The temple cleansed. The priests restored. The offerings sacrificed. The nation forgiven. It was rigorous work to restore the Lord’s house. They “brought out all the debris that they found in the temple of the Lord” (2 Chron 29:16), and it was carted off by the Levites. “They began to sanctify on the first day of the first […]
When I look over an audience and think of the misery that you and I do not see, that He does see, I think I understand what it means, “When He saw the multitude, He was moved with compassion” (Mt 9:36). We ought to have more compassion. How many times I have had to upbraid […]
Here’s a great illustration of Laura Soole’s poem: “Disappointment–His appointment, Change one letter, then I see That the thwarting of my purpose Is God’s better choice for me.” […]
“Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel…’” (1 Ki 18:36). I don’t know many folks who can call down rain or fire as the need requires. Yet we are reminded that Elijah was of the same […]
The Lord has chosen His priests to stand before Him, to serve Him, and to sacrifice to Him. It’s helpful to note that the religious reforms under Hezekiah recorded in the three chapters of 2 Chronicles 29–31 are only briefly mentioned in 2 Kings 18:1-7. The account in the Kings of Hezekiah’s influence mainly stresses […]
The Lord Jesus Christ dominates the Scriptures as the sun dominates our solar system. As the Eternal Son, He acts through creation and history. As the virgin’s Son, He joins the stream of our race, the tributary destined to unite the currents of Jew and Gentile, and to divide our river into two courses: one […]
“When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office” (Ps 109:7-8). What a strange phrase: “Let his prayer become sin.” This passage is applied to Judas, whose longings led directly to the betrayal of the Innocent One. Beware […]
“If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn.” —C.S. Lewis Hezekiah faced a terrible mess. Among other things, his father had not only filled the land with idolatry “on the hills, and under every green tree” (2 Chron 28:4), but had utterly decimated the house of the Lord. He “took part of the treasures […]
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). If New Testament Christianity is to reappear today with its power and joy and courage, men must recapture the basic conviction that this is a Visited Planet. It is not enough to express formal belief in the “Incarnation” or in “the divinity of Christ”; the […]