Ecclesiastes 2

In verses 24 through 26 Solomon shares this insight for the things and accomplishments of this life; they are all from God's hand. I will do well to continually remember and ponder that truth.
Stuart

Luke 12-13

In 12:41 Peter asked Jesus if the parable of the watchful servant which he had spoken was a message exclusively for the 12 or did Jesus intend for all people to hear it?  It would have be easiest for Jesus to respond with a “yes” or “no”.  Instead Jesus wanted Peter, and all who read this store to wrestle with the answer.  Jesus’ message is to be shared.  When we align Peter’s question with Matthew 28:18-20 the answer become very obvious. 

Stuart

Ecclesiastes 1

I remember as a youngster running with the wind. I remember sailing a boat in the wind. And I recall standing in the wind of an approaching storm. But not once can I recall chasing the wind. I have chased after objects that the wind carried along but the wind itself has never been the object of my pursuit. Solomon was right to entitle the pursuits of this life as chasing the wind. There is nothing to catch. We should instead be God chasers.
Stuart

Luke 10-11

While studying for a lesson on Zephaniah 3:17 I found one author who connected the joy of God in that passage with the joy of Jesus in Luke 10:21.  The Hebrew word for joy in Zephaniah is “giyl” which literally means “to go in a circle”.  The idea being that God is so happy that he begins to dance.  I am shocked to picture in my mind a Jesus who is that physically expressive.  But the longer I dwell on that thought the less shocking is the image and the more joyful I become.  If Jesus danced with joy because of the news from the 72 upon their return what does he do today when speak his name to unbelievers?  How does he react to our Holy Spirit motivated acts of service in his name?  If we offer someone in need a cup of water in Jesus’ name does he break dance?  Does Jesus waltz around Heaven as we share his sacrifice with those around us?  There is a poem about the wild footsteps in the sands of our life; indicating when we danced.  Somebody has to teach us how to dance.  That someone is Jesus.

Stuart

Psalm 94

We live in accordance with our perspective of God. Do we see him as weak? We will take up the slack with our own strength. Do we imagine that he can neither see nor hear (vs 9) then we will be careless wIth our actions and words. Do we suppose that he pays no attention to our ethics? We will live unjustly and rebellious toward the truth. But the psalmist makes it clear that God lacks none of these qualities, and we should live accordingly.
Stuart

Luke 7

As I read Luke’s story of the events at Simon the Pharisee’s dinner I wondered who told Luke the details?  There can be no doubt that Jesus clearly addressed the unspoken question about his knowledge of the sinful woman’s lifestyle.  Her tears were her confession of her need for forgiveness.  Her perfume was the acknowledgment that Jesus was able to give her what she could not create in herself.  God could may have revealed to someone what was going on in Simon’s mind during that meal.  But he also could have brought out a confession of the Pharisee’s thoughts by the prompting on Jesus’ gentle teaching.  Did Jesus explained what happened to one of the Apostles who later recalled the hidden events of the situation to the Gospel writer?  Did Simon become a Christian and confess his arrogance toward the sinful woman?  Did Simon become a follower of Jesus because he realized the great debt of which he had been forgiven? 

Stuart

Psalm 93

The psalmist proclaims that God's rule has not been challenged by anyone in creation. But he goes on to point out that God's supremacy was secure in the timelessness that preceded time. God's unchallengable nature is as eternal as his existence. The psalmist doesn't mention this next point, but it is what makes psalm 93 so good: this eternal God loves us. That is the reason Paul offers such profound assurance in Romans 8:35-39; that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Stuart

Luke 4-6

When Jesus confronted the Jewish leaders in regard to the Sabbath (6:6-10) Jesus gave them only two options to consider; to help or to harm. I think that the devout Jews had "observed" the Sabbath in keeping with the fourth commandment but never considered what should motivate their observance. Jewish tradition had changed God day of celebration into a day of mourning. The active thought for the day had become; "Don't do...". But there was no reflection on the good created during the days of work. There was no celebration of God's creation. I believe Jesus was telling them that their ways of Sabbath observing where not helping anyone, so therefore it was harming many.
Stuart

Psalm 92

The end of this psalm compares the life of faith with a tree. A palm tree, a cedar tree, a fruit tree, and a green tree. What kind of tree would represent my life of faith. It could be a bonsai, or a redwood. Maybe a bristle cone pine, or a flowering crab. There are so many trees and each points to at least one good aspect of the faith that God wants to develop in us.
Stuart

Luke 1-3

The very first character Luke introduces is the priest Zechariah. He and his wife were childless, to this point, in spite of their faithfulness. In verse 1:10 we find Zechariah entering the temple for an hour of prayer. As he burned the incense he was also instructed to intercede for the people of Israel. I wonder what he prayed? Did he mention his longing for Messiah? Did he remind God of the poverty of the people under Rome? Did he confess giving up hope of hearing God speak? Or did he simple recite the ritual prayer as the smoke rose from the altar? I also wonder how different his prayers were after nearly a year of silence?
Stuart

Psalm 91

God opens his throne room to all who honestly seek him. Even if their knowledge of him is incomplete. If their love for him is true then he will accept them and save them.
Stuart

2 Kings 22-25

Josiah showed his remorse before the Lord for all of the sins of the people of Judah.  Did he consider the ancient city of Nineveh as he began his renewed conquest of the Promised Land?  Did he recall the story of Jonah’s preaching to those rebellious pagan people and make a connection to the people of Jerusalem?  Did Josiah consider that just as God showed mercy to Nineveh for over a century that an equal display of repentance among the people of Judah would hold back God’s hand of judgment against his covenant people?  We aren’t given that insight into the heart of this faithful king.  But we do know that for well over a decade he sought to rid the soil of Judah of the despicable idolatry that had polluted God’s people.  But he was not nearly as successful in purifying the hearts of the people.  After his death the kingdom returned to idolatry.  Whether they were led there by the new kings or by the will of the stiff-necked people doesn’t matter.  Judah’s decline into the pit of rebellion that Manassah had initiated was not changed through Josiah’s revival.  The church today must continually examine her direction; do we follow Manassah or Josiah?

Stuart

2 Kings 19-21

For 57 years the righteous people of Judah lived under the oppression of their own kings.  Manasseh despised their reverence for the God of Israel and responded to their rejection of his deities with murder.  There were probably many around Jerusalem who feared his evil hand, but God waited 55 years to remove him, but only two years before his equally wicked son Amon was removed as king.  I wonder what it was that led his officials to kill their king (21:23)?  Was he not as blood thirsty as his father?  Did he offer his officials fewer treats.  Maybe he was beginning to listen to those who were righteous and the vile officials feared that the end of their reign of  terror was about to end.  We don’t know God’s reason, but he plan is always good.  It helps me to know that I must stand firm in the midst of these challenging times.  I must hold true to God’s word only.

Stuart

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Paul of Tarsus

Psalm 90

Moses is given credit for writing this psalm. But I wonder when he wrote it. Scripture indicates that he believed in God all of his life. The limit of years in verse 10 could indicate that he is not much older than 80. The use of God's divine name in verses 13 and 17 indicate that he wrote it after he met God at the bush. There is no mention of a parted Red sea, manna, or tabernacle.  The terror of verse 7 could be a reference to the effects of one of the plagues on Egypt.  All of these hints could place the psalm as being penned and/or sang during the night of the Passover in Egypt. That's just my thoughts.
Stuart

2 Kings 15-18

Israel fell as a kingdom because they quit relying on God. He didn't give them what they wanted so they adopted deities that would serve them. But their gods were based on their imaginations not the truth. I wonder what some of the gods of my imagination are tempting me to follow them?
Stuart

2 Kings 12-14

The statement of 2 Kings 14:27 not only shows the faithfulness of God to his promises, but also gives us a small picture of his grace.  If he was not willing to destroy Israel after generations of rebellion by their leaders and the people will not God’s grace last the life time of a Christian who falls into similar struggles.  Does that mean that we have license to sin?  No.  But it does tell us that God is very eager to forgive those who claim his name.

Stuart

Psalm 88

"Why do you reject me, LORD? Why do you turn away from me?" Surely every believer has thought these questions even if they did not speak them or pray them. This psalm offers no answers or even hints of answers to those questions. Most would find little comfort in the persistent lack of answers. But I see a couple of positive truths about these questions because of this psalm.
1. If we voice such question God will not be surprised. Psalm 88 tells us that God has encounter such frustration before.  He understands their depths and their pain. He knows that the loneliness is real, that the feelings of abandonment are a struggle.
2. We are not alone among believers with these questions.  There are many other believers who have struggled with this feeling of separation. And if they were able to overcome so can we.
Stuart

2 Kings 8-11

Joash began serving as king of Judah when he was 7 years old. Unable to even defend himself he sat on the throne of David. But God sent an army of priests to surround him like angels. They protected him. God's will was done through this boy-king in that much idol worship was removed from Judah.
Stuart

Psalm 87

The revelation that John recorded and sent out to the church made clear the physical Jerusalem was a picture of the spiritual Jerusalem which is the church. So it would seem that God's promise in this psalm to count all peoples as citizens of Jerusalem could also be understood as an explanation of the make up of the church. Oh how wonderful it is to hear the world sing of the blessings received because of the faithfulness of the church.
Stuart

2 Kings 6-7

The miracle of the floating axe head is just as perplexing to me as when Jesus turned water into wine. But it does show how concerned God is about our lives. Even a borrowed axe head that is lost can rouse the power of heaven to shake the earth.
Stuart

Psalm 86

The title of this psalm credits king David as the writer. In verse 16 we learn whose life impressed serving God the most. We know of Jesse, David's father and grandson of Boaz and Ruth. We know the names of his brothers, sons, and even a few nephews. Yet the person who David credits as being the prime example of service to God is unnamed; David's mother. Was she the one who nurtured David's musical abilities and directed them toward God? Was it David's mother who saw the benefits of her youngest son learning to be a good shepherd?  How many of David's lines of poetry had their origin on the lips of his mother? Do we catch a picture of her character through David's wives; like Abigail of Carmel? We know that David's mother saw him anointed by Samuel. There is a good chance that she even saw him enthroned as king of Israel. What a wonderful legacy to a mother.
Stuart

2 Kings 4-5

God’s gifts are always in abundance.  We know this to be true.  But we also need reminded that he gives those gifts in ways that can be very surprising.  In 4:1-7 Elisha encounters the indebted widow of a Bible teacher.  The prophet directed her to take what she had; just a little bit of olive oil, and allow God to make it into a means for living.  In 4:42-44 a small gift of food was converted into a meal for dozens because Elisha was willing to surrender it to God’s plan.  God takes what little we may have and turns it into something wonderful once we grant him the freedom to do the work.

Stuart

Psalm 85

The core of our nature is steeped in sin. We have no righteousness in us. Therefore, holiness and truth are absent as well. God desires the companIonship of people he has remade but what do we have to offer him that he does not have to impart to us? There is a trait that is strongly evident in our nature; loyalty. We will remain loyal to a fellow sinner. We will stay true to an abuser. If we can turn that loyalty toward God then he has something positive to work with; a foothold that he can build upon.
Stuart

2 Kings 1-3

Elisha waited on God’s message by listening to the music of a harp (2 Kings 3:14-19).  I can imagine that the harpist was one of Jehoshaphat’s servants who sang some of the psalms of David.  And the words of that reverent king was the medium through which God revealed his message of salvation.

