David Hides from King Saul

“Come with great power, O God, and rescue me! Defend me with your might. Listen to my prayer, O God. Pay attention to my plea. For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God.”- Psalm 54:1-3

 

This Psalm was written by David as he was hiding from King Saul. He was on the run ever since Saul found out David was to become King. Saul wished to kill David and was on the lookout for him. The Ziphites came to Saul and told him David was hiding among them. David wrote this Psalm as a prayer to God to defend him against his enemies.

Why did King Saul hate David so much? He saw that the spirit of the Lord was on David. In fact, scripture tells us the Lord took the spirit from Saul and placed it upon David due to Saul’s ungodly attitude shift. There was a time when Saul was God’s man for Israel. He was an honorable man; fair and just in all his ways. But when he had heard that God had anointed David to become next in line to become King, Saul burned with jealousy. It grew to hatred until Saul actually attempted to murder David. So that is a bit of the back story regarding why David was hiding from the King. 

Let’s look at the first 4 verses. It appears that David is crying out to the Lord. ‘Come’ … ‘rescue me’ … ‘Defend me’ … ‘listen’ to me. David had had an up and down life. There were times when he was strong with the Lord and times when he did bad things in spite of his love for God. Throughout the highs and the lows God always loved David. David was called a ‘man after God’s own heart’ and ‘the apple of God’s eye’. David knew, when things went wrong, he could always cry out to God to be rescued. If you had no faith that you would receive an answer, then why would you seek him at all? David knew he was far from perfect, but he also knew that God knew that and loved him anyway. It is a deep, abiding love. The kind the Lord wishes for us to have with him. 

David lays out the reality of his situation, even though he knew God knew all about it. People wanted him dead. That was it in a nutshell. David was trusting God to rescue him and defend him against his enemies. Like David we can expect the same result from God if we cry out to him for help. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Uses of God's Word

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” New Living Translation

            When an athlete trains for an event he pours all his concentrated efforts into making himself as proficient and efficient as possible regarding the event he is participating in. It’s really no different with a Christian and his walk with Christ, but we seem to think we’ll become proficient by osmosis. It simply doesn’t work that way.

                  To train is “to make proficient with specialized instruction and practice”. The word ‘equip’ used in verse 17 is being used as a military term. Soldiers are strategically equipped with every tool they will need to be successful in their mission. This is one of the many purposes of the Bible. To equip us … because whether we realize it or not, we are in a battle with dark forces. If we languish in a sea of indifference, we will be NO threat to the enemy, but when we rise up, don our spiritual armor and prepare to do battle, the devil flees. He’s already a defeated foe. He knows that and that’s why he’s desperately trying to drag as many souls to hell with him as possible. Sadly, man is making it incredibly easy for him as they live out their lives in opposition to God. 

                  Rise up O warrior of God and prepare yourself for while the victory is ours, the enemy will not go down without a fight. The future appears grim, however, the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train but rather the triumphant return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The enemy shall be vanquished, and heaven shall be our reward. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Uses of God's Word

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correctingand training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” New Living Translation

                  To correct something is to “adjust so as to meet a required standard or condition”. I like this definition of ‘to correct’ because in God’s economy there is a required standard that we are to follow. We don’t have to follow that standard, but if you want to please God and maximize your impact for the Kingdom you should earnestly seek to live by said standard. The world’s standards are constantly changing, so much so that it’s hard to keep track of those changes. One day something is right, the next day it’s wrong. God’s standard never gets altered. Oh, man may alter it to make it more agreeable with their way of thinking, but that’s not okay with God. The Bible stands as it is. “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” ^{(Deuteronomy 4:2)}

                  The excellent thing about the Bible is that it doesn’t just rebuke you, leaving you in a heap, beaten down and discouraged. The Bible gives us the correct behavior so that we can do THAT the next time a similar situation arises. Correction is important, for without it many of us wouldn’t know how to act. Relying on gut instinct and guile can be dangerous. Without a Godly influence in our lives we fall back on our own intellect and pre-conceived notions to function. Trusting God, who is our one constant in a sea of inconsistency, will not only build up our faith, but galvanize our trust all the more. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.thefreedictionary.com

