Proverbs 13: You Are What Your Soul Eats
How do you feed a hungry soul? (Hah, you thought I was gonna say “man” there, didn’t you? 😁 And now you’re humming the TV dinner tune, right? 🎶 Okay, maybe that’s just me.)
But, seriously, for all we’ve talked about hungering and thirsting for The Lord, we haven’t really discussed the care and feeding of that hunger and thirst. Solomon got it in a few verses of Proverbs Chapter 13. Like…
Proverbs 13:2-3, 19, 25 WEBUS
[2] By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.
[3] He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
[19] Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.
[25] The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.13.2-25.WEBUS
But there’s so much more depth to it, especially when you learn the meaning of the word soul in Scripture. The Bible Project guys do an amazing teaching on this subject. Watch the video from YouTube here on the blog, or go to their site where you can find all 6 videos in the Shema series plus read the transcripts or download them in PDF. The site is at https://bibleproject.com/videos/nephesh-soul/ and here’s the video…
Once you’ve learned the meaning of the word soul (Hebrew nephesh), go back to those four verses above and read them again. Spoiler: the word represents the complete essence of life in its fullest form. So when you read Psalm 42:1-2, you’ll see it as something like, As the desperately thirsty deer pants for the water, my whole life longs for You, Lord God. It desperately thirsts to be satisfied by The Living God. When can I come before Your Holy Presence again? And when you seek with that kind of longing and get filled up by The Lord Himself, you will wonder how you ever wanted anything less than that. And you will have just an inkling of how God feels and why He pursues us. The Got Questions site has a great article on the question “Does God Pursue Us?”
And now, enjoy this video of the song As the Deer…
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Proverbs 12: Life on Planet Earth
I didn’t ask Wombo to create an actual working maze, so if you can solve it, I’d be surprised, but go ahead and try if you like. I did ask for a few portals that could get folks through dead-end walls, though.
So why a maze? Because it’s a great representation of life with how we navigate through it, run into walls, find good and bad along the way, and sometimes feel like there’s nowhere else to go. Plus, Proverbs Chapter 12 begins with the statement that, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge.” And what could take more discipline than a maze?
I always laugh when I read the second half of verse 1 in the modern translations. While the King James Version (KJV) calls the person who hates discipline “brutish,” many of the more recent texts say the person who hates correction is “stupid.” That wasn’t something I was supposed to call people according to my raising, so seeing it in a Bible totally shocked me the first time. I like the way the New Living Translation (NLT) says it better. Verse 1 reads…
Proverbs 12:1 NLT
[1] To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.12.1.NLT
This chapter has another set of comparisons in all facets of life on Earth. Each one could prove the two points made in verse one. For example, the disciplined people who have learned and gained knowledge would be more apt to be good or godly. That means they’ll be approved by God, and they’ll have deep roots. The opposite personalities will plan wickedness that never brings stability and is not approved by God. The list continues with the godly using words that save lives, winning admiration, making just plans, and having strong family ties. The wicked give treacherous advice, use murderous words, and have a warped mind that is despised.
Like the maze, life is filled with common sense choices and foolish choices. We will make (or should make) the ones that get us to where we want to go. It won’t always be perfect even with wise choices, and foolish choices are not always the impossible-to-escape ends of the roads we walk. Without God, there would be no hope for those who make foolish choices, but because of His grace, we are given ways to escape and, often, start over. Verse 20 says that deceit fills the hearts of those who plan evil, but joy fills the hearts of those planning peace. I consider that joy one of those sparkling portals along with words of encouragement mentioned in verse 25.
And sometimes, no matter what decisions we make, we get tumbled by something as simple as a common cold. I asked myself if I’m dealing with this now because of the lack of sleep from doing these late-night blogs, or because I went somewhere and got exposed but didn’t clean my nose well enough when I got home, or just what. But maybe it wasn’t anything I did or did not do, and it’s just my body being human. Hubby had it for almost 2 weeks, so I know I could’ve gotten it from him even with being careful. I’ll be pulling out all the stops (vitamins, Oscillococcinum, Zicam, copper, sunshine, coconut oil coating my nose, and Day/Night cold relief) and trying to get through it. I’ll gladly take prayer, and I’ll hold on to the hope in the last verse of this chapter…
Proverbs 12:28 WEBUS
[28] In the way of righteousness is life; in its path there is no death.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.12.28.WEBUS
And now an old Sunday School favorite about wise and foolish builders…
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Proverbs 11: But It’s Not Fair
What’s wrong with this picture? Shouldn’t the gray rocks be heavier? Maybe it’s the mix of worthless rocks within the colored gems that has them weighing more. Whatever the cause, scales out of balance are something most of us know go against justice. The seller whose wares are not paid for honestly, or the buyer who pays and finds later he’s been a victim of lies, can both shout, “But it’s not fair!”
But God loves balance and justice. He gave Solomon wisdom that supports balance and justice, so Solomon begins Proverbs Chapter 11 with the statement that God hates dishonest scales but takes delight in accurate weights. He then goes on to describe more either/or statements that show the fruit of being in balance vs out of balance.
This chapter has enough in it to break it down for as many studies as there are verses (31), so I know I’ll be marking it to go back and study more. For tonight, though, I’m going to leave you with the Bible Project site to read, and I’m posting another video from Bryce Crawford because of his verse by verse breakdown. Plus I love his comments on verse 14 about preachers needing preachers and mentors needing mentors because of the safety in multitudes of counselors. He mentions that if you only surround yourself with those who look up to you, you won’t have caring people to hold you accountable and protect you from falling. Here’s that video…
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Proverbs 10: Either, Or…
The conjunction of choice and consequence is a connection far too many people ignore these days. Everyone wants the freedom to choose, but they want to be able to choose without consequences. That’s impossible since the word “consequence” means “with sequence” or “with what follows.” All of Earth demonstrates the concept of reaping (harvesting) what we plant, and it doesn’t take the wisdom of Solomon to understand the basics of getting back what we put in.
