Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high . . . on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend (Job 16:19, 21 NIV).
Job longed for someone to plead his cause with God (Job 9:33). Like him we too might come to a … Read the rest
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live (Numbers 33:55 NIV).
This was an instruction to the Israelites who were about to enter … Read the rest
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap (Malachi 3:2 NIV).
Do you desire to have God come to you? If yes, think again. Do you really want Him to come to you? You might think … Read the rest
There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, “See what God has done!” (Numbers 23:23 NIV).
There is a special grace given to God’s children. And you need to know it. No sorcery or divination can work against you as long as you … Read the rest
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth (Zephaniah 1:18 NIV).
A sudden end! How terrifying that would … Read the rest
At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, “The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad” (Zephaniah 1:12 NIV).
After having said that the day of the Lord is near, the prophet talks about people who are … Read the rest
Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out (Numbers 9:21b, 22 NIV).
Think about a faithful … Read the rest
Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand” (Numbers 8:2 NIV).
A Christian is called to shine. But he has no light of his own. Instead he is given the ability to shine. It comes from above, from … Read the rest
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God (Jonah 2:1 NIV).
Disobedience to God is costly. It not only puts you under His wrath but also causes others to suffer because of you. This is shown by the way the sailors of the ship in which Jonah sailed suffered.
But then God … Read the rest
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land-not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11 NIV).
The Bible says that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that … Read the rest
Glorious things are said of you, O city of God (Psalm 87:3 NIV).
Have you ever realized your privilege in being a child of God? Or for that matter have you ever realized the privilege of being a citizen of heaven; the city of God?
Even though this Psalm talks about the earthly Zion, it … Read the rest
When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions (Psalm 65:3 NIV).
This verse gives us a glimpse of the enormous burden of sin. A man who has never been overwhelmed by his consciousness of sin has never understood forgiveness in a real sense.
A real understanding of what sin is creates in you … Read the rest
… Read the restBut on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow (Exodus
Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death …. (1 Chronicles 10:13, 14a NIV).
Saul died. In his death, he leaves behind death-principles that … Read the rest
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand (Psalm 37:23, 24 NIV).
A child of God is God’s delight. God watches over him all the time. He therefore need not fear losing the way. But … Read the rest
Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she painted her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out of a window (2 Kings 9:30 NIV).
Look at Jezebel: She is painting her eyes and arranging her hair when Jehu, the one who is to destroy her, arrives. She knows that Jehu had murdered … Read the rest
I am the God of Bethel (Genesis 31:13a NIV).
God remembers His encounters with you. He also reminds you of them. Here, Jacob is reminded of Bethel. God goes one step further and says, “I am the God of Bethel.”
Thus God was owning that experience of Himself that Jacob had at Bethel in a … Read the rest
And he said, “Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you” (Genesis 31:12 NIV).
God has seen what someone else has been doing to you. Even though the other person is powerful and … Read the rest
When they stood still, they lowered their wings. Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings (Ezekiel 1:24z–25 NIV).
Heaven can teach us. Here we find the heavens opened. In this vision Ezekiel sees four living creatures. They had two wings to fly and two … Read the rest
Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again (1 Kings 20:22 NIV).
This prophetic message is important because it was given immediately after a big victory in war. See that it is not a message of congratulation on that victory. Instead it is … Read the rest
For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help (Psalm 22:24 NIV).
The feeling of being despised can affect believers too. It need not be taken as a sign of lack of faith. But it … Read the rest
And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol (Judges 13:25 NIV).
It is a blessed thing to have the Spirit of the Lord’s stirring in your life. The very word “stir” makes us feel a movement. Maybe a slight one. But still intense … Read the rest
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation (Psalm 5:3 NIV).
God wants us to live life one day at a time. For the day is a God-given unit of time for man’s sake. Therefore it is best to begin each … Read the rest
Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne (1 Kings 1:46 NIV).
First of all we see God’s grace in action here. For Solomon’s parents, David and Bathsheba first met in an adulterous relationship. It was followed by murder. And then a series of tragic events in David’s family and kingdom as a … Read the rest
There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 31:6 NIV).
What is fascinating in this verse is the changed role of watchmen! By duty, their role is to stand guard and report of any sign of … Read the rest
How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! (Song of Songs 7:1a NIV).
At first look, a person might wonder why God has included Song of Songs in the Bible at all! It is a very genuine thought.
Why should such descriptions of physical beauty be described in such romantic, sexual and exciting language in … Read the rest
Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and had him brought to the third entrance to the temple of the Lord (Jeremiah 38:14a NIV).
The title of this piece, “The Third Entrance of the Temple” would have made you curious; isn’t it so? Possibly yes.
The Third Entrance stands for a secret meeting between … Read the rest
So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back? (2 Samuel 19:10b NIV).
Where is your king? Have you sent him away and anointed someone else to be your king?
Look at history. King David had to flee because the people of Israel had made his son Absalom king. But Absalom died in … Read the rest
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6 NIV).
This is a clear reference to Jesus Christ. He will be called Our Righteousness.
But what does righteousness mean? It is not easy to explain. … Read the rest
Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!” (2 Samuel 13:15 NIV).
Sin in someone close to you can be such a bad and corrupting example.
David’s sin of adultery would have made his son Amnon … Read the rest
