The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” (Psalm 29:9 NIV).
The voice of the Lord resounds with absolute power. This psalm describes this power and its effects on earth. His voice is terrifying.
It is majestic.
It sounds like thunder.
It inspires … Read the rest
But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible (Numbers 7:9 NIV).
The context here is the offering of six covered carts and twelve oxen by the leaders of the people at the time of the dedication of the … Read the rest
… Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built… As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong (Zechariah 8:9b,13 NIV).
Have you been … Read the rest
This is what the Lord Almighty says: `Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other’ (Zechariah 7:9,10 NIV).
Thoughts are powerful. For actions are powered by thought. Good thoughts therefore … Read the rest
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers (Psalm 1:1 NIV).
The counsel of the wicked:
The world is full with such counsel. You will get it without asking for it. The wicked go to … Read the rest
Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: `Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, `and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 1:3 NIV).
God always keeps an open door for you. Even when you have sinned and moved away from God; He still keeps waiting for you … Read the rest
But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 18:4 NIV).
It is a sad thing to note that seeking the counsel of the Lord is the last thing that many Christians do. They do not think of seeking God’s wisdom and guidance in the decisions … Read the rest
Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: `Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food’ (1 Kings 17:7,8,9 NIV).
What should you … Read the rest
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11 NIV).
If there is one thing that God makes known to one who becomes His child, it is this: He makes known the path of life. For … Read the rest
I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy… I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy (Leviticus 11:44a, 45 NIV).
We often try to define sin. Actually it is an attempt to find out … Read the rest
The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice (1 Kings 1:9 NIV).
What a solemn warning lies there in this verse! Don’t we often think that we could be great in God’s sight if we only had a … Read the rest
They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 38:8 NIV).
The work of God’s tabernacle was going on. And in the articles needed for its service there was the need for a bronze basin for washing. It … Read the rest
If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people (Exodus 33:13 NIV).
Moses is having a dialogue with God. This happens just when God is asking Moses to lead the people of Israel into the … Read the rest
The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command (Joel 2:11a NIV).
Our God is powerful. He can command with a force like that of thunder. His forces are numberless. So we have here a picture of tremendous power: God full of … Read the rest
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe (Proverbs 29:25 NIV).
Snare is a device that is used to catch small animals and birds. It is one that holds the legs of its captive so that the creature that is caught will find it difficult … Read the rest
… Read the restTell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give… Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you (Exodus
See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared (Exodus 23:20 NIV).
Our life is a big journey. In this big journey of life there are smaller journeys too. For a Christian these journeys can become special experiences of … Read the rest
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22,23 NIV).
Are you discouraged today because of a failure yesterday? Are you afraid to face the challenges of today because you had struggled very hard yesterday; yet failed? Does … Read the rest
Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord (Psalm 93:5 NIV).
We live in days of tremendous and sweeping changes. These changes take place so quickly that what is popular today is outdated tomorrow. Nothing is here to stay. And there is no field or walk of life where change … Read the rest
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26 NIV).
The psalmist is thinking about a real possibility here. Though he is now fine, he thinks of a day when his strength would be gone. But, to our surprise, we find that he … Read the rest
Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who bore me these? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. Who brought these up? I was left all alone, but these–where have they come from?’ (Isaiah 49:21 NIV).
There is a phase in every Christian’s life that can be termed as a barren phase. … Read the rest
I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it (Psalm 81:10 NIV).
God loves to remind us of certain things over and over again. This is because they are very important in themselves and at the same time we are prone to … Read the rest
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions (Psalm 51:1 NIV).
There is no cry that God will listen to more than this one. There is a sure answer to this heartbroken cry. God would stop all other activity to listen to this … Read the rest
Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10a NIV).
Being still is not an outward lack of activity; but it is an inward attitude of quietness. To make it a bit more clear, it can be said that you can be perfectly still physically, yet be thoroughly disturbed in your mind.
In this … Read the rest
But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord, because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares (Jeremiah 30:17 NIV).
God punishes sin. When His children do not repent of their sins, God sends judgment. But when God acts thus He always does so in love. … Read the rest
As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”–and the servant did so–“but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God” (1 Samuel 9:27 NIV).
How often do you get a message from God? … Read the rest
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul (Psalm 94:19 NIV).
There is a common practice of awarding consolation prizes for competitors. Usually it is awarded to those whose performances were good, in spite of which they failed to receive a prize.
It is given both as a consolation as … Read the rest
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your love, O Lord, supported me (Psalm 94:18 NIV).
There is no one who wants to slip in one’s walk. Still more no one desires to slip and fall in life. Yet there is no one who has not slipped in their walk and in their life as … Read the rest
Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding (Psalm 148:7,8 NIV).
Observe the words: “stormy winds that do his bidding.” We often think on God’s merciful dealings toward us. But we do not see God in “stormy … Read the rest
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV).
Those who have never gone hungry in their … Read the rest
