Tuesday, 24 September 2013

SUBMISSIONS IN LIFE




SUBMISSIONS IN LIFE FOR BELIEVERS


 In their time, the seat of local government and judiciary

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDY/HOUSE GROUPS
1. Each member to have printed copy of the notes - suitable for the first meeting or so
2. Members to be asked for their own thoughts on the subject to be studied, and to read Bible references, and the next part of the notes  
3. Ask for any interesting experiences, which are related to the subject
4. Encourage any quiet participants to take part, if appropriate
5. The Leader should try to retire into the background
6 Announce the title in advance of the meeting, if possible 


My own notes – omitting the Scripture quotations – would probably take only two pages.  Taking too long could lead to a Pharisaic approach – adding rules that go beyond Divine Teaching.  Here are the ten areas on my own list – reflecting a school external Religious Studies examination course, for sixteen-year-olds - GCSE (Title: Christian Responsibility – often twinned with studying the Gospel according to Mark).

Jesus’s submission to the Father is our example (and the Submission of the Spirit to the Son) THERE ARE SUBMISSIONS IN THE GODHEAD.  Good submissions are good and godly - beware of bad and wrong submissions.

Our own submission to God
The Assembly/Church, to the Elders
The Holy Spirit’s gift of Leadership-Aid
The Holy Spirit’s gift of Organiser/Administrator

National Ruler, Government, Local Council
Jurisprudence
The hierarchy at work, or study
The hierarchy of the Christian’s Home
The overall submission to each other


BRIEF THOUGHTS ON THE TEN AREAS OF SUBMISSION

Jesus’s submission to the Father is our example
The Old and New Testaments are rich in references to our Lord’s submission to the Father’s will, and to the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is submissive to the Father and the Son; such an example from the members of the Godhead is unequivocal

Our own submission to God
Obviously, submission to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is a vital part of the Christian commitment

The Assembly/Church/Ecclesia to the Elders
Right and wrong structures of the Congregation are discussed in some detail, in my Blog “Pastors, and Church Leaders”. 

The Holy Spirit’s gift of Leadership-Aid
This is a specific short-term leadership, through difficult times, by those with this gift of the Holy Spirit (see my Blog: “www.Douglas Barrett Wilkinson/Gifts of the Holy Spirit”
The Holy Spirit’s gift of Organiser/Administrator
Here again is a gift of the Spirit (ibid).  It concerns various kinds of organising and leading ability – under the college of Elders.

National Ruler, Government, Local Council – but subject to the Laws and Commands of God
Overall we must obey those above us in ruling our nation and community, and the setting of taxes; however, there may be times when we resist, if the rules contravene God’s higher Laws, or natural Justice

Jurisprudence – again, subject to the Law and Commands of God
As above, on occasions, judgments and laws may be opposed to God’s higher law; and appropriate reactions will be required

The hierarchy at work, or establishment in which we work, or study; and again we may have to re-subject to God’s Law and Commands

The hierarchy of the Christian’s Home is clearly set out in Bible passages.  Special attention, should however, be paid to unique skills, particularly of the wife: gifts of the Spirit, property, finance, medical knowledge, etc.  The Husband must take final responsibility

The overall submission to each other – this is the general attitude of the church member in humility


BIBLE PASSAGES: EXHAUSTING, BUT NOT EXHAUSTIVE


1. Jesus’s submission to the Father is our example

There are constant references in the Gospels to this submission.  We are not allowed to know of what has appertained in Eternity – great is the mystery!

