Discouragement
God Promises Action - Exodus 6:1 – 6:13 (commentary)
In the previous chapter Moses became very discouraged and began to question why God had put him in this situation and then why he had not delivered His people. When we are discouraged it is very easy to be tempted to question God and wonder why He hasn’t taken care of …
David Questions God as to Why He Has to Suffer - Psalms 42:9 – 42:11 (commentary)
The Psalmist asks three troubling questions (vv. 9-11) in faith, for he remembers that God is his Rock, his protector, and foundation. He cannot help but hope in Him in the middle of difficult circumstances. This passage suggests some sort of betrayal, most likely involving …
By God’s Grace I Will Not Quit - II Corinthians 4:1 – 4:6 (commentary)
Physically, the demands of the ministry were sometimes almost more than Paul could bear (1:8;11:23-27). However, even more draining were the spiritual demands (7:5;11:28-29). He reflects on these experiences in this passage and tells why, though discouraged at times, he never ...
God Will Restore Israel - Ezekiel 20:33 – 20:49 (commentary)
The design the elders of Israel was promoting among the people was that being scattered in various nations they should lay aside all their peculiarities and conform to those among whom they lived; but God had told them that this design should not be (v. 32). Now, in these …
Discouraged But Not Forsaken - Jeremiah 15:1 – 15:14 (commentary)
The nation’s sin was so much a part of their living that judgment had to come. God told Jeremiah that even the prayers of Moses and Samuel could not stop His judgment (v. 1). Judah had passed the point of no return in her dealings with God. The fate of the people was sealed. Destr …
Jeremiah’s Message of Judgment - Jeremiah 20:1 – 20:18 (commentary)
The armies of Babylon are already marching in their direction and Jeremiah is sent by God to give a final word of warning before judgement falls. Jeremiah’s message of judgement was rejected by the temple priest, Pashhur, who was second in authority to the high priest (vv. …
Job is Sick at Heart - Job 30:1 – 30:31 (commentary)
Job launches into a complaint about his sufferings. His friends mock him (vv. 1-15), his body hurts him (vv. 16-19), his God has deserted him (vv. 20-23), and his hope has fled from him (vv. 24-31). To suffer extreme loss as Job did was humiliating. Job had lost his family, posse …
The Lord Appears to Elijah - I Kings 19:8 – 19:21 (commentary)
Evidently Jezebel had not been present on Mount Carmel, so Ahab reported to her what had taken place. Whether or not Ahab had thoughts of revenge is unstated. However, when Jezebel heard that her prophets had been put to death she was furious. Attacking the problem, she sent a …