7/19/12

Stupidity test....






Reminds me of the Movie "Forrest Gump".  Remember, "Stupid is as stupid does"?  Which made me ask myself the question:Does the Bible refer to anyone as "Stupid"?  A quick concordance search found the following verse...

Proverbs, Chapter 12
 1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.

We all say and do things without thinking.  We are human, after all.  But one of the major differences between human beings happens when someone points out our actions.  Do we dismiss the help of others, or do we listen and look for the truth in their words?  A stupid person will not listen because they already know everything and are unwilling to learn.  Those who love to learn will listen and learn from others!!!  There are limits however, as the comic above illustrates!  If doing something as foolish as testing stupidity costs $100 AND YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.... you are in BIG TROUBLE!!!  Today would be a good day to determine to listen to what others say.  Who know, they might actually HELP YOU!!!!

July 19 1 Chronicles 19-21


July 19
1 Chronicles 19-21

1Ch 19:1 It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.
1Ch 19:2 David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
1Ch 19:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven't his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?
1Ch 19:4 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
1Ch 19:5 Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.
1Ch 19:6 When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.
1Ch 19:7 So they hired them thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
1Ch 19:8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men.
1Ch 19:9 The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
1Ch 19:10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
1Ch 19:11 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
1Ch 19:12 He said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
1Ch 19:13 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good.
1Ch 19:14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.
1Ch 19:15 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
1Ch 19:16 When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.
1Ch 19:17 It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came on them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
1Ch 19:18 The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army.
1Ch 19:19 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

1Ch 20:1 It happened, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.
1Ch 20:2 David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set on David's head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
1Ch 20:3 He brought forth the people who were therein, and cut them with saws, and with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
1Ch 20:4 It happened after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.
1Ch 20:5 There was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
1Ch 20:6 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were twenty-four, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant.
1Ch 20:7 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother killed him.
1Ch 20:8 These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

1Ch 21:1 Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
1Ch 21:2 David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.
1Ch 21:3 Joab said, Yahweh make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, aren't they all my lord's servants? Why does my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?
1Ch 21:4 Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
1Ch 21:5 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew sword: and in Judah were four hundred seventy thousand men who drew sword.
1Ch 21:6 But he didn't count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
1Ch 21:7 God was displeased with this thing; therefore he struck Israel.
1Ch 21:8 David said to God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.
1Ch 21:9 Yahweh spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,
1Ch 21:10 Go and speak to David, saying, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose one of them, that I may do it to you.
1Ch 21:11 So Gad came to David, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Take your choice:
1Ch 21:12 either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.
1Ch 21:13 David said to Gad, I am in distress. Let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
1Ch 21:14 So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
1Ch 21:15 God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1Ch 21:16 David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
1Ch 21:17 David said to God, Isn't it I who commanded the people to be numbered? It is even I who have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Yahweh my God, be against me, and against my father's house; but not against your people, that they should be plagued.
1Ch 21:18 Then the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to tell David, that David should go up, and raise an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1Ch 21:19 David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spoke in the name of Yahweh.
1Ch 21:20 Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
1Ch 21:21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
1Ch 21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build thereon an altar to Yahweh: for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.
1Ch 21:23 Ornan said to David, Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: behold, I give you the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal offering; I give it all.
1Ch 21:24 King David said to Ornan, No; but I will most certainly buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is yours for Yahweh, nor offer a burnt offering without cost.
1Ch 21:25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
1Ch 21:26 David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on Yahweh; and he answered him from the sky by fire on the altar of burnt offering.
1Ch 21:27 Yahweh commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into its sheath.
1Ch 21:28 At that time, when David saw that Yahweh had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
1Ch 21:29 For the tabernacle of Yahweh, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.
1Ch 21:30 But David couldn't go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.

"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS" Introduction by Mark Copeland


                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"

                              Introduction

AUTHOR:  Paul, the apostle, along with Timothy (1:1)

PLACE OF WRITING:  Somewhere in MACEDONIA, while Paul was on his way
to make another visit to Corinth.  This would be during his third 
missionary journey, in a part of which Luke says very little (cf. Ac 
20:1-2).

TIME OF WRITING:  Possibly in the fall of 57 A.D., making it but a few
months after writing First Corinthians (likely written in the spring of
57 A.D.).

MESSENGER:  Titus, who was accompanied by two others on his journey
(8:16-24)

BACKGROUND OF THE EPISTLE:  The church in Corinth began in 52 A.D., 
when Paul visited there on his second missionary journey.  It was then
that he stayed one and a half years, the first time he was allowed to
stay in one place as long as he wished.  A record of this visit and the
establishment of the church is found in Ac 18:1-18.

This second letter of Paul to the Corinthian church was occasioned by
the report brought back by Titus, who informed Paul of their reception 
of the first letter, and how they received the rebuke that letter 
contained (2:12-13; 7:5-9).

PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE: Titus' report was encouraging, but evidently
it also brought troubling news that some at Corinth were questioning 
Paul's authority as an apostle.  This doubt may have planted by 
"Judaizing teachers" who seemed to follow Paul and attempted to 
undermine his teaching concerning the Law.  They appear to have 
questioned his veracity (1:15-17), his speaking ability (10:10; 11:6), 
and his unwillingness to accept support from the church at Corinth 
(11:7-9; 12:13).  There were also some people who had not repented of 
their licentious behavior (12:20-21).  Paul's primary purpose, then, in
this epistle is:

            TO VINDICATE HIS APOSTLESHIP AND MANNER OF LIFE

He hopes that by writing in advance of his visit he can get all of the
necessary rebuke out of the way (1:23-2:3; 13:10).  He also uses the 
opportunity to encourage them to have the collection for the needy 
saints in Jerusalem ready when he comes (9:1-5; cf. 1Co 16:1-2).

This letter is the most biographical and least doctrinal of Paul's
epistles.  It tells us more about Paul as a person and as a minister
than any of the others.  Those who would be ministers of the gospel
would do well to carefully study it (along with Paul's epistles to
Timothy and Titus).

KEY VERSE:  2 Corinthians 7:2

"Open your heart to us.  We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no 
one, we have defrauded no one."

BRIEF OUTLINE:

SALUTATION AND THANKSGIVING (1:1-11)

I. PAUL EXPLAINS HIS MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (1:12-7:16)

   A. HE DEFENDS HIS INTEGRITY
      1. The Changed Plan (1:12-22)
      2. The Delayed Visit (1:23-2:4)
      3. The Penitent Offender (2:5-11)

   B. HE DESCRIBES HIS APOSTOLIC MINISTRY
      1. Triumphant (2:12-17)
      2. Accredited (3:1-3)
      3. Glorious (3:4-18)
      4. Honest (4:1-6)
      5. Suffering (4:7-18)
      6. Hopeful (5:1-10)
      7. Devoted (5:11-17)
      8. Reconciling (5:18-21)
      9. Approved (6:1-10)

   C. HE MAKES HIS APPEAL TO THEM
      1. To Open Their Hearts (6:11-13)
      2. To Be Separate From The World (6:14-7:1)
      3. The Comfort And Confidence They Have Given Him (7:2-16)

II. THE COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS IN JERUSALEM (8:1-9:15)

   A. THE EXAMPLE OF MACEDONIA (8:1-5)

   B. THE BASIS FOR HIS EXHORTATION (8:6-15)

   C. THE MESSENGERS FOR THIS MINISTRY (8:16-9:5)

   D. THE ENCOURAGEMENT TO GIVE LIBERALLY (9:6-15)

III. PAUL DEFENDS HIS APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY (10:1-13:10)

   A. EXPLANATION CONCERNING HIS CONDUCT
      1. He Uses Weapons Mighty In God (10:1-11)
      2. The Contrast Between Him And His Opponents (10:7-18)

   B. SOME FOOLISH BOASTING
      1. The Necessity For Boasting (11:1-21)
      2. The Grounds For His Boasting (11:22-12:10)
      3. His Rebuke For Compelling Him To Boast (12:11-13)

   C. HIS FINAL WARNINGS
      1. Motivated By Love, He Seeks Their Edification (12:14-19)
      2. His Fear Of What He Will Find (12:20-21)
      3. His Coming Will Be In Judgment If Necessary (13:1-6)
      4. But He Hopes To Avoid Sharp Words By Writing In Advance 
         (13:7-10)

CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS AND BENEDICTION (13:11-14)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION

1) On which journey did the apostle Paul establish the church in 
   Corinth?
   - His second journey

2) Where does one read about the establishment of the church in 
   Corinth?
   - Ac 18:1-18

3) On which journey did Paul write both of his epistles to the 
   Corinthians?
   - His third journey

4) From where did Paul write his FIRST epistle to the Corinthians? (cf.
   1Co 16:8)
   - Ephesus

5) From where did Paul write his SECOND epistle to the Corinthians?
   (cf. 7:5; 8:1; 9:2-4)
   - Somewhere in Macedonia (perhaps Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea?)

6) What is the approximate date of writing?
   - The fall of 57 A.D.

7) Whose arrival likely prompted Paul's writing of this epistle? 
   (7:5-7)
   - Titus

8) What sorts of things about Paul were questioned by those challenging
   his apostolic authority? (cf. 1:15-17; 10:10; 11:6; 11:7-9; 12:13)
   - His veracity
   - His speaking ability
   - His refusal to accept financial support

9) What is the purpose of this epistle?
   - To vindicate Paul's apostleship and manner of life

10) What other topic does Paul discuss in this epistle? (9:1)
   - The collection for the saints