Tag: sin

Endurance

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 32-33

POETRY: Song of Songs 6

*NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 12

If you’re feeling sluggish, tired of enduring the hardships that come with choosing to be faithful to the end of your race in this age, caught in sin that’s hard to get disentangled from, then think on all of those faithful chosen of God from chapter 11. They made it! They’re going to the Kingdom!

We have to have the endurance to make it to the end to, for our own good. If that great cloud of witness doesn’t move you, consider Jesus’s faith, by which he endured the cross for you. God’s will for him involved the shedding of his blood to resist the sin of others against him and to free us from it. Has God asked you to shed blood to resist sin? That’s probably not God’s will for you, thank God, though many of his children have. I pray it never comes to that.

What’s it going to take to finish your faith race? This writer says endurance, and it comes through discipline (he may even be referencing the letter he’s penning as part of that discipline). He is reproving the Hebrews, but discipline involves more than reproof. It involves scourging (I think the definition of scourging here is “suffering”), and it takes training.

The Hebrews seem to have forgotten that they are heirs to the Most High; they are sons of God. If you’re a son, then you will be disciplined (if not, you’re illegitimate). God’s discipline is like that of a father to his child. It is like the training up of the child in the way he should go so that when he is old, he will not depart from it. The child who was disciplined experienced how to endure as an adult.

The discipline was for the child’s good, though it was sorrowful in the moment. As adults, the discipline will be sorrowful in the moment, but remember, the discipline of the Lord happens because he loves his children, so welcome it. If you’re not disciplined, you’re going to hurt yourself or others with sin. You might forfeit your entrance into the kingdom.

Discipline removes sin. It shapes us into holy people – sharing in the holiness with God (because we are transformed into people who want good for others and therefore do the will of God). It yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (it turns you into a person who is faithful to do God’s will).

With the Lord’s leading, we can take steps to discipline ourselves to resist sin with endurance, for a whole lifetime. Here are some examples from this chapter:

Serve those in need – strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.

Pursue peace with all men.

Don’t let any root of bitterness spring up causing you trouble.

Don’t refuse the one who is disciplining you.

Don’t trade your birth right for food (like Esau did); God didn’t forgive that sin.

Remember, you didn’t endure what God’s firstborn son (the children of Israel) did. They were not allowed to be where God was like you are through Jesus. Through their mediator Moses, they had to stay away from the mountain where God was. And they were terrified because if they touched the mountain, they’d die. They were terrified of hearing God’s voice, sounding like thunder and lightning.

Instead, you’ve come to the church of the firstborn (Jesus). You have approached the throne room of God, with his angels, with your brothers and sisters who have all been made perfect by Jesus’s sacrifice, and you can do it without being terrified. You’re not going to die if you approach the throne room of God through Jesus.

Oh, and by the way, Jesus’s sprinkled blood as our living sacrifice speaks better than Abel’s blood that cried out for vengeance. Jesus’s blood cries out for love/sacrifice for others. Our job is to follow the cries of the one who’s better, who’s blood lets us into the throne room of God now to be in his presence. God will oblige both, but he says vengeance belongs to him.

God once shook the earth when he spoke from earth. In the end, he’ll speak from heaven, and shake both heaven and earth, so that the things that can be shaken will be removed, leaving only those things that are unshakable. What’s unshakeable is the Kingdom of God. Let’s praise God that we can be a part of that Kingdom now, showing him reverence and awe for what he’s doing. It’s a new thing, and it’s better. 

-Juliet Taylor

Reflection Questions

1. Can you think of something you endured faithfully through discipline?

2. Do you have a routine of discipline that helps you stay on track?

3. Abel’s blood cries out for vengeance. Jesus’s blood cries out for love/sacrifice to save others. God will oblige both cries, but vengeance belongs to God, not to those under the New Covenant. Our responsibility is to love, as Jesus loved because it can change hearts and allows us in God’s presence now (in spirit as we draw near). Our job is to love even those who have hurt us. How can you love someone who has hurt you?

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Draw Near

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 28-29

POETRY: Song of Songs 4

NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 10

I used to think that Hebrews chapter 10 was the scariest chapter in the whole Bible because it contains the scariest verses—about those willful sins that are committed. I missed the whole point of this beautiful chapter.

I missed that Jesus doesn’t have to make a sacrifice for us yearly like the priests of old did to cleanse the flesh of sin committed that year. His one-time sacrifice takes away sins for all time, cleansing the flesh and the conscience. That’s perfection that the old law could never do. Through Jesus, God’s children no longer needed that reminder that we’re slaves to sin, because we’re not anymore. We are free in Christ. We are perfect, but we have to choose to remain perfect by doing God’s will.

