Proverbs for Life

Proverbs 11:11 – “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”

A proverbial statement might be defined as a short, meaningful saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life.  In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often constructed with two lines, presenting a comparison or contrast.  Proverbs 11:11 presents a truth of contrast.  Whereas the blessed communication of the upright cause a city to be exalted, the grievous communication of the wicked cause a city to be overthrown.

Meditations in Jeremiah

Jeremiah 23:1-2 pronounces the woe of our Lord’s judgment against ungodly pastors, saying, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.  Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.”

However, in a present society that is focused upon and driven by emotionalism, many will interpret this passage within that societal context.  Many will view the condemned scattering of the sheep by these pastors as their manner in hurting the feelings of the sheep.  Many will view the condemned driving away of the sheep by these pastors as their manner of rudeness toward the sheep.  Many will view the condemned lack of visiting the sheep by these pastors as their manner in neglecting to visit the sheep in order to comfort and appease their hurt feelings and emotional burdens.

However, such a perspective of Jeremiah 23:1-2 would not be accurate within the context of Jeremiah 23 itself.  Even so, Jeremiah 23:3-8 reveals our Lord’s promise and prophesy unto Israel to provide them with godly shepherds and to raise up the Messiah who will rule for their sake over the earth as “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  Then in Jeremiah 22:9-40 the chapter returns to the subject of condemnation against the ungodly pastors (for Israel – ungodly prophets and priests).  Herein we find our Lord’s definition concerning their ungodly practice of scattering, driving away, and not visiting the sheep.  Furthermore, herein we find our Lord’s fierce wrath against them for this ungodly shepherding.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to four previous sermons:
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 2) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 3) - Romans 12:2
             Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 4) - Romans 12:2

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  The first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the activities that this world has.  Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does.  We are to “be not conformed to this world.”

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world?  God’s holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question.  Already in the first three parts of this message (see above), we have considered nine of these answers.  We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, (3) because this world is willfully without God, (4) because this world is under Satan’s deception, (5) because this world is following Satan’s direction, (6) because this world is evil and wicked by nature, (7) because we have been delivered out of this world, (8) because we are not of this world, but of the Lord our God, and (9) because we are to be the spiritual light of the world.

Meditations in Jeremiah

Jeremiah 22:21 reads, “I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear.  This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.”

As I read this, it appeared to present an almost perfect commentary concerning the character of our United States’ society.  Yet this commentary is not simply appropriate concerning our ungodly society, but also concerning the worldly character of so many churches in the United States.  In its immediate context, Jeremiah 22:21 is included within a divine pronouncement of judgment against two kings of Judah.  Jeremiah 22:13-19 presents our Lord’s judgment against Jehoiakim king of Judah.  Then Jeremiah 22:14-30 presents our Lord’s judgment against Coniah (Jehoiachin), the son of Jehoiakim.  Since our Lord’s judgment is pronounced against both men for the same basic reason, let us consider the issue as a single context in relation to its application upon our present-day society and our present-day churches.

Proverbs for Life

Proverbs 28:4 – “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.”

In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often presented in two lines, presenting a comparison or contrast.  Proverbs 28:4 presents a truth of contrast.  Whereas those who forsake the righteousness law of God’s Holy Word will endorse the wicked, those who keep the righteous law of God’s Holy Word will contend with the wicked.

Proverbs for Life

This is a companion post to a series of previous posts:  The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 1) 
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 2)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 3)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 4)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 5)
                                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 6)

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life.  In the book of the Proverbs, the actual compilation of proverbial statements begins with chapter 10 and extends to the end of the book.  In the following series of posts, I wish to present those proverbial statements that specifically mention our relationship with the Lord.  Certainly, every proverb of God’s Holy Word concerns our relationship with the Lord our God; for every proverb concerns the character of our walk before Him.  Yet the following list of proverbial statements make specific mention of the Lord and of our relationship to Him.  In the first six parts of this study (see above), we considered passages from Proverbs 10-24.  In this part of the study, we shall consider passages from Proverbs 25-31. 

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon:  Be Not Conformed to This World (Part 1) - Romans 12:2    

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  This first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren, we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks, feel like this world feels, behave like this world behaves, talk like this world talks, or look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophy, the same priorities, the same purposes, the same desires, the same interests, the same habits, or the same activities that this world has.  Brethren, we are not to make our decisions or have our mind set like this world does.  We are to “be not conformed to this world.”

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world”?  God’s Holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question.  Already in the first part of the message, we have considered three of these answers.  We are to “be not conformed to this world” (1) because this world stands opposed to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, (2) because this world stands opposed to true Christianity and the true followers of Christ, and (3) because this world is willfully without God.

