THE LORD SPOKE (December 26)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Haggai 1-2

It’s a principle of life! In every part of Scripture we are commended to put the Lord first. Whether it’s our time, talent, or treasure - He is to have the first fruits. Before any other considerations we are to give to Him. The reason for this is not that He needs it. What a silly thought. We need it ourselves!

Haggai’s message to Israel was exactly the same. The people had provided first for themselves (Hag. 1:4). They laid aside for their own basic needs of food and clothing (Hag. 1:6). They even made some investments and put some into savings. They built their own houses (Hag. 1:9). But God blew it all off (Hag. 1:9). Because the people did not honor Him first, he sucked the wind right out of their sails.

They ended up without enough to eat or drink and their clothing proved to be inadequate. Their investments didn’t pan out (Hag. 1:9), their crops failed (Hag. 1:10-11), and their livestock didn’t produce (Hag. 1:11). Whatever they put their hand to failed to turn a profit (Hag. 1:11). God has ways to melt down our every effort to stockpile things for ourselves. You can’t save enough for a rainy day if God commands it to rain on you. He doesn’t ever do that capriciously but He does know how to get our attention.

From the very moment the people corrected their ways and started to take care of the Lord’s work first (Hag. 2:18-19), from that very moment, things began to change. What they had for themselves was not only adequate, it began to multiply. Their labor and investment produced wealth.

Five times in this short book (Hag. 1:5,7; 2:15,18 [2x]), we’re told to “give careful thought” to this. Have you?


Proverbs 26

A veritable rogue’s gallery. That’s what Proverbs 26 is. Hezekiah’s editors (see Prov. 25:1) gathered here a collection of Solomon’s proverbs on fools, sluggards, gossips, and madmen. Be careful! It’s like walking through the hall of distorted mirrors at a circus. You might see yourself in some of these reflections and it won’t be pretty.

The metaphors used in this chapter are also very colorful. The variety and sources of these word pictures communicate as well with John Ploughman as with any erudite saint:

• like snow in summer or rain in harvest (Prov. 26:1)
• like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow (Prov. 26:2)
• like a lame man’s legs that hang limp (Prov. 26:7)
• like a stone in a sling (Prov. 26:8)
• like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand (Prov. 26:9)
• like an archer who wounds at random (Prov. 26:10)
• like a dog returns to its vomit (Prov. 26:11)
• like a door that turns on its hinges (Prov. 26:14)
• like one who seizes a dog by the ears (Prov. 26:17)

Take a closer look at the selection of proverbs that deal with gossip and quarreling. Solomon compares it to wood on a fire or charcoal on embers (Prov. 26:20-21). Gossip is sure to fuel the flame of a quarrel. When gossip is removed, a quarrel dies out. Strife is kindled by rehashing it. Stir it up a little and the flame comes back. The best way to let it die down is to separate the hot coals from each other. Of course, you can pour some water on it but that will produce billows of steam, smoke, and ash. Cleaning up that mess will make you wish you hadn’t. Does that apply to the latest quarrel you’ve been involved in?

As to the latest quarrel you haven’t been involved in, Solomon says, “Don’t!” That’s as dumb as pulling a mad dog’s ears (Prov. 26:17).