September 11, 2012 Bible Study

September 10, 2012 AttilaDimedici

I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

Isaiah 8-9:21

     Today’s passage begins with a warning to the people of Judah. Isaiah tells them that their joy over the misfortune of their enemies is misplaced. Because they celebrated Assyria’s conquest of the Northern Kingdom, Assyria will invade them as well. We should not rejoice over the misfortune of others, even if they are our enemies. It is one thing to celebrate that God has delivered us from our enemies. It is another to celebrate that our enemies are suffering.
     Isaiah goes on to tell us not to fall into the trap of seeing conspiracies everywhere. We should not fear the things that those around us fear, we should not share their dread. Instead, we should fear the Lord alone. If we do so, He will keep us safe. I will put my trust in the Lord and I will pass on His instructions to any who might look to me for teaching. Isaiah tells us that many people will reject God’s guidance and instead will turn to mediums and those who claim to speak with the dead for guidance. We should not follow their lead, but we should look to God for guidance. Those who reject God’s guidance will be tired and hungry. I do not know if he meant it this way, but I see so many people who are spiritually hungry, yet refuse to “eat” that which will satisfy their hunger. Instead they go from one type of spiritual junk food to another, while ignoring the feast that God has prepared for them.
     Isaiah tells us that as dark and dismal as things may seem, it is not the end. God will send His light to us. Indeed, God has done so. Yet even after God has sent His son to us there are those who continue to wallow in darkness and evil. Those who choose to not see. As a result, God will again bring His judgement against those who refuse to follow His ways. I pray that I may be a light to those around me so that perhaps some of them might choose to follow the Light.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Paul continues to “boast” of his credentials as a servant of God. He talks about a vision he had of heaven. A vision of things so wonderful that he cannot find the words to describe them. Then he says that for all that, none of those “credentials” are what he will boast about. His background as a Jew, his training in Jewish law, the persecution and suffering he has experienced to promote the Gospel, even his vision of heaven, none of those things are the credentials which validate his message. Paul tells us that instead it is his weakness, his “thorn in my flesh” which validates his message. I do not know what the thorn in Paul’s flesh was. I have heard some conjecture that it was his eyesight, there is some reason to believe that Paul had a problem with his vision. Perhaps that is what his “thorn” was, or perhaps it was some other physical malady. However, as I read this, it strikes me that perhaps it was some sin that Paul struggled with, some temptation that he found difficult to resist. That would be consistent with what Paul wrote in Romans 7 where he said, “I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Paul asked God to take this “thorn”, whatever it was, from him, but God did not. Instead, God told Paul that His grace would be sufficient for Paul. God wants us to acknowledge that we are weak, that we are no better than anyone else. I pray to God that I never look at others and think, “They are such terrible sinners. Thank God I am better than that.” Unfortunately, I am quite sure that I have fallen prey to that temptation in the past and that I will do so again in the future. Nevertheless, I will continue to strive against falling into that pit.

Psalm 55:1-23

The psalmist in this passage is bemoaning the fact that a friend has betrayed him. Someone with whom he worshiped the Lord has turned on him and is attempting to bring him down. Despite the fact that someone he considered a brother in the Lord has betrayed him, the psalmist still declares that he will trust the Lord. If we give our burdens to the Lord, He will carry them for us. The Lord will take care of us and keep us from slipping and falling on the slippery places in this walk of our life. When I read this I envision hiking through the woods with a pack on our backs. We come to a place where the footing is difficult and slippery. The Lord is like that person who helps us by taking the pack off our back and holding our arm so that we do not fall on the wet rocks.

Proverbs 23:4-5

Today’s proverb advises against exhausting ourselves seeking wealth. Wealth is not permanent and we should not spend all of our energy in pursuit of it. Instead we should pursue righteousness and serving the Lord.

Daily Bible Study

September 10, 2012 Bible Study

September 9, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Isaiah 6-7:25

Today’s passage includes Isaiah’s calling. Isaiah finds himself in the presence of God and his response is instructive.

