SCRIPTURE: Judges 4:1-24 OBSERVATION: When it says that they did “evil in the eyes of the Lord”, we need to see this as extreme evil (immorality, child sacrifice, crime, violence and injustice), this was the normal pattern of life in that day, and God was calling them to a higher morality. Israel was often tempted to…
Mar 20 — 2 Chronicles 36:11-23
SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 36:11-23 OBSERVATION: This passage shows the outcome of rejecting God. God patiently calls people again and again, sending a variety of messengers, but ultimately He will give them over to their sinful choices and allow them to really experience what life is like without Him. Zedekiah is a king in the line of David,…
Mar 19 — Luke 2:41-52
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:41-52 OBSERVATION: The Passover was a yearly feast commemorating the rescue of Israel as slaves from Egypt (Exodus 12:1-16). Jesus was raised “under law” (Galatians 4:4-5), that is, the Law of Moses, to observe its laws and traditions, but in time He would introduce the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:6-13), a covenant based on forgiveness through the…
Mar 18 — John 2:12-25
SCRIPTURE: John 2:12-25 OBSERVATION: Jesus reserves His harshest response for the religious leaders. How does this picture of Jesus fit with ”Jesus meek and mild”? Does Jesus’ use of violence here justify our use of violence if the cause is just? Jesus does not speak clearly (re. destroying the temple), as if He is intentionally provoking…
Mar 17 — Psalm 69:19-36
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 69:19-36 OBSERVATION: David was guilty of some serious sin (v.5) but when he looked for mercy, his family and friends (v.8) were harsh and judgmental. He looked for sympathy but received none (v.20). He is angry at them for not being merciful and prays that God would treat them as they treated him (vv.22-28)….
Life at Hope Church
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Mar 16 — Psalm 69:1-18
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…
Mar 15 — 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
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,…
Mar 14 — Psalm 19:1-14
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”,…
Mar 13 — Exodus 20:1-21
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…