ABOMINABLE

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 20

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

An open market in the Muslim Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. Today’s reading speaks to us of the dishonest use of weights and measures in doing business. These people establish the price by bartering. It seems they are disappointed if one does not haggle. Perhaps it’s their entertainment.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Proverbs 20:23

Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, and a false balance is not good.

Twice the word “abomination” appears in Proverbs 20. Synonyms could be “disgrace” or “obscenity.” The dictionary calls it “a thing that causes disgust.” It comes from a Latin word that means to “detest” or “loath.” God is obviously concerned with everyday life and the dishonesty that often accompanies our earthly existence. In this case, fraudulent scales are called an “abomination.”

The final verse in this chapter reads, “Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the inner depths of the heart.” Have we asked, “Why is this happening to me?” Chances are the answer is “Yes!” I have asked that question. As with all of the Proverbs, it will be helpful if we can find the time to pause in our reading and meditate on what we’ve just read. This is not mindless meditation on a meaningless word, sometimes called a mantra, but this calls for deep thought and a change of mind.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You show concern for the details of my life. I pray that Your Teacher, Holy Spirit, will explain to me the matters that are important to You and give me grace to change, so that I may become more like Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus! In His Name I pray, Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I confess that I avoid the shopping experience whenever possible. Norma-Jean and I have helped many people experience Jerusalem by organizing tours over the years. Norma-Jean has taken mainly women into the Old City of Jerusalem for a shopping experience. She loves bargaining. As a man I feel somewhat claustrophobic in those narrow aisles called streets (photo above).

I heard the story of two young boys on their way to two different Sunday Schools. One said to the other, “I go to a different abomination than you do.” Okay… it’s a joke. He meant to say, “denomination.”

Yours for good shopping this Christmas season,

David