Weekly Sermon

This sermon is a companion to previous sermons:   By the Mercies of God - Romans 12:1
                                                                                  I Beseech You Therefore, Brethren - Romans 12:1-2
                                                                                  A Living Sacrifice - Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

In Romans 12:1 God the Holy Spirit pleads with us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord our God.  Then in verse 2 God the Holy Spirit gives us two commands that we must obey if we are truly to present ourselves to live unto the Lord our God.  The first of these two commands is found in the opening portion of the verse – “And be not conformed to this world.”  The word “conformed” means “to be formed together,” that is – “to be made into the same form, or to be brought into agreement.”  Brethren as God’s people we are not to have the same form as this present evil world; and we are not to be in agreement with this present evil world.  We are not to think like this world thinks.  We are not to feel like this world feels.  We are not to behave like this world behaves.  We are not to talk like this world talks.  We are not to look like this world looks.  We are not to have the same philosophies that this world has.  We are not to have the same priorities that this world has.  We are not to have the same purposes that this world has.  We are not have the same desires and interests that this world has.  We are not to have the same habits and activities that this world has.  We are not to make our decisions like this world does.  We are not to be conformed unto this world.

Yet the question might be asked – Why are we not to be conformed to this world, and how important is it to our Christian lives that we not be conformed unto this world”?  God’s Holy Word reveals a great number of answers to this question, and these answers from God’s holy Word are worthy of our notice.  Let us then begin to consider them.

Outlines in Psalms

This outline is a companion to two previous outlines:  It Is A Good Thing - Psalm 92:1-15
                                                                                    To Sing Praises unto Thy Name, O Most High - Psalm 92

  I.  The Condition of the Wicked. (Psalm 92:6-7)
 II.  The Confidence of the Righteous. (Psalm 92:8-11, 15)
III.  The Continuance of the Righteous.  (Psalm 92:12-14)

Proverbs for Life

This is a companion post to a previous post:  The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 1) 
                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 2)
                                                                        The Proverbs & Our Relationship with the Lord (Part 3)

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a significant, substantial truth for life.  In the book of the Proverbs, the actual compilation of proverbial statements begins with chapter 10 and extends to the end of the book.  In the following series of posts, I wish to present those proverbial statements that specifically mention our relationship with the Lord.  Certainly, every proverb of God’s Holy Word concerns our relationship with the Lord our God; for every proverb concerns the character of our walk before Him.  Yet the following list of proverbial statements make specific mention of the Lord and of our relationship to Him.  In the first two parts of this study (see above), we considered passages from Proverbs 10-16.  In this part of the study, we shall consider passages from Proverbs 17-19. 

Outlines in Psalms

This is a companion outline to two previous outlines:  
    Fret Not Thyself Because of Evildoers – Psalm 37:1-2, 7-10
    Trust in the Lord, and Do Good – Psalm 37:3-8, 27, 34
    But the Salvation of the Righteous is of the LORD – Psalm 37

The purpose of Psalm 37 is to exhort and encourage God’s faithful servants concerning the prosperity of the wicked, which certainly appears at first to be an unfair and unrighteous reality of this life.  Indeed, it can be a great frustration unto the hearts of the faithful to see “the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree” (Psalm 37:35).  In fact, if we dwell on this frustration, it can easily and quickly turn us back from our walk with the Lord and lead us down into the pit of sinful iniquity (See Psalm 73:2-3).  So then, how does Psalm 37 exhort us and encourage us concerning this matter?  In three previous outlines (see above), we considered the prohibition concerning our attitude at the prosperity of the wicked, the proclamation concerning the judgment of the Lord against the wicked, the precept concerning our walk with the Lord, and the promise concerning the favor of the Lord upon the righteous.  In this outline we shall consider the practice of the wicked and of the righteous and the principle concerning righteousness’ being the better way.

Meditations in Exodus

This meditation is a companion to a previous meditation:  And the People Multiplied – Exodus 1

As we have noted in a previous meditation (see above), in Exodus the Lord our God began the process of fulfilling his promises unto His chosen people, the children of Israel.  Even so, three times Exodus 1 indicates that the children of Israel multiplied in number and might.  Thus the book of Exodus begins with a demonstration of our Lord God’s faithfulness unto His own. 

Yet as the Lord our God moves in faithfulness to bless His people, the world often moves in hatred to afflict God’s people.  This present evil world sets itself against the Lord, against His authority, and against His will.  Therefore, this present evil world also sets itself against the Lord’s people with hatred and persecution (John 15:18-25).  Yet even in the midst of this world’s hateful persecution, our Lord continues faithful unto His faithful servants.  Even so, in six acts Exodus 1 reveals the conflict between the Lord’s faithfulness for His people and the world’s hatred against God’s people.

Meditations in Jeremiah

This meditation is a companion to two previous meditations:  
        We Acknowledge Our Wickedness - Jeremiah 14:7-9, 20-22
        Do It For Thy Name's Sake - Jeremiah 14:7-9, 20-22

In two previous meditations (see above), we considered the expression of humble repentance that was given in Jeremiah 14:7-9, 20-22.  Yet many of God’s people in Jeremiah’s time refused to follow the way of repentance.  To these rebellious individuals, our Lord delivered His judgment in Jeremiah 14:10-12.