I missed that where there is forgiveness of sin (because of Jesus’s obedience to always do God’s will), an offering for sin is no longer required to enter the holy place of God. His role as high priest of the New Covenant is different than that of the Levitical high priests. He’s always available to save if you draw near to him; to intercede on our behalf when we sin, as opposed to sacrificing himself by dying again and again and again when we sin.

An animal sacrifice for sin is no longer required under the New Covenant law, but drawing near to Christ is required when dealing with my sin. I still need to bring a sacrifice, but it’s of repentance; a contrite heart. And I don’t have to wait outside a tent or a veil, I go right into the heavenly tabernacle where Jesus is and ask for forgiveness in his name. God will be faithful to me when I draw near to him through his son in this way. This is required of me if I entered the New Covenant with God through Jesus. I did, when I was baptized into the name of Jesus. Praise God.

The word says that by one offering (Jesus’s literal sinless body), he perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Those who are sanctified are those who have put the laws of God in their minds and have written them on their hearts because they chose to do God’s will out of love for God and others (just like Jesus did).  

Now for those scary verses:

26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries (read through verse 31 if you want to see how scary this section is).

There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but what does remain is something better – drawing near to Christ through repentance when we sin. I think this is true for most sins, even willful sins IF we desire to repent of them because we know how much better God’s ways are for us and desire to get back on track.

If we don’t have that desire and don’t enter the holy place through Jesus’s torn body veil, what should we expect? If we don’t, we should expect just judgment. If we don’t, it means we are choosing to willfully bind ourselves to sin again and remain in it. It means we aren’t looking for forgiveness, because we think it was better when in slavery to sin than being freed from it (and slavesto serving God by doing his will that is good for us).

This reminds me of the children of Israel in Massah and Meribah, complaining in the wilderness, wishing they were back in Egypt. They were slaves there, and perhaps they’d die, but at least they weren’t going to die of hunger or of thirst like they would in the wilderness serving God, so they grumbled. They tested Yahweh God, as they had no faith that God would provide for them as he promised (“Is the LORD among us or not?”). This willful sin, this lack of faith that God would be faithful to do what he said he’d do for them in a time when they were enduring trials and hardship, eventually got them destroyed. The reality was that though God was faithful to uphold his end of the covenant he made with them, they weren’t willing to uphold theirs because they didn’t trust him.  

The testing of God’s faith is what I believe the scary section in Chapter 10 is referencing. If we sin because we don’t believe God is faithful to do all he promised for us, especially when times get tough, and we think it was better living the old way when slaves to sin as opposed to being slaves to God, then our entrance into the Kingdom of God is in jeopardy. It’s like saying to ourselves, “We’re slaves to sin, but at least we won’t die hungry or thirsty living in sin.”

Unfortunately, choosing to live like Christ now does come with pain and suffering, because of the consequences of the past and present sins of all people. Not everyone chooses to do what God says is good for us, so our world becomes more and more corrupt. So do our bodies. It’s hard to live for Christ in a world like that. There’s also so much confusion about what’s right and wrong, even among his followers, and so we get hurt. And of course, there is Satan, walking around like a roaring lion, trying to get us off track.  

The Hebrews were reminded of their former sufferings for Christ and commended for enduring it with joy because they once knew they had something better awaiting them. Though I’ve been through trials, I’ve never had to go through the trials that the Hebrews here had to go through for Christ. It says that they “32 …endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.” The Hebrews were being exhorted. The writer is pleading with them to behave how they once did, and to stop looking back at their old way of life.

If the people of God who went through this type of hardship needed an exhortation to get back on track, what of us? What of me?

Now that we’ve got the kick in the pants we needed to stop being babies, we can apply this information to do better with some application from the writer:

“19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

-Juliet Taylor

Reflection Questions

1. Notice that we draw near to Jesus in the throne room of God, which is God’s throne room in heaven. We do this in spirit. The bible uses figurative language like this a lot. What other figurative language do you notice in this chapter?  

2. How can you encourage one another in love and good deeds through their hardships?

3. How do you live by faith as it says in Hebrews 10:38 (quoted from the old; applied to us in the new)?

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The Best High Priest

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 25-27

POETRY: Song of Songs 3

NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 9

No one talks about the sins committed by God’s people in ignorance. But it’s these sins that the Levitical high priest offers a sacrifice for yearly. If that’s the case, then what of the sins of the people that are committed willfully? I think we’ll find out about them in Hebrews Chapter 10.

The more I read, the more I have to change my mind about what God’s will for me actually is. There’s so much confusion that’s been passed on from generation to generation that gets stuck in our minds and in our hearts. Confusion is not good, because if we continue in it, someone’s going to get hurt. This studying of the book of Hebrews has helped me tremendously in that regard.

