Tag: Tom Siderius

God’s True Purpose for You

Romans 11-13

Read these chapters carefully with discernment from the spirit of Christ in you.  They contain great and precious promises that we can claim as Christians.  These chapters give us instruction in who is the church, who is Israel and how to live in true fellowship with God and our fellow believers.  A whole book could be written on this section and not fulfill all that God intends for us to do and think.

Romans chapter 11 continues Paul’s appeal to his fellow Israelites to accept Christ. He sets in order the relationship of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament to the current relationship the church has with the Father.  God meant for Israel to be a national witness of Him to demonstrate grace and love to all the world.  If they had done the purpose they were called for the kingdom of God could have come when Messiah Jesus appeared in the world.  

Romans 11:11-12(NLT) Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

Their rejection of the law and then of Christ himself causes their national purpose to be postponed to a future time.  God still has a special heart for those in Israel that loved God’s plan and were anticipating the coming of Christ and the establishment of the kingdom of God on the earth.  God has never changed in His devoted relationship with all people.  Those that truly seek Him with their hearts are rewarded for faith in every age and time.  Those that trust in the one true God have a pathway to the future kingdom.  

Romans 1:16-17(NLT) For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

In chapter 11 God shows us the true position and attitude we should have with the Old Testament saints and the New Testament church.  Paul writes by inspiration that we are part of the mighty tree of God built on the trunk that is Christ.  It grows from the root of promises made to Abraham, but then the nation of Israel is cut down to a stump.  Jesus is the new tree which grows from the root of promise to Abraham and patriarchs that continues until today.

Isaiah 11:1-5(NLT) Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.

Romans 11:17-18(NLT) But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

When Jesus is the new tree that grows from the stump of the nation of Israel, we the Gentiles are grafted onto the tree by God as it pleases Him.  We are an unnatural branch and even come from a tree which is not really an olive tree.  Look up “oleaster” on the internet to see what a poor branch we were before being grafted.  We weren’t even good olive branches.  God breaks us off the oleaster tree (a tree with no good fruit) and grafts us into the richness of the olive tree nation of Israel with Godly fruit.  Then the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob become available to us also.  This is a wonderful picture of the love that God has for us today joining us into His family.  

Isaiah 11:10(NKJV)  “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.”

Does this section change your thoughts about Israel and the church?

Are you more thankful for all God has done for you and me?

In Romans chapters 12 and 13 Paul gives us great encouragement to walk in this new life that we have.  Paul writes to instruct us how to please God and live with others.

Romans 12:1-2(NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

God wills us to present our lives as a sacrifice of praise to Him.  We are not to be “stamped” into conformity with the world but to be “metamorphosed” into the Christ in us by changing our minds to hear the Word of God.  When we put the Word into our minds and hearts and act on it, we will be changed from the death and destruction of this world into people that are children of God with power to do good.  

Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

How does Jesus fulfill all the requirements of the Mosaic Law?  

He did not do all the regulations of the Pharisees and scribes.  Rather Jesus points us to the righteous life-giving purposes of God.  When he loves God and is obedient to all God asked him to do Jesus is fulfilling God’s purpose for him.  That is acting in God’s true love.  When we are obedient to God and act in true love to Him and others, we also walk in the true purpose God has called us to live by.

Do we have to do the law of Moses today? 

What happens when we do not love others like Christ did?

Love in Christ, Tom Siderius

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True Fellowship

Romans 8-10

The book of Romans has been called the Magna Carta of the Word by many writers when they describe the freedoms that God shows us in its pages.  Romans 8 is the start of a transition from the doctrine of salvation that is presented in Chapters 1-7.  Chapter 8 is about walking in the spirit and what true fellowship with God is based on.  Chapter 9 moves to a section that is concerned with Israel and their relationship to the church and salvation in Christ.

Chapter 7 ends with these verses where Paul tells us of his frustration with his walk of believing
Romans 7:21-25. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So, you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Paul has trouble with his Christian Walk???

But then Romans 8 begins with this contrast of truth about who we really are in Christ:

Romans 8:1-4(NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

The transition that we are being taught by Paul is that when we walk in fellowship with God, then we are able to overcome our sin nature.  We will be without condemnation when we are guided by the spirit of God that He has given us.  Our spiritual nature of Christ in us gives us the power and ability to do the will of God and do good in this world.  

