Read with CBT in 2022

Read through the Bible in 2022 with Chronological Bible Teaching Ministries via YouVersion by clicking on the YouVersion link below. The One Year Chronological Bible divides the reading into fifteen minute increments. Joining a reading group enhances engagement and offers accountability. In addition, subscribing to one of CBT’s free daily blog, videos, and podcasts by clicking on the Chronological Bible Teaching link below will help support your commitment to understand the story arc of the Bible.

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Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

Corey Gallina

CFO of CBT

I’m taking a break in 2022

Hi friends! I just wanted to let y’all know that I am taking a break from posting my daily Bible recap in Layman’s Terms in 2022. If you would like a copy of my file, I would be happy to send it to you. It includes all 365 days of my post. Email me at coreygallina@bellsouth.net for a copy. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🥳

Blessings,

Corey Gallina

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 10/21:

Two men are praying in the temple: 1) A Pharisee – “God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” 2) The tax collector – “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

Which one do you think was justified by God? The tax collector! – “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Therefore Jesus tells His disciples to come to Him as humble as little children – “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

A rich man asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments: “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The rich man, feeling pretty good about himself and his deeds, responds saying that he already does all of those things. However, Jesus knows that he is still clinging to this world. So Jesus says, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” Then the rich man leaves sorrowful, for he did not want to give up his great possessions.

Jesus warns about the love of material possessions – “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” So the disciples begin questioning who can be saved. Jesus responds, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Peter says to Jesus that the disciples have left all to follow Him. And because of that, Jesus says “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Jesus requires His disciples to hold loosely to everything else in this world in order to follow Him.

However, the Pharisees are not interested in following Jesus — they want to destroy Him. So the Pharisees test Jesus by questioning Him on the topic of marriage and divorce. Jesus makes clear that marriage is designed by God as a union between one man and one woman. He says that the Lord allowed Moses to permit divorce because of our hardened hearts. However, this was not the Lord’s original plan. Since divorce is a result of our sinful nature, “He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

“They said to Him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?’ He said to them, ‘Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.’”

Hearing how marriage is a binding commitment before the Lord, the disciples wonder if it would be better for them not to marry at all. Jesus responds, “All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

Keep reading. (Luke 18:9-14, Mark 10:1-12, Matthew 19:1-12, Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 19:13-15, Luke 18:15-17, Mark 10:17-31, Matthew 19:16-30, Luke 18:18-30)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 10/16:

Today Jesus once again faces accusations of casting “out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons.” Jesus explains that He is stronger than Satan because He casts out demons by the finger of God. However, if that person is delivered from a demon but not filled with Jesus, he can end up in an even worse condition – “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” So if our hearts aren’t filled with Jesus, they will be filled with corruption and evil.

Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” And he rebukes those seeking a sign. He reminds them of the people of Nineveh, who heard Jonah’s message from the Lord and the Queen of the South, who visited Solomon to hear the word of God and to see His works. He says that these Gentiles were more open to receiving the Lord than the religious people who are standing right in front of the Messiah. Jesus declares Himself greater than any of the prophets or kings before Him. However, the people are blindly rejecting Him.

Jesus says that just as you wouldn’t hide a lamp, the word and works of the Lord should be on display to benefit others. However, the people are spiritually blinded to Jesus’ teaching. He says, “The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.” Spurgeon explains this statement by saying, “If you do not see Jesus, it is not because He has hidden himself in darkness, but because your eyes are blinded.” But once the Lord has lifted the veil and you see Jesus, your heart will be transformed and your whole body will shine brightly.

When a Pharisee is appalled that Jesus didn’t wash His hands before eating, Jesus continues to explain that a person’s heart is what matters, not the external – “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish one!” Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for being all about the show with the best seats in the synagogues, publicly tithing, and greetings in marketplaces but showing no justice or love of God. Jesus is unimpressed with their fake outward performance. They may have everyone else fooled, but they can’t fool Jesus, the One who matters.

Jesus warns His disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known… do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” So we all have a choice to make — confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or deny Him.

We end the reading with Jesus encouraging His disciples to seek the kingdom of God. He comforts them by saying that His Father knows the needs of all, and He will lovingly provide for your needs if you seek Him – “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” Therefore, keep reading and seeking the kingdom of God. (Luke 11:14-12:34)

From today’s reading Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 9/2:

Today we read the lineage of Manasseh and Ephraim (Joseph’s sons), Aaron (from the tribe of Levi), Issachar, Naphtali, Asher, and Benjamin.