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.
[This Messianic prophecy is based on the following passage in the Law, where a slave willingly volunteers to be a slave for life.]
Exodus 21:6 …then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant (slave) for life.
Psalm 40:7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
Psalm 40:8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
[Quoted in Hebrews 10:7-9]

Psalm 110:1
Of David. A psalm.            
The LORD says to my Lord: (Yahweh says to my Adoni – [Messiah])
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”

[This is one of my favourite passages; from the Psalm most quoted in the New Testament.  It serves as one example of many, which illustrate this submission.  The Godhead commands David’s Lord – the Messiah.]
Isaiah 42:1
Isaiah 49:5-6
Isaiah 50:5
Isaiah 61:1 

Daniel 7:13-14
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Matthew 3:15
Matthew 6:10
Matthew 26:39, 42 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:54, 56
Mark 13:32
Luke 2:49
John 3:34
John 4:34
John 5:19, 23, 26, 27, 30, 36, 37

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

John 7:16, 18, 28, 29 
John 8: 16, 28, 29, 42, 49, 55
John 9:4
John 10:18, 29, (30), 36, (38)
John 11:42 
John 12:49-50
John 14:10, 24, 28, 31
John 15:10, 15, 21
John 16:5, 27-28
John 17:1-9, 18, (21), 22, 24
John 18:11 
Acts 2: 33, 36
Acts 10:38
Romans 8:32
1 Corinthians 1:30
1 Corinthians 3:33
1 Corinthians 11:3
1 Corinthians 15:24, 27-28

Galatians 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law….

Philippians 2:7-8 
Colossians 1:15 
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 3:2

Hebrews 5:8 
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

Hebrews 5:10
1 Peter 2:4
2 Peter 1:17
1 John 4:9, 10, 14
Revelation 2:27


SUBMISSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE FATHER AND THE SON

John 15: 26  Jesus said: “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
John 16:13-15

2. OUR OWN SUBMISSION TO GOD

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Exodus 20:1-17 And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
1 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
2 4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
3 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
6 13 “You shall not murder.
7 14 “You shall not commit adultery.
8 15 “You shall not steal.
9 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10 17 “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”

KING HEZEKIAH’S EXAMPLE
2Kings 18:5-7 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.
6 He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses.
7 And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.

Psalm 103:20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
[Even the Angels are required to be obedient.]

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Psalm 112:1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.

Psalm 119   [Virtually the whole of this long and remarkable Psalm, reflects on respect for God’s commands and precepts.]

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
Pr 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.



THOMAS’S CONFESSION, POST RESURRECTION
John 20:28-29 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
Acts 5: 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!


A SLIGHT DIGRESSION ON THE SUBJECT OF DOULOS - SLAVE

READINGS: EXODUS 21:1-11

At Mount Sinai, God instructed the Hebrews through Moses:
2 “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.
3 If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.
4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.
5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’
6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.
7 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.
8 If she does not please the master who has selected her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her.
9 If he selects her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter.
10 If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.
11 If he does not provide her with these three things, she is to go free, without any payment of money.

GALATIANS 6:17
Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. [The brand marks of a slave (Greek: stigma/stigmata) – the marks of suffering for Christ and His Church.]


The English Versions of the Bible do a partial unintentional cover-up on the question of the common Greek word: doulos (doo'los), meaning slave!   Quite often we are led into thinking the gentle word "servant" is being used, whereas, the much stronger "slave" is the case.

Exodus 21 pictures the legitimate ancient practice in Israel of purchasing and owning slaves; even the formality of a willingly becoming a slave for life, to a good master - the piercing of the ear with a bradawl, leaving a reciprocal mark on the doorpost of the house.   Have you come as a willing permanent slave to the Lord Jesus Christ?

In Galatians 6v17, Paul saw the marks of his suffering for Christ as the brand marks (stigmata) of being a slave of his Lord.

Romans 1v1, "Paul a slave of Jesus Christ" (NLT), the RSV has "servant" with "slave" in the margin.   The NIV has "servant".

Romans 6:16-23, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?   But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.   You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.
" I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves.   Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.   When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.   What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?   Those things result in death!  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.   For the wags of sin is death, but the gift of god is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." (NIV)

Romans 15:18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 16:26 …but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him.

2Thessalonians 1:8 He will punish those, who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God.

1Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

1John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

Jude 1:25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

ETC.



3. To the Assembly/Church/Ecclesia Leaders – Elders/Bishops/Overseers


Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.  13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.

