TAKING UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH AND THE SWORD OF TRUTH
EPHESIANS 6:16-18
Secularism: Never a Good Thing – Psalm 78
Perhaps you've heard people talk about the distinction between secular and sacred. Given that God created, sustains, and owns all of creation, there is no such thing as 'secular' to him. Secularism is a human construct. It's also a bad and dangerous construct. A secular lifestyle only leads to trouble.…
From Yesterday to Tomorrow – Psalms 76+77
We tend to look at time from 3 perspectives: past, present, and future. Of the three, the present is the shortest by far. The present is only the moment one is in. Every millisecond that passes becomes part of history; every millisecond yet to come is still in the future.…
Heads or Tails: What Do You See? – Psalms 74+75
Some of David's psalms remind us of perspective. In other words, how we view the world around us impacts our faith – and vice versa. Today, we'll see that theme brought to bear once again in two psalms credited to Asaph. Think of today's study as a coin. Which side…
Look Behind the Curtain – Psalm 73
You all remember the classic film "The Wizard of Oz", right? You probably remember the scene in which the wizard is exposed as a fraud. In an attempt to protect himself, he uses his technology to tell Dorothy and the gang to "pay no attention to the man behind the…
A Shadow of the King of Kings – Psalm 72
In my brief 60+ years on this planet, I can point to only a few brief periods of time when I thought that the U.S. was on the right track politically. By and large, rulers (be they kings, presidents, members of Congress, or even judges) are self-serving and power-hungry. They…
What Trusting God Looks Like – Psalms 70+71
In our Wednesday Bible study this past week, the issue of trust came up. One of the participants asked why certain people didn't believe the gospel. That led to a brief discussion on why people also don't trust the LORD. Lack of belief and trust among non-believers is a matter…
The Cry of the Sinner King – Psalm 69
Today we look at Psalm 69, a psalm that is both literal and Messianic. It is literal in that David wrote it from his own personal experience. The exact event he refers to is unknown, but it was real nonetheless. Yet the psalm is also prophetic of Jesus in several…
Praise the LORD: Why Wait? – Psalms 67+68
Have you ever told somebody the Good News only to have them say they will accept Jesus at some point later on? They just 'aren't ready' right now. Right? Well, scripture tells us that every knee will ultimately bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is LORD. Do it in…
While They Plot, We Praise – Psalms 64-66
While David's reign over Israel was quite successful, it was a troubled one. He never had peace in the 40 years he was king. Between neighboring kings and rebels within his own kingdom, David was constantly under the gun. Yet he found time to praise. He found good reason to…
Practicality and Reason…In Scripture? Yes!
Two things that seem to be in short supply these days are practicality and reason. We seem to have lost the ability to think things through. But did you know the Bible is jam packed with practical knowledge and reasoning we can apply to daily life? It is! WATCH THE…