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”(NASB)
We should all feel this way when we find ourselves in the presence of God, and the message of Christianity is that we always are in the presence of God. In addition to my other sins, like Isaiah, I am a man of unclean lips. I say things that I should not. I lie. I brag about myself. I say things about others that are hurtful. I say things that bring disrepute to the Gospel. But there is good news. God will send one of His seraphim to bring a coal from the altar before God and place it against my mouth, cleansing it. I am forgiven because Christ died on the cross, but sometimes there is still pain involved in accepting that forgiveness. Sometimes I have to go to those I have wronged with my words and ask their forgiveness. That is not easy for me.
There is more to this passage, because immediately after having his lips seared Isaiah hears God say, “Who will be my messenger?” Isaiah at once responds by calling out, “Here I am. Send me.” This was not a quiet little statement, hoping that no one heard him. This was a loud calling out of his willingness to serve God. I pray that when I hear God calling for someone to perform some service that I too will cry out, “Here I am. Send me!”
Isaiah then tells us how when the kings of Israel and Syria allied themselves together to conquer Judah, God sent him with a message to King Ahaz. Isaiah’s message was that the invasion they were plotting would never take place. If Ahaz’s faith was firm, God would make him stand firm. Then Isaiah tells King Ahaz to ask for a sign that God would do as He said He would. Ahaz refused to ask for a sign. This was not because his faith was such that he did not need a sign to believe the message, but because his faith was weak and he was afraid that any sign he asked for would not happen. Isaiah gave him a sign, and that sign became a sign for us as well. Isaiah told Ahaz that a young woman, a virgin, would conceive and bear a son. By the time that son was old enough to know right from wrong, the two kings that Ahaz feared would be destroyed. I am sure that such a child was born while Ahaz was king, but this prophesy also referred to another child. One that was also called “Immanuel” or “God is with us”.

2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Paul confronts the Corinthians about the teachers who had come among them and taught them things contrary to what Paul had taught and contrary to the gospel. He tells the Corinthians that whatever they claim as a basis for their authority, he could match it, or surpass it. If they claim authority from their Jewishness, Paul is just as much a Jew as they. If they claim to be servants of Christ, Paul has done more. He has suffered more persecution than they because of his ministry. Paul then lists the things he has willingly suffered in order to spread the gospel. We do not know who these other teachers whose teachings Paul is trying to counter. But, based on what Paul says about them here and in some of the passages I read on previous days, I am pretty sure that it was obvious to anyone who looked at them that they had suffered little for their teachings. In fact, they probably looked as if they prospered from their teachings. This once again shows how the Christian standard of success differs from that of the world. The world’s standard of success is fancy clothes, a nice house, and a fine car. The Christian standard of success is going without, persecution and suffering.

Psalm 54:1-7

God will come and rescue us in our times of trouble. If we rely on the Lord, the plans of those who plot against us will be turned against them. We must remember to praise the Lord and turn to Him with free will offerings.

Proverbs 23:1-3

Today’s proverb tells us to pay attention to what is going on around us when those in authority over us provide us with a meal. This applies at company parties and if your boss takes you out for a meal. Pay attention to his or her behavior. Base how much you eat or what you order on his or her choices. Do not order the most expensive item on the menu.

Daily Bible Study

September 9, 2012 Bible Study

September 7, 2012 AttilaDimedici

I am going to be away this weekend, so I am posting this study a day early for anybody who uses my musings for their daily devotional. I do not know if anybody does so, but since I am structuring this blog for that possibility I thought I should provide for those who might actually be doing so.

Tabitha and Gandalf wake up from their nap

Isaiah 3-5:30

Isaiah speaks of the utter devastation that will come upon the Kingdom of Judah. He also talks about why this judgement is coming. The people of Judah were sinning openly, making no attempt to hide their sins. Rather than try and hide their sins they were proudly displaying them. In the middle of discussing the coming judgement Isaiah tells the godly that all will be well with them, it is the wicked who are about to be judged. Isaiah condemns the people of Judah for oppressing the poor. As I read this I get the feeling that a break down in sexual morals leads to a break down in social justice morals. A society that embraces sexual sins will soon embrace oppressing the poor.
In the middle of describing the terrible judgement that is coming to the people of Judah for their sins, Isaiah prophecies that God will work an act of Salvation for those who survive and turn to Him. Isaiah then immediately turns back to condemning the people of Judah. He speaks of those who throw grand parties with every sort of alcohol, food and entertainment, yet never give a thought to God nor pay any attention to what He is doing. He speaks of the utter destruction that will come upon such people. I read this passage and think that it is time for Christians to cry out a warning to those around us that the time to turn to the Lord is short. I think that the Church in the U.S. has failed to show the connection between sin and oppression. We have failed to make the connection between sin and oppression to those around us.

