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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.