Proverbs 11:11 - Be a Blessing

Proverbs 11:11

By the blessing of the upright, 

     a city is exalted,

But by the mouth of the wicked

     it is torn down. 

Message: Be a Blessing

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Yesterday in Sunday School we were talking about our words and paying complement to others and listening and smiling and how that helps give others joy. The focus was on joy in Sunday School and the first part of this verse speaks to this idea - when we pronounce a blessing on someone or encourage them, they are exalted. 

I notice this occurs also in prayer and when I pray for others. They are encouraged that I have taken the time to lift them up and their needs. The commentators that I like to read mention sincere prayers, and wise and wholesome counsels in regards to this verse. 

Prayer: Lord, these proverbs are simple words. Yet, I know they have strong meanings. I notice in me this need to be right or to speak truth or notice things in observation and to make those things known and think in the process that I am shedding light on the situation. I do this online throwing words out to people, to help correct situations and yet along the way it seems that it might make things worse. In these moments Lord I need to be careful with my words. Help me to encourage others. 

I Samuel 14:24-46 - Saul's Growing Alienation

I Samuel 14:24-46

But the people said to Saul, "Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? For from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die. (verse 45)

Message: Saul's Growing Alienation

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: In the first part of Chapter 14, rather than Saul doing what he was tasked to do, defeat the Philistines, his son Jonathan instead initiated the defeat. Saul eventually joined in, but there was nothing in his joining that spoke to the Lord doing it. Meanwhile Jonathan went forward mentioning the need for the Lord to work for them. 

In verse 24, Saul makes mention that all men are cursed if they eat before evening and before he has the opportunity to avenge himself, until he can inflict harm himself. They came upon honey but no one ate of it, out of fear of the oath. But Jonathan didn't hear and took the honeycomb. The people saw and warned him. 

The people wanted to eat as they were obviously hungry because of the command Saul had given to not eat until he could get his way. So they took the spoil (oxen, sheep, calves) and ate it oil, even the blood. But Saul stepped in and told them to not sin against the Lord by eating blood. The people did as he asked. "And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord (verse 35)."

Then Saul wanted more of the Philistines and sought to "go down after the Philistines by night and take spoil among them until the morning light." But the priest (Ahiah) said, "Let us draw near to God." Let us first seek the Lord. He had just built an altar and then he starts to go off on his own without consulting the Lord. The good news is in verse 37 he inquires of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines?" He has learned. "But He did not answer." Thus, Saul believes a sin has been committed. If there is something impeding the opportunity, then a sin must be occurring. Interesting. Pray and no answer then it must be sin. Or maybe it could be sin. 

Thus, they investigate. It is revealed that because of Jonathan having the honey that Saul is ready to kill even his own son, though he did not know about the oath. Saul is shown again here to be rash. Saul adds to the oaths and then puts himself against his son for the people to decide. 

Saul couldn't see his own sin. Rather than looking inward to himself, he guessed the sin was outside of him. Saul had a vengeance about him. He did things in a rash way. Even when he consulted the Lord, he was unwilling to see the log in his own eye (Matthew 7:3-5). Saul did not live a consistent life of following the Lord. 

Summary: Saul goes back and forth between his own way and seeking the Lord. He has to be reminded to speak to the Lord prior to making a decision. His decisions cause trouble among many. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "When we find ourselves in difficult situations, we should take stock of our circumstances and search our hearts. Not all trouble is due to our personal sin, but much of it can be."

Prayer: O Lord, your ways are right and true and I need to lean on You every step of every day. As I engage in conversations with people, direct me. Search my heart Lord. If there be anyway in me that is not glorifying and pleasing to You, let me see it, take stock of it, and seek to change. Help me O Lord. Help me to walk in Your ways. Deliver people over to You so that they see their sin. Keep me strong against the schemes of the devil and those that thwart your Ways.  

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 11:10 - Well Deserved Justice

Proverbs 11:10

When it goes well with the righteous, 

     the city rejoices,

And when the wicked perish,

     there is glad shouting. 

Message: Well deserved justice

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Two positive responses in this verse - anything that goes well for the righteous and the wicked perishing - is a cause for celebration. 

New Living Translation - The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. -- wow, that's even more specific. 

Benson Commentary says, "A common rejoicing, partly for the just vengeance of God upon them, who had been the instruments of so much mischief." Yes indeed. This is what we are thinking all along. If anything this is one of the easiest to understand proverbs. For in this proverb, it speaks of outcomes and almost has no responsibility on a person. It simply speaks of what is to come. 

We can read this proverb and not feel like there is any action that it requires. It simply states the story of life - when good things happen to the righteous, we heartily agree and we are happy and we rejoice. It is the idea of "Yes." Maybe it is even, "Yes, finally." It is sort of, "That's the way it is supposed to be every time." We expect justice and justice has occurred. 

