Isaiah 44

In the first few verses of this chapter the great and only God of creation speaks of his love for the people he has chosen. If we can grasp that God has created us, even if we can't understand how, we should be impressed by the extent of his love for us. Once we understand that as Christians we are his chosen people, then we can begin to understand the blessings that accompany God's choosing.
Stuart

Isaiah 43

God calls out to the people who follow him, "Do not be afraid." Of what could we be afraid? In verse 2 he mentions deep waters through which we WILL pass. Judah would endure a siege and exile. God did not say they would not face those horrors, but he promised to be with them. He also mentioned a fiery path. The pain of their humiliation and death were to be intense. But it would not consume them, and it didn't. Christians have the same promises. Trials and suffering will be with us through this life, but God will bring us through.
Stuart

Isaiah 42

In Isaiah's day there was much turmoil and injustice. Not just in Israel but in every civilization around the globe. The poor and weaken were ravaged. They were treated with contempt, often being discarded like trash. When Isaiah spoke of God's servant who was to come justice was one of the promises he would bring. Verse 4 ended with the observation that those people in distant lands were waiting for justice. We have an innate sense of justice. That comes from our connection to God. When we receive injustice we long for that which God has promised to deliver us. No one is exempt from that longing.
Stuart

Isaiah 41

In verse 4 of this chapter Yahew God declares his eternal nature. He does not live a long time he lives outside of time. And that is a truth that I just can't comprehend.
Stuart

Micah 6-7

The picture in the opening of chapter 6 is from the hall of God's judgment. Israel is on trial for their rebellion against God. Who sits in the jury box? All of creation. The mountains listen to the case and they will be appalled that their fellow creation, mankind, could reject such a loving and generous creator.  Surely the children of these jurists are the rocks around Jerusalem. Those that were ready to call out their praise for Jesus as he marched up to the temple.
Stuart

Isaiah 40

"To whom can God be compared?" That was a very good question that Isaiah asked his skeptical listeners. It is a very good question for us to ask modern people; believers and unbelievers both.
Stuart

Micah 4-5

God makes a powerful promise to his fearful people in 5:2-5. It is the promise of Messiah who will come out of Bethlehem. I see three promises that God will accomplish through that great ruler.
1. He will rule in holy strength and divine majesty.  From a worldly perspective death on a cross is neither strong nor glorious. But we must not for get that Jesus' ascension to the heavenly throne began at his resurrection.
2. His people will live in safety because of his universal greatness. We would like for this reality to be seen in this life; but it won't. Sin still pulls hard at the hearts of all people. Even those who have surrendered to him. Safety will be our when by his grace we are in that eternal throne room.
3. He will bring peace. Oh how we long for the absence of war and conflict. Jesus left us his peace for this life, but it does not match this world's definition of peace.
Stuart

Psalm 150

We should take every opportunity to lift up the name of the Lord. His name is wonderful and marvelous. He is supreme. All types of music can be lifted to honor his name. All our voices can be raised in praise of his name.
Stuart

Micah 1-3

The people of Micah's day were as fickle as many people are today. They didn't want to hear bad news; only good.  But they turned inward and focused on their own appetites. Those who could went to great lengths to line their own pockets. They had no regard for their quest for their own "rights" and the impact on other people. Because they abandoned God's Law for a law of their own God promised to abandon them. Will the same end not come to any modern culture that acts in the same manner toward God?
Stuart

Psalm 149

Verses 5-9 of this psalm speaks of the victories that God granted Israel in the conquest of the promised land. I wonder if the equivalent Christian Promised Land is a life of faith. For we will battle temptation armed with the sword of the Spirit. The "kingdom" of our flesh seeks to rule this life, so we bind that "king" in chains. And we know that God has already punished our flesh when he nailed Jesus to the cross.
I just wonder.
Stuart