                   

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.  And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” – Revelation 22:18-19

The Uses of God's Word

 

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” New Living Translation

            To rebuke is to “criticize (someone) sharply; reprimand”. There are many examples of Biblical rebuke throughout both the Old & New Testaments of the Bible. Scripture is clear regarding how we are to act and react in all situations, so when we do the opposite we stand to get rebuked by the Spirit of God. The Lord desires the absolute best for us and won’t stand idly by and watch us willingly sin unless we insist on having our own way. An individual must have a teachable spirit so that the Holy Spirit can have the desired impact on our walk with God. We have to WANT to please God in all we think, say and do. 

                  Being a Christian in name only is a sad place to be. We say things we don’t mean and use smoke and mirrors to fool our brethren. Let it be known that God isn’t fooled for one nano-second. The one place a person doesn’t want to be is on the outside looking in because they have taken their salvation lightly and squandered away precious time playing church. 

                  To live a life without rebuke one must have a burning desire to live for God. I tend to be a people pleaser, so it is natural for me to want to please my Heavenly Father most of all. In the secular world it can be exhausting trying to please everyone, but we only really need to please God with our lives, for He is the one who holds the key to eternity. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Resource: www.thefreedictionary.com 

The Uses of God's Word

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” New Living Translation

                  Paul’s 2nd letter to his dear friend Timothy was written roughly 5 years after his first letter. It was written by Paul from a Roman prison around AD 66 or 67.  The general tenor of this letter was to give final instructions and encouragement to Timothy, who was the head or pastor of the church at Ephesus. Paul makes sure to tell Timothy of scriptures uses to equip him as he serves the Lord. 

                  The Bible is an in dispensable tool for those who are children of God. Mortal men moved upon by the Holy Spirit wrote down that which God instructed them to write and the result was the holy scriptures. For the next several days we will look at each of the uses of scripture listed by the great Apostle. The first use should be rather obvious. God’s word is useful for teaching. 

                  While we understand and accept that scripture is God-breathed truth we must never forget the purpose of its existence … to equip us to do good. Just like Timothy, we too are God’s conduits. We are his messengers, called to live a life modelled by Christ.           

            God has chosen to reveal himself not only in nature ^{(Psalm 8:1, 3; Romans 1:20)} and human moral awareness ^{(Romans 2:15)} but also supremely by spoken and written human language. The Bible is an inspired book, written by the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, it is more than useful to teach individuals how to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. To learn God’s statutes is to be taught and we believe, as followers of Christ that if we are to be pleasing to the Lord, we are to learn from the scriptures how to act and react in our daily lives. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible.

Knowing God's Word

“Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”- Psalm 40:7-8

            The general theme of Psalm 40, a Psalm of King David, is that doing God’s will may mean patiently waiting. While we wait, we can love and serve God, love and serve others and share the virtues of God with others. The scroll that is mentioned in verse 7 refers to the following: when someone becomes King, they are to copy the words of God’s law on a scroll. They are to use that scroll as a tool to internalize its teachings so they can effectively lead their people in the following of the Lord.

            Since David knew God’s law, which was written in his heart, he knew and understood the main key to having a right relationship with God. It had nothing to do with making sacrifices and offerings to the Lord. We too must know God’s standards for living if we are to please Him by essentially imitating Christ in our daily life. David knew being king was a tremendous responsibility; one that was God-given. He declared what he believed, that he was bound to live by the law of God which he had received.

            In verse 8 King David shared his heart-felt and sincere desire to obediently live out the will of God. I say ‘heart-felt’ because such things spoken are matters of the heart. The seriousness of our obedience cannot be measured, for it is something that should come naturally at some point during one’s spiritual maturation process.

