Daily Bible Nugget #582, Proverbs 12:26

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Proverbs 12:26  The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. (KJV)

Pro 12:26 The righteous person is cautious in his friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (NET Bible)

Pro 12:26 You are better off to do right, than to lose your way by doing wrong. (CEV, Contemporary English Bible)

Pro 12:26  A righteous person looks out for his neighbor, but the path of wicked people leads others astray. (God’s Word translation)

Pro 12:26 The righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causeth them to err. (Young’s Literal Translation)

Proverbs 12:26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (NIV, New International Version, 1984)

My Comment:

One of my study Bibles had a footnote about Proverbs 12:26. It said something like “the meaning of the Hebrew text is uncertain.”

That may be one underlying reason for the varied way Proverbs 12:26 has been translated into English.

I think the point of this proverb is that the righteous person searches very carefully for the right people to be close friends with. He has to be careful because friendship with a wicked person may lead the righteous person astray.

You must seek the right friends in the right places. Just because a friend goes to church is not sufficient grounds for close friendship. You must seek out mature Christians that are firmly grounded in God’s Word through habits of regular personal Bible study (not merely reading). Seek friends who are focused on continuing to grow in their relationship with Christ.

If you attend a Bible-teaching, Bible-believing church that has a young adult or college and career age Sunday school class or youth group, that may be the best place to find Christian friends and a future marriage partner.

If you, yourself, are not solidly grounded in your Christian faith, you will benefit greatly by consistently taking steps to reach that goal. The first step in doing that is to read God’s Word enough to make a difference in your life. Research shows that reading the Bible four or more days a week is the key. I think it best to read God’s Word every day. Begin by reading the New Testament through from Matthew to Revelation several times. For me, I saw the light during my third time through. When I was in high school, I told my friends “Three chapters a day keeps the Devil away.” Well, that may not be the most accurate way to suggest that you read enough of the Bible to make a difference in your life, but it surely is a good start.

I also benefited by reading individual Bible books through repeatedly. I especially liked the shorter letters of Paul, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.

I read the book of Proverbs regularly, reading the chapter number that corresponded with that day’s date, so finishing the book once a month. I also read the book of Psalms.

When you get into God’s Word deeply enough, you will learn what His will is about many things. That will guide your life along the right path so you don’t end up making too many foolish mistakes. But even if you have made some mistakes along the way, God is a forgiving God. Repent, and ask Him for forgiveness, and for the strength and wisdom to not continue to go astray in the future.

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Daily Bible Nugget #581, Exodus 20:15

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Exodus 20:15  Thou shalt not steal. (KJV)

Exo 20:15  “Never steal.” (GW, God’s Word translation)

Exo 20:15 Do not take the property of another. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

My Comment:

I have been reading yet again a book I have, titled A Lawyer Examines the Bible by Irwin H. Linton, published in 1943 and reprinted by Baker Book House in 1969 or 1970. Let me share a portion about the Eighth Commandment from Appendix F on page 246. Appendix F reproduces a professor’s objections to the Ten Commandments titled “Demolishing the Ten Commandments in Ten Minutes” by Dan Gilbert and I. H. Linton.

“VIII. Thou shalt not steal.

“The Professor: The commandment against theft is meaningless, from a moral standpoint. Pilate may well have asked, ‘What is theft?’

“Proudhon said, with much truth, that ‘Property is theft.’

“The commandment against theft of property, therefore, simply functions to prevent the people from taking back from the capitalists and the exploiters the property which the latter stole in the first place. Hence, it is a means of perpetuating injustice.

“Under it, the man who has stolen a lot of property and got away with it is permitted to keep his ill-gotten gains. And if we try to take them away from him, then our worthy clergy call us ‘Communists,’ and demand that we stop violating their precious Decalogue.

“There never will be social justice in this world until this Commandment is tossed on the scrap-heap.”

“Mr. Linton: How could society exist for a day if the ‘truth’ announced by somebody named Proudhon were acted on, and if one kept possession and use of only what his hands could hold while he was awake to retain it?

“Is every  article of property possessed by every man ‘stolen property’?

“Are the professor’s own hat and pants stolen property, and are they proper subjects for sudden, violent, and embarrassing change of possession at any moment?

