The first problem Paul addresses in the church at Corinth is division. He introduces the thoughts of this passage with an appeal for unity. Paul is emphasizing that as Christians we are a part of God’s family and share a unity that runs deeper than that of blood brothers and sisters. To speak …
Before the servant, Jesus Christ was born, God had chosen Him to bring the message of salvation to the whole world (Acts 13:47). In this passage we can see Him bringing light in the darkness (vv. 1-7), and liberty to the captives (vv. 8-13). He came as a Servant and a Warrior. He came to serve …
During his brief reign, Seleucus V taxed the people greatly. His Jewish tax collector, Heliodorus, took matters into his own hands and poisoned his master (v. 20). This assassination only set the stage for someone much worse. Verse 21 says, “In his place will arise a contemptible (evil) …
In this passage the psalmist tells the congregation that God responded to his prayer and delivered him (vv. 16-20). However, it would not have happened that way if he had clung to sin. From Old Testament history we know that in the matter of Hezekiah’s illness God did something f …
Three of David’s brothers have gone off to fight in Saul’s army against the Philistines (v. 13). David is introduced once more as the youngest son of Jesse, who has eight boys (v. 14). David had been playing his harp for Saul but had gone home to Bethlehem to take care of his fat …
Solomon directs us to eye God as our judge (v. 8), Shows the vanity of riches (vv. 9-17), and recommends the cheerful use of what God has given us (vv 18-20). Not only should we never underestimate God but we should be careful not to overestimate man. Any philos …
Ezekiel’s second message stressed that Jerusalem would become a furnace of affliction-a smelting furnace of judgment that would melt those who remained in it (vv. 17-19). Israel had become worthless to God, for she was dross to Him-like the scum of copper, tin, iron, and le …
Darius, after a sleepless night, hastened to the lions’ den (v. 18). He evidently hoped for the best but feared the worst (vv. 19-21). When the king cried out to Daniel to see if he was still there, Daniel replied that God’s angel had kept the lions’ mouth shut (v. 22). Dis …
The Moabites descended from Lot (Gen. 19:20-38) They were enemies of the Jews, proud, complacent and thought their God, Chemose would protect them (vv. 7, 46) from any enemy. Instead sorrow was to come to every Moabite home and on the streets. Moab was to no longer be a nat …
Perhaps the famous preacher John Newton explained it best when he said, When I get to heaven I shall see three wonders there. The first wonder will be, to see many people there whom I did not expect to see. The second wonder will be, to miss many people whom I did expect to see; …