Tag Archives: Trust the Lord
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. -Zechariah 3:8-10
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The great news of Zechariah is that the Branch of Jesse, the descendant of David, the Servant King of Israel, would be coming to His people, and in a single day He would manage to remove all the sins of His people.
Through this Branch, all people will be able to come together in peace and love, living by the fruit of the Spirit in all facets of life and relationships.
This is not simply some feel-good story, but the source of the peace we celebrate at this time of year.
It is also the hope that we will one day see this fulfilled completely. It will be fully realized when our Lord returns to reign on Earth for eternity.
Lord of hosts and Righteous Redeemer, thank You for taking our sin upon Yourself and reuniting humanity with You. Guide us in bringing Your Kingdom to this world.
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Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. -Proverbs 30:5, KJV
Scripture reminds us time and again that it is the very word of God, and He does not lie nor change. Therefore, we can know that what we read (when faithfully translated for us!) is trustworthy and true.
If it is not pure, it is not true. You may come across passages and verses that are difficult to understand or seem contradictory. We must remember a few things:
- We typically are separated by culture and thousands of years of time from when they were written. There may be:
- euphamisms and figures of speech we no longer use,
- historical references that seem out of place, or are practices that only make sense when seen/experienced, or
- descriptions that seem odd to us;
- Concepts are beyond our understanding (like the Trinity or free will with God’s sovereignty);
- Authors frequently seemed to play loose with details, but it was to make a specific point (such as the gospel writers putting orders of events in slightly different ways to highlight different details);
- Other portions of Scripture help fill in details not apparent in other portions (Why does God say “we/us/our” in Genesis? Jesus helps us see the unity of the Trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit).
Jesus helps us see the truth and reliability of Scripture, because His life, death, and resurrection verify it. If any part is untrue, the entire thing falls apart. But He has shown us that He and His Word are trustworthy for the salvation of our souls.
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My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: -Proverbs 24:13, KJV
I can not help but wonder if Solomon was thinking of his father’s friend Jonathan, when Saul was king and made the vow that no one in the army would eat until the Philistines were defeated lest that person be cursed. But Jonathan had not heard this vow and, being hungry after he and his armor bearer had just spent the day beating a garrison of Philistines, ate some honey. (1 Samuel 14)
Jonathan (and Solomon) could see how utterly foolish it was to not eat when doing something so physically challenging. The army even challenged King Saul on this when Saul would not get an answer from God about continuing the fight and then found out it was because of this little bit of honey.
That shows what the next verse means:
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Proverbs 24:14, KJV
Saul had not used wisdom in his decisions, and he was willing to kill his son over his foolishness.
Jonathan, however, was spared, for he had sought to know God’s wisdom throughout the day and be strengthened.
What about you?
Do you desire the sweetness of God’s wisdom? Do seek His revitalizing wisdom throughout the day?
Or, like Saul, do you try to get through the day on your own, rarely if ever seeking God’s wisdom?
Do you get frustrated by minor problems, especially by others and then lashing out?
Or do you take time throughout the day to keep the Lord involved in your decisions?
It only takes a moment to stop and seek His help. It is not weakness. It is finding the sweetness in God’s strength.
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The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. -Proverbs 19:12, KJV
Let’s keep this short and … sweet … today.
No one likes to make the leader of a nation upset, because it could be really bad for your freedom and/or health.
But we must also remember that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, is the King of Heaven.
If you fail to believe in His lordship and sovereignty, that He is the Son of the Living God who sacrificed Himself for our sin, then you are under His wrath and should fear His mighty roar.
However, if you have faith in Christ, you can know true peace and find yourself refreshed each moment in His grace.
Trust the King. His love, mercy, and grace are everlasting and oh so sweet to the soul.
Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, Fear, Fear the Lord, King, lion, Lion of the tribe of Judah, love, Mercy, Peace, trust, Trust the Lord, Wrath | posted in Fear of the Lord, Peace, Trust the Lord
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? -Proverbs 18:14 KJV
A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? -Proverbs 18:14 ESV
This will get … heavy.
We hear stories all the time about the two kinds of people who deal with deadly illness, such as cancer:
- Those who barely survive or even give up and die, or
- Those who not only fight but seem to thrive!
How do we describe these people?
By their spirit!
A fighting spirit. A spirit of life. A strong spirit.
