Proverbs 15:1 - Your Gracious Answer

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath

But a harsh word stirs up anger. 

Message: Your Gracious Answer

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: We often have an inner voice in our discussions with people that defends ourselves, making sure we are right and that the other person must be wrong. Sometimes we too quickly do not listen to the words spoken. We are tempted to be "harsh" and in the process we "stir up anger." 

And so in these instances, when I am being confronted or corrected or given an assessment on who I am, I must think about how I respond in that situation. The way I am supposed to answer is with gentleness. The person is often not looking for a fight in saying those words. Can I take a moment to consider their words? 

Prior to my wife and I getting married, the person that was our matchmaker was with her husband in another city, 17 hours from where we were getting married, and so taking a flight there was probably the one way to get to our wedding. But they quickly said "no" and so after reading a book and this issue continuing to not go away, I got on the phone and in the best way I knew confronted the issue. I was not met with any sort of kindness, but instead must defense. And for whatever reason, it simply seems that our relationship never recovered. These people were so important in us being together. We were in their wedding but now they would not be present for ours. That was hard. It was their choice, but it still stung. I wish in that situation they would have been kind. 

It reminds me that in our life we don't have too many instances of being confronted. Most people are fairly nice in their approach. We are often trained in not having conflict. In retail establishments there is the notion often, "the customer is always right" which means if there is ever a grievance raised of a transaction, the customer gets their way. This verse is not saying this. We don't simply take words confronting us in order to keep the relationship strong. 

I find in my marriage that this is the relationship that we tend to communicate these sort of problems the most. And it seems that I am often the one sharing a hurt. But I often do it in a way where I paint a picture of assuming what the other person is thinking. Sometimes, but not all of the times. "A gentle answer" is what I am hoping for. An understanding answer. Simply hearing me, but often I get defense. And often I am on the defense. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to not get defensive when I am being confronted. Help me to hear what is said. Help me to listen. I want to listen. And help me when I have the opportunity, especially with my wife to think before I speak and say things in a gracious manner. Lord, when things are hurtful I want to share my opinion and how I am feeling. Help that conversation to occur but in a way that does not stir up anger. 

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

2 Samuel 6 - Uzzah's Error

2 Samuel 6

But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he dies there by the ark of God. (verse 6-7)

Message: Uzzah's Error

Time: Second Samuel is set in the land of Israel during the reign of David and follows the course of his forty years as king of Israel (1011–971 BC). It chronicles the establishment of the Davidic dynasty and the expansion of Israel under God’s chosen leader. 

What the Lord is Saying: David's 40 year reign as King began in Judah for 7 years and then it moved to Jerusalem as his capital where a house is built for him. It was in I Samuel 6 that the Ark of the Covenant returned to Israel. It was there that I saw how bad things happened to people that thought they could possess the Ark and clearly the Ark belonged only in certain places. It had been in the city of Baalah Judah (Kiriath Jearim) (I Chronicles 13:5) to retrieve the ark as it had been in possession of the priest Abinidab. I Chronicles 13:7,9-10 says, "They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it...When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark." When this happened, this troubled David and instead of taking the Ark to Jerusalem, it was kept with "the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite" for 3 months and "the Lord blessed his household and everything he had."

2 Samuel 6 summarizes these same events told in I Chronicles 13. Chronicles adds that Uzzah was intending to steady the ark. 2 Samuel 6:6 says the "oxen nearly upset it." Something caused the ark to shake. It was being pulled by oxen. The terrain could have been uneven at times. Whatever the circumstances, it resulted in Uzzah reaching out and grabbing the ark. It seems most anyone would have done what he had done in that situation. And yet for doing it he was struck dead. 

After the events with Uzzah, David starts to question whether the ark should be with him, perhaps concerned that someone might make a similar gesture toward the ark unwittingly trying to help and be struck dead. David will eventually learn that only the Levites are to carry and transport the ark of God (I Chronicles 15:2). Uzzah was a Levite but the ark was not being carried, but instead on a cart. Uzzah did commit an error. Even if there was danger of it falling, it should not have touched because only the priest is able to touch the ark. 