Manasseh – During their bondage in Egypt, a man from the tribe of Manasseh bore a son by a Syrian concubine. One of his descendants was Zelophehad who is mentioned in today’s genealogy. During the Exodus Era, the daughters of Zelophehad requested to receive their father’s land inheritance since he died leaving behind no sons (Numbers 27:1-11). During the Conquest Era, the tribe of Manasseh failed to drive the people out of the land (Joshua 17). This tribe was part of Northern Israel who left the Lord for the worship of false gods and were overtaken by the Assyrians.

Ephraim – The name Ephraim is also used in the Bible to describe the ten tribes of Northern Israel. They too did not drive the people out of their land (Joshua 16), and they also turned from the Lord to idolatry. Hosea said, “Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked by human precept” (Hosea 5:11).

Aaron – Aaron’s descendants are the priests who offered sacrifices to the Lord to make atonement for Israel. They too failed by leaving the Lord and His word – “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them” (Ezekiel 22:26).

Issachar, Naphtali, and Asher – All tribes of Northern Israel whose descendants turned from the Lord toward false gods.

Benjamin – Benjamin was a son of Rachel and Jacob, and Joseph’s younger brother. The tribe of Benjamin was almost completely wiped out during the Judges Era after the shock and awe of the body parts of a Levite’s concubine, who was raped to death by Benjamites, was sent out to all the tribes of Israel (Judges 19-21). Although it is a small tribe, several significant people mentioned in the Bible descend from the tribe of Benjamin. First was Ehud, who was the warrior that delivered Israel from Moab during the Judges Era (Judges 3:12-30). Then came King Saul, who became the first king of Israel in the Kingdom Ea (1 Samuel 9:15-27). When the kingdom divided, the tribe of Benjamin became part of Southern Judah. Soon we will meet Mordecai and Esther, both from the tribe of Benjamin, whom the Lord will use to save His people during the Return Era (Esther). And later in the story when we meet Paul, we will discover that he too comes from the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1).

Tomorrow, King Nebuchadnezzar calls upon Daniel to interpret another one of his dreams. Keep reading. (1 Chronicles 5:18-26, 1 Chronicles 6:3b,49,4-15, 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:28)

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 12/10:

Paul, who has a heart for equality, writes a letter to Philemon in hopes of altering the servant/master relationship. Onesimus, Philemon’s slave, fled to Rome where he encountered Paul and converted to Christianity. Paul says in the letter that possibly the Lord brought Onesimus to Rome so that he could receive Christ and return to his master, still as a servant but one that is free in Christ and equal to his master as brothers in Christ – “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

Paul says he would repay anything the servant might owe and ends the letter with the assurance that Philemon would be obedient and receive Onesimus as his fellow brother in Christ.

While still imprisoned in Rome, Paul writes a letter to the Philippians. He comforts the Philippians by telling them “that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Paul is aware that the Lord wastes nothing. God even uses Paul’s imprisonment to further His name.

Paul is not afraid of chains or death because he knows that it would be better for him to die since he would be in heaven with Jesus Christ, without any pain or suffering. But Paul says, “Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.” Paul understands his purpose. He knows that the Lord has kept him alive to share Christ with others, and he joyfully fulfills that purpose regardless of his circumstances.

Paul’s life is an example to the Philippians, and he instructs them to walk in the same manner – “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.”

Paul encourages the Philippians to be humble like Jesus was humble while He was on earth – “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Therefore, let’s live boldly for Jesus in light of that day, when every knee will bow to Him! Keep reading.

(Philemon 1:1-25, Philippians 1:1-2:11)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 10/7:

Today Jesus acts on behalf of three people: a demon possessed man, a woman with an incurable health condition, and a man with a dying child. All three have one thing in common. They are desperate. And they need healing that can only come from Christ.

So after the shaky boat ride from Capernaum across the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and the disciples arrive in a small town where Jesus meets a man who is demon-possessed and living like a wild beast among tombs. Jesus asks for the demon’s name, “And he said, ’Legion,’ because many demons had entered him.” So all the demons beg Jesus saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”

We see that the evil spirits are many and they are united and organized in their attempts to steal, kill, and destroy. However, Jesus comes to give abundant life (John 10:10). So Jesus does not allow the demons to destroy this man who is made in God’s image, instead He sends the evil spirits into the pigs as they requested. “Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.” Thus the evil spirits carried out their intended goal to steal, kill, and destroy.

