With a mere three verses, Psalm 131 is one of the shortest chapters in the Bible. If it is ever true, however, that good things come in small packages, this psalm is proof of that. Charles Haddon Spurgeon—the prince of preachers—said of this song of David: Comparing all the Psalms to gems, we should liken this to a pearl: how beautifully it will adorn the neck of patience.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Christian Living
The Cure for the Common Envy
Asaph struggled with envy. He had a hard time making sense of the fact that righteous people could barely make ends meet while evil people enjoyed opulent, sumptuous lifestyles. This apparent injustice bothered him so much that his faith almost failed him. This crisis of belief might have gone unnoticed—who hasn’t struggled with doubt?
Read MoreThe Truth Perspective
A brief examination of Psalm 119 reveals benefits gained by those who absorb the Word. Let’s put three of them, wisdom, insight, and understanding, to the test by looking at a case study. Let’s imagine you recently got a job that has proven to be less than you expected. You prayed for employment, then, lo and behold, this job opened up. You were grateful. After a few weeks, however, you have found that the working conditions leave much to be desired.
Read MoreA Public Response
Psalm 116, a lament of grief and sorrow, takes a positive turn with the composer deciding how he will respond to the Lord’s deliverance (116:12). He promised to tell the story of God’s rescue; now he determines to take his public announcement to the next level. I Shall Pay My Vows. I shall pay my vows to the LORD, Oh may it be in the presence of all His people. (116:14)
Read MoreStaying On Course
Having identified four qualities to cultivate, David’s spiritual manifesto in Psalm 101 continues with several declarations, each intended to keep him on course in pursuit of his divine purpose. David no longer looks within, he looks around. He considers the people of his kingdom and declares his predetermined response to various types of individual.
Read MoreIntelligent Fools
Before we close this week’s study, let’s revisit the sages’ fool. The English language defines a fool as someone who’s a little mischievous or who makes foolish decisions. Hebrew culture, however, took the term fool far more seriously. We have considered three different kinds of internal opposition to divine leading, opposition that the Hebrew language describes using no less than four terms.
Read MoreThe Greater of Two Evils
What did you first envision when you saw the word opposition in the chapter title? Did you imagine external resistance to your efforts or your own internal resistance to God’s leading? Which do you think would be the greater “grind”? By opposition, I don’t refer to external resistance from others but to internal resistance, to our own opposition to the things of God.
Read MoreWisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge
Solomon and the wise men of Israel regarded wisdom, understanding, and knowledge as worthy pursuits in life. In fact, given the choice between wisdom and material wealth, they opted for wisdom, hands down. For them, clear thinking held the key to success in all areas of life. How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. (16:16)
Read MoreAbundance without Gratitude
While we have experienced financial ups and downs in the last century—some of them significant—we nevertheless benefit from an unprecedented level of abundance. Never in human history have so many people lived in the kind of comfort and security we enjoy today. And American culture leads the world in luxury. Many families have a driveway full of cars, a house full of modern appliances—many dedicated to entertainment
Read MoreNo Follow-Through
A young fellow entered a convenience store and asked to use the phone. The manager overheard his side of the conversation as he asked, “Sir, could you use a hardworking, honest young man to work for you?” (pause) “Oh, you’ve already got a hardworking, honest young man? Well, thanks anyway!” The boy hung up the phone with a smile and turned to leave, humming a happy tune.
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