Job 21-22 and Acts 10:1-23

Job responds to Zophar. He tells him to pay close attention. When Job is finished speaking, then Zophar can continue to insult him and mock him. I think this is the crux of the entire situation here. The friends think they are helping. Meanwhile, they are just beating Job down. Job is trying to explain where he is coming from, but they do not want to hear anything from his perspective. They want to maintain the idea that they have it all figured out. One thing that we should all be able to admit is that we don’t have it all figured out. When we approach a person that is suffering, we can’t assume we know everything about the situation. These friends are not listening to Job. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason!

When Job finishes, it is Eliphaz’s turn to brow beat Job some more. We can read the mockery in there. “Does God correct you and take you to court because of your piety?” The answer, of course, is no. When we do what God has commanded us to do, He will not punish us for it. Eliphaz is still digging in his heels, trying to get Job to admit whatever sin he committed to bring him to such a state. He then tells Job that he needs to get right with God so that Job can be a blessing to other people again. Can you imagine being in destitution and then have one of your friends tell you that it’s your fault and now others are suffering because of your sin?! While all of these accusations seem crazy when we read it here, the fact is that there are people that will do the same thing as Job’s friends.

In the New Testament reading, a centurion named Cornelius is a good and upright man. He does what is right for the LORD. He has belief in Yahweh, but has not gone through the full conversion process. Cornelius receives a vision. His prayers and acts of charity have gone up to the LORD as an offering. He is directed to send folks to retrieve Peter. Cornelius is obedient.

Meanwhile, Peter receives a vision from The LORD. It is time for Peter to stop looking at other nations as less than the Israelites. Whatever God has made clean cannot be called unclean. Jesus has made a way for every person, Jewish or not, to be reconciled with the Father.

Job 23-25 and Acts 10: 24-48

Job boldly states what he would do if he was to receive an audience with The LORD. He says he would plead his case before Him. Job knows that God will pay attention to him because he is an upright man. He speaks of how God knows his every step even though he does not see all of the work that The LORD is doing to the east, west, north, and south.

Still, though, he has questions. He does not understand why the wicked have such an easy time. There are people that are taking advantage of the poor, the widow, the orphan. Those folks living in their opulent lifestyles are not using their wealth the help out those in need. Instead, they are taking from those that have nothing to add to their coffers. Yet, these wicked people continue to walk about the earth unscathed.

Bildad comes in with a reminder that everyone born is born in sin. No one is pure. Bildad is trying to remind Job that even though he is upright, he is still not perfect.

In the New Testament reading, Peter goes to Cornelius. Meanwhile, Cornelius gathers his family to hear what Peter has to say. After Cornelius explains what God told him to do, Peter understands that God does not play favorites. His plan was not just to save the Israelites and other Jews from their sin and despair, His plan is to save ALL peoples. God did not just send Christ for one people group, He sent Him for all people groups.

Peter begins teaching them about Jesus. He explains Christ’s resurrection and the fact that He ate and drank with the disciples after the return from the grave. All of the prophets testify to Christ and His great work on the cross. At this, the people come to belief. They receive the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in other languages, declaring the goodness of God. At that, Peter asks how anyone could deny them being baptized. They were clearly believers.

Notice that it is not the baptism that makes them believers. We are not converted by a rote ritual. Baptism is important, it is an outward demonstration to show the world what we believe. However, baptism does not bring life. It is God Almighty that restores us. It’s the relationship, not the ritual, that is most important.

Job 26-28 and Acts 11

Bildad has said nothing helpful, so Job responds with sarcasm. He jokes that Bildad has helped so much in his opening words. However, Job quickly goes in to describing the order and logic of God in His creation. He speaks about the mysteries of how God put it all together. The waters are wrapped in the clouds, but the clouds do not burst under their weight. He hung the earth in nothing. Of course, from our perspective, we know the physics and science to understand why the earth rotates the way it does and the gravity that holds it in place. We understand the science of the water cycle. God is the One that made gravity and the water cycle.

In verse 12-3 of chapter 26, Job makes reference to Rahab. The reference to God destroying Rahab and the fleeing serpent was to counter an ancient belief that gods conquered chaos at the beginning of the world.

Job changes his rhetoric to show that the wicked and unjust will not be satisfied. They will spend their lives trying to build themselves up. One day it will all disappear, though. They go to bed with piles of silver and other treasure, but when they wake up to death, it is all gone. As believers, we can invest in the eternal things. There are three things on earth that are eternal, your soul, my soul, and the Word of God.

In the New Testament reading, Peter returns to Jerusalem. He is questioned by people that were adamant new believers had to be circumcised to become followers of Christ. The debate of circumcision goes on for a while in the history of the early church. It was unclear whether people had to become fully Jewish to become a Christian. Peter outlines the vision he received to the men questioning why he baptized them. After the explanation, the men remained silent for a while. Then rather than come up with a defense as to why Peter is wrong, they give praise. It clicks with them. They too see that God had a made a way for all people to come to Him. Rather than become jealous that it’s not just salvation for the Israelites, they rejoice that it is not just salvation for the Israelites.

We also see how the church responds to the needs of people suffering through a famine. Notice that no one asks them for help. They see the need and they do what they can to meet it. As Christians, we are called to love the unloved, heal the hurt, and help the helpless. That list is not all inclusive, but it’s a good start.

Job 29-30 and Acts 12

Job begins to give his last claim to innocence. He longs for the days gone by where he was respected by everyone in the town. In those days, the business of the cities were conducted at the gates. When Job would come up to the gates, the young men withdrew because of his importance. The older men even stood to their feet when he entered. Job enjoyed a place of prominence before all of this calamity hit.

Even though he was a man of fame and renown, Job now finds that he is mocked by the dirges of society. It’s not just the rich officials and other folks that scorn him. The poor folks also mock him and taunt him. The mallow Job references is also known as saltwort. It came from an edible plant that was used for feeding the poor. To put an even finer point on the destitution his mockers live in, he also explains that they use the broom tree for food. In those days, the broom tree was generally used to make charcoal, not food. Despite their poverty, these folks now look upon Job and they sing songs to mock him.

How would we respond if we were ever put in a position like that? What would happen if we found ourselves in a spot like Job is in now? As believers, just like the rest of the world, we have our ups and downs in life. When the low points hit, what do we do? Do we continue to praise God and walk through the storm with Him?

In the Acts reading, we see that persecution is once again upon the church. James, the son of Zebedee is killed. When Herod sees that this pleased the people, he has Peter arrested with the intent to execute him. However, Peter has friends that pray for his release. An angel of the Lord comes and helps him in the middle of the night. Peter runs to where his friends are at. The woman answering the gate is so thrilled to hear Peter’s voice that she fails to open the gate. Instead, she runs to tell the good news to the others. They tell her she is crazy.

Herod meets an interesting fate. He delivered a public address on an appointed day in royal robes while seated on the throne. The people screamed that they were not hearing the voice of a mere man. Instead, they were hearing the voice of a god. The LORD struck Herod down for his hubris. We are not certain of what exact physical ailment killed Herod. Some contend that it was appendicitis. Others hold that he was poisoned. Some believe that he died from intestinal blockage. Either way, with Herod out of the picture, spreading the message will be easier now.

Job 31-32 and Acts 13:1-23

Job concludes his defense by stating that he has not looked at a young woman. He has not fallen into the sins of the flesh, not has he even thought about it. If he had been seduced by a neighbor’s wife, then his wife could have been taken by another. It would be a disgrace! In those days, even within the pagan cultures, adultery was deemed immoral and in many of the pagan cities it carried the death sentence. Job states that he has not even rejoiced when his enemies were in distress. He really paints the picture that he is upright and honest by stating that he does not even have any impure thoughts.

Elihu, the son Barachel the Buzite responds. Elihu is not happy with Job or Job’s friends. He has kept his mouth shut until now. However, after seeing that Job is righteous Elihu becomes angry with him. He is also angry because Job’s friends have been unable to refute any of Job’s claims of innocence, yet they still condemned the man. Essentially, Elihu has had enough with both parties and decides to enter the debate. He has kept silent until now because he is significantly younger than Job and the other friends. Generally the older folks were considered to have the wisdom. Elihu finds that this is not the case with these men.

In the New Testament reading, we read about the teachers and prophets in Antioch. There was Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manean, and Saul. They spent their days ministering and fasting. Saul and Barnabas are set apart for special work. They will take God’s message to Cyprus! Are we obedient when God gives us an assignment?

Barnabas and Saul first go to Salamis. They begin proclaiming God’s message in the synagogues. When they were done there, they came across a sorcerer accompanying the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. Paulus was an intelligent man and listened to what Barnabas and Saul had to say. The sorcerer tried to steer the proconsul away from the faith. Saul/Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit and rebukes the sorcerer for trying to steer the proconsul away from Christ. Paul says that the man is the son of the devil, full of deceit and all fraud. Paul pronounces judgment on the sorcerer. The sorcerer is blinded by a mist. The proconsul sees all of this and comes to believe in Jesus.

Job 33-34 and Acts 13:24-52

Elihu tells Job to listen to the words he is about to say. He is speaking boldly from the heart. Even though he speaks words of rebuke to Job, Elihu is quick to note that he is made from the very same earth that Job is. They were both formed by God. Elihu shows Job that he is wrong for taking God to court over every little thing. Job expects an answer. Sometimes God is silent when we have questions. Just because He does not answer does not mean that we can hold Him accountable. When He is silent, it is often for our benefit.

Elihu then starts on Job’s friends. He identifies that it is impossible for God to do any wrong and He cannot act unjustly. God watches over man’s ways and observes his steps. There is no darkness that anyone can hide themselves. God sees through the darkness. We cannot hide from Him.

In the New Testament reading, Paul and Barnabas continue preaching Jesus. They refer to John the Baptist preparing the way of the LORD. When John first stepped on the scene, there were some that thought perhaps he was the Messiah. John pointed them to Jesus. Paul recognizes that the Israelites have failed to see that Jesus is The LORD even though the prophecies of the Old Testament point to him.

They explain that Jesus was raised from the dead, never to decay. They then invoke the name of David, the great king of Israel. David was set apart, a man after God’s own heart, but he tasted death and his body decayed. Not so with Jesus. Paul and Barnabas warn the people not to become hard hearted and scoff at the message. Things were going great with their preaching and teaching. However, there is an uprising. Some folks don’t like what these men have to say. They rally a group of people to expel them from the district. Paul and Barnabas do not take this personally. Instead, they shake the dust from their feet and continue on their journey. When Jesus commissioned the 12 to go into the towns and tell of His arrival, He commanded them to shake the dust from their feet when a town would not accept them. When a person rejects our witness about God Almighty, they are not rejecting us, they are rejecting God. When that happens, there is no need to take it personally. Instead, we shake the dust off and keep going!

Job 35-37 and Acts 14

Elihu asks a fair question. Is it right to say that we are righteous before God. We know the answer is no. We are not righteous before him, nor can we make ourselves righteous. He then asks how the sin of people affects God. In reality, the sin does not affect Him. Instead, it affects the sinner and his or her family and friends. Things go from bad to worse based on the sinfulness and then cries are lifted up. However, Elihu asserts that these cries go unanswered because they are empty.

If people are trapped in their sins, God tells them what they have done wrong and how they have acted arrogantly. He opens their hearts to correction and insists that they repent from their sin. That is a struggle for most people. It is hard to give up the sins that we are entrenched in. It is hard to do that complete turnaround from our sin and vice and turn to Christ.

Elihu then speaks about the greatness of God. When He speaks, he does not restrain the lightning. There is thunder and a roaring sound. He does great things that we cannot comprehend. He sends the snow, He sends the rain, He sends the sunshine. It is all directed by Him. How can we understand His ways? God is infinitely wise. We will never be as smart as Him.

In the New Testament reading, Paul and Barnabas go to Iconium. They begin preaching in the synagogue. Their message is received by a few, but they are soon run out of town just like they were at Antioch. Even though there are some that are willing to receive the message, there are still people adamantly opposed to the message of Christ.

When they went to Lystra, Paul healed a man by telling him to stand up. As a result, he and Barnabas are both mistaken for gods. The priest of Zeus even goes so far as to bring them oxen and garlands. When they see this, they mourn and tear their clothes. They are upset that the people do not see that it is God that did the work. The people are trying to give these mortal men the credit for what God had done.

Job 38-39 and Acts 15: 1-21

Now, The LORD answers Job from the whirlwind. I really wish I had been around to see that! God asks who the person is that is obscuring His counsel with ignorant words. Job has been speaking out of hand, not knowing what God has been doing from the beginning. God asks for Job’s qualifications to speak the way that he has been. Since Job is so smart, he should be able to tell how God fixed the earth’s dimensions and what supports its foundations. Certainly, Job should know how the water has been contained on earth and other provisions God has made for the earth since he claims to know so much. Of course, Job is completely ignorant of these things. He has been speaking from his limited knowledge.

Today we have an idea of some of these things God mentions here. The stars, the water cycle, how gravity works. Science can sometimes show us the how, but it does not show us the why. Nor does it show us how God figured it all out to make this great celestial earth that we are spinning around on right now. Though we may have some ideas and some knowledge about these things, we should not let that go to our heads. God is God and we are not.

To further demonstrate His control, God brings up the wild game of the world. The mountain goats give birth with no trouble. The deer go into labor with no human around to help them out. Their offspring are healthy and grow up in an open field. Even the ostrich abandons her eggs in the sand, not realizing that someone or something could crush them, yet the ostrich has not gone extinct. Job has thought a little too much of himself. God is straightening him out.

In the New Testament reading there is an issue with circumcision again. We saw this before in chapter 11. We see it again in chapter 15. There are still those that are hanging salvation on the ritual and not on the relationship. Old habits die hard, unfortunately. Paul and Barnabas engage these folks in serious debate. Even though their arguments are compelling, there are still some believers that were once Pharisees that demand circumcision to keep the law of Moses.

Job 38-39 and Acts 15: 1-21

Now, The LORD answers Job from the whirlwind. I really wish I had been around to see that! God asks who the person is that is obscuring His counsel with ignorant words. Job has been speaking out of hand, not knowing what God has been doing from the beginning. God asks for Job’s qualifications to speak the way that he has been. Since Job is so smart, he should be able to tell how God fixed the earth’s dimensions and what supports its foundations. Certainly Job should know how the water has been contained on earth and other provisions God has made for the earth since he claims to know so much. Of course, Job is completely ignorant of these things. He has been speaking from his limited knowledge.

Today we have an idea of some of these things God mentions here. The stars, the water cycle, how gravity works. Science can sometimes show us the how, but it does not show us the why. Nor does it show us how God figured it all out to make this great celestial earth that we are spinning around on right now. Though we may have some ideas and some knowledge about these things, we should not let that go to our heads. God is God and we are not.

To further demonstrate His control, God brings up the wild game of the world. The mountain goats give birth with no trouble. The deer go into labor with no human around to help them out. Their offspring are healthy and grow up in an open field. Even the ostrich abandons her eggs in the sand, not realizing that someone or something could crush them, yet the ostrich has not gone extinct. Job has thought a little too much of himself. God is straightening him out.

In the New Testament reading there is an issue with circumcision again. We saw this before in chapter 11. We see it again in chapter 15. There are still those that are hanging salvation on the ritual and not on the relationship. Old habits die hard, unfortunately. Paul and Barnabas engage these folks in serious debate. Even though their arguments are compelling, there are still some believers that were once Pharisees that demand circumcision to keep the law of Moses.

Job 40-42 and Acts 15: 22-41

The LORD continues speaking to Job. He asks that Job answer Him like a man. Job has brought these accusations, but Job hasn’t factored in the greatness of God. The LORD uses two beasts as imagery in His final answer to Job. The first animal is Behemoth. We are unsure exactly what this animal was. One explanation is that it is along the lines of the mythological bull of heaven in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Other theories are that the Behemoth is a buffalo, dinosaur, rhinoceros, or a hippopotamus. The only other time behemoth occurs in the Bible is in Psalm 73 when David compares his formerly bitter soul to a beast.

The LORD also brings up Leviathan, a sea beast. He uses imagery that compares Leviathan to a raging dragon coming from the sea. Both Job and Leviathan were created by Him. Again, we do not know exactly what Leviathan refers to here, but the leading theories are that it was either whale, shark, dinosaur, sea monster, or crocodile. God’s challenge to Job indicates that Job would be unable to subdue or hunt Leviathan without help. Job would collapse in fear if he were to come across the beast. Job cannot tame this animal, but The LORD has.

Job relents and repents in ashes and dust. He sees the errors of his ways. God rebukes Eliphaz and his friends for speaking lies about The LORD. He commands that Eliphaz and the other friends bring animals to sacrifice for their indiscretions. Then Job will pray for them. After Job prays, The LORD restores Job. He gains back his former wealth and then some. He also has more sons and daughters. One thing that always sticks with me about Job is that he is NEVER told what had been happening behind the scenes. He is never informed about the test that the adversary had proposed to God.

In the New Testament reading, Judas and Silas are sent to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The elders send a letter to the believers in Antioch. One thing to note about this letter is that it forbids them to eat food offered to idols. This is a point of contention in the early church. Some believers won’t be affected by another eating the meat offered to idols, but some will. As a result, it is decided it is best to abstain so as to not be a stumbling block.

After some time, Paul and Barnabas decide to part ways. The reason given here in the Scripture is that Barnabas wanted to bring along Mark. Mark had abandoned them earlier and Paul did not want to bring him on their journey as a result. Paul will later give further explanation on why they left. Sometimes, it is best to part ways with someone when we cannot get along with them. From what I can see, there are church issues and there are kingdom issues. The church issues are generally in house and won’t affect the kingdom. However, if these issues are not dealt with Biblically, then they can quickly become kingdom issues. Paul is smart in his decision to part ways. The disagreement between the two, if they had stayed together, would possibly drive people away from Christ, not draw them.

Psalms 1-3 and Acts 16:1-15

Most of the Psalms were written by David. They were collected over his lifetime. Some of them are for prayer, others are for worship. Either way, they give us an insight into what was happening in his life when he wrote them. One of my favorite things about the Psalms is that David holds nothing back from The LORD. When he is happy, he communicates it. He also communicates it when he is sad or mad. This shows how relational the One True God is. We too can take all of our joys and our sorrows to Him. He is always standing by to hear from one of His children!

We read about the two ways that people can go. A person that takes pleasure in The LORD’s instructions will be firmly established. One that does not will be tossed about like chaff. The LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the wicked are on the path to destruction.

Psalm three was written during his son’s revolt. Absalom wanted the throne and led an offensive against David. Unfortunately, Absalom would not repent and wound up dying. David takes us through the woes he is feeling. Despite the fact that his enemies are increasing, he knows that God has placed His shield around him.

As life gets crazy and we run into opposition one thing is for sure, God is still there for us and He is still in control.

In the New Testament reading, Timothy is selected as Paul’s protege. They begin evangelizing in Europe. The Holy Spirit prevents them from speaking in Asia. The two spend plenty of time traveling before settling in Philippi. Philippi was a Roman colony within the district of Macedonia. There a woman by the name of Lydia comes to have faith in Christ. The LORD opened her heart for her to understand the Gospel message. Since she is considered a believer, the two men decide to stay at her house. Notice that she did not come to the understanding herself. Instead, she came to know because God had opened up her heart. We will come across people in our lives that we are trying to minister to, but they will not come to belief. Keep praying for them. Perhaps one day, The LORD will open their hearts to understand too!

Psalms 4-6 and Acts 16: 16-40

David gives praise to God for vindicating him against his enemies. He asks how long the exalted men will insult him and they will chase after worthless things. “How long” is an expression that shows concern for the duration of a person’s condition. This indicates they have been insulting David and loving worthless things for a very long time.

He continues to give praise in Psalm five, though he starts asking that The LORD would listen to his cry. God has made David’s life abundant. He has much to be thankful for. David calls the people that take refuge in God to rejoice.

Psalm six indicates that David was suffering from something. We are not told exactly what he is suffering from. However, based on what he writes, he believes that there is some underlying sin that is causing his suffering. In those days, when poor health or other bad things came upon a person, it was believed that it was a result of a sin. Whatever David is going through, it is clearly rough. His pillow is wet with tears. In all of this current suffering, David knows that God will deliver him. He looks to the future when his enemies will be defeated. David takes it all to The LORD. He takes his joys, praises, hurts, and gripes. One thing that Psalms shows us is how relational God is with His people. We can take all of our joys and concerns to Him in prayer and petition.

In the New Testament reading, Paul and Silas continue traveling. They met a girl that had a spirit that allowed her to tell the future. This spirit showed her that Paul and Silas were followers of the One True God. Paul becomes frustrated with her pronouncements and orders the spirit to come out of her. It is interesting to note that the spirit knows of the One True God and is obedient to His servants. When the spirit leaves, the owners of the girl realize that they cannot turn a profit off of her anymore, so they go to the officials and have Paul and Silas put in prison.

While in prison, Paul and Silas sing hymns of praise and pray. An earthquake hits and frees the men. They do not run out of the cell. Instead, they remain. When the guard sees the gate is open and assumes the men fled, he prepares to kill himself, but Paul and Silas let him know they are there before he does. It might seem extreme that the guard would immediately think of suicide to get out of his plight. However, if Paul and Silas had left, the guard would surely have been executed. When the guard sees the men are still there, he comes to belief. He and his household are baptized and become believers in Christ.

Psalms 7-9 and Acts 17: 1-15

Psalm seven is David’s cry as he seeks protection from his enemy, Cush. We do not know exactly who Cush was, but scholars believe he is one of David’s enemies from the tribe of Benjamin. Whoever the enemy was had to have considerable power. David is concerned that if God does not intervene then he will be torn apart by the enemy. In this Psalm David also speaks of the consequences for failing to repent. God will sharpen His sword against them and string His bow.

Psalm eight is also known as a creation hymn. David is writing with this to speak of God’s creative majesty and His wonder. When we pray, do we take into consideration all of the work of God’s hands? He has made some amazing things in the universe. His creation proclaims His majesty!

Psalm nine is a celebration of God’s justice. As humans, we have an idea of justice. We expect bad people to fail and good people to succeed. However, we do not always see the downfall of wicked people. David has seen his enemies retreat from him. He sings praises because God drove them from him. The LORD has executed judgment against David’s enemies. Rather than believe it was his own might that drove them away, David gives credit to The LORD. He is the One that made it happen!

In the New Testament reading, Paul and Silas go through Amphipolis and Apollonia on their way to Thessalonica. Paul went to the synagogue in Thessalonica and began teaching them. Some of the God-fearing Greeks and prominent women came to belief in Jesus through his preaching. However, the Jews become jealous that their mission is successful. So they gather a mob and start a riot. When night falls, Paul and Silas are sent to Berea. The people there were more open to receive the Gospel message. Many prominent Greek women and some of the men come to belief in Christ.

Psalms 10-12 and Acts 17: 16-34

David expresses concern about what seems like God’s distance from him. He asks how long God will hide His face from him. Even when it seems like God is far away, He is still there. Sometimes He is silent as we go through trials and tribulations to see how we will respond. When we are going through these tests, we can fully trust that God is there with us.

In Psalm 11, David talks about taking refuge in The LORD. This is the safest place for him to be. If he climbs up into a tree, his enemies only have to string a bow and shoot at him from there. Truly the only real refuge any of us will find is in Jesus.

Things seem more destitute for David in Psalm 12. He cries that no faithful people remain. All of the loyal folks have disappeared from the whole human race. Despite this cry of seeming injustice, David closes the Psalm with the understanding that The LORD will guard and protect us.

In the New Testament reading, Paul is in Athens. He reasons with the Jews. He argues with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. The philosophers accuse Paul of being a “pseudo intellectual”. Paul uses the shrine to an “unknown God” to make his point. They are worshipping the one God that they do not know. The pantheon of gods that they followed did not create the universe, it was God Almighty that put it all together. Paul reasons with them and explains about Christ’s arrival and His atoning death on the cross. This message is met with ridicule, though some come to believe.

Back then, and even today, it seemed ridiculous to people that God Almighty would send His Son to die on the cross. Some pagans looked upon God as being weak because He had suffered and died. They did not realize His power. Even though we may be ridiculed today because of our faith, let’s keep witnessing by deed and word in all we do. If people are going to make fun of us, it might as well be for our faith in Jesus.

Psalms 13-16 and Acts 18

David again expresses anguish that The LORD does not seem to be present with him. He is concerned that his enemies will claim triumph. Still, he holds out hope for deliverance.

Psalm 14 is an admonishment against sinners. A fool says that God does not exist. They are corrupt and do evil works. God looks down and sees that there is not one on earth that is good.

Psalm 15 gives us insight to what it looks like to live a Godly life. They live honestly and practice righteousness. They do not slander with the tongue. No gossip proceeds from their lips.

David sings of his confidence in The LORD. He has nothing good in his life except for God Almighty. God sustains him and keeps him. His spirit rejoices and his body rests securely. My prayer is that we all have this same confidence in God. I pray that we can rest in Him like David.

In Acts, Paul leaves Athens and goes to Corinth. He starts in the synagogue, but when they will not listen, he shakes his robe, and proclaims their guilt in failing to understand him. Their condemnation is their fault, not his. Many of the Corinthians come to belief and the church in Corinth is founded. Paul remained there for a year and a half. The Jews stirred up an attack against Paul. They took their ire to the proconsul Gallio, asking him to intervene on their behalf. Gallio refuses. Since it deals with their religion, he directs them to sort it out. Paul then heads back to Antioch.

Psalms 17-18 and Acts 19: 1-20

David asks for God’s protection. He prays that vindication will come from God. David speaks of God testing his heart. The LORD tests and tries people. Only He can determine who is righteous and just. David will seek God’s face in righteousness and be satisfied in His presence. Are we satisfied in God’s presence?

Psalm 18 was written when God deliver David from Saul’s hand and his other enemies. He gives praise to God for helping him out and bringing him this far. The LORD is his strength and his rock. In verse four, when David speaks of being tangled in ropes, this refers to our inability to escape from the clutches of death. He thought he was near to being crushed by his enemy, but God brought David out of it. God is faithful and proves Himself over and over.

In the New Testament reading, Paul comes across disciples of John the Baptist. Unfortunately, these men had not hear of the Holy Spirit. They had been baptized by water, but they had not been baptized in the Spirit. Paul takes time to explain to them that Jesus was the one that John the Baptist was pointing them to. He baptizes them and they begin speaking in different languages and prophesying.

God is doing great and wonderful works through Paul. Some Jewish exorcists see that Paul is successful and try to use the name of Jesus in their exorcism efforts. They command the spirit come out by “Jesus that Paul preaches”. The response of the spirit is interesting. It says it knows Jesus and recognizes Paul, but it does not know who is ordering it out. These men were trying to invoke Jesus to do things on their behalf, but they didn’t know Jesus. As a result, calling on His name did nothing for them. The spirit overtook them, and they fled in humiliation. Others found out about what had transpired and came to belief.

Psalms 17-18 and Acts 19: 1-20

David asks for God’s protection. He prays that vindication will come from God. David speaks of God testing his heart. The LORD tests and tries people. Only He can determine who is righteous and just. David will seek God’s face in righteousness and be satisfied in His presence. Are we satisfied in God’s presence?

Psalm 18 was written when God deliver David from Saul’s hand and his other enemies. He gives praise to God for helping him out and bringing him this far. The LORD is his strength and his rock. In verse four, when David speaks of being tangled in ropes, this refers to our inability to escape from the clutches of death. He thought he was near to being crushed by his enemy, but God brought David out of it. God is faithful and proves Himself over and over.

In the New Testament reading, Paul comes across disciples of John the Baptist. Unfortunately, these men had not hear of the Holy Spirit. They had been baptized by water, but they had not been baptized in the Spirit. Paul takes time to explain to them that Jesus was the one that John the Baptist was pointing them to. He baptizes them and they begin speaking in different languages and prophesying.

God is doing great and wonderful works through Paul. Some Jewish exorcists see that Paul is successful and try to use the name of Jesus in their exorcism efforts. They command the spirit come out by “Jesus that Paul preaches”. The response of the spirit is interesting. It says it knows Jesus and recognizes Paul, but it does not know who is ordering it out. These men were trying to invoke Jesus to do things on their behalf, but they didn’t know Jesus. As a result, calling on His name did nothing for them. The spirit overtook them and they fled in humiliation. Others found out about what had transpired and came to belief.

Psalms 19-21 and Acts 19: 21-41

We continue reading praises to God for the glorious things He has done. David speaks of creation declaring God’s glory. The sky proclaims the work fo God’s hands. They do not speak to show His glory, but they communicate how great God is.

David draws a line between intentional sin and unintentional sin. As humans, sometimes we do not see the sin that we commit. Sometimes those sins are unintentional. However, we are blessed that God will point out the unintentional sin in our lives. Further, God will keep us from willful sin. I think that the more aware we are of our intentional sins and the more we confess them to God, the more He opens our eyes to the unintentional sin in our lives.

David gives praise for God’s deliverance in battle. The “day of trouble” could mean any distress, however, in this particular case, David is speaking about enemies. Psalm 21 is a continuation of the Psalm 20, giving praise for victory. It is not David’s triumph, instead the victory belongs to God. David is quick to point out that he has only overcome his enemies because of God’s blessing.

In the New Testament reading, Paul sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia while he remains in Asia for a while. During his time in Ephesus, there is a major disturbance created by Christianity. There are people upset that they will lose their jobs over people following the Way. These folks fashioned idols for the pagan gods and realized fully that if more people become Christians, less people would buy their product and even the temple of Artemis might be impugned. A riot breaks out amongst the Jews and the Gentiles. However, the crowd is calmed by the city clerk. He does not defend the Christians. Instead, he cites the law of the Romans. They were in such a rush to condemn Jesus and the church, they had violated civil and judicial procedures.

Psalms 22-24 and Acts 10: 1-16

Psalm 22 speaks of the cross. David asks the question as to why God has forsaken him. Jesus will use the same words on the cross. The idea of being forsaken in this regard is that God is far away, He is hidden from David in his time of need. The practice of dividing clothes was a common practice in Middle Assyrian laws. A criminal’s clothes would be given to the prosecutor or those carrying out the punishment.

Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar psalms. This psalm speaks of the crook, the shepherd’s hook. David compares God to a shepherd, taking him through the rough spots so that he can get to the green pastures. God will lead us through some rough times to get us to where we belong. Many of you know the difficulties I had in ending my last career. Times got dark and some craziness happened, but I can look back and see what God was doing. Every day I wake up thankful that God led me through it and brought me to where I belong!

Psalm 24 speaks of the crown. God is the owner of everything. He is king of all. God alone is worthy of all worship and praise!

In the New Testament reading, Paul leaves to go to Macedonia. He learns of a plot on his life, so he travels a different way to get there. Paul uses discernment here. He could have continued on and fallen into the trap, but he decides not to go that route. Rather than be arrested (or worse) and cry persecution, he simply avoids it. He arrives in Troas and begins preaching. The sermon went well into the night. A young man got so tired that he fell asleep and fell from the third story. The text says that they picked the boy up dead. However, Paul says that his life is still in him. There is debate over whether the boy was actually dead or not. Peter had revived Tabitha after her death, so it was definitely feasible for Paul to resuscitate this person. Many believe that the boy was knocked unconscious when he fell. He looked dead, but his life was still in him.

Psalms 25-27 and Acts 20: 17-38

Psalm 25 speaks of God’s justice. David asks that he not be disgraced. He understands that those who do not wait on God or act treacherously will be disgraced. David does not want to fall into that pit. He wants God’s ways to be known to him. He seeks God’s truth.

Psalm 26 has a rather bold statement in it. David asks that The LORD try him and test him. He asks that his heart and mind be examined by God. David is confident in what the outcome will be because he lives by God’s truth.

Psalm 27 speaks of God’s salvation and light. David has nothing to fear because of who he belongs to. As believers, we have nothing to fear since we are owned by Him as well. Knowing that we cannot be snatched from His hand, we can feel courageous and strong to go and live for God and do His will for our lives.

In the New Testament reading, Paul leaves Ephesus. He gives a farewell address to the elders. There is a lot of crying because Paul informs them that they will never see his face again. Paul is somewhat reluctant to go. He knows that when he leaves, someone else will come in and try to pollute their minds about the Way. He says these people will have deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them. Not much has changed in the last few thousand years. There are still groups out there that will twist Scripture to make it mean what they want it to say. Others will pick and choose certain Scriptures to justify things. We cannot be like that and we certainly should not fall for it when people twist God’s word. It’s up to us to be Biblically literate!

Psalms 28-30 and Acts 21: 1-14

In Psalm 28, David asks that God not be deaf or silent toward him. Deaf and silent are often connected with being “far from” someone. David cries that God is being silent during his time of need. David refers to lifting hands, a common gesture for prayer at the time.

In Psalm 29 “heavenly beings” literally mean sons of gods. However, in this context we should view these heavenly beings as God’s angels. They were the witnesses of God’s creation and are allowed access to God in heaven. They surround His throne to give Him praise and worship.

David deals with struggle in Psalm 30. Even though he has fallen on hard times, he knows that mourning will only last for a while. When there is mourning at night, there will be joy in the mourning. As believers, we are not promised that life is going to be easy. The Bible does not promise that we will never struggle or be sad. When those times of sadness and struggle hit, lean into God and He will bring you through. We might suffer some pain, but joy will return.

In the New Testament reading, there is a lot of travel being completed by boat. It is brought to Paul’s attention that trouble waits for him in Jerusalem. The locals hear this and ask that Paul not go to Jerusalem. Paul replies that they should not weep and break his heart. He is ready to go and die for Jesus. Up to this point, we have seen Paul avoid trouble where he can. When they wanted to kill him in Damascus, he was hidden in a basket and lowered through a window outside of the city. When he found out that there were enemies lying in wait, he went a different route to get to his destination. Now Paul is ready to face his death head on. He will no longer hide from the persecution.

Psalms 31-33 and Acts 21: 15-40

Psalm 31 uses the words refuge, rock, and fortress to convey Yahweh as our protector and defender. We can find security in Him. Verse six seems a little harsh with the use of the word “hate”. David is communicating that people that are faithful to The LORD should hate what He hates. In this case, David uses the example of idolatry.

In Psalm 32, David gives praise for forgiveness. As believers, we have been forgiven of our sins. That is great news! David gives encouragement to confess sins. He kept silent at first about them, but the sin was eating away at him. Once he confessed it to The LORD, the burden was lifted, and God took away the guilt of his sin. When we mess up, we can take our sins to God. He will forgive us. The more we confess our sins to Him, we will be more aware of the other sins we commit. It is all part of the sanctification process where He is perfecting us before we join Him in the afterlife.

Psalm 33 is another psalm praising the creator. How can we look at all of the wonderful beauty of our world and not think “Wow, God!”? There are so many amazing things that He created, it is easy to give praise to Him.

In the New Testament reading, Paul makes it to Jerusalem. The brothers welcomed the travelers gladly. Paul gives an account to the elders about the growth in the Gentile community. The elders bring up a problem within the Jewish community. Paul is accused of telling the Jewish converts among the Gentiles to abandon the Old Testament covenants like circumcision. To dismiss these accusations, the elders propose a solution that will absolve Paul of the charges. That proposal backfires. When they are assembled, the Jews see Paul and immediately launch their charges against him. They identify him as the one that brought Greeks into their holy place, profaning the temple. The entire town is stirred up, they rush Paul, and begin to beat him. Eventually, a centurion comes down and sees what is happening. Upon his arrival, the people stop beating Paul and then ask the centurion to take him into custody. Paul makes a request to give a defense.

Psalms 34-35 and Acts 22

David proclaims that praise for The LORD will always be on his lips. My prayer is that we have the same attitude. My prayer is that we regularly give praise to God Almighty. He deserves it! David speaks more of God’s protection in his life. The LORD redeems the life of His servants. God makes a way for the righteous. There is a lot of bad going on in the world right now. This causes some folks to worry. God makes a way for the righteous. He did it before, He will do it again. No need to worry about the things of this world. Keep focused on Him and all will be well.

Psalm 35 is a prayer for victory. David is asking that God will take down his opponents. There is some worry expressed in this psalm. Things were not going all that wonderful for David. There are people that launch false attacks on him. He has deceitful enemies and people that hate him for no reason. David asks to be delivered from them.

In the New Testament reading, Paul speaks to the gathered Israelites. They are amazed that he speaks to them in Hebrew. Paul starts off explaining that he had been brought up under Gamaliel. Gamaliel was a loved member of the Sanhedrin and sought for advice often. There are extra Biblical texts that talk about how wonderful he was. Gamaliel was the very one that gave advice to the Sanhedrin not to attack the Way earlier in Acts. The assembled crowd would easily have recognized the name and his importance. Paul explains to them about what happened to him on the way to Damascus. He gives them great detail on exactly how he was converted. He went from being the adamant opposition of Christianity, even guarding the clothes of the men killing Stephen, to being an ardent defender of the faith. We would think that this would cause the crowd to see the error of their ways. Instead, it just drives them to hate him. They cry for him to be taken up. The Romans decide they will whip him, but as he is tied up, Paul asks if it is legal for a Roman citizen to be whipped. The commander and other guards would have assumed that Paul was not Roman since he spoke in Greek and Hebrew. However, Paul was Roman and had certain protections because of his citizenship. The commander wants to know exactly why the Sanhedrin are out to get Paul. So, he releases the prisoner and brings him to the Sanhedrin the following day. I am sure they were surprised to see Paul!

Psalms 36-37 and Acts 23:1-11

David is accurate when he says a wicked person has no dread of God. We see that on display today. This is not a new problem; it has been around for a long long time. Some folks just do not want to believe, so they will act however they want and hold God in contempt. I have had some folks look at me and say that they are going to swear and when they do, if there is a God, then he will be struck down. The individual swears and nothing happens, the wicked walks away thinking that he or she has proven a point. Some people simply have no fear of God.

In Psalm 37, we are encouraged not to be vexed by those that do evil. We should not envy them. Instead, we should cling to God and seek His ways. We all have one thing in common; one day we will not be here anymore. Evildoers will be destroyed, but the ones that put their hope in The LORD will inherit the land.

In the New Testament reading, Paul faces the Sanhedrin. He begins giving his defense. Then something interesting happens, we see a squabble break out within the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was a body comprised of both Pharisees and Sadducees. Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection or even the afterlife. The Pharisees affirmed them all. This led to the two parties arguing against each other. The fight became pretty contentious, and the Romans were worried they would tear Paul apart.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. As believers, we must be united under the banner of Christ.

Psalms 36-37 and Acts 23:1-11

David is accurate when he says a wicked person has no dread of God. We see that on display today. This is not a new problem, it has been around for a long long time. Some folks just do not want to believe, so they will act however they want and hold God in contempt. I have had some folks look at me and say that they are going to swear and when they do, if there is a God, then he will be struck down. The individual swears and nothing happens, the wicked walks away thinking that he or she has proven a point. Some people simply have no fear of God.