David sees that Obed-edom is blessed for having the ark of God so he then makes plans to take it to Jerusalem - going 6 paces with it, then stopping and sacrificing. And David danced. Michal his wife saw David dancing and despised him, not understanding his joy of the Lord. David later explains to her how he celebrates to the Lord for His hand of providence and the joy he has with God. 

For me this is a lesson about being careful and realize that God's commandments are sacred, though in the New Testament there seems to be also a lesson on the heart being more of what God is concerned about. I suppose we always have to consider the situation at hand. I suppose there is the question as to whether or not commands must be followed by the letter of the Law, thus no variation or if there can be deviation because of circumstances. Overall, good intentions do not justify disobedience to God's Word, which had decreed that human hands should never touch the sacred ark of God's covenant. 

Summary: David now is ready to bring the Ark to Jerusalem and on the way there Uzzah touches the ark and only the priests are allowed to touch it and Uzzah is struck dead. 

Promise: The Lord's wrath is real and people need to be warned. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for having grace with me regarding my sin. Your patience overwhelms me. Your wrath is real and you are to be respected always. Thank you for knowing me and knowing my needs and also showing me the importance of following your ways. Lord, I ask for your discernment in regards to your commands and to what extent Your laws and commands need to be followed. Is it hard and fast like this always? As I read your word and study I see instances of doing things with an emphasis on heart and motivation, is that correct? Or it always precisely how you have laid out? Thank you for wisdom and understanding. And providing people in my life that you use as well to give me understanding. You are to be praised and adored. 

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

Proverbs 13:2 - Violent Words

Proverbs 13:2

From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good,

But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

Message: Violent Words

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: Reading Tabletalk and the article "Violent Words" and the author translates this verse, "From the fruit of their lips people eat what is good, but the unfaithful desire violence." There is a contrast here between wise, helpful, kind, thoughtful words and words that destroy or tear down. 

In the heat of anger, how are we sometimes responding? In this moment, the person we are fighting with becomes a sort of enemy with our biting, sarcastic and vengeful words. It could be a friend, co-worker, or even spouse or parent. Often, through our words we want to inflict pain. It happens. Our sense of entitlement takes over. Our expectations are unmet. We feel wronged. 

As quickly as I run to anger, I need to quickly run to repenting, confessing to God first, and then to the other party, asking forgiveness and truly forgiving others. I admit I sort it out first in my mind and try to get past it. 

In these tense moments, I don't have to respond with sin. That sometimes is the hard part for me: how do I act differently? What should I have done instead? How do I take these wronged feelings and not respond with anger and being threatened. How do I pursue the offense without hurtful words? Not sure I know any other way to get it resolved. Sometimes at work I see often that what stirs me up and angers me rarely works out for me, reminding me that my many words of emotion didn't get me anywhere but disappointment and anger and mess up other relationships or other times of enjoyment. 

Prayer: Lord, I need help. I think of my son who struggles with this as well. As he approaches these scenario's which make him made how do we respond differently. How can we still get our concern out and yet not sin? Teach me to do it in love. Teach me to not be swept away by those feelings and still deal with the situation, but with love and hope, seeking you Lord with direction and guidance. 

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

Judges 15 - Samson Avenges Himself on the Philistines

Judges 15

Then Samson said,

“With the jawbone of a donkey,

Heaps upon heaps,

With the jawbone of a donkey

I have killed a thousand men.”

Message: Samson Avenges Himself on the Philistines

Time: Judges covers about 250 years from death of Joshua to birth of Samuel (1360-1110 BC). The people of Israel largely divided with different local triable judges. It was a period of stirring interventions by the Lord and also great disobedience on the part of the Israelites. Without a king, everyone did right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). 

