Psalm 49

This message of reality took me two minutes to read. The sons of Korah were very blunt in their song. I'm not sure I've heard many modern songs that strike the same harsh chords as this song. But the message in one we need to hear; one we need to heed. Verses 12 and 20 repeat the same message about the speed of life. We don't last long on this earth and then the body is respectfully taken out of sight. But from the physical perspective; that's it. This psalm is noticably empty of the hope that God has in store for his people. I'm not sure why that message was left out, but I have an idea. I think the message of God's hope through geace was not mentioned so that we would hunger for something more. That we would develop an appitite that only God can satisfy.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 32-34

I took me 20 minutes to read this passage.  I wonder how long Moses spent writing down the blessing that he pronounced over Israel.  The blessing he offered was the last words we have of Moses.  We don’t know what he and God discussed as he climbed the mountain.  We don’t know the wonder in his voice as he looked over the promised land.  We don’t know if he even noticed that he had died.  Did he lie down and close his physical eyes and in the “blink of an eye” look upon the face of the one who’s back he had seen 40 years earlier.  I believe his response was like that when God met him at the bush; except this time there were no sandals on his feet.  He had been glorified by the blood of Jesus, in the heavenly temple he had seen in his vision on another mountain.  We don’t understand it all, but we do know this; Moses was lovingly obedient to the end of his life.  He surrender his will to the will of God with every step up that mountain.

Stuart

Psalm 48

I read this psalm twice in two minutes to make sure I grasped at least part of the message. Why did kings come together in ancient times if not to attack an common enemy in order to conquore and take prisoners. The sons of Korah wrote about a time when kings came together to take on God. Yet when they faced God's majesty they realized they could not make any headway. The terror of his presence frightened them. Korah's sons said that the scattered and ran away. Our God can withstand all the attacks of death and sin, and he persists in standing true, immovable, unchangable, and overflowing with love and grace. That is the God to whom we have surrendered our lives.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 29-31

It took me about 10 minutes to read this passage. In verse 29:29 Moses points out a truth that Israel needed to hear, but also one we need to heed. There are things in this life over which we have no control. There are events transpiring that escape our notice. The world is populated with people we will never meet or even cross their paths. We should not put our focus on the events and people upon whom we can preovide no influence; these hidden things are God's concern. We are to focus on the aspects of life and truths that God has made sure we understand. These are the things that God will demand an accounting from us. As Moses passed on to Israel, it is up to us, and those Christians whom we disciple, to attend to the terms of this covenant of grace.
Stuart

Psalm 47

It only took me 1 minute to read this psalm. One phrase out of this psalm captured me; this thought that Korah's son understood is something that I, too often, over look. "God is Lord of the godless nations." We often confess that God is Lord of our lives, that he has sole rule over our individual destinies. As congregations of believers we confess that God calls the shots, that he alone rules the body of Christ. And there are nations that broadcast their faithand trust in God. These nations face other nations and kingdoms that reject God's existence as well as his rule. Those nations led by atheist are as much under God's rule as I am as a Christian. The difference is that I understand and admit it, while they stubbornly ignore his loving pleas of surrender and offers of overwhelming and freeing grace. But our God is still their God.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 27-28

This section took me abou 10 minutes to read. God reveals both the blessings and curses that are a part of his covenant with Israel for them to receive the gift of the Promised Land. The blessings he promises are wonderful. The living that his promises would be completely without any want. In contrast the curses that he promised are terrifying. The end of the curses is a want in every way, which would be beyond description. I'm not convinced that the physical fulfillnent of those blessings are promised for Christians, but rather they are a picture of what God has in store fo us. The greatest blessing that God does promise Christians are those expressions of the Holy Spirit's indwelling as Paul noted in Galatians 5:22-23.
Stuart

Psalm 46

In the two minutes it took me to read this psalm I think I caught part of the message the son's of Korah were trying to share. The message that God fights the battles for his people. When I hear that statement the first thought that comes to mind is; then why all these defeats? As I ponder the truth about God's nature revealed in this psalm I am lead to at least one possible answer. That what I view as a battle and defeat is not the battle concerning God. Consider those Chistians through the ages who kept the faith at the cost of their lives. The battle was not against the flesh of those blinded by the enemy's lies, but against the lie itself. They won the victory when they held fast to the truth of Jesus' divinity and sole Lordship.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 23-26

It took me about 12 minutes to read this passage.  God was very generous to the people of Israel as he brought them out of Egypt and then through the wilderness. At the end of chapter 26 (vss 18-19) God repeated how much he loved Israel.  He viewed them as a precious treasure, and as a people worthy of receiving his commands and law.  He had made them holy by setting them apart from all other nations, and drawing them near to him.  He pointed out that Israel was a nation the was famous, they were honored, and that all nations spoke well of them.  God was working out in that nation the promises that he had made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4).  They were special because of the faith of their fathers, and because of the faith of their leaders.  As Moses was preparing to pass his leadership on to a younger generation he could have been concerned.  But we know that Joshua, Eleazar, and Caleb led the people in faith. That faith allowed God to give them the victories over the nations who occupied the land God had promised to Abraham.

