Do you find the headings of the Psalms confusing? Here are some resources to help you understand them.
Resources on the Headings of the Psalms
June 15th, 2010How to Motivate God
May 17th, 2010In our study of Isa 37:3-6, I was struck with how Hezekiah motivated his request to the Lord for help against Assyria, and with the rich precedent for his request.
How do we motivate our requests for God’s intervention? We often plead the dismal condition we face, and ask that God in his love would intervene. Our focus is on ourselves, our needs, and God’s attitude toward us. All of these have their place, but Hezekiah’s example can teach us a much more fundamental principle for motivating God in prayer.
The Golden Rule and Tit for Tat
February 19th, 2010We all know “the Golden Rule” that the Lord Jesus taught, Luke 6:31:
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
The Old Testament judge Samson articulated the opposite principle, which we might call “the Leaden Rule.” His rule plays an important role in modern game theory, and illustrates an important difference between biblical and modern thought.
What Books Belong in the Bible?
October 6th, 2009Christians sometimes ask why our Bible contains the books that it does. Why do we recognize some books as the Word of God, and not others? Why do the Bibles published by some denominations include books that others leave out? What about the claims of some groups to have new revelation that appeared after New Testament times (such as the Qur’an or the Book of Mormon?
Some years ago, I wrote two papers addressing these themes. Perhaps someday I’ll have time to redo them, but for now this post will provide some context so that you can read them for insight into these important questions.
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A rose by any other name…
August 2nd, 2009Some months ago an article in a magazine caught my attention. It was complaining about the increased gap between the rich and the poor in the US. The author acknowledged that even the poor had become much more wealthy over the past decade than they were before, but complained that the difference between them and the rich had increased. This increased difference, she claimed, was a problem, because it constituted “relative deprivation,” a serious sociological problem that has been shown to harm people’s health.
How Should Elders Rule?
August 1st, 2009About a year ago, a brother wrote me, “Have you studied the words translated as ‘rule’ and “obey’ in Hebrews 13:7, 17, and 24? How do you see those words interacting with the present day view and use of authority in the church?” He was concerned with what he called “overbearing elders.” His question stimulated me to devote some attention to the topic, and others might profit from what I found.
Return to Eden
April 26th, 2009This week’s message (April 26, Isa 11:6-9) considers the amazing promise of the wolf and the lamb dwelling together in peace. These verses are a promise of a return to the state of the Garden of Eden. We study both the links to Genesis and the NT explanation of this aspect of the Messianic kingdom.
The Spirit-Powered King
April 26th, 2009This week’s message (April 19, Isa 11:2-5) focuses on the spiritual endowment of the promised King, which enables him to sense directly whether or not people fear the Lord (v. 3), thus avoiding the perils of superficial judgment and ensuring a rule of righteousness and truth.
The Sprout from the Stump
April 12th, 2009This week’s message explores the relationship between the promotion of the Messiah as ruler over Israel and his resurrection from the dead.
Judah’s Hope
April 5th, 2009This week’s study (April 5) on Isa 10:24-34 deals with the third of the three groups described last week, the people of Jerusalem. Unlike Israel, to be conquered by Assyria and promised only a remnant in vv. 20-23, Judah is assured that the Assyrian oppression will last only a very little while. The Assyrian’s southward march, which formed the basis of his boast in Isa 10:9-11, will continue to Nob hill, overlooking Jerusalem, but will advance no farther, and the nation that prided itself in hewing down its adversaries (Isa 37:24) will itself be cut clean by the Lord of Hosts.