Tag Archives: Bible

Feb 7 2013

Job 4 – The Innocent Prosper?

The ancient kingdom of Edom. The Land of Uz pr...

The ancient kingdom of Edom. The Land of Uz probably lay on the darkened area. Suomi: Muinaisen Edomin alue (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Job’s friend Eliphaz is called a Temanite.  Teman was an important city of Edom and is referred to in Amos 1:12.  He was probably not the same Eliphaz that is mentioned in Genesis 36:15, but as the first-born of Esau, his son was himself named Teman, which is where the name for the city probably came from.

After seven days of silence, he offers his opening speech, beginning with a compliment to Job’s integrity, but quickly we see that deteriorate to the same sort of rhetoric common to the day.  Satan has already counted on Job becoming a hypocrite, and Eliphaz suggests that he has become one by way of his complaining.  His self-righteous speech must have sorely aggravated Job, as he clearly demonstrates his total misunderstanding of Job’s plight, as well as the reasons for it to be happening to a man who by all other accounts had been judged innocent by his deeds.  The conclusion then, from his point of view, can only be that Job is, in fact that hypocrite, for “who that was innocent ever perished?”

Eliphaz’s “vision” begins and ends with a tale from a point of view that God Himself will declare as folly, and was true only in the imagination of Eliphaz.  As Coffman noted: “No one could make a bigger mistake than to suppose that God really spoke to Eliphaz in a dream or vision. Commentators differ on just where the vision ends; but we accept the opinion that it was concluded only by the end of this chapter.”

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 6 2013

Psalm 13, 16 – How Long, O Lord?

Psalm 13 is the “How long” psalm repeated four times in the first two verses; and begins with the question of how long the Lord will leave the psalmist feeling abandoned.  In the end, however, he acknowledges the grace of the Lord, and the many ways He has blessed him.  Unlike many of us, he recognizes how prosperous and happy he is.

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.”

Coffman’s observation was that “It is strange indeed that children of God are not exempt from such feelings of abandonment and despair, and we are left in wondering as to why it should be so. Perhaps the Lord wishes to drive us to our knees repeatedly that we should ever rely upon Him and not upon ourselves.” 

He then notes the connection this psalm has with our prayer life:

‘Prayer is not only the proper reaction of the godly to trouble, it is also the effective medicine against depression in the face of it.’

Just as the Lord has given us freedom of will to serve Him or not, he puts no hedge around us where the cares of the world are concerned (Job 1:10).  In the same vein of thought are these words accredited to Martin Luther:

‘Hope itself despairs, and despair yet hopes, and only that unspeakable groaning is audible with which the Holy Spirit, who moves over the waters covered with darkness, intercedes for us.

The risen Lord: He is not here in the grave.

The risen Lord: He is not here in the grave.

Psalm 16 is unquestionably Messianic in nature, and Peter cites it as such in Acts 2:25-28 and in verse 31, he identifies it his sermon as such.  Paul cited the 10th verse as well when he preached the resurrection of Jesus to the people of Antioch of Pisidia in Acts 13:35.  The presence of the Lord at the psalmist’s right hand is the source of his strength, then followed by the reference to the pleasures forevermore  abounding at the right hand of God.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 5 2013

Proverbs – On Becoming Wise

Facebook logo Español: Logotipo de Facebook Fr...

Facebook logo Español: Logotipo de Facebook Français : Logo de Facebook Tiếng Việt: Logo Facebook (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Verse 3 is the watchword verse for those of us who are prone to speak without considering; but these days, to email or post on Facebook fits just as well in our world.  It is much too easy for us to “say” something to someone electronically that we would NEVER speak aloud to someone in person.  Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.  Today, it is easy to bring relationships to ruin by opening wide our keyboards.  Perhaps the eleventh commandment should be “Thou shalt not click the ‘Send’ button for 24 hours, then read aloud first.”  The twelfth should certainly be “Thou shalt not click ‘Reply All.'”

reply allVerse 20’s advice is just as easily understood as it is less often heeded:

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Or as Paul told the Corinthians in 15:33, “‘Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.’”  Adam Clarke said “To walk with a person implies love and attachment; and it is impossible not to imitate those we love. So we say, “Show me his company, and I’ll tell you the man.” Let me know the company he keeps, and I shall easily guess his moral character.”

