ABOMINABLE
Suggested 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’ve just returned from two weeks in Israel with 99 people whose company I enjoyed immensely. A special one of those to me is my wife, Norma-Jean. Last Monday she led a group, mainly women, into the Old City of Jerusalem for a shopping experience. She loves bargaining. I must confess that I deliberately stay away. As a man I feel somewhat claustrophobic in those narrow aisles called streets. In fact, while my wife shopped I was in Bethlehem hosting and producing five half-hour TV shows to be aired from December 23rd to the 27th on CTS. Believe me when I say that I enjoyed my time there much, much more than I would’ve enjoyed the shopping experience. In an upcoming blog posting, I’ll give you details on when you can find these Christmas programs on the CTS schedule.
I heard he 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, and for good television viewing,
David
P.S. Yesterday I introduced to you my friend, Sam Moore, a man who greatly influenced my life with his excellent initiative in hiring world-class experts in the Hebrew and Greek languages to give us “The New King James Version” of the Bible, a most important translation which I use here in my blog. Today and tomorrow, I want to invite the readers to watch my interview with Sam in two parts from about 30 years ago (click here for part one).
Yesterday I read ahead to see how yesterday yesterday would apply to today. I did not see anything obvious. However, I remembered later that David (Mainse) had said a few day ago much of what I said. It does not surprise me. Sometimes, I have read things here that were exactly what I was planning to say. Other times, I am writing something someone else said a few days earlier. As David Maine said, when it is said twice, it is like a scream.
I mean, David Maine said a few days ago what I said yesterday. Is this hindsight. Truth is truth. It is good if it is from God.
Mainse
Love your prayer this morning David and indeed, welcome home to all of you! Lord, may we all have teachable hearts that we may ingest and practice the truth that You would have set out for us this day. We have so much freedom and liberty in this country and so many choices before us, but along with this comes personal responsibility. Help us by the leading of your Holy Spirit to do what is right in your sight, that we might bring glory to Your name only and be active brothers and sisters worthy of your high calling, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Amen, and amen!
This prayer .. Is my prayer too.. Thank you.
Me too
Definitely, will be watching your interview with Sam, today, and tomorrow, David. I was struck by Proverbs 20:30:
“Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.”
I read John Gill’s commentary on that verse, which has been interpreted in different ways. Here is what it said:
Pertaining to the evil man: some men must be beaten black and blue or must have very sore correction, before they can be reformed from their evil ways. Referring to God’s people: purging away their iniquities, impurities and sin. But nothing cleanses us from sin more than the blood of Jesus, or heals or cures of it as his blue wounds and stripes.
Isaiah 27:9: therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be covered; and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin. Isaiah 53:5: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. So stripes the inward part of the belly; or heart and conscience; by means of corrections and chastisement men are brought to an inward sense of sin; they are shown their transgressions wherein they have exceeded, and are commanded to return from iniquity.
Job 36:9-10: Then He tells them their work and their transgressions–that they have acted defiantly. He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they turn from iniquity. They lament and mourn over sin, confess it and forsake it; and then may the inwards of the heart, the mind and conscience, defiled with them, be said to be cleansed from them; especially when led by these stripes and corrections to the stripes, wounds, and blood of Christ, which being applied, cleanse from all sin,
inwardly and outwardly.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/proverbs-20-30.html
Wishing all saints a most blessed day…
Thank for the link to biblestudytools.com Beverlee!
Lord, may our understanding of the Proverbs we read, take root in our spirit as we reflect on their meanings for our lives. Let us neither be intimidated or discouraged, but open to hearing your voice share with our inmost being. Thank you Father for individually shaping our lives and leading us in the direction to follow. Have a great day, to all!
Amen to that David! God bless.
Usually I use the NKJV, but I do like to read verses, or passages in various translations, sometimes it gives a different insight. For instance Proverbs 20:30 in the New Living Translation reads: “Physical punishment cleanses away evil, such discipline purifies the heart”
Praying safety for all, as some of us deal with mountains of snow!
I thoroughly enjoyed your interview with Sam Moore, David, and I was so caught up with it that I listened to Part 2. Sam’s words are still applicable today, as the Arab nations of the world need to be guided into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I LOVE David and crossroads 100Huntlystreet
Thank you
So inspiring SO AWESOME
Jenny Smith
God Bless
Really always enjoy your links. What a great way God can use someone who is willing to be used. Sam Moore just an example!