Some Key Words (6/22/00-6/23/00)

Righteous (dikaios [1342]):

That which is right, conformable to right, pertaining to right, that which is just, which is expected by the ruler, one who acts in accord with justice without failure; observing divine laws, upright, virtuous, keeping God's commands, self-righteous, innocent, guiltless, wholly conformed to God's will, approved by God, passing just judgement on others; equitable in character or act, innocent, holy

Understands (suniemi [4920]):

to bring together, to hear, notice, perceive, recognize, understand, to put it all together and make sense of it, collecting into a whole - as with puzzle pieces, moral reflection, pondering; to put together in the mind, to understand - especially the things pertaining to salvation; to comprehend, to act piously

Seeks after (ekzeteo [1567]):

to seek out, search for, investigate, scrutinize, to beg, crave, to demand, require; to investigate, crave, demand, worship

Turned aside (ekklino [1578]):

to turn aside, deviate from the right way, to turn away from, keep aloof, to shun; to deviate, shun, decline from piety

Deceiving (dolioo [1387]):

to deceive, use deceit; to be guileful

Cursing (ara [685]):

prayer - generally an imprecation of something evil, a curse which the deity is to perform, the evil itself, the realized curse; a prayer or supplication, an imprecation, curse, malediction; prayer, imprecation

Bitterness (pikria [4088]):

bitter gall, extreme wickedness, a bitter root producing bitter fruit, bitter hatred; acridity - as with poison

Destruction (suntrimma [4938]):

what is broken or shattered, a fracture, calamity, ruin; concussion or utter fracture, complete ruin

Misery (talaiporia [5004]):

hardship, trouble, calamity; wretchedness

Peace (eirene [1515]):

peace, rest - as opposed to strife, the absence or end of strife, untroubled, undisturbed well-being; a state of national tranquillity, free from the rage and havoc of war, harmony or concord between individuals, security, safety, prosperity, the way that leads to peace (salvation), the state of a soul assured of salvation; peace, prosperity

Known (ginosko [1097]):

experiential knowledge, to perceive, be acquainted with, understand, be conscious of, discern, distinguish, approve, acknowledge, think, beware, be mindful of; to learn, to come to know, to get knowledge by perception, to feel, to understand, have knowledge of, become acquainted with; to know absolutely

Fear (phobos [5401]):

godly fear, reverence, fearfulness, shrinking for fear; fear, dread, terror, reverence for one's husband; alarm, fright

 

Paraphrase: (6/22/00)

9 Well, then, am I suggesting that we are in some way superior? No, indeed. I've already noted that all are convicted as sinful - both Jew and Greek - 10 even as Scripture says, "No one is righteous, not any one; 11 Nobody understands, nobody seeks after God; 12 Every one of them has wandered from the paths of righteousness, all of them together are useless; Not a single one does good." 13 "Their mouth is like a fresh-dug grave awaiting its occupant, With their tongues they speak only lies," "Their words are as the lethal poison of the asp;" 14 "Their mouth is filled with bitterness and cursing" 15 "They are easily moved to bloodshed, 16 all their ways bring destruction and misery, 17 for they have never known the ways of peace." 18 "They have no reverence for God, they do not see His worth."

Key Verse: (6/22/00)

3:12 - This is God's own summary of the message: We have all become useless in following our own wills, not one of us is able to will ourselves to do good.

People Mentioned: (6/23/04)

N/A

Some Parallel Verses (6/23/00-6/24/00)

3:9

 Ro 3:1 - While not superior, yet the Jew has advantages. Ro 2:1 - Those who pass judgement are guilty, themselves. Ro 1:18 - And, as they suppress the truth, God's wrath is revealed against them. Ro 11:32 - God has shown us all our disobedience - and that we cannot but be disobedient on our own - so that He can show all of us mercy. Gal 3:22 - Scripture shows us all sinful, so that we may be given the gift of the promise of faith in Christ.