The Old Covenant had a high priest who sacrificed for sins with regulations that had to do with food, drink, and regulations for the body UNTIL the reformation of the covenant. An example of this is in washing hands and feet prior to entering the tabernacle or making a sacrifice. God told them that if they didn’t do this, they’d die. The priest would do this to make sure they didn’t die (literally), for the purpose of cleansing the flesh (the body) of the sin that was committed that year. But it could not cleanse the conscience. It, along with the various gifts and sacrifices offered amongst the people of God under the Old Covenant, could never make the worshiper perfect in conscience. Why?

The Holy Spirit (God) had not yet revealed the way into the holy place while the outer tabernacle was standing, separating the people from God. Nothing offered could compel the person to desire to flee dead works and serve the living God out of self-sacrificial love (God’s will for us all) because Jesus hadn’t demonstrated this kind of love yet. Jesus’s love is what changes the heart, soul, mind—the conscience, if you will. It causes us to desire to repent when we miss the mark and strive to do God’s will out of love.

The New Covenant, with its better high priest, better promises, and better tabernacle, will help the chosen people of God live well for his kingdom. They (we) can start living that way now because the Kingdom of God is at hand. Our great high priest Jesus is working for us (in us), from heaven for our own good, and for the good of others to do God’s will out of love. We’ll desire this with a clean conscience because of what our savior did for us.

The Levitical high priest was only able to make a sacrifice on behalf of his own and the people’s sin once a year. He was only able to cleanse sin once a year. But Jesus’s one time love sacrifice makes it available to cleanse our conscience of sin at any time, as he is available to save forever those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession.

It makes sense that if Jesus is always available to make intercession for us that we can become entangled in sin again that kills. When that is the case, we can draw near to God through our high priest and repent because he’s always available to save. I think this is what the writer to the Hebrews is trying to get across. They needed to draw near to God through their new, better high priest with repentance. And they can do that without dying because Jesus already did that.

The new, better high priest has the job role of cleansing our conscience from dead works to serving the living God once we enter the holy place of God. We are the people who desire that because of what Jesus did for us. He demonstrated for us that love conquers sin and sets people free (to serve God). We must choose to follow in Jesus’s footsteps to remain cleansed, repenting when we miss the mark.

God’s desire for his people isn’t new. This has always been God’s will for his people. That’s why he brought his firstborn son Israel out of slavery to Egypt, to serve him, with a clean conscience (the heart) so that it would be well with them. But most of them chose not to.

How the people would be reconciled back to God is new. It was revealed by the Holy Spirit after the veil was torn. Jesus’s body was torn so that we could be in God’s presence to offer sacrifices, just like the Levitical Priests could, but without a chance of dying when we enter (Jesus already did that). The sacrifices we bring in are repentance, praise, thanksgiving, humility, brokenness, contriteness, etc.  

People can now have hope of resurrection from the dead to everlasting life by entering the New Covenant, made available through Jesus’s love sacrifice. We are called to do the same, Jesus showed us how. Jesus was able to do this through the eternal spirit working in him. We can do it through Jesus’s spirit working in us.

Jesus tells us what is required of us. It’s the better requirement than the Old Covenant stipulations because it can make us perfect in conscience. Our requirement is to love, as Jesus loved. How has he loved? Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay our lives down for our brothers and sisters. Hopefully not literally, but we will be willing to if it comes to that. We can do this through the spirit of Jesus working in us. We can desire this because of Jesus’s demonstration of love. If we don’t, Jesus is always able to save when we draw near to him (repent) with our better sacrifices.

-Juliet Taylor

Reflection Questions

1. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Those under the Old Covenant were forgiven for their sins through the blood of animal sacrifice that year, but it didn’t save them (they had no hope of resurrection). With the shedding of Jesus’s blood, there is forgiveness of sins that saves us. What do you think is the difference between forgiveness under the old law and forgiveness under the new law?   

2. Hebrews 9:26 says, “Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” This does not mean that people don’t sin anymore. We can clearly see that that’s not the case. What do you think it means to “put away sin”?

3. Christ loved us by dying for us. How do you think God wants you to demonstrate his love to someone today who is in need of some love from you?

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How Far is Heaven Above the Earth?

Old Testament: Joel 3

Poetry: Psalm 103 (day 3)

New Testament: 2 Timothy 3

Yesterday we left off seeking to recognize our sin and what we deserve because of our sins. It is an important place to be, but thankfully, God doesn’t leave us there. So today we get to continue our question format for Psalm 103 verses 11-14, some of my personal favorite verses from this Psalm.

