Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Proverbs, Chapters 7-9 To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Passage: Proverbs 7: 1-5: [NKJV]… 1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister, And call understanding your nearest kin, 5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.
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Highlight Passage #2: Proverbs 8: 1-2 :[NKJV] … 1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.
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Highlight Passage #3: Proverbs :9 1, 13-15 :[NKJV] … 1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; … 13 A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. 14 For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, 15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way.
My Journal for Today: Reading on in Proverbs, chapters 7-9 today, God pictures our everyday struggles of the mind verses the flesh as our response to the proclamations of a woman of wisdom (appealing to the mind) and the allures of the woman of folly (appealing to the flesh). Two women in our lives, … both clamoring for us to follow them, … but using two very different strategies.
The woman, wisdom, is solid, resourceful, and always able to provide all we need for life; but she is pitted against the thieving woman of the senses, the one who clamors with her alluring, sweet voice, which appeals to every part of our flesh. What the woman of folly can supply is only passing; but it is ever so sweet. The woman wisdom, on the other hand, is rock solid; and when we choose to listen to her, she can provide us with all we need to live in life. The fool’s harlot, however, can only give us temporary pleasure, which always leads to some degree of death in our soul.
Solomon wanted his son (as God wants all believers) to recognize that the pursuit of truth (i.e., wisdom) gives all we need for life; and the response to the folly of sensuous pleasure can only lead to death when we choose to respond to her siren call to our senses. And everyday Solomon’s son (and that’s all of us) are going to be faced with these two women, wisdom and folly, crying out for us to follow them; and the one we choose to follow will lead us to life or death.
Jesus gave His disciples this choice one day as a group of followers came after Him. He said (in Luke 9: 23 “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” In that moment Jesus was speaking the voice of wisdom to those who will also hearing the voice of folly calling to their senses; but they (we) must choose to follow the ultimate voice of wisdom; and that is Jesus as He speaks His truth through His word.
Today, my dear one, we are going to be hearing the voice of the two women, wisdom and folly, crying out to our minds and our senses. We will have to respond to one of them. Which will it be?
My Prayer Today: … Lord, I am here in Your word this morning, listening to Your beautiful voice of wisdom; … and I choose to follow You. Show me Your way of life. Amen
Monday, June 04, 2012
Sunday, June 03, 2012
June 3, 2012 … Wisdom – God’s Map Thru the Sexual Minefields
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Proverbs, Chapters 4-6 To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Passage: Proverbs 4: 4-7: [NKJV]… 4 He [Solomon’s Father, David] also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. 5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; THEREFORE, … get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”
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Highlight Passage #2: Proverbs 5: 1-4, 21-22 :[NKJV] … 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, 2 That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. … 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths. 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
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Highlight Passage #3: Proverbs 6: 20-24 :[NKJV] … 20 My son, keep your fathers command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.21 Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.22 When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
My Journal for Today: Well, if you’ve read and studied along with me in this chronological trek through the Bible this year, on more than one occasion I have made a reference to a word picture I latched onto from a mentor years ago which has served me so well in dealing with a stronghold of sin in my life. He pointed out to me that one would be wise, if having to traverse a minefield either to follow someone who knew where all the mines were or to have a map of the mines in the minefield. And he went on to insure that I knew and internalized that God’s word – i.e., His truth/wisdom – was God’s map through the minefields, as we tried to avoid the explosive and deadly mines of sin in our lives.
And that is exactly what God was doing for Solomon’s son [and all believers] as Solomon, being the voice of God, the Father, did all he could to pass along the advice that David had given him to avoid one of the deadliest minefields any boy, becoming a man, can avoid and that is the minefield of sexual sin. And because of my past and my now calling in ministry – helping Christian men recover from habitual sexual sin, and learning how to traverse the minefields of sexual sin in our XXX-laden culture – this section of Proverbs has a special and powerful meaning for me.
Here was Solomon, having that dreaded “sex talk” with his boy, … doing all he could to show the lad (which is any immature believer learning to avoid the minefields of sin in life) how to get through the minefields of sexual sin without being severely damaged. And today, apparently as in Solomon’s day, sexual sin is one of Satan’s biggest and most deadly minefields in life. Our spiritual arch enemy has a vast and extremely deadly minefield for anyone in life – especially us guys – to traverse; and as Solomon warns his son in today’s chapters of Proverbs, the only way to get through this minefield successfully is to have God’s word so deeply embedded in our minds/hearts that it becomes God’s map through the minefields.
The author of Psalm 119 knew this when he wrote Psalm 119: 9, 11: How can a young man cleanse his way; … by taking heed according to Your word. … Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You (Lord). And God told Joshua much the same thing as a prescription for spiritual success in all the battles of life which were to be ahead of Joshua, when God proclaimed (in Joshua 1: 8), … You shall meditate in [God’s word] day and night that you may observed to do according to all that is written in it. Then … you will have success …
Knowing – i.e., deeply knowing - God’s word (i.e., His wisdom) and praying to seek God’s wisdom from it (see James 1: 5-6) is the only way to negotiate the minefields of life, especially those laden with sexual bombs, like p0rnography addiction, homosexuality, and other forms of sexual sin. So, I pray that we (Christians) will take heed to this advice from Solomon. Unfortunately he didn’t live by his own advice; and the book of Ecclesiastes chronicles the deadly outcomes which Solomon had to deal with in his life by not heeding God’s map through the minefields.
