Share a Lesser-Known Biblical Gem!

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

Do you have a favorite Bible character, passage, or story that you really like, but it isn't one of the more well-known portions of the Bible?

During my study this morning, I found a few passages that made me smile (why don't we hear about these more often on Sunday mornings???!!):

* Proverbs 11:22 - "A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout." (I was thinking of how this passage applies to anyone who relies on a talent or characteristic more than they rely on God.)

* Proverbs 12:23 - "A shrewd person conceals knowledge, but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity." (I won't even comment on this one, or I'd be exposing my own foolishness .)

* Proverbs 12:11 - "The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense." (Nigerian inheritance scams, anyone?)


I have also always loved the prophet Jeremiah. I know most sermons laud the faith of more popular characters like David and Abraham (and of course, they WERE incredible examples of faith), but good old Jeremiah had the nerve to tell God how unhappy he was with his calling, even telling God, "You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived (because ever since I spoke the words you gave me to speak, I have become a laughingstock and a mockery.") Jeremiah 20:7

I've read accounts that say psychologists who have read Jeremiah would have diagnosed him with clinical depression.

In today's world, you can't get more real than that.

Who or what are some of your lesser-known "Biblical gems"?

I'm looking forward to your answers--you might help the rest of us discover something in the Bible (or a new perspective) that we didn't even know was there!

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Gen 16
[SUP]13 [/SUP]She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[SUP][c][/SUP] the One who sees me.” [SUP]14 [/SUP]That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi[SUP][d][/SUP]; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

 

[seoulsearch]

Gen 16
[SUP]13 [/SUP]She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[SUP][c][/SUP] the One who sees me.” [SUP]14 [/SUP]That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi[SUP][d][/SUP]; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

This is awesome, wwjd. I LOVE the story of Hagar.

Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac always get all the attention but I always wondered about Hagar. Here she was, presumably forced or sold into slavery, and then made to carry her master's child (the Bible does not say if she was a willing participant or not, just that she was simply handed over to Abraham, via Sarah, for the purpose of conceiving a child.)

I always felt a terrible sorrow for Hagar as she carried Ishmael into the desert and set him down to die, walking "a bow's shot away because she said to herself, 'I cannot watch the boy die.'" Here she was, carrying the burden of the responsibility of a child's life that had been (I assume) placed upon her without choice.

The cynical part of me also found it terribly shoddy that Abraham, rich as he was, failed to provide both Hagar and Ishmael with enough basic items to survive even a journey through the desert until they found another town.

But the best part of this story is that God heard and saw Hagar, even when no one else did (including the father of her child. Never mind that he was Abraham, patriarch of our faith!)

 

[cmarieh]

Personally, I love the story of Ruth mainly because I can relate to it more so than any other story in the bible. The part that I just loved about Ruth is that she had this selfless love about her, one that I wish I had. She honored and respected Naomi and would do anything for her. Because she was obedient God blessed her with Boaz.

In our society we see so many that think of how this one thing can benefit "me" instead of how it would help someone else. This story is a perfect example of how God loves to bless us as long as we are obedient to his instruction.

 

[YankeesGurl]

Ruth is my favorite story in the bible as well. For soooo many reasons. I gave my daughter the middle name Ruth. So many great things to learn from that small little book.

Personally, I love the story of Ruth mainly because I can relate to it more so than any other story in the bible. The part that I just loved about Ruth is that she had this selfless love about her, one that I wish I had. She honored and respected Naomi and would do anything for her. Because she was obedient God blessed her with Boaz.

In our society we see so many that think of how this one thing can benefit "me" instead of how it would help someone else. This story is a perfect example of how God loves to bless us as long as we are obedient to his instruction.

 

[Dino246]

Psalm 1 was the first chapter I memorized...

v3: "He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which bears its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does, prospers."

I cling to that 'in season' part. I'm not always in a fruit-bearing season. That is so freeing to me! As a somewhat-avid gardener, I understand this verse on several levels. There is an enormous investment of time and energy required for fruit production, and it is naive to presume that the absence of fruit at any particular time is indicative of wasted investment. For example, my cherry tree only has edible fruit on it for about two weeks a year. I see this verse as an encouragement to continue even through the apparently-barren periods.

