Month: April 2024
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Depending on God’s Word
It is sometimes difficult to put your trust in someone else. Yet, part of Scripture argues that you can trust God and He will not let you down. Furthermore, to not trust God is to reject Him, which always brings heavy consequences. Think of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit in the Garden of…
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In the Days of the Judges
The shameful apostasy of Israel in the days of the judges was hardly uncharacteristic. As noted in several other texts, Israel never really left behind its idolatry when it came out of the Exodus (cf. Exod. 32; Amos 5:25-26; Jer. 7:25). When they turned to sin, God turned them to oppression. Although the vast majority…
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Comparing the Leadership of Saul and David
Two primary points stand out: (1) the way they sought the Lord’s will and (2) the way they reacted to their sin. Saul appealed to God’s will but only superficially and without a real desire to see it accomplished (cf. 1 Sam. 20:31; 24:16-22; 26:21-25). David on the other hand, constantly appealed to God’s will,…
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Lessons from Joshua
One of my favorite stories in the Book of Joshua also happens to be one of my favorite lessons in the entire Bible. After most of the land had been conquered and dispersed, one of Joshua’s oldest comrades approached him and requested to be given Hebron. Caleb was a contemporary of Joshua, and they were…
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Reflecting on His Holiness
As I work through my regular Bible reading, I pay especially close attention to the ways God is described. God is universally described in ways that no other being could be. This helps draw us in to be impressed by His uniqueness, His aseity. You don’t have to necessarily do anything different, just pay more…
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The Value of Genesis
The first book of the Bible powerfully sets the stage for the drama of the human story. It chronicles the beginning of all things: the material universe, the wonders and woes of humankind, and the story of God’s working through humankind to eventually redeem His creation. Genesis creates the foundation of everything, especially theologically. Every…
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Father’s Rules
The Ten Commandments are generally treated as confining rules and nothing else. Yet humanity likes rules, we just don’t like to admit we like rules. We love guidelines and structure. No parent feels unloving or unkind because they make a rule about not playing on the road. Rules matter. The Rule-Maker matters. The first commandment…
The Preacher's Desk 