“Stripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the innermost parts.”
Some scriptures seem to be written to be a stumbling block to those who, like Satan himself, would misuse them to justify their wicked and oppressive hearts. When I spoke with my kids about this verse, I told them how this was the thought and goal of discipline. “Back in the day, parents used to give their wayward kids a whooping, and it was considered love!” We then spent some time talking about how ‘lucky’ they were that they were such good kids, otherwise…, and then I slapped my hands together- Whap!!! I said all this in humor, of course, but in my heart I was thanking God for my kids.
When we thought of Jesus, the Spirit opened our eyes to a deeper love that was shown to us on the cross. This proverb was revealed to be more than a ‘core’ or ‘this and more’ proverb. This one was found to be a ‘key’, of sorts, to understand the price that was paid for us. Why should the sinless One get what we in our disobedience deserved? For all have sinned, Romans 3:23-24.
Afterward, as I thought more on this, another passage came to mind:
Isaiah 53:5 NASB
“But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging, we are healed.”
Or again by another version KJV
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
The scourging of Jesus purged us from evil. Our inmost parts were purified by His piercing. Jesus fulfilled this proverb to make us a spotless bride, a holy people, a new creation clothed in His righteousness, 1 Peter 2:19-25.
Thank You Jesus! “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29
Author Archives: Brian
7 Words that Describe God- ‘K’
7 Words that Describe God- ‘K’:
Keeper
Key
Kind
King
Kinsman
Kiss
Knower
You are the keeper of life, wisdom and knowledge. Those who seek to add any of those in their life must go to You and enter through Your gates. You give to all who ask. You keep me in the shadow of Your wings, protecting me in safety amidst this dark and fading world. You alone are the Keeper. I give You all my praise, for You also are the Giver. Psalm 121:5-8
You are the Key to the door of my hopes and dreams. You unlock passions and desires greater than my own. This world has a set of keys that always leads to less. The doors it opens pretends to be what we want, but it always makes us less and traps us in sinking sand withholding any thoughts of escape. At this point we have two options: we either fight You and claim this is true ‘freedom’- hopelessness and death await us there, or we repent- take the key that You are, unlock the prison doors and run from all that entangles. Thank You for being the Key to more, oh Lord. Your blessings know no end. Isaiah 33:6
You are thoughtful and kind towards me, my Lord. You are unlike any boss here. Bosses don’t care as long as I get the job done. I don’t get in Your way or prevent You from climbing Your career’s ladder. You place me above such things, oh Lord. You consider me and Your thoughts bless me. Your kindness leads me deeper with You. I want to repent of anything that would separate us. I want to leave any pride, any vanity behind. Whatever I could gain here in this fading world, I consider loss compared to You. Thank You for being kind to me. Titus 3:4-6
You are the King of kings and Lord of lords, my God! There are many names that we can use to give You honor and praise, but this one has so much darkness in it. Kings here have abused, oppressed and subjugated people for centuries. You do not do such things. You don’t dominate us or control us. You don’t wage wars that would take our children from us. You don’t demand a tax that so often was used by the people to protect them from their own king. When I call You my King, I do so to honor Your authority above my own. I seek to serve You with all I am and I wait in expectation, for Your favor is life. 1 Timothy 1:17
You have called me Your child. Jesus’ sacrifice and my belief in His grace toward me bring me closer still. Your blood that was shed covers me and You call me Your brother. You know me completely yet You never push me away. You only bring me closer. You could disregard me and cast me out. I am not holy, like You. I am not righteous, like You. I am not blameless, like You. What have You to do with me? Why do You care? I do not advance You or make You look good in any way. I have no value on my own. I’m not worth even a penny, and yet the price You paid says I am a treasure beyond any value. You make me more. You call me kinsman, so You are mine. 2 Corinthians 8:9
You are to me like a mother’s kiss goodnight. The fulfillment of prophecy, the downfall of my enemies, the savior of my soul, and many more unseen things, fill me with awe, joy, and thankfulness. But none of that reaches to me now. It is all distant, in the past or in the future. A mother’s kiss goodnight puts me at ease and lets me know beyond the trials of the day- if I was victorious or if I failed, made You proud or brought You shame, that I am loved. And that I can rest now in Your arms. John 13:23
You know me, Lord, more than I will ever be able to comprehend this side of the grave. I rest securely beneath Your wings. You give me strength because I know You love me. There are no secrets that can be kept from You. You know the stars by name. You know all that has ever been, all that is, and all that will ever be. You are the Knower of me. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
Spiritfire- Proverbs 20:29, Glory and Splendor
“The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.”