May we take God’s advice to Joshua [in Joshua 1: 8] and trek successfully through the minefields of life, walking safely and securely by the light of God’s word [see Psalm 119: 105].
My Prayer Today: … Lord, I have Your word secured in my mind and heart as a light unto my path, … and I will use it to move through the minefields of life. Amen
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Highlight Passage: Proverbs 4: 4-7: [NKJV]… 4 He [Solomon’s Father, David] also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. 5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; THEREFORE, … get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”
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Highlight Passage #2: Proverbs 5: 1-4, 21-22 :[NKJV] … 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, 2 That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. … 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths. 22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
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Highlight Passage #3: Proverbs 6: 20-24 :[NKJV] … 20 My son, keep your fathers command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.21 Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck.22 When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
My Journal for Today: Well, if you’ve read and studied along with me in this chronological trek through the Bible this year, on more than one occasion I have made a reference to a word picture I latched onto from a mentor years ago which has served me so well in dealing with a stronghold of sin in my life. He pointed out to me that one would be wise, if having to traverse a minefield either to follow someone who knew where all the mines were or to have a map of the mines in the minefield. And he went on to insure that I knew and internalized that God’s word – i.e., His truth/wisdom – was God’s map through the minefields, as we tried to avoid the explosive and deadly mines of sin in our lives.
And that is exactly what God was doing for Solomon’s son [and all believers] as Solomon, being the voice of God, the Father, did all he could to pass along the advice that David had given him to avoid one of the deadliest minefields any boy, becoming a man, can avoid and that is the minefield of sexual sin. And because of my past and my now calling in ministry – helping Christian men recover from habitual sexual sin, and learning how to traverse the minefields of sexual sin in our XXX-laden culture – this section of Proverbs has a special and powerful meaning for me.
Here was Solomon, having that dreaded “sex talk” with his boy, … doing all he could to show the lad (which is any immature believer learning to avoid the minefields of sin in life) how to get through the minefields of sexual sin without being severely damaged. And today, apparently as in Solomon’s day, sexual sin is one of Satan’s biggest and most deadly minefields in life. Our spiritual arch enemy has a vast and extremely deadly minefield for anyone in life – especially us guys – to traverse; and as Solomon warns his son in today’s chapters of Proverbs, the only way to get through this minefield successfully is to have God’s word so deeply embedded in our minds/hearts that it becomes God’s map through the minefields.
The author of Psalm 119 knew this when he wrote Psalm 119: 9, 11: How can a young man cleanse his way; … by taking heed according to Your word. … Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You (Lord). And God told Joshua much the same thing as a prescription for spiritual success in all the battles of life which were to be ahead of Joshua, when God proclaimed (in Joshua 1: 8), … You shall meditate in [God’s word] day and night that you may observed to do according to all that is written in it. Then … you will have success …
Knowing – i.e., deeply knowing - God’s word (i.e., His wisdom) and praying to seek God’s wisdom from it (see James 1: 5-6) is the only way to negotiate the minefields of life, especially those laden with sexual bombs, like p0rnography addiction, homosexuality, and other forms of sexual sin. So, I pray that we (Christians) will take heed to this advice from Solomon. Unfortunately he didn’t live by his own advice; and the book of Ecclesiastes chronicles the deadly outcomes which Solomon had to deal with in his life by not heeding God’s map through the minefields.
May we take God’s advice to Joshua [in Joshua 1: 8] and trek successfully through the minefields of life, walking safely and securely by the light of God’s word [see Psalm 119: 105].
My Prayer Today: … Lord, I have Your word secured in my mind and heart as a light unto my path, … and I will use it to move through the minefields of life. Amen
Saturday, June 02, 2012
June 2, 2012 … God’s “GPS”
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Proverbs, Chapters 1-3 To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Passage: Proverbs 1: 1-7: [NKJV]… 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 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.
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Highlight Passage #2: Proverbs 2: 1-5: …[NKJV] 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..
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Highlight Passage #3: Proverbs 3: 5-6: …[NKJV] 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
My Journal for Today: Wow! I’m a bit in awe of where and how to start this journal entry now that my reading plan has led me into the Book of Proverbs; and here today to study the first three chapters. I like what my Parsons Commentary had to say about the Proverbs - ” What the book of Psalms is to prayer and devotional life, the book of Proverbs is to everyday life. Proverbs gives practical suggestions for effective living. This book is not just a collection of homey sayings; it contains deep spiritual insights drawn from experience. A proverb is a short, wise, easy-to-remember saying that calls a person to action.“
Solomon apparently wrote most of the Book of Proverbs, especially the first 9 chapters, early in his kingship; and he was probably led by God’s Spirit to write these poetic signposts to wisdom before his own pride and arrogance got in the way of his own walk with the Lord. In other words [and this is only my observation], … if Solomon had walked-the-walk of life as he wrote about it in his own Proverbs, he would not have ended up compelled to write the book of Ecclesiastes later in his life to confess for himself and to help others to realize that it is so, so easy for us to get complacent, lazy, and so filled with pride that we don’t do what he, Solomon, was trying to get others to do in following God and letting God’s Spirit guide us as believers to a wise and Godly life.
