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…
June 9 — Acts 4:23-31
SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:23-31 OBSERVATION: Facing persecution, they do not pray for safety but for boldness. They pray based on God’s sovereign place in the universe, and His purpose through history. Their ‘theology’ (view of God) shapes how they deal with this crisis. God answers their prayer with Holy Spirit power and boldness. APPLICATION: When I compare…
June 8 — Acts 4:13-22
SCRIPTURE: Acts 4:13-22 OBSERVATION: The Jewish leaders were stuck. Even they noted that these men were radically changed – unschooled, ordinary men who had been with Jesus. This is the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of those who humbly surrender to Jesus. He takes charge and transforms them from the inside out. That Peter…