Here we go into the season that honors the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior, our Friend, our Guide - - don't get so caught up in the distractions/frustrations of the week that you miss the miracle of that story!!
YIKES! The church in Paul's day is not so very different from our day. Sounds like people are caught up in customs and traditions in chapter 11; talking about hats and hair!! I think the core is found in vs 11: men and women are equal and mutually dependent on each other.
I enjoyed reading about the Lord's supper, since it is all played out so vividly in Journey to the Cross. vs 24 on bread: think of it as my body which will soon be broken for you. vs 25 on juice: when you drink it, remember what I've done for you. and finally vs 26 "you should recall the last days of m life until I come". There is power and humility as we think about all the suffering and pain God took in my place because He loves me dearly.
Again -- the early church and our church seem to have a problem with grouping up and gossiping. blah -- why do we have to be that way? God's ideal for us is in vs 28 "in a spirit of GRATEFULNESS AND JOY for what Christ has done for him, he ought to sit down to eat the bread and drink the juice"
The talk on Spiritual gifts in chpt 12 reminded me of our laughter over the children's wing at church and how we gravitate to the different age groups!!
2 thoughts vs 23/24 talks about how we treat the private parts with greater care and modesty, and the parts that are more public do not require as much attention. That is not saying the public part need NO attention. I'm thinking about our pastors and teachers -- they have a tough life; and are often up front and visable, but they need care and attention too -- or they will shrivel and blow away.
and I thought it was interesting in vs 31 that "it's not wrong to want additional spiritual gifts as long as you use them to help the church" hmmmmm -- I guess I always got the impression you should be satisfied with what you got? any thoughts?
I can relate to Paul as an administrator wanting to do so much more with the people under his care/supervision (the church) but having to deal with petty things instead. Really bogs you down & kills good administrators. Definitely satan's way of getting rid of people.
I keep thinking as I read 12 about all the different gifts the HS gives us to make us effective witnesses & how we concentrate on just one or two. Some churches are just strong on prophecy & others place more emphasis on speaking other languages. They are all needed to further the Gospel & are meant to co-exist in God's people & church. Not everyone will have the same one but it doesn't mean their ministry is less than another. We miss out & hinder what God wants to do when we place our gift above another person's.
I think if we're constantly open to where, when & to whom God wants to use us, we will also receive the gift that is essential for that moment in time to reach a soul. We just have to be open & not closed to receiving other gifts once we've seemed to "find" our niche. Like in the kids division. What if we were supposed to connect with someone who was related to one of the kids & if we say it's not my gift & aren't open to standing in there for a day, who knows what God has to do to get that person ready for another "divine appt"?
I wonder if Moses looked at all for his parents when he went to visit his people. He must have known why he had been adopted as the policy was doubtless still in effect to dump the baby boys in the river or get rid of them somehow. Then again, it almost seems like he was surprised at how they were being used/treated as slaves.
Sounds like coming to draw water was a dreaded thing for Jethro's daughters. They must have constantly been chased off since Jethro was surprised that they got back early when Moses helped them. Was Jethro not respected as a Priest? Was he a priest of God. Seems like he was a God-fearing man from future conversations we have of him.
Interesting how God sometimes takes us back to actual places where we've failed in our own effort to accomplish something. I'm thinking Moses thought a lot about when he killed the Egyptian & as he got older & closer to God, he was very remorseful about his actions & impetuous actions.
I wonder if that was on his mind when he kept asking God to send someone else. "I don't want to go back there, I failed! They will throw it back in my face." And maybe they did, who knows? It seems no one stood up for him when it matter. No one joined with him in a revolt, so I'm sure this was on his mind. He was thinking within his human limitations & putting God within those limitations as well. That human box method of thinking we succumb to constantly.
Wow Chris -- so true; going back to the place that we failed - - God giving us a chance to find success and fulfillment where we once experienced failure and shame - - a really precious picture of God.
The midwives must have either been single, or unable to have children -- 1:21 talks about God blessing them and giving them families of their own -- back then, what every woman longed for. So, even though the midwives told partial truths, God blessed them because of their kindness to the mothers and their babies. This is a practical aspect of the "weightier matters" that Jesus talked about to the pharisees of love, justice, and mercy.
2:11 -- my translation puts Moses at 40 years old; that's pretty old not to have been married in the Egyptian court. I wonder if it was because M was an Israelite; but then -- Joseph was married to an Egyptian. Anyway -- kindof cool that the shepherdess Zippora won out over all the Egyptians and their eye liner!!