gray hair the splendor of the old.”
It was difficult to impress upon my children how strength will not always be available as they age. Whenever I heard about it as a kid, I always ignored it because I had no context to understand it. In my teenage years, I enjoyed pushing my limits mentally and physically. I remember purposely going outside during weather that normally kept people inside. I enjoyed being alone during the wind, and rain, and cold. I would mentally estimate how long I could survive and though I’d never fully try, I’d attempt enough for a taste.
Now, things are vastly different. I have even begun to get gray hair in my beard. The change from glory to splendor may not have been one I ever fully contemplated, but like the changing of the seasons, I knew it would come.
The fading of the glory of physical abilities from illness, disease, accident, war, or age, can be sudden or agonizingly slow. Some may even experience a roller coaster of gains and losses day by day due to whatever. The process can push people into a weird mode of survival which makes sense of the various strategies they employ to accomplish what used to be simple tasks.
Though many try to continue to matter before the fading takes a more permanent hold, we looked at Jesus’ fulfillment and witnessed how He is both the glory and splendor of God forevermore, Hebrews 1:1-3. His strategy for all things, both great and small, was and is to love.
7 Words That Describe God- ‘J’
7 Words that describe God- ‘J’:
Jealous
Jewel
Journey
Joy
Jubilee
Judge
Just
You are jealous for me. You tolerate no other to get between us. When I was young, You taught me, in my youth, you instructed me. Nothing can be shared in the flame but You. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew. The three became four only by Your presence. May I hold tightly to You. May my eyes only look to You, for everything else fades here. It all burns. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
You are my jewel oh Lord, greater than any priceless stone. I can’t put a value on You. Knowing You is the greatest thing I will ever have and do. All the treasures of this world added together can not even hope to match Your worth. They can’t. It is impossible. I now know why You, my Lord, didn’t bow Your knee and worship the fallen one. You would have gained everything this place has to offer. It would not have matched even a drop of God’s presence. What have I need of these treasures? With You, I can see beyond the veil. Luke 4:6-8
Getting to know You is my greatest honor, my Lord. The journey You take me on blesses me as it prunes me. There is so much I’d rather avoid but You guide me through. You protect me as I submit myself to You. I walk in Your light and am exposed, my weaknesses for all to see. I wait for the mocking, the ridicule, to begin, but the only voice I hear from You is that of love. You claim me as Your child. This journey of vulnerability does the opposite of what I expect. You make me stronger. Proverbs 3:5-6
You are my joy. You give me more than happiness or emotions based on favorable conditions, for like the weather, all can change in a moment. The joy I find in You is beyond this place. It is of stronger stuff. There is a weakness here based on lesser things. Selfishness raises its head and makes fleeting desires equal to Your will. Why do we think such things will stand? We don’t really even want them, for the ‘joy’ we think we’ll receive fades before it is found. It is madness to pursue the sand after it has fallen, and folly to attempt to slow the clock. May we awaken to Your joy and find the things which are eternal. 1 Peter 1:8-9
You are my Jubilee, oh Lord! The era of destructive thinking has ended. You have brought new life to me. Wayward thoughts that seek to make me less have failed. I celebrate Your freedom and rejoice in Your resurrection by marking this as my year of Jubilee. More than wishful thinking, this is a determination. I have seen the fruits of my enslavement and their decay reveals a fading resilience to convince me of my hopeless state. I stand upon You, my Lord. You, who do not rot. You, who do not fade. You, who ever shine! Isaiah 61:1-3
Thank You for being the Judge, mighty One. You, who alone knows every thought before we do. You, who alone knows our story completely. You, who after all is said and done, are merciful, gracious and kind. I submit all I am to You, oh wise Judge. Your rulings over me are always perfect and lead me to life everlasting because I believe in Your Son. My own judgment towards myself fails for I am not a fair judge. I condemn myself with wayward thoughts. You, however, cannot be bribed. James 4:11-12
You are just and right in all You do. I am not. You deliver me even from myself. You lift me beyond my own limited and shallow perspective, and You teach me there. I do things that benefit me but then they fade. If I do them Your way, they bless me and all in my house. So I know to turn to You. Psalm 25:8
Spiritfire- Proverbs 20:28, Throne Maintenance
“Mercy and truth protect a king,
and with mercy he maintains his throne.”
