Devotions

Now You Are the Body of Christ

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From divisions and differences in the church, Paul moves to spiritual gifts. And while many focus on the diversity of these gifts, Paul actually lays them out using the trinity as the example of unity with diversity. Many have heard 1 Corinthians 12:4 (LEB) “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” the following list of “the manifestation of the spirit” Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Yet most read over 1 Corinthians 12:5–6 (LEB) and there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord, 6 and there are varieties of activities, but the same God, who works all things in all people”. Paul lays out the work of the trinity, the Spirit, the Lord (the Son, Jesus Christ), and God (the Father) as they are united as the model for us in the church in 1 Corinthians 12:20 (LEB) “But now there are many members, but one body”. While there are differences in gifts and abilities, we each have our place in the body of Christ as part of “a holy priesthood” in 1 Peter 2:5 (LEB) “And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.

Proclaim the Lord’s Death Until He Comes

1 Corinthians 11:25–34

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1–11

Paul introduces this as a discussion of spiritual gifts and this is the focus that is heavily leaned on when reading this chapter but let us look closely at Paul’s description which begins with “there are varieties of gifts” as we expect in

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 (LEB) “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, 5 and there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord, 6 and there are varieties of activities, but the same God, who works all things in all people”.

then Paul goes on to say “there are varieties of ministries” and then, “there are varieties of activities”. This chapter is a much more comprehensive description of the work of the church and our role as members of the body of Christ than simply “the manifestation of the Spirit” that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Let’s look at these verses again:

  1. The same Spirit in verse 4 is as we expect and likely as we have been taught and also likely the limit we have placed on our understanding of these verses. 1 Corinthians 12:4 (LEB) “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit”
  2. The same Lord in verse 5 introduces “varieties of ministries” and it is Jesus that sent His disciples preach the gospel of the kingdom and make disciples. 1 Corinthians 12:5 (LEB) “and there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord”
  3. The same God in verse 6 introduces “varieties of activities” and this includes all of the activities that happen “all things in all people”. 1 Corinthians 12:6 (LEB) “and there are varieties of activities, but the same God, who works all things in all people”

Paul introduces, not just “the manifestation of the Spirit” but the full work of the Godhead, the trinity in its fullness working not only to establish the body of Christ but to complete the work of redemption through us. As Paul described the trinity working as one, he goes on to describe the body in

1 Corinthians 12:14 (LEB) “For the body is not one member, but many”

and in

1 Corinthians 12:20 (LEB) “But now there are many members, but one body”

By One Spirit We Were All Baptized

1 Corinthians 12:12–20

Now You Are the Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:21–31

Paul includes in this list of those “whom God has appointed in the church” apostles and prophets and teachers as we expect and as is widely taught and then he mentions miracles and gifts of healing and helps and administration and tongues and lists these as if they were in order of importance in

1 Corinthians 12:28 (LEB) “and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues”.

and as natural human beings, we compare ourselves with others and are sometimes prideful about our gifts and abilities but Paul puts all of these thoughts in the right perspective as he transitions from individual gifts in

1 Corinthians 12:31 (LEB) “But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way”

Paul directs them all to the greatest gift which is love in 1 Corinthians 13.

These Three Remain: Faith, Hope, and Love

1 Corinthians 13:1–13

Seek for the Edification of the Church

1 Corinthians 14:1–12

As Paul begins to sum up his teaching on Spiritual gifts, he tells them to “pursue love” in

1 Corinthians 14:1 (LEB) “Pursue love, and strive for spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy”

He says this because “love never ends” in 1 Corinthians 13:8 but these other gifts are given for this age, they are not eternal in their operation but they are valuable for us in this age. In this fallen world where there is an enemy, an accuser “spiritual forces of wickedness”, we need the gifts of the Spirit in

Ephesians 6:12–13 (LEB) “because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Because of this, take up the full armor of God, in order that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand”

Finally, Paul emphasizes prophecy because we all need a sure word from the Lord, a word of edification, a word that establishes us. The word used here means “building (Mt 24:1; Mk 13:1, 2; Eph 2:21+); … construction, build up (1Co 3:9; Eph 4:12+; 1Ti 1:4 v.r.); … making more able, a building up, edification, strengthening (Ro 14:19; 15:2; 1Co 3:9; 14:3, 5, 12, 26; 2Co 5:1; 10:8; 12:19; 13:10; Eph 4:16, 29+),11 and this is the building that is the church, “a holy priesthood” for the Lord in

