Daily Notes & Observations is a 365-part series that follows a chronological daily Bible reading schedule and contains a short article based on something found in the text for each day. This material is also available in paperback.
Thought from today’s Bible reading from Proverbs 27-29.
Civil authorities have a role to play in handing down justice to men. Justice is one of the key components necessary to having stability and peace in a country.
“The king gives stability to the land by justice, but a man who takes bribes overthrows it” (Proverbs 29:4).
But what is the basis of this justice? How should we (or the rulers) determine what is just in a given situation?
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Thought from today’s Bible reading from Proverbs 25-26.
“Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit” (Proverbs 25:28).
Building walls around a city was a “great and extensive” work (Nehemiah 4:19). So why is it that so much time, effort, and resources would be used to construct these walls? It is because the walls had a very practical and necessary purpose. They were to help protect the city in the event of an attack.
Understanding the purpose of the city walls is essential to understanding this proverb from Solomon. One who cannot control himself if vulnerable.
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Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8.
After Solomon completed his house and the Lord’s house, God appeared to him and restated His conditional promise to the king.
“As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel’” (1 Kings 9:4-5).
However, though God was willing to bless Solomon for obedience, He was also willing to punish him for disobedience.
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Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 134, 146-150.
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all stars of light! Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens!
“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away” (Psalm 148:1-6).
There are many reasons to praise the Lord. The passage above addresses two – His work in creation and His providence.
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Thought from today’s Bible reading from 2 Chronicles 6-7; Psalm 136.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 136:1).
The first verse of this psalm contains the phrase, “for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” This refrain is repeated in each of the psalm’s twenty-six verses. Clearly, God’s lovingkindness it is a fact that should be impressed upon us.
The psalmist gives several examples of God’s everlasting lovingkindness that we would probably expect:
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Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5.
After the ark was brought into the temple, Solomon offered a prayer of dedication. As he was praying, he said this:
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27).
The temple that Solomon built was an impressive and beautiful structure. Yet he realized that though it was a temple for the Lord, it was inadequate to house the Lord. God is great, so great that even the heavens cannot contain Him.
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What does “propitiation” mean? How is “justification” connected to salvation? What does “sanctification” look like in our day-to-day lives? The Bible uses some powerful words to describe God’s plan to save mankind. However, these words are not always easy to understand, especially when they are not part of our everyday vocabulary. This book explores key Bible terms that unlock the message of the gospel.
Big Words in the Bible examines five important words – Propitiation, Reconciliation, Sanctification, Justification, and Resurrection – using plain language to see how the Scriptures describe these concepts and how the apostle Paul employs them in his letter to the Romans. This book also contains an appendix with eleven additional articles to explore these topics further.
Whether you are new to the Bible and want to grow in your understanding or want a simple way to explain these core gospel doctrines to others, this book will be helpful. With a focus on the Scriptures, Big Words in the Bible helps break down these fundamental topics to shed light on the life-changing message of the gospel and the salvation found in it.
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