February 6 ▪ Day 37

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 10:19
Isaiah 23–24
I Peter 1–3
Psalms 37

Verse Focus (Proverbs 10:19)

When words are many, sin is not absent,
     but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Meditation

Proverbs 10:19 is one of the first proverbs that I memorized: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” I memorized it, of course, because it was one of the first verses that the Holy Spirit highlighted to me. I was cut to the heart. It impacted me, staying in my mind and memory.

I’m a wordy person. I can talk a lot. I used to say, frequently, “To make a long story short…” — that is, until a friend started teasing me that I didn’t know how to make any story short. When I write, I tend to write volumes. And so this is a proverb that was meant for me.

I memorized this verse in the New International Version (NIV) translation from 1973. Today, the NIV says, “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” Likely the change came at least partially from the desire to use more inclusive language, but I can’t help but love the original wording. Still, I like to see how other translations handle this verse. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) says, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.” Most translations use the word “sin” in conjunction with the multiplication of words — although there are a few that say “transgression.” One even said “disobedience” and another said, “rebellion.”

Depending on your family background and education, the idea of holding your tongue may or may not have been emphasized. For me, the Bible was my first introduction to this aspect of wisdom. But even more striking than the wisdom of silence was the idea that sin is inescapable when there are many words. We’ve all had the experience of “digging yourself deeper into the hole” — in retrospect, you realize that if you could have just stopped talking it wouldn’t have been so bad. But you did keep talking, and it just kept getting worse and worse and worse. Those situations — digging a hole for yourself — aren’t always necessarily sinful, but it does help you understand how too much talking can get you into trouble.

Father God, thank you for the wisdom of this proverb. Please help me to control my tongue. Help me to always remember the value of not speaking.

Isaiah 23 records an oracle for the port city of Tyre. For hundreds of years, Tyre was the capital city of Phoenicia, and it was an important center of trade. David obtained timber for the temple from Tyre. The city is located on the Mediterranean coast in what is now southern Lebanon. Originally it was an island just off the coast (although the city incorporated neighborhoods on the mainland), but eventually it was attached to the mainland via a causeway built by Alexander the Great after his successful siege of the city in 332 BC. Surely the defeat of Tyre at the hands of Alexander the Great is one of the fulfillments of this prophecy, although there was also a prolonged siege earlier by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

I was struck by verse 9. “The LORD of hosts has planned it,” says the Scripture. Tyre’s downfall is “to defile the pride of all glory, to shame all the honored of the earth.” Whenever mankind sees itself as the ultimate in glory and honor, that pride will be demolished. There are no rivals to God’s glory and majesty.

Verse 15 is also very interesting. Isaiah says, “From that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the lifetime of one king.” This is the same length of time that Judah was deported from Jerusalem. It makes me suspect that Tyre diminished in importance at the same time that Jerusalem fell, in 586 BC. The prophecy continues to say that Tyre will be re-established after the 70 years. She will return to trade, and return to “prostitution” (v. 17) — but her merchandise will also supply “those who live in the presence of the LORD (v. 18).”

Isaiah 24 speaks of impending judgment on the earth. Whatever else this prophecy refers to, it surely must refer to the coming Day of Judgment when Christ returns in power. Verse 3 says, “The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken this word.” I shivered when I read in verse 5 how the earth will be “polluted” by its inhabitants. Certainly earlier generations would have thought of the pollution of sin; they could not have imagined the physical pollution that now covers this planet. I’m sure both meanings are meant.

Verse 16 is interesting, and I don’t fully understand it. “From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One,” begins the verse. But then it continues: “But I say, I pine away, I pine away, Woe is me! For the treacherous deal treacherously, the treacherous deal very treacherously.” My best understanding of this verse and this chapter is that we hear of the impending judgment (v. 1-13), and we get a taste of what will come after the judgment (v. 14-16a), but then the prophet changes the subject back to the judgment still to come (v. 16b-23).

I was struck by the imagery in verse 18. There is simply no escape from this judgment: “Whoever flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit; and whoever climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare.” The images of the earth being utterly broken, torn asunder, violently shaken, staggering — there doesn’t seem to be language fully capable of describing how devastating the Day of Judgment will be. However, it will be more than just a day when humankind is judged. Scripture says in verse 21, “On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven in heaven.”

After wrapping up the book of Romans yesterday, today we begin the book of 1 Peter. This book was written by the apostle Peter about 30 years after the resurrection of Christ. Most scholars believe that 1 Peter was written in 64 AD. Peter was then leader of the church in Rome, and this book was specifically written in response to the persecution that believers were suffering. At the time Nero was emperor of Rome — you may not remember much of the Roman history you once studied, but Nero became infamous not only for his debaucheries and for the burning of Rome, but he was also known specifically for his persecution of Christians.