1 Peter 2:5 (LEB) “And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 11:25-34
  • 1 Corinthians 12:1-31
  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  • 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

References

  • 1. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Lamentations 3:22–24
The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end. They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness. “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul, “Thus I will hope on him.”
Announcements

Happy Valentines Day

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Happy Valentines Day

February is traditionally the month for Valentines. This custom of sending a note to your “Valentine” adorned with a red heart, a personal poem, an inscription that declares your love, grew in popularity in England and France during the Middle Ages. It became associated with Valentine’s Day when through a conventional belief that on February 14, halfway through the second month of the year, the birds begin to pair and select their mates. For this reason, the day has been considered specially consecrated to lovers. It is a proper occasion to write love letters and send lovers’ tokens declaring or affirming one’s love for that special person. This act of choosing one to love, of selecting a mate on St. Valentine’s Day, as the birds do each year, is romanticized by the poet, Drayton, who wrote “To His Valentine,” in which he expressed this most basic desire in God’s creatures to love and be loved: “Each little bird this tide, Doth choose her beloved peer, Which constantly abide, In wedlock all the year.”

This custom continues because we somehow understand the sanctity of wedlock, this relationship between one man and one woman. Marriage is blessed and has been from the beginning, where ‘…God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” ‘ Genesis 1:28.

Few have been able to walk in the fullness of this authority and experience the power that God has given through this simple act of joining together in love. The reason for this is that love is not just a word, a poem or a card sent on Valentine’s Day. Love involves action. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:4–8. It is this kind of ACTIVE, SELF-SACRIFICIAL love that was the real beginning of Valentine’s Day. God displayed His love in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son.

Officially known as Saint Valentine of Rome, this third-century saint of God was persecuted because he was a Christian and interrogated in person by Roman Emperor Claudius II. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him to convert him to Roman paganism to save his life. Valentine would not renounce his faith, but instead tried to convert Claudius to Christianity. As a result, Valentine was executed. However, prior to his execution, it is reported that a miracle was performed at the hands of Valentine. He prayed for his judge’s blind daughter, Julia, and sight was restored to the girl. This judge whose name was Asterius along with his entire household came to believe in Jesus. It is also said that on the eve of his execution, Valentine wrote the first “valentine” card himself, addressed to Judge Asterius’ daughter, who was no longer blind, signing it as “Your Valentine”. Because of Valentine’s obedience to God, Asterius and his family and servants experienced God’s redemptive power. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” John 15:13.

There are many around us, like Claudius, who was with Valentine that are “…strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” Ephesians 2:12. We have this account to give to them that “… God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” John 3:16–17. This is the true message of Valentine’s Day and every day: that God loves us and has declared His love for us saying, He is “our Valentine” and asking us, “Will you be Mine?”.

Happy Valentine’s Day: there is no greater love than to give your life for another.

Devotions

Become Imitators of Me Just as I am of Christ

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Paul admonishes people to 1 Corinthians 11:1 (LEB) Become imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. This isn’t to assert his authority as an apostle, although he does have this authority, Paul’s message is to direct people to the authority of Jesus Christ who is in Ephesians 1:21–23 (LEB) “above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this age but also in the coming one, 22 and he subjected all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way”. While there are many that say they are in Christ and claim they are in the “faith” as in Galatians 3:26–27 (LEB) “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”. Not all have “put on Christ” as Jesus said in Matthew 7:20 (LEB) “you will recognize them by their fruits”. Paul then recognizing divisions in the church says in 1 Corinthians 11:19 (LEB) “For indeed it is necessary that there be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may become evident among you”. We will know those among us as we observe their behavior. It is that hold fast and walk in truth of the gospel as in 1 Corinthians 11:2 (LEB) “that you remember me in all things, and just as I handed over to you the traditions, you hold fast to them” that are true “sons of God”.

