Lesson for Sept. 4, 2011: Pursuing Righteousness (Proverbs 3)

St Augusta Missionary Baptist Church Virtual Sunday School

Proverbs 3 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Proverbs 3

 ¹MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;

 

    ²For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.

 

    ³Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.^(A)

 

    ⁴So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.^(B)

 

    ⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

 

    ⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

 

    ⁷Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.^(C)

 

    ⁸It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.

 

    ⁹Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income;^(D)

 

    ¹⁰So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine.^(E)

 

    ¹¹My son, do not despise or shrink from the chastening of the Lord [His correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial]; neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor His reproof,^(F)

 

    ¹²For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

 

    ¹³Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God's Word and life's experiences],

 

    ¹⁴For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold.

 

    ¹⁵Skillful and godly ^[a]Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her.^(G)

 

    ¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.^(H)

 

    ¹⁷Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

 

    ¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and happy (blessed, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who holds her fast.

 

    ¹⁹The Lord by skillful and godly Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens.^(I)

 

    ²⁰By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies distill the dew.

 

    ²¹My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and godly Wisdom and discretion,

 

    ²²And they will be life to your inner self, and a gracious ornament to your neck (your outer self).

 

    ²³Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble.^(J)

 

    ²⁴When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.

 

    ²⁵Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless],

 

    ²⁶For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger].

 

    ²⁷Withhold not good from those to whom it is due [its rightful owners], when it is in the power of your hand to do it.^(K)

 

    ²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again; and tomorrow I will give it--when you have it with you.^(L)

 

    ²⁹Do not contrive or dig up or cultivate evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly and confidently beside you.

 

    ³⁰Contend not with a man for no reason--when he has done you no wrong.^(M)

 

    ³¹Do not resentfully envy and be jealous of an unscrupulous, grasping man, and choose none of his ways.^(N)

    ³²For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him).^(O)

 

    ³³The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous.^(P)

 

    ³⁴Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted.^(Q)

 

    ³⁵The wise shall inherit glory (all honor and good) but shame is the highest rank conferred on [self-confident] fools.^(R)

   

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 3:15 See footnote on Prov. 1:20.

Cross references:

1. Proverbs 3:3 : Col 3:9-12
2. Proverbs 3:4 : Luke 2:52
3. Proverbs 3:7 : Prov 8:13
4. Proverbs 3:9 : Deut 26:2; Mal 3:10; Luke 14:13, 14
5. Proverbs 3:10 : Deut 28:8
6. Proverbs 3:11 : Ps 94:12; Heb 12:5, 6; Rev 3:19
7. Proverbs 3:15 : Job 28:12-18
8. Proverbs 3:16 : Prov 8:12-21; I Tim 4:8
9. Proverbs 3:19 : Col 1:16
10. Proverbs 3:23 : Ps 91:11, 12; Prov 10:9
11. Proverbs 3:27 : Rom 13:7; Gal 6:10
12. Proverbs 3:28 : Lev 19:13; Deut 24:15
13. Proverbs 3:30 : Rom 12:18
14. Proverbs 3:31 : Ps 37:1; 73:3; Prov 24:1
15. Proverbs 3:32 : Ps 25:14
16. Proverbs 3:33 : Ps 37:22; Zech 5:4; Mal 2:2
17. Proverbs 3:34 : James 4:6; I Pet 5:5
18. Proverbs 3:35 : Isa 32:6

Lesson for Sept. 4, 2011: Pursuing Righteousness (Proverbs 3)

Pursuing Righteousness Proverbs 3

Return to God's Ways

Lesson for July 31 2011: Return to God's Ways Judges:1010-18-114-6-32-33/

Judges 10:10-18

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁰And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.

 ¹¹And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

 ¹²The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.

 ¹³Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

 ¹⁴Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

 ¹⁵And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.

 ¹⁶And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

 ¹⁷Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.

 ¹⁸And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.



Judges 11:4-6

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁴And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

 ⁵And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:

 ⁶And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

Judges 11:32-33

King James Version (KJV)

 ³²So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

³³And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel

Listen to God's Judges

Judges 2 King James Version (KJV)

Judges 2

1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.

2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

4  And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.

6 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.

7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

12  And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

13  And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

14  And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.

18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:

22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.