Speaking of Zip's family. I thought it was really a sign of hospitality that they'd have the courage to invite an Egyptian to lunch -- remember for Joe's story how the E's felt about shepherds.
How do we fight "going back" like you pointed out Chris -- or just "going?" God was pretty direct with Moses (there have been so many decisions in my life where I WISH I'd hear an audible voice -- but then; would I argue if it wasn't my plan for myself?) As I read Moses' response, I clearly hear my responses:
vs 11 "No Lord, you need to find someone else"
4:1 "But what if . . ."
4:10 "(Hesitates) . . . Lord, please don't ask me . . I've never been a good (fill in the blank)"
4:13 "(Pleading) . . . please send someone else, let me stay here and take care of (fill in the blank)"
No wonder the Lord was displeased with Moses' lack of fiath -- BUT, the cool news is, even if the Lord was displeased -- He didn't give up on Moses. He worked with each of his fears, and in the end -- a trust developed between the 2 of them to the point that Moses was called a "friend of God"
4:18 Moses doesn't mention to Jethro that God had called him, he just put a generic request in to his father-in-law.
4:26 I think Moses realized that Zip would come between him and his mission with the circumcision tension. She wasn't about covenants apparently. Did he send her & the boys home for their protection? Or so that he could obey God fully without worrying about keeping peace in the family?
At first the Israelites were behind Moses -- thinking they would be released from the Egyptians immediately. But God's ways often take time - - will we still worship Him and trust Him and remain faithful if the "plan" doesn't work out in the way or the time we long for?? (I definitely see myself struggling here)
Your 4:26 says stuff mine doesn't. NLT says Zipporah was the one who circumsized the kids so she actually spared Moses's life. V24 says the Lord was about to kill Moses, but Z doing the circumsion spared him. Doesn't say anything about her being sent back either. Interesting.
I definitely put myself in Moses's place for the excuses too!
Since David was anointed in the presence of his brothers, I think they might have been a bit jealous. Seems like it when Eliab rebukes David & tries to shame him when David asks about Goliath (17:28)
Must have happened ever since that day as they could see that God was with him. Because David replies "what have I done now?" So seems like he's used to them harassing him. Sad
How did Saul not know who David was when in a previous chapter he was his armour bearer & Saul told Jesse that David was going to stay in the court because Saul liked him? Confusing or maybe that's just Saul's state of mind as God had left him.
I am encouraged by God thwarting the enemies of David, who didn't even realize at times what was happening. God already had things & people in place to help him get away.
Just because people plan & scheme, it doesn't mean it's going to take place. I just have to trust & not work myself up. I have no control anyway. Except I can choose to worry or trust. Seems easy to say, very hard to practice.
Yah, I wondered about that memory loss of Saul's too -- didn't even know who the family was . . . it's hard to get a grasp on how big Saul's court was and how big his army was. But it sure seems like he should know the guy with the harp?
I was thinking about the similarities of Joseph and David. Both had older brothers who seemed jealous and rebuked him. Bot J & D were sent by their father to find the older brothers. God bypasses the older brother rebukes to elevate the little kid to a position of honor. Interesting how many times in the Bible God by-passes the first born for the younger . . .
16:8 "The Lord looks at the heart -- at his attitude, his willingness to obey and his dependence on Me!" I like those ideas connected with the heart.
I can imagine the tension of ALL the Israelites as the watched their lives on the line with the young boy taking his sling and staff to fight Goliath. I bet they were horrified at Saul for giving permission for David to take on the giant; not that they were worried about David; rather their own hides!
btw -- Saul was the only "giant" in Israel; being a head taller than anyone else -- he would be the natural one to fight Goliath.
I love David's passion for God's honor. 17:16 "He cannot curse my God and defy the armies of Israel" Makes me think, am I willing to stand up for my God's honor -- or do I just shrink into the shadows when I hear God's name defamed.
I love the picture of David standing in front of Saul with all that oversized equipment on! Hee hee -- then he just takes it off and says "I don't need these!"
and when the battle is over, David doesn't stay around for the applause; he doesn't go for the spoils; he's just picked up the head, praised the Lord and got ready to go back home!
Jealousy is a scary emotion -- binding the affected person to bitterness; causing actions that don't make sense -- poisoning everyone around that person with fear and tension.
