Of course the Lord doesn’t sleep or wake up—but there are times when He seems to spring into action. Although out of chronology, the next section of Psalm 78—verses 43-53—is exactly in line with Asaph’s lesson for us. The failures of the Wilderness Wanderings (vv 12-42) are all the more serious because of what went […]
CHRIST the LORD from HEAVEN: “the second Man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor 15:47). Adam was from the earth and so, like the earth, he was “earthy.” But Christ is not like heaven; heaven is like Christ. He is Lord there. The Book of Revelation declares: His glorious presence is the light of […]
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Mt 23:37). Six hundred years before, Jeremiah asked, “Who will have pity on you, O […]
J. Budziszewski, a “repentant atheist,” writes: “How then did I become undeceived? Not because anyone called my bluff. When I told the faculty of the University of Texas that there is no rationally knowable difference between good and evil and that we aren’t responsible for our deeds anyway, they gave me a job teaching the […]
“They said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?’” (Ps 78:19). Oh yes He can! And He did! What seemed to the people to be “this worthless bread” (Num 21:5), the manna was considered by God to be “the bread of heaven” and “angels’ food” (Ps 78:24-25). Their despising the manna and wanting meat instead was taken as evidence that “they did […]
CHRIST the ULTIMATE GIVER: “the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20). And look what He’s given to us! “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (Jn 10:28). What next? Surprisingly, He offers us His yoke: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for […]
“Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, that I may not be ashamed” (Ps 119:80). What does it mean to have a blameless heart? The Hebrew word here translated “blameless” is often rendered “perfect.” But the word does not mean sinlessly perfect; that will have to await the moment of our final glorification. It […]
God-hungry men find God. “As the hart pants after the water brooks” (Ps 42:1), so the souls of the Upper-Room crowd panted for the living God. Spiritually naked, they fled to Him to be clothed upon with the blessed Spirit. Empty, they craved to be filled. Powerless, they tarried until they were endued. Bankrupt, they […]
After these miracles, they “tested” God by making Him prove His faithfulness all over again. Over Psalm 78:12-16, we might write, “God is spectacular!” These spectacles are designed to teach us that if God can do THAT, He’s up for anything. If He can save Saul of Tarsus, He can save your hard-hearted relative. If He can […]