What the Lord is Saying: As I continue to study Joshua and now Judges, one thing that stands out is while God used these men and worked his will through them, many of the men he used were not necessarily men of piety that I am to emulate. It also makes sense that in the last 20 years, there have been biblical like TV shows chronicling these individuals and to good reason, they lived sordid lives. They had difficulty often with temptations from women that we have today. They did not stay true to God's ways but entered into relationships with people of the world. On one level, their imperfect ways is encouraging for me, for I am far from perfect. Somewhere in Joshua I recorded that certain leaders from tribes allowed the non-Israelites to remain in the land. 

The Philistines are one of those groups that remained. Samson's first wife, Timnah, was a Philistine, though he later abandons her. 

This chapter begins with a back and forth of fighting fire with fire. It starts with Samson approaching the abandoned wife, Timnah, bringing a gift of a young goat, and wanting to sleep with his wife. But the father intercedes with the idea, "That ship has sailed but I can offer her younger sister." Samson doesn't like that idea. He therefore plans an attack, grabbing foxes, torches between the tails, end to end, lighting fire to the torches and releasing the foxes to run and burn themselves and the all of the crops. Naturally, the people did not like this. They find out the reason for him doing this is vengeance toward his wife and her father for not getting what he believes is his. The Philistines then kill the father and daughter. Samson did not like that and responded by striking many people and then hid in a cleft of a rock (1-8). Samson's remark, "As they did to me, so I have done to them" (v. 11). 

The Philistine go to Judah but Judah shows up to Samson wondering why the Philistines have been come to them with anger when the Philistines rule over them. Samson agrees to allow Judah to tie him up and hand him over to the Philistines. But the Lord was not done with Samson. His death probably loomed so the Spirit of the Lord came upon him (v. 14) and used a jawbone from a donkey to kill a thousand men. He goes to the Lord for provision of water and the Lord makes a way for him to have water and his strength returned to him. 

There is a good way to serve the Lord and a not so good way. I am not to emulate this episode in Samson's life. There is also the reminder, that God's will is to be done, no matter what the circumstances appear. God is in control. I think he obviously prefers Godly people, but either way he will carry out his purposes. His plan is bigger than we can see. 

Summary: Samson and the Philistines fight fire with fire. Eventually, Samson prevails, but only because of the Spirit of the Lord giving him the power. 

Promise: The Lord redeems us and uses us despite our sin. 

Prayer: You are Lord of All, God. I believe we need to be a people that honors you at all times, but your ways will occur whether we are faithful in all the areas we need to be. You choose your people to be your people. You have a purpose in that. I admit, it is not always clear. Maybe it seems clearer today amongst many because of the morality of the day, but there continue to be men of God that falter - struggling with sexual sin and/or other types of vices in their lives that often cause hurt and pain to many around them. I am not to condone that behavior and yet the work you have done through them is not null and void. Our culture does get caught up in cancelling them and everything they did and have done, but you still do great deeds through people who sin. I pray that people would see that your will is to be done. 

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

Ephesians 6:1-4 - The Vocation of Parents and Children

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Message: The Vocation of Parents and Children

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying: Each believer, each follower of Jesus, is commissioned to have a vocation. In one of the first foundational messages for this series of lessons on vocation, I looked at I Peter 2:9 where each of us is set aside--like the priest of Israel was--to serve the Lord. All of us. As today's passage mentions, both children and adults have a vocation in their positions, in their roles. 

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." He quotes the 5th commandment - Exodus 20:12 -- “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you." (Also repeated in Deuteronomy 5:16 - "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.") And yet in this obedience it is "in the Lord." Obedience is according to the Lord's ways so children are not to engage in sinful ways that the parents may lead. 

Why? Or rather, what will be the outcome? Life will be better for the child that obeys. Days will be prolonged. Life will be better for those who are obedient, but they also need to have parents that put forth Godly principles. 

