Could I Be Found a Liar?
25014 NQ
23147 - word
Proverbs 30:5,6 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. :6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Read the context: Proverbs 30:1-6
Ponder:
? What kinds of knowledge are described in verses 1-4?
? How do verses 5,6 fit into the topic of knowledge?
? From what do we need to be shielded by taking "refuge in him?"
JNE: We are very familiar with advertising claims. "Good, better, best, #1, no other product" and in many other ways, products are described. We are also aware, or should be, that most of the time, the claims are significantly exaggerated. So, the claim that "every word of God proves true" is bold indeed. "Every" is certainly a bold claim, and deserving of careful evaluation. Many people throughout history have rejected the claim and claimed to have found untruths throughout the Bible. Verses 1-4 illustrate the fact that the most honest and wise admission is that it is absolutely reasonable to doubt both the extent and truthfulness of human knowledge, In fact, the most significant result of human learning is the increasing awareness of how little we truly know. "Settled science" is often revealed to be incomplete if not plain wrong. Could it be that human (my) ignorance is what I need to be shielded from?
In what ways does "the word of God prove true?" Is it only true philosophically, religiously, spiritually? These are all ways that are easily and most often disputed. But the reality is that the Bible has been proven true over and over again with "boots on the ground" evidence. The places, the people, the events, the written words themselves have been challenged, investigated, and found to be accurate and true over and over and over again for thousands of years. In fact, if there were no real places like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Israel; no people like Nebuchadnezzar, David, Caesar Augustus; no destruction of Jerusalem; the Bible could not be "proved true." It is precisely the accuracy of the "verifiable" places, people, and events, that give great credibility to the "unverifiable" places, people and events like Eden, Jonah and the miracles of Jesus. It would be foolish indeed to believe the Bible is true if most of the places, people and events, were only in the heart of the believer, no matter how sincere that "faith" might be. Belief may begin with feelings of faith, but if disproved by real world evidence, the feelings deserve to be greatly questioned.
The Bible claims to be a truth source infinitely more reliable than our human knowledge and wisdom. Our human tendency is to "add to his words." We are prone to think, with our philosophy, our religions that God's Words are not only insufficient, but inaccurate, so we add to, or take away, from what the Bible says, in order to make it conform to our philosophical or religious feelings about what should be true. Verse 4 describes us well. With Biblical sarcasm it concludes: "Surely you know!" But actually, my (our) thoughts, my words prove inadequate, untrue. For these reasons I must take refuge in the "every word proven true" Word of God, to be shielded from the lies of my own feelings, philosophies and religions.
23147 - word
Proverbs 30:5,6 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. :6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Read the context: Proverbs 30:1-6
Ponder:
? What kinds of knowledge are described in verses 1-4?
? How do verses 5,6 fit into the topic of knowledge?
? From what do we need to be shielded by taking "refuge in him?"
JNE: We are very familiar with advertising claims. "Good, better, best, #1, no other product" and in many other ways, products are described. We are also aware, or should be, that most of the time, the claims are significantly exaggerated. So, the claim that "every word of God proves true" is bold indeed. "Every" is certainly a bold claim, and deserving of careful evaluation. Many people throughout history have rejected the claim and claimed to have found untruths throughout the Bible. Verses 1-4 illustrate the fact that the most honest and wise admission is that it is absolutely reasonable to doubt both the extent and truthfulness of human knowledge, In fact, the most significant result of human learning is the increasing awareness of how little we truly know. "Settled science" is often revealed to be incomplete if not plain wrong. Could it be that human (my) ignorance is what I need to be shielded from?
In what ways does "the word of God prove true?" Is it only true philosophically, religiously, spiritually? These are all ways that are easily and most often disputed. But the reality is that the Bible has been proven true over and over again with "boots on the ground" evidence. The places, the people, the events, the written words themselves have been challenged, investigated, and found to be accurate and true over and over and over again for thousands of years. In fact, if there were no real places like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Israel; no people like Nebuchadnezzar, David, Caesar Augustus; no destruction of Jerusalem; the Bible could not be "proved true." It is precisely the accuracy of the "verifiable" places, people, and events, that give great credibility to the "unverifiable" places, people and events like Eden, Jonah and the miracles of Jesus. It would be foolish indeed to believe the Bible is true if most of the places, people and events, were only in the heart of the believer, no matter how sincere that "faith" might be. Belief may begin with feelings of faith, but if disproved by real world evidence, the feelings deserve to be greatly questioned.
The Bible claims to be a truth source infinitely more reliable than our human knowledge and wisdom. Our human tendency is to "add to his words." We are prone to think, with our philosophy, our religions that God's Words are not only insufficient, but inaccurate, so we add to, or take away, from what the Bible says, in order to make it conform to our philosophical or religious feelings about what should be true. Verse 4 describes us well. With Biblical sarcasm it concludes: "Surely you know!" But actually, my (our) thoughts, my words prove inadequate, untrue. For these reasons I must take refuge in the "every word proven true" Word of God, to be shielded from the lies of my own feelings, philosophies and religions.