“If there is a single honestly acquired thing anywhere, there is use for this commandment.

“Would theft be a good thing if a ‘capitalist’ (anyone who has not spent all his wages) took something from a proletarian? What’s to protect the property of proletarians when all is in their hands if there is no rule or practice against theft?

“Surely the merry device invented by George Bernard Shaw of ‘making the worse appear the better reason,’ of standing moral things on their heads with a serio-comic attempt to make such an attitude plausible, seldom had a more absurd reductio ad absurdum than the professor’s solemn, oracular ‘demolishing’ of the Eighth Commandment.”

My application in this day and time:

The nonsense of liberal, actually Communist, professors has not changed since Linton included this Appendix F in his valuable book’s revision in 1943. The nonsense in the news of today (June, 2020) just continues to reflect the widespread indoctrination in the political science departments of our colleges and universities. The outcome is plain to see as young people and some of their elders engage with approval in violence, rioting, protests, and looting (stealing!) today.

I saw a headline yesterday about Dr. Fauci lamenting the ordinary citizen’s distrust of science and unwillingness to follow the directives of authorities. He has no license to complain, given his waffling opinions (January, masks are not needed; June, masks are needed now) and conflicts of interest (he is fully invested in the vaccine and pharmaceutical industry along with Bill Gates, even though such a conflict of interest is strictly against federal law). He is the one who finagled a way to fund the Wuhan, China laboratory (the source of the Communist Chinese Covid-19 virus leak), right when such funding was made illegal by federal law.  Is it any wonder that the informed citizen has very good reason to distrust today’s so-called science? If any industry is guilty of theft of our individual and national wealth it is the medical/pharmaceutical industry’s monopolistic high cost to our economy of one dollar out of every five.

Agenda-driven science is not science at all, but monopolistic greed, which surely violates the Eighth Commandment.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #580, Isaiah 1:17

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Isa 1:17  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (KJV)

Isa 1:17 Learn to do what is right!
Promote justice!
Give the oppressed reason to celebrate!
Take up the cause of the orphan!
Defend the rights of the widow! (NET Bible)

Isa 1:17  learn to do well; diligently seek judgment, deliver him that is suffering wrong, plead for the orphan, and obtain justice for the widow. (LXX, Brenton translation)

Isa 1:17  Learn to do good. Seek justice. Arrest oppressors. Defend orphans. Plead the case of widows.” (GW, God’s Word translation)

Isa 1:15 “No matter how much you pray, I won’t listen. You are too violent.
Isa 1:16 Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong
Isa 1:17 and learn to live right. See that justice is done. Defend widows and orphans and help those in need.” (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Resorting to lies and violence is utterly reprehensible. At this present time flagrant lies passing as news reports that are merely agenda-driven propaganda for a particular political party have led to violence.

God does not look favorably upon violence:

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Gen 6:11  The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

The Bible records that God sent the great flood of Noah’s time to destroy all human life that was upon this earth because of the violence and wickedness prevalent in society at that time.

Jesus spoke of the wickedness and evil of Noah’s day:

Luk_17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Jesus has told us that at the time of His return the world will be evil just as it was in Noah’s day.

The Bible declares that those who practice evil will reap the unfortunate reward it brings:

Num 32:23  But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When the Bible declares that the wages of sin is death, physical death is not the penalty, rather, the reference is to spiritual death.

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Daily Bible Nugget #579, Psalm 119:63

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (KJV)

Psa 119:63 I choose as my friends everyone who worships you and follows your teachings. (CEV)

Psa 119:63  I am a friend to everyone who fears you and to everyone who follows your guiding principles. (GW)

My Comment:

Sometimes I know there is a very important verse in the Bible but I don’t remember any of the specific words in the verse. I cannot find the verse with a concordance or otherwise do a search for the verse.

How can I find the verse?

I use either The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge or The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury. I turn to a verse which I do remember that is on the same general subject, and will almost always find a cross reference to the verse I am hunting for.

In this case, I was looking for an important verse about choosing the right friends.

