Proverbs Chapter 2
1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice,
And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
Equity and every good path.
10 When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11 Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
12 To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15 Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;
16 To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
18 For her house leads down to death,
And her paths to the dead;
19 None who go to her return,
Nor do they regain the paths of life—
20 So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness.
21 For the upright will dwell in the land,
And the blameless will remain in it;
22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
The writer here in chapter 2 does not give a list of commands, but rather gives a series of conditional statements. The writer made great promises (verse 5). Solomon has been dead for thousands of years (1st Kings 11:40-43). Unless we believe that the bible is divinely inspired, we should have no reason to believe that these promises made should hold true for us today.
Verse 5 he promises that we shall find the knowledge of God. Hosea 6:3 also calls us to pursue the knowledge of the Lord. When is this accomplished? Do we find the knowledge of God at the point of salvation, at death, at Christ’s return when he takes us home to be with Him in heaven? Or because God is an eternal being, is this a never ending task?
Verse 5 implies that we will not be able to truly understand the fear of the Lord, nor find the knowledge of God, unless we seek Wisdom. Paul in 1st Corinthians 1:24 refers to Christ as the "wisdom of God", and Jesus Himself claimed to be the exclusive way to God the Father (John 1:6)
Verse 6 "the Lord gives wisdom", If we look at Christ as the wisdom, then I am reminded of John 3:16. and how "He gave His only begotten Son".
God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. (James 1:17) But we must not forget the conditional statements found in the first 4 verses. We must seek wisdom. Wisdom is not the same as common sense. Wisdom must be sought today because we are promised of a time when although we seek we shall not find. (Proverbs 1:28, John 7:34)
God is the source of sound wisdom. But there are other sources for other sources of worldly wisdom. Moses was trained in the wisdom of the Egyptians, then when he was 40 years old he killed a man. (Acts 7:22-23) Worldly wisdom teaches the fear of man and glorifies man. But sound wisdom teaches the fear of the Lord and glorifies God.
Verses 6-21 there are lasting benefits for seeking wisdom. Notice of the key words concerning this: (Guards, preserves, keep, deliver, remain). These words cannot be applied to people who at one time prayed some special prayer and then shortly return to their old lifestyle. And never again seek wisdom or the things of God.
Verse 17 reminds me alot of recreational dating. "A series of relationships with its bonding a breaking is preparation for divorce, not marriage"- Bob Jenning
Verses 21-22 promises that the upright and blameless will remain in the land, but the wicked and unfaithful will be uprooted from it. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Why then should all mankind not be cut off and uprooted from the earth? We are justified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24) We are then imputed the righteousness of Jesus and considered blameless, if we have faith in Him.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Proverbs Chapter 1
This is some notes from when I studied Proverbs earlier
Proverbs Chapter 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like the grave,
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “ How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
Verse 1 foreshadows Christ, the true and greater Solomon, the son of David and the eternal king of Israel. Who would come and speak to His followers in parables.
Solomon's name means peaceable and his reign in Israel was a reign of peace, but one of his offspring would be the true prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6-7) who will have a reign that will never end.
It is notable that although Solomon was a king, he did not thing it below himself to write to many unworthy recipients(the simple, and the young man). We should follow his example in that, when we acquire insight, we should pass it on to others so that the body of Christ might be edified(Ephesians 4:29).
Verse 2-4 clearly states the purpose of writing and the audience to whom it is written. Solomon was not limited in his choice of topics to write about. He was a man of great wealth(1st Kings 10:14-23), he could have written about how to gain wealth. Instead he chose to write about wisdom.
Verses 5 and 6: are evidence that it is good to study with others. The christian walk is not one that we should walk along on our way to the celestial city. (Hebrews 10:24-25, 2nd Timothy 2:22).
The fear of the LORD. Men do not fear what they perceive to be unreal. So before we can fear the LORD we must believe that He is real, and that He has power to influence our wellbeing.
Following the fear of the LORD, the next place we are advised to turn is our parents. All the examples I can think of in scripture for following the instruction of our parents is for our benefit verse 9, Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-2.
Verses 10-19 seem very out of place in the organization of chapter 1. He begins chapter 1 by stating the purpose of his book. Then he describes where to find wisdom in verses 5-9 in verses 20-33 he speaks about the benefits of wisdom. But interrupting chapter 1 in verses 10-19 he warns about following evildoers. One possible explanation for this, is that before we can enjoy the benefits of wisdom, we must turn away from foolishness.
Verse 14 he warns against sharing possessions with evildoers. In the early church the believers shared possessions (Acts 2:45). Jesus in the sermon on the mount said that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
Verses 20-21 describe the call of wisdom. It is important to note where wisdom is calling from. Wisdom is not confined to schools, nor to church buildings, but is openly calling. It is possible to obtain wisdom at our everyday jobs, whatever they are.
Considering verse 22 it is truly a miracle that the simple should ever become prudent, or that fools should ever become wise. Because of their contentment in their ways, unless the Lord change them, they should never change.
Verses 24-33 shows that the invitation of wisdom is not without end. (Genesis 6:3) There is coming a day when the foolish shall be destroyed as they were in the flood of Noah.
