Tag Archives: Psalm 105

Daily Bible Study

May 6, 2014 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 14:26-27

    The only sure course to find security in this life is to allow fear of the Lord to guide our actions.

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Psalm 105:16-36

    Reading this psalm reminds us that God uses the hard times, the difficult times, to shape blessings for us. No matter how bad things may seem, they are part of God’s plan to shape us so that we are ready to experience the blessings He has in store for us.

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John 4:43-54

    This passage is a challenge to us when we pray for healing. First, there is Jesus’ response when the official asked Him to heal his son. Are we like this, where we only turn to God when we want something from Him? Do we only believe in God when we need Him to do miracles for us? There is another part to this story as well. The father begged Jesus not to let his little boy die and Jesus granted his request. When the man met his servants, they told him that his son started to get better at the time when Jesus had told him his boy would live. When we pray for healing, or anything else, do we expect it to happen right away? Do we have the faith to say to those who come to us for God’s intervention, “Go, your son will live”?
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Ruth 2-4:22

    When Boaz discovered that Ruth was gathering grain behind his workers that they had missed as they harvested the crops, he told his workers to not harass her and to intentionally leave some grain for her to gather. He invited her to share the meal he provided to his workers and encouraged her to drink from the water he had drawn for them. Boaz did all of this because he had heard what she had done for Naomi. Later, when Ruth snuck in and spent the night sleeping at his feet, he did not take advantage of the situation and took care to protect her reputation. Since she had made it clear that she would welcome marrying him, Boaz went out and did what was right in order to do so.

Daily Bible Study

May 5, 2014 Bible Study — Worship the Father In Spirit and In Truth

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 14:25

    Someone who truthfully recounts what they have seen will save lives, those who lie and mislead about what they have seen betray the trust which has been placed in them.

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Psalm 105:1-15

    Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let us remember all of the wonderful things which God has done. God is a god of justice. He will see justice done throughout the land. He stands by the promises He has made. He has stood by His people throughout history. When nations have oppressed the descendants of Jacob, God has brought those nations down. He promised the descendants of Jacob that He would give them the land of Canaan and even though they wandered the nations of the earth for over a millennium, once more they own the land that He promised them. Our God is honest and just. He keeps His promises.

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John 4:4-42

    We must worship God in spirit and in truth. Salvation comes from the Jews, but we must recognize that God created all people to worship Him. There is no one place for worshiping God. Let us worship God where we find ourselves. It is time, and past time, to stop building barriers of exclusion to exclude certain people from those we consider eligible to worship God. The people of the village came out to hear Jesus because of what the woman at the well told them. However, once they heard His message they came to believe in Him for themselves. Let us live our lives to invite people to “Come and see”. People must hear how the Gospel message applies to their own lives.

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Judges 21:1-25

    In reaction to the crime in Gibeah, and the defense of that town by the tribe of Benjamin, the people of the rest of the tribes made war on Benjamin. When the war was over, they regretted the wholesale slaughter they had committed. They realized they had over-reacted and sought ways to restore the tribe of Benjamin. There is a warning at the end that reminds us how a society ends up with the problems both of Gibeah and of the over-reaction to it. “All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” We must hold each other to standards of right behavior. We must find friends who will hold us accountable to do what is right. It is not enough that we think that something is right, we must make ourselves accountable to others who can tell us when our view of what is right is merely what is in our interest.

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Ruth 1:1-22

    In this passage, Ruth makes one of the great statements of faith and commitment, “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Pastors often talk about this and Ruth’s wonderful commitment to her mother-in-law. What strikes me when I read it however is the question of what did Naomi do to inspire such faith and commitment in Ruth. More importantly, do I live my life so as to inspire others to make such a commitment? If not, what do I need to do to inspire people to make such a commitment?

