Hebrews encourages believers to persevere in their Christian faith and conduct when facing persecution and pressure. There had been a time when those to whom this letter was written had known persecution; and they had learned what it was to become involved with those under suspic …
It has become hard for some to put faith in anything or anyone. Institutions have promised so much, and they have let us down. We have had faith in government and government has let us down. We have trusted people and people have let us down. It is easy to lose confidence in peo …
Charles Spurgeon used to say, “Little faith will take your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” Peter urged his readers to apply love, faith and rejoicing so they could experience some of heaven’s glory now amid suffering. Obedience to God amid trials prepares us …
After Abimelech, Tola arose to rescue Israel (vv. 1-2). We know little about this sixth judge. He was a member of the tribe of Issachar and his regime lasted 23 years. Apparently, nothing outstanding occurred during his reign. Jair was the seventh judge who apparently was wealthy …
Zophar is the last man to speak in this round. I suppose today we would say that Zophar has the scientific mind. He thinks you pour life into the test tube and it will always come out a certain way. Ignoring Job’s plea for pity, Zophar merely reacts against what he considers…
Chapter 16 covers the seven bowl judgments. These are an expansion of the seventh trumpet judgement, just as the seven trumpet judgments are an expansion of the breaking of the seventh seal judgment. John introduces the seven angels to pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the …
Following His public baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days (v. 1). The wilderness of Judea is a hot, barren and desolate area that lays between the Dead Sea and Jerusalem and is approximately thirty-five miles long and fifteen miles wide. Following this period Satan put Him through three major tests …
In these verses the girl recalls a dream that caused her concern for her lover’s whereabouts. She rose in the middle of the night to search for him (vv. 1-3). Her search was rewarded as her lover was found and brought lovingly to the home of the bride (v. 4). Verse five ends the courtship …
Amos saw a basket of summer fruit gathered, and ready to be eaten, which signified, that the people were ripe for judgment, that the year of God’s patience was drawing towards a conclusion (vv. 1-3). Like this fruit Israel was ripe for judgment (v. 2). God had appointed a day of judgment for …
Throughout Israel people had erected altars to worship pagan gods. The Lord was about to destroy these altars and liter the pagan shrines with the carcasses and bones of those who worshiped there. Ezekiel addressed the mountains of Israel because it was there the “h …