And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?

1 Kings 3-4

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? 1 Kings 3:7-9

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study provides an overview, and points us to the historical context of Proverbs from 1 Kings 3-4 where God gives Solomon wisdom as unmatched by any other - either before or after Solomon.  Key for me to unpack as I explore Proverbs is the inherent conflict (and how to resolve) in Proverbs, which is stated in the study guide as "[the] observations" as recorded from Solomon in Proverbs on "how God has designed the world to work...should not be taken as promises."  The conflict arises when I view this statement with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which states that "[a]ll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  If all scripture is God-breathed, how can I not see Proverbs as promises of God?  I will not answer this question today but will unpack this in the coming weeks, perhaps sooner rather than later. For now I start with the historical context for Proverbs.  God appears to Solomon at night in a dream (1 Kings 3:5) and grants him a wish and 1 Kings 6-9 records Solomon's response.  We see in v10-14 how this request pleased the Lord, and ends with an exhortation to Solomon that "if you walk in my ways..[God] will lengthen [Solomon's] days."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are sinless - yet You willingly laid down Your life for me so that I could life - now to the full on earth - and forever in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...like Solomon and any other that walks the earth - I am sinful.  My sin is great and it continues.  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 energy.  Heal Lisa from 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.      

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

Daniel 5, 9

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Daniel 9:18

Day 264 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 with a look back at Daniel during his time in exile in Babylonia.  The readings and commentary* from this morning include (1) Daniel's interpretation of writing that mysteriously appeared on the wall during a banquet of Belshazzar (Nebuchadnezzar's son), and (2) the angel Gabriel's response to Daniel's prayer of contrition following his reading of Jeremiah's prophesied 70 year exile (of which 7 more years remain).  

Arrogance once again appears as a theme as Daniel 5 describes how Belshazzar's arrogance and idol worship led to his downfall:

“But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription. “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

“Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5:22-28

The second part of the reading from this morning, which focuses on the angel Gabriel's response to Daniel's prayer of contrition following his reading of Jeremiah's prophesied 70 year exile (of which 7 more years remain), as described in my commentary*,  indicates how there is "much discussion" about the interpretation/meaning of Gabriel's message while at the same time settling on the certainty that God is always at work.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God who is always at work and I know that I am work in progress - thank You for Your great patience and mercy for me.  I am not deserving of any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues - gossip, harsh words and actions, worry, etc.  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.

So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Numbers 3-4

So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting numbered 8,580. At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Numbers 4:46-49

Day 36 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the census of Levites and their priestly role with the tabernacle.

Church leadership becomes top of mind when one thinks of the tribe of Levi - OverviewBible.com indicates that not only Aaron and Moses are Levites but also John the Baptist and Barnabas.  Building on my post from a couple of days ago regarding spiritual gifts and everyone's role in the church, I have often posted on church leadership and grown in my thinking here that it is critical that we support those in church leadership as God has put these people in their roles and they are challenging roles indeed!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has put great church leadership in my life and I have been blessed!  Thank You Jesus, I am not deserving of how You have blessed me in this way.  I sin...daily.  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.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. v12

Moses' words, as divined by God, highlight how our life here on earth is fleeting, and that we should respect God's sovereignty and power because He holds our lives in His hands.  We are then encouraged to live with the end in mind.

One of the implications of numbering our days is that we have a plan.  If our days have numbers than we are focused on completing something, something that God intends for us.  For Moses it was leading the Israelites to the promised land.  From Deuteronomy 34, we know that Moses left everything "on the table":

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12

I desire to live a life like Moses - one where the days are numbered - one where we live with a plan to finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7), living with the end in mind and living out the life that God intends for us.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God, worthy of my praise and worship...and so much more.  You are the beginning, the end, the Creator, and the One who holds all things together.  Thank You for being my God and for adopting me as Your son.  I am not worthy of such love as You have poured out and continue to pour out for me.  I am harsh with my thoughts and actions towards others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and turn towards others.  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.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. v15-16

Paul encourages us to live life with urgency because no one know the hour or the day of Christ's return (Matthew 24:36) but also because our own days are numbered (Moses - Psalms 90:12).

My Prayer: Your will, design, acts - everything You do is perfect.  I, on other hand, am far from perfect and I am broken...sinful and broken.  Yet You chose me and are doing a good work in me...I am not worth such love and blessing...I am disobedient and lazy.  Thank You that You love me and bless me but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me turn from my sin of laziness and help me turn towards You instead.  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.  Heal her and cure her of this cancer - forever.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me overcome my laziness and love and serve You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day. 

