Nehemiah 11 — The walls of Jerusalem were finished, but there was a reluctance among the people to take up residence in the city. In this chapter we see how this problem was solved and what it has to teach us about the present and future grace that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 23:5 — “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” We are very familiar with the shepherd imagery in the Twenty-Third Psalm. Its opening lines are among the most famous and most beloved words in the Bible. But perhaps what we…
I Timothy 1:5a — “Now the end of the commandment is charity…” Timothy had to deliver a difficult message to the church at Ephesus. In this verse, the Apostle Paul tells him why. The goal was love — the Ephesians’ love for God and for each other. False teaching was hindering that love and it needed…
Judges 12:1-7 — “There fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand…” 42,000 dead Israelites. Why? What happened to cause this terrible loss of life? This is the final chapter in Jephthah’s story and it’s awful. A small grievance turned into violence and violence into civil war. As we work through this story,…
I Samuel 8 — “Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king…” Israel wanted a king and they wanted Samuel to make it happen. The people wanted a king, in part, because of a poor decision that Samuel had made in appointing his sons as judges. Israel…
I Timothy 1:3-4 — “I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus… that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine…” What was this “other doctrine” that some were teaching in the church at Ephesus? Where did it come from? And what exactly was Timothy supposed to do about it? As we consider these…
Genesis 50:1-21 — “Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.” After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers were worried that he would take revenge for what they had done many years earlier. As we consider the ways in which Joseph allayed their fears we discover a…
I Timothy 1:1-2 — “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour…” The opening lines of Paul’s letter are always theologically rich and the opening to I Timothy is an excellent example! Paul comments on his apostleship, his high Christology is evident, and his love and concern for Timothy shines through.…
Psalm 19:1-4 — “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge…” David was doing what we all have done. He was contemplating the sky and the heavenly bodies above. He was pondering the way the solar system operates with regularity. He was…
Nehemiah 10:32-39 — In recommitting themselves to the LORD, the people of Jerusalem determined to properly support Temple worship. This included a commitment to follow the laws concerning tithes and offerings, as well as a decision to provide additional support. As we study what the people resolved to do, we are reminded that it is…