2 Corinthians 11:1-15

Paul expressed concern that the Corinthian Christians would allow false teachers to lead them to follow doctrines foreign to the Gospel. Paul warns them against teachings that contradict what he originally taught them, no matter how persuasive or eloquent the one teaching them. He also gives a very subtle comment about how they can judge between his teachings and those of these “super apostles”. He points out that he made no financial gain from his preaching among them. It seems to me that one of the lessons Paul is trying to convey here is that we should be suspicious of those who stand to profit from the “gospel” they are preaching. This is not to be confused with those who make their living from preaching the gospel. It is about those who afford fancy clothes and fine cars on the basis of their preaching while their “flock” is often of more modest means.

Psalm 53:1-6

The psalmist starts out by saying that only fools believe that there is no God. He then continues by telling us that everyone has turned away from God. No human is in a position to hold themselves up as more godly than others. We have all sinned and none of us do good. Yet even so God has sent Christ to offer salvation. God will restore His people unto Him.

Proverbs 22:28-29

Today’s first proverb tells us not to cheat our neighbors by moving the markers that indicate the edges of our property. I think this really comes down to telling us that we should not cheat our neighbor. The second proverb tells us that those who are truly skilled at what they do will be employed by those from the highest levels of society.

Daily Bible Study

September 8, 2012 Bible Study

September 7, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Isaiah 1-2:22

Today I begin reading the Book of Isaiah. He starts out by condemning the children of Israel for turning away from God. Isaiah tells them that God has no interest in the “correct” forms of worship. What God wants from us is for us to learn to do good, to seek justice, to help the oppressed, defend the cause of orphans, and fight for the rights of widows. He tells us that if we turn to God and repent, God will wash away our sin and make us clean. Isaiah uses the metaphor of purifying silver here. When silver becomes thoroughly corroded it can be purified by melting it down in a crucible and removing the dross that floats to the top. Isaiah says that God is going to treat the children of Israel like corroded silver. I believe that God does similar things to other nations as well. When a nation of people start to allow injustice to thrive and the powerless to be oppressed, God will bring judgement on them.
After telling us that a judgement is coming to those who observe the forms of worship without the substance, Isaiah puts in a section talking about the day when God will extend His will throughout the earth. A day will come when, “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Then Isaiah tells us that before that day, the day of God’s judgement will come. When the day of trial comes, we must not rely on humans. Instead we must rely on God to save and protect us.

2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Paul begs the Corinthians to take his words to heart and change their ways so that he does not need to be confrontational when he next visits them. He tells them that he does not use human power and weapons to fight against false arguments. Instead he uses the weapons and power of God. It is through God’s power that we can overcome rebellious thoughts and teach people to obey Christ. Paul goes on to give us a guideline for distinguishing leaders who are serving God from those who are serving themselves. Leaders who are serving God speak and act to build up those in the Church. Leaders who are serving themselves tear down those that they “lead”. Finally he tells us that we should not boast about ourselves. We should only boast about the Lord. We should not commend ourselves, but instead allow the Lord to commend us.

Psalm 52:1-9

The psalmist tells us that there are those who build their power on lies and deception. They tear down others to make themselves appear more powerful. God will judge them and bring them to ruin. Those who rely on God will have a slower, but more reliable rise.

Proverbs 22:26-27

Today’s proverb warns us not to stand as security for someone else’s debt unless we can afford to pay the debt ourselves.