That’s certainly the purpose of the Proverbs, as you can read above in the first highlight passage (Prov. 1: 1-5), where we read Solomon challenging the believer, in this case young, immature, believers, like a father speaking to his son, … to become wise, … with the essence of wisdom coming from one’s fear of (i.e., reverence in following) the Lord. Certainly, Solomon had been given all the tools of intellect by God to have the ability to write what we read in Proverbs. God blessed him with the highest degree of human understanding and Spirit-led insight. But even though He had all of what a human would need to do to live a wise/Godly life; he blew it! What Solomon wrote in Prov. 3: 5-6, copied above, he simply either became prideful and arrogant or just plain lazy in seeking to grow further, motivated by the awe of His God, because we know that he was not able to live up to his own proverbial writings, and he got off track, … not walking-the-walk as he had talked-the-talk [i.e., written] from God’s Spirit.
In other words, somewhere along the way, using Prov. 3: 5-6 as truth, he followed his own, likely, fleshly, understanding, rather than following closely the understanding of life he had been given by God; and he went down the road of vanity as he ended up confessing in Ecclesiastes, which led him to crushing failure.
Dear one, … I hope we’re grasping the lessons which Solomon’s written warnings give us in Proverbs; and we don’t have to come back later in life, having to confess, repent, and be restored onto the path of righteousness from a life diverted into the tarpits of sin. God, through Solomon’s writings in Proverbs wanted us to seek His way and will from His word, living in awe of His holiness and following God’s road to eternal life, … rather than leaning on our own ways and going down the path of selfish pursuit, which can only lead to death.
Incorporating the Godly wisdom of the Proverbs into our life, with the assumption that we know and believe all that is written into the rest of God’s word (i.e., Scripture), we will be given God’s direction-finder, … a Spirit-enhanced “GPS” device [a “Godly Positioning System”], which will, if we follow it, lead us to walk-the-walk of a Godly life.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, I want You as my “GPS” for life; and I mostly find my way by seeking Your will and Your way from Your word. Amen
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Highlight Passage: Proverbs 1: 1-7: [NKJV]… 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 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.
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Highlight Passage #2: Proverbs 2: 1-5: …[NKJV] 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..
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Highlight Passage #3: Proverbs 3: 5-6: …[NKJV] 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
My Journal for Today: Wow! I’m a bit in awe of where and how to start this journal entry now that my reading plan has led me into the Book of Proverbs; and here today to study the first three chapters. I like what my Parsons Commentary had to say about the Proverbs - ” What the book of Psalms is to prayer and devotional life, the book of Proverbs is to everyday life. Proverbs gives practical suggestions for effective living. This book is not just a collection of homey sayings; it contains deep spiritual insights drawn from experience. A proverb is a short, wise, easy-to-remember saying that calls a person to action.“
Solomon apparently wrote most of the Book of Proverbs, especially the first 9 chapters, early in his kingship; and he was probably led by God’s Spirit to write these poetic signposts to wisdom before his own pride and arrogance got in the way of his own walk with the Lord. In other words [and this is only my observation], … if Solomon had walked-the-walk of life as he wrote about it in his own Proverbs, he would not have ended up compelled to write the book of Ecclesiastes later in his life to confess for himself and to help others to realize that it is so, so easy for us to get complacent, lazy, and so filled with pride that we don’t do what he, Solomon, was trying to get others to do in following God and letting God’s Spirit guide us as believers to a wise and Godly life.
That’s certainly the purpose of the Proverbs, as you can read above in the first highlight passage (Prov. 1: 1-5), where we read Solomon challenging the believer, in this case young, immature, believers, like a father speaking to his son, … to become wise, … with the essence of wisdom coming from one’s fear of (i.e., reverence in following) the Lord. Certainly, Solomon had been given all the tools of intellect by God to have the ability to write what we read in Proverbs. God blessed him with the highest degree of human understanding and Spirit-led insight. But even though He had all of what a human would need to do to live a wise/Godly life; he blew it! What Solomon wrote in Prov. 3: 5-6, copied above, he simply either became prideful and arrogant or just plain lazy in seeking to grow further, motivated by the awe of His God, because we know that he was not able to live up to his own proverbial writings, and he got off track, … not walking-the-walk as he had talked-the-talk [i.e., written] from God’s Spirit.
In other words, somewhere along the way, using Prov. 3: 5-6 as truth, he followed his own, likely, fleshly, understanding, rather than following closely the understanding of life he had been given by God; and he went down the road of vanity as he ended up confessing in Ecclesiastes, which led him to crushing failure.
Dear one, … I hope we’re grasping the lessons which Solomon’s written warnings give us in Proverbs; and we don’t have to come back later in life, having to confess, repent, and be restored onto the path of righteousness from a life diverted into the tarpits of sin. God, through Solomon’s writings in Proverbs wanted us to seek His way and will from His word, living in awe of His holiness and following God’s road to eternal life, … rather than leaning on our own ways and going down the path of selfish pursuit, which can only lead to death.
Incorporating the Godly wisdom of the Proverbs into our life, with the assumption that we know and believe all that is written into the rest of God’s word (i.e., Scripture), we will be given God’s direction-finder, … a Spirit-enhanced “GPS” device [a “Godly Positioning System”], which will, if we follow it, lead us to walk-the-walk of a Godly life.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, I want You as my “GPS” for life; and I mostly find my way by seeking Your will and Your way from Your word. Amen
Friday, June 01, 2012
June 1, 2012 … Living As Christ’s Bride
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Song of Solomon, Chapters 1-8; To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Passage: Song of Solomon 1: 4: … 4 Take me [the Shulammite maiden] away with you [King Solomon] — let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.
