David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2, Psalm 140.

2 Chronicles 2:1-12

Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the Lord, and a royal palace for himself. ²  And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them. ³ And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: “As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. ⁴ Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the Lord my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the Lord our God, as ordained forever for Israel. ⁵ The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. ⁶ But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? ⁷ So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. ⁸ Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, ⁹ to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful. ¹⁰ I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.”

¹¹ Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, “Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you king over them.” ¹² Hiram also said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal palace for himself.

It was 2010 and deep foundations were being dug. Steel reinforcing rods were bent and placed followed by countless cubic yards of concrete poured into those foundations. That was before even the first concrete slab was poured for the floors of the building. Then came the workers – brick and stone layers, carpenters, masonry workers, cabinetry workers, flooring, lighting, AV, and HVAC workers. The work went on for several months. And the result was beautiful and inspiring. I considered it to be a privilege to be part of that building project of the worship center at St. John.

But that project pales in comparison to the temple built by Solomon and his more than 150,000 conscripted workers. Look again at the number of workers! 153,600! Whether that number of workers strikes us as surprisingly large or not, Solomon’s Temple was no small undertaking. Tens of thousands quarried stone, hauled timber, transported materials, and supervised the work – all done by hand, without cranes, bulldozers, power tools, or modern engineering.

When finished, Solomon’s Temple must have seemed breathtaking to those who first saw it. Built entirely by hand, adorned with cedar, carved wood, and gold, and surrounded by courts, priests, sacrifices, music, and the smoke of worship, it stood as a visible reminder that the LORD dwelt among his people. Yet even Solomon knew that no building, however magnificent, could contain the God of heaven and earth (1 Kings 8:27). The Temple’s beauty pointed beyond itself to something greater God was yet to build.

Yes, as impressive as that project was, Scripture points us to something even greater. God is still building a temple – not of cedar and stone, but of people. Through the gospel, he is shaping and fitting living stones together into a spiritual house for his praise (1 Peter 2:5). And unlike Solomon, he does not conscript laborers to build it; by grace, he calls us into the joy of being part of what he himself is building in Christ.

Buildings may be impressive. But even more impressive are the stories of how God shapes people into new creations – giving life, joy, healing, and hope through his grace in Christ. By that same grace, he even allows us to take part in the shaping, as he builds us together into a spiritual house for his glory and for the praise of his glorious grace.

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Proverbs 22-24, Psalm 139.

Proverbs 23:1-7

When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    observe carefully what is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to appetite.
³ Do not desire his delicacies,
    for they are deceptive food.
⁴ Do not toil to acquire wealth;
    be discerning enough to desist.
⁵ When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
    for suddenly it sprouts wings,
    flying like an eagle toward heaven.
⁶ Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy;
    do not desire his delicacies,
⁷ for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.
    “Eat and drink!” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.

Imagine interviewing for a very high position in your company. The final step involves dinner with the president of the company and his wife. Several others are there. The wine is flowing. The food is exquisite. The atmosphere feels intoxicating in more ways than one. Another glass of wine? Dessert? A pour of expensive cognac?

Do you understand what it means to “put a knife to your throat” (Proverbs 23:2)?

Proverbs uses startling language to make an important point: exercise self-control. Know where the danger lies. Slow down. Enjoy the evening, but do not let appetite – for food, drink, approval, or advancement – master you. Maybe you stop at one glass of wine – perhaps even less. Maybe you leave a bit of that Wagyu beef on your plate. You quietly keep your wits about you while others indulge.

Will you get the job? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Maybe the chairman of the board is impressed by your poise, discretion, and restraint. Maybe not. Perhaps they expect you to drink with the best of them and navigate the world of power and privilege with ease.

But Proverbs invites us to ask a deeper question: Whose approval matters most? It is easy to hunger not only for fine food and drink, but also for recognition, advancement, and the notice of powerful people. Yet there is One whose notice matters more than any CEO or chairman of the board.

You may never impress the chairman. But you may learn to live in a way that seeks what pleases the King of the Universe.

That does not mean earning his approval. We cannot gain God’s favor through self-control, wisdom, or integrity. Yet by his grace, fully shown in Jesus, we already stand in his favor through faith. Freed from chasing the approval of others, we learn to seek what pleases him. As Paul says, “we make it our aim to please him” (2 Corinthians 5:9).

