Deuteronomy 23:1 – 25:19
Notable Verse 23:23
“Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.”
There is a joke I heard at an A.A. meeting that went “How do you know an alcoholic is lying? His lips are moving.” I am sure you have heard the same joke with either an addict or some other personality or occupation put in the slot.
We no longer expect the truth. We know politicians lie; commercials exaggerate their product’s claims. We don’t consider it lying any more. It is just how the game is played. God has a different view of speaking though. Our words carry weight and when we make promises, especially vows, God expects us to keep them even if they come at a great cost.
It is interesting to note that God doesn’t command us to make vows, but when we do, when we call upon the Lord to be a witness to our words, we are asking God to be a part of the promise. God is not a liar and He will not allow himself to be used by a liar.
Luke 10:13 – 37
Notable Verse v. 29
“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
This is a very familiar verse to most Christians and is the beginning to the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Over the centuries the question has been asked again and again to either justify apathy or to encourage anger.
I guess my neighbor is anyone I encounter, but the verse seems to point to something deeper. My neighbor includes the one person who is least like me, or the one I least like. So in no particular order or assigned grouping a few of my neighbors:
Muslims: Quite honestly they scare me. There are 1 billion of them. It is said 10% are of the radical variety. That is 100 million or 1/3 of the total population of the U.S. That is a pretty big number. My chances of running into a radical are 1/10. Would I bind their wounds, take them into my house? I’d like to think that I would but being a Messianic American Jew, it would take supernatural effort to move past my own prejudices to do that.
My co-workers and family: How do I share the gospel and the reality of hell with people I work with and are family with? I am too worried about hurting their feelings then saving their lives.
As I read through this passage, I’d like to imagine that I am the Samaritan, but there are times I know I am the Pharisee, speaking well and running away lest I be seen and feel obligated to do something.
Psalm 75:1 – 10
Notable Verse v. 3
“When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Selah”
The world is quaking. We are in an economic recession. There are terrorists all over the world despite what Obabo (ok, Obama) wants to call it. Depending on who you talk to, we may be getting warmer, or colder. Nothing seems stable.
It is nice to know that no matter how crazy the world gets, there is something firm to hang on to.
Proverbs 12:12 – 14
Notable Verse v. 13
“An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble.”
Recently I did a study on all of the things you can do wrong with your mouth. You can lie, gossip, backbite, blaspheme, break promises, spread dissention, speak out of bitterness and anger and a whole lot more. Each sin traps us. Either within ourselves, or locks us out of developing deeper and more meaningful relationships with others.
I discovered after reading this verse and meditating on my tongue. I realized I need to shut up a lot more often.
