Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking scent, Ecclesiastes 10:1. I thought about how a fly in the ointment is a metaphor for unresolved issues in the life of a believer. A tiny, annoying fly can destroy precious and valuable ointment, just as a…
And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually, 2 Samuel 9:7. What a picture of Christ we see through…
And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he…
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17, ESV) My mom, with homespun wisdom, would prod her shy daughter (me) to get out there and mix with others. This lady who never saw a stranger in her life would quote loosely from Proverbs…
“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.” (Proverbs 22:4) During your school years, you could probably name the student in your class considered most likely to succeed in life. They may have attained a high grade-point average, shown leadership ability, or been popular.…
And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” (I Kings 18:44, ESV) It had been a long day on…
“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (I Peter 2:17, ESV) How is it possible to respect a hateful, rude person? It’s not easy to respond with grace and kindness when someone seems intent on treating us badly. That’s why the story of David goes against what…
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13, ESV) Life gets tough and sometimes people lose hope that better days are ahead. Job 14:1 (ESV) says, “Man who…
“. . . Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.” (Joshua 4:3, NKJV) After their forty-year…