Jesus said that “wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matthew 11:19). That seems an appropriate commentary on this passage and, in many ways, the whole book of Proverbs. Wisdom is not merely learning restraint or landing the high-powered job. It is learning where true wisdom is found: to fear, love, and trust in the LORD above all things.

That kind of wisdom will stand you in good stead whether you become CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company, a Sunday School teacher, or a Pioneer Boys leader. And whether the world notices or not, you live before the eyes of the One who, by grace in Christ, has already made you his own.

Click here, or on the image below for the Bible Project Video on Proverbs

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Proverbs 13-15, Psalm 136.

Proverbs 13:11-12

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 14:4, 12, 29

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
¹² There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.
²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Every word of the Bible is there for a purpose and inspired by God for our understanding, edification, warning, and faith. And although every word is God’s word, some passages speak to us more than others. Some of the passages are more exciting and easily appreciated than others.

These plumbs from today’s readings are some of my favorites. Reflect with me how they are not only true, but edifying for us who follow Jesus.

Proverbs 13:11-12

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
    but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

I like to say that we overestimate what we can accomplish in the short term, but way underestimate what God can do in the long term. Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God as leaven hidden in a lump of dough. It eventually leavens the whole lump. Small beginnings don’t require small endings. Get rich quick schemes are just that – schemes. They are designed to entice us away from the way of God and his long-term provision and ultimate plan of redemption.

God’s plans are good, and we are better off holding to the hope of life he has promised, and remember that God’s promises are true. We need not despair when our hopes are not immediately fulfilled. God has a way of building long-term blessings into long-term faith.

Proverbs 14:4, 12, 29

⁴ Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
    but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
¹² There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.
²⁹ Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

I love these passages because they are a reminder that short-sightedness of any kind is not of God. Failure to plan for the future in favor of enjoying a moment of happiness is not a formula for success.

On the other hand, the cross of Jesus was not short-sighted nor a quick fix. Man would never have devised such a means of salvation. But man’s ways lead to death. God’s way of salvation was rejected by many, but Jesus’ death is the pathway to life.

I recall a hot-headed man in a congregation I served years ago. He would be involved one day and angry and volatile the next. He would frighten people with his explosive temper. I wish I had shared with him what I learned about my own anger and the truth here that is also reflected in James 1:20, “The anger of man does not accomplish the righteous things that God desires.” Just because I’m angry doesn’t mean I’m right or that my anger will bring about the good things of God, like, love, grace, faith, and repentance.

These verses are but a few of my keepers in the book of Proverbs. I’m sure you may have your own. All of these words point us to Jesus, the embodiment of wisdom and the source of eternal life and salvation.

Click here, or on the image below for the Bible Project Video on Proverbs

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Proverbs 10-12, Psalm 135.

Proverbs 10:1-12

The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
² Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
³ The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴ A slack hand causes poverty,
    but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵ He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
    but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
⁶ Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
⁷ The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.
⁸ The wise of heart will receive commandments,
    but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
⁹ Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
¹⁰ Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
¹¹ The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
¹² Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers all offenses.

The movie A Great Awakening is about the relationship between Ben Franklin and the evangelist George Whitefield during the First Great Awakening. An early scene from the movie has Ben with the others in the Continental Congress. One delegate is speaking on and on while Ben sits quietly, seemingly bored by the many words of his political opponent. Suddenly the verbose speaker stops and takes verbal a jab at Franklin. “What about Mr. Franklin? He seems not to have much to say. What do you have to say, Mr. Franklin? What do you think?” Ben answers, “I think that he who speaks much thinks he has much to say.”

That’s a pithy comment, and what’s more it’s a reflection of Proverbs 10:8, “The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” And Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise.”

Solomon is writing to his son about the way to make good decisions, avoid failures of all types, and stay on the straight and narrow. These are words of wisdom founded upon the fear of the LORD, and the ways of God’s commandments.

I was struck by the two times in these verses from chapter 10 Solomon mentions babbling fools. He is reminding us that the wise will listen carefully and speak prudently. We need not go on and on to make our point – whether in argument or in an attempt to persuade. Words of truth bury themselves deep in the hearts of the wise. God warns us against getting taken in by smooth talking babblers, and teaches us to speak words that refresh the spirits of all who hear.

