Introduction: When I was in grade 12 the teacher put the following ‘goble’d’goop’ sentence on the board and told us to punctuate it! Smith where Jones had had had had had had had had been correct! It was an interesting exercise. What has that got to do with this Psalm? In the red section (whichContinue reading “Psalm 81: 8-16….After God has His say, the Psalmist comments!”
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Psalm 81: 1-7….Shout, shout for joy!
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;shout for joy to the God of Jacob!2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,the sweet lyre with the harp.3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,at the full moon, on our feast day.4 For it is a statute for Israel,a rule of the God of Jacob.5 He made itContinue reading “Psalm 81: 1-7….Shout, shout for joy!”
Psalm 80: 1-7….Let there be Light!
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,you who lead Joseph like a flock.You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,stir up your mightand come to save us!3 Restore us, O God;let your face shine, that we may be saved! – Asaph cries out to the Shepherd four very,Continue reading “Psalm 80: 1-7….Let there be Light!”
Psalm 79: 11-13….A Postscript.
Introduction: Yesterday I re-wrote Asaph’s Psalm 79 in ‘modern’ English. I’ve copied it here because the last 3 verses of the Psalm, which I didn’t include in yesterday’s reading, say things which I think that we, as Christians, have to think deeply about. My transliteration of the Psalm read – Dear God, we are Yours,Continue reading “Psalm 79: 11-13….A Postscript.”
Isaiah 40: 27-31….Soar like an eagle!
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,and speak, O Israel,“My way is hidden from the LORD,and my right is disregarded by my God”? – This asks if God has forgotten His people. I think more commonly we, who should be His people, have forgotten Him!28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?The LORD isContinue reading “Isaiah 40: 27-31….Soar like an eagle!”
Isaiah 40: 18-26….Who represents God?
Introduction: We as human beings often think in pictures. When we think of words we will often have an animal’s name which represents a word. A few examples are – kingly – lion; strong – ox; cunning – fox; deceiving – a snake; proud – peacock. Here God says ‘How would you represent me?’ TheContinue reading “Isaiah 40: 18-26….Who represents God?”
Isaiah 40: 9-17….God continues His talk with Isaiah!
Introduction: Verse 9 seems to be definitely the words of God Himself. I think finishing what God says at the end of yesterday’s passage. The voice at the beginning being God’s voice – ‘A voice says, “Cry!”And I said, “What shall I cry?”All flesh is grass,and all its beauty is like the flower of theContinue reading “Isaiah 40: 9-17….God continues His talk with Isaiah!”
Isaiah 39: 1-8….A Stupid, Stupid Thing to do!
Why do you think that that man with the un-pronounceable name who sent envoys to Hezekiah was sincere in his motives? Has a politician ever told a lie or have hidden rotten aims under nice words? Had Hezekiah with his illness lost his ability to think clearly? Or did pride overcome common sense?1 At thatContinue reading “Isaiah 39: 1-8….A Stupid, Stupid Thing to do!”
Isaiah 38: 9-21….What would you have said?
A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: – If you remember, the last time I was writing in Isaiah, God had graciously, when Hezekiah was at the point of death, granted him a fifteen year extension to his life. It is not surprising thatContinue reading “Isaiah 38: 9-21….What would you have said?”
Revelation 3: 1-6….What happened to the church in Sardis.
Introduction: In view of what follows in Jesus’ letter to the Leader of the Sardis church I asked Wikipedia if there is a church in Sardis these days. The response, “There is no active, functioning Christian church located within the archaeological site of ancient Sardis near Salihli, Turkey, today. …… no active congregation holds services among theContinue reading “Revelation 3: 1-6….What happened to the church in Sardis.”