The root of all evil stems from a lack of reverential fear of God. Such an attribute thrives in the heart of wicked who persist in evil continually. Further, God does not always judge evil deeds instantly, for Solomon observes, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the … Read more
Making known to God our petitions in prayer with thanksgiving is the remedy to anxiety (Phi 4:6). We can observe this spiritual discipline in David’s pleas to God to deliver him from his enemies who endeavored to destroy him, “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!” … Read more
What produces a quality of life that is blessed by God? What are its characteristics? Fulfilling oneself in the collecting of material possessions and acquiring of honor (i.e., blessing and favor) among men is how the world would answer these questions. They would advocate (just as the devil tempted our Lord with in this wilderness, … Read more
How do we know if a cooked dish is any good? We can look at it to see if it is presentable and arranged on the plate in an appealing way. Sure, we can smell it, for its scent can give some indication of its quality. We can even place our finger in it to … Read more
Praise befits the upright, as a response for Gods’ people who receive his benefits. Though He does not shield us from all the hardships of life, His steadfast love preserves and leads us through them. It can be a struggle to holdfast to our faith in this truth when are bearing the burdens of health … Read more
True worship is anchored on the steadfast love of God. Out of gratitude we give thanks to Him for his faithfulness we experience daily. New melodies of praise should spring forth from our hearts. However, if we are honest, there are days (even seasons) when our affections for God is as stale as an old … Read more
Worship is the correct response for Gods’ people who are recipients of his benefits. This truth is the primary theme of this Psalm, which is a hymn of praise. While it is believed it was written after a major national victory, historians are uncertain as to which event in Israel history it refers to. What … Read more
Confession is an integral part of the Christian life. Though we endeavor daily to practice a lifestyle of righteousness, sin dwells within us nonetheless. Paul, who was an apostle of the Lord laments his desire to be rid of the old nature whose presence (like residue) was found within him competing for his affections and … Read more
There are seasons of life where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. Our best efforts to mitigate and avoid problems has proven unsuccessful. Normally, we have our human strength and ingenuity as insurance policy for these moments, only to discover it isn’t enough to cover the size and magnitude of the trial we … Read more
The afflictions of the righteous can be many, but God delivers his people out of all of them (Ps 34:19). David had experience with being slandered, despised, and persecuted. He knew what it was like to have enemies stronger than himself, where God was his only salvation. This is truth he reflects on in the … Read more