Happy New Year Ladies! May this be the year that we go deeper in God, deeper in His Word, deeper in love with Him! Let's start together on Tuesday, Jan. 4th. I'll be praying for you.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
1 “The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.”
Recently I facilitated a ladies’ Bible study on Proverbs 31. I asked them to use some of their own reference material to research this verse to determine the identity of King Lemuel and his mother. We were rather surprised to find that many references cited Solomon and his mother, Bathsheba as the characters referred to in this verse. We were surprised as to the reason we were surprised! We found preconceived prejudices about Bathsheba existed because of her affair with King David. (You can read about this incident in 2 Samuel 11.) Even though David was the king, and holds the responsibility for this action, some commentaries suggest Bathsheba would have known the king was at home in his palace while all the other men were at war. Her dwelling would have been in very close proximity (some say as close as 25 feet) to his since her husband, Uriah, was one of David’s mighty men.
Whether Bathsheba was an accomplice or a victim, the Holy Spirit has given her an influential platform in which to share her words of wisdom.
Why do you think it is difficult to imagine that God would have chosen Bathsheba to introduce this prominent chapter concerning the ideal virtuous woman?
Do you think there are things in your past that could keep God from using you?
Could God want to use you to encourage others in the very thing that could have destroyed you?
Like King Lemuel’s mother, we all are communicating a message, consciously or subconsciously. What message are those around you hearing?
Record your thoughts.
Please share your insights with all of us:) or you can go to the facebook group, "A Great Company" to see the fb comments. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=233014019961
I've read and re-read today's devotion during the past weeks in preparation to launch this study many times but this morning it contained fresh illumination for me with renewed faith, anticipation and excitement, especially concerning question #2!
ReplyDeleteThere is something very sacred about dedicating a special time and place for conversation with God. He honors that with an awareness of His Presence. I encourage you to take pen and paper in hand and really contemplate and thoughtfully answer the questions. And don't worry about "correct" answers. Honest answers are the key! Honesty sets the stage for real conversational interaction. Illumination will come in the process and His light changes everything.