Here is the verse I wanted:

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

In the King James Version this verse is not very clear at all. Reading it in a modern English translation clarifies the meaning:

1Co 15:33  Don’t let anyone deceive you. Associating with bad people will ruin decent people. (GW)

I found that verse by looking up Psalm 119:63 where the cross reference to 1 Corinthians 15:33 is given for the key words “a companion.”

I may have written about this before at Daily Bible Nugget #327, where I shared the associated cross references.

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Daily Bible Nugget #578, Proverbs 5:6

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 5:6  Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. (KJV)

Pro 5:6 So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not. (ASV, American Standard Version)

Pro 5:6 She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge. (Bible in Basic English)

Pro 5:6 Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not whither. (Darby)

Pro 5:6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. (ESV)

Pro 5:6 Lest she should make level the path leading to life,
her paths are unstable but she does not know it. (NET Bible)

My Comment:

In Proverbs the father is warning his son about the dangers of associating with wayward and unstable women.

It is often the case in the Bible that warnings addressed to young men are equally appropriate for young women. Young women need to beware of the dangers of associating with or committing themselves to young men who are unstable, that is, not able to make firm decisions about their life path that would better themselves or secure a stable spiritual and financial future.

I had never noticed, until yesterday, that Proverbs 5:6 in the KJV, “her ways are moveable,” is rendered in many other English translations, “her ways are unstable.”

That means I will need to add a cross reference at Proverbs 5:6 for the words are moveable or, unstable to James 1:8,

Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (KJV)

Jas 1:8  A person who has doubts is thinking about two different things at the same time and can’t make up his mind about anything. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Jas 1:7, 8 If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

I noticed, many years ago, that when I was involved in a neighborhood church in Southwest Detroit, many adults were unable or unwilling to make a firm commitment to take a position of responsibility or leadership in the church. They found it very hard to make any future-oriented decisions or commitments. This seemed to be a cultural trait that was difficult to overcome or remedy. Some, over time, as they grew in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) made progress in their reliability and dependability.

Hidden away among the helpful cross references given for James 1:8 for the word unstable is the reference to 2 Corinthians 12:20, 21,

2Co 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
2Co 12:21  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. (KJV)

2Co 12:21 I am afraid God will make me ashamed when I visit you again. I will feel like crying because many of you have never given up your old sins. You are still doing things that are immoral, indecent, and shameful. (CEV)

2Co 12:21  I’m afraid that when I come to you again, my God may humble me. I may have to grieve over many who formerly led sinful lives and have not changed the way they think and act about the perversion, sexual sins, and promiscuity in which they have been involved. (GW)

I think the key to solve this problem for any person who is serious about their faith in Christ is to gain spiritual strength from what is taught in 2 Timothy 1:7,

2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2Ti 1:7  God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment. (GW)

2Ti 1:7 God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control. (CEV)

The experience of every truly saved person should conform to Titus 2:11-14,

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (KJV)

Tit 2:11  After all, God’s saving kindness has appeared for the benefit of all people.
Tit 2:12  It trains us to avoid ungodly lives filled with worldly desires so that we can live self-controlled, moral, and godly lives in this present world.
Tit 2:13  At the same time we can expect what we hope for-the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Tit 2:14  He gave himself for us to set us free from every sin and to cleanse us so that we can be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good things. (GW)

Tit 2:11 God has shown us how kind he is by coming to save all people.
Tit 2:12 He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world.
Tit 2:13 We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Tit 2:14 He gave himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right. (CEV)

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Daily Bible Nugget #577, 1 Samuel 16:7

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1Sa 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (KJV)

1Sa 16:7 But the LORD told him, “Samuel, don’t think Eliab is the one just because he’s tall and handsome. He isn’t the one I’ve chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.” (CEV)

My Comment:

Looks aren’t everything! Most of us probably have some dissatisfaction with our appearance. We ought to take everything in stride. We did not choose our parents. We did not choose where we were born. We did not choose how we look. Most of those things we have no power to change.

We should not choose our friends or our mate on the basis of how they look. Get to know people better and we will find that looks are not the key factor. It is character that counts.