Titus 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

[In each of the two above references, there is a list of extremely strict conditions for the appointment of Elders/Bishops/Presbyters/Overseers.  Only two words are basically used in the original, and some of the modern meanings of the translations have changed – for example, “Bishop” in the Anglican Communion.  Leadership was always a team.]

 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?   Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!  Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!   5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?   6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!   The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?   Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.   And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
[This means that every assembly of Believers should be prepared to organize, and submit to, such a judicial process of fellow-Christians.]


4. The Holy Spirit’s gift of Leadership-Aid

Romans 12:8 … if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
[As I explain in my Blog, the original word is complex.  I take to be the ability to lead briefly, a person or group, though a particular problem, or difficult time.]

5. The Holy Spirit’s gift of Organizer/Administrator

1Corinthians 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

[This is not the leading of the whole church, but the abilities to lead limited aspects of the church’s work – under the Elders.  We might see secretarial ability, worship leader, maintenance of property - as just a few examples.]

[NUMBERS 3, 4, AND 5 CAN BE READ ABOUT IN DETAIL IN MY BLOGS ON THE INTERNET:
Douglas Barrett Wilkinson/Gifts of the Holy Spirit – for the Church
B. PASTOR
D. LEADERSHIP-AID
C. ADMINISTRATION]



 In their time, a seat of local government and judiciary
6. National Ruler, Government, Local Council – but subject to the Laws and Commands of God


Acts 17:26 From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

Romans 13: 1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.  4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Titus 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,

1Peter 2:13-17 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 
16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the king.

[There was great concern in the Apostolic Church to be submissive in this area – even though persecution from the Emperors was horrendously rife.]

1Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.


The Books of Daniel and Esther illustrate so well, how the people of God live under secular rulers.  God calls us to be faithful and obedient to Him.  Through it all He will not be silent or inactive, as I wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office.  Even at such times He is close: revealing Himself to us.

There is the difficult question of corrupt, misled, ideologically oppressive, or unreliable government: what should we do about it?  What did Jesus do in His day?  What example did the Apostolic Age set?  There were godly men in Government – like Nicodemus, and the sensible, like Gamaliel.  There have been times when the Church has taken-up arms to defend its families.  Each age has its peculiar problems and solutions, I think.  Non-combatant: in the Second World War a person wishing to take this line in the UK, had to promise that he would, on no account, defend his wife and family, should they be attacked in his presence – a difficult agreement to make.  We would start with prayer and seeking God’s will.


EUROPE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
CHRISTIANS 'IGNORED'

The Council of Europe warns that Christians are subject to 'intolerance and discrimination' across the continent.
In the wake of a string of cases involving the rights of British workers to discuss their beliefs, or wear crosses, the Parliamentary arm of the Council of Europe has said that discrimination against Christians is being ignored.
"Numerous acts of hostility, violence and vandalism have been recorded in recent years against Christians and their places of worship, but these acts are often overlooked by the national authorities," states the Council's formal declaration. [The Telegraph, newspaper, and reported in “Engage” the magazine of the Baptist Missionary Society]

I think the United Kingdom is still benefiting from its Christian past, to some extent.  It is not a failed nation like so many in the World: where there is no upholding of Law or sense of Natural Justice.  Islam is so feared here as to be favoured: Shariah Law is allowed to function - there is bigamy, polygamy, honour killing, no-go areas in towns and cities, Halal meat is widely permitted and surreptitiously served.  

Secularism, Atheism, and Homosexuality so hold the whip hand that Britain is no longer a Christian Nation; it is in fact anti-Christian.

However, I have read the end of The Book, and Jesus wins!


7. Jurisprudence – again, subject to the Law and Commands of God
As above, on occasions, judgments and laws may be opposed to God’s higher law; and appropriate reactions will be required

[As this is so closely linked with the previous subdivision, I think it should be treated as the same, or similar.  In biblical times: rulers and military commanders often judged serious cases.  It strikes me that in many nations the Government sets the Law, and the Judges monitor the legality of Government.  This is like the two influences of apostles and Elders, in the life of a New Testament Church.]


