Tag Archives: Proverbs 30:7-9

December 17, 2015 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 30:7-9

    The writer here asks two things of God. The first thing is something that we ordinarily think is within our own power. He asks that God keep him from ever telling a lie. Let us remember that we will only succeed in being totally honest, and that is what the writer is asking for, if we have God’s help in doing so. The second thing is two part. Most of us would certainly ask the latter portion of it, because no one wants to be poor. However, few people would think that there was such a thing as too rich. The writer points out that those who have great wealth often times think that they do not need God in their lives.
    Yes, I will agree with the writer and ask God to help me to be always honest. Further, I will ask God that I be neither too rich to remember Him, nor so poor that I am tempted to sin to obtain my needs.

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Psalm 136

    The psalmist tells us to give thanks to the Lord. He then proceeds to list some of the things which God has done for which we should be thankful. The most important one of which he repeats over and over: “His faithful love endures forever.”

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Revelation 8

    When the seventh seal is broken, the prayers of God’s people will rise up to God as a fragrant offering. This analogy once more makes me think that perhaps the vision of the Lamb breaking the seals on the scroll represents something which has already happened/is happening. Elsewhere in the Bible our prayers are compared to a fragrant offering or an incense offering to God. So, how can it be that only at some time in the future will the prayers of God’s people be offered up as a fragrant offering to God?
    Having said that about the seals and the scroll, I do believe that the seven trumpets represent something at the end of days. The idea of living through those days frightens me, even though I know that God cares for those who love and fear Him. I trust in God to care for me, and my loved ones, even if we go through the times mentioned here. However, there are people I care about who have yet to turn to God. I desperately want them to learn to know and serve God before those times begin, because without God those times will be unbearable.

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Nahum 1-3

    The prophet Nahum reminds us that no matter how powerful a person, no matter how powerful a nation, if they turn against God, He will bring them down. The Assyrians were a mighty people. The kings of Nineveh led mighty armies. Wherever they turned their attention, nations fell. They accumulated wealth beyond count. However, when God had finally had enough of their wickedness they were destroyed to the point that archaeologists and students of history believed that they had never been. Those who did not accept the Bible as truth were convinced that the writers of the Bible who spoke of Assyria had made them up because there was no record of them in the histories kept by other nations. Such is the fate of those whom God destroys.

December 17, 2014 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here. Christmas is coming soon. Let us remember what it is truly about, the birth of Jesus Christ. Let us strive to not be caught up in the commercialism which is what this season is about for many in our society today.

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Proverbs 30:7-9

    I have always connected with this proverb. I ask God that He give me just enough to meet my needs and perhaps a bit more to help those less fortunate than I. But never so much that I forget that it all comes from Him. I also ask that He not leave me with so little that I am tempted to do wrong to meet my needs.

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Psalm 136:1-26

    What a wonderful psalm to follow up that proverb. Give thanks to the Lord. He remembers us. He saves us. He gives us food to eat. His faithful love endures forever.

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Revelation 8:1-13

    You do not realize it until now, but up until this passage John’s vision of heaven had a lot of sound (mostly various praises being sung and shouted). When the seventh seal was broken there was silence throughout heaven for half an hour. I find the scene which ends the silence interesting. An angel combines the prayers of God’s people with the smoke of incense as an offering before God. The interesting thing is that the burning incense was thrown down on to the earth, where it caused great damage, yet the prayers of God’s people continued to rise up before God as an offering to Him.
    The next thing that happens is that seven angels prepare to blow seven trumpets. After each of the first four trumpets is blown the passage describes a disaster occurring upon the earth. Then after these events of massive destruction the message goes out that even greater terror is yet to come. While this passage is about how things will get worse and troubles will come upon the earth in greater intensity and frequency as the end of the world approaches, there is an element here as well reminding us that there will be torment and trouble until the day of the Lord’s return.
    There were two news stories this week which bring this thought home to me. One was the story about the hostages taken in the coffee shop in Sydney, Australia. The other was a story about a man who shot 6 people throughout the area close to where I live. Both of these stories broke my heart. Yet they are the sort of thing we should expect in this broken world and will only get more common and worse and the day of the Lord’s return approaches.

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Nahum 1-3:19

    The prophet Nahum speaks about the fall of Ninevah and Assyria. Ninevah was a city of great wealth and power, but her people did not acknowledge God. They believed that they could do as they pleased with no negative consequences. By acting on that belief they made themselves the enemies of God and God brought about their destruction. The prophet describes the fate of all who choose to be God’s enemies.

December 17, 2013 Bible Study — Prayer As an Incense Offering to God

     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.

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Nahum 1-3:19

     As I prepared to read this passage I realized that I really have no idea in my head what the book of Nahum says. I know it is one of the Old Testament’s “minor” prophets, but other than that I have little memory of it being used in sermons or Sunday School lessons(and do not remember what I thought of it when I read it last year). Having read the book I see why it is not used much, but think we would probably benefit from reading it more frequently.
     Nahum, which means “comforter”, begins by telling us that God is slow to anger, but that He will not let the wicked go unpunished. He is good and refuge against trouble for those who trust Him. However, none can stand against His anger. Those who scheme against God and rouse Him to anger will be swept away with a single blow. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was filled with many mighty warriors and much great wealth. The people of Nineveh were complacent in their lives because of their power and wealth. Nahum tells them that power and wealth will do them no good because they have made God their enemy by their evil acts. He declares that no one will regret the fall of Nineveh because of all have suffered from its wickedness and cruelty.
     The people of Nineveh thought there might would last forever and protect them from those whom they had mistreated. Nahum warns that once God’s anger has been aroused no amount of wealth or power will save a nation from destruction. However, those who trust in the Lord and fear His name shall rejoice because they will receive messengers announcing peace in which they will be able to worship the Lord.