We spent some time talking about reasons for loyalty and fealty to a righteous king. Mercy and truth inspire and will guard a leader from harm by strengthening the foundation in the people. When we looked at this Proverb’s reflection, we saw how an unmerciful ruler who lies inspires rebellion. It is only a matter of time.
Jesus fulfilled this proverb by being God’s love among us, 1 John 4:9. He gave us mercy and grace and He is the Truth. Our fealty is in Him whose throne is eternal. His Kingdom paves the way for us to be made new and it will not end, Luke 1:33.
Jubilee
Lord, You have given me a new moment, a new time, after the downfall of a destructive narrative. You give me the energy for a new imagination.
7 Words that Describe God- ‘I’
7 Words that Describe God- ‘I’:
Immanent
Important
Impressive
Incarnate
Infinite
Intimate
Intricate
You are not far from me. Even in times of silence, Your immanence astounds me. You are active and present in all things. How can we comprehend it? There is so much death and loss here, it steals the breath. We celebrate things in this fading world as if it’s our right when we should not, killing our future, our hope, in order to keep our vanity secure even as we fade. It is madness, Lord. Almost every sin is tied to it- our desperation to exist in our time of strength. How can You be active in our weakness? We do terrible things and embrace in bitterness the only ‘power’ we think we have, the power of failure and destruction, but You have not left us alone here. Your unchanging presence gives us hope. Psalm 8
The importance of who
You impress me. Your thoughts impress me. Your words impress me. Your actions impress me. Anything and everything about You impresses me. The fact that You, God on high, consider me, impresses me. Your thoughts about me lift me up and make me more. Your words about me strengthen me and encourage me. Your actions saved me and gave me life. You impress me, my Lord. You make me clap my hands. Psalm 47
You are the Incarnate One. You answer mysteries with an even greater one. You came here and took the form of a man. You, who knew no sin, were baptized and lived among us. You were sentenced to die the death of a criminal. You were buried in a tomb. 3 days later,
There are no limits with You, oh Lord. You are infinite, Your knowledge and wisdom are unfathomable. Your love and goodness are inconceivable. You are God. You are beyond us and within us. You are beyond the reach of time, beyond what constrains us. Yet you are ever with us, ever near. Your Holy Spirit teaches and guides us and helps us through our days. You set the planets on their course. You give the stars their place to shine, and You care about my wife’s new dress and our car’s flat tire. You amaze me. There are no limits with You, oh Lord. Psalm 147:5
You allow me to explore in Your house. Your love allows me to be free. I don’t have to walk on eggshells around
Your design for life is so intricate it baffles the mind. People devote their entire lives to delving into its vast mysteries. From the alignment of the planets to the blinking of an eye, Your plans astound us. The beating heart, the thinking brain, the feeling fingers, the twinkling toes, our bodies never cease to amaze. As we look around at the beauty around us and within, we know Your hands have made it all. Only You could have done this. Only You, our eternally intricate God. Job 12:7-10
7 Words that Describe God- ‘H’
7 Words that Describe God- ‘H’:
Haven
Healer
Help
Holy
Home
Hope
How
You are my safety, my refuge, my Haven. You protect me from the storm. I see Your favor upon Your people, and it brings me to worship. I watch Your strong arm deliver those who look to You, who depend on You. Nothing can get in the way. You let nothing block Your love over them. You let us rest in peace, mighty God. Psalm 46:1-3