Those Who Proclaim the Gospel Live From the Gospel

1 Corinthians 9:10–17

I Have Enslaved Myself to All

1 Corinthians 9:18–27

Paul has not only made the gospel free to those he encounters, but he has also sought to understand how people perceive the world around them so that he could reach them with the truth of God’s kingdom and salvation through Jesus Christ in a way they can understand it. Paul has adapted himself that “I may save some” as in

1 Corinthians 9:20–22 (LEB) I have become like a Jew to the Jews, in order that I may gain the Jews. To those under the law I became as under the law (although I myself am not under the law) in order that I may gain those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as outside the law (although I am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order that I may gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that by all means I may save some.

There are those that say you can’t minister to someone if you haven’t experienced it yourself but we have the Holy Spirit that leads us with what to say and how to say it so it isn’t about our experience. It was Jesus that took on flesh and dwelt among us. It was Jesus who experienced all of sin and death for us in

Philippians 2:6–8 (LEB) who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking the form of a slave, by becoming in the likeness of people. And being found in appearance like a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, that is, death on a cross.

While we will not have their experience, we do need to come close to them, or as Paul says, “I have become …” so we are near enough that we can participate with them and they can they will hear us as in

1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, in order that I may become a participant with it.

Our Fathers Were All Under the Cloud

1 Corinthians 10:1–13

The Cup of Blessing Which we Bless

1 Corinthians 10:14–22

Not All Things Are Profitable

1 Corinthians 10:23–33

Become Imitators of Me, Just as I am of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:1–8

Paul commends them for not only remembering him but also for “holding fast” to his teachings which he calls “the traditions” in

1 Corinthians 11:2 (LEB) “Now I praise you that you remember me in all things, and just as I handed over to you the traditions, you hold fast to them”.

While it is the same word for “traditions”, these are not though, the “traditions” Jesus was talking about that had crept into the Jewish religion in

Mark 7:6–7 (LEB) ‘So he said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me. 7 And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” ’

These traditions Jesus mentioned prevented people from following God’s word in

Mark 7:13 (LEB) “thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down, and you do many similar things such as this.”

By Paul’s teaching, by Paul’s traditions, we all come under the authority of God through Jesus Christ and it is Him that we follow in

1 Corinthians 11:3 “that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and the head of Christ is God.”

Does Not Nature Itself Teach You

1 Corinthians 11:9–16

I Received From the Lord What I Also Passed On

1 Corinthians 11:17–24

Paul’s intent is to teach them about communion, but he also makes this interesting statement in

1 Corinthians 11:18–19 (LEB) For in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For indeed it is necessary that there be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may become evident among you.

Many people claim to be Christians, yet Jesus said in

Matthew 7:20–23 (LEB) “As a result, you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?’ 23 And then I will say to them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Jesus made it clear that it wasn’t prophecy or miracles that would identify those that followed him it was the fruit of the spirit as in

Galatians 5:22–23 (LEB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law.”

Many people read only Galatians 5:22-23 yet the context continues with one other necessary step for this fruit to be made manifest and that is in

Galatians 5:24–25 (LEB) “Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh together with its feelings and its desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit”.

There are divisions among them because they are indulging their flesh and its feelings and desires and he rebukes them as “each one of you goes ahead to take his own” not thinking about the needs of those around them in.

1 Corinthians 11:21 (LEB) “For when you eat it, each one of you goes ahead to take his own supper, and one is hungry and another is drunk”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 9:18-27
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-33
  • 1 Corinthians 11:1-24
Psalm 136:1–3
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loyal love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loyal love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loyal love endures forever. To him who alone does great wonders, for his loyal love endures forever. To him who made the heavens with skill, for his loyal love endures forever. To him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his loyal love endures forever.
Devotions

I Want You to be Free From Care

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The Corinthians are caught up in the living of their natural lives and Paul wants them to be unencumbered from the things of this world saying “I want you to be free from care” in 1 Corinthians 7:32. Paul is encouraging them to focus on the those things that have eternal value. Paul reminds them in 1 Corinthians 7:29 “But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as if they do not have wives, 30 and those who weep as if they do not weep, and those who rejoice as if they do not rejoice, and those who buy as if they do not possess, 31 and those who make use of the world as if they do not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away”. These things will have no lasting value. Instead, they are to give themselves fully to the work of the kingdom as they are called to do it. 