Gill explained it saying that “(he who walks with the wise) converses frequently with them in private about spiritual and experimental things, and walks with them in public in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; he by those means grows wiser and wiser, gains a large stock of spiritual knowledge and experience…”  By the same token, the foolish companions will often precede their foolish ideas with a reminder that speaks for itself – “nobody will ever know…”  God does.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 4 2013

Psalm 119:25-32; Psalm 12 – Among the Children of Man

hebrew alphabet stencil

hebrew alphabet stencil (Photo credit: Shira Golding)

Verses 25-32 of Psalm 119 are brought to you by the fourth letter of the letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Daleth.  The psalmist admits that his soul – who he is – clings to the dust from which he was made (verse 25) ; but he implores God to teach him the truth of His righteous commandments, so that he will cling to Him, enlarging our hearts is akin to enlarging breadth of hour minds (1 Kings 4:29, 2 Corinthians 6:11, 13).

Psalm 12 is a chiasmus, as the first and last verses contain the phrase “the sons of man” (or in some versions, “the children of man”) in a parallel structure. In the former, the faithful have vanished from among them.  In the latter, vile wickedness is exalted among them.  This A-B-B-A  structure can be observed in Psalm 2, 10, and 11 as well.  The call for the cutting off of lying and boastful lips is a reference to those who believe they are lord over the needy and the poor.  But God is the great almighty and as Isaiah in 33:10 foretells, (because of their groaning) “Now I will arise,” says the Lord, now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.”

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 3 2013

Cancer – My Neighbor’s Hope for the Cure

Dear friends, family, brothers and sisters,

This year in April, I am joining in with Relay for life in a fundraising effort for which proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. It is a most worthy cause, and one dear to my heart.  Most of us know of know someone whose life has been touched by cancer. In my family, my son is our latest survivor of lung cancer. In January of 2009 , I lost my father, Bob, who was also my best friend to mouth cancer. The nature of radiation treatment when necessary for the mouth or throat is such that it often requires a “feeding tube” to be surgically inserted to the stomach because the tongue, mouth and throat become too raw and the tongue itself often stops functioning correctly as a result.

On December 23, 2008 after 39 treatments of radiation to the mouth and throat, Dad suffered  a stroke that would claim his life in just a few short days after Christmas.  My mother would become a collateral casualty that same autumn, loneliness staking its claim as much as all of any of several maladies that began to afflict her.

Dad left me the most precious gift a father can give a son – to bring me up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  And when I strayed, I thank the lord every day for my Dad’s persistence in never giving up on me as a Christian, for I was as lost I could be. God never gave up on me either, though I certainly deserved none of his grace. February 01, 2013 would have been 66 years of wedded bliss for that special couple.  By God’s grace my wife and myself have had over three decades together – and it is their example that has kept our love strong, understanding how important that union is to those who love us as well as to ourselves.

Today, I have a monument just like those who crossed the Jordan so long ago had for their children. It is a tattered envelope in a frame much too large in my Daddy’s handwriting, urging me to return to what he taught me all the days of his life. It is my most cherished worldly possession, for it speaks to me as nobody else will, and when it seems nobody else cares; and it tells me how much he cared for me. One day He will take me in his loving arms and share in the joy of knowing that at last I came home.

I cry for you sometimes Dad, though I never have fear; but Daddy, oh Daddy how I wish you were here. When last we were together, you could no longer speak.  Your mouth was so damaged, your tongue so weak.  Just one more moment would I ask of the Lord – to tell you I love you, but not ask for a word. Though you are weary no longer, and your tongue not so tired, that same twinkling in your eye is all my heart desires.

Please make a donation to support my effort in the Relay for life for the American Cancer Society.  Your donation does so much to help survivors, as well as care-givers, and it tells them that they are not alone in this fight.  You can find my page at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/bobsboy, Then please send an email message to lovethelord@withallyoursoul.com stating the amount of donation you made, in order to receive a special thank you message.

I remain,

/Bob’s boy

Matthew Chapter 22
37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Please make your donation to this cause in support of my part in this relay at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/bobsboy, Then please send an email message to mailto://lovethelord@withallyoursoul.com to confirm your donation. In that message, you may choose whether to accept a purple “Find the cure” magnet, a purple satin pin, or simply donate the ribbon or magnet back to us out of the goodness of your heart. (pictures below).

The fruits of these efforts do so much to support weary loved ones, caregivers,survivors, and so much more.