Jonathan seemed to have a love and trust for everyone. David yes, but even his dad -- he couldn't believe his dad didn't like David. I love how Jonathan stands up for David -- Michael had a chance, but she lied instead, putting the blame of the escape on David (but maybe since she was a woman - her life was more on the line? - I can see Saul executing her for helping David - later, he tried to kill Jonathan; the guy was loony with jealousy)
And the real tension was that everyone knew that David would be king; Jonathan knew, Saul knew -- David knew, but David was content to let it work out in God's time; not even wanting to hurry things along by marrying the king's daughter. A really good lesson in waiting for His timing.
ugh...good smack upside my head...waiting for His timing. That is so very hard for me. I'm so stubborn & impatient. I can only see things happening my way & right now at times. Kinda like jealousy in a way. Blinds you to common sense some times.
And yes, I thought of Saul being the tallest in Israel but he's hiding in his tent instead of defending God.
Here's where I struggle!! 39:3 "I become very angry. As I thought about the situation, the fires of revenge increased" Glad David is honest enough to admit it, so the rest of us can relate -- I KNOW the correct way is for God to handle what comes my way, but I struggle to get back, get even when I'm treated unfairly. Bother -- Lord, help me to keep my eyes on YOU!
39:8 "You could have prevented these things from happening, but I will trust your wisdom" Both this verse -- and 41 reminded me of Job -- the situation he found himself in; and he clung to God -- even tho nothing made sense; even tho everything he heard, saw, experienced said he was a sinner; he clung. This would not work with the "scientific reasoning method" that scientists base truth on -- for them, there has to be observable evidence and that defines truth -- I think that's why Jesus emphasized FAITH; it's our only hope when everything shouts differently.
40:6-9 sounds to me like it's talking about Jesus. If so, I love how these gems were inserted for Him to guide Him through His mission.
Just went back and read 7-9 in NLT; not as wordy as CW which says: "I will become your sacrifice and offer up the body you have given me. Here I am. I have come to do what is written in the book about me. I delight in doing your will, O God, and your law is written on my heart. You know what I have told the people, Lord, about the good news of salvation. I will never stop telling it" That's what sounded to me like Jesus' mission - - and I'm guessing, He hopes it will now become our mission!
39:11 "When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us." I was thinking that what is precious to us could also be deadly. God has to consume it so that we realize only He is our Hope & confidence (v7). He should have the priority in our hearts, be the most precious thing to us first & foremost.
40:2 the steadying that God does as we walk along is Him grounding us in Truth, hearing/recognizing His voice. As a hiker I am uneasy when I'm not standing on something solid. If it's constantly moving, so am I. God wants me to have a firm foundation of truth & a solid relationship with Him so I'm not slipping back & forth...I'm sure of my Savior & what He can/will do for me. I'm not bothered by circumstances because I KNOW He is above them.
40:3 "Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." I am encouraged by people who tell their stories & how God worked for them. Especially when their story is similar to mine. This also reminds me Romans 10:14 where it says How will they know unless they are told? How will they believe if they don't know who to believe in? (my paraphrase). We shouldn't be ashamed of our testimony & what God has done in our lives. Satan wants to shame us into silence by thinking of all the mistakes. We don't need to dwell on those. We do need to accept responsibility for our mistakes BUT then to focus on what Jesus has done to cover them & make us new! The healing part of our story is more of an encouragement to others than the sin part.
40:8 I definitely want God's instructions written on my heart so I'm constantly delighting in His will instead of fighting for my own.
A lot of verses reference Christ's life & death too in this reading. Like you say Linda, I wonder what Jesus thought as He read these growing up.
I read 26-28 to get the full context of Job's speech. I like his sarcasm in 26:3,4 "How you have enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice you have offered! Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you?"
His friends are so full of hot air...as he says earlier.
27:5,6 He sticks by his guns. His conscience is clear. He has already confessed & made right all he knows of so there is nothing to his friends arguments. He leaves himself in God's hands & isn't swayed by human thinking. I like that.
Circumstances, appearances & our own experiences are all we humans can judge by. If we leave it at that & don't seek God's wisdom as Job says in 28, then we will usually judge wrongly. And we get upset when our (wise) counsel isn't taken, just like his friends do.
I had to look up jasper, lapis lazuli & peridot as I hadn't heard of the last 2. I really like the latter, very beautiful. So thankful for Google images! LOL
We humans think we're so intelligent because we can do so much. But since we've all been taught how to do we what do & invent, we're really not, it's the One who has taught us. Who ever taught Him anything? But we go to such extremes to deny the One who knows everything & has given us every bit of intelligence to do & make anything. Amazing.
