Page 1128 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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NOVEMBER 2
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Psalm 119:129–136 of good things— that they admonish the
young women to love their husbands, to love
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their children, to be discreet, chaste, home-
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129 Your testimonies are wonderful; makers, good, obedient to their own husbands,
Therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of Your words 6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be
130 that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
gives light; 7
It gives understanding to the simple. sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to
131 I opened my mouth and panted, be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing
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For I longed for Your commandments. integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound
132 speech that cannot be condemned, that one
Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who who is an opponent may be ashamed, having
love Your name. nothing evil to say of you.
133 Direct my steps by Your word, 9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their
And let no iniquity have dominion over own masters, to be well pleasing in all things,
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me. not answering back, not pilfering, but show-
134 ing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the
Redeem me from the oppression of
man, doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
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That I may keep Your precepts. For the grace of God that brings salvation
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Make Your face shine upon Your
135 has appeared to all men, teaching us that,
servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
Rivers of water run down from my
136
eyes, 2:9 bondservants. The term applies generally
Because men do not keep Your law. to all employees, but direct reference is to
Proverbs 28:7–8 slaves—men,women,and children who,in the
Roman Empire and in much of the ancient
Whoever keeps the law is a discerning world, were owned by their masters.They had
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son, few,if any,civil rights and often were accorded
But a companion of gluttons shames little more dignity or care than domestic ani-
his father. mals. The New Testament nowhere condones
One who increases his possessions
8 or condemns the practice of slavery, but it
by usury and extortion everywhere teaches that freedom from the
Gathers it for him who will pity the bondage of sin is infinitely more important
than freedom from any human bondage a per-
poor.
son may have to endure (see Rom. 6:22). obe-
Titus 2:1–15 dient…well pleasing. Paul clearly teaches
that,even in the most servile of circumstances,
But as for you, speak the things which are believers are “to be obedient” and seek to
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2 proper for sound doctrine: that the older please those for whom they work, whether
men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in their “masters”are believers or unbelievers, fair
faith, in love, in patience; the older women or unfair, kind or cruel. How much more obli-
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likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not gated are believers to respect and obey
slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers employers for whom they work voluntarily! As
with wives’ obedience to their husbands (v. 5),
the only exception would involve a believer’s
being required to disobey God’s Word.
2:4 admonish the young women. Their own 2:14 redeem…purify. Another expression (v.
examples of godliness (v.3) give older women 12) summarizes the dual effect of salvation
the right and the credibility to instruct younger (regeneration and sanctification). To “redeem”
women in the church.The obvious implication is to release someone held captive on the pay-
is that older women must exemplify the virtues ment of a ransom.The price was Christ’s blood
(vv. 4,5) that they “admonish.” love their hus- paid to satisfy God’s justice. special people.
bands. Like the other virtues mentioned here, People who are special by virtue of God’s
this one is unconditional. It is based on God’s decree and confirmed by the grace of salvation
will, not on a husband’s worthiness.The Greek which they have embraced (1 Cor. 6:19,20;
word phileo emphasizes affection. 1 Pet. 2:9). zealous. Good works are the prod-
uct, not the means, of salvation (Eph.2:10).
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