Persecution and mistreatment are facts of life for God’s people (2 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 5:10-11). Much of Israel’s history was written by its enemies in blood-red ink. Psalm 129 affirms this fact: “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth, let Israel now…
“If I had known that grandchildren were this much fun, I would’ve had them first” is a sentiment expressed by several grandparents I know. The composer of Psalm 128 connects the thought of enjoying God’s blessing and being a grandparent when he writes:…
Like most Americans, I am not familiar with the cultivation of olives. Therefore, it is easy for me to glean nothing from the simile used in Psalm 128:3—” Your children like olive plants…” With a little research, I have learned several powerful facts about olives…
One of the fundamental challenges of being a parent is the responsibility of recognizing and cultivating a child’s uniqueness. Some parents assume that since a child looks a lot like a certain member of the family or has been named after someone(s) in…
Many false definitions of what the good life consists have been foisted upon humanity. At the heart of each of these erroneous definitions is the rejection of the wise counsel to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Send article as…
The hardest questions of life are hurled at the righteous when his faith is under an all-out assault by Satan. In the day of Psalm 10’s composition, the wicked in their haughtiness were successfully mistreating and oppressing the poor (v. 2). How brazen…
The marvels of God’s creative genius are on panoramic display in nature. The heavens above, the earth beneath, the oceans around the globe, and the creation that fills our biosphere are resplendent with God’s manifold glory and wisdom. Send article as…
From Psalm 7, it has already been noted that David did the following things in response to the vicious persecution and slander of Cush the Benjamite. First, he declares his unwavering faith in Jehovah and his confidence in God’s deliverance (v. 1);…
Like the vast majority of Scripture, you will need help to misunderstand Paul’s simple declaration: “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2nd Timothy 3:12). Jesus Himself said “when”, not “if” when He stated, “Blessed are you when…
If you have ever wondered why it seems that God is distant when you feel overwhelmed by troubles, then take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. The psalmist expressed this very feeling when he asked: “Why do You stand…