Stuart

Psalm 45

It took me about two minutes to read this wedding psalm. In verse 2 the psalm writer speaks of God's blessings upon the groom. I believe that the purpose of the blessing coming upon the groom is so that he can, in turn, pour them out upon his bride. Because this is the picture of Jesus (the groom of Heaven) and his bride (the church).  The first instruction to the bride (vs 10) is to forget her past, and focus only on her future with her groom. Again I see this as another foreshadow of the Church forgetting the life before surrendering to the cross, and pursuing the heart of God, which he has fully revealed in Jesus.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 20-22

It took me about 10 minutes to read this passage.  In chapter 20 God talks about the military campaigns that Israel will wage outside of the land of their inheritance.  God promised to be with them.  That promise is always dependent upon their faithfulness to his covenant.  In 20:4 he gives the message that the priest is to give to the army; one of confidence in God’s provision and victory.  They were not to fear the battle no matter how powerful the enemy looked because a battle within God’s will was assured victory. 

We have the same promise as Christians, although it does not regard lands and kingdoms.  God made the promise to us in our battles with our enemies; Satan and the evil flesh nature.  For the Christian there are no other enemies.  Paul made that clear in Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  God is with us and through the cross he has brought about a great victory.  Now in Christ not even death is a threat to us.

Stuart

Psalm 44

The sons of Korah didn't understand God. Though they had heard the stories of God's deliverance and provisions. (vss 1-3) But now all they saw was humiliation and loss. Their question was; where is God when life turns sour and our enemies triumph over us? I'm not sure that this psalm answers that question any more than the book of Job answer a similar question in Job's life. But then again maybe it does. For those days of providing and carrying the rebelious nation of Israel really is the answer to the question of why God would allow loss; because it will bring us closer to him..
Stuart

Deuteronomy 17-19

It took me about 8 minutes to read this passage.  Though we often view God’s prescribed justice in these chapters are brutal, there is a high level of equal justice and humane treatment of convict mentioned.  At the end of chapter 19 God demands that the punishment against someone cannot exceed the offense.  If a tooth is knocked out, the punishment is only one tooth.  And most importantly, no one can be convicted on the testimony of one witness.  God also sends a warning to the future king; he cannot make up rules as he wishes.  The king too will be held accountable to God’s law.  The king cannot be a law unto himself.  When we closely examine what God says throughout the Law we can see the consistency in his justice, and the wisdom in his guidelines.

Stuart

Psalm 43

I spent about 1 minutes reading this psalm. Though it is not attributed to David verse 3 makes it clear that this psalm is written with the same desire that beat in David's heart: how to find the heart of God. The psalmist asks for a map, a light, and a guide that will lead him into God's presence. I don't think it would matter how the path is marked, once we become attuned to the way towards God, his methods of marking the trail, we will find that way, and God's heart.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 15-16

It took me about 10 minutes to read this passage, in spite of all the interruptions.  Remember from what state God delivered you. That’s what Moses said to the nation of former slaves.  They had no inheritance and never a thought of free movement.  Those to whom they were not related commanded their actions and set their goal.  They were neither allowed to defend themselves or worship God as he led them.  They were oppressed, but not broken, beat down, but not destroyed.  Every day was another day of purposeless toil and labor.  When they saw someone is similar circumstances they were to remember and act toward the needed as God had acted toward Israel.  That is what children do; they imitate their father.

Stuart

Deuteronomy 12-14

It took me about 13 minutes to read this passage.  God was about to lead his people into a land they had never visited, filled with all sorts of good things.  It was also filled with evil people and the symbols of the idolatrous lifestyles.  God’s instructions to Israel in Chapter 12 were simple; get rid of the evil and give thanks for the good.  Just as when God brings us into a new life in Christ, there are old evils in our lives that need to be purged. It doesn’t matter how old or how young we are when we commit our lives to Christ, we have to purge the evil and cling to the good.  How do we know what is evil?  Ask the question; does it honor and worship God?  The provisions that God has given us in this life will point to God when we adopt the attitude that God provided them.  And we should use the fruit of our labor, and the labor itself, as a means to worship God, wherever we are and whatever we do.  That’s how God wanted Israel to live in the Promised Land, and how he wants us to live in his Grace.

Stuart

Deuteronomy 11

It took me about 3 minutes to read this chapter. Moses makes a very stern statement to the nation of Israel in verse 26 of this chapter. The Message says; "I've brought you today to the crossroads of Blessing and Curse." I believe that there are many times in our lives when we find ourselves at that crossroad. It's not that we are neccessarily running in circles, but rather that there are many intersections in life that offer us the same two choices. The really good news for Christians is that Jesus became the cursed one on our behalf. By his grace, when we take the wrong road, he will guide us to a detour back to the right road, and relieve us from the penalty of our sin. What a wonderful grace that God has given us.
Stuart

Psalm 42

It took me a couple minutes to read this psalm, attributed to the sons of Korah. Skeptics today use the same taunts that they did when Korah's sons worshipped God. "We see no evidence of God." If they were honest and respectful it might be easier to take their words, but when these phrases are the beginning of a personal attack the hurt is obvious. The solution offered by this song; look to God, worship God, and allow him to fill our hearts with joy. We may not be happy with the events around us, but we can rejoice is God's faithfulness to the expressions of our faith; no matter how feeble they may be.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 7-10

It took me about 20 minutes to read this passage. God warns about to dangers Israel will face:
1 - That they will claim all of the wealth and provisions of the Promised Land as the work of their own efforts. (8:10-16)
2 - That God provided all that they had because of their righteousness and goodness. (9:6-8)
God explains his motivation for all that he was providing Israel: because of his love. (10:14-18)
We Christians are the modern Israel. We need to remember the same two lessons.
Stuart

Psalm 41

It only took a minute to read these words of David. David calls to his God, asking him to honor those who are downtrodden. David may not have been focusing on himself, but he knew the weight of oppression, so he knew how to ask for God's help. He also understands that lifting us up is a part of God's nature. He expresses his love for us by honoring the lowly. He honors with his presence, his favor, his mercy, his forgiveness, and his righteousness.
Stuart

Deuteronomy 3-6

It took me almost 30 minutes to read this passage; it is very long.  I see a lesson in 6:20-24 that is helpful to me; always remember from where God has delivered you.  God didn’t want Israel to think that they “earned” the right to live in the land he had promised Abraham.  Israel was given the land.  They had to participate in the battles, they had to obey God’s lead in dealing with the people that were inhabiting the land, but it was still a gift from God.  Forty years before Moses wrote these words some of the rebellious people of Israel tried to take the land from the inhabitants (Numbers 14:39-45).  God displayed this truth; you can TAKE a gift from God, but he will give it to you in his time.  So Moses warned the people in Deuteronomy to teach their children all about what God had given them.  Teach them that the land is not theirs and they are allowed to live in it as a living gift from God.  To reject God as the provider of the land that they were  possessing would be to reject God all together and therefore loose the land.  We Christians today can see this same lesson in the grace that we have.  We have been given God’s grace, in keeping with his promise to Abraham and all the saints after him.  We can’t do anything to TAKE God’s grace for ourselves, but he has freely given it to us on his conditions and in his time.  And we never want to forget the place, a live overwhelmed by sin, from where God saved us.

Stuart

Deuteronomy 1-2

It took 10 minutes to read this passage. This is the beginning of a sermon that Moses delivers to Israel. All through thes two chapter Moses refers to God as "your God", and "our God". In keeping with the first commandment Moses is speaking to a new generation of leaders, some of whom have little recolection of the wonders that God did in Egypt. But they are clearly aware of all that God has done to provide for them in the wilderness. They are God's people and he is their one and only God. Thay need to be focused on serving him alone. We need to make sure that we have adopted God just as clearly as he has adopted us.
Stuart

Psalm 40

This psalm of David took me about 3 minutes to read. I wonder how many sheep young David pulled out of muddy pits before he saw the lesson in this? Did he approach the hole and look down with contempt at the "stupid animal"? Or was he so filled with compassion, because there was no way for that sheep to understand, that he almost broke out in tears. Was there one sheep that was repeatedly in one mud hole after another? I picture David, with the sheep in the fold, struming his lyre recounting a day of rescuing sheep from the muddy spots leftover after the heavy rains. Then he sung how God repeatedly rescues him from all of the trouble that David brought on himself.
Stuart

Galatians 4-6

It took me 15 minutes to read this passage.  The point that Paul makes in 6:15-16 is very important to our lives in Christ.  There he said, in effect, we need to be less concerned about how our actions look to others and more concerned with how we are allowing God to work in us.  When we keep our focus on God working his grace in our lives we can rest that he is capable to complete all that he has begun in us.  And since our relationship with God is all about his grace working in our lives we would find ourselves in greater harmony with him the more readily we submit to him.

