It’s good to be hungry

“And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” (Deut. 8:3; NASB) […]

Understanding Deuteronomy

This week we began reading the book of Deuteronomy. In this book, Moses recounts for Israel the giving of the Law and recites the history of the nation in living Egypt so that they will not forget the truth that obedience to God is their singular priority (4:9, 23, 31; 6:12, 13-15; 8:11, 14, 19; […]

Reading the Pentateuch

This year our church is following an Old Testament reading plan — reading through the entire Old Testament chronologically, along with two of the Gospels. So these first months of the year, we are in the first five books of the Old Testament — the Pentateuch. For many books of the Bible, I have put […]

In due time their foot will slip

Today’s Scripture reading includes Dt. 32:35 — Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ It is this verse that served as the text for Jonathan Edwards’ well-known sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an […]

What disobedience ultimately is

What is disobedience? Ask any child or teen and you will likely get a response something like, “not doing what I was told to do.” That answer is not significantly different from what most adults might say — “disobedience is a failure to do something commanded by a superior or authority figure in one’s life.” […]

Deuteronomy and Ephesians

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, there is only one imperative — only one command by God for the Ephesians to obey. The command is in 2:11 — “remember.” Specifically, these believers were to remember their position prior to salvation — separate from Christ, excluded from Israel, strangers to the promise God made with […]

Reading Deuteronomy

We have just begun reading the book of Deuteronomy in our annual Bible reading plan. This final book by Moses is written as a second giving of the Law (the word “Deuteronomy” means “second law”). So it is a book of reminders. As such, it summarizes the previous books of the Pentateuch. It reminds the […]

This is not an idle word

What is the last thing you might tell your teenager as he is about to leave for his first semester of college? What is the last thing you might tell your employees before you leave for a new opportunity? What is the last thing you tell long-time neighbors before you leave the neighborhood? What is […]

Sunday Leftovers, 3/22/09

It is good to maintain doctrinal purity in the church. It’s not only good — it’s the reason the church exists (1 Tim. 3:15) and is our calling and responsibility (2 Tim. 1:13ff). But there is no benefit to maintaining a doctrinal purity and clarity without devotion; nor is their benefit in keeping devotion without […]