Tag: Old Testament

We Must Acknowledge Our Wickedness and Change Our Ways

Scripture: Jeremiah 14: 17-18, 20-21

Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.(17)  If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.(18)   We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.(20)  Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.(21)

Scripture Commentary: It’s not easy to acknowledge our wickedness

Jeremiah interceded for the people. He asked God if Judah’s repentance might bring His help, but God refused. The people’s insincerety, wickedness, and stubbornness parted them from God. They knew God wanted to bless them, and they knew what God required from them in order to receive the blessing. The people wanted God to do his part but they did not want to do theirs.

Do you think, for a moment, God forgot his covenant with them? Do you think He would ever forget His promise to us? God never forgets, but we constantly forget our covenant with him. It’s easy to express sorrow for wrong actions, especially when we want something. It’s not easy to acknowledge our wickedness and stop the wrong action.

God will forgive those who are truly repentant, but hypocrites will be severely punished. You must identify your wrong action, ask for forgiveness, and make a change in your life. That is true repentance.

Remember these three important lessons:
1) We can reveal our true hearts to God in prayer
2) God expects us to trust him, no matter what
3) We are here to influence others for God

Read the Entire Chapter:
Jeremiah Chapter 14

A Living Dog Is Better Than a Dead Lion

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9: 3-6

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.  For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Scripture Commentary: The living have hope

When Solomon says the dead know nothing and that there is no work, knowledge, or wisdom in death, he is not contrasting life with the afterlife.  He is contrasting life with death.

After you die, you can’t change what you have done (or have not done).  Considering the uncertainties of the future and the certainty of death, Solomon recommends enjoying life.  It is God’s gift to us.

We must accept each day’s measure of work, food, and pleasure to refresh ourselves to continue God’s work.

Jesus rose from the dead and showed us the way to everlasting life; therefore, death is not the end.  If you have Christ in your life, it’s the beginning.  For Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
John Chapter 8

God Shall Prepare the Way Before Me

Scripture: Malachi 3: 1-6

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

 

Scripture Commentary:  The messenger comes to prepare the way for the Messiah

This chapter opening tells of the coming of John the Baptist and of the Messiah. God prepares the way before me that leads me to Him.  John prepared the people. The Messiah will return. Pursuing faith refines us like metal, melting away our impurities.

Refinement exposes the reflection of our lives to those around us.   During the refining process a child of God appears Christ-like.  When we read and apply the Word of God, Jesus tells and shows us the pure life that we have with and in Him.

God is always loyal to us in his patience although we have disobeyed and scorned His laws. He accepts our return. God is ready to return to us if we are willing to return to him.

God never leaves us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Malachi Chapter 3

What Do Your Words Say About You?

Proverbs 10: 19, 31-32

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.(19)  The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.(31)  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. (32)

Scriptures: Proverbs 4: 24

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Scripture Commentary:  The words you use say a lot about the person you are

The words you use to express yourself offers a picture of who you are and what you are about.  You know what is appropriate and what is not; you know right from wrong.  When in conversation, expressing yourself in a godly manner is respectful to God.

Be careful not only about what you say but also how you say it.  Chose your words as you would chose your friends.  Bad friends can lure you into doing the wrong thing.

Young people are quick to want acceptance, and as a result, they would never want to confront or criticize a friend for wrong actions, plans, or language.    Remember this: it is easy to get opinions from people who will tell you only what they think will please you but such advice is not helpful.

Instead look to those who will speak the Godly truth, even when it hurts.  These words, said in love, have the most value.

Think about the people from whom you get your advice.  What do you expect to hear from them?

Think about the words you chose and the advice you give.  Chose those words prayerfully!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Proverbs Chapter 4
Proverbs Chapter 10

All You Have Is a Gift of God

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5: 18-20

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

Scripture Commentary: Rejoice – every good thing you have is a gift of God

How did you get your job, or home, or your family?  Do you think it was luck?  Or do you see it as a gift of God?

Look around you.  What do you see?  If you’re honest about it, you’ll see the hand of God at work in your life.  We are drawn into the falsehood of thinking that we are running on our own steam.  You can do nothing by yourself.

