Psalm: 75 Meditation: HebThe books of Hebrews and Mathew, are believed to be written for an audience that knew the history of Israel and the levitical laws. In this passage we see natural fallen men and believers. dealing with God's will and presence. Through metaphor and comparison, the themes of vengeance, salvation, and imputed holiness …
Tag: Matthew
Friday, January 14
Psalm: 88 Meditation Mark: Jesus is in the midst of choosing His disciples; this time it was Levi (Matthew) who was being called. The only flaw here is that Levi was a tax collector. I hope we all appreciate that tax collectors for Rome meant collaborators. That put the tax man in the same company …
Friday, June 11
Psalm: 97 Meditation Matthew: As I wrote earlier, Matthew was addressing a Jewish audience. In view of that, Matthew eschews the word “God” in favor of “name” or “word”. God’s name is sacred and not to be used (consider the 3rd Commandment). So, Matthew speaks of the “Kingdom of heaven”. Jesus also likens the Kingdom …
Thursday, June 17
Psalm: 48 Meditation - Matthew: Sometimes the headers of some paragraphs (these are editorial in nature) are misleading as in this case. My Bible labels this section: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. This records the time when Jesus invoked God’s blessing in feeding the 5,000. But notice that, yes, there were 5,000 men not counting …
Wednesday, July 15
Psalms: 119:25-48 Meditation Mark: This is the calling of Levi whom we know as Matthew. Levi was a tax collector regarded by self-respecting Jews as akin to a traitor or collaborator with Rome. Mark, though, distinguished tax collectors from “sinners”. Later in this reading Jesus talks about applying a new patch on an old garment …
Daily Bible Readings – Thursday, April 24, 2014
Prayer Psalm: 149 Prayer Point. New songs were sung when God intervened and saved his people by defeating their enemies. God’s ultimate victory was Christ’s death and resurrection. Meditate on what that victory means for us and pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Matthew 28:16-20 Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you …
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Daily Bible Readings – Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Prayer Psalm: 115 Prayer Point. An idol is anything we trust for our security and significance outside of God. We all have them and without God’s intervention, we will become like the lifeless gods we serve. What idols have a hold on your heart? Confess them to God today and pray for the faith to believe …
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Daily Bible Readings – Monday, January 6, 2014
Prayer Psalm: 46 Prayer Point. It is easy to despair over the evil in our world. We fear for our safety. The wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. The economy is uncertain. Psalm 46 calls us to fix our eyes on another reality, God’s reality. Pray that we might know that God truly is “our refuge …
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Daily Bible Readings – Tuesday, December 24, 2013 – Christmas Eve
Prayer Psalm: 45 Prayer Point. Today’s psalm was written for the wedding of a Jewish King, but I think it is best understood in light of the great wedding when King Jesus will marry his bride, the church at the end of all things. The poet expresses a number of hopes for the world under the …
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Daily Bible Readings – Saturday, December 21, 2013
Prayer Psalm: 55 Prayer Point. What are you afraid of in this world? What concerns do you carry with you every day? The opposite of living in perpetual fear is a life of continual prayer. Try praying throughout the day. Put this verse into practice: “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he …
Continue reading Daily Bible Readings – Saturday, December 21, 2013
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