And yet the Proverb says, "When it goes well" meaning this is not an everyday, all the time, occurrence. Yes, it happens and yes, there is rejoicing, but it is not always the occurrence. The wicked bring others down. Seeing a wicked person receive good things is hard and it brings stress on us as well, but this is good, the wicked have received what we believe they deserve and we have shouts of joy. 

Vengeance has occurred. 

In this, we can look at good and the set up of morality and death and sin and heaven and hell and think, yes, His way is great. Why? Because the outcome has gone the way we want it to go. It is in these moments that we rejoice and shout with gladness. We are thankful. There is no more shaking our fingers at God, but instead we are rejoicing and praising God. 

I spoke with a person yesterday that said, "Why doesn't God just do _____." There is that feeling of God stepping in and making bad situations vanish or better. We want God to do those things because we think we know best and we think we know what God wants every time. But we must let God be God. And take responsibility. In this verse is responsibility. The choice has been made to be righteous or act wicked and because of that, the outcome should be certain, every time and for this we praise God. 

Yet, we need to always praise God and be thankful. 

This week a friend from Church died. I should be rejoicing. Yes, death is hard, but the outcome for my friend is heaven and thus, the City rejoices. The people left can move on and make it. The future is certain. 

Prayer: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all of the earth. You are the Lord. You are the great one. Your ways have been established on this earth. You created the heavens and the earth and you always have had the best in mind for Your people. But Lord we make our decisions to follow You or not and while it is all under your sovereign control and ways, the outcomes we see are sometimes not we want. I am thankful though when the outcomes are what we want. Like in this verse, the righteous rejoice, the wicked perish and each has shouts of joy. Thank you Lord for Your ways that are greater than our ways and thank You that we can trust You every time. This is the Father's World. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 14:1-23 - Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

I Samuel 14:1-23

Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few." (verse 6)

Message: Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: As I mentioned in the last lesson, in the choosing of God, he was to deliver the Israel people from the Philistines (I Samuel 9:16), though it was his son Jonathan that initiated this while Saul was staying back in Gibeah. In this chapter we pick up the battle. 

Jonathan left to "cross over to the Philistines' garrison...but he did not tell his father" (v. 1). He had to cross over these crags or steep rugged rock or cliff which had names Slippery (“Bozez”) and Thorny (“Seneh”) and in verse 6 he does something his father Saul had not done and mentions that the "Lord will work for us" (v. 6). In crossing over with his armor bearer he looks for a sign from the Lord that the Philistines have been given into their hands. In the process, about twenty men were put to death (v. 13-14). 

We are to be a people that speak of the Lord in our life and give honor and glory to Him for working out the details of our lives. It is God who is at work in our lives. 

Meanwhile back in Gibeah, Saul's watchmen and later Saul saw that Jonathan and his armor bearer were not present. Saul and his men proceeded to the battle. 

"The Lord delivered Israel that day (v. 23)." It was threw Jonathan's initiative that this conquering occurred. He looked to the Lord, but even in looking he did not assume God word work, but rather said words like "perhaps" and then looks for a sign, again showing a confidence in the Lord, but still making a request. 

Summary: The people had in Saul the king they wanted and yet despite being called by God, anointed and set apart as king, in this instance it was his son that initiated the defeat of the Philistines. 

Promise: Our confidence is to be in God and his power and we can forge ahead trusting in Him and waiting to to see how he might work in the process. 

Prayer: God, you are good and I need to be a person that speaks more of You and proclaims You as Lord but also actively working in my life and as things are happening in my life, realizing that You are walking with me every step of the way. Change my thinking. Thank you for the praying time with Pamela and continue to help me to voice my confidence in You, like Jonathan did in this day. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 11:9 - Wash your mouth

Proverbs 11:9

With [his] mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,

but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. 

Message: Wash your mouth

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: This is the relational piece of our lives in Christ. God makes a covenant with us, with His people. He chooses us like He chose Abraham, Moses, David - the Jewish people and then later makes sure the Gentiles are grafted in through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but he makes this covenant with people. It is a sort of one-time commitment that probably took much time leading up to this. 

And then life is lived. There is the quest for obedience. But it is not robotic. It is relational. It is teased out. It is a struggle. And this verses in Proverbs present this - the contrast between being righteous and wicked. 

Today, the focus as it is many times is on how we speak - our words. "With [his] mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor." "The tongue is a fire" (James 3:6). I need to remember the power in my mouth, in my words. I can easily destroy my neighbor with my wife - destroy my kids, wife, boss. I get so angry at times, that I start lashing out. 

This is contrasted with knowledge. My guess is this knowledge comes about through listening. Listen first, talk later. James 1:19, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak." 

The knowledge is also the word of God. It is listening to it, reading it and through this knowledge we are drawn into the behavior we need to practice to glorify God - Yes! - but also to make our lives better. The world is caught up only in making their lives better but we must give God the glory for he enables us to do good and live goodly lives. It is only through the Holy Spirit's influence we can be obedient and glorify God. For the non-Christian, good only proceeds from God - no matter if they acknowledge it or not. That's my belief. 

