Proverbs 6-7

Here is item #3 in Search the Scriptures today:

Test your life in the light of Proverbs 6:16-19.

That’s not a bad exercise. But I wonder if the language of those few verses might be such that most of us would be fairly quick to acquit ourselves, perhaps prematurely. For example, I don’t generally think of myself as having hands that shed innocent blood or feet that make haste to run to evil, and I bet you don’t either. But maybe we need to take a bit more time and think more deeply and more thoroughly. We might just find that we are not so innocent after all.

That is not to say that we should get stuck in interminable navel-gazing, wallowing around in our own muck. But we should honestly examine ourselves, measuring ourselves against Scripture, repenting of evil, confessing our sin, and turning to the Lord. It is the wise person who does so.

See also:

• May 18 (2022) / Proverbs 6:1-11
• May 19 (2022) / Proverbs 6:12-19
• May 20 (2022) / Proverbs 6:20-26
• May 21 (2022) / Proverbs 6:27-35
• May 22 (2022) / Proverbs 7:1-5
• May 23 (2022) / Proverbs 7:6-23
• May 24 (2022) / Proverbs 7:24-27

By the way, I hope that you consider the pursuit of wisdom worthy of the few extra minutes it might take to read those prior posts.

Proverbs 4-5

Why is it, do you think, that Solomon uses such strong words encouraging us (or, rather, pushing and pulling us) toward wisdom? Why does he need to use such strong entreaties? Why is it not enough to spend just a verse or two saying that wisdom is a good thing and that maybe we should get a little?

Perhaps it is because we are all naturally inclined toward folly and laziness — and sin. Then, even when we recognize wisdom and righteousness as good things and we decide to put forth some effort to pursue them, we tend toward self-reliance. We don’t need to listen to our parents (we think), because we already know better than they. We don’t need to worry about assorted temptations, because we’re better than that. But we’re fooling ourselves — and we ultimately make fools of ourselves.

In fact, our tendency toward self-reliance is so strong that even as we read these chapters in Proverbs and agree that we need to pursue wisdom vigorously, we immediately tend to go about it our own way and rely on our own strength. But that is a trap.

Yes, we need to put forth effort — serious effort — to gain wisdom, but it must always be in full reliance on — and submission to — the Holy Spirit. We must not forget what we just read in Galatians:

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:8

See also:

• May 12 (2022) / Proverbs 4:1-9
• May 13 (2022) / Proverbs 4:10-19
• May 14 (2022) / Proverbs 4:20-27
• May 15 (2022) / Proverbs 5:1-6
• May 16 (2022) / Proverbs 5:7-14
• May 17 (2022) / Proverbs 5:15-23

Proverbs 2-3

Wisdom.

Reading these chapters, I’m guessing that we’d all readily agree that wisdom is a good thing. We all recognize that it is to be prized (Pr. 3:4), that it has immense practical value, that it is life-giving and is fully consistent with righteousness and justice and equity, every good path. (Pr. 3:9) And so, we would all like to be considered to be wise. No one wants to be thought of as a fool.

Yet which of us truly seeks for wisdom diligently? Oh, sure, we’ve all spent time studying in school, some devoting years in the pursuit of advanced degrees. But is true wisdom (not just knowledge) really a high priority for us? Are we honestly willing to start at the beginning, with the fear of the LORD? Or do we want to skip that bit? Are we willing to lay aside our own ideas and preferences, submitting all to the Lord? Do we trust Him fully? (Pr. 3:5-6) Or are we holding back?

If we are honest with ourselves, most (if not all) of us would have to admit that we do not routinely pursue wisdom with vigor. We’re happy to stumble upon bits of wisdom here and there, but we do not search it out wholeheartedly. Let’s change that. Let’s listen to Proverbs. Let’s seek out Wisdom, and in so doing seek the Lord Himself.

See also:

• May 4 (2022) / Proverbs 2:1-8
• May 5 (2022) / Proverbs 2:9-15
• May 6 (2022) / Proverbs 2:16-22
• May 7 (2022) / Proverbs 3:1-8
• May 8 (2022) / Proverbs 3:9-12
• May 9 (2022) / Proverbs 3:13-18
• May 10 (2022) / Proverbs 3:19-26
• May 11 (2022) / Proverbs 3:27-35

As Fred heads off to Europe for the next few months, he has asked me to provide the daily commentary as we head into Proverbs. Those of you who have been with RTB for the past few years know that we went through Proverbs at a slower pace in 2022, and then flew through it again in 2023 at an insanely fast pace. Before we dive in for this year, I would encourage you to read our Introduction to Proverbs from 2022. Likewise, as we go through each day, you may also want to (re)visit the rest of our commentary from 2022 (and a bit from 2023). Yes, that will take a few more minutes each day (especially for the next few days), but I do not think you will regret it.

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Proverbs 1

Wisdom.

We learn right up front in this book that wisdom — obtaining wisdom and conveying wisdom from one generation to the next — is the objective at hand. But wisdom does not come naturally. It involves a choice. We can choose to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity (v. 3) or reject it. We can practice the fear of the LORD, or we can despise wisdom and instruction. (v. 7) We can pursue righteousness and life, or we can fall in with the wrong crowd and be enticed toward unjust gain — and our own demise. (Pr. 1:8-19) We can listen to the voice of Wisdom as she calls out to us in the streets, or we can stop our ears and go our own way until it is too late. (Pr. 20-33) Most people do the latter.

