Winepress of Love

Winepress of Love

2 Chronicles 20:3 “Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord.” Observation: What a godly response to fear and stress! The nation of Judah was about to be attacked by foreign enemies. When Jehoshaphat heard of the gathering threat, his natural...

Wheelbarrows and Tankers

Wheelbarrows and Tankers

2 Kings 4:5–6 “So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ And he said to her, ‘There is not one vessel more.’ And the...

These Are Easy Things

These Are Easy Things

2 Kings 3:18 “This is but a slight thing in the sight of the Lord.” Observation: The immediate context of this statement is Elisha’s confidence that it would be an easy thing for the Lord, without using wind or rain, to fill a desert valley with water for the men and...

Too Close for Comfort

Too Close for Comfort

2 Chronicles 18:18–22 “I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right and on His left. The Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?’… And one said this while another said that. Then a...

Setting the Mind

Setting the Mind

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Observation: Paul’s writing to the church at Colossae was to counter their tendency to blend the teachings of Christ with Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy, and Oriental...

Confronted by the Mirror

Confronted by the Mirror

1 Kings 17:18 “You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance.” 1 Kings 18:17 “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?” Observation: The contrast of heart attitude in these two passages could hardly be more profound. The widow of 1 Kings 17 was a pagan to whom...

Not Perfect but Blameless

Not Perfect but Blameless

2 Chronicles 15:17 “But the high places were not removed from Israel; nevertheless Asa’s heart was blameless all his days.” Observation: Asa was a good king of Judah, a good man. His heart was to pursue the Lord wholeheartedly. Verses 12–15 detail the national...

Covenant of Salt

Covenant of Salt

2 Chronicles 14:11 “Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, ‘Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this...

Hearing and Obeying

Hearing and Obeying

1 Kings 13:21 “‘You have disobeyed the command of the Lord, and have not observed the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you.’” Observation: The prophet from Judah had spoken the word of the Lord to King Jeroboam concerning the king’s sinful behavior. The...

Paid in Full

Paid in Full

Philemon 14, 18 “But without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will … But if Onesimus has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” Observation:...