I looked them up too, inspired by your curiosity -- they are beautiful, and such 3 distinct colors! You can't improve on what God creates!
I'm back to NLT; and don't feel like you pushed me here Chris, I was feeling impatient with the "added" thoughts. Already this morning I found it easier to go back to the verses you spoke on, reading the same words. It's really like coming back to an old friend -- I enjoyed NLT so much last year; it's all good!
I liked the confidence and assurance Job spoke of in 5 & 6 too -- and I liked 27:7 "May my enemy be punished like wicked" away with the devil -- he IS our enemy, he deserves all that God has in store for him.
27:19,20: All the "things" that the world says are important can be obliterated overnight (like in a tornado) Things are not where our confidence can lie.
28 -- I loved how Job dwells on the great lengths man goes through to obtain the precious gems; yet very few men go to great lengths to obtain wisdom. vs 28 (the text we all memorized as kids) "the fear of the Lord is true wisdom" that is true, and it's pretty scary when you see how the world is heading down the road of ignoring God, disrespecting God.
Seems like in 7:3 that the people had made the temple their God -- trusting in the temple more than the God the temple honored (vs 14)
Also -- interesting that 7:11 talked about the temple being a den of thieves; so I wonder if Jesus was thinking of that when he cleansed the temple; hoping people would go back to Jeremiah and take a look at how people had "missed it"
9:23,24 - - only one thing is worth boasting about -- those that "truly know me and understand that I am the Lord" Hey that reminds me of "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" really -- isn't that the ONE thing that will help us? True wisdom? Solomon seemed to think there was something there.
I also liked that God "delights" in these things (unfailing love, justice, righteousness). That's a God worth knowing. People that have these qualities are the kind of people everyone wants to be around.
Circumcision of the spirit (8:25) cutting away of selfishness (hmmmm -- maybe that's why we have to cut away part of our self) anyway -- it leaves those parts that God delights in when selfishness is removed (love, justice, righteousness).
I checked on wikipedia to see if it was possible to circumcise yourself or if you depended on someone else to circumcise (thinking of God being the only one that can cut away our selfish motives) Couldn't find anything about it - - but, I'm not really into readying the details of circumcision anyway. I just thought maybe it was another illustration of our dependance on Him for the removal of sin??
There's a ton of cutting away His has to do in my heart. So glad it's not up to me to fix me. It would be a very self-serving "fix".
Mark talks about the principle also at the end of 8. Surrendering to win. Giving up my dreams, hopes & plans (my life) so that I am saved. The surrender of the will to God is a constant process. But there is such peace as a result, instead of the stress of doing it my way & the constant flex of my emotions.
It's true that what's in our hearts defile us. But what do we put in them? Are we "feeding" the selfish, anti-God nature or are we ingesting things that are going to encourage us in our relationship with God. Am I surrounding myself with people that encourage me in that relationship or am I surrounding myself with people that want our friendship to be all about them & the world? Makes a difference.
In Mark 8:22-25 I was thinking of how the blind man didn't see clearly at first. Jesus had to touch him a 2nd time. Why? Did Jesus make a mistake? Was it related to the man's faith & that was too small?
I don't think Jesus made a mistake. It was friends who brought the man to Jesus & asked Him to heal him. The man said nothing. So this is pure supposition on my part but this is what I think; the man wasn't exactly sure Jesus could do it. So Jesus gave Him just a taste to spark some hope. We all need hope. Maybe the guy had been to so many doctors & magicians that he'd lost hope. The other application I get from this healing is that when we first come to Jesus & learn the Truth, we don't have a perfect understanding of it all right away. We grow or settle into Truth the more time we spend with Him.
Awesome! I was going to comment on the partial healing too! So excited to hear what you got out of it, Chris! Here's my thoughts!
Notice how right after the partial miracle, Jesus said to Peter in vs 33 "You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's"
With the thought that EVERYTHING Jesus did had illustrations, I think this miracle might have been reference to our human point of view. We do get a glimpse of God from different human perspectives; He touches us, and nudges us, and pulls us closer every chance He gets. But when we fully submit to Him -- he can clear up our vision completely! (Though I see in a glass darkly 1 Cor 13:12) Submitting to Him completely -- even when we think we've arrived; our vision, our focus becomes sharper!
I am humbled when I read of the emotional weight Jesus walked through for me, constantly being watched, questioned, challenged. He didn't fight back -- but He sighed. . .