            As proof that David himself was emulating a Christ that he would never know lies in the words “I take joy in doing Your will, my God.” This attitude is no different than the one Jesus Himself exhibited with regards to obeying and serving God (John 4:34; 5:30).

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

Resources: NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible; NIV Quest Study Bible Notes; Reformation Study Bible; Life Application Study Bible. 

 

John 4:34 - “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

John 5:30 – “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

Psalm of Omnipotence

“The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on high is mighty.” - Psalm 93:3-4 

          A Psalm is a hymn or sacred song that is sung. The author of this brief Psalm is unknown. It’s possible, by the nature of it, that the nation of Israel was in danger from its enemies. This song extols the omnipotence and sovereignty of Almighty God. It’s five verses long and yet is packed with descriptive words that paint a vivid picture of the power of God. 

           Have you ever stood in a rough surf up to your waist with your back to the incoming waves and been clobbered by a big wave that knocked you off your feet? Have you ever seen an angry sea during a storm where the waves come crashing against the rocks, with its water shooting skyward? That is the picture I get when I read these two verses out of Psalm 93. When the waves rise up high and come crashing down onto the sand it makes a thunderous noise. If water didn’t produce power, then man would never have tried to harness it to produce the power to run things, as with a water wheel. God’s power is compared to the power of water, only in that it is mightier or greater than that of water. Prior to the completion of the Ark, it was God who caused water to spring forth from the ground. Up to that point it had never fallen from the sky. 

           So, what can we as believers in this modern day and age learn from this Psalm in the face of our daily trials and tribulations? Just this: that the God we serve is mightier than any set of circumstances we face in this life. His love for us is like nothing we’ve ever experienced. His mercy is unparalleled in all of creation and His great power and might is unmatched over all the earth. There’s nothing that is impossible for Him; nothing He cannot do. When we say we have faith in God that should mean that we are trusting in a living God who cares so deeply for us that He would move heaven and earth to not only meet our needs but protect us from our enemies. Our faith is never in vain when it is placed in God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Psalm of Beseeching

“Listen to my words, O Lord, give heed to my sighing and groaning. Hear the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You do I pray. In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].” - Psalm 5:1-3 (Amplified Bible) 

          Here we find a Davidic Psalm which was sung with wind instrument, such as a flute or pipe. It could be said that David intently and fervently prayed to God regarding his life circumstances. He did so expecting God to hear and move upon his situation. There are times when words do not come to us and we are speechless in our effort to cry out to God. It is then that the Spirit who is within us sighs and groans on our behalf for the Holy Spirit knows not only what we need, but also what we are asking for. David acknowledges to his God that it is to Him and Him alone that he prays. This shows us the confidence Israel’s king has in his God and illustrates the confidence we too should have. 

          The morning is a time before any person becomes embroiled in daily activities. It is this time of day that David prepares his sacrifices to God and prays. Unfortunately, as Christians in this modern world with all its conveniences, we hop out of bed, grab coffee, some sort of instant sustenance such as a bagel, muffin or protein bar and we are out the door at 100 miles per hour. We’ve fallen in the trap so many before us have fallen into. We allow no time to prepare our heart for the coming day. The schedule this world demands of us doesn’t lend itself to solitary time with yourself, let alone God.

          David wakes, prepares himself to meet with God, watches and waits. I’ve written a whole book* on the topic of waiting on God. It isn’t an easy thing to do; yet David says he waits. I would suspect that though the other translations do not include what the Amplified translation states in parentheses, the implication is pretty clear. What else would David be waiting for? He was waiting for his God to speak to him. Being the King of all of Israel, no one would dare rush him as he goes about his reverential duties before God. However, being on the pressed time schedules that we are on regularly, something or someone seems to always be demanding of our time. It is imperative that we find time to commune with our God. Communing is not just complaining about unanswered prayers or rattling off a laundry list of requests; rather, it is having a conversation with God where we speak, but we also listen … to His word. We don’t have to do this, but we can and what a privilege it is to be able to spend time with the one true living God and creator of all things. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* There Are No McDonald's In Heaven: Waiting on God; RL Keller; West Bow Press; 2012.

