Old Testament: Isaiah 19:1-21:17
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Isaiah 19:1-21:17 Vanishing Acts
Chap. 19-20: Believe it or not, Egypt, Israel, and Assyria or modern-day Iraq will join together to worship the Lord together some day (Isa. 18:7; 19:18-25; cf. Zech. 14:16, 18-19). We know this is true because the near prophecies in these chapters have been fulfilled: Egypt and Assyria have become barren. Therefore, the distant prophecies concerning the conversion of Muslims and the worship of Israel will also be fulfilled. (The only way to understand these chapters is through the theology known as dispensationalism, cf. McGee, Wiersbe.)
Chap. 21: Dumah and Seir are Edom (cf. Exod. 24:18). The Lord offered them mercy but they refused. By the time Jerusalem fell in 70B.C., Edom had vanished.
New Testament: Galatians 2:1-16
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Galatians 2:1-16 Petering Out
There is a debate over which visit Paul is speaking of in verse 1. This we know. It was a visit. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles (8, cf. Rom. 11:13) and has the endorsement of Peter, James, and John, the big-wigs of the apostles (v. 9). They agreed about the content of the gospel and Paul was only asked to remember the poor in the churches.
However, Paul and Peter “got into it” when Peter came to Antioch, the new capitol of Christianity in Gentile territory. Peter had been eating with Gentiles, meaning he would eat anything. But when Peter got to Antioch, he would only eat with the circumcisers (v. 12). That caused the other Jewish Christians to follow Peter’s lead. Even Barnabas, Paul’s companion, was distracted by what was going on (v. 13). The result was Paul got in Peter’s face and told him he was being hypocritical. How could he live like a Gentile at one time and then mislead the Jews at another time?
Psalm 59:1-17 Dirty Dogs A Lament Psalm by David
Proverbs 23:13-14 Spanked! Spanked!
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Have you noticed that Solomon is repeating himself (cf. Use Sparingly!)? Have you noticed that Solomon is repeating himself (cf. Use Sparingly!)? I know I repeated that joke. I know I repeated that joke. Kinda juvenile, isn’t it? Well, that is our point.
Solomon is really trying to impress us with the idea that we may have to put the pedal to the metal, or, the wood to the fanny, anyway. In fact, Solomon is saying we should impress our children with an impression . . . on their rear. That is if we are going to properly rear them (v. 13).
He is trying to tell us that if we’re worrying too much that he could die from a spanking, think of the spanking he could get eternally if you don’t spank him.
Choose Life: Galatians 2:13 NASB “The Race Is On”
“The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.” Galatians 2:13 NASB
There is a Michael W. Smith song on his second album that is built around this verse in Psalms, “When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand” (Ps. 37:24). It’s called “The Race Is On,” way back on his first album. Peter would have liked that song. We know how he stumbled in the gospels and we see him being strong in Acts but here in Galatians he needs Paul to rebuke him. He is destroying the message of the gospel and Paul has to set him straight. All indications are that Paul is successful.
There may be time that the Lord has to correct us. We are all human. Maybe not as human as Peter but still we all make mistakes. As Michael W. might say, “The Race Is On.” We might stumble but we don’t have to fall.
In Christ we are always victorious! (cf. Rom. 8:37; 1 John 5:4).
Don’t be afraid to confess your faults to God or even to one another (cf. James 5:16). Then move on.
If you do, you will find that you are choosing life (Deut. 30:19)!
Fun Application:
Are you stumbling in some area today? If you are, don’t stop to have a pity party. Just confess your sin and move on (cf. 1 John 1:9)! You can’t add to what Christ has done for you! As the famous hymn says, Jesus Paid It All. If you are sinning, quit the sin, confess it, and move on. Leave it behind (cf. Phil. 3:13). And did I mention, move on?
The purpose of the Choose Life is to pick a positive help out of the One Year Bible (OYB) reading plan for the day. There is always something positive in the Word of God to cheer us and give us strength. For more on today’s reading, check out my One Year Bible blog: Vanishing Acts