A shield was an important part of ancient armor, used to protect the soldier against incoming rounds from the enemy. Figuratively it is used of God as the protector of His people. David used this figure of speech during the time of Absalom’s rebellion recorded in 2 Samuel 15 as he took flight to the […]
“He who overcomes” in Revelation 2:7 speaks in terms of a military conflict. Since the conflict of the church is not against “flesh and blood”, though instrumentalities of flesh and blood may often raise it (in addition to our own fleshly lusts and desires), our battle is against the root cause, “against principalities, against powers, […]
Job was an upright man that feared God and kept himself from evil, 1:1. Being severely tested he neither sinned with his lips or blamed God, 1:22; 2:10. However he spoke beyond his knowledge, and when God questions him he acknowledges his error, despises himself, repents in full humility, then steps out serving God and […]
In Exodus 33:18-20 Moses asked God to be shown His glory, to which God replied that Moses would see His goodness and hear the proclamation of His name, but could not physically look on His face. In due time God sent Jesus to become a part of mankind, and through Him we can see God’s […]
It seems that the Judahites Thought of themselves as God’s chosen race that would always experience God’s good blessings, failing to keep in mind that those blessings are only attained to by abiding in and keeping His covenant. Because of blatant sin, moral decline, and rebellion, Babylon came against Jerusalem and captured it bringing […]
Imagine the excitement of a lad in the crowd around Jesus in John 6; when there is a need for food he offers his five barley loaves and two small fish, but Andrew asks “what are they among so many?” But Jesus took that meager supply, which was obviously all the boy had, gave thanks […]
Peter, in his first epistle, addresses people who because of their commitment to Christ are suffering various trials and rejection by their fellowmen, with such opposition that in 4:12 he refers to it as a “fiery trial”. Yet in spite of all this Peter takes note of, and thus encourages them to continue in their […]
A path is a place that is worn by footsteps, or a trail; it is a walkway for people on foot, a line of movement, and also a course of conduct or procedure. Psalm 16 11 says, speaking to God, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; […]
In Genesis 2:9 we are introduced to two trees “The tree of life” representing the life of the Spirit, and “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” representing the life of the flesh with its “passions and lusts” Galatians 5:24. Adam, the man God “made… upright” Ecclesiastes 7:29, obviously refused to eat from […]
Peter, that famous Apostle, the one whose confession of faith is the bedrock and pillar of the Church as seen in Matthew 16:16-19, later wrote to the Church in his first epistle 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises […]