Proverbs 16, Psalms 76-80
Psalm 77:11 - "I will remember the deeds of the Lord ; yes, I will remember your wonders of old."
When we are in the struggle we cannot forget how He has blessed us in the past. Remember.
Proverbs 16:2 - "All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit."
We compare ourselves to others and think, "I'm not as bad as he is. I haven't done anything like that." God looks at our heart. He knows our motives. We are unclean despite what we do on the outside compared to others.
Proverbs 16:16 - "How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."
Wisdom of the Word is better, so much better, than worldly wealth.
Proverbs 16:31 - "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life."
Ahem...daughters? Are you reading along with me here?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Bible Reading for January 15, 2009
Proverbs 14, Psalms 71-75
Psalm 72:6-7 - "May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!"
An uplifting Psalm about the coming King.
Proverbs 15:16 - "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it."
Amen! Be content.
Psalm 72:6-7 - "May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!"
An uplifting Psalm about the coming King.
Proverbs 15:16 - "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it."
Amen! Be content.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Bible Reading for January 14,2009
Proverbs 14, Psalms 66-70
Psalm 69:4 - "More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause..."
If this is true of David, how much more so for the Son of David as applied in John 15:25? It is just incredible how the Word of God fits together.
Psalm 69:4 - "More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause..."
If this is true of David, how much more so for the Son of David as applied in John 15:25? It is just incredible how the Word of God fits together.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Bible Reading for January 13,2009
Proverbs 13, Psalms 61-65
Psalm 62: 7-10 - "On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah"
Trust God's sovereignty!
Psalm 63:1 - "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
Absolutely beautiful imagery. Do we really have that desire?
Proverbs 13:4 - "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
Once again, the continuing theme of laziness, in this case, explicitly spiritual.
Proverbs 13:12 - "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."
Matthew Henry has an interesting commentary regarding this, to wit, "Nothing is more grievous than the disappointment of a raised expectation...and the more high the expectation was raised the more cutting is the frustration of it. It is therefore our wisdom not to promise ourselves any great matters from the creature, not to feed ourselves with any vain hopes from this world, lest we lay up matter for our own vexation; and what we do hope for let us prepare to be disappointed in, that, if it should prove so, it may prove the easier."
Proverbs 13:20 - "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Our associations shape our character.
Please join me. Post your comments on your reading for the day. As Tim Challies says, "Do not feel that you can only say anything if you are going to say something that will wow us all." Just share what you think or even just the chapter(s) you read.
Psalm 62: 7-10 - "On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah"
Trust God's sovereignty!
Psalm 63:1 - "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."
Absolutely beautiful imagery. Do we really have that desire?
Proverbs 13:4 - "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
Once again, the continuing theme of laziness, in this case, explicitly spiritual.
Proverbs 13:12 - "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."
Matthew Henry has an interesting commentary regarding this, to wit, "Nothing is more grievous than the disappointment of a raised expectation...and the more high the expectation was raised the more cutting is the frustration of it. It is therefore our wisdom not to promise ourselves any great matters from the creature, not to feed ourselves with any vain hopes from this world, lest we lay up matter for our own vexation; and what we do hope for let us prepare to be disappointed in, that, if it should prove so, it may prove the easier."
Proverbs 13:20 - "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Our associations shape our character.
Please join me. Post your comments on your reading for the day. As Tim Challies says, "Do not feel that you can only say anything if you are going to say something that will wow us all." Just share what you think or even just the chapter(s) you read.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Bible Reading for January 12, 2009
Proverbs 12, Psalms 56-60.
Psalm 56:11 - "in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Am I fearful of others or trusting in God?
Psalm 57:4-6 - "My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah"
What beautiful imagery, what a beautiful description of the character of God!
Proverbs 12:11 - "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense."
Laziness is a continuing theme of Proverbs.
Proverbs 12:16 - "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult."
We are so apt to exacerbate the smallest issues.
Proverbs 12:22 - "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord , but those who act faithfully are his delight."
The world sees lying as not worthy of condemnation, God shows us He thinks of it differently.
Psalm 56:11 - "in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Am I fearful of others or trusting in God?
Psalm 57:4-6 - "My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah"
What beautiful imagery, what a beautiful description of the character of God!
Proverbs 12:11 - "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense."
Laziness is a continuing theme of Proverbs.
Proverbs 12:16 - "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult."
We are so apt to exacerbate the smallest issues.
Proverbs 12:22 - "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord , but those who act faithfully are his delight."
The world sees lying as not worthy of condemnation, God shows us He thinks of it differently.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Bible Reading for January 11, 2009
Proverbs 11, Psalms 51-55.
Psalm 51:4 - "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight..."
Our sin is not just against another person but, ultimately, it is against God.
Psalm 53:3 - "...there is none who does good, not even one."
Are you a good person? How would the Bible answer that question?
Psalm 51:4 - "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight..."
Our sin is not just against another person but, ultimately, it is against God.
Psalm 53:3 - "...there is none who does good, not even one."
Are you a good person? How would the Bible answer that question?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Bible Reading for January 10, 2009
Proverbs 10, Psalms 46-50.
These readings seem especially appropriate for the times we find ourselves in.
Psalm 46 - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."
A stunningly beautiful poetic Psalm. I have found that this Psalm was the catalyst for Martin Luther's great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God". Earthquakes, spoken of here, are fearful things. What we consider most stable suddenly becomes unstable. When our "stability" is shaken we have nothing to fear because of the transcendent stability of God. God's protection will not be shaken or eroded. As John MacArthur says, "Don't panic. Recognize His sovereignty."
