Today’s Hebrew Testament chronological reading is in 2 Samuel 21 and 22.
The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Proverbs 17.
The Greek Testament reading is in 2 Thessalonians 3.
ESSENTIAL STUDIES.
2 Samuel 22, David’s song of praise to YHVH
Additional studies: 1 and 2 Samuel Index
The horn of salvation in vs. 3 emphasizes God’s offensive power in delivering His people. The horn indicates offensive strength or the capacity to push back or defeat enemies. The tower of salvation in vs. 51 emphasizes God’s defensive protection, as a fortress or a high tower is a place of refuge and safety from attackers. It signifies safety, security, and a place of retreat or defense. God is both on the offense and the defense for us! No wonder David could declare YHVH worthy of all praise!
Proverbs 17, The root of strife
Additional studies: Proverbs Index
However, circumstances do not cause anger; anger is a chosen and often learned emotional response to circumstances (there are other more beneficial responses to circumstances which someone could choose). The angry response to circumstances leads to strife, because anger as an emotional response is an assault on the psyche of another person. It’s the same as battery, but the part of the person that is being attacked is the soul and not the body.
Hatred, pride, and anger are all fruits of lies believed, coming from spirits of hatred, pride, and anger; just as love, humility, and patience are all fruits of truth believed, coming from the Spirit of truth whose fruit is love, humility, and patience (Rom 15:13). We have authority over evil spirits in the name of Yeshua, so let us walk in that authority and not submit to their lies or their emotions!
Book of 2 Thessalonians Chiastic Structure
Additional studies: 1 and 2 Thessalonians Index
The 2B pair is about those who will not work, but are rather busybodies walking disorderly, and the admonition to the church to withdraw from those, not as enemies, but so that they might be ashamed and admonished as brothers.
This is paired with the growth of the Thessalonians’ faith and love for each other. 1B is about faith and love, 2B is about conduct and withdrawing. ??? Then I realized, it is because of our modern American culture that we have trouble seeing these as matching pairs. In fact, it is an act of love to withdraw from those who will not obey so that they might be ashamed and admonished as brothers. True love abhors sin because there is always someone who gets hurt (in this case, the one who walks disorderly is hurting himself). This message that we are constantly hammered with from our society, that love equals toleration of every evil thing, is a false message. And in the life of the believer, godly conduct and good works and words proceed from the heart and increase as faith increases. So the B pairs really are matching pairs. ♥
THREE-YEAR BIBLE.
The three-year plan is here.
Today’s reading is in Habakkuk 1.
Suggested study: Habakkuk 1, Bible for Beginners.
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