Verse 31 If the foolish eat the fruit of their own way, would it be wrong to say that the righteous will also eat of the fruit which they produce? (Galatians 5:22-23)
Verse 33 shows that there are some who hear wisdom's call, and again it is astonishing that this happens. There is not a man to whom wisdom has not called, but to them that have ears to hear, let them hear.
Proverbs Chapter 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like the grave,
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “ How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
Verse 1 foreshadows Christ, the true and greater Solomon, the son of David and the eternal king of Israel. Who would come and speak to His followers in parables.
Solomon's name means peaceable and his reign in Israel was a reign of peace, but one of his offspring would be the true prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6-7) who will have a reign that will never end.
It is notable that although Solomon was a king, he did not thing it below himself to write to many unworthy recipients(the simple, and the young man). We should follow his example in that, when we acquire insight, we should pass it on to others so that the body of Christ might be edified(Ephesians 4:29).
Verse 2-4 clearly states the purpose of writing and the audience to whom it is written. Solomon was not limited in his choice of topics to write about. He was a man of great wealth(1st Kings 10:14-23), he could have written about how to gain wealth. Instead he chose to write about wisdom.
Verses 5 and 6: are evidence that it is good to study with others. The christian walk is not one that we should walk along on our way to the celestial city. (Hebrews 10:24-25, 2nd Timothy 2:22).
The fear of the LORD. Men do not fear what they perceive to be unreal. So before we can fear the LORD we must believe that He is real, and that He has power to influence our wellbeing.
Following the fear of the LORD, the next place we are advised to turn is our parents. All the examples I can think of in scripture for following the instruction of our parents is for our benefit verse 9, Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-2.
Verses 10-19 seem very out of place in the organization of chapter 1. He begins chapter 1 by stating the purpose of his book. Then he describes where to find wisdom in verses 5-9 in verses 20-33 he speaks about the benefits of wisdom. But interrupting chapter 1 in verses 10-19 he warns about following evildoers. One possible explanation for this, is that before we can enjoy the benefits of wisdom, we must turn away from foolishness.
Verse 14 he warns against sharing possessions with evildoers. In the early church the believers shared possessions (Acts 2:45). Jesus in the sermon on the mount said that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
Verses 20-21 describe the call of wisdom. It is important to note where wisdom is calling from. Wisdom is not confined to schools, nor to church buildings, but is openly calling. It is possible to obtain wisdom at our everyday jobs, whatever they are.
Considering verse 22 it is truly a miracle that the simple should ever become prudent, or that fools should ever become wise. Because of their contentment in their ways, unless the Lord change them, they should never change.
Verses 24-33 shows that the invitation of wisdom is not without end. (Genesis 6:3) There is coming a day when the foolish shall be destroyed as they were in the flood of Noah.
Verse 31 If the foolish eat the fruit of their own way, would it be wrong to say that the righteous will also eat of the fruit which they produce? (Galatians 5:22-23)
Verse 33 shows that there are some who hear wisdom's call, and again it is astonishing that this happens. There is not a man to whom wisdom has not called, but to them that have ears to hear, let them hear.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Sunday School Books
Almost every baptist church where I have attended Sunday-school (or their version of Sunday-school), used a Lifeway publication Sunday-school book. Although, I have found very few points given in the lessons to which I disagree, I do not recommend their use for the following reasons:
1. Their use does not promote individual reflection on the passage. Although I am all for reading how more learned individuals than myself interpret a passage, I am a firm believer that my brain should be pressed to come up with a thought or two of its own first. The use (or perhaps misuse) of Sunday school books often result in readers simply reading what the author thought about a certain passage of scripture, and recommendations from the author own how this should apply to the reader's life. In our intellectually lazy society, these type books are a potential crutch that can leave the users handicap for life. If the human mind (or at least mine) is not forced to come up with some thoughts of its own, it blindly regurgitates others. Sunday school books are not the only trap for the intellectually lazy mind. Commentaries are another very common one. I attended an ADULT Sunday school class at a church in Little Rock, where each member simply read what their commentary said about the passage.
2. Their use discourages class members from utilizing their own bible. Most Sunday school books that I have seen print the selected verses in the lesson. I am not saying that there is anything special or anointed about an individual's own bible, but I do believe that Christians, (young Christians especially) should be accustom to looking up a passages and seeing their context. For example the famous verse John 3:16, Who is speaking? Who is are they speaking with? Which brings me to my next point...
3. Sunday School books often skip verses. Often times when Sunday school members are ask to read a passage, they will read a couple of verses then skip down and read several verses latter in that section, with no mention whatsoever of the verses in between. I don't cook much, but I know that it is pretty important to read all the directions in the order they appear. I understand that the bible is not a recipe book, but the author probably did have a purpose for the layout of the passage. If he put a statement in between two other statements, it was probably for a purpose.
I admit Sunday School books can be a very effective teaching tool, but a tool used in the wrong manner can be destructive rather than constructive.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Let Me No Longer Waste My Time
Since this is the beginning of Christmas break from school, I thought this was very appropriate.