We have Christ in us when we are born again by God’s spirit but our daily walk with God is one of obedience to fellowship with Him, or disobedience to living without God’s fellowship.  Christ walked in perfect fellowship with God and because he always did the Father’s will, he was not condemned by the law.  

What are the ways we can grow in our ability to be in fellowship with God and His Son?

Romans 8:5-6(NLT) Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

The Old Testament law really is a law of life, but the Pharisees and scribes had turned it into a law to control people politically and physically.  Look sometime at the undoable complexity of the rulemaking in the Talmud and Mishnah.  Those regulations are only to control people from a human standpoint.  Jesus Christ does all of God’s intentions for the true interpretation of the law of Moses.  He is judged righteous by God because of his obedience.  God gives to us the righteousness of Christ when we confess him as lord and savior.  

Romans 10:9-13(NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

Our salvation is received by grace from God and is not dependent on our works or actions before that point.  We cannot earn our salvation, but we receive it by trust that Christ is what we need in our lives.  To confess him as lord is to say fully in our hearts that we cannot do this ourselves but will follow and obey him.  Many denominations have reduced this as a simple confession of “Jesus is Lord”, but to truly say this declaration it means that I understand the complete futility and incompetence of my own efforts.  I need the righteousness that comes only from God in Christ to overcome the sinful person who is me.

What righteous thing have you done that will impress God with your goodness?

Before or after the point of your salvation?

Grace from God is the only way to fellowship with Him.  We can approach the throne of grace because the righteous son of God is there to advocate for us.  God sees us with the righteousness of the Christ in us and then we are able to have fellowship with a righteous God.  By our own efforts we fall completely short of this.  That is why we are able to walk with no condemnation from the law of Moses or the law of slavery to sin that we are delivered from. 

Why do we need Christ’s intercession with God on our behalf?

Have a victorious day today walking in fellowship with God with Christ beside you.

Romans 8:38-39(NLT) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Only God’s love can change us and this fallen world.  Thanks be to our God that He truly loves us so much to save us and take care of us each and every day.

Love in Christ – Tom Siderius

See Reflection Questions Above

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The Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 7-12

Yesterday we searched Ecclesiastes for the wisdom that Solomon put there for us to find.  Today we continue our search for the eternal truth that God has set for us to find.  Remember that the human mind wants to have the certainty of knowledge and wisdom, but that the only true wisdom is from God and not human thought. 

Ecclesiastes 7:8-13(NLT) Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
9 Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
10 Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.
11 Wisdom is even better when you have money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.  Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?

It is interesting that wisdom and money can go hand in hand.  When we are part of God’s family we have the resources of the head of our Household to help us. 

Does God give us the financial resources that we have for us alone?  Or are the resources for the work of His church and kingdom?

Ecclesiastes 7:29(NLT) But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

Maybe Artificial Intelligence will be able to find all knowledge? 

Will it find that God’s Word is ultimate truth or will it decide that the Word is not correct? 

Is there ultimate true wisdom in any human endeavor?

I think these verses give us the truth that God alone has ultimate wisdom and we will find it when we search for Him, and not for the knowledge that comes from the world.  All else is “vanity” trying to breath into a bottle.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14(NLT) The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.
12 But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

How does the conclusion of Ecclesiastes compare with the proverb that Jesus gives us in Matthew?

Matthew 10:16(NKJV) Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves

May you have a great day being shrewd in the world’s ways, but with God’s love and truth as the foundation of the way to live.

-Tom Siderius

See Reflection Questions above in bold

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The Words of the Preacher

Ecclesiastes 1-6

Ecclesiastes 1:1-5(NKJV)  The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
3 What profit has a man from all his labor
In which he toils under the sun?
4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes;
But the earth abides forever.
5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,
And hastens to the place where it arose.

“Ecclesiastes” comes from the Greek “Ekklesiastes” which is from the word “ekklesia” which in the NT is translated into “assembly” or “church”.  Solomon is the writer, and the book is the “Speaker to the Assembly”.  Or we could say “Preacher”.  These are words that the church needs to hear.