Daily Bible Study

September 7, 2012 Bible Study

September 6, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Song of Solomon 5-8:14

Today the Song of Solomon continues. Elements of today’s passage indicate that these two lovers are going to be sexually active with each other. However, there are also elements which suggest that they had remained chaste until they had found the person they would share the rest of their life with. In addition, there is a passage that advises young men to guard their sister’s virtue:

We have a little sister,
And she has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for?
“If she is a wall,
We will build on her a battlement of silver;
But if she is a door,
We will barricade her with planks of cedar.” (NASB)
Immediately after this the bride in this song tells us that she was a wall. This passage places the human sexual drive into its proper context, between a man and a woman who have made a lifelong commitment to one another. One of the reasons that I have trouble connecting with the Song of Solomon is that, even though I see in it an echo of how I view my wife, I do not find many of the metaphors used by the young man for his lover particularly attractive. For example, I find the image that the following metaphor draws up in my mind rather unappealing: “Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead.” I like my wife’s hair, but when I think of a flock of goats, I think of something that smells rather offensive. My wife’s hair smells of cleanliness. I am quite sure that the writer of the Song of Solomon had no intention to conjure up the odor of goats with that metaphor, but that is the image that is conjured up for me.

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Paul writes to the Corinthians that he is sending Titus and a couple of others ahead of him so that the Corinthians have time to make sure that they have collected the funds that they had said they would. I think there are two things to be taken away from this part of this passage. The first is that we should be sure to follow through on ideas that we sell to the larger body of believers. It was the Corinthians who first had the idea of a collection to meet the needs of the believers in Jerusalem. The second thing is that those who find themselves leaders in the Church should gently remind people of the plans they have initiated and prod them to follow through, as Paul is doing here.
Paul tells us that if we give generously and cheerfully we will always have enough to meet our needs with enough left over to share with others. Take note however that he does not say we will have enough to meet our wants with enough to share with others. I pray that God will help me to discipline myself to match the level of giving that I have felt called to.

Psalm 51:1-19

I call out to God along with the psalmist for God to have mercy on me, for I am a sinner. If God will purify us we will be clean of our sins and there is no other manner in which this can be accomplished. I praise God that He has done so through bringing me to faith in Jesus Christ. I pray continually that He will create within me a clean heart. I am broken and frail upon this earth and I seek His healing for my brokenness. I thank God that he has done so and continues to do so. He gives me joy in His salvation. I continue to pray that He make me ever more willing to obey Him. I pray that He will give me the words to reach those who have yet to accept Him so that they might turn to Him and be saved. God does not desire sacrifice. He desires that we acknowledge how far we have fallen short of His standard and that we are powerless to keep His commands without His help.

Proverbs 22:24-25

Today’s proverb tells us that we should be careful about spending too much time with people who do not control their temper. That it is too easy to be influenced by such people to not control our own temper. Elsewhere he has laid out the dangers of failing to control one’s temper. Here he touches once again on the fact that our behavior is influenced by the behavior of those we spend time with. We should spend our time with those who behave in the manner that we desire that we should behave.

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September 6, 2012 Bible Study

September 5, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Song of Solomon 1-4:16

Today I begin reading the Song of Solomon. This is a book often recommended to young Christian couples. There is certainly some merit to that. You should feel that the Song of Solomon expresses your feelings toward the person you intend to make your spouse before you commit to such an action. Certainly this passage captures my feelings for my wife:

“You have captured my heart,
my treasure, my bride.
You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes,
with a single jewel of your necklace.
In addition this passage twice advises women not to “awaken love before the time is right.” I am pretty sure that in the context this is a reference to sexual activity. I am also pretty sure it contains within it an admonition about how sexual activity is connected to marital love. We, as human beings, are designed to develop an attachment to those we have sexual relations with. Which is why the Bible repeatedly warns against premarital sex, adultery and sexual promiscuity. Such activities will lead us into deeper relationships with inappropriate people than is healthy for us or for them.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Paul tells the Church in Corinth that Titus was eager to fulfill Paul’s request that he return to Corinth to collect what the Church in Corinth had collected for the relief of the Christians in Jerusalem. He tells them that he is sending with Titus two fellow Christians who had been chosen by the churches to accompany Paul as he took the money to the Christians in Jerusalem. Paul points out that this was done so that there would be no question that the money that was collected was used as intended. This is an important point for those collecting donations to do ministry. Make sure to structure the way that money is handled to ensure that it you can show that the money is spent according to the standards and priorities that you collected it under. It is also a standard we should follow when considering donating to charities. Do they provide a way that you can ensure that they are spending the money in a manner that aligns with their declared reasons for raising the money?

