Starting at the Beginning (Protestant/Evangelical Caucus/Devotional)

The word philosophy derives from a combination of two Greek words: phileo (“to love”) and sophia (“wisdom”). Literally, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” The ancient Greeks, who are usually credited with developing the science of philosophy, were also concerned with abstract metaphysics and epistemology. However, the question of ethics was of paramount importance to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Socrates sought to reduce virtue or ethics to “right knowledge.” Plato sought the ultimate standard of the good.

The Jewish thinkers of the Old Testament did little in the area of metaphysical speculation. The Scriptures begin with the affirmation of God, known not via intellectual speculation but by His own revelatory self-disclosure.

The overarching concern of Jewish philosophy was indeed a love of wisdom. The wisdom in view, however, was not speculative but practical. Hebrew wisdom was concerned with life, with living a life pleasing to God. The Jewish thinker asked: “What does obedience involve? How is God glorified in my behavior?” Because of this focus, the Old Testament declared that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10).

Reflect on these questions: What does obedience involve? How is God glorified in your behavior?

Psalm 51:6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

Proverbs 8:12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

Friday Hymn Sing

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Irish Hymn
Translator: Mary E. Byrne; Versifier: Eleanor H. Hull

1 Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art;
be Thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.

2 Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
be Thou ever with me, and I with Thee, Lord;
be Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;
be Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3 Be Thou my Breastplate, my Sword for the fight;
be Thou my whole Armor, be Thou my true Might;
be Thou my soul’s Shelter, be Thou my strong Tow’r,
O raise Thou me heav’nward, great Pow’r of my pow’r.

4 Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
be Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
be Thou and Thou only the first in my heart,
O high King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

5 High King of heaven, Thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys, after vict’ry is won;
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be Thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Thanks for posting this beautiful classic. And here are over 100 (i think) classic public-domain (as far as I know) hymns put together for our meetings. I you need the melody, email me if on my ping list and maybe I can sing it to you, by God’s grace. http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/Worship%20hymns%202.pdf

But as said in the preface, sing honestly or as prayer, for to profess what is not your reality is lying. Lord have mercy on me and us. I think the most lying on Sunday morning in one hours per locations is in the church house. By think God for the heart to worship Him and the blessed changes in heart and life we do know, and the mercy and Truths we are not worthy of.

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant.. (Genesis 32:10)

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. (Psalms 40:3)

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. (Acts 16:25-32)

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CAUCUS??!!??