And so also the parents have a role - "do not provoke your children to anger." I know I did not do a good job with this one. One of my bigger regrets in life is the anger I modeled and struggled with in my life while the kids were growing up and the anger that I then passed along and see displayed in them to this day. It is hard. I think I was ready to be a husband but not sure I knew how to be a father. I should have gotten more help in this. I missed out. My kids are only the way they are because hopefully they ignored me and they learned the opposite way. I made issues too big. I would rather have a do over. The words of Tabletalk mark my failure further - Don't set expectations on them they cannot fulfill. I tried. I set up rules, but only wanted 100% obedience. I think I was only doing things right when I was coaching them, but I never coached Tyson except for the 3v3. 

O God, make what I did wrong, right. I do know your mercy is key. 

Summary: Children are to obey parents and in the process their life will be better off. Parents are to not provoke their children to anger, setting reasonable expectations for them. 

Promise: Parents should strive to clearly communicate their expectations and make sure that these expectations are reasonable. 

Prayer: Lord, you know my failures. I see those failures in my memories and it pains me. I know there were good times, but I hate the memories of my toughness, my not smiling, my strange expectations. Heal me and heal those kids of mine. Help them stand up and take hold of the good memories. Lord, help my children be much better parents than I was. At least Lord, they know the wrong way. Thank you for the good parents you gave me and the great mom I had and the great provider my father was to me and the great love they always showed us. 

Proverbs 7:21-27 - The Gatekeeper of Death

Proverbs 7:21-27
With her many persuasions she entices him; with her flattering lips she seduces him.
Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as fetters to the discipline of a fool,
Until an arrow pierces through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, so he does not know that it his life.

Now therefore, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths.
For many are the victims she has cast down, and numerous are all her slain.
Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Message:  The Gatekeeper of Death

Time: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Background
For me, the crux of the first 20 verses of Proverbs 7 is the pleading from a father to his son to treasure the commandments that he is passing along. Treasure the words of the sage, of the Father God. Stay close to them. Adhere to  them in your life, for only then will you be able to withstand the temptations that will be present in this life. And temptations will be many. But, the sexual temptations, or the carrying away of ourselves to abandon our principles will be the strongest. We can't even give them a moment. The door opens when we allow ourselves to be in a dangerous environment. For the young boy, it is walking down the road of the adulteress, where she lives. There are other ways to get to our destination, so we should not even go there. 

The Problem
These remaining verses catapult the encounter and we get to witness first hand what is in store for the person that gets pulled away. I must admit, as a man, these verses resonate with me because I am pulled away too easily, it would seem. The clothing manufacturers have continued to make clothing that simply show off too much of a woman. I struggle with my eyes and it is a struggle when people are bending over in front of you or wearing short dresses. I'm captivated by my wife, but would prefer it in the privacy of my own home. It's really a horrible thing for the man to live with for it is everywhere. And the phone makes it worse. It is too easily accessible. Thus, the title of this message: the gatekeeper of death.

Studying this passage
Verse 21 begins "with her many persuasions." Again, these to me are not just verbal, but they are visual persuasions. They could be a glance, an alluring look, but most likely they are the way a person carries oneself. 'Many persuasions' also speaks to the many different ways we are confronted with this. The temptation now shows itself in so many different ways. But also in these verses is the inference that the person is reluctant because "she entices" and "she seduces." Thus, even in these verses, one could apply I Corinthians 10:13 in that there is a way out when the temptation presents itself.

And then the striking words of verse 22 "suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to slaughter." The road to death is set. The man is walking it. He is captivated, and yet, his life will never be the same. The visual expression of an ox going to slaughter is such an assault; it is such a picture of what the sin does to us. It because a drug that overtakes all of our senses. The ox is obviously not realizing his destination. The ox is being led somewhere that it is thought will only yield good outcomes. The "slaughter" represents the end, not the journey. But "he does not know it is his life." He is consumed with the moment, not the end. The consequences or results of this act are not overtaken by the momentary high.

