# 51 2022 Dev. Prov.4:18 The light of life! Read all of chapter four first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 4:18 “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
 shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”

Proverbs 4 is a wisdom proverb, starting out as the experience of the teacher, an only child perhaps “highly cherished by my mother.”

Vs.1-4 “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live” his father tells him and now tells his sons “listen, my sons,” “take hold of my word with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.” The author addresses us as well. Are we listening?

Vs.5-9 “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, she will watch over you”, give you wisdom and understanding, “she will exalt you”, “honor you” and “give you a garland, and a glorious crown”. It comes down to a new life in Christ, even eternal life.

Vs.10-17 The Fathers admonitions are repeated here for emphasis. But starting at vs 14 he warns us about the ways of the wicked. They are not able to resist the way of wickedness, making people stumble, they consume wickedness and drink violence. A word to the wise

Vs.18-17 is a comparison of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous live in glorious light and the wicked live in deep darkness. What is the light of your life?

Vs.20-27 is a seven verse summary of Chapter 3, urging us to put into practice the precepts of this Proverb. Vs. 23 stands out: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Amen and Amen!

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# 50 2022 Dev. Ge.15:6 Righteousness! Read all of Ch.15 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge.15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Chapter 15 is a pivotal chapter for Abram, for the rest of the world and for followers of Jesus today. Here we start to see God’s plan for His people, for the world and for all of Abram descendants, all those who call upon the name of the Lord.

Vs.1-6 After the event of Melchizedek, “the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, (a) your very great reward. (b)” (see notes) Is God speaking to us as well? Yes, Abram was the messenger. All the families of the earth will be blessed through him, we are messengers as well, those we contact are blessed. Abram believed God, his faith, we all are saved by faith, not by works but by the Grace and work of Jesus.

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what will you give me since I remain childless…” Abram’s faith did not ignore the fact that Sarai was barren.  He asked God about it, God said no, not Eliezer but your own flesh and blood will be your heir. Abram believed God, even though Abram believed he still questioned God. Faith does want to see. God told him to look up, can you count the stars? No. “So shall your offspring be”

Vs,7-11 He also said I brought you here to this land for “you will take possession of it.”  But, Abram again needed to see. The Lord said, “bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” These animals are what was the prescribed sacrifices to God after being released from Egypt. What do we sacrifice? “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Ro.12:1) Abram, following God’s instructions, cut the animals in half but not the birds.

Vs.12-16 At sunset, Abram fell into a deep sleep. Then God told Abram what was to happen for four more generations to Abram’s offspring. Slavery and oppression but in the end God sets them free and points them to the land promised to Abram. That promise is the foreshadowing of our own salvation in Jesus Christ, including the promised land, the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Vs.17-21 after dark, God himself, represented by a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch passed through the slain animals, making a covenant with Abram, “to your descendants I give this land.  We are the descendants of Abram, we are set free from sin and are saved by the grace of God, through Christ Jesus, Abraham’s descendants not yet born then but living in our hearts now. Thanks be to God!

# 49 2022 Dev. Prov. 3: 5,6: The Straight Path! Read all of chapter three first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

Proverbs 3. A long life, health to the body, prosperity and well being, what more may a person hope for? This is a true statement, generally speaking, yet we have all experienced setbacks. Our comfort is that God is in control of our lives but sometimes God allows discord into our lives; health issues, conflict or accidents. God’s love never fails, He is shaping us, changing us into what is pleasing to Him and useful in His Kingdom.

Vs.1-4 “keep my commands in your heart.” That is the secret to success in this life.

Vs.5.6 Trust the Lord, not yourself, submit to Him, “He directs your path.” This has been my World and Life view, my path has been and continues to be straight. Thanks be to God!

Vs.7,8. Acknowledging your dependence on God brings health and strength.

Vs.9,10. Praise God for your success, you will lack nothing.

Vs,11,12. God does not punish, He teaches, forms us who He wants us to be.

Vs.13-18. Wisdom and understanding, more important than all the jewels in a peaceful and pleasant life, “she is the tree of life,” life evermore.

