PSALM 26
David’s prayer for the LORD to test his motives verse 1- 2
Judge me – O LORD – for I have walked in mine integrity
I have trusted also in the LORD
THEREFORE I shall not slide
Examine me – O LORD – and prove me
try my reins and my heart
David’s prayer of recognition of God’s love for him verse 3
For YOUR loving kindness is before mine eyes
and I have walked in YOUR truth
David’s prayer of his relationship with the wicked verse 4- 5
I have NOT sat with vain persons
neither will I go in with dissemblers
I have hated the congregation of evildoers
and will not sit with the wicked
David’s prayer of worship verse 6- 8
I will wash mine hands in innocence
so will I compass YOUR altar
O LORD – that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving
and tell of all YOUR wondrous works
LORD – I have loved the habitation of YOUR house
and place where YOUR honor dwell
David’s prayer for mercy verse 9- 12
Gather NOT my soul with sinners
NOR my life with bloody men
in whose hands is mischief
and their right hand is full of bribes
But as for me – I will walk in mine integrity – redeem me
and be merciful unto me – my foot stands in an even place
in the congregations will I bless the LORD
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. (4571 “slide” [ma’ad] means to slip, to shake, totter, turn or waver)
DEVOTION: There are two directions that our Christian life can go. We can either move forward or backwards. There is no status quo with our relationship with the LORD. HE wants us to daily meditate on HIS Word. HE wants us to daily walk with HIM through an active prayer life. HE wants us to use our gift in the local church and manifest the fruit of the Spirit in society.
If we are not growing in the LORD we are wavering in our faith. Many people believe that going to church each Sunday is enough for their spiritual growth. They are wrong.
David is stating that he will not let his life get out of control because the he trusts in the LORD. He is not going to waver. He is not going to wobble into a fall.
If we keep our eyes focused on the LORD, HE will keep us from wavering in our faith and life for HIM. David had this confidence. Does this mean that David never wavered? NO!
At this point in his life, he was walking in his integrity and trusting in the LORD. There were times in his life that his integrity failed or his trust wavered. BUT he always returned to the LORD with confidence that HE would forgive him and restore him to service.
When either of these things happens – we waver. The life that is pleasing to the LORD is one that has integrity and trust. Does that mean that if we lose one of these for a time that we will not have a relationship with the LORD? NO! HE loves us so much that HE sent HIS son to die for us. HE wants us to believe that HE will never leave us or forsake us. HE doesn’t end that type of relationship but HE does judge or chasten. The rest of this psalm tells of some of the things David did to keep close to the LORD. We should practice these things as well.
Even though the psalms were to be sung David uses them for his prayer life as well. Our prayer life has to be exciting to us. We are talking to the Creator of the Universe each time we pray. We can walk with HIM on a daily basis.
CHALLENGE: Are you excited to have such a relationship?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. (5956 “dissemblers” [‘alam] means a person who acts in such a way as to conceal real feelings, motives, or behavior which are unacceptable, be hidden, cover up, or obscured)
DEVOTION: There are people who are very good at hiding what their real agenda is in regard to what is going on around them. David was a very straight forward type of man while he had people in his kingdom who had hidden agendas.
These people are called vain persons which means that they have no quality that would render them valuable or useful to the work of the LORD. God doesn’t want us to fake our motives but to make sure that our motives are pleasing to HIM and the people that they are working with in a organization.
Too often we find that there are people who are not honest with their motives in an organization. There are those who what to take over and do things their own way instead of the way that the organization was formed to do.
Here we find that David was dealing with people who wanted to be rulers rather than just followers of the king. Some people are never satisfied with their position in the army of the LORD.
David was given the responsibility of king of a nation. There are always people who think they could be a better king in his day. His sons seemed to think that they were be better rulers than him. Some of his leaders thought they could do a better job then him.
At times this might have been true but the LORD had chosen David to lead and he was doing it to the best of his ability with the help of the LORD at times. Sometimes David was not working well with the LORD and the LORD chastened him for it.
CHALLENGE: We have to make sure that we are not having a hidden agenda when we join a group that is trying to serve the LORD.
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:8 “LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). Habitation 4583 מָעֹון, מָעֹון, מְעִינִים [maʿown, maʿiyn /maw·ohn/] n m. From the same as 5772; TWOT 1581a; GK 5060 and 5061 and 5079; 19 occurrences; AV translates as “habitation” 10 times, “dwelling” four times, “den” twice, “dwelling place” twice, and “ dwellingplace” once. 1 dwelling, habitation, refuge. 1A lair, refuge (of jackals). 1B dwelling. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: Many people have a favorite spot in their home where they like to go to hibernate and have solitude. It may be their bedroom or a place like a den or library. It becomes a special place where that person has bonded and created special memories and feelings! The psalmist is speaking that way of the house of God. A place where he has found safety and the Lord’s presence. The idea of this place being a refuge or den where the individual snuggles up to the Lord and feels safe in spite of the difficult people around him.
We need to feel secure and safe in the house of God! We desire to know that His presence and Spirit is at work in the dwelling we have dedicated to worship and serve Him within.
CHALLENGE: Our society has tried to remove the sanctity and solitude of the sanctuary but this week as you worship allow the Lord’s house to be a habitation of security. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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:8 “Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, And the place where thine honour dwelleth.” (Honour, 3519 כָּבֹוד [kabowd], 1 glory, honour, glorious, abundance. 1a abundance, riches. 1b honour, splendour, glory. 1c honour, dignity. 1d honour, reputation. 1e honour, reverence, glory. 1f glory. [Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.]
DEVOTION: Honor is something that comes from one of two sources. First, honor is given to someone based on something that he or she has done. It is also something that is attributed to someone or something based on the character of that person. When we talk about the honor of God, we are talking about the latter of these two, because God has honor based on who He is. That is, He deserves to be honored not just on the basis of what He has done, but for His very character.
The Hebrew word used here refers to the weightiness of something. That means that it is something to be taken seriously and not to be trivialized. It is the same idea that is contained in the second commandment not to take the name of God in vain. So, for example, we should not be talking about “the man upstairs” when we talk about God. We should be viewing God with awe and respect. This is the same form of transcendence of God we see mentioned in Psalm 21.
This Hebrew word is usually equated with the Greek word doxa in the New Testament (as well as in the Greek translation of the Old Testament), and this Greek word is usually translated as “glory.” Glory is an attribute of God that He inherently has. It is what caused people who actually were confronted with a theophany of God in the Bible to fall down at His feet. Yet we are also called on the Bible to give God glory; that is, to express verbally His character to others and praise Him for it.
CHALLENGE: When you go to worship God this Sunday, are you going with the motivation and attitude that you are going to give glory and honor to God? He rightly deserves these because of who He is. Don’t just be a pew sitter and wait for the service to get over! Remember who the God we serve really is! (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful to me. (8537 “integrity” [tom] means upright, perfect, simplicity, completeness, fulness, innocence, a state of innocence, wholeness, or blamelessness)
DEVOTION: David was talking with the LORD regarding how he wanted to walk in HIS presence. He wanted the LORD to redeem him from his sins. HE wanted the LORD to be merciful to him as a sinner.
We are in the same position with the LORD. We are sinners who have been saved by grace because of what the LORD Jesus Christ has done on the cross regarding our sin. Our standing is based on what Christ did on the cross.
We can’t go into the presence of the LORD based on our actions alone. We are sinners each day of our life. We need forgiveness each day of our life. We have to go into the LORD’S presence each day and ask the LORD to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us for service to HIM. HE will examine our motivels in all that we do. If our motives are not right, HE will tell us and then we have to confess that and move on again.
It is not easy to follow the LORD because we are sinners by nature and we have to learn what it means to be a genuine believer. It takes a lifetime to learn this truth and let it affect our actions.