Psalm 50:1-23

The psalmist tells us that God has already gathered the people of earth to judgement. God tells us that he has no complaint with our sacrifices and offerings to Him, but that He does not need them because everything is already His. He tells us that what He desires is for us to follow His commands and be thankful to Him for all that He has done for us. This does not mean that we should not give to worthy causes and make offerings to support God’s work. It just means that we need to remember that doing so does not obligate God to us. We can only ask for things that we desire and need. We should be thankful for everything that God gives us, even those things we don’t think we want. There are probably many other messages that can be gleamed from this psalm, but the one that comes to me today is that we can never obligate God to do anything for us. What God does for us is always out of His loving generousness and we are obligated to be thankful for what we receive.

Proverbs 22:22-23

Today’s proverb should be one that no one who claims to be a Christian should need reminding of. Just because you can do something does not make it right. If we use our power to advance ourselves at the expense of others, God will claim restitution. Sometimes people think that it is OK to abuse power they have in petty areas because the one they are so abusing has more power in other areas. God will judge us for that just as much as He will judge a Supreme Court Justice for abusing his power.

Daily Bible Study

September 5, 2012 Bible Study

September 4, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Ecclesiastes 10-12:14

The writer continues with a series of proverbs. Here he points out that many worthwhile tasks have dangers involved in them. Additionally, he advises to properly prepare the tool for the task at hand before beginning. He goes on to advise us to diversify our investments because we do not know what risks might destroy some of them. Seek to follow the Lord while you are young, so that you will not have regrets when you get old. Finally the writer concludes that we should fear God and obey His commands. God will judge all of our actions, both good and bad, both public and secret.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Paul writes to the Corinthians that the Churches in Macedonia were giving eagerly to provide help to the Christians in Jerusalem who were suffering. He tells us that they did even more than he had hoped, giving more than they could truly afford. The Churches in Macedonia begged to be allowed to share with the believers in Jerusalem, without in any way shorting the local needs. Paul is writing this reminder to the Church in Corinth to encourage them, but also to keep them from looking foolish. The idea of raising money to aid the believers in Jerusalem was first suggested by the Corinthians. He tells them to give in proportion to what they have. Give what you can and do so eagerly. Do not short your self so that others can live a life of ease. Give from your plenty to those in need and when you are in need those who then have plenty will share with you. I had never noticed this before, but there is an element in what Paul writes here that is counter to “prosperity gospel”. Prosperity theology sometimes claims that you should give according to what you want to have. If you want to earn $100,000 a year than you should be donating to charity (usually the one run by the person preaching this message) $10,000 a year. According to them, if you do that you will receive that $100,000 a year you want. However, in this passage Paul says, “And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.” That seems to me to run exactly counter to what those prosperity gospel preachers are preaching.

Psalm 49:1-20

This is an interesting psalm to be reading at the same time as Ecclesiastes, because it shares a similar message. The psalmist says that he will not fear when trouble comes and enemies surround him. He does not fear because his enemies put their trust in wealth and great riches. Yet they cannot pay enough to avoid death. Death comes eventually to everyone. No one can ransom themselves from the grave. The wise and the foolish will each die in their time. In all of this he seems very pessimistic. Then he tells us the gospel. God will redeem from the grave those who rely on Him. People who boast of their wealth as if that makes them better than others will die just as animals do. Wealth does not follow us into the grave.

Proverbs 22:20-21

The writer of proverbs has written many sayings that are filled with advice and knowledge. We should study them so that we can give good answers to those who question us about how to live. This verse reminds me of something I was moved to work on shortly after I started composing this blog. That is, memorizing Scripture. I made a good start. I immediately found a website that suggested what appeared to me to be a good selection of verses to memorize after rejecting several other websites with similar lists (I rejected the others because I did not think they suited my needs, not because they were flawed in any way). I even wrote the first verse in a book I carry and began working on it. I quickly memorized it, but that was as far as it went until recently, when I entered the second passage into the book and memorized it. Over the months since I began memorizing, I should have more than two passages memorized. This passage convicts me to work harder at my project of Scripture memorization.