Vs.9,20. Creation shouts God’s wisdom!

Vs.21-26 repeats the admonitions of Solomon, repeated for emphasis on God’s care for us.

Vs.27-30. Practical advice to practice wisdom, love your neighbor, as yourself.

V.31 is a transitional verse, “do not envy the violent.” Life for the rich is not always what it seems.

Vs.32-35 The warning of verse 31 is followed by a comparison of the outcome of the lives of the wicked and the righteous. For the righteous: God directs them, blesses them, the wise inherit honor.  Thanks be to God!

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# 48 2022 Dev. Ge.14: The Prince of Peace! Read all of Ch.14 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 14:18 “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Ge.14 gives us an insight into the the culture of the day. It did not take long for the world to be full of violence as it was before the flood. But things are different in that people did not live as long and the population did not increase at the rate before the flood. Also, there were more people calling upon the name of the Lord, Abraham, Lot, Malchizedek and how many more we are not told about.

Vs.1-4 Is a summary of the Kings about to wage war. The war was about re-subjecting most of Canaan and some surrounding areas because kings and peoples had rebelled seeking to be free. Things have not changed much today, counties are scheming, and plotting to dominate their neighbors. Some are planning to dominate the world.

Vs.5-7 The dominate kings execute their plan and are successful in defeating their enemies and also some innocent areas. The aggressors stood ready to conquer the rest of the land. Abram also was at risk. That is the issue here, Satan wants to disrupt, put an end to God’s plan for Abram.

Vs.8-12 The people not yet conquered, five kings, including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah gathered to defend themselves. But the four kings fighting against them had the advantage, perhaps numerically, but certainly in experience. It was a route, and they confiscated all the food and goods, the women, and Lot, family and all he had. Think of the scope of this war, Lot and Abram could not stay together because the land could not support them.  It was a big operation to carry off all those belongings and heards.

Vs.13-16 “A man who had escaped and reported this to Abram the Hebrew.” The name Hebrew, that came to be the description of the Jewish people was a derogatory designation: meaning, a rootless, landless wanderer. Abram understood the place he lived in and was prepared, he had trained soldiers. He also was aligned with three brothers who were Amorites, who had a vested interest since this group had attacked their people as well. I think they were up against a large force in that could carry off a huge amount of booty and many people as well. Abraham followed them for 150 miles, divided his forces and attacked at night. They routed them and chased them to the north of Damascus about 100 more miles. Abram drove them out of the country. Even in overwhelming odds God is in control, God’s call to Abram and His plan for Canaan was not to be derailed. We hope and pray this will be case for Ukraine over Russia. From our perspective the Ukraine war is a major struggle between the evil of unjust aggression and the good of freedom.

Vs.17-24 On Abram’s return, Melchizedek, king of Salam (Jerusalem), a priest of the God Most High, met him and blessed him and praised God for delivering Abram. Heb. 4:14 calls Melchizedek a type of Christ, “Christ our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Abram tithed to him a tenth. Abram also gave those who went with him their fair share but he refused to take anything from the king of Sodom. Abram waged peace in his time, foreshadowing the Prince of Peace!

# 47 2022 Dev. Prov. 2:6 The Lord gives wisdom! Read all of chapter two first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Proverbs 2:6 “for the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Proverbs 2 “Moral Benefits of Wisdom.” Wisdom is a choice, it is available to all, we only have to listen and apply it to our lives.

Vs.1-8 “Store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom” That is the secret, allow the knowledge of God into your heart, God gives wisdom, seek the Lord, look into His Word. “For the Lords gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” That is the bottom line, wisdom comes to those who seek it earnestly. It comes down to choices. Be upright, walk upright, be just, be faithful.

Vs.9-11 “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path.” Wisdom, knowledge, discretion and understanding” will guard your life.

Vs.12-15 “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men…” All of us are exposed to exploitation, exposed to dark ways, to those of perverse evil. It all looks so innocent, but Satan has a plan to trap us.

