2020-11-04
Deuteronomy 31:13 NCV
In Deuteronomy 31, we read that Moses wrote down God’s law and instructed the priests and elders of Israel to gather all the people together and read the law out loud to them, so they could ‘listen and learn to respect the Lord your God and carefully obey everything in this law’ (v.12 NCV). Over the next couple of days, we’ll be looking at the importance of teaching and sharing God’s Word with others.
First, let’s think about why we should do it. Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV). We have a responsibility to share the gospel with others, and we should be ready to share our knowledge of God whenever we have the opportunity.
Deuteronomy 31 goes on to say: ‘Since their children do not know this law, they must hear it. They must learn to respect the LORD your God for as long as they live in the land you are crossing the Jordan River to take for your own’ (v.13 NCV). We might meet people who have never heard God’s Word before, or who have never understood the depths of His love for us, and we might be the only opportunity that someone has to learn and talk openly about God. It’s also important for us to help those who may be struggling to understand God’s Word, especially if they’re not as far along as us in their faith journey. Sharing what we’ve learned, or explaining something from a different perspective, might be the key to helping them take another step forwards in their relationship with God.
1 John 1:1-3:10; John 8:21-30; Ps 86; Prov 25:8-12
2020-11-03
Spreuke 5:15 NLV
Hier is ‘n paar reguit woorde oor monogamie van een van die wysste mans wat nog ooit gelewe het – Salomo: ‘Drink die water uit jou eie put. Drink by jou eie fontein. Moet jou fonteine in die strate uitloop? Moet jou water die pleine oorstroom? Hou jou water vir jouself. Deel dit nie met vreemdelinge nie. Laat jou eie fontein vir jou tot seën wees. Geniet jou eie jong vrou. Sy is die bokkie wat jy liefhet. Laat haar borste vir jou vreugde gee. Laat haar liefkosings jou die hele tyd oorweldig. My seun, waarom sou jy meegevoer raak deur ‘n slegte vrou? Waarom sou jy liefde by ‘n vreemde vrou gaan soek? Die Here sien alles wat ‘n mens doen. Hy weeg elke tree wat jy gee. Die goddelose mens se eie sondes maak van hom ‘n gevangene. Dit draai hom vas in sy eie sonde. Hy kon homself nie beheer nie; daarom gaan hy sterf. Hy verdwaal omdat hy dwase dinge doen’ (Spreuke 5:15-23 NLV).
In Salomo se tyd, was ‘n put of fontein so waardevol soos goud. Skoon water was ‘n kosbare kommoditeit, dus was Salomo inderwaarheid besig om te sê: ‘Hoekom sal jy die besoedelde water wat uit die riool van losbandigheid vloei drink, wanneer jy kan wag en die skoon water wat uit die put van ‘n toegewyde eggenoot kom, kan drink?’
Hier is twee waarhede wat jy altyd in gedagte moet hou: 1) Ware liefde wag. 2) Ware liefde is die wag werd. Onthou, jy kan enige tyd uit die put drink. Jy kan egter nooit weer die persoon wees wat jy was voor jy daardie besluit geneem het nie.
Sielskos: Esra 9-10; Joh 8:1-20; Ps 96; Spr 25:1-7
Proverbs 5:15 NIV
For some of us, part of God’s plan is that we’ll form loving relationships and get married. For others, His plan is that we’ll stay single. If we’re designed for singleness, it might seem strange to think about faithfulness in marriage. But since marriage is a reflection of God’s love for His church (take a look at Ephesians 5:22-23), it can help us think about our faithfulness to God too.
In Proverbs 5, Solomon shows us a picture of staying faithful to a husband or wife using the imagery of a well: ‘Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers…For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly’ (vv.15-23 NIV).
In Solomon’s day, clean water was a very precious commodity, and a well or cistern was considered to be as valuable as gold. By comparing a spouse to a well, he’s showing us how valuable and refreshing a loving, faithful relationship can be. He also demonstrates the dangers of straying outside of that relationship. This is advice we need to pay attention to and remember if we get married. But for all of us, it’s also a reminder of how faithful we should be to God.
Wandering from Him and looking to other things to fulfil us can lead to disaster, but staying close to Him means we can experience His refreshment, peace and love.
Ezra 9-10; John 8:1-20; Ps 96; Prov 25:1-7
Proverbs 5:15 NIV
Here’s some straight talk about monogamy from one of the wisest men who ever lived, Solomon: “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer – may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman? For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly” (vv.15-23 NIV).
In Solomon’s day, a well or cistern was considered to be as valuable as gold. Clean water was a very precious commodity, so what Solomon is saying is this: “Why drink the polluted water that comes from the sewer of promiscuity, when, if you wait, you can drink the clean water that comes from the well of a devoted spouse?”
Here are two truths you should always keep in mind: (1) True love waits. (2) True love is worth the wait. When tempted to go astray by a fast-living friend, a young Christian woman replied, “Any time I want to become like you, I can. But I can never again become the person I was before I made that decision.”
Soul food: Ezra 9-10; John 8:1-20; Ps 96; Prov 25:1-7
2020-11-02
Proverbs 18:4 NKJV
When Solomon speaks of “deep waters,” he’s referring to the water at the bottom of the well that’s the cleanest and coolest. If you want to know what kind of water a well has, go down to the bottom. And if you want to know what’s in a person’s heart, listen to his or her words. An old country farmer put it this way: “What’s down in the well always comes up in the bucket!”
One of the surest signs of wisdom and maturity is the ability to say the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, to the right person – or to say nothing at all. Indeed, as you become wiser, you’ll talk less and say more.
In the U.S. legal system, when someone is arrested, the police are required to read them their Miranda Rights: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” So unless your words are intended to build someone up rather than tear them down, silence is a “right” you should exercise every day. Sometimes the wisest words are the ones never spoken.
Someone said, “A wise man is someone who thinks twice before saying nothing.” Again, Solomon weighs in: “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent” (Proverbs 17:27-28 NIV). So, it’s better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you’re a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Soul food: Ezra 6-8; John 7:45-53; Ps 9; Prov 24:30-34
