Luke Bible Study, Day 31 Today’s passage: Luke 19:28–48 Focus verse: The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. (Luke 19:37) As Jesus and his disciples head toward Jerusalem, he sends two of them on ahead with a curious instruction. “Go into the […]
Look Up to the Mountains Psalm 121 is listed as “A song of ascents.” We may think of this as a subheading later added by translators, but it is not. It’s part of the original text. From nonbiblical sources, we learn that these songs were sung by the people as they climbed the hill to […]
He Is the Rock of Our Salvation Psalm 95 opens with a compelling call to worship. It starts with the simple invitation of “Come!” Yes, we are to gather to worship our Lord. Though we can also worship him ourselves, the numbers in our corporate gathering multiply our praise. We are to come together and […]
Revelation Bible Study, Day 23 Today’s passage: Revelation 11:15–19 Focus verse: And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God. (Revelation 11:16) With the second woe complete, the seventh angel sounds his trumpet. Whereas the first six trumpet blasts bring forth immediate death and destruction to […]
Offer Ongoing Adoration to Our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer The book of Revelation tells of John’s spirit being whisked into heaven. Four living creatures spend all their time—day and night—praising God. They chant, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8, NIV). The threefold repetition […]
Revelation Bible Study, Day 12 Today’s passage: Revelation 4:9–11 Focus verse: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” (Revelation 4:11) The four living creatures have affirmed God as holy, holy, holy. The twenty-four elders are there too. What are they doing as the four living creatures chant their […]
Revelation Bible Study, Day 11 Today’s passage: Revelation 4:1–8 Focus verse: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” (Revelation 4:8) Having considered Jesus’s seven letters to the seven churches, we move forward into the third and longest part of the book of Revelation. Jesus, with a voice booming like a trumpet, explains what’s about […]
Discover What to Do When You Go Through Dark Times in Life The book of Lamentations is a five-chapter collection that contains a quintet of laments. A lament is an expression of grief, mourning, or sorrow. Each chapter of this book contains one such communication. They read like a poem, a psalm even—a psalm of […]
Psalm 175 from Beyond Psalm 150 After a remnant of the exiled people return to the promise land, Ezra and Nehemiah continue to reform the people’s spiritual practices. In response, the community separates themselves from foreigners and confesses their sins and the sins of their ancestors. Then they hear the law read to them. In […]
Psalm 173: from Beyond Psalm 150 It’s hard for a large group of people to recite a long passage in unison, but they can do quite well with shorter phrases. Three times in the book of 2 Chronicles and once in the book of Ezra, the people collectively praise God. Each time their succinct response rises […]