Archive for February 2022

Exodus 38-40, Psalm 37:23-40, Matthew 16:13-28, Acts 23:1-11 Psalm 37:23-40: Having told us to fret not because of the wicked, David now celebrates the path that is open before those who follow the Lord. Perhaps you wonder whether it really is worth it to commit your life to God. Perhaps there is some challenge that you are facing…

Exodus 35-37, Psalm 37:1-22, Matthew 16:1-12, Acts 22 Psalm 37:1-22: When people attack us, a range of emotions rises up within us. One of the most common is to “fret.” We worry what will happen to us. We are concerned as to whether we are safe. We fret about the impact on our career, or our family, or…

Exodus 34, Psalm 36, Matthew 15:21-39, Acts 21:27-40 Psalm 36: Why people act the way they do is a fascinating topic. Why do we act the way we do? It has driven the concerns of psychology, history, sociology, and much else besides. Have you ever wondered why it is that you do certain things or what it is…

Exodus 32-33, Psalm 35, Matthew 15:1-20, Acts 21:1-26 Psalm 35: What do you do when you have people who are out to get you? It is hard to go through life without any kind of conflict whatsoever. To some extent, we expect that there will be times when we come across people who don’t like us or who…

Exodus 30-31, Psalm 34, Matthew 14:22-36, Acts 20:13-38 Psalm 34: The context of this psalm, we are told, is extraordinary. Read the story in 1 Samuel 21:13. Evidently, whatever God’s sovereign rescue means, it does not mean something that is in contradiction to David taking initiative-bold, strange initiative-to the extent of pretending to be insane to save his…

Exodus 27-29, Psalm 33, Matthew 14:1-21, Acts 20:1-12 Psalm 33: There is something about joy that is “befitting” or suits or goes along with being righteous and “upright.” The Psalms tell us to “shout for joy in the Lord, oh you righteous.” Because those who trust in God are trusting in God, the source of all joy, it…

Exodus 24-26, Psalm 32, Matthew 13:44-58, Acts 19:23-41    Psalm 32: Contrary to expectation, blessing (happiness, joy, the best life) comes neither from a pretended sinless perfection, nor from a free-wheeling, licentious lifestyle. Blessing is not to be able to follow all the rules all the time without mistake. Blessing is also not to do whatever you want…

Exodus 21-23, Psalm 31, Matthew 13:24-43, Acts 19:1-22 Psalm 31: Another psalm where David is calling out to God for help. David is looking for “refuge” (31:1-2, 19). Why is this such a common theme in David’s psalms? Why might we suppose that a person of prominence, a public leader, a warrior, a king no less, was likely…

Exodus 19-20, Psalm 30, Matthew 13:1-23, Acts 18:18-28 Psalm 30: David is praising God. We are often told that we should do likewise, that we are to praise and worship God. We are not equally often told why. But here in this psalm, there is not only an example of David praising, there is also a lesson about…

Exodus 16-18, Psalm 29, Matthew 12:38-50, Acts 18:1-17 Psalm 29: Worship has unfortunately been mired in controversy down through church history. Worship in the form of the Orthodox, the Roman Catholic, the Protestant? Worship as high church, low church? Worship as traditional or as contemporary? Real biblical worship at least starts with this proposition: it is to “worship…