Don’t pass over the Passover. This is God’s memorial day. The Passover marks the beginning of deliverance from bondage and the beginning of the Jewish religious year (vv. 1-2). The Lord said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you†(v.13). The sprinkle …
In today’s passage, Amos has a vision of the Lord standing next to the alter. This is either the alter in Jerusalem or more likely, the alter in Bethel (Amos 7:12). The Lord makes a proclamation of top to bottom destruction upon the religion and the people of Israel (v. 1). The top of the temple …
This passage of scripture now returns to the history of Israel. The heir apparent to Israel’s throne, Abijah, had died in childhood. Therefore, his brother Nadab ascended to the throne. His reign lasted for less than two years (vv. 25-32). He continued the policies begun by his …
The Lord has already prayed about security and sanctity; now the burden of His prayer is unity. In this passage He prays for the whole church down through the centuries, that they all may be unified (vv. 20-26). He is concerned that His people experience a spiritual unity that is like the oneness of …
The historical background for this Psalm can be found in II Samuel 8:13-14; I Kings 11:15-16 and I Chronicles 18:12-13. King David had inherited all the dreadful years of failure and defeat, apostasy and backsliding, misery and woe under the judges and under Saul. He took o …
Under the old Jewish system priests were chosen only from the tribe of Levi, and sacrifices were offered only on the altar for forgiveness of sins (Heb. 7:12-14). This passage talks about two things that are superior under the priesthood of Christ as compared to the old system: The Sa …
The Pharisees tried to pressure the healed man into withdrawing his testimony about Jesus. They wanted him to say that the miracle of his sight was only a miracle of God and that Christ was a sinner (v.24). He would not debate the character of Jesus Christ, because that was beyond his …
The basis of truth is not only in Paul’s example, but also in the scriptures that we now call the Old Testament. Timothy was brought up to know these scriptures by his Jewish mother and grandmother. He has also learned from Paul, whose teaching and letters will become part of th …
Everyone is saved by simple faith but the victory of faith may only come through sacrifice. This was true of many of these Old Testament saints who the writer gives us as examples of faith. Abraham’s victory of faith cost him the sacrifice of Isaac, whom God demanded but …
On the basis of their repentance and prayer mentioned in 9:38, the people made an agreement with God. The agreement was signed and sealed, and the first twenty-seven verses of this chapter list eighty-four people who put their seal on this covenant. Many other citizens subscribed …