In James 1:13-17 he reminds us that God is not the tempter. Temptation does not come from God. Though He allows it, He Himself does not entice us to evil, though God may test our faith without a solicitation to evil. “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” James knew that most people have an evil tendency to blame God when they find themselves in trials. Yet by His very nature, God is unable to either be tempted, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
Spurgeon wrote “Satan tempts: God tries. But the same trial may be both a temptation and a trial; and it may be a trial from God’s side, and a temptation from Satan’s side, just as Job suffered from Satan, and it was a temptation; but he also suffered from God through Satan, and so it was a trial to him.”
God doesn’t tempt us. Instead, temptation comes when we are drawn away by our own fleshly desires and enticed – with the world and the devil providing the enticement. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” Poole explains about our being lured and enticed – “It is either a metaphor taken from a fish enticed by a bait, and drawn after it, or rather from a harlot drawing a young man out of the right way, and alluring him with the bait of pleasure to commit folly with her.” Satan certainly tempts us, but the only reason temptation has a hook in us is because of our own fallen nature, which corrupts our God-given desires. We often give Satan too much credit for his tempting powers and fail to recognize that we are drawn away by our own desires. Some people practically beg Satan to tempt them.
When we fail to control our desires, they turn into sin. And the progression goes from sin to death. Scripture is clear that “the wages of sin is death”. “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Clarke explained “James represents men’s lust as a harlot, which entices their understanding and will into its impure embraces, and from that conjunction conceives sin. Sin, being brought forth, immediately acts, and is nourished by frequent repetition, until at length it gains such strength that in its turn it begets death. This is the true genealogy of sin and death.”
We’re living in the middle of a war between good and evil. God provides the good. Satan and his tribe of demons the evil. “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Satan’s great strategy in temptation is to convince us that the pursuit of our evil desires will somehow produce life and goodness for us. If we remember that Satan only comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10), then we can more effectively resist the deceptions of temptation.
“Portions of this blog post have been taken from the Enduring Word commentary, (c) 2023 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com“
In James 1:6-8 we are reminded that God is willing to reveal His wisdom to us, but we need to ask. And not only ask, but to ask in faith. “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” We should not doubt God’s ability or desire to give us His wisdom. Notice that not only must we come in faith, but we must also ask in faith; and this is where the prayers of many people fail. Spurgeon wrote “You know, dear friends, that there is a way of praying in which you ask for nothing, and get it.”
If we doubt and lack faith we should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. This lack of faith and trust in God also shows that we have no foundation, being unstable in all our ways.Clarke wrote “The man who is not thoroughly persuaded that if he ask of God he shall receive, resembles a wave of the sea; he is in a state of continual agitation; driven by the wind, and tossed: now rising by hope, then sinking by despair.” James uses the example of a wave being tossed in the sea. Guzik wrote:
“A wave of the sea is a fitting description of one who is hindered by unbelief and unnecessary doubts.
A wave of the sea is without rest, and so is the doubter.
A wave of the sea is unstable, and so is the doubter.
A wave of the sea is driven by the winds, and so is the doubter.
A wave of the sea is capable of great destruction, and so is the doubter.”
Not only does our request be in faith without doubt, it also must not come from being double minded. To ask God but to ask Him in a doubting way, shows that we are double-minded. If we had no faith, we would never ask at all. If we had no unbelief, we would have no doubting. To be in the middle ground between faith and unbelief is to be double-minded. “For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” According to Hiebert, double-minded is literally two-souled. Clarke wrote “The man of two souls, who has one for the earth, and another for heaven: who wishes to secure both worlds; he will not give up earth, and he is loath to let heaven go.”
Spurgeon explains how we should go to God with our request for wisdom. “Do you believe that God can give you wisdom, and that he will do so if you ask him? Then, go at once to him, and say, ‘Lord, this is what I need.’ Specify your wants, state your exact condition, lay the whole case before God with as much orderliness as if you were telling your story to an intelligent friend who was willing to hear it, and prepared to help you; and then say, ‘Lord, this is specifically what I think I want; and I ask this of thee believing that thou canst give it to me.’” God’s not hiding wisdom from us. We need to ask. We need to ask in faith. We need to not be double minded. He wants to reveal His wisdom to us. We merely need to seek it correctly.
“Portions of this blog post have been taken from the Enduring Word commentary, (c) 2023 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com“
In 1 Timothy 5:23-25 Paul puts on his doctor hat and gives Timothy some medical advice. “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” Water in the ancient world was often impure and Timothy probably had problems from that impurity. Since the fermentation process would eliminate some of the harmful things in the water, it would be better for him to drink a little wine rather than water all the time. Timothy may have been abstaining from alcohol to set a good example, but it was hurting his health so Paul told Timothy that it wasn’t wise to sacrifice his health for the sake of this abstinence – he would do more good for Jesus and His kingdom by taking care of his body in this circumstance.
