All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

July

• Psalms 36 - 150
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Solomon

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" begins the 23rd Psalm -- considered the most well known of all 150 Psalms. The words comfort all who read them. The Shepherd may be clung to in a most personal way; HE is able to be the true standard for all of life. Whether a child, a young man, or an old man, the believer always needs a shepherd to guard, guide, and govern his body and soul for all eternity.

"I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:11) This declaration by Jesus Christ reveals Him to be the shepherd of Psalm 23. King David had written about the LORD Jesus Christ throughout psalms as the Holy Spirit gave him understanding.

As the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to understand scripture, may we have the grace and boldness to declare before men: "The LORD Jesus Christ is my shepherd." Surely these words are a confession of faith! As the LORD Jesus said:

"whoever confesses ME before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32)

So let us encourage ourselves and one another in the LORD our Shepherd believing HE who sits at the right hand of God the Father is professing us before HIM (Hebrews 7:25).

In the postmodern age of chaos and confusion, the book of Proverbs stands as a sure guide and a clear standard of man’s duty before God.

That we ignore the wisdom of the past is the arrogance of the modern. Very early in Proverbs, we learn of the book’s central theme:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7).

Throughout the book, we see the antithesis between the wise man and the foolish man. Rather than simply presenting a list of do’s and don’ts, Proverbs describes the how’s and why’s. It guides us so that we may understand why it is important to obey God’s law.

Proverbs 3:7-8, says "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to you bones." In Proverbs we learn the characteristics AND meaning of wisdom. The difference between the Proverbial wise and foolish man foreshadows Christ’s parable about the man who built his house on the rock and the man who built his house on sand.

If our lives are governed by all Scripture, it does not remove us from storms or difficulties, but it does assure us that He will bring us through as we follow Him. Proverbs 30:5-6 says, "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."

As we read through Proverbs this month, pray that the Lord will grant us wisdom and knowledge in order that we might live a life pleasing to God, the author of all wisdom.

Psalm 119, the longest chapter of the Bible, is an acrostic: 22 stanzas beginning with each of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

The excellence of God’s Word speaks for Itself in these excerpts from Psalm 119:

"Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart" (verse 2).

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (verse 11).

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it in to the end. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it" (verses 34-35).

"Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven" (verse 89).

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (verse 105).

"The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple" (verse 130).

"Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble" (verse 165).

Solomon, the Preacher, closes the Book of Ecclesiastes by giving the reader a summation of the duty of man:

"Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Words of truth will always be acceptable words. God has clearly defined the "Whole Duty of Man" in His Word. The Shepherd if Israel is the Giver of Wisdom, and He spoke through Solomon to say that all things would be vanity and vexation, except that they led to this conclusion; that to "fear God and keep His commandments," is the whole duty of Man. In Ecclesiastes 2:3, Solomon asks the question: "What is the good that the sons of men should do?" We see his answer in the above verses. The way to true happiness is to have the fear of God reigning in our heart, a reverence for His majesty, a deference to His authority, and a dread of His wrath.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, further clarifies the duty of man in Matthew 5:17-48. Jesus makes it clear that He did not come to alter, replace, or nullify the commandments of the Old Testament; rather, He established their true intent and purpose in His teachings and accomplished them in His obedient life. The Law, as well as the Prophets, point toward Christ. As we read the Old Testament truths, may the grace of God through His Holy Spirit enable us to see the work of Christ the Redeemer throughout both the Old and New Testaments of Scripture.

The writings of King Solomon found in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon have as their focus human relationships and its problems and pleasures. Evil companions, wanton women, fools, sluggards, the wise and the diligent are featured in Proverbs. Ecclesiastes probes the nature of all that man does "under the sun"-- is it all worthwhile? Is there purpose to life or is all vanity? Definitely a book to make one ponder! The Song of Solomon, however, has proven to be the most puzzling of the three. The straight-forward sensuality strikes us as a bit too much for Holy Writ. The thoughts and words seem so private that we may feel uncomfortable reading them in the Bible.

Some Bible commentators have felt compelled to allegorize the Song’s descriptions as pointing to God’s love for Israel or Christ’s love for the Church, His Bride. The Scriptures certainly teach the "great mystery" of Christ’s love for His people in Ephesians 5, but the marital love poetically depicted in Solomon’s Song teaches us something more down-to-earth.

Greek philosophy may tell us that the pleasures of the body are inherently evil, but not the Word of God. Within the gracious boundaries of God’s Law, eating, drinking, and physical love are all good gifts from our Heavenly Father to enjoy with thankfulness. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Click the image below and download this daily reading guide to keep track.

Some use Sunday to catch up on Bible reading missed during the week. Others prefer to double up on their reading on Saturday in order to set aside the Sabbath for church and fellowship. Either way, if you consistently read Scripture in the 15 or 20 minute increments shown above for an entire year, you will read all of Scripture in just one year.