Daily Bible Nugget #555, Proverbs 18:17

The Nugget:

Proverbs 18:17  He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. (KJV)

Pro 18:17  The first to state his case seems right until his neighbor comes to cross-examine him. (GW)

Pro 18:17 You may think you have won your case in court, until your opponent speaks. (CEV)

My Comment:

In my judgement, at least half, and probably many more, of the people in this country are not able to distinguish the truth from lies. They are not able to discern propaganda from reality.

I have been listening to the Democrats present their case for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. The speakers have been very articulate, and within the narrow scope and context of what they present, are very convincing. But being articulate and convincing does not make them correct. The problem is not just that what they declare to be truth is not correct. The problem is that they do not include the necessary context.

Sometimes, when what you present is only part of the truth, then what you present is a lie.

This is true in a formal debate. I have participated in formal debates since high school. I was fortunate to have been on the winning team most of the time in high school and college. I sometimes defeated my opponents by presenting information that went beyond what was presented in that season’s debate handbook. I got my information from professional journals and books that I found in the Detroit Public Library’s main library on Woodward Avenue.

These principles are very pertinent to Bible study and Bible doctrine. While the Bible does not contradict itself, many who interpret the Bible contradict other Bible interpreters!

How is it possible to figure out who actually has the correct understanding of the Bible?

The best way is to read the Bible repeatedly and extensively for yourself. But don’t just read the Bible:  be sure to study the Bible. One of the best ways to study the Bible is by consulting what are called “cross references.” I have specialized in that kind of Bible study for over sixty years. I have furnished many cross-reference Bible studies on this site. But there are other methods of Bible study and I have described them in detail with directions on how to do them under the category “How to Study the Bible.” The link is on the right hand side of this page.

If you read the Bible seriously for yourself you will learn much you did not know before. I used to tell my high school classmates that “Three chapters a day keeps the devil away.” To that, I would add, read one chapter of the book of Proverbs every day. Read the chapter that corresponds to the day’s date. That suggestion I first heard from my own Sunday school teacher, Dean Sawdon, at the Highland Park Baptist Church utterly changed my life. If you follow his suggestion, it will change your life too.

Reading the Bible only on Sunday, or only at church, will not produce the maximum benefit Bible reading and study can bring to your life. If you will read the Bible more than four days a week it will make a much greater impact on your life. I recommend reading the Bible every day. Just like we eat our physical food every day, often three meals a day, so we should have our spiritual food daily.

I fear for the well-being of our country. Too many are taking information only from the “mainstream media.” The mainstream media are clearly biased in their reporting. Journalists and teleprompter readers are presenting opinion as if it were fact, and the national audience, hearing the lies often enough, believe them to be the truth.

Jesus spoke of the problem of seeing the speck in another person’s eye but not noticing the log in your own. That is very evident in the accusations being thrown about in the mainstream media and by the Democrats. They are accusing President Trump of the very crimes that they are provably guilty of themselves.

Take the matter of the telephone call President Trump made to the Ukrainian leader. A Democratic leader in the House of Representatives went so far as to make up his own version of what he thought was said during that call.

President Trump provided the transcript of the actual call. That should have embarrassed the Democrats, but instead they continue to press on with their accusations of “Russian collusion” (when it is clear that Mrs. Hillary Clinton is the one who spent money for the “Russian dossier”) and for which a two-year and more investigation produced NO evidence of wrongdoing by President Trump.

And so for the Ukraine, it turns out that President Trump was following the law when he checked to be sure that American aid to Ukraine would not be diverted to other nefarious purposes, as happened under the Obama administration when Vice President Joe Biden withheld funds until the prosecutor investigating his son Hunter Biden was removed from office.

Getting a position on a gas company’s Board of Directors that paid over $80,000 a month to someone with no experience or knowledge of that energy field ought to merit investigation. I have a book that describes these dealings and more that took place in 2014 or so in detail. That some Democrat leaders and their children (like Hunter Biden) become very rich as a result of the parents holding high political office is not an indication of anything President Trump has done wrong, nor is it any reflection on his character as I heard the Democrats arguing even today.

I observe a few friends on Facebook repeating the lies and swallowing the propaganda. What the mainstream media presents is sometimes intentionally designed to divide us not unite us. Anyone who refers to “white privilege” as a problem in our society has been deceived by the media or other sources. Some are influenced by Marxist propaganda and embrace Marxist values. At least in this country, we all have the opportunity to succeed in life. We are not guaranteed equal success. But we do have the freedom to succeed.

This month I’ve been reading a very new book about Old Testament theology and the cultural background of the Old Testament itself. Wading some distance into this academic resource, I noted that the author confesses that he is a Marxist. No wonder he has such a different understanding of the Bible than I do! He even mentions but so far does not tell much about the “Kingdom of God.” Like too many commentators on the Bible who write about the Kingdom of God, he demonstrates that he has not thoroughly studied this important Bible subject. I noticed right away when I began reading the book that the author has assumed many things that are simply not true. But I can still learn from him so I continue to read the book.

When it comes time to vote in November, be certain you do not sit home and refuse to vote because you don’t like the candidate or because you don’t believe in voting for the lesser of two evils! If you refuse to use your influence for good by refusing to vote responsibly you may be held accountable one day for failing to do what is right (James 4:17). And in the here and now, you may experience consequences that you will not like.

Be sure to read and study your Bible enough to make a difference in your life. That has immediate benefits and can bring good eternal consequences!

This entry was posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Politics and the Bible and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to Daily Bible Nugget #555, Proverbs 18:17

  1. ken sagely says:

    rom 13.1 let every subject to higher powers.for there is no power but of God;
    the powers that be are ordained of God. its very encouraging that our Lord
    jesus christ is in control of what is going on in the world today. at the same

    same paul encourages us in 1 tim 2.1-2 I exhort,therefore,that first of all,
    supplications,prayers,intercessions,and giving of thanks be made for all men,
    vs 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
    peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with Facebook

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.