And so the chapter ends the way it begins. There are words from the wise one to the son, "Listen to me" and "pay attention." Here is the reason: "Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways" and "do not stray into her paths." In these words is the idea I think of 1 Corinthians 10:13 and it is "don't go there." Don't put yourself in a position that is hard to come back from. Once the ox is on the way to the slaughter, it is too late. I must think about this in my life. For instance, I just realized that when I am down on life, or angry, then it is not good to have my phone with me and so, like going to bed - don't bring it to bed. Leave it in the other room. 

At the end of this passage is more ammunition. It is the father building the case. He hopes that the son would simply listen to his words. He would hope that this is compelling enough. But, he also then shows the son the results of the sinful lifestyle. This paints the picture of any addiction in our lives.

For many are the victims she has cast down, 
and numerous are all her slain.
Her house is the way to Sheol, 
descending to the chambers of death.

The language is final. They are victims. They are numerous. This is a problem many have. They are slain - again death. Her house is on the trek to death. Her house is lower than any person really wants to go. It should be clear, but instead deception has taken over. 

Promise: The foolish young man who heeds the call of the adulteress will find nothing but destruction in her arms.

Prayer: Oh Lord, I need help in this. I am not strong. I am too easily lured away. Once the sin starts, it just continues to be a problem. I'm embarrassed as to what this sin has done to me over the years. To think that I can be so easily enticed. Lord, place a hedge around me. I need your protection. Give me strength. Give me rest today. Lord, I want to be free. I hate the feeling of being a slave to it. I want to follow you. Help me Lord. 

Ecclesiastes 10:4 - Calming the Ruler

Ecclesiastes 10:4
If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.

Message: Calming the Ruler

Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: This passage is addressing a subject that I have recently been looking at via Jerry Bridges book, "Respectable Sins." In the book, Bridges talks about sins that we often don't call out as sins because we are often too focused on the sins that society is currently in the midst of redefining as acceptable behavior or the sins that society still agrees with the Bible of being unacceptable. Thus, we grade sin and place some sins at a higher level than others. It is a big danger because in the process we tend to live lives in which we don't think we are doing much wrong and we aren't in need daily of growth and renewal by the power of the Gospel. Starting in chapter 8 he is now addressing the sins mentioning ungodliness, anxiety, worry, and discontent.

The idea of discontent is a sin that to be honest I never called out as sin. I know Paul admonishes us to be content in every situation but I never thought the reverse was a sin. It makes sense though because God's sovereignty extends to situations in our lives that we call challenging. And perhaps God wants to do something in our lives through a difficult situation.

In this verse, Ecclesiastes 10:4, it mirrors this idea of not being content, If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.What a great bit of encouragement to even see this text in the Bible.The idea being that the way we respond to a temper from a boss or ruler is not fleeing, but rather staying put. We need to stay committed to our position and allow our commitment to be a healing to the offenses of our boss. In time the bosses wrath will subside The answer is to remain calm, not bolt for the exit. 

Let's be clear, though, this doesn't work in every situation. We must ask if evil is being committed here by a leader. But, it is okay for my feelings to be hurt. I can be reviled, as Jesus was, and yet continue to trust in the Lord through the process.

Promise: Trust Christ to help us respond appropriately to all people.

Prayer: Lord, help me to weather the storm of unwelcome words and attitudes from those that are over me. I admit God that too often I too quick to take tough words and seek relief through telling others about it. Forgive me for this and using those situations to continue to make it out that I'm the better person. Help me Lord to simply trust in you and continue to walk with you and seek my refuge in you instead of other people.

Psalm 88 - When Darkness is our Companion

Psalm 88

¹ O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You.
² Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry!
³ For my soul has had enough troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol.
⁴ I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength,
⁵ Forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You remember no more, and they are cut off from Your hand.
⁶ You have put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.
⁷ Your wrath has rested upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah.
⁸ You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them;
I am shut up and cannot go out.
⁹ My eye has wasted away because of affliction; I have called upon You every day, O Lord;
I have spread out my hands to You.

