2 Samuel 11:1-5, 27
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
David and Bathsheba
1 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.
2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. 5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”
27 When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.
It would seem that David did not care who knew about his sin of adultery and murder. He used palace messengers to get Bathsheba. He involved his military leader, Joab, in his murder plot. He moved the soldier’s pregnant widow into the palace.
While it appears that David was not accountable for his actions to those around him, he was accountable to God. And the Word says, “…the Lord was displeased with what David had done.”
Accountability will harness sin. Do you have someone to whom you are accountable for your private and professional life?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
SWEETS FOR YOUR DIET
Proverbs 24:13-14
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a bright future,
and your hopes will not be cut short.
We have been feasting on a scriptural diet of wisdom this week. I pray it has been sweet to your palette.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. – Proverbs 19:9b-10
Check out this link. I think you’ll enjoy. Click here: Jesus Is Sweeter (Turn on your speakers.)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.
14 In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a bright future,
and your hopes will not be cut short.
We have been feasting on a scriptural diet of wisdom this week. I pray it has been sweet to your palette.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. – Proverbs 19:9b-10
Check out this link. I think you’ll enjoy. Click here: Jesus Is Sweeter (Turn on your speakers.)
Thursday, July 16, 2009
LISTEN FOR THIS VOICE
Proverbs 1:20-21, 24-25, 28-33
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:
24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
25 You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the Lord.
30 They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
Here is a critical principle of wisdom: The person who refuses to act on what he or she knows, who refuses wise counsel, who ignores sage advice, will get in trouble. In the resulting despair that good information will haunt that person; the fact that he or she knew what wisdom advised will become a cruel joke. While the passage says wisdom will laugh and taunt (Proverbs 1:20-33), all the noise will come from inside this person’s own head. When he or she searches for some intelligent way out of the pit he or she has so foolishly dug, there will be no wisdom left.
The long-range view is a basic tenet of wisdom. The fool lives in the present moment while the sage considers the longer-term consequences of present action. Next time you hear someone saying, “I knew better,” or “Why didn’t I listen?” or “How could I have been so stupid?”, you will recognize the call of wisdom-after-the-fact.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:
24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
25 You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the Lord.
30 They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
Here is a critical principle of wisdom: The person who refuses to act on what he or she knows, who refuses wise counsel, who ignores sage advice, will get in trouble. In the resulting despair that good information will haunt that person; the fact that he or she knew what wisdom advised will become a cruel joke. While the passage says wisdom will laugh and taunt (Proverbs 1:20-33), all the noise will come from inside this person’s own head. When he or she searches for some intelligent way out of the pit he or she has so foolishly dug, there will be no wisdom left.
The long-range view is a basic tenet of wisdom. The fool lives in the present moment while the sage considers the longer-term consequences of present action. Next time you hear someone saying, “I knew better,” or “Why didn’t I listen?” or “How could I have been so stupid?”, you will recognize the call of wisdom-after-the-fact.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
WISDOM – A SPIRITUAL GIFT
1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
5 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
7 “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. 8 And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! 9 Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!
“…a wise and understanding heart…”
Wisdom is a gift of the heart. We often think being wise is an issue of the head. Knowledge … education … degrees … schooling. I am an advocate of all these. We need learned leaders but more, we need wise leaders … men and women with a heart that has been gifted by God. Solomon, being the son of the king, would have been given the finest education. He recognized that to effectively govern, he would need something more than head knowledge. He would need a heart that only God could give.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
5 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
7 “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. 8 And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! 9 Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!
“…a wise and understanding heart…”
Wisdom is a gift of the heart. We often think being wise is an issue of the head. Knowledge … education … degrees … schooling. I am an advocate of all these. We need learned leaders but more, we need wise leaders … men and women with a heart that has been gifted by God. Solomon, being the son of the king, would have been given the finest education. He recognized that to effectively govern, he would need something more than head knowledge. He would need a heart that only God could give.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
FINDING WISDOM
Job 28:12-13, 23-24, 27-28
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Wisdom
12 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
13 No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living...
23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
24 for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens...
