“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1John 4:19)   This verse exemplifies everything we need to know about God. Everything about our relationship with God was initiated by Him. Beginning with the creation of man, God desired to make man, to love man and to bless man. He made man to be in fellowship with Him. “For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principal

“You who love Jehovah, hate evil; He keeps the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” (Psalms 97:10)   The actual author of Psalms 97 is unknown although some have attributed it to David. In this Scripture we find a command to hate evil. “You who love Jehovah, hate evil."   We must first be lovers of the Lord. When Jesus was questioned about how to inherit eternal life. “He said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it? And answeri

“And they that entered, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him. And Jehovah shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16)   This verse is from the account of Noah. All “flesh” or of every creature entered male and female into the Ark to replenish the earth after the flood. The Word says that two by two. (Genesis 7:15) but there were certainly more than two of every kind, especially of those animals that would be needed for food and those needed for the sacrifices that

“These were  the potters and those who lived among plants and hedges. They lived there with the king for his work.” (1Chronicles 4:23)   In this part of chapter 4 of 1Chronicles, Ezra, who compiled all the information for Chronicles, recounts the descendants of Judah. Then at the end he adds this Scripture to explain the outcome of the tribe of Judah. They served the king making pottery and caring for the king’s grounds. They were also craftsmen which he mentions earlier. “An

“And all the country wept with  a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king himself also passed over the torrent Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.” (2Samuel 15:23)   Let’s start with some background on this verse. Absalom, David’s son has taken over the kingdom. King David is forced to escape with some of the people. This is when they come to the stream named Kidron. It was a small trench east of Jerusalem which ran from east

“You love righteousness, and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows.” (Psalms 45:7)   The sons of Korah wrote this psalm which was given to the chief musician who was probably Asaph during the time of David’s reign. There was lots of worship during this time and the atmosphere was filled with the presence and glory of God among the worshippers which David had worshipping day and night. The anointing was on them t

“Cast your burden on Jehovah, and He will keep you; He will never allow the righteous to waver.” (Psalms 55:22)   Jehovah which means “ I am; the eternal living one”  is used to mean the true, supreme and eternal One. God is the same from the beginning of time and has not changed. “For I am  Jehovah, I  change not...” (Malachi 3:6) The same is written about Jesus. “...Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) This makes sense since the Godhead is

“Only let your conduct be as becomes the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs , that you stand fast in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and terrified in nothing by your adversaries. For this is  to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.” (Philippians 1:27-28)   This is where the rubber meets the road. Our conduct is the evidence of the

“And He guided them by the right way, so as to go to a city to live in.” (Psalms 107:7)   In his psalm, David calls for praise to the Lord for His goodness and wonderful works. In this specific Scripture, David speaks how the Lord led the Israelites. Asaph, David’s lead singer writes they were led by Moses and Aaron (Psalms 77:20) and through the wilderness like sheep (Psalms 78:52). It’s amazing enough that the Lord in His mercy led the Israelites. That Moses and Aaron heard

“Set out Your wonderful loving-kindness, O Savior of those seeking refuge in You , by Your right hand, from those who rise up against me .” (Psalms 17:7)   In this translation, the verse begins with the words “set out.” The original was “shew” or show. What is the Lord’s loving-kindness? It’s His love, mercy and grace toward those He loves. David prays that the Savior would show love, mercy and grace to those seeking refuge in Him, those who hope and trust in Him. At this par

“Charge the rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, He offering to us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to share, to be generous, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1Timothy 6:17-19)   Ephesus was an affluent city and was known as the “mother city” of Asia. There were many rich p

“And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him , we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:17)   This is an incredible statement that Paul made. There was previously an incredible statement made by John, that we are born of God and children of God. “But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of

“...And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)   These are the last words written only in the Gospel of Matthew. The other Gospels end on different notes. Mark ends his Gospel on the ascension of Jesus, the Grand Commission and the apostles proclaiming the Gospel. (Mark 16:19,20) Luke ends his Gospel with the ascension and the apostles worshipping and praying in the temple. (Luke 24:50-53) John ends his Gospel with Jesus and His

“I have written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:13)   There are several Johns mentioned in the Bible, five for certain, the John who wrote the three John epistle letters, the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation is the Apostle John, son of Zebedee. The epistles were written long after the resurrection of Jesus. John probably w

“And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (2Corinthians 6:16)   Paul is referring to what he wrote in verse 14. “Do not be unequally yoked together with  unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have  with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness?” (2Corinthians 6:14) Thi

“His cheeks are  like a bed of spices, a raised bed of aromatic herbs. His lips are as  lilies dropping flowing myrrh.” (Song of Solomon 5:13)   Just to remind ourselves that Solomon’s poetic writing of the love between a husband and his bride is prophetically about the love of Jesus and the church. Keeping that in mind when we study these Scriptures, we can see why this book was considered “canon,” meaning it met the standard of legitimacy and authority as inspired of the Ho

“The earth shall yield its increase; and  God, our own God, shall bless us.” (Psalms 67:6)   There is a difference in this verse that...

“And because of all this we are  cutting a sure covenant , and write it , and our princes, Levites, and priests are sealing it.”...

“But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)   Paul in writing to the Romans details the things...

“...and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of  Abel.” (Hebrew...