Stuart

Psalm 84

One day here is better than a thousand elsewhere. To stand nearby is better than to dwell comfortably far away. A brief time in God's presence bears greater fruit than a long stay among those who don't know him. Do these truths mean that a minute in prayer is more important than an hour long business meeting? Is one chapter of scripture read of greater benefit that volumes of commentaries studied? Does a brief time of silence outweigh a lifetime of achievement?
Stuart

Philemon

How far will you go in your faith to forgive someone who has hurt you?  That is one of the questions evident in the complex letter from Paul to Philemon.  I know that I don’t fully grasp the issues because I live in a culture without legal slavery.(Not that I desire a return of that evil institution)  But I can see that Philemon has been hurt; legally, emotionally (because of the acceptance of slavery in the culture), and financially.    Paul sets up the reconnection by convincing Onesimus to voluntarily returned to Philemon; humbly exposing his life to his master.  Paul had already completed the work of forgiveness in the heart of Onesimus.  Any abuse or hurt that Onesimus had received was hung on the cross of Christ and the slave had to act accordingly.  The challenge of Paul’s letter was for Philemon to respond likewise.  We too must turn over our offenses; received and given, to Jesus where they are crucified with him.

Stuart

Psalm 83

Generations of nations have opposed the people who choose to follow God. Ancient peoples sought to destroy Israel. Modern secularists desire to minimize the impact and value of the Christian. For those of the faith our hope rests on the undiminished and flawless record of God's faithfulness. There will be attacks against the church; some will drive the remnant into hiding. But God will ensure that the church survives those who seek to destroy it.
Stuart

Jonah 1-4

The part of the story where Jonah is on the boat is covered in only 13 verses, and there is a lot of dialogue carried on during that time.  But with very few details we are left to consider what might, and could have, transpired from the time the fleeing prophet climbed aboard until he was cast into the sea.  I imagine that Jonah “fought” with God for several days after he received the message for Nineveh.  After all those sleepless nights Jonah hurried, in spite of his exhaustion, to find a ship.  He went below deck, to be further hidden, and in the quiet of that dank cargo hold he God finally allowed him to sleep.  I wonder if he had dreams of a storm nearly swamping the boat?  I wonder if God sent him a vision of a sea creature swallowing him?  I wonder if Jonah envisioned himself preaching to the people of Nineveh the message that God had given him?  Regardless of his dreaming he wasn’t roused by the storm but by a desperate captain who feared for his own life as well as those on board with him.  (I also wonder if the only reason Jonah was discovered was because the captain wanted to get rid of the supplies on which the prophet was sleeping?)  We can learn in this story that even when we disobey God he can, and will, turn an act of rebellion into an opportunity for the rebel of faith to proclaim his greatness.

Stuart

Psalm 82

The heavenly Father has extended an opportunity to every person: become a son of God. Through the acceptance of that invitation mankind would return to its intended position of friend of God. Sadly, not everyone desires the fruit of connection with God. They continue to believe the lies of what God is and isn't. They miss out on the wonder of witnessing God's hand at work.
Stuart

1 Kings 20-22

1 Kings 22:26 records Ahab king of Israel ordering the arrest of God’s prophet Micaiah.  He was charges with speaking evil of the king.  What Micaiah had spoken was God’s words concerning Ahab and his false prophets.  From our perspective in history we know that Micaiah was speaking the truth.  It should also be a reminder to us that throughout history people have faced false imprisonment when they spoke the truth to a society living in delusion.  Led by Jezebel and Ahab most of Israel had chosen to ignore the God who had given them their land and security.  They made up stories about how they came to possess the homes and devised a fantasy of how it was sustained.  Even after the one true God led Israel to twice defeat a larger Syrian army the fantasy was more appealing than the truth.  We don’t know what happened to Micaiah.  Perhaps he languished in prison during the two years that Ahaziah, son of Ahab, ruled.  Maybe Ahaziah killed the one who foretold the death of his father.  Perhaps Jehu set him free.  Whatever the outcome I believe that God comforted Micaiah the rest of his days for his faithful confidence in God as he stood before king Ahab and spoke the truth.