Psalm of Instruction

                                    “Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord and 

he will give you the desires of your heart.”- Psalm 37:3-4

 

          While I did come across one reference work that attributed this Psalm to David’s son Solomon due to its proverbial nature, a vast majority attribute Psalm 37 to King David. He is older now and is using this writing to instruct his people Israel “some things about life, righteousness, sin and God's will and plan.” * 

          In the first seven verses of this Psalm David lays out 5 precepts or rules for all believers for all time. They may have been written for Israel then, but they are eternally true and therefore wise council for us even now. Rule one in verse one instructs us ‘‘not to fret because of evildoers’’. Rule two is in verse three and tells us to ‘‘trust in the Lord and do good’’ as seen above. Rule three found in verse four says to “take delight in the Lord”. Rule four in verse five is ‘‘commit your way unto the Lord’’ and rule five is ‘‘be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him’’ which is found in verse seven. Our focus today is on verses 3-4 or the 3rd and 4th precepts.

          In this crazy mixed up world we live in, there isn’t a whole lot we can place our trust in anymore. Everything in this life is temporal. Nothing lasts forever. With that in mind we read David’s words ‘trust in the Lord and do good’. Now trusting in God is a faith issue, without question. Trusting in anything or anyone you cannot experience with any of your five senses is extremely difficult and requires a level of faith for the very definition of faith is to believe in something unseen as if it can be seen. David gives us one reason why we can trust God in all things by telling us in verse 25 “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread”. David, now an old man, is letting us in on that which has worked for him throughout his life. In spite of the sins and major blunders he committed in his life, he can still lift his head heavenward and pay allegiance to his God for he knows in his heart that God is constant. His love is unconditional and everlasting. We change with every shifting of the wind, but God never changes.

          The ‘desires’ that David is referring to in the second part of verse four are not every little whim and wish that we can conjure up in our mind, but rather his assumption is that in trusting God and seeking Him we will also seek to please Him with our lives and therefore our desires will be ones that are pleasing to God and not in contradiction to His rules and commandments. In serving God we find that we shall never have anything to fear, nor shall we ever be forsaken. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries
*The Story Behind the Psalms; Dr. Jack Hyles; http://www.fbbc.com/messages/hyles_psalms.htm

Psalm of Repentance

“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven; whose sins are covered. Blessed are those whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”- Psalm 32:1-2

          This Psalm of David is listed as “A Maskil”, which is translated in The Amplified Bible to mean “A skillful song, or a didactic* or reflective poem.” This Psalm is one of repentance for a sin David committed which can be read in 1 Chronicles 21. David commanded Joab, the leader of all his troops, to take a census of all of Israel. Under normal circumstances, this is done in preparation for war to see what numbers you have to take into battle. The Lord was not in this and became angry with David. David was punished, as was Israel, for his disobedience. As a result of his sin, David became ill. This Psalm is penitential in nature and also praises God for forgiveness and healing.

          Here we see David as grateful for the grace and mercy God has shown him by not counting his sins against him. As king of Israel, his sin resulted in punishment for himself and his people. To be blessed is to be ‘favored and protected’, in this case by Almighty God. We can take for ourselves today the fact that once we have had our sins forgiven, we are found to be favored by God and under His protection. This is unless we fall back into sin. Sin must be paid for. For the Christian in this day and age Christ’s blood atonement or payment for our sin was all that was needed to achieve forgiveness from God. However, we do still sin even after we have been redeemed. We are still under the blood and therefore may come to God at any time with a sincere and sorrowful heart seeking His forgiveness. God proclaims to us that He already forgave us even before we asked. It is in the asking that healing takes place. We cannot simply know that we will be forgiven and never repent of our sin. Repenting implies a turning away. We are then expected to do a 180° turn away from that sinful behavior. To not do that is to make God’s grace a cheap thing. 

