To younger people, change is a treat, but to older folks, change is often a threat. We like to relax in our comfort zone and resist the dramatic changes going on around us. But when we do, we fail to grow spiritually, and we may miss the opportunities God has for us to reach others with the …
We are living in a day when it is hard to trust people. Promises are often made with very little intention of their being kept. It seems that lying has become the norm in much of society. In fact, even in the Church people promise to do things and then never show up. The question …
Even though Nehemiah took the shortest route possible, the journey to Jerusalem would have taken at least two months. The king appointed captains and horsemen to go with him, both for his protection and to show that he was a man who had the king’s stamp of approval (v. 9). As soo …
We are to be strong in the Lord because spiritual battles require spiritual strength (v. 10). Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks (v. 11). The word “wrestle†indicates hand to hand battle, not just being a&n …
The sole reward that Paul desired was to be able to preach “the gospel of Christ without charge.†Someone might ask the question, with all the freedom in the world open to him, why did the apostle Paul restrict himself so severely? The answer is “that I might gain the more.” (v. 19) In other words, …
For the most part this is a psalm of prayer for delive¬rance from wicked men and sinful practices and it ap¬pears the situation is growing desperate. The account of David in I Sam. 24:1-7 is where Saul came after him with three thousand men and David has a chance to kill Saul but refused to …
David faced an unexpected crisis. When he and his men returned to Ziklag, they found that their families had been taken captive by the ruthless Amalekites. Their homes had been destroyed. The city lay in ruins. This seeming tragedy served to shake them loose from the comforts and …
People who are being taken to death and slaughter probably are victims of unjust oppression rather than guilty people being condemned (v. 11). Some people may claim they are ignorant of others’ plights, but God knows who is guilty of willful ignorance, and He will judge it. We learn here about …
This is the first of twelve Psalms (50 and 73-83) thought to have been written by Asaph. Asaph was one of David’s three chief musicians appointed to be the choir director over the sacred choral services of Israel (I Chron. 16:15). He was selected by the Levites to lead the …
In these verses we find that the people did not understand the depth of their sins. They did not turn from their idols, regret their sins or pledge to make changes (vv. l-2). It seems that they thought …