YIKES! The church in Paul's day is not so very different from our day. Sounds like people are caught up in customs and traditions in chapter 11; talking about hats and hair!! I think the core is found in vs 11: men and women are equal and mutually dependent on each other.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about the Lord's supper, since it is all played out so vividly in Journey to the Cross. vs 24 on bread: think of it as my body which will soon be broken for you. vs 25 on juice: when you drink it, remember what I've done for you. and finally vs 26 "you should recall the last days of m life until I come". There is power and humility as we think about all the suffering and pain God took in my place because He loves me dearly.
Again -- the early church and our church seem to have a problem with grouping up and gossiping. blah -- why do we have to be that way? God's ideal for us is in vs 28 "in a spirit of GRATEFULNESS AND JOY for what Christ has done for him, he ought to sit down to eat the bread and drink the juice"
The talk on Spiritual gifts in chpt 12 reminded me of our laughter over the children's wing at church and how we gravitate to the different age groups!!
2 thoughts vs 23/24 talks about how we treat the private parts with greater care and modesty, and the parts that are more public do not require as much attention. That is not saying the public part need NO attention. I'm thinking about our pastors and teachers -- they have a tough life; and are often up front and visable, but they need care and attention too -- or they will shrivel and blow away.
and I thought it was interesting in vs 31 that "it's not wrong to want additional spiritual gifts as long as you use them to help the church" hmmmmm -- I guess I always got the impression you should be satisfied with what you got? any thoughts?
I can relate to Paul as an administrator wanting to do so much more with the people under his care/supervision (the church) but having to deal with petty things instead. Really bogs you down & kills good administrators. Definitely satan's way of getting rid of people.
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking as I read 12 about all the different gifts the HS gives us to make us effective witnesses & how we concentrate on just one or two. Some churches are just strong on prophecy & others place more emphasis on speaking other languages. They are all needed to further the Gospel & are meant to co-exist in God's people & church. Not everyone will have the same one but it doesn't mean their ministry is less than another. We miss out & hinder what God wants to do when we place our gift above another person's.
I think if we're constantly open to where, when & to whom God wants to use us, we will also receive the gift that is essential for that moment in time to reach a soul. We just have to be open & not closed to receiving other gifts once we've seemed to "find" our niche. Like in the kids division. What if we were supposed to connect with someone who was related to one of the kids & if we say it's not my gift & aren't open to standing in there for a day, who knows what God has to do to get that person ready for another "divine appt"?
I wonder if Moses looked at all for his parents when he went to visit his people. He must have known why he had been adopted as the policy was doubtless still in effect to dump the baby boys in the river or get rid of them somehow. Then again, it almost seems like he was surprised at how they were being used/treated as slaves.
ReplyDeleteSounds like coming to draw water was a dreaded thing for Jethro's daughters. They must have constantly been chased off since Jethro was surprised that they got back early when Moses helped them. Was Jethro not respected as a Priest? Was he a priest of God. Seems like he was a God-fearing man from future conversations we have of him.
Interesting how God sometimes takes us back to actual places where we've failed in our own effort to accomplish something. I'm thinking Moses thought a lot about when he killed the Egyptian & as he got older & closer to God, he was very remorseful about his actions & impetuous actions.
I wonder if that was on his mind when he kept asking God to send someone else. "I don't want to go back there, I failed! They will throw it back in my face." And maybe they did, who knows? It seems no one stood up for him when it matter. No one joined with him in a revolt, so I'm sure this was on his mind. He was thinking within his human limitations & putting God within those limitations as well. That human box method of thinking we succumb to constantly.
Wow Chris -- so true; going back to the place that we failed - - God giving us a chance to find success and fulfillment where we once experienced failure and shame - - a really precious picture of God.
ReplyDeleteThe midwives must have either been single, or unable to have children -- 1:21 talks about God blessing them and giving them families of their own -- back then, what every woman longed for. So, even though the midwives told partial truths, God blessed them because of their kindness to the mothers and their babies. This is a practical aspect of the "weightier matters" that Jesus talked about to the pharisees of love, justice, and mercy.
2:11 -- my translation puts Moses at 40 years old; that's pretty old not to have been married in the Egyptian court. I wonder if it was because M was an Israelite; but then -- Joseph was married to an Egyptian. Anyway -- kindof cool that the shepherdess Zippora won out over all the Egyptians and their eye liner!!
Speaking of Zip's family. I thought it was really a sign of hospitality that they'd have the courage to invite an Egyptian to lunch -- remember for Joe's story how the E's felt about shepherds.
