“Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips” (Rom 3:13, CSB). Psalm 52 is another Biographical Psalm. Its title explains: “A Contemplation of David when Doeg the Edomite went and told Saul, and said to him, ‘David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.’” If you’re familiar with the […]
CHRIST the SOUL-WINNER: “I have found my sheep which was lost!” (Lk 15:6). William Carvosso spent years on horseback, criss-crossing Cornwall with the gospel. He had begun his Christian life with a friend, Peter Haynes, who was now a missionary overseas. They had promised in their youth to pray for the salvation of each other’s […]
“Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Ex 32:32). Total commitment! Moses may have been recording the muster roll of the nation while on the mount. He couldn’t see himself enjoying God’s blessings without them. I recall reading of the […]
Grace is a word rich with biblical meaning. It is used to describe the condition of the heart of God moving in good will toward sinners; the practical extending of merciful kindness to such individuals as a result; and the benefits thus received as an unmerited gift from the gracious One. Grace is placed in […]
“And in those times there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands…But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” (2 Chron 15:5, 7). Troubled times […]
We should never sin that grace may abound, but when forgiveness is found, praise should abound. In our last study of Psalm 51, we looked at the first two themes: the Problem (vv 1-6) and the Process (vv 7-12). We now want to see the Proclamation (vv 13-15) and the Praise (vv 16-19). It’s in God’s heart to restore […]
CHRIST the LAST ADAM: “‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (1 Cor 15:45). The Lord Jesus, through His incarnation, became “the second Man” (v 47) and “the last Adam.” As the second Man, He was a new kind of man: “the first man was of the […]
“Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life” (Ps 119:49-50). Does God remember? He is omniscient, of course, and never has memory lapses, as we often do. But as we noticed in comments on verses […]
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (Deut 30:19). Col. and Mrs. George Clarke began the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago in 1877, a “doorway to heaven.” Mrs. Clarke also regularly visited the jail. One of those visited was John Callahan. After escaping a reformatory in New York, […]