THE THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Silence in an argument wins
“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”
Proverbs 10:19 (KJV)
Genesis 11
Though the sons of Noah disbanded and spread throughout the world, still only one language existed
Genesis 11:1 (KJV), “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.”
A reminder of Nimrod, the son of Cush
Genesis 10:8-10 (KJV), “8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”
Now, to this chapter
Genesis 11:2 (KJV), “And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.”
Noah’s sons were content staying together and building a city
Genesis 11:3-4 (KJV), “3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
But God had different plans, from the onset
Initially…
Genesis 9:1 (KJV), “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”
And now…
Genesis 11:7-8 (KJV), “7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.”
Let Us go down
Brown-Driver-Briggs – 2. of divine manifestations.
Genesis 11:9 (KJV), “Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”
Now, chapter 11 continues the genealogy of Shem’s lineage with Reu, the son of Peleg
Chapter 10
Genesis 10:25 (KJV), “And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.”
Chapter 11
Genesis 11:18-19 (KJV), “18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.”
Genesis 11:27-32
Habakkuk
What is the main lesson of the book of Habakkuk?
It reminds us that while God may seem silent and uninvolved in our world, He always has a plan to deal with evil and always works out justice … eventually. The example of the prophet Habakkuk encourages believers to wait on the Lord, expecting that He will indeed work out all things for our good
Romans 8:28 (KJV), “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Habakkuk 1:1 (KJV), “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.”
Habakkuk’s question to God
Habakkuk 1:2-4 (KJV), “2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! 3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. 4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.”
God’s reply to Habakkuk and why
Habakkuk 1:6 (KJV), “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their’s.”
2 Corinthians 9
Ministering to the saints
Hebrews 6:10 (KJV), “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Romans 12:13 (KJV), “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
2 Corinthians 3:3 (KJV), “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
2 Corinthians 9:1 (KJV), “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.”
We are to minister to all saints in time of need not by force but with love
2 Corinthians 9:5 (KJV), “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.”
The act of kindness or benevolence (giving to the poor)
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (KJV), “6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
God will extend His grace to those who give but not begrudgingly
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (KJV), “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.”
Psalm 112:9 (KJV), “He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.”
We are to give abundantly not for ourselves but for God
2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (KJV), “12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men.”
Proverbs 8
The Excellence of Wisdom
These instructions are being directed to the sons of men, all men, not of any in particular
Proverbs 8:1-5 (KJV), “1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.”
Listen to ALL that I, Wisdom, has to say for nothing coming from my lips will speak of wickedness
Proverbs 8:6-8 (KJV), “6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.”
There is nothing in life that is more valuable than God’s wisdom that He has to offer to you!
Proverbs 8:10-11 (KJV), “10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”
- Matthew Henry names Jesus as Wisdom
- “All divine revelation passes through his hand, and centres in him; but of him as the personal Wisdom, the second person in the Godhead.”
Proverbs 8:12 (KJV), “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.”
Brown-Driver-Briggs – b. the divine wisdom is personified.
We know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 (KJV), “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
True fear of the Lord is aligning yourself up with what God hates
Proverbs 8:13 (KJV), “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
- What is meant by the word ‘hate’?
- Webster’s 1828 dictionary (specific to the KJV) – 2. In Scripture, it signifies to love less.
There is a great reward when we diligently seek God
Proverbs 8:17 (KJV), “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
The gift of God’s wisdom is His continual provisions for you
Proverbs 8:21 (KJV), “That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.”
- Their treasures
- Strong’s Concordance (214) – otsar: treasure, store, a treasury, storehouse. Brown-Driver-Briggs – treasure, store, treasury, storehouse.
Wisdom was at the beginning
Proverbs 8:23 (KJV), “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.”
Genesis 1:1 (KJV), “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV), “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
Romans 16:27 (KJV), “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”
Romans 10
Israel (Jews) Needs the Gospel
Romans 10:1-4 (KJV), “1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”
The law alone cannot save you
Romans 10:8-9 (KJV), “8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:13 (KJV), “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Jesus Christ has been preached to the Jews for generations
Romans 10:15 (KJV), “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
Isaiah 52:7 (KJV), “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
They have been told but refuse to believe
Romans 10:20-21 (KJV), “20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
Isaiah 53:1 (KJV), “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?”
Isaiah 65:1-2 (KJV), “1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts. ”
Grow in the Word of the Lord 