God is Victorious Lesson for June 26, 2011: Joshua Chapter 6

St. Augusta Virtual Sunday School Page (1)

Joshua Chapter 6 Comentary

Joshua 6

Outline of Joshua 6

The siege of Jericho. (

The city is compassed. (Verse 6-16.)

Jericho is taken, Rahab and her family are saved. (Verse 17-27.)

Commentary

6:1-5

Read Joshua
Verse 1-5 - Jericho resolves Israel shall not be its master. It shut itself up, being strongly fortified both by art and nature. Thus were they foolish, and their hearts hardened to their destruction; the miserable case of all that strengthen themselves against the Almighty. God resolves Israel shall be its master, and that quickly. No warlike preparations were to be made. By the uncommon method of besieging the city, the Lord honoured the ark, as the symbol of his presence, and showed that all the victories were from him. The faith and patience of the people were proved and increased.

Return to Outline

6:6-16

Read Joshua
Verse 6-16 - Wherever the ark went, the people attended it. God's ministers, by the trumpet of the everlasting gospel, which proclaims liberty and victory, must encourage the followers of Christ in their spiritual warfare. As promised deliverances must be expected in God's way, so they must be expected in his time. At last the people were to shout: they did so, and the walls fell. This was a shout of faith; they believed the walls of Jericho would fall. It was a shout of prayer; they cry to Heaven for help, and help came.

Return to Outline

6:17-27

Read Joshua
Verse 17-27 - Jericho was to be a solemn and awful sacrifice to the justice of God, upon those who had filled up the measure of their sins. So He appoints, from whom, as creatures, they received their lives, and to whom, as sinners, they had forfeited them. Rahab perished not with them that believed not,
Return to Outline

6:Heb Verse Hebrews - 11:31. All her kindred were saved with her; thus faith in Christ brings salvation to the house, Acts 14:31. She, and they with her, were plucked as brands from the burning. With Rahab, or with the men of Jericho; our portion must be assigned, as we posses or disregard the sign of salvation; even faith in Christ, which worketh by love. Let us remember what depends upon our choice, and let us choose accordingly. God shows the weight of a Divine curse; where it rests there is no getting from under it; for it brings ruin without remedy.
Return to Outline

Read Joshua

Verse 1-5.)

God Protects: Joshua Chapter 2 Lesson for Sunday, June 19, 2011

Clarke Commentary on Joshua  Adam Clarke Commentary: Click The Link

Commentary on The Book of Josuha

Joshua 2 Amplified Bible (AMP)

                                                                                            

1 JOSHUA SON of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as scouts, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. And they went and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab and lodged there.

2 It was told the king of Jericho, Behold, there came men in here tonight of the Israelites to search out the country.

3 And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out the land. 

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know from where they had come.

 5 And at gate closing time, after dark, the men went out. Where they went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.

6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order there.

7 So the men pursued them to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone, the city's gate was shut.

8  Before the two men had lain down, Rahab came up to them on the roof,

9 And she said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the [east] side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

11 When we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain any more in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.(A)

12 Now then, I pray you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a sure sign,

13 And save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all they have, and deliver us from death.

14 And the men said to her, Our lives for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the [town] wall so that she dwelt in the wall.

16 And she said to them, Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; hide yourselves there three days until the pursuers have returned; and afterward you may go your way.

17 The men said to her, We will be blameless of this oath you have made us swear. [The responsibility is now yours.]

18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall bring your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household into your house.

19 And if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless; but if a hand is laid upon anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.

20 But if you tell this business of ours, we shall be guiltless of your oath which you made us swear.

21 And she said, According to your words, so it is. Then she sent them away and they departed; and she bound the [a]scarlet cord in the window.

22 They left and went to the mountain and stayed there three days, until the pursuers returned, who had searched all along the way without finding them.

23 So the two men descended from the mountain, passed over [the Jordan], and came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.

24 They said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands; for all the inhabitants of the country are faint because of us.

   

Footnotes:

Joshua 2:21 What the blood on the doorposts on the first Passover night in Egypt was to the houses of Israel (Exod. 12:13), the scarlet cord in the window was to the house of Rahab. Her sinful years of ignorance God ignored (Acts 17:30, 31); she became an ancestress, as did Ruth, of David and of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1, 5, 6).



God Expects Obedience

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Jeremiah 7:23
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.