Jesus speaks differently than the babblers of this world. His words are not manipulative, deceptive, or empty. His words are spirit and life. He speaks truth that take root deep in the hearts of the wise. He warns, comforts, forgives, and restores. And when he speaks, sinners hear not condemnation, but grace. His word has rung true through the ages and will echo through the eons of eternity.

Click here, or on the image below for the Bible Project Video on Proverbs

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Proverbs 7-9, Psalm 134.

Proverbs 8:1-11

Does not wisdom call?
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
² On the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
³ beside the gates in front of the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
⁴ “To you, O men, I call,
    and my cry is to the children of man.
⁵ O simple ones, learn prudence;
    O fools, learn sense.
⁶ Hear, for I will speak noble things,
    and from my lips will come what is right,
⁷ for my mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
⁹ They are all straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰ Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Proverbs 9:13-18

The woman Folly is loud;
    she is seductive and knows nothing.
¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house;
    she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
¹⁵ calling to those who pass by,
    who are going straight on their way,
¹⁶ “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    And to him who lacks sense she says,
¹⁷ “Stolen water is sweet,
    and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

There is no doubt that temptation presents itself attractively. Whether it is the intoxicating scents of perfume and silk sheets or the glitter and glamour of the seductress, temptation is designed to entice, lure, and attract. I like to say that the serpent did not offer Eve some half-rotten, maggot-infested piece of fruit lying on the garden floor. The fruit was “good for food,” “a delight to the eyes,” and “desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6). Bait works because it resembles the real thing — or something even better than the real thing. But bait hides a barbed hook.

That is the warning Solomon gives his son — and us — throughout these chapters of Proverbs. Two voices are calling for our attention. One whispers alluring promises. The other speaks truth and wisdom. One says, “Look at me! Here is pleasure, excitement, fulfillment.” The other says, “Fear the LORD. Walk in truth. There is no life better than life with God.”

The seductress offers promises that vanish with the morning light. Solomon warns us about the illusion of quick satisfaction: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (Proverbs 9:17). But then comes the devastating reality: “He does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol” (v. 18). Temptation overpromises and underdelivers every time.

But Proverbs is about more than avoiding bad decisions or learning practical life skills. Chapter 8 lifts our eyes higher. Wisdom is personified as one who was with God “at the beginning of his work” and “before the beginning of the earth” (Proverbs 8:22–23). Here is more than poetic imagery. Wisdom points us toward the eternal Word through whom all things were made.

Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God in the flesh. He does not merely give wise advice — he is Wisdom incarnate. His words are truth. His way leads to life. And unlike the empty promises of temptation, his promises endure. He forgives our foolish wandering, rescues us from the hooks we have swallowed, and leads us in paths of righteousness.

All who listen to him will find not only wisdom for this life, but everlasting life, joy, and peace in the presence of God.

Click here, or on the image below for the Bible Project Video on Proverbs

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Proverbs 4-6, Psalm 133.

Proverbs 4:20-27

My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
²² For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their flesh.
²³ Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
²⁴ Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
²⁵ Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
²⁷ Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

“I tell my boys,” Calvin would say, “you don’t know nothin’ about being 50. But I’ve been your age.” It was his homespun way of reminding his sons that experience matters. He knew more about the ways of the world than they did, and they would be wise to listen.

There is some truth in that. Those who have lived longer often possess valuable wisdom born from both successes and failures. People who have learned from their own mistakes — and the mistakes of others — can help spare the next generation from unnecessary heartache.

But age alone is no guarantee of wisdom. A seasoned embezzler may have much to teach about dishonest gain, but that does not make his counsel life-giving. We do not simply need advice; we need good advice. We need wisdom shaped by truth, honor, and the fear of the LORD.

That is what stands out in these chapters of Proverbs. Again and again, the father urges his son to listen: hear my words, keep my commandments, treasure up wisdom, do not forsake instruction. The repetition is striking. Why? Because there are real dangers waiting for the unsuspecting, and wisdom often enters one warning at a time.

Soon enough Solomon will speak very directly about one of those dangers — sexual temptation. It is alluring, intoxicating, and persuasive. But hormones do not pave the path to life, and desire alone is not a trustworthy guide.

Yet this wisdom is not merely for sons. “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 6:20). These words are for daughters as well, for anyone willing to listen.

