“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 NASB Is at hand – John the Baptist spoke words that his audience understood. The question is whether or not we understand them. Oh, we’re familiar with the words, of that there is no doubt. But for us they are a call to personal…
Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 1 Kings 3:1 NASB Marriage alliance – You can’t interpret the Bible without…
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, Isaiah 9:6-7a NASB…
Now Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 1 Kings 3:3 NASB Except – His insights were more penetrating than ours. His encyclopedic knowledge outstripped us. His success is never been rivaled. He was absolutely fabulous . . . except…
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah . . . Jeremiah 1:1-2a NASB Came – How do you read the Bible? Obviously I am not asking about the…
I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Psalm 55:6 NASB Fly away – Sometimes it’s just too much. Sometimes I get so tired of fighting, struggling, working and being overwhelmed that I just want to fly away. Be a bird. Take off. Of course,…
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,” Luke 1:68 NASB Visited us – When John the Baptist is named, Zacharias regains his ability to speak. According to the text, Zacharias was “filled with the holy spirit” and prophesied. We know the Sunday School story,…
Ransom me from human oppression, that I may observe Your statutes. Psalm 119:134 (Robert Alter translation) Human Oppression – What is human oppression? The Hebrew is ‘oseq ‘adam. We easily recognize the second common noun, ‘adam, but what about the first, ‘oseq? Don’t spiritualize this. The word is “concerned with acts of abuse of power…
Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4 NASB Bear – Who carries your bags? The Hebrew sabal is the verb “to bear,…
Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, and whom You teach out of Your law; Psalm 94:12 NASB Chasten – “Spiritual stress is a major source of unhappiness.”[1] If you haven’t encountered this truth about life, perhaps you missed a growth experience. Far too often we wish for a life of ease, thinking…
