“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia.” 2 Chronicles 36:22 What does it mean when Scripture speaks of God stirring up someone, or some people? Certainly,…
“But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.” John 8:6 When David wrote in the Psalm 23 about “green pastures and still waters,” what was he referring to? Or rather what was the Spirit of God seeking to reveal to those who would believe? The…
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil; for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 In one of Paul Gerhardt’s hymns, he writes: “Midst the darkness, storm, and sorrow, One bright gleam I see; Well I know the…
“And unto the one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matthew 25:15 In the context of the Christ’s teaching of the last days, He addresses also the issue of the characteristics of the kingdom of God. These…
“I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him but he gave me no answer.” Song of Solomon 5:6 Sometimes in a believer’s life, it takes time to understand what the great…
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Daniel 3:17 In the book of Habakkkuk, we have the account of a prophet who is ovewhelmed by the coming invasion of the Chaldeans, an…
“…and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears.” Isaiah 11:3 The book of Isaiah is probably one of the greatest books ever written, not by virtue of the manner in which it was written, and the vastness and power of its message, but because…
“I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto Thee, O Lord, I will sing.” Psalm 101:1 It was in the Sermon on the Mount, when comparing the pursuit of the necessities of life with spiritual objectives, that Jesus would command: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things…
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 In one of Charles Wesley’s great hymns concerning the love of God, he begins like this: “O Love divine, what hast thou done! Th’incarnate God hath died for…
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:4,5 It is a remarkable thing that the eternal King, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and the sole…