Archive for the ‘Theology’ Category

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>Proverbs 2:1-5

In Proverbs,Theology on January 10, 2008 by mstevensrev

>2:1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.

Here comes the big daddy again to share some wisdom. Desire wisdom. You don’t have to understand everything from the beginning but get your heart in the right place. Seek it, listen, call out for it, search, and then God shows up. Once you see God it will wake you up to the fact that he is more serious than you ever thought, and you will want to start listening what he has to say. You will find wisdom, the knowledge of God. What does this say about people who “know God” and don’t have any wisdom? I’m not sure but I think the question is worth exploring.

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Articles

>Proverbs 1:20-33

In Proverbs,Theology on January 9, 2008 by mstevensrev

>20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Wisdom is personified in the Book of Proverbs, pictured as, a woman. There are two predominate women in this book Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly who we will hear lots about. Both are as you would say, loose, unchaste, or easy. Frankly this book portrays both of them as prostitutes. I guess the author new his audience well, it you want to get the attention of young men you had better include something about sex. Well he does because both of what these women offer are offered in the same manner a prostitute would offer sex.

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street…” She is looking for business. Though this first depiction we have here is telling these young men to get their act together or they are going to miss their chance to be with her. Even worst if they miss their chance she will mock them when the blow it later. This is a warning to not waste any time when it comes to wisdom.

She calls, she asks questions like “How long do you want to continue being simple?” The response of most would be no longer. Therefore she will pour out her spirit among you and make he words known to you. Yet refuse and face he mocking. She won’t be there when it is too late, yo uwill have already gotten yourself into a mess. Listen and dwell secure with ease, wihtout dread or disaster.

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Articles

>Proverbs 1:8-19

In Proverbs,Theology on January 8, 2008 by mstevensrev

>8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.

One of the reason that I like this book so much is it is very masculine. What I mean by that is it was written from two perspectives. One a father to his son, on two a teacher to his MBA student. These were used to train up young businessmen in how to act and what to expect. So when adultery is talked about it is always a man committing it, always a man being seduced. There are books written in the Bible that seem very femine to me that I also appreciate so I hope it is not a sexist thing for me.

Here we have the advice of the father being given to the son. It is simple advice. Do not partner with people who are looking to kill someone else for their personal gain. Wow, life changing, but nice to start with a slow pitch so hopefully we will get it. Thos who live this way are greedy for unjust gain and ultimately lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives. What goes around comes around, call it karma. Today let’s try this easy one do not partner with people who are looking to kill someone for their own gain.

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Articles

>Proverbs 1:1-7

In Proverbs,Theology on January 7, 2008 by mstevensrev

>1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Proverbs are a book that I have fallen in love with, my favorite book of the Bible. Which is a big change from when I was younger. When I was younger I did not like Proverbs at all, I felt they were simply ‘easy answers’ disconnected from reality. As I wanted to explore the deep things in life I would dig into Ecclestaistes (often called the anti-proverbs) for the real meat. I still love Ecclestaistes, but the moment my first daughter was born I knew I needed some answers. I searched the Proverbs like my life depended on it. Reading it nine times in the first month she was born. I was desperate for wisdom and had to make up for lost time. Since then I have taken a more moderate approach. last year I read the book through twelve times. This year I wanted to dig in more and share thoughts just as I did the Psalms. My hope is because this is a book that I am very passionate about it will benefit you as well.

David’s second child from Bathsheeba (a story in and of itself) Solomon became king because their first child died. Solomon is considered to be the most wise man to have ever lived. This book is credited to his writings.

Hearing is essential, from there understanding must be the goal. If you don’t hear or listen you don’t have a chance. A favorite blogger of mine Steve Clayton has a great note on this if you want some practical help read, “What good listeners do.” That will set you on the path, then you have to start to understand.

You have Solomon explaining wisdom in three different ways to start, 1. to understand words of insight, 2. to receive instruction…, 3. to give prudence. Understand (knowledge), Receive (humilty), Prudence (Gentleness, selfcontrol).

Now I think the natural question left is who is it you are supposed to listen to, in our times there are lots of voices speaking sometimes it is hard to know which to give our attention to. v. 7 Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You can listen to alot of people, but if you aren’t listening to God you are a fool according to the Proverbs. The Psalms reminded us again and again God created everything, set the rules, and is in control of it all, now the Proverbs tell us to pay attention.