In Psalm 37, we are encouraged not to be vexed by those that do evil. We should not envy them. Instead, we should cling to God and seek His ways. We all have one thing in common; one day we will not be here anymore. Evildoers will be destroyed, but the ones that put their hope in The LORD will inherit the land.

In the New Testament reading, Paul faces the Sanhedrin. He begins giving his defense. Then something interesting happens, we see a squabble break out within the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was a body comprised of both Pharisees and Sadducees. Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection or even the afterlife. The Pharisees affirmed them all. This led to the two parties arguing against each other. The fight became pretty contentious and the Romans were worried they would tear Paul apart.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. As believers, we must be united under the banner of Christ.

Psalms 38-40 and Acts 23:12-35

Psalm 38 is a lament. David is confessing his sins asking that God not punish him with His wrath. The psalmist says he is speechless and has no arguments because he knows that God is punishing him for his sins. He deserves the punishment coming to him. David confesses his guilt and turns his attention to his enemies. God’s punishment might be over, but now he has fear of those around him and what they will do. Now that the psalmist is seeking good, he is worried about those that will repay that good with evil.

Psalm 39 focuses more on the brevity of life. The psalmist strongly desires to know how long he has here on earth. A few years ago, my buddy Smitty and I were enjoying a nice meal. A young man asked if he could get our opinion on something. He asked whether it would be better to know the day that we are going to pass away or to be clueless about it. Both Smitty and I agreed that it was better to be clueless about it. Rather than counting our days here on earth and wondering how long we will be here, I humbly submit it is better to live every day to the fullest serving The LORD. In the instance of this psalm, the psalmist is conveying the idea that we must look at time like God looks at it, not as humans do.

Psalm 40 begins with David giving thanks to God for helping him. Throughout the psalm it transitions to a cry for help. David begins by reminding himself and God of all the help The LORD has given him. With all of that in mind, he requests that God would not withhold His compassion from him and that His love guard and protect him.

In the New Testament reading, the Jews are so incited toward violence and killing Paul that many of them put themselves under a curse. They will not eat anything until Paul is dead. They hatch a plan to have Paul delivered to them by the Romans and execute him. However, Paul’s nephew discovers the plot, reports it to Paul, and then reports it to the Romans. They will not fall into the trap.

The plot from the Jews begs the question: how would they explain away Paul’s execution? Since Paul was a Roman citizen, he had a certain level of protection. If they killed him without having a fair trial, how would they explain that to the Romans?

Psalms 41-43 and Acts 24

Psalm 41 speaks of victory even when we are betrayed. The psalmist describes the happiness of taking care of the poor. The term poor here could be used to describe folks in a lowly status, or someone who was humbled and brought low by their own circumstances or others. These people that care for the low will be saved by The LORD from adversity.

Psalm 42 is a Maskil of the sons of Korah. The Korahites were the gatekeepers in the temple. Many scholars believe that the sons of Korah became associated with musicians involved in the worship of God. The psalm begins with a longing for God. Just as the deer pants for water, the psalmist’s soul longs for God. Just as the thirsty deer will not give up until it finds water, the psalmist won’t stop looking for God until he has found Him.

Psalm 43 is a prayer for vindication. The innocence and integrity of the psalmist is assumed when we see the request for vindication. The ungodly nation is difficult to identify. It could either be a Gentile nation or Israelites who were disloyal to God Almighty.

In the New Testament reading, the Israelites lawyer up! Ananias, the high priest, brings the lawyer Tertullus to plead the Jewish case against Paul. Tertullus begins his defense stating that Paul is threatening their peace. He accuses Paul of being a plague on the community. Paul gives his defense, stating that he simply goes to the temple to worship and not cause disturbance. He goes to worship, but he also follows the Way. He knows that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous. Felix orders that Paul be kept under the centurion’s guard. Felix was married to a Jewish woman. He brought her with him to converse with Paul. He sees the composure of Paul as he discusses the faith and becomes afraid. After two years, Felix has still not given a verdict. His successor is identified as Porcius Festus. Felix kept Paul in prison at the turnover as a favor to the Jews.

Psalms 44-46 and Acts 25

Psalm 44 is a cry from Israel. The nation is upset. It seems that God has abandoned them. They do not feel His presence anymore. They have heard of all the wonderful things God did for their ancestors. Now they want Him to do the same for them. They believe they have been rejected by God. He is not marching with their armies and they have been forced to retreat from their enemies. This is all very different than what we have seen in the history of the Israelites. However, they are forgetting that there were instances where their ancestors suffered.

Psalm 45 is a royal wedding song. It was a common practice in the Ancient Near East to compose songs honoring kings to perpetuate their memory for younger generations. These songs would use the same hyperbolic phrases as “the most handsome” and “grace flowing from your lips.” The psalm moves from praising the king to praising God Almighty.

Psalm 46 is a reminder that God is our refuge and our strength. He is there as a helper in trying times. Because He is there with us, we should not be afraid when we are going through the rough spots of life. We are never promised that life will be peaceful and easy breezy when we come to faith in Christ. However, we are promised that The LORD will be with us always, no matter what we are going through.

In the New Testament reading, the Jews are still trying to have Paul executed. Festus arrives in Jerusalem. The chief priests and other leaders present their case against Paul to him. Festus informs them that Paul should be kept in Caesarea. The leaders are welcome to come there with him to make their case against him. Paul maintains his innocence. Festus continues to try to make the Jews happy and asks Paul if he will go back to Jerusalem to stand trial there.

King Agrippa and his wife Bernice pay a visit to Festus in Caesarea. Festus presents Paul’s case to the king. King Agrippa asks to have a conversation with Paul. Paul is brought before the king. King Agrippa’s judgment is that Paul has done nothing wrong. As far as he sees it, it is unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating any charges against him. The Jews have no case against Paul, they simply do not like him.

Psalms 47-49 and Acts 26

Psalm 47 and 48 give praise to God. He is the Most High, King of all the earth. Many earthly kings and rulers will come and go, but God is in charge forever and ever. God will continue to lead His people for all eternity. We do not know how long we will walk this earth, we do not even know what will happen tomorrow. However, we can be certain that God is on the throne!

Psalm 49 reads more like a proverb. The psalmist has no need to fear in times of trouble. He is surrounded by his foes, but they trust in their wealth and abundance. Wealth and abundance fade. The psalmist has his faith in the eternal God that reigns forever. Those that trust in their wealth are headed to the grave. The righteous will be redeemed from the grave.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives his defense to King Agrippa. He begins his defense by flattering the king. Then he explains how he was a Pharisee that spent his time persecuting the followers of the Way. We are treated again to Paul’s conversion story. This time, Paul says that the voice told him not to “kick against the goads”. This most likely means that he was being warned not to fight against the spiritual.

Having heard Paul’s explanation, the king even becomes interested in Christ. He finds that there are no grounds for holding Paul. However, there is one problem. Paul’s appeal to Rome put his case in a special category. His case can only be discharged by Caesar.

Each and every one of us has a testimony. We are going to come across people that want to know why we have the hope that we do. When we are asked, we can give our story and tell how God has changed us. I will admit that my testimony has changed over the years. Nowadays when I give testimony, I do not talk as much about my conversion. Instead, I talk about the dark and hard times that God led me through. There have been several times in my life when God told me to do something, it was rough at the time, but He brought me through on the other end and it was much better than I could have ever imagined.

Psalms 50-52 and Acts 27:1-25

Asaph wrote Psalm 50. He was one of David’s chief musicians. God assembles all of the people of the earth. The psalm encourages the people of God to give thank offerings. When they bring their offerings to The LORD it is not because they must feed Him because He will go hungry. God owns it all. It all belongs to Him, so when they bring their offering to Him it is to show thanks, not to sustain Him. These sacrifices are meant to be from the heart and personal, not rote ritual. Everything we have comes from The LORD. When we give to Him, we are giving back part of what He has given to us.

In Psalm 51, David works through some serious grief over his sin with Bathsheba. Just as a reminder David saw Bathsheba bathing one night, sent for her, and got her pregnant. Upon realizing she was pregnant, he had her husband killed. David’s conduct was terrible. He asks that God be gracious to him. David admits that he has sinned against God alone. God is right to pass sentence on him. David begs that God wash him with hyssop and cleanse him and he will be whiter than snow. David admits that sacrifice of a burnt offering is not going to give God delight. Instead, the sacrifice of a broken heart and submissive spirit are what will please Him.

David did some pretty egregious stuff, yet he continues to seek God. We have done some pretty egregious things in our lives to. There is nothing that God cannot forgive. No matter what we have done in our past, God can and will forgive us of those trespasses. Do not be afraid to take those mistakes to Him and confess them and ask for forgiveness.

In the New Testament reading, Paul sets sail for Italy with his captors. The trip is treacherous and the boat sinks. Paul advised them to find a suitable place to winter over in, but they refuse. They try to make it to Crete, but a northeaster comes and pounds the ship. They do what they can to lighten the load and help the ship weather the storm. However, Paul knows that it is no use. The ship will eventually sink.

When I read of Paul’s travels on the Mediterranean, I am reminded of the few voyages I had across that sea. The weather can get incredibly rough, especially in the winter. On one occasion, the Mighty Warship Cole was sailing through and we got hit with 30 foot swells. The weather was so rough, we had to use our hurricane straps to prevent being thrown out of our racks while sleeping. At one point, the swells got so bad that the waves washed a life preserver from the side of the ship. I can only imagine that this was similar weather to what Paul and the rest of the crew were facing. It was rough enough going through it on a steel ship. I cannot imagine what it would be like to go through on a wooden vessel!

Psalms 53-55 and Acts 27: 26-44

Psalm 53 is an indictment against the wicked. David goes so far as to say that when God looks down on the human race, He sees there is no one that is wise and seek Him. Everyone has turned away from Him. David asks that Israel’s salvation would come from Zion. David has hope in a future restoration. Unfortunately, he looks around now and sees sin and vice.

Psalm 54 is a prayer for deliverance. Psalm 55 deals with a particularly hurtful subject. David has been hurt, not by an enemy or other wicked person. Instead, he has been attacked by a trusted friend. He has been betrayed. Betrayal hurts deeply because it comes from someone that we trust, someone that we have confided in. We are hurt by someone that said they would look out for our best interest, but then stab us in the back to get ahead. Betrayal hurts the worst because it comes from a friend. We expect our enemies to attack and harm us, but we would never expect our friends or family to.

In the New Testament reading, the ship is coming closer to the shore from what their soundings are indicating. The water is 120 feet deep and then it is 90 feet deep. Some of the sailors decide to drop anchor from the stern instead of the bow. This is why Paul tells the centurion that they won’t survive. If they dropped the anchors from the stern, the bow will get beat up as the ship swings around. So, they cut the small boats loose preventing them from dropping the anchors. Paul encourages the men to eat since it has been two weeks since any of them had eaten. They eat and become encouraged. They spot land and start going full speed ahead. Unfortunately, the ship runs aground on a sandbar. It’s every man for himself so they begin to jump ship. Since they are transporting criminals, the plan is to execute the prisoners before they can escape to shore. The centurion prevented the sailors from killing the prisoners specifically to keep Paul safe.

Psalms 56-58 and Acts 28: 1-15

Psalm 56 is a call for protection during the time that the Philistines seized David in Gath. The Philistines were relentless in their pursuit of David. However, David kept his trust in The LORD.

Psalm 57 is praise for God’s protection when he hid from Saul in a cave. David recognizes God’s hand in everything that is happening as he flees from his enemy. God’s love is as high as the heavens.

Psalm 58 speaks of injustices committed by people. The mighty ones do not speak righteously. Instead, they seek to take care of themselves giving no regard to what is right or wrong. One day, they will be swept away and the righteous can rejoice.

Throughout the Psalms, we see all kinds of different cries to The LORD. Sometimes they are cries of joy and adoration. Other times, they are cries of despair and anguish. My prayer is that no matter whether we are going through good times or bad, that we are always crying out to God. He desires a relationship with us. As we go through life, don’t hold back talking to Him. Something good happens, give Him praise. Something bad happens, seek His counsel.

In the New Testament reading, the shipwreck survivors wind up on Malta. The locals were very nice to them. Paul gathers a bunch of wood for a fire. When he put the wood on the fire, a viper came out and bit his hand. The locals stood by watching this, thinking that Paul must have been a murderer because now he was being judged by the snake bite. They expected him to die, but he did not. Instead, he just flung the snake into the fire. From there, Paul went to and healed a man suffering from dysentery. After three months in Malta, they set sail again for Rome.

Psalms 56-58 and Acts 28: 1-15

Psalm 56 is a call for protection during the time that the Philistines seized David in Gath. The Philistines were relentless in their pursuit of David. However, David kept his trust in The LORD.

Psalm 57 is praise for God’s protection when he hid from Saul in a cave. David recognizes God’s hand in everything that is happening as he flees from his enemy. God’s love is as high as the heavens.

Psalm 58 speaks of injustices committed by people. The mighty ones do not speak righteously. Instead, they seek to take care of themselves giving no regard to what is right or wrong. One day, they will be swept away and the righteous can rejoice.

Throughout the Psalms, we see all kinds of different cries to The LORD. Sometimes they are cries of joy and adoration. Other times, they are cries of despair and anguish. My prayer is that no matter whether we are going through good times or bad, that we are always crying out to God. He desires a relationship with us. As we go through life, don’t hold back talking to Him. Something good happens, give Him praise. Something bad happens, seek His counsel.

In the New Testament reading, the shipwreck survivors wind up on Malta. The locals were very nice to them. Paul gathers a bunch of wood for a fire. When he put the wood on the fire, a viper came out and bit his hand. The locals stood by watching this, thinking that Paul must have been a murderer because now he was being judged by the snake bite. They expected him to die, but he did not. Instead, he just flung the snake into the fire. Form there, Paul went to and healed a man suffering from dysentery. After three months in Malta, they set sail again for Rome.

Psalms 59-61 and Acts 28:16-31

Psalm 59 was written by David when Saul sent his agents to watch the house and kill David if the opportunity arose. The background for this particular Psalm can be found in 1 Samuel 19:11. David cries for deliverance from his enemies. He knows that his pursuer is powerful and there is nothing he can do to escape the king’s grasp. However, David rests in God’s refuge. He knows fully that God will deliver him from Saul. God is David’s strength. He does not try to do it on his own, instead he leans into God and trusts in Him for safety.

Psalm 60 describes the incident recorded in 1 Chronicles 18: 3 and 12. David acknowledges that God owns all of Schechem (Canaan) and can divide it up however He wants. David marches against his enemies and many of their soldiers fall. God helps David’s men perform well on the field and their foes are trampled. Yet, David does not take credit or even give credit to his soldiers for the victory. Instead, he gives all the glory to God

Psalm 61 is a song about the security we find in God. He is our only hope. He is a strong tower in the face of the enemy. We can take refuge under His wing. When life comes at us hard, we can take our strength and resolve from God, He will get us through.

We finish up Acts with Paul’s defense in Rome. Paul assumed that many letters had come from the officials regarding him. However, none of those letters arrived. The Romans still ask Paul to tell them about the Way since they are aware of the sect that is spoken against everywhere. Paul spends his days trying to show them who Jesus is. Some come to Jesus and confess Him as Lord and Savior. Others do not.

Paul spends two years in his own rented house and proclaims the Gospel with full boldness and without hindrance.

Psalms 62-64 and Romans 1

Psalm 62 speaks of rest. The psalmist rests alone in God. The term “rest” here expresses silence. The author is resting, waiting on God. My hope and prayer is that we will have rest in God. The world is full of its ups and downs. However, God is constant. Despite the inconsistency of the world, we can look to God, He is always the same.

Psalm 63 is another psalm from David’s flight from Saul, but it provides less detail than others. David speaks of looking to God when he writes about gazing on God in the sanctuary. His lips will glorify and honor Him, lifting up his hands in worship to Yahweh. Even in this time of fleeing from his enemies, David still gives worship to The LORD.

Psalm 64 uses interesting language regarding speech. Sharpening the tongue was often used to describe destructive and divisive speech. No doubt, there were many of David’s enemies sharpening their tongues against him.

In the New Testament reading, we start Romans! Paul wrote Romans to the house churches in Rome. In those days, believers did not have a dedicated house of worship. Instead, they met at homes of other believers to worship God and fellowship with one another. Romans focuses on the doctrine of salvation and gives practical ideas on how a believer can implement it into his or her life.

Paul begins the letter letting them know that he wants to visit, but has been unable to. He explains that he has been praying for them. Prayer is just as necessary as preaching and teaching when it comes to Christian ministry. I hope that we all pray to our Lord often and lift one another up in prayer regularly.

Paul speaks of how the world has gone wrong. The Gentiles did not want to receive the message of God. Instead, they began worshipping false gods. The LORD then gave them over to their immoral lifestyles. Their idolatry led them into total depravity.

Psalms 65-67 and Romans 2

Psalm 65 sings of God’s praise for His care in creation. God is the creator. He made the mountains, He made the sea. He can bring the mountains down and He can quiet the raging sea. He gives water to the earth and gives abundantly. He softens the ground and brings growth. Creation sings of the wonders of God. As we go through this day, let’s take some time to look at all of the wonder in God’s creation. There is so much beauty around us, let’s not take it for granted. Instead, let’s give praise to the One that made it all!

Psalm 66 is a reminder of God’s mighty acts. The psalmist reminds us that God was the One that turned the sea to dry land and allowed the Israelites to walk across. He rules forever by His might.

Psalm 67 is a call for everyone to praise God. God is worthy of all of our worship and praise. Our praise does not have to be confined to the church building on a Sunday morning. We can praise on a park bench while feeding some birds. We can worship while we are driving down the road. We can give praise while we help others. In all we do, let’s strive to worship and serve The LORD.

In the New Testament reading, Paul warns the people not to judge. The fact is that we see plenty of people out there doing wrong and acting sinfully. The other fact is that we are just as guilty and culpable. Since we too are sinful, we should not take the judgmental route. It is not our place to judge. That is God’s job. Instead of looking at what other people are doing or not doing, maybe we would do better to look at what we are or are not doing. It’s an odd thing, but people are able to be a lot more critical of others than they are of themselves. We all have our problems and are all guilty in the eye’s of God’s Law. So, when we see the lost going against God’s commands, rather than look at them with judgment, let’s try to look on them with compassion. They do not know any better and they certainly will not want to learn more about the Way if we come down on them with judgment.

Paul also writes about being doers of the word, not just hearers. As believers, we have been tremendously blessed by our salvation in Christ. What should our response be? Should we just take that blessing and rest in it, not caring about the rest of the world? Or should we roll up our sleeves and get busy doing what God has called us to do?

Psalms 68-69 and Romans 3

Psalm 68 speaks of God as a mighty warrior. He scatters the enemies like smoke, an insignificant thing. They melt like wax before Him. God is mighty! He rides on the clouds. When He went out before the people, the earth shook and the skies poured rain. Even in all of this power that God has, He bears the burden of His people. He is our salvation.

Psalm 69 opens up with imagery of being trapped in a life threatening situation. Being sunken in deep mud and floods were commonly used to describe situations where death seemed likely. The psalmist asks that others not be disgraced because of his guilt. This text is not expressing that he is worried people will lose their faith because of his sins. His sins have been identified. The psalmist is expressing concern that other believers will see that the psalmist’s suffering has not been relieved and will lose faith because of his discomfort.

In the New Testament reading, Paul answers the rebuttal that perhaps the Jew and the circumcised do not have an advantage. Paul explains that they do in every way. They were entrusted with God’s word first. Yet, even though they are better off than some, they are still no better because they are still sinful. There is no one in the world that lives an upright and good life. Everyone stands guilty before God. In that guilt, though, God sent His Son Jesus to take that sin away from the believers. They are justified by Christ’s blood. Since they are justified by Christ, they have nothing to boast about since they did not do anything to earn their salvation. Could you imagine how difficult heaven would be if entrance was all based on what we did here on earth? There would be all kinds of bragging going on. The folks would talk about all of the things that they did to get themselves into heaven. If that were to happen, then they would be worshipping the self and not God. We cannot do anything to save ourselves. God did that work for us, so we have no reason to boast. There is nothing we can do to earn our way, we are justified by Christ!

Psalms 70-72 and Romans 4

Psalm 70 uses some of the same verses we read in Psalm 40:14-15 and 40: 16-17. David asks that the people laughing at him and pointing their fingers in shame retreat because they are brougth to shame.

Psalm 71 is deals with the psalmist getting older. He asks that God continue to give him strength and be with him in his old age. The author has leaned on God from a very young age. His prayer is that God does not abandon him now that he is older. The psalmist also makes the promise that even when he is old and gray he will continue to proclaim God’s power.

Psalm 72 is referring to Solomon, though we do not know whether it is about him, or if he wrote it. In this regard the king and king’s son are identified as rulers that will judge God’s people in righteousness and take care of His afflicted. Notice that the author is not referring to the people as his, but to God’s. The author sees the tremendous responsibility in ruling the people. He asks that the reign will go well, but the king is not asking for all of these things to that he can benefit, but so that God’s people will benefit as well.

In the New Testament reading Paul continues giving examples of being saved by faith and not by works. He brings up Abraham, the founder of the Israelites. Abraham was a nomad prior to God calling him. He did not know the law, nor did he even know God. His father made idols. Yet, when God called Abraham to leave his father, he was obedient. He walked by faith. Further, he was not circumcised until God gave him the command and covenant of circumcision. Abraham came to belief first, then these other things fell into place. Our salvation in Christ is a gift that we do not work for. If we worked for it then we would say we earned it. Salvation is a gift. There is no rote ritual or thing we can do to get ourselves into heaven. That is already taken care of by the blood of Jesus. When we come to Him we won’t have it all figured out. We will spend our lives trying to be better and more like Him. However, we will never have it all figured out. One day, we will be caught up with Him and then the sanctification process is complete. Until then, we are works in progress.

In the case of Abraham, he didn’t know God at all until God spoke to him. He did not respond that he was a terrible person and felt the need to get himself figured out before coming to God, he just went. We don’t have to get ourselves cleaned up before coming to Christ. He’s the one that cleans us up. To think that we need to clean ourselves up before coming to Him is like thinking we have to take a shower before we take a bath.

Psalms 73-74 and Romans 5

Psalm 73 gives the correct statement that God is good to Israel. After that confession of God’s goodness, though, the author talks about the wicked. He identifies that the wicked prosper. They are well fed. The Hebrew used for well literally means “fat bellies” indicating they have much more than they need. The psalmist gives more complaint about how easy the wicked have it, but then turns to confession. He confesses that he was acting stupidly and did not see what God was doing.

Psalm 74 is a prayer for Israel. Times are tough and it seems like God is far away from His people. They are suffering. The temple has been desecrated. Their enemies have decided to oppress them relentlessly. The author is trying to cause God to act, stating that these foolish people have desecrated His name.

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains how we are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ. As believers, we are declared righteous, not because of anything we have done. Because Christ is our Lord, when God sees us, He does not identify us by our sinfulness. Instead, He identifies us as His child. Paul goes all the way back to the beginning to show how sin entered the human line through one man. In the same way, life for the believers has entered through One Man, Christ Almighty. Through one man’s disobedience, all of us were made sinners. Through the obedience of one man, many will be made righteous.

Psalms 75-77 and Romans 6

Psalm 75 is a reminder that God judges the wicked. He is just and mighty and will one day judge them. However, we do not know when that time will be. He will judge them when He decides it is time. With that in mind, perhaps it is best to worry less about what the wicked are doing and how good life is for them here on earth.

Psalm 76 speaks of God as a powerful judge. He is resplendent and majestic. God is to be feared. No one can stand before God when He is angry.

Psalm 77 speaks of the confidence we can have in God during a time of crisis. The psalmist sought The LORD in his day of trouble and The LORD guided him through. We are not promised an easy time while we are here on earth. We are going to find ourselves in trying times. When that happens, we can lean into God. He will take us through whatever storm we are facing.

In the New Testament reading, Paul clears up a misconception. It is a misconception that exists today. We know that all sins are forgiven by Christ. This leads some to believe that since all sin has been cleared, we can go and sin as much as we like since we are free from the penalty of sin. Paul tells them that they absolutely should not continue on in their sinfulness. If they continue in their sin, they are not showing that they are truly slaves to Christ. Instead, they remain slaves to sin. Jesus did not come to free us from our sins so that we could run right back to them. This is not to say that we will not continue to struggle with sin while we walk this earth. We surely will and we will surely fall into it. The difference is that the people Paul is addressing were actively going into sin. They had no guilty conscience in actively sinning and felt no guilt afterward. They were simply using Jesus as fire insurance.

Psalms 75-77 and Romans 6

Psalm 75 is a reminder that God judges the wicked. He is just and mighty and will one day judge them. However, we do not know when that time will be. He will judge them when He decides it is time. With that in mind, perhaps it is best to worry less about what the wicked are doing and how good life is for them here on earth.

Psalm 76 speaks of God as a powerful judge. He is resplendent and majestic. God is to be feared. No one can stand before God when He is angry.

Psalm 77 speaks of the confidence we can have in God during a time of crisis. The psalmist sought The LORD in his day of trouble and The LORD guided him through. We are not promised an easy time while we are here on earth. We are going to find ourselves in trying times. When that happens, we can lean into God. He will take us through whatever storm we are facing.

In the New Testament reading, Paul clears up a misconception. It is a misconception that exists today. We know that all sins are forgiven by Christ. This leads some to believe that since all sin has been cleared, we can go and sin as much as we like since we are free from the penalty of sin. Paul tells them that they absolutely should not continue on in their sinfulness. If they continue in their sin, they are not showing that they are truly slaves to Christ. Instead, they remain slaves to sin. Jesus did not come to free us from our sins so that we could run right back to them. This is not to say that we will not continue to struggle with sin while we walk this earth. We surely will and we will surely fall into it. The difference is that the people Paul is addressing were actively going into sin. They had no guilty conscience in actively sinning and felt no guilt afterward. They were simply using Jesus as fire insurance.

Psalm 78 and Romans 7

Psalm 78 is a reminder about what God had done for the Israelites. The people were supposed to teach their children about God’s ways so that they would follow Him. Unfortunately, they did not do as they were instructed. Instead, when God freed them from Egypt, rather than remain faithful to Him and rely on His blessings, they complained about not having any food. God sent Manna for them to fill their bellies. He also sent them meat from the skies. Even still, the people found reasons to complain. Rather than look at what God had done for them up to this point, they continued to chase after false gods. They kept sinning and did not believe in His wonderful works.

Eventually, they woke up because they started suffering loss. Some of them were killed and then they remembered how great and powerful God Almighty is. This psalm describes the Israelite history, but I think it also shows us how we too can have ups and downs with God throughout our lives walking with Him. We get on the right path, but then things are going well and we can possibly stray from Him. Suddenly, something happens and we start to walk with Him again. The cycle goes on and on and on, with the intention of walking with Him always and never straying.

In the New Testament reading, Paul talks about the benefit of the Law. Before the Law, people did not know what sin was. To be sure, the sin still existed. The sin of lust and of covetousness existed in the hearts of people, it just had not been identified as something that was wrong. The Law identifies things that are wrong. If we are not taught the right way to go, continuing in the sinfulness will seem natural. Many years ago, when I was in high school, I did not wear glasses. Since my last name starts with a W, I often was placed in the back of the class. In my sophomore year, I noticed that the teacher was not writing very big on the dry erase board. I had to start moving up to take a look at what he or she was putting up there. I figured it was just normal. It was not until I had an eye exam and they put me in glasses that I knew my eyesight was not working the way it is supposed to. I did not realize I could not see until a doctor showed me what 20/20 vision looks like. The law is similar. Without it, then sin would simply seem normal to our human hearts. Paul writes in this chapter that sin is within us. He knows how he should live, but he does what he does not want to do and does not do what he wants to do. If Paul, the man who had a life altering conversion on the way to Damascus, has struggles doing what he should, then we should not be surprised when we struggle too.

Psalms 79-81 and Romans 8:1-18

Psalm 79 speaks of the confusion the Israelites are facing. Their enemies have invaded and desecrated God’s temple. They gave the corpses of His people to the birds. The desecration of a corpse was a detestable thing for the Israelites. There are some instances in the Old Testament where the Israelites feared their enemies would do things to the body of the deceased. To prevent that from happening, they would burn the flesh off of the body so that they could bury the bones. The fact that their enemies are desecrating the bodies of the deceased show how far the nation has fallen. Even in this time of confusion, the psalmist holds to his faith. He prays and knows that God will repay the nations for what they have done.

Psalm 80 is a prayer for restoration. Psalm 81 is a call for the people to be obedient. One of the reasons the people fall into this destitution is that they do not obey God the way He commanded them to. They chased after other gods and sought the pleasures of the flesh. The people would not obey God so He gave them over to their stubborn hearts. That is why they are in such a mess.

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains that the Law could not give life. The Law itself was right. God had made it. The Law does not fail because the Law is flawed. Instead, the people failed to follow the Law. The Law was limited by the flesh because we could not follow it. Since we could not keep the Law, God fulfilled it in Christ. Anyone who comes to Him and confesses Him as Lord and Savior is free from the stain of sin and death. Since we have been set free by the slavery of sin, we should not fall back into it. As believers, we no longer live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. My hope and prayer is that each and every day, we walk with The LORD and give Him glory and honor in all that we do.

Psalms 82-84 and Romans 8: 19-39

In Psalm 82, the phrase “God has taken His place” indicates that He has begun the judgment or sentencing process. The divine assembly mentioned indicates the “lesser gods” of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians. This is not to say that these lesser gods actually existed. Instead, it conveys a divine council consisting of good and evil spirits that God presides over.

Psalm 83 is a prayer against enemies. The nations around Israel have begun to rise up. The psalmist asks that just like God defeated the Midianites, He will do the same to the Ishmaelites, Moabites, Hagrites, and the other nations rising up against them. God defeated their enemies before, He can do it again. As we go through life and we face the giants, we can remember that God has defeated our giants before, He will do it again!

Psalm 84 is a song longing to get to heaven. As believers, we are not residents here in the world. Instead, our residence is in heaven. We do not belong here. We live with longing in our hearts to get home. This psalm is where a lot of the lyrics to the song “Better is One Day”. Anytime I hear that song, I am reminded of chaplain Moon when I was on my first deployment on the mighty John C. Stennis. Chaplain Moon loved that song and played it at every single service.

In the New Testament reading, Paul writes to the Romans about our adoption into God’s family. He states that all things work together for the good of those who love The LORD. I have said it before and I will say it again, the one thing I like about getting older is looking back and seeing where God said “no” to a prayer or took me through a rough patch to get me to a better spot. Many of you know that I worked to earn a masters while I was still active duty. When my retirement was denied, and since I met the requirements for the chaplaincy, my chaplain friends encouraged me to pursue the chaplain corps. From their vantage, it only made sense. I made it all the way to DC to face a panel of chaplains. My recruiter and everyone I worked with were convinced I would get in. I did not. It made no sense at first and I could not figure out what God was doing in all of that. I was upset and confused. However, through that “No”, He set me up to be where I am today. Every day I wake up and thank Him for that “no” because I am a lot happier here than I would be if I had remained in the service. We can always trust God. His answer is always for the best. It is for our benefit and His glory.

Paul concludes Romans 8 with a wonderful reminder. As we go through life we will suffer the slings and arrows. Trust in God. Nothing has the power to separate us from Him. Nothing will snatch us out of His hand.

Psalms 85-87 and Romans 9

Psalm 85 is from the sons of Korah. The psalmist states that God had shown favor to His land. Jacob’s prosperity was restored. God’s fury was withdrawn. The psalmist asks God to do the same thing with His people now. Throughout the psalms when the author is crying in despair and asking for restoration, he always writes about God’s faithfulness in the past. When we struggle through situations in life and it seems God is silent, perhaps one way we can make it through is to look at the many times that God has gotten us through and all of the wonderful blessings He has heaped upon us.

In psalm 86, the author asks that God would answer him. The phrase “call to You all day long” was a common refrain meaning that the call would keep going to God until He answered. In psalm 87, the author gives an indication of what will happen in the end times. “The Most High Himself will establish her” indicates Israel’s special place in the eschatological kingdom. To be sure, God has made salvation available to the Gentile nations. He still has His eye upon Israel, though.

In the New Testament reading, Paul writes about Israel’s rejection of Jesus. Paul, a Jew himself, has tremendous anguish over his fellow Jews. He goes so far to say that he wishes he could be cut off from Christ if it would benefit the Jews that will not believe. Paul further goes on to say that the word of God has not failed despite the rejection. Some of them in the Israelite nations would become Christians. Others would not. Some in the Gentile world would become Christians, others would not. This brings up the rhetorical question: Is there injustice in God? Certainly, there is not.

Paul goes on to use the imagery of a potter. Some of the potter’s work will be used for honorable use. Other pieces that the potter makes will be for dishonorable use. The potter’s crafts are not allowed to ask why they were made the way they were. They were each made for a specific purpose.

This chapter of Romans is rich with several deep themes. It is beyond the scope of this daily Bible recap to get into the various nuances Paul outlines here. Entire books have been written on the subject of God’s justice and mercy!

Psalms 88-89 and Romans 10

Psalm 88’s authorship is credited to Heman the Ezrahite. He was a famous wise man during Solomon’s reign and served as the king’s seer. The author’s soul is saturated with turmoil. He is in the lowest part of the Pit and despair is all around. He asks if God’s wonders will be known in the darkness. The author calls for help but receives no answer. Darkness is his only friend.

Psalm 89 speaks of God’s promises. It also highlights how perplexing His promises can sometimes be. God had done miraculous and wonderful things to establish His people in Israel. The psalm refers to Rahab. The psalm is not speaking of the woman that helped the spies out when they were surveying the promised land. In this instance, Rahab refers to the mythological chaos monster associated with the sea in Ancient Near Eastern tradition. God calmed the mighty sea. He established a covenant with David, stating that no matter what, a descendant of David would always be on the throne. Yet, even though that covenant had been established, God allowed the kingdom to split. He allowed the Israelite’s enemies to come in and ransack them. Essentially, the psalm is showing that God makes us promises and He fulfills them despite when things go wrong. God fulfilled His covenant with David through Christ. God has made promises to us. Even when we are ransacked and things are confusing, we can trust that He will fulfill the promises made to us. This, of course, is a lot easier said than done!

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains that it is our faith that gives us righteousness. When we submit to Christ’s Lordship, we receive His righteousness. We are no longer slaves to sin. To be sure, we can do absolutely nothing to save ourselves. We can do nothing to make ourselves holy, righteous, and pure. The only way to be cleaned is through Christ Almighty. He did all of the work, we did not. Again, Paul reminds the Romans that the message was rejected by the Israelites. However, people that were not even looking for God found Him.

Psalms 90-92 and Romans 11:1-21

Psalm 90 is labeled a prayer of Moses. This either means that Moses is the author of this psalm or it simply reflects a Mosaic perspective. Either way, the psalm describes how The LORD had given the people refuge in their early days. He provided physical aid and spiritual sanctuary for the Israelites. The text talks about the brevity of life. God is infinite, so our time on earth to Him is like a few hours. It is interesting to note the lifespan that the psalmist gives. Their lives last 70 years, 80 if they are stronger. Those years are filled with strife. The psalmist asks God to turn and have compassion on them. Sometimes life seems rough. Sometimes it is hard. when we are in the thick of it, it seems like it will last our entire lives. The things we suffer through in this world only last a little while.

Psalm 91 establishes God as a hiding place for the righteous. Those that dwell in His shadow are protected. God is the deliverer. Psalm 92 praises God for His love and faithfulness. It is good for us to sing His praises in the morning and His faithfulness at night. As believers, we can be in the habit of worshipping God wherever we are at. I hope we do not contain our worship to just church on Sunday mornings. God is so good, and He has done such great things that we can find reasons to praise him throughout our daily lives.

In the New Testament reading, Paul continues writing about Israel’s rejection of Christ. Since they have rejected Jesus, the question is: Did God reject Israel? The answer, of course, is no. Paul is quick to remind the reader that he too is an Israelite. He came to faith. Other Israelites can too! We are not saved by good works, we are not saved by our blood line, we are not saved by our citizenship, we are saved by the redeeming blood of Christ!

Psalms 93-95 and Romans 11: 22-36

Psalm 93 speaks of God’s eternal reign. He is ultimate. There is none before Him. God is eternal, He is not bound to time like we are. He reigns forever and ever.

Psalm 94 speaks of God’s justice. The text advises the reader to pay attention and asks if the One that created ears would have no ability to hear. Would the One that made the eye not be able to see? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that God is not watching or that we can hide from Him. Even though we may be able to hide our sins from other people, we cannot hide anything from Him. He is not blind or deaf to what we do or what we say. As believers we can find happiness in His correction and discipline. After all, parents that discipline their children (in an appropriate fashion) demonstrate that they love their kids. When God gives us discipline, it is a sign that He loves us and is refining us.

The text also asks an interesting question about whether a corrupt throne can become God’s ally. This is a rhetorical question. However, it is worth noting in Kings and Chronicles we saw pagan nations rise up and executed God’s judgment against the Israelites. That is not to say that God gave these pagan nations favor. He did not make an alliance with them. An alliance requires quid pro quo, this for that. God offers these pagan nations nothing, nor do they offer anything to God. God will not align Himself with impurity.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives warning to the Gentile converts about thinking better of themselves than they should. He uses the example of grafting olive branches into an olive tree. He had to do this because some within the faith ran the risk of thinking that they were better than the Jews since they were able to see Christ as Messiah and the lost were not. This is no way for a believer to act. Simply because we belong to Christ does not make us any better than anyone else. I pray that we are able to carry on our lives with a spirit of humility and gratitude. Believers are just as broken and sinful as the lost. The difference is that we have Christ as our redeemer and our rock. Let’s not get puffed up and full of pride thinking that we are better than anyone else. I think I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: Anytime I hear someone start a sentence with “I’m a good Christian”, I know that I am about to hear something non Christian and judgmental. We weren’t called to judge, we were called to live as an example.

Psalms 93-95 and Romans 11: 22-36

Psalm 93 speaks of God’s eternal reign. He is ultimate. There is none before Him. God is eternal, He is not bound to time like we are. He reigns forever and ever.

Psalm 94 speaks of God’s justice. The text advises the reader to pay attention and asks if the One that created ears would have no ability to hear. Would the One that made the eye not be able to see? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that God is not watching or that we can hide from Him. Even though we may be able to hide our sins from other people, we cannot hide anything from Him. He is not blind or deaf to what we do or what we say. As believers we can find happiness in His correction and discipline. After all, parents that discipline their children (in an appropriate fashion) demonstrate that they love their kids. When God gives us discipline, it is a sign that He loves us and is refining us.