Highlight Passage #2: Song of Solomon 5: 16: … [Now Solomon’s wife] … 16 His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
Highlight Passage #3: Song of Solomon 8: 6: … [Later … Solomon’s wife] … 6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
My Journal for Today: Well, today’s chronological read was – in my estimation – an unfair assignment – to read, reflect, and meditate on the entire book Solomon wrote to capture his love for a Jewish maiden who became his wife; and some scholars say this poetic book allegorically captures God’s love for His people as well as a pre-incarnate picture of Christ, the ultimate Bridegroom, wooing, winning, and loving His Bride – the Church.
So, how can one do all that in one morning?! Not fair!!; … because there is so much beauty, emotion, and down-right sensuality upon which a reader can meditate and reflect in this very different book of the Bible. But this morning I’ve done what my reading plan editors asked; and while I did so, some of my reflections are captured in the three highlight passages I’ve copied above.
And the first of these above is the Shulammite maiden, the beautiful, tanned, young woman whom Solomon was drawn to, expressing her surrender to the King, who swept her off her feet with the sensuality of their feelings for one another. And in this scene, I was taken back to when I was first emotionally swept off my feet by my pursuing prospective Bridegroom, … My Lord, Who, with such power and purpose, swept me from my spiritual foundation and pursued me with His love. And I responded, receiving my Lord’s pursuits, surrendering all that I was to His love and His forgiving grace. He came for His bride; and I was His.
I hope you read through the Song of Songs and reflect on how you are Christ’s bride, sealed forever in an eternal friendship and glorious covenant love relationship; and as our Groom, He is going to come back for us … to take us to His Kingly and heavenly court in order to consummate the relationship for which I am preparing my linens for the wedding feast of the Lamb, … for my beloved Bridegroom, Lord, and King (see Rev. 19: 7-8). Oh what beauty we can read – in the Song of Solomon – of that coming wedding feast.
My second observation, from the second passage listed above, is that my Bridegroom is my “bestest” friend. I know that superlative adjective is not even a word; but when it comes to the eternal relationship I now enjoy – and will enjoy forever – my Savior and Lord, the Bridegroom Who will come for His bride, the Church, sees all who receive His salvation love as HIS “FRIEND,” … just like He referred to the man who was let down through the roof for his healing in Luke 5. I am His bride and He is my friend. How cool is that?!!
And finally, from the third of the passages, copied above, I see my lover and Bridegroom as my protector and the one who will always be there because I’ve been sealed unto His heart forever in a love relationship that cannot be broken. And my fellow Christian, there is nothing more endearing than having that kind of relationship with the One Who gave His all to bind me with Him to eternal life together.
Reading and reflecting on this long assignment may have been a bit of a chore, especially for one, like me, who has a reading disability; but it was well worth it, to have God tell me and show me – in His word – from the pen of Solomon just how much my Lord and King loves me as His Bride; and now in that role, as it says in the passage of Revelations cited above, I need to be preparing my linens (i.e., with my acts of obedient righteousness) for His return, … when He, my King, will take me to His home in heaven to be with Him forever.
My Prayer Today: … Oh, Lord, I am overwhelmed with Your love. Amen
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Highlight Passage: Song of Solomon 1: 4: … 4 Take me [the Shulammite maiden] away with you [King Solomon] — let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.
Highlight Passage #2: Song of Solomon 5: 16: … [Now Solomon’s wife] … 16 His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
Highlight Passage #3: Song of Solomon 8: 6: … [Later … Solomon’s wife] … 6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
My Journal for Today: Well, today’s chronological read was – in my estimation – an unfair assignment – to read, reflect, and meditate on the entire book Solomon wrote to capture his love for a Jewish maiden who became his wife; and some scholars say this poetic book allegorically captures God’s love for His people as well as a pre-incarnate picture of Christ, the ultimate Bridegroom, wooing, winning, and loving His Bride – the Church.
So, how can one do all that in one morning?! Not fair!!; … because there is so much beauty, emotion, and down-right sensuality upon which a reader can meditate and reflect in this very different book of the Bible. But this morning I’ve done what my reading plan editors asked; and while I did so, some of my reflections are captured in the three highlight passages I’ve copied above.
And the first of these above is the Shulammite maiden, the beautiful, tanned, young woman whom Solomon was drawn to, expressing her surrender to the King, who swept her off her feet with the sensuality of their feelings for one another. And in this scene, I was taken back to when I was first emotionally swept off my feet by my pursuing prospective Bridegroom, … My Lord, Who, with such power and purpose, swept me from my spiritual foundation and pursued me with His love. And I responded, receiving my Lord’s pursuits, surrendering all that I was to His love and His forgiving grace. He came for His bride; and I was His.
I hope you read through the Song of Songs and reflect on how you are Christ’s bride, sealed forever in an eternal friendship and glorious covenant love relationship; and as our Groom, He is going to come back for us … to take us to His Kingly and heavenly court in order to consummate the relationship for which I am preparing my linens for the wedding feast of the Lamb, … for my beloved Bridegroom, Lord, and King (see Rev. 19: 7-8). Oh what beauty we can read – in the Song of Solomon – of that coming wedding feast.
My second observation, from the second passage listed above, is that my Bridegroom is my “bestest” friend. I know that superlative adjective is not even a word; but when it comes to the eternal relationship I now enjoy – and will enjoy forever – my Savior and Lord, the Bridegroom Who will come for His bride, the Church, sees all who receive His salvation love as HIS “FRIEND,” … just like He referred to the man who was let down through the roof for his healing in Luke 5. I am His bride and He is my friend. How cool is that?!!
