9 They set their mouths against the heavens,and their tongue struts through the earth. – Yesterday we ended with a person trying to fool us that God isn’t important in life. Success and wealth and status are the important thing10 Therefore his people turn back to them,and find no fault in them.11 And they say,Continue reading “Psalm 73: 9-17….What if I give in?”
Author Archives: Barry Hicks
Psalm 73: 1-9….A caricature of the rebellious!
Introduction: Asaph was apparently worship leader during some of Solomon’s reign and into Rehoboam’s time on the throne. He was a very important Levite. This is the first psalm in Book Three of the Psalms. There are five subdivisions in the Psalms thought by many to be one for each of the five books ofContinue reading “Psalm 73: 1-9….A caricature of the rebellious!”
Psalm 72: 11-20….The prayer for Solomon continues.
Introduction: A couple of weeks ago, amid the prayer prayed over Solomon at his induction, because of the Church Calendar and the Ascension of Jesus, I took a break from Psalms. On that occasion I wrote in the introduction “Solomon isn’t one of my favourite Bible heroes. He started well but ended up badly…..On theContinue reading “Psalm 72: 11-20….The prayer for Solomon continues.”
Isaiah 35: 8-10….Is this too good to be True?
8 And a highway shall be there,and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;the unclean shall not pass over it.It shall belong to those who walk on the way;even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.9 No lion shall be there,nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;they shall not beContinue reading “Isaiah 35: 8-10….Is this too good to be True?”
Isaiah 35: 1-7….The Ransomed shall return!
Introduction: All of life isn’t ‘beer and skittles’, joy without any problems, as we saw yesterday! Valleys have to be crossed, all life isn’t a ‘mountain top experience’! Judgement is a part of life! But the end as God has planned it and tells us today, and tomorrow, has delightfully positive times! 1 The wildernessContinue reading “Isaiah 35: 1-7….The Ransomed shall return!”
Isaiah 34: 8-17….The future told in graphic pictures!
Introduction: Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, after whom the Israelis are named, had a brother Esau. Esau, and later his descendants, occupied the land of Edom. Edom was mentioned in yesterday’s tale of woes and here again at the very centre of today’s opening Edom, Israel’s neighbour, holds centre stage! 8 For theContinue reading “Isaiah 34: 8-17….The future told in graphic pictures!”
Isaiah 34: 1-8….If you are squeamish Beware!
Introduction: If there is a real story on the TV involving visible trauma there is often a warning that something is coming up which might be upsetting! In movies they just pile trauma, upon blood and guts. If you have an imagination this passage deserves a warning! I remember the scenes and smells from theContinue reading “Isaiah 34: 1-8….If you are squeamish Beware!”
Isaiah 33: 17-14….Does God expect us to use our brains?
Introduction: Thinking in a single plane (eg an x-y graph) and thinking with an added dimension (an x-y-z graph) makes the problem and the answer very different! We tend, as human beings, to easily forget that we live in a ‘space’ which is anything but a flat plane.We can easily remember the ups and downsContinue reading “Isaiah 33: 17-14….Does God expect us to use our brains?”
Isaiah 33: 13-16….Seeing God!
Hear, you who are far off, what I have done;and you who are near, acknowledge my might.The sinners in Zion are afraid;trembling has seized the godless:“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire?Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,who despises the gain of oppressions,who shakes his hands,Continue reading “Isaiah 33: 13-16….Seeing God!”
Isaiah 33: 1-12….Prepare for a reversal!
Introduction: Initially God speaks to Sennacherib the enemy who had conquered and destroyed Israel! (v1): This is followed by. a prayer by the people of Israel, the prayer results presumably because they have realized that they have made wrong decisions in not following Jehovah and so they plead with God for help. (v2): ‘The tumultuousContinue reading “Isaiah 33: 1-12….Prepare for a reversal!”
As I read it! 