Stuart

Psalm 39

It only took a minutes to read this psalm. David said that he was determined to watch his walk and his speech. Those are two areas in life where, I'm sure, all of us face attacks by the enemy. I know that I too need to keep a close watch on my walk and my words. I am tempted to judge my actions and words by those around me. But God may not convict others the same way he convicts me. (Yet all Christians are holy regardless of the convictions God has placed on them) So I find the words I am permitted to speak, are fewer than others, but many more than some. So I must watch my actions and my speech; all the while heeding God's guidence for my life in conformity to the scriptures.
Stuart

Galatians 1-3

I needed about 13 minutes to read the first half of Paul’s letter. Being in the middle of a study of this letter of Paul I find it hard to focus on only one part.  But it is in 3:24 that Paul gives the best explanation and purpose of the Law of Moses.  Sometimes I get hung up on the details of all the sacrifices and rituals.  From the New Testament writings it appears that the Jews had turned many of the object lessons God had created into empty ritual with no meaning.  Paul points out that all of these things were intended to lead the people to hope in something, someone, who would end the endless stream of animals and grain before the altar of fire.  That person is Jesus.  In his one sacrifice cleans every sin that the animals’ blood could not, celebrated a first harvest of souls that would never grow in a field, and passed through the fire of death to open the path for every true worshipper of God into the Holy of Holies.  The Law was our school escort, our bus driver to bring us to Christ, and find the true teaching of God’s grace that he had prepared before the creation of the world.

What a picture.

Stuart

Numbers 34-36

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. God passes on a very powerful teaching in 35:33. He says that murder is a spiritual pollutant, a contamination which sacrifices cannot clean. God makes it clear that the only atonement for a murder is the physical life of the one who comitted the murder. I believe in this harsh passage we see another picture of the substatutionary death of Jesus. He was sentensed to die by the punishment reserved for murderers. In doing so he could take the place of all murderers who will put their faith, and their lives, in him.
Stuart

Psalm 38

I took about 2 minutes to ponder this psalm of David. David expresses his emotional and spiritual agony before God. He is weighed down from God's rebuke and the attacks on his life from those around him. David's response to this environment; to fall silent before God, and depend upon him and his grace to bring about right judgement. I believe this was Jesus' response to his accusers as well. He knew he was innocent, but he also knew that God's judgement demanded an innocent life to clear the guilty. So Jesus held his tongue and depended upon God to bring about right judgement.
Stuart

Numbers 31-33

It took me 18 minutes to read this passage. After the defeat of the Midianite army God revealed something about his nature when speaking about the plunder taken in wartime.  If whatever is taken in plunder can withstand fire it must be passed through the fire. If not it must be passed through the water of cleansing. (31:21-24) The water of cleansing is discussed in chapter 19. In my thinking that this is a picture of Christian baptism. Fire was, and still is, used to validate the purity and strength of durable products. Water too is used to test the durability of objects, especially those that cannot withstand fire. God's revelation may be that he requires a test of everything and everyone captured in battle. If someone will not pass through the water, sanctified by the sacrfice, then they have failed the test, and cannot become a part of the covenant people.
Stuart

Psalm 37

This psalm of David took me 6 minutes to read. David penned this song after his beard had turned grey(vs 25). Yet in his observations of life in Israel under king Saul righteousness wasn't the only positive virtue; he also witnessed the bounty found in generosity. The greatest rewards in our lives blossom when we adopt the attitudes and actions that most closely reflect the God-image in each of us. David's song encourages that same pursuit; after God's kingdom and his righteousness.
Stuart

Numbers 29-30

It took about 6 minutes to read these two chapters. The first chapter in this passage details the fall festivals of Israel, and the ritual sacrifices that God required. Chapter 30 probably runs against the grain of many modern, Western readers. There is a tendancy to throw out this portion of scripture as sexist and discriminating. But I believe we need to look at it through the pattern God is laying down. In the New Testement God reveals that the gender differences in humanity speak of the spiritual reality that he has created between Christ (the male groom) and the church (which is the bride of Christ). When we look at this law as a foreshadow of God plan for humanity I see less of a gender divide and more of a display of the power of Jesus' sacrifice for his bride.
Stuart