And finally, from the third of the passages, copied above, I see my lover and Bridegroom as my protector and the one who will always be there because I’ve been sealed unto His heart forever in a love relationship that cannot be broken. And my fellow Christian, there is nothing more endearing than having that kind of relationship with the One Who gave His all to bind me with Him to eternal life together.
Reading and reflecting on this long assignment may have been a bit of a chore, especially for one, like me, who has a reading disability; but it was well worth it, to have God tell me and show me – in His word – from the pen of Solomon just how much my Lord and King loves me as His Bride; and now in that role, as it says in the passage of Revelations cited above, I need to be preparing my linens (i.e., with my acts of obedient righteousness) for His return, … when He, my King, will take me to His home in heaven to be with Him forever.
My Prayer Today: … Oh, Lord, I am overwhelmed with Your love. Amen
Thursday, May 31, 2012
May 31, 2012 …. Pride Goes Before a Fall
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: 2nd Chronicles 1 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 72 … To study this Psalm, go to this link -
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Reference Passage: Reference passage for Today’s Bible Study: Deuteronomy 17: 14-20 … To study this passage go to this link -
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Highlight Passage : 2nd Chronicles 1: 7, 10, 12, 14-15 … 7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." … [Solomon’s reply] “10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" … [God’s response] … “…12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." … [Following God’s providence to Solomon] … 14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones…
My Journal for Today: Today’s read from the chronological reading plan has me reading the parallel passage to what I studied yesterday from 1st Kings, chapters 3-4; … today from 2nd Chronicles 1, and I’m asking that any reader with me here take the time to read the copied verses from this chapter which I’ve provided for your study.
And in doing so, I was stricken by how Solomon, with the bestowing of God’s grace of wisdom, wealth, and power, chose to let his own pride get in the way of sound judgment, even going against his own written advice to his own son and to other believers in Proverbs 16: 18, where he wrote, [NIV] " Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
You know, it is not uncommon, at least for this Christian, that our pride can take hold, especially when things are going well. Have you ever experienced the feeling that you are in control and can do no wrong when things are going really going well for you? I sure have! … And that is what apparently happened for Solomon. As you can read above, God really unloaded a pile of wondrous grace upon Solomon when the Lord noted that Solomon had humbly asked for wisdom rather than asking for wealth and power when he was given that opportunity by God. And so, what did Solomon do with all that God provided for him? He went out, and in his arrogance, he ignored the instructions (i.e., commands) that God had levied on kings in God’s Book of the Law.
Again, as I did yesterday, I’ve provided any reader with a link to the passage in Deuteronomy 17 where God gives His rules for the kingship of God’s people. And in these boundaries, we see God saying that no king will accumulate vast numbers of horses, gold/silver, and wives; and Solomon, as we can read in 1st Kings 3-4 and 2nd Chronicles 1, as well as from history, did all of these things, blatently mocking God with his kingly choices.
And as we also know from Solomon’s own writings (Proverbs 3: 34), God resists the mockery of pride and gives His grace only to the humble. So, as I wrote yesterday, when one reads the reflections of Solomon later in life in the book of Ecclesiastes, it is not surprising that Solomon would proclaim [go back and read Ecclesiastes, chapter 2] for others who would come after him that his life had become wracked and ruined by his own VANITY and pridefulness.
So, my friend, if things are really going well for you; and you are being given a lot of good things in life from God’s providence, … BEWARE! It is so easy to fall into the same trap in which Solomon did, letting pride go before a fall.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, help me to avoid my own deceit-ridden heart and to continue to see You in all things and at all times, even when I am being given so much by Your grace. Amen
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Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 72 … To study this Psalm, go to this link -
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Reference Passage: Reference passage for Today’s Bible Study: Deuteronomy 17: 14-20 … To study this passage go to this link -
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Highlight Passage : 2nd Chronicles 1: 7, 10, 12, 14-15 … 7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." … [Solomon’s reply] “10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" … [God’s response] … “…12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." … [Following God’s providence to Solomon] … 14 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem.15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones…
My Journal for Today: Today’s read from the chronological reading plan has me reading the parallel passage to what I studied yesterday from 1st Kings, chapters 3-4; … today from 2nd Chronicles 1, and I’m asking that any reader with me here take the time to read the copied verses from this chapter which I’ve provided for your study.
And in doing so, I was stricken by how Solomon, with the bestowing of God’s grace of wisdom, wealth, and power, chose to let his own pride get in the way of sound judgment, even going against his own written advice to his own son and to other believers in Proverbs 16: 18, where he wrote, [NIV] " Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
You know, it is not uncommon, at least for this Christian, that our pride can take hold, especially when things are going well. Have you ever experienced the feeling that you are in control and can do no wrong when things are going really going well for you? I sure have! … And that is what apparently happened for Solomon. As you can read above, God really unloaded a pile of wondrous grace upon Solomon when the Lord noted that Solomon had humbly asked for wisdom rather than asking for wealth and power when he was given that opportunity by God. And so, what did Solomon do with all that God provided for him? He went out, and in his arrogance, he ignored the instructions (i.e., commands) that God had levied on kings in God’s Book of the Law.
Again, as I did yesterday, I’ve provided any reader with a link to the passage in Deuteronomy 17 where God gives His rules for the kingship of God’s people. And in these boundaries, we see God saying that no king will accumulate vast numbers of horses, gold/silver, and wives; and Solomon, as we can read in 1st Kings 3-4 and 2nd Chronicles 1, as well as from history, did all of these things, blatently mocking God with his kingly choices.