Prayer: God, you are holy and good. Your ways are right and are always what I need - the best for me always - what I need. Train me to live in a Godly manner, to glorify You throughout my days - living a life of obedience - choosing the right way - choosing life. Help me always in this Lord. Give me the right way and help me to choose it. Forgive me for the past, the failures I have committed to everyone - chiefly my family. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 13 - God Rejects Saul's Kingdom

I Samuel 13

And Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." (verse 13-14)

Message: God Rejects Saul's Kingdom 

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: I thought I Samuel 12 was a great chapter. We are His people and we are to serve Him with all of our heart. That is, His people whom He has chosen. Now in this chapter, based upon the title, it seems Saul is going to not do this. 

Saul is 40 years old and will reign for 32 years (v.1 - though these #'s have been inferred for the original text does not say this exactly). When Saul went against the Ammonites and Nahash 300,000 mean had been present. In verse 2 it says he chose "3,000 men of Israel...and sent away the rest."

Back in I Samuel 9:16 when Saul was chosen by Samuel from God, it says "he shall deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines." But after taking 3,000 men, it is not he that goes against the Philistines, but his son Jonathan. But what the people heard throughout Israel was that Saul had done this (v.3-4). 

In response, "the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel (v. 5) in Michmash while Saul was in Gilgal." In response, "the people (of Israel) hid themselves. (v. 6)" Saul was to wait 7 days for Samuel (v.8). Saul though, it appears out of fear, did not want and did a burnt offering and peace offering and then Saul came to ask Samuel what he had done and Saul admitted not waiting and asking for the favor of the Lord and instead forced these offerings (v. 9-12). 

Samuel lets him know that he did not keep "the commandment of the Lord your God. (v.13)" Saul will not have a lasting dynasty. The number of men with Saul dwindled to 600 (v. 15). The Philistines came in 3 companies. No blacksmith was present so they went to the Philistines to sharpen their weapons and thus they had limited number of weapons (v.19-23). 

Note: This is quite harsh. Saul is given one opportunity and he fails and Samuel says the Lord will reject His kingdom. It almost seems like Saul gets nervous and takes matters into his own hands and tries to figure out himself what he is to do, making offerings. Saul most likely did not offer the sacrifices himself, but instead had a priest do this. Again, most likely he wanted to show himself ready and able, but he needed to listen to Samuel's direction. 

Summary: Saul is to wait 7 days for Samuel as the Philistines are approaching him in battle, but he does not and offers sacrifices himself, with the result that the Lord rejected Saul's kingdom. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "If we are in Christ, we cannot lose our salvation, but our disobedience can cause us to lose earthly blessings."

Prayer: Lord, I am thankful for the grace that you extend so often. And  yet as we encounter bad things in our lives often I wonder if it is because of our distrust and the consequences we see could be the result. In these texts, I am reminded how you are present in all of life, in every circumstance, in all that we do. You are there and we do need to take your commands seriously. I fear sometimes I do not. Just as I know how I should eat and the last 2 days after poor eating I have been impacted by discomfort, I need to walk near your ways. I thank you that my salvation is secure and when bad things to happen, keep me close to You and help me to continue to trust You.  

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 11:8 - Trouble Finds a Home

Proverbs 11:8

The righteous is delivered from trouble, 

but the wicked takes his place. 

Message: Trouble finds a home

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Solomon continues his rant on comparing the righteous and the wicked. Another simple message. The righteous are delivered from trouble while the wicked take the trouble the righteous don't have. 

Matthew Henry states, "The righteous are often wonderfully kept from going into dangerous situations, and the ungodly go in their stead."

This verse seems to make the most sense when applied to death. As Daniel was delivered from the lion's den, and his enemies thrown into it (Daniel 6:24). As Haman did in the room of Mordecai, and was hanged upon the gallows the other was delivered from, and he had prepared for him (Esther 7:10). 

God removes the wicked outcome from the righteous and instead, it falls on the wicked. 

I suppose the issue I continue to have is why do people like my friend in India continue to have trouble earning a basic living. That is hard to watch. His prayer requests for this year seem like the same as they were from last year:

1. Meet basic monthly needs.

2. No unusual expenses. 

Over and over. Month after month. It is the same issue. It is hard to send encouragement when people are struggling as much as they are while all my basic needs are not an issue. 

But we press on and present the gospel. And place our trust in Him. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your word. It is true and real and thank you for Solomon and what you did in his life, despite his many wives and his abundance of money. You had him write these words to us, these proverbs to remind us at the end of the day I think the heart of things. I am thankful for this and pray that this message is still impacting people. I pray for my family and others that we are having in depth conversations. Help me to get to that point with people. Help people. Lord, they need it. I am on this accumulation focus it seems as I see stocks rising while many are hurting, but their needs are not one-time, like I wish they could be. Lord, heal us. Help us. Be number one in our lives. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.