Aug 16 2013

Psalm 104 – From Your Lofty Abode

This hymn of praise begins in the first few verses with colorful illustrations of God’s splendor and majesty that is full of poetic beauty.

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
he makes his messengers winds,
his ministers a flaming fire.

Waimea Canyou, Kauai, Hawaii

Then in verse 5, he states the wondrous things that the Lord has created, the power and wisdom that he has in his mighty hands, and then continues with his ongoing care for the world. Verse 5 has been used by skeptics to discredit scientific awareness in the Bible (“He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved”). But the verse is simply poetry that speaks to the stability and indestructibility of the earth as in Job 26:7. Knowledge of the shape and placement of the earth is clearly not in question (see also Isaiah 40:22).

The psalmist notes in intricate detail the care with which God has seen to the renewal, nourishment and growth of all things living on the earth, and the beauty with which the lands and oceans are both combined and separated, teeming with “creatures innumerable.” The psalm closes as it began, with “Bless the Lord, O my Soul” and words of praise for the God who rules even the mountains:

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works,
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke!

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

/Bob’s boy

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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.

Jun 4 2013

Proverbs 30 – Lest He Rebuke You

Chapter 30 begins another section of the book of Proverbs, actually ending the format that began in chapter 10. The superscription says that these are “the words of Agur son of Jakeh.” Some believe this may be a nickname for Solomon, but that seems unlikely, as the writing style is completely dissimilar. There is nothing else in the scriptures that mentions this Agur. The claim by this writer that he is stupid is surely not true. The wisest thing that this blogger notes in his writing is from verses 5-6:

Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

All of the word of God is important without question. But when word tells us essentially the same thing more than once in different Scriptures, it behooves us to take notice that it must be singularly important. Deuteronomy 4:2 says “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.” Deuteronomy 12:32: “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.” The warning becomes much stronger in Revelation 22:18-19, and the consequences are spelled out in no uncertain terms.

No matter what the intentions, people have often found themselves in precarious positions by trying to “help God out.” That goes for trying to so by our actions (as Abraham did by going into Hagar in an effort to fulfill God’s promise of offspring. And it can be justifiably applied to the interpretation of Scriptures. God’s word tells us plainly that God created the heavens and the earth by speaking it into existence (Genesis 1, Psalm 33:9, Romans 4:17). Yet some people, because of either their weakness of faith in God and His divine word, and/or a desire to please men in their vanity about their own wisdom feel the need to suggest that God needed to use evolution to achieve His purpose.

Since the beginning, man has never gone wrong by putting his faith in the unchanging word of God, and that time-tested truth can always be counted on.

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

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Apr 8 2013

Psalm 119:97-104; Psalm 65

Today’s stanza of the acrostic Psalm 119 is centered around the 13th letter of the Hebrew Aleph-bet “mem.” For more information about this psalm, see this previous post. The Isaac Watts hymn “Oh How I Love Thy Law” is based on this stanza. The main point of the stanza is that study and meditation on God’s word does indeed bring wisdom. The psalmist says he is wiser than his enemies, his teachers and the aged because of God’s word.

Psalm 65 is deemed in its superscription to be a song of David. It is, however, a song of praise to God, beginning in the first few verses with His goodness, holiness, for His justice, and because He hears our prayers. Verses 5 and following continue praise for the one true and living God as the one hope for all people who dwell on the earth. The inspired writer emphasizes this again in verse 8. The following verses praise the one who set the earth in its perfect position and tilt, the designer of all that man knows as science for His power, might, and wisdom in creating the world, as well as His continued care for it and all who dwell therein.

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

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Jan 3 2012

Genesis 2 – The Creation of Man and Woman

Here, God’s plan for mankind concerning marriage is laid out – as affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:3-9. One man for one woman was always God’s intention.

Genesis 2 is a favorite citation of unbelievers who want to say there are contradictions in the Bible. We should understand that the accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 are not intended to be chronological. Genesis 2 summarizes the entire creation event of the six days and expounds upon it.

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

___________________

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 “Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com. For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.
/Robert

Jan 2 2012

Genesis 1 – The Creation

We begin with God creating the universe, our world and everything in it in 6 literal days. There is no way that it is going to work out any other way – such as thinking that a “day” here could be just talking about a very long period of time. God didn’t need to use long eons of time to “help him” get it done. Every time we find the bible using the word for day along with a number, it is always referring to a 24 hour period – in every case.

The modern Christian must take responsibility to educate themselves on how to answer those hard questions that evolutionism and atheism put into our children’s heads. If our children grow up not trusting Genesis (looking upon it like some fairy tale), how do we expect them to trust the rest of God’s word about their salvation?

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

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