Proverbs 11:5 - Staying on the Path

Proverbs 11:5

The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. 

Message: Staying on the Path

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: 

NLT - The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. 

KJV - The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

I love BibleHub and reading the commentaries by individuals from the 19th century. One of which is Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers by Charles John Elicott (1819-1905). He was not a minister, but instead a leader of churches in England. He edited this commentary, it written by various writers. Proverbs written by Rev. J. W. Nutt, M.A. (Late Fellow of All Souls’ College, Oxford; I can't find anything on Rev. Nutt). He writes, 

"Shall direct his way.—Or, make smooth, as Proverbs 3:6. The just man by his exact performance of all duty both towards God and man receives more and more light, and therefore continually sees more clearly how to avoid the difficulties that beset his path. The wicked darkens his conscience more and more by the commission of evil, till he stumbles as in the night (John 11:9), and at last falls, and rises not again."

I was speaking to someone recently about our quest for good works and she commented that she was on a quest to be perfect. I remarked that perfection is not possible because we have already erred and so any sin makes us not perfect, but I still, by my God-given conscience, when I error, recognize it and don't want to do it again. 

When I read this verse and all of the verses in this book that state something similar to today, namely "The righteousness of the blameless" I realize that no one is righteous (Psalm 14:1; Romans 3:10).  There is a standard and I have not met it. That is understood, but I can still read texts and Solomon can still write these texts in a utopian manner. It can still present the goal even if it is not attainable. What I see from it is glimpses of attainment in my life. 

Rev J.W. Nutt shows that this righteous behavior directs my way. Thus, living in a righteous manner shall direct my way and this same idea is seen in Proverbs 3:6 which says, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Thus, our life is to be lived righteously I think in a 'more often than not' manner. We pursue a goal while understanding that our nature prevents us from achieving total attainment. God made us. In us he called us (as well as all that He had created) good (Genesis 1:31) prior to sin. It is only in God we are good and only ever because of Him that we attain good in our life. We are enticed always away from this good by Satan and then we start to view our desire to not be good and we choose to repeat it - to not seek righteousness because we want to instead trust in our way. But God is directing us back and His word serves as a reminder and also our conscience which He gave us. 

Satan again does not make us sin, but directs us away from God. In my conversations with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I sense in their thinking that Jesus merely fills in the gap. That man through his effort and good works in persevering till the end does his part to merit God's acceptance which results in Heaven and then Jesus fills in the gap between our best and God's perfection. But Jesus is not simply a filler-in of the gap. The sin makes us imperfect completely and so with any sin we are no longer blameless. Jesus covers the sin so that God only sees Jesus perfection. God is not looking for a handshake with man doing his part and Jesus doing His part. No. "Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow." And Jesus said "it is finished" (John 19:30). 

The words from Rev. JW Nutt above are compelling. He says, "The just man by his exact performance of all duty both towards God and man receives more and more light, and therefore continually sees more clearly how to avoid the difficulties that beset his path." God makes us just through the work of Jesus. We are made righteous. The path we are walking on has difficulties, drawing us away. Satan draws us away. But the just man has an opportunity to listen to God, be directed by His Spirit and respond by continuing to choose God and in so doing love man and along the way this is reinforced and reinforced so that we avoid the difficulties of life. Life is difficult. Life is a trial. We are beset by trials and difficulties, but we can seek God and serve others and in that process we avoid the difficulties which come our way. 

Maybe the first part could read, "The right living toward God and man by the person made just by God will make that person avoid the difficulties on their walking path." 

I have never noticed that each of these verses is a promise. It spells out a condition and a result. 

