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Podcast Introduction







Our reading today Proverbs 22. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “What Will They Say?”  







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Comments on Proverbs 22









You should want a good name more than you want great riches. To be highly respected is better than having silver or gold.

Proverbs 22:1 NIRV







My wife, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, doesn't like it when I talk about this, but Proverbs 22:1 brought it to mind, so I must. 







I'm at the age where I sometimes think about how I will be remembered when I'm no longer around. At close to 68 years old, I think I have eased out of middle age. Wouldn't you agree? As a matter of fact, at this point I have lived longer my biological father, and three of his four brothers. The paternal side of my family didn't live long lives. My mother's side of the family mostly lived into their 80's and 90's, so it's anybody's guess what the chances are that I'll live to be an old man. I tease about being old now, but 68 really isn't considered to be old like it was in past generations. Is it??? Maybe I’m just kidding myself.







But I do think about how I'll be remembered. One thing is for sure, I have no interest at all in being remembered for how wealthy or poor I was. I have never lived my life to see how much wealth I could acquire. Sure, I tried to provide as comfortable life as I could for the Lovely Lady LeeAnn and my kids, but I never made it a goal to see how large I could grow my business or bank account.







I had a childhood friend who I was very close to, even into our twenties. We were both Christians and grew up in middle class families, we played sports together at our high school, and generally had the same values. Around the age of about 30 we began to grow apart, mostly because our lives just got busy with family and trying to earn livings for ourselves. 







But then this friend of mine got into a business that eventually made him a multi-millionaire. It's a good business. He is well respected in his industry, as far as I know, and he travels the world and has all the trappings of success. Except it does not appear that he has a relationship with the Lord. Again, I am no longer close him, but I see him occasionally. Obviously I can't know what is in his heart. But I cannot say that there is any observable evidence that Jesus has a place in his life.







Sure, when he is gone people will know that he had great wealth. From that perspective, his life will have been a success. When we were in our twenties, I remember having conversations about gaining wealth, and that was one of his top goals. So he made it.







But when people remember me, I want to be remembered as a godly man. I want my kids and grandkids to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I loved God, and I lived my life for Him. Of course, they'll remember I was far from perfect, but I hope they'll know that despite my flaws, I was one hundred percent in love with my Lord. I hope that I have many more years to build memories with them that they'll be able to look back on when I'm gone that will cause them to say, "Yes. He was a good man, an honest man, a fair man, a man of integrity, and above all, a godly man."







That matters far more to me than leaving them a big inheritance. I would much rather leave a legacy of living for the Lord, than how to become wealthy. 







Today's Bible Translation







Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 22 NIRV







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Podcast Introduction







Our reading today Psalms 105-107. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “They Forgot His Mighty Deeds.”  







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Comments on Psalms 106 and 107







Thoughts on Psalm 106







Chapter 106 opens with a call to praise the Lord and give thanks because He is good and His loyal love endures. In fact, the first five verses are a joy to read. We're sort of saying, "Yes! Amen!" along with the author.







And then at verse seven things take a darker tone. The author confesses that we have sinned like our ancestors. There is talk of sin and judgement, betrayal and anger. Deliverance and forgetfulness. 







And then, in the second to the last verse, the writer pleads for God to deliver us. He promises to give thanks and tell of God's marvelous deeds. And the last verse proclaims that the Lord God of Israel deserves praise forever, and urges everyone to say, "We agree! Praise the Lord!".







What I make of this is that even in the midst of judgement and pain, God is worthy of praise. Why? Because, as it says in the very first verse, "His loyal love endures forever." Judgement and anger don't come because God no longer loves us. On the contrary. If God didn't love us, he would be indifferent to us. He would turn us over to our own wicked ways, which we know from scripture that He does do to those who have hardened their hearts to him. But if we seek him, if we turn from our rebellion, His love for us is shown by forgiveness and redemption. 







As a matter of fact, God already proved that over 2,000 years ago with the death and resurrection of Jesus, His son. We have only to accept that fact and believe that He died for our sins, and then allow Him to guide our actions and decisions, to experience that loyal and enduring love. I'm so glad I don't have to depend on my own effort or my own faithfulness. I fail more often than I care to admit. But he sees it all, and he offers forgiveness. 







The Lord God of Israel deserves praise, in the future and forevermore. Say with me, "We agree! Praise the Lord!”







Thoughts on Psalm 107







In this Psalm there are several calls to give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures.  We hear this refrain four times: "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people! " 







The Psalm ends with this: Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love!







Have you been delivered from an enemy? Give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for you!







Have you been delivered from hunger or thirst? Give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for you!







Have you been a prisoner or a captive? God was and is there to bring freedom. Give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for you!







Have you been sick? God is the creator of our bodies. He is the Master Physician. Give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for you!







Have you experienced a raging storm and known the calm brought by the Word of God? Give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for you!







Have you experienced loss, but seen God miraculously provide? Give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for you!

Podcast Introduction







Our reading today 1 Chronicles 15-19. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “What A Promise.”  















