Every word of God proves true[.]...Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Proverbs 30-31

Every word of God proves true[.]...Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:5a-6

I continue my study of Proverbs with my final entry for week 10 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 30-31:9.  My focus for today is the commentary and a review of the text for this week.  The commentary provides six themes expressed in the text for this week, including:

• how God is our shield and refuge (Proverbs 30:5b)
• how scripture describes the ideal king, yet only Jesus meets this ideal (Proverbs 31:2-9)
• how, even though we may claim to be, none of us are clean (we all sin), and Jesus is the only one who can wash us clean (Proverbs 30:12)
• how barrenness in life ultimately leads to hope for those who believe (Proverbs 30:15-16)
• how God's Word is perfect and how we are not to add to or subtract from it (Proverbs 30:5a)
• how God works, often in contrast to how the world works, including how Jesus came as a conquering King but died on the cross (Proverbs 30:24-28)

The more I study the Word of God the more I see the truth in Proverbs 30:5a - how God's Word is perfect and how we are not to add to or subtract from it. The commentary also points us to Psalm 18:30 and Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32.  Through such text I am encouraged to further "incline my ear [to] hear the words of the wise, [and to]...apply [my[ heart to [God's] knowledge[.]" Indeed, I am experiencing the blessing of having God's Word "within me...and ready on [my] lips (Proverbs 22:17-18)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and You provide Your Word, which is a lamp unto my feet and it is indeed pleasant to keep them within me and ready on my lips!  Thank You Jesus for Your Word!  I am not deserving of Your Word, nor any of the blessings You provide to help me understand Your Word - certainly the Holy Spirit, commentary, teachers, brothers and sisters in Christ who help sharpen my understanding, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these incredible blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

Isaiah 8-9

Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Isaiah 8:16-17

I continued my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  Today, I reviewed Isaiah 8:11-9:7, looking at the allure of the world. One of key highlights from the text today is Isaiah 8:16-17 where God seeks for us to "bind up" and "seal the teaching among my disciples" and to "wait for the Lord" - this is where we have hope.  When we bind up and seal God's Word and His teaching - we secure it in our hearts and minds so that it may serve as the basis for our peace, encouragement and strength during times of difficulty.  Those faithful who witnesses God's wrath during period's of Israel's unfaithfulness found courage in God's words, specifically in His prophecies in Isaiah that promised that Israel would be restored and that there would be a King who would reign forever. We can do as those faithful did during Isaiah's time. I am encouraged by the many stories of those in the Bible who waited for the Lord - Simeon (Luke 2) is one of those stories.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You bless those who wait, and those who rest in Your promises.  I have seen Your promises come to pass - many upon many - thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness.  I am not deserving of Your love and faithfulness.  My sin of worry and other sins continue.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

Day 121 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue today with the group: "Psalms of Joy and Praise".

Today's psalm focuses on praise for the insight and guidance of God's laws - it:
- describes how God's word protects us from harm, including any sin that might cause us harm
- acknowledges how important it is to be obedient
- reinforces how scripture reading, study, and in particular memorization, keeps us from sinning (see also John Piper on this)
- describes how believers should seek God's word as we would food and water to sustain our lives (see v103, 131)
...and more!

I am drawn to how Jesus used scripture in the wilderness to prevent temptation by Satan - through scripture hidden in his heart.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, sustains me, protects, encourages me, saves me, and so much more...my words are insufficient to describe Your greatness.  I am not deserving of how You adopt me into Your family and how You provide for me.  I am harsh with others, and I worry, among my many sins committed daily!  I am grateful for Your compassion and mercy but I need You to extend this daily!  Please forgive me for my sin and help me turn from my sin towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Matthew 4

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” v10

As He begins His ministry, Jesus is tempted.  We should understand that we have a God who knows what we experience with temptation because He was tested as well.  Jesus is able to defeat Satan of course because He is God.  A key weapon to defeat Satan is understanding of scripture. On three separate occasions (v4,7,10) Jesus is able to quote scripture as means to defeat Satan.

We must read to God's Word to know Him, love Him, to develop a relationship with Him, for Him to do a work in us, and for us to obey Him.

See other posts on scripture.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who gave Your Son, and the Word - thank You Jesus for this and more.  I am not worthy of such a God as I am quick to anger - please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 35

The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. v18

We must remain present to the Lord.  What we find in 2 Chronicles 34-35 is that during the repair of the temple, the Book of the Law was found.  According to the MacAthur Bible Commentary, it is likely that the Book of the Law went missing during the reigns of Ahaz, Manasseh, and Amon - three kings who preceded Josiah (Hezekiah between Ahaz and Manasseh).

