Old Testament Archives - Page 5 of 22

The Lord Is My Light

Scripture: Psalm 27: 1, 8, 14

The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?(1) My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.(8) Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.(14)

Scripture Commentary: Jesus brings the light of salvation.

When you walk in a dark room, you can’t see the furnishings. But turn on the lights, and you can see everything! The Lord is my light, and with Him, I can see the way. In His light, I can see the pitfalls, and the bends in the road.

Fear can be a dark shadow that can imprison you to the point where you think there is no way out. But Jesus brings the light of salvation.

Jesus is a strong tower; a hedge of protection.

This is what happens when you let Jesus in your life. He is your salvation, so why have fear? He is your strength and protection.

Knock on God’s door and He will open it to find you. Ask God and He will answer you.

We have all left God at times in our lives but take heart. He has never left us.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Psalm Chapter 27

Read Other Commentary from Psalms:

Take Shelter in the Lord for Every Storm

Teach Me Lord, and Order My Steps In Your Word

We Give Thanks to God, the Father

Scripture: Psalm 75: 1

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Scripture Commentary: Give God thanks!

We give thanks to you, our Father, for sending your Son, Jesus Christ. We give thanks because you did not have to send Him. O God, you could have left us here to our own sinful ways. But because you love us, you sent your Son to show us the path to take.

Thank you for giving us what we need, not what we want. God, you are a forgiving God. We thank you for you are trustworthy.

God has no weakness or shortcoming.

The holiness of our God is terribly frightening for sinners but a wonderful comfort for believers. God has no weakness or shortcomings. He doesn’t lie, and He doesn’t tolerate, ignore or excuse sin.

Put yourself in God’s hands and feel the love and peace that Our Father has for you. When we put ourselves in God’s hands, we recognize that God has been our consistent helper for our entire life.

God has never left us but we may have left Him.

“Thank you for being who You are – Our God!”

Read the Entire Chapter:

Psalm Chapter 75

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

God Is With Me; I Will Fear No Evil

Go to God for Help. He Won’t Let You Down

God Has Committed to Forgiving Your Sin

Scripture: Ezekiel 33: 16-19

None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced that which is just (fair) and right; he will most certainly live. “Yet your people [who are in exile in Babylon] say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right;’ but as for them, it is their own way that is not right. ¹⁸When the righteous turns back from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will also die because of it. But when a wicked man turns back from his wickedness and practices what is just (fair) and right, he will live because of it.

Scripture Commentary:

I have lived a foolish, wicked life of sin. And the God who loves me, had mercy on me, and has forgiven me. He has committed to forgiving my sin!

How does that sound to you? Your question is likely how, why, and what have I done for God to do this?

(Answer) Did you turn your sinful life around? You can’t be half-and-half and hope God will only look at the good side. Although good deeds won’t save you (only Jesus’s death and resurrection does that!), your salvation will lead you to rightness.

God sees the totality to who you are.

God expects you to make restitution for the wrongs you commit. If you repent and turn to Him, He will wipe your slate clean. He looks at what you are and what you will become, not what you have been.

God gives you the opportunity to turn to Him. Will you take Him up on it? God is waiting for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Ezekiel Chapter 33

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Ezekiel:

The Lord Will Answer You

Do You Listen To God Or To Yourself?

God Breaks Down Stubborn Pride

The Congregation Lifted Up Their Voice

Scripture: Numbers 14: 1-4

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Scripture Commentary:

When the chorus of despair lifted up their voice, everyone joined in. Certainly their greatest fears were being realized. Losing their perspective, the people were caught up in the emotion of the moment. They forgot what they knew about God’s character.

What if the people had spent as much energy moving forward as they did moving back?

They could have enjoyed their land. Instead, they never even entered it. When a cry of despair goes up around you, consider the larger perspective before you join in.

God puts us on a path.

We, in our own sinful way, try to leave it. Ask yourself, “If God put me here to follow his Commandments, who am I not to follow Him?”

Finally, God’s path is the only one to righteousness, to glory, to peace, and above all, to everlasting life with Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Numbers Chapter 14

Other Commentary from the Book of Numbers

Do Not Break the Vow You Make to God

Come to Jesus’ Banquet Table

Part Three: Jesus Prepared Your Place At the Table (Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd)

There are seventy-two psalms and almost half speak about enemies. Enemies are those who oppose not only us, but also God’s ways. David is at the table asking God to keep his enemies from overcoming him because they oppose what God stands for.

David isn’t questioning his faith. He knows that God will triumph. But David did not want his enemies’ success to be an obstacle to the faith of others. When we see a person or a group that we consider to be doing well, keep in mind that it’s only temporary, as we all are temporary. We are here for a moment, but what we do while we are here in the name of Our Lord will carry on.

Psalm 25: 2

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, the Perfect Shepherd, promises to guide and protect us through life to bring us into His Father’s house.

John 14: 2

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

God tells us He is our shepherd. Jesus tells us He is going to prepare a place for us, and He will come back for us. We can look forward to eternal life with Him.

Psalm 23: 6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Jesus has a place for you in His Father’s house, and the banquet table is prepared. Your seat is waiting for you. Jesus paid the ultimate price for your seat when He went to the cross, died and rose from the grave. Jesus gave you the way to eternal life.

John 3: 16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Read Parts 1 and 2 of the sermon,

Part one: The Great Shepherd Restores the Soul

Part two: God Is With Me; I Will Fear No Evil

God Is With Me; I Will Fear No Evil

Part Two: I Will Fear No Evil (Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd)

Psalm 23: 4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Yes, although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will have no fear because you are my God, my Shepherd. Death has no hold on me.