3:10

Ps 14:1-3 - All are corrupt, having done vile things rather than good. Not one man can be found who truly seeks after God with understanding. Ps 53:1-3 - This is almost word for word the same thing! All have turned aside from the way of truth to corruption.

3:11
3:12
3:13

Ps 5:9 - Nothing man says is reliable, for they are bent to destruction, with mouths of death, and tongues that flatter rather than speak truth. Ps 140:3 - The tongue is used to wound as the poisonous bite of a snake.

3:14

Ps 10:7 - Mouths are filled with lies, curses, and other oppressive measures, with tongues that speak only to mischief and wickedness.

3:15

Is 59:7-8 - We are quick to find evil to do, thinking only of sinful deeds. Our ways are filled with destruction, for we don't know how to create peace, we don't understand justice. We have left the path of goodness, and lost all peace.

3:16

3:17
3:18

Ps 36:1 - Sin speaks to the heart of the sinner, for he has forgotten all reverence to God his husband.

 

New Thoughts (6/24/00)

In what ways do I fail to do good? Sometimes, it seems that in every thing I do I fail to do good. Even on those occasions when I do right by another, is there not a selfish motive behind it? There is always that thirst for recognition lurking just behind the action. God help me.

In what ways is my tongue working to deceive both myself and others? Many are the ways. Look at the way it has moved to convince me that I am finally seeking God as I should! Will I ever reach that point? It seems questionable. Certainly, I am doing more to understand my God today than in times past, but still it too often fails to change me. I get too satisfied in the knowing to take action on the knowledge. And how often do I use my words to put up a false front? An image of sad bravado? Oh God, will I ever learn to throw out my masks? After all, the only one I have even minimal success in fooling is myself. Help me, Lord, to become as transparent by choice as I generally discover I am by nature. I long for an end to my own hypocrisy.

What fills my mouth? Too much of my past. I remain quick to anger, quick with the barb, quick to tear down that which dares to oppose me. Pride, Father. Pride fills my mouth and threatens to choke me. Indeed, my mouth can be like a grave, can't it? Only, who is it trying to bury, and who will it succeed in burying. I have been so casually ruthless in the past - not even stopping to think about the effect of my words until it was time to regret them. I used to think I led a charmed life, You remember, don't You? But how much of that charm was just a willingness to do another in to save my own skin? Have I truly left that behind? God, I hope so. But I know too well what I'm capable of when I'm left to myself. You said it's what comes out of the mouth that defiles a man. Lord, will I ever be cleansed of what my mouth continues to pour out of me? Please, God, remove that fount from within me. Replace that poisonous cistern with the pure water of Your Spirit. I'm tired of the me I've created. I want the me You had in mind from the start.

In what ways do my feet move me to misery? As I use them to chase after things that really don't matter all that much. Lord, You've helped me in many ways to remain free of the abusive love of money. You've been working to see that I learn and remember what my real priorities should be. Yet I often go back to chasing the wrong things. I feel I am slowly learning to hear Your voice in my decisions, but always I wonder. Is that the way it's supposed to be, God? A preventative measure to keep me from getting too confident? Lord, continue to guide my steps, as indeed You do. But, please, guide my plans as well that Your will might be mine, too.

Do I truly fear God? I wonder. I wonder at times, if I really understand what it is to fear You, what it is to love You. I want so much to be able to say yes to this one. But, if I truly love You, why is it so hard for me to do what You have asked of Your children? If I truly hold You in utmost awe, how is it that I'm so willing to sin against You? How can I take things so lightly? How dare I come before You this morning in worship? God, I will lean completely on Your own mercy, Your own lovingkindness and grace. I know - especially when I allow myself to look at who I still am - that without Your work in my life I'd be done for. I know that all too often I try to move on in my own strength anyway. All too often, I try to worship You from my strength - when all I have to offer is weakness. Lord, I pray that You would allow Your praises to flow from me today, that You would bring me to a place of true worship, of greater understanding of Your holiness. I pray that somehow, You would be able to find me useful today in bringing a deeper love to my brothers.