Read Reflect What were you thinking? You have probably asked that question when you see someone do something foolish. Perhaps you’ve asked it of yourself when you’ve messed up. The same question applies to situations when someone does something extraordinarily generous, kind or self-sacrificing. In a tone tinged with wonder, we ask: How can they […]
Read More God’s love, God’s holiness, God’s faithfulness
Read Reflect This passage begins with the psalmist running to God in search of protection and ends with celebration, praise, and joy. Isn’t it interesting how often our own encounters with God work the same way? At times we run to him at the first sign of danger, at others, we treat him as a […]
Read More protection, fear, joy, God’s faithfulness, God’s presenceRead Reflect When I entered my final year of studies for my Master of Divinity, I found it hard to keep on reading, researching and writing for those last classes. I was tired and had lost the love of learning that was there in my first year. I did however have something that Jeremiah did […]
Read More discouragement, God’s faithfulness, persistence, burning message
Read Reflect Leaders that break promises betray the trust of their followers. In our time, politicians, presidents of corporations, and directors of service organizations are expected to stand by their word. The demand for integrity is even higher for church leaders. Paul, the missionary-pastor, had planned to make a double visit to Corinth on route […]
Read More God’s faithfulness, integrity, healthy relationshipsWhat happens when the bottom falls out of your world? Where do you start when everything that gave you your meaning and identity is taken from you and the past is brought to a crashing full stop? The fall of Jerusalem, the sacking of the Temple and exile create the setting for this remarkable book.
Read More compromise, God’s faithfulness, identity
Ethan focuses on God’s faithful love to David and his people. His vision is of God’s eternal covenant with his Church finally established through the Messiah, Jesus Christ (vv 1,2).
What deep confidence we can experience, knowing this God of love and faithfulness.
Read More God’s faithfulness, infinite/Personal God, praiseSometimes we miss God’s big picture. This psalm helps us see God in his covenant grace forming and guiding Israel for nearly 600 years from Abraham to Moses.
Read More covenant, God’s faithfulness, big-picture, rememberingAs the congregational prayer continues, the people turn from declaring who God is and what he has done (vv 5-15), to acknowledging that their ancestors had stubbornly disobeyed God. Two contrasting behaviors are highlighted: the people’s disobedience, and God’s mercy and loving patience.
Read More responsibility, confession, disobedience, God’s faithfulness, God’s loveThe story so far has been to highlight the unfaithfulness of the people of God. The prophet has provided plenty of evidence of their spiritual lethargy and the failure of their leaders to provide godly leadership. This section provides even more evidence of this.
But in contrast stands the unwavering faithful commitment of God to his people.
Read More love, God’s faithfulness, God’s love, our image of God