PSALMS 89, 96, 100-101, 105, 132 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 6, 2019 “THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST” Ethan begins Psalm 89 saying that he would make known God’s faithfulness to all generations (vv.1-2). In verses 3-37 he quotes God’s promises made to David. He then brings charges against God: “But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed. You have renounced the…Keep Reading

Psalms 1-2; 15; 22-24; 47; 68 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 5, 2019 “SHARING THE THRONE WITH GOD AND CHRIST As I studied today’s readings looking for a unifying theme, these words came to mind: “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6; Psa 1:1-2). As I read “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today…Keep Reading

2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 11-12 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 4, 2019 “HE DID IT HIS WAY” I see arrogance and rebellion in the words of Frank Sinatra’s song “I Did It My Way”: “For what is man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught; To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels; The record shows I took the…Keep Reading

Psalms 106-107 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 3, 2019 “THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD” The phrase “the steadfast love of the Lord” is recorded 127 times in the Psalms in the English Standard Version. It is used nine times in the two psalms assigned for today’s reading. Psalm 107 ends with these words: “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the…Keep Reading

Psalm 133 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 2, 2019 “WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE” Sin is pleasurable. If it were not, it would not be attractive. However, those pleasures are fleeting (Hebrews 11:25). Some things are good, but not pleasurable. Giving birth to a long-awaiting and much-desired child is good, but probably never pleasurable: “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And…Keep Reading

2 Samuel 5:1-10; 1 Chronicles 11-12 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, May 1, 2019 “HOTLINE TO HEAVEN” The record says, “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years (2 Samuel 5:4). However, he had been anointed as king when he was but a lad and slayed Goliath when but a teenager. When Samuel had gone to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his…Keep Reading

Psalms 102-104 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 30, 2019 “FIVE REASONS TO BLESS THE LORD” The three psalms in today’s reading tell of the frailty of humanity and the power and glory of God. They drip with suggestions of the Messiah and are quoted by New Testament writers. The author is not named for Psalm 102 and some commentators believe that the entire psalm is Messianic, with sufferings described in verse…Keep Reading

1 Chronicles 7-10 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 29, 2019 “A TOMBSTONE EPITAPH” Our story is not about the newspaper named the Tombstone Epitaph, made famous by the gunfight at the Ok Corral. It is about what could have been the epitaph on the headstone of Saul had he had one: SAUL – FIRST KING OF ISRAEL – HE DIED FOR HIS BREACH OF FAITH. The text says, “So Saul died…Keep Reading

Psalms 81, 88, 92-93 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 28, 2019 “SAPPY SENIOR SAINTS” Our title may appear to disparage senior saints. Quite to the contrary, but before we can reach that conclusion, we must explore our readings. As stated on Wednesday, the Psalms take us from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat. Asaph exhorts, “Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of…Keep Reading

1 Chronicles 6 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 27, 2019 “THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD ‘BUT’” Frequently the word “but” is like a flag waving to gain our attention, especially when the word “God” is added. For example, Paul says, “We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of…Keep Reading

Psalms 73, 77-78 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 26, 2019 “THOSE WHO FAIL TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN HISTORY FAIL THEIR CHILDREN” Psalms 73-89 comprise the third book. Eleven of the 17 carry the name of Asaph, a Levite chosen to lead David’s choir (1 Chronicles 6:39; 15:16-17). Asaph begins: “Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,…Keep Reading

1 Chronicles 3-5 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 25, 2019 “WE ALL LEAVE A LEGACY” THOUGHT FOR TODAY, APRIL 25, 2019: WE ALL LEAVE A LEGACY [1 Chronicles 3-5] In my post “God Has No Grandchildren” (4-23), I began with these words: “Name after unpronounceable name.” Most of us cannot trace our family tree to its trunk, much less to its root. If we could, we might not like what we…Keep Reading