Bible Study 6/12

Proverbs 12:14-28

My favorites from this morning:

v.16 - The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

v.18 - There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

v.23 - A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of a fool proclaims folly.

v.25 - Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Romans 10

Paul begins by saying that though ethnic Israel is zealous for God (as Paul himself was a testament to) their zeal is misplaced, because they have missed that Christ is the end of the law, the beginning of a righteousness based on faith.

In v.6-7, "who will ascend to heaven" I interpret as "Who will pretend to be righteous by keeping the law, and thus call Christ's sacrifice unimportant?" (to bring Christ down). And "who will descend into the abyss" - Who will judge and condemn people by the law so as to make Christ's death on their behalf meaningless? (to bring Christ up from the dead).

V.8-13 are great and clear verses that speak of the way of salvation through faith.

v.14-17 - Because faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ, the gospel, Paul rhetorically shows the need for preachers and messengers to proclaim it to the world.

Next, in v.18, Paul says that they have already heard. Here, I think he once again is referring to ethnic Israel, who has heard the gospel and yet not believed the message.