Isaiah 25:1 O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. John Piper comments: God is a planning God. He gives forethought to what he does. He is wise. And if you believe that he is all-knowing, … More Piper: God is a planning God
For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.” Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post … More Turmoil: For Isaiah and for US
Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. God had commanded His people to not use horses (Deuteronomy 17:16) so they were not used in any battles before the time of Solomon. However, Solomon disobeyed; (see 1 Kings 10:29.) Here in Proverbs 21, he acknowledges that no matter how strong … More But we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
As we approach some days of long readings in Isaiah, let’s just pause to understand Isaiah’s purpose in writing. Isaiah was a well-educated man, married with two sons and called to preach in Jerusalem during the period of 740 BC until after 701 BC. This was the period after King Uzziah died (ch6) and the succeeding … More Glimpses of God’s character in Isaiah
Proverbs 19:21 is in our reading through the Bible for today, September 3: Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. This reminds me of Proverbs 16:9 that we read last month: The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord … More Our Plans, His Purposes
From Spurgeon’s sermon, “Fear Not”, posted at “Grace Gems” Lift up your eyes, behold the heavens, the work of God’s fingers– behold the sun guided in his daily march; go forth at midnight, and behold the heavens; consider the stars and the moon; look upon these works of God’s hands, and if you be men of sense, and your … More Contemplating God’s greatness!
Bob Deffinbaugh comments: A slight shift in the events recorded in Esther would have doomed the Jews, except as Mordecai said, “help would come from someplace else.” Nevertheless, success in the small details mattered. As an Agagite, Haman may well have used his position against the Jews at the first provocation, whether it came from … More Web of providence, grace and mercy
I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. —Luke 19:26 Pastor John MacArthur, in a sermon, ” Fitting Rewards from the Returning King”, on the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19: You’re either among the faithful, … More King Over the Faithful, the False and the Foes
In Nehemiah 4, we come to two statements which contain elements of God’s awesome power and soveriegnty, and also elements of our responsibility. The setting is the rebuilding of the wall and the fierce opposition from the enemies of the Jews. In verse 9 we read: And we prayed to our God and set a … More Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
John Piper on Luke 13:1-5 “Unless you repent you will ALL likewise perish.” A group of people come to Jesus and tell him about how Pilate had murdered some worshiping Galileans and taken their blood and mixed it with the blood of their sacrifices—their sheep and pigeons and doves. It’s as though some anarchists should … More What does your theology of suffering and sin call for in the face of tragedy?
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 