How do we fight "going back" like you pointed out Chris -- or just "going?" God was pretty direct with Moses (there have been so many decisions in my life where I WISH I'd hear an audible voice -- but then; would I argue if it wasn't my plan for myself?) As I read Moses' response, I clearly hear my responses:
vs 11 "No Lord, you need to find someone else"
4:1 "But what if . . ."
4:10 "(Hesitates) . . . Lord, please don't ask me . . I've never been a good (fill in the blank)"
4:13 "(Pleading) . . . please send someone else, let me stay here and take care of (fill in the blank)"
No wonder the Lord was displeased with Moses' lack of fiath -- BUT, the cool news is, even if the Lord was displeased -- He didn't give up on Moses. He worked with each of his fears, and in the end -- a trust developed between the 2 of them to the point that Moses was called a "friend of God"
4:18 Moses doesn't mention to Jethro that God had called him, he just put a generic request in to his father-in-law.
4:26 I think Moses realized that Zip would come between him and his mission with the circumcision tension. She wasn't about covenants apparently. Did he send her & the boys home for their protection? Or so that he could obey God fully without worrying about keeping peace in the family?
At first the Israelites were behind Moses -- thinking they would be released from the Egyptians immediately. But God's ways often take time - - will we still worship Him and trust Him and remain faithful if the "plan" doesn't work out in the way or the time we long for?? (I definitely see myself struggling here)
Your 4:26 says stuff mine doesn't. NLT says Zipporah was the one who circumsized the kids so she actually spared Moses's life. V24 says the Lord was about to kill Moses, but Z doing the circumsion spared him. Doesn't say anything about her being sent back either. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI definitely put myself in Moses's place for the excuses too!
Since David was anointed in the presence of his brothers, I think they might have been a bit jealous. Seems like it when Eliab rebukes David & tries to shame him when David asks about Goliath (17:28)
ReplyDeleteMust have happened ever since that day as they could see that God was with him. Because David replies "what have I done now?" So seems like he's used to them harassing him. Sad
How did Saul not know who David was when in a previous chapter he was his armour bearer & Saul told Jesse that David was going to stay in the court because Saul liked him? Confusing or maybe that's just Saul's state of mind as God had left him.
I am encouraged by God thwarting the enemies of David, who didn't even realize at times what was happening. God already had things & people in place to help him get away.
Just because people plan & scheme, it doesn't mean it's going to take place. I just have to trust & not work myself up. I have no control anyway. Except I can choose to worry or trust. Seems easy to say, very hard to practice.
Yah, I wondered about that memory loss of Saul's too -- didn't even know who the family was . . . it's hard to get a grasp on how big Saul's court was and how big his army was. But it sure seems like he should know the guy with the harp?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about the similarities of Joseph and David. Both had older brothers who seemed jealous and rebuked him. Bot J & D were sent by their father to find the older brothers. God bypasses the older brother rebukes to elevate the little kid to a position of honor. Interesting how many times in the Bible God by-passes the first born for the younger . . .
16:8 "The Lord looks at the heart -- at his attitude, his willingness to obey and his dependence on Me!" I like those ideas connected with the heart.
I can imagine the tension of ALL the Israelites as the watched their lives on the line with the young boy taking his sling and staff to fight Goliath. I bet they were horrified at Saul for giving permission for David to take on the giant; not that they were worried about David; rather their own hides!
btw -- Saul was the only "giant" in Israel; being a head taller than anyone else -- he would be the natural one to fight Goliath.
I love David's passion for God's honor. 17:16 "He cannot curse my God and defy the armies of Israel" Makes me think, am I willing to stand up for my God's honor -- or do I just shrink into the shadows when I hear God's name defamed.
I love the picture of David standing in front of Saul with all that oversized equipment on! Hee hee -- then he just takes it off and says "I don't need these!"
and when the battle is over, David doesn't stay around for the applause; he doesn't go for the spoils; he's just picked up the head, praised the Lord and got ready to go back home!
Jealousy is a scary emotion -- binding the affected person to bitterness; causing actions that don't make sense -- poisoning everyone around that person with fear and tension.
