As we read this passage, we must remember that the Jews believed that other nations were outside the mercy of God. The strict Jew would have no contact with a Gentile, or even with a Jew, who did not observe the Law. In particular, he would never have a guest nor ever be the guest of a man …
Today we see the closing remarks of Solomon’s prayer with his people to God. His prayers and concern reach out to those beyond his own surroundings to foreign missions. He looked around as he called on God to hear the prayer of believing foreigners (vv. 32- 35). By hearing them, …
Man is constantly striving to get ahead in this life and often leaves God out in the process. It may seem good at the time but in the end it will be death and eternal separation from God forever (v. 12). By his laughter a person may give the impression that he is enjoyi …
Jesus traveled to the region of Caesarea Philippi (v. 13) where Baal and Augustus Caesar were worshipped as gods. Jesus used questions to teach His disciples. On this occasion, He asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Jesus has no interest in dispassionate, hypothetical views …
This psalm was written by a man who was conscious of the pressures surrounding Israel (vv. 1- 18). Probably the events in the days of Jehoshaphat most closely approximate the situation envisioned here. All the enemies of Jehovah; the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Gebalites, Ammonites, Am …
This psalm is prophetic and anticipates the day when Jesus will reign. The setting is millennial, the place is Jerusalem, the scene is the temple, and the occasion is the coronation of Jesus as priest-king of the earth. The text of this Psalm was thought to be the beginning hymn …
After David killed Goliath, he and Jonathan became the closest of friends (v. 1). Their friendship is one of the deepest and closest in the Bible and this remained to the end. Saul wanted to keep David around so he could use him for personal gain, but Jonathan loved David as a person. We …
In this passage it seems that the psalmist was old and saw life as a testimony of all God had done for him. He finds himself approaching the last lap of his journey in the service of God, he had run a good race, he had kept the faith, and he pleads with God for strength to finish …
The Jews always regarded the greatest days in their history as the days of David; and they dreamed of a day when there would be another king of David’s line, a king who would make them great in righteousness and in power. (Isa. 9:7; 11:1; Jer. 22:4, 23:5; 30:9.) But a …
Jesus uses the healing of the man with the withered hand to point out that the Sabbath was not just a time not to work. The Pharisees watched Jesus like a cat watches a mouse hole. They stood ready to pounce on Him for every little thing that violated their legalistic beliefs. Th …