But Solomon does give us perspective here in Proverbs Chapter 10 by contrasting the consequences of choices made for or against God’s ways. He shows by example that people can either walk the wise path or the otherwise path with its potholes and crookedness. One will leave you weary, and one will leave you energized because the finish line brings joy and peace. Click the link above to read the full chapter at the Bible Project website where you can also find podcasts and great animated videos with simple Bible teaching.
Wisdom is Solomon’s stock in trade, and he tells you in verses 8 & 9 why it’s so important for him to share that wisdom.
Proverbs 10:8-9 WEBUS
[8] The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall. [9] He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.10.8-9.WEBUS
When you read the chapter for yourself, mentally arrange the items in 2 columns. Either you choose the crooked road or you choose the straight path. Either you choose the curses, or you choose the blessings. Read the results you desire first, and then look at the steps to take to get those results. If you’re already living with results you don’t want, now you’ve got a roadmap of steps to change that. Your goal is verse 22…
Proverbs 10:22 WEBUS
[22] Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.10.22.WEBUS
And writing this brought my mind back to an old song about people who are sick and tired of the cost of the crooked road, and they want to live with love forever. All they have to do is say, “I do.”
For further study, I was really impressed with the grasp this young man has on Scripture and his presentation, so I want to share his verse by verse study of Proverbs Chapter 10. His name is Bryce Crawford and his ministry is called “Jesus in the Street.”
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Proverbs 9: Folly’s Fatal Feast vs Wisdom’s Wonderful Welcome
When you’re hungry, even the bitter may taste sweet, so it’s the perfect opportunity for the enemy of your soul to show up with what looks like a tasty feast but is instead poisonous. Use discernment and not just eyesight to examine what you allow your mind and soul (and body) to consume.
Lady Wisdom is here for another visit in Proverbs Chapter 9. This time, in verses 1-6, we see her building a strong house and then preparing a tasty and nourishing feast. She invites whosoever will to join her for a meal. There is so much to offer that she’s sent others out with invitations, and even those who are simple-minded and lacking judgment are welcome to attend. Beyond sustenance, those who feast with her can leave their folly behind to live and walk in understanding.
In verses 7-9, Solomon breaks into a short lesson (maybe a quick rant) about the troubles you’ll have if you try to correct a mocker. Instead, he says, look for wise and righteous people to teach if you don’t want the stress of being hated for your message. While it is true we can see more pleasant fruit by looking for wise and open personalities to instruct in yet more wisdom, this was also written before the shed blood of Christ who told His disciples they would be hated by all for the message. We don’t want to strive with those who have made up their minds to resist God no matter what, but keeping the feast available may still change a life.
Verses 10-12 speak again about walking in the (proper) fear of The Lord and knowledge of The Holy One. While it gives promises, it also says the main benefits are to you alone. But, hey, an advantage is an advantage, right? And if we each get our own benefits, then those we teach do, too.
Finally, in verses 13-19, we are introduced to the woman named Folly. Like the brazen seductress in previous chapters, she’s looking for victims. She shows up in the high places (which could even represent the church) with her own “feast” and begins calling out to those walking straight paths. See, she wants to destroy what is right. From there, she also calls out to those who lack judgment, but instead of promising deliverance, she starts spinning webs of lies. She tells them her stolen water is sweeter, and she neglects to tell them the truth about her guests who died from eating her poisons. And the chapter ends there.
Now, before I end this, I have to share one of the cute images I ended up with when I used the same prompts as for the picture above, but chose the “knitting” filter instead. It’s just fun and cute.
And, now, here’s a song about the feast prepared for us by Jesus, the one guaranteed to satisfy us.
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Proverbs 8: Choosing Life Over Death
If there were ever a secular song that echoed the message of Lady Wisdom in the Proverbs, I’d say it was I Want You to Want Me by Cheap Trick (1977). The lyrics talk about the singer’s desire to be wanted, needed, and loved. They go on to describe the desperate situation of the object of their desire and how that person was lonely and crying but the singer wants to make all that better for them.
Listen to a similar cry from Lady Wisdom in Proverbs Chapter 8…
Proverbs 8:1-2, 4, 10, 14, 17-19, 21, 32-35 WEBUS
[1] Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
[2] On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
[4] “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
[10] Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
[14] Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
[17] I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
[18] With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
[21] that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
[32] “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it! (Emphasis mine.)
[34] Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
[35] For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.8.1-35.WEBUS
Today, our seeker is standing at another crossroads like yesterday. The darkness isn’t hiding its final end, and with the door to the house of light open, the man can clearly see his two choices. I’m thinking he’s walked away from the temptress of chapter 7 and is now at least willing to listen to the possibilities of another way. Maybe he’s where some of us have been in our lives, standing at the end of a church service while the music team plays and sings the invitation song, Just As I Am. Our heart squeezes in our chest while stress turns our hands cold and clammy. We want so desperately to take that first step toward the altar, but fear and pride seem to paralyze us. We might be thinking: “What if God won’t accept me as I am? What if these people condemn me? What if all that happiness I’m seeing on these people’s faces isn’t real?”
Yes, most Christians began their walk with moments just like that. Even the song of invitation, written back in 1835, includes a lyric line that says, “Many a conflict, many a doubt. Fightings and fears within — without.” (The story behind the hymn is fascinating and has similar testimonies.) But we overcame those conflicts, doubts, and fears because something (or, more accurately, Someone) was calling us to trust God and give Him a chance to prove Himself. And when we finally took that first step out from our seat, the rest of the steps became almost a running pace to a place of sorrow and repentance. Then the fruit of that moment took us face to face with a flood of love and peace greater than we ever thought possible. Now, on the other side of that decision, most will tell you they are still glad they made it to the altar.
Proverbs 8 ends with the promise from Lady Wisdom in verse 35 followed by her strong warning in verse 36. Together, they read…
Proverbs 8:35-36 CSB
[35] “For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,
[36] but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”
https://bible.com/bible/1713/pro.8.35-36.CSB
And here is a beautiful rendition of Just As I Am by “Sounds Like Reign” and recorded in a farm silo…
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Proverbs 6: The Fable We Forget to Remember
Most of us know the Aesop’s fable about The Grasshopper and The Ant. (If you don’t, you can click the title to read it at the US Library of Congress website.) I’m guessing Aesop got his fable from the wisdom of Proverbs 6. And it makes as much sense now as during either of those eras.
