Proverbs 11:3 - Walking with Integrity

Proverbs 11:3

The integrity of the upright will guide them,

But the falseness of the treacherous will destroy them. 

Message: Walking with Integrity

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: Last lesson mentioned pride for the first time since starting in Chapter 10 and today this verses mention 'them.' Contrasts continue - wicked and upright. The key thought here is integrity contrasted with falseness. 

The person with integrity is honest and has strong moral character - both in public and private. This is a person that walks the talk in front of others and behind closed doors. 

Some of the themes of this verse found in commentaries: 

• Fraudulent persons (literally, those who “cover” a matter up) pervert the truth, thereby ruining their own characters (inasmuch as in time they can hardly distinguish right from wrong), and losing the favor of Almighty God. (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers)
• An honest man's principles are fixed, therefore his way is plain. (Matthew Henry)
• Lowly souls become full of wisdom as the low place becomes full of water. (Rabbinic paraphrase as cited by Albert Barnes)
• The upright's sincere obedience to God’s laws shall keep them from crooked and dangerous courses, and lead them in a right and safe way. The wicked devices by which they design and expect to secure themselves, shall be the instrument of their destruction. (Matthew Poole's Commentary)

On Sunday, the Sunday School teacher reviewed the life of Solomon. 700 wives and 300 concubines is what stands out. And yet he supports all of those women. Hard to imagine he sees all of those women and yet he provides for them. Maybe it is better than we think. I asked someone after the class if Solomon was saved and he thought he had a perspective that God must be involved in life. Just not sure I see a personal devotion from him, but he's probably right. 

From this text, the words seem obvious. Live in an upright manner, being a person of integrity and you will be guided by good, versus the fraudulent one's who lose favor with God and through their coverup get to a point of not being able to distinguish right and wrong. 

Just as valleys (low places) receive and hold water, humble hearts (lowly souls) receive and hold wisdom. 

Not sure if anyone decides to be wicked, but their ways of being selfish result in their destruction. Kind of a hard lesson here today. 

Prayer: O God, you are good and full of wisdom. Give me understanding of this verse and help it to be a guide to my life. 

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

2 Peter 1:3-8 - The Right Tools

2 Peter 1:3-8

3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Message: The Right Tools

Time: Written by Peter, he being influenced by the writings of Paul to Ephesus (Ephesians) somewhere between 62 and 63 AD. 

What the Lord is Saying: We had a guest speaker this morning at church and he did a message from 2 Peter on Right Tools. He used an example of fly fishing throughout his message to basically talk about the fact that God has given us Christians all the right tools that we need to carry out godliness in our lives. 

As is my pattern, I looked at the text and went back to verse 1 to understand a little bit better the context of this passage. Peter's message is written to those Christians that have the same understanding of faith or belief that he does. 

I noticed verse 1 says this faith is "by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." I wondered with that verse if Peter is linking God and Jesus or if God and Jesus are separate. On one hand, it sounds like he is stating that Jesus the Savior is God. But could he be stating that faith is of the righteousness of God and the righteousness of Jesus Christ?

In verse 2, he asks that "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." Here again, Peter is mentioning grace and peace because of those (verse 1) having a knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 

Even if Peter is not stating that Jesus is God, he is linking characteristics that are the same of the two - righteousness, grace, peace - all found in the knowledge of God and Jesus. 

Verse 3 - "His divine power." When I read this, that's what made me go back to verse 1 and 2 and think about who's divine power He is speaking about for His is singular and yet so possibly it lends itself to think that verse 1 and 2 and the words of God and Jesus are unified rather than separate. Yet, His divine power could be the last name spoken in verse 2 (remembering that punctuation and verse divisions were added later). But also here we then have Jesus being the one with divine power and God also has divine power. Thus, there is another linkage here with Jesus and God having the same attribute of divine power. 