Comments on 1 Chronicles 17







David looked at the palace he had built for himself and thought, "I should build an appropriate place for the ark of the covenant." Seems like a good and noble thing to do, right? The prophet Nathan thought so, so he told David to go ahead with the project.







But God spoke to Nathan that night, telling him that he had not asked for a house, and it was not David who would build one for him. I like what Charles Spurgeon said:  “Though the Lord refused to David the realization of his wish, he did it in a most gracious manner. He did not put the idea away from him in anger or disdain, as though David had cherished an unworthy desire; but he honored his servant even in the non-acceptance of his offer.” 







Beloved, when we ask to do something for God from a pure and loving heart, I believe He is pleased. Even our best efforts and greatest gifts to Him are far short of what He has done for us, but a loving Father finds pleasure in His children's gifts. When my oldest son was about five or six years old, he found a red brick at the beach that had obviously been tossed around by the waves for a very long time because all the corners and edges on it had been rounded and smoothed by the sand and water. He thought it was a wonderful and unique treasure. And he gave it to me as a gift. I still have that brick. And that little five or six year old boy will be 40 years old this year. I have moved homes many times since he gave it to me, but every time I look at it, it brings warm memories. 







And God did something that David would never have anticipated. God told David that HE was going to build a house for David, one that would last forever. God promised David that he would have a descendant on the throne forever. David's son, Solomon ruled after him, and Solomon built a magnificent Temple for God, and many generations after Solomon ruled over Israel, until they suffered God's judgement for turning away from Him. But even then, God did not forget His promise to David, and Jesus came from David's line. So God’s promise to David is even now being fulfilled.







David's response was thankfulness and humility. "Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far?"







Indeed. Who am I God, that you would give Your Son's life for me? Who am I? Thank you, Lord. I owe you everything, yet You have been so gracious to me. What may I do for You, Lord? I give you my life. I give you my all.







Today's Bible Translation







Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 15 NIRV; Ch 16 NLT; Ch. 17-18; Ch. 19 NCV







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Podcast Introduction







Our reading today Numbers 9-12. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you.  I’m calling today’s episode “Move Out.”  







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Comments on Numbers 12







I don’t recall ever hearing a message, or a sermon on Numbers 12. So that’s what I’m going to talk about today. It seems like somewhat of an unusual chapter to me. Does it seem that way to you? Let’s dig in.







1Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan." (GW)







Miriam and Aaron were the brother and sister of Moses. And because of the way the sentence is constructed in Hebrew, and the fact that Miriam is listed first, she is probably the instigator of this confrontation. We'll talk more about that in a moment.







Out of the 35 translations I checked, this is the only translation that says Moses was married to a woman from Sudan. Most other translations say she was a Cushite woman. Others say she was Ethiopian. The original language says Cushite. The Cushites were descendants of Cush. Cush was the oldest son of Ham. Ham was the son of Noah. So Cush was the grandson of Noah. Interestingly, one of Cush's sons was Nimrod, who is thought to be the ruler of Babel when the Tower of Babel was built. So the great-grandson of Noah probably built the Tower of Babel. (There's another reminder that it is imperative to teach faithfully each generation the Word of the Lord. Just because you're a believer is no guarantee that your children will be, or their children. Be diligent in living in such a way that your children see that God is real.) 







The land of Cush might very well be, and probably is synonymous with Ethiopia. Though the Ethiopia of the Bible is not exactly the same as the Ethiopia of today. However, the Ethiopia of the Bible included an area of what is Sudan today! See how it all comes together?







Given this background, it is probably not going to surprise you when I say that the Cushite people were dark skinned. As a matter of fact, Cush means "black." 







One last thing about Cush. I found this at gotquestions.org: Significantly, Cush is also a nation that received the gospel and will be involved in the millennial kingdom. The evangelist Philip gave the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch, who would have been referred to as a Cushite in Hebrew, and the eunuch was one of the first converts of Ethiopia to Christianity (Acts 8:26–39). He undoubtedly took the gospel back to his land, where he had great influence as a royal official to Queen Candace (Acts 8:27). During the millennial reign of Christ, Jesus will receive honor from Cush/Ethiopia: “From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings” (Zephaniah 3:10).







So the fact that Moses was married to a Cushite woman is the reason Miriam and Aaron gave for their complaint. It was not forbidden for Israelites to marry Cushites, so that is not likely to be the basis for the complaint. It is possible, and maybe even probable that their reason was because of the color of her skin. Something she had no control over. 







But this was not the real problem. As is often the case, there was something deeper. 







Verse 2 says, " 2They asked, 'Did the Lord speak only through Moses? Didn’t he also speak through us?'” 







Can't you just hear Miriam? "Who do you think you are, Moses? You think you're so special because God speaks through you. He speaks through me! And Aaron, too!"







In a way, she was right. God spoke through Aaron in Exodus 4:30,

Podcast Introduction







Our reading today 2 Timothy 1-2. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Before There Was Time.”  