The Civil Magistrate. In patriarchal times Hebrew life was organized around the family and the clan. Heads of families (“patriarchs”) and elders of the tribes were the judges (Gen 38:24), and their authority was based on custom.

After the Exodus from Egypt, Moses (on the advice of Jethro; Exodus 18:13-26), organized the nation into groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, within each tribe. Over each unit a qualified man was placed as judge, and only the most important cases were brought before Moses (Deuteronomy 1:12-18; 21:2). After entering Canaan, a similar plan of local government was followed (Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:2-13 
Deuteronomy 17:9-13 Go to the priests, who are Levites, and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict.
10 You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they direct you to do.
11 Act according to the law they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.
12 The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel.
13 All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not be contemptuous again.

[I have the impression that it will be a given, that their rulings will not always be just; but we must accept them.  That is not to say that we must not work for corrections and improvements to laws – this also is to be expected with all man-made legal frameworks.]

Deuteronomy 19:15-21 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.  [One of the reasons for the testimony of the Four Gospel Writers]
16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse a man of a crime,
17 the two men involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.
18 The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against his brother,
19 then do to him as he intended to do to his brother. You must purge the evil from among you.
20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you.
21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

[Perjury was a most serious crime in society – as it should be in the Church of Christ – see the final paragraph of 1 Corinthians 5.  An eye for an eye etc was a limitation on punishing tribes or families.]

Joshua 8:33; 23:2; 24:1;

1 Samuel 8:1
1 Samuel 8:1-3 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel.
2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

In the period of The Book of Judges, the office assumed a quite different character.

When the monarchy was instituted, the king himself tried important cases (2 Samuel 15:2; 1 Kings 3:9 ff

1Kings 3:11-12 So God said to him [Solomon], “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,
12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.”


1Kings 3:16-28 Now two prostitutes came to the king [Solomon] and stood before him.
17 One of them said, “My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me.
18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.
19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him.
20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast.
21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”
22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”
But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.
23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’ ”
24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king.
25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”
26 The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”
But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”
28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice

1 Kings 7:7 He [Solomon] built the throne hall, the Hall of Justice, where he was to judge, and he covered it with cedar from floor to ceiling.

David assigned Levites to the judicial office and appointed six thousand men as officers and judges.              1 Chronicles 23:4 David said, “Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of the temple of the LORD and six thousand are to be officials and judges.
2 Chronicles 19:5-7 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.
6 He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.
7 Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”  Jehoshaphat enlarged the judicial system of Judah with a kind of supreme court at Jerusalem, made up of Levites, priests, and heads of fathers’ houses.

Proverbs 12:17 A truthful witness gives honest testimony,
but a false witness tells lies.

Proverbs 20:8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

Proverbs 25:7
What you have seen with your eyes
Pr 25:8 do not bring hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?
[I found this most applicable when I noticed a Pakistani boy – for whom I had a great respect – throwing a cigarette lighter onto the Library flat roof.  Rather than punish him, out of hand, I asked him what he was doing.  He had taken the object from a simple Pakistani boy, who was sniffing the addictive substance.]

The prophets often complained bitterly that justice was corrupted by bribery and false witness.
Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow’s case does not come before them.

Isaiah 5:23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice to the innocent.

Isaiah 10:1-4 Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2 to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.
3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,
when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
Where will you leave your riches?
4 Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives
or fall among the slain.


Amos 5:12-13 For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.
You oppress the righteous and take bribes
and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13 Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times,
for the times are evil.

Amos 6:12 Do horses run on the rocky crags?
Does one plow there with oxen?
But you have turned justice into poison

Micah 3:11-12 Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
Yet they lean upon the LORD and say,
“Is not the LORD among us?
No disaster will come upon us.”
12 Therefore because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.

Micah 7:3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire—
they all conspire together.