For those who believe and know the Bible, we know that how we or others look in this life is not the primary issue at all. Those who are truly saved will receive a new body, a glorified body, just like our Lord Jesus Christ did upon his bodily resurrection (Philippians 3:21),

Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (KJV)

Php 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our Savior to come from there. Our Lord Jesus Christ
Php 3:21 has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body. (CEV)

This is confirmed by what the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:1, 2, 3,

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (KJV)

1Jn 3:1 Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who Christ is, they don’t know who we are.
1Jn 3:2 My dear friends, we are already God’s children, though what we will be hasn’t yet been seen. But we do know that when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is.
1Jn 3:3 This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ is holy. (CEV)

These Bible truths encourage us to put our emphasis in the right place: concentrate on developing character in ourselves and recognizing character in others. We may also correctly conclude that we will recognize each other in heaven and in the new eternal kingdom of Christ here forever upon earth. I believe a proper inference may be drawn that when our Lord Jesus Christ returns for us, and makes “these poor bodies of ours like his glorious body,” that He will make our new bodies perfect like His own.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #576, 2 Timothy 2:1

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (KJV)

1Ti 2:1  First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people, (GW)

1Ti 2:1 First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. (CEV)

My Comment:

Today, the first Thursday in May, is the officially designated National Day of Prayer.

I have not heard a single word about this on the national news media.

Prayer is most important. The Bible commands us to pray for the leaders in our government. At this specific time our leaders most certainly need our prayer support. I believe that we should pray that our leaders will be open and alert to God’s guidance in their personal lives and in their decisions.

1Ti 2:2 Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. (CEV)

1Ti 2:2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  (KJV)

Yes, even politicians need our prayer support.

This year has been somewhat unusual. Many of us are confined to our homes under “lockdown orders” because of the Covid 19 pandemic. We have been told “Stay home, stay safe.” Many businesses and workplaces are closed. Schools are not in session. Even churches are closed.

It is nice to be able to gather with other people to pray. But in this time of crisis we can still pray individually and as families for our nation and its leadership. God hears and answers prayer. Take time today and every day to pray for others. Take time today to read the Bible, God’s Word. Take time today to share your faith and what God has done for you with others as God provides the opportunity for you to do so.

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Daily Bible Nugget #575, 2 Peter 1:4

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (KJV)

2Pe 1:4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world. (CEV)

2Pe 1:4  Through his glory and integrity he has given us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful desires cause in the world. (GW)

My Comment:

Any person who is living the Christian life according to the Bible’s standards fits the description of being a person who has already escaped from the worldly corruption, the moral decay, that is produced by evil and sinful desires.

In terms of marriage, and finding a husband or wife (to continue the discussion from my preceding post), this means never violating the moral principles taught in the Bible. In plain language, this means no sex before marriage.

It may be that in some circles such a high moral standard seems impossible, even unwise. One of my public school classes asked me a question about this very subject. They were very surprised that I would affirm the validity and possibility of such a high standard. But that is clearly the Bible standard, and God expects us to obey His Word.

Any person who is or who claims to be a Christian who has violated this standard needs to come to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and ask for pardon for this sin. Resolve from now on not to further violate God’s standard ever again in the future.

We cannot expect to experience God’s fullest blessings if we continue in known sin.

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Daily Bible Nugget #574, Proverbs 18:22

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. (KJV)

Pro 18:22  He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.] (LXX, Brenton)

Pro 18:22  Whoever finds a wife finds something good and has obtained favor from the LORD. (GW)

Pro 18:22  A man’s greatest treasure is his wife– she is a gift from the LORD. (CEV)

My Comment:

I re-shared the following “meme” today. I share this again because this wisdom is still much needed. I would add that Bible believing Christians need to be sure to marry a Bible believing Christian! And don’t presume that you can convert your mate after marriage. God may intervene and bless in that regard, but usually it is the wiser course to follow the advice found in the Bible. That may be a good subject for me to explore with a new post on my Real Bible Study site.

The Meme:

“The pain of marrying the wrong person is worse than your present fear of not getting married. Marriage is not a competition. Take your time—fall in love—nurse your ambitions—groom your relationship; because forever is too long to be unhappy. And always, always remember that it is better to wait long than to marry wrong.”

 

My Suggestions and Further Comment:

Proverbs 18:22

22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. (King James Version)

In my experience over many years of teaching young adult Sunday school classes at various churches I have attended, I have observed that Christian young women are eager to meet genuinely Christian young men, but Christian young men are a very scarce commodity. That reminds me of Isaiah 24:6, which speaks of “and few men left.”