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Revelation 8:1-13

     John now records what happened in his vision when the seventh seal was broken. The first thing that happened was that there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. For those who attempt to read this vision to interpret when Jesus’ Second Coming will be, this should present an obstacle. Because there is a period of silence between the events of the breaking of the sixth seal and the events which follow the breaking of the seventh seal. After that half an hour of silence, seven angels are each given a trumpet. Then another angel came forth and mixed the smoke from incense with the prayers of God’s people and offered it up to God. After making the smoke offering to God the angel poured out the burning contents of the incense burner upon the earth. This strikes me as a metaphor of pouring out upon the earth the pain and suffering which the people who worshiped and served God had suffered, the pain and suffering which had led them to cry out to God in prayer, in judgment upon the earth.
     Once this had happened the seven angels began to sound their trumpets. When the first angel sounded his trumpet, fire fell on the earth and a third of the vegetation on the earth was burned. When the second angel sounded his trumpet, a large asteroid plunged into the sea and a third of the creatures in the sea were killed. When the third angel sounded his trumpet, a star fell from the sky and turned a third of potable water undrinkable, many people died from drinking this water. When the fourth angel sounded his trumpet, one third of the light sources for the earth went dim, days were not as bright and nights were even darker. Then John saw an eagle soaring through the sky warning against even greater troubles to come when the final three trumpets were sounded.
     Those who intentionally inflict pain and suffering on others will have that pain and suffering fall upon themselves. The fires we kindle with which to burn others and cause them pain, will instead burn and destroy ourselves. Let us not kindle fires of evil which God will turn back upon us. Let us take the fires which others kindle in order to burn us and use them to offer a smoke offering to God, rather than attempt to turn that fire back upon those who set them against us. In due time, God will turn those fires back against them, let us not start other fires which may come back to burn us.

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Psalm 136:1-26

     Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. This psalm reminds us that God has done many great things including creating the universe and saving us from our enemies. Over and over through this psalm the psalmist reminds us that God’s faithful love endures forever. I will praise His name for that and thank Him for all that He has done for me.

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Proverbs 30:7-9

     This proverb represents what I have long desired. I desire that God’s Spirit move within me to keep me from ever telling a lie. Unfortunately, in the past I have resisted the Spirit’s guidance and told lies to protect my selfish interests, but I continue to strive to allow the Spirit to control my tongue so that I do not lie in the future. I, also, request of God the second part of this proverb. I ask that God not allow me to acquire so much wealth that I begin to believe I can take care of myself without His aid, nor allow me to fall into such poverty that I justify theft and deception as necessary to provide for my needs.

December 17, 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 hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

A Tree Awaits the Chainsaw
A Tree Awaits the Chainsaw

Nahum 1-3:19

     Today I read the book of Nahum. The prophet Nahum prophesies the downfall of Nineveh. The prophet tells us that God is slow to get angry, but He never fails to punish the guilty. None can stand against God’s anger or survive His fury. Yet, even so, He is a refuge when trouble comes and will protect those who trust in Him. The prophet asks Nineveh if it is any better than Thebes. He then answers the question in the negative. He tells us of how well defended the city of Thebes was, yet it fell to conquest. The same is going to happen to Nineveh. No nation will survive once it has aroused God’s anger against it.

Lighting the Second Advent Candle
Lighting the Second Advent Candle

Revelation 8:1-13

     Finally the Lamb that was slain opens the seventh seal on the scroll. Its opening was followed by about a half hour of silence. Seven angels were given seven trumpets. Another angel with an incense burner came before the altar. He burned incense before God. The smoke from the incense mixed with the prayers of God’s people and together the smoke and the prayers ascended up to God. Let us take note of this, our prayers are a pleasant aroma before God. I will strive to offer them more and work to avoid having them bear the stench of rotting flesh that is selfish desires.
     Today’s passage only covers the sounding of the first four trumpets. After the first, one-third of the earth is set on fire. After the second, one-third of the sea turns to blood and a third of the things living in it died. After the third, one-third of the fresh water became poisoned and many people died from drinking it. After the fourth, one-third of the sun, the moon and the stars went dark. There is a common theme here, one-third of the world is destroyed by each of these. Yet even after the destruction and terror of these four happenings there is a warning of greater terror to come from the last three trumpets.

Schtick Commences
Schtick Commences

Psalm 136:1-26

     Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. This psalm reminds us to consider all of the mighty and beneficent things God has done and to give Him thanks for them. In light of last Friday’s tragedy, this is an important reminder to us. God’s love does endure forever, even after an event like that. I will remember the good things God has done for me (some of which did not feel so good at the time, but were necessary) and I will thank and praise Him.

Admiring the Schtick
Admiring the Schtick

Proverbs 30:7-9

     The writer of today’s passage in Proverbs makes two very powerful requests to God. First, he asks God to help him to never tell a lie. Last night I was challenged on this by someone who did not even know they were doing it. A friend of mine was talking about interacting with someone who comes from the same religious background I do. He talked about how the person was very precise in the words he used, making sure that the meaning was clear. He said that it reminded him of me. I was both flattered and challenged because I knew from the conversation that my friend was impressed by the insistence of this person on complete honesty, that he would not even accept someone else lying on his behalf. I will strive once more, with God’s help, to never tell a lie, neither directly nor by omission.
     The second request is interesting. He asks God to give him neither poverty nor riches, but rather just enough to meet his needs. He writes that if he becomes too rich, he may deny God believing that he can rely on his wealth. On the other hand, if he becomes too poor, he may steal or otherwise insult God’s holy name. I am glad to be reminded of this as well. It has long been my take on life, but sometimes the desire for more comes upon me. I pray to God that He grant me peace with enough to meet my needs.