Buy The Truth

The Song Of The Redeemed I like it when something in a passage gets explained and it opens up. I’m sure I knew some of this before (though this old brain gets forgetful), but it struck me more today. Rahab , when used as a symbol through the Old Testament, refers to Egypt. Now read this: Isaiah 51:9-10 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? God defeated Egypt and made it so His people - the redeemed - could pass over the Red Sea to go to the Promised Land/Jerusalem (well, what would one day be called Jerusalem/Mount Zion). Now read the next verse which most of us probably know as a song. Literally, it refers to the nation of Israel; spiritually it applies to all God's people being delivered from their old maste...

I n The Day When I Cried Sometimes we think it is presumption to ask the Lord to answer a prayer today. Though if a prayer does seem more urgent, we may have asked the Lord to perfect (complete) that which concerneth us (from Psalm 138:8). If we have a need or a trouble, we may pray for it, expecting God to answer it in His own timing. But what happens if the need seems more urgent, if the trouble we are facing seems more dire, perhaps even time-sensitive? Is it presumptuous to pray, asking that the Lord answer our prayer today? For example, what if someone's life hung in the balance, or a need or a bill needed to be taken care of today, but it solely depended upon God providing for that need? First, some factors to consider, then some verses to look up on this theme: 1) Are we humble, trusting in the Lord? Are we giving our need to the Lord and leaving it with Him in accordance with His will? Sometimes we think a need has to be taken care of by a certain time, but God may delay (i...

Taken From The Evil To Come One thing I love about the Word of God is that so many of its principles and promises are actually illustrated or portrayed in the lives of Bible characters themselves. For example, I was discussing this passage a few days ago with a friend: Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come . He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. It is a mercy when a time of trouble or evil is coming upon a city or a nation, and the Lord mercifully takes some of His people home before that time. This is clearly stated and portrayed in the lives of several of Israel's kings, such as (note, these examples are presented in the order they appear in the Old Testament, not in any order of importance): Ahab - declared to be the most wicked of the kings of the northern kingdom, yet when God threaten...

She Was A Virgin (The Law Of First Mention) Genesis 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. This is interesting. Rebekah is stated to be both a virgin and not to have known a man. The Hebrew word here (Strong’s # h1330) for virgin is used often to denote a healthy young woman or young maiden (comparable to another word meaning healthy young man, not necessarily denoting purity) - though the next phrase shows she was pure (neither had any man known her). However, a little later in the chapter it says this about her: Genesis 24:43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink; The word for virgin here is different - almah , Strong’s # h5959, which ALWAYS means virgin, pure, and is used in Isaiah 7:14 about the Messiah’s mother ...

The Lion Of God’s Word I love how the Apostle Paul used many images and comparisons in his preaching and writing to get the truth across to his readers, like in the following verse: 2 Timothy 2:8-9  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Vine’s Expository Dictionary  says this about the word  “bound”  as used in this passage: “…its ministry, course and efficacy were not hindered by the bonds and imprisonment suffered by the apostle.” Even though Paul was imprisoned and bound, the Word of God was not. “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” - Charles Spurgeon “The Word of God can take care of itself, and will do so if we preach it, and cease defending it. See you that lion. They have caged him for his preservation; shu...