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Articles

>Psalm 150

In Psalms,Theology on January 4, 2008 by mstevensrev

>150:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

If you haven’t gotten this from the Psalms yet, let’s hear it one more time. God is worthy of our praise always and everywhere. You cannot be creative enough to come up with ways to praise him. Use your voice, instrument, but most importantly your life. If you have breath go and do what you were created to do which is praise God. For me that clearly means to love others, there is no greater way I feel more of who I was created to be then when I am doing that whether it is my family or anyone else around me.

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Articles

>Psalm 149

In Psalms,Theology on January 3, 2008 by mstevensrev

>149:1 Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
he adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory;
let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats
and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations
and punishments on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with chains
and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment written!
This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!

Let your song ring out. I have vivid memories in my house of my mom walking around often on Saturdays while cleaning singing at the top of her lungs. That is something I also do. When you are happy, doing what you are supposed to be doing you let it out in song.

Dance break out the instruments, let the party begin, for God finds leasure with us and raises up the humble. It takes humilty to set aside all that there is to do and dance, what you are struggling with often can be set aside so that you can realize that it is God who is most important. He is God and to be prasied.

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Articles

>Psalm 148

In Psalms,Theology on January 2, 2008 by mstevensrev

>148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!

3 Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
6 And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!

9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!

There is not a place in this world that should not praise the Lord! All people all things give glory to God for what he has done and who he is! His word is powerful speaking things into creation. Those systems that allow life, sun, move, stars he put into being. All of it is his.

The horn for his people is so that we can call upon him, think The Lion the witch and the wardrobe where the one girl has a horn to blow only when you are in terrible trouble. We can also praise him with such a horn, for he is God.

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Articles

>Psalm 147

In Psalms,Theology on December 31, 2007 by mstevensrev

>147:1 Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!

How many of the Psalms have to do with God being in control? A large majority of them do. You find that theme central in the theological background I come from and I would make the case that it is essential in prayer. Our life is often our of control and prayer is the place where we come and see that God is and we can rest. We understand our humble position more clearly and that leads us into praise.

Praise for how he protects us. As we start this new year, with resolutions or goals or whatever you call you hopes for this next year, I find it essential to trust and look to a God who will protect me when I risk. When I really go for the things that are in our heart. He will build up the city and protect it, He will protect against the elements. There is great encouragement in this message.

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Articles

>Psalm 146

In Psalms,Theology on December 31, 2007 by mstevensrev

>This one is a little different We broke it up in our family devotion to reflect on this Psalm…

146:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Mike- We are too always give praise to God. Don’t trust in leaders they and their plans disappear when they die. We are to give praise to God until we die.

Aidyn- I kinda think the first part actually talks about creation and God helping people like the hungry, the earth didn’t just get shaken he made the it all. It is actually talking about how God made the heavens and earth too. He keeps faith forever which means he will never give up.

Karin- The prisoners and the blind give us hope, for those who feel imprisoned we can count on the lord to not leave us in that place. The bowed down and the righteous are connected sorrow and humility. He loves us and doesn’t leave us hurting. He takes care of the sojourner, fatherless, widow. and brings to ruin the wicked. The seeker who is always traveling in a world that is not as it should be and can be unfamiliar in it’s difficulty. We all can feel the loneliness of fatherless and widows, God is hope in that. God is there forever to all generations.

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>Psalm 145

In Psalms,Theology on December 30, 2007 by mstevensrev

>145:1 I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!

11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

We have something to give God, that is everything. Lifting him up and using our lives to be a blessing to him. How wonderful must it be to see your creation do what it is supposed to do! We are to encourage all those around us to do the same. Live as God has intended, talk of the amazing things he has done, sing, dance, and let everyone know that he is good, kind, gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in love.

Use your life for something worthwhile, let God be seen thought it. Thankfulness is the cornerstone to this life. Just last night we had a tragedy on our first photo-walk. After being out for just a few minutes the batteries ran out on Aidyn’s camera. I changed them but the end result was none of the pictures she took last night came out. None, before or after the battery change. I was so disappointed. Aidyn was bummed but she was not as upset as I would expect. She really had enjoyed our time together and was thankful for that, even though it didn’t work out. I wish that I had that attitude of thankfulness more often!

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