          The phrase “whose sins are covered” is indicative of the Old Testament, when sacrifices were made to God to cover the sins of individuals. The blood of Christ doesn’t merely cover our sins, but instead erases them as if they had never been committed in the first place. Those whose sins cannot be counted against them and in whom no deceit is found are called blessed. As children of God, we are all highly favored and come under the protection of God all our days as we live for Him.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries
* “intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction …”  – www.oxforddictionaries.com

Digging for Gold

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”- Psalm 25:4-5 

 

          The mood of this Psalm of David is one of both prayer and meditation. It appears in rotation starting with prayer in the first seven verses. David called out to God to show him the path that had been laid out for him. God, in all His wisdom, has a path for us all. We should do as David had done and ask the Lord to reveal it to us that we might not go astray. Distractions abound in this life, yet we have an advocate in the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us in the things that we should be saying, doing and in the way we should be going. David identifies with His God succinctly as he calls Him his God and Savior. David knows in his heart that salvation comes from God alone. He has placed all his hope in the God of his youth.

          As Christians we should do as David has done. When we pray to our Heavenly Father, we need to ask Him to teach us and show us the things we need to know to better serve Him. Guidance from God Almighty is far greater than any guidance received from mortal man. Just as David relied on God’s truth, so should we. In doing so both David and by association we, are assuming and accepting that His truth is the one and only truth worth knowing and following. There are other thoughts and statements in this life that happen to be true, but none that bring life to our bones and hope for the future. 

To be taught by God’s Holy Spirit requires discipline and focus. We cannot know God without spending time with Him. It’s in the quality and not the quantity of time we spend with God that lies the key to our success. Just as one cultivates his crops, we must cultivate our relationship with our God. We will begin to have a greater understanding of His word and His ways as we work the soil of our relationship. He doesn’t simply give us knowledge to be wasted. We must dig for it as one would dig for gold and then once knowledge is found, we are to apply it to our lives. If we truly believe that God is the Lord of all then we will adhere to His teachings for they are life and breath to those who believe. Until next time, walk with the Lord and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Walking Blameless

“… who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.”- Psalm 19:12-13

 

          If we didn’t have a natural propensity to sin, then we wouldn’t have needed Christ to die in our place. We sin. We sin as a natural course of living. If we are breathing than there is the chance that we will commit sin. If a person hasn’t received the gift of redemption, this is, having their sins forgiven, then they will continue to sin out of ignorance. The greatest sin is rejecting Christ. Aside from Christ there is no removal of our sin. 

In Psalm 19, David seeks the face of God as he implores Him to forgive the hidden sins and keep him from willingly sinning. Willful is intentional or deliberate: sins done on purpose with no shame on your face. David seeks to be kept from such sins so that they do not take control of him. Without the forgiveness provided by Almighty God through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary, we would be guilty without reprieve. Our punishment would be sealed along with our fate. We would have no way to pay for our indebtedness. Christ alone could pay our sin debt, for He was sinless … the spotless lamb of God.   

          Once we receive forgiveness through acceptance of Christ into our lives, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit touches and ministers to us regularly as we strive to live for the Lord. To ‘strive’ is to make great effort or to fight vigorously for something, in this case living a certain sort of life; a life that is obedient to God’s precepts and therefore pleasing to Him. We aren’t perfect just because we are redeemed; far from it. However, we are sealed by His Spirit until the final day and are supposed to live a different kind of life than before we knew Him. 