Jonathan seemed to have a love and trust for everyone. David yes, but even his dad -- he couldn't believe his dad didn't like David. I love how Jonathan stands up for David -- Michael had a chance, but she lied instead, putting the blame of the escape on David (but maybe since she was a woman - her life was more on the line? - I can see Saul executing her for helping David - later, he tried to kill Jonathan; the guy was loony with jealousy)
And the real tension was that everyone knew that David would be king; Jonathan knew, Saul knew -- David knew, but David was content to let it work out in God's time; not even wanting to hurry things along by marrying the king's daughter. A really good lesson in waiting for His timing.
ugh...good smack upside my head...waiting for His timing. That is so very hard for me. I'm so stubborn & impatient. I can only see things happening my way & right now at times. Kinda like jealousy in a way. Blinds you to common sense some times.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I thought of Saul being the tallest in Israel but he's hiding in his tent instead of defending God.
Here's where I struggle!! 39:3 "I become very angry. As I thought about the situation, the fires of revenge increased" Glad David is honest enough to admit it, so the rest of us can relate -- I KNOW the correct way is for God to handle what comes my way, but I struggle to get back, get even when I'm treated unfairly. Bother -- Lord, help me to keep my eyes on YOU!
ReplyDelete39:8 "You could have prevented these things from happening, but I will trust your wisdom" Both this verse -- and 41 reminded me of Job -- the situation he found himself in; and he clung to God -- even tho nothing made sense; even tho everything he heard, saw, experienced said he was a sinner; he clung. This would not work with the "scientific reasoning method" that scientists base truth on -- for them, there has to be observable evidence and that defines truth -- I think that's why Jesus emphasized FAITH; it's our only hope when everything shouts differently.
40:6-9 sounds to me like it's talking about Jesus. If so, I love how these gems were inserted for Him to guide Him through His mission.
Just went back and read 7-9 in NLT; not as wordy as CW which says: "I will become your sacrifice and offer up the body you have given me. Here I am. I have come to do what is written in the book about me. I delight in doing your will, O God, and your law is written on my heart. You know what I have told the people, Lord, about the good news of salvation. I will never stop telling it" That's what sounded to me like Jesus' mission - - and I'm guessing, He hopes it will now become our mission!
ReplyDelete39:11 "When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us." I was thinking that what is precious to us could also be deadly. God has to consume it so that we realize only He is our Hope & confidence (v7). He should have the priority in our hearts, be the most precious thing to us first & foremost.
ReplyDelete40:2 the steadying that God does as we walk along is Him grounding us in Truth, hearing/recognizing His voice. As a hiker I am uneasy when I'm not standing on something solid. If it's constantly moving, so am I. God wants me to have a firm foundation of truth & a solid relationship with Him so I'm not slipping back & forth...I'm sure of my Savior & what He can/will do for me. I'm not bothered by circumstances because I KNOW He is above them.
40:3 "Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." I am encouraged by people who tell their stories & how God worked for them. Especially when their story is similar to mine. This also reminds me Romans 10:14 where it says How will they know unless they are told? How will they believe if they don't know who to believe in? (my paraphrase). We shouldn't be ashamed of our testimony & what God has done in our lives. Satan wants to shame us into silence by thinking of all the mistakes. We don't need to dwell on those. We do need to accept responsibility for our mistakes BUT then to focus on what Jesus has done to cover them & make us new! The healing part of our story is more of an encouragement to others than the sin part.
40:8 I definitely want God's instructions written on my heart so I'm constantly delighting in His will instead of fighting for my own.
A lot of verses reference Christ's life & death too in this reading. Like you say Linda, I wonder what Jesus thought as He read these growing up.
I LOVE your comment of 40:8 -- laying down that sword; a minute by minute decision!!
ReplyDeleteI read 26-28 to get the full context of Job's speech. I like his sarcasm in 26:3,4 "How you have enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice you have offered! Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you?"
ReplyDeleteHis friends are so full of hot air...as he says earlier.
27:5,6 He sticks by his guns. His conscience is clear. He has already confessed & made right all he knows of so there is nothing to his friends arguments. He leaves himself in God's hands & isn't swayed by human thinking. I like that.
Circumstances, appearances & our own experiences are all we humans can judge by. If we leave it at that & don't seek God's wisdom as Job says in 28, then we will usually judge wrongly. And we get upset when our (wise) counsel isn't taken, just like his friends do.
I had to look up jasper, lapis lazuli & peridot as I hadn't heard of the last 2. I really like the latter, very beautiful. So thankful for Google images! LOL
We humans think we're so intelligent because we can do so much. But since we've all been taught how to do we what do & invent, we're really not, it's the One who has taught us. Who ever taught Him anything? But we go to such extremes to deny the One who knows everything & has given us every bit of intelligence to do & make anything. Amazing.