Stuart

1 Kings 16-19

How bad was the rebellion against God in the land of Israel? When Ahab was king the vast majority of people followed Ahab, who was following Jezabel, in the worship of idols. And the word of God was completely forgotten. This is most evident in the rebuilding of Jericho by Hiel. In either defiance or neglect of God's words (Joshua 6:26) Hiel set about to rebuild the long deserted walls of Jericho. Its favorable location for trade and defense made it a rebuilding project that Hiel could no longer ignore. Even though it cost him the lives of his oldest and youngest heirs. I wonder if that closed the chapter of inheritance for Hiel?
Stuart

Psalm 81

What is God's desire? This psalmist summed up God's desire in verses 8 and 13; "Listen to me." God speaks of the promises that he will fulfill, the joy he will bring, the blessings he will pour out when his people listen to him. He has the same desire today.
Stuart

1 Kings 13-15

Jeroboam was appointed by God to rule over most of Israel. This came about, he was told, because of Solomon's rejection of following God. When all of this came to pass you would think that Jeroboam would have served God all of his days; he didn't. He chose his own desires over God's. Even after the unnamed prophet spoke against his pagan altar, Jeroboam showed his distance from God by asking the prophet to pray to "your God". Apparently Jeroboam had completely abandoned the God who had made him king.
Stuart

Psalm 80

Reading another psalm of captivity catches a glimpse of someone in Israel looking back. There is the description of Israel as a grape vine. One of many such allusions in scripture. In fulfillment of Isaiah's vision the vine is abandoned,  trampled, and robbed. But the psalmist has not lost hope. He calls out for God's redemption and rescue because he know that those are some of God's greatest traits. We have the same hope when we are down and out. When we are caught in the consequences of our rebellion we need to look to God in hope. And then wait for God to respond.
Stuart

1 Kings 8-9

Solomon’s prayer in chapter 8 focuses the people’s attention on the newly dedicated temple in Jerusalem.  It was to be the centerpiece of Jewish life.  The place of sacrifice and worship was also to be the focal point of their prayers.  It was a physical point where the prayers of the ancient Jews could be directed in order to access God.  In the same manner Christians have a “place” of sacrifice and worship which is the church.  Not the building, but the gathering of believers.  And it is through the work of Jesus in his church that we also have an outlet for prayer.  Not that we must focus on any building or location but that we focus on the Lord of the church.  It is to him that we pray, and in him we have confidence.

Stuart

Psalm 79

Is a nation humiliated still a nation? Are a people in exile still one people? Can the followers of God still be claimed as his when they have failed him? With God the answer is "Yes". This psalm speaks of repentance in the hearts of his people and a return to submission by those who follow God.
Stuart

1 Kings 4-6

I wonder how wise was Ethan the Ezrahite? We don't know if he and the sons of Mahol lived before or after Solomon, but we know that they were wise. What we don't know is the source of their wisdom. We know that Solomon's wisdom was an answered prayer to God. I wonder if this comparison is the physical illustration of what Paul wrote to the believer in Corinth(1 Corinthians 1:25).
Stuart

1 Samuel 1-3

Shimei son of Gera was a Benjamite who sought out and cursed king David when Absalom rebel against his father. David acted with compassion upon his return and did not kill Shimei. Solomon extended similar grace with the condition that Shimel never leave Jerusalem. Shimel agreed and kept his promise for three years. But then he broke his promise and left the city. Why? To recover two slaves. Shimel considered the possession of two slaves worth more than his very life. He violated his word in order to retain his position. It was a very foolish and costly choice.
Stuart

