Isaiah 43

In Isaiah 43:2 God offers a promise to his people who are struggling; he will bring them through the difficulties. Yet he does not say he will stop the flow of the waters or extinguish the flames. His words are a reminder that he will be with us in those trials. The reason for his presence is to enable us to live differently from the world. For it is our response to difficulties that will demonstrate how God equips his saints.
Stuart

Isaiah 41

Long before Judah was taken into captivity, or even the threat of Babylon was considered God spoke to Isaiah. A ruthless king was coming. He would pounce on Judah and humiliate her. In Isaiah 41:27 God laid it out. It would not happen because of Babylon's power. It would happen because of God's judgment against a faithless population. And yet in all of the chaos God wanted those who were trusting him completely to know this one truth; he was still in control (Isa 41:20). Many believers in Judah must have questioned that truth when the walls of Jerusalem fell. But we can see the evidence of history. God's plan always moves forward. In the midst of chaotic times modern believers need to grapple with the same truth; God is still in control.
Stuart

Joel

The message of the prophet Joel is predominately one of punishment. God will use whatever means he can to lead his people to repentance. Though they have rejected him he will not abandon them. God's hope is that they will see all of the suffering and want as his way to draw them close. In 3:16 Joel shares this truth; protection is found in the LORD. To his contemporary audience the protection is physical because the inheritance is the same. For the new covenant believers the protection is spiritual because we have been promised the spiritual inheritance.
Stuart

Psalm 147

I am impressed by the strength of an athlete. I find few people more noteworthy than world class runners. Our culture idolizes those who excel in athletics. Their salaries are reflective of the elevation of their positions. Psalm 147:10 points out that God is not impressed with the same things that capture our adoration. What impresses the Lord of lords? The psalmist lays it out in verse 11. It is not the one who leads multitudes but those who follow his commands. God is not grant his favor to a mover and shaker of the masses but to the one who waits for God to act and then falls in line.
Stuart

Daniel 10-12

The last few chapters of Daniel's book is full of imagery that speaks of future events. This writing is characterized by two prominent motifs. The most obvious is the bizarre descriptions of the characters that Daniel witnessed. There is no earthly equal to the individuals that he described, so any definition with human words will miss some, if not all, of the truth they present. Daniel was given this vision quite possible because his extensive study in Jewish as well as Babylonian literature gave him the best vocabulary for the task. All this confusion sends one very clear message: God's hand is involved in every aspect of the future events.
The second truth may seem less obvious but I think is equally important. There are many specific timeframes given. A starting and ending time is defined for each event. That message demonstrated God's ultimate power. He has determined when these things will happen. And he has such power that nothing will cause his plan to deviated from his schedule. Though everything may look like chaos from our perspective Daniel's message clearly shows our God at work in history and the future. 
Stuart

Daniel 10-12

The last few chapters of Daniel's book is full of imagery that speaks of future events. This writing is characterized by two prominent motifs. The most obvious is the bizarre descriptions of the characters
Stuart

Daniel 10-12

The last few chapters of Daniel's book is full of imagery that speaks of future events. This writing is characterized by two prominent motifs. The most obvious is the bizarre descriptions of the characters
Stuart

Daniel 7-9

In Daniel 9 we catch a glimpse of a true intercessory pray-er. Daniel was trained in faith and educated in Babylon. His faith was tested through decades of exile. Through those tests God led him into his presence. In prayer and in the study of scripture. In the opening chapters of this book we see the accounts of Daniel's times in prayer; as a young man and as an old man. And chapter 9 is yet another demonstration of his livelihood of prayer. But this prayer is evidence that he knew and trusted the words of God's prophets. For he approaches God with a petition that was 70 years in the making. The time is up. Restore Israel back to their land. That is his request. Then he spends to rest of his prayer in repentance and confession of behalf of God's people.
Stuart

Psalm 144

This psalm begins with the acknowledgment that the writer is a ruler and warrior.  But more importantly the psalmist explains that it is the LORD to provided the training and the skill to accomplish both of those triumphs. It needs to be  the same in my life. I need to recognize God's provision and proclaim his acts of provision in my life.
Stuart

