May 24, 2012

A Priest According to the Order of Melchizedek (5/24)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 108-110.

“The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’ The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of Your enemies.’ Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; in holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew.

“The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations…” (Psalm 100:1-6).

Looking forward to the New Testament, this priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” is clearly Christ (Hebrews 5:5-6; 6:20). There are several points to be made about Christ and His kingdom that we can notice from this psalm.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: ,
May 23, 2012

"You Will Prosper, If…" (5/23)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30.

Shortly before Solomon took over for his father as king over Israel, David charged him with the task of building “a house for the Lord God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 22:6). As he assigned him this work, David spoke of the conditional promise of success for his efforts.

“Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you. Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.

“Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed” (1 Chronicles 22:11-13).

The Lord chose Solomon over David for this work of building the temple (1 Chronicles 22:7-10). However, the promise of success and prosperity for Solomon would only come about if he met the divine conditions that were required for him to continue to receive God’s blessings.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
May 22, 2012

Audio: The Same-Sex Marriage Debate

This lesson deals with the topic of same-sex marriage. People use things like politics, culture, and tradition to argue either for it or against it. Here we want to consider the subject from a Biblical perspective. This lesson will cover three points:

  1. God’s definition of marriage.
  2. God’s condemnation of homosexuality.
  3. The hope that exists for homosexuals.

Continue Reading

Filed Under: Audio Tagged With: , ,
May 22, 2012

The Lord Is Our Maker, We Are His People (5/22)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 95, 97-99.

“The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land” (Psalm 95:5).

Who owns the ocean? The psalmist says that God owns it. But how did God come to be the owner? He did not purchase it, trade for it, or receive it as a gift. Rather, the psalmist tells us that the sea belongs to God because He created it.

Of course, this point is not just for the natural world. This same principle applies to us as well. The psalmist goes on to point this out.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: ,
May 21, 2012

One Who Rules in the Fear of God (5/21)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 22-23; Psalm 57.

The “last words of David” (2 Samuel 23:1) begin with a statement he received from the Lord about those who rule over others.

“The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through sunshine after rain’” (2 Samuel 23:3-4).

The people who have a righteous, God-fearing man as their ruler are truly blessed. Let us consider a couple of points about this.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: ,
May 20, 2012

"They Oppose Me, Because I Follow What Is Good" (5/20)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 5, 38, 41-42.

“For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.

“But my enemies are vigorous and strong, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. And those who repay evil for good, they oppose me, because I follow what is good. Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me!” (Psalm 38:18-21)

As David calls to the Lord for help, he states the reason why the wicked were opposed to him – he followed what was good (Psalm 38:20). Yet right before this, he acknowledged that he had committed iniquity (Psalm 38:18). What should this teach us?
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,
May 19, 2012

Destroying a City Over One Man (5/19)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Samuel 19-21.

Sheba, leader of a rebellion against David, was pursued and trapped by Joab in the city of Beth-maacah. In an effort to capture this man, Joab besieged the city and his men began attacking the wall in order to topple it (2 Samuel 20:14-15). As this was happening, a wise woman came out to reason with Joab in order to spare the city.

“‘I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?’ Joab replied, ‘Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy! Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over, and I will depart from the city.’ And the woman said to Joab, ‘Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.’

“Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king in Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 20:19-22).

There are some principles of justice found in this account:
Continue Reading

Filed Under: SERIES: Daily Notes & Observations Tagged With: , ,