Jealous

(Exo 20:5 KJV)  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

(Proverbs 9 also read)

While meditating on the attributes of God, the idea of God being jealous came to mind.  You see that here first and several other places.  The idea is that God demands being our only God.  He is not content sitting down with competition.  You worship him only.

Then I thought about this verse,

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NASB95) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,

I started thinking about possible contradictions in scripture.  How can something be OK for God and yet not for His creatures?  It is a legitimate question.  Then I thought about something else that would go along the same lines where we are told not to judge in Matthew seven, and yet we know that God will judge the world.

So?  Sin is the corruption something that is righteous or neutral in itself.  When we take on attributes which are reserved for God and His holiness and purity, we do nothing but corrupted and drag it down.  We are not God.  Some things He can do perfectly we cannot even touch without destroying. 

Mine

Exodus 20:2 (KJV) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

I have been advised that the old testament is written to the Jews, and not to the church.  In this verse specifically I would be told that this is written to the Jews, because they were the ones who were brought out of Egypt.  All that is true.  I was not brought out of Egypt.  I was not in the house of bondage.  Does that mean that the Lord cannot be my God?

To paraphrase someone from the Bible, “may it never be”.

Yes, God led Israel out of bondage.  That is an historical truth.  He also paid to free me from sin. I know that truth from other scriptures, and I am free to apply it here because it is a reminder to me.

So? Acknowledge truth; remember truth; apply truth. God speaks to us in the entire Bible.

Deception of Enthusiasm

(Pro 30:6 KJV)  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Recently my wife called me in to watch a video about an archeological finding.  The focus was supposed to be a small lead fragment which could be the earliest known Hebrew writing.  I think they were saying it dated from the time of Joshua.  That was interesting and could have been covered in a minute or two.  The problem I had was that the host of the show had a half hour to fill up and so he went into what he labeled as the altar of Joshua.  Still interesting but he found a need to do a lot of repetition and padding.  

This verse, which I read the next morning, was read just after I tried to verify one of the statements he made with great enthusiasm.  As near as I can paraphrase him he claimed that God had declared altars should be build with ramps instead of steps.  He was excited about this because the video we were shown showed an altar with a ramp.  That did not sound familiar to me so this morning I did some digging with my Bible search software.  I first looked for “ramp” and when I found nothing I tried “slope”.  I found nothing on “ramp” in the KJV or NASB and three different Hebrew words for “slope” in the NASB.  I found one use of “steps” referring to altars,

(Exo 20:26 KJV)  Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

This does not substitute ramps for steps.

At what point do we run into God’s anger when we let our enthusiasm run away with us?  I don’t know about you but when I hear believers, or anyone else, making claims I can demonstrate as false, I question everything else they say.  If I can look things up, so can the pagans.

So?  Stick to the actual declarations of God and His word.  He knows what He is trying to say.

Got Enough Lip Gloss?

(Proverbs 3:9 KJV)  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Why do we give tithes and offerings to God?  It certainly isn’t because He needs the money.  I would imagine the God who said, “Let there be light” could also say, “Let there be twenty dollar bills in sequential numbering and well used” and it would happen.  Yet we are called to “honor” (3513) Him in this way.

What does it mean to “honor” (3513)?  This is the same word used in regard to parents.

(Exodus 20:12 KJV)  Honour (3513) thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

As I looked at the definitions and their different uses a common theme was used in each:  To be heavy.  Make God heavy in your life.  Recognize that He is the great force and mass of your existence.  By giving we acknowledge that He is our first priority.

So?  I am always amazed at students who don’t have a pencil or pen but they have an endless supply of gum, lip gloss and lotion.  Are we doing the same thing as we claim to follow Jesus? 

Who Covets Your Ox?

(Proverbs 3:33 KJV)  The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

This chapter in Proverbs is loaded with promises related to wisdom.  You find an array ranging from financial to emotional.  This is a chapter where “never is heard a discouraging word....”  Yet other places in the Bible, as well as Proverbs, you have the assurance of persecution and the promise of the sustaining hand of God through rough times.  If wisdom produces promises, how do you have rough times?

Look at this verse.  God is promising that he will deliver different rewards to different responses.  He promises a “curse” (3994) for the “wicked” (7563).  He also “blesses” (1288) the “just” (righteous NASB) (6662).  What this does is generate envy in the hearts of those around us.  Have you ever seen two siblings going through this?  One does his chores and gets a reward.  The other refuses and is grounded.  Is the grounded child happy with the one rewarded?  Often the villain will ruin the good time of the rewarded out of envy. 

You might think this is no big deal but keep in mind that it was important enough to make the Big Ten.

(Exodus 20:17 KJV)  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

So?  There will always be people who will be jealous of the blessings that God has given you.  This is just a reminder to not be surprised when others covet your ox.  Keep plowing because there is nothing you can do for them.