Psalm 148

I have never heard the praise of nature. Yet the psalmist leans forward to hear all of creation's to praise God. I suppose it is audible even though nature possesses no voice. Yet it isn't until verses 7 through 12 that there is mention of things that produce sounds that our ears can detect. So how do the sun, moon, and stars praise God? With their radiance? The psalmist doesn't mention the darkness praising God. Or maybe by their existence alone?
Stuart

Psalm 147

The psalms ends his words by keying in on the importance of knowing God's Law. Because Israel had his Law they received his blessings. There was always at least a remnant of the people who wholeheartedly obeyed God's Law. Those who know God's Law are able to catch a sight of God's nature.
Stuart

1 Thessalonians 1-2

The new believers in Thessaloniki were energetic is spreading the Gospel of Jesus.  That city became the center of an effective outreach in the early church.  But not only were they effective in spreading the Gospel the evidence of God’s change in their lives was also well publicized.  They must have been presenting the truth of Jesus in such an honest and gentle way that those who encountered them, but were not persuaded, still thought highly of their new faith.  As 21^st century Christians following their gentle example should be our practice as well.

Stuart

Psalm 146

The words of verse 3 have been ignored by generations of people. Each time their ignorance has cost livelihoods and lives. No human leader is able to save us from the depths of sin that has already corrupted our lives. Whenever we place our trust in human leaders we set ourselves up for disappointment. No matter how good are a leader's intentions they will fail; because they bear the frailty of sin.  And that weakness persistently disables our ability to walk upright before God.
Stuart

Daniel 12

I don't recall seeing God's promise at the of Daniel's writing. God spoke twice of the coming resurrection of the dead. In 12:2 God revealed a future resurrection of the good for reward and the evil for punishment. Then in 12:13 he makes a person promise to Daniel. Though death awaited him he would one day rise from among the dead to receive his reward.
Stuart

Daniel 10-12

As God was preparing to reveal to Daniel the final vision in his book the old prophet was overcome with fear. The look on his face chased away all who had been with him (10:7-8). God's angel spoke to him and prepared him with these words; "God loves you" (10:11) and "Don't be afraid" (10:12). It was a message that the angel repeated so that Daniel could capture God's message. That is the message that we need to hear as well.
Stuart

Psalm 145

How would you describe God's greatness? What words would you use? What traits of his majesty would you focus on in your description? There is so much to God's nature that only our language limits our praise.
Stuart

Daniel 7-9

God show Daniel a vision but its meaning was not revealed to him. There are three recorded times when God had blessed Daniel with understanding of visions. Daniel must have been frustrated that he was given a vision but not told its meaning. It sounds like a great deal of time passed between the vision (Daniel 7-8) and its interpretation (Daniel 9:20-27). May God waited until the 70 years of exile was completed. Maybe he waited until Daniel took up the prayer of confession for the nation.  God didn't explain why he waited, but his delay did not slow his will.
Stuart

Psalm 144

I wonder if David was king when he penned this song? If he sang it in his courtroom were there looks of shock on their faces? King David, the mighty warrior and righteous judge referred to himself as a servant (vs 10). Did the queen recoil as these words were sung? David had a firm grasp on the truth that he was only a pawn in God's chess game. But he was pleased to hold such a lowly position.
Stuart

Psalm 143

What would God do for his servant? David believed that he would begin by listening to his plea. And then God would act on the words he heard. He will guide the servant's steps. He will place a shield around him. He will redeem him from trouble and death.
Stuart

Psalm 142

We all want a bodyguard. Someone who is strong enough to handle every problem that we face. Someone to stop the bullies, and cons who seek to take advantage of us. We have such a bodyguard; God Almighty.
Stuart

Psalm 141

I find it difficult to pray for God to strike some one. But this psalm offers a prayer that we can lift up against those who would harm us. In verse 9; Protect me from the traps they have set for me.
Stuart