Dear Bob’s boy,
I made a donation to in support of you in the amount of $25.00

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Purple ribbon $50.00 donation

Purple ribbon $25.00 donation – This satin purple ribbon pin is perfect to give to people who make a donation. Approximately 3 inches tall by 2 inches wide. Each purple ribbon pin has a small gold ribbon in the middle of the pin.

Bob’s boy, I’m super-supporter. I made donation to in support of you in the amount of $100.00 Please send my Purple ribbon magnet to
Purple ribbon magnet - $50 donation.These purple ribbon magnets are approximately 8 inches tall. Perfect for the refrigerator or car. Each purple ribbon magnet says Find The Cure.

Purple ribbon magnet – $50 donation.These purple ribbon magnets are approximately 8 inches tall. Perfect for the refrigerator or car. Each purple ribbon magnet says Find The Cure.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog. All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility. When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com. For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 1 2013

Psalm 10 – Why Do You Hide Yourself?

A drawing of balances, or scales, of Bible times. A standard weight was placed on one side, and the object or objects to be weighed were placed on the other side.

A drawing of balances, or scales, of Bible times. A standard weight was placed on one side, and the object or objects to be weighed were placed on the other side.

Psalm 10 is often considered to be an acrostic continuation of Psalm 9, and differences aside there is some merit in that view beginning with the fact that the psalmist in chapter 10 recounts the deeds of the wicked and speaks of his denial of God (verse 4) in the third person.  And he reminds us that the wicked who oppress the poor will “be caught in the schemes that they have devised”. – always an abomination to the Lord.  God has always cared deeply about the poor (Micah 6:9-11, Leviticus 19:9-11).

It is not the psalmist himself that believes the wicked will continue to prosper forever, nor that God himself does not know , for he says of their attitude in verse 11 “He says in his heart, ‘God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.'”.

But God does see and he will mete out his vengeance one day, just as HE has before in His own time”

 “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 31 2013

Job 3 – Whatever I dread befalls me

Job finally breaks the silence of the last week as it would seem he can no longer bear it.    We have no way of knowing what has been going through his mind in the last week, but surely he has been tempted to turn his anger toward God.  Still, he does not sin and curse God, as God  in His wisdom already knew he would not.  True enough that he did greatly lament his own birth, but even the great prophet Jeremiah did so (Jeremiah 20:14-18) in his sorrow over his persecution.

Still, it is all too easy for us to be tempted to judge Job and others, for who among us has not himself suffered?  And is our suffering not just as severe for us at times?  When we have been hurt, do we cry out and long for death?  If we do not, does that make our grief and pain less significant?

We all do suffer – some more than others – at times, and if we are truthful, as great as our pain may be; and as bad as it may get for many of us, it is doubtful that we go through the degree of anguish and pain that Job has already experienced in the first two chapters of this book.

Job's happy days.

Job’s happy days.

But who is anyone else to judge this, and what yardstick will they use to do so?  That of what we read of Job – or (more likely) their own?  We will get to know Job’s friends much better in the coming days, but if you cut through all of the criticism that we and others direct at those friends (and truly they will show their own flaws as well), we should not lose sight of the fact that they came and stayed with Job when he was at his lowest, spoke not a word until he spoke, and only now will speak as they believe they may be able to help him understand why these terrible things have happened to him – as well how he might “fix it.”

Our desire to think of ourselves as compassionate, and “being there” for our friends as Job’s three friends are there is admirable, but we must not presume to “know how they feel.”  No matter how seemingly large or small the trial or pain, no two people handle grief, depression, or pain in the same way.  All Job knows, is that when all that he has lost began to go wrong, it just kept coming!  And his worst fears and dreads became realized again and again (verse 25-26):

“For the thing that I fear comes upon me,
and what I dread befalls me.
I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, but trouble comes.”

Re: Job 2:10 “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”  He epitomized Jesus’ words; and with of all their faults, Job’s friends did show compassion, for as much as he still obeyed Matthew 22:37 (cited from Deuteronomy 6:5), they demonstrated their love for him as in Matthew 22:39: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 30 2013

Psalm 7 – In You Do I Take Refuge

The superscript for this psalm calls it a Shiggaion of David.  The term is only used again in plural form in Habakkuk 3:1.  The best that we can surmise is that it may be a type of instrument or liturgical description pertaining to the psalm.  Cush the Benjamin had likely accused David concerning treason against Saul.  David is languishing here and it seems likely that he is experiencing guilt on his own part (see verses 3-5), possibly for his anguish over what his part had been in Doeg the Edominte’s betrayal and the resulting slaughter of the priests of Nob (1 Samuel 22:11-23)?