We begin as infants to exert at least some control in our lives. A baby learns the exact cries to get what it needs, be it food, a diaper change, or just some affection. The small child pulls away with a declaration of “I can do it myself,” and the teen shouts accusations about parents who don’t know anything before they slam the door to be alone in their room. And, though every behavior we use may not be the best way to get the control we desire, the desire is built in by God. When governed by His Holy Spirit, it’s part of the fruit we grow in Him.
Without God, though, the demand for self control may come out as a petulant tantrum or some other form of manipulation. The grasshoppers in the picture above use their decision-making skills to play while others work, and they refuse to look at the big picture that includes the coming season and how that play won’t prepare them at all. That’s why the father in this chapter is directing his children to pay attention to the ant, and he even points out how the ant is in control because it’s doing the right thing even without a boss (commander or overseer).
We all want control, but we often forget to remember the responsibility that comes with that control. And we forget to remember what happened to the grasshopper when winter arrived. It’s well-said in “Spider Man” with the quote: “With great power comes great responsibility.” (And FYI, as I looked up the origin of the quote, I found an article with its roots back to the original comics in case you want to read it.)
A great hymn about working like the ant is To The Work, To The Work (Toiling On) by Fannie J Crosby…
And a hymn that inspires the work and also focuses on the short time to do it is called “Work for the Night is Coming” by Anna Louisa Walker Coghill…
Now the father turns the children’s attention to The Creator and how even God doesn’t just put up with foolishness. We don’t like to think of God as being a hater, but in context, we see there is a time for love and a time for hate. The wise father gives the children a list of 6 things The Lord hates and a 7th that is totally detestable to Him. Here are verses 17-19 from The Amplified Bible…
17 A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others],
a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that creates wicked plans,
Feet that run swiftly to evil,
19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths],
And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.
He ends his message with another plea for the kids to listen and hold on to his wisdom, and this time he adds that they should listen to their mother as well. He says the commands are lamps and lights for them. All of God’s wisdom is a lamp and light for His children today, too.
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Proverbs 5: All About Spam, Scams, and Clickbait
What do spam, scams, and clickbait have in common? They are all shiny wrappers around hidden nastiness that will lead to unwanted ends. They are all lures on a fisherman’s hook trying to catch something to fillet for dinner. And the fish rarely realize it until it’s too late. The woman in Proverbs 5 is one of those fishermen.
Read Proverbs 5 at Bible Hub at https://biblehub.com/proverbs/5.htm.
Have you ever wondered how they know all the viruses and scams out there so they can protect us? There are actually people who make themselves vulnerable to attack, so they can write protections for the rest of us who are not knowledgeable of what’s out there. We can be thankful that even in the free antivirus software, people are taking time to seek out what might bring harm to the rest of us to protect not only us but everyone else we connect to. And so goes the story of the father in Proverbs who desperately wants to protect his sons from becoming victims of the enemy of their souls.
I have ADHD but I prefer to call it OLS for “Oh look, SHINY!” Boy can I get distracted by shiny, pretty, sparkly, and otherwise noticeable things. They take away my time, my ability to focus, and even my moments that could be spent with people who matter more than the distractions. Sometimes, the guilt and regret of making bad decisions can hang on me for a long time after there’s no turning back and something important got lost in the chaos. Maybe it was a friend I forgot to call back. Maybe just a bill I forgot to pay that resulted in a late fee or a mark on my credit. Whatever it was, the promise for something that seemed sweet (like the honey and oil from the forbidden woman in verse 3) or shiny turned bitter and ugly in the end.
Whether you click on the bait that never satisfies, or the virus-laden page or email, or you fall for the seductions of the enemy, the price is always one of loss you didn’t intend. Verse 12 blames it on the person hating to be disciplined and not listening to teachers or mentors. And verse 11 talks about the groaning at the end of a wasted life. These things are written about adultery, so the lyrics from the song Careless Whisper are perfect for seeing the sadness that results from listening to one whisper of bad advice. Of course, that song ends in hopelessness with the singer in the outro trying to talk himself out of being responsible for the hurt that drove the rejected person away, so I’m not going to link to the video, but you can click the title to read the lyrics at Genius where there seemed to be fewer pop-ups than some other lyric sites.
Now, if you’ll indulge my wondering mind for a moment, I want to share something that came to me as I worked on this. I realized that Solomon, the father giving all this advice here, was himself the son of an illicit affair. Whether his mother seduced the king like the scenario in this chapter of Proverbs isn’t certain, but from the context in ll Samuel 11:4, it would appear that she was a law keeper who was purifying herself according to the law of Moses, and King David is the one at fault. Had he been with his men in battle (maybe even with Bathsheba’s husband Uriah since he was one of the King’s “Mighty Men”), he may not have been there to see her bathing. Plus, he could’ve turned away, and he could’ve left her alone since he knew she belonged to someone else.
But whomever was at fault, it doesn’t change the dynamic that Solomon likely grew up with. Behind castle walls, a dysfunctional family, scarred by deceit and death, fought their private battles. And the kids saw it all. Solomon may have witnessed his mother crying over her losses. Being taken by David did not change Bathsheba’s status as a widow. He may also have been bullied by his jealous brothers when the infighting over who would be king was brutally active. Solomon was a victim of adults making decisions he wasn’t there for and couldn’t fix, so I think what he saw in all that dysfunction drove him to vehemently warn his children away from the same costly behaviors.
Solomon had all the reason in the world to just give up and play the victim card. After all, he spent his whole life in a place where “the sword would never depart” (as prophesied by Nathan the prophet). In today’s overtly sensitive society, it wouldn’t be a stretch to give him a blanket, a teddy bear, and some hot chocolate and then excuse him from all his responsibilities so he could process his pain. But back then, being a victim was like being a bleeding chicken where the rest of the flock pecks the weak bird to death. So Solomon reframed the situation and decided to learn from it and teach others from his experiences. He could write a book on how childhood trauma can create the greatest wisdom. Well, I guess he did write it. (Grin.)