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September 4, 2012 Bible Study

September 3, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Ecclesiastes 7-9:18

This passage starts off with a series of proverbs that are good guides for life. “A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.” “Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.” “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.” He goes on to tell us to avoid extremes and that no one is always good and without sin. He tells us that no one can discover everything. There will always be some things that even the wisest person does not understand. The fastest and strongest do not always win. The wise and the skillful are not always wealthy. Whatever you do, do it well. And in the end, we will all die.

2 Corinthians 7:8-16

Paul writes that he is not sorry that he wrote a previous severe letter to them. He says that he was sorry at first, because he knew it would cause them pain. However, now he is glad that he sent it because it caused them to repent and change their ways. He tells them that Godly sorrow causes us to repent and change our ways. Being sorry for something that we are going to do again is worse than of no value, it results in spiritual death. Many scholars believe that the “severe letter” Paul refers to is one that has been lost. I see no reason to think this is the case. The letter we know of as 1 Corinthians is severe enough to have engendered the feelings that Paul describes.
Paul tells us that Godly sorrow leads to zeal and earnestness. When we feel Godly sorrow, we strive to do everything necessary to make things right. Paul had not written his letter to point out who was in the wrong and who was wronged. He seems to be saying two things here. First, there were some people who were in the wrong in the conflict in the Church. Second, now that the issue has been resolved and people have repented and changed their ways it does not matter who was wrong and who was wronged. Paul goes on to write how greatly encouraged he was by their reaction to his letter. Further Paul tells them he is delighted by the way they welcomed Titus and treated him with respect. The news that Titus brought Paul from Corinth has led Paul to have complete confidence in their faith and witness.

Psalm 48:1-14

The psalmist is talking about the earthly city of Jerusalem, but I believe that God is speaking through the psalmist of the Heavenly Jerusalem. Either way there is much to uplift us from this psalm. The Lord is deserving of our praise. Those who gather their forces to attack that which God defends will be utterly destroyed. We should meditate on God’s unfailing love. And finally, He is our God forever and He will guide us until we die.

Proverbs 22:17-19

Today’s proverb covers three verses. The first two tell us that we should listen to the instructions of the wise and keep wise sayings on our lips. These are things that are good to do. The third verse gives the reason to teach others. If we have been granted wisdom from God, we should teach others so that they may trust in the Lord. Of course that also tells us which teachers we should listen to; those who are teaching us to trust in the Lord.

Daily Bible Study

September 3, 2012 Bible Study

September 2, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Ecclesiastes 4-6:12

I struggle with Ecclesiastes. As I read it, I think I see something, then the writer goes off in another direction and I am not sure if he meant to say what I thought I saw, or something else. Nevertheless, there are a few things I see in this passage. It is better to work with someone who you can trust and rely on. Two people can fill in for each other’s weaknesses and help each other up when they inevitably stumble and fall. When you come before God, listen before you speak. Don’t spend a lot of time talking about what you are going to do, just do it. It is good and proper to take satisfaction in the food and drink one receives and to be satisfied with the work one does because these things are gifts from God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7

Today’s passage starts of with Paul telling the Corinthians not to team up with unbelievers. The King James version says that we should not be unequally yoked with them. When I was growing up, and often since, this passage was referenced as an instruction against interfaith marriage. That is certainly consistent with what Paul is saying here, but it isn’t what he is saying. This is much broader than that. I believe that Paul is saying here that Christians should not go into business with non-Christians. That when Christians form groups to do good deeds, they should not form working partnerships with non-Christian organizations. Or at least be careful to ensure that if they do, the Christians are not the junior partners with little ability to influence actual policy in the project they are working on.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses division and conflict within the Church in Corinth. Now Paul writes that when he went to Macedonia, he ran into more conflict and division and he was starting to become discouraged. Then Titus arrived with word from the Church in Corinth. He told Paul how the Corinthians had taken his words to heart and resolved their conflicts in the manner which Paul had advised. Paul tells us that this encouraged him and washed away the discouragement that he was feeling. We should remember that God will provide us with the needed encouragement when we are becoming discouraged.

Psalm 47:1-9

This psalm rebuts those who think that Christians should always worship with quiet decorum. Our worship should be loud and boisterous so that people can tell that we are having a good time. This does not contradict Paul telling the Corinthians that the worship service should be orderly. The worship service should be orderly, but people should also be able to tell that we are enjoying ourselves.

