SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 38:1-22 OBSERVATION: Hezekiah prays to God on the basis of his faithful and wholehearted devotion, with bitter weeping. God responds to his tearful prayer by granting him an extra 15 years, and protection from Assyria. God offers a miraculous sign – the shadow of the sun moves back 10 steps. Did the earth stop…
Jan 8, 2007 — Mark 1:1-13
SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:1-13 OBSERVATION: Mark begins the ‘gospel’ (message of good news) with Jesus as an adult, not as baby. ‘Son of God’ is a presumptuous title, unless its true. Either Jesus is a liar, a lunatic or He really is Lord, the Son of God! Our hearts need to be prepared to receive this good…
Sermon on 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Hey, I’m planning on preaching on 1 Samuel 3:1-21 this coming Sunday (Jan 14, 2007). Its the reading scheduled for this Saturday (Jan 13). If you get a chance, I would be interested in hearing from you as to what jumps out at you in this passage. What questions does it raise? What do you hear God saying to you…
Jan 7, 2007 — Isaiah 60:1-22
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 60:1-22 OBSERVATION: God’s coming is described as light shining in darkness. Jesus fulfills this, but those in darkness do not understand His coming (see John 1:1-5). God promises to His oppressed people that one day tables will be turned, nations will honour God and Israel. It was God’s just anger that allowed them to suffer…
Jan 6, 2007 — Matthew 2:1-12
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-12 OBSERVATION: What are Magi, and how did they ‘read’ the star pointing to Jewish messiah? God speaks to the Magi through (a) star (b) OT prophecy (c) others, not believers (d) dream. The Magi worship a poor baby, give him costly gifts, they must really have believed the star! Those who should have…
Jan 5, 2007 — Isaiah 37:21-38
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 37:21-38 OBSERVATION: It is Sennacherib’s pride – taking credit for all his successes (24-25) – that was his downfall. It was God that ordained his victory… and his defeat (26). Sometimes kings would parade the defeated kings through city streets with hooks in their noses and bits in their mouths (29). Sennacherib will be…
Jan 4, 2007 — Isaiah 37:1-20
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 37:1-20 OBSERVATION: God’s people are being punished for rejecting Him. Now they are in trouble and are repenting. Read Deuteronomy 30:1-10. Through Isaiah God declares that He will return and help them. God will not allow His Name to be dishonoured forever, He will punish those who defy Him (see Acts 12:19b-23).Hezekiah lays out the letter…
Jan 3, 2007 — Isaiah 36:1-22
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 36:1-22 OBSERVATION: Events occur in 701 BC, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, besieges Jerusalem. Situation desperate (12). Interesting to hear God’s promise quoted by the Assyrian commander (15,18), and of course, he denies it. Hard for the Israelites to hear this taunting, yet to cling to God’s promise. Sennacherib tells his own version of this…
Jan 2, 2007 — Isaiah 35-1-10
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 35:1-10 OBSERVATION: A vision of a better day, when God’s people will make it through the wilderness and reach the ultimate promised land. Prophecy given when Israel was oppressed by the Assyrians. It was a time of brutality, poverty, fear and violence. In many ways it was like the Darfur region today! Broader context…
Jan 1, 2007 — Isaiah 33:1-24
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 33:1-24 OBSERVATION: Isaiah sees the eventual downfall of their Assyrian oppressors. The sinners (those who are cruel, oppressive) will be defeated while the righteous (those who do what is right and just) will be restored. Is this situation similar to how Europeans felt under Nazi oppressors. How the blacks felt during the civil rights…