Proverbs 20

WEEK   22                                          Proverbs 20

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." This is just one reason why I do not drink. I am not deceived, for me to drink would be for me to become an alcoholic. Too often, people like to believe that they can handle it. I'm not drunk, I just get buzzed. Jesus drank wine. Wine is good for you (in limited amounts, but that is often forgotten). Yes, you might disagree with my ideas on complete abstinence from alcohol, but be very careful you aren't deceiving yourself with your own drinking. The consequences of being wrong could be fatal.

 

This isn't the only piece of wisdom in this chapter. What other verse gets your attention or pricks your conscience?

Pro 20:1-30
(1)  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
(2)  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
(3)  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
(4)  The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
(5)  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
(6)  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
(7)  The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
(8)  A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
(9)  Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
(10)  Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
(11)  Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
(12)  The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
(13)  Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
(14)  It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
(15)  There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
(16)  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
(17)  Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
(18)  Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
(19)  He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
(20)  Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
(21)  An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
(22)  Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
(23)  Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
(24)  Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
(25)  It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
(26)  A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
(27)  The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
(28)  Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
(29)  The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
(30)  The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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Joel 3

WEEK  22                                               Joel 3

TUESDAY  Reflections

Because of the sins of Judah and Israel God removed his protection and the nations because of the sins of Judah and Israel God removed his protection and the nations surrounding them attacked. This might not have been an issue if they had not used their opportunity to do more than just conquer. They used this opportunity to abuse and mistreat the people of God, and as we see in verse 19, they abused the innocent.

 

A lesson I see here is that the nations were given opportunities by God to attack, but they abused this opportunity. For me, I can't help but think that in my dealings, I might have opportunities given to me because others haven't done right, but this doesn't mean I need to abuse them. For example, a person doesn't do right in his business, and a business person has the opportunity to buy the business because it is failing. The right thing to do would be to take the opportunity, but not to abuse the person selling by making them take an offer that steals from them. Yes, they may have no choice but to sell it for whatever they can get, but this doesn't mean you purposely offer them less than what you would otherwise. God is, after all, keeping track. Yes, building a factory in a foreign country might mean lower wages because there is a lower standard of living, but this wouldn't mean you don't offer a reasonable wage. I could give other examples, but you understand. God is keeping a record; be righteous in your dealings.

 

Again, the words of Joel, like those of other prophets, end in a promise. God is giving hope. He has tried earlier in this prophecy to call the people back to him. God is demonstrating his mercy, not his vengeance. 

Joe 3:1-21
(1)  For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
(2)  I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
(3)  And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
(4)  Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;
(5)  Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:
(6)  The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.
(7)  Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:
(8)  And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
(9)  Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
(10)  Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
(11)  Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
(12)  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
(13)  Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
(14)  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
(15)  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
(16)  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
(17)  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
(18)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
(19)  Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
(20)  But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
(21)  For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

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2 Kings 7

WEEK  22                                          2 Kings 7

MONDAY  Reflections

There are two lessons in this chapter I would love to dive into: first, seeing but not partaking; second, risking when there is no risk. Instead of picking on one, I will highlight both.

 

The king's adviser didn’t believe God could perform a miracle like Elisha prophesied. Elisha said he would see the answer but would not partake of the blessing. This isn't just a warning for him but for people today. People say God can't save someone like me, or God can't do that. Those who choose disbelief won't receive, but in eternity they will understand what God was capable of, and maybe even in this world.

 

The lepers made the observation: if we stay here, we die; if we go to the enemy, we might live; but if we risk leaving, there is a chance. Staying where they were was a death sentence, without question. So why not take a chance? It makes sense, but many people refuse to take a chance in their lives even when staying where they are means nothing changes. It is a type of death, if not actual death. However, too many people are so familiar with the place they are in that they won't take the chance and change. It isn't easy. We don't know how long the lepers were there at the gate, but they finally said, we might as well try, and because of it, they were saved, as was the city.

2Ki 7:1-20
(1)  Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
(2)  Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
(3)  And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
(4)  If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
(5)  And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
(6)  For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
(7)  Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
(8)  And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
(9)  Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
(10)  So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
(11)  And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
(12)  And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
(13)  And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
(14)  They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
(15)  And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
(16)  And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
(17)  And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
(18)  And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
(19)  And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
(20)  And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

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Ezekiel 2

WEEK   21                                              Ezekiel 2

SATURDAY  Reflections

"Get up, I'm going to talk to you!" So begins the call of Ezekiel. There seem to be no niceties. God is very blunt and to the point. This may be because of the situation Ezekiel and the people are in. Perhaps, it has to do with the messages God has for Ezekiel. Whatever the reason God isn't messing around. God tells Ezekiel the people he will be prophesying to probably won't receive it but he's to do it anyway. God wants the people to know there is a prophet and He is trying to reach them if they are willing to listen. Once Ezekiel is done, the people won't be able to say God didn't warn them.

Eze 2:1-10
(1)  And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
(2)  And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
(3)  And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
(4)  For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
(5)  And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
(6)  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
(7)  And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
(8)  But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
(9)  And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
(10)  And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Joel 2

WEEK   21                                                  Joel 2

FRIDAY  Reflections

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand—" Joel 2:1

 

There is a chorus that I sang a lot in the late 1980s and ’90s, it was called Blow the Trumpet in Zion. It talked about God’s great army that was going to carry out His word. It is an upbeat song that can get you excited. After the song, we would blow our shofars, ram’s horns, and it felt great.

 

The scripture it was derived from was Joel 2. The problem with using this scripture that way is that it has nothing to do with Israel's army or the church. It has to do with the destruction coming on Israel. The blowing of the trumpet was a warning to Israel. It wasn’t the charge of God’s victorious people.

 

Does this mean I won’t sing this song again? No, it’s a cool tune.  God’s army can do whatever God has called them to do, be they a band of locusts or the church. However,  we need to realize that when we hear the horn blow or whatever God uses to get our attention, we need to understand what it means for us. We need to ask if this is a warning or a call to action. 

Joe 2:1-32
(1)  Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
(2)  A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
(3)  A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
(4)  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
(5)  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
(6)  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
(7)  They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
(8)  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
(9)  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
(10)  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
(11)  And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
(12)  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
(13)  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
(14)  Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
(15)  Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
(16)  Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
(17)  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
(18)  Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
(19)  Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
(20)  But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
(21)  Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
(22)  Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
(23)  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
(24)  And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
(25)  And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
(26)  And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
(27)  And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
(28)  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
(29)  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
(30)  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
(31)  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

(32)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

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