John 19-21

As I read John's account of Jesus' crucifixion I noticed something missing in my countenance. There were no tears, no lump in my throat, no sympathetic thirst, no anger, or no sorrow.  As a matter of fact there was no reaction at all. They were simply words on a page retelling a tragic/glorious event from 20 centuries ago. After considering all of that I came to this conclusion; that's not good enough. My reaction to the story, or rather lack of reaction to the story, should be unsettling. I think I need a change in attitude about Jesus' crucifixion.
Stuart

John 17-18

Many Bible scholars believe that John the son of Zebedee was the unnamed disciple who accompanied Peter to the high priest's house. In 18:15 it is noted that John was well known by the high priest. I wonder how that came about? Was John's mother closely related to Annas? Had Zebedee struck up a friendship with Caiaphas? Had John and James delivered fresh fish to the high priest when they came to Jerusalem for the feasts? Better yet did the high priest know that John was a disciple of Jesus?
Stuart

John 16

For most of three years Jesus had invested in the lives of his closest disciples. He had taught by word and example the truths about God. He had revealed the mysteries of God's new covenant. He had shown them how to preach, heal, and serve those whom God would put in their lives. But in John 16:12 Jesus tells history that three years of teaching was just the tip of the iceberg. There was much more they needed to know. They would learn it over the next few decades. Being taught by God's Holy Spirit (16:13). Then they would pass it on to the disciples whom they would recruit.
Stuart

Psalm 140

I wonder which violent encounter prompted David to sing this song? Was it one of the many times king Saul threatened his life? Was it while he was running from Absolom? Was it some unrecorded encounter between a shepherd boy and some bandits? Whatever the circumstances David sang to God. He was confident in his presence and his faithfulness to Israel. Maybe David understood the value that God places on every believer.
Stuart

John 14-15

I'm pretty sure that no one wants to be hated. There may be people so calloused that they care little about what other people think. There are some so selfish that they pursue their goals with no regard for the reaction of other people. Yet I believe that most people would not work with the intention of having others hate them. Jesus prepared his disciples for the reality that was to come when Christianity would collide with worldly culture. The cultures of the world will react with hatred toward Christianity. Unless there is a spiritual change in a person's heart the will be repulsed by the teachings of Christ. The world has falsely accuse Christians of rebellion, idolatry, cannibalism, prejudice, and many other terrible crimes. These charges are motivated by their hatred of what they cannot understand. Jesus warned us. We should not be surprised.
Stuart

John 13

"If I do not wash your feet you have no part in me." What did Jesus mean when he gave this explanation to Peter? Was this some obscure ritual of initiation?  I think so. But it is not the specific action that Jesus wants us to imitate. It is the greater principle; to be a disciple the master must become your servant. Rabbis who preceded Jesus expected each class of disciple to serve them in return for their imparted knowledge. Jesus was setting the example that when his disciples become rabbis they will teach their disciples to minister by serving them. Christian disciple makers teach through service. I think that is what Jesus was saying.
Stuart

Psalm 139

David had a wonderful understanding of how well God knew him. And if God knew king David that well then he surely knows us equally. When someone knows us that well we should be able to trust them to act for our good. And that is God's nature. So when he points out a path he wants us to follow we should listen and follow. That what David acknowledged at the end of this psalm.
Stuart

John 10-12

When Jesus looked at a situation he saw it completely different than the people of his time did. At the wedding in Cana the people saw empty water jar while Jesus saw vessels for wine (2:7).  While talking to a Samaritan women his disciples saw a distraction but Jesus saw the will of God revealed (4:27,32). When he looked at the crowd by the sea Jesus saw a crowd hurting while the disciples saw an impractical situation (6:8-10). For the man born blind Jesus saw and opportunity to display God's power while his disciples saw the punishment of sin (9:1-3). When he heard of Lazarus and his fatal illness his disciples saw the despair of diseases while Jesus a way to bring glory to God (10:4, 12). We need to look at situations through Jesus' like eyes.
Stuart