Daniel 4-6

Being on of the chief leaders under King Darius, Daniel was surely aware of every law that the king enacted. When he saw the edict excluding prayer to anyone but the king surely his stomach turned. Since his youth he had entrusted his life to the God of Israel. Time and again he had witnessed the LORD's protection for the faithful and his hand of judgment against the arrogant. His faith led him to perpetuate his practice of daily prayers. In Daniel 6:11 the old man of faith was asking God for help. I wonder if his words were similar to what Jesus would later pray in Gethsemane? I wonder if he understood the plot against him and the coming arrest? Did he tremble at the thought of the lions' den? Surely had hit witnessed other rebels being cast into that pit. But his resolve was unchanged. And even though it was illegal to pray to anyone other than King Darius, Daniel continued to pray to his Savior. Even as he was led to his doom he prayed. Though verses 21 and 22 do not mention prayer Daniel gives all of the credit to the God who had heard his prayers.
Stuart

Psalm 143

The second part of psalm 143:8 states a request that every Christian should desire to bring to God. "Show me the way I should go". Yet I doubt that a clear path on which to walk was the intentions of the request. Though God's word is a light to our path we are traversing a wilderness that does not hold still. While I want an end point to the journey God is often only one step ahead; desiring to stay close by. I won't need to shout my request to God. He is near. I can hear him breath. It is that breath that I am called to follow.
Stuart

Daniel 1-3

I've often heard the story told of the four young Hebrew men in Babylon. They stood out among their captive peers because of their faith. Unlike some of their fellow Jewish young men they took the risks that often accompany faith. I wonder what lessons they had been taught that filled them with such conviction? I wonder who was their teacher who mentored them before their captivity? Had they listened to the words of Jeremiah before they were carried away? Were they old enough to have impacted by the example of King Josiah? What men had influenced them the most as youngsters? Though we all seek to live out our faith like Daniel I think I want to be a teacher like the one who taught Daniel. Someone who could connect with the adolescent mind and fill them with the trust in God to always seek him and the courage to give up their lives for their faith.
Stuart

John 19

John puts a lot of subtle details throughout his gospel. In the last few chapters I notices these. In 19:13 he told that Jesus was sentences at Gabbatha, which is Aramaic for "Stone Pavement." That sentence was carried out at Golgotha, which is Aramaic for "Place of the skull." The poetic similarities in the Aramaic names did not miss John's notice.
He also made mention of the last act in Jesus' ministry; drinking sour wine 19:29-30. Sure this was not a circumstantial observation. The scene overflows with irony in the contrast with Jesus' first miracle; sweet wine (Jn 2:1-11).
Stuart

John 17-18

When Pilate questioned Jesus he asked him about his kingship. Jesus makes it plain that he is a king but not in the patter of Rome or anywhere else in the world (John 18:36). Jesus explains that a worldly king would be defended by his subjects. That is the normal reaction to attacks in the world. Rome was well prepared for those who rose up and challenged the rule of their king. Everything in the Roman army was structured around defending the rule of Rome. Justice was switch and without mercy for those who challenged Rome.

Since Jesus is a heavenly king what does the situation he is in tell us about the defenses of the Kingdom of God? One thing is clear; Jesus wasn’t depending on human defenses to ensure his rule. If we consider Jesus’ actions as the King of kings standing before Pilate it can be very confusing. He is not like any king of any earthly political structure. We might accuse him of nephetism because all of his servants are his friends, brothers and sisters, and those that he loves. But they are his servants and not his defenders. Jesus could have called legions of angels to protect him. Through the history of Israel it is evident that angels were capable warriors against the armies of men. But they were not his defenders either. Jesus only had one defended, because he only needed one defender. The Heavenly Father. We may wonder why the Father did not come to his defense. In reality Jesus did not need defending; he was doing exactly what the Father had commanded him to do. So even though he was about to be beaten like a criminal he was guilty of no crime and needed no defender. In spite of the fact the Jesus would take Barabbas’ fate on the cross as an insurrectionist he did not need a defender. Jesus was the true king and with his death the rebellion of mankind was defeated, and the complete rule of God the Father was re-established.