Or a frail spirit. A tired spirit. Even a crushed spirit. Those who have given up on hope.
As Christians, we are encouraged to encourage those who have lost hope. We are expected to be more strong-spirited, if for no other reason than to encourage others.
I think of my mom, who passed away from cancer in August 2014. It was sudden and a shock, but she was strong. We saw more people turn to God as she abruptly faded away because of her unwavering faith in God.
I think of Jesus’ words:
But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
Luke 20:17-18, ESV
My mother’s body was broken. But my mom fell on Christ and certainly was not crushed. I know my father nearly felt so, but he was emotionally broken.
The great thing about being broken for God is that He can use you for great things.
But being crushed . . .
. . . all that is left is to be ground into powder (Luke 20:18, KJV).
Do you have hope, or have you abandoned all hope?
Do you fall on Christ, or or are you waiting for His crushing return?
Leave a comment | tags: Believe, Book of Proverbs, Broken, Cornerstone, crush, Crushed spirit, Fall, hope, Reject, Trust the Lord | posted in hope, Trust the Lord
The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. -Proverbs 10:3, KJV
Several other translations write this verse to say that God will not let His people go hungry, but He denies the cravings and desires of the wicked.
We can see this as the same kind of promise Jesus gave:
“Look at the birds, whom God feeds. Look at the flowers, whom God clothes better than Solomon in his great clothes. How much more does the Father want to take care of you?” (Matthew 6:25-34)
My wife and I have been through much in our relatively short nine years of marriage, times when there was not enough money in our bank account to pay all the bills, let alone to buy basic necessities. But God took care of us during those times.
However, Jesus started this section of scripture by saying, “Isn’t life more than food and clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)
What, then does God’s Word promise us, if we cannot trust that we will always have enough food to feel full?
In John 4, Jesus was talking to His disciples, immediately after the Samaritan woman by the well left Him, when He said, “I have food you do not know about … to do the will of the one who sent me.” (vv. 32-34)
Back in Matthew 6, He says to seek first the Kingdom of God, and everything else will be given to you (v. 33).
Therefore, the KJV certainly says it best in today’s verse, for it is implied that God takes care of His people, but the deeper and more obvious (based on the plain reading) meaning is this:
God fulfils the spiritual needs of His people, saving and nourishing their souls, but He ultimately removes the wicked, casting them into Hell.
Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, Desire, Food, Hunger, hungry soul, Lord, righteous, Seek, Soul, trust, Trust the Lord | posted in desire, food, Trust the Lord
Proverbs 31:22
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. . . .
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. (KJV)
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. (NIV)
The virtuous woman, the excellent wife, the amazing woman we all want to find. Unless you are a woman, in which case these are adjectives you probably want to hear said about you.
This woman is valued (v. 10) because she is trustworthy (vv. 11-12), wise and hardworking (vv. 13-19), and compassionate and caring (vv. 20-21).
She can also rest comfortably and dress in dignity.
While this can mean that her “coverings” mean financial security and her “silk” or “fine linen and purple” can mean financial prosperity, I offer another meaning.
Truly Blessed
The virtuous woman can sleep in comfort and security because she trusts in the Lord. All of her wise and hard work comes from “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord“, specifically “the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17, NIV).
The virtuous woman is dressed in dignity, though not necessarily because of her clothes. Instead, it is because she can say “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).
People can see her wisdom, good works, and righteousness, and they respect her. She is clothed in royal robes of heavenly righteousness.
Her blessings are not because she is such a devoted wife and mother who cares for others and works hard. Her blessings are because she is all of these for her Lord and God.
Heavenly Father, may every man and woman seek Your glory and to please You above all else. By Your Holy Spirit guide us in all righteousness.
Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, Linen, Peace, Purple, Silk, trust, Trust the Lord | posted in Peace, Trust the Lord
Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Paranoid
Throughout the ages there have been people who have worried about people chasing them, trying to hurt them, or always watching them. It was recently revealed that some people were right about the United States government!
However, usually these fears are misguided or wrong.
Another form of this fear comes from the person with a guilty conscience.
I have been this person. Perhaps you have, too.
I have said and done things that I knew were against the rules, and then I spent minutes, hours, days, even weeks worried someone would catch me in my lie. I became nervous in almost every conversation with anyone, and I eventually only wanted peace and to not be afraid.
The Lion
We are all guilty of something. That something is sin – separation from God by our own actions, words, and thoughts.