¹⁰ Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah.
¹¹ Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
¹² Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

¹³ But I, O Lord, have cried out to You for help, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
¹⁴ O Lord, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me?
¹⁵ I was afflicted and about to die from my youth on; I suffer Your terrors; I am overcome.
¹⁶ Your burning anger has passed over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.
¹⁷ They have surrounded me like water all day long; They have encompassed me altogether.
¹⁸ You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness.

Message: When Darkness is our Companion

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: The Psalms I am studying seem to often be a cry for help. So much of the Christian life is surrounded with messages of how great life is with God and how greater it can be. But it seems the reality is that life is difficult. But, I think it is difficult for those that are truly following the Lord. Our American economy and way of life seems rather to focus on ensuring that life is not difficult, not a challenge, safe, free from sickness, disease, and problems. And when those events occur in our life, we have a tendency to then make it out that God somehow doesn't care for us as much as we thought he did, when life ws simply and easy. So much of our existence is focused on successful living. We have bought into the notion that those with money simply have an easier time with life.

Thus, as I look at this Psalm the words that are being prayed are:

• I have cried out by day and in the night before You.
• incline Your ear to my cry!
• my soul has had enough troubles 
• my life has drawn near to Sheol 
• like a man without strength, 
• Forsaken among the dead 
• like the slain 
• You have put me in the lowest pit 
• Your wrath has rested upon me 
• You have afflicted me with all Your waves 
• You have removed my acquaintances far from me 
• I was afflicted
• I suffer Your terrors
• I am overcome. 
• Your burning anger has passed over me
• Your terrors have destroyed me. 
• You have removed lover and friend far from me

Wow, this is someone who loves God and continues to call on His name, yet he feels alone, and in darkness and abandoned and stricken with wrath, afflicted, suffering and feeling destroyed. 

And there is no rescue in this Psalm. There is no good news that prevails in the end. There is no one riding in on a horse to save the day. This Psalm is all lament. 

Perseverance is a process and it is a process of moving through pain and tough times. This is a Psalm of perseverance. The writer is calling on the Lord. The writer is praying. He has not abandoned his faith, but continues to speak to His God.    

Promise: From Tabletalk - "Even if all we can confess is our spiritual sorrow, it is worth bringing to the Lord in prayer."

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being there at all times. Help me to remember that I can call on you in my darkest moments. Help me to always be honest with you. Forgive me for always thinking that I must connect the dots. The reality is that live is just hard sometimes but my response is to continue to call upon your name, even if it is to voice my feelings of being abandoned by You.

Genesis 4:1-5 - Worship from the Heart

Genesis 4:1-5

4 Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” ² Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³ So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. ⁴ Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; ⁵ but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.

Message: Worship from the heart

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying:

Adam and Eve have a child: Cain. Cain brings an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground, perhaps grain or produce. Abel brought an offering from an animal. The Lord accepted Abel's offering. But, he did not accept Cain's. Cain became angry. The offering itself, whether an animal or fruit from the ground, doesn't appear to be the issue. Cain didn't accept God's correction. He welled up with pride and maybe was steeped in competition, but either way, the problem could have been what was brought, but it also seems to be the fact that Abel brought the firstlings of his flock. He brought the top layer or the best of what he had. Perhaps, God wanted an animal. Did Abel get it right? Not sure. It's not known if Abel was coerced or told. It's not known if Cain was told. Maybe their was pride and maybe Cain was strong-willed and said, "I know what the Lord God wants." Either way, God was not rejecting Cain, but what he offered. 

According to Tabletalk for this day, there are four subjects in the Bible that receive the most sustained attention. They are: 1) The Character of God; 2) The Work of the Messiah; 3) The Plight of Humanity in Sin; 4) The Kind of Worship our Lord Desires (God, Messiah, Sin, Worship). We need to know who God is, who the Messiah is, our condition and our response. In this study of the Wisdom Literature, worship has been taken a primary focus.