Let Each Have Their Own Spouse

1 Corinthians 7:1–12

God made the woman for the man, but in a marriage where sexual relations produce children that are to become a “godly seed” as in

Malachi 2:15 (KJV 1900) And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

Paul tells them in

1 Corinthians 7:1 (LEB) Now concerning the things about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

and this term “‘Touch’ in such a context is often used of sexual relations (e.g. Gen. 20:6; Prov. 6:29)”1

but “contrary to what some interpreters have thought, it is not likely that the statement is advocating celibacy. Rather it is a rejection of men using women for mere sexual gratification”2

To apply this today we might read this as it is not good for men to be ogling or fondling women. Or, we could say it the way Jesus did in

Matthew 5:28 (LEB) “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.

What Paul is saying is in

1 Corinthians 7:2 (LEB) “But because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and let each woman have her own husband”.

or we could say, when a man and woman choose to marry, let them set their affection on each other in marriage which is right in the eyes of the Lord.

The Unbelieving Is Sanctified

1 Corinthians 7:12–24 

I Want You to be Free From Care

1 Corinthians 7:25–32

We each come into a relationship with Jesus Christ at different points in our lives and our place has been determined by our location and status at birth as well as our own decisions through our life. In the world, status or position or wealth may matter, but Paul discounts all of that in favor of our relationship with God and our higher priority which is to reach people around us for God’s kingdom. Paul says it this way in

1 Corinthians 7:27–28 (LEB) “Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned, and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you”.

then he says “the time is shortened” in 1 Corinthians 7:29 and “I want you to be free from care” in 1 Corinthians 7:32 because the work we have to do in our lifetime on the earth will have eternal benefit for us and even more for those that turn to Jesus Christ and are redeemed.

One Who is Married Cares for the Things of the World

1 Corinthians 7:33–40

There Is One Lord, Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 8:1–13 

You Must Not Muzzle an Ox While it is Threshing

1 Corinthians 9:1–9

We often hold those in a public ministry position to a higher standard and Paul reminds them that he has the right to take a wife just as any man does in

1 Corinthians 9:5 (LEB) “Do we not have the right to take along a sister as wife, like the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”

and yes, “We know from Mt 8:14, that Cephas (Peter) was a married man.”3 We also know that Paul also had supported himself and those with him by working so the gospel would be free to those that he was preaching to in

2 Thessalonians 3:8 (LEB) “nor did we eat bread from anyone without paying, but with toil and labor, we were working night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you”

but any minister has the right to live by the proceeds of their message as Jesus sent his disciples in

Luke 9:2–4 (LEB) and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And he said to them, “Take along nothing for the journey—neither a staff, nor a traveler’s bag, nor bread, nor money, nor to have two tunics apiece. 4 And into whatever house you enter, stay there and depart from there.

Paul now declares, don’t we have the same right? in

1 Corinthians 9:6 (LEB) “Or do only I and Barnabas not have the right to refrain from working?”

then he reminds them of what is written in the law in

1 Corinthians 9:9 (LEB) ‘For in the law of Moses it is written, “You must not muzzle an ox while it* is threshing.” It is not about oxen God is concerned, is it?’

None of them would starve their oxen so how can they hold back from those ministering God’s word to them?

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 1 Corinthians 7:1-40
  • 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
  • 1 Corinthians 9:1-17

References

  • 1. Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 105). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 2. Wilkins, M. J. (2017). The Message and Lifestyle of the Apostles. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1820). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
  • 3. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 278). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Song of Solomon 2:4
He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love.
Devotions

Every Word of God is Flawless

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God has spoken and revealed himself through the written record that we have, the Bible an in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 17 in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work”. And this would have been enough, but God was not satisfied to stand afar off, He has also given us prophecy which is a word, a message, a revelation of God’s will and purpose for our life and future. These insights are to show us things to come and to prepare us for the path God has for us as in 2 Peter 1:21 (LEB) “for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God”. Our will though is still involved. The children of Israel delayed God’s prophetic word in Joshua 5:6 (LEB) For forty years the Israelites traveled in the wilderness until all the nation, the warriors that left Egypt, perished, because they did not listen to the voice of Yahweh” but God is gracious and while Proverbs 29:26 (LEB) “Many are those who seek the favor of a ruler, but from Yahweh one obtains justice”. Whether we listen or not, God is still there and Proverbs 30:5 (LEB) “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield for him who takes refuge in him”. 

