~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Jeremiah 42:1-44:23 ~ 2 Timothy 2:1-21
Psalm 92:1-93 ~ Proverbs 26:3-5
Old Testament - The 3 Jeremiah chapters today are quite eventful. Interesting that the Israelites ask Jeremiah for a message from God - and that whatever they hear back they will do and obey. Not! :) Are we like this at times... ? We promise promise promise God that we'll listen & change... but then do we?

Jeremiah chapter 42 gives a good set up to the day's readings, with the closing 2 verses in this chapter from Jeremiah - "And today I have told you exactly what he said, but you will not obey the LORD your God any better now than you have in the past. So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going." Jeremiah delivered the message from God... but knew that the message would go unheeded.

Chapter 43 reminds me that when we are disobedient to God's will that our disobedience can affect not only ourselves, but others around us. Mind you, Egypt was not a "house of the holy" - but the Israelites disobedience is going to bring destruction to themselves and Egypt. They're carrying their disobedience and curse to others. Jeremiah 43's verses 9 & 10 stood out to me today - ""While the people of Judah are watching, bury large rocks between the pavement stones at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace here in Tahpanhes. I will surely bring my servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, here to Egypt." Interesting that God calls Nebuchadnezzar his "servant". Would he have said this about the Israelites at this time? Called them his servants?

Chapter 44 is a great reminder of why it's a bad idea to pursue idols in our life instead of God. Verse 7 asks "Why are you destroying yourselves?" I love this verse. Why are we destroying ourselves? We bring upon self-abuse, self-destruction, when we pursue things that are not of God. Think about it. They may bring a quick temporary pleasure, but in the long run are they building us up or destroying us? Why are we destroying ourselves?

New Testament - 2 Timothy 2, verse 9 has a great verse for us One Year Bible readers! :) "But the word of God cannot be chained." Amen! Well, I suppose in theory one Bible could be chained (as you sadly see below), but not all Bibles. God's Word overall cannot be chained!

2 Tim 2 is a great chapter today... just jam packed with wisdom. Verse 4 stands out - "And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army." How often do we become tied up in affairs of this life.... ? Every day? Every hour? More often than that... ? If we are constantly "distracted" by the affairs of this life, do we lose sight of Jesus? Do we distract ourselves enough that we can't serve Jesus well?

Verse 21 is a great closing verse today - "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work." Will you keep yourself pure? Have you ever realized that you are indeed a utensil for God's use?

Psalms - Today in Psalm 92 verse 4 we read a joyful verse – “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.” When was the last time you reflected upon God’s deeds? When was the last time you reflected upon God’s work of his hands? Do you think this might be a good daily habit? Do God’s deeds make you glad? Do you sing for joy regularly for God’s work of his hands?

Proverbs - Proverbs 26 today - I think we have a catch-22 here! Someone correct me if I'm wrong here in verses 4 & 5 - "When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation." So do we not answer their foolish arguments.... or do we? :) I can see the wisdom in both verses.... Help me out on this one!