With the Book of the Law missing, I am sure it became even more difficult to remain present to God.  Written copies of it were rare and for one to go missing was likely a big deal - one would think it would surely be missed.

As a follow up to yesterday's post, we must find ways to remain present to God.  We must be in God's Word daily in study, reflection, and prayer - scripture memorization is also a good spiritual discipline.  We should maintain a heart of gratitude.  As part of a heart of gratitude, we should - as Josiah (and Hezekiah) does here - take time on special occasions or holidays to celebrate what God has done for His people and for us individually.

This short book - Practice of the Presence of God - is worth a look (see also here).

Ultimately, we are called (see Romans 12) to be a living sacrifice.

Of course, easier said then done - but with God's help all things are possible.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is with me always and whose words are in my heart.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I worry - far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Deuteronomy 11

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. v18-21

God must live within our hearts - this must then visible in our actions in our daily lives (Romans 12:1-2) as we become a living sacrifice.

For God to live within our hearts we must seek Him earnestly and daily.

Jesus, I pray that I might seek You earnestly and daily, and to live out my life as a living sacrifice to You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is always with us - never leaving or forsaking us.  You encourage us, teach us, provide for us, protect us, etc.  We are nothing without You.  Thank You for how You sustain me Jesus.  I am not worth such love. I neglect You often. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.

Genesis 4

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. v7

Sin is indeed crouching at our doors.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

 

 We can protect ourselves by reading, studying and memorizing scripture.

See Proverbs 2, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 and other verses.  We can also protect ourselves by avoiding those who do not believe and consistently demonstrate willful sinful behavior - we must instead surround ourselves with other believers who can encourage us and be in prayer for us.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13

 

 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God who is able to beat sin and death.  You give me this same power and I am grateful Jesus!  Thank You.  However, I often lack complete trust in You and am taken away by sin.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me protect myself through faith and trust in You.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. v20-23

Proverbs 4

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. v20-23

So far, what I have been reading and studying in Proverbs has focused on the blessings that flow from our desire to gain God's wisdom - to get to know Him better and to "be transformed by the renewing of the mind" (Romans 12:2). This morning the focus is on how God's word must be in our heart because "everything you do flows from it".  The question is how do we get the word in our heart?  We start with a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6).  We go to God daily, and meditate on God's words day and night.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

My Prayer: What a God You are!  You were before and created all things, are in all things and hold all things together.  You protect me, You save me, and You continue to be full of mercy, compassion, patience, etc. for me even though I know I am undeserving!  Thank You Jesus for Your love and the many blessings You pour out for me.  Please forgive me for my lack of grace and patience for others.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119

Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. v127-128

God protects us from sin just as He did with Jesus in the wilderness.

Your statutes are wonderful;
    therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
    longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
    as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
    let no sin rule over me. v129-133

Rick Warren reminds us that everyone needs light, both physical and spiritual.  Jesus is that light.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the light of my life...You direct my footsteps, give me understanding, and so much more...thank You for being my God!  I can do no good things without You.  I am desperate for You.  I need You for forgiveness as my worry persists.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

Psalm 119

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. v97

I posted about scripture memorization last week, and today's verses reinforce the importance of this spiritual discipline.  "Meditating" or reflecting on God's Word all day long blesses us in many ways as stated the verses that follow:

Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser than my enemies.

 I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws,
    for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!I gain understanding from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path. 

Your word is a lamp for my feet,

    a light on my path. v98-105

When we read and study God's Word, we better understand God, His power and love, His character, and His attributes.  The more I understand God, the more likely I will be able to understand His will for my life (Romans 12:2).  What a great God we have!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You - the more I know about You the more my love for You grows. I know I need You in my life - badly.  I can do no good thing without You.  I would be lost without You.  Thank You for being a lamp unto my feet.  You bless me well beyond what I deserve - my words of thanks are insufficient for what You do for me.  I need Your forgiveness and protection.  Forgive me for being distracted by the things of this world - by my worry.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. v11

In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us that we should "not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind".  We are to do this not just to "test and approve what God’s will is", but also to protect ourselves from sin and temptation.  In Matthew 4 and Luke 4, Jesus protects himself from sin and temptation by recalling scripture from memory.  

A post here by John Piper and here by Rick Warren encourage me to focus more of my energies on scriptural memorization.  Both posts are great reads.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God worthy of my full attention and all of my energies.  You are all powerful, all knowing...and You love me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such love.  I am easily distracted by things of this world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin..and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.