| Day 47 |
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The reading for day 47 was Proverbs 21:1 - Ecclesiastes 2:26.
21:3 To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Does anyone out there have any practical advice as to how to "do justice and judgement"?
God seems to have a special place in His plan for those who are poor. 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
22:22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 22:23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
23:10 Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: 23:11 For their redeemer [is] mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: [but] the wicked regardeth not to know [it].
31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
As you can see...there are many verses in Proverbs and eslewhere that speak of the poor and needy and oppressed and how we should be treating them. My question to you is...If God tells us to look out for them as often as He does, why don't we (the church) do more for those who are in need?
Most people don't seem to like Ecclesiastes very much...I guess i'm just werid :) I like sad songs too...oh well. Basically everything we do has been done before and we won't be able to add anything lasting to what goes on "under the sun". Seems kind of depressing on the surface, but it actually is a liberating thing. I don't have to "make a mark", I just have to be content with what God has given to me as my portion. 2:22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 2:23 For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. 2:24 [There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God. 2:25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten [hereunto], more than I? 2:26 For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
The Lord gives good things to His children for them to enjoy and they are to enjoy the labor that they do. It is not within our power to change the world, but if God wants to do that through us, He can. I don't really know if I'm explaining myself very well, but I think Ecclesiastes can give us a very liberating view of God's sovereignty. I hope I made at least a little sense. |
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