What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up in the Comments section below!
Grace,
Mike
I agree. A tough one but like you said seeing the wisdom in both truths. Not allowing ourself to go to the same vile, ignorance responds as the fool. Speaking the truth in wisdom and love would stifle any attemt by the fool to boast in knowledge in his argument.
I want to thank you so much for your daily blog. It accompanies the daily reading so nicley. It is food for thought. Keep up the good work. (Gal 6:9)
Posted by: mark | October 23, 2005 at 01:16 PM
Proverb 26(the message)
4Don't respond to the stupidity of a fool;
you'll only look foolish yourself.
5Answer a fool in simple terms
so he doesn't get a swelled head.
Posted by: florida | October 23, 2005 at 04:53 PM
Well, Prov 26:4,5. I would make an obvious statement of fact or ask a question to provoke the other person to think for himself.
Of late, I lost the friendship of a colleague. I wasn't making a judgement of her gambling, but by accident pointed out a news of a jackpot winner could be a publicity gimmick.
She was damned mad with me and snapped at me to nail my scepticism on the cross.
I greeted her but she snubbed at me. Till today, she showed her face to me.
Posted by: humanly | October 24, 2005 at 12:04 AM
I have been struggling with these two arguments for many months now. I work for a board on which sit two men who definitely fit the description of putting forth foolish arguments. I have waivered between arguing with them and at that time losing time and spending energy in a futile effort to enlighten them which never happens and sitting silently through the entire meeting without correcting them or enlightening them with the correct information. They always only give the part of the information which will support their position and never listen to the rest of the information or to any of the other board members. I go home frustrated after every board meeting. To answer them or not, neither course of action corrects the problem - fools never or rarely take advice or change their position. After much discussion with my wife and friends, I believe one must wait patiently until the Lord sees fit to remove such a person from authority and then you can move on. Or you may have to separate yourself from a certain situation and move on with your life if you are not patient enough to bear the burden of working with a foolish person.
Posted by: Butch | October 24, 2005 at 05:49 AM
Ask a foolish Question...
You get a foolish answer.
Is that from an Almanac?
Hmmm...
I like playing with proverbs. I Used to take one a day and try to apply and live by...
Grace and Forgiveness is alot easier but wisdom is foound in the chapters.
When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.
When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
This kind of logic is fun because at first it seems like a contradiction...
(though when I asked a child this with no preconceived idea that this could be contrary they seemed to have no problem and gave me the answer immediately...sometimes I overthink a situation....(grin).
I like what Butch wrote, it's closer to where I am.
Jesus seemed to have a board of elders he had to deal with and quite bluntly even by western mind set, there question once you know the rest of the story is quite foolish:
Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Luk 20:29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
Luk 20:30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
Luk 20:31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
Luk 20:32 Last of all the woman died also.
Luk 20:33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
Hmmmp...given those "set of circumstances...it might not sound like a foolish question.
But Jewish Law and in reality, God's laws, were a little less severe I think and applied to the whole person...Paul knew the law:
Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband.
Rom 7:3 So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
THIS is the Answer...
But Why didn't Jesus simply do as Paul did and use the LAW to Answer the Question.
What was the The Foolish Question they said and waht was really the question they had?
Pauls Answer if it had been given would be Proverbs 26:4
When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.
They would have argued NEXT about resurrection because that did not believe in it and if you have seen heated discussions, if you start answering what people are asking they ask another question....
BUT.....
Jesus Knew they already HAD the answer according to Law and really weren't asking about Marriage...,
He said,
Luk 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Luk 20:35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Luk 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Luk 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Luk 20:38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
Whoops... Ask a Silly question you might get more than you bargained for...
Jesus Eliminated the discussion by answering the questions that were not asked and showing the evidence of the answer from Keen Insight into the real issues.
We all have two languages and maybe a whole lot more...
We might say we want a soda when we really want to get out of the house and the real issue is we don't know how to past that sticky point in a statement you just made with your spouse so it's..."I am going to get a soda"
We often resist the Truth and are openly terrified of anyone gettting "inside our skin" or heart to really see what we did and why and what we really mean.
Proverbs knows this and reveals not contradiction, but a "contra-indication"
"When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are. When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation."
In other words...don't give them waht they already know....or they will feel wise and you look foolish..., but Have God show you what really is the issue and you may get to the rest of proverbs to find out How to reply in such as way as to be like Jesus who when he was done answering got this response
Luk 20:39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
Luk 20:40 And after that they durst not ask him any [question at all].
Wise Men listen, they wait, they observe and when they finally speak thier mind, usually all doubt and discussion is removed.
Having created, participated, stirred up circumvented, well every wrong way to do a thing.... in thinking back I get a kick out of thinking about board meetings and watching how silly we make things seem so important,
Donald Trump can't really get to the bottom of the antics in the board room, but given a few well placed scenes and typical human nature (sinful) everyone seems to know the first part of proverbs 26...
I hope for Butch and all of us we get the chance to answer a fool in his folly......
The response may indicate whether it was from us or from the Lord Jesus who seems to be able to take a lifetime to touch even ahardened soul like mine.
Posted by: Michael Stone | October 24, 2005 at 02:49 PM