Timothy had frequent ailments, but Paul here doesn’t attempt to heal him right then and there. Divine healing needs to align with God’s will and Paul doesn’t try and circumvent that. God uses natural remedies and the work of doctors in healing, as well as the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit – they don’t contradict one another. It is about being aligned with God’s will.
Paul ends with the contrast between sin and good works. It is easy to see the struggles and sins some have; but with some others, the sins are hidden. “The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.” Often sin happens in the dark or behind closed doors and we think we can get away with it. But God sees all. We all have areas of our lives God is dealing with; and sometimes the area is something clearly evident to others. But sometimes the sinful area is not evident; some people are regarded as holy just because they are good at hiding their sin.
In contrast, good works come to the surface and are evident. “So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.” Good works are always eventually revealed; but sins are sometimes hidden and will be evident only at the judgment. These words are meant to be a caution to Timothy in his appointing of leaders. Sometimes what one sees on the outside isn’t really an accurate picture, so we need to take it slow, so we can wait on God for discernment. While people might get away with hiding sin for a while, it will eventually rear its ugly head. And while those doing good works probably aren’t grandstanding their efforts, that too will someday be made known for all to see.
“Portions of this blog post have been taken from the Enduring Word commentary, (c) 2023 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com“
In 1 Timothy 5:20-22 Paul continues to teach around the role of elders and leaders in the church. If leaders are in sin, it must be addressed directly – with public rebuke, to promote a fear of sin among the leadership and the entire church. It’s not about making a spectacle, but rather making it clear that continual sin is a major issue and much be addressed with force. “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.” The church can get into major trouble if it looks the other way and does not hold leaders accountable for their actions.
Paul challenges the church to keep God’s directives and for elders to understand the seriousness of their role. We serve an audience of One, an eternal God whom we much please. “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.” Calvin wrote “And indeed the man who is not shaken out of his carelessness and laziness by the thought that the government of the Church is conducted under the eye of God and His angels must be worse than stupid, and have his heart harder than stone.”
The laying on of hands was a way of ordaining elders and leaders in that day. Paul cautioned Timothy to let a man prove himself before he was recognized in ministry. There should not be a rush. It is important to observe behavior and habits over time. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.” The laying on of hands recognizes God’s call on an individual. The call to stay pure connects to an important idea. If Timothy was called to observe and assess the lives of others, it was important that he pay even more attention to his own life.
And the call to stay pure and not share in others sin is important. White wrote “The intention of the warning would be that Timothy would best avoid clerical scandals by being cautious at the outset as to the character of those whom he ordains.” We all have enough sin of our own; we do not need to add to it by partaking in the sins of others. There are many ways we can do this.
We can share in the sins of others by setting a bad example before them.
We can share in the sins of others by approving of them or ignoring them.
We can share in the sins of others by joining a church that spreads dangerous teachings.
“Portions of this blog post have been taken from the Enduring Word commentary, (c) 2023 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com“
In 1 Timothy 5:13-16 Paul continues to give guidance to the church around widows. Paul has warned that many people get into a bad romance or spoil a friendship, because they are desperately needy for relationship. It’s a common occurrence. Beyond that though, he warns against becoming busy bodies that spends their time gossiping and talking about others.“Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” Clarke wrote “It is no sin in any case to marry, bear children, and take care of a family; but it is a sin in every case to be idle persons, gadders about, tattlers, busybodies, sifting out and detailing family secrets”
So his guidance is for young widows to get married and find the companionship and family they so deeply desire. “So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.” Satan preys on our weaknesses and the need we all have for companionship and love can cause us to fall into negative behaviors and sin. Paul isn’t condemning a young widow’s desire for romantic companionship; but he insisted that it be pursued and expressed in the purity that should mark all believers. We must be careful not to let Satan use our natural desires in a negative way.
Paul isn’t hypothesizing here. It has been an issue he is addressing because it has happened. “For some have already strayed after Satan.” The verse doesn’t specify the exact nature of the “straying,” but it’s often interpreted as engaging in behaviors mentioned earlier, like idleness, gossip, or even immorality, potentially giving “occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully” (1 Timothy 5:14). The bottom line is that Satan has a stated goal to kill, steal or destroy. He will use whatever means possible to get between us and God. Paul is reminding us to keep watch and not allow sin to get a foothold in our life.
Paul wraps up his discusson on caring for widows be reinforcing the principle he has focused on three times in this section. “If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.” The first responsibility for support is at home from the family. The local church is not first in line, but has the responsibility to step in when there are those who are destitute without any support system. But he also ties that support to a godly faith on the part of the recipient. In today’s world, we tend to push the need to the church or government which should not be the first response.