Daily Bible Study

November 5, 2013 Bible Study — Judgment Against False Prophets

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Ezekiel 12-14:11

     Ezekiel issues a stern warning against those who make prophecies based on their own imagination. He warns them that God will take action to stop those who speak of seeing visions which they never saw. As I read this passage it struck me as something which some in the Church today should listen to. It warns those who make prophecies but have not been sent by God. He tells us that these false prophets have spoken in the name of God, but have not made any effort to repair the breaks in the wall so that it will stand firm on the day of battle. Rather than strengthen the wall, they cover it with whitewash so that no one else can see where it is weak and strengthen it. Their prophecies have led to the death of those who should not have died and the sparing of the life of those who should not have lived.

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Hebrews 7:1-17

     The writer now explains what he means when he says that Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek. We have no record of the beginning or ending of Melchizedek’s life, which allows us to think of him as a priest whose priesthood is eternal, unlike that of priests of the order of Aaron, whose priesthood ends when they die. So saying that Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek means that His priesthood will never end. He will always be there to intercede with God on our behalf.
     Further, the writer points out that Melchizedek blessed Abraham and received a tenth of the plunder he had taken at a time before Isaac, the grandfather of Levi (from whom the priests of the order of Aaron are descended), was conceived, let alone born. The writer uses these two things to show that Melchizedek was a superior priest to Aaron (and his descendants). First, he points out that the person who receives a blessing (in this case, Abraham) is the lesser person and the one who blesses (in this case, Melchizedek) is the greater. Second, he points out that, in a figurative manner, the priests of the order of Aaron, who collect a tenth from others, gave a tenth to Melchizedek.
     Further he points out that if the Levitical priesthood could have allowed perfection to be obtained, there would have been no need for a priest to come from a different order. But since God found it necessary to establish a new order of priests, it was necessary to establish a new law as well. In order to become a priest of the order of Aaron one needed to meet physical requirements (one of which was being a descendant of Levi). Jesus did not become a priest of the order of Melchizedek by meeting physical requirements.

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     I have read through this passage numerous times, including several times today. However, just now is the first time I noticed what appears to me to be the writer’s primary purpose in talking about Jesus as a priest of the order of Melchizedek. He points out that the name Melchizedek means “King of justice” and that Melchizedek was the king of Salem, which can be translated as “King of peace.” The writer is telling us that Jesus is a priest of the order of the King of justice and of the King of peace. From this we conclude that Jesus’ priesthood is one of peace and justice. Jesus is a priest who calls us to worship God by striving for justice and peace.

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Psalm 105:37-45

     God has done great things for His people (both the Jewish people and those who follow Christ). He has done these things in order to encourage them to obey His decrees and follow His instructions.

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Proverbs 27:3

     Foolish talk and action causes resentment that is a greater burden than any physical weight.

Daily Bible Study

November 4, 2013 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Ezekiel 10-11:25

     Ezekiel had a vision of the glory of God rising up out of the Temple in Jerusalem and departing from it. As the vision was unfolding, God gave Ezekiel explanatory side visions. First, God showed him a vision of twenty-five prominent leaders of Jerusalem (two of whom he identified by name). Ezekiel calls them out for planning evil and giving the people wicked counsel. He declares that they are telling people that the situation in Jerusalem is good, that now is a good time to plan for the future in Jerusalem. They were telling everyone that the city of Jerusalem would remain safe from the dangers surrounding them. Ezekiel tells them that God knows their secret thoughts and that they have used their positions to bring about death to the innocent. God will judge them and drag them out of the place where they think they are safe.
     In addition, Ezekiel addresses those who remain in Judea who think that they it is OK to profit from the misfortune of those who have been taken into exile. He tells them that God will bring the exiles back and when He does, they will reject vile images and detestable idols. God promises to transform those who are willing into His faithful servants, but judgment will fall on those who embrace the worship of idols and images.

