“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,My glory and the One who lifts up my head.I cried to the Lord with my voice,And He heard me from His holy hill” (Psalm 3:3-4). Having been forced out of Jerusalem, David is now “on the run” from his son Absalom who wants to take not only his throne but his life as well; and he has just lamented to the Lord about those who have followed Absalom in turning against him. In these two verses, he turns to a positive note of gratitude becau

“ This is the   ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’      Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved ” (Acts 4:11-12).   Inspired by the Holy Spirit and filled with ‘fiery’ compassion, Peter gives an extended address to the multitudes about what they have done in putting to death the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.   In a metaphor, first used in passages in t

“ Instead you  ought  to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil .  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do  it,  to him it is sin ” ( James 4:15-17 ) .   James has just taught his readers about the importance of depending on God when making plans for the future and of being aware of the brevity and uncertainty of life.   This verse describes how it looks when we follow this idea

“ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.  I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but   you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you ” ( John 8:36 ) .   Tension builds as Jesus has this discussion with the unbelieving Pharisees at this point in His ministry. As Jews, they are the descendants of Abraham and have assured themselves that they have always been free.   Jesus tries to convince them that they have been under bondage to sin sinc

A Study in 1 Peter 1   “… as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct ” ( 1 Peter 1:14 ) .   Having just given a general instruction that Christians are to get control of their minds and be serious about their Christian pursuit, Peter here narrows his scope of teaching to “ obedient children ,” a label that indicates there is such a designation as “dis

“ But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day ” ( Proverbs 4:18 ) .   In contrast to the teaching in the four previous verses, Solomon turns to positive instruction for those who want a relationship with God that will lead them to the eternal home with Him.   Calling them the “just,” Solomon uses a simile to picture such a life: “like the shining sun.” The simile here compares the progression of the sun as it grows ever mor

“ For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, And they drink the wine of violence ” ( Proverbs 4:16-17 ) .   Solomon here expands his definition of those who are wicked by describing the depths to which they must go to feel satisfied and successful: they cannot sleep unless they perform an evil act or unless they influence someone else to be evil.   They are so depraved th

Third in a series of studies of Titus 2:11-15   “ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,   teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age  ( Titus 2:11-12 ). “ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,   who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people,

Second in a series of studies of Titus 2:11-15   “ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,   teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age ( Titus 2:11-12 ), looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,   who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people,

First in a series of studies of Titus 2:11-15   “ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,   teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age ” ( Titus 2:11-12 ) .   This short letter to the young preacher Titus is designed to give him direction as to how he is to conduct his own life as well as to instruct him in the principles he is to teach those whom he has been sent to he

“ But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill ”  ( Psalm 3:03-04 ) .   David seems to be in a desperate situation as he pens these words of assurance to God: he is fleeing from his son on this eve of the battle with him and many supporters have left him since they believe God has forsaken him. In this passage, however, he appears to overcome his feelings of despondency a

“ Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by  Your generous Spirit ” ( Psalm 51:12 ) .   David cannot seem to get over the fact that he has sinned, thus breaking his relationship with God; and he wants to renew that relationship. “Joy” and “salvation” are significant words in this passage.   “Joy” is something that “causes great pleasure and happiness”; and, in a spiritual context, “salvation” means “deliverance from sin and its consequences,” brought about by

“ Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions ” ( Psalm 51:01 ) .   Guilt is a powerful emotion, and King David is feeling the weight of his heinous sin at this point in his life. In fact, much of the remainder of David’s life was spent in regret because of his immorality.   It would seem the inevitability of guilt would place an automatic restraint on every child of God when entice

Fifth in a Series of Studies on Ephesians 1:15-23   “ And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all ” ( Ephesians 1:22-23 ) .   Jesus lays claim to all authority in Heaven and Earth in Matthew 28, and here Paul confirms that God is the One who gave Him that authority: Paul says Jesus is over “ all things .”    Included in the “all things” is the church, which is

Fourth in a Series of Studies on Ephesians 1:15-23   “… which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated  Him  at His right hand in the heavenly  places,    far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come ” ( Ephesians 1:20-21 ) .   God, the Father, manifested His exceedingly great power through His Son Jesus Christ, first, by raising Him from the dead and, t

Third in a Series of Studies on Ephesians 1:15-23   “ and what  is  the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ” ( Ephesians 1:19 ) .   As Paul continues his prayer for the Ephesians, he mentions the third wonderful spiritual blessing he wants them to “know”: the superlative nature of God’s power in blessing all believers—that is, “ the greatness of His power toward us who believe .”   Having a knowledge of the Eph

Second in a Series of Studies on Ephesians 1:15-23   “T he eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints ” ( Ephesians 1:18 ).   This wonderful verse occurs in the middle of the Apostle Paul’s earnest prayer on behalf of the Ephesian brethren. He has heard of their great faith, and he gives thanks for it; however, he does not stop with the giving of thanks. He

First is a Series of Studies on Ephesians 1:15-23   “ For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,     I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,     that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him ” ( Ephesians 1:15-17 ) .   Continuing in his expressions of gratitude and praise for the blessings God h

“ He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy ” ( Proverbs 29:01 ) .   In the metaphor here, Solomon is talking about any person who refuses to listen to attempts to correct his sins because he has “hardened his neck”—that is, he has rejected correction often because of obstinacy. The fate for such a person is eternal destruction.   The preacher obviously wants all readers—in every generation—to stop and examine themselve

“ Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord !” ( Psalm 117:1-2 ) .   Addressed to all of the heathen nations of the earth, this psalm offers an explanation about the kind of reception they can expect from God when the dispensation of the Messiah becomes effective.   Since the Jews have been recipients of the Lord’s “merciful kindness” under the Law o