Psalm 36

It took me just a couple of minutes to read this psalm. In verses 5-6 David throws out words that draw a sketch of our God's greatness. David speaks of the size of God's love, loyalty, purpose, and verdicts. When we consider some one who rules over so much we understand how they can over look the little people. But that is not the case with this ruler whom we worship. Our God knows the unknown people, his sees the smallest child, he watches the mouse in its hole, our God makes sure the ant has food. Nothing in all of creation escapes his notice.
Stuart

Numbers 26-28

I spent over 10 minutes reading this passage.  As Israel is camped outside of the land of promise God instructs Moses to conduct another census.  At the end of the count, which was not detailed by name in this book, there were found three men over the age of 20 who took part in the first census; Moses, Joshua, and Caleb.  In 27:12 God instructed Moses to climb a nearby mountain, where he would die after seeing the promised land.  I think this was the third time God called Moses up a mountain.  Each time he climbed up he saw something wonderful.  The first time Moses climbed a mountain empty handed.  Then God showed him visions of heaven and gave him a pair of tablets which God had carved out of stone with the 10 Commandments engraved in them.  The second time was similar to the first, at least in duration, even though Moses carried up some new tablets for God to engrave.  This third time Moses would make a one way trip up the mountain.  I envision Moses peering over the land upon which Abraham looked centuries before with a longing to visit there.  Then he came to the realization that his long journey on this earth was ended.  The 120 year-old body that had served him would be cast aside, and he would be clothed in a new eternal body.  Then he wouldn’t be limited to see God’s back.  After this trip up the mountain Moses would see God in all his glory, and he would reach a better rest then what lay on the other side of the Jordan.

Stuart

Psalm 35

It only took a couple minutes to read this psalm. There are no direct notes to indicate when David wrote this psalm, but it sounds to me like he wrote this down when he was king. From my reading of the history books of the Bible David's rule was one marked by benevolence. He did not seem to rule with the harshness that stood out toward the end of Saul's reign. Every political figure have enemies; those who Monday morning quarterback the rulers decisions. The generous political environment may have encouraged David's detractors to spread their accusations more freely then they might have spoken under Saul's rule. David's "reward" for living by God's standards are king was insults and false charges. So when I read these words I hear a king, trying to seek God and rule wisely, presenting these false charges before to throne of one David recognized as the King over all kings. David was confident that he would gain true justice in that courtroom.
Stuart

Numbers 23-25

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage.  Chapter 25 speaks of the immorality of a number of Israelites; God killed 24,000 who worshiped other gods and practiced their sinful rites.  But there may have been more involved in the sin, some by active involvement and others by permissive allowance.  But Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, stopped the plague by show the same zeal for God’s name and God displays.  We may thing that Phinehas’ actions are too graphic to discuss, impaling an Israelite leader and his adulterous/idolatrous partner to the ground, but that is because we may not view their actions with God’s eyes.  Zimri not only disregarded the first, second, and sixth commandments, he did so in the full view of Moses and the other leaders of Israel.  Zimri placed his own desires for selfish physical gratification above God’s law, and the call to holiness that God had put out to all of Israel.  Zimri reject the value of faith in God’s provisions in order to feed his selfish appetite.  I see Phinehas’ spear as God message that nothing has worth that should lead us to surrender our faith in God.  Phinehas didn’t draw a line in the sand, he planted an exclamation point.

Stuart

Psalm 34

It took me a little over 2 minutes to read this psalm of David. We know that God described David to Samuel as a man after God's heart; 1 Samuel 13:14. Here David twice talks about the blessings of running to God; vss 8 and 22. This seems to speak of the pursuit of God, but also the child-like seeking of a father. And God does want us to run to him; with our sorrows, and our joys. He wants us to come near in plenty and in want, in health and in sickness. We should run to him as we face life, and when we struggle against death. In this psalm David points out the God's favor (blessings) and victory are available to those who run to God.
Stuart

Numbers 20-22

It took me 15 minutes to read this passage.  This is toward the end of the 40 years or wandering for Israel.  There are only a few people who remain that are under the curse to not enter the promised land.  Miriam and Aaron die in these passages.  I wonder if those who grumbled in 21:4-5 were some of the others, or the children who didn’t learn to submit to God.  I could understand not being thrilled with manna for every meal, but would the wonder of manna really wear off?  I’ve never visited the wilderness of Sinai, but I would think that dew 6 days a week, every week, for 40 years that left a layer of manna would continue to amaze me.  The lack of an abundance of water pushed some of the people to their own personal breaking point.  They complained to God.  I don’t think God mind when we complain to him when we don’t understand what he’s doing or what he has planned, and we have the attitude that answer will resolve our complaint.  But when we whine just because we don’t like something; that’s when God sends in the snakes.  The snakes are reminders that God will still provide for our needs, but he will also make us need him more.  That way he provide even more of our needs.  At least that’s how it looks to me.