Ecclesiastes 1:14-17(NKJV)  I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.
16 I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Our readings for today and tomorrow are wisdom from Solomon about the meaning of life.  He explores wisdom, wealth, work, art, and faith throughout the book.  The word “vanity” used in many versions of the Bible is the Hebrew word “hebel”.  It is translated in different versions as vanity, meaningless, or futility.  It is a word which is not easily translated directly to English.  The meaning comes from the idea of “breath” or “vapor” like the breath of steam from your mouth on a cold day.  It cannot be grasped with your hands or put into a bottle or jar.  Meaning in our lives without God being involved is like trying to grab ahold of that breath or vapor.   People desire for their lives to have meaning and purpose.  We also want to be remembered as doing things that are useful and lasting.  Solomon certainly did all that a man could do in his life and had God given wisdom to work from.  Yet he says that all is meaningless without the purpose of serving God.  Even our Christian religious activity doesn’t have meaning without true godliness at its base.  This fallen world needs to find Christ in order to find meaning.  Only God in His wisdom knows what we need and has provided it for us.

Reflection Questions

Do you feel like you are grasping the wind or vapor when trying to understand life?

How does the Word of God change that?

Are you sometimes frustrated by your study of the Bible?

How does the perspective of Ecclesiastes change your thinking?

 Enjoy reading Ecclesiastes today and tomorrow and try to look for the purpose of your life in the reading. 

God Bless!  Tom Siderius

Iron Sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27-29

We read yesterday about how our fellowship with each other gives us an opportunity to help one another become more faithful in our walks with God.

Proverbs 27:17(NLT) As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Now we also see wisdom that encourages us to take the long view of the things that we do.  God has a plan that spans centuries and generations.  Here in Proverb 27 Solomon shows us that we are to work and think with the goals of tomorrow and a new generation in mind.

Proverbs 27:23-27(NLT) Know the state of your flocks,
and put your heart into caring for your herds,
24 for riches don’t last forever,
and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.
25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears
and the mountain grasses are gathered in,
26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing,
and your goats will provide the price of a field.
27 And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself,
your family, and your servant girls.

Could you put this proverb into a modern form and provide a current event comparison about investments and future outcomes?

In Proverbs 29 we find much wisdom about nations and rulers alternated with practical advice about children, jobs and possessions.  Proverbs has a poetic form which is different from the way that we mostly write today.  This rhythm and phrasing make it easier for the people to remember and recite.  Most of the faithful of that time memorized the Word and were able to speak it when needed.  We are spoiled by written Bibles and internet search engines to find the verses that we look for. 

Proverbs 29:2(NLT) When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice.
  But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

Proverbs 29:4(NLT) A just king gives stability to his nation,
but one who demands bribes destroys it.

Proverbs 29:12(NLT) If a ruler pays attention to liars,
    all his advisers will be wicked.

Proverbs 29:14(NLT) If a king judges the poor fairly,
his throne will last forever.

Proverbs 29:16(NLT) When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes,
but the godly will live to see their downfall.

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

How do these verses give simple instruction for complex questions of rulership and authority?

Could we write them in a modern version to say the same truth to our country and generation?

& See Bold Question Above about Proverbs 27

Praying God is with you today and this wisdom gives you light to guide your feet and path.

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Enlightening Wisdom to Live By

Proverbs 25-26

1 Kings 4:29-34(NLT)  God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. 30 In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. 32 He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. 33 He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. 34 And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.

Proverbs in their basic elements are statements about life.  Solomon composed some 3000 proverbs according to the record in 1 Kings.  They are comparisons of concrete examples of physical life with the eternal truth of God’s message to us.  In our reading today we see a familiar set of verses which are quoted by Paul in Romans in a section of Romans dealing with how to get along with others in the church and without.  Our two chapters we are reading today have many statements which should help us govern our hearts and how we relate to others.  Let’s look at the section in Proverbs and quoted in Romans.

Proverbs 25:21-22(NKJV) 1 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the LORD will reward you.