In worship, as I am reading from Ligonier's Tabletalk, form is important but even more so it is that worship comes from a life that is wholeheartedly devoted to God. For example, the words of Matthew 15:8-9 state, "‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” In Abel's offering, he brought the firstlings.

Promise: I must work as hard as we can to make sure that our hearts and minds are in our praise.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 - The Virtue of Patience

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9
⁸ The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.
⁹ Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.

Message: The virtue of patience

Time: Ecclesiastes: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

I continue to take a look at various verses in Ecclesiastes. Through this guided study I continue to do with the Tabletalk devotional, I am now on July 23, 2015. I love this study. It keeps me accountable and though I am slowly working my way through it, it is fine and good to enjoy God's word. Ecclesiastes gives me a healthy perspective on life (to borrow Tom Nelson's words). This perspective is not common to the message that I hear in the world. I read about the importance of a good name and that good name transcends all of life. In verse 2-4 it speaks of a happy heart and that happy heart doesn't always mean a smiling and happy countenance; at times it means the face is sad. The fact is, life is hard and there are hard events that occur in life, but God's peace can still reside in us.

The end
In these verses Solomon continues with this perspective. Verse 8 speaks of the end rather than the beginning being the key. The end of a matter is better than its beginning. I think I get too caught up at how things are going on now or at the beginning. Solomon reminds me that life is a journey. It is not a sprint. A wedding marks the beginning of a marriage and it is normally a very festive and huge presentation, but anniversaries should be far bigger productions. The key is how things progress and how things end. 

Patience
So the second half of that verse remains so key: patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. The challenge in life is to be patient. Progress takes time, but even more than progress the manner in which we end should be our real focus. Lord, help me to be patient and not to be so wrapped up in the day to day, immediate moments of life. I get too focused on getting things my way, now; help me to set good habits of patience.

Anger
Anger flies in the face of patience. I've always thought that I had a problem with anger, but really I have a problem with patience and it is anger that comes out. I get impatient and go to anger.  As this verse 9 says, Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. I am a fool when I get angry. I hate that this is such a huge problem in my life. Lord, teach me o be patient. As Psalm 40:1 says, I wait patiently for the Lord.


Promise: From Coram Deo and Tabletalk - Impatience can lead to frustration, which can lead to anger. Cultivating a patient spirit by focusing on the promises of God in His Word and the work of the Spirit of the Lord will lessen frustration and reduce the anger that is the mark of the foolish heart. This is a vital task for unrighteous anger is the root of many other sins. May we seek the Lord's face in our suffering, trusting in the promises of God that we might endure in patience and love. 

Job 3 - Job's First Lament

Job 3
Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.  ² And Job said,

“Let the day perish on which I was to be born, and the night which said, ‘A boy is conceived.’ May that day be darkness; let not God above care for it, nor light shine on it. Let darkness and black gloom claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
“As for that night, let darkness seize it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months. Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful shout enter it. Let those curse it who curse the day, who are prepared to rouse Leviathan. Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; let it wait for light but have none, and let it not see the breaking dawn; because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb, or hide trouble from my eyes.

“Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? Why did the knees receive me,
and why the breasts, that I should suck? For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest, with kings and with counselors of the earth, who rebuilt ruins for themselves; or with princes who had gold, who were filling their houses with silver.
“Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be, as infants that never saw light.
“There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary are at rest. The prisoners are at ease together; they do not hear the voice of the taskmaster. The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. 
Why is light given to him who suffers, and life to the bitter of soul, who long for death, but there is none, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, who rejoice greatly, and exult when they find the grave?

“Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? 
“For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, and my cries pour out like water.
“For what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.”

Message: Job's First Lament

Time: The time of Job is unclear and commonly debated. Often the language of the book can give clues. It seems to be that Job had a lifespan of close to 200 years as Job 42:16 says he lived 140 years after the events in the book.