Psalm 138

The psalmist talks about those who oppose him. Yet by the end of the psalm he petitions God to finish his work in the psalmist's life. That reminded me of Paul's message to the believers in Philippi; "I am confident that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 1:6). Both of these writers expressed their dependence on God to complete the development of faith in our lives.
Stuart

Psalm 137

Our songs to the Lord have no meaning outside of their tune to those who don't know God's salvation. When we sing God's praise we are moved by the words offered to our heavenly king. But unbelievers will only be attracted to the melodies and rhythms. Is there anything we can do to help them hear the words?
Stuart

John 4-6

John 4:6 gives us a picture of the humanity of Jesus; he was tired and needed some recovery time.  We know that Jesus was physically in his early 30’s.  It is probable that the disciples who travelled with him were younger than he; possibly half his age (their actions and attitudes tend to favor that age bracket).  Assuming that most of those disciples were considerably younger it is possible that they wore Jesus out.  Maybe in the haste to get through Samaria they had kept up a fairly rapid pace.  But when they reached Sychar Jesus needed to sit down and take a break.  So he did.  Jesus didn’t push on.  He stopped.  It’s not unbelievable that while he sat they leaning against the wall of the well Jesus napped.  Maybe the woman woke him up.  Maybe the Spirit roused him from his slumber.  Whatever the situation this truth we know; Jesus rested.

Stuart

John 1-3

I wonder how long it took the servants in Cana to fill those six water jars? I wonder what Jesus did while the servants were fetching the water. I picture in my mind one servant topping off the last jar with WATER, wiping his brow and then scanning the crowd for the man Mary told him to obey. Then we worked his way through the crowd to Jesus' spot. He touched Jesus' foot, to get his attention. Jesus stopped what he was saying and gave the servant his full attention. "The jars have been filled with water, sir. What should we do now?" Jesus' answer surely took the servant by surprise, "Draw some of the WATER out and take it to the master of the feast." Did the servant ask why? Did he think to himself, "Why?" They knew a host with a taste for wine would not be satisfied with water. The servants had obeyed in a difficult task but had seen no promise fulfilled. Now Jesus told the servant to expose himself to failure. I believe the water was water after they filled the six jars. I believe that the water was water when the cup was filled to be taken to the master of the feast. Every step that the servant took caused the water in the cup to ripple. I believe the cup was full of water until it left the servant's hands. He had acted in total trust of Jesus command. When he had completed Jesus' command the miracle was completed as well. Then not only was the cup full of water so were the six jars.
Stuart

Ezekiel 46-48

After God showed Ezekiel the vision of the stream flowing from the temple he gave his prophet one more instruction; "note all this carefully." (41:6) What dId God want Ezekiel to understand? What was the message of the running water? Did Ezekiel see the message God wished to share with future generation? Or even the current meaning of the vision? I don't think I see it.
Stuart

Psalm 133, 134

The unity of the believers is a state and a spiritual place. Unity in relationship is what God had always intended for his people. Unity is relationships was one of the first casualties of sin. It takes a gift of divine honesty for that unity to be restored.
Stuart

Ezekiel 43-45

In 43:2 Ezekiel notes the how the volume of God's voice was like the roar of the sea. But what was God saying?

In 43:19 God appoints the sons of Zadok as high priest. In 44:15 God explains why Zadok's sons receive this privilege. It was because of the generations of faithfulness.
Stuart

Psalms 130-131

Both of these psalms end with the exhortation; trust in the LORD. That was not just a message for ancient Israel. It is the need of modern Christians. If we live in active trust of God then our life will be abundant and free. Not necessarily abounding in material wealth but overflowing in God's presence. The more we trust him the "closer" he will be.
Stuart

