“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm” (Proverbs 19:23 ESV). Fear and rest do not usually go together. For fear itself produces anxiety. Yet this proverb describes the surprising relationship between fearing God and experiencing real rest. “Fear of the Lord”
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11 ESV). The apostle Paul turns from teaching to exhortation in this verse. After explaining that we have died with Christ and been raised with Him, Paul calls us to consider this spiritual reality to be true of
“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men” (Romans 5:18 ESV). In this verse, Paul draws a powerful contrast between the effects of Adam’s sin and Christ’s righteousness. Adam acted as our federal head—our representative before God—so when he sinned,
“…Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’…” (Romans 4:16–17 ESV). Paul emphasizes that Abraham is not only the father of the Jewish people but of all who believe by faith. Quoting Genesis 17:5, he highlights how God declared Abraham “father of
“They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar… the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah.” (1 Chronicles 24:5,10 ESV). In 1 Chronicles 24, David organizes the descendants of Aaron into 24 priestly divisions to serve
“Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.” (1 Chronicles 22:9 ESV). When King David desired to build a house
“But King David said to Ornan, ‘No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’” (1 Chronicles 21:24 ESV). After David sinned by taking a census, God sent judgment upon Israel. When the angel of the
“And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar” (1 Chronicles 16:39–40 ESV). For over a century, from the days of Eli until Solomon’s temple, the Ark of the
“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 ESV). Psalm 10 began with a cry of confusion and anguish. The psalmist felt abandoned by God in the midst of trouble. The wicked seemed to prosper while the righteous suffer, and God’s justice appeared delayed.
“And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.” (1 Chronicles 13:10 ESV). Uzzah’s death shocked David and the people of Israel. Though Uzzah may have reached out to steady the Ark with good