Tag Archives: Proverbs 27:1-2

November 4, 2015 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

DSCN9708

Proverbs 27:1-2

    Do not brag and boast about what you are going to do in the future, or about the good things which are going to come your way. None of us knows what tomorrow holds. So, it is best to qualify our plans with “if God wills” (even if only in our minds).
    Rather than tell everyone how wonderful we are, let us wait for others to praise us. Such praise will carry more weight and have more meaning.

DSCN9709

Psalm 105:16-36

    The psalmist shows us how God laid His plans and brought them to pass. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, yet rose to power in the land in order to provide a sanctuary for his family in time of need. Then after the Egyptians turned on the people of Israel God sent Moses and Aaron and used His great power to bring them out of Egypt and into the land of Canaan. Let us always remember that no matter how bad things are today, they are part of God’s plan to do great things for and through us.

DSCN9710

Hebrews 6

    Today’s passage contains a teaching which I think takes some careful thought. The writer warns us that those who have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit within themselves who later turn away from God will never turn back to him once more. He tells us that it is impossible to bring such people back to repentance once they have turned from God. I am torn about what this means for us. On the one hand, I am convinced that we should never give up on those we know who have turned away from God. On the other hand, we should not waste energy on those who will never appreciate our effort.
    I have rewritten the previous sentence five time because it keeps coming out harsher than I think is appropriate. We should never forget what Jesus said, “With God all things are possible.” Yet, we must recognize that when people have chosen to walk away from God, He will let them go. God will honor our decisions, even when it breaks His heart.

DSCN9711

Ezekiel 10-11

    The leaders in Jerusalem were telling the people that Jerusalem was safe, that it was time to invest in the future. The leaders were claiming that all was rosy despite the people who had been taken into exile. They claimed that those taken into exile were far from God and that God had given their land to those who remained. In many ways this reminds me of the leaders today who are telling us how wonderful things are, when wages have been falling, along with productivity. They keep telling us to save less and consume more. God cast judgment on the leaders in the Jerusalem of Ezekiel’s day for the injustice they performed against the people of Jerusalem. He will bring judgment against the leaders doing the same today.

November 4, 2014 Bible Study — What Should Every New Believer Be Taught?

For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have been convicted to seek to develop a disciplined prayer life. It is still a work in progress. Please pray for me, that the Holy Spirit may show me how to pray in a disciplined manner.

DSCN6720

Proverbs 27:1-2

    Always keep in mind that things may occur to change your plans for the future. Do not brag about what you will do because something may happen that will cause you to be unable to do what you planned, or to make it something you would regret.
    Do not brag about how good are skillful you are. If you are truly as good or skilled as you think you are, others will be quick to tell people about it.

DSCN6722

Psalm 105:16-36

    The psalmist recounts how God arranged things so that the people of Israel became a separate people who were dedicated to Him. If we look at history we can see other times where events were arranged so as to bring God’s will about. Events happened so that nations rose to power at just the right time to bring about God’s will. People made decisions so that they, or someone else, ended up at the right place at the right time. If we look at our lives, and the events that happened in them, we can see how they all were arranged so that we would end up where God wanted us. Let us praise God for what He has done for us in the past and serve Him in the place where He has put us now.

DSCN6723

Hebrews 6:1-20

    In yesterday’s passage the writer told us that as we mature in Christ we need to move on from basic, introductory spiritual teaching. In today’s passage he writes about what those are, what things we should teach to new believers. First off, in order to be believers one needs to repent of evil deeds (repent means to both feel remorse and change our behavior) and place faith in God. Additionally, we should be sure to teach new believers about baptisms (interestingly, this suggests that there is a place for baptism as more than just an initiation into the Body of Christ), laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. Today was the first time I realized that this passage gave us a guideline on what should be taught to every new believer.
    The writer then goes on to more advanced spiritual teaching. He tells us that those who have once experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, then turn away from God, can never be brought back to repentance. I have always found this passage hard to fully comprehend. I know some people about whom this passage seems to apply. I know some people who were once filled with the Spirit who have since rejected God that when I look at their attitudes I can not imagine them ever seeking God again. On the other hand, I know people who are today dedicated to serving God and are bearing the fruit of the Spirit in abundance, who had accepted Christ as a teen, turned away from God in their 20s, and returned once more to Him. Sometimes I think I can see how these two groups differ, but other times I am unsure. Nevertheless, this passage is an important warning to us.

DSCN6671

Ezekiel 10-11:25

    Ezekiel prophesied against a group of men who were leaders of the people of Jerusalem. I know I am bringing my own biases to this passage, but I still think there is truth in what I am about to say. The leaders whom Ezekiel prophesied against were men who were telling the people that things were going well, and everyone was safe, as disaster was about to strike. These were men who claimed to be working on behalf of the people while profiting from the suffering the people were experiencing. Those leaders who tell the people that everything will be all right, when not only will everything be all right, but those very leaders will be among the reasons it is not all right, will face God’s judgement.