Next time you read anything written by or about Solomon, think of him in terms of a survivor of a dysfunctional family and childhood. Note how that changes how you see and share his wisdom, especially if you have any experience as a survivor yourself. We can comfort each other in our pain, but we need balance to keep from being buried in that pain and paralyzed by it. As you think on these things, go to the comments and put one trial and one bit of wisdom that came from it for you. Like, “Life gave me lemons, so I reframed that and made lemonade.” I want to hear your thoughts on this. In the meantime, this song is the ultimate reframe from Christ where He reframed His death as a sacrifice, and you get to reframe your sin into salvation if you accept it. It’s called He Paid a Debt.
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Proverbs 4: A Straight Path in a Crooked World
(CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Choosing the Father’s Way in the Midst of Chaos
Proverbs Chapter 4 is a full message from a dad and a little bit of a message from a grandfather. The dad is telling his sons how he was once in their place, a child loved by his parents who cared enough to teach him. Now he’s passing that teaching to the children he loves.
I love how AI created this image with all those roads and people on them. Though there are more people on the straight road than is probably reality, it perfectly illustrates the culture we live in now, one defined by choice paralysis. I just learned that term while studying this chapter, and it truly bridges the gap from simple biblical advice to the cacophony of answers we must slog through in our current world. Every day, we are bombarded with “new ways” to be healthy, get smarter, and spend our time so as not to get bored. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of directions we could take, all with their own marketing hype to create–or play on–our FOMO (fear of missing out) issues.
This chapter has great advice about walking in wisdom and its promise of a long life. Verse 13 reminds these children (and us) to hold on to these instructions and not let go, and to guard them because they bring life. It’s as if good instruction and wisdom are a life raft in a raging sea. (Spoiler: They are.) Verses 14-17 are filled with strong warning about avoiding the paths of evil because of who they’ll meet on it. Verses 18 and 19 directly compare the path of the righteous with the way of the wicked, and I love the description for the righteous path in the Berean Study Bible.
Proverbs 4:18-19 BSB
[18] The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. [19] But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
https://bible.com/bible/3034/pro.4.18-19.BSB
Finally, Proverbs 4:26-27 offers simple clarity. Instead of urging us to explore every road until we find what makes us comfortable; it tells us to “Carefully consider the path of your feet.” Just as the father in the picture points toward the one straight road, God’s Word directs us to walk straight forward without turning to the right or left so we can keep our feet away from evil. That’s discernment, and it’s even more necessary today when media and makeup can distort the truth to make evil look good, and good look evil. Thankfully, good and evil are not defined by behaviors so much as by whether God is the focus or not. The word “evil” actually means “minus God,” and that explains how in the days of Noah, men’s thoughts were continuously evil (or continuously not on God). It didn’t have to mean everyone had a criminal mind, just that they all had minds focused on everything but God. And that’s why it even got into the church–both then and now.
As I read this chapter, I was reminded of an old song by Charley Pride called “This Highway Leads to Glory.” I like it best by Wilma Burgess but couldn’t find either with lyrics, so enjoy this one by a youth group in Hong Kong…
Let’s Consider These Things Together:
Ephesians 4:14 CSB says
[14] Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
https://bible.com/bible/1713/eph.4.14.CSB
What is one road you can see being laid out today to distract people (including in the church) from God’s truth? Drop me a comment below—let’s encourage each other to keep our feet on the straight path!
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Proverbs 2: The Shadow on Your Path
Proverbs Chapter 1 is all about the purpose of wisdom, and how wisdom can set you up on a right path. Yesterday, I talked about how the right kind of fear of God would open doors to that wisdom. Today, in Proverbs Chapter 2, we’ll read about some of the obstacles found on that path. Visit https://www.bible.com/bible/1713/PRO.2.CSB to read the chapter in the Christian Standard Bible. You can change the version once you’re there if you like.
So what is wisdom worth? Is it all about being smarter? Knowing all the rules? Awareness? Having all the answers? Maybe a little of those, but I believe the best aspect of wisdom is discernment. The definition of that word from Merriam-Webster is “the quality of being able to grasp what is obscure.” A couple synonyms there are insight and perception. Most people either want those things or want to know someone with them, so they can find the answers to obscure questions that escape their grasp. But here in this chapter, the father is assuring his son that if he seeks wisdom like he would seek gold and silver, he will have that grasp when he needs it.
Verses 7 and 8 describe how God stores up success for those on the path of The Lord. They go on to say how God is a shield of protection who will guard that path of justice and protect that way for His followers. Verse 10 says you’ll have discretion for protection and understanding for a guard over you. Or, as the EasyEnglish Bible says, “you will know the right thing to do, and that will keep you safe.” And the reasons for needing all this protection are highlighted in verses 12 through 19 with the warnings to avoid evil people who abandon right paths and especially the forbidden woman who flatters young men to drag them into her house of death.
Now that we are about 3000 years beyond the writing of these words of wisdom, we can take a simple walk through history to see how correct these instructions were and still are. Those who follow the path of the cross of Jesus Christ know how valuable His wisdom is, was, and always will be. He is the shadow on the old paths before Calvary since Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:4b that, “they all drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.” And His cross is the shadow on our paths now as we follow Him and seek to walk in His ways. Don’t try to be good all on your own. Walk in the shadow of the cross and let it be the shadow on your path of life.
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Proverbs 1: The Fear of God Opens Doors
As promised, I’m beginning March with the book of Proverbs, Chapter 1. Visit https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.1.1-33.WEBUS to read all 33 verses of the first chapter.
Chapter One breaks down into 3 main themes: purpose, warnings, and a plea to seek wisdom. This is all about a father on earth trying to direct his son in ways that will bless him and give him a long life, but the wisdom here can just as easily be as teaching from our Heavenly Father trying to give us blessings and a long life. Truthfully, if the whole world would live by the wisdom in the book of Proverbs, everyone would be happier and more blessed.
