Tag Archives: Exodus 34-35:9

Daily Bible Study

February 12, 2015 Bible Study — We Are Responsible for Our Actions

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 9:1-6

    The proverb writer uses yet another metaphor to illustrate the way in which wisdom is available to anyone who desires it. Wisdom is there for us, all we have to do is accept it. While we should seek wisdom and our life will be better if we do so, we do not have to actively look for wisdom. Wisdom will come looking for us. Fools are those people who repeatedly refuse to accept the lessons which wisdom strives to teach them.

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Psalm 33:12-22

    A nation will be successful and prosperous if, and only if, the people within it fear and worship the Lord. It is not a mighty army, nor is advanced military equipment which gives a nation security and wealth. However, the Lord will watch over those who fear and serve Him. As I read this psalm, I am reminded of those who look at the decline of the U.S., both morally and as a world power.
    They seek to cultivate the political power to change the laws in order to reverse the decline. Their attempts are futile. God does not call us to make our country powerful. He does not even call us to make our country morally pure. We are called by God to serve Him. I am not seeking to live in a powerful country. I am seeking to convince those I meet to serve the Lord.

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Matthew 27:15-31

    Despite being unable to find anything Jesus had done which deserved the death penalty, despite the entreaties of his wife to have nothing to do with Jesus, Pilate allowed the crowd to pressure him into ordering Jesus’ crucifixion. The crowd readily took responsibility for Jesus’ death, while Pilate disavowed responsibility for it.
    There is some truth in the crowd’s claim of responsibility, but there is no truth in Pilate’s disavowal. The people in that crowd shared responsibility for the death of an innocent man, but so did Pilate. We are responsible for our actions, even if we were pressured by the crowd to take them,

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Exodus 34-35:9

    God instructed the Israelites not to make any treaties or agreements with the people in the land. He explained that if they entered into such agreements, they would be drawn into the worship of those peoples’ gods.
    The same thing is true for us today. We should not enter into alliances with those who do not serve the Lord. This does not mean that we should reject when they support the causes for which we fight. However, we must be careful not to let them guide our strategy, nor join their groups fighting for causes we believe in. If we join with them we will end up worshiping their gods, perhaps without even realizing it.

Daily Bible Study

February 12, 2014 Bible Study — Wisdom Is Offered To All Who Seek It

     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. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Proverbs 9:1-6

     Wisdom has laid out a feast and invited everyone to come. No one needs to remain mired in foolishness, wisdom is offered to any who wish it. Those who desire wisdom are welcome to partake, there are no excuses for foolishness. If you lack wisdom, it is your own fault.

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Psalm 33:12-22

     It is not by the size of its army that a nation remains strong, and it is not by my strength that I will overcome obstacles. Neither weapons nor skill will ensure the victory. God will watch over and rescue those who rely on Him. I will put my hope in Him alone. His unfailing love surrounds me. When your enemies surround you (or better yet, before that) turn to God and put your trust in His name. He will be your help and your shield. He will make your heart rejoice. Don’t take my word for it, try it yourself.

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Matthew 27:15-31

     Pilate attempted to evade responsibility for the decision at Jesus’ trial before him. First, he attempted to convince the crowd to accept Jesus as the prisoner to be released as his Passover gift to the people of Israel. When that failed, he refused to accept responsibility for Jesus’ death even as he gave the orders for his crucifixion. How often do we do the same thing? Attempt to pass off responsibility for a decision which is ours to someone else? Despite the fact that the crowd accepted responsibility, it was still Pilate’s decision to make. Pilate was no more able to pass off responsibility for this decision than he was to evade being recorded in the Gospels as the one who made it. Ultimately, we are responsible for the decisions we make. for good or for bad.

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Exodus 34-35:9

     God commanded Moses and the people of Israel to make no treaties with the people of the land He was giving to them. At first this sounds harsh, but then as you read further you realize that God is telling them that the halfway point between righteous and evil, is still evil. The compromise between worshiping idols and worshiping only God is still idolatry. Ultimately, compromise with sin is still sin.

Daily Bible Study

February 12, 2013 Bible Study — What Sins Do We Attempt to Wash Our Hands Of?

     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 hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Jen debating the least embarrassing way to lose to Baron Colin (I've been there and don't do nearly as well).
Jen debating the least embarrassing way to lose to Baron Colin (I’ve been there and don’t do nearly as well).

Exodus 34-35:9

     God has Moses chisel out a second set of stone tablets and bring them up the mountain, where God wrote His instructions on them, just as He had on the set which Moses had smashed in anger. When Moses returned to the mountain top, the Lord passed in front of him. Moses immediately fell on his face and worshiped the Lord, begging Him to travel with the Israelites. God once more made a covenant with the people of Israel and reiterated the instructions He had given Moses. God emphasized to Moses that they were not to enter into a treaty with any of the people in the land they were entering. They were not to enter into a treaty with them because if they did, sooner or later they would start worshiping their gods rather than remaining loyal to God Himself.
     This is, in my mind, an important lesson. If we make common cause with those who do not worship God sooner or later we will find ourselves entering into their worship. One of the most pernicious forms of this is the temptation to make common cause with those who claim to worship the same God as I do, yet whose worship is, by my understanding of Scripture, idolatrous. There is also the challenge of when can we work with those who do not worship our God in doing good deeds. All too often, Christians enter into agreements with others in order to feed the hungry and care for the needy only to discover those others (usually government) putting conditions on the work that make it less a ministry to those in need and more an effort to gather worshipers to those others. Many government programs are designed to lead people to put the government in the place of God. I don’t believe that this was something done consciously, not even as consciously as Aaron designed the golden calf, but it is something that people tend to do.

Magrat cleans herself on our car
Magrat cleans herself on our car

Matthew 27:15-31

     Pilate had a tradition of releasing a prisoner chosen by the crowd at the Passover festival. When Jesus was brought before him, he attempted to convince the crowd to choose Jesus. However, the priests had worked the crowd to get them to demand Jesus death. Pilate’s wife sent him a message warning him to have nothing to do with Jesus’ case because she had had terrible dreams concerning Him. When the crowd called on him to crucify Jesus, Pilate asked them what crime He had committed. The crowd merely cried even louder for Jesus’ crucifixion. When Pilate realized that the crowd was not going to respond to his entreaties, and was starting to get out of hand, he washed his hands in front of them and disclaimed responsibility for Jesus’ death. The crowd responded by accepting responsibility for Jesus’ death. Pilate then had Jesus flogged and handed Him over to be crucified.
     How often do I do as Pilate did and attempt to deflect responsibility for my actions to others? Pilate may have “washed his hands” of responsibility for Jesus’ crucifixion, but it was still at his orders that the soldiers carried out the crucifixion. We often feel pressured by others, especially in numbers, to take actions that we believe are wrong. All too often I have succumbed to such pressure (although I have never been in fear for my life).

Amaryllis in the window, snow outside
Amaryllis in the window, snow outside

Psalm 33:12-22

     Might and power will not save a nation. A nation and/or a people will only continue to exist by the will of God. God will deliver those who trust in Him. I will not rely on my power or strength, nor will I rely on the power of government. I will trust in God to protect me.

Preparing for the after worship fellowship meal
Preparing for the after worship fellowship meal

Proverbs 9:1-6

     The writer tells us that wisdom with all of its benefits and blessings is there for anyone who desires to acquire it. There is more than enough for everyone. There is enough of wisdom and its blessings for everyone. No one needs to have less wisdom because someone else has more. Not only that, but the blessings from following the wise course are abundant enough that all can experience them.