What the Lord is Saying: 

After blessing the Lord and after stating that we need to accept the bad as well as the good, Job now turns inward and stares at himself. His 3 friends had just come and shown up. They were Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. They had sat with him for 7 days without a saying a word for they saw the great pain he was in. We can have a right perspective on things, but it doesn't that it takes the hurt that we have. And chapter 3 seems to be an anthem of that pain and hurt that Job is experiencing. 

Job looks at his birth and sees it as a bad day, after all. He asks for no rejoicing on that day or the night of his birth. He speaks with a lot of feeling of misery and hurt. Yet, in all these words spoken in this lament in Chapter 3, the name of God is not cursed. He is not pointing his finger at God, but simply sunk in thought of despair. But, their still could be an inference of cursing God in his speech for his angered that he even has lived a day. He is almost saying that having lost everything why did he ever have anything at all. 

Promise: From Table talk, By definition, all that God does is good, so we cannot charge Him even implicitly with wrongdoing. Sometimes, it is better not to ask the Lord the question, “Why?” but instead only to ask Him to help us endure our suffering faithfully. God can handle our questions, but we must never ask them arrogantly.

Proverbs 22:24-25 - Choosing Friends Wisely

Proverbs 22:24-25
Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.

Message: Choose your associations with people wisely

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Hmm. I am prone to anger so maybe my family should avoid me. And this verse says that they will learn his ways and I think my kids now struggle with dealing with anger properly. So, guess what, they have learned something from me that they shouldn't have learned. It is now snaring them; messing up their soul; unwelcome. 

A person should learn to have restraint and a willingness to hold back and not to fly off the handle at every single provocation. 

Well, to be honest, I do not think there is anything that I have struggled with more than anger since I have been married and had kids. It has wreaked havoc on my life and it moves me to sin in ways I deeply regret. But, it continues to be a sore spot in my life. I think as the kids have gotten older, I do not fly off the handle as much. To be honest, reading this verse and thinking about my past really makes me sad for the way I have dishonored God, but also for how I believe I have trained my children to react to events in their lives that are unwelcome. 

Proverbs 14:29 - People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

James 1:19-20 - Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 

I do not know how to conclude this lesson or entry.

 

Promise: Be careful

Psalm 6 - A Prayer for Deliverance

Psalm 6 - ¹ O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. ² Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. ³ My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long? ⁴ Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. ⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? ⁶ I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. ⁷ My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. ⁸ Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. ¹⁰ All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Message: A Prayer for Deliverance

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

I am not sure what exactly (nor are the commentators) the writer of this Psalm (probably David) is experiencing upon him voicing this prayer. But, he felt like it was important to write down and record. He was obviously feeling a deep sense of hurt. It may not been because of any sin in his own life for he does not mention any sin. 

O Lord, I am at a low point and while there are times when I need your correction and rebuke because of the sin in my life, I ask that you not correct me right now. This world I live in is corrupt and foul mouthed and disregards you over and over, in more ways than one. You deserve to give wrath and anger, but I ask you withhold it from me at this time. Be gracious to me O Lord for I am at a loss of spirit and vigor. Heal me, for my body aches. And my soul is greatly troubled. Lord, how long? How long must I stay in this state? How long do I stay in this condition? 

Turn me around. Deliver my life. Save me for the sake of your never-ending Love. You are a God who is to remembered and to be praised, but if I die I cannot do this, and I want to continue to do this. I don't want to wade through the waters of my own misery, but rather I want to turn my focus on You and remember all of the things you have done for me, praising You. 

My moaning continues. My bed is filled with my tears as I cry myself to sleep. My outlook on life is one of despair and grief. All I can see many times is my enemies or my foes. "Depart from me, all you evil ones, for the Lord hears me and hears me in my weeping. You work evil out, but God is near me." Thank you God for hearing me and thank you God for accepting my prayer. My my enemies be ashamed of their conduct. May the wicked fail in their schemes, immediately. May there ways be confused right now, so they don't continue in their wrath, but it stops, right now.

Promise: God is there in moments of feeling defeated.