Psalm 49 - Sounding very much like a Proverb, this could be called the "you can't take it with you" Psalm. Once again as John MacArthur says, "Mankind has a propensity to trust in our own material goods which is the epitome of stupidity". (Proverbs 23: 4-5)
Psalm 49:15 - "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. (NKJV)"
What an absolutely incredible promise!
Proverbs 10:4 - "He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."
Slothfulness can lead to earthly poverty. More importantly, however, is that it will inevitably lead to spiritual poverty.
Proverbs 10:19 - "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise."
"It is good to say little, because in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, or sin doth not cease." (Matthew Henry) "Wisdom is to restrain the tongue, since much speech risks sin." (John MacArthur)
Proverbs 10:22 - "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes us rich. Our material possessions are not an indicator of true "richness".
These readings seem especially appropriate for the times we find ourselves in.
Psalm 46 - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."
A stunningly beautiful poetic Psalm. I have found that this Psalm was the catalyst for Martin Luther's great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God". Earthquakes, spoken of here, are fearful things. What we consider most stable suddenly becomes unstable. When our "stability" is shaken we have nothing to fear because of the transcendent stability of God. God's protection will not be shaken or eroded. As John MacArthur says, "Don't panic. Recognize His sovereignty."
Psalm 49 - Sounding very much like a Proverb, this could be called the "you can't take it with you" Psalm. Once again as John MacArthur says, "Mankind has a propensity to trust in our own material goods which is the epitome of stupidity". (Proverbs 23: 4-5)
Psalm 49:15 - "But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. (NKJV)"
What an absolutely incredible promise!
Proverbs 10:4 - "He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."
Slothfulness can lead to earthly poverty. More importantly, however, is that it will inevitably lead to spiritual poverty.
Proverbs 10:19 - "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise."
"It is good to say little, because in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, or sin doth not cease." (Matthew Henry) "Wisdom is to restrain the tongue, since much speech risks sin." (John MacArthur)
Proverbs 10:22 - "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes us rich. Our material possessions are not an indicator of true "richness".
Friday, January 9, 2009
Bible Reading for January 9, 2009
Proverbs 9, Psalms 41-45.
These readings are very timely for me today.
Proverbs 9:8 - "...reprove a wise man and he will love you."
Humble me Lord. May I be wise and accept reproof.
Psalm 41:9 - "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me."
Should we think it strange when we are likewise treated? Not only was David treated like this but the Son of David, Jesus himself. (John 13:18) Have we not also done this to God himself? We eat of His bread daily but "lift up our heel" towards Him consistently?
Psalm 44:3 - "...for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them."
It wasn't by their work but God's! How proud are we to think that "all" that we have done is by our own skill, knowledge, cunning, and strength. None of it, zero, zilch, nada has come from anywhere else but God Himself.
These readings are very timely for me today.
Proverbs 9:8 - "...reprove a wise man and he will love you."
Humble me Lord. May I be wise and accept reproof.
Psalm 41:9 - "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me."
Should we think it strange when we are likewise treated? Not only was David treated like this but the Son of David, Jesus himself. (John 13:18) Have we not also done this to God himself? We eat of His bread daily but "lift up our heel" towards Him consistently?
Psalm 44:3 - "...for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them."
It wasn't by their work but God's! How proud are we to think that "all" that we have done is by our own skill, knowledge, cunning, and strength. None of it, zero, zilch, nada has come from anywhere else but God Himself.
A Chapter a Day
I suppose it is a late start on the New Year's Resolution but better late than never! You have noted, I'm sure, the following notice when you open this blog, "If you have time to read this blog today but have not taken the time to read your Bible then you do not have time to read this blog." There is nothing more important that reading God's Word. His direct revelation to us. His letter(s) to us. His guidance for us. His strength and power for us. The Bible. The Holy Scripture that people have died and bled for.
A chapter a day doesn't seem like much does it? I'll have more to say as we go along but starting today I'll post my reading for the day along with my thoughts. I'm not a theologian so nothing profound here. Just impressions, praises and thoughts on my reading for the day. We aren't going to be legalists about this. If you miss a day here and there that is fine. You don't even have to read anything in order, just pick a chapter. Just read! This is just a nice way to hold each other somewhat accountable.
Please join me. Post your comments on your reading for the day below mine. As Tim Challies says, "Do not feel that you can only say anything if you are going to say something that will wow us all." At the end of the year it will be nice to be able to look back and see how much God has blessed you with His Word.
A chapter a day doesn't seem like much does it? I'll have more to say as we go along but starting today I'll post my reading for the day along with my thoughts. I'm not a theologian so nothing profound here. Just impressions, praises and thoughts on my reading for the day. We aren't going to be legalists about this. If you miss a day here and there that is fine. You don't even have to read anything in order, just pick a chapter. Just read! This is just a nice way to hold each other somewhat accountable.
Please join me. Post your comments on your reading for the day below mine. As Tim Challies says, "Do not feel that you can only say anything if you are going to say something that will wow us all." At the end of the year it will be nice to be able to look back and see how much God has blessed you with His Word.
I'll Be Back
This blog has been inactive because life has been active! I haven't forgotten about it nor have I decided to stop posting. My original goal was 100 posts and then to take some time to re-evaluate the purpose of the blog. I hit that goal in late November. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's came along with transportation and work issues thrown in to delay any evaluation until now. I plan to continue posting sparsely for another month or so. I still have plans for the blog and hope you continue to read when you have the time. Look for my next post on Bible reading and then keep an eye out for future plans.
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