November 4, 2013 Bible Study

     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 in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

DSCN4265

Ezekiel 10-11:25

     Ezekiel had a vision of the glory of God rising up out of the Temple in Jerusalem and departing from it. As the vision was unfolding, God gave Ezekiel explanatory side visions. First, God showed him a vision of twenty-five prominent leaders of Jerusalem (two of whom he identified by name). Ezekiel calls them out for planning evil and giving the people wicked counsel. He declares that they are telling people that the situation in Jerusalem is good, that now is a good time to plan for the future in Jerusalem. They were telling everyone that the city of Jerusalem would remain safe from the dangers surrounding them. Ezekiel tells them that God knows their secret thoughts and that they have used their positions to bring about death to the innocent. God will judge them and drag them out of the place where they think they are safe.
     In addition, Ezekiel addresses those who remain in Judea who think that they it is OK to profit from the misfortune of those who have been taken into exile. He tells them that God will bring the exiles back and when He does, they will reject vile images and detestable idols. God promises to transform those who are willing into His faithful servants, but judgment will fall on those who embrace the worship of idols and images.

DSCN4247

Hebrews 6:1-20

     The writer summarizes the teachings which he considers to be basic spiritual milk for new believers. The basic things which every believer needs to understand before they can begin to mature are: the need to turn from sin, have faith in God, be baptized, the value of laying on of hands, the facts of resurrection of the dead and God’s eternal judgment. The author then goes on to talk about some of the things which he considers important for more mature believers to consider.
     He points out that those who have embraced and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit who then turn away from God and reject Him, will never turn back to God once more. This is different from those who have fallen into sin through temptation. I believe the writer is talking about those who turn away from God’s plan because they want to avoid ridicule or persecution. This does not encompass those who gradually fall into sin by giving into temptation, but rather those who justify their sin by proclaiming that God’s law does not apply to them. The writer tells us that instead of attempting to take the easy way out, we are to follow those who, with faith and endurance, show their love for God by caring for their fellow believers.

DSCN4270

Psalm 105:16-36

     The psalm recounts how all works according to God’s plans. Joseph suffered enslavement and imprisonment so that God could elevate him to the highest levels in Egypt. The people of Israel suffered enslavement in Egypt so that God could mold them into a nation and bring them out of Egypt to give them the Promised Land. In the same way, God uses the hardships and difficulties in our lives to mold and prepare us for the blessings He will bring us.

DSCN4258

Proverbs 27:1-2

     There are two important points made in this proverb. The first is that we should not boast about what we are going to do in the future because we do not know what circumstances may come up. This also applies to actions of others. The classic example is fans who boast about how their team is going to defeat another, only to be embarrassed because some key player gets injured.
     The second proverb warns us against singing our own praises. If we have done something worthy of praise, let others tell of it.

November 4, 2012 Bible Study

     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 sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. Well, I have my power back, but I am still not able to get online in my normal routine because my Internet service has not been restored. I am able to post by using either the Internet at a friend’s house or by going to someplace that has free Wifi access. I am going to try to get something closer to my normal routine by writing down the passages for the next day and writing the blog offline. In addition, I usually compose these on my desktop PC and typing them on my laptop is a different experience. Please bear with me until I get back into my usual routine.

Ezekiel 10:1-11:25

     Ezekiel’s vision continued with the man in linen, who had marked those people selected for salvation, given coals from the presence of the Lord. The man in linen was instructed to spread the coals over the city of Jerusalem. Then Ezekiel saw the presence of the Lord depart from the Temple.
     The Spirit of the Lord than carried Ezekiel to the east gate of the Temple and showed him 25 leaders of the people of Jerusalem, two of whom Ezekiel names. Ezekiel tells them that they have been guilty of sins against the people of Jerusalem and of speaking false prophecies. Ezekiel tells them that they will be driven from Jerusalem and killed. While Ezekiel is prophesying against these men, one of them dies. Ezekiel then cries out to God, asking if Him if He will destroy even the remnant remaining of Israel.
     God replies that those who have been already been sent into exile are also Israel. God tells Ezekiel that He will gather the exiles back to His land. God will put a new spirit in them and they will remove the vile images and detestable idols from the land. God says that He will replace their hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. Have we allowed God to replace our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh? Do we look at those around us still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and desire to help them in whatever way we can? Or are we content that we have power and seek after the pleasures that are available to us?

Hebrews 6:1-20

     The writer tells us that now he will move on from basic teachings to meatier ones. He then goes on to tell us that those who have tasted of God’s glory who turn away from God can never be brought back to repentance. I am not sure what he means here, but I will interpret it in light of my experience. I do not believe he is talking about those who profess faith and then for one reason or another drift away from the faith. Rather I think he is talking about those who profess faith and then consciously reject it.

Psalms 105:16-35

     The psalmist recounts how God sent Joseph into Egypt as a slave, shackled and beaten. But Joseph was faithful and God raised him up to become ruler over all of Egypt, second only to Pharoah. Then Jacob and Joseph’s brothers and their children came to Egypt and lived there. Until they became numerous and the people of Egypt felt threatened by them. Then the Egyptians enslaved the people of Israel. God sent Moses and Aaron to free them, bringing judgment on the Egyptians in the form of the plagues.
     Are we faithful in our sufferings as Joseph was? Are we willing to be God’s messengers as Moses and Aaron were?

Proverbs 27:1-2

     Do not boast of the great things you are going to do in the future, because things may happen to change your plans. Recognize that all of our plans for the future will only come to pass insofar as they are God’s will. In addition, do not tell others how wonderful you are, let them see for themselves and let them tell others what they think of you. How many times have you heard someone who is constantly telling you all the good things they do for others, people who you never see doing any of these good things? When someone tells you of the wonderful things they have done, don’t you have a tendency to wonder if they are like those people? Let our actions speak for us, if we receive no recognition from people, we will still receive recognition from God.