My very first question for verse 11 was actually for Google because I wasn’t sure it was very fair of me to ask you, “How far is heaven above the earth?” So of course AI was happy to give an answer. AI’s answer did not disappoint as I found it surprisingly accurate: “The Bible doesn’t provide any linear measurements for heaven’s distance from Earth, so its exact size is unknown.”  I loved that AI recognized the authority of the Bible for this question. If only AI, you, I and the rest of the world would be so wise with all our answers. Since we are accepting verse 11 and 12 as figurative language we don’t really need to know how high heaven is above the earth or how far the east is from the west – as long as we know what God says in His authoritative Word about His great love and forgiveness. So, let’s open up His Word and ask some questions!

VERSE 11 – How great is God’s love for you? What other figurative language could be used to attempt to describe God’s indescribable love? What does it feel like to be loved by such love? Is there a limit to God’s love? What does the rest of this verse say – who is this love for? (You might be interested in reading the verse in some additional Bible translations here. ) What does it mean to fear God? How should we treat God if we truly fear/revere/worship Him? Do you fear God? Do you think it is possible to believe in God – and perhaps even love Him – but not fear Him? Does this verse say anything about God’s love for those who don’t fear Him? How important do you think it is to fear God?

VERSE 12 – Remember back to yesterday and consider again, what are your sins? And what do you deserve because of them? What does it feel like to have your transgressions or sins laid on you? What weights, burdens, shame, guilt, questions do they add to your life when you are carrying them around with you, or only slightly better, when they are hanging over your head? What would it feel like if these same sins were flung as far as only God could fling them? What other descriptions could be used for having sins removed? Does having transgressions removed mean there are no more consequences for those sins? Are all of everyone’s transgressions removed? Why or why not? How does God’s love and forgiveness compliment one another?

VERSE 13 – What does a healthy father/child relationship look like? What is the role of dad? What is the role of the child? What does it look like when the child tries to be in charge? In your relationship with God do you more often try to play the part of adult or child? What does it feel like to be a child of God? What are the benefits? Give some examples of what it looks like when a human father has compassion on his child(ren). Give some examples of when our Heavenly Father has shown compassion on you (and/or His other children). According to verse 13 who does God show compassion to? Where else have we seen this wording? So we could ask again, how important do you think it is to fear God? Can you think of any times where you have not feared God? Is there anything you might consider doing now to help you fear God more or better or more consistently?

VERSE 14 – What does it mean to you that God knows how you are formed? What do the facts that God knows how we are formed and remembers you are dust say about God? What do these facts say about you? What questions do you have for God about His creation process and reasoning, especially as it relates to creating people? How does this verse relate to the previous verse about God’s compassion as a father? Do you think it is important for us to remember that God remembers our creation and how we are formed? What happens when people decide that we just came to be? How many Bible authors referenced God creating? Do you accept the authority of God’s scriptures?

What qualities or characteristics of God do you find in these 4 verses today? What other questions do you have from these verses? Hope to see you back tomorrow as we continue on with verse 15.

-Marcia Railton

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The Lord Is..

Old Testament: Joel 2

Poetry: Psalm 103 (day 2)

New Testament: 2 Timothy 2

Today we continue what we started yesterday – a list of questions to consider for each verse of Psalm 103. Open your Bible and let’s get to work on five more verses.

VERSE 6 – What groups of people do you think would make up the “oppressed” spoken of here? Who do you know personally who falls into the oppressed category? What might adding righteousness look like in their life? What might adding justice look like? Have you seen God working righteousness and justice in their situation – yet? In what ways have you seen and heard of the oppressed receiving righteousness and justice? If this is important to God should it be important to us? How might God want to see you work righteousness and justice for the oppressed?

VERSE 7 – What did God make known to Moses about Himself and His ways? Why? What deeds did God do for the people of Israel? Why? What is the spiritual use of learning history and studying the Old Testament? What about in more recent history? What did God make known about Himself and what deeds did He perform in the New Testament? What about in your family’s history? What ways of God does He want us to know about today? What deeds has He done for you?

VERSE 8 – Where else in the Bible do we find a similar description of God as we find here in Psalm 103 verse 8? (There are multiple places, but don’t miss it in our Old Testament reading for today. God lined that up pretty well for us today! It is also included when God reveals Himself and His ways to Moses as referenced in the previous verse. Where is that passage? HINT: the search feature in BibleGateway.com is pretty useful. Try searching something like compassionate gracious. Sometimes searching in different Bible versions helps.) How would you define/describe and give a Biblical example for each of these qualities of God: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Now, when have you experienced each of these characteristics from God in your own life? When have you shown others God’s character by reflecting these characteristics to others in the way you treat them? Which one is the biggest struggle for you? How can remembering God’s character help you act more godly towards others?