Kings were often unjust.
1 Kings 22:26-28 The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son 27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’ ” 28 Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”

2 Kings 21:16

Jeremiah 36:26 Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.

The case of Ahab’s seizure of Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-13) shows how far a king could go in getting his own way, in flagrant contradiction of law and custom, at least in the northern kingdom of Israel.

In OT times the judges’ activities were not limited to what today would be considered judicial functions. Our present division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches is a modern innovation. The word judge is often parallel to king (Psalm 2:10; 148:11; Isaiah 33:22; 40:23; Amos 2:3). In several Semitic languages the term used in the Hebrew Bible for judge is used for rulers of various kinds. This breadth of meaning attached to the term judge in ancient times leads to its extended use in the Book of Judges – virtually Chieftain.


We see our Lord’s attitudes in dealing with the Pharisees’ trickery.

Mark 12:13-17 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.  14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?  15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”  16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.



On three occasions Paul appealed to civil law:



Acts 16:37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”



Acts 22:25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”



Acts 25:11-12 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”



 
Felixstowe Customs and Excise



8. The hierarchy at work, or establishment in which we work, or study; and again we may have to re-subject to God’s Law and Commands

[Slaves are spoken of as in employment, for the sake of guidelines.  Commentators point to seven ways in which people became slaves.  The eighteenth century slave trade was kidnap, a crime that in the Old Testament carried the death penalty.  Slave trading still exists, unfortunately, today.]

Ephesians 6:5-9 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  6 Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.

1 Timothy 6:1-2 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

Titus 2:9-10 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

1 Peter 2:18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

Slaves could gain manumission (release) and normally would be pleased to take advantage of this.

Jesus died at the age of thirty-three, having given three and a half years to ministry – a tithe of His life.  Previously He had worked in employment as a skilled artisan.

The Gifts of the Spirit should be freely used in the workplace.  An agnostic Headmaster introduced talks for scholars on “The Spiritual Dimension of Work”.  Local Christians took these.



The practical advice found in the Books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, is invaluable in the workplace. 


 


9. The hierarchy of the Christian’s Home is clearly set out in Bible passages.  Special attention, should however, be paid to unique skills, particularly of the wife: gifts of the Spirit, property, finance, medical knowledge, etc.  The Husband must take final responsibility.  Proverbs is rich in teaching on marriage - and then of course, for the married, there is your detailed exegesis of The Song of Songs.

Genesis 2:24  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh [Leaving, Cleaving, and Plumbing!]

[The prime question is not, “Who should I marry?” But, “Has God called me to be single; or married?”  Really.  It is sad that in the present-day Western Church, many who are single feel a sense of discrimination: through the corporate failure to see, and accept, our Lord’s perspective in this area.]

Matthew 19:10-12  The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”  Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.  12 For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

[Here is Paul, the apostle, on the same stratum.]
1 Corinthians 7:1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.  9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1 Corinthians 7:26-29 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are.  27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.  28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.  29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none….

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.  33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.  35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

BACK TO THE SUBJECT OF MARRIED LIFE

Psalm 128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;

Proverbs 5:18 May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 19:14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Proverbs 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,
but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the LORD.

Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

Ephesians 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Proverbs 21:9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 21:19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. [Also 25:24, 27:15]

Proverbs 31: 10-31 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.

Malachi 2:14-16 You ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.  15 Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.  16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel….”

Matthew 19:4-12 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
10 The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
11 Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. 12 For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

Matthew 5:31-32 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
[Through the age of Sarah in Genesis 18:9-15, children can be introduced to this important fact of life.]

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

1 Corinthians 7:2 - selected But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
[I advise all married couples to make a regular and serious exegesis of The Song of Solomon!]

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

27 Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife.
33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—


1 Corinthians 9:5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas ?


Ephesians 5:22-33 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.
31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.