I looked them up too, inspired by your curiosity -- they are beautiful, and such 3 distinct colors! You can't improve on what God creates!
ReplyDeleteI'm back to NLT; and don't feel like you pushed me here Chris, I was feeling impatient with the "added" thoughts. Already this morning I found it easier to go back to the verses you spoke on, reading the same words. It's really like coming back to an old friend -- I enjoyed NLT so much last year; it's all good!
I liked the confidence and assurance Job spoke of in 5 & 6 too -- and I liked 27:7 "May my enemy be punished like wicked" away with the devil -- he IS our enemy, he deserves all that God has in store for him.
27:19,20: All the "things" that the world says are important can be obliterated overnight (like in a tornado) Things are not where our confidence can lie.
28 -- I loved how Job dwells on the great lengths man goes through to obtain the precious gems; yet very few men go to great lengths to obtain wisdom. vs 28 (the text we all memorized as kids) "the fear of the Lord is true wisdom" that is true, and it's pretty scary when you see how the world is heading down the road of ignoring God, disrespecting God.
Seems like in 7:3 that the people had made the temple their God -- trusting in the temple more than the God the temple honored (vs 14)
ReplyDeleteAlso -- interesting that 7:11 talked about the temple being a den of thieves; so I wonder if Jesus was thinking of that when he cleansed the temple; hoping people would go back to Jeremiah and take a look at how people had "missed it"
9:23,24 - - only one thing is worth boasting about -- those that "truly know me and understand that I am the Lord" Hey that reminds me of "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" really -- isn't that the ONE thing that will help us? True wisdom? Solomon seemed to think there was something there.
I also liked that God "delights" in these things (unfailing love, justice, righteousness). That's a God worth knowing. People that have these qualities are the kind of people everyone wants to be around.
Circumcision of the spirit (8:25) cutting away of selfishness (hmmmm -- maybe that's why we have to cut away part of our self) anyway -- it leaves those parts that God delights in when selfishness is removed (love, justice, righteousness).
I checked on wikipedia to see if it was possible to circumcise yourself or if you depended on someone else to circumcise (thinking of God being the only one that can cut away our selfish motives) Couldn't find anything about it - - but, I'm not really into readying the details of circumcision anyway. I just thought maybe it was another illustration of our dependance on Him for the removal of sin??
There's a ton of cutting away His has to do in my heart. So glad it's not up to me to fix me. It would be a very self-serving "fix".
ReplyDeleteMark talks about the principle also at the end of 8. Surrendering to win. Giving up my dreams, hopes & plans (my life) so that I am saved. The surrender of the will to God is a constant process. But there is such peace as a result, instead of the stress of doing it my way & the constant flex of my emotions.
It's true that what's in our hearts defile us. But what do we put in them? Are we "feeding" the selfish, anti-God nature or are we ingesting things that are going to encourage us in our relationship with God. Am I surrounding myself with people that encourage me in that relationship or am I surrounding myself with people that want our friendship to be all about them & the world? Makes a difference.
In Mark 8:22-25 I was thinking of how the blind man didn't see clearly at first. Jesus had to touch him a 2nd time. Why? Did Jesus make a mistake? Was it related to the man's faith & that was too small?
I don't think Jesus made a mistake. It was friends who brought the man to Jesus & asked Him to heal him. The man said nothing.
So this is pure supposition on my part but this is what I think; the man wasn't exactly sure Jesus could do it. So Jesus gave Him just a taste to spark some hope. We all need hope. Maybe the guy had been to so many doctors & magicians that he'd lost hope.
The other application I get from this healing is that when we first come to Jesus & learn the Truth, we don't have a perfect understanding of it all right away. We grow or settle into Truth the more time we spend with Him.
Awesome! I was going to comment on the partial healing too! So excited to hear what you got out of it, Chris! Here's my thoughts!
ReplyDeleteNotice how right after the partial miracle, Jesus said to Peter in vs 33 "You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's"
With the thought that EVERYTHING Jesus did had illustrations, I think this miracle might have been reference to our human point of view. We do get a glimpse of God from different human perspectives; He touches us, and nudges us, and pulls us closer every chance He gets. But when we fully submit to Him -- he can clear up our vision completely! (Though I see in a glass darkly 1 Cor 13:12) Submitting to Him completely -- even when we think we've arrived; our vision, our focus becomes sharper!
I am humbled when I read of the emotional weight Jesus walked through for me, constantly being watched, questioned, challenged. He didn't fight back -- but He sighed. . .