Stuart

Numbers 18-19

It took me about 10 minutes to read this passage. The latter part of chapter 18 deals with the tithe which is the inheritence of the Levites. From the tithes that they received the Levites were to give a tithe to the priests. The tithes that the Levites received was to be the firstfruits from the people's harvest and herds. So how were the Levites to determine their tithes? Verse 29 makes it clear; the very best of what they received was to be past on. It was a choice to give that which was supreme back into the hands of the people whom the supreme creator had chosen to bring near to him. All Christians are priests in the order of Melchizedek, serving Jesus who is our high priest (Hebrews 7). We are to give the very best that God has put under our management wherever God prompts us.
Stuart

Psalm 33

It took almost 3 minutes to read this psalm. It is not noted who authored this psalm. The word point to someone like David; someone pursuing God and proclaiming his dependance on God as his provider. In verse 20 the psalmist wrote that God is everything we need. Considering that draws a picture of God's nature. Physically we need breath, blood, water, food, warmth, and shelter. Emotionally we need companionship, outlets for our expressions, input of touch and word, and someone into whom we can pour our love. Spiritually, all we really need is God's presence.
Stuart

Numbers 15-17

It took me almost 20 minutes to read this passage.  I know that I’ve read this before, but the words Dathan and Abiram threw at Moses are really enlightening regarding their fate(16:12-24).  Their words seem to be motivated by their selfish desires.  It sounds like they were seeking a place of their own, a domain were they could rule and prosper.   Their heart wasn’t on God’s work of redemption, salvation, and freedom.  It sounds like they overlooked the display of God’s wonders in Egypt and since they crossed the Red sea. It sounds like they couldn’t see past the end of their noses.  Surely they were eating Manna?  Did they not drink from the water God sent forth from the rock?  Weren’t they apart of the mob that refused to enter the Promised Land because of their fear of the giants?  It sounds like they were accusing Moses of an ego trip at the expense of the nation of Israel.  But each of these desires and accusations were a rejection of God’s plan.  They were in rebellion against God.  I know that I have to check my motivation in ministry work.  I need to ask myself the motivation behind my plans and desires.  Am I just like Dathan with a focus on me, or have I included God in the discussions about where I am headed in this life.  Are there wonders I have ignored?  Are there provisions that I’m taking for granted?  Do fears motivate my decisions? 

Stuart

Psalm 32

It took me about a minute to read what David wrote. This is a short psalm that focuses on the good work that God does in our lives. Why does he give good things? Why does he provide protection in the middle of troubles? Why does he take away sins and their consequences? That is his response to people who put their faith in him. People who show with their lives that they will follow him at all time; at all costs. Verse 10 makes this clear; God response to our faith is to pour out his love on our lives.
Stuart

Numbers 11-14

It took me almost 20 minutes to read this passage. The people rejected God's promise. He said he would take them into the land of promise, but the people looked at their own strength and said it couldn't be done. In 14:4 they began talking about chooseing a new leader to take them back to Egypt. The flaw in their logic is that they didn't pick Moses. They had rejected Moses.  But God, who had chosen Moses before he was born, had never rejected Moses. Moses was God's chosen leader, and the people's desire to have a new leader was yet another act of rebellion. We too need to seek God's will, and follow his lead in every area os our lives.
Stuart

Psalm 31

It took almost 4 minutes to read this psalm of David. I think the last line sums up what David works through in the psalm. Faith demands that we expect God to show up. Living in that expectaion will require us to live bravely; we will encounter obstacles that will challenge us to leave our comfort zone. Living out our faith requires strength; no just physical but strength of determination, and emotional strength that will enable us to endure. Tenacity; holding on to those aspects of God's nature that he has revealed to us and expects us to live accordingly. God's timing is not the same as ours but it is always perfect for his will.
Stuart