And still, even the best earthly wisdom has its limits. Parents fail. Mentors disappoint. We do not always listen as we should. Which is why we need more than wise sayings — we need a Savior. Jesus is not merely a teacher of wisdom; he is the wisdom of God in the flesh. He walks with us through our foolishness, forgives our wandering, and leads us in the way of life. Blessed are those who hear his voice and follow him.

Click here, or on the image below for the Bible Project Video on Proverbs

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are Proverbs 1-3, Psalm 132.

Proverbs 3:3-10

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ So you will find favor and good success
    in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸ It will be healing to your flesh
    and refreshment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

I remember the first time I noticed the promise that follows the familiar words, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Solomon adds, “It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5, 8). What a beautiful image — healed flesh and nourished bones. Once I saw it, I often shared those words when visiting people in the hospital. Who does not long for such healing?

Then there is the promise of provision: “Honor the LORD with your wealth… then your barns will be filled with plenty” (Proverbs 3:9–10). Again, who would not want overflowing grain bins and abundant wine?

Of course, some have turned such promises into a kind of spiritual transaction: trust God enough, believe hard enough, and he will reward you with health and prosperity. But Solomon is not teaching us how to strike a bargain with God.

Look more closely. The chapter begins with steadfast love and faithfulness — qualities that reflect God’s own character. Then comes the call to trust him humbly, not leaning on our own wisdom. Faith is not a way of getting something from God. Faith trusts God because he is good, gracious, faithful, and loving.

Faith does not cause God’s favor to appear, as though he were reluctant to bless us until we believe hard enough. Rather, faith discovers and receives the favor of God that has been there all along in his gracious heart.

And ultimately, God’s greatest blessing is not healthy bones or full barns, good as those gifts may be. His greatest gift is Jesus. In Christ we see the steadfast love and faithfulness of God made flesh. He forgives our sins, sustains us in suffering, and promises a day when every weakness will be healed and every sorrow undone.

So we trust him — not because faith guarantees prosperity, but because the One in whom we trust is trustworthy.

Click here, or on the image below for the Bible Project Video on Proverbs

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 1, Song of Solomon 1-2, Psalm 129.

Song of Solomon 2:10, 16

My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
    and come away,

My beloved is mine, and I am his

For much of church history, the Song of Solomon was understood primarily as an allegory of the love between God and his people — Israel in Jewish interpretation, and Christ and his Church in Christian interpretation. Martin Luther himself did not read the book mainly as a guide to romance or marriage, but more broadly as a picture of God’s ordering and blessing of human life. Only in more recent centuries has the Song come to be read chiefly as a celebration of romantic love between husband and wife. Perhaps both themes belong together. Human love, rightly ordered and faithfully lived, is itself one of God’s good gifts — and in its deepest beauty it reflects the covenant love, delight, and faithfulness God shows toward his people.

I say, why not both? In other words, the love between a husband and wife is a picture of the love of Christ for his bride the Church – the One Holy Christian Apostolic Church. Jesus’ love for the sum total of all believers in heaven and on earth. This is the church we confess in both the Apostle’s and Nicene creeds. We confess it because it is invisible; we cannot look into someone else’s heart to see whether they are true believers or not. That is known only to God. But we believe it exists because Jesus promised it would endure to the end even prevailing over the gates of hell.

It’s nice to know that Jesus knows who are his, and that there are true believers in the world today. And to think that Jesus loves the One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church on earth may bolster our faith. But I want to remind you that God loves the world. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Jesus loves broken people and crippled churches.

The Song of Solomon portrays an idealized version of two lovers. She’s amazingly beautiful. He is the handsomest of all men. It can be properly understood to speak of our Lord Jesus, and his bride the Church. But it can also remind us of how God made us male and female. It can help a husband to look to his wife with delight and love. It can remind us that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her. It can remind us that wives are to respect their husbands as the church respects and honors Christ.

Diane and I have found great insight in the book, Love and War by John and Staci Eldridge. One thing we found to be enlightening is that women wish to be loved and men wish to be respected. Of course we each want both, but the scale is tilted on those directions for most women and men. I wonder if we – the Church – would lay hold of Christ’s love more fully, and show our respect for him by honoring his name and believing his word.

Song of Solomon might be understood both allegorically, or as speaking of the love between a husband and wife. But without a doubt we must love our spouse and rejoice in Jesus’ love for his Church.

Click here, or on the image below for the Bible Project Video on Song of Solomon