Romans 12:17-21(NKJV) Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

One common explanation of these verses are that we will heap coals of fire on our enemy to burn him up when we do good to him.  My understanding of this section is much different.  In the ancient cultures they didn’t have boxes of safety matches or Bic lighters to make fire with.  When it was cold especially the household would try to keep a fire going all the time so that when fire was needed for cooking or heating it would be available.  As anyone who has tried to start a fire with friction or flint and steel will attest, this is no small matter to get a fire going when needed.  An easier method would be to go to the neighbors who have an existing fire and borrow some coals from them.  If their fire went out, borrowing coals from you would be very neighborly.  When they took the coals, they would put them in a clay pot to handle them.  It was very common to put the pot on the top on their head to carry it, and they would have a pad to protect the head even.  This would warm up the person carrying the coals to the other household and the proverb is comparing this physical action that this would warm them, be a blessing, to them in their hearts.  By doing this we overcome the evil of having an enemy with the blessing that we give them by our actions.

In Proverbs 26 there are sections that deal with our speech and how it should be handled.  This first one shows us a comparison of a lie to a deadly weapon against another.

Proverbs 26:18-26(NLT) 18 Just as damaging
as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
and then says, “I was only joking.”

How about this next section that deals with gossip and quarrels.  Would we have quarrels in our churches if we followed the wisdom found here?  Jesus echoes this when he tells us that out of our hearts we speak what we really believe whether for good or evil.  As we read God’s Word it is drawn into our hearts by God’s love found there and this becomes the way that we react when in the situations of life. 


Proverbs 26:20-26(NLT)  Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.
23 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

One of my favorites of these wisdom sayings of Solomon is in this verse:

Proverbs 27:17(NLT) As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Praying that you all will be sharpened by the love and wisdom of these lessons which you are reading every day. 

Love in Christ, Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. In today’s Bible reading which verses stood out to you as particularly wise? What stood out as something you need to work on?
  2. How do you treat your enemies? How can you follow the wisdom of Solomon and Paul and the teaching of Jesus in how you respond to them?
  3. When would you do well to remember Solomon’s wisdom regarding quarrels?
  4. How can you help sharpen a friend? Who has helped sharpen you?
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2 Viewpoints

1 Kings 9 & 2 Chronicles 8

1 Kings 9:1-7(NLT) So Solomon finished building the Temple of the LORD, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do. 2 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had done before at Gibeon. 3 The LORD said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your petition. I have set this Temple apart to be holy—this place you have built where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.4 “As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, 5 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ 6 “But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 7 then I will uproot Israel from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make Israel an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations

2 Chronicles 8:12-15(NLT) Then Solomon presented burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar he had built for him in front of the entry room of the Temple. 13 He offered the sacrifices for the Sabbaths, the new moon festivals, and the three annual festivals—the Passover celebration, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters—as Moses had commanded. 14 In assigning the priests to their duties, Solomon followed the regulations of his father, David. He also assigned the Levites to lead the people in praise and to assist the priests in their daily duties. And he assigned the gatekeepers to their gates by their divisions, following the commands of David, the man of God. 15 Solomon did not deviate in any way from David’s commands concerning the priests and Levites and the treasuries.

A great question we can ask about Kings and Chronicles is “why were the histories of the children of Israel recorded twice?”

I think that the answer is in the perspective of the leaders and kings actions in the books of Samuel and Kings where the perspective is that of God and how He sees what the kings and men do, and where their hearts are.  In Chronicles it is much more the picture from the historical standpoint of man to the things that the kings do.  When we read, we see motive from God’s viewpoint in the Samuel and Kings records. We see more of a historical view in Chronicles.  I am not a student of who wrote down the Chronicles, but scholars who are think that maybe one or two men wrote down the book after the return from Babylon, perhaps Ezra.  They wrote because it would give their people a history that maybe they did not know. And also to help to give legitimacy to their present kingdom after the captivity.  By emphasizing the faithfulness of God they were giving hope to the people that God would reestablish them in the land and as a kingdom.

Are you inspired by this history to be more trusting of God and His Word?

Kings has unique information that is not in Chronicles, and vice versa.   The information and perspective are different, and we need to read both books.  Also the Chronicles are considered to be the last books added to the Hebrew cannon of scripture and are last in their scrolls of books.  The reason for the first and second books of both is related to the size of a scroll that could be produced at that time, not to a discontinuity between the first and second books. 

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

Do you feel it is important for us to read these records?

What perspective should we have on these historical records?

I hope and pray today that God is giving you more confidence in His faithfulness and care as we read through these OT records.