Nob, Shufat from north, the Tabernacle was here for awhile. David visited the priest Ahimelech here (1 Samuel 21). Because the priests helped David, Saul destroyed the priests and their city.

Nob, Shufat from north, the Tabernacle was here for awhile. David visited the priest Ahimelech here (1 Samuel 21). Because the priests helped David, Saul destroyed the priests and their city.

David’s guilt, though tempered with his anger with Doeg in Psalm 52, does not give him pause to absolve himself, but rather to pray to God for justice, even if that means his own complicity should result in his death at the hands of his pursuers.  He places his fate in the hand of his God in whom he places his confidence in His judgment of David’s heart and integrity (verse 8-16).  He expresses his certainty that God will do justly with the wicked in Verses 14-16: B

Behold, the wicked man conceives evil
and is pregnant with mischief
and gives birth to lies.
He makes a pit, digging it out,
and falls into the hole that he has made.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 29 2013

Proverbs 12 – The Way of a Fool

Because of the nature of the book of Proverbs, and the impossibly of commenting on all of a single chapter in these short paragraphs,we choose to pick one or two verses on which to focus.. Please see our  previous post on study tips for Proverbs.

Today this blog will focus on a single short verse from chapter 12. verse 15 reads:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”  

This has been the plague of men (and women) since  time began; and the more learned we become the worse it gets.  During the cycle of the Judges 17:6 and 21:25 in Israel,  the text says “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  The people would fall into apostasy over and over again until God rescued them and they would start the cycle all over again.   People worshiped their idols and turned away from God until things got so bad that they ended up crying out to him, and then he would save and deliver them.  This continued throughout the kingship of David and even the author of this book.

Even Solomon allowed the women that he turned to lead him into idolatry.  God often has tolerated foolishness by the self-deception of man since time immemorial and has allowed him to continue to make those kinds of mistakes because we have our own freedom to make our mistakes.The wise man listens to the advice and wisdom of our God, His son, and the Holy Spirit.

We are brought up in a world that teaches our children macro-evolution that we are no more than advanced animals that, this world is all there is, and that the Bible is little more than a book of fables.  So-called educated men make it their purpose in life to convince people who there is no purpose in life.  But His evidence is all around us, including His attributes (Romans 1:20).  We exchange the wisdom of God for the foolishness of man that we call wisdom, in order to justify our own unrighteousness and worship our own idols of sin and depravity (Romans 1:22-23). We tell the child there is no God and that he was foolish to believe there is and then we  wonder why so many lose heart and hope.

We must give true wisdom to our children though God’s word to combat the lies that this world tells them about who we are and where we come from; and teach them where they can go.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 28 2013

Psalm 119:17-24, Psalm 11 – A Sojourner on the Earth

Today’s reading of Psalm 119 begins with verse 17 and begins each line with the letter gimel.   The psalmist calls upon the lord to “deal bountifully” with him – knowing that he is undeserving and asks for his grace and mercy.  He acknowledges that this world is not his home (John 15:19).  He is just passing through. He says the Lord rebukes the insolent accursed ones, these would be the unfaithful.  The princes that plot against him are rulers among God’s people that might plot against him Though we do not know the author, one could apply this to many as in Daniel 6:4.  They tried to find something to charge him with, but could not.

Saul anointed king by Samuel.

Saul anointed king by Samuel.

Some have seen Psalm 11 as the advice to David  to flee, probably from Saul to the mountains.  He may have been advised to do so by those surrounding him, which is where the question comes.  That is about as good of a guess as any, but it has also been suggested that this was from David’s plight in 1 Samuel 23:9-14, when he had asked the Lord if the men of Keilah would surrender him to Saul.  When he was told of this, he prayed to God , and God told him they indeed would surrender him.

His friends had advised him of the impending attack, and were moved for him to hide himself in the hills.  But he had done so, he could have been guilty of not trusting the Lord following his prayer.  We can guess that under the lawless rule of Saul, the very foundations of society and of moral order were viewed as swept away. Then he recognizes that the Lord is in his holy temple (Habakuk 2:20).  He sees the righteous and will deal with the wicked.  The “upright shall behold his face” should be understood as to see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.