The Lord protected his people as they sojourned in other lands (vv. 13-15). The writer traces the events that led to the exile of the patriarchal family from the promised land to their settlement in Egypt. God created a mighty famine in the land of Canaan that drove the chosen people down into …
The prophet perhaps anticipates the arguments of the wicked people in Jerusalem. They reason that God has chosen them and blessed them in an unusual way? Surely he cannot cast them as “rubbish.” Ezekiel, however, says he can, and will. He goes to compare th …
We find Jehoshaphat initiating new reforms within the judicial system. He traveled throughout Judea to encourage people to turn back to the Lord God of their fathers. Throughout the land he appointed godly judges to judge not for man but for the Lord. They were to have no respect of …
David meets Ziba, the servant of Methibosheth, as he starts down the backside of the Mount of Olives (v. 1). Ziba had two donkeys that were carrying 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 figs, and some wine. David asked him who all of this was for and he replied that …
The people stood around Moses from morning till evening waiting for him to judge them (v. 13). When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing he questioned why he was doing all the work and letting all the other people stand around and watch (v. 14). Moses answered …
Moses was a great prophet, but he was also a song leader. After three sermons, he changed the presentation of his message to singing. This song gives a brief history of Israel. It reminds the people of their mistakes while warning them to avoid and repeat from them. It offers hope that …
Jerusalem had been so prosperous and protected that neither kings nor ordinary citizens anywhere could have dreamed that she could be over-run and conquered. Then why was she captured?One cause of Jerusalem’s siege and fall was the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her p …
Naomi told Ruth, “Orpah has gone back to her people and her gods, and you should go back with her†(v. 15). Ruth answers her by begging her not to make her go back and said she wanted to go where Naomi goes and to stay where Naomi stays (v. 16). She made it evident that this …
This familiar story appears only in Luke, yet these two ladies, Mary and Martha, are among the most famous of all Bible characters. The village where Martha opened her home to Jesus was Bethany, which was just a few miles east of Jerusalem (v. 38). Jesus stays in Bethany duri …
Since God can see into Hell and knows what is going on there, surely He can see into the human heart (v.11). He knows our motives, thoughts and desires. A scorner has no love for one who rebukes him; neither will he go to the wise for counsel (v. 12). Happiness and depression are …