And as we also know from Solomon’s own writings (Proverbs 3: 34), God resists the mockery of pride and gives His grace only to the humble. So, as I wrote yesterday, when one reads the reflections of Solomon later in life in the book of Ecclesiastes, it is not surprising that Solomon would proclaim [go back and read Ecclesiastes, chapter 2] for others who would come after him that his life had become wracked and ruined by his own VANITY and pridefulness.
So, my friend, if things are really going well for you; and you are being given a lot of good things in life from God’s providence, … BEWARE! It is so easy to fall into the same trap in which Solomon did, letting pride go before a fall.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, help me to avoid my own deceit-ridden heart and to continue to see You in all things and at all times, even when I am being given so much by Your grace. Amen
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
May 30, 2012 …. Using God’s Providence for HIS Glory
Passage of the Day: Today’s Chronological Bible Study: 1st Kings, Chapters 3-4 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Reference Passage: Reference passage for Today’s Bible Study: Deuteronomy 17: 14-20 … To study this passage go to this link -
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Highlight Passage : 1st Kings: 3: 11-12 … 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this [i.e., wisdom] and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
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Highlight Passage #2: 1st Kings: 4: 29-34 … 29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five.33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
My Journal for Today: Today, in my chronological read through Scripture, I was led to read about Solomon’s early rule in 1st Kings, chapter 3-4; and this reading is filled with paradoxical contradiction. In the first highlight passage above from 1st Kings 3: 11-12, we read of Solomon being given the option by God’s providence of having anything that God could/would provide, including power, wealth, etc. However, Solomon chose to receive WISDOM from God; and God favored Solomon, making him the wisest man on earth as God’s king over His people. In fact, as we read in the second highlight passage, copied above from 1st Kings 4: 29-34 we read that people and rulers came from all around the middle east at the time to see how Solomon ruled with the HUMAN wisdom God had given the King.
And yet, paradoxically, we read early in 1st Kings 3 how Solomon was already making ill-begotten decisions by marrying the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh, … the first of hundreds of wives, all human (and selfish) decisions which breached God’s commands/laws which were laid out for any who would become king over God’s chosen people. Use the link above and go to the Deuteronomy 17 passage where these kingly rules were laid out by God; and you will see that even though God gave Solomon all the human brain-power it would take to rule over God’s people and to lead Israel as a nation, he (Solomon) did not exercise that God-given prowess wisely.
And isn’t that the same human paradox that we Christians have in these New Covenant times? According to the Apostle Peter, inspired by God in Scripture (see 2nd Peter 1: 3-4) … 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ,,, And even with God’s imparting to us everything He gave to Solomon, don’t we blow it in life just like he did?
And if you’ve read the book of Ecclesiastes, which was Solomon’s chronicle of confession on how he did not choose to use his God-given wisdom wisely, we see that just because God gives us what we need to reflect His holiness and love in this world and our lives, we still have the responsibility to CHOOSE to use it as God instructs we use His providence … FOR HIS GLORY! And as God instructed Solomon (and any king or leader of God’s people), we need to use God’s Book of the Law, i.e., His word - Scripture, for us to be able to make Godly choices and live Godly lives. You can read those instructions, which Solomon most certainly had, in the Deuteronomy passage, linked above. And these were the same instructions given to Joshua when he was given God’s instructions for leadership in Joshua 1: 8; and that is to be in, stay in, and live by God’s word. Because, … when anyone, and especially God’s leaders, do that, God will bless them with His own success and prosperity in the tasks God lays out for us to accomplish (i.e., God’s will for our lives).
HOWEVER, my dear co-reader, the opposite is also the case. When we DO NOT annex and employ God’s word, gleaning His will, and living His way, we will fail in being His witnesses and shining His light in this ever darkening world. THEREFORE, it is my desire (and my prayer today) to be all what I can be – for my God’s glory – by doing all I can to live in/from His word so that I can seek His will and live by His way, becoming the light which my Savior commanded me to be (see Matt. 5: 16) so that I can glorify my Father in Heaven.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, thank You for giving me what I need to live in Your purpose for my life. Now, help me to seek Your wisdom out in Your word, and to live by it EVERY DAY of my life. Amen
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Reference Passage: Reference passage for Today’s Bible Study: Deuteronomy 17: 14-20 … To study this passage go to this link -
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Highlight Passage : 1st Kings: 3: 11-12 … 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this [i.e., wisdom] and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."
============
Highlight Passage #2: 1st Kings: 4: 29-34 … 29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.30 Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.32 He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five.33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
My Journal for Today: Today, in my chronological read through Scripture, I was led to read about Solomon’s early rule in 1st Kings, chapter 3-4; and this reading is filled with paradoxical contradiction. In the first highlight passage above from 1st Kings 3: 11-12, we read of Solomon being given the option by God’s providence of having anything that God could/would provide, including power, wealth, etc. However, Solomon chose to receive WISDOM from God; and God favored Solomon, making him the wisest man on earth as God’s king over His people. In fact, as we read in the second highlight passage, copied above from 1st Kings 4: 29-34 we read that people and rulers came from all around the middle east at the time to see how Solomon ruled with the HUMAN wisdom God had given the King.