"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”

John 12

"Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” v36

Many people will say that Jesus' patience is unlimited and I don't believe this to be true...we only have the time we are living to live as Jesus commands us to live and then all believers are held accountable for their life.  If you are not a believer then unfortunately (what an understatement) you are eternally damned to hell.

God is patient of course more so than we can ever be, but He does not guarantee us that His patience will never run out.

Ultimately, as Billy Graham points here on page 21 of this PDF:

"Believers will not be judged for their sin, for Christ dealt with our sin on the cross at Calvary.   Instead, at the judgment seat, our work on earth for Christ’s Kingdom will be evaluated and rewarded according to God’s perfect righteousness and justice".

The Bible is clear elsewhere that our days are numbered - see here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have enormous patience for me and You have already provided more 2nd chances than I deserve.  I am weak, lazy, selfish, etc.  Thank You for Your patience and for loving me no less - despite my sin.  Please forgive me for such sin and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as myself and help me grow in my faith.

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Luke 12

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” v40

I have often read about how our days are numbered and how we must never relent in our obedience and service to Jesus Christ.

We must also never stop running.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You will return because "no word of God will ever fail".  You will return...not only because You have said so but also because You love all of Your children and will rescue us.  What a great God You are.  You don't need us but You suffered and died for us...knowing full well that sin and our worship is but "filthy rags".  I am not worthy of such love and blessing.  I am impatient, prideful, arrogant, slow to listen, and quick to anger...among my many sin!  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph...

Luke 3

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph...v23

Luke then proceeds to provide the reader with the lineage of Jesus all the way back to Adam.  Jesus is God's son and He was foretold throughout scripture...(see here for useful link) He is the fulfillment of prophecy.  Indeed God is faithful and His word is always true. 

As I have posted just recently also from Luke:

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always available to me no matter where I am...I can always reach out to you.  I must be mindful that Your patience is not unlimited.  If I renounce You and fail to come back to You before I die I will be forever lost...my days are numbered.  Yet as long as I claim You as my God here on earth You will always be there for me.  What a great God You are.  I am not worthy of such blessing and love...I worry far too much.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from my worry.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 24

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. v44

I have often read about how God wants us to live with the end in mind...that our days are numbered...that we are foreigners on earth...not for this place but made for us to be in heaven with Jesus.

Per Hebrews 9, I need to be "waiting for Him"...anticipating His return knowing that there must be a state of readiness.  There is an appointed time (which no one knows WHEN it will be but that it WILL arrive) and we are to be ready.  At this time, I will be judged.  

In Psalms 90 it says this:

Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom. v12.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are gracious beyond words and beyond measure...particularly full of grace for me specifically.  You know all about me, even my sin yet You came to earth to suffer and die for me so that I could have forgiveness and eternal life in heaven with You.  You are the most amazing gift of all!  I am not worthy of such a gift nor Your blessings and love.  I am lazy, selfish, angry, and impatient.  Thank You that You have loved and I know You still love me but please Jesus help me...forgive me for these sins and help me turn from these sins and help me be the man You intend for me.

“God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked,

Ecclesiastes 3 

¹⁵ Whatever is has already been,
    and what will be has been before;
    and God will call the past to account.

¹⁶ And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
    in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

¹⁷ I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment

    both the righteous and the wicked,

for there will be a time for every activity,

    a time to judge every deed.” (V15-17)

I neglect this important fact about my relationship with God and my life here on earth - that even if I believe I am being righteous (need to be careful with this assessment), I must live a life on earth that has the end in mind and in the end, I will be judged - my life in its entirety.

Our days are numbered - see entry here.  As well, our days are evil..

My Prayer: Lord, You are HOLY, perfect, and blameless.  I am not.  I sin...alot.  I sinned last night when I spoke of our President and insulted him - that is a sin.  I do that to others.  Thank You that You love me anyway Lord Jesus, but please forgive me.  Rid me of this sin and help me be more pure of heart, mind and soul.  Help me love You with all of my heart mind and soul.  Help me fulfill Your purpose for me here on earth.  Help me reach my mom. 

You reward everyone according to what they have done.

Psalm 62

David continues to feel the weight of his sin and seeks refuge in god.  The nugget I pick out for me from God is this:

¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
¹²     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.” 

Elsewhere in Psalms it is written:

Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Bottom line for me is that God is reinforcing that I need to continue to do His will - to serve and to minister to others.  Our days are numbered so we better get going...

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have ministered to me with unfailing love and grace.  I am not worthy of all this - as I confess that I don't act as You desire me to and as You tell me to.  I thank You that You love me unconditionally but please forgive me in my weakness and laziness.  Help me be more bold and help me follow and serve You wholeheartedly.