The text also asks an interesting question about whether a corrupt throne can become God’s ally. This is a rhetorical question. However, it is worth noting in Kings and Chronicles we saw pagan nations rise up and executed God’s judgment against the Israelites. That is not to say that God gave these pagan nations favor. He did not make an alliance with them. An alliance requires quid pro quo, this for that. God offers these pagan nations nothing, nor do they offer anything to God. God will not align Himself with impurity.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives warning to the Gentile converts about thinking better of themselves than they should. He uses the example of grafting olive branches into an olive tree. He had to do this because some within the faith ran the risk of thinking that they were better than the Jews since they were able to see Christ as Messiah and the lost were not. This is no way for a believer to act. Simply because we belong to Christ does not make us any better than anyone else. I pray that we are able to carry on our lives with a spirit of humility and gratitude. Believers are just as broken and sinful as the lost. The difference is that we have Christ as our redeemer and our rock. Let’s not get puffed up and full of pride thinking that we are better than anyone else. I think I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: Anytime I hear someone start a sentence with “I’m a good Christian”, I know that I am about to hear something non-Christian and judgmental. We weren’t called to judge; we were called to live as an example.

Psalms 96-98 and Romans 12

The psalms we read today focus on giving glory to God. There is no One that deserves the praise that is due Him. He is great and highly praised. Splendor and majesty are before Him. The Lord made the heavens. The LORD reigns and so we can rejoice. His foundation is righteousness and justice. The victory belongs to Him.

God is in control. Sometimes it might feel like life is reeling. Remember, He is our anchor and He will be with us as we weather the storm. Even in rough times, we can praise The LORD. (Though sometimes that is easier said than done.)

In the New Testament reading, Paul urges the believers to not think too highly of themselves. The body is made up of various parts that perform certain functions. It is the same in the body of Christ. None of us are better than one another, nor are we better than anyone. Some folks preach, some serve, some teach, some lead. Each person within the body has a vital function to perform.

Paul also teaches about Christian ethics. As believers, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard. We should strive to do what is honorable. Further, we should not take vengeance into our own hands. Vengeance belongs to The LORD. When the forces of the world attack us, when we are betrayed by a trusted friend, as difficult as it is, we should not respond with vengeance, instead, we should respond with love. This is a difficult task, but it is the winning strategy. We cannot fight evil with evil and expect to win.

Psalms 99-102 and Romans 13

Psalm 99 continues with the theme of singing praises to God because He is holy. We should bow in worship to Him, for He is great, mighty, and holy. Psalm 100 encourages us to serve The LORD with gladness. We should give Him thanks because we are His. We can give thanks because He is good, and His love endures forever.

Psalm 101 is a Davidic psalm swearing integrity. The psalmist will not let anything worthless before his eyes. He hates the practice of transgression and will not let it cling to him.

Psalm 102 is for the afflicted person. The psalmist cries out, asking God to hear his prayer. His days vanish like smoke and his bones burn like a furnace. The psalmist withers away like grass. God’s days are without number. He is enthroned forever. The nations will fear His name and He will rebuild Zion. Though the person is suffering through something, there is still hope. The affliction will come to an end. In light of eternity, even if the person suffered his entire life, it is a blip.

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains that the believers must still answer to the state. They cannot stop paying their taxes or refuse to obey the governing authorities. Though the governing authorities may do many things that we disagree with, we are still under that governing body. Paul explains that our primary duty is to love. Love does no wrong to a neighbor, it is the fulfillment of the law.

Paul longs for the day of Christ’s return. Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Put on the armor of light and walk with decency. Make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desire.

Psalms 103-104 and Romans 14

Psalm 103 rejoices in God’s forgiveness. He forgives sins, heals diseases and plucks us out of the Pit. The LORD gives righteous acts and justice. His love is great and tremendous. As human beings, we are fallible. We will fall into sin from time to time. God sent His Son Jesus to atone for our sins. There is no sin too big or too deep that God cannot forgive. What a merciful God we serve! Let us shout our praises to Him!

Psalm 104 speaks more of God’s splendor and majesty. He is the One that made the earth and established it on its foundations. He covered it with water, then made the land. He made the mountains and the boundaries. God gave us this wonderful and beautiful creation to enjoy and care for.

In the New Testament reading, Paul urges the believers not to quarrel over doubtful issues. In this instance, Paul is referring to the eating of meat sacrifice to idols. For some folks, this served as a stumbling block for them. It might not be a stumbling block for someone else, but if it is a problem for another believer, it is best to abstain for the benefit of the struggling brother.

Paul writes, “Do not tear down the work of God because of food.” The argument might seem kind of silly, but there are these little arguments that happen throughout churches today. It might not be over food, but it can be over a litany of things. One church I belonged to had a strict dress code. Seldom did I adhere to it. The way I saw it, God wants us to come and worship. If I were to put on a fancy suit and then go to church and act prim and proper, then am I really worshiping or putting on a show? It was an argument I was willing to have with the people confronting me about it every Sunday. Though I chose to stay, I wonder how many other folks that group drove out of the church because they did not dress the way they wanted them to. Taking a little poetic license, we can say “Do not tear down the work of God because of clothes.”

Psalms 105-106 and Romans 15: 1-20

Psalm 105 is about trusting The LORD. The Israelites were a small band of people compared to the other nations. Despite how small they were, God set Joseph up to become the second in command in Egypt. Joseph used the power God gave him to help the nations survive the terrible famine. The Israelites settled in Egypt, but they became big and the Pharaoh feared them. He imposed harsh work standards on them and oppressed them. God set Moses apart to free them. During their time in the wilderness, God provided for their needs. God takes care of His people.

Psalm 106 is about Israel’s unfaithfulness to God even though He had done all of those wonderful things for them. They had forgotten the blessings that He had heaped on them. Instead, they became jealous of Aaron and Moses. They wished to be back in Egypt where at least their bellies were full. They did not believe God’s promise of the pleasant land. They moaned and grumbled in their tents. They let their hearts stray to idolatry, forsaking the One that had brought them so far.

Instead of remembering all of the wonderful things that God had done in the history of the Israelites, they looked to the other nations. When things are going rough and we are having troubles, it is best to remember all of the wonderful things God has done for us.

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains that the believers must bear the weaknesses of those without strength. Faith is not about pleasing ourselves. To bolster his argument, Paul cites Jesus Himself as the example of not pleasing the self. Jesus asked that the Father remove the cup of judgment from Him while praying in Gethsemane. Despite that request, Jesus also proclaimed “His will be done.” Paul calls the people (and us) to harmony with one another. He encourages us to glorify God together.

Paul also writes about his evangelical aims. He is looking to spread the message of Christ in areas where His name has not been heard. Paul wants to ensure that every nation knows about Jesus.

Psalms 107-108 and Romans 15: 21-33

Psalm 107 gives thanks to God for deliverance. The first verse speaks of God’s faithful love, reinforcing that God’s love is unconditional. Verse four speaks of wandering in the wilderness. Generally, when we read wilderness, it refers to Israel’s time of wandering the desert between leaving Egypt and arriving at the promised land. However, in this psalm, it is more of a generic term. The fact is that all of us wander through wilderness at some point in our lives. Thankfully, God plucks us up out of the wilderness and makes us His.

Psalm 108 is credited to David. This psalm is a combination of Psalm 57:7-11 and Psalm 60: 5-12. The psalmist is asking for victory. There are enemies around him. However, the psalmist knows that God will rescue him.

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains that his missionary efforts have prevented him from visiting. He believes that his work is done in the provinces, so he is confident he can stop in and be assisted by them on his way to Spain. At the time of the writing, he is on his way to Jerusalem to serve the believers there. Paul closes this chapter asking that they pray for him. He asks that they pray for his protection and that the mission is successful.

As believers, do we regularly pray for our family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, and the missionaries taking the Gospel to the lost?

Psalms 109-111 and Romans 16

Psalm 109 is another Davidic psalm. The author asks that God would make the days of his enemies few. Many have come to mock him and repay his love with evil. Notice that he has not taken matters into his own hands. Instead, he is asking God to intervene for him and curse his enemies. The psalmist gives a list of offenses of his enemy. The enemy exploited the afflicted, poor, and broken-hearted. The enemy did not delight in blessing people, but he did delight in cursing people.

Psalm 110 gives royal messianic implications culminating in Christ. The psalm recounts God’s promise to David that he would have an heir on the throne forever.

Psalm 111 is a psalm of praise. The author will praise the Lord with all of his heart. Do we praise God with all of our hearts? His works are good and everything He does is majestic and splendid. He is gracious and compassionate. Truly He is worthy of all praise and adoration!

In the New Testament reading, Paul closes out Romans by commending Phoebe. She was most likely the individual bringing the letter to the people. Paul also thanks Prisca and Aquila for literally risking their necks to save Paul. They also had churches in their homes and instructed Apollos. Paul advises that they not allow any divisive people into their midst. They should not be taken in by folks that do not serve the LORD, but only serve themselves. They use flattering words and smooth talk to get what they want. Unfortunately, we see that happen today. There are some that will twist Scripture to manipulate people. That is not right. The best way we can protect ourselves from that is knowing the Scriptures ourselves.

Tertius closes the letter out with a greeting. Tertius was the scribe that recorded all that Paul had to say in this letter.

Psalms 112-115 and 1 Corinthians 1

Psalm 112 gives insight into true happiness. A happy person is one that fears the Lord and takes delight in His commands. Do the LORD’s commands bring us joy? I hope and pray that they do. They are given for our benefit. The psalm also talks about the believer lending generously, being compassionate, gracious, and righteous. He or she does not fear bad news, because their hearts are confident in the LORD. Do we have that confidence?

Psalm 113 gives praise to God while Psalm 114 recounts the time that God delivered the Israelites. The sea and the Jordan retreated because of The LORD. Rock turned to water by God’s power. He has done and continues to do some amazing things in our world today.

Psalm 115 sings of giving glory only to God. God is the One that is worthy of worship and praise. My hope and prayer is that we will spend a good amount of time each day giving Him praises and thanking Him for what He has done for us. The psalm warns against idolatry. The pagans bow down to these little statues that have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears that cannot hear and hands that cannot feel. The statues are dead. God Almighty is the living God. Praise should go to Him, not a statue, not another person, money, fame, or anything else. God alone deserves the praise.

We start on 1 Corinthians. I am a huge fan of this book because Paul uses hyperbole, rhetorical questions, and a variety of other methods to convince his audience of the truth of Jesus. The overall point of this book was to communicate to the Corinthians the necessity of accepting the Lord’s authority over their lives. Paul begins the letter with a general greeting and expressing his thanks to God for them. He will strengthen them to the end and they will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Despite the blessings that have heaped upon the church, there are some issues of division. There are some that think they are better than others because they were baptized by Apollos while others were baptized by Paul or Cephas. For some reason, the people thought that the person baptizing them gave some level of power. Paul quickly puts that notion to bed. The only important thing about being baptized is that they are baptized in Christ. They are baptized in the ultimate authority. They should not boast in anything, but Christ.

Psalms 112-115 and 1 Corinthians 1

Psalm 112 gives insight into true happiness. A happy person is one that fears the Lord and takes delight in His commands. Do the LORD’s commands bring us joy? I hope and pray that they do. They are given for our benefit. The psalm also talks about the believer lending generously, being compassionate, gracious, and righteous. He or she does not fear bad news, because their hearts are confident in the LORD. Do we have that confidence?

Psalm 113 gives praise to God while Psalm 114 recounts the time that God delivered the Israelites. The sea and the Jordan retreated because of The LORD. Rock turned to water by God’s power. He has done and continues to do some amazing things in our world today.

Psalm 115 sings of giving glory only to God. God is the One that is worthy of worship and praise. My hope and prayer is that we will spend a good amount of time each day giving Him praises and thanking Him for what He has done for us. The psalm warns against idolatry. The pagans bow down to these little statues that have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears that cannot hear and hands that cannot feel. The statues are dead. God Almighty is the living God. Praise should go to Him, not a statue, not another person, money, fame, or anything else. God alone deserves the praise.

We start on 1 Corinthians. I am a huge fan of this book because Paul uses hyperbole, rhetorical questions, and a variety of other methods to convince his audience of the truth of Jesus. The overall point of this book was to communicate to the Corinthians the necessity of accepting the Lord’s authority over their lives. Paul begins the letter with a general greeting and expressing his thanks to God for them. He will strengthen them to the end, and they will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Despite the blessings that have heaped upon the church, there are some issues of division. There are some that think they are better than others because they were baptized by Apollos while others were baptized by Paul or Cephas. For some reason, the people thought that the person baptizing them gave some level of power. Paul quickly puts that notion to bed. The only important thing about being baptized is that they are baptized in Christ. They are baptized in the ultimate authority. They should not boast in anything, but Christ.

Psalms 116-118 and 1 Corinthians 2

Psalm 116 is a praise for deliverance. God has made the psalmist’s soul happy because He has delivered him from his enemies. God has blessed him tremendously and there is no way that he can repay The LORD for His goodness. The author promises to make a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of Yahweh.

Psalm 117 is a universal call to praise. All nations are called to give Him glory. Can you imagine what the world would look like if every person in every nation called upon The LORD and gave Him praise?

Psalm 118 gives thanks for victory. God answered the psalmist in his distress. Man could not help him, only God could. Rather than look to nobles or other people for help, the author looks to The LORD. Everyone else will disappoint or fail, God never fails. His love endures forever.

In the New Testament reading, Paul proclaims that he came to the Corinthians in weakness. He did not have persuasive speech or words of wisdom. However, he came with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit. Paul writes about God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery and a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. The secret he refers to here is the secret of the Gospel message. In my estimation, the predestination that Paul speaks about here has less to do with predestining those that will come to faith in The LORD. Instead, it refers to the fact that even before the foundations of the universe had been laid, the plan of salvation was already there. The Father had predestined the Son to bring salvation to the earth.

Psalm 119:1-48 and 1 Corinthians 3

Psalm 119 is by far the longest psalm in the Bible. The psalm begins with the proclamation that those who live according to the LORD’s instruction are happy. Those who seek His decrees are happy! I think this is one issue that we have in showing people who Christ is. Outsiders looking in see Christianity and following God as a set of rules and regulations. Perhaps one of the problems is that some folks on the inside of Christianity do not communicate what a blessing it is to have these marching orders from The LORD? When my kids were younger, I made the mistake of saying before dinner, “Wait, we have to pray.” After a while, my kids started saying that they had to pray. So, I worked to change the phrasing to, “Before we eat, we get to pray.” It is a privilege, not a burden to follow God’s commands.

In the New Testament reading, Paul admonishes the people for not being spiritually mature. They are still arguing on who they belong to, whether it is Apollos or Paul. They miss the point because they belong to Christ. Apollos and Paul are merely God’s servants. The Corinthians should be working to building themselves up in The LORD. Christ is the foundation and as they build on that foundation, the work will one day disclose itself.

Since you are reading this, I think we would agree that a person cannot expect to develop spiritual maturity if they only devote one hour of their weeks to studying God’s word. If we want to develop a strong relationship with Him, we have to put in the work. If I were to only talk to Dania for an hour every week, everyone would probably guess that our relationship is week. I dare say that it would be week if she and I only spoke once a week for an hour. If folks want to develop a deeper relationship with God Almighty, intentional and daily work needs to happen. A weightlifter would not expect to get stronger by only lifting weights one day a week. Why would our faith get stronger if we only use it one day a week?

Psalm 119: 49-104 and 1 Corinthians 4

The psalmist declares that he receives hope from God’s word. As believers, God’s word can be a source of comfort to us, even during times of trial. The psalmist proclaims that he has kept God’s ordinances, seeking God’s favor with all of his heart. He identifies that God has treated him well, The LORD is good and what He does is good. A lot of these verses relay the importance of maintaining God’s commands. They also show the deep relationship that the psalmist has with The LORD. As His people, we can have a deep relationship with Him as well.

In the New Testament reading, Paul is reminding the Corinthians of their need to be humble. Some folks have become arrogant. From what we can gather in the letter, there are some that want to evaluate Paul. However, he will not take it from them. The One that evaluates him is God Almighty.

Things have gotten pretty rough in Corinth. There is no one there to set the example, so Paul has sent his protege Timothy to them. The point of sending Timothy there was so that he could show the Corinthians how to act.

Psalm 119: 105-176 and 1 Corinthians 5

The Lord’s word is a light for the path and a lamp for the feet. It will keep us from stumbling. It provides good guidance. If we want to be upright, then we should immerse ourselves in God’s word.

The Psalm addresses the issue of double minded people. The psalmist is still being pressed by the wicked folks around him. They do not fear God. The psalmist does, so he will not fear the evil ones. Instead, he fears The LORD.

This psalm wraps up with praise for God and His righteousness. The last stanza asks that the author’s cry would reach The LORD and that he would receive understanding. Throughout the psalms, and this psalm in particular, we can see the broad variety of emotions that the psalmist communicates to God. God does not expect us to come to Him with our stuff in order and communicate what we have done. Instead, He wants us to come to Him with our hurts, our wounds, our fears, our scars, our thanks, our praise, and our worship. Whatever we are going through, we can take it to God. He is always there to listen!

In the New Testament reading, Paul addresses an issue of sexual immorality. From what we can gather in the text, a son is in an incestuous relationship with his step mother. This immorality was not even tolerated by the Romans. In fact, it was a capital crime that led to the guilty either being executed or banished. Yet, this is happening and no one in the church is addressing it. The people are puffed up with pride rather than feeling grief about it. They are willingly choosing to not address the problem.

We know that we are not to judge. That is God’s business. However, it is important that as believers we keep each other accountable. I have a great group of guys that keep in touch with me through the week and we encourage one another in prayer and call each other out when one of us starts getting off the path. We do that because we are all believers and we want to get better. That is not judgment, that is accountability. In the same vein, we cannot judge those on the outside of Jesus because they do not know. We cannot expect those outside the faith to act like those inside. We would not expect a dog to act like a cat and vice versa. Why would we expect non Christians to act like Christians?

Psalms 120-123 and 1 Corinthians 6

Psalm 120 is one of the first psalms of ascents. The psalms of ascents were designed for pilgrimage processions to celebrate the seasonal feasts in Jerusalem. This psalm speaks of lying lips and deceitful tongues, referring to gossip and rumors. Meschech was located southeast of the Black Sea and Kedar was an eastern plain located at the norther part of the Syrian-Arabian desert.

Psalm 121 sings of God’s protection. The psalmist lifts his eyes to the the mountains and sees that his help comes from The LORD. The LORD made the mountains, He is the maker of heaven and earth. He protects His people, so they have nothing to fear.

Psalm 122 prays for peace in Jerusalem and Psalm 123 seeks God’s favor.

In the New Testament reading, Paul addresses an issue of believers filing lawsuits against other believers. It is sad that these believers could not just let things go and work it out amongst themselves. Since they can’t just turn the other cheek, they wind up taking their issues to the worldly court system to settle a matter that they could not. It is a blight on the church as a whole. How can these folks promote forgiveness while failing to practice forgiveness amongst each other?

Paul also addresses the issue of sin in the life of a believer. Everything is permissible. However, not everything is good. Not everything builds up. As believers, we should seek to engage in activities that build up and give glory to God instead of seeking out pleasures for ourselves. We have been purchased for a very high price. Since we were bought by God through Christ’s blood, we should glorify God with our bodies.

Psalms 124-127 and 1 Corinthians 7: 1-24

Psalm 124 is a Davidic song of ascents. This psalm focuses on the help The LORD has given them. If God had not been on their side, then they would not be spared from the enemy. If God had not been on their side, when the evil men attacked them, they would have destroyed them. God is looking over them. That is not to say that David and his men did not have to put any effort into it. We cannot pray for a hole and then just stand with a shovel in our hands.

Psalm 125 speaks of Israel’s stability. The nation’s stability comes from The LORD. The LORD will banish evil doers, but the upright will prosper. Psalm 126 gives praise for Zion’s restoration. This one closes by saying that the one carrying a bag of seed weeps, but will return with shouts of joy as he carries sheaves back. This again points us to the need to do some work. The seed is not going to sew itself. As believers, we have to do some work if we expect to see any fruit.

Psalm 127 speaks about the futility of doing things outside of God’s plan. Unless it is built by The LORD, it will falter and fail. Even if guards stand a diligent watch at night, it is futile unless God is protecting that city. As we develop our plans, let’s commit them to The LORD. He will ensure their success.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives advice to married couples. Paul explains to the husband and wives that they belong to the other now. They are a partnership. They must submit to one another. Paul also gives advice to anyone unmarried to not get married unless they lack self control.

The Corinthians all come from various walks of life. Paul encourages them to remain in whatever life situation they are in. This is so that they can have an influence on the people around them. Similarly, as believers, we are not to hide ourselves from the world. Faith is a contact sport and sometimes the best sermons are preached by a brother or sister that serves and loves like Christ without speaking a word.

Psalms 128-131 and 1 Corinthians 7: 25-40

Psalm 128 expresses the happiness people find when they fear The LORD. If we fear God, then we will seek to do His will rather than follow the will of the world. Those that fear The LORD will prospers.

Psalm 129 brings concerns about the oppression the psalmist has felt. Not only has the author been oppressed, but so has Israel. The psalmist asks The LORD to make their enemies like grass on the rooftops.

Psalm 130 is a call for Israel to put their hope in The LORD. He is the One that will redeem them. He is the One that will take away their sins. The LORD is their only hope, they should put all of their trust in Him. How has God delivered you?

Psalm 131 is a Davidic psalm. The author wants to go back to basics. He wants his heart to be humble and not filled with pride. He wants to approach God with a child like faith.

In the New Testament reading, Paul continues talking about marriage issues. Essentially, he says that it is better for the believers not to get married. His reasoning is that if they are married, then their spouses will serve as a distraction from their work for The LORD. If they have spouses, then they will have to consider the spouse as they move forward. This is why it is important to find a spouse that is also a believer. That way you can work together for The LORD.

Print

Psalms 128-131 and 1 Corinthians 7: 25-40

Psalm 128 expresses the happiness people find when they fear The LORD. If we fear God, then we will seek to do His will rather than follow the will of the world. Those that fear The LORD will prospers.

Psalm 129 brings concerns about the oppression the psalmist has felt. Not only has the author been oppressed, but so has Israel. The psalmist asks The LORD to make their enemies like grass on the rooftops.

Psalm 130 is a call for Israel to put their hope in The LORD. He is the One that will redeem them. He is the One that will take away their sins. The LORD is their only hope, they should put all of their trust in Him. How has God delivered you?

Psalm 131 is a Davidic psalm. The author wants to go back to basics. He wants his heart to be humble and not filled with pride. He wants to approach God with a child like faith.

In the New Testament reading, Paul continues talking about marriage issues. Essentially, he says that it is better for the believers not to get married. His reasoning is that if they are married, then their spouses will serve as a distraction from their work for The LORD. If they have spouses, then they will have to consider the spouse as they move forward. This is why it is important to find a spouse that is also a believer. That way you can work together for The LORD.

Psalms 132-135 and 1 Corinthians 8

Psalm 132 is a request that God would remember the trials and hardship that David endured. David did not have an easy time getting to the throne. He had many years of treachery he had to fight through. God brought David through it all and placed him on the throne.

Psalm 133 opens with a reminder of how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) get along and live together in harmony. Parents do not like it when their children fight. Our preference is that they would get along. On a larger scale, God prefers that we all as brothers and sisters in Christ get along. As a bunch of believers, do we work together to move God’s mission? Or do we sew discord amongst the body? If we are sewing discord, what does that show to people outside of the faith?

Psalm 134 is a call to evening worship and Psalm 135 is a psalm of praise. It praises God because He is great. He freed the Israelites from the Egyptians. His name endures forever, His reputation will carry through the generations. His reputation carries on today!

In the New Testament reading, Paul writes about the issue of believers eating meat that had been offered to idols. From Paul’s vantage, there is really no issue here. The meat was offered to something that is not real, so it has not been tainted. However, the consumption of this meat could cause people to stumble. Since some had come from pagan backgrounds, it was hard for them to wrap their brains around the fact that this meat was okay to eat. Paul explains that it is better for them to abstain from eating the offered meat if it would cause another one to walk away from the faith or struggle in their walk. Paul closes this chapter by saying, “if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.” Do we care enough about our brothers and sisters to go as far as Paul would?

Psalms 136-138 and 1 Corinthians 9

Psalm 136 is a great psalm that reminds us that God’s love endures forever. There is no end to it. Give thanks to The LORD for He is good, His love endures forever! He does the great wonders, He spread land on the waters, He made the great lights. God can do anything, He created all of this out of nothing (ex nihilo). God is the creator, His love endures forever, and we should give Him praise.

Psalm 137 is mournful in tone. This particular psalm was written during the time of the exile. the exiles would gather and weep over Zion by the rivers of Babylon. The psalm asks how they can sing on foreign soil. It is a legitimate question. These people are grieved because they lost their land, the land that God Himself gave them, and now they simply want to weep. The psalm closes with a description of the horrific atrocities meted out on them. They have suffered tremendous injustice. The psalmist asks for The LORD to intervene and destroy the enemy.

Psalm 138 is more thankful in tone. This psalm speaks of God’s answer to prayer and fulfillment of His promises.

In the New Testament reading, Paul asks if he and Barnabas do not have the same rights as the disciples do. He asks if they have sown spiritual things is it not right for them to reap material benefit. He reminds them that the temple priests were fed off of the temple offerings. Essentially, he is saying that he is entitled to compensation for what he has been doing, but he has not taken any compensation. Paul was a tent maker by trade and that is how he made his living.

This chapter closes with the reminder that they are all running a race. They should run with endurance as if they were after the crown. We should put all of our effort into running the race for Christ. We should bring our bodies under strict discipline. As believers today, we have an awesome opportunity to make an impact for The LORD. Let’s do the work He has called us to and give all the glory to Him!

Psalms 139-141 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Psalm 139 sings of God’s immense knowledge. It is hard from our finite human brains to really fathom how involved and how knowledgeable God is. A great example that was given to me by a mentor many moons ago goes along these lines: When you sit and watch the sun beam come through a pane of glass, you see little flecks of dust in the air. God is aware of all of those flecks of dust. He even sees the ones that we do not see. That is how big God is! We could spend our entire lives trying to sum up how great and awesome He is, but we would never be able to.

Psalm 140 is a cry for deliverance from the enemy. The proud men hide a trap, the psalmist asks that he will not fall into it. He asks that those who bring trouble on him will have hot coals heaped upon them.

Psalm 141 is another prayer for protection, but this time it is not the enemy the psalmist is concerned about. Instead, he is asking to be delivered from sinners. He asks that he not desire the things that the sinner has. Instead, he asks for correction by the righteous. The psalmist is more concerned about being holy than the comforts of the world. What would we rather do? Would we rather do what makes us happy or what makes us holy?

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Israelites had witnessed the wonderful things God had done for them, but they still rebelled. They were freed by Him, they were led by the pillar of smoke and fire, they were fed in the desert, and they drank water from the rock. Despite all of this, some still managed to stray from God. As believers, we must guard ourselves from falling into the same trap!

Psalms 142-144 and 1 Corinthians 10: 1-33

Psalm 142 was written by David when he was in a cave hiding from Saul. David did not have an easy path to taking the throne. Saul sought several opportunities to kill David. David was presented with an opportunity in a cave to kill Saul, but he did not take it. David’s reliance was on The LORD. He was not going to take matters into his own hands.

Psalm 143 is a cry for help. The psalmist asks that The LORD would hear his prayer. The individual’s desperation comes from the fact that his enemy is in pursuit and is crushing him. The psalmist asks God to answer him quickly because his spirit is failing. He asks that God protect him and destroy his enemies because he is God’s servant.

Psalm 144 is a Davidic psalm. This psalm asks what we as humans are that He would think so highly of them. We are like a breath, a vapor that passes in the morning. Yet God still is concerned about us. He is involved in our lives. As believers, we should rejoice in the fact that we are blessed by God.

In the New Testament reading, Paul warns them against idolatry. He seems to go back on the food offered to idols and now say that it is not good to eat this meat. The reasoning is that it was offered to an idol. Since idols are not really anything, the meat was offered to a demon and he does not want the people to participate with demons. They cannot share in the LORD’s table and the table of demons. We cannot shake the devil’s hand and say we are only kidding. I have known confessed Christians in my life that will go to the rock concerts of satanic bands. When confronted about it, the individual nine times out of ten simply says, “Oh, it’s just a joke.” To quote my lovely wife Dania, “Jokes are funny.” Even if it is just a joke, is that kind of entertainment really good for developing us spiritually?

Paul encourages the people to do everything they do for God’s glory.

Psalms 145-147 and 1 Corinthians 11: 1-16

Psalm 145 praises God’s greatness. The psalmist declares that God gives food at the proper time and that He opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing. God always answers prayer. He is faithful in that. His answer is always what is right. However, it might not seem all that pleasant to us when we first receive the answer. He is righteous in all His ways. Even when it’s rough and we do not get the exact answer we were hoping for, we can trust in Him. His answer is always the best!

Psalm 146 speaks of God’s compassion. God is eternal and He deserves the glory. He deserves our trust. No one else can save. Only God can.

Psalm 147 praises God for the restoration of Jerusalem. The restoring of Jerusalem is both physical and spiritual. God is mighty and strong, He is not impressed with a horse’s strength! All praise and honor belong to Him!

In the New Testament reading, we get into a bit of a contentious topic. I have known folks in the modern church that still think dogmatically about this topic. Verse 16 is tricky. The wording Paul uses is obscure and there are a variety of theories as to what he meant. Some argue that he is stating that the church has no other custom than men having uncovered heads and females wearing head coverings. Others argue that Paul is admitting that there is no standard set.

Why would Paul be so concerned about the head coverings? According to some of the research I have done, in the pagan temple days, the men would go to pray by taking their tunics and covering their heads. Meanwhile the women in these pagan temples would perform their worship without having their heads covered. Based on this, I would think Paul is simply trying to prevent them from engaging in worship that might look like it is pagan worship. Further, Paul’s argument that a man’s long hair is shameful to him seems like it only fits in the context of the times since the Old Testament judge Samson derived all of his strength from his hair.

Psalms 148-150 and 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34

Psalm 148 calls all creation to give God praise. The angels, sun, moon, stars, sea monsters, and everything should give praise to God. He has created it all. Why wouldn’t we give Him our praise and adoration?

Psalm 149 is a praise for God’s triumph. A “new song” typically denotes an intervention from God that the writer has not previously experienced. This psalm describes the exaltation of God as being in their mouths, acting as a double edged sword.

Psalm 150 speaks of where God is praised. He is praised everywhere!

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds the Corinthians about the instruction to observe the LORD’s supper. Unfortunately, there has been a division among them when they come together. It is important that the body of believers are not divided, but united under Christ. Paul decries them for not sharing with one another. From what we gather here, everyone brought their own elements to observe the supper. If anyone was lacking, then they continued to lack. No one was stepping in to meet the need.

Paul warns that whoever eats the meal unworthily eats damnation. It is a call for the people observing the meal to actually act in a Christ like manner. There are folks in the Corinthian church (and churches today) that have all of the head knowledge about Christ and God’s Word, but still lack in functional knowledge. Actions speak louder than words. These people Paul is admonishing here show that they knew Christ in their heads, but it had not changed their hearts. My hope and prayer is that Christ will make us more and more like Him each and every day.

Proverbs 1-2 and 1 Corinthians 12

We start on Proverbs today. Proverbs is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I try to spend some time in this book each day because they hold wisdom and truth. The majority of the Proverbs were written by Solomon. If we look back to when Solomon became king, God told him to ask whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. The LORD delivered on that promise. Since that is the case, we must conclude that Solomon is one of the wisest people in the Bible.

We start the proverbs speaking of the goodness of wisdom. Some folks mistake being smart with being wise. There is a difference, though. Smart people learn from their mistakes. Wise people learn from other people’s mistakes.

Violent people do what they can to entice the young person to join them in a murder. They will kill someone and divide the plunder amongst themselves. Wisdom advises to flee these people. Nothing good can come out of it. Wisdom asks how long they will love ignorance. Unfortunately, sometimes people will not learn from their mistakes of the mistakes of others. My Sailor buddies know full well that every time a ship puts into port, we have a series of briefs instructing the squids on the places they can and cannot go, the social norms and mores of the area they are visiting, and the kind of behavior they are expected to engage in. Even though we spend hours training these men and women on the expectations, there is inevitably a trail of Sailors outside the Chief’s Mess standing by for their Discipline Review Board after the first night in port.

In the New Testament reading, Paul calls the Corinthians to unity. As believers, we all have unique spiritual gifts that God has given us. We should use these gifts to glorify and honor God. There are a lot of working parts that make a Sunday morning service happen. There are the ushers, the deacons, the choir, the nursery and children’s church leaders, the tech people, the folks that pay the bills, etc. Which one is the most important? All of them are vital! All of them are important. Let’s use the gifts that God has given us for His glory and honor!

Print

Proverbs 1-2 and 1 Corinthians 12

We start on Proverbs today. Proverbs is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I try to spend some time in this book each day because they hold wisdom and truth. The majority of the Proverbs were written by Solomon. If we look back to when Solomon became king, God told him to ask whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people. The LORD delivered on that promise. Since that is the case, we must conclude that Solomon is one of the wisest people in the Bible.

We start the proverbs speaking of the goodness of wisdom. Some folks mistake being smart with being wise. There is a difference, though. Smart people learn from their mistakes. Wise people learn from other people’s mistakes.

Violent people do what they can to entice the young person to join them in a murder. They will kill someone and divide the plunder amongst themselves. Wisdom advises to flee these people. Nothing good can come out of it. Wisdom asks how long they will love ignorance. Unfortunately, sometimes people will not learn from their mistakes of the mistakes of others. My Sailor buddies know full well that every time a ship puts into port, we have a series of briefs instructing the squids on the places they can and cannot go, the social norms and mores of the area they are visiting, and the kind of behavior they are expected to engage in. Even though we spend hours training these men and women on the expectations, there is inevitably a trail of Sailors outside the Chief’s Mess standing by for their Discipline Review Board after the first night in port.

In the New Testament reading, Paul calls the Corinthians to unity. As believers, we all have unique spiritual gifts that God has given us. We should use these gifts to glorify and honor God. There are a lot of working parts that make a Sunday morning service happen. There are the ushers, the deacons, the choir, the nursery and children’s church leaders, the tech people, the folks that pay the bills, etc. Which one is the most important? All of them are vital! All of them are important. Let’s use the gifts that God has given us for His glory and honor!

Proverbs 3-4 and 1 Corinthians 13

Proverbs 3 tells us to trust in the LORD with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. This, of course, is a lot easier said than done. If we keep with Him, then He will guide us on the right paths. The text also speaks about wisdom and its nature. Those who find wisdom will be happy. Wisdom keeps us safe and out of harm’s way. This all seems pretty self explanatory, which begs the question as to why so many of us (me included) can get ourselves into some serious jams from time to time. I would say it is probably because we left wisdom for a bit and leaned on our own understanding.

Proverbs 4 speaks about the father’s example. Unfortunately, not all of us have had the greatest fathers in our lives. Some fathers set a bad examples that cause their children to stumble. Children emulate what they see. If we want them to go one way, we have to emulate that example for them. Parents have influence on their children. Whether it is good or bad, the children will pick it up.

The New Testament reading is used a lot in wedding ceremonies. I have used it for a couple of weddings I have officiated. This is a great example of what love is. However, Paul’s intent with this chapter was to admonish the Corinthians for not acting in love. They can be doing great and wonderful things, but those acts mean nothing if love is not behind them. The Corinthians would have recognized the actions in verses 5 and 6 as things they are guilty of. As believers, there should be love in everything we do. If there is no love in it, it will be like a noisy gong to those around us.

Paul also states that when he was a child he spoke like a child. As he grew up and became a man, he put aside childish things. Prayerfully, as we mature in our faith, we will also put aside the childish things.

Proverbs 5-6 and 1 Corinthians 14: 1-20

Proverbs 5 is a warning to avoid seduction. The forbidden woman drips honey from her lips. She uses smooth talk, but that will only lead to bitterness. Better for a man to just avoid her altogether. Don’t let her even get near the house. Otherwise, he might fall into her trap. There are traps all around us that are set to take us off God. What do we do to avoid them?

Proverbs 6 has a lot of practical advice. It is best to avoid being entangled in financial situations with standers and even neighbors. When we put ourselves into these situations, we under the power of the neighbor or stranger. The proverb warns against laziness. The ant is not told what to do. It just knows what to gather to prepare for the upcoming winter. No sense in being lazy. Instead, we can get out there and be productive. This proverb gives us the list of things that God hates. He hates six things and finds seven detestable, arrogance, lying, murder, hearts that devise wicked plans, feet running toward evil, a lying witness, and one who stirs up trouble among the brothers. Are we guilty of any of these?

In the New Testament reading Paul addresses the issue with different languages. Some of your translations probably say tongues. If we remember back to Acts, when the Holy Spirit comes down, the believers are said to speak in tongues. In that situation, if a person was speaking Spanish, non Spanish speakers could understand that person in their own language. What is happening in the church at Corinth is there is a group that is speaking in tongues in the group. Paul is not discrediting tongues. However, he is saying that if they are speaking in a language that the others cannot stand then it is useless. Prophesying would be better than just speaking in these languages because at least the prophesying would build up the other believers. Instead they will become frustrated because of their inability to understand. It seems that what Paul is really trying to say here is that if they are going to speak in tongues, it is better they do it alone or have an interpreter there. This begs the question as to whether these Corinthians were speaking this way as a show to the others?

Proverbs 7-8 and 1 Corinthians 14: 21-40

Proverbs 7 tells the story of a young man’s seduction. A woman dressed as a prostitute finds a young man. She brings religion into it saying that she has made her fellowship offerings. She indicates that she was on the search for him, but in reality, she was looking for whoever would fall into her trap. Just like an ox goes to the slaughter and a bird flies into a snare, so this man is walking into a trap and it will cost him his life.

Proverbs 8 gives wisdom anthropomorphic qualities. Wisdom calls out and makes her voice heard, begging the people to learn to be shrewd. Wisdom calls them to have discernment. Wisdom was made at the beginning of creation. When it was born, the watery depths were not there. Wisdom has been around for a long time. As believers, we would do well to go with wisdom. If we miss wisdom, it is to our detriment.

In the New Testament reading, Paul continues speaking about the different languages or tongues. He quotes out of Isaiah 28:11-2, stating that God will speak to the people of other languages, but they will still not listen. Paul uses this to show that the tongues were meant as a sign for unbelievers. It was for their benefit, not the believer’s benefit. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for believers, not unbelievers.

Proverbs 9-10 and 1 Corinthians 15: 1-32

Proverbs 9 describes wisdom versus foolishness. Wisdom builds a house that has seven pillars. Seven is the number of perfection. The inexperienced are welcome. A mocker cannot be rebuked because he will hate the person that rebukes him. A wise man will love the one that rebukes him. Wise people do not shy away from correction. Instead, they become more wise. Fools dismiss instruction and it leads to their demise.

Proverbs 10 is a collection of Solomon’s proverbs. Some of my favorites in this bunch are:

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all offenses.

