Short and Inspiring Meditations from the Old Testament for Daily Reading.
At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty … the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 18:7 NIV).
Is God in need of gifts from men? Certainly not. For God says, “The world is mine and all that is in it” … Read the rest
“They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued … I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will walk,” declares the Lord (Zechariah 10:11a, 12 NIV).
The path of God’s restoration passes through the sea of trouble. Though the sea is vast and mighty, God … Read the rest
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:6, 7 NIV).
David talked about the blessedness of being forgiven … Read the rest
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1 NIV).
We love a God who delivers us from evil or pain. But we cry out to a God who seems far away. The cry of a forsaken … Read the rest
Bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave on the day after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:10b, 11 NIV).
God had hidden a beautiful truth in this simple ceremony. This … Read the rest
Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs (Exodus 12:7 NIV).
Imagine that you were part of that group of Israelites during that time. Imagine as you watched the elders in the family, probably the … Read the rest
Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend (1 Chronicles 27:33b NIV).
It would surprise you to note this. In this section in this book it is the names of people who were the officials of David that has been recorded. All of them were included because of their position.
But this one man’s name was … Read the rest
Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage (Exodus 6:9 NIV).
Good news is not always welcomed. This was the case with the Israelites. God had told them through Moses that He was going to deliver them. At first, they bowed down and … Read the rest
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him (Psalm 2:12 NIV).
See Jesus in a different light. He can be angry. His wrath can flare up in a moment. Does this surprise … Read the rest
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision (Joel 3:14 NIV).
What a day this is going to be! The numbers cannot be counted. They all stand awaiting their judgment at the hand of a righteous God. This shall take place in the … Read the rest
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt” (Exodus 13:17 NIV).
The shorter route is not the best one always. In God’s eyes the shorter … Read the rest
Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet (Exodus 15:25 NIV).
The place where this happened was Marah which means bitter. The occasion was just three days after the Israelites had crossed the Red sea on … Read the rest
But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him (Exodus 3:19 NIV).
God is concerned for you. He has already dispatched His message to deliver you from whatever is holding you in bondage and slavery. But that does not mean that the king of Egypt … Read the rest
From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:2 NIV).
Have you called to God? If not, this is the time to do so. It is when you are overwhelmed by life’s troubles, doubts, and … Read the rest
With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him (Daniel 11:32 NIV).
Evil has its own ways of getting things done. Here it talks about an evil person who corrupts people through flattery. Nice talk which is insincere was, and still is, … Read the rest
His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 11:31 NIV).
There is something past and something future in this verse. Therefore it is important.
The person referred to here is Antiochus Ephiphanes, who caused great … Read the rest
… Read the restThe Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it upon a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived (Numbers 21:8,
When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?” (Genesis 40:6, 7 NIV).
Joseph was a man with character. He was genuinely concerned for others. This quality stood … Read the rest
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel–all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him (1 Kings 19:18 NIV).
There has been no time like ours in world history. This is a time of great moral failure, rebellion, materialism, and idolatry in the human heart like never … Read the rest
“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave (Proverbs 9:17, 18 NIV).
The first part is the invitation of Folly. She is described as sitting at the door of her house on a … Read the rest
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (2 Kings 19:31b NIV).
Impossible situations are times when the zeal of the Lord Almighty shall accomplish great things. But what is this zeal?
It is an intense passionate enthusiasm that the Lord displays for what He is concerned about to get it done.
As we … Read the rest
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9 NIV).
Rejoice! Your King is coming to you. Raise banners of welcome. Prepare your heart and mind to receive … Read the rest
In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me” (Isaiah 12:1 NIV).
This certainly refers to a time in the future when Jesus will rule the earth from Jerusalem. But blessed is the man who can … Read the rest
Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God (Isaiah 50:10 NIV).
Obedience can lead through darkness. Such an experience should not come as a surprise. Instead this … Read the rest
So Huram finished all the work he had undertaken for King Solomon in the temple of the Lord (1 Kings 7:40b NIV).
God places great importance to the completion of a work undertaken. This is especially true when it is a work for the Lord. The kingdom of God has suffered much because many thousands … Read the rest
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me (Psalm 119: 67, 71, 75 NIV).
There is good in afflictions. … Read the rest
Create in me a pure heart, O God (Psalm 51:10a NIV).
This is a sincere prayer coming from the heart of a repentant man. He is desperate in his prayer. He knows that God alone can create in him a pure heart. When these conditions meet together, God can create in you too a pure … Read the rest
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, … and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand (Isaiah 53:10 NIV).
We stand on holy ground as we meditate on this verse. It talks about the suffering of Jesus. His suffering is described as the fulfillment of … Read the rest
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God (Isaiah 62:3 NIV).
A great promise; originally referring to the future greatness of Zion. It refers to a definite change of status. God is going to exalt Jerusalem in the near future.
God is going … Read the rest
But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26 NIV).
The command was: “Flee for your lives. Don’t look back.” And Lot’s wife violated it. She thus became an eternal reminder to those who do not heed God’s warning.
It was disobedience on her part. But what might have caused … Read the rest