God has opened our eyes to our previous lifestyle. We may have thought we were good people but compared to what God requires we were just as lost in His eyes as the vilest of men. Rejection of Christ is all it takes to condemn us. Knowing Christ intimately causes inward change in the heart of a man which should be seen outwardly. We are forever after seen by God through the blood of Christ. Our soul has been purchased with the blood that was spilled for us all. Millions have taken advantage of what that blood can do, millions have not. It is available until God says it isn’t. Follow David in asking that your sins, the hidden ones and the willful ones, be removed far from you and you shall be blessed. This is how to remain blameless in the sight of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Avoiding Distractions

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”- Proverbs 4:25-27

 

          There are distractions aplenty in this life. For those who are easily distracted, like me, it can be a challenge. As Christians we are called to fix our gaze upon our Lord and not on the circus side shows that litter the side of the road we’re on. A perfect scriptural example of this is found in the gospels. Matthew, Mark and John chronicled the event*. Jesus had asked His disciples to go before Him by boat to the other side while He dispersed the crowd He had just been teaching. Shortly after, the disciples saw what appeared to be a ghost walking towards them on the water and they were afraid. Peter said to Jesus, “if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus told him to come and Peter climbed out of the boat onto the water. As long as his gaze was upon Jesus and not the circumstances that surrounded him, he was fine; however, the winds and waves about him distracted him to the point that he lost his focus and began to sink. This tells us three very important things; 1) if we keep our gaze focused on God we will succeed in all we do, in spite of the circumstances; 3) if we succumb to the winds and waves of life that will without question buffet us about, we will sink; and 3) if Jesus tells us to do something, He is more than able to make it happen for us. We can know in all situations that Christ is there to save us just as He was for Peter as He lifted him out of the water and into the boat immediately. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

*Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21.

The Purpose & Theme of the Book of Proverbs

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

² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple, ^[1]
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise. 

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

 

                  Those ignorant as to the scriptural meaning of ‘fear’ with regard to our God may actually think we are to be afraid of Him. The disobedient need to be afraid, but not His children; those who understand know that this use of ‘fear’ refers to honoring and respecting God. It entails living in awe of His unlimited power and being obedient to His word, wherein lie the standards by which we are to live our lives. Those who faithfully live for God will be rewarded with eternal life. Those who have an unteachable spirit, are closed to anything new and refuse to learn will be punished for being unfaithful with death. 

                  Scripture speaks in the New Testament of being born once & dying twice, as opposed to being born twice & dying only once. Those who wish to spend eternity with the Lord will need to be born twice; once physically and once spiritually. Those who blow all that off as utter nonsense will experience the second death, which is being thrown into a Lake of Fire for all eternity. ^{(Revelation 20:11-15)} The latter are those who are referred to as ‘fools’ in scripture, for they despise instruction and true wisdom that comes from above.

                  In conclusion, the purpose and theme of Proverbs is to provide instruction and insight through sayings and allegories or symbolic stories. This is how one becomes wise in God’s eyes. We cannot figure life out on our own. God knows that and if we are honest with ourselves, we know that too. God’s standard for living is fair and equitable for all mankind, but many want things their way and theirs alone. We are all individuals and just as no two snowflakes look exactly alike, so no two people, even identical twins, are exactly the same. We are all unique, made that way by our Creator. So, respect and revere God. Be awe struck by Him and worship Him; not anyone other than the One who made you, for this is the beginning of wisdom. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing. 

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

The Purpose & Theme of the Book of Proverbs

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

² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple, 
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise. 

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

 

                  True wise men are men who are learn Biblical truths and share them with others. They study and understand proverbs and parables. They are humble and forthright, not sidestepping the issue, but dealing with it head on. The issue is sin vs. godly living. Those whose trust lies with Almighty God will make the time to study scripture as the means of drawing close to Him. Those who are play acting their Christianity shall be the losers in the end.

                  Those who think themselves wise tend to become pompous and arrogant, as if their knowledge is far superior to the rest of mankind. It is far better to be thought of as wise then to think of yourself as wise. The truth is that either way it doesn’t change reality. The one major flaw of thinking yourself wise is that you are comparing yourself to your fellow man. When one compares himself to his Creator a light is shone on how wise or should I say, unwise we all really are. We must put our existence in the proper perspective. Each one of us, both saved and unsaved, is nothing more than a single grain of sand on the beaches of life. Once we understand and learn to except that truth, we will begin to learn humility, which is a vital component in one’s spiritual maturation.