When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

In the New Testament reading Paul explains how he came to know Christ “abnormally”. Christ appeared to the disciples, He also appeared to Paul. Paul says he was abnormally born because he had persecuted the church before his calling. Paul did nothing to get where he is now, it was all through God’s grace!

Paul also explains that the resurrection is essential to the Christian faith. There were some back then, as there are now, that claim Christ did not resurrect. If that is the case, then there would be no hope for us. Since we know that Christ resurrected, we have hope in that. His victory over death ensures our victory over death.

This chapter contains another one of the Scriptures often quoted out of context. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Other translations say to eat, drink, and be merry. Generally, when this Scripture is used out of context, it is to justify some kind of behavior. Paul is not saying to go out and seek pleasures today because tomorrow we are going to die. Instead, he is saying that if there is nothing beyond this life, this life is as good as it is going to get for them.

Proverbs 11-12 and 1 Corinthians 15: 33-58

Proverbs 11 has more fantastic advice in it. God hates dishonest scales. God is just and fair. When pride comes, disgrace follows. Humility brings wisdom. The proverb speaks against gossip. Gossip reveals secrets, but the trustworthy person keeps secrets. As believers, the best way to stop gossip is to not repeat the gossip if it reaches our ears.

Proverbs 12 is more of the same! Those that love discipline love knowledge, but a fool hates correction. We do not like to be wrong. However, just because we do not want to be wrong does not mean that we are not from time to time. It is best to take whatever correction and learn from it.

In the New Testament reading Paul warns about the kind of company we keep. Bad company corrupts good morals. This is not to say that we should be unkind toward folks that are not on the right path. However, it is saying that we have to choose our friends carefully. I had to pick my liberty buddies very carefully when I was on deployment. If I went out with the wrong crowd, it could lead to disaster. Prayerfully we have friends in our lives with Christian morals that keep us sharp! All of us need those kinds of friends that will help us out when we are struggling and will not lead us on a path to destruction.

Proverbs 13-14 and 1 Corinthians 16

Proverbs 13 speaks about the wise one responding to discipline. A mocker will not listen to rebuke. From time to time my children will come home and complain about a teacher yelling at them during the course of the day. Nine times out of ten, when we press the kids, we find that they were not necessarily behaving well when they were corrected. We also tend to find out that the teacher did not raise his or her voice either. It was a quick decisive correction. We should not fear correction. How can we expect to get any better if we will not be given advice?

Proverbs 14 explains that a wise woman builds her house. A foolish one will tear it down. A sensible man’s wisdom is to consider the way he is going. A fool’s stupidity and confidence in himself will lead to his ruin. A wise person will play the movie out to see how things can potentially go before they make a move. Rather than react to something, they take the time to ponder which way to go and then they respond. As believers, we can always evaluate the direction we are on. It is vital to our growth as followers of Christ.

In the New Testament reading, Paul closes up this letter to Corinth. He explains that he is trying to get out there to visit them, but he is unsure of which way he will go. Paul is open to where God sends him. Are we open to where God is going to send us?

Paul also tells them if Timothy comes, they need to treat him well. Timothy was a young mentor. He was so young that some of the believers did not want to take any instruction for him. We should not discredit someone because of their age. I have met people that are very old, but still very foolish. Others are very young, but wise beyond their years. Age is not a mark of maturity.

Proverbs 15-16 and 2 Corinthians 1

Proverbs 16 starts with the wisdom about gentle answers. If we answer someone gently, even if the answer is not something he or she wants to hear, then it will go well. However, if the answer is given in a harsh manner, it will stir up wrath. When I was stationed on USS MaHan, our Combat Systems Officer (CSO) was asked a question by the Executive Officer (XO). I do not know what kind of tone the CSO had when he answered, but the XO did not like it. So he grabbed a rolled up tech manual and whacked the back of the CSO’s head. Needless to say, the XO was not around much longer. The question remains, if the CSO had given a more gentle answer, would the exchange have happened? Our tone matters when we correct people.

This proverb also gives us some “better than” examples. It is better to have a house of love and be poor than be in a house with riches and bitterness. I think we can all agree that many of these “reality” TV stars tend to have plenty of money, but a whole lot of drama that comes along with it. Which would we rather have?

Proverbs 16:3 is one of my absolute favorites. When we commit our plans to the LORD, our plans will be achieved. God has been very good to me. I had a plan and I committed it to Him. At first things seemed crazy and for a while I thought He was leading me on a different path than where I landed. I remained committed to Him and I landed out here with my awesome wife, kids, and fantastic church family.

2 Corinthians is another one of Paul’s deeply personal letters. There is a debate on why he wrote this letter. Some scholars contend that Paul wrote a very rebuking letter that was not met with much enthusiasm form the Corinthians. Another theory is that the first letter Paul sent was not followed and Timothy reported back all of the things he witnessed while he was in Corinth. Either way, something wrong was happening in Corinth and Paul was determined to correct it.

Print

Proverbs 15-16 and 2 Corinthians 1

Proverbs 16 starts with the wisdom about gentle answers. If we answer someone gently, even if the answer is not something he or she wants to hear, then it will go well. However, if the answer is given in a harsh manner, it will stir up wrath. When I was stationed on USS MaHan, our Combat Systems Officer (CSO) was asked a question by the Executive Officer (XO). I do not know what kind of tone the CSO had when he answered, but the XO did not like it. So he grabbed a rolled up tech manual and whacked the back of the CSO’s head. Needless to say, the XO was not around much longer. The question remains, if the CSO had given a more gentle answer, would the exchange have happened? Our tone matters when we correct people.

This proverb also gives us some “better than” examples. It is better to have a house of love and be poor than be in a house with riches and bitterness. I think we can all agree that many of these “reality” TV stars tend to have plenty of money, but a whole lot of drama that comes along with it. Which would we rather have?

Proverbs 16:3 is one of my absolute favorites. When we commit our plans to the LORD, our plans will be achieved. God has been very good to me. I had a plan and I committed it to Him. At first things seemed crazy and for a while I thought He was leading me on a different path than where I landed. I remained committed to Him and I landed out here with my awesome wife, kids, and fantastic church family.

2 Corinthians is another one of Paul’s deeply personal letters. There is a debate on why he wrote this letter. Some scholars contend that Paul wrote a very rebuking letter that was not met with much enthusiasm form the Corinthians. Another theory is that the first letter Paul sent was not followed and Timothy reported back all of the things he witnessed while he was in Corinth. Either way, something wrong was happening in Corinth and Paul was determined to correct it.

Proverbs 17-18 and 2 Corinthians 2

These proverbs continue to promote peace and wisdom above all else. It is better for us to go hungry and live without and have peace than live in a place of abundance with strife. Those who mock the poor mock God and those that rejoice when people are destitute will be punished. It is better for someone to come across a bear robbed of her cubs than to run into a man and his foolishness. We have a fair amount of bears up on Gray Hill. A few have come through the backyard. Whenever they are relatively small, there is concern that it is a cub and the mom is close by. It would be dangerous to get between the mom and her babies. However, it is even more treacherous to be stuck between a person and their foolishness. It is easy to get wrapped up in it if we are not careful. I pray God gives us discerning hearts and minds to recognize foolhardy behaviors.

In the New Testament reading Paul confides that he has decided NOT to come back to see them. The last visit he had with them led to many being discouraged. They did not like what he had to say. Misery loves company, so all of the upset folks would have been able to air their grievances among themselves. Paul, since he was the source of woe, was unable to have fellowship and be encouraged by anyone. Unfortunately, the Corinthians were upset about the truth that Paul was communicating to them. Paul was giving them sound advice on how to live a life devoted to God. In this sense, they shot the messenger last time he came to visit. As a result, he has decided to suspend any travel to them. It is important that we take our burdens and cares to God, but it is also important to have friends that will bear our burdens with us and lift us up when we are going through dark times.

Proverbs 19-20 and 2 Corinthians 3

These proverbs give more contrasting “better a” statements. It is better to be upright and poor than to be a liar and a fool. We are warned against making decisions in a hurry. Certain decisions we make will affect the rest of our lives. We must play the movie out to see where the decision may go.

Wise people resolve conflict. A fool is able to get into an argument or a fight with ease. There are folks we will run into that are seeking to fight every step of the way. Avoid these people. If we engage, they will merely bring us down to their level and beat us with experience. There is no need to quarrel with people.

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds them that they represent Jesus. All believers represent Christ. How are we doing in our representation of Him?

Paul also reminds them that they are not competent within themselves, they are competent within Christ. It is imperative that they (and we) seek Him and His wisdom out as we walk this earth. He relates the story of Moses and how his face would radiate after he had his alone chats with God. If Moses’s face shone brightly after meeting God, the glory of the Spirit’s ministry will be much more!

Proverbs 21-22 and 2 Corinthians 4

Proverbs 21 identifies God’s control in the very first verse. God is sovereign, He is the sole authority. He can and has used kings and rulers to accomplish His will regardless of whether they were “His”. Remember, God used Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan, to issue His judgment on Israel by way of the exile. As believers, we should never discount what God can do.

The proverb also gives advice on guarding our mouths and tongues. If we do that, we will keep ourselves out of trouble. With that said, I would suggest never using Proverbs 21:9 in an argument with your wife.

Proverbs 22 gives advice against treating others differently. Poor people and rich people were both made by God. They are both loved by Him. As believers, we should not treat anyone differently based on social status. When we get into James later this year, we will read more about the dangers of showing favor to the rich and shunning the poor.

In the New Testament reading Paul compares us to jars of clay. We are vessels for the Holy Spirit. As a result, we are pressured, but we are not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair. Sometimes the things of this world will try to break us. It will not overcome the power of The LORD. The outer person may be destroyed, but it is the inner person we are concerned with. The inner person will grow stronger day by day.

Proverbs 23-24 and 2 Corinthians 5

Proverbs 23 warns against desiring the choice foods of the rulers. That food is deceptive. We see these celebrities and others with all of their wealth and opulence. Some folks crave that fame and fortune. We cannot put our faith in money. It will never satisfy. The problem with money is that there is never enough of it. When a millionaire was asked how much more money he needed before he finally felt he was stable financially his answer was simple. “Just one million more.” Worldly treasure fades.

Proverbs 24 explains that wisdom is better than strength. A wise warrior is better than a strong one. Strength is good, but if we are strong and wise, then we are a lot better off. Wisdom allows us to see how things might go or how best to take down an enemy. Wisdom can also tell us whether it is even worth taking on an enemy.

In the New Testament reading, Paul describes our future after we die. We will be with Jesus. As it stands, while we are walking the earth, we are not home yet. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. We should use this time on earth to please Him and do His will.

Paul details the ministry of reconciliation. Anyone that accepts Christ as Lord and Savior is reconciled to Him. When we are reconciled to Christ, our sins are forgiven. Since we are recipients of such a wonderful gift, we must remember that we are ambassadors for Jesus. We may be the only Bible some people in our lives every see. We must live accordingly. What an awesome responsibility we have as believers! We represent Christ as we walk the earth!

Proverbs 25-27 and 2 Corinthians 6

We move into “Hezekiah’s Collection.” These proverbs were collected by Hezekiah’s men during his reign. He was a good and godly king until later in his rule. Some of these sayings are echoed by Jesus when He is speaking to the crowds. The proverbs advise people not to seat themselves in a higher spot. Instead, they should wait to be moved up. If they do not, then they might be demoted in the eyes of everyone present if the king moves them.

Honor does not belong with a fool like snow does not belong in summer. Slackers are compared to door hinges, they move to and fro, but go nowhere. One particular line I like out of here is “in his own eyes a slacker is wiser than seven men who can answer sensibly.” I have seen that happen in real life. I had a lazy Sailor. We were on deployment and our SHF antenna had issues. I got my team up there to work on it. As I am standing on the deck below to observe my hard working folks, the slacker comes up to me with an energy drink in hand and says, “You know, I know exactly what is wrong with that antenna.” Of course I asked him if he was so smart, why did he not go up there to fix it. His answer was, “Well, yeah I know what’s wrong, but I don’t want to go up there and get in the way.” The conversation did not end well for that young man.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages the people to come to Christ. It is the day of salvation. He then juxtaposes a whole bunch of things we would consider bad such as afflictions, times of hunger, sleepless nights, and labors with pleasant things such as love, patience, and kindness. The world teaches us to chase down the things of comfort, peace, and wealth. Paul is demonstrating that if we have that “shalom”, the peace of God, then we will have peace regardless of what we are going through. My hope and prayer is that we have that shalom in our lives and we never depart from it.

Proverbs 28-29 and 2 Corinthians 7

Proverbs 28 and 29 are the last of Hezekiah’s collection. We could sum up 28:1 with “A guilty conscience needs no accuser.” When we carry guilt, anything can set us into a panic. As believers, we can take our guilt and shame and turn it over to The LORD. No need to carry around that burden. The proverb also encourages us to rebuke one another. When we rebuke it should be done in a respectful manner, though. As long as we are trying to help the individual, even though they might not appreciate it at the moment, they will look back and see that you helped them.

Proverbs 29:1 explains that if someone continues to make the same mistake over and over and over again without learning from it, he or she is doomed beyond recovery. Eventually, the person won’t listen to any counsel and continue in that cycle with no one able to intervene. This proverb also encourages us to think before we speak. There are two things that won’t come back to us, a stone after it is thrown and our words when they leave our lips.

In the New Testament reading Paul asks that they be accepted. Remember this letter was written because he had offended them somehow. Paul goes in to say that he was burdened because of their hurt. At the same time, he is happy because they have corrected the deviant behavior he identified in them.

Proverbs 30-31 and 2 Corinthians 8

Proverbs 30 are the words of Agur. These proverbs were written for specific people, but they can be applied to everyone. This proverb focuses on the unknown when we die. No one has come back after their departure, so there is a certain level of fear of what is on the other side. The author does not claim knowledge, instead he claims stupidity. As my sixth grade teacher used to say, “Half of being smart is admitting that you are stupid.” The proverb encourages us to look to God for strength, wisdom, and protection. He is the source of all.

Proverbs 31 are the words of Lemuel. Lemuel was a king and his mother taught him these words. His mother expressed the need for him to focus on the important things, not the things of the flesh. He should not waste his energy on women. He should abstain from wine and beer because he is a king. Instead, he should give those things to the dying and destitute. When people ask me about giving money to folks that might just go and use it to buy such things, I generally turn their attention to that particular verse.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages them to finish taking up their collection of money. He explains that this is done to help the others that do not have anything. The idea is to even everything out and he references the manna God gave the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness. Those who gathered a lot did not have an excess, those that gathered little had enough. The idea here is that the people should give generously because God will ensure they have enough.

Print

Proverbs 30-31 and 2 Corinthians 8

Proverbs 30 are the words of Agur. These proverbs were written for specific people, but they can be applied to everyone. This proverb focuses on the unknown when we die. No one has come back after their departure, so there is a certain level of fear of what is on the other side. The author does not claim knowledge, instead he claims stupidity. As my sixth grade teacher used to say, “Half of being smart is admitting that you are stupid.” The proverb encourages us to look to God for strength, wisdom, and protection. He is the source of all.

Proverbs 31 are the words of Lemuel. Lemuel was a king and his mother taught him these words. His mother expressed the need for him to focus on the important things, not the things of the flesh. He should not waste his energy on women. He should abstain from wine and beer because he is a king. Instead, he should give those things to the dying and destitute. When people ask me about giving money to folks that might just go and use it to buy such things, I generally turn their attention to that particular verse.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages them to finish taking up their collection of money. He explains that this is done to help the others that do not have anything. The idea is to even everything out and he references the manna God gave the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness. Those who gathered a lot did not have an excess, those that gathered little had enough. The idea here is that the people should give generously because God will ensure they have enough.

Ecclesiastes 1-3 and 2 Corinthians 9

Ecclesiastes struggles with the futility of life. Solomon, David’s son, is credited as writing this book. In some of the text, I am reminded of my younger teenage self that took things way too seriously. Solomon is the king and he has vast riches, so what does he have to complain about? He is looking at life and seeing that everyone and everything has the same destination in common. Throughout this text, we will see him grapple with the meaning of life. There are no hollow or trite slogans to cheer us up along the way. However, by making us face the futility of human existence, it moves us to live a purposeful life.

Pleasure, possessions, and wisdom are all futile. Nothing in this world lasts forever. Good days will eventually turn to bad days. One thing about the bad days, is that they allow us to look with favor on the good days. Conversely, when we have good days followed by the times of distress, we can appreciate them more.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 is one of my favorite verses in all of the Bible. It speaks of the eternity that God has written into our hearts. Though God has put that eternity in us, we cannot understand or comprehend what He has done from the beginning to the end. Death was never part of God’s plan for us as His creation. Unfortunately, through some poor choices, death was introduced and we deal with it regularly. This is why death makes no sense to us; we know that there is something beyond this life and world.

In the New Testament reading Paul reminds the people of the importance of giving. He is not telling them how much they should give. However, he is telling them that they should be cheerful when they give. God loves a cheerful giver. Paul also reminds them that if they sow sparingly, they will reap sparingly. Investing in the Kingdom of God is the best investment we can make. Though kings and kingdoms of this world will rise and fall, His kingdom will remain for all eternity.

Ecclesiastes 4-6 and 2 Corinthians 10

Solomon continues to warn of his observations. There are oppressions being done under the sun. The oppressed have no one to comfort them. Yet, the oppressors seem to be getting away with it. The problem is so vast that Solomon wishes he had never existed. He talks about loneliness and explains the benefit of having someone else to help when we fall. There is strength in numbers. My hope and prayer is that we have people in our lives that lift us up when we are going through times of tumult. I pray that we lift others up and do not tear them down when they are going through rough times.

Chapter six contains a tragedy. A man is given wealth beyond measure and honor, but the man is unable to enjoy it. All of this wealth is futile. We see people today that have an abundance, but it is not enough to make them happy. If we turn on any given television show we will see “reality” TV shows with picture perfect homes, expensive cars, and lavish lifestyles and bitterness in the hearts of the people in the show. Even in their opulence they are miserable.

In the New Testament reading, Paul asks that he not have to be bold with them when he arrives to visit them. He is happy that they have corrected the issue he initially addressed. Paul also reminds them that they do not measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves by themselves when it comes to Christian understanding. As believers, we may look great compared to other people in the world, but we are not to chase after the worldly standard. Instead, we are worried about God’s standard. When we measure ourselves against Him, we see how sinful and broken we are. As a result, we should not boast. If we are going to boast, it should be in Christ who has redeemed us.

Ecclesiastes 7-9 and 2 Corinthians 11: 1-15

Solomon goes into “proverb” mode for a bit explaining that a good name is better than anything else. He also says it is better to be in the house of mourning instead of a house of feasting. What he is trying to communicate to the reader is that the house of mourning has a better grip on the reality of life.

In verse 15-19, it almost reads as if Solomon is endorsing some sin in our lives. However, that is not the intent. Instead, what he is communicating is that we should avoid extreme zeal for religious duties that would make life unbearable. Religious duties are important, and we should abide by them as believers. He is talking about taking things to the extreme, such as fasting constantly. If we do not eat for several months, we will eventually wither away and die. Fasting itself is not bad and we should do it from time to time. Fasting constantly will make life impossible.

Solomon also bemoans the fact that the righteous seem to get what the wicked deserve and the wicked receive what the righteous deserve. Unfortunately, we see the same things playing out in our world today. There is injustice and oppression with no one to overcome the oppressors. They seem to be living a wonderful life. One day, they will be held accountable for their actions.

In the New Testament reading, Paul speaks of his jealousy toward the people of Corinth. He is jealous because someone has come along and preached a false Christ and some of them have gone with the false gospel. These believers were led astray by something false when they already had the truth. Unfortunately, there are people out there that are trying to sell a false gospel today. It is important that we as believers know what the truth of the Bible. If not, we could fall into the trap of deceit. In order to identify counterfeit money, the Secret Service do not spend time studying counterfeit money. Instead, they devote a lot of time and effort to studying real money. They learn every little thing they can about it so that when a counterfeit bill is placed next to a real one, they can easily distinguish the two.

My hope and prayer is that we will study God’s Word with such attention that we can distinguish the real from the fake.

Ecclesiastes 10-12 and 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Ecclesiastes 10 demonstrates how the smallest mistake or misstep can undo diligent work. A little foolishness undoes a lot of wisdom just like a little fly in a vat of perfume ruins the perfume. It is important that we walk shrewdly in this world and not fall into the traps of foolishness.

The chapter has other words of wisdom encouraging hard work and diligence. It also warns against talking poorly about others even in what we might think is a private area. Even though we think no one is around, there is the possibility that the words will make it back to the one we were gossiping about.

Chapter 11 opens with investment advice. The phrase “bread upon the waters” refers to investing in overseas trading (1 Kings 9:26-27). This chapter closes with the encouragement to enjoy our youth while we can because it is fleeting.

Ecclesiastes closes with metaphors describing the issues of old age which ends in death. This causes the Teacher to proclaim absolute futility. Life is not futile, though. Those of us that know Christ and worship Him abundantly know that there is something beyond this life. If we were to sum up the entire book of Ecclesiastes, it would go along the lines of: Everything in this world apart from God is futile. Pleasures pass, adversities pass, youth passes, but God remains forever. As His people, we should invest in Him and His kingdom.

In the New Testament reading, Paul tells the Corinthians not to consider him a fool. He gives an account of the various suffering he has endured because of his faith in Christ. Paul was willing to suffer on the account of Christ. Can we say the same thing about ourselves?

Song of Songs 1-3 and 2 Corinthians 12

Song of Songs is another book written by Solomon. Throughout this book we have Solomon, the man; Shulamith, the woman; the Young Women of Jerusalem; and the Brothers speaking.

The Song of Songs celebrates the love of Solomon and his wife. It brings up the excitement of courtship, the strong and intense feeling of love at the onset of romantic interest, and the tender friendship between husband and wife. It is a celebration of romance and marriage sensuality as God intended these elements to be.

It might seem as if this book does not play well into the overall theme of the Bible. However, since Song of Solomon portrays perfect love, the songwriter also comares it to the love that God has for Israel.

In the New Testament reading, Paul tells the Corinthians about God’s grace being sufficient. Paul suffered from a “thorn in the flesh”. He would ask God to take it away, but God would leave it there because His grace was sufficient to overcome the problem the thorn presented.

We all have thorns in our flesh, some are more visible than others. God may or may not take these issues away. If He does not, we can rest assured that His grace is sufficient to overcome the problem. As believers, we should not try to do things with our own power. Instead, we should rely on God and His power.

Paul also confirms that he is headed their way for a third visit. He worries that they will no longer like him or he will no longer like them based upon their behavior. The second visit he had with them was terrible for Paul.

Song of Songs 4-5 and 2 Corinthians 13

Solomon heaps praise on the woman. However, in our modern times, the description of her beauty seems odd. He complements her hair. It reminds him of a flock of goats running down Mount Gilead. In those days, livestock was a measure of wealth, so he is essentially stating how her hair is like treasure. In a more modern context we would say, “Your hair is like gold”.

The complement on her teeth seems a little odd as well. They are like freshly shorn sheep, having just been washed. They all have a twin and are all there. Dental hygiene was not like it is today. The woman’s teeth are still bright white. Further, they all match, so they are straight without a single one missing.

While they may have been complementary back then, I highly advise that the men in the group do not use these lines on their significant others!

In the New Testament reading, we finish up 2 Corinthians with Paul telling them that when he arrives, he will not entertain gossip. He expects that when he shows up, someone will be there ready to tell on someone else. Paul is not going to hear it unless the right amount of witnesses are present.

He closes the letter encouraging them to be mature. They can also be encouraged, at peace, and of the same mind.

Song of Songs 6-8 and Galatians 1

The Song of Songs continues on with its theme of love and adoration. A lot of the imagery is comparing love to the themes of spring. We read of the longing between the two and the desire for companionship.

One thing to note about the purpose of this book is to reflect God’s love toward His people. However, after the fall of man, the love between people became tarnished. The Song of Songs displays what ideal love looks like.

In the New Testament reading, we start on Galatians. This is most likely Paul’s earliest letter. He gives the strong presentation of truth that sinners are justified and live godly lives by their faith in Jesus alone. After his initial greeting, he goes right into the problem in Galatia. Some of the believers have exchanged the true gospel for a lie. Paul pronounces a curse on anyone, even angels, if they present a different message of good news than what Paul delivered.

This problem persists today. There are folks out there that will modify the Word of God to change it into something that it is not supposed to be. There are people that are presenting a counterfeit message, and some are falling into its trap. As believers it is important to know the truth contained in the Bible. Otherwise, we could fall into the trap as well.

When we lived in Newport News, a cult moved down the street from the church we went to. The members of this other group would go into the streets and ask random people about Bible questions. The person’s answer determined whether they would continue with their line of questioning or not. If the person knew the Scripture, they would leave the person alone. If they did not know it, then they would begin to teach their version of the “gospel”. As believers it is important that we know the Bible inside and out.

Print

Song of Songs 6-8 and Galatians 1

The Song of Songs continues on with its theme of love and adoration. A lot of the imagery is comparing love to the themes of spring. We read of the longing between the two and the desire for companionship.

One thing to note about the purpose of this book is to reflect God’s love toward His people. However, after the fall of man, the love between people became tarnished. The Song of Songs displays what ideal love looks like.

In the New Testament reading, we start on Galatians. This is most likely Paul’s earliest letter. He gives the strong presentation of truth that sinners are justified and live godly lives by their faith in Jesus alone. After his initial greeting, he goes right into the problem in Galatia. Some of the believers have exchanged the true gospel for a lie. Paul pronounces a curse on anyone, even angels, if they present a different message of good news than what Paul delivered.

This problem persists today. There are folks out there that will modify the Word of God to change it into something that it is not supposed to be. There are people that are presenting a counterfeit message and some are falling into its trap. As believers it is important to know the truth contained in the Bible. Otherwise, we could fall into the trap as well.

When we lived in Newport News, a cult moved down the street from the church we went to. The members of this other group would go into the streets and ask random people about Bible questions. The person’s answer determined whether they would continue with their line of questioning or not. If the person knew the Scripture, they would leave the person alone. If they did not know it, then they would begin to teach their version of the “gospel”. As believers it is important that we know the Bible inside and out.

Isaiah 1-3 and Galatians 2

We start Isaiah today! Isaiah was an eighth century B.C. Prophet. The Messiah’s arrival is prophesied throughout Isaiah. Isaiah was called to be a prophet the same year King Uzziah died. Uzziah’s reign was prosperous, and Judah benefited greatly from his leadership. However, there is trouble on the horizon and Isaiah is called to warn Judah of what is in store if they do not change their ways.

Isaiah starts with admonishment of the people. It seems that everyone has gone into a ritualistic mindset rather than a mindset bent on worshiping God. They have forgotten Him. They make sacrifices, but they are not doing it out of the right heart. Rather than make the offering with contrition, they make the offering as if it is a license to sin. They forget that the blood used to cover the sin cost an animal its life. That is why God refuses to hear their prayer. As believers, we are forgiven of our sins. Does that mean we go and sin more since Jesus paid it all anyway? I certainly hope not. My prayer is that we will go before the LORD with humble hearts, seeking to live a life worthy of His sacrifice every day.

Chapter two prophesies of a coming time when the world will be at peace. There will be no need to make war because everyone is united under God Almighty. They will turn their swords into plows and spears into pruning knives. What a wonderful day that will be!

Chapter three pronounces judgment on Judah, its leaders, men and women. The people are haughty and prideful. They are not concerned with the things of God. So, The LORD will remove their treasures and security.

In Galatians, Paul explains his missionary efforts in Jerusalem. He also harkens back to the Pharisees that demanded a new believer be circumcised if he wants to become a fully converted Christian. This is incorrect. The Gentile men that came to know Christ did not have to go through with that ritual. Paul gives more insight to why he and Barnabas separated. Barnabas and Peter were both guilty of hypocrisy, agreeing with the Gentiles when they were with them and with the Pharisees when they were around. Peter repented, but Barnabas was too much of a people pleaser, so he modified himself based on who he was around. My prayer is that we are not cultural chameleons, blending in with the world around us. Instead, my prayer is that we stand out like sore thumbs to the point where people can look at us and see that we are different from the rest of the world.

Isaiah 4-6 and Galatians 3

The residents of Judah are compared to a vineyard. God owned the vineyard; the vineyard was put on fertile land. He broke up the soil, cleared the rocks out, and put the finest vines in the soil. He gave these vines the best possible conditions to thrive, but they did not. The people of Judah have acted the same way. God gave them the best living conditions, but they did not thrive. Instead, they chose to follow the ways of the pagan nations around them.

We read about Isaiah’s call. One thing that fascinates me about Isaiah’s interaction when he is confronted by The LORD is that there it is not comforting for Isaiah at all. Instead, his first words are “Woe!” In God’s presence, Isaiah becomes fully aware of the sin in his life. He sees how destitute he is and knows that he is ruined because he is standing in God’s holy presence. Isaiah does nothing to make himself clean. Instead, God makes him clean. In the same way, we can do nothing to make ourselves clean, but God sure can!

One thing I did want to note is the Scripture regarding the deafening of the people’s eyes and ears so that they cannot hear or see the message. This condemnation is somewhat related to their practice of idolatry. Idols have ears and eyes, but since they are made of stone, they cannot see or hear. These people that have wrapped their belief in these man made objects will find that they cannot see or hear either, just like the gods they pray to. They become like what they worship.

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds us that we are justified by faith and that is it. God is the One that does the work. Through Him we can go and live lives worthy of His sacrifice. The law does not save because we cannot keep the law. Paul also reminds them (and us) that we are all united under Christ.

Isaiah 7-9 and Galatians 4

Ahaz is king of Judah in chapter 7. The king of Aram and king of Israel decide to attack Judah. When Aram had moved into Ephraim, Ahaz is understandably worried. Isaiah brings a message of comfort, explaining that the war effort will not succeed. Then The LORD tells Ahaz to ask for a sign. Ahaz refuses because he does not want to “test the LORD.” Nine times out of ten, I would agree that we should not test the LORD, but when He is telling us to ask for a sign, we should follow His commands. Isaiah delivers the prophecy of Immanuel’s coming. He will be born of a virgin and will reject what is bad before he even reaches the age of knowing right and wrong.

In chapter 8, we read that Isaiah is intimate with the prophetess and she conceives. While this might seem scandalous upon first look, however Isaiah’s wife was a prophetess. Isaiah delivers the message that the people should not fear what the other nations fear. They are to regard the LORD as the One to be feared. He is their stronghold and He is their strength. There is no need to fear anything else.

Isaiah 9 tells about the birth of the Prince of Peace. He will come and shatter the oppressive yoke. This winds up being a problem for some Israelites when Jesus arrives. They were expecting Him to free them from the yoke of the Romans. When He did not, it caused them to lose belief. However, Christ freed them (and us) from the even more oppressive yoke of sin and death. There are people today that are living under the yoke of an oppressive government, yet they are filled with joy because Christ defeated their true enemy.

In the New Testament reading, Paul expresses his concern for the Galatians. Some of them are upset with the truth that Paul has been expressing. The truth remains the truth whether we like it or not. He also draws an example from Hagar and Sarah. Ishmael was born from Hagar. His line is works based for salvation. Isaac was born from Sarah. His descendants are saved by grace. When a person comes to Christ, they are grafted into Isaac’s family tree.

Isaiah 10-12 and Galatians 5

In Chapter 10, God announces that He is going to use Assyria to punish the Israelites. This is one of many examples of God’s sovereignty at work. Assyria does not follow The LORD, they are a pagan nation with their own pantheon of gods. However, God still uses them to enact His plan, forcing the Israelites on a future exile. Once He is done using the Assyrians, then they will face judgment. When they are laid to waste, a remnant of the Israelites will return to their home in Jerusalem. Even in His anger toward His people, God still promises He will fulfill His covenant to have them in the Promised Land.

Out of David’s line, a new King will rise. This is another reference to Christ’s arrival. Jesus meets the criteria set forth in this Scripture. The Spirit rests on Him, His delight is in the fear of The LORD. He did not judge by what His eyes see, (I think back to the decision He made concerning the woman caught in adultery).

In the New Testament reading, Paul warns the Galatians that if they are going to be so concerned about following the law to the letter then that is what saves them. He reminds them that if he was preaching circumcision then he would not be persecuted anymore. Paul explains that we are all free from Christ and our lives should reflect that. As believers, we should display the fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. That fruit is in stark contrast to the fruit of the flesh. In our day to day lives, what are we displaying, the fruit of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit?

Isaiah 13-15 and Galatians 6

Isaiah 13 delivers the oracle against Babylon. Babylon will be used by God to mete out His punishment on the sinful Israelites. However, when God is done with them, then He will punish that nation as well. Babylon was a great and prosperous nation, but God will destroy it and its opulence.

Chapter 14 delivers the promise that the Israelites will return to their land and then proceeds to discuss more of Babylon’s downfall. Verses 13-14 describe the arrogance and pride the Babylonians had. They thought they could rise above God. Unfortunately, there are those today that will try to elevate themselves above Him. My hope and prayer is that we do not fall into that prideful state.

Judgment is also pronounced upon the Moabites. Its ruin happens in one night.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages them to lift each other up. If they see a brother (or sister) struggling, they should do what they can to help that person in their issue. If it is a sin the person struggles with, rather than judgment and admonishment, they should come alongside the individual, offering prayer and encouragement. The Christian life is not an easy one. There are plenty of things that want to pull us away from our worship of God Almighty. I pray that we all have accountability partners in our lives, people that will pray with us and listen to our struggles without judgment.

Paul closes the letter by explaining that he has written this letter himself. Other Pauline letters were written by a scribe, but this one is from Paul’s hand directly. He indicates that he uses very big letters in his writing, leading some to believe his “thorn in the flesh” may have been poor eyesight.

Isaiah 16-18 and Ephesians 1

Isaiah 16:1 indicates that in their despair, the Moabites will turn to Judah for refuge. They will ask for rest and shade, an idiom for protection. The LORD has made this declaration about Moab and in three years, as a hired worker counts years, her splendor will become an object of contempt. A hired worker would have kept a meticulous count down on how many days were left to go on his contract. We did the same thing when on deployment. We had counters that would detail the exact moment of coming home down to the second. That is how precise Moab’s destruction will be.

God also pronounces a judgment against Damascus, Israel, and the nations. From there, attention is turned to Cush (Ethiopia), a land known for its bugs. The Cushites were tall, smooth skinned, and feared. Diplomatic efforts are underway in Cush, but despite these attempts, an army raises up for battle.

In the New Testament reading, we are on to Ephesians today. This letter focuses on the sovereign grace of God displayed toward sinners through Christ. The first chapter opens up with Paul’s greeting to the Ephesians. He quickly turns his attention to the wonderful blessings of God. We are redeemed through His blood and forgiven of our trespasses. Paul explains of the power God displays in Christ. It was through His work that we can be forgiven of our sins. Further, those sins are not just forgiven, but they are wiped away completely!

Isaiah 19-21 and Ephesians 2

Egypt is headed for bad times. The idols that the Egyptians bow before will bow before God Almighty. The idolatry of the Egyptians will result in God handing them over to harsh masters. Eventually, Egypt will know The LORD. They will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to The LORD of Hosts.

The events of chapter 20:1 took place between 713 and 711 B.C. Sargon II attacked the Philistine city of Ashdod since their king, Azuri, had revolted against Sargon. Azuri reached out to Egypt thinking that they would provide aid, but that did not happen.

Chapter 21 is addressed to the “desert by the sea”. On the surface this seems rather ambiguous since there are several desert places by the sea. However, when we look at the text closely, we see that the judgment is really addressed to Babylon.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives us the bad news that we were dead in our trespasses. Humans are bent on sin and each of us have walked in the flesh, seeking to satisfy our fleshly desires. But God made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in our trespasses. Through Him, we are a new creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

Print

Isaiah 19-21 and Ephesians 2

Egypt is headed for bad times. The idols that the Egyptians bow before will bow before God Almighty. The idolatry of the Egyptians will result in God handing them over to harsh masters. Eventually, Egypt will know The LORD. They will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to The LORD of Hosts.

The events of chapter 20:1 took place between 713 and 711 B.C. Sargon II attacked the Philistine city of Ashdod since their king, Azuri, had revolted against Sargon. Azuri reached out to Egypt thinking that they would provide aid, but that did not happen.

Chapter 21 is addressed to the “desert by the sea”. On the surface this seems rather ambiguous since there are several desert places by the sea. However, when we look at the text closely, we see that the judgment is really addressed to Babylon.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives us the bad news that we were dead in our trespasses. Humans are bent on sin and each of us have walked in the flesh, seeking to satisfy our fleshly desires. But God made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in our trespasses. Through Him, we are a new creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

Isaiah 22-23 and Ephesians 3

The “Valley of Vision” is a reference to Jerusalem. There is reason to believe that this name was being used as satire since Jerusalem was blind to the divine purpose at the time of the prophecy. The “House of the Forest” most likely refers to the weapons storehouse in the palace complex known as the House of the Forest of Lebanon. The people were looking to their weaponry to solve their problems, not God.

Tyre was the southernmost major city in Phoenecia. It’s location allowed them to enjoy a very lush lifestyle because of their control of sea trade. Its judgment is pronounced. Egypt will be saddened by its loss of a trading partner. It is interesting to note that after 70 years, Tyre will be restored. Israel will be exiled for 70 years. Unfortunately, the 70 years of Tyre’s abandonment is difficult to pinpoint.

In both cases, these proud cities are brought low.

In the New Testament reading, Paul is happy to be a prisoner for Christ. Paul also writes about the administration of God’s grace. Paul’s ministry has been fruitful, but Paul does not take that as a credit to what he is doing. Instead, he gives the glory to God. God is the One working through Paul. He prays for their inner power and that they will be strengthened in Christ. I pray that we are strengthened in Him as well as we go out to be His hands and feet.

Isaiah 24-26 and Ephesians 4

Isaiah 24 focuses on the judgment of the entire earth. Everyone will be judged by God regardless of their social standing. The rich and the poor will face the same judgment, the lender and borrower will too. Though there may be man made constructs that keep people divided, there is no difference between them in God’s eyes.

Isaiah exalts God for this pronounced judgment. He looks forward to God straightening the world out. God will remove the pride from the arrogant. The high walled fortress will be brought down to the ground. While all of this is happening in the “city of chaos”, the righteous nation enjoys peace because they are dependent on God for peace, not their own strength and military prowess. Instead of a difficult path, the righteous walk on the straight and level path.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages them to live their new life as believers and not go back to their old ways. He reminds them that they took off their old way of life. Rather than live in the ways of the world, they should live in the ways of God. It is easier said than done. That old way of life was comfortable, we knew what it was like. It is not necessarily easy to conform our habits and ways to God’s standard. However, that does not mean we should not try. Every day we can strive to be more and more like Him. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to help us in this endeavor of sanctification!