So, as I was reading this in multiple versions this morning, one verse jumped out at me; the first half of verse 7 as shown in the image. Maybe one of the translations added a word, or maybe my mind conceived it, but I suddenly realized the verse could read: “The fear of The LORD is ONLY the beginning of knowledge.”
See, it’s not about living in constant fear of Him, but it’s about starting with a fear of His power and ability that will get your attention. After that, you can learn to respect and honor Him which will lead you to His mercy and grace… And love.
So many of the messages out there get the proverbial cart before the horse, and the message of grace falls on ears that are not yet listening. It’s like preparing a feast for someone who’s not even a little bit hungry. Of course, God prepares a daily feast in the creations that surround us to whet our appetites toward learning more about Him, but it takes real hunger and thirst to desire the meal for ourselves. We cannot understand the purpose, the warnings, or the pleas of Lady Wisdom without first acknowledging all that God is, so we can desire Him and desire to please Him.
Oh, but once we’ve gotten to that place–on our knees before a holy God who we know as The Creator–and we know what He has done and what He can do, there we find the beginning of the answers we formerly sought here and there but not with any depth or desperation. Now, we WANT to know more about The Lord, and we WANT to know what pleases Him. We graduate from bowing before Him because He deserves it and move to bowing before Him because we are so overwhelmed by our love for Him. He becomes every answer, every piece of knowledge, and every bit of wisdom we could ever seek or desire And now, the fear that got things started has surpassed what was ONLY the beginning and has become our purposeful desire to learn of Him, walk with Him, and do what pleases Him every moment of every day.
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Ice Cream for Breakfast?
I used to faithfully visit those sites with lists of everything a day had to offer from international days to world days to local celebrations. I still like to quench my curiosity with these things now and again, and I chose today to do some research. The first thing that came up was “National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day.” Apparently, it’s always the first Saturday in February, and it started in the 1960s to cheer up kids with winter blahs. I’ve never tried “snow cream” but I imagine kids might like that even better since it would include some play time. Maybe the parents who started it also knew it was “Fettuccini Alfredo” day, so the kids would have a warm, not-so-sweet dinner later. 🍨🍜
In other February 7th events, 1990 brought a dissolution of the Soviet Union when the “Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party” agreed to give up its monopoly on power. And I had to share that one because of the word Monopoly. This day in 1935 was the early release date of the Parker Brothers Monopoly game. Though I always believed the story about the out-of-work engineer creating the game for his family during the great depression, I’ve learned tonight that it was actually invented a lot earlier by a woman. It was called The Landlord’s Game and it was based in “Georgism” which was apparently the opposite of what the current game came to represent.
If you read from the older events to the newer ones, you can see how much mankind has learned as time has moved forward. When the New Madrid earthquake hit in 1812 and made the Mississippi River run backward, many probably thought it was the end of the world. Fast forward beyond the Beatles beginning the “British Invasion” in 1964, and the first untethered space walk in 1984 to scientists in 2014 announcing that the Happisburgh Footprints in Norfolk, England are 800,000 years old and we’re in an era where that backward river flow now has a name. It’s called a “fluvial tsunami.” There, now you’ve learned something new for your day.
But, now I have to ask, can we really declare something to be 800,000 years old? Or millions or billions of years old? Isn’t all of that just supposition based on limited knowledge and dating techniques used by people who were never there? Even recorded history may be “his story” or “her story” and not totally factual, so how much more suspect is that which has never been written down from eyewitness testimony? The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 3:7 that men are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
God tells Daniel in chapter 12 and verse 4 that the truths he is hiding away are meant for a time when people will run all over (to and fro) looking for knowledge. The big question here is whether they are seeking knowledge to find ways to connect with God or to try and disprove Him. But, if they are trying to connect with Him, he’s made it far simpler (though not always easier) to just seek Him directly. He promises wisdom (much more important than simple knowledge) to anyone who asks Him for it without doubting.
James 1:5-8 WEBUS
[5] But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. [6] But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. [7] For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord. [8] He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
https://bible.com/bible/206/jas.1.5-8.WEBUS
So whether you have fettuccini Alfredo for dinner or ice cream for breakfast, never forget that the most important day in history is the one where the precious blood of YahShua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) was shed so you could spend eternity in the Presence of The Holy Father, Yahveh Almighty. That is the best of all knowledge and wisdom combined.
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It is No Secret, or Is It?
When I was a little girl, my mom loved her music, and she had a lot of albums by Wayne Newton. One of my favorites was his gospel album with Church in the Wildwood, The Old Rugged Cross, and other traditional hymns. I sang with each of them, but mostly with the song, It is No Secret (What God Can Do). This video sounds exactly like what I remember:
As I got older, it began to feel like the things God could do were secrets, at least from me. I wondered where He was on the nights of drunkenness and violence that eventually resulted in social workers and foster homes for my sister and I. She ended up back at home, and I ended up living with my grandparents in another city. We both watched our mom ride a rollercoaster of efforts to get life right while everyone gave her different answers for how to do it.
One day, while writing in a poetry class in the group home I was in, I recall telling God in a poem how I just didn’t understand Him, or why things had to be the way they were. I concluded by writing that I wasn’t going to try anymore. It was partly giving up and partly pleading for understanding. Thankfully, God read it as a prayer that He eventually answered when I was ready.
Proverbs 25:2 says,
[2] It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
https://bible.com/bible/206/pro.25.2.WEBUS
And then we have the Psalm in the image above reminding us that God’s wisdom is hidden from those who do not fear (respect) Him.
So, really, the secret is not one that is withheld from anyone who truly seeks Him with all their heart and soul, but it is hidden from those who don’t think it’s worth enough to dig for. Like a vein of pure gold in a rock or stream, or a cache of diamonds in the depths of a mountain of coal, God’s wisdom is an extreme value waiting to be mined. I don’t desire gold or jewels enough to take the risks associated with mining, but I do value God’s pure and holy truths enough to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking (see Matthew 7:7) until I find answers. Will you go mining with me?
