Scripture Readings
Proverbs 11:9
Isaiah 43–44
Mark 8
Psalms 47
Verse Focus (Proverbs 11:9)
With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
Meditation
Today’s proverb is a little more enigmatic than some. “With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,” says Proverbs 11:19, “but through knowledge the righteous escape.” We know that Scripture gives us truth. But what does it mean? How are we to apply this proverb to our lives?
The first thing that I think of is gossip. Speaking about what your neighbors do — you can certainly destroy reputations that way. And although we currently live in a free country, I can think of regimes where people have died because a neighbor talked.
As I meditate on this proverb, it occurs to me that neighbors are the target of the godless simply because they are nearby. Those who do not curb their speech or their passions will hurt whoever is in their paths. Of course, I’m thinking about those who are inadvertently damaging to others. We also know that some of the ungodly are malicious and deliberately hateful in their speech and actions.
Fortunately, the proverb gives us hope. The righteous can escape the destruction through “knowledge.” This is in some ways even more vague than the first half of the proverb. Knowledge of what? Knowledge that gossip is harmful and the refusal to participate in it? Knowledge about the consequences of one’s speech and behavior? Knowledge of God, most certainly.
I don’t feel like I have a full grasp on this proverb, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t take it to heart and consider it further. We are called to love our neighbors. This proverb warns us that we should be very careful what we say to our neighbors and about our neighbors. We should also take care with what neighbors say to us. The ungodly may destroy others simply by persuading them to their corrupt way of thinking. In this respect, knowledge of God and His ways will protect us from harm.
Father God, help me to guard my speech and to be loving in all that I say and do. Protect me by my knowledge of your word, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Isaiah 43 continues with the reassurance that God is for His people. Verses 1 and 2 say, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” What a wonderful promise!
I am particularly struck by this phrase: “I have called you by name.” God knows each one of us individually. Yes, God is speaking to all of His people. But this is not just a generic invitation. It is God’s word to me, specifically. Kirsty. “I have called you by name,” God says. Not only does God call us by our names, though, he also calls us by HIS name (v. 7).
Isaiah 43 is God’s love song to us. We are “precious” in his sight (v. 4). We are God’s witnesses.
“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old,” says verse 18. Verse 19 promises, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” God did a new thing when He called the Gentiles to Himself through Jesus Christ. But God is always doing a new thing for us. He is always making new ways. We have seen him perform wonderful deeds in Scripture and in history, but if we look for it, we will also see Him work wonders in our own time.
Isaiah 44 continues the theme of blessing for God’s people. Again, He tells us not to fear. He promises water for the thirsty, and the Spirit for Jacob’s descendants. There is no one like God.
In contrast to the living God, the prophet describes the absurdity of trusting in idols. Yet the people do not recognize this absurdity. Verse 20 reports, “He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, ‛Is not this thing in my right hand a fraud?’ ”
The prophecy in this chapter dates to about 711 BC. I was particularly struck by verse 28, where God speaks of “Cyrus,” saying “He is my shepherd, and he shall carry out all my purpose.” Over 170 years after this prophecy, in 539 BC, the Medes take over the Babylonian empire and Cyrus is the one in power. Two years later, Cyrus decrees that the Jews may go back to Jerusalem and their own land. Truly, God does call everyone by name!
Mark chapter 8 relates the stories of the feeding of the 4,000, the Pharisees’ demand for a sign, the healing of a blind man, and Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah. Again, I noticed how Jesus tried to keep a low profile. When he healed the blind man, Jesus “led him out of the village (v. 23).” He sought privacy for these miracles. And after Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, “he [Jesus] sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him (v. 30).”
As I read chapter 8 today, I was struck by verse 15. “Watch out,” Jesus told his disciples, “beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” The disciples are confused and think this warning has to do with the fact that they have only one loaf of bread with them. Jesus reminds them of the miracles of the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 — clearly the number of loaves they have is not the issue at all. “Do you not yet understand?” he asks (v. 26).
As Matthew tells this story, Jesus warns them against the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees — not against the Pharisees and Herod as Mark says. Matthew also tells us that the disciples are to interpret the “yeast” as the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Mark, however, does not tell us how we should interpret the “yeast” in Jesus’ warning. Certainly we should understand that teaching is part of what Jesus is warning us against. On the other hand, Luke 12:1 tells us that the yeast of the Pharisees is their hypocrisy. This also is something we should remember. As I meditate on this today, I wonder if Mark — by pairing the Pharisees with Herod (or the Herodians, as some manuscripts say) — isn’t warning us against the way those two groups viewed the future of Israel: their hopes for the kind of government they wanted. Perhaps we need to take care that we do not see civil government as the epitome of what God hopes to accomplish in our world.
Psalm 47 is a celebration of God’s rule over the nations. He is the king, the great king, the ruler over all the earth and all nations. “Sing praises to God, sing praises,” verse 6 invites us. “God sits on his holy throne (v.8).” This is more than reason enough to praise Him.
Father God, I’m so grateful that you sit on the throne of heaven and earth. All nations are under you. You call people by name to do your bidding. Nations prosper and fall at your will.
Help us to have in mind the things of your kingdom. May we work for eternal values, not for wealth or earthly things that will pass away. Thank you for calling me to your kingdom. Thank you for your love. I pray in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.
Proverbs 11:9 captured my attention and immediately brought to mind, not just gossip between literal neighbors, but how gossip or false information in the media are so destructive. From Q-Anon to Covid-19 vaccines to UK royal gossip, people’s reputations can be ruined overnight, and people can make choices, based on false rumors, that have deadly consequences. Media today spreads information in seconds. The basic truth is always to look at the reputation of the source of your knowledge. I remember trying to teach my children that just because you read something in a book, or hear something on TV, doesn’t mean it’s true. Is it a 1st hand source, a magazine run by rumor mills, a work of fiction, someone with an ulterior motive, an encyclopedia, Wikipedia, the Bible? So when I think of seeking knowledge, I think of scripture first, and then looking at the source of my news. Even in scripture, from worldly standards it is credible. Many authors were first hand witnesses or the subjects themselves. Information in one book is often reinforced in another, and the prophecies came true. So, in the world, we need to discern – did I hear that from a co-worker or read it in email from the Director? Did I read that story in CelebNews or Time magazine? Did I learn that growing up or is it a truth from the Bible?
Lots of good promises in today’s readings. Like you pointed out Kirsty, scripture says He calls each of us by name and we as children of God can call him by his name.
Discerning and understanding are the words that leap out at me. I certainly need to spend time read and studying the Bible. Knowledge will keep me from fear. For the fear is what tends me to foget the truth and be led astray.
Strive to continue bearing witness to others. Strive to walk the Christian way in all I do and say.
Yeast is a living organism that grows quickly and expands the dough. The baker must control the dough so that the yeast does not over-expand and cause the dough to deflate, create a poor crust and pungent flavor. Yeast in the body is a good thing for the digestive system, but also a bad thing if it is out of control and creates an infection. I can see a comparison with yeast and authority – we definitely need guidance, rules, and laws – but if those in power are not kept in check, they can expand into one’s life and deflate their freedoms. I am thinking also that this negative effect of yeast can infect our relationship with God, and we must be vigilant about that. But – I sure love a good slice of fresh baked yeast bread and I praise God that he provides our daily bread in both sustenance for the body and food for the spirit!