John Phillips in his book EXPLORING GENESIS says this about the book of Genesis. It begins with creation and ends with a coffin. It begins with glory and ends with a grave. It begins with the vastness of eternity and ends with the shortness of time. It begins with the living God …
In this chapter Micah denounces the leaders of Israel for their sins. First, it is the princes; second, the prophets, who were the spiritual leaders; and last, all the leaders of Jerusalem, including the princes, the prophets, and the priests. “Hear, I pray you, O heads of …
Saul returns home, and says nothing about the private anointing (vv. 14-16). He told his uncle about finding the donkeys with Samuel’s help, but Saul said nothing about the kingship. Samuel calls an assembly of all Israel. There, perhaps by use of Urim and Thummim, Saul is public …
The Apostle John wrote his first epistle to Christians who were in danger of being led astray by false teachers. Many of these leaders said it didn’t make a great deal of difference how a person lived because the body is basically sinful anyway. John points out in this pass …
This last stanza of this great psalm serves as a doxology to sum up many of the themes of Psalm 119. The tone is one of humble petition rather than arrogant demanding …
In this chapter Micah pictures a courtroom. God has a controversy against His people, and He calls the mountains and the hills together to form a jury as He sets forth His case. The people have replaced heartfelt worship with empty ritual, thinking that this is all that God dem …
In this passage warning was directed against false prophets whose messages were not from God, but were intended to win popularity by saying whatever the people wanted to hear. The character, method and judgement of these false prophets is revealed in this portion of Scrip …
This Psalm is a song of thanksgiving that rehearses God’s deliverance of David from all his enemies. David had experienced some stormy years, yet God rescued him and upheld His dedicated servant. David knew that God alone had rescued him when he was defenseless. When …
After pronouncing his blessing upon all the tribes, Moses climbs Mt Nebo in obedience to the Lord’s command (v. 1) (Deut. 32:49). Although he could not enter the promised land because of his sin, God showed him all the land (vv. 2- 4). The Lord told Moses this was what He had promised …
Like Psalm 54, this Psalm is about betrayal and treachery. In Psalm 54 the betrayal took place in David’s youth, before he was king. The betrayal referred to in this Psalm was from a member of his own family (his son) as well as by a close and trusted friend (Ahithophel) (v. 12). …