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Praise Yahweh All Mankind and All Creation!!

Psalm 134, 146-150

Psalms 146:1-5 (NLT) Praise the LORD!
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
and all their plans die with them.
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.

Who should we put our confidence in?

Psalms 147:3-6(NLT) He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
4 He counts the stars
and calls them all by name.
5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
6 The LORD supports the humble,
but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

Is trust in God the essence of “faith”?

Psalms 147:11(NLT) No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

In this verse we see the word “hesed” God’s unfailing love that we looked at yesterday.

Psalms 148:1-2(NLT) Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens!
Praise him from the skies!
2 Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all the armies of heaven!

Psalms 149:4(NLT) For the LORD delights in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalms 150 Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!
3 Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!
5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

From the “Worship Arts Conservatory”  https://worshiparts.net/

halal means to “shine (or flash brightly), boast, to praise, to act like a fool or madman”. Halal is used 165 times in the Old Testament and is usually translated as “praise.” The word halal is part of the larger word “Hallelujah” which is the combination of the word Halal (praise) and Yah (Yahweh).  Together they mean “praise Yahweh” or “praise the LORD”.

  • God is worthy of our praise.  The Bible calls us to praise over and over again – over 100 times with this word alone.
  • God is worthy of exuberant praise.  Halal means “to shine or flash.”  The word Halal does not paint a picture of a quiet and dignified reading of a psalm.  The word paints a picture of a bright flashing praise that draws everyone’s attention.  We should praise God in such a way as to draw attention, like a light flashing in the darkness.
  • God is worthy of our boasting.  Halal means “to boast.”  Our God is so great that we cannot help but boast in who He is.  Like a child boasting about how strong his father is, we should be so enthralled by the greatness of our father that we cannot help but boast about Him to those we meet.  (Jeremiah 9:23-24)
  • God is worthy of our foolishness.  Halal means “to act like fool.”  One of the greatest mistakes I make when praising God is to worry about what others may think.  Isn’t it interesting that the same word that is translated “praise” is also translated “fool” in other passages?

From the “Light of the World” website https://kaylened.wordpress.com/ we can see an explanation of how words are formed by letters which are pictures in the ancient languages.

The Hebrew letter הָ Hey/Hay originally looked like a person with Raised Arms

Representing to Behold, Look, Watch, Reveal, Show, as through a Window, What Comes From, Breath/Sigh of Awe

לַ Lamad looked like a Shepherd’s Staff . Representing Authority; to Shepard, Protect, Goad, Guide, Yoke, Bind, Learn, Teach

When a meaning is doubled in Hebrew it is called an Emphatic Duplication. The second ל Lamad in הָלַ–ל Hal-lal intensifies its Picture as the Ultimate Staff of staffs, Authority of authorities, or Tongue of tongues.

הָלַל Halal shows us what it means to Praise:

 Hey הָ = Arms Raised, to Behold, Reveal, Look, Window, Breath, The…

 Lamed לַ = Staff, Authority, Control, Rule, Prod, to Direct Toward, Tongue…

 Lamed לַ = Staff, Authority, Control, Rule, Prod, to Direct Toward, Tongue…

 Behold –

 the Authority – 

 of Authorities

Isn’t it very exciting how our Praise is to show God’s Light and Authority in what we do.

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. How can we change our worship or worship services to have more “praise” in them?
  2. What will you praise God for today? How might you do it with more “shine or flash”?
  3. Where, when, how, why might God want to see us “acting like a fool” as we boast about Him? What are you willing to try?
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God’s mercy (hesed) endures forever!!

2 Chronicles 6-7

Psalm 136

Psalms 136:1-9(NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
7 To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever—
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.

(I quoted the above section in the NKJV version because of the familiarity of the phrase “His mercy endures forever” but encourage you to read it in a different version as the word “mercy” is translated many ways.)

The Hebrew word “hesed” is found about 250 times in the Old Testament.  It is translated “love and faithfulness,” “unfailing love,” “faithful love,” “steadfast love,” and “loyal love,” depending on the Bible version used.  It has a bigger concept than just God’s love or mercy.  His love for His people is an central and essential part of God’s character.  The core idea of this term communicates loyalty or faithfulness within our relationship. Hesed is closely intertwined with God’s covenant with His people Israel in the OT.  