Psalm 78

Anything good and positive that happened to Israel was the fruit of God's handiwork. The psalmist points that out numerous time in this psalm.  That is a positive lesson that every believer needs to learn and live.
Stuart

Colossians 3-4

Paul offers a number of tangible instructions for living the Christian life in the last chapters of this letter. In 4:5-6 he offers some guidelines in dealing with unbelievers which are very important. I know that I have been guilty of placing a believers expectation on the life of an unbeliever. And that does not work. It only frustrated both of us. Paul explains that wisdom is vital when speaking with those who place no faith in God. He also advises to speak pleasantly and interestingly to them. I believe that implies leaving judgment and deep theology our of the conversation; subjects which will offend or confuse. But we should also be wise in our answers to their questions. And if we avoid the complicated subjects, focusing on Jesus' impact to our lives, then we will know the right answers because we will have lived them.
Stuart

Psalm 77

The psalmist was faced with a horrific situation. The God of Israel was rejecting his chosen people. This did not fit with what he knew of God. In verses 7 through 9 there are six questions that plague his heart. Why did he write them down on paper? Why was he led to display to history those hopeless thoughts that were so troubling? Is there a lesson for us to learn from this unnamed and yet inspired author? I can think of one critical reason (there is surely more) that God would want these six questions asked; to show that God is not afraid of a believer who questions him. Part of the struggle in faith is facing and overcoming those same nagging doubts. Ask God the questions that only he can answer is a powerful act of faith.
Stuart

Colossians 1-2

I am sure that I have created some guidelines to structure my Christian life that are not based upon the Gospel of grace.  Paul warned the Colossian believers that they would encounter such “commands”.  The struggle we face is seeing these “commands” for what they are; human creations.  Because of their source they are very limited in what they do, and if applied to a wide scale can be detrimental to the work of the whole body.  No matter how wise these guidelines may be, or how well they assist me, they are personal convictions and opinions.  I need to be wary not only of sharing them but of encouraging other to adopt them.  Even worse would be to impose them upon someone else as Gospel.

Stuart

Psalm 76

God is feared by all; some people don't know it yet. Some because they never look beyond themselves to see the power behind creation. Some because they fearlessly grab at anything and everything that will hide God from their awareness. Their faith in denying God is the greatest human endeavor that they can conjure. But those who recognize and submit to his great power now will see the fruits of his mercy. They may not stand out to unbelievers but the fruit of God's grace is apparent through the eyes of faith.
Stuart

2 Samuel 21-24

The first 7 verses are introduced as David's last words. David spoke reflectively about the traits of his rule that were positive. And what he saw was an imperfect life led by a perfect God. Justice and reverence are the two most important legacies that a rule can leave in his wake.
Stuart

Psalm 75

"I have set a time for judgment", says God. There are many times where I desire to argue with God over his judgment time table. I often feel that he is waiting too long. But then I ponder this thought; how many believers felt God had waited too long in the spring of 1981? What if God had completed his judgment prior to the time when I fully surrendered to him? God has withheld his judgment this long because of people like me, who are taking those first steps of submission toward his throne. He is waiting for them.
Stuart

2 Samuel 18-20

Barzillai was 80 years old when David fled from Absalom. He provided supplies for David and his family.  Even though age had robbed him of smell, taste, and hearing Brazillai chose to offer hospitality to a family in trouble. 
Stuart

Psalm 74

Surely this is a lament sung by one as he wandered through the rubble of Soloman's temple. As he observed what was left of the center of this Jew's universe he must have heard the mocking laughter of the Babylonian soldiers. They were not only laughing at the psalmist, they were laughing at his faith in the one true God. Maybe they were extolling the weakness of Israel's deity. Of maybe they were belittling his name. But their insults were not falling on the deaf ears of an idol. The God of creation heard, and the psalmist waited for him to act. We too can look forward to God's action toward those who mock him. Our prayer should be that he action would lead to the mocker's salvation.
Stuart