Rob Parker's Blog

Weekend Readings

On Saturday’s and Sunday’s of our reading through books of the Bible there will be a new twist.  There will be no blog post and on Friday I will post a Psalm and Proverb for you to read on that Saturday and Sunday.

We will resume Monday with Daniel 5.

Today: Psalm 1:

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.

4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the LORD watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Tomorrow:  Proverbs 1

THE PURPOSE OF PROVERBS
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.

2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.

5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

A FATHER’S EXHORTATION: ACQUIRE WISDOM
8 My child,* listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.

10 My child, if sinners entice you,
turn your back on them!
11 They may say, “Come and join us.
Let’s hide and kill someone!
Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave*;
let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
13 Think of the great things we’ll get!
We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
14 Come, throw in your lot with us;
we’ll all share the loot.”

15 My child, don’t go along with them!
Stay far away from their paths.
16 They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder.
17 If a bird sees a trap being set,
it knows to stay away.
18 But these people set an ambush for themselves;
they are trying to get themselves killed.
19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
it robs them of life.

WISDOM SHOUTS IN THE STREETS
20 Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
21 She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:
22 “How long, you simpletons,
will you insist on being simpleminded?
How long will you mockers relish your mocking?
How long will you fools hate knowledge?
23 Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
and make you wise.

24 “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come.
I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
25 You ignored my advice
and rejected the correction I offered.
26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble!
I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone,
and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

28 “When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me.
29 For they hated knowledge
and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 They rejected my advice
and paid no attention when I corrected them.
31 Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way,
choking on their own schemes.
32 For simpletons turn away from me—to death.
Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.
33 But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”

See Who You Really Are- Daniel 4

Who is it that you call on when you are in a place of crisis or making that big decision?  Isn’t it amazing when you are in that place of great need you call on the persons you trust the most.

This was no different for King Nebuchaadnezzar.  Daniel had become the Kings go to man in times of crisis or distress.  How interesting it is that the one man the King had trusted came to his kingdom as a slave, captured by the king’s army.  Who would of ever thought such a relationship was possible?

In Matthew Jesus says, “Let your light shine so bright that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Daniel had given us a lesson in what being missional actually means.  The way that Daniel had revealed his love and devotion to the Living God was not by handing out tracks, standing on the street corner screaming at people or trying to slip in the “God comments” every now and then.  Daniel had made the decision to live his life as a reflection of his devotion to the Living God.  Because of this decision, people, the King had seen the power of God displayed in his life.

Today, walk the walk.  You are given the freedom to just be you, allowing the power of God to be displayed in your life.  You never know, someone might see God in their midst because of your decision to be a reflection of Him.

If Thinks Don’t Work Out My Way- Daniel 3

What happens when you don’t get your way?  Who bares the brunt of your misfortune?  One of the most profound moments in Scripture is in Daniel chapter 2.  As you read through the whole incident we see the King is going to throw these three men into the fiery furnace because of their unwillingness to bend their knee to the King and his statue.  It would have been so easy for them to choose to turn a blind eye to their convictions, just this one time knowing that their decision to not bow down would end very bad.

This was not the case though.  To them, bending their knee meant changing their allegiance from God to the King.  It was in their statement, “But even if he(God) doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”  The threat of death did not change their minds rather strengthened their conviction that God was in control whether they would live or to die.  Now that is faith!

As you go into this day take time and deal with the issue, “Do I trust God in all circumstances?”  As we read of these four men, we learn that no matter what the situation God meets us right in the middle of the fire.

Secret Thoughts- Daniel 2

“He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret..”(verse 2)

The King had a dream, more like a nightmare.  When he awoke this image in which he had seen in his dream had haunted him and he had to know its meaning.  He sent for the magicians, enchanters and anyone with some sort of ability to give meaning to this monster.

As he met with these men none were able to interpret this dream.  These men even tried to manipulate the king to give some insight into what it meant.  In anger, the King was going to have each man killed for there lack of wisdom and insight.  This meant all leaders were to be killed including Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  To this the four men sought God for insight and wisdom in this present place of urgency.

It is so easy to be like the enchanters and magicians, seeking worldly wisdom in our present places of urgency.  We look for the quick answer to solve our problem, only for another one to be right around the corner.  As we look at Daniel we learn that there is a wisdom beyond ourselves.  This wisdom is not from 12 Steps, Tony Robins but wisdom from God.  We are told, “if you seek Me, you will find Me.”

What question do you need answered today?  What situation is going on at work that no one can figure out?  Pray that God would give you heavenly wisdom so that you along with others would praise the God of the Heavens.