March 4 ▪ Day 63

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 12:15
Hosea 9–10
II Corinthians 1–2
Psalms 63

Verse Focus (Proverbs 12:15)

The way of fools seems right to them,
     but the wise listen to advice.

Meditation

Proverbs 12:15 says, “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.” This proverb seems patently obvious when you picture yourself as the one giving advice to the fool, but it is not quite so easy to see when you’re the one who is the fool. Did any of you think of navigating with maps on a car trip, remembering the days before every phone was a GPS device? Having your directions ignored might be frustrating, but it’s a fairly mild example of foolish behavior. Relationships, conflicts, career — we can really mess up our lives when we refuse to take advice.

As I’ve been meditating about this proverb, it strikes me that the wise not only have to listen to advice, but they usually have to seek it out. If you are wise, you seek counsel. You look for other opinions and other points of view. Then, after consideration, you adjust your plans. Or not. Maybe your plans were already well-considered. But part of wisdom is not rushing into action. You take the time to think things through carefully.

This proverb is yet another example of pride versus humility. Fools believe they are right. They are proud and cannot be corrected. On the other hand, the wise will accept rebukes. They are humble, not assuming that they are always right.

Father God, please keep us from assuming our way is best. May we be humble in heart. May we listen for your Holy Spirit. May we seek out many counselors, and may we always accept wise advice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hosea chapter 9 talks about how Israel will be punished. “The days of punishment have come,” says verse 7, “The days of recompense have come.”

I puzzled a bit over the prophecy in verse 3: “Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and in Assyria they shall eat unclean food.” Knowing that this prophecy predated the fall of Israel by the Assyrian empire, at first I wasn’t sure what the “return to Egypt” was all about. But then I realized that this part of the prophecy was metaphorical. In Egypt, the Jews were slaves. In returning to Egypt, Israel will return to slavery — although this time it will be for their Assyrian masters.

Verse 7 also tells us that because of Israel’s iniquity, they will consider prophets to be madmen and fools. Israel is hostile and deeply corrupted “as in the days of Gibeah (v. 9).” This reference to Gibeah refers to a story in Judges 19 — depravity very similar to what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah before they were destroyed by the angels. Gibeah was also the city where King Saul lived and reigned for 22 years.

In verse 15, it says, “Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal.” This is yet another historical reference to the place where King Saul was first confirmed as king over Israel, but also the place where he disobeyed orders and thereby lost God’s support of his kingship.

As you can see, Hosea encompasses much of Israelite history with these place-name references. The indictment in verse 16 is particularly damning as the prophet says, “they shall bear no fruit.” Since Ephraim means twice or doubly fruitful (see Genesis 41:52), this prophecy is the complete reversal of fortune. The chapter ends with a bleak promise: “they shall become wanderers among the nations.”

Hosea chapter 10 continues with the prophecy against Israel. Their king will perish, their altars will be broken down. Even the calf idol they were so proud of will be taken away to Assyria — and they will feel ashamed of it.

Verse 4’s condemnation of empty speech struck me. “They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so litigation springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.” It sounds too much like our own society today!

In verse 12 the prophet calls Israel to repentance. In a famous quote he says, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.” But Israel does not heed this call. Instead, they have plowed wickedness, reaped injustice, and “eaten the fruit of lies (v. 13).” The chapter ends, yet again, with another bleak promise of retribution.

Today we begin Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. I noticed that this time the letter is addressed not just to Corinth, but to “all the saints throughout Achaia.” Achaia was the name of the Roman Province in which Corinth was located; it covered much of what now is the country of Greece. His first letter was to the Corinthians as well as to saints everywhere, including us; this letter is to Corinth and all of Greece. I see this as evidence that the church is growing and flourishing.

The passage in verses 3 through 7 has to be one of my favorite passages in the entire Bible. Likewise, the “Father of compassion” and “God of all comfort” have to be some of my favorite titles for God. We have all gone through troubles. We are all desperately in need of comfort. Yet here Paul tells us that our distress will provide comfort and salvation for others. What a wonderful blessing!