When There is No Prophecy

Proverbs 29:15–18

Discipline is important in our development as responsible and “wise” social beings in

Proverbs 29:15 (LEB) As for a rod and reproof, they will give wisdom, but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.

Without discipline, “transgression will increase” in Proverbs 29:16 and these “wicked” will fall. This discipline is the training given to children by their parents. There is though, another kind of discipline that comes by doing the will of God. This certainly happens as we learn God’s will by reading the written word and acting on it because there is power in what God has already said. Prophecy though is the power of God manifested through what God is saying to us right now. This manifestation, a prophetic word, often shows us something to come and then we go and do it as God did with Moses in

Exodus 3:9–10 (LEB) “And now, look, the cry of distress of the Israelites has come to me, and also I see the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 And now come, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and you must bring my people, the Israelites, out from Egypt.”

It then took time for Moses to carry out this command from God and part of that time was convincing the children of Israel that God was with them and would deliver them. The prophet brings God’s word for the present situation as a way of building faith to believe that God will act and the initial vision, the initial word is followed by the power of God to do it. Without prophecy, the people lose faith, they lose hope and go their own way in

Proverbs 29:18 (LEB) When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.

This is why Jesus told his disciples to wait until the power came, the Holy Spirit in

Luke 24:49 (LEB) “And behold, I am sending out what was promised by my Father upon you, but you stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

A Man of Anger Will Stir Strife

Proverbs 29:19–23

From Yahweh One Obtains Justice

Proverbs 29:24–27 

From Yahweh One Obtains Justice

Proverbs 29:24–27

There is a saying that “It is not what you know but who you know” and it suggests that to gain in your own life you need favor from people in authority or those with influence. But if you are living from the scraps from someone else’s table, that favor you may experience can just as quickly go to the next person that comes along because “such men are themselves the servants of appetites and pressures (cf. Acts 24:25–27), irrationality (1 Cor. 2:6, 8) and instability (Ps. 146:3, 4) which rob their interventions of all trustworthiness”1. True favor, justice that lasts is from the Lord in

Proverbs 29:26 (LEB) Many are those who seek the favor of a ruler, but from Yahweh one obtains justice.

 

Every Word of God is Flawless

Proverbs 30:1–6

The speaker in these Proverbs recognizes that he falls far short of understanding God and His ways in

Proverbs 30:2–3 (LEB) “Certainly I am more stupid than a man, and the understanding of humankind is not for me. 3 And I have not learned wisdom, nor will I know knowledge of the Holy One”.

or as it says in

Isaiah 55:8–9 (LEB) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” declares Yahweh. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

but God’s ways are not beyond finding out because God is speaking to us by His Spirit and then confirming His word to us as in

Isaiah 55:11–12 (LEB) “so shall be my word that goes out from my mouth. It shall not return to me without success, but shall accomplish what I desire and be successful in the thing for which I sent it. 12 For you shall go out in joy, and you shall be led in peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you, rejoicing and all the trees of the field shall clap hands”.

We may not know it all or understand it all, but we can say this as it says in

Proverbs 30:5 (LEB) “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield for him who takes refuge in him”.

Keep Falsehood and a Lying Word Far From Me

Proverbs 30:7–10

There is a Generation That is Pure in its Own Eyes

Proverbs 30:11–14

They Are Not Satisfied

Proverbs 30:15–19

Under Three Things the Earth Trembles

Proverbs 30:20–23

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Proverbs 29:15-27
  • Proverbs 30:1-23

References

  • 1. Kidner, D. (1964). Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 17, p. 169). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
John 1:16–18
For from his fullness we have all received, and grace after grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the one and only, God, the one who is in the bosom of the Father—that one has made him known.
Devotions