In contrast, the 2nd part of this verse states, "But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness." And JW Nutt states, "The wicked darkens his conscience more and more by the commission of evil, till he stumbles as in the night (John 11:10), and at last falls, and rises not again." The wicked or the non-just people darken their conscience. Romans 2:15 states that God has written the law in our hearts and the conscience bears witness. The conscience directs us to right living, away from wrong living. Here, the wicked have a darkened conscience. The light to direct them to righteous living has been darkened. And it is darkened as we commit more and more evil. This is the problem of evil. Over time, it darkens our conscience. I Timothy 4:2 instructs us that there are those that have a seared conscience. Their continual choosing of evil sears their ability to choose between two differences. And by searing it can happen quickly. 

John 11:9-10 states, "Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of the world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles because the light is not in him." Jesus seems to be saying that once we move to the night, darkness descends and it is harder to see what you are doing and therefore you can't see that you are working incorrectly. One becomes blinded in a way. In darkness, one might stumble and get off course. Jesus in these words seems to be going beyond the sun, but to a light from Him that is not present. Without God leading the way and directing our path, smoothing our way, keeping us on the right path by us following His standards of good living - we will drift. We will drift off the path. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are Holy. You are perfect, blameless, righteous. I have this as my goal but I am a sinner and cannot obtain this. Thank you for continuing to teach me and helping me understand how I live. I do pray that in the moments of life, as I am training myself and seeing myself live, that I would respond in a way that honors You. That anger would be far from me. I continue to converse and talk to people and pray that through my words that you give me that people can be helped. I pray for my kids - thanking You for them and the privilege I have to be their father. I pray that they would learn these lessons as well and work to avoid pitfalls and stay on the path. That they would recognize how they can train themselves properly. Lord, again, thank you for this lesson on sin. Help me to reinforce righteousness throughout my life. I can never be blameless for sin is present. Thank you for saving me out of the consequence of sin, out of death and being separated from you. Jesus, you are Lord at your birth and God you have always wanted me to be with you forever in paradise. Keep drawing many more to You God. And then now and tomorrow show me your light and let me walk moment by moment in that light. Amen. 

 

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

I Samuel 10:1-16 - The Anointing of Saul

I Samuel 10:1-16

Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, "Has not the Lord anointed you a ruler over His inheritance?" 

Message: The Anointing of Saul

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: Saul has arrived in the land of Zuph, searching for donkeys that his father told him to find. In Zuph he wants to see a seer and that man ends up being Samuel. Samuel is to commission or anoint Saul as king, as directed by the Lord. These events are all part of God's plan. 

Beginning Chapter 10, verse 1, Samuel takes a flask of oil and pours it on Saul's head, anointing him as a ruler. He tells Saul where to find the donkeys. They are near Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zuph. (Note: There is a little conflict here about Rachel's tomb and whether this is a memorial site because in Genesis it mentions Rachel's burial near Bethlehem.) Samuel gives Saul further direction, specifically mentioning men at Bethel and how to recognize them as they will give him two loaves of bread. Then he will encounter a group of prophets with musical instruments. It is there that the Spirit of the Lord will come upon Saul and he will be changed. There are a lot of great things that happen to Saul, the Lord choosing him, changing his heart, being with him, and the Spirit of God coming upon him mightily. 

At the end of this section of scripture Saul's uncle comes on the scene and asks him about what all went on with the donkeys and in verse 15 says, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." But Saul's response in verse 16 was only about the donkeys and "did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned."  

Here this is 3,000 years ago and with an opportunity to share truth with someone and testify to all that God has done in someone's life, Saul does not. He does not share and unfortunately this can be similar to many of us, like me. After a weekend of great revelation or a good time in church sometimes I don't mention church when people ask about my weekend. Instead I seem a little ashamed by it all.  

Summary: Samuel anoints Saul with oil as Saul is still to do the will of God in humble reliance on the Spirit of God. But given the opportunity to testify of God's work, Saul hides it. 

Promise: If given the opportunity, I need to be bold and testify of the Lord's work in my life. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to never be ashamed. There was a man at the mall that felt like I did not speak always with much conviction, like I should have done a better job of asserting my beliefs. If this story really is what I say it is, then why am I not more compelling and why don't I have the urgency to deliver the message. Instead, I am more focused on other things going on in my life. Life is too complicated often or I make it that way and often I forget people. Lord, be number one in my life. Help me to prioritize you always. 

