For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
Today’s proverb continues on the theme of choosing our words with care. What we say can build others up and help thrive. It can also tear others down and destroy them. Let us strive to do the former and not the latter.
Let us place our confidence in God, because with His help we are able to overcome the mightiest of foes. Not only that, but it is Strong>only with God’s help that we can be successful. Human aid will not help us if God is not aiding us as well. Let us always pray, not that God will be on our side, but that we will be on God’s side.
Jesus’ brothers tried to convince Him to go to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Shelters because that was the way for Him to become truly famous. It appears that, at this point, they wanted Him to be famous so that could ride His coattails to a position of honour. However, Jesus did not think it was time for Him to attract the attention He would receive if He arrived at the beginning of the Festival. So, He sent His brothers without Him. Once His brothers had gone, Jesus also went to Jerusalem. However, He arrived without attracting attention and did not seek publicity.
The Jewish religious and political leaders were looking for Him at the Festival and asked people if they had seen Him (which probably explains why Jesus led His brothers to think He was not coming to the Festival). Jesus was the talk of the Festival with people arguing about whether or not He was a good man, or a fraud. Those who defended Him were afraid to do so publicly because they were afraid of getting into trouble with the Jewish leaders (as opposed to the Roman authorities). Do we allow this to happen to us today, when speaking up for Biblical teachings on certain subjects have cost people their jobs?
Midway through the Festival Jesus began teaching in the Temple. People were amazed at His knowledge of Scripture considering that He had not been the disciple of any great rabbi. Although, based on Jesus’ reaction to their surprise, there appears to be an element of rejecting His teachings because He did not have the proper credentials. Later, the people questioned whether He could be the Messiah because they knew where He was from. On the one hand the people questioned His teaching because He had not been taught by a recognized “institution” (He had not gone to an accredited Seminary). On the other hand they questioned His authority because they knew where He was from and they believed that no one would know where the Messiah came from. Do we get caught up in only listening to teachings from someone with the correct credentials? Do we insist that the pastor of our congregation have the proper credentials?
Samuel stood before the assembled people of Israel and turned over the job of leading the people to Saul, their new king. He recounted how time after time the people of Israel had turned from worshiping God to worship idols. This resulted in foreign powers oppressing the people of Israel. Each time, when the people turned back to God and cried out for His deliverance, God sent them a leader to deliver them and lead them back to Him. Yet this time when they were threatened they demanded more. They wanted a king. Samuel tells them that they had done wrong to demand a king, but now they had one. He told them that the important thing was to fear the Lord and faithfully serve Him. If they did this, God would continue to do wonderful things for them. However, if they turned back to worshiping idols and sinning, God would sweep them away.
We all make mistakes like the one the people of Israel made in asking for a king. We must live with the consequences of our mistakes, just as Israel had a king as a result of their mistake. However, if we turn back to God and both fear and trust Him, He will bless us and protect us. It is my desire to fear the Lord and to serve Him with my whole being.