Bible Discussion Thread

Psalm 1:3

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What it means to live by fruit of our lips? "From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence."(Pr.13:2-ESV) Mouth that utters knowledge is compared to the plants and how fruit develops from flowers. Think of Maigret's painting 'The Son of Man'. Where the lips ought to be we see the apple under his bowler hat. The Spirit similarly transfers the fruit of the word hidden in his soul into works that can be understood. "A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;andwith the increase of his lips shall he be filled."(Pr.18:20)

In Deuteronomy we see the word connecting heart of man where belly represents the inner man and mouth, the world of the flesh and blood. Moses admonishes the nation, "Therefore choose life." (De.30:14,19) How did the nation of Israel choose? "The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." (Matt.27:21-ESV)

Lips from the above can be lifted to represent the state and the Word of God, as Moses and Aaron represented the civil and ecclesiastical governments respectively. The children of darkness chose Barabbas because he was one of them. Such choices mark the history of the church. Pagan state versus the early church was one such moment and who won, not the word of God. Advent of Luther and Calvin did not help the case either. The miry clay of church still struggles to come to compromise with the nationalism representing the state. Jesus rejected the idea of setting a civil government before he had perfected the will of his Father. ( John 18:36). Yet temporal power is so attractive to those who serve both God and man; and they need not expect any reward beyond the mess they helped create. Look about us to see what I mean.