“Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.” —William Cowper Meanwhile, back at the palace… The Book of Esther gives some of the historic events unfolding with the Jews in Persia, who hadn’t returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel, Ezra, or Nehemiah. The term “Ahasuerus” was a title, like Pharaoh or Caesar. The king called […]
CHRIST the MESSIANIC HOPE: “We have found the Messiah” (Jn 1:41). How did Andrew know? The portrait of the Christ was so detailed and the Lord Jesus would match it at every point. He was the “seed” of the woman (Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14), born of the virgin Mary; from the tribe of Judah and […]
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas 5:16). It is not admired prayers we need, but availing ones; not expansive, but effective. We can do without the fancy kind, but not without the fervent kind. William Law writes: “It is not the arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are; nor […]
John Berridge, a contemporary of Whitfield and the Wesleys, was ordained in 1745 but was unfit for the Lord’s service until in late 1756, as he was having a time of Bible study, the command, “Cease from thine own works, only believe,” was laid on his heart. At last he saw that striving to earn […]
Nehemiah empathized with the people’s needs, emended their mistakes, and encouraged their success. After a discussion of various responsibilities concerning the temple service—caring for stored supplies, the singers and gatekeepers—and a reminder as to why Moabites and Ammonites especially were disqualified from joining Israel, Nehemiah turns to some reforms that had been effected during his tenure as governor. First was his […]
CHRIST the INTERVENTIONIST: “all forsook me…But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Tim 4:16-17). Caroline Talbott in the middle of the night was deeply impressed with the message, “Go to the Devil’s Pit tomorrow night at 11 to rescue a soul.” This outpost of hell in the worst part of New York […]
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness” (Ps 143:10). Here the word “will” is the Hebrew retsonecha, “pleasure.” How can we know what pleases Him? Ah, the Spirit of God is standing by. He can lead us into the right […]
“Warning every man, and teaching every man” (Col 1:28) was the Apostle’s practice when he preached Christ. “In humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Tim 2:25) was his instruction to Timothy. Denunciation is not of much value. It tends to stiffen resistance. Nor are wild threats of hell; all warnings must be reasonable […]
“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,…You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!” (Ps 80:1). What a glorious theme we have today—the dedication of the wall. As Ezra had prayed, “We were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, […]