Ezekiel 35-38

What does God mean when he describes himself as holy?  In Ezekiel 36:23-31 he describes a number of things that he will do for Israel in order to show that he is holy.  He will collect Israel out of the nations to which they have been scatter (vs 24). He will resettle them in the Promised Land (vs 24). He will removed the defilement of their past idolatry (vs 25). He will give the people a new way of thinking (vs 26). He will take away the hardened stubbornness of the people of faith (vs 26).  He will give them a desire to obey God’s laws (vs 26). He will gift them with a portion of his Spirit who will lead them in obedience (vs 27). They will dwell in the Promised Land (vs 28). They will worship only God (vs 28). He will give them abundance in harvests (vss 29 & 30).  He will take away the threat of famine (vss 29 & 30). He will give them an attitude of repentance from their past rebellion (vs 31).  These are all things that God had promised to Israel before they entered the Promised Land under Joshua.  God shows his holiness by keeping his promises and working with his people to enable him to keep his promises.

Stuart

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

Psalms 128, 129

Psalm 129 presents us with a truth that I would prefer to ignore. There is a fact here that my theology says doesn't belong in the BIble. What is this abhorant reality that God persists in presenting me? That everyone who follows God will face persecution. In verses 2 and 3 Israel speaks of the cruelties they have received. If their suffering were at God's hand I could endure it. But it was their enemies that poured out the insults; those who hated them that inflicted the wounds. God allowed the pain and then delivered from enslavement. We see the greatest example of this in Jesus' life.
Stuart

Ezekiel 31-34

God had a very stern message for the king of Egypt.  Comparing Egypt to a tree God said that their arrogance has led him to cut down the tree.  But God also set out a warning for future kingdoms; Ezekiel 31:14 – “…from now on, no tree, no matter how well-watered it is, will grow that tall again or push its top through the clouds and reach such a height.”  It sounds like God is warning future governments not to attempt world dominance as Egypt did in the past.  He will not allow it.

There is another passage in this section that caught my attention.  In chapter 34 Ezekiel writes about the selfish practices of the leaders in Jerusalem.  How they have abandoned leading the flock and instead chose to use the flock to their own advantage.  In verses 20-22 God compares that flock to a mixing of sheep and goats.  His implication is that he goats within the flock are pushing the sheep away from the same opportunities and then keeping them trampled down.  In verse 22 God says “…I will rescue my sheep…”.  But how does he define his sheep?  He defined them as the weak and the sick.  Those who are the most vulnerable.  But we should not confuse that to mean all the weak and sick in the world.  The flock was first of all comprised of those who seek to follow after God.  Faith is the first definition of God’s flock.  Within that flock of faith there are weak and sick sheep.  Those are the ones whom God claims as his own. 

Stuart

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

Psalm 127

The introduction to this psalm is about building a house in submission to God. But how does God build a house? He does not deal with the physical aspects. He sets in place the foundation of love, plumbed with truth, and mortared with grace.  But the clearest imagery of God's house construction tools can be seen in Matthew 7:24-27. There we can see the divine building materials. Jesus said, "...these words of mine..". That is what God provides for building a house. What we do with those materials becomes clear in Jesus' message.  First we hear his words. If we listen to no one else we will not hear them. If we listen to the wrong person we will not catch what Jesus said. Once we hear his words leave us no option; we will act. We might reject his words. We might respond to his words. But even if we ignore the words we heard we will still be acting against them.
Stuart

Ezekiel 24-26

God took the life of Ezekiel’s wife so that he could be a living parable to Israel in Exile.  He could have taken any of his children, but God instead chose the prophet’s wife.  And then he made the comparison between the people of Israel and the temple.  I wonder if God cherished the temple as much as Ezekiel loved his wife?  I wonder if the pain of Ezekiel’s loss mimicked God’s grief as the temple’s rituals were destroyed by the trivialization and idolatry of the Jews?  I wonder if Ezekiel was able to take comfort in the closeness of his God?  I wonder if Ezekiel grasped the pain of rejection and loss that God experienced with his covenant people?  I don’t think God wasn’t looking for someone to share in his sorrow as much as he was seeking a communicator who could understand the loss he was experiencing by Israel’s rejection of his love.

Stuart