So choose. What will it be? Are you willing to listen to Wisdom?

See also:

• May 1 (2022) / Proverbs 1:1-7
• May 2 (2022) / Proverbs 1:8-19
• May 3 (2022) / Proverbs 1:20-33

Galatians 5:25-6:18

Dear RTB’ers,

Better late than never?? Actually, packing pre-empted posting! We have a plane to catch in six hours. Please remember to pray for us while we’re gone.

Paul has a number of disparate thoughts in today’s reading – no common denominator that I could find. But what is interesting to me is that as he closes his letter, he returns to where he began in Gal. 1:6 – focusing on those Jewish Christians who are forcing circumcision on the Gentiles and forcing obedience to the Law on all the believers (Gal. 6:12,ff). I think Paul is being a bit sarcastic in verse 13a: For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law…. Paul is on good authority here. Jesus had challenged the Pharisees with being “whitewashed sepulchres”: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28) I’m reminded of a line from a Moody Blues song, “If only you knew what’s inside of me now, you wouldn’t want to know me, somehow.” Too true, too often, for me…!

Blessings!

Galatians 5:2-24

Dear RTB’ers,

Every time I read today’s passage, I get hung up on this one verse: But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. (v. 11) As worded, that verse was very confusing to me. A few years ago I explained it to myself. First, I looked it up in the New Living Translation: Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. That’s clearer, but Paul’s “dashed offset” still left me a bit confused (as his parenthetical expressions often do!). So then I re-worded this NLT text: “Some say I am preaching that you must be circumcised; if that’s true, then why are the faithful Jews still persecuting me? Because if I were not preaching Christ, I would be one with them and everything would be OK.” Hopefully that might help some of the rest of you to understand a confusing verse.

The ”Fruits of the Spirit”, Galatians 5:22. I expect that many of us memorized these “fruits of the Spirit” in our growing-up years. But I doubt that anyone memorized the “works of the flesh”. (No, I didn’t either!) But as we make our personal confessions – in church, at home, anywhere – Galatians 5:19-21 offers a good list of current and past sins of omission and commission for us to consider. Here’s the list – typed out one-by-one (not cut-and-paste) to make it more personal: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. Some of these hit home, still…! But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (v. 16)

Blessings! 

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See also: November 28 (2023) / Galatians 3-6

Galatians 4:8-5:1

Dear RTB’ers,

I often look for one or two key verses for each day’s reading. Surprisingly, 4:20 is that verse for today: I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Yes, these words encapsulate Paul’s thoughts for today’s reading, especially the second half of that sentence: … for I am perplexed about you. Paul is indeed confused as to why the Gentile and Jewish converts would be listening to the “Judaizers” – those “converted” Jews who were trying to lead these converted believers back to circumcision and the rigors of the Law. Why would they listen to people who were trying to enslave them when Paul had offered them the freedom of Jesus and His Holy Spirit? Paul challenges their behavior: …how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world … ? You observe days and months and seasons and years! (4:9b-10) Both the Gentiles with their pagan gods and the Jews with their regular feasts and daily rituals were returning to slave conditions, obeying the formalities set down in the Law. Why??!! Yes, Paul is perplexed about them!

At last night’s healing service we had a reading from Revelation 21, talking about the “New Jerusalem”: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away … And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… (Rev. 21:1-2a) Now compare today’s reading: Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (vv. 4:25-26) My Study Bible noted that this “Jerusalem above” was a standard Rabbinical teaching – a city that would be at the center of the Messiah’s activity when He comes. Pastor David used to talk about “divine echoes”, when we have a message from the Lord repeated to our eyes and ears. So today, for me, a divine echo. So, what am I supposed to take from this “new Jerusalem” and this “Jerusalem above”. A thought for today…!!

Hope to see you at our RTB gathering later this morning!

Blessings!

Galatians 3:19-4:7

Dear RTB’ers,

Although Paul spends many words and various examples to explain his theology, to me it seemed that today’s reading could be stated very simply. First, the Law was there to show the Jewish people their sin, their need for God. My NASB notes had a second translation for It was added because of transgressions… (Gal. 3:19b), that it could be translated as It was added for the sake of defining transgressions. That makes it more clear. Then Gal. 3:23-25 form the transition from the Law to Jesus: Now before faith [Christ] came, we were held captive under the law, … So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian… Finally, Gal. 4:6b-7a clarifies that the Holy Spirit is now our “guardian”: …God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, … So you are no longer a slave, but a son.

So that’s my take on today’s reading.

RTB gathering tomorrow!!

Blessings!

Galatians 3:1-18

Dear RTB’ers,

We continue where we left off yesterday, justification by faith: …we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, … because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal. 2:16) Let’s follow Paul’s argument in today’s reading. First, Abraham was the father of many nations: In you shall all the nations be blessed. (v. 8b, Genesis 12:3) Second, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. (v. 6, Genesis 15:6) Third, the Law came 430 years later and did not nullify the Covenant. (v. 17) Finally, do we now set aside the Promise and instead follow the Law, with all its spiritual and fleshly (circumcision!) demands? Paul’s conclusion: For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse… (v. 10a) and Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law… (v. 11a) and Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us… (v. 13a). We are saved, not by works, but by faith!

My Study Bible mentioned at verse 2 that Paul mentions the Holy Spirit sixteen times in the last four chapters of Galatians. Sweet!

Blessings!