Category: Bible (Page 254 of 361)

I wonder what, or who, David had in mind when he penned these words:

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.

David, a warrior from his youth, was certainly no prude. He experience challenges and hardships, multiple wives and multiple wars. He was familiar with threats and dangerous men. What despicable sights and action turned his head? Who were those wicked ones strutting about before him?

I wonder what David would think of our internet, and our massive industrial entertainment complex? What about our culture of unbridled individualism slathered with narcissism? The unadulterated pursuit of money and fame? Perhaps David might sense honor going towards the vile as well. I certainly do.

With 3,000-year old words, David sounds up to date with his prescription for such times. A different way exists. The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.

In the midst of vile, David embraced the words of the Lord and the safety of his protection. The shocking, sleazy, vulgar deceptions of our times fail in the end. It’s the Lord’s world, and he remains the hope of the needy.

Psalm 12 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Albert Dera

Two separate verses shared their encouragement with me as I read this morning. I’m always impressed when I read and find unlinked passages meeting like old friends. Here’s the first, from the Psalms:

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 145:8).

I find it encouraging to remember, in a world where accusations trample graciousness, and anger rarely comes slow, that the Lord brings compassion and love.

Jesus spoke the second line my eyes lingered on today:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Mark 13:31).

Only three things last forever—God, his words, and the souls of men and women. Jesus reinforces this point. Of all I do today, it’s nice to think I at least spent a few minutes with something that lasts forever.

Then perhaps, if the Holy Spirit reminds me and I pay attention, I might just reflect some of the Lord’s graciousness and compassion towards those other eternal beings around me today.

Psalm 145 & Mark 13 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Isaac Wendland

The Lord, of course.

When signing a treaty with his uncle Laban, whom Jacob fled with his wives and children and flocks, the men built a large alter of stones, then pledged to maintain the peace and respect the new border between them.

Laban swore by the God of Abraham, the god of Nahor, and the god of their fathers, covering all his bases. When his turn came, Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Issac.

This particular name of the Lord is found only in this one place in the Bible. Fear of God—reverent awe—formed the basis of Jacob’s relationship with the Lord.

Later, the Lord instructed the children of Israel regarding this type of fear:

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

Perhaps a good question to ask myself is, do I fear the Lord, or do I fear the gods of this world? What do I look upon in wonder and amazement and humility? Jacob, despite his history of deception, grew into a reverent awe of the Lord.

Perhaps I might grow in this direction as well.

Genesis 31 in reading through the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Andreas Wagner

My elementary school-aged nephew poorly masked his glee when he dealt the Uno cards between the two of us. Since he’d left the room to prepare in private, I knew I faced a stacked deck, and I enjoyed the fun of the deception. After allowing him to celebrate his crushing victory, I insisted on a re-shuffle for round two. Now he faced a merciless, sharp-eyed Uno veteran.

Jacob, fresh off stealing his brother’s birthright by deceiving their father, fled to the lair of a master deceiver. Uncle Laban hooked Jacob with a promise to marry his daughter Rachel. On the wedding night, with Jacob three sheets to the wind, Laban switched Rachel for her sister Leah. Jacob, incredulous, exclaimed to Laban, Why have you deceived me?

Call it karma, or reaping what you sow, but Jacob the deceiver got taken to school. Laban played the game perfectly. Jacob experienced a master at work, now realizing how his brother and father must have felt.

Jacob might have known better, but love is blind, and his mother was back home. Rachel (his mother and Laban’s sister), concocted the plan to steal the birthright, and Laban fixed the marriages. Both excellent schemers.

What kind of family upbringing did Laban and Rachel experience? I wouldn’t want to play cards for money in their house.

There’s a saying I’ve heard about certain people—you can only trust them as far as you can throw them.

Seems appropriate for this family.

Genesis 29 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Adam Mills