We all have a right to feel paranoid about someone watching us, and it is understandable for people to live in fear. It should break our hearts and cause us to tremble at the thought we have forsaken our Creator … and Savior.
Fortunately, we can find boldness and peace:
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.
Revelation 5:5, NIV
We find our boldness and peace, we find righteousness in Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!
Confess your sins, repent of your sins, and trust in the fullness of Jesus. Find boldness in Him!
Gracious Lord, help us to overcome our fears and failures. Help us to trust in Your grace and forgiveness, and embolden us to live a life for Your glory!
Leave a comment | tags: Boldness, Book of Proverbs, Lion of the tribe of Judah, Paranoia, The Righteous, The Wicked, Trust the Lord | posted in The Righteous, The Wicked, Trust the Lord
Proverbs 27:13
“Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.”
“Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.” (NLT)
Taking a Garment
The verse today relates to the previous.
There are many dangers which we must be constantly watching out for.
Whether in business (such as banks) or personal life, we have to make sure we are not being taken advantage of in some of our dealings.
For example, suppose you have a friend who is always helping others financially, and he always asks you for help with a promise to repay. Over time you learn that he never makes good on that promise.
To help in such matters, you can ask him for something valuable as a way of urging him to repay.
This item serves as a reminder of a debt that is owed.
Reminder of the Debt
This passage has little to do with spiritual matters, but there is another debt in our lives that a constant reminder.
In Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 we find a list of things called the 10 Commandments. In Romans (specifically chapter 5), Paul tells us that the Law, the 10 Commandments, was given as a reminder of our sin. It shows us how we fail to live up to loving God.
The Law shows us our debt.
Fortunately, our God has shown us grace and forgiveness. He paid our debt by sending His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, to live a perfect, sinless life and die on a cross to pay the debt we could not pay.
To receive the full grace and forgiveness He has offered us, we need only believe that Jesus is God made flesh, paid for our sins on the cross, and rose again to life and now lives with the Father awaiting the time to return and redeem His faithful.
Heavenly Father, help us to be good stewards of what You have given us. We admit we are sinners in need of grace and forgiveness. Thank You for offering that grace and forgiveness through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Give us the faith we need to live in the light of that truth every day!
Leave a comment | tags: advice, Book of Proverbs, charity, Debt, Deposit, Down payment, forgiveness, Gospel, grace, Jesus, Loans, money, Pledge, Security, Sin, Surety, Trust the Lord | posted in advice, giving/charity, Money and Finances, sin, Trust the Lord
Proverbs 25:25
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Tough Times
Nobody really likes war.
They are dangerous, costly in economically and physically, and it shows the violence and hatred within humanity.
As I write this, Syria has been in a major internal conflict, and chemical weapons may have played a role. Several countries have considered getting involved.
Fortunately, we heard recently that Russia is working with Syrian leaders to remove chemical weapons and perhaps ease tensions between the two sides.
While it is still playing out as of this moment, it is a relief to know we may not have to send our young men and women into danger and the Syrians may get a break from the bloodshed.
Refreshing Drink
If you have ever hiked a considerable distance in the heat, you appreciate a cold glass of water. As the verse today states, getting good news is like that, such as feeling the tension of a possible armed conflict and hearing it may have been averted. When your mind and body can relax after that much tension and adrenaline, it is so refreshing to drink in that kind of news.
May you do not need to imagine this, but imagine with me that you have lived a life full of troubles. You have had a string of bad relationship after bad relationship. You lost a loved one. Your finances never seem to meet all of your obligations and needs. You have been mistreated by loved ones. You struggle with trusting anybody.
You just want some rest and peace. You would love some water for your tired soul.
Jesus offers some good news. As He said to the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4 (NIV):
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Drinking of the Holy Spirit, God coming into us by believing Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins, is only true refreshing we can get from the pain this world gives us.
As we trust Him, he fills our souls with Himself and releases and redeems our hurts and fears, giving us full rest. As He said elsewhere, “28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29).
Lord Jesus, grant us Your peace and refresh our souls by Your Holy Spirit. Help us to trust You and to overcome our circumstances.
Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, Holy Spirit, hope, Jesus Christ, Mercy, news, Peace, Refresh, Samaritan, Syria, Trust the Lord | posted in hope, Mercy, Peace, Trust the Lord
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Proverbial Thought 