“For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder” (2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV). Paul loved the Corinthians like a father loves his children. He longed
“Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17 ESV). David’s psalm reveals a rhythm of life anchored by prayer. He speaks of calling upon the Lord evening, morning, and noon—a way of saying that prayer framed his entire day. The unusual order beginning with
“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1 ESV). Isaiah carefully dates his vision to “the year that King Uzziah died” (ca. 740 BC). Uzziah had reigned for fifty-two years, bringing prosperity and
“In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel.” ( Isaiah 4:2 ESV). Isaiah, often called the “evangelical prophet,” recorded more Messianic prophecies than any other Old Testament writer. In this verse, Isaiah speaks
“Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day” (Psalm 52:1 ESV). David composed this psalm as a Maskil, a teaching song, when Doeg the Edomite told Saul that he had gone to Ahimelech the priest (1 Sam. 21–22). Doeg’s report led to the horrific slaughter
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV). Paul instructed the Corinthians on how to give toward the collection for the saints in Jerusalem. He emphasized that giving must come from the heart. The Greek word translated
“The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting” (Psalm 50:1 ESV). This psalm was attributed to Asaph, one of David’s chief musicians and a Levite who also bore the title of “seer” or prophet (2 Chr. 29:30). Asaph, along with his sons after
“Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life… But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” (Psalm 49:7, 15 ESV). This psalm bears the inscription: “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.” Its very heading tells a
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV). Solomon continued his study of life “under the sun,” limiting his observations to the physical world. From this earthly perspective, the grave (Sheol)
“For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Corinthians 7:5–6 ESV). Paul described how he and his companions entered Macedonia exhausted and troubled. The background for