⛏️📖⛏️
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Rearrange Your Path
Following the Light by Flickr User Nathaniel Eldridge, CC License = Attribution, Noncommercial
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Have you ever gotten lost? Have you been so lost that it felt like you were going in circles, stuck in an endless loop of hopeless twists and turns that never get you where you wanted to go? I’ve been there on foot, and I’ve been there in a vehicle–at night, in a bad neighborhood. Getting lost is no fun. Being lost from God is no fun either, but God in His mercy allows us to rearrange our paths. As author Allison Gappa Bottke puts it, God Allows U-Turns.
If your path is filled with the chaos of uncharted turns and bumps and misdirections that keep ending you in places of frustration and hopelessness, make a change and rearrange. (I just couldn’t help but to make that rhyme. 🙂 ) To illustrate some rearrangement, I’m going to rearrange some verses from Proverbs Chapter 4. Using the New King James’ Version, I’ll list them in no particular order as bullet points. See what the verses in the following order might tell you about your own path of life.
- Ponder the path of your feet.
- Let your eyes look straight ahead
- Do not turn to the right or the left.
- Remove your foot from evil.
- Do not enter the path of the wicked.
- Do not walk in the way of evil.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on. - The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble. - But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
And from Isaiah 30:21…
- Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
There’s plenty more in Proverbs 4, so I recommend reading all of it. As a matter of fact, I find a lot of inspiration in the idea of reading the entire chapter of Proverbs on whatever day of the month it is. So, since this post was started on December 4th, I took a visit to Proverbs 4, and all those verses about paths are what jumped out at me. With a little rearrangement, I love the wisdom and promise that’s presented.
To continue with the message about your path, here’s a little bit from some of lessons I’ve gleaned as I’ve walked before Yahveh Almighty.
Many paths will visualize before you on your life’s journey, but only one path will lead you where you want to be in the end. It begins with a narrow gate, so no one but you can fit to walk through it. You don’t get through on the coat tails of a preacher or a parent; or even a friend or loved one. You get through it by using a key of mercy and grace provided when you walk through the blood of your Savior, Yeshua.
Once you’ve chosen to walk through the narrow gate, you’ll be on a straight path. It’s not as narrow as the gate, so you’ll have friends to encourage you and walk with you. Fellowship with them and make it a joyful walk. God will light that path for you, and His Holy Spirit is always there to comfort you on your journey. Trust Him to guide you. Seek His wisdom and understanding because the way that seems right to man doesn’t have the promise of God’s way. Look carefully, watch your step, train your eyes on the prize, and listen for that still, small voice that tells you the way to walk.
And here’s one bit of caution… Take heed of anyone who tries to lead you off the path onto another path. God’s path is always the straight one. Because God’s path is straight, even if it looks like it’s a long way off, the end should always be a clear vision ahead of you. Without that vision, you can be turned away and perish, so keep your eyes trained on the goal, and keep pressing forward. Don’t give up, and you’ll cross the finish line and receive your reward.
If you are on a path that doesn’t have a promise of eternal life at the end, ponder your steps and seek God. If you are still breathing in and out, it’s not too late to rearrange your path and follow God.
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Do You Really Know Your Creator?
God’s Handiwork by Flickr User listentothemountains, CC License = Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike
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God is God and we are not. That’s step one. Psalm 46:10, as in the above image, reminds us from The Amplified Bible…
Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
I know He knows me far better than I can ever know Him this side of Heaven, and yet I have a desire to know Him more deeply every day. He is more than just an idea to me, and He’s more than just what I read in Scripture. It’s difficult for me to express the depth of my heart for Yahveh Almighty. I guess it’s a little like trying to tell you about the love I have for my husband. I mean, I can try, but no matter what I say, I can’t convince you to love him the same way I do. I hope that, if you are in love with someone, there’s nothing I can say that would make you feel more love for my mate than for your own. And, if you are in love with God, I hope there’s nothing that anyone can present that would make you love anything more than Him.
I think, above all else that God is looking for in us, it is a sincere heart. If we sincerely love Him, we will automatically be faithful to Him. If we are faithful to Him, we will automatically want to please Him and do what He desires by obeying His commands. It won’t be about trying to be perfect for the sake of some kind of reward. It will be about trying to be as close to perfect as we can get simply because we don’t want to hurt the One we love.
There are many who try to tell us who God is, or what God is, or what God wants from us, but can they really tell us those things? Each of us is different. God is able to become exactly what each of us needs, so if I tell you the attributes He has revealed to draw my heart to Him, it may mean nothing to you. If I battle fear, and God comes in showing Himself to me as the victor over my fears, that will mean everything to me. But, it will mean nothing to confident people who need to know God as a source of gentleness and compassion because their confidence has been built on hardening themselves against pain.
I’ve talked before about the group of young church girls whose behaviors were lacking in godliness. A deacon of the church tried to correct the bad behaviors. They answered him a bit indignantly with the oft-repeated line, “God knows our hearts.” In essence, they told the deacon to mind his own business because if God knew their hearts, nothing else mattered. However, the deacon was undaunted and asked them a question that I hope has come back to them as often as it has come to me. He answered their prideful attitude with, “Yes, but do you know God’s heart.”
In Romans 11:33 (in the Holman Christian Standard Bible) we read…
Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments
and untraceable His ways!
That’s not an excuse to say He is too hard to get to know. It’s an invitation to get to know Him in a more personal way. His word promises us that if we seek and search for Him with our whole hearts, we will find Him. We can’t judge by what someone else says God is (or isn’t) to them. We can’t base Him on written word alone because we need the guidance of His Holy Spirit for understanding. If we want to know our Creator, we must shut out all the other voices and words and seek Him for ourselves.
The people of the community of Israel saw God from a distance, and they saw smoke and fire. The priests saw Him from a closer place, and they saw feet that stood on a sea of glass. Moses went into the holiest place, and up on the mountain, and he saw the face of a Friend. Do you know your Creator as your Friend? If so, leave a comment. If not, keep on seeking and push into the holy place beyond the veil of your flesh. When you meet Him there, you’ll find a friend–and you’ll never want to leave Him.