In verse 1, Peter addresses the letter to the “exiles of the Dispersion.” As we know from Acts 8, persecution of believers, originally from Jews, led to the dispersion of Christians throughout Judah and Samaria. Continued persecution likely led to dispersion into other regions. In addition, Jews who lived outside of Israel and Judah from the deportations caused by the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions were also referred to as the Dispersed. The Roman “provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” that Peter mentions are all areas in what would now be Turkey.

As Peter begins this discussion of persecution and suffering, he first reminds his readers that their inheritance in Christ is “imperishable” (v. 4). Even though they are undergoing persecution, Peter tells them they are “being protected” (v. 5). These trials have purpose. God allows them “so that the genuineness of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (v. 7).”

Because of our salvation, therefore, Peter exhorts us to “prepare your minds for action” (v. 13). He admonishes us to be holy and to love each other deeply.

In 1 Peter 2, the author writes that we are living stones being built into a spiritual house. He ties his metaphor into the prophecy about Christ being the cornerstone. Although Peter does not mention this, we also remember how Jesus told Peter that he was the “rock” on which he would build his church — adding a pleasing resonance to the “stones” metaphor and “cornerstone” prophecy. As living stones of the Spirit’s temple, Peter tells us that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people (v. 9).” This crucial understanding of our identity enables us to understand the church’s purpose in redemption.

Next, Peter talks about the relationship of the believer to the governments that are not part of the spiritual house being built by God. In verse 13, he writes, “For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution.” This is a remarkable statement when you consider that the government was undoubtedly responsible for some of the persecution the believers were experiencing. In verse 17, even, Peter is very specific: honor the emperor. Yes, honor Emperor Nero. Peter writes about suffering for doing good (better than suffering for doing evil!). He reminds us that Christ himself patiently suffered injustice — and in doing so, Christ obtained salvation and healing for us.

In chapter 3, Peter writes briefly of wives submitting to the authority of their husbands (please note this is not women submitting to men, but wives to husbands). He writes of the good conduct that may win over a non-believing husband “without words” and speaks of the beauty of one’s inner self as being of greater worth than any outward adornment. “In the same way,” Peter writes, husbands should consider and honor their wives. In the same way as what, you might ask? In equal measure to the submission to authority? It’s a little confusing. But verse 5 talks about holy women “adorning” themselves by their submission to their husbands. And “in the same way,” husbands are to adorn themselves by their honor and consideration of their wives.

Two other verses stuck out to me today. Verse 9: “Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called — that you might inherit a blessing.” This is what is so counter-cultural about Christianity — the call to repay evil and abuse with blessing and good. But also it’s significant that Peter seems to be telling us that we are called to suffering. Again, he reminds us of how Christ suffered for us.

Verse 15 is one of those verses that always strikes me when I read this passage. “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you.” And verse 16, too, that we should make this defense with gentleness and respect. Lord, help me to do this!

The NRSV describes Psalm 37 as an “exhortation to patience and trust.” Considering that Psalm 37 talks about how the godly should react to the wicked, this is an apt description. It’s also an apt conclusion to Peter’s discussion of suffering at the hands of evil.

Verse 1 begins with the admonition, “Do not fret because of the wicked.” Three times we are told not to fret. The third time is the most powerful for me as the psalmist tells us in verse 8, “Do not fret — it leads only to evil.” Although “fret” is often seen as synonymous with “worry,” to fret also can mean to gnaw or chafe. In this respect, I think “fretting” is a type of worry that is known for its repetitious nature. Occasionally “worry” can be used positively as a synonym for concern, but to “fret” is always seen as a negative activity. It leads only to evil.

The wicked may appear to tower “like a cedar of Lebanon (v. 35),” but they “soon wither (v. 2).” Time and again the psalmist assures us that the wicked will vanish — “like smoke they vanish away (v. 20).”

Verse 4 is a promise that is special to many: “Delight yourself in the LORD; and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Of course, built into the promise itself is the transformation of our desires as we delight in God. But that’s okay with me. Either I get what I desire, or my desire fades and transforms. Either way, I win. 🙂

I take special comfort in verse 24: “Though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand.”

Father God, I’m so thankful that you hold us by the hand. I confess that I do fret sometimes. Help me to stop looking at those who do evil and instead look to you. Father, much of what Peter teaches us is difficult to swallow. To suffer unjustly, to submit oneself to authority, to return blessing for evil — we have no ability to do these things without your Holy Spirit.

Lord, the vision of the earth and the coming day of judgment is terrifying. We want you to come, but there are people we desperately want you to save. By your grace, may we live each day in preparation for your return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.