Moriah combines râ’â + yâh, meaning “seen, approved, considered, or enjoyed by Jehovah.” In 1 Chronicles 21, we read, “David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces” (v 16) and pled for God’s mercy, a mercy already provided. But there is no such thing as bloodless mercy with the Lord. “Therefore, the angel of the Lord commanded Gad […]
Read More… from September 20, 2024 — Falling Down & Going Up
Evil is on the loose. Goliath-like, it stands across the valley and mocks our once-civilized society. Since we’ve rejected the Bible’s God for our own selfish ways, it laughs at our attempts to salvage the benefits of a Christian worldview while we’re unwilling to take seriously the Bible’s claims. That’s impossible. What to do? Many, […]
God in Christ has devised a way by which justice can be satisfied and yet mercy can triumph. For our story today, it helps to have a brief overview both of the geography and history of Jerusalem. Coming west from the Jordan Valley through the Judean Wilderness, we meet a long north-south ridge looming over […]
Read More… from September 19, 2024 — “Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment”
In this math, it’s the answer that makes the problem: 1,570,000 – 70,000 = so much heartache! Numbering Israel’s warriors without collecting the ransom silver was a serious matter—as if these men belonged to the king and not to God. The penalty? “Then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you […]
Why do you need to count the soldiers when our Commander can win with many or with few? Here we have a story that provides an important clarification. The first rendition reads, “The anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah’” (2 Sam […]
Read More… from September 17, 2024 — When Counting Doesn’t Add Up
Here’s a story of a man who tried to get away from God. Guess what happened when he hopped on a plane? […]
The present is preparation time. Ben Franklin wrote, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Do you recall the four key differences from the books of Samuel and Kings to be noticed in the Chronicles? There are blessed deletions (mostly the sins of the saints are left out), important clarifications, purposeful repetitions, and […]
Read More… from September 16, 2024 — Those Four Other Smooth Stones
Two lessons I learned from D.L. Moody’s first visit to England: Be all in and be all there. […]