1 Peter 3:1-7 Wives, in the same (Christlike)way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Revelation 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

Children and Parents

Psalm 127:3-5 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

A selection of verses from Proverbs

1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
1:10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
1:15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;

10:5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

17:21 To have a fool for a son brings grief;
there is no joy for the father of a fool.

13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

19:18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to his death.

29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;
he will bring delight to your soul.

[At the current time, as a reaction against physical abuse and cruelty, this is not Politically Correct, as people say.  In reality, the abuse and neglect, can be to withhold discipline. What do Christians do about this? Do they risk the law?  Their duty is to obey God!]

19:26 He who robs his father and drives out his mother
is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

23:24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.
I am particularly concerned that children are informed about the time when women/mothers reach the age of no-longer being able to have children.  For some ladies it is a time of great joy, others are unmoved, but seriously it can be horrendous!  In reading through Genesis chapters 17 and 18 apropos Sarah, the subject arises naturally.
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

1 Timothy 3:2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
Titus 1:6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.


10. The overall submission to each other – this is the general attitude of the church member in humility


Numbers 12:3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

Exodus 18:24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.


Jonathan’s – the heir apparent, submitted to his friend David

1 Samuel 18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
1 Samuel 18:3-4 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.  4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 

1 Samuel 20:4 Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

Proverbs 18:12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 22:4 Humility and the fear of the LORD
bring wealth and honor and life.

Matthew 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child [whom Jesus had just called to His side] is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:12, etc For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus washes the Disciples’ feet

John 13:4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
John 13:5-17 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.  12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.


Paul and Barnabas – not always easy

Acts 4:36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),

Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 11:22 selected News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,  26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Acts 15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

Acts 15:36 selected Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,


Acts 20:19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears

Galatians 2:1 selected Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.  9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

Galatians 2:13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Colossians 4:10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

Paul and the Galatians
Gal 4:12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
Gal 4:13-15 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.  14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.  15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

Paul and Apollos
1 Corinthians 16:12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity. 

Paul and Philemon apropos Onesimus
Philemon 1:8 selected Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do,  9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.  11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.  12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.  13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.  14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.  18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.  19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.  20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.  21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.  22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

Romans 12:4, 5, 10, 16 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 16:15-16 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.

Philippians 2:3-5 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus….  The example of the Lord Jesus; and also in:

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Ephesians 3:8  Paul wrote: Although I am less than the least of all God’s people ….

Titus 3:2 … slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

1 Peter 3:8-13 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
                        “Whoever would love life
                                                and see good days
                        must keep his tongue from evil
                                                and his lips from deceitful speech.
                        11 He must turn from evil and do good;
                                                he must seek peace and pursue it.
                        12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
                                                and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
                        but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?


                        1 Peter 4:7-11 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:5-6 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
[I do not relish this teaching; but we have to humble ourselves!  As Derek Prince used to say, so eloquently, “The way up, is down!”]


“Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you….” 1 Samuel 15:23



The Books of Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, have much to contribute to this collection of subjects, as a whole – specifically and elliptically - directly and indirectly.
Our psychology lecturer at university had a high regard for the Book of Proverbs.  In my professional occupation, in times of being misled, or facing difficulties, I knew what to do: thanks to the advice of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (which contains philosophy and proverbs.

 To read the book through is the best plan of attack, although itemized verses may follow here, eventually.  You will notice that "The King" has to stand-in for several statuses: Government, the Boss at work, and even the Husband; master and slave, as in the Epistles, stand in for Employer and Employee.
Here roughly are the ten titles used above


2. God

3:5-8

9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole [duty] of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, 4-7



6 and 8, Nation and Work
 The ruler or the boss, comes in for similar guidelines, so they are not separated here

3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Pr 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

The reason for recommending these passages may not appear apparent at first sight. 

Take China: why has the Communist government been so slow to recognise the huge value of the Christian philosophy?  At last we see its government taking on board the Holy Trinity Brompton (London) Marriage Course.

At work, I was given wrong advice by example, and landed in a major setback.  Taking the teaching of this passage, eventually there came high commendation from the same boss, and two fiscal promotions.