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

Proverbs 11:4 - It's All Going to Burn

Proverbs 11:4

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

But righteousness delivers from death. 

Message: It's All Going to Burn

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: Our pastor on Sunday did a lesson from Proverbs on gratitude. Along the way, he explained Proverbs and the different ways the verses in this book are mentioned. Well, I am still focused on these contrasting phrases and continuing to read and walk through them.

Today, it is riches and the reminder that riches do not profit at the end or in the day of wrath. This seems to be the day of judgement. Friends and I will often say, "It is all going to burn" meaning that we really should not put our focus on wealth. The pastor's lesson on Sunday was basically the idea of giving and you will receive with verses like 11:24, "the one who scatters increases all the more" and 11:25, "the generous man will be prosperous." I studied Philippians 4 where Paul says in verse 17, "giving....increases to your account." This idea of giving will make us rich. I am not sure if that means monetary payback always, but maybe just the feeling that a person hast not been focused on wealth and accumulation, but rather in helping others and helping others is a good thing. 

In my life, I have gone from a 600 square foot one bedroom apartment to a 1300 square foot house to start a family and then to a 2050 square foot house the last 21 years now. I can't imagine going up any more. There is no need. At times, I think this house is too large. I try to not focus on accumulation. Plenty of people have needs and it makes no sense for me to have a lot and them to have a little. 

But, today the lesson is really more on the end and the day of judgment and the simple message that at the end, it really will not matter how much money you have. God will not be judging you on money accumulation, but rather on our heart and our lives and how they were lived. Ultimately, I am a sinner, saved by grace. Christ saves me because of what Christ did, not me. I understand this and believe this. I believe in God and that He is creator and this world is His and I surrender to Him. He provides me peace then to live life in a way in which life is full. Life isn't only about one thing when it comes to me and living. And from Solomon's perspective, it is righteous living. It is righteousness. 

But wealth matters. It seems that I will be judged on what I have done with my money. More and more I am having a hard time with wealth accumulation. I am struggling with this idea of having new things at times and the need for nice and pristine. We are flawed people and yet we don't want our cars to be flawed with dents. We want it all to be good, looking nice, and never a problem. And so from a money situation, I am struggling with riches, especially when there is such an imbalance in life. It is a struggle to me that people have this need to have no wants and everything is taking care of in this life. 

Everything in our life is wearing down. The car needs to be fixed. Yet, sometimes people get lucky and have a car that lasts. They don't get in accidents. We have a fridge that we bought 5 1/2 years ago. It has been great. But now, it is not working and has errors. Our bill to repair it is now approaching half of what we paid. And the concern I think is whether it will be fixed ever again. Or will we have to start over. These things happen. We don't like them. We like life to be running well, with pristine looking appliances versus accepting everything that is broken. And yet in all of that we have comfort. We have clothes to wear, food to eat, good jobs and a lot of joy with family and friends and people. 

So focus on right-living. Focus on righteousness. I review these words again. 

10:3 - The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger. 

10:6 - Blessings are on the head of the righteous. 

10:7 - The memory of the righteous is blessed.

10:11 - The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.

10:16 - The wages of the righteous is life.

10:20 - The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver.

10:21 - The lips of the righteous feed many. 

10:24 - The desire of the righteous will be granted. 

10:25 - The righteous has an everlasting foundation. 

10:28 - The hope of the righteous is gladness.

10:30 - The righteous will never be shaken.

10:31 - The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom. 

10:32 - The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable. 

And now 11:4 - Righteousness delivers from death. 

Rather than being rich, what matters is righteousness for that delivers from death. 

And this is my quest still, righteousness.