A Neglected Pattern

(Proverbs 6:20 KJV)  My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

The teachings and standards of the Bible fly in the face of our modern American culture.  This verse is another example of a clear truth that has largely been rejected.  It is so important that it made the top ten,

(Exodus 20:12 KJV)  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

After that it is repeated in the wisdom literature and prophets.  In the New Testament you find it in the gospels and the epistles.  It is repeatedly brought up.  Why is that?  Is it that we need to be reminded so often today?  Yes, indeed, but there is more to it than that.  The people in Moses’ time needed to be reminded.  The people in Solomon’s time needed to be reminded.  The pattern continues down to today.

Ignoring your parents is a part of the sinful nature.  We have achieved new heights of this low in our modern times by demeaning fathers and disgracing motherhood.  The standard is still there.

So?  Earn the honor even if it is not extended.  Set the example.  Speak the truth.  And support others who choose to take the path of righteousness. 

Always in the Witness Stand

(Proverbs 6:19 KJV)  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

This is the same “false” (8267) “witness” (5707) we find in the ten commandments.

(Exodus 20:16 KJV)  Thou shalt not bear false (5707) witness (5707 against thy neighbour.

A lie is incompatible with truth.  A half truth is a lie.  This goes to the heart of Christian character and the character of God.  A few verses ago it said this was abomination to God.

So?  A Christians we believe in absolute truth.  Obviously there are times when we must seek the lesser of two evils or the better of two goods but that does not take away the fact that truth exists.  We are expected to be living witnesses to it.  We are expected to be different from the culture that we are immersed in.

Is That a Bad Word?

(Proverbs 17:20 KJV)  He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Frequently when I try to guide the vocabulary choices of my students I am told, “That isn’t a bad word.”  I suggest that they use it to describe what their mother has prepared for dinner and see if it is acceptable.  If they are honest, that backs them down. 

Often when I am around serious believers from other denominations I will find that they also have a very flexible vocabulary.  What type of language is acceptable for believers?  The only clear statement I can find is in the Ten Commandments.

(Exodus 20:7 KJV)  Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

I can find references to speaking slowly, without anger and such but what about the constant use of “damn” and the sexually explicit words that pepper our public spaces?  I think this verse gives us some guidance.  We should not have a “perverse” (perverted NASB) (2015) “tongue” (language NASB) (3956).  Is this an admonition against crude talk and swearing?  I think so.

So?  I still need to be careful to judge.  This is something we need to ask ourselves in honesty.  How is your vocabulary rated?  Is it perverted or does it bring glory to God? 

Warning! Adjective Alert!

(Pro 30:6 KJV)  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

You would think that honesty would be a simple thing.  What could be more simple than,

(Exo 20:16 KJV)  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

And yet we often add little adjectives or adverbs that change the entire meaning of what we are saying.  Strangely enough the little additions always seem to make us look better or advance our agenda.

This is bad enough in every day experience but this verse in Proverbs is talking about doing it to the word of God.  Too often people take concepts that God has put forth and tweak them to advance a personal agenda.  One that I heard mentioned last night in Church was the adjective “social” added to the noun “justice.”  When you hear people taking God’s nouns and adding man’s adjectives it is time to run the other way.  God’s reproof can take some strong forms and I don’t want to be close when the lightning strikes.

So?  Honesty involves truth not spin.  It is based on fact not advantage.  Toe the line.

Upright or Uptight

(Pro 6:30 KJV)  Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

Is motivation important?  That should be an obvious one.  The difference between an upright believer and an uptight legalist is motivation.  The Bible makes a clear statement about theft.

(Exo 20:15 KJV)  Thou shalt not steal.

That seems pretty clear to me.  It is short and straight.  Then Solomon throws this in.

This is not supposed to be an encouragement for us to seek excuses for our sin.  This is to point out that sometimes things are more complex than we think.  It means that we should take into consideration the motivation of people as they wrong us.

So?  Do you have a legitimate gripe against someone?  Sure they wronged you.  Yes, you are the offended party.  It doesn’t matter.  We are always supposed to temper our desire for justice with mercy and understanding. 

A Word I Hope Doesn’t Apply to You

(Proverbs 6:29 KJV)  So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

This is not great, inspirational literature.  This is a simple, direct warning from God.  It has already been stated in the Ten Commandments:

(Exodus 20:14 KJV)  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

You would think that is clear enough but our society doesn’t want to hear.

Understand that there is no sneaking that God cannot see.  You cannot get away with it.  It will not “be innocent" (go unpunished NASB) (5352).  In case that isn’t clear let me expand it a little:  Adultery will make your life hell now and put you in the eternal Hell later.

So?  I hope this does not apply to you.  If you are tempted, take it seriously.  Let’s move on.