1 Corinthians 13

WEEK 6                                         1 Corinthians 13

THURSDAY  Reflections

In 1967 the Beatles sang, "All you need is love." This chapter disagrees it says Faith, Hope, and Love endure. This being said it does say love is the greatest. The problem is often times people don't know what love is. 1 Corinthians 13 gives us not just a warning about how worthless everything is people do without love, but a list of what love does do. This is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, but it isn't the only chapter. For like the final verse says there is also faith and hope. We need all of it. Not just love.

 On a side note:1 Corinthians 13 is often read at weddings, but looking at the number of divorces makes me think it really isn't listened to. This isn't the fault of the chapter. It's those who listen and don't apply it. Read chapter 13 again and ask yourself, "Am I living like this?"

1Co 13:1-13
(1)  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
(2)  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
(3)  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
(4)  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(5)  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
(6)  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
(7)  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
(8)  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
(9)  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
(10)  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
(11)  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(12)  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(13)  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

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Proverbs 16

WEEK  6                                           Proverbs 16

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

There is a load of great advice in this chapter but I want to focus on something more controversial. Verse 4 seems to indicate God has created evil people to do what they do. This verse has been used by people antagonistic to the Bible as proof that God is horrible. It is also a verse that some have struggled with within Christianity because they can't understand how God can make evil and still be good.

 

Of course, if you believe that God destined everything to happen the way it has and humanity really doesn't have free will then this verse proves your point. I find it disturbing that many evolutionists and atheists hold to this same idea but blame nature rather than God. However, that isn't what this verse is saying.

 

God, being who He is, doesn't just react to the free will of men.  He already had a plan to change the work of evil people into something good. It isn't that He has made the person evil. He makes the actions of the person work for a greater good though we don't always see it.

 

The disciples could not imagine the evil of the cross as anything good the Saturday after Jesus' crucifixion. God didn't make the religious leaders kill Jesus. God didn't force Pilate to order his death. God didn't put Jesus on the cross. Men did, but God made their actions serve His ultimate purpose. In this way, God makes the wicked for the day of evil. He doesn't make them bad, he just uses them for his own purpose.

 

It is sometimes hard to see this when we are in the evil day, or when we see evil in history, but God works for a bigger plan. Like a great general, God is working to win a war, not just a battle.

Pro 16:1-33
(1)  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
(2)  All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
(3)  Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
(4)  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
(5)  Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
(6)  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
(7)  When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
(8)  Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
(9)  A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
(10)  A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
(11)  A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.
(12)  It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
(13)  Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
(14)  The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
(15)  In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
(16)  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
(17)  The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
(18)  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
(19)  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
(20)  He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
(21)  The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
(22)  Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
(23)  The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
(24)  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
(25)  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
(26)  He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
(27)  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
(28)  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
(29)  A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
(30)  He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
(31)  The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
(32)  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
(33)  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

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Judges 16

WEEK  6                                                 Judges 16

TUESDAY  Reflections

What Samson and most people who read this story get wrong is the source of Samson's strength. Samson had it wrong and so do most readers. Samson's strength was not in his hair. Samson's hair represented the last part of the Nazarite vow which Samson had not broken. Samson's strength came from the Spirit of God and was contingent on God's mercy and Samson's obedience. God's grace was far greater than Samson's obedience. Disobedience will only be allowed so long.

 

Samson, we can assume, thought that since the other parts of the vow had been broken it was his hair which was the key to his strength. Verse 20 make it clear it wasn't the hair but the presence of the Lord. He never mentioned God when speaking with Delilah. He thought it was all about the hair. 

 

Samson's hair grew back, but his strength never returned until he called out to God. This is a  reminder God is the source of our strength.

Jdg 16:1-31
(1)  Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
(2)  And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
(3)  And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.
(4)  And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
(5)  And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.
(6)  And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
(7)  And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
(8)  Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
(9)  Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.
(10)  And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.
(11)  And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
(12)  Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.
(13)  And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.
(14)  And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
(15)  And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
(16)  And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
(17)  That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
(18)  And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.
(19)  And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
(20)  And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
(21)  But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
(22)  Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.
(23)  Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
(24)  And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
(25)  And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
(26)  And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
(27)  Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
(28)  And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
(29)  And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
(30)  And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
(31)  Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

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Judges 15

WEEK  6                                             Judges 15

MONDAY  Reflections

In Chapter 15 we see again people acting foolishly and God's faithfulness.

 

Samson, we see at the beginning of this chapter uses the strength God gave him not to free his people but to get vengeance. I can easily point my finger at Samson and say what a waste of power, however, is this waste of power any worse than how sometimes we waste the gifts of life God has given us? Yet God is patient with us, though we throw away our gifts and life toward foolish aims. Samson isn't worse than any of us it is just easier to see the waste because of the great potential. We will never have the strength of Samson, but we are just as responsible for what we do have.

 

The act of disobedience in this chapter comes when Samson takes the fresh jawbone of a dead donkey and kills the Philistines. Part of the vow of a Nazarite was never to touch anything dead and not even to go near them. Samson didn't need this weapon. He could have done the work with his bare hands or with something else he found. Since it was a fresh kill, it couldn't be said that Samson thought it was just a stick. There was no excuse and with the poem, he said afterward, I have to wonder if he picked up the jawbone on purpose, but that is just speculation. What matters is that Samson again broke his Nazarite vow.

 

The great act of God's grace comes in two ways, strength and provision. God gave Samson the strength which was promised him and allowed him to kill the Philistine oppressors even though he was using an unholy object. The second is that God gave him the provision of water after the battle. This shows me that just because God is gracious, it doesn't mean the person is doing right. What Samson and we need to realize is that just because God has given us grace doesn't mean he is pleased. God even allowed Samson to judge Israel for twenty years.  I have to believe this was God's mercy to Samson and the children of Israel.

 

In spite of this long period of God's grace, we learn in the next chapter that Samson hadn't changed his ways. Things were finally going to catch up to him as he goes too far. For the moment, we need to realize the truth that God is longsuffering and patient with those who should know better. It is also a reminder that just because someone (or you) seems to be blessed by God it doesn't mean that God is pleased with everything they do.

 

Jdg 15:1-20
(1)  But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.
(2)  And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.
(3)  And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
(4)  And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
(5)  And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.
(6)  Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
(7)  And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
(8)  And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.
(9)  Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.
(10)  And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.
(11)  Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
(12)  And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.
(13)  And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.
(14)  And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
(15)  And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
(16)  And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.
(17)  And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.
(18)  And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
(19)  But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.

(20)  And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

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Jeremiah 15

WEEK  5                                            Jeremiah 15

SATURDAY  Reflections

DONE!

INTRO: How many of you have ever been done?

      You have so frustrated you said, “I’m Done!”

          You made your parents so angry...

          Or your children/relatives made you so angry you were done?

          Or maybe it was your work?

          Or a church?

God is Done/ Finished

 Don’t Pray Jeremiah 7:16-19; 14:11

Not even Moses or Samuel prayed would it help. Jer. 15:1-4

The story isn’t over we’ll see that in chapter 16.

(notes from a message by  Rev. Samuel Padget)

Jer 15:1-21
(1)  Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
(2)  And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.
(3)  And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.
(4)  And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.
(5)  For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?
(6)  Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.
(7)  And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.
(8)  Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.
(9)  She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.
(10)  Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
(11)  The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
(12)  Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?
(13)  Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.
(14)  And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.
(15)  O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
(16)  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
(17)  I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.
(18)  Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?
(19)  Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.
(20)  And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
(21)  And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

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