Numbers 8-10

I spent about 12 minutes reading this passage. In chapter 9 God reminds the people to observe the Passover. He called them to commemorate the work he had accomplished to purchase their freedom. He laid down some very strict guidelines that he expected the people to follow. He over looked nothing, and then he waited. As the day for celebration drew near some people became unclean because of a death in the family. It would be days before they would be allowed before God's presence. They came to Moses, and Moses went to God. God's answer was; I will provide a way. He extended grace upon grace; even as he does today.
Stuart

Psalm 30

It took me a little over a minute to read this passage. David was very expressive in his prayers. He "yelled for help", and "called out" to God. He knew that God would help him in his times of struggle. And that is exactly what happened. In verse 11 David points out how God changed everything around for his glory. And David went on to say that he gives God all the glory. We should do the same.
Stuart

Numbers 5-7

It took me about 12 minutes to read this passage.  At the end of chapter 6 is the blessing which God commanded Aaron to use when blessing the people of Israel.  This shows the power of God’s name.  When Aaron pronounces his name over the people it is like an anointing on the people.  God promises that the results will be seen by his blessing of the people.  It is amazing to think that God’s blessings are available to his people when the priest calls upon his name.  But isn’t the same thing true for God’s covenant people now.  Jesus, our high priest, has pronounced God’s blessing on us by dying on the cross.  When we receive that blessing by faith, then God shows his favor in our lives.  That favor may not be realized in worldly possessions, but in the even greater heavenly riches; an inheritance with Jesus at God’s throne.  We should be encouraged to share God’s blessings with other people of faith.

Stuart

Psalm 29

It only took a minute to read David's psalm. I wonder if he wrote this after witnessing an earthquake. The Jordan valley is the result of a fault line in the Asian techtonic plate. David may have seen tha mountains around him skipping like a colt, or maybe something else in God's revealed nature showed him God's power. But the lesson that I read from David's experience of God's power is found in the last phrase of the psalm; in the midsts of great turmoil, God gives his people peace. Whether the earth is literally shaking, or our lives are being wrung out our God is near by with the peace and guidance that we need to navigate those challenges under his watch care.
Stuart

Numbers 3-4

It took me about 10 minutes to read this passage. God gives Moses the guidence on how to use the people assigned to the ministry of the tabernachle. Every person had a specific job, nothing was insignificant, every job was important. Just like in the church today. Everybody has a gift that God provided for the advancement of his kingdom. No task is insignificant.
Stuart

Numbers 1-2

It took me about 5 minutes to read this passage. This part of the liberation of Israel begins in their second year of freedom. God has given them the Law, guided then in the construction of the Tabernachel, and introduced them to the levitical priesthood and the sacrifices. The means of acceptable worship have been laid out and the penalties for sin have been defined. Now God prepares his holy people for the conquest of the promised land. He builds an army out of the redeemed slaves he has on hand. The first two things God does is set up an order for marching and defence of the the holy articles. He has Moses count the number of soldiers. But why does God do this? I don't know if this was the normal defensive camping for Egypt and other great cultures of their time, but I think God wanted to show that his name was to be at the center of everything in Israel. When they camped his name was in the center. When they marched his name was in the center of the column. God is always in the midsts of his people.
Stuart

Psalm 28

It took just a minute to read this psalm. David seems to be facing some people of crooked morals. He is disturbed by their actions, and shares his disillusionment with God. Then he sees God at work in his life. Though he neither fully describes the problem or God's solution David does give God the highest praise that he can consider. After spending most of his youth tending sheep, David reveals the characteristic of his hero; a good shepherd.(Vs 9) When bringing the herd into to be sold and sheared David had ample opportunity to witness the array of shepherds. Maybe Jesse was his favorite shepherd-example, maybe one of his older brothers. Somewhere in his life of interacting with other shepherds one of them caught his eye. And in the actions of that caring shepherd God revealed a picture of his divine nature at work. From this psalm I think David's idea of a good shepherd is not only one who will carry the sheep as needed, but one who is always close by, and is listening to the sheep, waiting to meet their needs.
Stuart

Hebrews 11-13

It took me 16 minutes to read this passage.  The writer spends a good deal of space expanding on the effects of God’s faith in the lives of the people who pursue him.  It is faith that allows us to look at pain and suffering as works of grace from God’s hand.  Situations that will build our faith and bring us in line with the people of faith mentioned in chapter 11.  They were all ordinary people who, when placed in difficult situations, always chose to trust God in the middle of the test.  Because of that faith reaction God used them in mighty ways.  I’d like to say that my reactions to difficulties have always been motivated by faith, but they haven’t.  I think it is important to notice the one name that is absent from the list in chapter 11; Jesus.  Jesus also lived a life of faith, but the list provided shows us people who did not have a divine nature.  This cloud of witnesses is made up of people, named and nameless, who were born into a nature that chooses sin over faith, but overcame than nature by the work of God’s Spirit in their lives.  They show us what God is capable of accomplishing in us.