We see this in our section of reading from 2 Chronicles today where Solomon is dedicating the Temple.  The Temple in the OT is the dwelling place of God, specifically at the holy of holies, in the ark of the covenant.  God’s “hesed” is in the perfect performance of His commitments expressed by the tablets that God gave Moses on Mt Sinai. 

2 Chronicles 6:7-11(NLT) Then Solomon said, “My father, David, wanted to build this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD told him, ‘You wanted to build the Temple to honor my name. Your intention is good, 9 but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’ 10 “And now the LORD has fulfilled the promise he made, for I have become king in my father’s place, and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. I have built this Temple to honor the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 There I have placed the Ark, which contains the covenant that the LORD made with the people of Israel.”

After a dedication service in Chapter 6, in Chapter 7 we see where God approves and accepts the sacrifices made there by the people.  He does this by sending fire down, which we see as God’s approval of the sacrifice.  God’s fire and presence are put in this Temple building giving His presence to that place.

2 Chronicles 7:1-3(NLT) When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. 2 The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!”

Think about the day of Pentecost at the start of the church that we are part of.  God’s fire came down and rested on each of the apostles showing God’s approval and acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ.  The holy spirit is given to those that follow Christ from that day.  We are the Temple of God’s building, the church of the body of Christ.  God’s enduring love is given to us with the same commitment and intensity as He has shown Israel in the OT.  Our relationship with God is based on the covenantal sacrifice of the blood of Christ which allows us into the place and presence of Him. 

Have a great day today with the mighty hesed of God watching over and keeping you in all you do!

-Tom Siderius

Reflection Questions

  1. What verses of Psalm 136 really stand out to you? Are there any surprising verses? What do you notice about God’s character?
  2. Where have you seen God’s hesed in Scripture? Where have you seen it in your lifetime? Are you confident it will endure forever?
  3. Are you living in the place and presence of God?
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I Am Nothing

Job 40-42

Our reading in Job is coming to a conclusion with these chapters. Yesterday we heard God show Himself in the power and breath of creation.   In chapters 40-41 we see that now God Himself is answering Job about His power and majesty and challenges him to answer.  Job is completely overawed by God and finally sees the folly of his positions and arguments.  He reacts as the lesson teaches us that God is everything, all power, all majesty, all strength and all knowledge.  We in all our human strength and knowledge are nothing compared to God, and this is Job’s confession that turns the whole narrative. 

Job 40:1-5(NLT) Then the LORD said to Job,
2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
Job Responds to the LORD
3 Then Job replied to the LORD,
4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5 I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.”

Proverbs 1:7(NKJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge

Fear here is not that of a frightened mind, but an overwhelmed, overawed understanding of the power of God and the feeble strength of man.

Our ministry today is to explain to a fallen world what the message of God is, showing others the way to the truth.   Our message is now in the cross of Christ and what God has done for us in Jesus’ life and death.  Our responsibility is to show an Invisible God to a hurting world. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-25(NLT) The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Job 40:6-11(NLT) The LORD Challenges Job Again
6 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
7 “Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
8 “Will you discredit my justice
and condemn me just to prove you are right?
9 Are you as strong as God?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 All right, put on your glory and splendor,
your honor and majesty.
11 Give vent to your anger.
Let it overflow against the proud.

Job 42:1-6(NLT) Then Job replied to the LORD:
2 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
6 I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Then we come to the end of the book.  In only a few short verses with little explanation or elaboration we see Job pray for friends and then he is restored to life, health and position.  Even double the wealth that he had before.  What brings this amazing turnabout?

Job 42:8-10(NLT) My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. 10 When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!

The ”miserable comforters” do a sacrifice where they lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, transferring their sin to the animals.  Then Job changes from self-justification and promotion to making humble prayer for the friends.  When we are right with God then He is able to bless us because of His decision to do it, not because of our merit, works or traditions.

What is the conclusion of the matter?

With God I am everything, Without God I am nothing!

James 5:10-11(NLT) For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

-Tom Siderius

Questions for Reflection:

Did you have fun reading the book of Job and the lesson in it?

Has the reading changed your thinking about the “Oldest Lesson in the World”?

Has your heart changed about who God is and who we are?

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