“Portions of this blog post have been taken from the Enduring Word commentary, (c) 2023 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com“
The story of Jonah’s life teaches us important lessons in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Jonah was a man who didn’t want to do what God asked him to do. He ran away from God and ended up in a big fish. Inside the fish, Jonah prayed to God, confessed his sin, and asked for help. God listened to Jonah’s prayer of repentance and saved him from the fish.
From Jonah’s life story, we learn that we should listen to God and obey His will. We shouldn’t run away from our responsibilities. Jonah also teaches us about forgiveness. Even when Jonah didn’t want to do what God said, God still forgave him and gave him a second chance. This shows us that God loves us and wants to forgive us when we make mistakes.
The life story of Jonah also teaches us about being kind and loving to others. Jonah didn’t want to help the people of Nineveh because he didn’t like them. But God wanted to show them love and forgiveness. It reminds us that we should treat everyone with kindness, even if they are different from us.
Overall, the story of Jonah teaches us to listen to God, be obedient, ask for forgiveness when we fall short, show kindness to others, and know that God loves us no matter what.
Jonah’s Successes
Jonah’s Failures
Jonah eventually obeyed God’s command and went to Nineveh after being swallowed by a fish and experiencing God’s intervention.
Jonah tried to run away from God and disobeyed His command.
Jonah’s preaching led to the people of Nineveh repenting and turning to God.
Jonah became angry and resentful when God showed mercy to Nineveh.
Jonah prayed to God from the belly of the fish and was saved.
Jonah lacked compassion and empathy towards the people of Nineveh.
Jonah acknowledged God’s power and sovereignty in his prayers.
Jonah wanted God to punish the people of Nineveh, rather than showing them mercy.
Jonah recognized the importance of worshiping God and making vows to Him.
Jonah questioned God’s decisions and felt sorry for himself.
Jonah’s story serves as a lesson for others to learn from his mistakes.
Jonah needed God’s guidance and correction to change his attitude and actions.
This chart highlights the contrasting actions and attitudes of Jonah throughout his story. It shows instances where he succeeded in following God’s will and experiencing positive outcomes, as well as moments where he failed to live up to God’s expectations and faced challenges as a result.
In Jonah 1: 8-11 the questions start coming to understand what Jonah had done to bring this upon them. They peppered him with questions to try and figure out the who and why. “Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” His job as a prophet likely scared the crew even more. Knowing he was a man of God raised the ante on the cause of their dilemma.
Jonah answers their questions. “And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Jonah knew the truth about God, even though his claim to fear the LORD was only partly true because he was running from the LORD. We don’t know for sure but at the moment when Jonah said, “I fear the LORD,” he may have already repented of running away; turning back to God because of the present circumstances. But unfortunately, his rebellion and sin had already set things in motion to bring him back and that repentance didn’t stop the storm.
Even an unbeliever who knows some truth about God can rightly rebuke a Christian who is resisting God. “Why have you done this?” is the most logical question in the world, even for an unbeliever to ask a believer. There was fear among the ranks because of his job as prophet and his fear of the Lord. “Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.” Our poor choices leading to sin don’t just impact us, but those in our patch. This was Jonah’s issue but it was threatening the life of all on that ship. Sin always cuts a bigger swath and does more pain than expected.
Now that they know the root cause of their problem, the crew is out of ideas as to how to address the situation. They have a person on the boat that is running from God and creating their life threatening situation. But what to do? “Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.” The storm was raging more and more, and there was no sign it was calming down at all. They were out of ideas.
In Proverbs 30:12-17 Agur calls out people who think they are clean but are truly very stained. They are blind to their own stain of sin will never be washed from its filthiness. When we ignore or cover our sin, it never gets resolved. “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.” Ross explains “There is a generation, a group of people, who may observe all outer ritual but pay no attention to inner cleansing. Such hypocrisy is harmful in every walk of life.” Often we tend to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and when sin is considered, that is even more true.
There are those who that walk in pride and arrogance and will experience God’s resistance, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. “There are those–how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift! There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.” There are some who are filled with greed and devour everything as if their teeth were swords and their fangs like knives. They devour the poor and, like the leech, can never be satisfied.
Garrett wrote “These cruel oppressors are marked by pitiful cowardice. They vent their wantonness only where there is little or no power of resistance as they devour the poor.” “The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.” Agur explains that there are four things that are never satisfied:
Sheol (the afterlife)
The barren womb
The land needing water
Fire
These all are examples of things that never seem to say, “Enough!”
When we mock our parents we are acting like a fool and disobeying God’s commandment. This upsets the social order and sets the generations in conflict. “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.” Agur used a vivid description to tell of the ruin waiting for the child who mocks and scorns their parents. The poetic image is doubled, sending multiple ravens and young eagles to do the terrible but fitting work. This fool was blind in his mocking and disobedience; this poetic image tells of a fit penalty for someone so morally and spiritually blind.