Young men need to develop their maturity in Christ (Hebrews 5:12, 13). The Bible tells us how to develop that maturity (study 2 Timothy 3:14, 15, 16, 17; see also 2 Peter 1:1-10).

Notice what Peter stresses in 2 Peter 1:3, 4,

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (KJV)

2Pe 1:3  We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.

2Pe 1:4  God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world. (CEV)

We must grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18), and by God’s power by means of the new nature He has given us as we abide and grow in Christ, we will “escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.”

In terms of “finding a wife,” let me stress most emphatically that young men must search in the right places. It is very highly unlikely that you will ever find a young woman that will make a good wife in a bar, a club, or other such venue. Genuine, solid, Bible-believing young women will be found in Bible-believing, Bible-teaching churches and young people’s groups. You will find the genuine article in evening services, and most especially,  prayer meetings and Bible studies.

Let me also stress that age is just a number. If a young man desires to raise a family, it will be necessary to find a young woman of the proper age.

And to do that, a young man must be established, with a viable and dependable income. Now it may be possible that a young woman will have a dependable income, and that could be a real financial blessing to the marriage.

More to follow.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #573, Psalm 119:130

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psalm 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

My Comment:

Many people do not believe what Psalm 119:130 plainly declares: the Bible is understandable.

This post is inspired by a claim I read on Facebook today: “All Christians don’t understand the Bible” (Rabbi Leichem): “Reading the scriptures outside the original language is like kissing the bride behind the veil.”

Such a claim is both ambiguous and nonsense. Christians and anyone else have the option of using scholarly linguistic tools to access what is known about any aspect of the original languages of the Bible.

But the Bible itself is very clear, for it states:

Psa 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (KJV)

Psa 119:130 Understanding your word brings light to the minds of ordinary people. (CEV)

Psa 119:130 Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines.
They give insight to the untrained. (NET Bible)

Psa 119:130  Your word is a doorway that lets in light, and it helps gullible people understand. (GW)

Simply comparing several English translations brings added insight to understanding the range of meaning included in the original text of the Bible, as I have done for Psalm 119:130.

The Bible is understandable because:

(1) It can be taught to children:

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (KJV)

2Ti 3:15  From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus. (GW)

(2) The Bible must be understandable, for it is profitable:

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV)

(3) The Bible is understandable for it equips for every good work:

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (KJV)

(4) The Bible is understandable because it is milk for babes:

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (KJV)

(5) The Bible is understandable for it is instrumental in producing the new birth:

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

(6) The Bible is understandable because it is the source of faith:

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

(7) The Bible must be understandable for it is addressed to ordinary believers, called “saints,” not to kings, priests, or religious leaders:

Rom 1:7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(8) The Bible is understandable for we have no need of a human authority to teach us:

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

(9) The Bible is understandable for it declares itself to be plain:

Pro 8:9  They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

(10) The Bible is understandable for each individual is held responsible to hear and believe for himself:

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

(11) The Bible must be understandable for individuals are deemed competent to recognize false doctrine:

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

(12) The knowledge of the Scriptures incidentally noticed of the leaders and the general populace in the time of Christ demonstrates that the Bible was and is understandable:

Joh 6:14  Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

Here is the set of cross references for John 6:14 that I have supplied in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury which confirms my claim:

This is. T1122, Joh 1:21; Joh 1:41; Joh 1:45; Joh 1:49; Joh 7:31; Joh 7:40, 41, 42; Joh 7:52; Joh 12:34, +*Dan 11:33 note. Mat 2:1, 2; Mat 2:4, 5, 6; Mat 10:15; Mat 11:2, 3, 4, 5, 6; Mat 11:22, 23, 24; Mat 12:23, Mar 6:11; Mar 6:15, Luk 2:25-38; Luk 7:16; Luk 7:19-23; Luk 9:19; Luk 10:12, 13, 14, 15, 16; Luk 19:11; Luk 23:42, 43; Luk 24:17. 18, 19, 20, 21, Act 1:6; Act 17:6, 7; Act 26:26, 27.

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