1 Samuel 24 – Meekness

May 5, 2012

As we look at the scope of David’s life, we see great ups and downs. At times it is hard to believe that the same person could act to courageously and sin so grievously. However, with more reflection the characterization of David is true to life. We are also capable of some great acts of [...]


1 Samuel 16 – God looks at the heart

April 26, 2012

By the time of 1 Samuel 16, Samuel is one of the most holy men of all of Israel. He is recognized as a prophet of the Lord. He already anointed Saul as king and judged him on account of his disobedience. Samuel is God’s prophet and messenger in some of the most important matters [...]


1 Samuel 3 – Samuel Listening to God

April 19, 2012

// // Samuel 3 opens with a very sad statement: “The word of the Lord was rare in those days.” If we look at the broader context, we can see why. The book of Samuel follows the period of the judges, where there was lawlessness – everyone did what was right in their own eyes. [...]


Psalm 21 – Security and Strength

April 14, 2012

It is hard to remember that in the end it is not about us. It is even harder to say, as John the Baptist said in John 3:30: “he must increase and I must decrease.” Human pride and desire for recognition contend. What is also odd is the tension of wanting glory without the responsibilities [...]


Psalm 16 – Back to the “Basics”

April 13, 2012

Often Christians, in my opinion and myself included, look for esoteric knowledge or something new in an effort to grow in Christian maturity. The heart behind this is noble and commendable, but in some ways it is misdirected. What we may view as basic truths are not basic at all. These truths are profound and [...]


Luke 15 – Prodigal Son

April 2, 2012

The parable of the prodigal son has been interpreted and preached over many times. For this reason this parable is well known. Furthermore, pastors, scholars, and students of scripture bring up many insightful points. There is so much grace when we mediate. As I was reading this parable again, what struck me what the words [...]


Deuteronomy 20 – Trust in God

April 2, 2012

Moses speaks to the Israelites about a time when they will enter into the Promised Land and have to fight the inhabitants of the land. Moses acknowledges that these inhabitants will have larger armies and better equipment. (Deuteronomy 20:1). However, he tells his people that they must not fear, because God is with them. He [...]


1 Peter – Short Commentary

March 22, 2012

Short Introduction and Commentary a. Authorship The letter claims to be written by the apostle Peter. However, there are many scholars who question the authorship of Peter for three main reasons. First, they claim that the Greek of 1 Peter is simply too polished to have been written by an uneducated fisherman. Does not Acts [...]


Psalm 36 – Two Ways

March 19, 2012

Psalm 36 juxtaposes two modes of living: the way of sin and the way of righteousness. Whenever these two ways are juxtaposed, the contrast is stark and the logical conclusion is that the way of righteousness is far better. When we consider the way of sin, there is no fear of God (36:1), false flattery, [...]


Colossians 4:2-4 – Importance of Prayer

March 12, 2012

The letter of Colossians, like many of Paul’s letters, is filled with incredible theology. One of the unintended things in books like this is that the theology of the book gets all the attention and personal remarks that speak of the character, life, and practice of Paul and his companions gets overlooked. This situation is [...]


Exodus 4 – Trust in God

March 7, 2012

Exodus 4 shows us at least two points – one not so shocking, the other very shocking. First, God calls Moses to deliver his people. Moses, like most of us, is filled with fear. He feels like that he is not the right man for the job. He has a point. He is a fugitive [...]


Numbers 3, Redemption, Substitution, Christ

March 3, 2012

The book of Number is called by that name for very good reason – numbers are all over the place. Even a cursory glance will show this point. In chapter three there is a continuation of numbering, but this time all the firstborn of Israel are numbered. That number, according to Numbers 3:42 was 22,273. [...]


Leviticus 19-20 – The Joy of Holiness

February 23, 2012

One of the major themes of the book of Leviticus is holiness. Leviticus 19:1-2 is as clear as you can get. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Leviticus [...]


Hebrews 2:1 – Paying Attention

February 17, 2012

Hebrew 2:1 offers a simple yet profound exhortation to all believers. The author of Hebrews exhorts his people to remember. However, the way he says this makes all the difference. He says it is necessary to pay attention much more closely to what we already know, so that we will not drift away. The Greek [...]


What is the Bible in less than 500 words?

February 14, 2012

The authorship of the Bible is varied and debated. In light of this, one should not be bent out of shape if there are lingering questions on authorship. The Bible is broken up into two sections: the Old Testament (thirty-nine books) and the New Testament (twenty-seven books). The Old Testament can be divided up into [...]