Perhaps you also have a difficult and painful period in your history. Or perhaps you’re going through some struggles right now. The important thing is that you are not alone. First, we have God on our side. But, second, we have the entire body of Christ also on our side. There is someone out there who has already gone through what you are going through. There is someone who has felt your same pain. Christ also knows your pain. And having gone through suffering allows you to be able to help someone else in the future. It is worth persevering.

It is also worth it to share with one another and so to help carry each other’s burdens. We are not meant to throw our pearls before swine — but when you are in a safe place in fellowship with Christ’s family, share what you are going through or what you have gone through. Have you ever wondered why so many Bible speakers have terrible stories of abuse or suffering? It is no mystery to me. Because they have the courage to share their experiences, God has opened up doors of ministry to them.

Paul also shares some of the difficulties he has gone through. He reports that they were under such great pressure, “far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself (v. 8).” And yet this taught them to rely on God. God rescued them then, and Paul has the confidence that God will continue to rescue them. But Paul makes special note of how the prayers of the Corinthians have aided God’s rescues.

In verse 20, Paul writes that in Christ Jesus, “every one of God’s promises is a ‛Yes.’ ” We hear this, and immediately we think of all our dreams come true. That new house, the car — happiness now, and then eventually heaven. But the “yes” isn’t to our dreams, it’s to God’s promises. Jesus fulfills and completes all of prophecy, all of the law, and all of God’s promises. Put another way, Jesus is the guarantee of the new heavens and the new earth.

As Paul continues the letter in 2 Corinthians 2, he mentions circumstances that have changed since the last letter. His visit is delayed because he did not want to cause them distress because of the topics discussed in his previous letter. In fact, he counsels that the Corinthians forgive the person who was punished and console him “so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” Although this has not been confirmed, the implication (and assumption) is that this is the man who was sleeping with his father’s wife.

Paul writes that we forgive “so that we may not be outwitted by Satan (v. 11).” Such a brief mention on the topic of forgiveness! Other Scripture passages speak more in depth about this topic. Indeed, the Lord’s Prayer teaches us to pray for forgiveness of our sins to the extent that we forgive others their sins against us. But have you ever thought about forgiveness as one of ways that Satan schemes against us? That not to forgive is giving the victory to the Accuser? I bring this up because when I struggle with forgiveness, I tend to think of it as an individual flaw. It doesn’t occur to me that there are other powers at play. But this is a battle that Satan would love for you to lose. Just a reminder. FYI.

Psalm 63 is both well-known and well-beloved by the saints. David writes of the desire for God, likening it to a spiritual and even physical thirst “in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Such a deep need for God resonates with all who are filled with the Holy Spirit. Many songs have been written to this first verse.

Not every time you read this psalm, however, will be one where it resonates with your spirit. There are times when you are feeling more distant from God, and the Spirit will instead convict you for not feeling that thirst. Don’t they say that people who die of dehydration stop feeling thirsty?

If you are not feeling thirsty for God, that’s okay. The life of faith is not always about our feelings. As you meditate on God “in the watches of the night (v. 6),” pray about your desire for God. If your lack of thirst is a symptom of some other hardness in your heart, be sure to confess that and pray about it. Just be honest. And remember the centurion’s prayer: “I believe, help my unbelief.”

Father God, sometimes when I read Psalm 63 I do not feel moved by the psalmist’s words. I seek you, but I know that I’m not always fully present. Forgive me for the times when reading the Bible becomes more about checking something off my list than it is about a time for me to meet with you.

Father, I want you to increase my faith and increase my desire for you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Transform me from the inside out. May you use me and my experiences for your glory. Thank you for Jesus Christ. Thank you, that in him, all of your promises are “yes.” Thank you for your steadfast love in Christ Jesus. Amen.