you shall not walk in their statutes Leviticus 18:3 (compare Exodus 23:24) Statutes – The law of the land. That’s what God has in mind with this commandment. He instructed the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt to never again use Egypt’s legal code as the basis for their actions. The same thing applied…
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake Colossians 1:24 For Your Sake – Paul understood the process of redemptive suffering. Do you? In this letter to the church at Colossae, Paul says that he is exuberant and joyful because he has been able to substitute himself in the place of others. He volunteered…
For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak Habakkuk 2:18 Cannot Speak – What would it take to convince you that idols cannot speak? Oh, did you think that you already knew this? Did you think that your life was not governed by speechless idols? Then try…
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone,” Isaiah 44:24 Maker of All Things – Most of us don’t really believe the verse in Isaiah. We…
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts Psalm 13:2 (NIV) Wrestle with my thoughts – The NIV translation of this passage captures the idea of the phrase but not the exact words. The Hebrew phrase really says, “take counsel with my soul.” The two critical words are ‘etsah (advice, plan) and nephesh (soul, person)….
God is not a man that He should lie; Numbers 23:19 Lie – Does God lie? “Of course not,” you will answer. “How could He be God if He did not tell us the truth?” You’re right. One of the fundamental characteristics of God’s nature is truth. Lying is simply not possible for the God…
Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the LORD 1 Chronicles 22:14 With Great Pains – As David approached the end of his life, he gave us a summary that we need to heed (remember qashav?). David, the man after God’s own heart, the man of great triumph and terrible…
I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me Nehemiah 2:18 Favorable – Nehemiah’s problem was not his vision. He knew what he was supposed to do. He was sent to rebuild Jerusalem. If you are clear about your vision from God, then you face the same problem that Nehemiah…
O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man. Nehemiah 1:11 Compassion – Have you prayed like Nehemiah? Or did you think that…
“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says that LORD who had compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10 Compassion – How long will God be compassionate? How long will He demonstrate active care and…
