Proverbs 8 - Key

v17

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

We should seek wisdom early. There's a promise, that if we do, we'll be rewarded by finding it.

Application

v34

Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

The way to listen to wisdom and instruction is to spend time with the Lord every day, reading and studying the Word. If we do that, it's worthwhile, and it's promised that we'll be blessed.

I'll keep working on seeking wisdom early, and daily, in the Word.

Proverbs 8 - Outline

v1-3

wisdom is widely available

v4 & 5

wisdom is for men, and for people who lack it

v6-9

if a message is wisdom, no part of it will be wicked or perverted

v10, 11 & 19

wisdom is better than gold, silver, rubies, and every other desirable thing

v12-14

the definition of wisdom

v15 & 16

it is by wisdom that kings, princes, nobles, and judges-- reign, rule, and decree justice

v17-21

many great benefits of wisdom

v22-31

wisdom was with the Lord in the beginning and in the creation

v32-35

seeking wisdom is life, but refusing it is death

Answers on health

Question: Is it important to eat healthy food, since God knows when we're going to die anyway? :-D

So the topic is health and nutrition. The Bible teaches 2 things that I'd like to point out about that. Then I'd like to say a third thing.

1. We do, usually, have a responsibility to maintain our health

Ephesian 5:28 & 29

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

We should take a reasonable amount of care of our own physical wellbeing.

Proverbs 12:27

The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious.

Proverbs 19:24

A slothful [man] hideth his hand in [his] bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

So it's lazy to not get proper nutrition

Proverbs 25:16

Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

We shouldn't be gluttons, loving food, and eating too much, especially too much of certain kinds.

2. The kind of food we eat shouldn't be too important to us

Hebrews 13:9

Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

We shouldn't get carried away about health food. Also, it's not intrinsically a spiritual subject or a matter of doctrine. That's what the Bible teaches about it, now I'd like to say something I think about the subject.

3. Some "alternative" methods for wellness are dangerous

This is not necessarily something that I've seen that the Bible teaches, but this is what I think about "alternative" methods for wellness.

1. The type of food people eat doesn't make that much difference: See
   Mark 7:18-23
2. Medical advice and science are generally good and helpful
   Proverbs 11:14

   Where no counsel [is], the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety.

   Philippians 4:8b

   ...whatsoever things [are] of good report...

   What does science mean? Evolution is not scientific. If something is scientific, that means it has been thoroughly studied, tested, and documented by many smart people. How can that be a bad thing?
   Daniel 12:4

   But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

3. Deceit in one area spreads to others: See
   1 Timothy 4:1-11

seeing stupid sin & fearing to do the same

Mark 15

v19

And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing [their] knees worshipped him.

I was thinking about how the people who mistreated the Lord, mocking Him before He was crucified, were so stupid. Then I realized how easy it would be for me to fall into the same kind of sin. They could have argued that they thought they were doing what was right. They didn't fully realize that what they were doing was against the Lord, they thought it was just against this person, Jesus.

We should fear the Lord so that we never fall into such foolish sin. We should realize in our interactions with other people, if we do harmful things to them, that's just the same as if we were doing them to the Lord. Ultimately, all of our sin is against Him.

Genesis 22 - Key

v12

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.

What was it that Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac showed? It showed that he feared God, and we should fear the Lord the same way.

Application

v3

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

We've seen a pattern of this behavior so many times. Because Abraham feared the Lord, he rose up early in the morning. For my application, I'll do the same.

Genesis 22 - Outline

v1-3

Abraham's obedience

v4-8

Abraham's faith

v9 & 10

Abraham's sacrifice

v11-14

the Lord's sacrifice

v15-19

in blessing I will bless thee... because thou hast obeyed my voice

v20-24

Abraham heard about his nephews who were born, and Rebekah

accept His will

Mark 14

v36

And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Jesus knew what it was like to not have what He asked for when He prayed, and He prayed for it three times. It's a good thing for us that He said, not what I will, but what thou wilt.

When we pray for what we want, let's make sure we're willing to accept whatever the Lord's will is. Don't be too surprised and disappointed if you say, Your will be done, and you don't get what you want.