I look to You, my Healer. You alone know what is going on. I don’t understand. At times, I think You put me where I finally belong, where I can do the most good for Your glory, then I watch it get taken away. Somedays death’s knell is far too near. Even then, oh Lord, I look to You. Health escapes me and leaves me destitute, but even there, You hold me. Wondering ‘why’, is as frustrating as trying to eat cereal with tremoring hands. I look to You, my Healer, I have never looked anywhere else. Do what Your Word says You do and heal all my diseases. Thank You. Psalm 103:3
You are my Help in times of celebration and in times of trouble and need. You lift me above the highest of heights and you pull me safely from the pit and snare. I look to You and am not dismayed. You are my Shining Light amidst the dark of night. You wash me from its black embrace. Your promises renew and restore, while the promises of the shadow imprison and impale. It tried to do that to You, Lord Jesus. It tried to hold You in the secrets of the grave, but You were risen above its reach to be seated at God’s right hand. You invite me to join You there, in the sanctuary of Light. Psalm 46:1
You are the Holy One. Your holiness is untouched by our greed, by our pride- the real reason for many wars and conflicts. We can’t control You or manipulate You and that terrifies us. Yet we look to You for that very reason. We create definitions of devotion that echo our inability, our frustration- Deism. Yet You acted before we were born. Your holiness set everything in motion. You brought forth Your Son who through His death and resurrection enabled us to be holy, to share in Your sacred separateness that we might stand with You when this world ends. 1 Peter 1:13-16
You are my Home, oh Lord. You are my tranquil place. Even when You disturb me, I have peace knowing You, who knows all things, are God. You bring me to a place of trust, for I know You are good and You love me. Your goodness rebukes and corrects, Your love lifts me up beyond to where my actions limit me. You are my Home, my Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
You are my Hope, oh Lord. You, who do not disappoint. You, who do not fail. You give me hope beyond dreams. I have to wake from a dream, but with You, I wake to Life. Wishes are limited by my imagination, but the hope You give isn’t bound by such things. You are beyond us and Your Holy Spirit is within us. You equip me for greater things that offer eternal life as the reward. I only have eyes for today, but as long as it is called Today, may I praise You. You are my only hope. Psalm 33:20-22
You are my explanation, my ‘How’, in answer to any doubting question. When Moses and the people of Israel were with their backs to the sea and the Egyptian army was hot on their heels, You were the only reason they triumphed that day. You opened the waters allowing Israel to pass through and you closed it on the heads of the pursuers. When they doubted David as he faced off against Goliath, it’s because of You that his courage stood so strong. He slew the giant and carried off his head for all to see that You will not be mocked. There are many other people who held fast in the face of opposition because of You: Elijah, Daniel, and Jesus. The heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews 11 stretching back to Abel, Enoch, and Noah were also commended for their faith in You. For as it says in 11:6, “because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Psalm 46:10
Spiritfire- Proverbs 20:27 “The Lamp of the Lord”
“The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.”
We began talking about the ‘darkened path’. Without God, the path of our heart and mind is dark indeed filled with many dangers, toils, and snares. Many walk claiming they can see, but without a light, they are lost. Psalm 119:105 helps us to see God’s revealing aid upon our path. Not only does His light shine on our path but this proverb points out how it reveals our ‘inmost being’ to His ever-watchful eye. We then talked about how many don’t want to know what He sees. They would rather hide and let darkness cover them. But His light will shine, and all will be revealed.