This here is the point of the pastor's message yesterday morning and initially the first point of the text of 2nd Peter. That to the Christian, the fellow believer and Peter - that through Jesus, his righteousness and our knowledge, those Christians have "everything pertaining to life and godliness." The everything we have is because of the faith we have, the grace, and the peace. This is indeed a compelling statement. We have everything pertaining to life because we have faith "through the true knowledge of Him." 

And later in the text it states therefore, with the qualities mentioned in verse 5-7, namely "moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love -- we are neither useless nor unfruitful." Thus we have everything we need for life an godliness and because of that we will be fruitful and useful. 

This sounds like a promise. This takes me back to verse 4 - "For by these" where these seems to be "everything pertaining to life and godliness." Peter says, "these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature." 

Again, we have everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. We have qualities that we will supply to others and throughout life to be of use and fruitful. Thus, we become divine-like. 

But in this text then is a mysterious statement to me - "He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises." Promises. What are these promises? 

2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness..." There is a promise. 

2 Peter 3:13 says, "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth." 

We have everything we need for life and being Godly. We are those that have faith and knowledge of God and Jesus. We have been given qualities. We will be useful and bear fruit. We will be divine. And this is all according to His precious and magnificent promises. 

I find this interesting because Peter explains all of these outcomes which we have because of our faith, but doesn't specify the promises, and so his audience must have understood these promises. 

I don't know exactly what these promises are right now. I could look at commentaries and review the different ideas. I suppose for now I will focus on what I know - I have everything I need.

Prayer: God, you have done it. Through faith, I have everything I need to do everything pertaining to life and godliness. I want to discover this Lord. And believe this and trust in this. And help me to share this with others to encourage them. Give us all hope. 

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

I Samuel 9:1-2 - Saul, Son of Kish

I Samuel 9:1-2

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite, a valiant mighty man. 2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

Message: Saul, Son of Kish

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: My Overview of I Samuel 1-8 -- Elkanah comes to Shiloh to offer sacrifices and provides a double portion to his wife Hannah who is without children. Samuel is then born to Hannah and Elkanah and taken to Shiloh to be dedicated to the Lord. Hannah praises God. In contrast, Eli (the priest) has 2 worthless sons that do not follow the Lord compared to Samuel that is dedicated to the Lord for service. Eli trains Samuel and he is growing with the Lord God, as a prophet, and bringing God’s word to Israel. Eli, after 40 years as judge, dies after hearing his sons have died, Israel has been defeated and the ark is taken by Philistines. One of Eli's sons - Phinehas wife has a son, Ichabad meaning, "The Glory Departs from Israel." The Philistines take the ark to Dagon, their god as a sort of victory but Yahweh conquers Dagon and other cities for possessing the ark of God. With all of the judgment taking place by possessing the ark, the Philistines turn over the ark and make a guilt offering of tumors and mice. Offerings received from the people as well. Samuel leads the people to restoration from the hand of the Philistines. The people respond by putting away their foreign Gods and Samuel removes the evil, restores the good and God responds and makes a way for victory against the Philistines. At the end of Samuel's life, the people want a new king of their own doing. God provides a king through Samuel, not giving them what they need, but what they want. 

Verse 1 introduces this son from the tribe of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob (Israel). Verse 1 mentions Aphiah as being in the line of Benjamin, but there is no other mention of Aphiah and he was not a son of Benjamin, nor Becorath or Zeror, but Abiel is the great grand-father of Saul. Interesting these names listed and yet not clearly connected and yet the author it important to show this lineage of Saul.  Kish was a "valiant mighty man."

Kish had a son name Saul. 

- a young and handsome man

- not more of a handsome man among sons of Israel (Jacob) and that is over 700 years, so I suppose he is quite handsome

- taller than any of the other people

I suppose it is of note that the most interesting information to share about Saul is he is handsome and tall. His father was a valiant mighty man. Saul, however is handsome and tall. Saul looks the part and this seems to be what the people want. God gives the people what they want. Elections are set up as popular vote. The people choose their leader. But God ultimately is in charge so whoever is at the head is who the people want. Yet God is involved. 

Summary: God gives the people what they want in a leader - Saul - tall and handsome. 

