Luke 20:1-19

“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’” (v17). The religious leaders challenged Jesus: “By what authority do you do these things?” (v2). They attempted to build their case against Him (v20), but Jesus turned the interrogation on its head, silencing them (7) and warning them with a parable of the tenants (v9-ff). The heirs of the kingdom are those who accept the Son, not simply the religiously pious (v16).

The “owner of the vineyard” has sent His

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Psalm 45

“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme” (v1). The psalmist paints a picture of God’s relationship to Israel as a royal wedding procession filled with “joy and gladness” (v15). The kingly groom “rides out” for “truth, meekness and righteousness” (4). The princess bride is adorned in “many colored robes” (v14). The celebration is of the marriage, but more profoundly, of a kingdom that is ruled by a “scepter of uprightness” (v6) that “loves righteousness” (v7).

This royal s

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I Samuel 14,15

These chapters are lessons in receiving mercy. We determine our own judgement by how we treat other people. In 1 Samuel 14, Saul’s son Jonathan, with his armor bearer, acted heroically and turned the tide of battle (14:1-23). To push his men, Saul foolishly ordered that none were to eat until evening at penalty of death.   Jonathan innocently tasted some honey, was discovered, and Saul would have killed his own son mercilessly if not restrained (v43-46).

Chapter 15 records

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1 Samuel 13

Samuel said, “What have you done?”  Saul said,  “Because… you did not come,… I forced myself and offered the burnt offering” (vs11,12). An enemy army was close; Samuel had indicated he would be there but was late coming, so Saul, newly appointed king, presumed  the right of the prophet to offer the sacrifice. Saul thought his office of king gave him rights to function, with impunity, as he saw fit. He was  blinded to the difference between the sacred and the profane. In ad

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1 Samuel 12

After serving as a prophet of God for over fifty years (secular source timeline), in essence, Samuel was “fired,” not by God, but by the Israelites. They wanted a king, not a prophet. God brought Saul to Samuel, and at God’s direction, Samuel anointed Saul and presented him to the people. Then, to demonstrate that Samuel’s anointing had not lifted, God had him call down thunder and rain. Samuel left the office heavy hearted,  but assuring them that he would always continue

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Samuel 11

“The Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily… and he became very angry” (v6). Anger is often a mix of feelings of disrespect and disdain.  It may become justification for violence and other ungodly acts. However, Saul was rightly angry at the diabolical threat of the Ammonites to gouge out the right eye of every male (v2) in a city that was surrendering. His anger reflected the anger of God. Perhaps that is the standard of godly anger.

God gave us a capacity for anger to move

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Luke 19:28-48

“The Lord has need of it” (v34). One of the themes we see in Luke’s writing is his awareness of the difference between what we could  describe as “givers and takers”. We see it in parables and even salvation narratives. Here, Jesus is preparing to go into Jerusalem to fulfill prophecy and die for the sins of the world. But a prophecy joined to that was that He would ride into Jerusalem on "the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9). It did not seem like much, but “the Lord had need

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Luke 19:1-27

Two wealthy men sought Jesus; both encountered him (Lk 18:18-24; Lk 19:1-10), a rich young ruler and a high-ranking tax collector. The ruler was not immoral, but loved his money more than Jesus. Zaccheus, working in a system that promoted dishonesty, graft and thievery, responded to Jesus’ inviting himself to stay at his home. When he heard the gossip, “This man has gone to be a guest at the home of a sinner,” he immediately stopped and said to Jesus, “Half of my possessi

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Psalm 44

This psalm begins with a recounting of God’s past faithfulness, “We have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us the work you did in their days, the days of old” (v1). The writer’s problem is Israel seems to be under judgement, and the writer knows no reason. It is written as a “Maskil,” a contemplative piece that often is introspective. 

Most of us have at some point asked “Why?” God gives us the privilege of asking “Why,” if we are ready to accept His answer when he

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1 Samuel 10

Few men or women have been put in leadership with less experience than Saul, yet his promotion was clearly endorsed by God. He was anointed with oil and carefully prepared by Samuel. A prophetic word, a  promise, was given and soon fulfilled of a powerful experience with the Holy Spirit. In addition, God gave Saul a new heart (10:1-9). Saul quickly adapted to his new position of power but never accepted its boundaries. 

Sometimes the test of success is more difficult than t

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1 Samuel 9

If God answers my prayer, does that mean he approves of the prayer?  Chapters 8-10 show that this is not necessarily true. The people cried to God for a king, but He had already said their desire for a king was a rejection of Him. Yet He answered their prayer and chose the best that He knew they would accept – tall, handsome, from a good family that had produced some mighty men (9:1). Initially, the new leadership seemed to be a great step forward, but as time passed, the

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1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8 addresses a time of political upheaval in Israel. Crises usually have a multiplicity of components. Samuel, who had been a wonderful prophet-leader, was growing old. His judgement, no doubt affected by family relationships, led to his making poor appointments of judges. His chosen judges brought out the worst in the people, and rather than asking for better judges, they demanded a king, a radical change in their form of government. They “wanted to be like other

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1 Samuel 6-7

Few narratives in scripture teach more clearly the danger of handling what is holy in a common way. Israel’s loss of the ark to a Philistine army was tragic but was a poor victory for the Philistines. The Philistines found that they were not dealing with a magic “trophy,” but with a mighty God. Their very existence depended on their getting it back to Israel (6:19,20).

In the NT, concrete things are not addressed as “holy.”  People are holy;  our actions and relations with

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Luke 18

“He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not lose heart”(v1).  This parable of an unjust judge and persistent petitioner is one of contrast, not comparison.  Jesus is not unjust.  We are assured that He will avenge His elect.  But then He adds this unusual addendum, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”  

One does not live too long for Christ before one learns there are no secret formulas that “get answers.”  Like t

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Luke 17

The events of Luke 17 occur as Christ was traveling to Jerusalem where he would be crucified.  He taught four timeless lessons :  (Luke 17:1-4) “Be forgiving”.  The lesson of Christ began with “Be on your guard” (v3).  More accurately, “Take heed to  yourselves.”  We only get forgiveness when we forgive. The second lesson (vs 5-10) “Be humble,” begins with “mustard-seed faith” and ends with obedience as a minimum requirement.  If our faith is no greater than a mustard seed

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