Isaiah 27-28 and Ephesians 5

The LORD will slay Leviathan. Leviathan was a sea monster, representing chaos and evil in this verse. The beast was well known in Canaanite mythology. These first few verses in chapter 27 show that God is going to not only wipe out the worldly images of evil, but the source of it once and for all. All of that is good news, but in the meantime, God’s people will be scattered. However, at the end of this chapter, God again promises that His people will be gathered again in their land to worship Him.

Chapter 28 starts out with a “woe”. This begins an oracle connected to a funeral procession. This woe deals with the northern kingdom of Israel, identified here as Ephraim. God’s judgment is compared to the damage caused by a hail storm. Judgment is made against the priests and prophets of the time. These “leaders” were acting like they were teaching babies and not adults. They had not been doing the job that God had called them to do. As a result, Assyria will come in and lay the land to waste. However, even in that judgment, God promises to that He will leave a remnant of the Israelites alive, but He will completely destroy the Assyrians.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages the people to be imitators of God. As His followers, we should do the same. Paul warns them that coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable. Instead, they should give thanks. As they, and we, go through life, we can remain consistent in our walk with Him. As believers, there are people around us that look to us to model a life that glorifies God. If we merely profess Christ, but then live like everyone else, what does that tell those around us? My hope and prayer is that we will stick out like sore thumbs and we will live lives worthy of His sacrifice each and every day. May our actions give Him the glory and honor!

Isaiah 29-30 and Ephesians 6

We continue with the woe oracles. Jerusalem is referred to as Ariel. These people have a problem. They have put their faith into the rote ritual of things rather than giving their hearts over to God. They approach Him with their mouths and pay lip service, but there is no heart behind it. Life in fellowship with The LORD is not lived through rituals. Instead, it is through relationship. Going to church, Sunday School, and Bible study is important, but if we are merely going just to have the “check in the box”, then the intent behind these gatherings is lost. My hope and prayer is that we will give ourselves fully over to God in everything that we do.

Chapter 30 is another woe oracle confronting the people over the alliance they are seeking with Egypt. I always find it interesting the role that Egypt plays in the history of Israel. All the way back in Abraham’s time, he went to Egypt for famine relief. Then Jacob and his family wind up in Egypt also to escape another famine. However, Egypt became oppressive and The LORD freed them. Now, the descendants of those freed from the hand of Pharaoh are looking for Egypt to save them from the Assyrians. Their trust should have been in God. My hope and prayer is that we put our faith in The LORD. He is our only hope. He is strong to save. He is greater than any nation and cares for His people. We can trust in Him!

In the New Testament reading, Paul closes with guidance on obedience. Those that are subordinate, should obey the orders of those appointed over them. However, those “superiors” should also not abuse their authority and ensure they take care of the people in their care. Rather than use that authority to get what they want, they should use that power to make the lives of their people better.

Paul reminds them (and us) that we are plunged into spiritual warfare. He encourages the people to put on the full armor of God. The armor is meant to protect us. Some of the equipment might feel cumbersome and heavy, but we should wear it anyway. It is to help us. When we would stand watch on the ship, we would wear Kevlar vests with plates in them. The plates were bulky and heavy and made it difficult to really maneuver in. Five hours on the weather deck in the heat and humidity of Norfolk was already miserable enough, so some Sailors were in the habit of taking the plate out so that they could be more comfortable. That defeats the purpose, though.

Rather than try to modify the equipment to be more comfortable to us, we should wear the equipment always so that wearing it becomes second nature. It’s a blessing, not a burden.

Isaiah 31-33 and Philippians 1

Isaiah 31 gives further admonishment for those going to Egypt to get help. They see Egypt’s worldly strength and put their trust in her. Do we do the same thing in our lives? Do we put trust in the wrong things every once in a while? God promises that He will have the victory. Egypt will not. Egypt will not defeat the Assyrians, instead God will.

Chapter 32 opens with the promise of a righteous king. There is debate in the scholarly world as to who this particular verse is referencing. Some contend that this prophesies the Messiah’s reign, but others believe it might have been one of Israel’s “earthly” good kings like Hezekiah or Josiah. The Messiah is the ideal king. As good as Hezekiah and Josiah were as kings, their abilities paled in comparison to Messiah.

Calamity will ensue, but God has the victory. Things will be rough, but eventually His people will dwell in a peaceful land, safe and secure.

Isaiah 33 gives the last of the woe oracles. The betrayer referred to here is either a general term for the deception of the other nations or it could mean Sennacherib himself. Sennacherib was paid by Hezekiah to back of from the siege of Jerusalem (we will read more about that in Isaiah 36-37).

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives his initial greeting. Philippians 1:6 “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will be faithful to carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. This is a brief summary of the sanctification process. God begins a good work in us and He continues working on us and refining us to be better. The sanctification process comes to an end when we draw our last breath.

Paul also writes about his current predicament. He feels that it is necessary for him to remain on earth for the Philippians’ benefit. However, Paul knows that it is to his benefit if he is executed and goes to be with The LORD. Paul encourages them to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. I hope and pray that we will go and live lives worthy of His sacrifice.

Isaiah 34-36 and Philippians 2

Judgment is pronounced in the heavens. The pagan nations worshipped the stars and other heavenly bodies as their gods. The LORD will lay these heavenly bodies to waste. From there, He will turn His judgment to Edom and mete out His judgment there. The text gives the vision of animals living in the ruins and desolate places of the destroyed land.

Even though this judgment has been prophesied, God promises to deliver a remnant to Zion. The desert will blossom abundantly. Even in the desolation, they will thrive. As a result, the cowardly can have courage and the weak can be strong. God will deliver His people.

In chapter 36, we read about Sennacherib’s invasion. We have seen Sennacherib before in Kings and Chronicles. Isaiah also recorded his visit to Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh delivers a message to Hezekiah warning him to not trust in Egypt. Their reliance on Egypt will only hurt them. Instead, they might as well just give in to the Assyrian military might. The Rabshekah delivers this speech in Hebrew in front of the gathered assembly. Eliakim, Joah, and Shebna ask him to give the speech in Arabic since they understand it, but the others gathered do not. The Rabshakeh refuses. He is bent on instilling fear into the hearts of the people. He warns of a coming desolation that will cause them to go to extreme efforts for survival.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages the Philippians to walk in Christian humility. Humility should be the mark of a Christian considering that Christ Himself took on the form of a servant and came to earth to serve. Christ had all of the power and He used that power to serve, not to be served. Christians are called to take on that same humility. We are not to be puffed up with pride.

Paul also encourages them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. As believers, we know that God has forgiven us of our sins. However, that does not mean that we should ever lose sight of the gravity of His sacrifice. Some Christians I know take the attitude of “Well, I can just sin as much as I want since I have been forgiven”. That mentality is not the correct one to have. Since we have been forgiven and we understand that it was His death that has saved us, why would we want to take that forgiveness for granted? Just because God has given us an abundance of grace does not mean we can abuse that grace.

Isaiah 37-38 and Philippians 3

Hezekiah is concerned about all that the Rabshakeh has pronounced. Rather than take matters into his own hands, he does the most logical thing he could do. He consults Isaiah, the man of God, to discuss what should be done. He goes to a Godly advisor to get some assistance rather than someone that would give him bad and worldly advice. Isaiah gives Hezekiah the word from The LORD, he has no need to worry. Assyria is going to fall.

God delivers on that promise and the angel of The LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian troops in the dead of night. We are not told exactly how they were struck down, but given how quickly it happened, it was most likely some kind of disease that got them. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, leaves camp and is then murdered by his sons while he is worshipping the false god Nisroch.

Hezekiah is then given some bad news. He is told that he is terminally ill and should get all of his affairs in order. Hezekiah prays to God, pleading because of all the faithful ways he followed God. God relents on His decision to destroy Hezekiah then. God gives Hezekiah another 15 years to live. Hezekiah then gives a song of praise to God. What would we do if we were told that we only had 15 years left to live? Would we use those 15 years to do what we can to leave a lasting legacy, or do something else?

In the New Testament reading, Paul tells them to rejoice in Christ. He encourages them to reach toward God’s goal. Our goal as Christians should be sanctification, to be as much like Christ as we possibly can be. That does not happen by accident. We have to submit to God’s will if we want to be perfected in Him.

Print

Isaiah 37-38 and Philippians 3

Hezekiah is concerned about all that the Rabshakeh has pronounced. Rather than take matters into his own hands, he does the most logical thing he could do. He consults Isaiah, the man of God, to discuss what should be done. He goes to a Godly advisor to get some assistance rather than someone that would give him bad and worldly advice. Isaiah gives Hezekiah the word from The LORD, he has no need to worry. Assyria is going to fall.

God delivers on that promise and the angel of The LORD strikes down 185,000 Assyrian troops in the dead of night. We are not told exactly how they were struck down, but given how quickly it happened, it was most likely some kind of disease that got them. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, leaves camp and is then murdered by his sons while he is worshipping the false god Nisroch.

Hezekiah is then given some bad news. He is told that he is terminally ill and should get all of his affairs in order. Hezekiah prays to God, pleading because of all the faithful ways he followed God. God relents on His decision to destroy Hezekiah then. God gives Hezekiah another 15 years to live. Hezekiah then gives a song of praise to God. What would we do if we were told that we only had 15 years left to live? Would we use those 15 years to do what we can to leave a lasting legacy, or do something else?

In the New Testament reading, Paul tells them to rejoice in Christ. He encourages them to reach toward God’s goal. Our goal as Christians should be sanctification, to be as much like Christ as we possibly can be. That does not happen by accident. We have to submit to God’s will if we want to be perfected in Him.

Isaiah 39-40 and Philippians 4

We read about Hezekiah’s folly. Hezekiah had been a good king. He sought The LORD and had done many good things with his reign. Unfortunately, he messed up and allowed the Babylonians to come into his palace and see all that he had in his treasury. Now the Babylonians knew just how much they stood to gain by taking over the land.

The saddest part of this event is when Hezekiah learns that because of his decision, the land will fall. Everything will be carried to Babylon. However, that will not happen during his lifetime. Hezekiah responds with relief that he will have a life of peace, disregarding the future problems that he has given to his descendants. I would hope that if we knew our poor choices were going to affect our future family and friends that we would not respond in a pleasant way because “at least there is peace while I’m alive” but instead we would try to change it!

Isaiah 40 gives words of comfort to Jerusalem. Bad times are headed, but one day those hard days will be over. This chapter is used to point out John the Baptist as the Messiah’s herald in Matthew’s Gospel account.

In the New Testament reading, Paul closes out his letter to the Philippians. He expresses his joy in The LORD and encourages them to not worry about anything. Instead, they can take their concerns to God. Then they can have peace that surpasses all understanding. God gives His people strength to endure. My prayer is that when we have difficult times, we lean into Him and rely on Him to help us through.

Isaiah 41-42 and Colossians 1

Isaiah 41 reminds Israel that even though God is big and mighty, He has also brought them this far. He brought them from the ends of the earth and delivered them to Canaan. They have no need to fear because He is with them. They will be strengthened by Him. For the thirsty, He turns the desert into a pool. The barren desert becomes an oasis with abundant life.

God then uses legal language against the nations and their false gods. He challenges them to tell Him what will happen in the future. He challenges them to know the same things He does and do the work He does. The idols remain silent.

Isaiah 42 focuses on the Servant. There is debate on who the “Servant” is. In this particular chapter, the Servant could identify Israel or Judah since 41:8-9 addressed the nation as the Servant. Some argue that it could not possibly refer to Israel or Judah since this chapter is so positive toward them and their behavior has been so poor. From the Christian context reading this chapter, we can understand that the Servant is in fact Jesus Christ.

In the New Testament reading, we start Colossians! Colossians is one of the prison letters. Paul writes this letter to correct false teachings that were creeping up within the church at Colossae. Paul starts the letter with his formal greeting and expresses his thanks to God for them. He explains that he has been praying for their spiritual growth. Paul reminds them that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He is the creator of everything. There is none before Him! As Christians, we understand that Christ was fully God and fully human. One heresy problem that was popping up was the issue of making Christ a little less than God. Paul refutes the possibility of that idea in this chapter.

Isaiah 43-44 and Colossians 2

God tells His people to not be afraid because He is with them. He has brought them through problems and crises before, He will do it again. If they remain in Him, they won’t be scorched by the fire. God also reminds them that He is the only God. There is no god before Him, He has the ultimate authority. Unfortunately, there are still blind and deaf people among them. They have eyes and ears, but they cannot see or hear. They have become like the idols they worship.

In Chapter 44, God recounts how idols are made. He says that the people take some wood and use part of it for fire to keep himself warm and bake bread. The other part of the wood, he takes out all of his tools and forms it into an idol and bows down to it. Though the man took a piece of cedar and formed this object, he still thinks it as a god. Idolatry takes many forms. Make no mistake, we all worship something. The question is, are we worshiping the One True God, or something else?

It should also be noted that this chapter identifies Cyrus as the one that will restore Israel. The prophecy identifies the man that will liberate them from the Babylonians by name! Isaiah was on the earth from 742-686 B.C. Cyrus did not come along and defeat Babylon until 539 B.C. God always keeps His promises.

In the New Testament reading, Paul is dealing with the heresy of law based salvation. The prevalent theme within this heresy was that a true believer would be circumcised and only eat certain types of food, keeping the Kosher law. While those rituals were beneficial for the Israelites, the fact is that observing those laws are not what saves and individual. The only thing that will save someone is the work that Christ did on the cross. He is the only One that can wipe away our debts. Because of His sacrifice, we can be with Him in eternity. As humans, we are all bent on sin. The only cure for that sin is Jesus. We cannot save ourselves, only Jesus can do that.

Isaiah 45-47 and Colossians 3

God refers to Cyrus as His anointed. Cyrus was Persian, not Hebrew, so this serves as a reminder that God can use anyone or anything to complete His will. As believers, we should remember always that God is sovereign and is bringing His plan to fruition. It is also prophesied that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will swear allegiance to God. My prayer every day is that we will have a great awakening throughout the world and we will see that glorious day today.

Again we read more about the futility of the false gods that the people worship. They have their silver and gold made into an image and pay homage to them, but then they have to carry these idols wherever they go. The One True God, on the other hand, does not need His people to make Him move. He is capable of doing work on His own. We saw that in the Exodus account as He led the Israelites through the wilderness in the pillar of smoke and fire.

Isaiah 47 focuses on the fall of Babylon. Babylon was used by God to mete out His judgment against the Israelites. When He is done with this pagan nation, He will lay them to waste as well. The nation of Babylon was puffed up with pride in itself. The Babylonians think that since they are so big and wealthy as a nation that there is no way they can fail. As a result, devastation will come upon them quickly. Nothing is bigger than God. If He has decided something should fail, He will ensure its devastation.

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds them about their new way of life as a Christian. Since they are believers, they have put on a new self and taken off the old self. As a result, they should put away the things of the world and focus on Christ. They, and we, should live lives worthy of His sacrifice and reflect His Lordship over us in everything we do.

Isaiah 48-49 and Colossians 4

In Isaiah 48, God is reminding the Israelites that they are His. They are the house of Jacob, called Israel, and have descended from Judah. He has declared all of these things so that they know that He is in charge, not any idols fashioned by man. Their ears have not heard and their eyes have not seen for a long time, so He is going to do things to get their attention. This is all so that they can return to Him. At the end of the day, the exiled Israelites will return to their land.

Verse 18 of this chapter is interesting because it notes that if they had paid attention to His words then they would have peace like a river. I find the analogy of peace like a river especially interesting. Rivers are not always peaceful. Sometimes they can be downright treacherous. There is a reason thrill seekers seek out the rapid and turbulent waters to go white water rafting. The river itself might not be calm and peaceful. However, if we are obedient to God’s word and pay attention to His blessings, the peace in our lives will continue to flow like a river, even when the river is rough and terrifying. God is the One that gives us the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Chapter 49 talks more about the Servant. The Servant, as we have studied earlier, points to Christ. We see an interesting turn of events in this chapter because the Servant, the one who is despised, the one abhorred by people, will have kings bowing before Him. The Servant will be recognized as the true Ruler one day.

In the New Testament reading, Paul closes out his letter to the Colossians. He encourages them to be devoted to prayer. They should continue being thankful, but also pray that God will open a door for them to present the Message. The Message of Christ and His redeeming love is the best news a person can get. My hope and prayer is that we will identify when those witnessing windows are open and we use that time to share Christ.

Isaiah 50-52 and 1 Thessalonians 1

God reminds them why He sent them away. It was nothing that He had done, it was their refusal to follow Him and abandon the ways of the pagans around them. They were sold because of their iniquities. The fault was on them, not on God. Chapter 50 also speaks more about the Servant. The Servant comes and the people abuse Him, but He will be vindicated.

Isaiah 51 encourages the folks that pursue righteous to seek The LORD. They are reminded that their father Abraham was just one man. He was called out for a special purpose by God. Abraham was obedient and God blessed him with many descendants. God gives comfort to those that seek Him! As we go through life, God is always there to hear from us as we struggle. He knows what we are going through. He knows what we are enduring. It is to our benefit to cry out to Him and take out burdens to His feet because He is the One that can make sense of it all.

Chapter 52 is addressed to Zion. They need to wake up and see what is happening before their eyes. They must stand up and shake the dust off of their feet!

In the New Testament reading, we start on Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica. Paul spent a very short amount of time in Thessalonica. This letter was written to give more instruction since there was little time to teach them while he was in town. Paul knows that the church has grown because the members have been living out their faith. They are setting an example and people are starting to see the power of Christ. So, they draw more peopel in. Never underestimate the influence you can have on someone’s decision to commit their lives to Christ. Sometimes the best sermons are not preached, instead they are lived out.

Isaiah 53-55 and 1 Thessalonians 2

Isaiah 53 gives more prophecy about the work of the Messiah. It is through His affliction that we are healed from our sin. He is oppressed and afflicted, not because of anything He had done, but because of the guilt incurred by us. The text states that He was “crushed”. Sin is nothing that we should take lightly. It is true that God forgives us of our sin through the blood of Christ. However, that fact should not be abused.

Isaiah 54 gives the hope of joy. The imagery of the barren woman is used here. Childless women were often the subject of scorn in the Ancient Near East and were sometimes replaced by a secondary wife. This verse gives the hope that just as the blessed, but barren, women like Sarah and Rachel had their joy restored, Israel will too!

Chapter 55 is an open invitation to all who are thirsty. God will not only give them water, but alos win and milk. Christ did not just come to save the Israelites, He came to save the entire world! God was telling them in Isaiah, that His intent was to reconcile all of humanity to Himself, not just one people group.

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica that he and his group did not come to give flattering words or with greedy motives. They came to preach Christ to the people. They went even further by sharing their lives with them. This is a great example of personal evangelism. They did not just go and tell them about Christ. Instead, they showed the Thessalonians what Christ had done in their lives as well. They didn’t just share Jesus, but they shared their personal testimony. When is the last time we have given our testimony?

Print

Isaiah 53-55 and 1 Thessalonians 2

Isaiah 53 gives more prophecy about the work of the Messiah. It is through His affliction that we are healed from our sin. He is oppressed and afflicted, not because of anything He had done, but because of the guilt incurred by us. The text states that He was “crushed”. Sin is nothing that we should take lightly. It is true that God forgives us of our sin through the blood of Christ. However, that fact should not be abused.

Isaiah 54 gives the hope of joy. The imagery of the barren woman is used here. Childless women were often the subject of scorn in the Ancient Near East and were sometimes replaced by a secondary wife. This verse gives the hope that just as the blessed, but barren, women like Sarah and Rachel had their joy restored, Israel will too!

Chapter 55 is an open invitation to all who are thirsty. God will not only give them water, but alos win and milk. Christ did not just come to save the Israelites, He came to save the entire world! God was telling them in Isaiah, that His intent was to reconcile all of humanity to Himself, not just one people group.

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica that he and his group did not come to give flattering words or with greedy motives. They came to preach Christ to the people. They went even further by sharing their lives with them. This is a great example of personal evangelism. They did not just go and tell them about Christ. Instead, they showed the Thessalonians what Christ had done in their lives as well. They didn’t just share Jesus, but they shared their personal testimony. When is the last time we have given our testimony?

Isaiah 56-58 and 1 Thessalonians 3

God promises that His salvation is coming soon. He also promises that foreigners and eunuchs, those that were once considered cut off from Him will be restored. They will have a memorial and name in His house and His walls better than sons and daughters. Their offerings will be acceptable to Him. Form there, God admonishes the leaders of the Israelites, saying that they are blind and like mute dogs. They are not acting like the shepherds He has called them to be. Instead, they are living a life of ease and drunkenness.

Isaiah 57 condemns the idolatry of the people. God asks who they are mocking. He calls them a race of liars and accuses them of slaughtering children. One day, they will hit calamity. Instead of crying out to God for help, He tells them to ask their idols to deliver them.

Iasaiah 58 gives a new meaning to fasting. Traditionally, fasting had been giving up food for a certain period of time. Many believers practice fasting to this day as a discipline. God is talking about a different kind of fasting in this chapter. Instead He calls for the chains of wickedness to be broken, their bread to be shared with the hungry, set the oppressed free, and tear off every yoke.

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains how he is encouraged by the report he received from Timothy. He had been sent in Paul’s stead due to scheduling issues. Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians might be mad at him like the church in Corinth was. The Thessalonians send word back that they are eager to see Paul. Paul longs to get back to see them, but he is unsure when he can make that happen. Sometimes we want to go one way and do something, but the LORD is pointing us in a different direction. We have to hand the pen over to Him and let Him write our story. His direction is always best. If the LORD wills, Paul will get to the Thessalonians.

Isaiah 59-61 and 1 Thessalonians 4

We are reminded that God is strong to save. His arm is not too short to save, His ear is not too deaf to hear. God is strong and He is present. The problem is that we have built barriers in our sinfulness that prevent us from seeing Him. Our sins caused Him to hide His face from us. Though we cannot save ourselves, God is the One that does the saving. He sent Christ to die on the cross to atone for our sins as the final sacrifice. By His death on the cross, we are saved. The world may seem to be getting worse and worse, but God is still strong to save. In dark times, we can still carry the light because we know that He will make it right one day.

Isaiah 60 speaks of the time when other nations will share in the light by coming to the light as well. God’s gifts are better than what anyone or anything can offer. Instead of bronze, He brings gold. Instead of iron, He brings silver. He brings bronze instead of wood. When He comes, there will be no need for a sun or a moon because He will be the light.

In Isaiah 61, we read the promises that the captives are set free, the broken-hearted are healed. After delivering this oracle, Isaiah breaks out into a hymn himself starting in verse 10. He sings for joy since God has wrapped him in salvation and clothed him in righteousness. How often do we break out with random worship for what God has done for us?

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages them to be sanctified. They have been bought at a high price. Rather than dabble in the sinful things of the world, they should now focus on the things of God and do His will. Paul also encourages them to work in brotherly love with one another. He gives them comfort at the thought of Christ returning one day.

Isaiah 62-64 and 1 Thessalonians 5

The first person speaking in Isaiah 62 is either the Servant Messiah or the prophet Isaiah. Either way, the speaker will not keep silent, but continue speaking until Zion shines like a bright star. God is appointing watchmen on their walls. The nation has been exploited by others, but God is going to make a time where no one will steal their grain and their wine. Instead, the Israelites will enjoy the fruits of their labor.

In Isaiah 63 Edom most likely refers to all nations that exploited the Israelites. Isaiah recalls God’s grace and compassion. It is God’s grace that caused Him to elevate and care for Israel. They are “His people” and He became their Savior. He suffered in their suffering.

Isaiah prays that God would tear open heaven and come down so that the mountains would quake and nations would tremble. He recalls the times in which God has done amazing works in their lives and in the lives of their ancestors. He also asks how they can be saved if they remain in their sins.

In the New Testament reading, Paul closes out his first letter to the Thessalonians. He reminds them that they do not need anything to be written to them about the time and the seasons. There is no need for them to look to the sky in anticipation of Christ’s return. The fact is that it will happen like a thief in the night. Eschatology is an interesting subject and any time a big world event happens, there are people that begin to wonder if this is “the end”. Well, it very well could be the end, but as believers we are not supposed to really worry about when the exact date could be. Instead, we should live as if He could return at any time. One example we could use is that of a test. When we start classes at the beginning of the semester, the teacher or professor is pretty good about warning students on the exact date of a final exam. However, he or she won’t give warning for a pop quiz. Instead of looking to a far off date on when it might happen, we should be ready at any moment.

Isaiah 65-66 and 2 Thessalonians 1

In Isaiah 65, God proclaims that He will be sought by other nations. He will be found by those that did not seek Him. God tells them that He has spread out His hands every day to a rebellious people, but they would not do His will. Eventually, Christ will come and other nations will know who God is. Throughout Christ’s ministry on earth, there were those that did not belong to Israel, but still came to having faith in Him.

God is going to make a new heaven and a new earth. The past will be eradicated and never come to mind. God can and will make things new. We are made new through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

God reminds the people just how big He is. Heaven is His throne and earth is His footstool. He is not contained to a home or a temple. God promises that He will look favorably on the humble and submissive in spirit.

Isaiah closes with some horrific imagery. They will see dead bodies of the men that rebelled against Him. They will be a horror to all mankind.

In the New Testament reading, Paul opens up his second letter to the Thessalonians with more thanksgiving for them. This church is enduring all kinds of hardship and persecution, but they are maintaining the faith in spite of their difficulties. The Thessalonians are not worried about repaying the people that are giving them difficulties. Instead, they know that God will take care of them and put His punishment on those that persecute them. As believers, it is not up to us to take matters into our own hands, exacting vengeance on our enemies. Vengeance belongs to the LORD. Our job and goal is to remain in Him in the good and bad seasons of life. Regardless of what we are dealing with here on earth, let us always remember that we belong to Him and will one day be united with Him in glory. Nothing can take that away, so let’s rejoice in that, even if there is present suffering.

Jeremiah 1-2 and 2 Thessalonians 2

We start Jeremiah today. Jeremiah is distinct from the Old Testament prophets in the fact that it is the longest prophetic book and Jeremiah’s life is more fully described than any of the other prophets. The book spans from about 640-580 B.C.

Jeremiah is called by God to go and deliver His message to the people. Jeremiah protests at first. He feels that since he does not know how to speak, that he will fail at his mission. When God gives us a task, He will ensure we have the tools we need to fulfill the mission ahead of us. God does not set His people up for failure! God fills Jeremiah’s mouth with His words. Jeremiah is not going to deliver his prophecy. He is going to deliver God’s prophecy.

In the second chapter, we look at Israel’s apostasy. They do not hold to their beliefs the way that they should. They simply go through the motions (if they even do that) to maintain their “religious” life. They also had issues with idolatry. God pronounces calamity and then tells them that they should pray to their gods since they have so many of them. Even though the Israelites had stopped worshipping God, they were worshipping and putting their trust in their leaders and the false gods of the other nations. As a result, God will remind them that He is the One true God.

In the New Testament reading, Paul warns the brothers and sisters against apostasy as well. He does not want them to be concerned about the day of Christ’s return. Instead, they should continue doing what God had called them to do. I know I have said before that I will not try to give a guess on when Christ will return, but I agree with Paul in his assessment that it will be when everyone is apostate and the Gospel is no longer being shared. Paul encourages them to stand firm in their faith.

Jeremiah 3-4 and 2 Thessalonians 3

God uses strong imagery to show how Judah has been unfaithful to Him. He asks if a man divorces his wife and marries another if the man could ever return to the first one. That is essentially what they have done to God. They have left God behind and prostituted themselves with other gods. They are called to return to their LORD with true repentance. He warns that Judah did not return to Him in their heart, but was just in pretense. There must be true repentance on their part.

In chapter 4, judgment from the north is proclaimed. Jeremiah is so sure of this judgment that he describes it as already present. Verse 10 causes problems because it seems that Jeremiah is lobbing an accusation against God. God will not deceive people. The issue here is that there were other false prophets that were proclaiming peace even though this judgment was headed their way. God was not pronouncing peace, these false prophets were to appease the king.

In the New Testament reading, Paul reminds them that they pray for him as he is on mission. Not everyone is coming to know Christ. Paul asked for prayer from his brothers and sisters. Likewise, we should have others in our lives that are praying for us, just as we pray for them. The Christian life was not meant to be lived in solitude!

Paul tells them they must be diligent in their work. When Paul was out there establishing the church, he continued to work to feed himself rather than rely on them. Similarly, they should do the same. Unfortunately, there are some that have stopped work altogether. Most likely they have stopped working because they see the futility of their earthly work and are waiting for Christ. However, if they stop working then the mission does not move forward. The same is true today. We should continue doing the work that God has called us to. We should never tire of doing good!

Jeremiah 5-6 and 1 Timothy 1

God tells Jeremiah to go and find one person that is righteous. This is hyperbole since Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch would have counted as two. The point is that the vast majority of the people in Jerusalem have completely abandoned God. They have eyes, but cannot see and ears, but they cannot hear. Their hearts are rebellious. They are content to live in this sinfulness, ignoring the truth of God. God asks what He should do about it. This is not so much that God needs advice on what to do, but more He is asking if they can justify their behavior and avoid being punished for it. The answer is, of course, that they cannot.

As a result, an invading army will come from the north and escort them off. They will treat the people cruelly and have no mercy. God tells the people to dress in sackcloth. Their fate is pretty well sealed at this point, so they should just begin mourning the loss of their nation now. Despite all of these words, the people will not turn from their ways and follow God’s direction.

We start on the first letter that Paul sent to Timothy. Timothy and Paul joined forces after Paul separated from Barnabas. This letter is meant to give the young man encouragement as he seeks to spread the Gospel message. Paul encourages him to instruct people not to teach a different doctrine or pay attention to myths and other genealogies. The heresy problem was prominent in the early church, just as there are heresies today. Paul reminds Timothy that Christ came to save sinners and that he was the worst of all of them. While Paul certainly had sin in his life, I do not think it is accurate that he was the worst of them. However, Paul sees the sin in his life because he sees how depraved he was in the light of Christ and His truth. The closer we get to the light of Christ, the more aware we are of our need for a Savior. the closer we walk with Him, the more we know that we are sinful. When I first became a Christian, I did not think that I was that bad. Almost 30 years later, I can see just how bad I was and how I continue to mess up. Thankfully, our Savior Jesus is strong to save. He can forgive all sins! All praise and honor to Him!

Print

Jeremiah 5-6 and 1 Timothy 1

God tells Jeremiah to go and find one person that is righteous. This is hyperbole since Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch would have counted as two. The point is that the vast majority of the people in Jerusalem have completely abandoned God. They have eyes, but cannot see and ears, but they cannot hear. Their hearts are rebellious. They are content to live in this sinfulness, ignoring the truth of God. God asks what He should do about it. This is not so much that God needs advice on what to do, but more He is asking if they can justify their behavior and avoid being punished for it. The answer is, of course, that they cannot.

As a result, an invading army will come from the north and escort them off. They will treat the people cruelly and have no mercy. God tells the people to dress in sackcloth. Their fate is pretty well sealed at this point, so they should just begin mourning the loss of their nation now. Despite all of these words, the people will not turn from their ways and follow God’s direction.

We start on the first letter that Paul sent to Timothy. Timothy and Paul joined forces after Paul separated from Barnabas. This letter is meant to give the young man encouragement as he seeks to spread the Gospel message. Paul encourages him to instruct people not to teach a different doctrine or pay attention to myths and other genealogies. The heresy problem was prominent in the early church, just as there are heresies today. Paul reminds Timothy that Christ came to save sinners and that he was the worst of all of them. While Paul certainly had sin in his life, I do not think it is accurate that he was the worst of them. However, Paul sees the sin in his life because he sees how depraved he was in the light of Christ and His truth. The closer we get to the light of Christ, the more aware we are of our need for a Savior. the closer we walk with Him, the more we know that we are sinful. When I first became a Christian, I did not think that I was that bad. Almost 30 years later, I can see just how bad I was and how I continue to mess up. Thankfully, our Savior Jesus is strong to save. He can forgive all sins! All praise and honor to Him!

Jeremiah 7-8 and 1 Timothy 2

The people have their trust in the temple. They go in and worship, they joined the chants of “This is God’s temple.” And shortly after leaving the temple they would go back to living the pagan lifestyle. Their trust was in the temple itself, not in God. Had their trust been in God, they would not have carried on the rest of the week as if they were pagans. As believers, we cannot fall into the trap of putting our faith in man made constructs or systems. We, as humans, are fallible so anything we set up ourselves is bound to have problems. God is perfect and our trust should be in Him alone. That is what the people of Judah dd not realize, so they were completely unaware that they were on a slow march toward their exile. Little by little, their obedience to God was compromised and they followed the world until there was little difference between those entering the temple to pray and the rest of the world. My hope and prayer is that this does not happen to believers today.

Since their disobedience is on such a large scale, the priests, the officials, the prophets, and the residents of Judah will be brought out of their graves. This was a humiliating thought for the people. God is promising this humiliation because they have not been humiliated by how they have acted in their worship of false gods. They are unrepentant and refuse to turn to Him. Even in His pronouncement of judgment, God still mourns for Judah. I never quite understood this mourning until I was a parent and had to give punishment to one of my kids. I felt awful, but it had to be done to correct poor behavior.

In the New Testament reading, Paul continues giving instruction to Timothy. He reminds him that Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity. Paul also encourages the men in the churches to pray, lifting up holy hands without argument. He wants the women to dress in good works, not in expensive and opulent clothing. When we go to church, it is not so that we can be in a fashion show or show off our newest gadget. Paul was concerned that the people were going into these worship settings making themselves out to be something that they are not. Does the same thing happen today? Are churches still treated the way that the temple was treated by the people of Judah? Are they places of prayer or are they places to show off? My hope and prayer is that church is where a bunch of imperfect people come together to worship the perfect God and do His will.

Jeremiah 9-10 and 1 Timothy 3

Jeremiah 9 opens with a lament from the prophet. He is worn out from hearing all that is in store for the land. He would weep all day and night if he physically could. He longs for a lodging place to he could get some rest and take a break. He is in the thick of a spiritual battle and looks forward to a time when he can relax a little. There is an imminent ruin and exile coming on the people. He is weary from seeing that every brother deceives another.

Despite all that they have done, despite all the deceit and idolatry, God still loves His people and is not ready to reject them. God is doing this to refine His people. He will test them. God asks what else He can do since He loves them. The wise are told not to trust in their wisdom, the strong not in their strength, and the wealthy not in their riches. Instead, they must all trust The LORD.

In chapter 10, the false gods are put to the test against the One True God. The idols have to be picked up and moved from place to place. God does not. The idols can only occupy one place at a time, God is everywhere. The false gods are unstable and have to be fastened down to keep from teetering. God Almighty remains steadfast. He does not totter. The idols are worthless and worthy of mockery.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives the requirements for deacons and pastors. This is supposed to be the litmus test of how someone comes to be an overseer. They should not be drunks, or too young in the faith. They need to have resolve in their walk and manage their families properly. He is writing this because he wants the churches to accurately reflect God, not the world. He wants the people to act appropriately in God’s household. As believers, we should ensure that we are acting appropriately in the church building and outside the church building. There are people that walk into the church building these days and expect to find God. Our behavior must match what God expects of us. Sometimes we are the only example of what a Christian is to certain people. Let’s make sure we are being a good example!

Jeremiah 11-13 and 1 Timothy 4

Jeremiah is told to hear the words of the covenant and tell it to the people of Judah. God reminds them that He commanded them to obey Him after He rescued them from Egypt. If they obey Him, then they will be His people, and He will be their God. God expects His people to be obedient. Do we follow His directions or do we follow someone or something else?

Jeremiah gets bold and asks God a straightforward question. He asks why the ways of the wicked prosper. This is a legitimate question that we still ask today. There are evil people in the world that are prospering while righteous people are living in squalor. Jeremiah asks that the wicked would be taken to the slaughter like sheep. This problem of the wealthy wicked was also covered by Solomon in Ecclesiastes.

God answers Jeremiah asking how he is going to handle being in the real thick of a battle. Right now, Jeremiah is just running against other runners, how will he fare against horses? Essentially, God is saying, “if you think this is bad, it is going to get worse.” Jeremiah has to ready himself and focus on the LORD.

God tells Jeremiah to go and buy new underwear, wear it for a while, and then plunge it into the Euphrates for “a long time”. Later, Jeremiah is told to go back and get the underwear. However, the garment is now ruined because of its time in the water and the owner’s neglect. This is similar to the people of Judah and their relationship with God. They neglected their relationship with Him and it has fallen to ruin. God did not distance Himself from them, they distanced themselves from Him. It is like the adage of the old woman and man driving in their old pickup with a bench seat. The wife looks at the husband and says, “do you remember when we were young and we used to sit next to each other in this truck.”

The husband says, “Well, I haven’t moved.” If we are feeling distant from God, we are the ones that have moved, not Him.

In the New Testament reading, Paul is encouraging Timothy to not have his youth held against him. There were some that looked at Timothy as too young to have a fruitful ministry. That is silliness! Timothy was sound in his doctrine and had the gift of preaching and teaching, so the people should have listened to him. Paul tells Timothy not to become discouraged, but to keep getting better. As he gets better, the people will begin to trust him more. We should all strive to get better at the tasks God has equipped us for. Just because we have been given a raw talent doesn’t mean we should not work to refine it daily!

Jeremiah 14-16 and 1 Timothy 5

There is an issue of false prophets among the people. They are telling the people and the authorities what they want to hear. Rather than focus on what God wants, they focus on what the people want and give them a message that is palatable to the people. This is problematic. If we think hard enough, I am sure we can find examples of this same thing happening today. God is going to punish these prophets that are leading the people astray.

Jeremiah tries to intervene on their behalf, but God says that if Moses and Samuel were standing before Him, He would not relent and have compassion on these people. Moses intervened a few times in the wilderness when God was mad at the Israelites. Their poor behavior will result in four kinds of judgment being wrought on them.

From there, God commands Jeremiah not to marry or have children. This call to celibacy was unusual for a Jewish prophet. He is already isolated from the citizens, now he won’t even enjoy a family. This command, along with others from The LORD causes Jeremiah to be a social outcast.

God goes into detail as to why He is leaving the people. The people will ask why God has abandoned them. The answer is obvious; their fathers abandoned them and they followed other gods. They did not keep His instruction. That is what led to their ruin. If a teenager breaks his or her curfew willingly and gets punished for it, who is to blame for his or her punishment?

In the New Testament reading, Paul explains to Timothy the regard he should show the people in his care. He also gives instructions on supporting widows. If the woman is truly a widow and has nothing and no one to support her, Paul expects that she will get support. However, if she is younger than 60 and has the possibility to marry again, Paul advises against giving her the support due a widow. Some of these instructions seems black and white, but looking at it from a modern context, they are not as cut and dry. For instance, there are children of widows today that do not take care of their mothers. Those widows should be taken care of even though she has younger people in her family that should help her.

