Category: daily meditations

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 69:1-18 OBSERVATION: It seems that David is guilty of shameful sin (v.5) and he is now experiencing the humiliation and despair that go with that. He is personally, emotionally, spiritually drowning, and his enemies are delighting in his shame, forcing him to endure even more shame than he deserves (v.4). He is concerned that…

SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 OBSERVATION: Paul is being honest when he admits that the Christian message sounds foolish to most people – a crucified God-in-flesh? He argues that God’s “folly” is actually true wisdom, deeper wisdom, so deep that those who consider themselves wise can’t see or understand it. If God were capable of a stupid thought,…

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 19:1-14 OBSERVATION: As I read this Psalm, I imagine David out in the fields with his sheep, looking up into the vast skies surrounding him, watching the sun run its course from its rising to its seeting (vv.4-6), and marvelling at how great God is. I also imagine him reflecting on his “tabernacle lessons”,…

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20:1-21 OBSERVATION: In v.2, the NIV translates the special name of God given in Exodus 3:14, in Hebrew it is YHWH, as LORD, in capitol letters. In other words, v.2 reads “I am the “‘I am what I am’, your God!” God is not being mysterious in this name, we can understand it best through…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 4:1-25 OBSERVATION: Paul is explaining that God’s blessing is not received because of what we do (law, works, as payment for our efforts) but simply because we trust God. Abraham received the promise of the nations BEFORE he was circumcised, not BECAUSE he was circumcised. God’s blessing is first, separate from our performance or…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 17:15-27 OBSERVATION: Continues from previous verses, now the blessing given to Sarah (mother of nations). Isaac’s name, which means “he laughs”, was a constant reminder to Abraham that he doubted God. Ishmael, who was Abraham’s son and heir according to Mesopotamian law, was not the son that God would work out His plan of…

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 17:1-14 OBSERVATION: Wow, 99 years old, but he was to live many years more (175yrs old, Genesis 25:7). Did they count years differently, or did they just live longer (see Genesis 5:25-27). A covevant was an agreement (contract) between two parties. This is not a new covenant, but a confirmation of the earlier covenant (Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:1-6,18-21)….

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 5:1-19 OBSERVATION: Had things gotten so bad that there was not even one honest person who was committed to truth in the city? God is being amazingly patient, even willing to forgive the city for the sake of one honest person. No matter how much God disciplines the people, they do not repent or…

SCRIPTURE: Amos 5:1-17 OBSERVATION: Another warning from God during a immoral, godless time in their history. They were looking to their man-made “holy places” where they made sacrifices (Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba), but they were not looking to their God. They were living for evil, oppressing the righteous, trampling on the poor, denying justice, taking bribes, etc….

SCRIPTURE: Micah 7:1-20 OBSERVATION: This is a time of serious depravity in Israel’s history, you can’t even trust your own family (vv.2-6). Micah speaks on behalf of the godly who have been swept away (v.2): even during this terrible time, God will set things straight (v.7). Micah (and the godly) know that they are suffering for…