July 30 2009

July 30, 2009

Proverbs 30:3 → Wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One are inseparable.

Proverbs 30:5 → HCSB has 'pure' with 'refined' footnoted: the term here is about metal that has been refined/purified. Some thoughts: it's intentional, as God was intentional with His word. Also, refined metals are stronger, more useful. The Baptist Faith & Message statement 'truth without any mixture of error' is an appropriate descriptor. Refined gold is gold without any mixture of lead. God's Word is pure, contains exactly what He intends it to contain.

Proverbs 30:6 → I need to be careful on this one. It's so tempting to think that my understanding of His words need to be elevated to the same status. Not so.

Proverbs 30:11-12 → This describes many people in my generation, even in churches and church work. We refuse to bless our predecessors, dismissing them as dinosaurs, without stopping to even consider where we would be without their work. I know I've been guilty of it. The old-school SBC has gathered much of my angst. Yet I attended SBC churches all my life. I've known who Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong are, I attended a CP-supported college, learned from graduates of CP-supported seminaries. Maybe I owe a little bit of gratitude back. Does that mean we don't eventually take Mom's car keys when she can't drive anymore? No, we honor her by protecting her when she can't protect herself. But Mom's probably got more in her that I give her credit for. Kind of like Dad. He's always been decently smart, but he's sure getting even smarter. Same thing with some of the old heads that were annoying 5 years ago. They might be smarter after all.

Proverbs 30:33 → Here's a verse to prove the Bible to an irritant: twist his nose. Draw blood. Point out the truth of Scripture.

Matthew 13:31-33; 44-52:

The Kingdom of Heaven is: something that grows, shelters, protects, is valuable, is expanding, makes other things useful, a precious treasure that can be hoarded instead of shared, a complete obsession, available to all, but will not be filled with all.

Matthew 13:52 → I read this today like it was the first time I've seen it. Every scribe that has become a disciple? Huh? However, the scribes were trained in God's Word. So, one who is skilled and trained in God's Word and a disciple of the Kingdom is a leader, a possessor of treasure both new and old, and can bring them out to share.

1 Peter 3:7 → God never tells women their prayers will be hindered for mistreating their husbands. Guys, how we treat our wives is serious business!!