In Proverbs 28:1-4 Solomon shows the difference between the wicked and righteous. The wicked rightly live in fear. They are under God’s displeasure and because they lack the strength and courage of the Holy Spirit. Trapp wrote “God sends a faintness into the hearts of the wicked, and the sound of a shaken leaf frightens them. In arithmetic, of nothing comes nothing, yet they fear where no fear is.” “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” God’s righteous ones stand even when one comes against them, and with God’s strength they are bold as a lion. Waltke explains “Both psychologies are grounded in objective reality. God guarantees the safety of the righteous and dooms the wicked to punishment and disaster.”
He reminds us that bigger is not always better and as a nation grows, so does the overhead in leaders that creates a large and complex system that can be a curse to the land. Waltke wrote “As a result of the land’s total break with the Lord they need a large bureaucracy to keep an eye on one another and/or none survives…. An Arabic curse says, ‘May God make your sheiks many.’” “When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.” In contrast, great and godly leaders can be a wonderful blessing to a nation. It’s not how many there are – it is the kind of leaders that matters.
You might think that a poor man would have great sympathy for others who are poor, but this is not always the case. There are the poor who oppress the poor. Clarke reminds us “Our Lord illustrates this proverb most beautifully, by the parable of the two debtors, Matthew 18:23, etc.… Here the poor oppressed the poor; and what was the consequence? The oppressing poor was delivered to the tormentors; and the forgiven debt charged to his amount, because he showed no mercy. The comparatively poor are often shockingly uncharitable and unfeeling towards the real poor.” “A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.” Too much rain is destructive and leaves people hungry and without hope as does anyone who oppresses the poor.
When the fundamental principles of justice are forsaken, it doesn’t benefit the righteous. It gives benefit and praise to the wicked. Bishop Hall said “It is fearful to sin; more fearful to delight in sin; yet more to defend it.” “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.” Those who do honor and promote the rule of law will resist and oppose the wicked. One reason God gives law and government to men is to restrain the wicked, to contend or strive with them. Waltke reminds us that this proverb presents only two paths: forsake the law or keep the law. “The line dividing humanity is not racial, political or even religious, but spiritual. That line runs through every human heart.”
In Proverbs 22:5-8 Solomon tells us that living a crooked life will yield issues – thorns and snares. Choosing that path will be difficult. Waltke wrote “The metaphor refers to temptations such as easy sex and easy money that tempt youth. The morally degenerate tread a dangerous road infested with them.” The principle here is that if you want fewer temptations, change the road you’re on. “Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.” We have a choice of which road we will travel. We can avoid problems with that choice. Ross wrote “Those who have the discipline of wisdom avoid life’s dangers.”
He shares one of the biggest promises for parents in all of scripture. A child needs training. The job of the parent is not to simply let him grow up in any particular way, but to train him, and that in the way he should go. Morgan explains “What is the way in which a child should go? A more literal rendering of the Hebrew at once answers this question. Such translation would be: ‘Train up a child according to his way.’In every child there are special and peculiar powers. The true business of training a child therefore, is that of discovering what those powers are, and developing them…. Herein is revealed the need for individual work. No two children are alike.” “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” When a child is trained in the proper way, though they may depart for a season (and a long season), in principle they will return and not depart from it.
While we have learned that the rich and the poor come from the same Creator, three are ways they are different which Solomon calls out here. While it is not fair, rich people have more authority and voice in the community than the poor do. Bridges cautions “Too often the rich rule over the poor in a harsh way. Indeed, without submitting to God’s rule over us, we can hardly be trusted with power over our fellow men.” “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Those who borrow money are in a lower place than those who lend money. The obvious application of this proverb is that the wise man or woman will do all he or she can to walk in the path of godly prosperity; to be a lender and not a borrower.
Sin comes with a cost. Our sin is like seeds that are sown and over time will reap a harvest. Clarke explains “The crop must be according to the seed. If a man sow thistle seed, is it likely he shall reap wheat? If he sow to the flesh, shall he not of the flesh reap destruction?” “Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.” But sin always yields sorrow and calamity. It may not be apparent at the time, but that harvest will come. When a sinner reaps the harvest of his sin, he will have no defense against it.
I write a daily morning email which contains more information than is posted on this blog. If you are interested, drop me an email at arlinsorensen@hotmail.com and you can become part of the morning group. We cover a chapter or passage of scripture each day. I also use work from Biblical scholars to shape my writing, particularly David Guzik, Charles Spurgeon and others. Please join us on the journey.
“Portions of this blog post have been taken from the Enduring Word commentary, (c) 2023 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com“
Arlin Sorensen's Thoughts on Scripture 