September 7th One Year Bible Readings

Song of Solomon 5:1-8:14 ~ 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 ~ Psalm 51:1-19 ~ Proverbs 22:24-25
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Old Testament - Today we finish up the Song of Solomon! Then - the next book snuck up on me - tomorrow we begin the book of the prophet Isaiah! Get ready for an incredible book. Get ready for many Eighth century B.C. prophecies of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ!  Tomorrow begins our readings of the Major Prophets:  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel are before us.  Below is a quick re-cap of the 39 books in the Old Testament and their various categories:

Song of Solomon Chapter 8 verse 4 stood out to me today when the young woman says- "I want you to promise, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right."  This is an interesting concept I think - of not awakening love until the time is right.  The reason I bring this up is because I know tons of people who are single.  And probably a lot of folks reading this blog are single.  And I've come to realize that single people can oftentimes stress out over being single...  as if they are never going to get married.  Which, perhaps for some, may be true.  I do honestly believe that some are called to live a life of singleness.  However, if you are single I think stressing about it does no good.  Trying to "awaken love before the time is right" does no good.  In fact, in can be very bad.  I know of some folks that have gotten themselves in bad dating situations, simply because I think these folks were trying to "awaken love before the time is right."  My thought here is that the Young Woman from Song of Solomon is absolutely right.  If we are single, we need to remember that everything is in God's hands.  If God has a plan for us to get married, then we really don't need to stress about the timing of it all.  It will happen when it should happen.   When the time is right.  And to try to awaken love before the time is right typically does not work out well.  So, that's my two cents today.  :)  I just hope that if you are single and feel like you've been single for too long, don't stress out about it!  God's timing and God's plans for your life are indeed a mystery - but a beautiful mystery.  He will awaken love when - and if - the time is right.  Let us always remember in all areas of our life to "Let go and Let God"...

New Testament - Today in Second Corinthians chapter 9 verses 6 through 8 we read these words of Paul’s – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Great verses! A lot of ground is covered in these verses. Do you believe that we reap what we sow? What are you sowing? What have you decided in your heart to give? Do you give without reluctance? Do you give without compulsion? Are you a cheerful giver? Do you realize that God gracefully gives you all that you need so that you will participate in good works? Are you participating in God’s grace that he is freely giving to you? Related to these verses, I just recently finished reading Randy Alcorn's wonderful little book, The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving. Has anyone else read this book? It is a wonderful book about how it truly is more blessed to give than to receive! I highly recommend it!

Bible.org's commentary on today's (and yesterday's) readings in Second Corinthians titled "Keeping Your Commitments" is at this link.  Below is a great image for 2 Corinthians 9:10 from our readings today:

Psalms - Today we read one of my favorite Psalms!  Psalm 51. Psalm 51 is David’s humble prayer for forgiveness and cleansing after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband Uriah killed in battle. I believe that this Psalm can continue to be a humble prayer for forgiveness and cleansing for each of us today. This Psalm is read by many liturgical churches during the season of Lent as a penitential Psalm.  A brief quote from this Bible.org about this Psalm is: “The application of the psalm to believers today should be obvious. We, like David, can and must have complete cleansing before we can fully and freely serve God in any capacity. Our eternal destiny may not be in doubt when we sin as believers, and neither was David’s because he appealed to that covenant relationship, but our fellowship and service will be. God will not tolerate unconfessed sin, and so will hold us accountable if we do not confess.” I’ve been trying to figure out my favorite portion or two of this Psalm to share with you. . . but I can’t just pick one portion. It is all so powerful! Tell you what – I’m going to copy the full Psalm below in the NIV translation (my favorite for this Psalm). Please take a few moments to meditate upon this Psalm. My questions for reflection are these – Do you confess your sins to God? Do you confess your sins to others? And ask them to hold you accountable? When was the last time you confessed your sins to God? Do you have sins to confess to God today? Will you do so now? I pray this Psalm opens up your heart to the amazing burden that is lifted when we confess our sins to God!

Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Proverbs - Proverbs 22 verses 24 through 25 are a great reminder to pay attention to who our friends are: "Keep away from angry, short-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul."  I've read somewhere that a good way to determine the character of a person is to take a look at who their friends are.  Now, this is a bit tricky I think because none of our friends will ever be perfect.  We should not look for perfect friends.  We won't be perfect friends to others either.  Jesus is the only one true perfect friend for each of us.  But, there are certainly some "friends" who probably should not be people we spend a good deal of leisure time with.  There may be friends who are into lying or pornography or who are angry or short-tempered (per this Proverb) that we need to be very cautious around, otherwise we may learn to be like them.  Now, I do think we are called to be friends to people who may struggle with various things - including lying, pornography, being angry, etc. - but, we need to be very cautious and clear on our boundaries.  This is a tricky one I know...  Overall, I will say this - there are friends of mine that I have had to let go because I knew that hanging around them was simply not good for me.  How about you?  Are there any friends in your life that you may simply need to let the friendship go?  When might this be the appropriate thing to do?  When might it be the inappropriate thing to do?

Worship God: Psalm 51 reminded me of the fantastic song "Create in me a Clean Heart" performed here by Donnie McClurkin and a choir:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILRjmPGvVB8

Do you want a clean heart? Click here to be made clean!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this today: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit within you, through the grace and Spirit of God. Pray that you will live a pure life now and forevermore.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Ramona]

Song of Solomon 5-8:14

Mike, I want to thank you for tackling a very “heavy” topic, singleness. The pressure to marry can be the strongest in church, at least from my experience. I’m going to step on toes here but the people (women) who exert the greatest pressure on single women to “find a husband” have usually been the women who are the most miserable in their marriage. People who have the healthiest relationships are not usually running through the sanctuary trying to “hook” people up because they know it takes hard work to maintain a relationship and we know there are a lot of lazy folk.

If we really examine our life and be honest with ourselves those breaking their necks to get married really don’t like to be by themselves and they think being married will fix their problem. It ain’t so. I have learned how to be alone without being lonely and being in a crowd or married to someone with a houseful of kids won’t do anything for you. If one is not whole being single you will never be whole in a marriage. It takes 100% of the man and 100% of the women to make a 100% healthy marriage, not 50/50.

II Corinthians 9:1-15

I love to read this passage in the Amplified Bible, especially verses six and seven,

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 AMP [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. (7) Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, ``prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Prov. 22:9.]

Sometimes people try to engage me in debate or provoke an argument on “tithing.” Why would anyone in their right mind give their money to God, the Pastor, the church and on and on. I never argue with them because I know that there are things that I would never spend my money on because I find it wasteful and they don’t. We are willing to spend our money on those things that we identify strongly with that have no concrete benefit, at least one that can be detected by our five senses. God loves a cheerful giver a concept that many people refuse to accept when it comes to the things of God yet daily spend their money on things that bring them temporary pleasure that have no lasting benefit.

We refuse to give to God generously not because we are concerned about how the pastor is spending the money but because we refuse to find pleasure in God. Live is all about choices and we choose to “spend” our money on the alter of material and emotional gain, the things God placed in the universe instead of spending our money on the alter of the God who created those things we find pleasurable.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:18-27 NET.)

Psalm 51:1-19

What I love about this Psalm, and I don’t remember if I stated this before, is the fact that David was such a man of integrity and honesty, not only did he confess his sin to God, adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, he wrote it down and gave it to the choir director to be song in church (Temple).

Proverbs 22:24-25

We are to keep away from angry, short-tempered people because they have boundary issues. A person not under self-control will always violate boundaries. If they have nothing to reign in their passions their “stuff” will not only rain down on their on heads but will rain down on yours as they step into your space even when uninvited.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Cheryl]

Mike, the same verse that struck you in Song of Solomon, struck me both in today's and yesterday's reading. My interpretation was slightly different. In the NIV version, it reads:

4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
   Do not arouse or awaken love
   until it so desires.

I think because of our culture, falling in love has been elevated to be the greatest thing ever to happen to us.. I grew up reading and watching love stories and hoping some day my "prince would come". That somehow my self-worth is less if I don't have this falling in love experience. So, I tried to "arouse or awaken love" in all the wrong circumstances or before "it so desires".

I see this today in a lot of relationships where people fall quickly in love, even projecting feelings on to the other person only to later to be devastated by heartbreak. Each heartbreak we go through in life is "baggage" we bring into other relationships. So, I found this verse to be very good advise and full of wisdom.

Fortunately, I learned the "how to be alone" lesson and came to a point where I was happy in my singleness. By the way, I'm now very happily married. Sometimes, I guess, I encourage my single friends towards marriage/relationships because of how happy I am not because of how sad I think they are.... try not to be too hard on us married people. :-)