SCRIPTURE: Psalm 126 OBSERVATION: When the pilgrims returned from captivity in Babylon to Israel, they were overjoyed. But their joy is incomplete as long as the nation remains weak and desperate, the temple a sorry sight compared to its original glory (see Haggai 2:1-9). As the pilgrims ascend the hills to the temple, they go with tears…
Author: Norm
June 18 — Psalm 125
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 125 OBSERVATION: Still ‘ascending’ the hills around Jerusalem, going to the temple for one of the 3 festivals, those surrounding mountains are a reminder to the pilgrim that even though the wicked have the upper hand in the land, even though those who turn away from God toward crooked ways seem to prosper, God is…
June 17 — Psalm 124
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 124 OBSERVATION: This psalm urges people (twice) to publicly declare how much God has helped them, what they were up against (flood, raging waters, torrent) and what would have happened if God didn’t intervene. Say it out loud, let everyone hear about it: Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker…
June 16 — Psalm 123
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 123 OBSERVATION: It is interesting that even though the writer is being treated with contempt by the proud and arrogant (vv.3-4), he still humbles himself before God as a slave before his master, or a maid before her mistress. How do we see ourselves before God? See Luke 17:7-10 for another picture of how people…
June 15 — Psalm 122
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 122 OBSERVATION: When this Psalm was written, going to the temple was the highlight, the highest level of experiencing God that was possible for the Jew at that time. It symbolized the fact that being united with God was the key to joy, peace, justice, unity, security and prosperity. Unfortunately the people mistook the…
June 14 — Psalm 121
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 121 OBSERVATION: When the road is hard, the psalmist looks up, up into the hilly places where Jerusalem was built, where the temple was, symbolic of God’s presence among His people. Here he reminds Himself that the Lord – the one Who made everything – the all-powerful Creator – is watching (5 times), and…
June 13 — Psalm 120
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 120 OBSERVATION: The songs of ascents were songs sung when the people made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, ascending the hills towards the city. Here the psalmist laments the fact that the land is filled with sinful, violent people, so contrary to the heart and spirit of God’s plan for Israel. The psalmist reminds himself…
June 12 — Acts 5:27-42
SCRIPTURE: Acts 5:27-42 OBSERVATION: These words of Gamaliel are not only wise, they are prophetic. How else can do you explain the remarkable advance of the message of Jesus. Its hard to imagine a group of followers starting a world-wide faith from a crucified messiah, unless He had really be resurrected and exalted. If it was…
June 11 — Acts 5:12-26
SCRIPTURE: Acts 5:12-26 OBSERVATION: Here we see both the appeal and the danger of the message of Jesus. The miraculous signs were certainly a big draw, and many people believed in Jesus as the Messiah, though they did not dare go public. What happened to the apostles shows the danger, but also shows how the Lord…
June 10 — Acts 4:32-5:11
SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:32-5:11 OBSERVATION: A striking contrast between the example of Barnabas and Ananias/Sapphira. Was the Lord making a public example and warning through this? If people today dropped dead when they lied in the fellowship of believers… Note that grace and power is upon the community when they are generous, but great fear when greed…