                  Proverbs and parables are referred to as “the sayings and riddles of the wise”. The Hebrew language uses the word for ‘allegories’ rather than riddles. An allegory is a symbolic representation; such as, “The blindfolded figure with scales is an allegory of justice.” John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and Herman Melville’s Moby Dick are examples of allegories. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

                                    

P.S. – Matthew 10:30 “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

                  Therefore, if God has the hairs on our head numbered, meaning if course, that he knows how many hairs are on our head, then he must also know how many grains of sand are on life’s beaches. In spite of how insignificant that may make you feel you must remember that we are of incalculable value to our Heavenly Father. Not to mention that He loves us without conditions placed upon that love. Isn’t that outrageously cool? rlk

The Purpose & Theme of the Book of Proverbs

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

² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple, 
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise. 

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

 

            When someone presents you with a gift, you would receive it, open it and use it for what it is intended to be used for. The instruction we receive from the Lord is, in a manner of speaking, a gift. We should apply it to our lives, for it’s not jibber-jabber or useless talk. The sayings in Proverbs are jewels of wisdom that flow from the very mouth of God thru His servant Solomon. 

            The ‘instruction’ we receive is designed to lead us to a ‘prudent’ way of handling ourselves. A prudent man would be “a man who is careful and wise in handling practical matters; one who exercises good judgment and/or common sense.” ⁽¹⁾ He would be a sensible man.

            A prudent man, we are told, is a man who does what is right, just and fair in God’s sight. God’s fairness doesn’t always line up with the fairness of this world; however, fairness in a Godly sense is equitable for all parties involved. The world’s view of fairness typically favors one side or the other. 

            Godly justice involves man conforming to the will and standard of God. There is a fine line between doing God’s will and insisting on your own will. This implies that God doesn’t know what’s best for you. That thought is ludicrous when you compare His achievements to ours. Living according to God’s standards is the only way to achieve peace for today and hope for tomorrow. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.          

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

⁽¹⁾ thefreedictionary.com

Resources: NIV Bible Study Notes; MacArthur Study Bible; Reformation Study Bible.

The Purpose & Theme of the Book of Proverbs

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

² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple, 
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise. 

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

 

A proverb is a brief, meaningful saying that expresses a basic truth or practical precept. During the next week I will be looking at the first 7 verses of Proverbs 1. They lay out for the readers the ‘purpose and theme’ of the entire book. The Proverbs of King Solomon, son of David, are a worthy read for they fill the reader with Godly knowledge and wisdom. 

In 1 Kings 3:1-15 we read the account of Solomon seeking wisdom and discernment to govern the people, rather than riches and honor. God was pleased with his request and gave him what he sought; plus, the riches and honor he did not seek. According to scripture, Solomon’s wisdom and discernment was unprecedented. No one was as wise before him or after his life had completed its course on this earth.

                  Verse 2 starts us off with ‘wisdom’. Proverbs uses the word wisdom to speak of the skill of living in a way that honors God. The difference between this type of wisdom and worldly wisdom is that the former’s foundation lies in a fear (awe and reverence) of God. This reverence for God is the controlling principle for applying these wise observations regarding the way life works. ⁽¹⁾

                  “The word ‘instruction’ incorporates several aspects: teaching, correction, discipline, reproof, learning, education, and training. Wisdom and His instruction in the virtues are emphasized throughout the Book of Proverbs. The purpose of correcting and disciplining oneself is to remove the deceptions of sin, so the God-given virtues in one's nature can manifest themselves.” ⁽²⁾

                  “‘Understanding’ is the mental discipline which matures one for spiritual discernment.” ⁽³⁾ “‘Insight’ or discernment (is) the ability to read between the lines and make correct distinctions.” ⁽⁴⁾