VERSE 9 – Have you ever known someone who is ALWAYS accusing? What is it like to be with him/her? Would the perfect God still be RIGHT if He was always accusing – could he always find something wrong with what we do/have done? Why do you think He chooses not to always be accusing? When, in history or in your life, have you seen or experienced God giving up His right to accuse or be angry? When have you seen or experienced God letting go of His anger, not “harboring his anger forever”? How can we mirror His attitude?

VERSE 10 – What are your sins? Wait. Stop – don’t go on yet. Seriously – spend more than 2 seconds thinking about this answer. It is important. What are you guilty of? What have you done that has grieved God’s heart and the heart of others? What are you ashamed of? Also, are there sins you haven’t even acknowledged yet or feel guilty of yet, perhaps because of your pride or selfishness – 2 other sinful attitudes? When has your sins blocked the opportunity you have to share God’s characteristics with others? What do you deserve because of your sins? What repayment would be just because of your iniquities? Has God given you everything your sins deserve?

It’s not the most pleasant place to end for the day. But, recognizing our sin and what we deserve is such a vital point before we can truly appreciate the incredible verses that come next. See you again tomorrow as we Seek Grow & Love together.

-Marcia Railton

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Quiet Living

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 7-8

Poetry: Psalm 93

New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4 continues in the instruction of how believers should be living. Paul commends the people in Thessalonica for doing well in following God’s commands and encourages them to do even more. Paul writes that God calls us to sanctification. Sanctification means to be made clean or holy. God calls us to be clean and holy. He provides this cleansing through Christ’s death and resurrection. Hebrews 10:10 says “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (NASB95). This verse is in the midst of a passage that expresses that Jesus’s sacrifice is sufficient for us and there will be sanctification and forgiveness through his sacrifice. It aligns with what Paul writes confirming that we have been made clean from our sins through Christ. 

In the 2 Chronicles reading for today, some of that same theme of cleansing/forgiveness of sin can be seen. God appears to Solomon after the finishing of the temple and tells Solomon that He will be present in the temple. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” God has often reminded His people that He will forgive their sins. In the time of Solomon, the cleansing of sins was sought through prayer with an animal sacrifice. Hebrews shows that the sacrifices are no longer needed because of Christ and 1 Thessalonians encourages how to live out this cleansing of sins. 

In 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, Paul discusses one of the ways to live a sanctified life. Paul reminds the readers to love one another which God has taught them previously. In the case of the Thessalonians they were doing well with showing this brotherly love to those around them. Because they are doing well, Paul encourages them to love even more. What a high praise to have received from Paul and great encouragement to continue not only in doing well but to do it even more! If Paul wrote you a letter inspired by God, would he praise you for the love you show others or would he need to teach you what it means to love those around you? 

            1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, “to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you” (HCSB).  This reminds me of Hebrews 12:14 which says, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (NASB95). A quiet life that pursues peace with all people can be a difficult life to lead. Living a quiet life that is minding your own business and seeking peace with those around you is centered around living out our sanctification. Through our forgiveness, we are called to love those around us which looks like living quietly, minding our own business, and seeking peace. 

            If you’re in any social setting where people are involved, it can be difficult to both love them deeply and also mind your own business while trying to pursue peace. Everyone has something that you won’t like about them. It might annoy you and get on your nerves. It could be anything from a difference of beliefs or political views, to the way someone pronounces a specific word. It’s really easy to get frustrated and lash out at someone who is annoying you, but that is not living out our sanctification. When a moment comes where you are feeling frustrated, annoyed, upset, or angry with someone, try to take a moment to remember the two verses from the previous paragraph. When in a place of disagreement or frustration, seeking peace and loving the person takes priority over being right and having your way. Showing grace and forgiveness will display the forgiveness you have received. It will also allow the person to feel loved and cared for. 

-Makenna Landry

Reflection:

  1. How do you live out sanctification in your life?
  2. When someone is getting on your nerves or you come to a disagreement, how do you seek to live peacefully and quietly with them?
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Wise Words

Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 19-20

Poetry: Ecclesiastes 10

New Testament: Colossians 1:15-29

Ecclesiastes chapter 9 ended with an expression of the power of foolishness: “Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good” (9:18).

Here in verse 1, the premise of 9:18 is now carried forward. The principle that is being addressed is that a little bit of a bad thing (e.g., foolishness) can completely ruin a good thing. The modern saying “A fly in the ointment” contains the same wisdom and is used to represent how something small (or seemingly insignificant) can have a powerful or far-reaching effect. There are many small things that can produce a powerful effect.

