# 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!
# 45 2022 Dev. Prov. 1:2 Purpose and Theme! Read all of Chapter one 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.
V. 2 “For gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;”
Proverbs 1: 1-7 Is the purpose of the whole book; the purpose is to teach the reader the theme: wisdom, Prudent behavior, what is just and fair, knowledge and discretion and understanding. Proverbs in Hebrew is a parable, a riddle, a message, it is not a prophecy, or a promise. Prov. teaches by; contrasts, opposites, metaphors, figurative language and similes, as well as dialogue. The book is summarized as, instruction on how to live wisely and successfully in the fear of the Lord, resulting in quality of mind and quality of life. V. 7 says it all; “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom but fools despise wisdom and instruction,”
Vs.8-9 Is the prologue: Embrace Wisdom! “Listen, my son, (and daughter) to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”
Vs.10-19 A long dialogue, warning about Evil men and the evils of ill gotten gain, the bottom line is: “These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.” We may be able to identify, remembering when some one led us astray.
Vs.20-21 wisdom speaks: “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;on top of the wall she cries out,at the city gate she makes her speech”: wisdom is personified as a beautiful women. It is our conscience speaking, pleading.
Vs.22-27 “Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.” But no one pays attention. Calamity and disaster will overtake you, where can you go from here, people, where is your help?
Vs28-33 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,since they hated knowledge.” But God has an out for us: “but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Draw close to God and he will draw close to you!
#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!
# 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!
# 41 2022 Dev. Psalm 149:1. A New Song! Read all of Psalm 149 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.
Psalm 149:1 “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praises in the assembly of his faithful people.”
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 149 praises God for His care for the people. People that God chose to serve Him with praise and retribution on those who physically attack His people.Israel at this time is under the Sinaitic Covenant; made with them in Exodus 19-24. They are blessed as God’s people and are responsible to live out the Kingdom of God (see Ps. 2).
V1. “A New Song…” Thanking God for lifting His people out of the masses of humanity, because they are better, no, because they are the least, the Bible tells us. Thanking God for bestowing His glory on them, as much as they could bear, and because they are to usher in the Kingdom of God.
Vs.2-5 “Let Israel rejoice in their maker…” The God who created them and the God who calls them His own. Be glad! Dance, make music with all kinds of instruments. God delights in His people, lifts up the humble, God gives honor to His faithful people, they sing for joy!
Vs.6-9 May people praise God as they carry a double-edged sword to inflict vengeance and punishment on the people opposed to God and opposed to His own. Lock up the leaders and the nobles. Israel was physically attacked and they responded physically.
Fast forward to today, we are still in the battle. God has given us His Glory, salvation in Christ Jesus, and He has given us His mandate by the double edged sword of the Holy Spirit. We are not only given a sword but the whole Armor of God, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against this dark world and and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” God’s armor: The belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. (Eph.6:10-20) We indict by living for Jesus, we are to be the examples in this world but God carries out the sentence.
# 40 2022 Dev. Genesis 9:11.God’s Covenant! Read chapter nine 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 9:11 “I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the water of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
Gen. 9 God blesses Noah and family. God allows all animals for food but puts a restriction on eating meat with blood. God institutes the death penalty for shedding human blood. God gives a sign of His covenant with people and animals. Evil in the world continues.
Vs.1-3 Our God is a God of abundance, He blesses mankind to be fruitful and fill the earth. He also opens up the hunting of game and fish for food.
Vs.4-7 God puts down some rules about shedding blood. Don’t eat meat with blood in it, if someone sheds human blood “by humans shall their blood be shed:” Why? “for in the image of God has God made mankind.” Capital punishment is rarely practiced today. “be fruitful and increase in number…” God wants life, not death.
Vs.8-17 “Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you… Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood…” God gives a sign of the covenant He makes; “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the of the covenant between me and earth.”This sign is for those on the earth but, God said: ‘I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures…’The rainbow raises the question if it had rained before the flood?