Almighty God, I adore Your infinite patience, which has not cut me off in the midst of my follies; I magnify Your wonderful goodness, which has spared me thus long. Let me no longer abuse that precious treasure--time, which you have allotted me as a proper season to work out my own salvation, and secure that happiness which is great in itself, and infinite in its duration.
Let me bid adieu to all those vain amusements, those trifling entertainments and sinful diversions, which have robbed me of many valuable hours, and endangered the loss of my immortal soul. Let me no longer waste my time in ease and pleasure, in unprofitable studies, and more unprofitable conversation; but grant, that, by diligence and honesty in my calling, by constancy and fervor in my devotions, by moderation and temperance in my enjoyments, by justice and charity in all my words and actions, and by keeping a conscience void of offence to God and man--I may be able to give a good account in the day of judgment, and be accepted in and through the merits of Jesus Christ, my only mediator and advocate.Amen.
-from Hannah More "The Book of Private Devotion"
Monday, December 15, 2008
Galatians 1:6-9
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” -Galatians 1:6-9
If your anything like me, you probably associate a “gospel message” with a service that the pastor preaches on a special occasion when people who do not normally attend church come. Paul wrote this passage “to the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2). As Christians we do not get saved by the gospel, then leave it and go on to better things. The gospel should be the centerpiece of our Christians walk.
“Turning away so soon for HIM who called you in the grace of Christ” (verse 6). Whenever we turn away from the gospel, we are turning away from God. “To a different gospel, which is not another” (verse 6 & 7) There are FALSE gospels. Not every path, regardless of how dedicated you are to following it, leads to the same destination. Biblical Christianity is very narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The human condition is not some common illness that we all get from time to time, with numerous medicines (Brand or generics) and home remedies that are able to improve the quality of your life. Sin is a deadly disease that is fatal 100% of the time, if the ONE antidote is not taken.
“Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (verse 8) Whoever is preaching, regardless of their credentials, a different gospel than the one prescribed in the bible is a false teacher. No matter which pharmacist you go to, if they are trying to give you something other than the ONE antidote that can save you, don’t take it.
The most common false gospel is the gospel of works, as opposed to the gospel of faith in Jesus Christ. The idea that God will somehow let us into heaven based upon our own goodness. Please see the “Are you are good person” link on the right side of the page for more on that subject.
“Turning away so soon for HIM who called you in the grace of Christ” (verse 6). Whenever we turn away from the gospel, we are turning away from God. “To a different gospel, which is not another” (verse 6 & 7) There are FALSE gospels. Not every path, regardless of how dedicated you are to following it, leads to the same destination. Biblical Christianity is very narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The human condition is not some common illness that we all get from time to time, with numerous medicines (Brand or generics) and home remedies that are able to improve the quality of your life. Sin is a deadly disease that is fatal 100% of the time, if the ONE antidote is not taken.
“Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (verse 8) Whoever is preaching, regardless of their credentials, a different gospel than the one prescribed in the bible is a false teacher. No matter which pharmacist you go to, if they are trying to give you something other than the ONE antidote that can save you, don’t take it.
The most common false gospel is the gospel of works, as opposed to the gospel of faith in Jesus Christ. The idea that God will somehow let us into heaven based upon our own goodness. Please see the “Are you are good person” link on the right side of the page for more on that subject.
Galatians 1:3-5
“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen”-Galatians 1:3-5
“Grace to you and peace form God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.” If you believe that the bible is the inspired word of God then this message should be an incredible encouragement to you. God almighty, who’s eyes are too pure to even look upon evil (Habakkuk 1:13), is offering grace and peace to you! You were brought forth in iniquity, conceived in sin. (Psalms 51:5), and the intent of your heart was only evil from your youth (Genesis 8:21). Yet God is extending to you peace, instead of a declaration of war.Since God is not lenient towards sinners (Psalms 7:11-12, Proverbs 17:15), how is it possible that He is extending peace to us? The answer is in verse 4. Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins! Jesus Christ was absolutely blameless, perfect in the sight God (2nd Corinthians 5:21), yet He bore the penalty for our sins (Isaiah 53:6). He lived the life we should have lived, and died the death we should have died. God credited our sins to Jesus, and His righteousness to us. If we believe in Christ, we are no longer enemies God, but we are reconciled to Him by the death of His son (Romans 5:10).Jesus Christ’s bearing the penalty for our sins not only spared us from the wrath of God, it also made provisions for Him to deliver us from this present evil age. We can have the confidence that if God has begun the work of conforming us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), He will finish it (Philippians 1:6).All of this is due to the will of God the Father. It was the Father’s plan before the foundation of the world that He would send His only Son, that whoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). Knowing that it was God’s plan should give us comfort in that the Father was completely satisfied in Christ’s sacrifice. It also means that all the glory belongs to Him forever.
Questions to consider:
Are you living at peace with God, or are you an enemy?
Are you trusting in Jesus Christ as the payment for your sins or are you trusting in you own “goodness”?
Are you being delivered from this present evil age, and conformed to the image to Christ, or are you conforming to the world?
Are you seeking to steal the glory that belongs to God alone?
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