Today’s Hebrew Testament chronological reading is in 1 Samuel 30 and 31.
The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Proverbs 1.
The Greek Testament reading is in Philippians 4.
ESSENTIAL STUDIES.
Chiastic Structure of 1 Samuel
Additional studies: 1 and 2 Samuel Index
Look at the central axis of the book: Saul had made himself David’s enemy, and by extension, YHVH’s enemy. David did not make Saul his enemy despite the years he spent as an outlaw being hunted. But we cannot miss that through it all, YHVH preserved David. Saul did not succeed in killing him, but the death he sought for YHVH’s anointed came upon his own head instead. Truly, we reap what we sow. Saul sowed vengeance, and vengeance was taken upon him. David sowed humility for himself, and respect for others, and YHVH respected him back and preserved his life, and even his family, his possessions, and his men, when the Amalekites (the Prophetic Type for the enemy) tried to take those things from him. So, fear not!
Proverbs 1, And the fear of YHVH
Additional studies: Proverbs Index
Fear is from Strong’s H3372 ירא (yud + resh + aleph) yara, “to fear.” The Hebrew Root Word parable is that the man fears what he worships (yud) above himself (resh) as the greater (aleph). To fear YHVH is to perceive that He is greater than us, and we worship Him out of the realization of His greatness, glory, and majesty. He is worthy of our worship. It does not mean to be terrified of Him. When I was a young child, my father loved me enough to set boundaries for me. I was afraid to cross them, because that would mean crossing him. I feared him in the sense that I did not want to invite his displeasure, disappointment, or discipline. I loved him and wanted his approval! That’s a healthy fear; it kept me from blindly running into a busy road or going with strangers. That is the same fear of Father God that is the beginning of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
Philippians 4, Believing and doing
Additional studies: Philippians Index
So if the subject of the 1B pair is belief, the subject of the 2B pair is action. Do the things that we’ve learned. In fact, the pure religion of God does not end with what we believe, and is not only about what we do, our works. But believing and doing are paired together. Out of the saving faith that we have in the Lord Jesus, the Spirit inspires us to action. The theological terms are justification, being made righteous before God by our faith, not our works; and sanctification, working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. ♥
THREE-YEAR BIBLE.
The three-year plan is here.
Today’s reading is in Revelation 22.
Suggested study: Revelation 22, Bible for Beginners.
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