.

So?  What are you relying on for your hope for tomorrow?  What is it that feeds you on a regular basis?  God has provided His word.  We have access to worship. We can spend time meditating and worshiping Him.  But instead we go to self-help books, psychology, sociology and anything else that appeals to us.  This is a reminder to keep our focus on trusting him. 

Are You Following Me?

Psalms 139:8 (KJV) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

(Proverbs 8 also read)

The mosquitoes have decided that I was worth sucking blood from.  The sun was up and the warm air was starting to stir and make things uncomfortable.  I decided it was time to go in.  In the spirit of frivolity, I bid the Lord adieu and start it toward the door.  Rabbit trails can strike at any moment.

As I was moving toward the door, it occurred to me that even though I went inside the house, I did not mean that God was going to stay out on the porch.  He’s already seen the sunrise, knew every color that would be exhibited.  He didn’t have to worry about the mosquitoes.  And He wasn’t going to stay out there and let me think that I got off on my own.  God accompany me as I went through the door and back to my room to change my environment.

That is a lighthearted way of reminding me, and, possibly you, God is with us wherever we go.  We can’t get away from Him.  Of course, that brings up the question of, why would we want to?

So?  Rejoice in the awesome presence of Almighty God.  And keep in mind that, although the Bible doesn’t use the word, we look at God as being omnipresent. 

Trust

Proverbs 7:19 (KJV) For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

When I read something like this, I wonder why it is that people marry people they can’t trust.  It is beyond my comprehension that my wife would be cheating on me while I’m out of town.  I certainly hope she has that same feeling toward me.

And yet you hear about this kind of thing all the time.  I often wonder how common it really is.  When I was teaching, we used to have a group of young hotshots, who love to brag about their conquests.  I didn’t grill them, but I know human nature and I know young macho males.  Just because they wanted it to be true doesn’t mean it was.  Just because you hear something doesn’t mean it’s true.  Consider it an old form of fake news.

In my family and my immediate circle I don’t believe I’ve heard of any unfaithfulness.  Maybe I wasn’t listening.  Maybe I am in denial.  Maybe I am surrounded by people that love Jesus and walk according to His standards.

So?  It does make a difference what people believe.  And the right belief leads to the ability to trust.

Pick a Verse, Any Verse

Psalms 136:5 (KJV) To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

I am actually reading Psalms in the NASB.  The NASB family of translations make this word “mercy” into “loving kindness”.  In the Hebrew that is chesed.  It’s one of those words that just grabs hold of me and shakes me around every time I think about it.  In this chapter, it is impossible not to think about it because it comes out in every single verse.

This is a recurring theme with me and that’s OK.  It is an important theme or concept.  I rank it right up there with agape from the Greek.  It is a loaded word that is at the center of what we believe.  I prefer the translation of loving kindness.  Part of it may be artistic, but I’m not known as being artistic.  I just like the combination and spread of meaning it has in it.  It isn’t conveyed just the word mercy, although that is powerful.

So?  Take a moment to rejoice in the reality of God’s love and kindness.  Let it be a framework for your attitude today.

What about Me?

(Psa 135:4 KJV)  For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

I have a friend who makes a big deal of the fact that we are not Israel, and we are not the chosen people.  His point gets extended beyond the obvious to saying that the promises of God that were given to Israel do not pertain to us.  He is open to doing some interpretation and looking for principles.  This is double true when he finds something in the Old Testament that backs up one of his personal theories.  I think we’re all like that a bit.

So, if we are not Israel, and we are not of Jacob, what are we to do?  I would suggest to keep reading and apply the lessons and standards given because they come from God.  It’s true that if you take your children out to dinner, you are not responsible for feeding every child in the restaurant.  You don’t have to buy a child a present for Christmas if you don’t even know if he’s around.  There are a lot of limitations like this.  At the same time, the concept of feeding your children and giving gifts are good solid concepts.  They pertain to the parents and that restaurant who don’t even know your children.

So?  In the same way the Ten Commandments apply to you.  In the same way that first commandment that you would have “no other gods before Me” applies to you.  It may be that you don’t need to keep a kosher kitchen.  It’s obvious that you can’t do sacrifices in the temple, but neither can the Jews today.  Look for the ways in which you can bring joy to God’s Heart, not ways in which you can avoid His expectations. 

Anti-Cultural Blessing

Psalms 128:4 (KJV) Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

(Proverbs 4 also read)

When you see verses like this you need to pause and look a bit at the context.  It is very easy to fill in the blanks of what a blessing is by our current priorities and desires.  Many of those are sent by our cultural environment and the expectations of others.  Take a moment to look back at the verses preceding this if you have your Bible open and available.

Blessing here is a comment about having children and our family.  We live in a day where children are considered a burden instead of a blessing.  We need to get over that.  We need to accept the biblical standard.

So?  You are probably like me, it’s too late to start a family.  What we can do that will help the situation is to encourage others who are younger to seriously consider that children are a blessing from God.   Keep in mind it’s not me talking, it’s what God says. 

Read It All

Psalms 127:2 (KJV) It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:  for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

(Proverbs 3 also read)

It is really easy to read a verse like this and use it as an excuse for doing what you wanted to do in the first place.  You need to read the context.  It’s really isn’t a lesson in sloth, it is a lesson in obedience and trust.  We are expected to work hard.  We are to do these things with we can understanding that ultimately success is up to the Lord.

So?  Read the context.  Make sure you got the whole picture before you do something stupid. 

A Better Option

Psalms 126:4 (KJV) Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

(Proverbs 2 also read)

In the NASB this is even more confusing than the KJV.  It talks about restoring captivity captive as if it is a good thing.  That seems strange.  I don’t know what the scholars think about this and I realized these people are looking back to the days when they were in Babylon and looking back deserve to be there again.

What gives?

I think they may be looking back at being thrown into captivity that woke them up to their spiritual responsibilities.  It was being cut off from Zion and knowing it was because they had ignore the things of God.  And now they’re back in the holy land and business as usual.

So?  Sometimes it is not hard times that are most beneficial to our spiritual growth.

Let Me Count the Ways

Psalms 116:1 (KJV) I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

(Proverbs 1 also read)

We say it in such a cavalier way.  We say it without thinking.  It becomes a mantra, “I love you.”  So easy to say and so rarely do we stop and really think about what it means.  As I was looking at this, and, nodding my head in agreement, I began to ask myself, “Why do I love the Lord?”

Natural, not something we think about.  As often happens, my mind went to my grandchildren.  I love my grandchildren with a passion that I don’t even understand.  Why?  Obviously, they are superior to anybody else’s grandchildren.  You might argue with me on that but I know you are just deluded.  Much of it comes down to the blood relationship.  They are family.

In the same way I think it’s impossible for people who have not become a part of the family of God to really love Him.  They don’t know Him. Their spiritual DNA has not been modified in regeneration.

So?  I could list all the things like you see in this Psalm.  I could wax political.  Anyway you slice it, though, it comes down to the fact that I love the lord.  I can live with that.