Vs.18-28 Ham had a son, Canaan. He is singled out here, we see why in the next chapter but also in this chapter. Noah, planted a vineyard, and drank the wine in excess. He lay naked in his tent, in some way Ham disrespected him, whether he mocked his father in some way, we don’t know but Noah knew and spoke a curse on Canaan. Noah blessed Japheth, he blessed Shem more in that Japheth would dwell with him, but be subservient to Shem. No blessing for Ham but Canaan would be the lowest of slaves. Why Canaan? God punishes those who hate Him to the third generation. (Ex. 20:5) it seems unfair, but God knows His people, History has revealed the opposition of Canaan’s offspring to God’s people. That still is going on today, not only to Jews, Shem’s dependents, Israel, but also to followers of Jesus, the church today. God is good, He will protect His people physically and spiritually. Praise be to God!
# 39 2022 Dev. Psalm 148:13. Let us Praise God! Read all of Psalm 148 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.
Psalm 148:13 “Let them praise the the name Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.”
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 148 is the middle Ps. of this series of praise. Nothing and no one is exempt, but twice, praise is invited; “Let them praise the name of the Lord…”
Vs.1-4 “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens…” Angels, heavenly hosts, sun and moon, all the stars, highest heaven, and waters above, clouds, the heavens show us God’s glory, not one word do they speak to us, yet, “they pour forth speech.”
Vs.5-6 “…for at his command they were created… established forever… decreed that will never pass away.” From the days of creation to the coming of Christ, to the coming of the New Heaven and the New Earth, God’s praise will be with us and in us! Amen!
Vs.7-12 “Praise the Lord from the earth…” everyone and everything on earth including animals and fish, all kings and rulers, young men and women, children and old men and women. But today, God’s creation continues to show God’s glory and praise, yet, less and less people, especially leaders, acknowledge God, much less praise him. But tomorrow, when Christ returns, every knee will bow and glorify God, but it may be to late for many.
Vs.13-14 “Let them praise the name of the Lord… he alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” Up to this point nothing about what God has done for mankind. “And he has raised up for his people a horn…” A horn: strength, faith, care, grace, salvation and the Holy Spirit for his people, “his faithful servants, the people close to his heart.” Israel, the church, the followers of Jesus. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord, in every situation, in every location. Amen. Gremar and I say: We know that God heals. We expect God to heal. But if he does not we will still praise him! (Dan. 3: 16-18 paraphrase) “Praise the Lord.”
# 38 2022 Dev. Genesis 8:1.God Remembers! Read chapter eight 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 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark…”
Gen. 8 After 150 days of the earth being covered with water, God remembers, and sends a wind upon the waters. It sounds much like the very beginning in chapter one. “The earth is empty and void and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Wind is often translated as Spirit depending on the context. There is movement in the statement “But God remembered…” I can imagine that Noah was wondering about that,
Vs.1-5. Chapter 7 ends with the end of all living except for those in the ark and the world was covered with water for 150 days, this is the end of judgment and condemnation. “But God remembered Noah…” in chapter 8, it is a pivotal statement, the beginning of redemption. From here on begins the fulfillment of the promise of Ge. 3:15, culminating at Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. These verses are very precise as to the day and month of the ark coming to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Scripture is not an historical or an scientific document, although some of that is included, but Scripture is mainly about relationships; God’s relationship with his people, God’s dealings with humankind and the world, and humans dealing with other humans.
Vs.6-12 After the ark grounded, Noah proceeded to determine if the earth had dried up by sending out a raven and a dove. After 365 days the earth had dried up.
Vs.13-14 “By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth, but not completely, not till the 27th day of the 2nd month the earth was completely dry.
Vs.15-17 “So God said to Noah, ‘come out of the ark,” God wanted the animals to repopulate the earth.
Vs.18-19 So Noah, his family and all the animals came out of the ark. A reversal of Ch.7, instead of death, now there was life again on the earth. Instead of condemnation, there is redemption for man and animals alike.
Vs.20-22 Noah’s first priority was to worship, he built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed some of the clean animals to God. God was pleased, not so much for the aroma but with the heart of Noah. He was so pleased that He promised to Himself, “never again will I curse the ground because of humans,” even though they are evil from childhood, and “I will not destroy all creatures as I have done.” God makes a promise to us: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” But only as long as the earth endures. There is an end of things, there is an end to our lives, there is an end to evil, there is an end to this earth and creation as we know it, but the New Heaven and the New Earth is coming, Christ is on the way, making our salvation complete! Thanks be to God.
Heavenhigh 