Jeremiah 17-19 and 1 Timothy 6

The sin of Judah is described as being written on their hearts with an iron stylus with a diamond tip. The heart is deceitful above all else. I am always wary of folks that advise to follow the heart. Since our hearts are bent on sin and desire, if they have not been refined by God and changed, then it’s likely our hearts will lead us to ruin. When I was younger, I could justify doing things because I wanted to. Now that i am older, I can see the foolishness of chasing my heart.

Jeremiah, who once spoke up for the people, now turns on them as well. They have treated him terribly and he wants his persecutors to be put to shame.

We read the parable of the potter in chapter 18. As the potter is making a jar, it becomes flawed. Rather than destroying the jar or completely abandoning the project, the potter makes the jar into something new. Just as the pot is in the potter’s hand, the nation is in His hand. God can declare He will destroy and uproot a nation, but when that nation repents He relents concerning the upcoming disaster. Likewise, He can promise blessings, but then renege on the promise based on poor behavior from the nation. Throughout the Old Testament we see God make conditional and unconditional covenants with His people. God is talking about the conditional covenants here.

God further demonstrates His power through the use of pottery imagery. He tells Jeremiah to go buy a clay pot and smash it. God will do the same to the nation.

In the New Testament reading, we close up Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Paul rails against the people teaching other doctrines and not teaching the sound doctrine of Jesus. These folks imagine godliness as a way to gain things. These “shepherds” will essentially “fleece the flock” for their own gain. Paul advises that godliness with contentment is great gain. Those that want to be rich can fall into the trap of temptation. A long time ago when I was in seminary, I had a professor that gave this advice: Don’t expect to make any money in ministry. At the same time, don’t expect that you won’t make a lot of money in ministry. His point was that ministers should enter into ministry not focused on money, but on doing the work God has called them to do. Paul is accurate when he states that we don’t take anything with us when we leave here.

Jeremiah 20-22 and 2 Timothy 1

Jeremiah is prophesying these things. Pashur the priest is not happy with what Jeremiah is saying, so he takes matters into his own hands and has Jeremiah beaten and put in the stocks at the upper Benjamin Gate as an example. Just because Pashur does not like what Jeremiah is saying does not make it any less true. The truth is the truth regardless of whether we want to hear it or not. Sometimes the truth will hurt, but it will remain true despite how we feel about it. Jeremiah throws himself a little pity party because of the circumstances. He laments the day that he was born.

Zedekiah sends a request to Jeremiah. Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. The book of 2 Kings tells us that he was a wicked king. Zedekiah asks Jeremiah to ask God to do something “wonderful like in the past” to make Nebuchadnezzar withdraw from them. Zedekiah knows that God can help them and asks Jeremiah to intercede for them. This begs the question of why he didn’t just call for national repentance, telling the nation to dress in sackcloth. Zedekiah is looking for the benefit of having God on his side, but he does not want to give up the ways of the world.

Judgment is pronounced against the wicked kings. The nation is going to be desolated to the point that other nations will pass by it and ask why God did such a terrible thing to this great city. They will answer “Because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh their God and worshiped and served other gods.”

In the New Testament reading, Paul opens his second letter to Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy to keep the flame ablaze. God has not called them, or us, to a spirit of fear and timidity, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the testimony. Paul is currently in prison and Timothy knows that he could very well wind up in the same position for his preaching. Despite the risk, he should be loyal to the faith. My hope and prayer is that as believers, we are loyal to Jesus and the faith in all that we do!

Jeremiah 23-24 and 2 Timothy 2

God pronounces judgment against the shepherds that are leading the sheep astray. The priests were often referred to as shepherds, just as pastors and other ministers are called shepherds today. The idea is that these priests and pastors will care for the flock that is entrusted to their care. However, every shepherd leader within the Christian context should be fully aware that they are under shepherd’s, their flocks are not their own, they belong to God. These leaders should act accordingly to care for God’s people. The priests and prophets at Jeremiah’s time were not caring for the flock, they were caring for themselves. God promises that He will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them. They will no longer be afraid and none of them will be missing.

God condemns the false prophets. They have prophesied by Baal and led the people astray. They commit adultery and walk in lies. The biggest issue here is not that they were sinful, it’s that they were willingly sinful and acting like they were blameless. There was no repentance on their part. They felt they could just do whatever they wanted and have no repercussions from it. God will prove them wrong.

Jeremiah receives the parable of the good and bad figs. The good figs are like the people that were taken on the exile. God will bring them back to their land and He will deal favorably with them. They are the good figs. Later, we will read stories of the good things some Jewish exiles do while they are in Babylon. One day, they will return to their home in Judah. God will not deal favorably with the bad figs. The bad figs are the people that remained in Judah during the exile. They did not follow God’s command. There are other bad figs that went to Egypt to escape the exile. They too went against God and will face His judgment because of it. Their hearts are hardened completely, and they will not turn to God and His ways.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages Timothy to keep his eyes of Jesus Christ as a descendant of David and risen from the dead. Since we have died with Him, we also live with Him. If we endure, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. Paul tells Timothy (and us) that we should seek to be approved workers for God, seeking His will and doing what He commands us. Timothy, and we, should flee from youthful passions, putting those things aside for the good things like righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Print

Jeremiah 23-24 and 2 Timothy 2

God pronounces judgment against the shepherds that are leading the sheep astray. The priests were often referred to as shepherds, just as pastors and other ministers are called shepherds today. The idea is that these priests and pastors will care for the flock that is entrusted to their care. However, every shepherd leader within the Christian context should be fully aware that they are under shepherd’s, their flocks are not their own, they belong to God. These leaders should act accordingly to care for God’s people. The priests and prophets at Jeremiah’s time were not caring for the flock, they were caring for themselves. God promises that He will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them. They will no longer be afraid and none of them will be missing.

God condemns the false prophets. They have prophesied by Baal and led the people astray. They commit adultery and walk in lies. The biggest issue here is not that they were sinful, it’s that they were willingly sinful and acting like they were blameless. There was no repentance on their part. They felt they could just do whatever they wanted and have no repercussions from it. God will prove them wrong.

Jeremiah receives the parable of the good and bad figs. The good figs are like the people that were taken on the exile. God will bring them back to their land and He will deal favorably with them. They are the good figs. Later, we will read stories of the good things some Jewish exiles do while they are in Babylon. One day, they will return to their home in Judah. God will not deal favorably with the bad figs. The bad figs are the people that remained in Judah during the exile. They did not follow God’s command. There are other bad figs that went to Egypt to escape the exile. They too went against God and will face His judgment because of it. Their hearts are hardened completely and they will not turn to God and His ways.

In the New Testament reading, Paul encourages Timothy to keep his eyes of Jesus Christ as a descendant of David and risen from the dead. Since we have died with Him, we also live with Him. If we endure, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. Paul tells Timothy (and us) that we should seek to be approved workers for God, seeking His will and doing what He commands us. Timothy, and we, should flee from youthful passions, putting those things aside for the good things like righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Jeremiah 25-26 and 2 Timothy 3

Chapter 25 marks a critical year in the history of the Israelites. The battle of Carchemish unfolded. Nebuchadnezzar took the throne. His first year of reign paralleled the fourth year of Jehoiakim, King of Judah’s, reign. Later in the year we will read Daniel which states that Nebuchadnezzar attacked in Jehoiakim’s third year. This does not constitute a conflict within the Biblical text. The countries used different methods for counting the years of the king’s reign. Babylon used the “non-accession-year principle”. The first year was calculated with the coming of a new calendar year. As Sailors on deployment, we had many different ways of calculating our return to home port. I remember when I was on my first deployment someone had shorted us a few days in their calculations. When I asked about it, they said that we didn’t count the present day or the day that we actually get back. The same sort of principle is working here in the differences between Jeremiah and Daniel.

Regardless of how they are calculating these things, nothing good is in store for Judah. They are about to receive God’s wrath because of their hard hearts. Nevertheless, the LORD contends that maybe they will change their ways. He, of course, knows that they will not. It is not that He is willing for them to have hard hearts, but that He has the foreknowledge to know they will not change.

Poor Jeremiah is taken into custody because he has the audacity to tell the truth. Jeremiah is eventually released because the officials and the people told the priests and prophets that he did not deserve to die since he is speaking in the name of God. They reference Micah and how he was spared even though he prophesied calamity in the time of Hezekiah. However, not all prophets were spared. There was Uriah, another prophet that was executed for telling the truth and speaking out against what the people were doing. The truth is the truth, regardless of whether we want to hear it or not. Even if we disagree with it, the truth remains true. We can either choose to accept it and move on, or we can deny it. That denial will only take us so far, though.

In the New Testament reading, Paul tells Timothy about the difficult times that are ahead of them. In the end times, people will be lovers of money, boastful, proud, basically everything that we see on display today. Does that mean we are in the last days? I sure do not know, nor will I even make a guess at it. All I know for certain is that one day we will all draw our last breath. Our goal as believers is to follow Christ and display the fruits of the Spirit, not the fruits of the flesh. My prayer is that we will go and make an impact for Christ in our communities. As believers, we will have struggles. However, let’s never forget that the God we serve is greater than any issue we will ever come up against.

Jeremiah 27-28 and 2 Timothy 4

God tells Jeremiah to make a yoke and chain bars and put them on his neck. Jeremiah is then to send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, Tyre, and Sidon that The LORD of hosts is handing them over to His servant Nebuchadnezzar. These words would not be welcome by any stretch of the imagination. First and foremost, Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan. The idea that he was God’s servant would have been abhorrent to those kings and to the Israelites. However, this is another display of God’s sovereignty over His creation. As believers, we must always remember that God can and will use anyone to make His will be done. Nebuchadnezzar is used by God to execute His judgment against the people.

There will be nations that resist, but it will not bode well for them. They must serve Nebuchadnezzar or they will be punished further by sword, famine, and plague.

In the meantime, Hananiah, a false prophet rises to prominence. He gains favor because he is telling people what they want to hear. Jeremiah has pronounced a 70 year exile. Hananiah preaches a two year exile. His prophecy against the nation is not nearly as bad as what Jeremiah is saying, so the people are happy with it. I appreciate Jeremiah’s response. He responds with an “Amen! May the LORD make it so.” Of course, he wants the judgment to not be as harsh. However, he knows that it is in The LORD’s hands. There is nothing wrong with hoping for the best while expecting the worst. Jeremiah’s faith remained in God, not in the false teaching of Hananiah.

In the New Testament reading, we conclude the final chapter of Paul’s second letter to Timothy. He charges Timothy with fulfilling his ministry. He also explains that he will face challenges because people are going to stop listening to sound doctrine. Instead, they will chase after what they want to hear. They will turn from the truth and go to myths. No doubt, these issues were happening during the time of Paul’s walk on earth. The issues of heresy and abandoning truth is nothing new. This has been going on from the very beginning. Our best bet as believers is to know the Word of God inside and out so that we can measure what we are being told against the Scriptures. The slippery slope of apostasy starts with those very four words the serpent uttered to Eve in the Garden, “Did God really say?” As believers, it is imperative that we know what God said.

Jeremiah 29-30 and Titus 1

God gives a command to the Israelites that are exiled. Rather than wallow in their punishment, they are to take wives and have sons and daughters. They are directed to plant gardens and eat their produce. The punishment is the exile, being separated from the land that God had promised them. They should live their lives. I had an old buddy that was a prison guard and he explained to me that there are essentially two types of guards. There are the ones that try to keep the punishment going and make the lives of the inmates miserable. Then there are the types that realize that the separation from society and being imprisoned is the punishment. Those types of guards do what they can to help the inmates develop while in the system so that they can adjust to life on the outside again. We see a similar principle in how the exiles are supposed to live. They are being punished, but they should not continue beating themselves up about it. Instead, they live their lives and pray for the nation they live in now.

Unfortunately, there is still the problem of false prophets in the land. They are speaking contrary to God’s word. They want to make things sound better than they actually are. These prophets will be punished.

There is hope, though, because God is going to restore them. He will bring the people back from their captivity and restore the land. There is no reason for them to give up hope. God is still in control and is going to bring them back. They should rest in Him. My prayer is that we will rest in Him as we walk through this world. As believers, it is helpful to always be mindful of the fact that we are just visiting here on earth. This is not our true home.

In the New Testament reading, we start on Titus. Paul gives a generalization on the requirements of an elder. There is the issue of others in the midst preaching against God and His word. They “overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn’t”. Unfortunately, we see the same kind of thing happening today. There are people out there that twist God’s word to make it say what will profit them. It is our responsibility as believers to ensure that we know the Bible inside and out. That way, when we hear false teachings, we can identify it right out of the gate. Even still, it’s best to continue studying. My hope and prayer is that people don’t just take my word on what the Bible says, but that they go and study it for themselves.

Jeremiah 31-32 and Titus 2

God promises that He will reunify all of Israel. All the families of Israel will be united and they will return home. Their crying and weeping will turn to joy. God also gives another promise of a new covenant. We have seen several covenants throughout the Old Testament. Some of these covenants are unconditional and others are conditional. God promised Noah that He wouldn’t flood the earth anymore. God promised Abraham that he would have a lot of descendants. God promised that David would have a descendant on the throne at all times. Now God is promising that He will put His “teaching in them and write it on their hearts”. Up to this point, the Law had been written down and etched in stone. Now the Law will be etched into their hearts.

To further show His promise of restoration can be trusted, God tells Jeremiah to buy land from his cousin Hanamel. Even though the Nebuchadnezzar is going to carry everyone away, Jeremiah could purchase the land because he knew that they would be coming back. When we lived in Newport News, we bought a house. Then I was transferred to DC. If we did not think that we would ever return back to Newport News, we would have sold the house. Since we knew there was a high likelihood that the navy would send us back to the Tidewater area, it made sense to keep the house. Sure enough, when my three years in DC were up, we moved right back in. When we moved to DC, we sold the house because the likelihood of ever living there again is pretty slim. Jeremiah buys this property knowing that he will be back. He is showing his faith in God to deliver on His promises.

In the New Testament reading, Paul gives instructions on how older people are supposed to act. They are supposed to be level headed. My hope and prayer is that as we age, we will become level headed. I will be the first to admit that when I was younger, I could be a little hot headed and make decisions quickly without thinking everything through. I think over time it has gotten better. However, I really can’t be the judge of that. Dania and the kids would be more qualified to judge that than I could. All that to say, we need people to help us move along and mature as we age. In certain cases, age is not a mark of maturity. My hope and prayer is that our maturity matches our physical age.

Jeremiah 33-35 and Titus 3

Jeremiah has been confined at this point because he is saying things the king does not like. While in confinement in the courtyard, the LORD gives him good news of Israel’s restoration. God reiterates the covenant with David, and promises a righteous branch that will come from David’s line.

The Babylonians are attacking, causing King Zedekiah to panic. Jeremiah delivers comforting words to him. He will not be killed by the sword, but will die peacefully. He will be mourned like other kings were. Zedekiah would take comfort in knowing that he would not be tortured at the hand of his enemies before being killed by them.

We read about the Rechabites in chapter 35. They are known largely because of this chapter. They do not drink wine, they have not build houses, sown seeds, or planted vineyards all because they were instructed not to by their ancestor Rechab. God compares their ability to follow commands to Israel’s ability to follow commands. He has given the Israelites plenty of instructions that they have failed to follow. This is not just a problem contained to the Israelites. I am sure that we run into those same issues. There have been times in my life when I chose to disregard a direction from God. That is not the way to a fruitful life of fellowship with Him, though. As believers, we should seek to follow God’s will for us in everything we do.

In the New Testament reading, we close out Titus. Paul reminds Titus that they were not perfect in their younger days. They were once foolish, disobedient, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, and so on. I am sure that we can relate to this as well. Christians are imperfect people that put their hope in the perfect God. We cannot save ourselves, only God can do that. He is the One that comes into our lives and starts changing us from the inside out. My hope and prayer is that God will restore in us clean hearts, that we love what He loves, and that everything we do is for His glory and honor. I pray we set aside the old ways of the flesh and focus on His instruction.

Jeremiah 36-37 and Philemon 1

Jeremiah dictates a scroll in Jehoiakim’s fourth year on the throne. Baruch records the words that Jeremiah receives from The LORD. The hope is that the people will turn from their evil ways and god will relent. That is not the case. Instead, Baruch and Jeremiah are told to hide themselves away. The scroll is burned by Jehoiakim. He does not like the judgment pronounced against him and the people. Not to worry, Jeremiah simply dictates another scroll.

Zedekiah takes Jehoiachin’s spot as king. Zedekiah asks Jeremiah to pray to the LORD for their deliverance. Unfortunately, it is too late. The LORD answers that even if they routed the advancing Chaldean army, the living soldiers that were severely wounded would still rise up and defeat Judah. Jeremiah is then accused of trying to desert to the Chaldeans and is imprisoned. He is seen as allying himself with the Chaldeans. He is not, he is just reporting what God has decreed! Jeremiah is placed in the guard’s courtyard and given a loaf of bread a day until the city ran out of bread.

In the New Testament, we read Philemon. The letter is written from Paul to Philemon on Onesimus’s behalf. Onesimus was his slave and he escaped from Colossae to Rome. He and Paul became friends and Paul encourages him to return to Philemon. Paul requests that no punishment be meted out on Onesimus. Now that he is a follower of Christ, they are brothers in The LORD.

Jeremiah 38-39 and Hebrews 1

Jeremiah is heard encouraging people to surrender to the Chaldeans. It is not that Jeremiah wanted the Chaldeans to have the victory, he knew that the only way for them to be safe was to just surrender and go into exile. Some men do not like what they hear, so they have Jeremiah placed in a cistern. There is no water, just mud. Ebed-Melech hears that he has been put there and asks the king to have Jeremiah released. The king grants the request. Zedekiah swears that he will not kill Jeremiah. Jeremiah pleads with the king to surrender. Zedekiah will not, though.

The Babylonians launch their attack on Jerusalem. All of Zedekiah’s men flee. At Riblah, Nebuchadnezzar slaughters all of Zedekiah’s sons and nobles of Judah before his eyes. With his sons gone, Zedekiah is then blinded by Nebuchadnezzar, put in bronze chains, and is taken to Babylon. The others are rounded up and deported as well. Jeremiah is freed by Nebuchadnezzar. The LORD tells Jeremiah to report to Ebed-Melech that He is about to fulfill His words for their harm and not good, but He will one day rescue them.

In the New Testament reading, we move on to Hebrews. This letter is a tribute to the incomparable Son of God. It is also an encouragement to the persecuted believers. We do not know who wrote this book. We do know that the author was a second generation Christian. This rules out the possibility that Paul was the author.

In Hebrews, we read seven praises that identify Jesus Christ and everything connected to Him as superior to all that had come before and all that will come after Him. Christ is superior. There is none before Him! Let us go and praise The LORD Jesus Christ in all that we do!

Print

Jeremiah 38-39 and Hebrews 1

Jeremiah is heard encouraging people to surrender to the Chaldeans. It is not that Jeremiah wanted the Chaldeans to have the victory, he knew that the only way for them to be safe was to just surrender and go into exile. Some men do not like what they hear, so they have Jeremiah placed in a cistern. There is no water, just mud. Ebed-Melech hears that he has been put there and asks the king to have Jeremiah released. The king grants the request. Zedekiah swears that he will not kill Jeremiah. Jeremiah pleads with the king to surrender. Zedekiah will not, though.

The Babylonians launch their attack on Jerusalem. All of Zedekiah’s men flee. At Riblah, Nebuchadnezzar slaughters all of Zedekiah’s sons and nobles of Judah before his eyes. With his sons gone, Zedekiah is then blinded by Nebuchadnezzar, put in bronze chains, and is taken to Babylon. The others are rounded up and deported as well. Jeremiah is freed by Nebuchadnezzar. The LORD tells Jeremiah to report to Ebed-Melech that He is about to fulfill His words for their harm and not good, but He will one day rescue them.

In the New Testament reading, we move on to Hebrews. This letter is a tribute to the incomparable Son of God. It is also an encouragement to the persecuted believers. We do not know who wrote this book. We do know that the author was a second generation Christian. This rules out the possibility that Paul was the author.

In Hebrews, we read seven praises that identify Jesus Christ and everything connected to Him as superior to all that had come before and all that will come after Him. Christ is superior. There is none before Him! Let us go and praise The LORD Jesus Christ in all that we do!

Jeremiah 40-42 and Hebrews 2

In all of the action, Jeremiah is mistakenly chained up and taken to the deportation point. He was released at Ramah by the captain of the guard. Nebuzaradan, the captain, releases Jeremiah and tells him to go which way he likes. He also notes that the people are in this position because they did not obey The LORD. The captain of the guard works for Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan, and even he can see that the kingdom fell because of their unfaithfulness to God. Jeremiah remains in Judah.

Ishmael, from the Davidic line, was not happy that they chose to abandon Judah. He eats a meal with 10 of his men and Gedaliah. Gedaliah would not have suspected the treachery ahead since it violated Easter hospitality standards. Ishmael begins slaughtering both Judeans and Babylonians in his assault.

All of the commanders of the armies approach Jeremiah to get his advice. It seems that now that everything has gone wrong for them, they are willing to listen to him. They ask a very valid question about fleeing to Egypt. From our vantage, this might seem silly since they wound up in Judah as a result of their captivity in Egypt earlier in their history. However, Egypt was not terribly hostile toward them at this point, so it seemed like a viable option. Jeremiah communicates to them in NO uncertain terms that they are to stay in Judah through the exile. If they choose to leave, then even more calamity will befall them. They must remain in this land, despite the difficult circumstances.

Sometimes God is going to put us in difficult circumstances. When that happens, we should do what we can to learn what He wants us to learn from it. Further, we should use that time to do His will, rather than try to get out of it. It might be painful or stressful, but it is always best to follow God’s directions. He will see us through. I know that this sounds a lot easier said than done. It is. However, from my own personal experience, every time God took me someplace I did not want to go or kept me in a place I did not want to be, He made a way for me to endure the trial and ensured that the outcome was much better than I could have ever imagined.

In the New Testament reading, the author encourages us to pay more attention so that we do not depart from God’s commands. He references the angels. The angels do not receive the same kind of grace that we do. We know that because when there was rebellion in heaven, God’s punishment was meted out as soon as it happened. As His human creation, we receive wonderful and abundant grace. However, just because that grace is abundant does not mean that we should abuse it!

Jeremiah 43-45 and Hebrews 3

Having heard the word of The LORD after they ask Jeremiah, his advice is summarily rejected by the people. They have gone to him asking for his help, he gives them the honest truth, and now they turn on him and accuse him of being allied with the Chaldeans. They see the destruction around them, but they choose to go their own way. God pronounces that He will send Nebuchadnezzar to take over Egypt as well.

God will find the people that flee to Egypt an “execration”. This means that there will be a great expression of loathing toward them. They have refused to follow God’s commands despite all of the signs He has been sending them. The LORD has promised that He will bring the captive Israelites back from Babylon. He promises quite the opposite for those that go to Egypt.

We read one of the most surprising passages in all the Bible in Chapter 44 vv. 15-19. The Jewish men have shown their favor to the queen of heaven, not God Almighty. These men actually have the audacity to proclaim that they will not listen to Jeremiah. They truly believe that these punishments are not coming from God, but instead from the queen of heaven. They think that it was because they stopped making sacrifices to her that caused all of these troubles.

God sends a message to Baruch. God tells him to stop seeking good things for himself. There is trouble everywhere and He is about to uproot it all. Baruch is too focused on himself, not on all of the other things happening around him.

In the New Testament reading, we read about Jesus as our High Priest. The author uses Moses as a comparison for Jesus. Moses was a prominent Old Testament figure. He was faithful to God in Pharaoh’s household. Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses. Christ was faithful over His household. The author also encourages them to believe in The LORD. Everyone believes in something. Everyone worships something. I pray that we all maintain a life of worship and praise to God Almighty.

Jeremiah 46-48 and Hebrews 4

God makes pronouncements against other nations. There will be no healing for Egypt. They have tried to make remedies for their ailments in vain. Nebuchadnezzar is going to come and defeat them as well. Even in this promise of destruction, God promises restoration for Israel. He continues to give them reassurance through the promise of calamity.

There are pronouncements against the Philistines and Phoenicians. Rememberer the Philistines had been an enemy of Israel for a long time. Destruction is headed their way and their mourning will be intense. There are three signs of mourning listed here. They will shave their heads to baldness, they will be silent, and inflict gashes on themselves. Those were standard mourning procedures back then.

God also pronounces judgment against Moab. Moab was located east of the Dead Sea. It was also bordered by the Zered river to the south, the Arnon river to the north. There was desert to its east. The land that Moabites possessed was fertile, but we learn that will not be the case. In ch. 48 v. 9, it speaks of making Moab a salt marsh. A common practice to spoil a field was to sow salt in it. The future looks bleak for Moab. The nation will become a laughingstock just as Israel was a laughingstock to them.

In the New Testament reading, the author reminds us of the promised rest we have. As believers, we have heard the good news and we can rest in it. Rest is important in our lives. I find that no matter how busy I am, if I take one day away from the business and rest in Him, God provides. We are also reminded in this text about Jesus the High Priest. Jesus suffered the temptation in the wilderness. When we go to Him to take our problems to Him, He is able to relate to us because He has endured trials as well. He knows what it feels like. He has “been there and done that”. What a wonderful Savior we serve!

Jeremiah 49-50 and Hebrews 5

We continue reading about the coming destruction of the other nations. Chapter 49 v.1 reflects the territorial dispute between Gad and Ammon. The god of Ammon was Milcom, also known as Molech. The name itself means “the king”. However, the Israelites would not pronounce it that way. When they referred to this false deity, they substituted the vowels of “o” and “e” from “bosheth” a Hebrew word meaning “shame”. Terror is headed toward the Ammonites, but God promises that He will restore them one day.

We also read the prophecies against Edom. The Edomites traced their lineage back to Esau, the brother that Jacob tricked out of his rightful blessing. The Edomites were known for their wisdom, but it has not served them well up to this point. In ch. 49 v. 16, we are reminded of how the Edomites lived. They were thought to be unconquerable because they lived in the clefts of the rock, which would later be called Petra and becomes their fortress and capital. Though they are wised and seemingly unconquerable, they too will fall.

God pronounces His judgment on Babylon. Babylon was a large and vast kingdom. The nation had many warriors and was very wealthy. They would have seemed too big to be conquered. Yet, God tells them of their impending doom. Their time of prosperity and military might will come to an end. Further, it will not be restored. Nothing man made lasts forever. The Roman Empire would later become a dominant force in the world, only to fall apart. The same happens with other systems and nations throughout the world. As believers, our hope is not in anything made by man. Instead, our only hope is in The LORD. He is eternal and He is strong to save.

In the New Testament reading, we read more about the high priest. Jesus offered prayers and appeals to the Father in heaven, crying with loud tears to the One that could save Him from death. The author talks about spiritual maturity. The audience, right now, is only fit to consume the milk of the Gospel and not the meat. They must grow in Jesus and become more mature. As believers, our lives are not supposed to become stagnant with the upfront “I believe so I’m good” mentality. Instead, we are supposed to grow in our relationship with Him for the rest of our lives, becoming more and more like Him as we get closer to the day we are joined with Him in eternity. When a baby learns his or her first word, the parents are thrilled. If the baby never moves on from that first word, the parents become worried. As believers, we are called to grow in Christ.

Jeremiah 51-52 and Hebrews 6

We finish Jeremiah today with more pronouncements Babylon. It has already been announced that Babylon will fall. However, we get more detail in chapter 51. We learn that the Medes will rise up and destroy Babylon. Media was a country northeast of Babylon. Media became prominent in 549 BC coming under Persian and joining Cyrus in the defeat of Babylon. I find it interesting that the prophetic words of Jeremiah end with what will happen with Babylon, considering the Babylonians are launching their offensive against Judah and Jerusalem. Further, the Babylonians are having such success in this endeavor because God is using them to administer His judgment on His people. There is hope in this, though. The Israelites are in captivity because they failed to follow God’s instructions, but still God is going to free them from it. Even when there seems to be darkness all around, the darkness will not last. God will bring us through!

Chapter 52 closes with the fall of Jerusalem. Zedekiah had reigned 11 years. He did what was evil in God’s sight. In the ninth year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar advanced against Jerusalem with his entire army and they completely destroy Jerusalem. The LORD’s temple is burnt to the ground. Zedekiah’s sons are slaughtered as he watches, then he is blinded, chained, and taken into captivity.

We are not told why, but the former Judean king Jehoiachin, finds favor in Nebuchadnezzar’s sight. He is elevated above the kings of the other nations that were conquered. His prison clothes are exchanged for robes and he is given a seat at the royal table. He is also given an allowance for the rest of his life.

The New Testament reading deals with the issue of continued sin in the life of a believer. As believers we are all forgiven of our sins. Those sins were paid for by Jesus Christ. However, this does not give us a license to sin as much as we like.

As believers, we are to go and do good works for God. The author here uses the image of a field. The field receives the rain and produces vegetation useful to people and that pleases The LORD. Another field receives the rain and produces thorns and thistles. This does not please God. Let’s go and use the blessings that He has given us to serve Him and serve others!

Lamentations 1-2 and Hebrews 7

Lamentations was written about the suffering caused by the overthrow of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile. This book is about pain. However, it is also about having hope in God. It deals with the very real issue of human pain and suffering. Lamentations is important because it addresses the hard questions that come up during periods of suffering.

Chapter one opens by focusing on losses. The author speaks in the third person on behalf of Jerusalem. The nation has lost its abundance, allies, a place to rest, happiness, prestige, courage, and worship. They once enjoyed these treasures, but since they are under the control of Nebuchadnezzar, things are rough for them.

Chapter two deals with God’s anger toward them. “Israel’s glory” most likely refers to the temple. Typically, when we read about “His footstool”, it is referring to the ark of the covenant. However, that is not the case in this instance since Jeremiah 3:16 indicates that the ark was absent before the temple was destroyed. God’s anger is described 40 times in the first ten verses of this chapter. The once great city is now mocked by foreigners.

One thing that strikes me is that the author sees the that the reason they are in this pain is because of their behavior prior to the fall. Rather than looking at God and asking why He did this to them, they are now going through the grieving process, realizing that it was their sin and idolatry that led them to this place.

In the New Testament reading, we read about the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a mysterious figure that shows up in Genesis 14: 18-20. He is not mentioned again until Psalm 110. The author here is using these instances to show that the order of Melchizedek is eternal. Since Christ is form the order of Melchizedek and not the order of the Levites, He is the ultimate high priest. He is eternal and the sacrifice He made is the final sacrifice needed to absolve sins. The Levitical priests had to make sacrifices regularly to cleanse their sins and make another sacrifice to cleanse the sins of another. Christ is so powerful that He ended the need for sacrifices once and for all. He takes the sins of the past and the future and wipes them away, like it never happened.

Lamentations 3-5 and Hebrews 8

We read more about the anguish the exiled Israelites are feeling. In many ways, we see some of the same themes in this book as we did in the book of Job. Several times the author states that it would have been better to die a quick death by the sword or some other event than suffer the way they are now. The formerly rich, the ones that used to wear purple, are reduced to begging.

The author states that even jackals tend to their young, but the Israelites have become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness. The social code of hospitality seems to have evaporated amongst the exiled people. Now it is every man, woman, and child for him or herself.

Lamentations closes with a prayer for God to restore them. The people are tired and want rest. They desperately want to get back to the life that they had before the exile. It is interesting to note that throughout the Old Testament, we see several times where the Israelites look at the pagan nations with jealousy. For some reason, they looked at these nations that did not honor God and decided that their way of life was preferable. They adopted the practices of idolatry. Now they see that God’s way was best. They had it much better than they realized. The grass was not in fact greener on the other side.

God will deliver them from this exile. He will restore their joy at the appointed time. We may be going through tough times now. Life is not all rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes things hurt. Life is hard. Even when it is hard, we can trust that God is going to pull us through. He did it for the Israelites and He will do it for us.

In the New Testament reading, we read about the superior covenant. The author states that if the first covenant had been faultless there would be no need for a second covenant. In reality, it was not the covenant itself that had fault to it. In reality, it was the inability of the fallen humans to keep the covenant that had fault. God knew from the beginning that we would not be able to keep the Ten Commandments. So, He had His plan of salvation through Christ from the very beginning. The second covenant is perfect because it takes us out of the equation. The salvation from sin is done through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, not anything that we can do. Praise God for that because if it were up to me to lead a perfect life to earn my way to heaven, I would fall short every single day.

Print

Lamentations 3-5 and Hebrews 8

We read more about the anguish the exiled Israelites are feeling. In many ways, we see some of the same themes in this book as we did in the book of Job. Several times the author states that it would have been better to die a quick death by the sword or some other event than suffer the way they are now. The formerly rich, the ones that used to wear purple, are reduced to begging.

The author states that even jackals tend to their young, but the Israelites have become cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness. The social code of hospitality seems to have evaporated amongst the exiled people. Now it is every man, woman, and child for him or herself.

Lamentations closes with a prayer for God to restore them. The people are tired and want rest. They desperately want to get back to the life that they had before the exile. It is interesting to note that throughout the Old Testament, we see several times where the Israelites look at the pagan nations with jealousy. For some reason, they looked at these nations that did not honor God and decided that their way of life was preferable. So they adopted the practices of idolatry. Now they see that God’s way was best. They had it much better than they realized. The grass was not in fact greener on the other side.

God will deliver them from this exile. He will restore their joy at the appointed time. We may be going through tough times now. Life is not all rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes things hurt. Life is hard. Even when it is hard, we can trust that God is going to pull us through. He did it for the Israelites and He will do it for us.

In the New Testament reading, we read about the superior covenant. The author states that if the first covenant had been faultless there would be no need for a second covenant. In reality, it was not the covenant itself that had fault to it. In reality, it was the inability of the fallen humans to keep the covenant that had fault. God knew from the beginning that we would not be able to keep the Ten Commandments. So He had His plan of salvation through Christ from the very beginning. The second covenant is perfect because it takes us out of the equation. The salvation from sin is done through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, not anything that we can do. Praise God for that because if it were up to me to lead a perfect life to earn my way to heaven, I would fall short every single day.

Ezekiel 1-3 and Hebrews 9

Ezekiel was primarily written to the exiles in Babylon. The prophecies emphasize the judgment of sins. However, this is balanced equally by the promise of hope and restoration. Ezekiel was one of the 8,000 soldiers and nobility that were sent into exile with the king in 597 B.C.

Ezekiel sees a vision of The LORD’s glory. It is difficult to envision exactly what Ezekiel saw, but he does his best to describe it. Ultimately, we are able to know certain things about God, but full comprehension of Him is beyond our finite human minds. I have a feeling that when we get to the other side of eternity, we will see God’s glory and the Trinity and think “That makes perfect sense now! Why didn’t I think of that before?”

God tells Ezekiel that He is sending him to the pagan and rebellious Israelites. Ezekiel is not to be afraid of them. Instead, he is to boldly speak God’s word to them. God commands him to eat a scroll that is sweet as honey in his mouth.

Ezekiel is described as a watchman for God. He has certain tasks he must perform. It is his job to warn people about their sin. Notice that Ezekiel is not judging the people for their sin, he is merely called to warn them about it. If he does not warn them about the sin, then the person is held accountable for their sin and Ezekiel is as well. However, if Ezekiel has warned them, then he is not held responsible for it.

In the New Testament reading, the author continues making the case for Christ as the perfect High Priest. In this chapter, he refers to the inner chamber of the temple, known as the “Holy of Holies”. This chamber was closed off by a huge and heavy curtain. Behind the curtain is where the ark of the covenant was placed. It acted as a throne room for God. The place was so holy that only the high priest could enter it once a year to make sacrifice for himself and the people. There was such fear that the priest would be struck down in the presence of God that they would tie a rope around the priest’s ankle so they could drag him out in the event he was killed. Since Christ is sinless, He made the perfect sacrifice and entered the most holy place once and for all. Because of Him, sacrifices no longer need to be made. He paid the price for our sins once and for all!

Ezekiel 4-6 and Hebrews 10: 1-23

From our vantage, things are starting to get a little weird. God commands Ezekiel to act out Israel’s siege. He is to take a brick and draw the city on it. Then Ezekiel is to lay siege to it. This might seem odd from our vantage. However, this is really just a simple dramatization of how the siege against Jerusalem happened.

Ezekiel is given instructions to lie on his side for 390 days on his left side to signify bearing Israel’s iniquity and 40 days on his right side for Judah’s iniquity. He is also told to make a special bread. The ingredients themselves are not bad at all. In fact, my eldest daughter brought some “Ezekiel bread” to us one day because she had heard it was “really good for you”. The first question I asked was how it was baked!

This instruction to bake bread using this particular fuel source brings up feelings of disgust. That is exactly what the Israelites watching all of this would have felt. Ezekiel is obedient, but he asks to change the fuel type because he has never defiled himself by eating anything unclean. God allows him to use the cow dung instead.

After that, Ezekiel dramatizes Jerusalem’s fall. He cuts off his beard and divides it into three parts. He burns a third, slashes a third around the city, and the last third is scattered in the wind. However, he is supposed to hide a few in his garment to signify the faithful remnant that remains. Ezekiel also is prophesies against Israel’s idolatry. It was their unfaithfulness that led them to this place. They consistently turned to idols, turning their backs on God Almighty.

In the New Testament reading, the author continues describing the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is Christ that make the sanctification process possible in our lives. When we come to know Jesus as Lord, He forgives us of our sins. Then the long process of sanctification, becoming perfected, begins. This process will last all of our lives. My hope and prayer is that every day we get stronger in The LORD. Prayerfully, as the years go by, we can tell a definite difference in our spiritual maturity.

Ezekiel 7-9 and Hebrews 10:24-39

God’s announcement of the end comes to Ezekiel. God’s anger is stirred up and will be unleashed on the four corners of the earth. The people will be punished for their detestable ways and God’s will exhaust His wrath against them. God gave them beautiful ornaments, but they made detestable and abhorrent images. Rather than bow to God Almighty, they bowed in worship to these things they have made.

Ezekiel is then taken on a visionary journey to Israel. Over the next few chapters, he will see the glory of The LORD depart the temple and Jerusalem. Ezekiel cuts a hole in th wall of the temple so that he can see the terrible things being done. Their idolatry is not just confined to the city, but their paganism runs amok in God’s house as well. Not even the temple is sacred anymore.

Ezekiel sees six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate. There is another man among them clothed in linen. The man in linen is ordered by The LORD to pass through Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan because of the detestable practices. This mark will prevent them from being destroyed in the coming onslaught. We will see a similar mark given to believers in Revelation.

In the New Testament reading, the author encourages the believers to gather for worship and to encourage one another. He then brings up the problem of deliberate sin. Since we are humans, we will inevitably sin. However, there is a huge difference between inadvertent sin and committing sin with intention. When we sin with intention, we are profaning the work that Christ performed on the cross and minimizing His sacrifice. As believers we should strive daily to grow stronger in The LORD and become more like Him. We will never be perfect on this side of heaven, but that does not mean we shouldn’t try!