 

Stuart

 

John 10-12

In John 11:43 Jesus calls Lazarus from the grave; re-animating his friend's body and restoring his life. Why did Jesus choose to raise Lazarus? There were probably dozens of fresh graves in Bethany, why did he command that this one be opened? Was it the faith of Lazarus' family? I don't think so. Was it the faithful friendship and hospitality they had to Jesus in the past? Was Jesus' action intended to inspire Mary's priceless sacrifice recorded in John 12:1-3? That is plausible. Since John records the events in close proximity to each other I don't thing we should reject that possibility. (Remember that God used a plague to guide David to the future site of Solomon's temple-1 Chron 12:14-18) We know that Lazarus wasn't the only one Jesus raised from the dead. However he may have been the last one he raised as well as the only one he resurrected by name. Perhaps Lazarus' resurrection is a prediction of what we can expect when Jesus returns.
Stuart

Psalm 137

How can there be joy when justice is perverted? If these are the words of the former rulers of Judah the irony could not be greater. When they wear the clothes of slaves the offense is unbearable. When they were the unjust rulers they saw only God's provision. Yet I would think that these are the mourning words of the remnant of faith. Those who were carried into Babylon. The taunts of their captors served only to remind them where they were not. And all the nations who had delivered them into this exile. But in verse 7 their words of faith are building a foundation of hope for this remnant. And this trickle of hope will pour forth like a flood when the door opens for the remnant's children to return to their inheritance. In verse 7 they call out to the LORD. Their hope is not dead.
Stuart

John 6

Do I work to eat or eat to work? Where is the purpose, the motivation to keep doing the old and new things that we do? When Jesus told his followers that by eating of his flesh would satisfy their hunger there is no way he intended the message to convey physical food. The fact that Jesus again brings up the idea of kIngdom work as satisfying food (6:27, the first time was in 4:14) should not be ignored. Physical and spiritual contentment is not found in meat and drink but through faith in Jesus.
Stuart

John 4-5

John 5 opens with the story of Jesus healing a man who had crippled for 38 years. Jesus commanded the man not only to walk but also to take his mat with him. In verse 10 the Jewish leaders challenged him regarding his mat carrying. I'm curious; what did he do with the mat? When he met opposition did he abandon Jesus' command? Did he continue walking to where he was staying; with or without the mat.
Stuart

Ezekiel 39

In Ezekiel 39:28 God declares that the greatness of his name will be evident in his actions toward Israel. God demonstrated his righteousness and justice by sending Israel into exile. A punishment that he had explicitly laid out in the law. Then he will demonstrate his grace and the faithfulness to Abraham by bringing Israel back to their inheritance after the exile. A full definition of unmerited favor.
Stuart

Psalm 129

Psalm 129 begins with a complaint of unrelenting and unjustified attacks. But the psalms attributes God with the ability to endure these injustices. Though the attacks persist they never achieve victory. The one receiving the attacks is undefeated. Did God suspend the attacks? Not necessarily. But he did enable the faithful to endure the onslaught of oppression. That may be the greatest victory in which we participate in this life.
Stuart

Psalm 127 - 128

Building and watching are examples of activities that people do well. We perform them well often with no need for supervision. Yet we have a choice to make in all our actions: have we invited God to work with us and through us? We must choose to open the field of our work to God. How do we invite him? Through prayer. But we can't invite him then relegate him to stand idle in a corner. He is an active being. His purposes overflow from the fruit of his hand. So how do we incorporate his hands in our work? Through prayer. Mainly by listening to his soft persistent voice. We may give up some control of our efforts but we will not be disappointed by the end result.
Stuart

Psalm 125-126

Psalm 125:2 offers a majestic picture of God's presence in the lives of his people. "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people." The permanence of the mountains demonstrates only a fraction of God's faithfulness. A difficult landscape would discourage invaders. Yet God's presence is active in working against those who oppress his people. That does not mean he stops them in their tracks. Instead he may give his followers a determination and faith that cannot be defeated; even by death. Wind and weather will one day wear down the mountains, but the LORD's presence will never be removed from the lives of his believers.
Stuart