Genesis 2 - Key

v17

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

A lot of times I think what's right or wrong is straightforward, not a matter of us having to figure it out, but just a matter of whether we believe the Lord and will do what we know is right, according to what He has said.

Application

When I examine myself for sin, I'll first be concerned about what I simply and easily know is sin, before worrying about whether dimmer things are right or wrong.

Genesis 32 - Key

v7a

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed...

Sometimes this perfectly describes us, that we can become greatly afraid and distressed about things. What did Jacob do about that?

v10a

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies...

Jacob was meek. He didn't go to God demanding, "You have to help me because I'm your servant, and I've been faithful."

v12a

And thou saidst...

Jacob meekly recounted the Lord's promises. It's OK to bring up the promises the Lord has given us, when we pray to Him.

Application

v11

Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, [and] the mother with the children.

Jacob said, Deliver me, I pray thee.... When I'm greatly afraid and distressed, I'll meekly pray for deliverance, recounting the Lord's promises to Him.

Genesis 32 - Outline

v1-2

the angels of God met Jacob

v3-5

Jacob sent messengers ahead, in order to find favor with Esau, instead of just popping back up at home

v6-8

...Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed...

v9-12

Jacob meekly prayed for deliverance, recounting God's promises

v13-21

Jacob did everything he could to be reconciled to his brother

v22-32

Jacob wouldn't give up pursuing the blessing, despite wrestling all night and getting his hip out of joint

Genesis 2 - Outline

v1-3

the seventh day was the day of rest

v4-9

God centered the plants He created, around the man

v10-14

the four rivers out of the garden

v15-17

God gave the man one simple command

v18-20

God centered the animals He created, around the man

v21-25

the woman was the fitting help that the Lord created for the man

the Lord spoke

Genesis 1

v2

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

When there's darkness in the situations in our lives, as the Lord is is our lives, we can be comforted and rejoice to know that the Lord will move and speak, and bring light.

Proverbs 15 - Key

v3

The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Today I took the encouragement that the Lord's eyes are everywhere, seeing when we do what we should. The Lord always sees when we serve Him, so it's not in vain.

Application

I'll work on not being weary in well-doing.

Proverbs 15 - Summary

The way to avoid stirring up strife, is to be slow to anger (v18) instead of becoming angry quickly or easily. Saying things that grieve people cause them to become more and more angry (v1), but responding gently can calm them down even when they're starting to get mad.

The way we speak is so important. Saying the right thing at the right time causes joy and is so good (v23). If we're pure, we'll use pleasant words (v26b). Wholesome words bring life (v4).

Happiness effects health (v13,30), and our attitudes can determine whether our situations are positive (v15), instead of visa-versa.

We should use restraint in our speech instead of speaking too much (v2), and study in our hearts before we reply to something (v28). If we're wise, our speech will give out knowledge (v7).

Instead of being proud (v25) we should be humble (v33b) and listen. We should seek for knowledge (v14) and have advice from many different people (v22). We should listen to our parents (v5,20) and to reproof (v10,12,31,32.)

Like we should listen to our parents and receive correction, we should be humble and fear of the Lord (v16,33). Here's a reason to fear Him: The Lord sees everything (v3), even people's hearts (v11). He responds well to righteous people (v9b), and hears their prayers (v8b,29b), but it's hard for wicked people to approach Him (v29a). He detests wicked people's ways (v9a), their thoughts (v26a), and even their sacrifices (v8a).

Righteous people have a plain (v19), upright (v21), and higher (v24) pathway.

Righteousness is where the real value is. Treasure comes from righteousness (v6), but even great treasure isn't of great value, when it comes with trouble instead of with the fear of the Lord (v16). Real value comes from having the fear of the Lord, even with just a small amount of stuff. Love is so much better than hatred, that it would be better to have love and just vegetables to eat, than it would be to have hatred, even with a whole ox (v17), and oxen were especially valuable back then. Greed can end up backfiring, but life comes to people that are so opposite of greedy that they even hesitate to accept gifts (v27). (And I think that word, gifts there is talking about bribes.)