Only the LORD Jesus Christ was blameless and even then, those who were “religious” found fault with HIM who was not a sinner.
We need to work each day to be like David wanted to be and that was to walk worthy of the LORD with wholeness and simplicity. We know when we are not walking right and need to confess it to the LORD and move on.
Perfection is not something that is possible for believers. Confession is always necessary for our walk with the LORD to be right.
CHALLENGE: We need the mercy of the LORD each day to live a life that is pleasing to HIM.
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: 12 My foot stands in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD. (1288 “bless” [barak] means to speak words of excellence about, to praise, filled with strength, kneel down, to invoke God, or to ask for a blessing)
DEVOTION: David has the assurance of the presence of the LORD in his life. He was working at his relationship with the LORD. He wanted to be sure that he had a proper relationship with the LORD, so that, the LORD could bless him.
We need this type of relationship with the LORD. We have to confess our sins and then seek the LORD’s presence in our lives because we want to worship HIM in spirit and in truth. HE knows our motives and HE is watching our every action.
Once we know that our motives are right and we have asked the LORD for direction HE will give us a place that is “even” so that HE can bless us. HE only blesses those who are genuinely trying to serve HIM with their whole heart and body.
We are to be a part of a congregation of fellow believers that want to bless the LORD for all the things that HE is doing in our lives. We need to realize that each day HE is blessing us even when it doesn’t seem like a blessing is coming.
Our understanding of blessing is that everything is going to be moving smoothly in our life but the LORD is blessing even when things are not going the way we would like them to go because HE knows what is best for our growth.
So we have to trust HIM each day to do what is good for our personal growth. David had many things happen in his life that made him wonder what the LORD was doing but we will also have those days but we need to learn to trust NO MATTER WHAT happens each day.
We can pray and ask the LORD “why” but sometimes HE doesn’t give us an answer or the answer comes latter. Our responsibility is to bless the LORD for all HE is doing in our life even when we don’t understand all that is happening.
CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to bless the LORD every moment of every day. It is not easy when we are going through what we think are hard times but it is necessary.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
David prays for the LORD to judge him verse 1- 12
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Altar verse 6
Voice of thanksgiving verse 7
Tell of all YOUR wonderful works verse 7
House of the LORD verse 8
Place where HIS honor dwells verse 8
Congregations verse 12
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 2, 6, 8, 12
Tries the hearts of believers verse 2
Lovingkindness verse 3
House of the LORD verse 8
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Vain persons verse 4
Dissemblers verse 4
Congregation of evildoers verse 5
Wicked verse 5
Sinners verse 9
Bloody men verse 9
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Not sat with vain persons verse 4
Neither go in with dissemblers verse 4
Hated the congregation of evil doers verse 5
Not sit with the wicked verse 5
Gather not my soul with sinners verse 9
Nor my life with bloody men verse 9
Mischief is in their hands verse 10
They are full of bribes verse 10
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Judge verse 1
Walk verse 1, 3
Integrity verse 1, 11
Trusted verse 1
Not slide verse 1
Examine verse 2
Prove verse 2
Try my heart verse 2
Loving-kindness verse 3
Walk in truth verse 3
Innocency verse 6
Worship verse 6, 8, 12
Thanksgiving verse 7
Redeem verse 11
Mercy verse 11
Bless the LORD verse 12
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
David verse 1- 12
Wants LORD to judge him
Has integrity
Trusted in the LORD
Not slide
Wants LORD to examine him
Wants LORD to prove him
Wants LORD to try reins of his heart
Walked in truth
Not sat with vain persons or dissemblers
Hated congregation of evildoers
Not sit with wicked
Washed hands in innocence
Publish with a voice of thanksgiving
Tell of LORD’S wonderful works
Loved habitation of LORD’S house
Asked not to be gathered with sinners or
bloody men
Walk in integrity
Asked to be redeemed
Asked for mercy
Will bless the LORD
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
In this opening, David’s fellow men are not yet in the picture, though his defensiveness tells its own tale of them. With the cry ‘Yahweh, be my judge!’ (jb), he wisely appeals over the heads of friends and enemies alike. It is the secret of true independence, as Paul was to find in the cross-current of criticism and intrigue: cf. 1 Corinthians 4:3–5. On the claim to be in the right, and on readiness to be judged, see on Psalm 5:4–6; note too that God himself used the word integrity of David in 1 Kings 9:4. Its basic meaning is wholeness, usually in the sense of wholeheartedness or sincerity, rather than faultlessness. When David thought of his ways in detail, not merely of his overall loyalty, his pleas to be searched and known became no longer a demand, as here (2), but a surrender (139:23f.).