Proverbs 22:16

Those who use their position to gain wealth by oppressing the poor will end in poverty, as will those who seek to show their stature by giving gifts to those richer than themselves.

Daily Bible Study

September 2, 2012 Bible Study

September 1, 2012 AttilaDimedici

Ecclesiastes 1-3:22

Today I begin Ecclesiastes, which are the words of “the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.” The Teacher concludes that everything is meaningless. He tried pursuing pleasure and found it meaningless. He describes the various ways that he tried to pursue pleasure. He got drunk repeatedly and embraced the lifestyle of a Sybarite. He gathered everything a man could desire. He tried hard work and the pleasure that came from that. He found it all to be meaningless. He declares that there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and find satisfaction in hard work. These pleasures come from God. He asks, “Can we truly have pleasure apart from God?” I think that the answer to that is, “No.”
I am going to take a slight detour here because what comes next is a passage that has special meaning to me:

For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
I have always liked this passage as long as I can remember. However, my wife and I put this on bookmarks that we gave out as wedding favors. The reason we did that was because the year we got married had been a tough one for her family. It started that spring. Her father was diagnosed with cancer right about the same time that I had decided that she was the one God wished me to marry (she had made up her mind about me several years earlier, but I always have been a little slow on the uptake). The prognosis did not look good. I asked her to marry me on Mothers’ Day because I wanted to make sure that he knew I would be there for his daughter and her mother. Shortly after that, he entered hospice and he died that summer. Later that same year, my wife’s maternal grandmother died. These two occasions brought her family together. We wondered if it was appropriate to go forward with our wedding in the fall. Everyone assured us that not only was it appropriate, but the family would appreciate an opportunity to gather for a joyous occasion after so much grief. We both felt that this made the lines “A time to cry and a time to laugh, A time to grieve and a time to dance,” the perfect summation about the feelings at our wedding.
I always struggle with Ecclesiastes. So much of it is spent on discussing the futility of life. Yet, I notice there is one thing that the author of this passage did not pursue in his search for meaning (or, at least, that he does not speak of in this section). He does not speak of seeking to find meaning through serving God and helping his fellow-man. The futility that he speaks of here is why I am not an atheist. The thought that this finite world that will come to an end some day is all that there is was more than I could bear.

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Paul expresses his desire that we not only accept God’s grace, but allow it to change us. Paul speaks of how God said that at the right time He would extend His salvation to us. That time is now. I beg of you, if you are reading this and have not accepted God’s love for you through Jesus Christ, do so now. And if at some point in the past, you have done so, but have not felt the transformational power of the Holy Spirit, today is the day to seek it out. Further, I ask those of you who may be reading this who, like me, have felt the transformation of the Holy Spirit to once more seek out those aspects of your life that need to be further transformed into the likeness if Christ and ask the Spirit for that transformation. I have many such areas and I ask God to send His Spirit with power to transform them. So that I may say with Paul that I live in such a way that no one will stumble because of me. I know that I have not always lived in such a manner and I ask God’s forgiveness for those whom I have proved a stumbling block in the past.

Psalm 46:1-11

This psalm is such a powerful song. There have been many songs written based on it and several of them are quite powerful. One of those songs was set to the same music that “America the Beautiful” was later set to. One of my favorites has the following lyrics:

Be still and know that I am God,
be still and know that I am God,
be still and know that I am God.

I am the Lord that healeth thee,
I am the Lord that healeth thee,
I am the Lord that healeth thee.

In thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
In thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
In thee, O Lord, I put my trust.

I have found the advice of this psalm to be of great value. When all around me seems to be coming apart, it really helps me to just be still and remember that He is God. He is always ready to help in times of trouble, even when it seems that the mountains are crumbling into the sea around me.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

…
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
I will not fear when disaster strikes because God is my refuge. Many times my calmness in the face of troubles is taken as confidence in my ability to solve the problems, but such is not the case. My calmness in the face of troubles is because I know that God is in control and things will work out according to His plans.

Proverbs 22:15

This proverb reminds us that children have a tendency to do foolish things. Sometimes the only way to teach them to not do foolish and dangerous things is by imposing physical discipline.

Fact and Fantasy

Monthly Archives: September 2012

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