“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion” (Psalm 137:1 ESV). The Jewish captives composed this melancholy song while exiled in Babylon. Having lost their homes in Judah and seeing their holy city Jerusalem with its Temple destroyed, they gathered somewhere on the shores of the Euphrates, and
“And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:8 ESV). After God had used Elijah to win the victory over Baal’s prophets on Mount Carmel, he had no doubt expected a revival to break out
‘And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”’ (1 Kings 18:21 ESV). The prophet Elijah challenged the people of Israel to stop “limping,” or wavering back and forth between “two
“And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends” (Acts 10:24 ESV). The Roman centurion, Cornelius, had sent for the apostle Peter and upon hearing that he was on the way, he “called together his relatives and close friends” to meet and hear
‘And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven’ (Acts 10:15-16 ESV). While praying on the rooftop of Simon the Tanner, Peter saw a vision of “unclean” animals lowered down from
“Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda” (Acts 9:32 ESV). After Paul’s conversion there was a season of peace for the church. During this time, the apostle Peter traveled throughout Judea, Samaria and Galilee visiting the new believers and strengthening them
“So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day” (1 Kings 12:19 ESV). The ten tribes of Israel rebelled against the House of David and rejected his grandson, Rehoboam as king. The author of this book commented that Israel was still in a state of rebellion during the time of
“And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father” (1 Kings
‘Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”’ (Acts 7:58-59 ESV). I wonder how often Saul thought of Stephen. Certainly, Saul, who
“May you see your children’s children!” (Psalm 128:6 ESV). One of the many promised blessings for the one who would fear the Lord and walk in His ways is living to see one’s grandchildren. Those who have experienced this blessing know its abiding joy. Yet in Christ, this blessing is available to all who would