10:8
11:11, 14
12:5-7, 13, 20-22, 24-25;
13:13;  15:22;  14:14;
16:6, 8, 10, 12-15
17:26
19:6, 12;
20:2, 8, 18, 26,28
21:1, 5-8, 10, 21, 21, 28-31
22:3, 8, 11, 16, 29
23:1-5;  24:5-10, 15-16
25:2-7, 15;  27:12
12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Linked with:
29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
[Frequently, I have looked for the Holy Spirit’s help, when facing possible danger, and one of these Scriptures was placed in my mind.]

25: continued, 16, 23-24
28:2-5, 12, 15-16, 20, 27-28
29:4, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21-23, 25-27
30:10, 21-23,  29-31
31:3-5, 8-9
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, 22
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6; 13-16
Ecclesiastes 5: 9, 18-20
Ecclesiastes 7:19
Ecclesiastes 8:2-5
Ecclesiastes 9:10-11; 14-16
Ecclesiastes 10:4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great errors to rest.
[This saved my bacon, when my Boss sacked me: he did not have the authority, and was sacked himself, in ignominy and shame, in a year!]
Ecclesiastes 10: 5-6, 16-17, 20
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.
2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.


Church, 3

Proverbs
1
10:21
11:13, 29 b
23:17; 24:11-12, 25, 27
25:11-12, 25, 27
28:2-3, 23
29:7, 12, 18,
31:8-9

Ecclesiastes 6:11 The more the words,
the less the meaning,
and how does that profit anyone?
Ecclesiastes 8:9-10
Ecclesiastes 10:4 If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
do not leave your post;
calmness can lay great errors to rest.
[This saved my bacon, when my Boss sacked me: he did not have the authority, and was sacked himself, in ignominy and shame, in a year!]
Ecclesiastes 10: 5-6, 16-17, 20
Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.
2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.


Jurisprudence, 7


12:12, 17;  17:23;  18:5,17;  20:30;  21:15;  22:22-23,28
23:10-11;  24:23-25;  25:7 b-8;  28:9, 21;  31:8-9
Ecclesiastes 3:16
Ecclesiastes 5:8
Ecclesiastes 8:11, 14


Family, 9


5:15-23
16:6;  17:21, 25;  19:13;  20:7, 20, 29
21:9, 19;  24:3, 27;  25:17;  26:10, 17
27:8;  30:20
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 a poetic picture of growing old


Wife


12:4;  14:1;  18:22; 19:14
25:24;  27:15-16;  30:19, 23
31:10-31 (end)
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Ecclesiastes 7:26, 28
Ecclesiastes 9:6



Children

A great deal in Proverbs: see above, in the main section
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10





Humility, 10

In a real sense, Proverbs is much occupied with taking advice from others – humility.

1:1-7, 20,22
2:1-11, 20-22
3:1-4, 7, 11-18, 21-30, 34
4. Calls to humility
5. A call to submission to the Wisdom offered
6. The Humble take advice and explicitly to be humble
7. Humble enough to learn
8. Continuing to learn from others
9: 1-6, 8-9, 11-12
10: 8, 17
11. Submission in much of the chapter
12: 15b, 25b-26
13: 1, 10, 13-14, 18, 20
14: 9, 17, 21-22, 31
15: 12, 22, 31-33
16: 18-20
17: 7, 9-10, 14, 27
18: 12b, 15, 20, 24
19: 2, 11, 16, 19, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29
20: 3, 5, 6, 9, 15
21: 3, 11, 24
22: 1, 8-11, 20, 24-25
23: 12
24: 1, 5-6, 10, 26
25: 9-12, 15, 17,
26: 3, 20, 28
27: 2, 5-7, 10, 17
28: 1, 11, 13, 20, 23, 26
29: 1, 7, 23
30: 1-6, 10, 32
31: 1, 8-9

Ecclesiastes 7, listening to advice
Ecclesiastes 8:9
Ecclesiastes 9:17



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