I am a child of God. I know Jesus died on the cross for my sins. And on the third day, He rose from the grave with all power.

I know where I’m going when I die. Do you?

I will fear no evil because Satan has lost. He lost me when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. He lost when I started to live a Christ-like life. God has forgiven me of my sins. I am a child of God. He lost because God comforts me.

God’s rod is my rock.

He is perfect, the true God. If I ask anything according to His will, He will hear me. I know that my petition is heard as long as my prayers are to His will. It is a comfort to know that God is there for me.

Psalm 23: 5

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

In Near Eastern culture during ancient times, it was customary (at a banquet) to anoint a guest with fragrant oil as a lotion. The host was also expected to protect his guest at all costs.

God offers His protection to you and me when enemies surround us. Sometimes we can see what God saves us from; other times, it may not be as obvious to us. If everything went our way at all times, we may say or think it’s all us and not God.

Read the complete chapter of the Scripture referenced:

Psalm 23

Please return next week for the final, Part 3, of the sermon, Jesus is Our Great Shepherd.

The Great Shepherd Restores the Soul

Part One: Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd

Psalm 23: 1

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The Lord is my shepherd, maker, Father, protector, the Great Shepherd.

Our needs are taken care of. It’s not what we think we need; what He has for us is all we need.

David is writing out of his own experience as a shepherd to his father’s sheep as a young boy.

1 Samuel 16: 11

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance and protection.

As God’s children, we are dependent on Him for His guidance and protection. The New Testament calls Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd.

Psalm 23: 2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

When you drive by or fly over farmland, you’ll see the green pastures. What a peaceful feeling that brings. This is the feeling you have when you truly place yourself in God’s hands.

Isaiah 43: 2

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

God will lead you to the path of rightness. If you go your own way, you are going to walk the path Satan has for you. Don’t think that Satan isn’t waiting to lead you. Check out the following verses below.

Job 2:2

And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Matthew 4: 1

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Now if the devil thought he could tempt Jesus, what do you think he can do with you? Without Jesus to protect you, you have no chance against Satan.

When you put ourselves in Jesus’s hands, you have contentment. Psalm 23 does not focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow Our Lord and Savior.

However, when you choose to sin, you go your own way. Don’t blame God for the place you find yourself.

Psalm 23: 3

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God won’t lead you to a wrong path.

He restores you because He loves you. He loved us before we loved Him.

God sent His Son to pay for your sins. And by sending His Son, He made a way for you to go to Him directly without anything or anyone intervening.

He restores your soul out of love, but if you are rebellious and disobedient, you are going against your own best interest.

Read the full chapters of the Scriptures referenced:

Please return later this week for Part Two of Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd.

Jesus Spoke Plainly About His Purpose

Part Two: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Son of Man. Jesus spoke plainly about His purpose.

Scripture: Mark 8: 32

He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Note: Peter was not considering God’s purpose but only his own natural human desires and feelings when he rebuked Jesus. Peter wanted Christ to be king, not the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah 53.

Peter saw only part of the picture.

Like the other disciples, Peter was ready to receive the glory of following the Messiah but not the persecution. He was often the spokesman for all the disciples. In singling Peter out, Jesus may have been addressing all of them indirectly. Unknowingly, the disciples were trying to prevent Jesus from going to the cross and fulfilling His mission on earth.

Satan also tempted Jesus to avoid the way of the cross (see Matthew 4). Whereas Satan’s motives were evil, the disciples were motivated by love and admiration for Jesus. Only after Jesus’s death and resurrection would they fully understand why He had to die.

What does it mean to take up the cross?

The Romans, Mark’s original audience, knew what taking up the cross meant. A prisoner carried His own cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Rome’s power.

Jesus used the image of carrying a cross to illustrate the ultimate submission required of His followers.

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Mark Chapter 8

Isaiah Chapter 53

Matthew Chapter 4

Jesus, Son of God; Son of Man

Part One: Jesus is the Son of God and Son of Man. He did not come as King, but as servant.

Scripture: Mark 8: 31

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

Note: “Son of Man” is Jesus most common title for himself. The reference comes from Daniel 7:13. Jesus is also referred to as the Messiah, the human agent of God who is vindicated by God.

In Mark 8:31 Jesus begins to speak plainly and directly to His disciples about His death and resurrection. He began to prepare them for what was going to happen to Him, telling them three times that He would soon die.

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Mark Chapter 8

Daniel Chapter 7

Other references Jesus makes to His death:

Mark 9: 31

Mark 10: 33-34

Don’t Despise God’s Discipline

Scripture: Job 5: 17

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Scripture Commentary: The Lord disciplines those He loves.

Eliphaz was correct. It is a blessing to be disciplined by God when we are wrong. This shows a view of discipline that has been almost forgotten; pain can help us grow. These are good words to remember when we face hardship and loss.

As we know from the beginning, Job’s suffering was not a result of some sin but was from Satan trying to make Job denounce God.

What is Satan trying to do in your life?

Because Job did not understand why he suffered, his faith in God had a chance to grow. Is your faith in God growing? Are you living a life that will let your godly spirit grow?

God does not eliminate all hardship when we follow Him.

Good behavior is not always rewarded by prosperity. Rewards for good and punishment for evil are in God’s hands and are given out according to His timetable.

Our true reward is the forgiveness that God, through His Son Jesus Christ, has made for us. We can go directly to Him because Jesus died on the cross for us. Satan’s ploy is to get us to doubt God’s goodwill toward us.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Job Chapter 5