Did you get here by yourself?  God has placed you here at this time for a reason.  God wants you to see that what you have – whether it is much or it is little –  with the correct perspective.  Your possessions are a gift from God.  Although they are not the source of joy, they are a reason to rejoice because everything good thing comes from God.

Focus more on the giver than the gift.  Be content with what you have and realize that you have everything you need with God.

Live as God wants you to live.  Be content!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

Praise Ye the Lord, Place Your Trust in Him

Scripture: Psalms 146: 1-4

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.  While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Scripture Commentary: Praise Ye the Lord for his splendor and majesty

Praise ye the Lord, for God lasts forever.  We, on the other hand, are here for a moment only.  Think about it – we may have known our parents, grandparents, and maybe our great grandparents, but chances are we don’t personally know our family further back.

We are but a moment, but Our Lord is forever.  That said, we have his Holy Spirit within us.  When we praise God, we see His power and His love.  Praising God takes our mind off our problems and shortcomings and focuses us on Him.

Praises cause us to consider and appreciate God’s character.  Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.  God is able to lift us up because His greatness is unfathomable.  The Lord is full of glorious splendor and majesty. He is righteous, gracious, compassionate, patient and loving.  He is our source in this life.

Jesus is ready to lift us up and bear our burdens if only we will let Him.  What will you do?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 146

Let Your New Year’s Resolution Be to Learn God’s Word!

Scripture: Psalms 119: 97-104

MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Scripture Commentary: Wisdom comes when you learn and apply God’s word to your life

God’s word makes us wise – wiser than our enemies and wiser than any teacher who ignores it.  True wisdom goes beyond amassing knowledge; it is applying knowledge in a life-changing way.

Intelligent or experienced people are not necessarily wise.  Wisdom comes from allowing what God teaches to guide us.  In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil.  But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won’t stumble as we walk.

It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies.  Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path.

God Bless You and Yours, and Happy New Year!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 119

To Build Without God Is Futile

Scripture: Psalms 127: 1-5

(A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Scripture Commentary:  All you have is a gift from God

Families build homes and watchmen guard cities but both of these activities are futile unless God is with them. A family without God can never experience the spiritual bond God brings to relationships.  A city without God will crumble from evil and corruption on the inside.

Don’t make the mistake of leaving God out of your life.  If you do, all of your accomplishments will be futile.  All that you have – home, car, family – is a gift from God.  He gave you the ability to have all of this, but without His grace and mercy, what would you have and/or who would you be?

Look at some of the homeless and say to yourself, “If not for God, this would be me.”

Make God your highest priority, and let Him do the building.  Get from being into yourself and get into the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior.

Return to God and Ask His Forgiveness

Scripture: Hosea 14: 1-2,4

Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall!(1) Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.”(2) “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them.”(4)

Scripture Commentary: Our only hope is in God’s mercy – we cannot save ourselves

God punished Israel for its gross repeated violations of his law, but he did so with a heavy heart. God wanted to restore the nation and make it prosper. The people could return to God by asking him to forgive their sins. The same is true for us. Return to God.  We can pray Hosea’s prayer and know our sins are forgiven because Christ died for them on the cross.

Forgiveness begins when we see the destructiveness of sin and the futility of life without God. Then we must admit we cannot save ourselves; our only hope is in God’s mercy. When we request forgiveness, we must recognize that we do not deserve it and therefore cannot demand it. Our appeal must be for God’s love and mercy, not for His justice.

Although we cannot demand forgiveness, we can be confident that we have received it because God is gracious and loving and wants to restore us to Himself just as He wanted to restore Israel.

God never fails!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Hosea Chapter 14

Delight Yourself in God’s Never-Changing Word

Scripture: Psalms 119: 65-72

TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.  Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Scripture Commentary: Delight yourself in the goodness of God

The psalmist talks about keeping the laws and yet being free.  Contrary to what we often expect, obeying God’s laws does not inhibit or restrain us.  Instead it frees us to be what God designed us to be.

By seeking God’s salvation and forgiveness, we have freedom from sin and the resulting oppressive guilt.  By living God’s way, we have freedom to fulfill God’s plan for our lives.

God’s word makes us wise – wiser than our enemies and wiser than any teachers who ignore it.  Wisdom comes from allowing what God teaches to guide us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 119