Vs.16-19 Wisdom will save you from the adulterous woman…” That is an issue today, insidious, all around us, it is a path to death that could lead to physical death and definitely to spiritual death. Stay on the path of life.

Vs.20-22 Is our goal and the result of wisdom: “Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep the the path of the righteous. “But the wicked will be cut off…”

Thanks be to God; He will keep us on the path of wisdom. Amen.

# 46 2022 Dev. Ge.13:3-4 Abram called on the name of the Lord! Read all of Ch.13 first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ge. 13:3 “From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier ⁴ and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.”

Ge.13 Abram leaves Egypt and goes back to Canaan. He had grown rich as well as those with him, Lot and company. The Land was not able to support their livestock.

Vs.1-4 Abram lived in a place where false religion was practiced, God told him to get away from his home and led him to Canaan, where, as a stranger, he could practice worship as he inherited from Noah, who also built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed to God some of the clean animals the day he came out of the ark. In Abram’s plan to go to Egypt to find food in the famine they were experiencing, Abram became rich, foreshadowing the events at the Exodus.

Vs.5-7 Abram and Lot had too many herds causing conflict of grazing and water issues. There were other people living there as well.

Vs.8-9 Here Abram shows his true convictions, that God would take care of him. He tells Lot to choose, if right I’ll go left, if left I’ll go right. Abraham seeks peace.

Vs.10-13 Lot made a selfish choice, he moved east to the well watered plain of the Jorden. What looks good is often not good, good for his flock but not good for him, as it turned out, the wickedness of the place put him at risk and he lost it all.   

Vs.14-17 God was pleased with Abram’s choice, “all this land that you see I will give to your descendants.” Although Sari was barren, God said: “I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. Walk thought the length and breath of the land.” All Christians are Abram’s spiritual children.

Vs.18 So Abram lived at Hebron near the great trees of Mamre. Mamre was a chieftain who along with his two brothers were allied with Abram, they were with Abram when he rescued Lot. What is important here is that Abram built an altar to the Lord. Abram continued to worship God in the way passed down from Noah. Are we doing that today? Are we worshiping like our forefathers? Think about that!

#44 2022 Dev. Gen. 12:3. God’s Blessing! Read Chapter twelve first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse and all people on earth will be blessed through you.

Gen 12 is the beginning of a long story, the story of salvation and the beginning of the fulfilment of Gen 3:15. From the point of the fall, God calls out: Where are you? God continues to call today!

Vs.1-7 “God had said to Abram, ‘go from your country, your people and your father’s house to a land I will show you.” It does not appear as if Abram knew where he was to go. Further, God gave Abram a seven fold promise. I will make you a great nation, will bless you, make your name great, you will be a blessing, I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you, and all people will be blessed through you. So Abram went and Lot went with Abram, along with Sari his wife and all their possessions. Abram was 75 years Old.

Vs.8-9 Abram traveled through the land and God said: “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there, and also near Bethel. Abram called on the name of the Lord who had appeared to him. Abram had lived in a pagan culture but his ancestors had maintained a knowledge of of the Lord God, the altar was the contact point, like Scripture is today.

Vs.10-13 Abraham shows a lack of trust, he and Sari collude together to deceive the Egyptians. Like today, beautiful women are in high demand.

Vs.14-16 As a result of the deception, Sari was taken to Pharaoh into his palace, she was not married by their way of thinking. God used it to enrich Abram, he acquired much livestock.

Vs.17-20 But God is in control even if we don’t trust Him and we make major mistakes, It seems Abram was happy to receive all the possessions from this arrangement, while his wife was at the palace. Pharaoh intended to make Sari his wife but God was not going to allow it, even if Abram was not willing to admit their lie. God afflicted Pharaoh and his household with disease until Sari was returned to Abram and God caused Pharaoh, who had the power to send Abram away empty handed, or do worse, he sent them away with everything they had acquired in Egypt. Along with Abram and Sari we learn that God is faithful even when we are not. God’s faithfulness is a blessing to the people of God, Amen. Praise the Lord!