The phrase, without wavering (1) is lit. ‘I shall not (or, do not) slip’, referring either to the outcome of his trust, as in av, or more probably to its quality. Another expression with two possible meanings is in faithfulness to thee (3), lit. ‘in thy truth’ (av, rv, neb), since ‘truth’ in the Old Testament is largely faithfulness. But grammatically this is more easily taken to be God’s than David’s, and it would then match thy steadfast love. Perhaps we can trace a meaningful shift of emphasis from ‘my integrity’ in verse 1 to ‘thy faithfulness’ here. (Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 135). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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26:1–3. David offered a twofold introductory petition: the Lord (a) should act justly toward him (v. 1) and (b) should examine his claim (v. 2; cf. 139:23). The Lord could discern that he had been consistent in his faith (26:1a) and in obedience to the Lord and His truth (v. 3). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 813–814). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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26:2 Examine … try … Test. These 3 invitations to divine scrutiny are essentially synonymous ways of testing, refining, and purifying (cf. Pss 11:4, 5; 12:6; 17:3; 66:10; Jer 17:9, 10). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ps 26:2). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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2. A trial of this sort might be desired by David, and may be desired by men, like him, conscious of their integrity, as to the particular crimes charged upon them by the malice of their enemies. Christ alone could ask such a trial at large, as being equally free from every kind and degree of sin; and certain of receiving additional lustre from the increasing heat of the furnace. (Horne, G. (1856). A Commentary on the Book of Psalms (p. 117). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
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2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. The verbs of this verse, examine, prove and try are by many used interchangeably. They all have the same import. Examine, in Ps. 11:4, 5, rendered try; in Ps. 17:3, prove. Prove, commonly so rendered, also try, tempt. The last verb try is by some rendered cleanse, purify, melt, burn, assay. It expresses the trial of metals by fire, Ps. 12:6; 17:3. On reins or kidneys, see above on Ps. 7:9; 16:7. David desired that the Lord would search him through and through. Knowing his innocence in the matters charged, he asked that God would prove it and manifest it. (Plumer, W. S. (1872). Studies in the Book of Psalms: Being a Critical and Expository Commentary, with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on the Entire Psalter (p. 343). Philadelphia; Edinburgh: J. B. Lippincott Company; A & C Black.)
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Ver. 2. Examine me, O Lord, &c.] His cause, his integrity, and trust in the Lord, as silver and gold are examined by the touchstone, the word of God, which is the standard of faith and practice. And prove me; or tempt me; as Abraham was tempted by the Lord; and his faith in him, and fear of him, and love to him, were proved to be true and genuine. Try my reins and my heart; the thoughts, desires, and affections of it, as gold and silver are tried in the furnace; and so God sometimes tries the faith and patience of his people by afflictive providences; and this examination, probation, and trial, are made by him, not for his own sake, who knows the hearts and ways of all men; but for the sake of others, to make known either to themselves or others the truth of grace that is in them, and the uprightness of their hearts and ways; and it was on this account the psalmist desired to pass under such an examination. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 638). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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2. There are three modes of trial here challenged, which are said in the original to refer to trial by touch, trial by smell, and trial by fire. The Psalmist was so clear from the charge laid against him, that he submitted himself unconditionally to any form of examination which the Lord might see fit to employ. “Examine me, O Lord.” Look me through and through; make a minute survey; put me to the question, cross-examine my evidence. “And prove me.” Put me again to trial; and see if I would follow such wicked designs as my enemies impute to me. “Try my reins and my heart.” Assay me as metals are assayed in the furnace, and do this to my most secret parts, where my affections hold their court; see, O God, whether or no I love murder, and treason, and deceit. All this is a very bold appeal, and made by a man like David, who feared the Lord exceedingly, it manifests a most solemn and complete conviction of innocence. The expressions here used should teach us the thoroughness of the divine judgment, and the necessity of being in all things profoundly sincere, lest we be found wanting at the last. Our enemies are severe with us with the severity of spite, and this a brave man endures without a fear; but God’s severity is that of unswerving right, who shall stand against such a trial? The sweet singer asks “Who can stand before his cold?” and we may well enquire, “Who can stand before the heat of his justice?” (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 1-26 (Vol. 1, p. 416). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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1 Thessalonians 5
The coming of the Lord will be instantaneous, and we should be ready!