Stuart

Hebrews 7-10

It took me 20 minutes to read this passage.  The Hebrew writer covers a lot of topics in this section, but the main theme is the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice and his priesthood.  Because Jesus lived a sinless life, fully in line with God’s will, and then he chose to lay down his life for those of us who have sinned; that one sacrifice did what the multitude of animal sacrifices over the centuries could not.  Jesus’ sacrifice paid for ALL the sins of ALL the people through ALL history.  And it was his sinless life that also made Jesus’ priesthood superior to the priesthood of Aaron.  With the superior priesthood and the superior sacrifice Jesus can call us to live out our lives in complete submission to him, and not fall back. (10:39)  By his strength we can continue pressing onward.

Stuart

Leviticus 27

I actually read this passage on Friday, February 29^th, and started to type up the posting.  But then I got interrupted.  It only took me about 5 minutes to read the passage, but three days to get it posted.  I actually did not get on this computer all weekend.  In verse 30 of this chapter God makes this proclamation:  The first fruit of our work is holy to the Lord.  This appears to be a standard; a foundational truth of the Law.  My question is how does this affect the people in covenant with him today?  The first fruit were the portion of the harvest  that was used in the Levitical priesthood’s structure.  It had the practical application of providing for the needs of the Levites who ministered in the tabernacle/temple.  This provision freed the Levites from the efforts in meeting their physical needs so that they could focus on meeting the demands of the Law for the people of Israel.   The most prominent New Testament example for giving was to meet the needs of the poor within the body.  I think that the principle of the first fruits being holy to God is still true, we need to find ways in which to enable those fruits to be useful in God’s Kingdom today.

Stuart

Psalm 27

It only took me about 1 minute to read this psalm of David. Once again David was facing an enemy that sought to bring him down to ruin. And where was David's mind? In God's house. The tent of meeting and the ark of God's covenant with Israel. Surely part of his thoughts were at the scene of the battle, but the longings of his heart was not on conquest or the spoils after a victory. His desires could not be satisfied with earthly bounty. His passions where focused on the eternal promises of God. Like the one who would be born of his line centuries later, David set his sights on a heavenly Kingdom where perfect and eternal rest would be the reward for a life of faith in God.
Stuart

Hebrews 4-6

It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. In 6:18 the Hebrew writer draws out a picture of God's nature that can offer us a wonderful reassurance; God's promises are unchangeable. We can all recall times when promises were made to us, or by us, that could not be kept. Often times the failure was caused by circumstances outside of our control. But other times the promises were broken because of wrong choices we made. But thankfully, God is not at all like that. When he makes a promise he keeps it. When he lays out a plan, he sees it through to the promised end. We can always count on our God to fulfill his promises.
Stuart

Psalm 26

It only took a minutes to read this psalm. I often wonder what circumstances surrounded David when he wrote some of these psalms. I picture him facing some situation; maybe in terror. But then after a few minutes he starts humming a tune. In the middle of a battle I can see David humming. Not always a happy song, but a song none the less. A new soldier under his command might look at their general with a sense of astonishment, but those who have traveled under David know what is happening: David has turned the situation of to the God of Israel, and the victory is now asured. I don't know if those were the circumstances when he first sang this song, but it must have been something along those lines. David expressed his faith and surrended to God through his songs. It was just one way in which he sought God's heart.
Stuart

Hebrews 1-3

It took me about 10 minutes to read the beginning of this letter. In an early verse in this letter The Message presents this stentence when speaking of Jesus, "This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God's nature." That is a beautiful word picture of Jesus' divinity. We Christians, as light to the word, reflect Jesus' glory, but Jesus reflected God's nature. Its no wonder that people were in awe of Jesus. Their physical eyes didn't see it, but the spiritual "eyes" God has given all people were able to comprehend a little of that divinity. That awed the people who were hungry for God. And Jesus is "stamped" with God's nature. That verb leads me to picture the press fordges that shape sheet metal into the various shapes for cars and appliances. Also a wonderful picture of how Jesus' divinity literally shaped his life.
Stuart