Ezekiel 10-12 and Hebrews 11: 1-19

Ezekiel sees the glory of The LORD ascend from the temple and move to the east. Ezekiel does his best to describe exactly what he was seeing. There have been a number of theories as to what the wheel within a wheel would have actually looked like. God’s glory Moses from the threshold of the temple and goes to the entrance of the Eastern gate. His glory departs to the east as He leaves Jerusalem. It is worth noting that when Adam and Eve were sent from the Garden of Eden, it was to the east.

One of the issues the Israelites in Judah faced were the corrupt leaders. These leaders were not properly shepherding God’s flock. They were telling people what they wanted to hear and leading them down the wrong path. Since they fear the sword, God will send the sword against them. Despite their corruption, God promises that Israel will be restored.

Ezekiel gives another dramatic expression of the exile. He packs his bags, making this visible to the people. Chapter 12 verse 3 provides some hope that the people will see this and realize what they have done and change their ways. Since God has foreknowledge, He knows they will not, but He is at least giving them a chance to change their ways. This chapter also identifies that one of the proverbs being tossed about during the time is “The days keep passing by, and every vision fails.” Essentially, this proverb meant that any prophecy that was made, if it did not come true soon after it was pronounced was false. God has made plenty of promises throughout the history of mankind and He always delivers on it. We would think that the people would realize this. Unfortunately for them they are too wrapped up in what they want to even consider God’s faithfulness at bringing about His plan.

In the New Testament reading, the author identifies a lot of the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament. Many of these people were promised things by God and it took a long time for them to receive the promised blessing. One thing about the faithful people mentioned in this passage is that in the case of Abraham and Sarah, they did not necessarily have faith when God first promised Abraham he would have a son and many descendants. Sarah did not either, that is why he took Hagar to conceive and have his family through her. Though they expressed doubt at first, God delivered. When God promises us something, we can have the faith that He will deliver!

Ezekiel 13-15 and Hebrews 11:20-40

There has been a problem with prophets using their imagination to prophesy rather than getting the word from The LORD. They gave a false sense of security because they were telling everyone that there was peace. They kept them from the truth. The truth was not what they wanted to hear, but it was necessary. The same is true today. We might not like the truth, but the only way to overcome issues and other problems is to look at things from the standpoint of truth. These prophets hid the truth and gave the people of Judah a false sense of security. Eventually, their lies were uncovered.

Some of the elders come to Ezekiel. However, they have set up idols in their hearts. The LORD responds that when the idolaters come to the prophet for advice, He will give them the answer according to their idols. Of course, simply receiving the word of the idols is futile. God wants them to end their idolatry because these graven images have estranged the people from Him. In our day to day walk, what keeps us estranged from The LORD?

God gives the parable of the useless vine. It is not strong enough to make a peg or any other tool out of. Therefore, it is thrown into the fire.

In the New Testament reading, we continue reading about the Old Testament heroes. Moses was hidden away by his parents for three months before his mother put him in the Nile. He was then taken out of the water by Pharaoh’s daughter and was raised in Pharaoh’s court. Moses could have stayed and lived an easy life as royalty. However, he rejected that life of ease for service to The LORD. His faith drove him to stand up to Pharaoh to free the Israelites. The text gives us more examples of faith driving these people to do great things for God. What is our faith driving us to do?

Ezekiel 16 and Hebrews 12

The LORD compares the nation to an adulterous wife. He found her in her youth, no one would care for her. He took her in and gave her protection. He fed her and clothed her. The nation did not repay God by being faithful to Him. Instead, it prostituted itself by following the pagan practices of the nations around them. They even offered their children as sacrifices to the false gods as a food offering. God was their protector and kept them safe, but they did not cling to Him. They have despised God by acting the way they have.

In the New Testament reading, the author encourages us to endure in the faith. The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. Let’s keep focused on Christ and endure to the end, living life for Him!

The author also talks about fatherly punishment. If a parent loves the child, then the parent will give appropriate punishment to correct poor behavior. The parent does this out of love for the child, not out of hate. I know when I was a kid, I hated being punished and it certainly did not feel loving at the time. As a parent, it is not always easy to enact discipline. In fact, it would be easier just to let poor behavior go and not do anything about it. That’s not loving, though. God gives us correction because He loves us.

Ezekiel 17-19 and Hebrews 13

God gives Ezekiel the parable of the eagle. The eagle took the top of a shoot from Lebanon, planted it in fertile lands, and it became a spreading vine. Another eagle came and bent its efforts against the firs eagle. It too had planted a vine in a good field by abundant waters. The first eagle represents the Babylonian king. The second represents the Egyptian king. Zedekiah had sought an alliance with Egypt, thinking that Judah would be saved. That was not the case. God reminds them that He is the One that will free them.

Chapter 18 focuses on personal sin. For some time the mentality was that the children would bear the punishment for their father’s sin. That is what “the father eats sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge” is referring to. That is not how sin works. If I commit a sin, I am the one that is responsible for it. God explains that if a wicked person turns from his or her evil ways and comes to Him, then He delights in their repentance.

In all this, the house of Israel accuses God of being unfair. God asks if it is His ways that are unfair or theirs. Certainly, they are the ones that did not want to hold up their end of the covenant He had established with them. His glory did not depart from them when they were being faithful to Him and following His statutes. It was only when they abandoned Him that His glory departed.

Chapter 19 is a lament, but in the Hebrew it is known as a “qinah” which means funeral dirge or funerary lament.

In the New Testament reading, we finish up Hebrews today. The author encourages them to show one another brotherly love and to show hospitality. They should remember the prisoners as if they were in prison too. They should respect marriage. Their lives should be free from the love of money and they should be satisfied with what they have. How much better would the world be if everyone lived like this? What are we doing to live this way?

Print

Ezekiel 17-19 and Hebrews 13

God gives Ezekiel the parable of the eagle. The eagle took the top of a shoot from Lebanon, planted it in fertile lands, and it became a spreading vine. Another eagle came and bent its efforts against the firs eagle. It too had planted a vine in a good field by abundant waters. The first eagle represents the Babylonian king. The second represents the Egyptian king. Zedekiah had sought an alliance with Egypt, thinking that Judah would be saved. That was not the case. God reminds them that He is the One that will free them.

Chapter 18 focuses on personal sin. For some time the mentality was that the children would bear the punishment for their father’s sin. That is what “the father eats sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge” is referring to. That is not how sin works. If I commit a sin, I am the one that is responsible for it. God explains that if a wicked person turns from his or her evil ways and comes to Him, then He delights in their repentance.

In all this, the house of Israel accuses God of being unfair. God asks if it is His ways that are unfair or theirs. Certainly, they are the ones that did not want to hold up their end of the covenant He had established with them. His glory did not depart from them when they were being faithful to Him and following His statutes. It was only when they abandoned Him that His glory departed.

Chapter 19 is a lament, but in the Hebrew it is known as a “qinah” which means funeral dirge or funerary lament.

In the New Testament reading, we finish up Hebrews today. The author encourages them to show one another brotherly love and to show hospitality. They should remember the prisoners as if they were in prison too. They should respect marriage. Their lives should be free from the love of money, and they should be satisfied with what they have. How much better would the world be if everyone lived like this? What are we doing to live this way?

Ezekiel 20-21 and James 1

God gives His word to Ezekiel. This time He focuses on Israel’s behavior in the past, defiling themselves with idols. Even though He had delivered them out of Egypt and brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, they still rebelled against God and chased after the false deities. God will purge these rebellious and idolatrous people. They will not return to Israel.

Chapter 21:2 starts with “Son of man, turn your face toward Jerusalem”. Any time this phrase appears, it is in a judgment context. God’s opposition to His people’s rebellion is expressed in the image of the drawn sword. This judgment should cause them to groan and wail. The expression “clap your hands” that we read in verse 14 is associated with God’s wrath.

In the New Testament, we start James. James is one of my favorite books because it is chock full of good advice on living a life that glorifies God. James is quick to tell the readers that whenever they are experiencing a trial, they should consider it pure joy because it is testing their faith and making them stronger. It is much easier said than done to have joy when things are falling apart, though. I have not always been good at having joy in difficult times, and I struggle with it still today. However, as I look back on my life where things were tough, I can see how God was shaping me and strengthening my faith. All that to say, when we are handed a difficulty, perhaps the better response is to thank God for the opportunity to learn and overcome.

James also encourages us to have faith without doubt. Those that doubt are like the surging sea. I have been on the surging sea before. I never got sea sick, but I would get so frustrated when I would have to grab my plate before it slid off the table while we were eating. Folks with faith should be steady.

We are also told to be hearers and doers of the Word. If we are only receiving God’s word, but we are not doing anything with it, then are we really showing ourselves to be faithful?

Ezekiel 22-23 and James 2

Ezekiel 22 speaks of the abominations that are being committed by His people. They have been defiling themselves with various carnal acts, even among family members. As a result, God is going to burn the dross (the impurity) off of them like a person would with gold and silver. In order to get rid of the dross, the metal must be melted down to molten form.

Ezekiel 23 uses imagery of prostitution and adultery to describe Samaria and Israel. Samaria is bad in how she goes after the other nations and the false gods. However, Israel is even worse. The imagery used here is graphic, but it points to the fact that the Israelites did not look to God as if He were enough. They wanted more, so they chased after others that they thought would fulfill them. That is not the case, though.

In the New Testament reading, James forbids favoritism among the believers. He uses the imagery of a rich man coming in to worship and being placed in a position of prominence. Meanwhile, a poor person comes in and is told to stand in the back. The only reason the rich person is being treated any better is because of his wealth. However, both the rich and the poor person are children of God. They are on equal footing because they are both under Christ’s banner.

James also tackles the issue of faith and works. None of us will earn our way into heaven by the things that we do. It is only through Jesus that we are forgiven of our sins. However, our faith in Christ should drive us to live in a way that reflects His love. James sites the common refrain that God is one and then states that the demons believe that and shudder. In a not so thinly veiled condemnation, he is demonstrating that the demons actually respond to Christ with more faith because of their fear, than the people that merely profess Christ with their mouths, but do not live it out. As believers, we are called to go and be ambassadors for Christ, loving others and serving. How are we doing with that?

Ezekiel 24-26 and James 3

God tells the parable of the boiling pot to Ezekiel. He directs Ezekiel to write down the date it is given because it marks the day that Nebuchadnezzar begins his siege against Jerusalem in January of 588 B.C. Later in Jewish history, this date was marked as an appointed day of fasting. This was the day that Ezekiel has been drawing their attention to for the last four years. The land will be laid to waste. The impurities of the nation are too imbedded in them, just as the rust is in the pot. The only way to get rid of the impurity is to put it in the fire. It must be put into the fire.

In the Navy, when it came to painting, the old adage was “once for dust, twice for rust.” I will neither confirm nor deny that we painted over rust. However, I can assure you that if we did, then the rust would resurface in a very short amount of time, the corrosion would be worse, and we would have to do it all over again. The only way to stop the corrosion was to get rid of the rust altogether.

Judgments are made against the other nations. One nation to note is Tyre. Tyre was seemingly impenetrable since it was built on an island off the Phoenician coast. When Assyria attacked the Northern Kingdom, they tried for five years to siege Tyre, but failed. Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king of Babylon, tried for 13 years before he gave up. It was not until Alexander the Great came along that the prophecy of Tyre’s downfall came to pass.

In the New Testament reading, James explains that not everyone should be a teacher or an overseer since they will be held to a higher standard than others. James also explains the need for controlling the tongue. A small spark can ignite a huge fire. A large ship is controlled by the small rudder. The same is true of our tongues. It has the power to bless and to curse. When we have hateful words queued up and ready to go, it is best to not speak. As believers, we should watch what we say. We should use our speech to bless and help others, not tear people down.

Ezekiel 27-28 and James 4

We read more about Tyre’s fall in Ezekiel 27. This nation became puffed up and full of pride. That is why she is destined to fall. As they grew in stature and their opulence increased, they became sure in themselves. They had become cocky rather than simply being confident. Pride does not go well in the lives of people. Pride destroys relationships between family and friends. Pride allows us to miss lurking dangers.

In chapter 28, we read about the accusations against Tyre’s ruler. This man has become haughty, saying that he is a god rather than a man. He will be taken and killed by his pursuers. God asks if he will still call himself a god when he is led to the slaughter. The prideful king is referred to as either a guardian angel at the “mountain of God” or Adam, the errant human in the garden of Eden. Nine of the 12 precious gemstones listed in verse 13 were present on the high priest’s breastplate. In certain circles, it is believed that this section has a double meaning, referring to the earthly king and Satan. As an angel, Satan aka Lucifer, would have had constant access to God’s glorious presence until his time of rebellion.

In the New Testament reading, James deals a lot with the subject of pride as well. He encourages us to humble ourselves. He warns against infighting amongst the believers. There are those that are quick to make judgment about other believers. When they do this, they are no longer doing the law, instead, they are judges of the law. Rather than criticize one another, it would be much more helpful to help someone along that is struggling. Rather than criticize what the person is doing (or not doing), we should help. One thing I always love is when people say, “This is a problem, someone should do something.” The fact of the matter is, that once we all realize we are someone and start doing things, the world becomes a better place.

As believers, we should seek God’s will. If we chase after Him and His will, then He will give us the desires of our heart. When we love the things God loves and chase after them, why wouldn’t He give us that then? Conversely, if we chase after the things that God hates, why would we expect Him to grant our selfish desires?

Ezekiel 29-31 and James 5

Chapter 29 deals with the fall of Egypt. Egypt has played a role in Hebrew history. Abraham fled there when there was a famine. Joseph wound up living there and bringing the Israelites to reside in the land. Eventually, the Israelites were enslaved by the Pharaoh and Moses was sent to free them. Despite their sordid history with Egypt, Israel sought their help in protection from the invading armies of Nebuchadnezzar. God proclaims here that Egypt will have its arms broken, referring to Hophra’s defeat. Once a mighty nation, she will never have the same stature that she once had.

Not only is Egypt in for trouble, but Assyria is as well. The Assyrians had defeated the northern kingdom of Israel. Now, these conquerors will also be conquered. Throughout this chapter, God says that He has made it so. Even though these foreign nations did not recognize God Almighty, He still has sovereignty over them, He can still do what He wants with them. God is in control.

In the New Testament reading, James warns the rich. They are to weep and wail because of the ruin that is coming to their wealth and clothing. Having wealth and nice things is not the problem here. The true problem is that these rich folks James is warning had their faith in their possessions, rather than in God. No matter how much wealth or possessions we amass for ourselves on earth, the fact is that we are not taking it with us when we leave here.

James also encourages them to be patient and wait upon The LORD. Further, they are to continuously pray. He uses Elijah as an example of effective prayer. Elijah prayed with the expectation that God would answer him. The same is true today. We can trust that God will answer our prayers.

Ezekiel 32-33 and 1 Peter 1

We read more about Egypt’s coming destruction. It may seem odd to us that the promise of its destruction has been repeated so much. However, God is warning the people of what is to come. That way when they are cut down, no one can say that they were not warned. I am certain we know people in our lives that still say, “You never told me.” Even though we have told that person several times. This is a little like what is happening here.

Ezekiel is again identified as watchman. As long as he is giving the words and warning the people the way that he should, then he is blameless if people continue on their paths to destruction. It is not his fault they failed to heed his warnings. God promises that the people will be judged according to their ways. Conversely, if Ezekiel keeps silent, then it is his fault that the people stray. A long time ago, when I was young and you were even younger, I sat down at a console in combat to take the watch. Our Combat Systems Master Chief sat me down, pointed to the radar screen and said, “Okay, this is your responsibility now. If someone shoots at us and you miss it and everyone dies, then it is all your fault.” Ezekiel is being charged in a similar fashion.

In the New Testament reading, we start 1 Peter. This letter was written to the dispersed people in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythnia. Peter reminds them (and us) that Christ is our living hope. These people are not in the best circumstance as far as the worldly standard goes. However, they are in the best possible spot they can be in because they are owned by Jesus. Peter charges them to live lives that are holy and pleasing to The LORD. Today, there are many people that chant the mantra “do what makes you happy.” As believers, our mantra should be be “do what makes you holy.” Of course, we cannot be holy on our own, it is up to Jesus to fix us from the inside out and make it so that we love the things He loves. Just as these dispersed people are obedient to the truth, as believers today, we should do the same. The things of this world, not matter how pure, will one day fade. The Word of The LORD endures forever, though.

Ezekiel 34-35 and 1 Peter 2

Chapter 34 deals with the false teachers and priests of the time. They had been called to be under shepherds, caring for God’s flock. They have failed in their duties. Instead of protecting them, helping them grow, seeking the lost, this group of shepherds have used the flock for their own selfish gain. They take from the group and do nothing for them. Sadly, this problem persists today. There are some out there today that do not really see themselves as under shepherds for Christ’s flock.

God’s prophecy comes against Edom. Edom was founded from the line of Esau, the brother Jacob cheated the birthright from. God accuses them of maintaining an ancient hatred. This hatred drove them to give the Israelites over to sword in the time of disaster. They should have gotten over that hatred that they felt for the Israelites and assisted them. They did not and now they will pay dearly for it.

As believers, we are called to love.

The New Testament reading echoes that sentiment. Peter encourages the people to get rid of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, and slander. These are all hateful acts born from a fleshly spirit. As believers, they are a redeemed people in a royal priesthood. The same is true for us today. We must act accordingly. Peter also calls them to good works. Again, this is not because the good works have any property of salvation in them, but because our faith should drive us to do good works. Our belief should manifest itself in our works. I told this story once at church, but I do not think I have told it here. After a long deployment, Dania, the kids, and I rented a boat to sail around Smith Mountain Lake. As the day wore on, I used some of my Sailor skills to which Dania said, “Wow, I didn’t really think of you as a Sailor Sailor.” Even though I went to a ship every day, it was not until she saw me doing nautical things that I proved myself a true Sailor. The same can be said of our faith. We can go to a church every Sunday, but until our faith is lived out in the world, they won’t recognize us as believers.

Print

Ezekiel 34-35 and 1 Peter 2

Chapter 34 deals with the false teachers and priests of the time. They had been called to be under shepherds, caring for God’s flock. They have failed in their duties. Instead of protecting them, helping them grow, seeking the lost, this group of shepherds have used the flock for their own selfish gain. They take from the group and do nothing for them. Sadly, this problem persists today. There are some out there today that do not really see themselves as under shepherds for Christ’s flock.

God’s prophecy comes against Edom. Edom was founded from the line of Esau, the brother Jacob cheated the birthright from. God accuses them of maintaining an ancient hatred. This hatred drove them to give the Israelites over to sword in the time of disaster. They should have gotten over that hatred that they felt for the Israelites and assisted them. They did not and now they will pay dearly for it.

As believers, we are called to love.

The New Testament reading echoes that sentiment. Peter encourages the people to get rid of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, and slander. These are all hateful acts born from a fleshly spirit. As believers, they are a redeemed people in a royal priesthood. The same is true for us today. We must act accordingly. Peter also calls them to good works. Again, this is not because the good works have any property of salvation in them, but because our faith should drive us to do good works. Our belief should manifest itself in our works. I told this story once at church, but I do not think I have told it here. After a long deployment, Dania, the kids, and I rented a boat to sail around Smith Mountain Lake. As the day wore on, I used some of my Sailor skills to which Dania said, “Wow, I didn’t really think of you as a Sailor Sailor.” Even though I went to a ship every day, it was not until she saw me doing nautical things that I proved myself a true Sailor. The same can be said of our faith. We can go to a church every Sunday, but until our faith is lived out in the world, they won’t recognize us as believers.

Ezekiel 36-37 and 1 Peter 3

Ezekiel 36 pronounces the blessings that God is about to pour on Israel. The land will be fruitful for them. Though the Israelites have been displaced, they will walk on the bountiful mountains for Israel again. However, God lets them know why He is doing this. God is not doing this for their sake. Instead, it is for His holy name. The people have profaned God’s name by acting the way they have acted. Because they belong to Yahweh, their poor behavior reflected poorly on God. God is taking them through all of this for His holy name, not their sake. As believers, if we profess Christ with our mouths, but act counter to His name, it is not so much that we are giving a poor reflection of ourselves, but of Christ. We are His ambassadors, so our behavior should match His teachings. How are we doing with that?

Chapter 37 deals with the valley of dry bones. There is a scene change. God has His hand on Ezekiel and leads him to this valley where there are a lot of very dried bones. God asks Ezekiel if they can live. Ezekiel has a perfect response to this question: Lord GOD, only You know. God tells Ezekiel to prophecy to the bones and they come alive. They are not brought back to life by Ezekiel. It is only through God’s power that they are able to walk again. These bones were “bone dry” (please forgive the pun). There was nothing on earth that would bring them back. God did. This gives us hope because this means we are never too far gone for Christ to bring us back and restore us.

In the New Testament reading, Peter discusses interactions between husband and wife. Men are to care and honor their wives as coheirs for Christ. He also gives instructions for living a faithful life. As believers they, and we, should be like minded and sympathetic. They should love one another and be compassionate and humble. Essentially, they are to display the fruits of the Spirit in their lives.

The reference to Christ speaking to the spirits in prison in the days of Noah is difficult to interpret. Some scholars contend that the preincarnate Christ was preached to the disobedient people by Noah as he built the ark. Others contend that this particular text means that after Christ’s death and resurrection, He made a proclamation of victory over the demonic spirits. In the latter view, the “spirits” are evil angels. This is one of those things we will not know on this side of heaven. This is on my list of questions I want to ask (if there is a question-and-answer time) when I get to my final destination.

Ezekiel 38-39 and 1 Peter 4

God pronounces the destruction of Gog. Gog’s immediate reference is Gyges, king of Lysia. However, Gog is also refering to a leader who will oppose Israel in the future. The only other occurrence of Gog is in Revelation 20:8. The phrase “after a long time” in verse 8 is a prophetic phrase, indicating things that will happen in the end times when the Messianic Kingdom is ushered in. The curses pronounced against Gog are consistent with the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 32:24, Deuteronomy 32:42, Genesis 6, and Joshua 10:11 . There will be plague, bloodshed, flood, hail, fire, and brimstone.

There will be so much bloodshed and death in Gog that the Israelites will use their weapons of war to make their fires for seven years. This shows an ironic reversal, the group that goes in to plunder the Israelites wind up being plundered by the Israelites. The number of the slain is so high that it will block travel routes until the bodies can be buried. After all of this, everyone will know that Yahweh is God. The house of Israel will know that He is their God.

In the New Testament reading, Peter encourages us to be obedient to Christ. Since Christ suffered in the flesh, we should be ready to as well. Peter refers to the world looking at believers as being weird since we are not engaging in worldly revelry. My hope and prayer is that we live in such a way that the world does look at us as being strange. As believers, we should not plunge ourselves into the “same flood of wild living” as the others do. Instead, we should live lives that honor Christ. As believers, do we see holy living as a prison or as a freedom?

Peter again encourages us to love one another and be prepared to suffer for Christ. If any of us suffer as a Christian, then we should not be ashamed. Instead, we can “glorify God in having that name”!

Ezekiel 40 and 1 Peter 5

“In the 25th year of our exile” is the thirteenth and final date formula in the book of Ezekiel. The tenth day of the first month marked the start of the Passover which was celebrated four days later. The 25th year was the halfway point to the next Jubilee Year. The vision in this chapter complements God’s departure and the temple destruction in chapters 9-11. This chapter gives us the exact measurements for the new temple. There is debate in some circles as to whether this was meant to be allegorical or not. Those that argue against the allegory theory note that the measurements are very specific for it to not mean an actual new temple.

In the New Testament reading, we close up 1 Peter. Peter instructs the elders to shepherd God’s flock. The people that the elders lead do not belong to the elders, but God Himself. They must lead their people according to God’s will, not their own. He also tells the younger people to humble themselves before the elders since God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

Peter closes with some strong words. He tells them (and us) to be alert and serious since the devil is prowling around like a lion seeking anyone to devour. This reminds me of when God warns Cain that sin is crouching at his door as he prepares to murder Abel. To resist the enemy, we must be strong in the faith and strong in The LORD. He will give us the power we need to overcome the devil.

Ezekiel 41-42 and 2 Peter 1

Today we learn about the dimensions inside the new temple. There were 90 side rooms which were probably meant to be storage areas for temple equipment and treasuries. Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary just like Solomon’s temple. An altar was outside the most holy place.

We also read about the priest’s living quarters and the dimensions of the entire temple complex. This new temple has a wall around it that is 875 feet long and 875 wide. In Solomon’s temple, the only place in the complex that was a square was the most holy place.

In the New Testament reading, we start on 2 Peter, another general letter giving practical advice on Christian living. Peter encourages them to supplement their faith with goodness, knowledge, self control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. If they will chase after these things, it will supplement their faith. We have talked before about how believers should have outward showings of their faith through Christ like behavior. This idea of supplementing is a little different. I know some weight lifters that use supplements to enhance their work outs. There are pre workouts, protein, creatine, etc. If someone takes all of these supplements, but does not actually lift any weight, does that make them a weight lifter?

Ezekiel 43-44 and 2 Peter 2

God’s glory returns to the temple. Earlier in the book, we read the account of God’s glory exiting the temple and the city. Now, there has been a reversal and God’s glory is returning. His glory comes back through the very gate that it had departed. The filling of the temple will start in the most holy place. The phrase “Place for the soles of My feet” means that He will take His seat on His throne and place His feet on the footstool. Now God will dwell among the Israelites forever.

Now that the tour has ended, Ezekiel is guided to the outer gate that faces east. This gate is to remain closed since that is the gate that God’s glory went through to enter the city. The gate today is known as the “Golden Gate” and remains sealed as per God’s instruction. From there Ezekiel is given instructions on the duties of the Levites and the priests. The requirements for their duties are similar to the duties given in the Mosaic law.

In the New Testament reading, Peter warns against the false teachings that will inevitably pop up. Today, we continue to see heresies rise up. On the surface, they look a little different, but if we dig deep enough, we find that they are the same heresies, just new names. Punishment will fall on these false teachers just as it did on the angles that sinned.

Peter also warns about the dangers of walking in righteousness and then abandoning that life of faith. To become a believer and be purified from our sin would be similar to taking a shower, getting nice and clean, and then jumping into a pit of mud and filth. As believers, we should seek a life of holiness, not a life of sin and licentiousness.

Ezekiel 45-46 and 2 Peter 3

We now get to the division of land. The allotments are aligned with an east-west orientation. This is different than when land was allotted in Joshua’s time. There will be greater detail on these allotments later in Ezekiel.

God warns the princes of Israel that they have gone too far. They are told to do what is right and just and to put away violence and oppression. The dry measure and liquid measure are to be uniform. God’s expectation of His people is that they are honest in their dealings with people.

The east gate of the inner court is to be opened during the Sabbath and New Moon festival. On these special days, the prince is directed to enter from the outside through the portico of the temple. The sacrifice requirements in 46:4 has a deviation from the Mosaic Law. Mosaic Law called for two lambs and no ram. Now there is a call for six lambs and one ram.

God also gives instruction on how a priest is allowed to leave land as an inheritance. If he gives his land to one of his sons, then the land remains theirs forever. If the priest gives it to a servant, the servant only own the land until the Year of Jubilee.

In the New Testament reader, Peter closes his letter to the believers. He reminds us that there will be scoffers that live according to their own desires and mock us by asking about where He is. Peter reminds us that our understanding of time is vastly different than God’s. God’s timing is best so as we wait on Him, we should maintain the faith because He is working while we are waiting.

I was thinking about God’s timing the other day. I initially tried to retire from the COLE. However, the navy decided against that and denied it. I am thankful that it was denied that time around. I could not see it at the time, but if they had not pulled my retirement when they did, then I most likely would not have wound up being the pastor at FBC St Paul. The position would not have been open at that point. God was working the timing so that everything would line up to get us where He wanted me and my family. Every day, I wake up and thank The LORD that He put me where He did.

Ezekiel 47-48 and 1 John 1

Ezekiel 47 talks about the life giving river that flows from under the temple to bring healing to the land. This is reminiscent of the river that ran through Eden, giving life to the land there. When sin entered, the river was hidden. The abundance of trees correlates to the fruitfulness of the Garden of Eden. The old sinful ways are being set aside and now paradise is returning. However, the only way this was possible was through the God and His promises, not on the people and their behavior.

We are given specific instructions on how the land is supposed to be divided up among the tribes. The allotments begin at the northern frontier with Dan. Judah and Benjamin receive allotments in the privileged position next to the sacred portion. The name of the city will be “Yahweh is There” reversing the curse in Ezekiel 10:18-19. At the conclusion of this book, the overarching theme is that the meaning of life is found in knowing and worshipping God. Without Him, everything is futile. We saw a similar theme in Ecclesiastes.

In the New Testament reading, we start 1 John. This first letter from John addresses people in the local church that had departed fellowship. It was either their own personal doctrine, ethics, devotion, or something else that kept them away. John warns the reader that if a person says he or she has fellowship with God, but walks in darkness, the individual is merely trying deceive himself or herself. If we are walking in the light, then we will have fellowship with one another. This is not to say that we have to go to church to be saved. However, when we separate ourselves from fellowship with other believers, it leaves us in a weakened state. When we decide to engage in an overt sin, we tend to do so away from other believers. It is a lot easier to protect ourselves from engaging in sin by having constant fellowship with other believers than it is to try to do it on our own. Unfortunately, even as believers, we still have hearts that are bent on sin. If we think we do not, then we are merely deceiving ourselves.

Print

Ezekiel 47-48 and 1 John 1

Ezekiel 47 talks about the life giving river that flows from under the temple to bring healing to the land. This is reminiscent of the river that ran through Eden, giving life to the land there. When sin entered, the river was hidden. The abundance of trees correlates to the fruitfulness of the Garden of Eden. The old sinful ways are being set aside and now paradise is returning. However, the only way this was possible was through the God and His promises, not on the people and their behavior.

We are given specific instructions on how the land is supposed to be divided up among the tribes. The allotments begin at the northern frontier with Dan. Judah and Benjamin receive allotments in the privileged position next to the sacred portion. The name of the city will be “Yahweh is There” reversing the curse in Ezekiel 10:18-19. At the conclusion of this book, the overarching theme is that the meaning of life is found in knowing and worshipping God. Without Him, everything is futile. We saw a similar theme in Ecclesiastes.

In the New Testament reading, we start 1 John. This first letter from John addresses people in the local church that had departed fellowship. It was either their own personal doctrine, ethics, devotion, or something else that kept them away. John warns the reader that if a person says he or she has fellowship with God, but walks in darkness, the individual is merely trying deceive himself or herself. If we are walking in the light, then we will have fellowship with one another. This is not to say that we have to go to church to be saved. However, when we separate ourselves from fellowship with other believers, it leaves us in a weakened state. When we decide to engage in an overt sin, we tend to do so away from other believers. It is a lot easier to protect ourselves from engaging in sin by having constant fellowship with other believers than it is to try to do it on our own. Unfortunately, even as believers, we still have hearts that are bent on sin. If we think we do not, then we are merely deceiving ourselves.

Daniel 1-2 and 1 John 2

Daniel’s name means “God judges”. He was a sixth century B.C. Prophet in Babylon during the exile. Daniel gives his firsthand account of what was happening in Babylon and tells us the visions he received while in exile.

Nebuchadnezzar has his men gather up a whole bunch of good looking, able bodied, and smart young men from the conquered nations. They will be brought in to serve in the king’s palace. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, descendants of Judah, are all selected. We know Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah by their Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I always find it odd that those three are remembered by their new names, but Daniel is seldom referred to as Belteshazzar.

Since they are in this new prominent position, they are now the recipients of the king’s food and wine. Daniel does not want to defile himself, so he requests that he and his friends be given water and vegetables instead. The official is concerned that they will look smaller and weaker than the others that eat the meat and drink the wine. Daniel makes a compromise, saying that the official can inspect them. If they are not doing as well physically as the other captives, then they will go back on the king’s diet. After two weeks, the four men of Judah are doing better than the rest. No one would have looked down upon Daniel and the three if they had eaten the king’s diet. After all, it was legal. However, just because the world says that something is legal and right, does not make it right in the eyes of The LORD. Daniel was concerned with following God’s law first and the law of man second. I pray that we approach life that way.

Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, but he refuses to tell any of the diviners what the dream was. Nevertheless, he wants these wise men to tell him what the dream was and its interpretation. After two rounds of asking the king to tell them what the dream was, Daniel is approached about it. The first thing Daniel does is pray. He gets with his friends and he prays about it. When we get hit with trying times like that, I pray that our first response is to go to The LORD with it. Daniel goes to Nebuchadnezzar and explains that he cannot interpret the dream. Instead, it is God that will. Daniel does not use the gift that God gave him to make a name for himself. Instead, he uses it to give the glory to God.

In the New Testament reading, John continues giving advice on how to properly live in the times. He warns us not to love the world or the things of the world. If we love the world, the love for the Father is not in us. One of my regular prayers is that God would empty me of me and make it so that I love the things that He loves. John also explains that those who say they know The LORD should walk in His ways. This is not to say that we are perfect. However, it does mean that when we do fall into sin, we should confess that sin quickly and make excuses for it. We will never be perfect on this side of heaven, but we should always strive to be better than our current state.

Daniel 3-4 and 1 John 3

Nebuchadnezzar builds a giant gold statue and issues a decree that when the band starts playing, everyone will bow to this statue in reverent worship. He assembles all of the exiles, the band plays, and most of the people bow in worship. However, there are three that refuse to bow to this idol. They are summoned to speak to the king. He gives them a chance to rethink what they are doing. He explains that if they do not bow in worship, they will be thrown in the furnace. In response to this, they deliver one of my favorite of all time messages in the Bible: “If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” Nebuchadnezzar is incensed. He has the furnace heated up so hot that the men close to it died. He has the three thrown in. When he looks into the furnace, he sees that there is a fourth one in the fire with them. God did not pull these men out of the fire, instead He was in the fire with them. God is not always going to pull us up out of our tough situations, but He will be there with us as we go through them.

Nebuchadnezzar has another dream. It is of a great tree that is cut down, but the stump and roots remain. He also dreamed that he would become like an animal. Daniel interprets the dream for the king. Essentially, Nebuchadnezzar needs to give God the glory, not himself. The king must humble himself before The LORD. He does not. As he is walking along, he sees the great kingdom he has built and says, “Is this not Babylon the great that I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence and to display my majestic power?” With that, Nebuchadnezzar is struck with lycanthropy, living outside of the palace, feeding off grass, and getting wet in the dew, just as the dream had foreseen. Eventually, he humbles himself and is restored to his royal position.

In the New Testament reading, John reminds us that we are called God’s children. He also explains that everyone that does not keep the law is guilty of sin. John also encourages them to love in action. Loving by word or speech is not that effective, there must be action behind it. However, as believers, our tone matters when we love. If we are doing something kind and loving, if we are grumbling and complaining while doing it, then it is not going to come off as loving. Our tone matters. I can look at my dog and call him all kinds of sweet and wonderful things, but if I do it with a mean voice, he will assume he is in trouble. Oh Lord, let us be mindful of our tone as we go and love!

Daniel 5-6 and 1 John 4

Daniel five jumps 23 years ahead from the last issue with Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar died shortly after his time of madness. After his death, there was a series of assassinations that led to Belshazzar taking the throne. One night, he is reveling in his victory, getting drunk and praising the gods that have delivered him to the throne. He is so puffed up with pride and arrogance that he has the gold vessels that were taken from the temple, the sacred things, and uses them to drink from. A hand appears and starts writing on the wall, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin. Belshazzar summons his people to interpret it. None of them can. His wife encourages him to seek Daniel’s advice. Daniel interprets the writing. The kingdom is going to fall and be divided between the Medes and the Persians. Belshazzar ran into trouble because he did not learn from Nebuchadnezzar’s mistake. Nebuchadnezzar was proud and arrogant, which caused his lycanthropy. Belshazzar was also proud and arrogant, leading to the fall of the kingdom. A smart person learns from their mistakes. A wise person learns from the mistakes of other people. May The LORD make us wise!

Darius the Mede takes over as king. The officials pressure him into signing a law that will forbid people from praying to any god whatsoever. The satraps and other officials were trying to find a way to have Daniel defeated, this was the best they could come up with. After the edict is signed, Daniel goes to pray like he always did. At that, the satraps approached the king about Daniel going against the king’s edict. We might think it was dumb for Daniel to go and pray in such a manner. However, if he had hidden himself away, what would that communicate about the satraps power? They would havre thought they had won.

Since it was law, the king had to put Daniel in the lion’s den. He regretted having to do it, but he had made a vow that this would happen. He places Daniel in the den. When morning comes, Daniel is still alive. The lions had left him alone. He was safe because he trusted in God. The king has Daniel brought up from the den, but then has the satraps and their family members thrown in. They are all killed by the lions before they even reached the bottom.

In the New Testament reading, John encourages us to love one another. Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows Him. As believers, we are called to love. The old hymn says they will know that we are Christians by our love. When the world looks at us, what do they see? Do they see us as Christians by our love? Or do they identify something else?

Daniel 7-8 and 1 John 5

Daniel seven happens prior to the events in chapter five. This chapter is an essential guide to Biblical prophecy and is one of the most important chapters in all of the Old Testament. The four winds stirring up the sea refers to the convulsions of the Gentile nations. The four huge beasts correspond to the colossus statue that Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed about in chapter two. The lion with eagle wings represents Babylon. The bear represents the Med-Persian Empire. The three ribs in its mouth symbolize that empire’s three main conquests. The leopard represents the Greek Empire with the four wings corresponding to Alexander the Great’s four conquests. The fourth beast symbolizes the Roman Empire. This beast was different because it had more power and a longer dominion than the others. The horns represent kings or rulers. There is a fourth kingdom coming that will devour the rest, representing its world domination. The little horn coming up represents the antichrist. He takes control of the last human empire and is characterized by blasphemy, anti-Semitism, and religious corruption.

Daniel eight focuses on God’s people during the times of the Gentiles. Daniel received this vision when he was approximately 70 years old. He again receives visions of animals that represent world empires. The ram represents Medo-Persia. The male goat represents the Greek Empire. Gabriel, one of two angels to be mentioned by name in Scripture, interprets these visions for Daniel. Gabriel is the same angel that announces the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah and the birth of Messiah to Mary. Daniel closes this chapter saying that he was sick for several days. The vision disturbed him and he could not understand it.

In the New Testament reading, John reminds us that Jesus came to us by water and blood. This refers to His baptism and death. John also gives instruction on effective prayer. When we ask anything according to His will, then He hears us, and He will give us what we are asking. However, that is only when we are asking for things according to His will. God is not going to answer yes to our prayers that are born out of worldliness or selfish ambition. As His people, we should seek Him first and strive to do His will. Everything will fall into place from there.

Daniel 9-10 and 2 John 1

Daniel prays to God. He is sad because of the way that the Israelites have behaved toward God. They have broken His law and refused to obey Him. The promised curse has been poured out on them because they have sinned against God. Daniel asks that God’s wrath be turned from Jerusalem. Because of the people’s wickedness and inability to follow God’s commands, Jerusalem and God’s people are the subjects of ridicule.