                  Based on the information given in this first segment one can see the general purpose of the Book of the Proverbs of King Solomon. It is instruction on how to live a Godly life or in other words, a life that is pleasing to our Lord. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

⁽¹⁾ NIV Quest Study Bible Notes

⁽²⁾ Orthodox Study Bible

⁽³⁾  MacArthur Study Bible

⁽⁴⁾ Reformation Study Bible

The Wrath of God

 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of human beings who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”- Romans 1:18-20 

          As much as we would all like to believe that God is love, mercy, compassion and peace only, there is a distinct side of God that reveals His wrath. Wrath in a tame sense is defined as “extreme anger”; it is also defined as “divine retribution for sin”. Retribution is “punishment that is considered to be morally right and fully deserved”. Why is it deserved? Because God cannot abide with sin and so if those who have shunned God and His forgiveness to go their own way insist on continuing down that path, God has no choice but to cast them out from His presence. They have brought it on themselves. His power and divine nature have been revealed through the ages and yet man has seen fit to ignore it or worse still, mock it and for that God will one day pour out His wrath. 

The Bible declares that God is a jealous God.  Exodus 20:4-6 cautions: “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” 

          God shall not tolerate insolence or rebellion from mankind forever. Many are ignorant of His might and power and while He is loving and His love is unconditional towards those who receive Him, His love is not extended forever to those who deny Him. They are given the same opportunity to repent, but knowing the condition of a man’s heart, God will punish those whose sin and hatred has galvanized their hearts against Him. 

God is no one to trifle with. He offers a blanket pardon to all who would receive it. He asks for us to make that offer known to our fellow man. He offers wisdom, guidance and protection in the face of terrible odds and will bless those whose hearts are turned towards Him. Yet woe to those who shun God and His ways for a day will come when “the sun will be turned to darkness and moon to blood on the great and terrible day of the Lord” ^{(Acts 2:20)}. On that day, that last day on earth, man will seek redemption and not find it for the Lord will bring His wrath upon the earth that has cast Him aside. Fear the Lord in awe and reverence, for His power is great and His judgment is swift. Don’t be caught on the fence teetering between belief and unbelief. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve …” ^{(Joshua 24:15 NASB)}. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Our Strong Tower

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”- Psalm 62:5-8 

          We find in this Davidic Psalm much encouragement as he praises God with words that speak loudly of the character and virtues of our Lord. Rest, hope, rock, salvation, fortress, refuge, trust; all strong words that mean something specific to the believer. 

Rest – for it can be found in no one else. It speaks of patience; it alludes to waiting. 

Hope – without it we shall perish. In our waiting with patience our spirit is lifted, and hope rises like a new day’s sun.

Rock – a man whose foundation is anything less will sink and perish; however, the foundation God provides shall never be moved or shaken.

Salvation – in this case ‘deliverance’. David has on more than one occasion been delivered from calamity. We should expect nothing less. 

Fortress – protection. A fortress provides safety; it’s walls keep out unwanted foes. The Lord shall keep us safe at all times.

Refuge – shelter during the storms of life. God is a dependable shelter, preserving our honor and salvation.

Trust – reliance. We can rely on God at all times for He is our safe haven. 

          What a wonderful picture David paints of our God. In my mind’s eye I can see a mighty, glorious fortress rising up above the chaos. It has bright, shining banners flying high above its towers; it’s ramparts are impenetrable. This is where we may reside; within the confines of this refuge which is our Lord. If we stand firm in our faith as David did time and time again, we shall never know defeat. It is in the closeness of our walk with God that we find the door that opens to such a fortress. We are to rely on Him not just in times of peril, but at all times. He is our rock and our salvation. He is the only lasting, and most consistent hope we shall ever have. We need to embrace Him and place our trust in Him for God has never let us down. Our very existence is because of Him. We can rise above any and all problems if we realize the incredible power God provides to those who rely on Him and Him alone. Without God we are helpless and hopeless. With God there in nothing we cannot do. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries