Abba’s Tears

Abba’s Tears

2 Samuel 19:1-4 “It was told Joab, ‘Behold the king is weeping for Absalom…The king is grieved for his son…and the king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, ‘O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Observation: A full seven chapters of 2 Samuel have...

A Heart Like David’s

A Heart Like David’s

2 Samuel 17:3 “Then all the people shall be at peace.” Observation: David’s traitorous son Absalom is seeking counsel from one of Absalom’s most trusted advisors, Ahithophel. Absalom had proclaimed himself king, causing his father David to flee Jerusalem with a cohort...

Childish Whine

Childish Whine

Judges 18:24 “And he said, ‘you have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest…and what do I have besides? So how can you say to me, ‘what is the matter with you?’” Observation: Chapters 17 and 18 of Judges tell parallel stories. One track follows Micah who is...

My Tribe, Right or Wrong

My Tribe, Right or Wrong

Luke 4:28-29 “And all in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they rose up and cast Him out of the city and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the city had been built in order to throw Him down the cliff.” Observation: What so...

Cooked Books

Cooked Books

Joshua 7:1 “Achan took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.” Observation: The consequence of Achan’s sin highlighted by this verse refers to his duplicity after Jericho was sacked. The ban referred to was...

Congealed Imagination

Congealed Imagination

Joshua 3:13 “…and the waters which are flowing down from above shall stand in one heap.” Observation: Joshua is giving the Hebrews one last instruction, an encouragement really, before they were to cross the Jordan into Canaan. When the feet of the priests carrying...

Captivity Remains an Option

Captivity Remains an Option

Deuteronomy 30:3 “Then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity.…” Observation: Throughout Deuteronomy 29 I see a familiar pattern. God reminds people of His marvelous deliverance in bringing them out of Egypt with amazing signs and wonders. But deliverance...

Barabbas’s Shadow

Barabbas’s Shadow

Mark 15:15 “…Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.” Observation: It was Passover, but one unlike any other. The chief priests, elders and scribes bound Jesus and delivered Him to Pilate, demanding his...

Million Dollar Lottery

Million Dollar Lottery

Deuteronomy 18:2 “And they shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the Lord is their portion.” Observation: The “they” in this verse refers to the Levitical priests. Verse 1 says that the priestly tribe of Levi was to have no “portion or inheritance”; they...

What’s So Bad About Blemishes?

What’s So Bad About Blemishes?

Deuteronomy 17:1 “…for that is a detestable thing to the Lord your God.”  Observation: Moses has been addressing the Hebrews, giving them God’s guidance before they advance into the Promised Land, and in this verse he addresses qualifications for the sacrifice. The...