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Comments on 2 Timothy 1







The apostle Paul wrote this to Timothy from a Roman prison, shortly before he was executed by Nero. The book of 2 Timothy was the last writing we have from him. 







There is a place in Rome that is said to be the place Paul was imprisoned. It is basically a cave in the ground with a small opening in the ceiling where they dropped his food down. It is windowless and small, with bare walls. It would have been a very uncomfortable place, especially in the cold winter months.







Knowing that he would soon be put to death, he wrote this letter to his "dearly loved son", Timothy. He was, of course, speaking of his spiritual family. We have seen Paul use this language for Timothy before. Paul wanted to encourage Timothy in his work with some last important words.







In verse six, Paul said, "6Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands."







Have you ever tended a fire in a fireplace or a campfire? In order to keep the fire going, you have to stir it up once in a while. If you don't, it will go out. Paul is saying, "My son, God has given you a gift, but you have to work at it to keep it going." 







Beloved, we can't just sit back and expect God to work through us. He expects us to take what He has given us, whatever those abilities are, and put effort into making the most of them for His glory, for His Kingdom. You can't, for example say, "I have the gift of teaching," and then just wait for someone to come to you for instruction. You have to actively make yourself available to use the gift. If there is a need for Sunday School teachers, volunteer. Don't wait to be approached. 







It seems that Timothy may have been somewhat timid or fearful to making the most of his gift, because Paul said, "7For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." Going back to the example of the gift of teaching, if you have been gifted this way but feel fearful or shy about making yourself available, understand that that feeling does not come from God. With the gift, God also gave you the ability to make use of it...he gave you the power to use it. If it is from God, it is backed up with His power. And His love. And the mental ability to use the gift.







When you are given a gift, God expects you to use it. It is part of His plan for you. So be bold in its use. That does not mean to be obnoxious about it, but be confident.







Verse 9 says, "9He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."







Beloved, we have been called by God, not because of anything we have done, but because He had a plan for us before time even began. A plan for His purpose. God thought of you before time even began. Think of it. It's a little like this. My fifth grandchild is being formed at this very moment by the hand of God. Do you think that Grandma and Grandpa, and especially her parents, have hopes and dreams for her? And do you think they're making plans for her arrival? Of course they are! She isn't even born, and her family is already filled with expectations about her and for her. And just as her mom and dad have picked out a name for her, God knew your name before he even set the universe in motion. 

Podcast Introduction







Our reading today John 10-12. After the reading, I’ll have some comments for you. I’m calling today’s episode “Therefore.”







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Comments on John 11







In this chapter we read about perhaps Jesus' greatest miracle...the raising of His friend, Lazarus, from the dead.







Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, had sent word to Jesus that, "...the one whom you love is ill." In the Greek, the way the word "ill" is used tells us that he had been sick for some time. This was not something that just came up suddenly. They had watched their brother in his sickness, and now felt the need to call for Jesus. 







Again, I'm not entirely happy with the way the CEB translates Jesus' response. "This illness isn't fatal. It's for the glory of God so the God's Son can be glorified through it." The fact is that the illness was fatal. The illness did, in fact kill him. In the Greek, what Jesus said was, "This ailment will not end in death. It is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it." The difference in the two translations is subtle, but I think it is important. 







So in my comments, I am going not going to use the CEB as we move forward. There are more of these differences, and I want us to look just at what the original language wants us to see.







After Jesus said that the illness will not end in death, we are told that Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus, and *therefore* stayed two more days in the place where He was. I have always been taught that when you see the word "therefore" in Scripture, ask yourself, "What's the therefore there for?" And in this case, the therefore is there for a very specific and incredibly important reason. "Therefore" ties two thoughts or events together. What are they in this case? 1) Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 2) Jesus stayed two more days. He loved them, therefore he stayed two more days. 







Jesus could have healed Lazarus immediately. He did not need to travel to Bethany, where the sisters and Lazarus was. But there was something to be accomplished in their waiting, and in the death of Lazarus. Jesus told us what it was, "It is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it."







Jesus knew that in going back to Judea, where the Jewish leaders had wanted to stone Him to death, He was walking into danger. And He knew that when He raised Lazarus from the dead, that would be the beginning of His final chapter. 







Therefore, because he loved.







Beloved, because He loves us, He sometimes allows us to go through difficult times. In difficulties, in heartbreaks, God can accomplish great things. He knows what it is to grieve. We saw in verse 35 that Jesus wept. Even though He knew that He was about to raise Lazarus, He wept because of his compassion for His friends. He is not a God that is far off, removed from us. He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."







The miracle that Jesus did in raising Lazarus from the dead was part of the plan that ultimately took Him to the cross where He shed the blood that brings salvation to any who will believe in Him. And His resurrection proved that He had power and authority over death, confirming that He is indeed God. 







Therefore, because He loved.







Don't doubt His love for you when life seems to be falling apart. Hold Him tight. He loves you.







Today's Bible Translation







Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 10 NIV, Ch. 11 CEB, Ch. 12 NIRV