Devotion 12/24/08

So I missed another one. I don't really know why. I woke up with every intention of doing it, but I just got caught up in my video editing. Before I knew it I was getting ready for church that night. But for that very reason I am doing this devotional blog. I want to keep myself accountable and posting a blog is very beneficial.

Proverbs 24

Pro 24:1 Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,
Pro 24:2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.

When we read this verse, we are like, "Oh yeah, totally, duh.". Because in our minds, evil men are like Hitler, and not our best friend who is leading us astray. Truth is, we are all evil. Deep down, engrained within us, is a capacity for evil that would even make Hitler cringe. Evil is a trait we are born with. What this verse is speaking of is the people we envy in Hollywood, sports, and yes, even High School. Why are they evil, you say? Well, like I said before, we are all evil. However, they choose to embrace their evil side, indulging in all this world has to offer. While, as Christians, we daily fight that urge. It is way too easy to envy "evil people" because they are having a blast. Drinking, partying, sex....all that stuff is intensly attractive. But the Bible tells us not to envy them and not to desire their company. The only thing that will come about is violence and trouble.

Pro 24:13 My son, eat honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;
Pro 24:14 so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your hope shall not be cut off.

According to Barnes Commentary, honey was a large part of the Hebrew children diet. It was seen as the simplest form of nourishment, compared to "the sincere milk of the Word".

Pro 24:16 for a just one falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked shall fall into evil.

This verse is not talking about falling into sin. It is speaking of hard times or misfortunes. The message is that God will take care of His people.

Pro 24:19 Do not fret yourself because of evil ones, nor be jealous of the wicked;
Pro 24:20 for there shall not be a hereafter to the evil; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

This is much like verses one and two. But God promises their way will only come to ruin.

Pro 24:32 Then I saw; I set my heart on it; I looked and I received instruction.

When the writer of this proverb saw something, he learned from what he saw. I need to learn that skill.

Zechariah 7

Zec 7:3 to speak to the priests who belong to the house of Jehovah of Hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, consecrating myself, as I have done these many years?

What they were asking is if they should continue to fast since the Temple had been rebuilt. (They started fasting when the temple was destroyed)

Zec 7:5 Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months, even those seventy years, did you truly fast to Me, even to Me?

I can't say that everytime I fasted, I was fasting for God and God alone. Honestly, sometimes it was just to show off, or even to lose some weight. Fasting is such an important thing, we must truly seek to please God in that.