Deuteronomy 22

One must remember the 430 years of slavery that preceded the giving of the Law. These rules were meant to instruct Israel, former slaves, how to live out the basic Ten Commandments. The terrible institution of slavery encourages a “getting away with it” opportunistic approach to lying , stealing and adultery, and omission of personal responsibility for others.

While not under “rules” of the Law, we are under a higher Law, the Law of Love. We are opportunistic, but look for

Deuteronomy 20-21

When Israel came out of Egypt, untrained and ill-equipped as an army, they were inevitably going to face armies with greater strength. Fear and distractions could weaken them, so a priest would speak for God and assure of victory, and an officer would excuse those with immediate urgencies, 20:1-9. The army was even cautioned against unnecessary destruction of resources, v10-20. Of equal concern to God was the rightness of the community and the home, Deut. 22.

Victories in

Deuteronomy 18-19

In Genesis 22:14, God revealed himself as Jehovah-jireh, the God who provides. Deuteronomy 18:1-8 records that God provided for the Levitical priests who had no rights of inheritance. In verses 9-22, God provided freedom from the fear of false prophets, and in chapter nineteen He provided refuge for those who had unintentionally harmed another person. 

Philippians 4:19 assures us that God will provide (supply for) all our needs according to the riches of Christ and that is

Mark 14:22-72

One never knows himself until he is tested. The disciples went with Christ to the Mount of  Olives where He warned them that they would forsake Him. But Peter assured Jesus of his loyalty, v29. The group then went to Gethsemane to pray where Peter went to sleep with the others, v37. When the guards came to take Jesus, Peter grabbed a sword and tried to defend Christ, v47. And finally, when Jesus was taken to be questioned, Peter stayed in the courtyard and when confronted

Mark 14:1-21

Too often, we miss moments of great sacredness. One’s actions may be of such extreme that they are beyond our appreciation. A woman who came into a house where Jesus was eating with friends broke an alabaster container and poured its contents of perfume over Jesus. (Modern estimates of its value approach fifty thousand dollars; it represented her dowry).  For her, it was an act of total dedication. For Jesus it was a prophetic act, motivated by love and accepted by Him. F

Mark 13

When Jesus came out of the temple with Peter, James, John and Andrew, He drew their attention to the majesty of the buildings, then spoke of their inevitable collapse. The disciples’ natural question, shared by millions through the ages since then, was “when?”  His response was a warning, “See to it that no one misleads you” v5. Factors that could mislead were massive natural disasters, fearsome conflicts and wars, and even false Christs, vs 5-23. None indicated “when,” n

Psalm 29

Psalm 29 is a metaphor reflecting the whole earth as a temple of worship to Jehovah, a reflection that should recast our view of life with its storms. The psalm opens with an invitation to acknowledge the Lord’s glory. As priests, we are to be dressed in “holy array.”  The psalm further tells of the voice of God in his temple; a voice of power and majesty that splits the cedars of Lebanon yet is gentle enough to cause the deer to calve. The God we worship controls the sto

Deuteronomy 16-17

“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law ... and he shall read in it all the days of his life” (17:18-19). When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, their king needed to be a leader in reading, knowing, and keeping God’s Law. Like all Israelites, he was not free to worship how he wanted but was commanded to reject idolatry and strictly observe proper worship, “that his heart not be lifted up above his bro

Deuteronomy 14-15

“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release ... every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor” (15:1-2). Every seventh year, and especially every 50th Jubilee year, Israelites were supposed to forgive each other’s debts, and they were to offer release to anyone who had sold themselves for work (debt slavery). Since God was the real owner of land, animals, and wealth, they were commanded to live generously and not allow any of their community

Deuteronomy 13

“Let us go after other gods” (v2). The Lord warned the Israelites that they would not only face temptation from those outside the community, but also from within. “Prophets” and “dreamers of dreams” would try to entice people away from the true God. Signs and wonders were not proof of credibility (v2); more than miracles, God wanted the Israelites to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul” (v3). Not even their own families should be able to sever th

Deuteronomy 11-12

“But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there” (12:5). After centuries in Egypt, the Israelites were accustomed to pagan worship and idolatry (v30-31). Therefore, in the Promised Land, they were commanded to tear down and completely destroy pagan altars (v2-3). Rather than every family creating their own worship practice (v8), they were strictly commanded to go to the designated holy p

Mark 12:18-44

“Which commandment is the most important of all?” (v28). While the Sadducees tried to trip Jesus up in theological debate about resurrection (v19), a scribe asked the right question. Jesus complimented the scribe for his “wise answer” (v34), which was that the heart of the law is to “love God and neighbor” (v33). Jesus highlighted the emptiness of religious people who want to look spiritual but ignore the needs of the vulnerable (v38-40).

Acting spiritual and giving a “wis

Mark 12:1-17

“Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours” (v7). Jesus responded to questions about his authority (chp 11) by telling a provocative parable. To reject the vineyard owner’s son (v6) invites judgement. The owner “will come and destroy” them (v9). Rather than heed the warning, they tried to trap Jesus with a question about taxes (v14). He answered perceptively, telling them to “render to Caeser” what is his and to “God the things that are God’s” (17). This sil

Psalm 28

“To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me” (v1). In distress, David cries out, believing that God is not silent to his “pleas of mercy” (v2). He places his trust in God’s commitment to do what is right, to judge evil ones and “render them their due” (v4). Confident in God’s justice, his heart is free to worship, knowing that he has been “heard” (v6). His heart is filled with newfound faith in the Lord, his strength and shield (v7).

“In him my heart trusts, and I

Deuteronomy 9-10

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him ... and to keep the commandments” (10:13). Moses, recounting Israel’s recent history, reminded them of God’s requirements. The original stone tablets of the Law had been broken, but God had mercifully given them a second chance (10:1-5). God desired holiness, yet he knew they were a sinful people. Ultimately, they needed a “circumcision” of the