Promise: Am I more focused on my looks and appearance or my spiritual growth and who I am as a person. 

Prayer: Lord, perhaps from this verse I am to learn that while being handsome and tall and good looks is what matters to people so very often and also to me most of the time, what I need to be more focused on is what i son the inside. O God, I am like these people, that want the good looking king - wife. Lord, help me in this. I need this lesson today. I need to be about You. And what is important to You. Redefine me God. 

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

Proverbs 11:2 - Understand Your Limits

Proverbs 11:2

When pride comes, then comes dishonor

But with the humble is wisdom. 

Message: Understand your limits

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 first time that pride is mentioned. This verse compares pride and humility. 

Pride seems to be a problem as this verse mentions, for with it comes dishonor. There is a connotation of pride in our world today that doesn't seem to be wrong, such as me saying "I am proud of my children" which seems to be an admission that I am glad that my children are mine. It is a word which shows that I am extremely glad with a deep level of satisfaction for having an association with a person or cause. 

But traditionally, pride or being prideful is a vice. And more specifically in religious traditions, it is competing with reliance and dependence on God. With God as creator, we serve Him and surrender to Him and His ways. We are guided by His principles and in life, he is the one to receive glory for anything that is accomplished including my work. Without God in the picture, it seems like life shifts to personal achievement as well as societal achievement. Its focus is more on community being served and guiding our principles. 

I have been reading a book on life and more specifically life in my later years. I am 58 and so with the kids gone from the home and myself past my prime of productivity, I am looking at these later years and figuring out my purpose. Chapter 3 of this book is "Kick your success addiction" and primarily is focusing attention on workaholism. The book mentions that "work, which is a source of meaning and purpose, becomes workaholism, which hurts our relationships." Saint Augustine observed that "pride lurks even in good works in order to destroy them." Success is fine and part of excellence but somewhere along the way it becomes an addiction in our life. 

I know I struggle with pride. I have gifts that I think the Lord has given me and it seems it is important to not be tempted to think too highly of myself and in the process get my focus off of God. As years have gone by and as I have done things, often driven to do those things, I start seeing myself as the one that needs to do things. This mostly occurs at work, in the work I do and work assignments. 

In this verse, the writer states that pride produces dishonor. NIV says disgrace, shame (KJV). From the internet, "Luke 14:11 says, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted". This verse emphasizes a principle of spiritual humility, suggesting that those who seek honor for themselves through pride will be brought low, while those who are humble will ultimately be lifted up by God." Thus, God will humble every person. 

Thus, this verse is framing the unhealthy version of pride or the kind of pride that inflates the view of oneself. The dishonor or shame is the result of this unhealthy or inflated view of oneself. The problem seems to be when the scale is tipped and a person moves from confidence to overconfidence. The overconfident person takes unnecessary risks because they think they cannot fail. A student thinks they can't fail, so in turn, they don't study. A person who has great confidence in their driving might cause themselves to take risks on the road and result in getting a ticket which is showing them at fault. The person starts out thinking they can't fail, but this could produce failure. The failure is the dishonor or shame of now being seen as a foolish person.

I get this way at times, thinking I can do things that sometime are beyond my ability. That time I worked on Pamela's car and changing a tire and then forgot to tighten the lug nuts once the car was on the ground. And the wheel came off and I looked foolish. I felt like a bad person, a failure. And it all started with "I can do this" even though I am not a mechanic. 

The contrast here is the humble person. This is the person with a quiet confidence. It is a person that understands their limits. This is the person knows when they can handle something and knows when they need to shift the responsibility to another person. The humble person still acts but acts within reason and this is the person then which is seen as wise. This person knows when to give where credit where credit is due. 

Prayer: O God, help me to be that person that understands my limits. You have gifted everyone differently and often it is better when the right person does the task at hand. Help my overconfidence. I suppose I have that tendency to think, "I got this" but I can be a strong person that trusts in others and ultimately trusts in You. Help me understand me. And live within my constraints. 

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