Ezekiel 27:1-28:26 ~ Hebrews 11:17-31 ~ Psalm 111:1-10 ~ Proverbs 27:15-16
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Old Testament - Ezekiel Chapter 27 indicates that Tyre was certainly good at business and trading! This was in large part due to Tyre's prime real estate location, which you can see in the two maps below:
However chapter 28 tells us that there was also a lot of pride associated with these business skills & wealth. Verse 5 tells us: "Yes, your wisdom has made you very rich, and your riches have made you very proud." This verse definitely stands out to me. How often in our lives does something in our lives make us proud? Verse 2 in this chapter says this: "In your great pride you claim, `I am a god!" If we get prideful enough, might we even consider ourselves a god?? Do you hear others in our culture today telling us that we are gods? Good idea or bad idea here....?
Verse 11-19 in this chapter are very interesting. It is tough to discern if these verses about the king of Tyre or Satan or both? Commentators hedge on these verses. Perhaps, indeed, when we let pride get the best of us and think we are a god then we risk interweaving our life story with Satan's? I don't know. Scary stuff to think about though - jump down to the Psalm 111 verses for a good antidote to all this pride stuff...
New Testament - Hebrews 11 verses 25 & 26 today tell us so much about the character and faith of Moses! "He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him." Do these verses speak to us today as well? Will we share in the oppression of God's people? Or do we enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin? Do we suffer for the sake of Jesus? Or would we prefer to chill out and hang out with our luxuries in life? Do we look ahead to the great reward that God promises? Will we pursue the character and faith of Moses in our own lives today?
Psalms - Psalm 111 is a wonderful Psalm of praise! I love the way it ends in verse 10: "Reverence for the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him. Praise his name forever!" Do you believe that reverence for God is the foundation of true wisdom? Do you believe that there are rewards of wisdom if you obey God? Will you praise his name forever?
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 27 verse 16 is a great teaching that it is tough to try to stop the wind or hold something with greased hands... How's that for avoiding the real point of this Proverb? :) I'm newly married, so I'll punt to you veteran married folks to give commentary from here about that dripping analogy in verse 15! :)
YouTube: Today's readings about Tyre's pride reminded me of the great need for humility in our lives. And this call to humility reminded me of a Pastor's recent confession on his need for humility in this YouTube clip below. This is Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rj6_TVmMWY
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week:"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you from today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike
Mike