The Righteous Will Sing and Rejoice

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Proverbs offers wisdom in the ways of behavior that lead to favor and success and blessing. It is about faithfulness and discipline and learning to apply this knowledge, this wisdom. The word often used for wisdom is “ḥokmâ (which) can refer to either practical skills of craftsmanship or the skills of sound judgment and discernment in navigating the situations of daily life.” 3 Those that find this wisdom are “the righteous” and they, in Proverbs 29:6 (LEB) “the righteous will sing and rejoice”. There are also those that are described as “evil”, “greedy” who in Proverbs 28:25 (LEB) “The greedy person will stir up strife”. The same word greedy here is translated “who broadens his throat” in Habakkuk 2:5 (LEB) “How much less the defiant; the arrogant, treacherous man? He who broadens his throat like Sheol, and who, like death, is not satisfied, and who gathers to himself all the nations, and harvested for himself all the peoples, will not succeed”. When these people speak, they often sound authoritative, as if they know what they are talking about because of their arrogance. For the righteous, this can be hard to bear, but we, in Proverbs 29:11 (LEB) “the wise holds back in quiet” and we trust God as in 1 Peter 5:6–7 (LEB) “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the right time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares for you”.

A Man of Faithfulness Has Abundant Blessings

Proverbs 28:16–20

Showing Partiality is Not Good

Proverbs 28:21–24 

He Who Trusts in the Lord Will be Enriched

Proverbs 28:25–28

Two types of people are described here in

Proverbs 28:25 (LEB) The greedy person will stir up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.

First is the greedy where “Greedy is literally “enlarged throat” (Is 5:14) or appetite (Hab 2:5); see the Hebrew word nephesh”1 These are the ones that are “like death, is not satisfied” in

Habakkuk 2:5 (LEB) How much less the defiant; the arrogant, treacherous man? He who broadens his throat like Sheol, and who, like death, is not satisfied, and who gathers to himself all the nations, and harvested for himself all the peoples, will not succeed.

and second is “he who trusts in Yahweh” who “will be enriched” which is to “thrive, formally, grow fat, i.e., be in a healthy state as an extension of eating well and putting on a weight to give a sleek appearance (Dt 31:20+); (piel) give health (Pr 15:30+)2

By Justice a King Gives Stability to a Land

Proverbs 29:1–5 

The Righteous Will Sing and Rejoice

Proverbs 29:6–10

Throughout Proverbs there is this contrast between “the righteous” and “the wicked” as in

Proverbs 29:6 (LEB) In transgression, an evil man is a snare, but the righteous will sing and rejoice.

The righteous are also called “the wise”, “the upright”, “the blameless”, “the upright”. These righteous are the ones that “will sing and rejoice”, that “know the case of the poor” that “turn away wrath”.

The wicked are also called “evil”, “men of scoffing”, “a foolish man”, “men of blood”. These wicked are the ones that are “a snare”, that don’t “understand”, that “set a city aflame”, where “there is rankling and ridicule, but there is no relief”, that hate “the blameless”, that “seek the life of the upright”.

It isn’t that difficult for us to identify people in the world that are “evil”, angry, bitter, abusive, but Jesus also warned that there would be those coming in the name of God, that we should “beware of false prophets” and that we would “recognize them by their fruits” in

Matthew 7:15–17 (LEB) “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits: they do not gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles, do they? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit”.

 

The Wise Holds Back in Quiet

Proverbs 29:11–14

Here is a contrast between the wise and the fool in

Proverbs 29:11 (LEB) A fool gives all his breath, but the wise holds back in quiet.

or it says it this way in

Proverbs 10:19 (LEB) In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

Is anyone listening when you are talking or are you just talking to hear your own voice? Talking is for the purpose of communicating and the first and most important part of communicating is that the person you are talking to is listening. If you have their attention, honor them by speaking something that matters to them. Have you ever met someone and they unload their drama for the day? They are only interested in what is happening in their life.

But there is also another kind of conversation where they only tell you what you want to hear so they can get what they want. This mainly happens if you are in a position of some authority as in

Proverbs 29:12 (LEB) A ruler listening to a word of falsehood, all his officials are wicked.

It is important to recognize the truth and to treat even the poor with truthfulness as in

Proverbs 29:14 (LEB) A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor, his throne will be established forever.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Proverbs 28:16-28
  • Proverbs 29:1-14

References

  • 1. Stabnow, D. K. (2017). Proverbs. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 997). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
  • 2. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 3. Nettelhorst, R. P. (2014). Wisdom. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Ezekiel 34:15–16
I myself will feed my flock and I myself will allow them to lie down,” declares the Lord Yahweh. “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the scattered, and I will bind up the one hurt, and I will strengthen the sick; and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed her with justice.”