“And she shall bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)   These were the words spoken to Joseph by an angel in his dream. It was the exact thing he had said to Mary. This was the same angel. “And behold! You shall conceive in your  womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS.” (Luke 1:31) Mary didn’t seem perturbed about how this was going to play out with her intended husband Joseph. But God took

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes.” (Matthew 11:25)   This Scripture begins with the words, “at that time.” It seems important to note why it was necessary to write those words. Jesus was in Capernaum at the time. He prophesies over Capernaum along with other cities because they would not repent. “Then He began to upbraid t

“The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, from the house of Ashbea, and Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the rule over Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And these are  ancient things.” (1Chronicles 4:21-22)   In the first part of this chapter in Chronicles, we learn about the descendants of Judah.  The tribe of Judah settled across the dead

“But Mary kept all these sayings, meditating in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)   The Bible states in a few places where Mary heard something about Jesus and kept what she heard in her heart. It’s like saying “hmmm” when someone tells you something. You wonder about it, but maybe save it to think about or to pray about it at another time. This was what Mary did. There are a few things Mary knew about Jesus. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit so He was no ordinary child. God sent wis

“And all those who heard marveled about the things spoken to them by the shepherds.” (Luke 2:18)   This Scripture is the account of what happened when the shepherds out in the field, who had seen and heard angels proclaim to them the Good News, shared the message in the city. God’s greatest gift to mankind had been given right in their backyards and they had no inkling of it. This reminds me of a time when I was living in a little town just outside of Houston and I heard of a

“Draw me, we will run after You. The King has brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in You, we will remember Your love more than wine; the upright love You.” (Song of Solomon 1:4)   Before we dive into this Scripture we need to remember a few things. Solomon wrote about the love between a bride and a bridegroom. He inadvertently  prophesied about the Messiah. This book is cannon which means it’s considered and accepted as inspired by the Holy Spirit. Takin

“And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9)   The Bible tells us that satan is the accuser of the brethren and accuses us before God day and night. “And I heard a great voice saying in Heaven, Now has come the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10) He accused Job before God saying that th

“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27)   This passage in Luke occurred after the resurrection of Jesus when He joined Himself to two disciples walking to Emmaus. Jesus asks them questions. They were discussing all the things that had happened in Jerusalem and Jesus asks, in other words: What are you talking about that makes you so sad? They’re astounded that He’s not aware of what’s

“For my love they are my foes; but I am in prayer.” (Psalms 109:4)   It’s believed that David wrote this psalm when he was fleeing King Saul. He happened to go to Nob to meet with the priest, Ahimelech, to ask for food and for weapons. He had escaped King Saul with nothing. (1Samuel 21:1-3) Hesitantly Ahimelech gave him of the holy bread and the sword David had used to kill Goliath. King Saul lied to his men, telling them that David wanted to kill him. That’s when Doeg spoke

“And the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick and threw it  in there. And the iron swam.” (2Kings 6:6)   Throughout the books of Kings we read about the sons of the prophets. These were not biological sons, but spiritual young men which helped in various places like Bethel, Jericho and Gilgal in spiritual matters. They were the witnesses to what God was doing during Samuel, Elijah and Elisha’s time. In the previous verses we

“Those on the rock are  the ones who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy. And these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke 8:13)   This is part of the passage where Jesus is explaining to the apostles the different hearts that will, cannot or will not receive the Word of God. This particular heart is on the rocks, a hard place where there is no nourishment, no consolation and no hope. This heart has been disillusioned over an

“...but this shall be  the covenant that I will cut with the house of Israel: After those days, says Jehovah, I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33)   Jeremiah prophesied about the New Covenant. It was not to be like the covenant that God had made with them when they left the slavery of Egypt. They broke that covenant with their idolatry so it’s no longer in force. “...not

“Therefore, be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety onto Him, for He cares for you.” (1Peter 5:6-7)   Cast (literally throw) all, any and every care on Him. In this section of his letter Peter is writing to the “elders” or leaders of the early church. He exhorts them to diligently look after those whom they have charge of as a shepherd would take charge over sheep, willingly by being examples and a pattern for th

“So says Jehovah, in a favorable time I replied to You, and in a day of salvation I have helped You; and I will preserve You, and give You for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause them to inherit the wasted inheritances;” (Isaiah 49:8)   Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah. In a favorable time means in a time of mercy which is the dispensation of God’s grace and mercy because the Messiah, Who is Jesus has entered the world as a man, yet all God, to be th

“And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)   This was the feast of the Tabernacles which is also known as Sukkot. It begins on the fifteenth day of Tishri which may fall on September or October depending on the count of the days of the Jewish calendar. It comes five days after the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur which is 10 days after Rosh Hashanah. It celebrates the journey of the Isr

“And Samuel took a stone and set it  between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Jehovah has helped us until now.”(1Samuel 7:12)   Mizpeh is where Jacob came and dwelt with Laban his uncle, caring for his sheep. It’s the place where Jacob labored for Rachel and Laban gave him Leah. Jacob was required to work another seven years for Rachel. This was where Jacob and Laban made an agreement about the sheep that would become Jacob’s. Each time Jacob agree

“And so it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul," the last Adam was a life-giving Spirit.” (1Corinthians 15:45)   The first Adam is the Adam that God made out of the dust of the earth. He is the one the Lord breathed life into and he became a living soul. “And Jehovah God formed man of the  dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) From the very beginning we see the difference between

“Do not fear; for I am  with you; be not dismayed; for I am  your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)   This is part of the prophecy that the Lord told Isaiah with which to comfort the people. It was over a hundred years before the invasion of the Babylonian invasion. Three big events are encompassed in this prophecy. The coming invasion. In Isaiah chapter 39 we learn of God’s punis

“The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing of it is  from Jehovah.” (Proverbs 16:33) The Jews of ancient times knew that the Lord God had ways of making His Will known to them. They had their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) whom God spoke to and gave them the Law. They had their judges then kings and prophets who spoke on God’s behalf for the tribes. But in ordinary situations, they were not sure what was God’s Will, so they drew lots of different sorts

“Yes, tear your heart and not your robes, and turn to Jehovah your God: for He is  gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and He pities because of the evil.” (Joel 2:13)   It was a custom for the Jews when in grief and to show remorse, contrition, sorrow or self-reproach to tear at their clothes. Joel prophesies about the Day of the Lord when the Lord comes to judge the land. This is actually speaking about the Second Coming of Christ, when Jesus comes t