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Hebrews 6:1-20

     The writer summarizes the teachings which he considers to be basic spiritual milk for new believers. The basic things which every believer needs to understand before they can begin to mature are: the need to turn from sin, have faith in God, be baptized, the value of laying on of hands, the facts of resurrection of the dead and God’s eternal judgment. The author then goes on to talk about some of the things which he considers important for more mature believers to consider.
     He points out that those who have embraced and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit who then turn away from God and reject Him, will never turn back to God once more. This is different from those who have fallen into sin through temptation. I believe the writer is talking about those who turn away from God’s plan because they want to avoid ridicule or persecution. This does not encompass those who gradually fall into sin by giving into temptation, but rather those who justify their sin by proclaiming that God’s law does not apply to them. The writer tells us that instead of attempting to take the easy way out, we are to follow those who, with faith and endurance, show their love for God by caring for their fellow believers.

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Psalm 105:16-36

     The psalm recounts how all works according to God’s plans. Joseph suffered enslavement and imprisonment so that God could elevate him to the highest levels in Egypt. The people of Israel suffered enslavement in Egypt so that God could mold them into a nation and bring them out of Egypt to give them the Promised Land. In the same way, God uses the hardships and difficulties in our lives to mold and prepare us for the blessings He will bring us.

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Proverbs 27:1-2

     There are two important points made in this proverb. The first is that we should not boast about what we are going to do in the future because we do not know what circumstances may come up. This also applies to actions of others. The classic example is fans who boast about how their team is going to defeat another, only to be embarrassed because some key player gets injured.
     The second proverb warns us against singing our own praises. If we have done something worthy of praise, let others tell of it.

Daily Bible Study

November 3, 2013 Bible Study — Give Thanks to the Lord

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Ezekiel 7-9:11

     When I began reading today’s passage, I was depressed and somewhat frightened because I have come to believe that the Old Testament prophecies predicting doom on Jerusalem apply to the U.S. today (and to many other parts of the world). I look at the culture around me and the lack of respect for God’s laws and I see God’s judgment coming. It is more than that, I see the signs of the coming doom in events happening around me. As the prophet foretells, I foresee calamity following calamity as God brings judgment against the sins of the people. As I read this, I fear the coming destruction.
     However, there is cause for some hope because the calamity and destruction, while widespread and seemingly all-encompassing, does have some limits. The prophet tells us that people will suffer because of their sins. That God will bring His judgment upon the people and deal with them according to their conduct. He will judge them by the standard by which they have judged others. A calamity is coming upon our nation and we are called to act as watchmen and warn them of its coming, but if we give our neighbors God’s warning, He will not hold us accountable for their sins. Let us turn to God and throw ourselves on His mercy while there is yet time.

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Hebrews 5:1-14

     No one becomes high priest just because he wants the job. One only becomes high priest when called to the job. This is doubly true of God’s High Priest. The only way to become God’s High Priest is to be called by God, just as Aaron was. In this way, Jesus did not appoint Himself as High Priest, rather God called Him and made Him High Priest. But not High Priest of the order established by Aaron. Rather, Jesus is High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Jesus does not succeed to the priesthood which served in the Temple in Jerusalem, instead He is the High Priest who serves in heaven before the throne of God.
     The writer then warns us that we need to develop spiritually to the point where we consume solid spiritual foods. When we begin our Christian life, we need to feed on spiritual milk. But as we grow in our walk we need to start eating solid food. There comes a time when we need to start thinking about the more complex elements of our faith.

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Psalm 105:1-15

     Yes, I will do as the psalmist recommends. I will give thanks to the Lord. I will proclaim His greatness. I will tell the whole world what He has done. I will seek the Lord and rely on His strength, my own is insufficient, but His strength will overcome. As the passage from Ezekiel tells us, calamity is coming for those who do not turn to the Lord. I will proclaim His greatness and call my fellow-man to pay attention to what He has done. The day is coming when everyone will know that the Lord is God.

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Proverbs 26:28

     Someone who lies regularly hates those to whom they lie. If you believe what a flatterer tells you, you will fall into ruin when you discover that you are not as good as they said you were.