We have another modern proverb to convey the same idea, “One rotten (bad) apple spoils the barrel.” This is a truism as we now know because of microorganisms (e.g., mold, bacteria, yeast), which tend to have a permeating effect. Once they are introduced, they will continue to spread until they have affected every part of the substance and adjacent substances.

Foolishness and sin are often likened to a foul stench, such as Proverbs 13:5—“A righteous person hates a deceptive word, but a wicked person will become a stench and display his shame.” Clearly the “stench” in Proverbs 13:5 is the speech (i.e., words) of the wicked person (i.e., fool). What Solomon has in mind is likely the words of the “sinner” in 9:18, not just the person. Thus, what he is saying is that it only takes a few foolish words to bring about a whole world of destruction. Furthermore, a fool cannot conceal their foolishness, but clearly demonstrates it each time they open their mouth or do anything.

While a ruler or person in authority is not immune to foolishness, verse 4 does not seem to be closely connected with the previous verses but offers advice on how to act in the presence of those with authority. Previously, Solomon had advised that a person follow the command of the king and not argue with him (8:2-9), it seems that he is saying the opposite here. However, the present context is not about opposing the king, but how to deal with him when he is angry with you. To walk out on the king in his anger will only incite him to be even more angry with you. Rather, Solomon suggests to change how you interact with him; it is wise to use a “calm” demeanor, as that can reduce his anger and offense against you.

Part of Solomon’s observational dilemma is that what he sees in the world is perplexing and out of order with what he thinks should be the case. When he sees, “Foolishness is set in many high positions, while the rich sit in a low place. I have seen servants on horses while officials walk on the ground like servants.” The point of Solomon’s examples is to say that if foolishness is in charge, then the world will be upside down and wisdom won’t work as expected.

In another way of looking at the world, Solomon notices that things can happen to the best of us (i.e., skilled and knowledgeable in their craft). One way to see Solomon’s point is that being a skilled expert does not remove all potential danger or guarantee success. The other way is that a skilled expert will fail if they don’t properly apply their knowledge.

Foolishness has a progression to it. The beginning is foolishness (v. 13), but the foolishness deteriorates the situation into becoming “hurtful madness.” Foolish words harm both the speaker and the listener, but a fool is oblivious to this. It seems that the fool has a false perception of understanding or control over life that they don’t recognize how they are stumbling further into foolishness and disastrous consequences.

The delusional consequences of the fool are further elaborated by depicting him as forgetting how to go to a city where he presumably works or needs to go to sell goods. The effort of the fool is compounded by the fact that he does not even have the basic understanding of how to carry out business. And thus, the fool’s effort must be multiplied because of his lack of sense about where he needs to go. To run a successful industry requires knowledge about trade and commerce, and the fool is deceived into thinking they can be successful without it.

If a foolish leader will bring about disorder and chaos, in vv. 16-17 Solomon now contrasts the consequences of foolish leadership with the advantage of wise leaders.

Solomon identifies in verse 16 two detrimental qualities of leadership: being immature and being neglectful. “Feasting in the morning” implies that when leaders should be tending to the business of the kingdom (i.e., in the morning), they instead are reclining to eat. This does not refer to breakfast but a large-scale banquet typically involving entertainment, music, and drinking wine.

The concluding phrase of verse 19 might be the most difficult of the chapter. On the surface, the verse seems to be advocating a sensual lifestyle of eating, drinking, and using money to satisfy one’s desires and enjoy the luxuries of life.

While the phrasing is a little difficult and the Hebrew offers a high degree of latitude in meaning, it seems that what Solomon is affirming is the need to have money in order to buy food and wine and other provisions for enjoying the simple aspects of life that Solomon has been endorsing all along.

Solomon closes with a warning about how to conduct oneself in the presence of a king (or any authority figure). He warns about the dangers in cursing the ruler or person in authority, even in one’s thoughts or “sleeping chamber” (i.e., in secret). The point of the warning is that the danger of consequences is not worth the risk. The king is sovereign and can issue severe punishments. We have a modern saying that expresses the same admonition: “The walls have ears.” The warnings are hyperbolic (e.g., exaggerated) because no one can know another person’s thoughts. But the emphasis is to be overly cautious about how you act and what you say about a ruler or person in authority. You never know who might be listening; and you don’t want to be caught and suffer the consequences.

-Jerry Wierwille

Reflection Questions

  1. What examples can you give of how a little of a bad thing can spoil a good thing? Can you think of a time when you tried to let just a little bit of a bad thing in and it led to big problems and a lot of spoilage? What could you have done differently to lead to different/better results?
  2. What verse do you like best in Ecclesiastes 10? What wisdom do you find in Ecclesiastes 10?
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When He Hides His Face

Old Testament: Micah 3

Poetry: Psalm 83

New Testament: Luke 17:11-37

Who doesn’t love a good game of hide n seek? I have memories of my dad getting in on a game of hide n seek by helping one of us kids get up to the never-accessed attic from the hallway game closet. That round lasted a LONG time. And just last week I watched as cousins enjoyed the thrill of the classic game at my sister’s house. But what about when God hides?