God responds by sending Gabriel to announce the Seventy Weeks of Years. This proclamation speaks to the end times. There are a lot of different theories to how this prophecy break out and it is beyond the scope of what we are doing here to do a deep dive into this text. One thing to note is that the final seven year period will begin when the coming prince makes a covenant of peace with many in the leadership of Israel. The coming prince is identified as antichrist who will defile the future temple and stop worship there. In a few days, we will get into Revelation which also speaks to the “end times”.

Daniel is mourning and engaged in a semi- fast to give priority to prayer. A man dressed in linen with a gold belt stood before him. He was the only one to see the vision, but everyone around Daniel was also terrified. They might not have seen this entity, but they definitely felt its presence.

In the New Testament reading, we read 2 John. This second letter from John is addressed to the “elect lady”. This is a reference to either a congregation or a woman that owned a house where a congregation met. There are warnings to be on the lookout for deceitful people and the encouragement to love. “This is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard from the beginning: you must walk in love.” Are we walking in love?

Daniel 11-12 and 3 John 1

The angel visited Daniel in the third year of Darius’s reign. However, he had been strengthening Darius since his first year as king. The angel gives Daniel the truth about what is to come. There is a warrior king that will rise to power. This is a reference to Alexander the Great. Just as it is prophesied, his kingdom was divided among four generals rather than his descendants. The king of the South is Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. He was betrayed by Seleucus I Nicator, one of his commanders. Seleucus abandoned Ptolemy to take control of Babylonia, Media, and Syria. Further, he established the Seleucid kingdom that grew larger than Egypt.

Chapter 11 gives a lot of detail about the future of the Babylonian kingdom and the surrounding territories.

Michael then details the great prince that will rise up. There will be a time of distress like has never happened before in the world. Those that are found written in the book will escape. Those that are dead will awake. Some will go to eternal life, others to shame and eternal contempt. Daniel is not given the time on when this will happen. Instead, he is told that he too will go to his rest, a euphemism for death. Yet, he will rise to glory in eternity one day. As believers, we have nothing to fear. One day we will rest with Him in glory. In the meantime, we should go and share the Gospel with everyone.

In the New Testament reading, we read the shortest book in all of the New Testament. The letter has a kind tone to it, but it speaks more of business than anything else. There is positive counsel in this letter, but there is also a warning against a power hungry leader named Diotrephes. Diotrephes will not receive John. Instead, he slanders John with malicious words. He won’t welcome them and he removes people from the church that will welcome them. As believers, we are not “gate keepers” to Christ. Our call is to share Christ with everyone. After all, He came and died for every person we will ever meet. Why would we work to keep people from Him?

Hosea 1-4 and Jude 1

Hosea is a very autobiographical prophetic book because the opening account of Hosea’s marriage and family are vitally important to the message God is sending through him. Hosea has it pretty rough. He is told by The LORD to marry a promiscuous wife and have children with her. Hosea is told to do this because the people have been committing blatant acts of promiscuity against The LORD. They were God’s people, but they kept defiling themselves with other gods and idols. They were essentially cheating on God, the One that has delivered them time and again from their enemies. The first born of the children is named Jezreel since God will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu. The second child is named No Compassion. The third child is named Not My People. God is sending a very clear message. Because of their disgrace and promiscuity, they are no longer considered His. God condemns them for their adultery, but then forgives them.

In chapter three, even though God tells Hosea to take a woman, that woman is Gomer, the initial wife of Hosea. She had joined herself to another man, literally a neighbor, and now Hosea is to take her back. This is to signify God joining Himself back with His people, even though they have cheated on Him. God then gives His case against Israel. They have not upheld their end of the covenant. Nevertheless, God loves them and urges them to stop in their promiscuity.

Jude is another very short book. Jude’s purpose in writing this was to protect Christian truth and oppose heretics that threatened the faith. This letter is relevant today because there is heresy that runs amok and as believers, we are to defend the Gospel with fervor.

Print

Hosea 1-4 and Jude 1.

Hosea is a very autobiographical prophetic book because the opening account of Hosea’s marriage and family are vitally important to the message God is sending through him. Hosea has it pretty rough. He is told by The LORD to marry a promiscuous wife and have children with her. Hosea is told to do this because the people have been committing blatant acts of promiscuity against The LORD. They were God’s people, but they kept defiling themselves with other gods and idols. They were essentially cheating on God, the One that has delivered them time and again from their enemies. The first born of the children is named Jezreel since God will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu. The second child is named No Compassion. The third child is named Not My People. God is sending a very clear message. Because of their disgrace and promiscuity, they are no longer considered His. God condemns them for their adultery, but then forgives them.

In chapter three, even though God tells Hosea to take a woman, that woman is Gomer, the initial wife of Hosea. She had joined herself to another man, literally a neighbor, and now Hosea is to take her back. This is to signify God joining Himself back with His people, even though they have cheated on Him. God then gives His case against Israel. They have not upheld their end of the covenant. Nevertheless, God loves them and urges them to stop in their promiscuity.

Jude is another very short book. Jude’s purpose in writing this was to protect Christian truth and oppose heretics that threatened the faith. This letter is relevant today because there is heresy that runs amok and as believers, we are to defend the Gospel with fervor.

Hosea 5-8 and Revelation 1.

God tells the priests to pay attention to His decrees. Israel has been arrogant, not submitting itself to God. That is why she has defiled herself the way she has. Because of their arrogance, God is like rot and decay to Ephraim and Judah. They do not want to follow His ways. Instead, they want to go their own way and act as the other nations.

God calls them to repent. He will revive them and bring them back to His presence if they strive to know Him. Unfortunately, the people have proven their loyalty is fickle and short lived. Their loyalty is compared to the morning mist. When it is there, it is easily seen, but it only lasts for a while, then it is gone, like it never existed. God wants their loyalty, not their sacrifice. That is not to say that they were not to sacrifice anymore. However, their sacrifices were in vain. Their sacrifices were not made out of loyalty to Him. Instead, they were simple rituals that they observed with no feeling behind it. My prayer is that our praises and worship of God never becomes a ritual, but that our hearts are always in it.

In Hosea 8, God warns the Israelites that He is about to send an army on them like an eagle on its prey. Their biggest issue is that they are using the covenant that God made with them as a blank check for sin. I hope that we never abuse Christ’s sacrifice to treat sin in such a manner in our lives.

In the New Testament reading, we start Revelation. Revelation is an apocryphal book that looks at the end times. Many have tried to interpret this book to pinpoint the exact day that the end times will be ushered in and they have all failed. Seven letters are written to seven churches that existed at the time Revelation was written. The issues and lessons pointed out to these churches are lessons and issues that we can learn from today in the modern context.

Hosea 9-11 and Revelation 2.

The exile is promised to the people. Their errant ways and stiff necks will prevent them from turning back and seeking God. The Israelites should not rejoice like the other nations do because they have been promiscuous, leaving God. In chapter 9 verse 10, the Israelites are at first compared to grapes in the wilderness, meaning that He found joy in them. However, that pleasure He found in the people disappeared with their pagan practices at Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1-9). In that incident, they tried to ensure their fertility by worshiping Baal. The point of this verse is that Israel is repeating her foolish behavior. As believers, I pray that we will recognize our past mistakes and not fall back into them!

In chapter 10, Hosea begins by comparing Israel to a vine. Israel was lush and produced plenty of fruit, but the problem is that they only blessed themselves with it or offered the blessings to Baal. What do we do with the blessings God gives us?

Hosea 11 speaks of God’s love for His people Israel. God is the One that brought them up and took care of them. God was the faithful and dutiful parent, but now His children have departed from Him and chased down other things. Just because they have deserted Him does not mean that He ceases to love them.

In the New Testament reading, we get into the first few letters to the churches. The church in Ephesus has demonstrated that it possesses endurance and tolerance. They have been through a lot in the name of The LORD. However, God still holds the fact that they have abandoned the love they “had at first”. They had endured all of that for God, but they had stopped loving Him with all of their minds, hearts, bodies, and souls.

The church in Smyrna is afflicted and poor. Despite this, they are rich. Since they are suffering, they need not fear what is about to come their way. Instead, they are called to be faithful unto death and God will give them the crown of life. Would we be willing to be faithful to God unto death?

Pergamum has not denied God despite being stuck in the enemy’s lair. However, there are still issues such as holding onto Balaam’s teaching. Balaam’s teaching can be found in Numbers 22-25.

Thyatira has great works. They have love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. However, they are tolerating a Jezebel among them. She calls herself a prophetess, but teaches God’s people to commit sexual immorality and eat meat sacrificed to idols. As believers, there are some that will try to convince us to go against God’s word. We must ensure we know how to discern the truth.

Hosea 12-14 and Revelation 3.

In Hosea 12, God brings the indictment against the Israelites because they have been chasing down foreign alliances for protection. Trusting in foreign allies meant trusting in deceit and violence. Further, putting their trust in foreign entities, meant they were not fully trusting in God. Their hope should have been in God, but it was being parsed out to other nations they thought were big enough to protect them. What is more powerful than God? Nothing! Where is our trust? Is it in God or something else? We can trust God to deliver us because He is greater than any power in this world.

Chapter 13 speaks of the coming calamity. Their impudence is pushing God to punish them. Still in the coming punishment, God promises deliverance. He even explains the ransom from death. God has power over the grave, so death no longer has any barbs or sting. Jesus made the way for us to be reconciled to God for all eternity.

Hosea closes with a plea for repentance. Israel is stubborn. As easy as it is for us to point fingers and talk about how stubborn Israel was, the fact is that we can sometimes be guilty of the same thing. Are we stubborn and stiff necked?

In the New Testament reading, we read more letters to the churches. Sardis has the reputation for being alive, but it is dead. As a result, they should focus on strengthening what remains. There are a few among them that have not defiled their garments and they will walk with Him.

The church in Philadelphia has limited strength, but it has kept God’s word and have not denied His name. They will be spared from the hour of testing because they have walked in such a worthy manner.

The church in Laodicea thinks they are doing well. The members are dressed well, they have plenty of food in their stomachs, they have roofs over their heads. From the worldly perspective, they are successful, but in the eyes of God they are wretched. Their comfort has defeated them. They are not hold or cold for God, but they are lukewarm. When we drink coffee, we expect it to be hot, not room temperature. When we take shower, we expect it to be hot. We expect a cup of water to be cold. This group has no passion because of their opulence. Because they are neither hot nor cold, God is going to “vomit them from” His mouth. I pray that our worldly success does not stand in the way of our service to God. One thing is for sure, the things that we have worked for here on earth will fade away. God remains for all eternity.

Joel 1-3 and Revelation 4.

Joel is one of the shortest books in the Old Testament. The first part of the book describes a locust plague that wipes everything out. The plague is terrible. There is nothing left. Whatever was left behind by the devouring locust was taken by the swarming locust. Whatever the swarming locust left, the young locust ate. Whatever the young locust did not eat was consumed by the destroying locust. This plague is imagery to describe the incoming army to throw them out of their country. The people lose everything to this invading army.

This should drive the people to repent and confess their sins. God pleas with them to do so. In all of this destruction and death, God continues to give His people hope. He will pour His Spirit out on humanity and their sons and daughters will prophesy. Israel will know that Yahweh is their God. Judah will be inhabited forever. Better things are coming their way, but there will be strife leading up to it. Life is not always a bed of roses. In times of tumult, we can remember that God is leading us to a much better place.

In the New Testament reading, John describes the throne room of Heaven. The One seated on the throne looks like jasper and carnelian stone. John sees four living creatures. These creatures resemble the cherubim in Ezekiel 1 and 10. There are some differences, though. They are “covered with eyes”, meaning that very little will escape their notice. The creatures have six wings and are constantly saying “Holy, holy, holy.”

This throne room has the characteristic of unceasing joyful praise, thanksgiving, and worship to The LORD. I can’t think of a better way to spend eternity than to spend it worshiping Him!

Amos 1-3 and Revelation 5.

Amos prophesied during the same time as Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah. He did not consider himself a professional prophet because he was a layman. However, that did not stop him from delivering the message God had given him. This prophecy speaks against the superficial religious institutions of his time. Unfortunately, that problem of superficial institutions can be a problem today. So it is best that we read and heed the warnings.

God promises that He will deliver judgment to Israel’s neighbors. He identifies the crimes that warrant His judgment. He also promises that He will deliver judgment to Judah and Israel. Judah has not kept His word and instructions. The followed the same lies that their ancestors followed. Israel is using people for personal gain. They sell a righteous person for silver and a poor person for some sandals. This most likely refers to selling a debtor into slavery for a small over a small debt.

In chapter 3, we get more to the heart of the matter. “Without agreeing to meet” means “without coming to terms”. The idea is that two people have to have an agreement to walk together. They must come to terms and be in agreement. Marriage is an example of this. To be successful they have to agree on certain commitments and have mutual values to be successful. Israel has refused to follow God’s terms and are now being punished for their inability to walk in agreement with Him. I pray that we daily strive to walk with Him.

In the New Testament reading, John sees a scroll in the hand of the One seated on the throne. It is sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel asks who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals. No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth is able to open it and John weeps. He is then told to stop crying becuse the Lion of Judah has been victorious and is worthy to open the scroll. One like a slaughtered lamb takes the scroll out of the right hand of the One on the throne. The angels sing a new song speaking of His worthiness. This new song is inspired by Christ’s redemptive work.

Amos 4-6 and Revelation 6.

Amos 4 has two major parts to it. Each part is an accusation followed by a religious statement used in an ironic and threatening manner. The first part is an accusation against the women of the aristocracy in Samaria. They oppress the poor and crush the needy. They will be carried off by hooks. Their arrogance will be punished. Verse four is a command to go and make sacrifice to God. Typically, a priest of prophet would encourage the people to go to God with their sacrifices. However, in this message, Amos sarcastically asserts that when the Israelites went to their shrines, their guilt increased rather than being absolved. God is trying to get their attention, but they will not listen.

The Israelites are encouraged to seek God. If they do that, they will live! They have walked with God before, but they have also chosen to lift up other gods as their deities. God also pronounces judgment on the complacent. Comfort can sometimes lead to complacency and complacency kills. When we get to the point that we think we have it all figured out, then we might let things start to slip. My prayer is that we do not fall into complacency. Instead, let us serve and love God with all of our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls.

In the New Testament reading, things are starting to get scary. We move into the opening of the seals. The first seal is opened and a white horse appears. The horseman is given a crown and he goes out as victor. The second seal is opened and a fiery red horse goes out, empowered to remove peace from the earth. A black horse comes forth after the third seal is opened. This horse leads to famine in the lands. The fourth seal brings forth Death and Hades following after it. The fifth seal is opened and under the altar are the people slaughtered because of God’s word and their testimony. They ask “how long” until God judges. When the sixth seal is opened, a violent earthquake hits and the sun is blackened out. God is trying to get the attention of the people. Some will see Him, but others will remain with hardened hearts.

Amos 7-9 and Revelation 7.

Amos 7 and 8 contain visions. Locusts were commonly used as an image for God’s wrath. They were also one of the plagues that were visited upon Egypt. Unlike in the case of Egypt, the locusts did not come in this event. Amos saw the vision and pled on behalf of the people and God relented. This shows us the importance of praying for others.

The vision of fire most likely symbolizes a ferocious and all consuming drought. In 4:7-8 Amos indicates that they had gone through a partial drought. This one would be so bad that it would turn the land to a desert. It does not happen though.

There is confusion to what the plumb line vision means. However, I think (and this is just me talking here) that this has to do with God’s measurement of His people. Typically, we use plumb lines to ensure things are even and straight. God’s people had been acting out of congruence with Him. Now, those that were not found to be “plumb” would no longer be spared.

The Hebrew for basket of summer fruit sounds almost identical to the Hebrew word for “end”. Just as the summer fruit is ripe for consumption, the Israelites are ripe for judgment.

Even in all of this, God pronounces His intention to restore the people. Even though they have fallen so far down, He promises to make a way for them to be reconciled to Him.

In the New Testament reading, we read about the sealed of Jerusalem. There is debate about the 144,000. The literal translation is highly plausible. The 144,000 are Israelites that are converted to Christianity during the tribulation period. The tribe of Judah is mentioned first because it was the royal tribe of Israel. Reuben is next because he was Jacob’s firstborn son.

Print

Amos 7-9 and Revelation 7

Amos 7 and 8 contain visions. Locusts were commonly used as an image for God’s wrath. They were also one of the plagues that were visited upon Egypt. Unlike in the case of Egypt, the locusts did not come in this event. Amos saw the vision and pled on behalf of the people and God relented. This shows us the importance of praying for others.

The vision of fire most likely symbolizes a ferocious and all consuming drought. In 4:7-8 Amos indicates that they had gone through a partial drought. This one would be so bad that it would turn the land to a desert. It does not happen though.

There is confusion to what the plumb line vision means. However, I think (and this is just me talking here) that this has to do with God’s measurement of His people. Typically, we use plumb lines to ensure things are even and straight. God’s people had been acting out of congruence with Him. Now, those that were not found to be “plumb” would no longer be spared.

The Hebrew for basket of summer fruit sounds almost identical to the Hebrew word for “end”. Just as the summer fruit is ripe for consumption, the Israelites are ripe for judgment.

Even in all of this, God pronounces His intention to restore the people. Even though they have fallen so far down, He promises to make a way for them to be reconciled to Him.

In the New Testament reading, we read about the sealed of Jerusalem. There is debate about the 144,000. The literal translation is highly plausible. The 144,000 are Israelites that are converted to Christianity during the tribulation period. The tribe of Judah is mentioned first because it was the royal tribe of Israel. Reuben is next because he was Jacob’s firstborn son.

Obadiah, Jonah, and Revelation 8

Obadiah focuses on prophecies specifically against Edom. This book focuses on the coming of the Day of the Lord and promising that Israel will possess Edom. Verse one is a parallel passage to Jeremiah 49:14 which calls for the nations to rise up against Edom. Edom has done great violence against Judah and as a result will be covered with shame and destroyed forever.

Jonah is a reluctant prophet. He is told by God to go to Nineveh to tell them to repent. Jonah decides to catch a ship to Tarshish instead. The ship winds up in a terrible storm. I think it is interesting that when the crew casts lots to find out who is to blame, Jonah tells them in Ch 1:9 “I am a Hebrew. I worship Yahweh, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.” He is a Hebrew for sure, but is it really accurate to say he worships Yahweh considering he is running away from what God has called him to do? Do we do similar things in our lives?

Jonah is thrown over the side and winds up in the belly of a fish. After three days, Jonah is vomited onto the shore where he promptly goes to Nineveh. When he delivers the prophecy, the Ninevites are called to repent. Even the king takes off his royal robe, puts on sackcloth, and sits in ashes hoping that God will turn from “His burning anger” so that they do not perish. When Jonah sees this, he is furious. He goes up to a hill and has a pity party for himself. God gives him a tree to give him shade for a day, but then the tree is eaten by a worm and Jonah continues to cry about it. God asks him if why he would care so much about a tree that sprouted in a day, but God should not care as much about the Ninevites which had over 120,000 misguided people. Jonah’s problem was he wanted to see the smiting of the Ninevites. Rather than rejoice at their repentance, he becomes angry. When someone, even our fiercest enemies, comes to know Christ, it should bring us great joy and we should celebrate the conversion. If our worst enemy came to know Christ, would we rejoice?

In the New Testament reading, the seventh seal is opened and heaven is silent for about a half an hour. I am sure that this would sound incredibly eerie. The angels have been singing God’s praise, but now there is silence. Sometimes silence can be deafening. After this silence, the first angel blows the first trumpet. Hail and fire mixed with blood hurl to the earth and a third of the world is burned up. The second trumpet is blown and something like a large fiery mountain is thrown into the sea and a third of the sea becomes blood. The third angel blows his trumpet and a great star falls from heaven, landing on the rivers and springs, turning the water bitter. The fourth trumpet darkens a third of the sun, moon, and stars. As bad as things have become it only gets worse from there.

Micah 1-3 and Revelation 9

Micah’s name means “Who is like Yahweh?”. The overall message of Micah’s book is that we should reflect on who God is. His person, His acts, and character are incomparable to anyone that walks the earth. Nothing can compare to His holiness, power, and love.

Chapter one gives us the vision of God being upset and leaving His place to come and trample the high places of the earth. Both Judah and Israel are guilty of rebellion. They have committed crimes against God willingly, not by accident.

Woe is pronounced against those that oppress the weak, those that lie in their beds and dream up evil against others. False prophets run rampant, telling those actually preaching God’s message to be silent. These false prophets preach that things are okay, but things are definitely not well. Shame will be brought to them. These false prophets will be judged accordingly. They have led the people down the wrong path. They have used their status to take advantage of those less fortunate.

In the New Testament reading, the fifth trumpet is sounded. A star falls from heaven to the earth. A key is given to the abyss and when the entrance is opened, smoke rises, and darkens the sun. Locusts come out of the shaft. They do not harm anyone that has the seal of God on their foreheads, they also are told to leave the grass and green plants alone. Instead, they are given permission to torment those that are not marked by God. The torment these poor souls endure is so harsh that they wish for death, but death will not come, only pain from these locusts.

The sixth trumpet is sounded and the sixth angel is told to release the four angels at the Euphrates river. These angels go out and kill a third of the human race. As terrible as all of this sounds, what really sticks out of me is that the people that are spared continue living their lives unrepentant. They continue worshiping idols and demons and committing heinous acts against their fellow man.

Micah 4-5 and Revelation 10-11

Micah 4 points to a time when people will go to God’s mountain to be taught about His ways. He will settle disputes among many peoples. God is the perfect ruler and judge. He is the One that is fully qualified to rule His creation.

There are nations assembling against Zion, but they will be victorious. They are surrounded by enemies, but they will win. God will save them from destruction and they will have victory over their enemies.

Micah 5: 2 explains that Messiah will come out of Bethlehem. Bethlehem is a small nation, but out of it will come the One that will set them free. He will be their shepherd, guiding them and protecting them.

In the New Testament reading, an angel comes down from heaven with a rainbow over his head. The angel that was standing on the sea and on the land makes the pronouncement that in the days that the seventh trumpet is sounded, God’s hidden plan will be completed. John takes the scroll from the angel. He is told to eat it. The scroll will be sweet like honey in his mouth when he eats it, but it will be bitter in his stomach. Sure enough, the scroll is sweet, but digesting it is hard. This implies that ministry of the Word of God is bittersweet because taking in and preaching the Gospel is sweet, the rejection we face by the hearers is bitter.

Two witnesses rise up and preach against the behavior of the people. The people are incensed by what they hear, but no harm can be done to these witnesses because if they try to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths. When their testimony is finished, they will be murdered. For three and a half days, the bodies of the men will be in the open for all to see. The people will be so relieved that they have been killed that they will send gifts to one another and gloat over their death. However, after three and a half days, these two witnesses will be resurrected. A violent earthquake will come after that and kills 7,000 people. The third woe is coming quickly.

Micah 6-7 and Revelation 12

In chapter six, Micah sealed God’s indictment with a covenant lawsuit. Micah hears the case, then defends God, sighting all of the wonderful acts He has performed. He hears the response from the people, then reports why they are being judged, gives specific accusations, and pronounces God’s judgment. They have been taught what is good. They were to do what God requires. All they had to do was act justly, love faithfulness, and walk humbly with God. If we had an indictment brought against us, would we meet that standard?

Micah seven speaks of Israel’s moral decline. From the beginning they have fallen into the trap of following subjective morality instead of holding to God’s objective morality. Their fall away from God was so great that He cannot find anyone that continues to follow Him. However, God promises that one day they will come back to Him. One day, they will be restored. Micah responds with thanksgiving and praise. The fact is that none of us are perfect and we all fall short of God’s standard. We are tremendously blessed to serve the One True God that looks upon us and our failure with mercy and gives us a way out. He knew we could not help ourselves out, so He gave us His Son.

In the New Testament reading, we read the terrifying account of a dragon that lays in wait, seeking to devour a newborn baby. His tail sweeps away a third of the stars in heaven. It is possible that this action is related to the destruction of one third during the trumpet judgments. The Son is spared from destruction and we are promised that He will rule all nations with an iron scepter.

The dragon is thrown from heaven. A loud voice in heaven proclaims that they conquered the dragon by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. When we go up against evil forces, it is not us who will overcome. Instead, it is the blood of the lamb that overcomes and the word of our testimony.

Nahum and Revelation 13

Nahum portrays God relieving His oppressed people from the Assyrians. This book serves as a harsh warning to Israel’s enemies, but is also acts as a message of hope for the Israelites. The LORD takes vengeance and is fierce in wrath. He is furious with His enemies. God’s indignation against His enemies is righteous and cannot be escaped. Nineveh will fall, Assyria’s king will perish. Assyria had been so abusive to so many other nations that the news of this downfall will bring celebration by all who hear about it.

In the New Testament reading, a beast comes from the sea. The beast is comprised of various animals and the description should strike fear in those who read it. The beast is also given a mouth to speak blasphemies against God. One thing is for certain, there are blasphemies spoken against God regularly today. This has always been a problem. I think that the advent of the internet and social media has simply displayed the blasphemy more prominently.

A beast comes from the earth as well. Idols are made of it and the people worship it. Whoever refuses is put to death. Those that are alive must have a mark put in either their forehead or right hand. While it might seem crazy that people would not see this as a terrible requirement and forceful, I have a feeling that it is presented as more of a convenience. I saw a program one day that featured a man that has various RFID chips installed in his hands. He uses these chips to start his motorcycle, his car, open up the lock on his house, etc. Sometimes seeking convenience can bring us great trouble! The convenient and easy way is not always the right way.

Habakkuk and Revelation 14

Habakkuk has a unique style compared to the other prophets. The other prophets acted as the one that delivered God’s message to the people. In the case of Habakkuk, he speaks to God on behalf of the people. Habakkuk brings an indictment agains the Chaldeans. He complains that God is giving more favor to these wicked people than faithful Israel. God answers in Chapter 2:4 that “the righteous will live by his faith.” This means that the righteous people must still act righteously even when wickedness prevails. Though the old adage is “if you can’t beat them, join them” believers are warned against this mentality. As His people, we must maintain His standard and seek Him even when atrocities are committed all around us.

In the New Testament, the 144,000 that were first seen in Revelation 7:4-8 are mentioned again. They are standing with the Lamb and had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. An angel flies overhead and warns to “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come.” That is definitely a time to give God the glory He is due. However, as believers we should always seek to give God glory and fear Him despite what is happening in our lives. God deserves our awe and reverent fear in times of peace and in times of tumult.

Zephaniah and Revelation 15

Zephaniah focuses on the need to live righteously before God. Zephaniah gives the most forceful description of judgment. He also reminds the reader that restoration is possible for those that repent and turn to righteousness. The judgment will be vast and fierce. God will sweep away everything. Judgment will be on those that do not seek God and follow Baal.

The people are called to gather themselves and repent before The LORD’s burning anger overtakes the. They are called to seek humility and righteousness. Just as they were called to seek these things, we should strive for righteousness and humility in our lives today.

The book closes with a woe statement against rebellious Israel. The nation has not obeyed, accepted discipline, or trusted in God Almighty. She has not drawn near to Him. Still, even with the promise of judgment comes the promise of restoration.

In the New Testament reading, preparations are being made for the bowl judgments. We have seen a lot of bad things happen prior to this chapter, but things will continue on the downward spiral. Those that had overcome the beast and denied the mark of the beast stand on a sea of glass with harps and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. After they sing, the tabernacle of testimony is opened up and seven angels with seven plagues come out.

Print

Zephaniah and Revelation 15

Zephaniah focuses on the need to live righteously before God. Zephaniah gives the most forceful description of judgment. He also reminds the reader that restoration is possible for those that repent and turn to righteousness. The judgment will be vast and fierce. God will sweep away everything. Judgment will be on those that do not seek God and follow Baal.

The people are called to gather themselves and repent before The LORD’s burning anger overtakes the. They are called to seek humility and righteousness. Just as they were called to seek these things, we should strive for righteousness and humility in our lives today.

The book closes with a woe statement against rebellious Israel. The nation has not obeyed, accepted discipline, or trusted in God Almighty. She has not drawn near to Him. Still, even with the promise of judgment comes the promise of restoration.

In the New Testament reading, preparations are being made for the bowl judgments. We have seen a lot of bad things happen prior to this chapter, but things will continue on the downward spiral. Those that had overcome the beast and denied the mark of the beast stand on a sea of glass with harps and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. After they sing, the tabernacle of testimony is opened up and seven angels with seven plagues come out.

Haggai and Revelation 16

Haggai challenges the discouraged Israelites to examine their lives and make pleasing God their priority. In the second year of Darius’s reign, Haggai receives the word from God that the people are being lazy about His work. They say to themselves that the time to rebuild God’s house has not yet come. It is understandable that they would feel that way because there was opposition and times were tough. However, they were diligently taking care of their own houses. These people that are delaying the rebuilding of the temple live in the nicer homes, they have paneling that covers the stone exterior. The problem is that the focus is on maintaining their material wealth and comfort, not getting on with God’s work.

Haggai is told to ask the priests for a ruling. The question is if something common touches sacred meat, does that common thing become holy. The answer of course is no. However, if someone that has been defiled by touching a corpse, when they touch a common thing, it becomes defiled. Holiness is not transferred, but uncleanness is. God reminds them of their past failures and promises blessing if they do what He has called them to.

In the New Testament reading, we move into the bowl judgments. The first bowl is poured out and painful sores break out on the people that have the mark of the beast and worship his image. The second bowl turns the sea to blood, killing everything in it. The third bowl turns all the fresh water to blood. This is reminiscent of the sign God gave Pharaoh in Exodus. The fourth bowl is poured on the sun which gives the power to burn peopel with fire. The intense heat causes the people to further blaspheme God. The fifth bowl plunges the beast’s kingdom into darkness. The sixth bowl is poured out on the Euphrates. It dries up. Three unclean spirits like frogs come from the dragon’s mouth, the beast’s mouth, and the false prophet’s mouth.

The seventh bowl is poured into the air. A loud voice accompanies it and says, “It is done!” There are flashes of light and rumblings of thunder. An earthquake hits like no other has struck the earth in its history. Still the people do not turn to God. Instead, they continue to blaspheme Him.

Zechariah 1-3 and Revelation 17

Zechariah’s intention is to inspire the Israelites that have returned home from the exile. They are encouraged to rebuild the temple and rededicate their lives to The LORD. God speaks to Zechariah, explaining that He was extremely angry with their ancestors. God calls them all to come back to Him and then He will return to them.

Zechariah receives night visions. The first vision is of a man riding on a red horse standing among the Myrtle trees in the valley. There are red, sorrel, and white horses behind him. Sorrel is a chestnut color. The angel receives the report that the earth is calm and quiet. The Angel of The LORD responds by asking God how long He will withhold His mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah.

The second vision is of four horns and a craftsman. The imagery of the four horns scattering so that no one could raise his head suggests the tremendous power and merciless ruin Israel’s enemies enacted against them. The craftsmen designate skilled artisans that will remove the horns and allow the people to return.

In the third vision, a survey is conducted. The measuring line was an important tool in construction. The man goes to measure from wall to wall, but is then informed that there will be no walls. The city will be large and vast.

The fourth vision deals with Joshua and the adversary bringing indictments against him. Joshua was the first high priest after the exile. In this vision, a stick is snatched from the fire, indicating that Joshua is symbolic for God’s chosen people.

In the New Testament reading, there are more visions! After the bowl judgments, one of the angels shows John the judgment of the notorious prostitute that sits on many waters. In verse 15, these waters are explained as being “peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.” From there, John is whisked away to the desert where he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names. The prostitute represents Babylon the Great. The irony in this vision is that the 10 horns and the beast, the other rulers of the nations that acted immorally with her, will turn on her and destroy her.

Zechariah 4-6 and Revelation 18

In the fifth vision, Zechariah sees a gold lampstand with a bowl on its top. The primary source of light in the ancient world was oil pressed from olives and soaked up by a wick. In this vision, there is a surreal arrangement of containers of oil, representing an abundance of oil. After the exile, the Israelites felt small, overwhelmed, and powerless. God will empower them to do the work, despite how they feel. They might feel weak and helpless, but God will give them what they need to rebuild.

The sixth vision focuses on the Torah, the first five books of the Bible/ five books of the Law. The visions are shifting from what God is going to do, to what He expects of the people. The Israelites got into a huge mess by not following God’s law. Over time, it resulted in the kingdom breaking apart and then being led away on the exile. God expects them to keep His law.

In the seventh vision “wickedness” is transported back to Babylon, indicating that wickedness and idolatry belong there, not in Jerusalem. In the eighth vision, four chariots come from between two mountains. The chariots are sent to patrol the earth.

In the New Testament reading, an angel with great authority comes down from heaven and pronounces the fall of Babylon the Great. In the context here, it is most likely that this is referring not just to Babylon itself, but the world system that organizes arrogant rebellion against God throughout history. There were the folks at the Tower of Babel, the Babylonian empire, the Roman Empire, even the Israelites acted in rebellions against God.

Babylon is fallen. Now the merchants mourn her demise because of the loss of business. The kings of the earth morn her loss. Babylon has fallen and will never rise again. The angel symbolizes her ultimate destruction by throwing the millstone in the sea.

Zechariah 7-9 and Revelation 19

A couple of years go by and the people of Bethel ask the priests at the house of the LORD if they should mourn and fast in the fifth month as they had been doing. God asks them a simple question. Were they mourning and fasting for Him for those 70 years? The answer, of course, is that the people had not been. The mourning and fasting had just become part of the ritual so that people could look the part. Unfortunately, the same thing can happen to us. My prayer is that our relationship with Jesus is not a matter of rote ritual.

God gives commands to Zechariah on what they should really do to show that they belong to Him. They are to make fair decisions, show love and compassion to one another. They are not to oppress the widow or orphan, the foreigner or the poor. They are not to plot evil in their hearts. Just as they were called to live that way, so are we.

The LORD proclaims that the fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will not be times of mourning. Instead, they will be times of joy, gladness, and cheerful festivals.

In the New Testament reading, there is a celebration in heaven. The marriage of the Lamb is announced. John is told to write that those that are invited to attend the marriage are fortunate. John falls to his feet and begins to worship the one telling him to write these things. However, John is told to get up because he is simply a fellow slave with John and the others.

A rider on a white horse appears. The rider comes to judge and make righteous war. The rider has eyes like a fiery flame and many crowns on His head. He wears a robe stained with blood. His name is written on His robe and His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. This rider is Jesus Himself.

After His appearance, the beast and his armies are defeated.

Zechariah 10-12 and Revelation 20

In Zechariah 10, God promises the restoration of His people. When they ask for rain in the spring, He will give it to them. He will bring them back from the land of Egypt and Assyria and bring them to Gilead and Lebanon. The people will be strengthened in Yahweh and march in His name.

Chapter 11 discusses the problem of shepherds. Some are good, some are bad. The shepherd over the flock intended for slaughter has two staffs. One is named Favor and the other Union. He takes the staff named Favor and cuts it in two, identifying that they are no longer favored. The shepherd then demands that they give the wages, which only amounts to 30 pieces of silver, an allusion to the value of a slave. Though the price is called “magnificent”, it is sarcastic. The second staff is cut. Unity is broken.

Zechariah 12:10-14 speaks of the One that they have pierced. They will mourn for Him. This indicates that God’s true followers will recognize that they have disobeyed and rejected the Divine Shepherd. These folks have pierced God’s soul. This text also anticipates Christ’s crucifixion.

In the New Testament reading, the Devil/ Satan is bound away for 1,000 years. There is debate about why he is only bound for 1,000 years and not put away forever at first. One theory is that even after he is sent away, there are some that will still choose to go their own way and not follow God. After that time, he is released again to tempt the world again until he is put away forever. After that comes the Great White Throne of Judgment.

Zechariah 13-14 and Revelation 21

God pronounces that His people will be cleaned. A fountain will be opened for the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem. The idols of the land will be erased and no longer remembered. The prophets and unclean spirits will be removed. God is going to clean it all up!

Zechariah ends in the classic prophetic fashion. All of the nations rise up to attack Jerusalem. God intervenes and blesses Jerusalem in a mighty and miraculous way. Then God announces judgment against Jerusalem’s enemies. Finally, all of the people of the world go to Jerusalem to worship God. Everything from the cooking pots to the horses’ bells are set apart as HOLY TO THE LORD. What a day that will be. One day, God will make it all right and everyone will seek His face. As His people, my hope and prayer is that we live our lives serving Him and doing His will.

In the New Testament reading, John sees a new heaven and a new earth. The old has passed and the sea no longer exists. John sees new Jerusalem, the Holy City, coming down from heaven. A loud voice announces that God is dwelling with humanity and He will live with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be their God.

John takes the measuring rod and measures the new city. The measurements form a perfect cube. The walls are adorned with all kinds of precious stones. As descriptive as John is, the words still fail to completely articulate what this new heaven, new earth, and Holy City will be like. One day, we will find out.

Malachi and Revelation 22

Malachi captures the essential message of the Old Testament. The people have turned away from God. They must turn back to Him! The priests have been disobedient. They are not following His statutes. Rather than bring the choicest sacrifice from the flock, they bring blind or lame animals. God challenges them to take these “gifts” to the governor and see what his reaction would be. Why would they worry more about pleasing a worldly governor than pleasing God Almighty?

God calls out the Israelites for their infidelity. They all have one Father, but they have turned to others. They act treacherously against one another and profane the covenant of their fathers. They ask how they have profaned God’s name. The answer is simple. They believe that God gives favor to the wicked or they complain about God’s lack of justice when a tragic event happens. They ask, “Where is the God of justice?”. That seems to be a fair question, but there is one problem to it. It assumes the innocence of the person asking the question. All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. All of us continue to exist under God’s grace and mercy.

God tells them that He is coming. He gives them the warning that He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver. The refinement process of precious metals uses a lot of heat. We can expect that when God refines us, it will not always feel pleasant. However, it will all be worth it.

Malachi closes with a warning to follow the instruction of Moses. God promises He will send Elijah the prophet before the Great and Awesome Day of The LORD.

Revelation closes with the final views of what the perfect kingdom looks like. There is no night. There is no sun. God Himself gives light to the kingdom. There is peace everywhere.

We are told that the time is near. We do not know when the time will come. However, we do know that in the light of eternity, the many years we spend here on earth go by quickly. I look back on the last year and think of how quickly 2023 passed. Then I look back and think of how quickly my career in the navy and my childhood passed. It does not seem like it took that long to get here. Surely, the time is near when we compare it to eternity.

Print

Enter your email to receive our newsletter, so you can stay in the loop with our latest promos.

Dania and Andy have four children ranging from full fledged adult to middle schooler. They have been partners in leading youth ministry for the last two decades. In addition to kids, they have plenty of pets including two dogs, two fish tanks, and one cat.

In his free time, Andy likes to read, drink black coffee, lift weights, play video games, and tell sea stories.