But the man who was delivered from the evil spirits by Jesus now has an amazing testimony! So when he asks to go with Jesus, Jesus commissions him by saying, “’Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has compassion on you.’ And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”

Jesus then travels back across the sea to the Galilean side. There He meets one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus, who begs Jesus to come and heal his dying twelve year old daughter. While Jesus is working His way through the crowds to get to Jairus’s house, a woman who has been suffering for twelve years with a terrible and incurable blood flow illness touches Jesus’s garment in a desperate attempt to be healed. Jesus asks who touched Him and Peter pipes up saying the multitudes press on You and You ask who touched You?! Like what’s up with that Jesus?

However, Jesus knew this was a different kind of touch. This wasn’t just people carelessly pushing on Him. This was an intentional and deliberate act of faith on the part of the woman and Jesus desires to heal way more than just her bleeding condition. He desires to heal her spiritually and publicly so she can walk in freedom! So when the desperate and faithful woman comes forward and fearfully falls at His feet, Jesus lovingly says to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Once again we see when a person who is deemed unclean by the Law touches Jesus, Jesus does not become unclean; rather the one who comes to Him in faith is made clean, healed by His power. Because Jesus came to restore those who are once on the fringes, without hope and without community, into the family of God.

Now, “While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, ‘Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.’ But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.’”

To the human eye and the natural man, Jairus’ situation appears hopeless. However there is alway hope to be found in the word of God and Jesus gave His word that she would be healed. And since Jesus never disappoints, He gives new life to Jairus’s twelve year old daughter just as he gave new life to the woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years. “And her parents were astonished but He charged them to tell no one what had happened” because His popularity, as well as animosity toward Him, was growing there and His time has not yet come.

Tomorrow Jesus sends out His disciples, so keep reading.

(Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39, Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 7/10:

The Lord often uses oppression to draw people to Him. We saw this very clearly in the Judges Era when the Israelites turned from the Lord and were doing what they believed was right in their own sight. Their actions were evil to the Lord because they were not consistent with His Word which is the only standard of truth. Therefore, the Lord allowed the enemies of Israel to oppress His people as a means to return them to Him. And when the Israelites would cry out to the Lord under their affliction, the Lord would raise up a judge to deliver them and there would be peace while the judge was alive.

Today the psalmist of Psalm 107 speaks of the same cycle. There is despair, affliction and trouble, so the people call out to the Lord and He saves them:

Despair – “They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them” (Psalm 107:4-5).

Cry to the Lord – “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble” (Psalm 107:6).

Salvation – “And He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place” (Psalm 107:6-7).

Affliction – “Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons— Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help” (Psalm 107:10-12).

Cry to the Lord – “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble” (Psalm 107:13).

Salvation – “And He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces” (Psalm 107:13-14).

Trouble – “For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end” (Psalm 107:25-27).

Cry to the Lord – “Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble” (Psalm 107:28).

Salvation – And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven” (Psalm 107:28-30).

The Lord is the same today! If you are in distress or under affliction or in trouble, call upon the name of the Lord and He will save you. The Lord knows that we need Him to save us and to guide us; that is why He promised to send His Son to be our Savior and the Holy Spirit as a guide to those who trust in Jesus Christ. The psalmist of Psalm 113 speaks of the coming Savior – “The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? (Psalm 113:4-6). The Son of God, Jesus Christ, will humble Himself by leaving His high position in heaven to come to earth as a baby born in a stable. He will live a life of rejection and persecution and die a brutal death for our salvation. After He completes the works of our salvation, the Lord will exalt Him in heaven and on earth (Philippians 2:5-11).

The psalmist of Psalm 113 goes on to say, “He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes— with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 113:7-9). God loves to take the lowly and foolish things of the world and elevate them to accomplish His purposes so that everyone will know it was an act of God – “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). We have already seen many examples of the Lord taking the lowly, those who are in despair, affliction and trouble, and saving them to accomplish His purposes throughout the Story:

He took a former idol worshipper and his barren wife, Abraham and Sarah, and gave them a child in their old age and made a great nation from their descendants
He promoted Joseph from slave to ruler over Egypt to save the nations from a famine
He saved Rehab, a harlot, who became King David’s great grandma and is listed in Jesus Christ’s lineage along with Ruth, a former Moabite widow
He made David, a shepherd boy, a mighty king and promised the Savior would come from his descendants

The Lord will save and use anyone who humbles himself and calls upon the name of the Lord. He has done it in the past and He continues to do it today through His Son Jesus Christ. And those who are in Christ will one day be elevated to their desired haven as Psalm 107:30 said, and that is in heaven for eternity.