# 43 2022 Dev. Psalm 150:6. Praise God Always! Read all of Psalm 150 first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours?

Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

Ps.146-150 is the final series of hymns of the Psalter that are a medley of praise. All are framed with: “Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 150 is the closing, majestic and comprehensive Praise Psalm of all five books of the Psalter. All five books close with praise; Ps. 41:13, 72:18-19, 89:52, 106:48.

V1. “Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.” In our own sanctuaries, in God’s sanctuary in heaven, in His creations, in every place every where we can imagine.  

V2. “Praise him for His acts of power; praise Him for his surpassing greatness.God is in control of all things, all storms, all illness, all events, both good and bad. That is why we trust Him and praise Him. Amen!

Vs.3-5. “Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet… with harp and lyre… with timbrel and dancing… with strings and pipe… and the clash of cymbals… with resounding cymbals.” We are called to praise God with all our ability and strength.

V.6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” This short Psalm is the culmination of all five books of the Psalter. It tells us where to worship, why to worship, how to worship and who is to worship. Life at that time and life today is about praise and worship, not only on the Sabbath, and on Sunday but on everyday that God gives us as followers of Jesus. All of life is worship. Amen!

Praise the Lord.

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# 42 2022 Dev. Genesis 10-11. God’s Plan! Read chapter ten and eleven first.  We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. How will it affect yours?  All passages are taken from the NIV.

Genesis 10:1 “This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.”

Gen.10 – The Table of Nations. The people who repopulated the earth after the flood were the descendants of Adam and Eve’s son Seth. These are Noah’s sons Japheth, was the first born, Shem, the middle son and Ham the youngest. A note in the NIV informs us that the connections here are not always “physical decent but may includes geographic, linguistic and historical associations.” The table of nations are 70. Two complete numbers, 10 and 7. This reminds us of the number of Abraham’s descendants moving to Egypt during the famine.

Take note that the Japheth genealogy, is short, Ham’s genealogy, though cursed by by his father, is very extensive, including prominent people, Shem’s genealogy is last but he is mentioned first on other occasions, also, “Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.” His genealogy is introduced that way, fore- shadowing Abrahams importance in God’s plan for redeeming the earth.

Gen.11 The tower of Babel.

Vs.1-4 The motivation for the tower was; “so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” God had blessed them coming out of the ark; “be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.” The actions of the people were done in rebellion to God’s command. God had said: I will not destroy all living things again with a flood, “even thoughevery inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.” Rebellion, therefore, at that time and in our time rebellion is not surprising.  It appears from the Ham’s genealogy, the son’s of Cush moved to the plain of Shinar, and we see that the sons of Canaan became the Canaanites that Israel had to deal with, and they were the people of Sodom and Gomorrah that God had to deal with.

Vs.5-8 God was displeased with the tower, one rebellious act, if unchecked, spawns many more, as we see in the deterioration of our own justice system today. God separated the people of the world by confusing their language. After that event people began to organize themselves by language, not so much by tribe or by their genealogy.  

Vs.10-26 The genealogy from Shem to Abraham.  After the tower of Babel Scripture seems to start over with a second genealogy of Shem. Shem’s genealogy has ten generations and ends with Terah’s three sons Abram, Nahor and Haran. This is the same as Seth’s genealogy, ten generations and also ended with the tree sons of Noah.

Vs.27-32 scripture moves to “the account of Terah’s family line.” Here the genealogy becomes more specific and comprehensive including the wives. Here also we are given the fact that Sarai, Abram’s wife was barren, not able to conceive, a condition that influenced much of their lives, a source of sorrow and of great faith. “Abraham believed God and it was credited unto him as righteousness” (Ro. 4:3).  Here also, we are given some specific historical events.

What do we take away from these two chapters? Well, several important concepts; the two we want to highlight is God’s hand is closely directing history, continuing at this time, until the end of time, no worries, God’s got this, Amen. Second, God has a long term plan to redeem His people, here we are starting to see the big picture and God’s picture including all of His creation from the beginning of time until the end of time in progress. We only need to trust Him, Amen!   

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