Kirsty

Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:33Leviticus 26–27Acts 22Psalms 125 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:33) The lot is cast into the lap,     but its every decision is from the LORD. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 16:33, tells us, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” What a profound statement! God controls even the things that seem random chance. God’s sovereignty is absolute. Nothing is too small for the LORD to notice. Nor is anything so big that He cannot handle it. He knows when sparrows fall; He sees what happens behind closed doors; He controls every…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:32Leviticus 24–25Acts 21Psalms 124 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:32) Better a patient person than a warrior,      one with self-control than one who takes a city. Meditation Proverbs 16:32 says, in the ESV, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” I also like the way the NIV translates the proverb: “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” This proverb offers Biblical wisdom. It is almost the antithesis of what we would naturally believe. We trust…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:28Leviticus 21–23Acts 20Psalms 123 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:28) A perverse person stirs up conflict,     and a gossip separates close friends. Meditation Proverbs 16:28 says, in the NIV, “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” The ESV translation is similar, saying, “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” I looked at the Hebrew words to see if I could gain additional insight. To my surprise, the word being translated as “perverse” in the NIV and “dishonest” in the ESV is actually pretty narrowly translated. Perverse or perversity is the primary…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:24Leviticus 19–20Acts 19Psalms 122 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:24) Gracious words are a honeycomb,     sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Meditation Drum roll… ta dah! Congratulations, all! It’s been one third of a year!!! Thanks and praises to God for His faithfulness in bringing us through so far. Hallelujah! 🙂 Our verse focus today, Proverbs 16:24, says, in the ESV, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” I do like this proverb. However, I would like this proverb better if it simply said gracious words are sweet to…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:21Leviticus 17–18Acts 18Psalms 121 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:21) The wise in heart are called discerning,     and gracious words promote instruction. Meditation Happy May Day! And happy birthday to my niece — you know who you are. 🙂 Proverbs 16:21 says, in the NIV, “The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” This seems straightforward enough. However, the ESV translated the proverb a bit differently, saying, “The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” As I dug into the Hebrew wording, I found out that the word being translated as…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:20Leviticus 15–16Acts 17Psalms 120 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:20) Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers     and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. Meditation Today’s proverb says, in the NIV of today, “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.” There was a little footnote in the text, however, that said the proverb could also be translated as, “Whoever speaks prudently finds what is good and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.” I looked up the proverb in a number of different translations and I did…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:19Acts 16Psalms 119 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:19) Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed     than to share plunder with the proud. Meditation Today’s proverb is an interesting take on the theme of pride versus humility. As the ESV translates Proverbs 16:19, “It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.” The word being translated as “poor” in the ESV and “oppressed” in the NIV does mean poor, wretched, weak, needy, and afflicted. The word being translated as “lowly” can also mean humble. Even though…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:18Leviticus 13–14Acts 15Psalms 118 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:18) Pride goes before destruction,     a haughty spirit before a fall. Meditation Today’s proverb is one that has become part of our English language and culture, albeit in a somewhat bastardized version. Proverbs 16:18 tells us, in the ESV, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Our English proverb has shortened this to, simply, Pride goeth before a fall. We know that pride is dangerous. When we quote the proverb in English, we mean, simply, that those who are arrogant or overconfident are likely to fail. Hubris…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:16Leviticus 10–12Acts 14Psalms 117 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:16) How much better to get wisdom than gold,     to get insight rather than silver! Meditation Proverbs 16:16 tell us, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” We have heard this message before, even if it wasn’t phrased exactly like this. One of the first proverbs we looked at, back on January 8th (Day 8), was Proverbs 3:13-14, which talks about how wisdom is more profitable than silver and gives better returns than gold. Indeed, this is a message that the Bible communicates to…

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Scripture Readings Proverbs 16:9Leviticus 8–9Acts 13Psalms 116 Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:9) In their hearts humans plan their course,     but the LORD establishes their steps. Meditation Our verse focus today, Proverbs 16:9, says in the ESV, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” In some ways, this proverb is the perfect example of free will versus God’s sovereignty. We choose. We plan. But God still ordains what happens. I actually find this proverb to be very comforting, since I can only control what I plan to do. I don’t have control over how the world responds…

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