INSIGHT
Many people who claim to believe in God have never made a commitment to Him. They say that at the end of their lives they will accept Jesus as Savior, preferring instead to live as they please rather than bowing to His claims. In their deceived minds, they have outwitted God and had it both ways. This is extremely foolish and very dangerous. Such people rarely get more spiritually sensitive in their old age. In fact, they often become more resistant to the Lord. Also, we never know when we will die. An accident might take us before we can repent. Or the Lord could come at any minute, and it would be too late. The coming of the Lord will be like “a thief in the night” (v. 2). (Quiet Walk)
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MARKS OF A PERSON OF THE SPIRIT
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
The greatest test is that the true Spirit always glorifies Christ. Christ is always in the center; He is always given the preeminence. And the true prophet is not the man who talks about experiences and visions and what he has done and seen, but about Christ. And when you have heard Him you do not say, “What a wonderful man”; you say, “What a wonderful Savior!” You do not say, “What a wonderful experience this man has had”; you say, “Who is the Man of whom the Spirit is speaking?” The attraction is to Christ; the Spirit glorifies Christ.
I now mention what I believe to be the perfect balance in this matter. “God,” said Paul to Timothy “hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). This is discipline, balance. The man who has the Holy Spirit is the man who always manifests balance and proportion. “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18); there is power and balance, but no excess. Speak one at a time, says Paul to the people of Corinth. “But,” they say, “we cannot. Isn’t that quenching the Spirit?” “No,” says Paul; “let all things be done…in order” (see 1 Corinthians 14:40). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of order, not of disorder. Doctrine and love are required; experience and power, intellect and mind—the whole person is involved and functions as this perfectly balanced body with no schism, with no rivalry and competition, but with the whole manifesting and ministering unto the glory of the Lord and Sa vior, Jesus Christ. Make sure the Spirit of God is in you, and then make sure that it is the Spirit of God and not some false, evil spirit to whom you are listening.
A Thought to Ponder
The greatest test is that the true Spirit always glorifies Christ.
(From The Love of God, p. 24, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Greetings
“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.” (Titus 1:1)
In New Testament times it was common to begin one’s letter to a friend with a salutation such as this, which usually identified the writer and the reader and then gave personal greetings.
Contrary to his normal practice, Paul spends the first three verses of this four-verse greeting speaking about himself, but he places the emphasis not on his own authority, but on the nature of the message which he has been given.
First, in designating his position as writer, Paul refers to himself as a “servant” (literally, “slave”) of God. His will had been voluntarily surrendered to do his Master’s will. Next, he identifies himself as “an apostle of Jesus Christ,” commissioned by Him to represent Him and His revelation. He then defines his apostleship as being in agreement with the message to which the elect have responded, and the “acknowledging [literally, ‘advanced knowledge’] of the truth which is after godliness.”
Next, Paul claims that his message is not a new doctrine, but has its past, present, and future aspects. It was “promised before the world began” (v. 2) by God, who has in the present been proclaiming “his word through preaching” (v. 3). Furthermore, his apostolic calling is “in [literally, ‘resting on’] hope of eternal life” (v. 2).