Summary: O God, I want to be this type of person. A righteous person. That's what I want. I want to do my work right and do things well and make good decisions and make things better. I think I have. I have tried, but still I make mistakes. Like the fridge, sometimes I have to start over. But you love me and know me and I am so thankful for that. I struggle God at work with those people that don't meet my expectations. I struggle with it at home, with it everywhere. I said it in front of people that I am trying to meet people's expectations and anticipate them. Help me God. Help me to give myself grace when I need it. Help me to rest in who you have made me to be. Help me to have moments of celebration where I feel like what I have done is good. It is hard to be on this quest of constant improvement. I get tired with it God. Make me God the person you want me to be. And let that be enough. And then take me home to You. Whatever you want me to go through, I will do it. Selfishly, I want to live this life now and figure out what I can do for me and how to help others. I want to do this Lord. I want to be righteous and want this in others. 

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

I Samuel 9:3-27 - Samuel Meets Saul

I Samuel 9:3-27

About this time tomorrow I will send you a mean from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For have regarded My people, because their cry has come to me.

Message: Samuel Meets Saul

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: Tabletalk lesson on this passage begins by talking about God's providence with the premise that God "works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Eph. 1:11). Nothing is random. According to Westminster Larger Catechism 18 (Completed 1647) -- "God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving, and governing all his creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to his own glory."

Ps. 145:17 - The Lord is fair in everything he does and full of kindness. 

Ps. 104:24 - O Lord, what a variety you have made! And in wisdom you have made them all! The earth is full of your riches. 

Isa. 28:29 - The Lord Almighty is a wonderful teacher and gives the farmer wisdom. 

Heb. 1:3 - God’s Son shines out with God’s glory, and all that God’s Son is and does marks him as God. He regulates the universe by the mighty power of his command. He is the one who died to cleanse us and clear our record of all sin, and then sat down in highest honor beside the great God of heaven. 

Ps. 103:19 - The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything there is. 

Matt. 10:29-31 - Not one sparrow (What do they cost? Two for a penny?) can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t worry! You are more valuable to him than many sparrows. 

Gen. 45:7 - God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive, so that you will become a great nation. 

Rom. 11:36 - For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory. To him be glory evermore. 

Isa. 63:14 - Like cattle grazing in the valleys, so the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. Thus he gave himself a magnificent reputation.

I found these verses on a website in support of the catechism. They speak of the Lord being fair, that creation is made with God's wisdom and He regulates the universe which he orders it or keeps it in the direction it should go. He rules and the father knows it all. God sends people to achieve outcomes. He knows all that will occur. Everything is for His glory. Cattles graze, the Spirit directing them. Proverbs 16:9 - The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. So man plans, but the Lord directs the outcome. I suppose this takes me back again to God's sovereignty and understanding what this means. It is like I read these words and then wrestle with their meaning. 

I mean, I have studied this previously and seen this. It is said that God is infinite and God cannot be explained by man. We attempt. The whole subject of free will is presented and how do these ideas fit with free will. Man sins and God cannot be an author of sin and man cannot come to God on his own, as a sinner. God must intervene and direct man to Himself. Man can't make Himself on his own right with God. God makes Him right through the sacrifice of His Son - Jesus Christ. 

So God regulates all but not man's sin. He knows His Sin. He determines a path, man makes a choice, God knows the choice and while this outcome is directed by God or ordered by God, with the free will that He has given man, man is still responsible for the action. That is the idea I think. God is not responsible of man's sin but instead man is responsible and yet God orders the result of the sin which He knew would occur. I see that. 

Here is my thought: 

Man has a choice. It is A or B. There will be a result - C. God knows the result. Man chooses B. It is God's will for man to choose B, but man still makes the choice and man alone is accountable to God for that choice even though choosing B was God's will.

A is a choice for good. B is sin and man is completely responsible for this. God cannot sin and does not author sin. But God knows man will sin and it is His will for man to choose sin at times. The B choice results in an outcome of C - death. 

