Andy Sochor, Author at Plain Bible Teaching

Andy Sochor May 1, 2012

They Risked Their Lives for the King (5/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 11-12.

1 Chronicles 11 tells us of David’s mighty men. Three of these men were remembered for risking their lives to provide aid and comfort to the king.

“Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam, while the army of the Philistines was camping in the valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, while the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

“David had a craving and said, ‘Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!’ So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water from the well of Bethlehem which was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David; nevertheless David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord; and he said, ‘Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.’ Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did” (1 Chronicles 11:15-19).

Their success in this mission was amazing, and their devotion to David was commendable. Yet David refused to drink the water they had brought and even spilled it out on the ground. This was not meant as an insult to these men, but rather it showed David’s concern for the lives of these men and his reverence for God.
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: government, sacrifice

Andy Sochor April 30, 2012

The Eternal God (4/30)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 102-104.

“Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You will endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.

“But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You” (Psalm 102:25-28).

This brief passage reminds us of some important lessons about this world, our God, and our hope.
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: creation, God

Andy Sochor April 29, 2012

"They Forsook Their Cities" (4/29)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Chronicles 7-10.

There is an interesting piece of information that the Scriptures record regarding the events that transpired after the death of Saul.

“Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together. When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them” (1 Chronicles 10:6-7).

Why is it significant that these Israelites “forsook their cities” following the death of Saul? Remember a few points:
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: faith, government, warfare

Andy Sochor April 28, 2012

What a Stupid Man Does Not Understand (4/28)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 81, 88, 92-93.

“How great are Your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man has no knowledge, nor does a stupid man understand this: that when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.

“But You, O Lord, are on high forever. For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord, for, behold, Your enemies will perish; all who do iniquity will be scattered” (Psalm 92:5-9).

The term stupid is not one that is typically used to describe someone in polite conversation. Yet we find the term being used here to describe certain individuals. It is not necessarily meant to be an insult, just an identification of those who are uninformed and lacking sense.
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: God, punishment, understanding

Andy Sochor April 27, 2012

Obedience is Greater than Lineage (4/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Chronicles 6.

“The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses and Miriam.

“And the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar” (1 Chronicles 6:1-3).

Aaron was chosen to be the priest of God for the people of Israel. He, and his sons, were of the tribe of Levi which had been set apart by God to do His work. It was a special privilege to be born into such a group. But while the passage above lists all of Aaron’s sons, the one below singles out one of them – the one who would be his successor as high priest.
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: authority, obedience, worship

Andy Sochor April 26, 2012

"Dark Sayings of Old" (4/26)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 73, 77-78.

“Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

“For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not for get the works of God, but keep His commandments, and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God” (Psalm 78:1-8).

The words of God are to be passed down from one generation to another today, just as they were under the Law of Moses when this was written. Below is a list of some of the lessons that need to be taught.
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Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: faith, obedience, teaching, word of God

Andy Sochor April 25, 2012

Stand Firm in the True Grace of God

Grace is a misunderstood topic among many in the religious world. People believe we are saved by grace alone and that works (especially baptism) are not necessary for salvation. There are also those who believe that grace gives them permission to sin without fear of punishment.

As Peter summarized his first epistle, he said this: “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!” (1 Peter 5:12). What is the true grace of God? Is it the kind of grace that is described by the majority of those in the religious world, or is it something different? A study of Peter’s first epistle – which he said is “the true grace of God” – will help us get a better understanding of grace and what is related to it. Let us notice some of the things that Peter, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), included in this category.
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