When I think of hiding in the Bible I think first of all of Adam and Even hiding in the garden, and then of Jonah hiding on a ship to Tarshish. When people hide it seems it is often because of fear, embarrassment, and/or shame. But, what about when God hides his face? I think we can rule out fear, embarrassment and shame. And, it is definitely no game. So, what causes God to hide His face?

The verse I am referring to is Micah 3:4 – “Then they will cry out to the Lord, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds.” (NASB). I looked at 55 other translations/paraphrases (made easy on biblegateway). I will compile some of the other options together: Someday you will beg the Lord to help you in your time of trouble, you will plead with Him, you will pray to Him, but He will not answer, He will not listen, He will not even look at you. Do you really expect Him to answer? But he will turn away from you, He will hide His face from you because of your sins, because of your evil deeds, because they/you have acted so wickedly.

So, what makes God hide His face from them – or from you?

Sin.

A few years ago I did a bit of study on prayer and more specifically unanswered prayers – or prayer requests that don’t receive the answer we were asking for when we asked. I keep the worksheet I created in my Bible because I keep adding to it as I find more and more reasons and instances as I read and re-read the Bible. Some of the reasons for “unanswered” prayers given in God’s Word are: not enough faith, asking with wrong motives, it’s not in God’s will or it’s just not time for it, yet. But, by far I have found the most examples and teachings about prayers not being answered – or even heard – because of unrighteousness.

Micah has many examples of the people’s unrighteousness. In this chapter he is speaking of the leaders of Judah and Israel and how they hate what is good and love what is evil. Perhaps if you think really hard you might be able to think of a time when you celebrated something that grieves God or you put down, ignored or disrespected something He created and called good? Where else have you seen evil celebrated and goodness trampled upon? Micah also spoke of the prophets who were leading Israel astray and their selfishness in looking out for themselves and their needs instead of speaking God’s truth and warnings to a nation in danger of God’s coming wrath. He says, “They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God” (Micah 3:7 NIV). And, suddenly, our ‘game’ of hide and seek now has no seekers at all. Because of sin. What happens when no one is seeking? Game over. Israel would be finding out very soon what happens. For even though they say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us” (Micah 3:11 NIV); disaster is indeed coming. They will find, just as Micah foretold, that you can’t live your sinful selfish lives against God’s laws and heart and then when you are in trouble expect God to sweep in to save the day. In fact, He is sometimes sending the disaster, because of their sinfulness. He is hiding His face from them – not because He isn’t powerful enough to stop the disaster. Not because He isn’t loving enough to stop the disaster. Indeed, God has a love for the whole world and hates the spread of sin – so it could be precisely His love to send the disaster/judgment/day of trouble before even more are led astray.

Don’t wait til it is too late. Be a Micah. Stand up against sin. Be filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord. Speak and show justice and might. Don’t follow the lies of unrighteous leaders. Follow His laws. Love Good. Hate Evil. Seek God’s face – always.

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you good at recognizing what God calls good and what He calls evil? Do you hate what He calls evil and love what He calls good? How could you get better at recognizing and treating evil as evil and good as good?
  2. What examples can you give of leaders who hate what is good and love what is evil? How does this affect a whole family/church/nation?
  3. If our sin and unrighteousness keeps God from hearing and answering our prayers – and we know ALL have sinned – how do we continue to seek God and turn from sin so that He does not hide His face from us?
  4. How can you be a Micah amongst the false prophets and sinful, selfish leaders? What do you need on your side (see verse 8)? How do you get it?
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Accusations Against You

Old Testament: Micah 1

Poetry: Psalm 81

New Testament: Luke 16:16-31

The world could use more knowledge of the Old Testament minor prophets. I should become more familiar with them, too. I wonder what would happen if they became required reading in every college or high school curriculum? Could our world, our nation, our church, our family, me, learn a lesson from what God spoke through His prophets so many years ago? Would they listen?

This week our Bible reading will include one chapter of Micah every day. Some years we have read the whole thing in just one or two days. But this year let’s slow down a little and digest one chapter a day. Some days this week our devotions will be over other parts of our Bible reading, but still take the time to work through one chapter of Micah every day, as if it were required reading from God.