 

[1still_waters]

Highly known but overlooked by me for years.
First prophecy about the Messiah, tells us he'll be bruised.
Amazing window into his sufferings even that early.

Gen 3
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”

 

[skylove7]

My little gem of the bible....
Will always be Luke 1:41...
It's just so cute! lol

 

[Lynx]

One of my favorites is Ezekiel chapter 33.

[SUP]14 [/SUP]Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
[SUP]15 [/SUP]If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

[SUP]16 [/SUP]None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

 

[melita916]

I like Jael.

 

[Tintin]

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, and He (the LORD) buried him (Moses) in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.

Deuteronomy 34:5-6

This little passage fascinates me. God personally buried Moses! Not only did they share a great relationship, God probably did it that way because the Israelites would've started to worship their dead leader as a god (as most ancient cultures tended to do with their ancestors/innovators/leaders).

 

[seoulsearch]

I like Jael.

NEVER go camping with this woman.

Meaning Jael.

I'm assuming it's safe to take MELITA on a camping trip...

(For those who don't know, Jael drove a tent stake through the forehead of Sisera, an enemy of Israel.)

 

[Tintin]

NEVER go camping with this woman.

Meaning Jael.

I'm assuming it's safe to take MELITA on a camping trip...

(For those who don't know, Jael drove a tent stake through the forehead of Sisera, an enemy of Israel.)

Talk about 'intense'!

 

[tourist]

I like Jael.

Wasn't he the father of Superman?

 

[Tintin]

Wasn't he the father of Superman?

Haha! Yes. The creators of Superman were two Jewish guys inspired by the stories of Samson and of Jesus Christ. Of course, they're more than stories. They're true historical personages.

 

[phil36]

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. (Hebrew 11:1-2).

Rahab, may not be a lesser known gem, but a very important one. Hebrews tells us of her faith - "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient , v31.

It seems at first that Rahab is only trying to save her own skin (and her family). And many a time I have skimmed past this story and not really taken into account the signficance of Rahabs act of faith. A prostitute, and one who was of the disobedient peoples... a woman who was more than likely an outcast and deemed as a bit of a 'low life' by the rest of society and especially by the Hebrew people, was in fact used by God to save the two spies and therefore was part of His redemptive plan for His people. For she knew it was the 'LORDs' doing (cf.Josh 2:9). When the people of Jericho heard that the Israelites where camped at Shittim, they feared the Israelites and their hearts melted, obviously not in a good sense like Rahab (Josh 2:11). For her act of faith was counted as righteous (James 2:25). In the end the men spared as per the oath they took (Josh 6:25).

Did Rahab ever think that she would live with the Israelites or serve their God? Its a very good lesson for us all. Not only was she probably considered a low class of person, mainly because she was female, she was also a prostitute. Outcasts in most cultures even our own, and yet God took her and she Glorified His name, by her faith.

If that wasn't even enough to pause for thought.. Rahab had a bigger role to play in God's big picture.. Where would Boaz be King davids great grandad, were would King David be? ultimatley, this woman who was an out cast was not only counted righteous, she was one of the women in Jesus' family line (cf.Matt 1:5).

This is why I love this story. Someone who is seemingly insignificant, actually has a starring role in God's redemptive plan. No matter how small we think our role is in God's big picture don't be discouraged..you may actually be a star player like Rahab.

Sorry if I rambled on a bit.

 

[Ugly]

ecc118

 

[mochi]

Its hard to pick one >_< but here it is:

Daniel 3

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter (they're not debate)

17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (they know and trust/have faith that God can set them free)

18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” (they still loves God no matter what)

but then.. i think they're famous too in the bible.. hehehe

 

[AmberJeanetteGardner]

Luke 1:35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

The Holy Spirit and the Power of the Most High came together, and made a baby

 

[keep_on_smiling]

One of my favorite people in the bible is Joseph, though well known, it still amazes me that even after all he went through because of his brothers, he still gladly accepted them in the end.

Salmon, the man who married Rahab and then Boaz the man who married Ruth, have always been men in the bible who bless and amaze me. They are men that truly loved the Lord and followed His direction, so much so that they married women that may not have been acceptable in the eyes of those around them. Great testaments to not folding under the pressures/expectations of the world.