Up until now, the ‘fear’ of our inadequacies revealed in the light of a righteous and holy God, helped to keep our feet on His path. But now a better path has been revealed, a better Way has been made known. When we explored Proverbs 20:19, we witnessed how Jesus fulfilled ‘avoidance’- the path to Wisdom’s house. We saw in what context His parable of ’The Good Samaritan’ was told. Now, in this proverb, we see how Jesus, the Word made flesh, John 1:14, fulfilled the ‘lamp of the Lord’ by becoming the ‘Light of the world’, as in John 8:2. For now, His light reveals the Righteousness of Jesus, which takes away our wickedness, as in 2 Corinthians 5:17-19.
A better Light has come! Amen, thank You, Lord Jesus.
7 Words that Describe God- ‘G’
7 Words that Describe God- ‘G’:
Gain
Gallant
Generous
Glorious
Goal
Good
Gracious
Only after we’ve lost everything do we realize what ‘gain’ we have in You. This life here is antithetical to You. Its opposition to eternity is felt in the pain of loss. To focus on it harbors madness. To find safer shores is comfort. To focus and find You is the only gain that there is. Without You there is no gain, only loss. With You there is gain, my only sure reward. Philippians 3:7-11
You save and deliver us, oh Lord! You ride upon a steed of righteousness and lift us from the pit. You placed Yourself in danger. You willingly went to the cross for us, to provide a way where there was no way. You place us where we could never go, to a place we do not belong. At the throne of God we bow, we worship, we dance. We are the mouthpiece of Your creation. May the words we say give You glory, oh gallant One. Deuteronomy 31:6
You are kind to me, oh Lord. You know where and how I need help before I do. You know my fears as I learn to trust in You. Your generosity blesses my life more than meeting my needs would allow. It guides me on the paths of faith, making me strong where I am weak. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11
Your splendor outshines the sun; Your glory to the ends of the earth! You display knowledge and wisdom beyond compare! The slightest word from Your mouth changes everything. Your favor is life! Oh that my ears would strain for it, that I may hear Your call! May I be found under Your gaze, may You consider me. May Your eyes look upon me and reveal any false way in me. May Your glory shine away all darkness and reveal the way for me to let go of everything and anything that doesn’t radiate You. You, the glorious One. 1 Timothy 6:15
You are my goal, oh Lord; to please You is my only aim. I have nothing without You. It is worse than nothing, for what I have here rots the bones. If You are my goal then whatever I do have is turned into seeds- seeds for vision, seeds for change. To have ‘pleasing You’ as my goal, You keep me safe amidst the waves- waves that drown, waves that destroy. May Your waves cleanse me, may they drown and destroy all that would mislead me from You, my only goal. Psalm 33:11
You are the source of all that is good in my life and in this world. Without You, we would be lost. Left to make our own way through this life alone when we don’t even live very long or have a lasting effect on anything, would be our pointless lot. Grab as much as you can as quick as you can, only to give it all away in the end, makes me shake my head. This is the fading world. Thank You for opening the Way that doesn’t fade or end. We are but sparks here, we glow for a moment then are gone. But You, oh Lord, last forever and You are good. Mark 10:18
Your grace enables me to be a new creation. I can now do things unattainable by human hands! I can outpace the grip of this life, escaping its pain and bitterness. I can even fly free from those who would do me harm. Though they seek to bring me low and cripple me with oppression, I can dance on the heights because You are gracious to me. You empower me to forgive, and it is a power none can defeat. I can walk on water! I can escape the flames and the lion! I can defeat the giant! Better than a stone, Your grace changes us by putting to death our old self and raising us up to be with You! You are gracious to me. Help me to walk this path with You. Psalm 116:5