Keep reading.

(Psalm 107, Psalms 111-114)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 5/31:

Have you heard the saying that you should HALT before making decisions? H.A.L.T. is an acronym for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. If one or more of these are at play in your life, chances are high that you will make a decision you will later regret. Today Solomon warns of acting out of anger:

“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (Proverbs 14:17)
“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29)
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness” (Proverbs 15:1-2)
“A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention” (Proverbs 15:18)

Solomon goes on to say, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:32-33).

Solomon is telling us to be ruled by the Spirit and not by our own flesh; to commit our decisions to the Lord and let Him guide us. Solomon knows if we act out of our own fleshly desires and anger, it will lead to destruction. This is why Solomon says twice, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25).

Later in the Story, Paul will explain the difference between walking in the flesh verses walking in the Spirit – “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16-25).

All actions begin with a thought. Therefore, Solomon tells us to “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). To commit our works to the Lord we must halt; make no rash decisions based on the flesh but slow down and intentionally seek the Lord through His Word and our time in prayer. When Jesus teaches us to pray he says, “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen ” (Matthew 6:8-13).

The Lord is Sovereign over all and He knows our needs before we ask. If we remind ourselves of this truth, we can avoid responding out of anger and run to the Lord with our hurt, pain, and disappointment, trusting that He will act on our behalf.

Keep reading.

(Proverbs 14:1-16:33)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 5/28:

Soon in the Story, we will discover that even the wisest man can make foolish decisions when it comes to women. In an effort for political gain, Solomon “loves many foreign women” across the nations (1 Kings 11:1-2). Solomon eventually acquires seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 1:3). This is in direct disobedience to the Lord’s instructions on not intermarrying with the nations around you, and His instruction for kings not to have multiple wives. In Solomon’s later years, he will regret his foolish pursuits of seeking fulfillment in worldly possessions and conclude that life is empty and meaningless apart from the Lord (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Today Solomon warns of the pain and emptiness found in immoral and adulterous relationships:

“For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell. Lest you ponder her path of life— her ways are unstable; you do not know them” (Proverbs 5:3-6).
“Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:15-18).
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life” (Proverbs 6:23-26).
“Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul” (Proverbs 6:32).

Today’s reading ends with these wise words from Solomon – “Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth: do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths; for she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death” (Proverbs 7:24-27).

Now Solomon is a male, so his writing is from a male perspective, but the same truths apply to females seeking affirmation, comfort, love, affection, or whatever else from anyone outside of the Lord and their own husband. Adultery, although it may feel satisfying for a moment, ultimately equates to hell. The Lord knows the havoc that an adulterous relationship can cause in the person’s life committing the adultery as well as the lives of those around them. We just saw the disastrous impacts when King David stepped into the immoral act of adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).

Therefore, Solomon tells us to keep his commandments, “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The light of God’s Word gives us life; and this is why Solomon is going to warn us over and over again to obey the Lord – “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin, he shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray” (Proverbs 5:21-23).

Solomon knows that ignoring God’s Word leads to a life full of pain, misery, and eventually death. Therefore, Solomon is urging us to choose life! And how do we do that as broken sinners who are unable to perfectly obey the Lord’s commandments as we see illustrated in the lives of the mighty King David and King Solomon? The answer is found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is coming to do for us what no one can do for themselves. He will live a perfect life and die as our substitutionary atonement so that we may have life! We are saved by grace through faith and there is nothing that we can do to earn our salvation. If we accept the Lord’s gift that He is providing through His Son, we will be permanently restored to the Father and nothing can separate us from Him – “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

However, we can rob ourselves of peace and joy when we choose to live in disobedience to the Lord’s good instructions. We are all going to disobey the Lord at some point or another because we are all sinners, but there is peace awaiting in Christ. Jesus is coming to die for our sins but he will rise from the grave and ascend to heaven, where from there He will pour the Holy Spirit upon His people. Jesus will later say to His disciples – “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you… But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:15-17, 26-27).

The Holy Spirit gives us the understanding to interpret the Word of God and leads us in the ways of all things spiritual so that we are empowered to overcome sin and the lusts of this world. However, our spiritual life is a work in progress and will be until the day we ascend to heaven with Jesus. So when we do stumble, and we all do, the Spirit will convict us so that we may run to Jesus with a truly repentant heart and receive forgiveness and peace that can only be found in Christ.

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(Proverbs 5:1-7:27)

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