Basketball takes place on a court with clearly marked boundaries. If you’re dibbling the ball and your foot crosses the out-of-bounds line, you turn the ball over to the other team. The game only takes place within the lines.

In life, the Lord places boundary lines for our good. I made a vow to my wife to stay faithful to her, a boundary in marriage sanctioned by God. The 10 Commandments form boundaries, as well as the Sermon on the Mount. Flourishing takes place within the lines.

While life is best lived within God’s boundaries, the Lord reacts—like a thunderbolt—against those who flaunt the lines.

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.

There’s not much that God hates with a passion. His anger is generally reserved for overweening pride. But in this case those who promote violence, build on injustice and harm the innocent appear in his sights. It’s rather shocking to read.

Those who love violence use various tools. Some amass weapons and launch wars. Others take to the internet to mob those they disagree with. Violence comes in many forms, but it’s always willful and corrupt.

While it seems that often the violent skate away consequence-free, in reality flaunting God’s lines leads to disaster. It’s comforting to know that the Lord keeps his eye on those outrageously opposed to him. We may not live to see it, but the wicked will eventually reap what they sow.

Psalm 11 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Andrew Krasilnikov

My ears fill with words from dawn to well past dark. Along with work, I take in thoughts and opinions from newsfeeds and sportscasters and social media pundits. On Sundays I hear from my pastor and throughout the week I enjoy various authors. Millions and millions of words.

But very few words really matter.

You should marry that girl. Those were good words for me to hear. Go to college. Start a family. Give generously. More words of wisdom for my benefit.

Jesus told his disciples, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Years earlier David wrote, The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.

In our world of words, only a few stand out. Wonderfully, a book of lasting significance sits within arm’s reach. The words within prove trustworthy. When I open my Bible I enjoy words that last, and discover a path towards flourishing and hope.

Very few words really matter, so it does me well to pay attention to those that do.

Mark 13 & Psalm 12 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Andreas Fickl

When frightened about situations outside our control, we pray (believers and skeptics alike).

Many times I’ve prayed for a hedge of protection around a person or group of people, which refers to Job 1:10, when Satan complained about the Lord’s hedge safeguarding Job and his household. Other times I turn to the Lord as a fortress, like in Psalm 18: The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. I’ve often heard people extend travel mercies to one another before a trip.

But I’ve never prayed for the terror of God to go before me. At least not yet.

The Lord sent Jacob and his family to build an alter and worship him. However, Jacob’s sons had recently slaughtered dozens of men to avenge the rape of their sister. These new instructions involved traveling through the territory of those who looked to harm Jacob’s family and initiate a cycle of violence and revenge.

But the Lord shut down any potential problems: Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.

What was this terror of God? What did it feel like? Did people see Jacob’s band coming and panic? Or were they afraid to come outside at all? Maybe rumors spread and a foreboding settled on the land. Regardless, the Lord shut down the violent tendencies bubbling among Jacob’s enemies.

Different than a stationary hedge or fortress, the terror of God moved with Jacob. I wonder if Jacob and his family understood what was happening? Because what would yield more peace of mind than knowing a divine dread surrounded them?

Praying for the terror of God sounds outlandish. Might such prayers unleash wild and terrifying results? But in certain areas of the world, where Christians are persecuted and killed, this seems more than appropriate.

I have a feeling we should ask for it more often.

Genesis 35 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 

I recently read of a young person going through a health scare who responded with the statement, what have I ever done to deserve this? Unfortunately, health problems and family losses and job failures come whether we deserve them or not. Such is the way of a fallen world.

It’s easy for me to blame my frustrations on the Lord. Why doesn’t he do something? God feels absent in the midst of my suffering. But while God may be quiet, he is not absent. King David wrote of the Lord’s heart toward our world:

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

God’s compassion covers all—devout followers as well as hardened opponents. The earth and everything in it attracts the Lord’s favor and concern.

The good name of the Lord gets bandied about by those using it against one other. It’s tempting to claim a favored status with the Lord, believing he should bless me abundantly and withhold blessings from those who disagree with me.

But thankfully the Lord moves in ways higher and wiser than mine. In the meantime I enjoy his goodness, whether I deserve it or not.

Psalm 145 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Anne Nygård