“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” Zechariah 14:9 “King over the whole earth” means that all earthly government will cease, and the Lord will reign as King. This will be the answer to the prayers of all those…
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18 God pays back evildoers, so thoughts of personal “revenge” are prohibited. Perhaps vengeance belongs to God only because human vengeance often is carried out too zealously, whereas God’s vengeance is…
“Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24 In this section of Jeremiah God condemns the spiritual leaders of Judah for misleading His people. They should have warned sinners of the impending judgment, but they did…
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Although the Apostle Paul was aware that the Thessalonians might be tempted and prove themselves unfaithful, he was confident that God would strengthen and protect them. In the previous verse, he had warned them concerning…
“…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 The word “hope” entails a confident expectation or active hope in the Lord – never passive resignation. “Soar … run ……
“The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.“ Psalm 121:7-8 We are pilgrims on a journey to our heavenly home. Psalm 121 is a psalm of trust and is considered the second song of ascent. While…
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 Psalm 91 is a strong confession of faith and an example of a life entrusted to God’s protective safety. It urges readers to seek the Lord’s refuge when fearful times arise. “Shelter” and “shadow” are metaphors…
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Romans 8:36 God’s people (in Rome and throughout the early church) were troubled, almost to despair, by the suffering they endured – a temptation familiar to us today to a much lesser degree of severity. When following Christ brings distress,…
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…” Ephesians 5:25-26 In contrast to the culture of the time, the husband is told not to rule his wife, but to love her self-sacrificially. Husbands…
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 Roman fathers had absolute power over their children. So, here the Apostle Paul urges restraint in imitation of God. “Do not exasperate” means to avoid moving them to anger or despair. “Training and instruction” implies…