But for some chosen by God, instead of man receiving C, man receives D which is life. But that gift of life came about when God interceded and made it possible for man to choose A - good. Left to himself, man will always choose B. Man is incapable of choosing A without God intervening. And yet for many choosing A will still result in C - death. D only occurs when God determines that person's choosing of A will result in D for that person.

I am simply trying to understand this, but not sure if I do. For me, it is based upon the idea that all good in this world is of God. All the evil of this world is not of God because God cannot sin, but He allows the evil to occur. 

Any good that happens in this world is because of God. When I look at the fruit of the Spirit - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control. People in this world are capable of exhibiting these. And yet, how? The presence of the Spirit is only in the believer. The believer is filled. My non-Christian friends can be people of Love, Joy, Peace, etc. But perhaps what they are choosing there is not necessarily of God, but only human acts. To forgive like Jesus forgives then that person needs to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. 

I still struggle with these ideas. I read of them but then upon dissecting them don't quite understand. 

I need to get back to the lesson here. 

I Samuel 9:3-27 - Saul is now on the scene. He is the one that the people want. The description of Saul in verse 2 is one of his appearance. That is what stands out. Not who he is on the inside, but rather his appearance. 

Verse 3 begins a story -  Donkeys owned by Kish, Saul's father are lost and Saul is to go search for them. Saul begins the trek through Ephraim, Shalishah, Shaalim, and the land of Benjaminites, but nothing. In the land of Zuph, Saul thinks they need to go back thinking his father will be concerned for Saul and others, moreso than finding donkeys. Saul knows of a man of God in this City and plans to go to him for help. And yet they need to bring him something, a gift or something for payment I suppose. The servant states that he has a shekel of silver to give. In verse 11 they arrive at the city and there are women there drawing water and they ask them for the location of the man. The young women tell them the man is coming to the city to bless a sacrifice that is taking place and this will be an opportunity to see him. The man that is coming is Samuel. The Lord had already been preparing Samuel to anoint Saul to one day deliver His people (Israel) from the hand of the Philistines. Samuel spoke to Saul, telling him the donkeys had been found. And tells him to go to the place and Samuel will come and meet with him there. A meal is prepared for Saul, a special one as Saul was placed at the head of the 30 men that were there. And Samuel speaks to Saul on the roof, proclaiming a word of God to him. 

This lesson points back to the idea started here and that is God directs events for his good purpose. Events that look like coincidences can be part of his plan. The donkeys were lost so that Saul's father would send Saul to find them and on this long trek of not finding the donkey Saul is then led to seek out a spiritual man that ends up being Samuel. And the Lord had already been preparing Samuel for this encounter. 

God directs our encounters and guides the events of our lives. He does this to bring us to a particular place for His purposes. God can use unexpected situations to bring us closer to Him. Therefore, this gives the idea that God is working all things for his good pleasure as Romans 8:28 mentions. The random events in our lives are not random. 

Do we possibly need to think of our lives differently? To not question so much why things are happening the way they are. But to keep trusting God and believing that He has a reason for these events. We keep praying which shows our dependence on Him. 

Summary: Saul's father lost donkeys and sent Saul to find them. He ends up in a city and is led to a seer which is Samuel who is there to give a special word from the Lord to Saul.

Promise: God is working out His good plans for His people even when we cannot see how all the pieces fit together.

Prayer: Lord, increase my faith. Lord, when do I make things happen and when do I not get involved in people's lives. Lord, there is a situation in my life and I feel a need to let you be master over it rather than me interjecting my solution through it. It is hard to know what to do when not doing something results in someone's hardship or intense trial. Lord, it is difficult to balance it all. There are so many with needs. It has taken me so long to get through this lesson Lord. But I thank you for the journey. I want to keep praying and talking to You. Help me to not get in the way and think it doesn't matter. Thank you for making it all work together for good. 

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