27 Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
28 And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’”
As we observe the world, it seems that wisdom is elusive and difficult to find. Few of us grasp the quiet depth of wisdom. What is the secret and the source of wisdom? Find the answer in The Book of Job 28:12-28.
True wisdom is attained by developing within yourself the fear of the Lord. Wisdom relates to trust, humility, teachability, servanthood, responsiveness and reliance on God. To fear God is to nurture an attitude that is contrary to our human nature. This is an attitude of awe and humility before God and a walk in total dependence upon Him in every area of our life.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Wisdom
12 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
13 No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living...
23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
24 for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens...
27 Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
28 And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’”
As we observe the world, it seems that wisdom is elusive and difficult to find. Few of us grasp the quiet depth of wisdom. What is the secret and the source of wisdom? Find the answer in The Book of Job 28:12-28.
True wisdom is attained by developing within yourself the fear of the Lord. Wisdom relates to trust, humility, teachability, servanthood, responsiveness and reliance on God. To fear God is to nurture an attitude that is contrary to our human nature. This is an attitude of awe and humility before God and a walk in total dependence upon Him in every area of our life.
Monday, July 13, 2009
WISDOM – A TOOL WORTH HAVING
Proverbs 8:12-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.
Wisdom is that quality … that character trait … that enables one to live a noticeably … recognizably outstanding life.
Imagine how wonderful it would be if you, if all our leaders, called upon wisdom to guide them in every decision. What leader in their right mind would not want the priceless tool described in these verses?
Can you think of anything more important … more valuable to leadership than wisdom?
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.
Wisdom is that quality … that character trait … that enables one to live a noticeably … recognizably outstanding life.
Imagine how wonderful it would be if you, if all our leaders, called upon wisdom to guide them in every decision. What leader in their right mind would not want the priceless tool described in these verses?
Can you think of anything more important … more valuable to leadership than wisdom?
Thursday, July 02, 2009
DELIVERANCE
Matthew 8:30-32
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men
30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
Do you think Jesus knew what was about to happen? I do. Jesus knew the reaction of the herd.
I am an animal lover. I swerve to miss the squirrel running across the road. Now if I have to make a choice, say, between the safety of a bus load of kids vs. the poor little squirrel … the kids win every time.
That’s where I perceive that Jesus was. His choice was between the deliverance of two men from demon possession and the suicide plunge of the herd of pigs. Jesus would choose our deliverance every time.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men
30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
Do you think Jesus knew what was about to happen? I do. Jesus knew the reaction of the herd.
I am an animal lover. I swerve to miss the squirrel running across the road. Now if I have to make a choice, say, between the safety of a bus load of kids vs. the poor little squirrel … the kids win every time.
That’s where I perceive that Jesus was. His choice was between the deliverance of two men from demon possession and the suicide plunge of the herd of pigs. Jesus would choose our deliverance every time.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
COMPASSION
Luke 7:11-15
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. 12 A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
I watch C.S.I. Miami reruns. On an episode I watched this week, Horatio Caine is at the scene of a murder involving a young lady with a very shady background. He is quick to remind the officers at the scene that despite her shady past, the victim was still someone’s daughter. This week, we have been flooded with celebrity images of Michael and Farrah … someone’s son … someone’s daughter.
“When the Lord saw her (the mother), his heart overflowed with compassion.”
Jesus was a man of compassion. His heart was broken when He encountered the broken-hearted. As we follow Christ, do we have that level of compassion. Are we hard-hearted or broken-hearted?
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. 12 A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
I watch C.S.I. Miami reruns. On an episode I watched this week, Horatio Caine is at the scene of a murder involving a young lady with a very shady background. He is quick to remind the officers at the scene that despite her shady past, the victim was still someone’s daughter. This week, we have been flooded with celebrity images of Michael and Farrah … someone’s son … someone’s daughter.
“When the Lord saw her (the mother), his heart overflowed with compassion.”
Jesus was a man of compassion. His heart was broken when He encountered the broken-hearted. As we follow Christ, do we have that level of compassion. Are we hard-hearted or broken-hearted?
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