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Made to Order
Antiques Made to Order by Flickr User tuchodi, CC License = Attribution
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Okay, so maybe it wouldn’t be possible to make antiques to order, unless the place is one of those that makes things for restaurants that hang stuff resembling real antiques on their wall. I do know that I would want to go into this store because of the sign though, so it is good advertising.
According to a few dictionary definitions I found, made to order can mean something is made to someone’s personal specifications and requirements, or it can mean it’s just perfect for the situation. In today’s (very long) reading from Exodus 35:30 through Exodus 37:16, I think it means both of those and more.
Most of today’s reading centers around a guy from the tribe of Judah named Bezalel. He is a grandson of Hur, one of the two guys who helped hold Moses’ arms up, so Israel could defeat her enemy. Bezalel is a master craftsman who has been endowed by God to make everything from clothing to jewelry to gold dinnerware. He is like a machine who takes in what Israel donates and comes out with a perfectly-designed temple according to the design God showed Moses on Mt. Sinai.
Bezalel hires a helper, Aholiab, from the tribe of Dan. Together, they will both design and create the temple coverings, curtains, furnishings, and all that is needed for temple worship. The Bible says that God filled them both with wisdom of heart and ability to do all manner of craftsmanship. In addition to being gifted with wisdom for creativity, God also gifted these men to teach others, so they would not have to build the entire tabernacle on their own.
In a sense, in addition to building a “made to order” tabernacle, God also made these men to order (train) other men in how to create according to God’s plans. I don’t know if it works this way for all those who are gifted with wisdom in creativity, but I am thankful for those Christian writers who go beyond the gift of their own writing and share tips and tricks with others. There are a few whose teachings I have learned from, and whose lessons feel as anointed as their creative works. I learn well from them. There are more than I can list here, but if you want to know some of the people that inspire me as writing teachers, let me know and I’ll share some in comments.
As for the rest of the passage, please click the link above to read the details about all that these men and their helpers created. You’ll find they sound much like the details given to Moses on the mountain because they are determined to line up to that blueprint. I can only imagine the designs, but knowing what God can do when He works within a willing vessel, I imagine them to be spectacular and beautiful. I expect them to be that way because of the times when God works in my life to bless whatever efforts I put my hands to. Whether He guides me as I write or sing, or when I design a new kaleidoscopic or abstract creation, if I feel God guiding whatever part of me in engaged in the work, it always comes out better than the results when I struggle to do things on my own.
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So Many Laws
Pretty Mosaic with Flowered Heart in the Middle
Genesis 18:19a has The Lord talking to the angels about Abraham and says, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” (Complete Jewish Bible translation.)
The first time I read this Scripture, my only thought was, “Can God say this about me?” How blessed to have God testify to the angels that He has found a subject He knows well enough to know the subject’s future holds not only personal lawfulness but also that the subject will teach lawfulness to others.
Today, my husband and I were in our Torah studies in Leviticus. (We’re a bit behind in the actual portion we should be reading, but we don’t want to skip around and miss valuable information.) For a few weeks now, we’ve been reading about the building of the wilderness tabernacle (also called The Tabernacle of Testimony). As I was listening to my husband read the words about all the laws concerning the tabernacle, sacrifices, offerings, etc., I remembered the words I had read earlier from Genesis. Then, something hit me; these laws came well after God called Abraham “one who would keep the Way of The Lord” (aka law keeper). And then I questioned in my mind, “I wonder what ways and laws of God Abraham was keeping?” I understood, even as I asked, that Abraham was not keeping specific laws, but he was keeping a lawful heart.
So, here we are in our current society looking to create law after law after law. Now (in April 2013), the focus is on gun laws and whether they violate our country’s foundational Constitution. But the gun laws, like the many other laws constantly in motion or discussion these days, are just a thin bandage. They will not create the answer so many hope they will because they do not fix the real problem: they do not fix what causes the need for laws in the first place—a need that comes from a general spirit of lawlessness.
So, Abraham not only had a lawful heart, but even before there was a law given, God knew he would teach those of his household to keep the way (law) of God. Already, he was teaching others to have a lawful heart and to yield to the instruction of God from pure obedience. Later in Scripture, we will read how it was necessary to create a priesthood and over 600 Levitical laws to direct people because their hearts had become lawless. As many have noted about these laws, and even several laws of our land now, they come with a big dose of bondage.
However, just imagine if we all strived to keep in our hearts the laws of yielding to a Higher Authority. We would automatically think of others before ourselves. We would not require instruction to not lie, not steal, not cheat, not murder, etc. We would not purposely do things to others that we would not want others doing to us. And if everyone lived that way, we would not need any other laws either from God or from man.
There is freedom in having a lawful heart because it releases us from falling under the bondage and condemnation of many external laws. Though we will not be perfect until we get to Heaven, just as King David was not perfect and failed God multiple times, we can be called a people after God’s own heart. In that way, each of us will not only be able to say we know Him, but He can testify to the angels, “I know that one!”
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Proverbs 2 – Treasure Hunt for Wisdom
Can you recall meeting people who would not let you get to know them? Maybe you tried to show interest in them and show that you cared, so you could create a safe place for them to be themselves. But no matter what you did, it seemed they were all locked up inside themselves. Maybe it was fear, maybe pride, or maybe a little of both, but whatever it was, it was frustrating.
For a person like me who will share just about everything about herself, it’s even harder to deal with someone who is closed up. But thankfully, God is not that way! It thrills me that He says in so many places in His word that He wants me to get to know Him. He says things like, “They that seek me will find me.” Of course, that verse is incomplete. It actually says, in paraphrase from Jeremiah 29:13, “Those that seek me with all their hearts will find me.”
Here’s what today’s reading from Proverbs 2 (talking about seeking God’s wisdom) has to say…
4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (KJV)
God wants us to know more about Him. He wants to share the treasures of His wisdom. But He doesn’t want to give those treasures away to just anyone. He wants to give them to those who desire them and will value them. They are as valuable as silver and gold, so God doesn’t want to just dump them out on those who are satisfied with fool’s gold.
