Psalm 25

David is struggling with three realities in this psalm; he knows his own sins, both in the past and the present (v7). And he knows his enemies will try to shame him for his failings. But he also is aware that God is his only resort and so he cries out to Him for help. 

Problems in this world are real. There is hatred, resentment, unfairness, inequalities and tragedies – and many times our answers seem insufficient. But God is more than a comforting idea. He is not limited

Numbers 29-30

“If a man vows a vow to the Lord ... he shall not break his word” (30:2). As well as collective worship, individuals could make vows (29:39) to the Lord that often included either special offerings, promises, or acts of self-denial. These vows were sacred between worshiper and God. However, women embedded in family relationships needed a father or husband’s approval for their vows. This prevented vows (promises/offerings) from conflicting with family life and gave women a

Numbers 27-28

“Let the Lord ... appoint a man over the congregation ... that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd” (27:16). Moses could not go into the Promised Land with the Israelites, and so they needed a new leader. Joshua, “a man in whom is the Spirit” filled that role. But the Lord also reminded the people of his commands for regular sacrifices and holy festivals (ch 28-29). Their lives were to center around worship, more than a human leader.

“On

Numbers 26

“But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai” (v64). The new census of Israelites taken “by the Jordan at Jericho” counted all the men able “to go to war”. It was a new list, because all the men that Moses and Aaron had counted in the wilderness had died there due to unbelief, except Caleb and Joshua (v65). “Israel” continued, with those of the new generation who were willi

Numbers 25

“These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods” (v2). Terrible things happened when the Israelites turned away from the Lord, married pagan women, and threw themselves into worshiping the idol Baal of Peor. God’s wrath was kindled, and Moses and other leaders denounced and punished the evildoers. Yet even amid the weeping, repentant community (v6,14), Zimri boldly brought a new pagan woman into the camp, resultin

Mark 7:10-37

“All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (v23). The Pharisees and others believed that “defilement” or impurity came from contact with unclean people or objects. But the Old Testament ritual laws had always been intended to point to the deeper reality, which Jesus clarified. Spiritual uncleanness comes from desires born in the heart: sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery ... slander, pride, foolishness” (v23). Ironically, the “unclean” Genti

Mark 7:1-9

“You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men” (v8). Jesus constantly corrected the mistaken, twisted, human ideas about God and religion. Although given the true Word of God (v13), the Pharisees and other religious leaders had ignored the heart of the message and emphasized human concerns: looking righteous, cleaning the “outside”, being part of the right group. They manipulated people, encouraging them to give temple gifts rather than help their eld

Psalm 24

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (v1). The true God cannot be found in false religion and sinful desires celebrated by humans. The One who created everything, to whom we belong, is found by those who turn from idols and seek his holiness (v4). The “clean hands and pure heart” of those who “stand in the holy place” are not the result of human righteousness. Instead, the person accepted by God is the one who knows their faul

Numbers 22-24

“A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (24:17). As the Israelites grew stronger, Moab’s king hired the prophet Balaam to curse them. Balaam knew that God’s hand was on Israel (22:12), yet he wavered in what he should do. God’s commitment to Israel (and the world) was so strong that he used a talking donkey to block Balaam’s disobedience. Finally, Balaam pronounced four powerful blessings on Israel and prophesied about the Messiah (ch 23-2

Numbers 20-21

“And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? ... there is no water to drink” (v5). In the wilderness of Zin, the people were desperately thirsty and viewed their surroundings as hopeless and “evil”. As always, God responded to them and appeared in “glory” to Moses and Aaron. The rock yielded water, but Moses and Aaron gave in to anger, and they failed in their task to help the people see God’s holiness (20:12; 21:4-9).   

 “When we cried t

Numbers 18-19

“This is the law when someone dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be unclean seven days” (19:14). Touching a dead body in ancient Israel made a person ritually “unclean” (19:11). Even objects near the body were “unclean” (19:15). These rules emphasized the terrible disruption and tragedy of death, which sin brought into creation. The ashes of a red heifer, slain “outside the camp”, were mixed with water to cleanse the peo

Mark 6:30-56

“And they ran there on foot from all the towns ... When he went ashore he saw a great crowd ...” (v33-34). A few verses later, Mark repeats that people in another place “ran” to Jesus (v55). Their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs were desperate, and Jesus was the Savior they were seeking. Even the apostles who were his co-workers (v30), helping to minister to others, found themselves at sea, rowing against the wind. They too were afraid and desperate, and Jesus go

Mark 6:1-29

“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (v18). After speaking truth about marriage and morality to the king, John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus’ followers – like their Savior - were empowered to preach and heal and cast out demons (v7-13), yet only when people were willing (v1-6,11). Jesus’ followers suffered, like John, because their allegiance to Jesus put them at odds with the sinful powers of the world. John’s courage led to his death, but his witness

Mark 5

“And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man ... sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid” (v15). When Jesus healed the woman who touched his cloak (v27) and brought a girl back to life (v42), people were astonished. But when he healed the man possessed by demons who had lived among the tombs, the man no one could control, they were “afraid”. Jesus had power not only over physical sickness, but also over the invisible forces that cause

Psalm 23

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (v4). David’s most comforting psalm speaks honestly about life under the “shadow of death”. Despite being surrounded by enemies, the psalmist declared that he would not fear evil, because the Good Shepherd’s presence brings light into darkness. When circumstances cause anxiety, fear, or sadness, his presence with us is like “green pastures” and “quiet waters”, and he r