And yet, paradoxically, we read early in 1st Kings 3 how Solomon was already making ill-begotten decisions by marrying the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh, … the first of hundreds of wives, all human (and selfish) decisions which breached God’s commands/laws which were laid out for any who would become king over God’s chosen people. Use the link above and go to the Deuteronomy 17 passage where these kingly rules were laid out by God; and you will see that even though God gave Solomon all the human brain-power it would take to rule over God’s people and to lead Israel as a nation, he (Solomon) did not exercise that God-given prowess wisely.
And isn’t that the same human paradox that we Christians have in these New Covenant times? According to the Apostle Peter, inspired by God in Scripture (see 2nd Peter 1: 3-4) … 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ,,, And even with God’s imparting to us everything He gave to Solomon, don’t we blow it in life just like he did?
And if you’ve read the book of Ecclesiastes, which was Solomon’s chronicle of confession on how he did not choose to use his God-given wisdom wisely, we see that just because God gives us what we need to reflect His holiness and love in this world and our lives, we still have the responsibility to CHOOSE to use it as God instructs we use His providence … FOR HIS GLORY! And as God instructed Solomon (and any king or leader of God’s people), we need to use God’s Book of the Law, i.e., His word - Scripture, for us to be able to make Godly choices and live Godly lives. You can read those instructions, which Solomon most certainly had, in the Deuteronomy passage, linked above. And these were the same instructions given to Joshua when he was given God’s instructions for leadership in Joshua 1: 8; and that is to be in, stay in, and live by God’s word. Because, … when anyone, and especially God’s leaders, do that, God will bless them with His own success and prosperity in the tasks God lays out for us to accomplish (i.e., God’s will for our lives).
HOWEVER, my dear co-reader, the opposite is also the case. When we DO NOT annex and employ God’s word, gleaning His will, and living His way, we will fail in being His witnesses and shining His light in this ever darkening world. THEREFORE, it is my desire (and my prayer today) to be all what I can be – for my God’s glory – by doing all I can to live in/from His word so that I can seek His will and live by His way, becoming the light which my Savior commanded me to be (see Matt. 5: 16) so that I can glorify my Father in Heaven.
My Prayer Today: … Lord, thank You for giving me what I need to live in Your purpose for my life. Now, help me to seek Your wisdom out in Your word, and to live by it EVERY DAY of my life. Amen
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
May 29, 2012 …. An Obsession With God’s Word
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 119 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 119: 9-16 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 119: 105-112 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
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Highlight Passage : Psalm 119: 9-11 … 9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. … 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. … 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
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Highlight Passage #2: Psalm 119: 105-106 [NLT] … 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
My Journal for Today: And today in my chronological reading plan, I was led to read and meditate on one of the most powerful Psalms in our Bible, Psalm 119, the longest of the psalms [and the longest chapter in the Bible]; and one of the most poetic of the Bible songs, having been written as an acrostic, where the first letter of each stanza of eight verses is a letter of the 22 letter Hebrew alphabet. Therefore, 8 verses times 22 letters equals 176 verses, which is the length, in verses, of Psalm 119.
Long ago my mentor taught me of the tradition and supposed history of this psalm, possibly being written by Ezra, the priest, who reintroduced God’s word to God’s people after the walls and Temple were rebuilt, which is documented in Nehemiah 8: 1-12. Here, the remnant of Israel were gathered; and Ezra reintroduced the Book of the Law to the people. And hearing the word, especially with the help of the Levite teachers, God’s chosen were overwhelmed with joy and worshipped their Lord as they had not done in decades during their captivity by the Babylonians.
And so, I can just imagine Ezra, being captivated by the power of God’s word to bring God’s people back to Himself, then writing this beautiful and powerful song, which captured the compulsive love affair the author of Psalm 119 had with God’s word. And so, I really hope you’ve taken the time to read (or re-read) and meditate on this wonderful poem about the power of God’s word to reshape and guide the lives of believers. But today I’m going to highlight only two passages from this poem which express truths which are near and dear to me, personally, as well as to the mission and ministry purpose God has led me pursue in life, … Battle Plan Ministries, which, if you don’t know about, you can read about BPM at this link.
The second stanza of Psalm 119, the so-called “Beth” (2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet) verses, declares a powerful prescription from God to help believers avoid sin in their lives. Is there any reader here today, declaring themselves to be “a Christian,” who doesn’t want do all we can to avoid our sin nature? Do I sense a strong “YES!” answer to that question? Well, if one is serious about being proactive to avoid sin, God gives his strategy – or “Battle Plan” as we’d call it in our ministry – to avoid our default to our sin nature; and that is investing the time and effort to get God’s word so deeply into our consciousness that this process gives us our one, strong weapon against sin and Satan; and that, of course is God’s word, the sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6: 17).
Hey, Jesus used this strategy to fight His arch enemy, Satan (see Matt. 4 and Luke 4); and I figure that if that battle strategy to avoid sin is good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me (and any believer!). I hope you agree, because Psalm 119: 9, 11 sings clearly that getting God’s word deeply into the heart (i.e., spiritual being) of any believer, even the immature disciple, is the way to glorify God by avoiding sin. Sure, Jesus (in Matthew 4 and Luke 4) was The Living Word; but we can wield the living word as our sword in battle when we live on and claim the sword of the Spirit.
The second passage to which I highlight any reader here today is the “Nun” segment of Psalm 119, which is Verses 105 – 112, especially highlighting verse 105-106, which I’ve copied above for my fellow seekers after truth. Here we see Ezra, or whomever authored this psalm, declaring that God’s word lights up the path of anyone who truly believes Scripture; and then, God uses His truth to guide that believer in life. And I hope you agree with this poet, and yours truly, that God’s word is truly a light unto our footsteps in life.