Paul then claims the message as his own, “committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior” (v. 3).
In a very real sense, this same message is now committed to us. Our knowledge of the truth and need for faith are at least as great; our call to submission and godliness equally serious. May God grant us the same level of commitment to the gospel and its propagation as that of Paul. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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In 2010, James Ward, the creator of the blog “I Like Boring Things,” launched a conference called the “Boring Conference.” It’s a one-day celebration of the mundane, the ordinary, and the overlooked. In the past, speakers have addressed seemingly meaningless topics like sneezing, sounds that vending machines make, and inkjet printers of 1999. Ward knows the topics may be boring, but the speakers can take a mundane subject and make it interesting, meaningful, and even joyful.
Several millennia ago, Solomon, the wisest of kings, launched his own search for joy in the meaningless and mundane. He pursued work, bought flocks, built wealth, acquired singers, and constructed buildings (Ecclesiastes 2:4–9). Some of these pursuits were honorable and some were not. Ultimately, in his pursuit of meaning, the king found nothing but boredom (v. 11). Solomon maintained a worldview that didn’t press beyond the limits of human experience to include God. Ultimately, however, he realized that he’d find joy in the mundane only when he remembered and worshiped God (12:1–7).
When we find ourselves in the whirlwind of tedium, let’s launch our own daily mini-conference, as we “remember [our] Creator” (v. 1)—the God who fills the mundane with meaning. As we remember and worship Him, we’ll find wonder in the ordinary, gratitude in the mundane, and joy in the seemingly meaningless things of life.
By Marvin Williams (Our Daily Bread Ministries)
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Another example is the oft-quoted but antiquated and incorrect translation of I Thessalonians 5:22: “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” That verse speaks about avoiding false teaching, but Christians have often used it – for lack of actual biblical testimony – to condemn practices they simple don’t like. (p. 172, Life in the FATHER’S HOUSE by Wayne Mack & Dave Swavely )
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Solomon’s fame spreads throughout the world.
INSIGHT
To understand the significance of Solomon’s wealth, power, and wisdom, we must go back to Deuteronomy 28, where God outlined the consequences for Israel’s obedience and disobedience. During the latter part of David’s reign and the early part of Solomon’s reign, Israel follows the Lord in righteousness for a longer period of time than any other. The results are a greater blessing than at any other time in Israel’s history.
It is a glaring and tragic reality that shortly after Solomon’s reign, Israel follows her kings in unrighteousness, and the curses in Deuteronomy begin to come about. The welfare of Israel is always related to her righteousness. (Quiet Walk)
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Boys Among Men Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation. HEBREWS 13:22, NIV
God gave us daughters who need to be protected. God made fathers to protect their daughters. And one of the ways we can do this is by getting to know the young men who ask them out.
As of today, I’ve conducted a sit-down interview with my daughters’ dates somewhere between 30 and 40 times. A few of them have been what you might expect: boys nearly fainting in our living room. (These talks have a way of revealing the fact that even wimps can have good taste. Some boys who couldn’t last one round in a character contest at least have the good sense to know a great girl when they see one.)
For the most part, however, these encounters have allowed me to get to know several young men who would make their parents proud. And I’ve come away from every one of these interview experiences feeling like a real man. Even more important, these interviews have helped spare my daughters from the predatory passions of even well-meaning boys, while also protecting them from their own human natures. As a result, Barbara and I have watched our daughters enter into marriage with their virtue, not just technically intact, but
also reserved—heart, soul and body—for the man God had given them to marry. It is one of the most important investments dads can make in our girls’ lives—challenging their boyfriends to be men, making sure they’re clear on the high value God has placed both on them and our daughters.
These young men who like what they see in our daughters need us to look them in the eyes, man to man, and hold them accountable. When you call them to high standards of personal morality, you not only protect your daughter. You help boys become men. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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