“And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods. But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?”  (II Chronicles 2:5-6) In the second chapter of the book, King Solomon speaks with King Hiram of Tyre to request materials and skilled workers to aid in the construction of the temple of the Lord. Solomon expresses

“I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.” (Zephaniah 3:18) One might feel as if the text was written for the present day. If the Lord had fixed His eyes on the condition of the Church just now and had written this passage for this generation of Christians, it could scarcely have been better suited. It was written to encourage the faithful remnant of captive Israel, who were sorrowful and burdene

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”  (I Corinthians 6:18-20) Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthian Church, seeking unity as well as providing

“And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel…and said Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt….I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.”  (Genesis 46:1-4) Jacob’s sons had recently returned from Egypt with glad

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” (Jeremiah 10:12) In this passage (Vs. 1-16), the prophet shows the glory of Israel's God and exposes the folly of idolaters. Charms and other attempts to obtain supernatural help are copied from the wicked customs of the heathen. We should always remember to stand in awe, and not dare provoke God, by giving that glory to another which is d

“In those days there was no king in Israel, and every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) This chapter and the four that follow form an appendix to the book of Judges, but the events recorded in them actually took place before the period of the Judges, beginning just after the death of Joshua and the elders that overlived him. We know this, because Phinehas, the son of Eleazar was priest (Ch. 20:18). Other internal evidence that gives support to this

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.”  (Psalm 46:1-3) In Psalm 46, the poet starts with God’s provision. Many other psalms begin with a description of the psalmist’s crisis. He looked to God for help in difficult times and

“Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.”  (II Samuel 19:37) Barzillai was a devout man, and like every truly devout soul, he had his priorities well in order. These words, which essentially make up his response to a most gracious offer made to him by his beloved,

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  (John 3:36) John Chapter 3 is one of the most critical chapters in the entire gospel, presenting crucial ideas for our faith, including the role of Jesus as Savior. After the loud commotion at the temple, John transitions to a quiet, nighttime discussion where the speakers are Jesus and a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who seems to be sincere

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD.”  (Hosea 10:12) Hosea was the first of the writing prophets. He was sent to warn Israel, especially the Northern Kingdom, of coming judgement. He used a variety of analogies and metaphors to expose the sin of the nation and call them to repentance. He was the Old Testament master of the parable. He went so far as to “take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us...

“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray,…they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten...

"Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou...

“He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.”  (Psalm 72:6) This Psalm, according to the title...

“For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the...

“Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?”  (John 11:37) As Jesus...

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his...

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty...

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom...

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”  (Romans 13:14) This passage...