Often in ministry, I ask men, who are trying to walk through life with more direction, purity, and freedom from sin, if they’d rather be the first to walk through a minefield; or would they rather have a guide-map showing where al the mines are to avoid being wounded in making our way through the minefield we call life. … Duh!!! … The answer is a no-brainer, of course. And Psalm 119: 105 clearly states that God’s word is that path-finder through the minefields of life, lighting the way for us to walk through life without getting our emotional/spiritual “toes” blown away.
I hope you take in Psalm 119 in depth, my friend, … possibly doing a careful study of this powerful poem some day down the road. And I hope you let this Psalm guide you to get God’s word deeply into your heart and life so that it will become a light unto your path and a powerful weapon to avoid sin.
And as little Edith Ann [Lily Tomlin] used to say from her chair on Laugh-In (take 10 seconds to view her at this link) …
“And ... THAT’S THE TRUTH!!”
My Prayer Today: … Lord, Your word is truth; and it always is a light unto my path and my sword in battle! Amen
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Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 119: 9-16 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
============
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Psalm 119: 105-112 … To study these chapters, go to this link -
============
Highlight Passage : Psalm 119: 9-11 … 9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. … 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. … 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
============
Highlight Passage #2: Psalm 119: 105-106 [NLT] … 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
My Journal for Today: And today in my chronological reading plan, I was led to read and meditate on one of the most powerful Psalms in our Bible, Psalm 119, the longest of the psalms [and the longest chapter in the Bible]; and one of the most poetic of the Bible songs, having been written as an acrostic, where the first letter of each stanza of eight verses is a letter of the 22 letter Hebrew alphabet. Therefore, 8 verses times 22 letters equals 176 verses, which is the length, in verses, of Psalm 119.
Long ago my mentor taught me of the tradition and supposed history of this psalm, possibly being written by Ezra, the priest, who reintroduced God’s word to God’s people after the walls and Temple were rebuilt, which is documented in Nehemiah 8: 1-12. Here, the remnant of Israel were gathered; and Ezra reintroduced the Book of the Law to the people. And hearing the word, especially with the help of the Levite teachers, God’s chosen were overwhelmed with joy and worshipped their Lord as they had not done in decades during their captivity by the Babylonians.
And so, I can just imagine Ezra, being captivated by the power of God’s word to bring God’s people back to Himself, then writing this beautiful and powerful song, which captured the compulsive love affair the author of Psalm 119 had with God’s word. And so, I really hope you’ve taken the time to read (or re-read) and meditate on this wonderful poem about the power of God’s word to reshape and guide the lives of believers. But today I’m going to highlight only two passages from this poem which express truths which are near and dear to me, personally, as well as to the mission and ministry purpose God has led me pursue in life, … Battle Plan Ministries, which, if you don’t know about, you can read about BPM at this link.
The second stanza of Psalm 119, the so-called “Beth” (2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet) verses, declares a powerful prescription from God to help believers avoid sin in their lives. Is there any reader here today, declaring themselves to be “a Christian,” who doesn’t want do all we can to avoid our sin nature? Do I sense a strong “YES!” answer to that question? Well, if one is serious about being proactive to avoid sin, God gives his strategy – or “Battle Plan” as we’d call it in our ministry – to avoid our default to our sin nature; and that is investing the time and effort to get God’s word so deeply into our consciousness that this process gives us our one, strong weapon against sin and Satan; and that, of course is God’s word, the sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6: 17).
Hey, Jesus used this strategy to fight His arch enemy, Satan (see Matt. 4 and Luke 4); and I figure that if that battle strategy to avoid sin is good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me (and any believer!). I hope you agree, because Psalm 119: 9, 11 sings clearly that getting God’s word deeply into the heart (i.e., spiritual being) of any believer, even the immature disciple, is the way to glorify God by avoiding sin. Sure, Jesus (in Matthew 4 and Luke 4) was The Living Word; but we can wield the living word as our sword in battle when we live on and claim the sword of the Spirit.
The second passage to which I highlight any reader here today is the “Nun” segment of Psalm 119, which is Verses 105 – 112, especially highlighting verse 105-106, which I’ve copied above for my fellow seekers after truth. Here we see Ezra, or whomever authored this psalm, declaring that God’s word lights up the path of anyone who truly believes Scripture; and then, God uses His truth to guide that believer in life. And I hope you agree with this poet, and yours truly, that God’s word is truly a light unto our footsteps in life.
Often in ministry, I ask men, who are trying to walk through life with more direction, purity, and freedom from sin, if they’d rather be the first to walk through a minefield; or would they rather have a guide-map showing where al the mines are to avoid being wounded in making our way through the minefield we call life. … Duh!!! … The answer is a no-brainer, of course. And Psalm 119: 105 clearly states that God’s word is that path-finder through the minefields of life, lighting the way for us to walk through life without getting our emotional/spiritual “toes” blown away.
I hope you take in Psalm 119 in depth, my friend, … possibly doing a careful study of this powerful poem some day down the road. And I hope you let this Psalm guide you to get God’s word deeply into your heart and life so that it will become a light unto your path and a powerful weapon to avoid sin.
And as little Edith Ann [Lily Tomlin] used to say from her chair on Laugh-In (take 10 seconds to view her at this link) …
“And ... THAT’S THE TRUTH!!”
My Prayer Today: … Lord, Your word is truth; and it always is a light unto my path and my sword in battle! Amen
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