Unlike several of the books of prophecy which are directed to just one nation or city, Micah addresses both Israel and Judah and many specific cities in those countries. Micah includes three sections which each begin imploring his audience to listen and pay attention to the messages God gave him to tell of the capital cities, the leaders and the people of these countries (1:2, 3:1, 6:1).

As you read through Micah this week be watching for what we can learn about God. What are His characteristics, what does God like, what does He hate, what has He done, and what will He do? Not to spoil the whole plot, but you will find many instances of God’s justice and also many instances of His love.

Here in chapter 1 then we begin with Micah telling the people of the world to listen to the visions he has received from God in regards to the capital cities of Samaria and Jerusalem because “The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you” (Micah 1:2). What does it mean to you that God is sovereign? Sometimes when we are accused of something we can easily dismiss the accusation because of who it comes from. But, not so easily done when the accusations are coming from the Sovereign God. Maybe this is something we ought to sit up and pay close attention to.

The next verse says, “Look! The Lord is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven …” So – we are not just to use our ears to listen – but also use our eyes to look and see the evidence. The Lord God is getting up off his throne. As a teacher or parent or baby-sitter it is interesting to watch a child who has heard the person in authority say what to do or not to do, but the child continues disobeying – until they see that authority figure start to stand up…and then they know it’s time to fall in line. It’s time to listen – and look – and obey. Because the LORD is not coming to give hugs and high-fives this time around. He isn’t bringing congratulations but accusations – and it’s not just talk. It’s time to act. The mountains are melting beneath His feet – because of the sins He has seen.

It is interesting that our other passages today share many of the same warnings and pictures of God. In Psalm 81 we hear, “Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings.” (vs 8). We see a people who did not want God around (vs. 11). We also see in this Psalm, what we will later see in Micah – what God does when His people DO come back to Him. When they DO repent, listen, follow Him and walk in His paths – THEN God subdues their enemies, and feeds them the finest wheat and satisfies them with wild honey from the rock (Psalm 81:13, 14, 16). While those who hate the Lord will be doomed forever (vs. 15).

Will you be eating wild honey from the rock or doomed forever?

Will you be like the rich man Lazarus or the beggar in Luke 16? If you are wanting some more information and discussion on this interesting parable, you might want to read the online REV Bible commentary on this passage.

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. Seriously consider, what accusations do you think the Sovereign Lord would make today against you, your church, your city, your capital city? Why are these accusations important to know and consider?
  2. The verse about the city of Lachish caught my attention, “You were the first city in Judah to follow Israel in her rebellion, and you led Jerusalem into sin.” (Micah 1:13) Your sins don’t just affect you. Where have you seen this slippery slope and growing snowball before? Thinking of your own life – who have you followed into sin – and then were you aware of who followed you and your sin? Could repentance work the same way?

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They Believed!

Old Testament: Jonah 3

Poetry: Psalm 73

New Testament: Luke 12:1-12

It is interesting that some of the best positive examples in the book of Jonah come from some of the least likely places.

In Chapter 1 what do we learn from the pagan sailors?

In Chapter 2 what do we learn about prayer from the prophet who was trying to run away from God?

And, in Chapter 3 what do we learn from the king and inhabitants of one of the most wicked cities of their time? Repent! Believe in God (vs 5) and repent! Humble yourself. Mourn because of your sins. Fast – give up your comforts and pursuits so you can focus completely on what God wants to tell you and what He wants from you. Send out a proclamation to let others know and hold them accountable. “Let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish” (vs 8b & 9). It is a great lesson to learn and imitate! Has your life changed because of a decision to believe and repent?

It’s interesting that Israel and Judah had the benefit of many prophets speaking for many, many years and generations, to the Israelite kings, officials and countrymen, time and time again and sometimes even with miraculous signs. And yet, these countries were still often heading in the wrong direction, away from God. But here in sinful Ninevah, a man of God (who had screwed up a time or two, and wasn’t always the most reliable or faithful, but did know how to pray) takes a one day walk into Ninevah, preaches, and changes the destiny for the whole capital city of Assyria. I wonder if Jonah told of his personal testimony – how God had gotten the attention of this particular runaway prophet? Do you have a story you can tell – even if it doesn’t include a huge fish? What might it mean to your listeners?

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What does repentance mean to you? When have you repented, of what, what did it look like? Did it last? Where are you without repentance? If the Ninevites didn’t repent what would have happened to them?
  2. What could you say to one on the path to destruction? What part of your testimony could you share? What can you tell them about God? What do you know about the future? How would you feel if they DID listen to you and repent?
  3. What is the difference between God changing and God relenting? Where else do we see Him relenting?
  4. What have you learned from some of the least likely sources, perhaps even from a runaway prophet? Why do you think God chose to send Jonah to Ninevah – twice? Where might God be asking you to go?
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