He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God (Joshua 4:24 NIV).
Joshua makes this statement soon after the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, which was at its flood stage, on dry … Read the rest
Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults (Isaiah 51:7 NIV).
To move forward in God’s will requires a knowledge of His law. It was written on tablets of stone long ago. But … Read the rest
You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops (Psalm 65:10 NIV).
God’s care for the land is shown here. More than that we can understand God’s total working on our behalf in this verse:
The furrows in the land are drenched.
It is God’s work.
The … Read the rest
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: `I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness’ (Jeremiah 31:3 NIV).
There is great comfort in having assurance of something. For example, you are in great financial need. A friend of yours promises to give you the money. You are … Read the rest
He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert (Psalm 105:41 NIV).
The incident referred to here occurred in the desert wanderings of the Israelites. The might of God and the tenderness within Him is revealed here. The rock is the might of God.
We may not expect … Read the rest
I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, 20 bowls of gold valued at 1000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold (Ezra 8:26, 27 NIV).
Ezra is getting ready to lead a group of Israelites including priests and levites … Read the rest
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness (Psalm 89:15,16 NIV).
The psalmist here talks about the happy condition of those people who have learned to acclaim God. Acclaiming means that … Read the rest
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name (Psalm 86:11 NIV).
Let us take a look at a family of four: The husband wants to spent his evening reading a book. The wife wants to go out for dinner. … Read the rest
Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices (Ezra 3:3 NIV).
It is not surprising that a people who returned from exile and captivity to their own land now lying in ruins are … Read the rest
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8 NIV).
Joshua was given the leadership of the Israelites. He succeeded Moses. It was a huge … Read the rest
Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him (Psalm 32:10 NIV).
Surrounded! The best experience you might have of this is when you use the “surround” option in your music system or television. You relax and enjoy the music that seems to flow and … Read the rest
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