Oh, but if we are seekers, He wants to share with us in abundance. In James 1:5, we’re even told that if we lack wisdom, all we have to do is ask God and He will give it to us liberally. And in James 4:8, we’re reminded that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. His presence is an awesome treasure, and this verse amplifies Deuteronomy 4:7 that says, “For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? (KJV)”
Doesn’t that just make you want to run to Him and learn more about Him? I know it does me. I’m thankful He’s not a god who is, like the song says, “watching us from a distance.” He is near. His wisdom is near. He simply wants us to seek Him. And when we do, the rest of this chapter talks about how we will fall in love with His wisdom and knowledge and how it will protect us from being led down paths that could be impossible to return from. I cannot fully put into words how much I value His presence and His wisdom, but I welcome you to join me as a fellow treasure hunter, and to rejoice with me for all the wonderful gifts we will find as we seek Him.
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Proverbs 1 – When Wisdom Comes Calling
From https://www.youversion.com/bible/1/pro.1.kjv (Using KJV for quotes because it’s public domain)…
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
GOD’S WAY JUST WORKS–IT REALLY DOES
The Message Bible calls the Proverbs “A Manual for Living.” And it can be that for anyone who is willing to apply it. Wisdom in this book is in the feminine which is also the way much of Scripture related to the Holy Spirit is written. You could say it’s the “mothering” side of Our Creator. While Daddy is making the rules, Mom is explaining to us why it is in our best interest to follow them. It’s a picture of the wholeness of God’s love for us if ever I’ve seen one.
So what about those harsh-sounding warnings of laughter in the face of our trials? I used to think that was so cruel to even think God would laugh at me and mock when my fear came upon me. It was even worse to think He would not be there for me when I called upon Him. But through much study, I’ve found this is referring to the spirit of wisdom. In a brief thought, it is simply saying, “Because you didn’t listen to wisdom to keep yourself out of a big mess, you’re gonna be laying there crying, ‘I don’t know what to do, now,’ and you won’t be able to find the right answer.”
God’s mercy is new every morning, and He gets us out of a lot of self-inflicted bondage, but He’s not in the business of going around plucking us out of every entanglement we get ourselves into. If we’ve learned the fire is hot and we stick a hand in it anyway, He’s not going to stop it from burning us. If we knew from the wisdom in the depths of our souls that getting involved with the good-looker that has caught our attention, and then we end up brokenhearted like others who followed the same trail before we did, Wisdom will say, “What made you think that the same thing would not happen to you?”
So, today, let’s heed what this passage brings to us. Let’s put God in the proper place in our lives, on His throne and above us as Lord of our whole lives, and then listen when He speaks. Whether He speaks through our hearts, through His written word, or through others He brings on our paths to lead us, let’s have the fear (respect) that will cause us to listen to His wisdom like a child listens to his nurturing mother. When we do that, we have the promise that ends this chapter. As Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message, “First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy—you’re in good hands.”
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No Skipping Stones
Skipping Stones by Flickr User iamNigelMorris, CC License = Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works
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Even if I find the perfect flat rock for stone-skipping, chances are, there will be more splat than skip. I guess it’s all in the wrist, and I don’t have enough of whatever it is. One time, as a teenager, I recall getting one to skip a bunch of times, but that was a rare and wonderful thing.
In today’s reading from Deuteronomy 27:1 through Deuteronomy 27:10, we will read of God’s laws regarding skipping stones. I’ll bet you didn’t know it was in the Bible, but God told Israel not to do it. Really. He told them not to skip setting up standing stones on which He wanted them to record the words of His Torah. (I’ll bet you were wondering just where I was going with that, huh?)
So, Moses and all the leaders of Israel stand before the crowd and tell them to observe every law they were being given that day. To help with the observation, they tell them that, after they cross the Jordan into the land that God is giving them, they are to set up standing stones, put plaster on them, and write the words of Torah on them.
After they set up stones, God wants them to build an altar out of stones and without the use of any tools. His command is that they build the altar of uncut stones and offer burnt offerings on it. They should also offer peace offerings there, and they should eat and be joyful in the presence of The Lord. The next verse restates that they are to write the words of Torah on the stones very clearly.
Next, it is Moses and the high priests that speak to Israel. The first thing they say to them is, “Be quiet and listen, Israel!” They continue with a reminder that today is the day Israel becomes the people of The Lord. Because of that, they should listen to God and obey all the laws and commands Moses gives them on that day.
I wonder how people would react if Scripture actually said we could not skip stones. I mean, it’s not like God would be asking something that difficult, but could we just obey even though it doesn’t seem to make any sense? For me, the hardest thing to do is follow commands that don’t seem to have logic or reasoning behind them. For the sake of obedience, I have done so before, and sometimes it has turned out to be just a man’s interpretation or idea. But, I still believe God rewards an obedient heart and spirit.
God is merciful and He knows our form, so our task is to do our best to honor Him in everything we do and think. He sees when that includes obeying some man-made law because we are told it is required of us. For example, there is at least one church I know of that teaches it is a sin to wear the color red. (I know some Louisville Cardinals fans that would be very upset with that one. 🙂 ) Those who attend there likely follow the rule with their whole hearts because they want to please God, so God will recognize their lawfulness.
Have you given in to things you later found out through spiritual maturity were not necessary? If so, did it make you decide you would never listen again to commands of men? I hope not. I hope you see that God blesses your obedient heart and spirit. I hope, instead, that you use your experiences to gain perspective, and that you seek God’s wisdom to gain discernment. If we do our best, I believe God will lead us in His path as we learn here a little, there a little by seeking Him and studying His word. And if some blogger comes along telling you not to skip stones, pray about it–and then read the rest of the post.
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September 2, 2014 Posted by Crystal A Murray (aka CrystalWriter) | Bible Study, Nonfiction, Torah Commentary | Bible Commentary, Bible study, Complete Jewish Bible, Deuteronomy, discernment, God's law, honoring God, Israel, Moses, obedience, Scripture, skipping stones, Torah commentary, Torah Portions, wisdom | Leave a comment